pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 106
1.01M
| source
stringlengths 39
45
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__wiki
| 0.926885
| 0.926885
|
drumandbassarena
Tokyo Prose – Wild Grace Track By Track Breakdown
Interviews / D&B / D&BA / Drum&Bass / Drum&BassArena / The North Quarter / Tokyo Prose
A project that started life as an EP on Soul:r before Marcus’ tragic passing has blossomed into Tokyo Prose’s highly-awaited sophomore album, Wild Grace.
Out now on Lenzman’s North Quarter imprint, Wild Grace sees the New Zealand-based producer back in brilliant form, once again taking us on a soulful journey deep into his musical psyche. A journey we’ve waited years for with his quality-over-quantity approach to releases, it’s been whole 4 years since his stunning debut album on Samurai landed. With such lengthy periods between releases, one can’t help but hang off of every note, savouring each arrangement as it flutters through with pure class and elegance; a reaction that’s inevitable with such an exquisite body of work.
13 tracks deep, it showcases the signature sound he’s renowned for, with some delightful surprises along the way. Never afraid to explore new sounds and approaches to his craft, Wild Grace is a testament to Tokyo Prose’s artistic range; soulful, rolling, powerful, raw and downright inspired, it’s yet another masterclass in finesse and emotive production. Simply put, it was well worth the wait.
He takes us behind the album track by track, revealing the story behind each tune. Press play and savour each note…
Ascension (ft. Race Banyon)
Race Banyon is the alter ego of Kiwi musician Eddie Johnstone aka Lontalius. He’s super talented and his music always has a certain vulnerability and sensitivity to it. Something I think drum and bass could always use a bit more of. This track came together very naturally and was an obvious opener for the album. I was keen to get him to sing on it but it wasn’t possible in the end. The purpose of the track is to sort of signal the start of a journey.
I was lucky that this track wrote itself. From finding the sample and loading it into Ableton, the track would of been finished in under an hour. It’s a simple piano roller with all the Tokyo Prose trademarks. This is easily one of my favourite tracks that I’ve written I was really excited to hear that it was played early on in the dBridge and Calibre set at Hospitality on the Beach the other week. It has also been well supported by Lenzman, LSB and SpectraSoul. The title of the track is a reference to the classic Thelonious Monk album.
Lift You Up (feat. Steo)
Steo is one of my favourite singers so I was super stoked to get him on the album. I was actually trying to get Steo on my first album but we weren’t able to make it to work in the end. An early instrumental version of this track got a bit of attention but I think Steo’s vocals lift (excuse the pun) the track to another level and I really like how the mix of floating synths and soft vocals work together.
Innate Motion
This track was probably brought to most people’s attention when it was featured on Calibre’s BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix last year. I was in two minds when I wrote it and the original working title was even “Yeah… nah”. I’m glad that I persevered with the track and finished it because it’s garnered a lot of attention and I’m really proud of it.
I tend to use piano samples a lot in my music but I surprised myself and played the main piano riff for this one. I then paired it up with a little horn sample and another piano riff and there ya go. The music I write is inherently simple this relies on a couple of key elements that really compliment each other and this song is good example of that. The track title references the natural feeling and movement i’m always trying to achieve with my music.
This is the only track written with the idea of an album in mind. It’s a sort of interlude based around reverseved pianos with some sparse interwoven percussion. The track name alludes to a break in the pace of the album. A peaceful moment amongst the rolling percussion of the surrounding tracks.
A cheeky soul sample pitched down a few semitones and looped. This was a slightly older track that Lenzman and I dusted off and rebuilt with the drums from another track I had written.
Runaway (feat. [ K S R ])
There’s a massive amount of excitement surrounding [ K S R ] at the moment and it doesn’t take much to figure out why. He is an amazing singer and is going places fast. The original synth riff was inspired by a Brother Johnson song but the use of LFO and filter totally transforms the feel of the progression. I actually wrote this song and Brilliant Corners in the same weekend. When you’re on you’re on I guess… Because I had just written Brilliant Corners I was keen to take the track in a much different direction and thus the more sparse percussion and more stripped back feel. The [ K S R ] vocal ended up getting added much later and I think he did an amazing job. When Lenzman and I heard his initial sketch we both flipped…
Trick of the Light
It’s sometimes difficult to explain a track without vocals as the entire song is based around chasing an implicit feeling. This song for me speaks for itself and I really love it’s vibe. The main piano chords are replayed from one of the most famous jazz albums of all time. My style of writing is predominantly a collage of samples and this track is no different. I surprised myself with the mixdown for this track as it turns out it’s a bit of a hurter on a big system. The track title is intended to reference the idea of the different elements of the song creating the illusion of something more than the parts it comprises. My favourite part of the track is how a couple of different piano samples play off each other just before the initial drop.
I really like the idea of taking a vocal sample and totally rearranging and restructuring it until it’s something completely new. That’s kinda what happened on this track. The vocal was the last thing to be added to the track but it’s soft, fragile and airy and defines the track. This one is another sample collage and captures the feeling I love about Drum and Bass of lush pianos and samples juxtaposed against a bed of rolling drum breaks.
Cold Hearts (feat. Cleveland Watkiss)
This track started life as an ambient tune, I later added drums and eventually was lucky enough to get a feature from the amazing Cleveland Watkiss. Cleveland is a legend in the scene and when Lenzman asked me about people I wanted to get on the album, Cleveland was right at the top of the list. The track relies heavily on super slowed down samples, stretched into ambient drones. A super easy technique but crazy effective.
In the Breeze (feat. LSB)
A little while a go LSB, Lenzman and I set up a shared Dropbox to try and get some collaborations going. We didn’t manage to get going but this track LSB and I did managed to get written. I not sure whether Lenzman even opened the Dropbox, haha… I think this track is a nice mix of our two styles. Some heavily manipulated samples are used in this track and they’re pushed right to breaking point.
Tremble (ft. Nether)
This one is a heavy synth stepper co-written with Sydney-sider Nether. His output has always been amazing and has a deep dub techno influence. He’s released a few songs and has a bit of a niche following. I tried to pair his techno sound with a harder dancefloor edge and I think it turned out well. It’s got that Marcus feeling to it so it was an honour to have him supporting it.
Another change of pace me. This track pays homage to a number of classic breaks that rush and out of the tune, thus the title ‘Gusts’. It’s got an early dnb feel to it which is what I was going for. A natural fit to close the album.
Wild Grace is out now on The North Quarter – get it here
Tokyo Prose:
The North Quarter:
Link with Drum&BassArena on:
You can follow Maja C on Twitter, @_Maja_C
Head of content and curator of Drum&BassArena's YouTube and SoundCloud channels, Maja also works across UKF's editorial pages.
Tokyo Prose
London-based New Zealander Sam Reed was first snapped up by Samurai Music back in 2008, when Tokyo Prose were still a duo. Three years later came ...
PREMIERE: LSB – It Finds You feat. Tokyo Prose 1.9K
Tokyo Prose & MC Lowqui – Samurai Music ... 1.9K
Tokyo Prose – Saving Grace VIP (Free Download) 2.1K
Positive Vibes: Tokyo Prose 1.5K
FD: Better Days LP Footnotes 483
Origins: The Sound Of Wreckless Paying Homage To His Roots 454
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6667
|
__label__cc
| 0.732626
| 0.267374
|
Breast Cancer Stages
NOTE: In January 2018 The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) made updates to the 8th Edition staging classifications, including the TNM categories.
We will be updating ALL our articles on staging on this website at some point in the very near future. In the meantime, please click HERE for a summary of the recent changes.
Breast cancer screening is the process by which mammogram may detect any potentially malignant breast abnormality. If something abnormal appears on the mammogram, depending on how suspicious it looks, women will usually receive a ‘call back’ for a second-look mammogram, or maybe an ultrasound or MRI.
If that is insufficient to rule out breast cancer, then a tissue sample may be taken (a biopsy) and sent for pathological evaluation. The pathologist will then rule out or confirm a diagnosis of breast cancer.
The staging process begins when a pathologist makes a definitive diagnosis of breast cancer, and a number of more specific diagnostic investigations are undertaken in order to determine the:-
Specific type of breast cancer
extent of the breast cancer
Size of the tumor
Invasive status
Metastases
Best or more advantageous ways to treat the breast cancer.
I just want to let you know that this page is getting kind of somewhat “older”… Don’t get me wrong though, it is still very useful for research. However, I have a newer verion of this page with more up-to-date information Breast Cancer Staging.
Additional ‘diagnostic screening’ studies may be Necessary
When the initial screening process detects something abnormal there is a kind of ‘in between‘ state whereby more investigations may be necessary. Properly speaking, this is still part of the screening process, even though much of that information will be useful for staging purposes.
And, indeed, in quite a few ‘proliferative‘ breast lesions it remains unclear whether or not the neoplasm is actually benign or a potential breast cancer, even after biopsy.
So, just because the doctors need to take additional images or request a biopsy, this does not mean that they are staging for breast cancer.
It simply means something abnormal and potentially harmful has been detected at initial screening, and medics need to figure out exactly what it is. In the majority of cases, follow-up imaging studies and biopsies turn out to be benign breast lesions.
Staging only happens after a diagnosis of Breast Cancer
‘Staging’ begins the moment that there is a confirmation of a breast cancer diagnosis by a pathologist. So, the purpose of staging is to assess the cancer and plan the treatment.
In some cases doctors will use the same imaging methods in staging as in screening. Additional breast X-rays might be necessary, possibly an MRI or ultrasound, and also either a PET scan or Scinti scan to check for metastasis.
Breast cancer stages require Input from all members of the Team
Breast cancer staging will certainly involve a TNM classification for the tumor. Indeed. the TNM stages of breast cancer describe the mass in terms of :-
the size (diameter) of the breast mass
whether or not the cancer has spread (metastasized) to the lymph nodes (N)
and whether or not there is metastasis to other distant areas of the body. (M).
The multidisciplinary treatment team will try to determine as much information about the breast cancer as possible in order to predict it’s behavior and maximize treatment benefit.
A full ‘histological’ evaluation of the tumor will determine the nuclear grade of the cancer cells, and also the presence or absence of various hormones and hormone receptors.
Hormone Receptor Status and Breast Cancer
Some breast cancer growth can be ‘fuelled’ by hormones. So, determining the hormone receptor status of the tumor and also hormonal and chemical/molecular aspects of the blood gives valuable information as to the predictable aggressiveness of the tumor. Also, this information can help medics decide how to get the most benefit from chemotherapy.
Relatively new staging techniques such as the sentinel lymph node biopsy are now in widespread use, which can often confirm the lack of lymph node metastasis and negate the necessity of lymph node excision.
Sentinel node biopsy, genetic fingerprinting
Much current research into breast cancer identification and staging seems to focus on finding the ‘genetic fingerprint’ of an individual breast cancer tumor.
This is important in order to improve and specifically ‘target‘ treatment therapies and to arrive at a more accurate prognosis.
Some of the new ‘genetic‘ techniques in breast cancer staging include determining molecular assays and reverse transriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing.
For further reading, I suggest you visit this page with information about the progression of breast cancer stages.
Below are some common Q&A regarding this topic:
What is some information that helps determine breast cancer stages?
Your doctor determines breast cancer stages by considering:-
the size of your tumor
whether cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes under your arm (known as axillary lymph nodes)
and whether cancer cells of spread to other parts of your body (metastasizes).
What are some tests and procedures that are used to stage breast cancer?
Some additional tests may be necessay, but most women with a new diagnosis of breast cancer do not need all the diagnostic tests available.
Your doctor will select the necessary tests according to your individual situation. Particularly if your cancer is small and has not spread to nearby lymph nodes. So, additional tests may offer little benefit, but lead to additional costs and carry a risk of complications.
Staging tests include:-
breast imaging tests
additional imaging tests
Why are there breast cancer stages?
Breast cancer stages range from 0 to IV, with many subcategories Lower numbers indicate earlier stages of cancer, whereas higher numbers reflect late-stage cancers.
What is breast cancer stage 0?
This stage describes noninvasive (in situ) breast cancer. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an example of stage 0 breast cancer.
What is stage I?
This stage is an early stage of invasive breast cancer in which the tumor measures no more than 2 cm or about 3/4 inch in diameter, and no lymph nodes are involved – the cancer has not spread outside the breast.
What is stage II?
This stage describes invasive breast cancers in which one of the following is true;-
Tumor measures less than 2 cm in diameter, but has spread to the lymph nodes underneath the arm.
No tumor is found in the breast, but breast cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes under the arm.
The tumor is between 2 cm and 5 cm in diameter and may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.
And lastly, the tumor is larger than 5 cm in diameter but has not spread to any lymph nodes.
What is stage III?
Stage III breast cancers are subdivided into three categories.
IIIA
IIIB
IIIC
based on a number of criteria. By definition, stage III breast cancer has not spread to distant sites.
Stage IIIA tumor is larger than 5 cm and has spread to one to three lymph nodes under the arm. Other stage IIIA may be any size and have spread into multiple lymph nodes. The lymph nodes clump and attach to one another or to the surrounding tissue.
Stage IIIB breast cancer is a tumor of any size that has spread to tissues near the breast, the skin and chest muscles, and my have spread to lymph nodes within the breast or under the arm. Stage IIIB also includes inflammatory breast cancer, an uncommon but aggressive type of breast cancer.
In stage IIIC cancers the tumor can be of any size but has spread to 10 or more lymph nodes under the arm, to lymph nodes above or beneath the collarbone and near the neck, and/or to the lymph nodes within the breast itself and to lymph nodes under the arm as well.
What is stage IV?
Stage IV breast cancer has spread to distant parts of the entire body, such as the:-
Rakha EA, Reis-Filho JS, Baehner F, Dabbs DJ, Decker T, Eusebi V, Fox SB, Ichihara S, Jacquemier J, Lakhani SR, Palacios J, Richardson AL, Schnitt SJ, Schmitt FC, Tan PH, Tse GM, Badve S, Ellis IO.Breast cancer prognostic classification in the molecular era: the role of histological grade. Breast Cancer Res.( 2010);12(4):207.
Singletary SE, Connolly JL. Breast cancer staging: working with the sixth edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. CA Cancer J Clin. (Jan 2006) 56(1):37-47
Singletary SE, Greene FL, Sobin LH. Classification of isolated tumor cells: clarification of the 6th edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. Cancer( 2003);98:2740–2741.
Greene FL, Brierly J, O’Sullivan B, et al. On the use and abuse of X in the TNM classification. Cancer (2005);103:647–649.
Fitzgibbons PL, Page DL, Weaver D, et al. Prognostic factors in breast cancer: College of American Pathologists Consensus Statement 1999. Arch Pathol Lab Med (2000);124:966–978.
Sobin LH, Wittekind CH, eds. TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours. 6th edition. New York: Wiley-Liss; 2002.
Gordon PB.Ultrasound for breast cancer screening and staging. Radiol Clin North Am. (May 2002);40(3):431-41.
Myers RE, Johnston M, Pritchard K, Levine M, Oliver T; Breast Cancer Disease Site Group of the Cancer Care Ontario Practice Guidelines Initiative.Baseline staging tests in primary breast cancer: a practice guideline. CMAJ. (May 2001) 164(10):1439-44.
Ciatto S, Pacini P, Azzini V, Neri A, Jannini A, Gosso P, et al. Preoperative staging of primary breast cancer. A multicentric study. Cancer (1988);61:1038-40
Fish, EB, Chapman, JA, Link, MA. Assessment of tumor size for multifocal primary breast cancer. Ann Surg Oncol (1998); 5:442.
Stavros, AT, Thickman, D, Rapp, CL, et al. Solid breast nodules: use of sonography to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Radiology (1995); 196:123.
Bilimoria, KY, Cambic, A, Hansen, NM, Bethke, KP. Evaluating the impact of preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging on the surgical management of newly diagnosed breast cancers. Arch Surg (2007); 142:441.
Lyman, GH, Giuliano, AE, Somerfield, MR, et al. American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline recommendations for sentinel lymph node biopsy in early-stage breast cancer. J Clin Oncol (2005); 23:7703.
Andea, AA, Wallis, T, Newman, LA, et al. Pathologic analysis of tumor size and lymph node status in multifocal/multicentric breast carcinoma. Cancer (2002); 94:1383.
Back to Breast Cancer Staging List or to the brand new Breast Cancer Homepage.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6668
|
__label__wiki
| 0.986208
| 0.986208
|
Politics Jagmeet Singh’s NDP would impose sales tax on Netflix
Jagmeet Singh’s NDP would impose sales tax on Netflix
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh attends a news conference during a campaign visit for local candidate Gisèle Dallaire, not shown, on Tuesday.
Jacques Boissinot/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Daniel Leblanc Parliamentary affairs reporter
Published October 10, 2017 Updated October 10, 2017
The federal NDP has changed tack and announced it would impose sales taxes on Netflix and other foreign Internet-based companies, diverging sharply with the other major parties on the contentious pocketbook issue.
The announcement is a clear shift for the NDP, which promised in the 2015 general election that it would not tax Netflix. It shows that under rookie leader Jagmeet Singh, the party is willing to reverse traditional policies to capitalize on the Liberal government's perceived weaknesses among progressive voters.
"All companies, whether they are Canadian or foreign, should be paying their fair share. It is the federal government's responsibility to level the playing field, and this means making sure that all companies that do business in Canada pay their taxes," NDP MPs Pierre Nantel (heritage critic) and Alexandre Boulerice (finance critic) said in a joint statement.
Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced on Sept. 28 that Netflix would invest $500-million over five years to set up a production house in Canada. Despite widespread criticism in her home province of Quebec, Ms. Joly has staunchly defended her government's refusal to tax Netflix and other Internet firms that are based outside Canada.
Ms. Joly and Netflix have both insisted there is no link between the new investment in Canada and the government's tax policy.
"We have not made any deals about taxes," said Netflix director of global public policy Corie Wright in a blog post Tuesday. "Netflix follows tax laws everywhere we operate. Under Canadian law, foreign online services like Netflix aren't required to collect and remit sales tax."
The Conservative Party made it clear last month that it, too, would uphold Netflix's tax-free status.
"We are pleased that the government chose to follow the advice of the Conservative Party in rejecting a Netflix tax or other new taxes," Conservative MP Peter Van Loan said. "The Conservative Party will continue to stand up for Canadians and on the side of consumers."
A typical subscriber to Netflix would pay less than $2 a month in additional GST/HST if the service were taxed, but the Conservatives have used this issue in recent years to accuse their rivals of planning to hit taxpayers for extra revenue.
"Only our party can be trusted not to bring forward a new Netflix tax," former Conservative leader Stephen Harper said in the last election.
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair responded to Mr. Harper's assertion by saying he had no idea what the Conservatives were talking about. "We have no plan to bring in such a tax," Mr. Mulcair said in 2015.
The Liberals also denied having any such plan, releasing a statement saying the party "categorically opposes a Netflix tax."
Still, a number of key players in Canada's cultural industries have said foreign-based companies have a leg up on domestic rivals, which are hit with sales taxes and have to contribute to the production of Canadian content.
Ms. Joly met with Quebec's Union des artistes (UDA) this month to reassure Quebec's cultural producers that the Netflix agreement is just the first step in an overall reform to protect homegrown culture in the digital era. "We need to find a new model that will guarantee the sustainability of financing and of our cultural sovereignty on the Internet," she said.
UDA president Sophie Prégent emerged from the meeting saying she delivered a message to the government that artists are angry.
"Ms. Joly underestimated the fervour and furor of people on the ground," Ms. Prégent said. "I think she genuinely thinks she brought us something that would satisfy us. It's the opposite."
Carlos Leitao, Quebec's Finance Minister, has said the streaming service "falls well within the basket of taxable services" and will be hit with a provincial sales tax in the future. He said it will collect as much as $20-million per year.
Yes, please tax my Netflix Subscriber content
Netflix in campaign to ‘set record straight’ on $500-million pledge for Canadian productions
Netflix deal receives rough reception among Canadian cultural leaders
Follow Daniel Leblanc on Twitter @danlebla
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6671
|
__label__cc
| 0.678137
| 0.321863
|
← Portland GEAR Con Rising Phoenix Giveaway & ConnectiCon News
QUAINT #26: He Yufeng from “The Gallant Maid” by “Yanbei Xianren” (a.k.a. Wen K’ang) →
#83 Enichari Corps: Slaves in the Ottoman Military — Guest Blog by Harry Markov
Enichari military outfit
When I agreed to write the series about Bulgaria under the Ottoman rule as a suitable stage for the steampunk genre, I underestimated the challenge these articles present. I want to deliver a portrayal of a complicated and cruel span of five centuries in Bulgarian history. At the same time I’m dealing with controversial and sensitive material, given that the Ottoman occupation has hindered Bulgaria’s access to Europe during the time of the Industrial Revolution.1
Even more so, given that this article deals with the cruelest tactic from the Ottoman empire to ensure its armies never lacked man power, while at the same time assured the assimilation of all conquered lands: the ‘enichari’ corps. 2. The word ‘enichar’ means ‘new soldier’ and refers to an Ottoman military class, which consists from non-Muslims. During the 14th century, the Ottoman conquests resulted in a sizeable amount of conquered territories and the aching need to expand the empire’s armies.
Before the ‘enichari’ corps to exist as a concept, the Ottoman empire enlisted volunteers from the enslaved countries and the corps consisting from those were called ‘yaya.’
Although not obvious a choice for slaves, one has to consider the importance of the military class for an ever expanding feudal empire. Soldiers, regardless of social standing, received satisfactory for the time payment. The Christians, who volunteered, even suffered none of the taxes and fees applicable for farmers or herders.
Yet, the ‘yaya’ corps met a quick end. Translated texts from that time period suggest that with the respectability gained from their position soldiers grew confident in their security. What I have read briefly mentions soldiers ‘doing outrageous acts,’ yet nothing definitive. In order to prevent further misdeeds and abuse, the sultan disbanded the corps. Personally, I think that the sultan’s administration found the ideological element missing and thus had to perfect what in theory was a good idea.
The administration reinforced the already existing ‘Ilams-L-Ganaira’ law, which allotted one out of every five male non-Muslim prisoners of war to the sultan. This progressive method for taxation kept slavers in check, while healthy males entered the army. Subsequently with this practice gaining popularity, a six category system based on age emerged.
Shirhor – children up to 3 years old.
Beche – children between 3 and 8 years old.
Gulyamche – boys between 8 and 15 years old.
Gulyam – 18 year olds.
Sakalluh – men older than 18 years.
Pir – old men.
After the initial selection, a second one commenced for every fifth boy from the ‘Gulyamche’ and ‘Gulyam’ categories. This screening ensured that only the healthiest and strongest boys would either be enlisted in the ‘enichari’ or be sent to the palace, if they were handsome. Either way, both groups spent time in Muslim families in order to adopt the Turkish culture and learn Turkish. The boys were circumcised and then asked to choose a Turkish name for themselves or have one picked for them. Based on what little information there is from that period I can confirm that ‘Abdullah’ [meaning ‘god’s slave’] was given as a father’s name in most cases. I can only speculate about the propaganda sultan official subjected the youth to as a means to install loyalty, erase all the non-Muslim origins and trick them into believing that they are Turkish rather than former slaves. While I can’t say that this worked on the older, I’m positive the ones under seven years old could be fooled.
What happened next is not entirely clear. How the children were actually treated is unknown as well as what they have studied, the conditions they lived in. What’s known is that the corps were a success to the point that the administration finalized and supported the corps through a series of laws and decrees.
The first steps in this direction aimed to secure a steady inflow of children. The focus shifted to the younger and more susceptible ones. Thus came to be the ‘blood tax,’ which demanded that each Christian family should give a male child to the empire for the ‘enichari’ corps. This usually meant the firstborn male child. No community was skipped or overlooked and child gathering processions became regular tax collection events, though there is no hard evidence as to how many years the Christian population was allowed to regenerate.
Collecting 'the blood tax'
The ‘blood tax’ is one of the darkest chapters in Bulgarian history in regards to the ‘enichari’ corps, the primary reason Bulgarian folklore abounds with tales of resistance, trickery and aggression against both Turkish soldiers and fully fledged ‘enichari.’ Parents hid their boys or switched boys from other villages3; rebel forces 4 organized strikes on such caravans, while in some areas it became popular to accept the Muslim religion, circumcise boys and dress them in Turkish clothing to fool official.
One of our lesser Name Day celebrations, ‘Petlyovden’5 , is dedicated to the ingenuity of one mother, who killed a rooster and smeared its blood all over her front door and steps. This way, when the ‘enichari’ came to gather her son, they saw the blood and figured that this house has already been visited by their brothers in arms.
"Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks" by Repin. This historical tableau, set in 1676, exploiting the legend of the reply that the Cossacks sent the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed IV. The Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Host, inhabiting the lands around the lower Dnieper River in Ukraine, had defeated Ottoman Turkish forces in battle. However, Mehmed demanded that the Cossacks submit to Turkish rule. The Cossacks, led by Ivan Sirko, replied in an uncharacteristic manner: they wrote a letter, replete with insults and profanities, and sent it back to the Sultan. Image & text courtesy of Wikipedia
Songs speak of how former sons of Bulgaria return to their homes to kill and/or torture their families and communities on sultan’s orders without realizing they raised hands against their blood. Others speak of ‘enichari’ coming home to recognize their family homes, their parents and siblings. The devastation the ‘blood tax’ caused on Bulgarians is ever lasting and I still do shudder, thinking about those times.
However, in the spirit of not being subjective and not applying a ‘black & white’ approach to this topic, I’d like to speak of the ‘enichari’ themselves. It’s true that Bulgarian Christians suffered hell over losing their children; it’s also true that the Ottoman empire employed cruel and devious tactics, but the ‘enichari’ as a corps rose as the most important rank in the army and also contributed to the empire’s downfall.
In the early years from the formation of the corps, the ‘enichari’ had no rights or privileges. None could take bride or own lands. Centuries later, though, saw the ‘enichari’ wed and with properties, ensuring wealth even after retirement. Even the sons of the first generations were accepted into the corps’ ranks.
Museum display of Enichari outfit.
With the empire’s military losses frequenting, the army’s needs fell into the background. By then, the ‘blood tax’ had been abandoned and the ‘enichari’ corps recruited men without any pedigree in the art of war. Apart from their sons, ‘enichari’ welcomed acrobats, dancers and fire fighters, mudding down the efficiency and prestige of the once elite force. Not only this, but any attempt to reform the army, bring focus on different corps or modernize equipment, meant heavy opposition or death for the reformers. Subsequently, on May the 29th 1826, a council of high ranking officials and religious figures gathered to disband the corps.
I’ve skipped some historical facts. After all, I’m not attempting to write a historical paper and as gruesome as the subject is, the structure of the corps and the decrees issued aren’t of crucial importance. I’ve presented the core story behind the ‘enichari’ corps starting from year 1365 and ending in 1826, almost five centuries later.
What has this to do with steampunk? Technically not much, since the Victorian era starts well after the corps have been disbanded and if I or anyone else were to be puritan as to what time era could be considered as steampunk, then ‘enichari’ flavored steampunk is not likely. But in theory a writer can do a lot with the history of the ‘enichari.’ There is enough ‘punk’, enough of the social unrest to make a story true steampunk. Add some steam-powered machines or twisted experiments and it’s a win-win.
Maybe your character will be a boy, who is sent to become an ‘enichar’ and has to resist the training, but pretends to be loyal to the sultan. Maybe your character is a brother or a sister, who has suffered the loss of a sibling being taken and then reunite as adults. Maybe your character will be a Turkish official, who takes pity on a particular boy and shields him from the cruelties waiting in the sultan’s palace guard. Or maybe you want to write about the ambushes done on the child gathering processions. There are multitudes of opportunities and all these stories are relatable.
As in my first article, I highlight that war and social unrest is what makes steampunk tick. In order to write steampunk and acknowledge it as such, one has to tap into indignities and the warrior spirit of the time era. What better topic for steampunk than the ‘enichari’ corps?
1 Thus resigning my country to struggle economically ever since. It’s a contributing reason as to why Bulgarians are bitter and still harbor animosity towards Turkey. Fair warning: I may be bitter and not objective, though so are some of my sources.
2 From a linguistic point of view I will be using the Bulgarian method of pluralizing; affixing an ‘i’ after the word instead of the English ‘s’.
3 Which implies that other children have been kidnapped and offered to the Ottoman empire. The Bulgarian rebels carried the name ‘haiduti’ and lived primarily in the mountains, from where they planned attacks on Turkish squadrons.
4 The Bulgarian rebels carried the name ‘haiduti’ and lived primarily in the mountains, from where they planned attacks on Turkish squadrons.
5 Or otherwise translated to Rooster Day.
Selected Sources:
1. “Enicharite” (in Bulgarian)
2. “On the question of the enichari, the blood tax and its application as a means for the islaminisation of the Balkan people” – Yordan Yordanov (in Bulgarian)
Harry Markov tries to fix his status from unpublished to a published, while at the same time not shutting up about the books that he reads. He’s a reviewer at The Portal and the former Temple Library Reviews. He rambles about writing and the journey of a procrastinating writer at Through a Forest of Ideas. He’s always available for a chat on Twitter @harrymarkov.
Filed under Essays, History
Tagged as "Eastern Europe", Ottoman Empire, slavery, transnational, war
3 responses to “#83 Enichari Corps: Slaves in the Ottoman Military — Guest Blog by Harry Markov”
Jonathan D. Beer
A fascinating article, thank you very much. I have designs on writing a steampunk-at-war series set in the Balkans, but have yet to embark on the research necessary to do such an ambition justice. The enichari corps is one of those gifts to alt-history writers – I wish you the best of luck in your own series!
Isaac Gente - Otto Zutz
I’m now not positive the place you are getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend a while learning much more or figuring out more. Thanks for magnificent information I used to be searching for this info for my mission.
uniform deals knoxville news sentinel13
Aw, this was a very nice post. In thought I want to write like this – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article is very rare…
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6674
|
__label__wiki
| 0.851484
| 0.851484
|
Second Source Confirms Obama Intends to Force Federal Grant Recipients to Accept LGBT Applications
By Austin Ruse | September 9, 2015
WASHINGTON DC, September 10 (C-Fam) A second source has come forward to confirm earlier Friday Fax reporting that the Obama administration intends to force Catholic and other Christian groups to accept LGBT applicants in hiring.
The source, who insists upon anonymity, described a meeting held for department and agency heads at the Old Executive Office Building next to the White House where they were informed of the change in policy.
An official from the Obama administration told the group that they would be required to add “sexual orientation and gender identity” to hiring guidelines for grant recipients, just the same as the Administration mandated for Federal contractors a year ago.
The source reported to the Friday Fax that any organization receiving the grant could not discriminate based on ‘sexual orientation and gender identity” in the hiring of an employee that worked on the program funded by the grant or in seeking subcontractors. Additionally, they could not discriminate based on ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ when implementing the respective program.”
When the Friday Fax first reported this change last May the administration, through the National Security Council, denied the change in policy. Various faith-based groups who are Federal grant recipients also received denials from their administration contacts.
Our source says the administration is lying when they deny such a change is in the works.
The first source who came to the Friday Fax in May said agencies were being asked to accept this new policy without an Executive Order and that the State Department legal office has advised the White House this would not be a legal matter but a matter of simply changing policy.
Federal contracting affects relatively few faith-based groups. It is under Federal grants that Catholic and Evangelical groups receive Federal money. There are many more, some say 50-1, grant recipients than Federal contractors. It is under Federal grants that faith-based groups assist poor people in the United States and around the world.
The Friday Fax reported in May that some Federal agencies are hesitant to make the change but because of pressure from the White House are reluctant to say so.
Such a change could be profoundly harmful to such groups that will now be dragged into the public fight over “sexual orientation and gender identity” where one government official has been jailed, and small business owners have been fined and harassed out of business for resisting the new sexual orthodoxy.
The second source who came to the Friday Fax last month says Friday Fax reporting and subsequent storm of criticism last May caused the administration to slow the process down but that the intention remains to force faith-based groups to accept applications and therefore employment of those who publicly oppose Christian teaching on human sexuality and marriage.
It is likely that some groups, perhaps many, will have to pull back from Federal funding and close certain programs that now help the poor in Africa and elsewhere.
View online at: https://c-fam.org/friday_fax/second-source-confirms-obama-intends-to-force-federal-grant-recipients-to-accept-lgbt-applications/
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6681
|
__label__wiki
| 0.78131
| 0.78131
|
Rob “Waldo” Waldman
09 Jul Rob “Waldo” Waldman
Speaker: Rob “Waldo” Waldman
The Wingman, Best-selling Author, Never Fly Solo
Speech Topics Include:
Never Fly Solo! The Power of Partnership to Reach New Heights in Business
“Wingman Leadership”: How to Build a Culture of Courage in Business and Life
Lt. Col. (ret.) Rob ‘Waldo’ Waldman – The Wingman – is a professional leadership speaker and author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Never Fly Solo. As a keynote speaker Rob “waldo” Waldman teaches organizations how to build trusting, revenue producing relationships with their employees, partners, and customers while sharing his experiences as a combat decorated F-16 fighter pilot and businessman.
In addition to his speaking business, Waldo is also founder and President of The Wingman Foundation, a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to build funds and awareness for soldiers, veterans and their families in need.
He is a highly experienced combat veteran with over 2,650 flight hours and sixty-five real world combat missions, having flown both in Iraq enforcing the “No-Fly Zone” and in Yugoslavia during Operation Allied Force in 1999. Some of his military honors include five Air Medals, two Aerial Achievement Medals, four Air Force Commendation Medals, and two Meritorious Service Medals.
Waldo overcame massive claustrophobia and a fear of heights to become a fighter pilot and believes that the key to building a culture of trust lies with your wingmen – the men and women in your life who help you to overcome obstacles, adapt to change, and achieve success. In business and life, you should never fly solo!
Waldo is a graduate of the U.S Air Force Academy and also holds an MBA with a focus on Organizational Behavior. A member of the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame, – an honor less than 200 speakers in the world have received, including Colin Powell, Tony Robbins, and Zig Ziglar, he is also a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), member of the board of the National Speaker’s Association, and his clients include Hewlett Packard, Verizon Wireless, New York Life, Siemens, Home Depot, Aflac, and Johnson & Johnson.
Voted one of the Top 40 under 40 Business Leaders in Georgia, he’s been featured on Fox & Friends, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, The Harvard Business Review, Investor’s Business Daily, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, INC. Magazine, and Business Week.
Flying solo? You might think so. But take a good look around. You have support staff. You have managers. You have suppliers, vendors and distributors. And you have colleagues, family members and significant others. Today in our super charged, highly competitive world of constant change, those who build trust and work as a team will dodge the missiles and win. By committing yourself to excellence and placing your trust in those around you, you can overcome obstacles, adapt to change and break performance barriers during adverse times.
Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman, The Wingman, overcame a lifelong battle with claustrophobia and a fear of heights to become a combat decorated Air Force fighter pilot and highly successful businessman, entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author.
Discover how to prepare diligently for every mission; employ loyal wingmen to promote integrity and mutual support and lead your team with courage, compassion and conviction. Be inspired to take to the skies knowing that you have wingmen to help you face challenges and change with confidence while maximizing your potential in all aspects of your life.
How can you instill a climate of ownership in your organization so that every person feels like they are accountable and responsible for its success?
What tools can you employ to motivate the members of your organization to focus on the mission rather than themselves?
How can you help create an organization where change and innovation are not met with fear, but embraced with courage and respected as a tool to beat the competition?
The key to building a high performing organization that encourages innovative thinking, loyalty to the mission, effective communication and a relentless commitment to excellence lies with its leadership. In this high energy, multimedia workshop, Waldo highlights the difference between managing people and leading them to be responsible, empowered and confident wingmen! What results is a more productive and efficient organization with superior morale that can rapidly overcome challenges in a competitive marketplace.
Waldo discusses proven leadership principles based on his experience as a graduate of the Air Force Academy, seasoned Air Force officer and combat decorated fighter pilot and experienced businessman.
Toggle Lights Toggle Full Window
SPEAKER ROB ‘WALDO’ WALDMAN –Teamwork & Leadership Speaker - Collaborative Agency Group
ROB ‘WALDO’ WALDMAN - Training & Preparation- Collaborative Agency Group
ROB ‘WALDO’ WALDMAN - Teamwork & Communication- Collaborative Agency Group
ROB ‘WALDO’ WALDMAN - Motivation & Leadership- Collaborative Agency Group
ROB ‘WALDO’ WALDMAN - On Love Lifts, Fear Drags- Collaborative Agency Group
ROB ‘WALDO’ WALDMAN - On CNN With Dr Sanjay Gupta on Fear- Collaborative Agency Group
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6685
|
__label__cc
| 0.669255
| 0.330745
|
Hacking Programs – The Hacker’s Toolkit
April 29, 2014 by Jennifer Marsh
Hacker toolkits are very similar to security toolkits. Both hackers and security experts strive to find vulnerabilities in networks and systems. The only differences between the two parties are their goals and the color of their hats.
There are thousands of tools and scripts around that do so many similar tasks. This article has selected key areas such as network analyzers, vulnerability Scanners, password crackers, and then discusses the most popular or outstanding candidate in that field.
Learn more about ethical hacking at Udemy.com.
Possibly, the single most important tool when evaluating a target network for a security audit or an attack is a network analyzer. A good network analyzer allows an attacker to visualize and document the network, its segmentation, its address plan, the protocol layers and the encryption, if any. Sometimes, just a brief glance is enough to tell if a network administrator is diligent in his design and maintenance or if the network is insecure.
When it comes to network analyzers, Wireshark is ages ahead of the competition. Wireshark is a fully functional open-source multi protocol packet analyzer, which works on Windows. Wireshark does live captures from the wire using pcap, or it can capture offline and save to a file for later analysis.
Wireshark sniffs a network in promiscuous mode by connecting to a span port on a switch. There, it can sniff all traffic for the entire LAN or subnet and display data per stream, making it easy to follow a particular TCP conversation. It captures and displays in real-time and displays what it captures in a GUI. It is very helpful to see the network in action. By visualizing the live data streams on a LAN segment, Wireshark makes it easy to pick out virus and spyware that scan the address space or badly behaved infected machines trying to hijack the local DNS.
Sometimes though, gaining physical access to the network is not feasible. That’s when switching the attack to Wi-Fi is a better way to mitigate damages.
Wi-Fi Sniffers
Aircrack
Aircrack is a suite of programs used in testing and cracking WEP and WPA 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi networks. It has the best cracking algorithm around when recovering wireless encryption keys once it has gathered enough encrypted data packets. It has other modules that cater for data capture, analysis and an airplay packet injection.
For an attacker, gaining access to the network is all very good but it’s the hosts, particularly servers, which are the targets. Once identified, the attacker needs to evaluate his defenses, and this is where a good up-to-date vulnerability scanner comes into play.
Vulnerability Scanners
When it comes to vulnerability scanners, Nessus is the most popular and flexible tool around. Nessus isn’t free. It’s about $1.2k a year, but that is still cheaper than a lot of its competitors. Nessus has a huge variety of vulnerability plug-ins (60k) as standard, and on the premium edition Nessus runs real-time vulnerability updates, unlimited number of scans and IPs per scan. Nessus will scan for missing or out of date security patches that will leave a system vulnerable to known attacks. It tests for open ports and protocol revisions searching for weakness against a huge database of known issues and vendor security releases.
Web Exploits
W3af
W3af is a very popular program for finding and exploiting weaknesses within web applications. The project’s goal is to help secure the web by finding and exploiting all web application vulnerabilities. Described as a web application attack and audit tool, it has many additional web application exploitation plug-ins making it the most effective and flexible tool for attacking vulnerabilities and penetration testing websites.
Once the attacker identifies a potential vulnerability, another essential item in the attacker’s toolkit is a high quality penetration tester. The attacker will use this to launch pre-configured tried and tested targeted attacks.
Protect your network and learn advanced security at Udemy.com.
The Metasploit community is an open-source penetration tester, but it has only basic exploitation features such as network discovery and limited ability to import scan data. The Pro edition is where it’s a great tool for penetration testing on all network sizes. Additional features include vulnerability testing with dynamic payloads, which are necessary to avoid intrusion prevention systems. It ships with hundreds of prepared exploits, and there are hundreds more in modules that can plug in to the extensible framework.
The problem for the attacker is intrusion detection systems will be monitoring the wire for suspicious behavior. If the attacker runs his own intrusion detector, he will be able to see what is going undetected and operate under the radar.
For IP wired networks, the Snort intrusion detection and prevention system can detect thousands of worms, viruses and vulnerability scans. It can detect most suspicious behavior and has thousands of configurable attack signatures available.
Once the attacker has focused on a potential victim and gained entry, it is time to try to gain administrative privileges. This is where a good password cracker comes in handy, and even though in this day and age it shouldn’t, it still does the trick.
Cain & Able is a password recovery tool for Windows. Cain & Able can sniff weak passwords on the network, crack encrypted password through dictionary, brute force and cryptanalysis attacks. It can also record VoIP calls and decode scrambled passwords.
Like security experts, hackers are focused on system vulnerability. Whether you’re a security expert or a hacker, having a toolkit prepares you for electronic warfare.
Understand your system’s vulnerabilities by taking a white hat hacking class at Udemy.com.
Filed Under: Students, Technology
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6692
|
__label__wiki
| 0.934721
| 0.934721
|
PODCAST: Pierre Koenig’s Modernist LA Homes
Architectural historian Neil Jackson explores key works by this important Los Angeles architect.
PODCAST: The Lives of Velázquez
Getty curator Anne Woollett explores the life of this great painter through two biographies by his contemporaries.
Tapestry with Pelicans, about 1500, German. Textile, 25 9/16 × 91 3/4 in. Kloster Lüne, Lüneburg, Germany. Image Ulrich Loeper CC Klosterkammer Hannover
PODCAST: Real and Fantastical Beasts from the Medieval World to Contemporary Art
What did people in medieval Europe believe about animals and how have those beliefs impacted art and culture then and now?
PODCAST: Talking Art History with Getty Research Institute Director Mary Miller
A wide-ranging discussion with the new director of the Getty Research Institute.
PODCAST: An American Odyssey—Mary Schmidt Campbell on Artist Romare Bearden
Romare Bearden’s life provides a fascinating window into the history of the United States and its art.
Performance of Ben Patterson's Instruction No. 2 (Please Wash Your Face) at the Getty Center. Photo: Ian Byers-Gamber for the LA Phil.
PODCAST: The Provocative Anti-Establishment Anti-Art of Fluxus
A collaboration between the LA Philharmonic and the Getty Research Institute brings Fluxus scores to life.
Courtesy of The Studio Museum in Harlem. Photo: Julie Skarratt
PODCAST: Thelma Golden on the Past and Future of the Studio Museum in Harlem
The museum’s director shares insights into the institution’s beginnings, its influential role in broadening the art historical cannon, and its exciting future plans.
Visitation, 1528–1529, Pontormo (Jacopo Carucci). Oil on wood panel, 70 1/2 x 61 7/16 in. Parrocchia di San Michele Arcangelo a Carmignano (Prato). Su concessione della Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la Città Metropolitana di Firenze e per le Province di Pistoia e Prato. Photo © Antonio Quattrone, Florence
PODCAST: New Insights into Jacopo da Pontormo’s Style with Curator Davide Gasparotto
Exploring the art and politics of Florence in the late 1520s through the works of one painter.
PODCAST: How Photographer Carleton Watkins Chronicled the West
Art historian Tyler Green discusses the life and legacy of an understudied photographer.
PODCAST: The Unusual Life of Photographer Julia Margaret Cameron
The story of a pioneering artist as told by Virginia Woolf, critic Roger Fry, and the artist herself.
PODCAST: Thomas Hines on Arthur Drexler and MoMA’s Department of Architecture and Design
Tracing the development of architecture and design at MoMA through the career of its longest-serving curator.
Gaeta (Fifty Photographs Plus One), 2015, Tacita Dean. 9 hand-printed gloss black and white fibre-based photographs mounted on paper, 11 hand-printed matte black and white fibre-based photographs mounted on paper, 12 hand-printed matte color photographs mounted on paper, 12 hand-printed high-gloss color photographs mounted on dibond, 7 hand-printed Cibachromes, Dimensions vary between 18 x 27 cm / 7-1/16 x 10-5/8 in. and 105 x 157.5 cm / 41-5/16 x 62 in. Courtesy of the artist, Frith Street Gallery, London and Marian Goodman Gallery, New York / Paris.
PODCAST: Artist Tacita Dean and Her Many Mediums
A wide-ranging conversation on the life and practice of a thoughtful and provocative contemporary artist.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6697
|
__label__wiki
| 0.833854
| 0.833854
|
Rant & Rave Season 8 [Spoilers]: When you are cool like a cucumber, as evil as the mother of madness, but never as perfect as the pet!
By The Fattest Leech, December 12, 2018 in General (GoT)
Wight nr 121
Just finished the last episode. Oh my, fine to get that out of my system. It's so sad, actually, that what started as a really good TV show and story back in season 1, was to degenerate into this nonsensical mess. It's sad, because I feel as if humanity could have gotten this great work of art, but ended up with a useless piece of garbage. As if Michelangelo had painted just a quarter of the roof of the Sistine Chapel, and then had decided just to smear his own puke all over the roof, including the part of the roof he had already painted. I grieve for what could have been. And I have long ago given up hope that we will ever get the book version of the story, so well, that's that. Good riddance, GOT. Thank you for all the wasted time.
It actually got worse with each season after S 1, but of course, the fall in quality became dramatic as soon as the show overtook the books, that is, from the last episodes of season 5 actually (And of course, the Dorne plot was absolute rubbish from start to finish). And then worse and worse with each season therafter. There was no hope of a decent finale, of course, because the groundwork laid in seasons 6, 7 and the first 5 episodes of this season was so weak. But then, D & D managed to outdo themselves by how ridiculous the last episode was, at least from after Dany was killed. Their incompetence as writers really shines through in such situations, when they are to write a story about how the aftermath of such a massive incident plays out. They really have no clue how to handle and how to present such a dramatic and complicated situation.
The "Grand Council" meeting, which became kind of the event the whole series built up to, just seemed like kind of a farce, and had absolutely zero believability. One after one agree to make Bran the king of the 7 kingdoms because Tyrion, in chains, tells them to. But then Sansa asks that the North be independent, and that's fine, according to Bran. And the rest of the lords think that is no problem - we still want to be a united kingdom (as if the others kingdoms had not been independent before Aegons' conquest too, as much as the North had been, and it's not as if nobody cares to remember that Yara actually secured the Ironborns' independence back in S 6, least of all herself). And we still want A NORTHERN NOBLE, that is, from the newly independent North, to be our king. Let the Starks have their independence, and let us invite one of them to rule us as well! It's like, WHAT??? What kind of a plot and what kind of a power play was this?
I guess the only reasonable interpretation of this whole mess is that the theme of the whole story (or of the last 3 to 4 seasons) is THAT EVERY MAJOR CHARACTER IS EXTREMELY STUPID, and therefore consistently acts in nonsensical ways.
And don't get me started on the "make-up" of the "Great Council" (was Sam there because he somehow had become Grand Maester, but just hadn't gotten his Maester clothes yet, or as Lord Tarly - and if he had become Lord Tarley, why was he suddenly Grand Maester the following episode?). And why were all the Stark siblings allowed a seat and a vote (seemingly), did this apply to the other noble houses as well? Was it kind of, like, any nobleman (and woman) in Westeros could actually attend this and vote, and this bunch were all the nobles that were left or who cared to attend?
And then that Jon had to be sentenced to serve in a non-existent Night's Watch to appease the Unsullied's wrath, and then the Unsullied were going to leave Westeros anyway (because Missandei had told beatiful stories about Naath to GW, so he of course has to bring all his brothers in arms on a dangerous voyage to an unknown land instead of taking the offer of land and lordships in Westeros. But I pity the poor people of Naath who is soon going to have this army descending on them...).
And the Dothraki conviniently just ceased to exist again. Or did they accompany the Unsullied to Naath? And if so, why? Well, I guess the people of Naath has much to look forward to.
And so on, and so on. Almost no single piece of the story told in the last episode made any sense. But I guess it doesn't matter because it all built up to having Bronn and Sam together on the small council, with Bronn arguing with Sam about whether to use public money on the rebuilding of the brothels. HAHAHAHA, it's so funny, Bronn has become master of coin and wants to use public money on subsidizing businesses where women can eke out a living selling their bodies to men. HAHAHAHA, oh Bronn, you're the best, you crack me up. So great that the whole series, who many have hailed for supposedly portraying strong women, built up to that epic moment.
And so on, and so on. There is so much which could be said, but when all is said and done, the sad conclusion is that what could have been a great work of art (based on S 1 and the source material) ended up as worthless soap opera garbage.
But whatever. We still have Shakespeare, Tolkien, Eurypides. The Wire, Sopranos, The Americans. Great stories by great writers! Something you never were, and probably never will be, D and D. Thank you and goodbye!
Lady Fevre Dream and nedfart reacted to this
Dragons Are Real
Location:Sioux Falls, SD
At last our watch has ended.
So my wife insisted we stay up and watch the last episode even though we usually watch episodes the next evening. Her reason? "I want this over with."
I found myself constantly looking at the timer on the episode clock, because that seemed to be more interesting than what was happening on screen. So thirty two minutes in and mostly what had happened was looking at the destruction of Kings Landing. Well, except for some babble speechification thing. Oh, and Tyrion walking into the room the building collapsed on in the previous episode and finding a small smattering of bricks laying over his brother and sister. Whatever.
Then another thirty two minutes for Jon and Tyrion to discuss how stupid the show's become by reviewing things out of context to frame arguments that could have been made by actually having the show do a story, but they decided was better as "epic" dialog that was ridiculous. Or something. Whatever. And Jon repeats, over and over, the only part of the script he was able to use as dialog, "she's my queen." Just 'cause. Yeah.
And he gets to use it one last time as he hugs her then aerate's her abdomen. Yeah, great dialog, fuckwads.
And once again the CGI beast does the best acting of the episode outside of Tyrion's eyebrows.
Magically everyone in the seven realms of any import at all knows to show up at Dragonstone at just the right time without any rhyme or reason. Tyrion's "trial." What the fuck ever. I mean, seriously, starts with Greyworm making a face like he needs a diaper change while saying Tyrion needs to STFU because he needs to STFU then Tyrion declaring Bran king and everyone instantly agreeing except for "UNCLE! SIT!" YAY! What the fuck ever. And since Tyrion's on trial, he'll be hand of Bran The Broken! Why the fuck they didn't just call him the Boneless while winking at the camera and giving up any pretense of originality they think they have left.
And fuck you Sansa just gets to DECLARE the North seceding from the union with no one else suggesting the same for their realm. FUCK YOU LOGIC! FUCK YOU REALITY! FUCK YOU CONSEQUENCE!
Small council of fools and idiots because reasons. Fuck you, trusting Bronn as master of coin. Really? Who in their right mind would do that? Not the Tyrion of any but this last season, that's for damn sure. Good lord, so stupid.
Oh, and Brann's already doing what most of the Kings had done and skipping his small council meetings. Go king!
When the hell did Sam have time to become Grand Maester in between knocking up his girl and writing the longest book of all time. Nice fancy letting on that book too, dickheads. Looks like it's right off the shelf at Barne's & Nobel. Eat a dick.
Brienne's book scene may have felt a little more genuine had she written, "pumps and dumps like a champ, then runs off to bang his sister." Fuck you show.
Jon to the Wall, which is magically already rebuilt with a nice sturdy gate on it. And he pets Ghost, because fan-fuzzies "dawwwwwww" that should have happened when they were together at Winterfell but fuck you because fuck you.
And Arya goes Christopher Columbusing her way off across the ocean with fresh sewn black sails with Direwolves on them. WOO! Killer assassin training at work on the high seas. Can't wait for that spinoff! NOT!
God damn. Seriously. We waited eight seasons for this?
My wife heard the Ds said they wanted everybody to be debating that last episode like everybody debated the last episode of Breaking Bad. Like, was that an A or an A+. She said the only debate is going to be was it an F or an incomplete. Because they may have turned in the paper, but they wrote in answers to multiple choice questions that made it seem like they didn't even read the question, and they skipped over the essay portion because writing is just way too god damn hard.
Full credit, she knows how to eviscerate someone when necessary.
I had said I really wanted to see the books complete because the story HAS to be better than this. I already knew I'm not watching anymore HBO fronted Game of Thrones related content. No way they can be trusted. But this has left a bad enough taste in my mouth my planned re-reading of what we already have and hoping for the completion of the books has really been curtailed. Hopefully that passes because I did enjoy what I had read thus far. I'm just not sure I can wipe the memory of how horrible the show ending was.
Jamie Roberts and Eltharion21 reacted to this
More Beauty and the Beast on my About Me
This isn't what we signed up for.
When "Game of Thrones" premiered eight years ago, it was instantly clear that the series was something different. It was a story that broke the conventions of the fantasy genre, not one that was a slave to them...
But that's not the show that aired its finale Sunday night. In the final episode, "The Iron Throne," the show was unrecognizable. It was hacky; it was cliched. Every character left standing received a saccharine coda. Closure is one thing, but pandering is entirely another...
"Iron Throne" is an episode that will go down as one of the most controversial series finales of all time... It didn't gracefully swerve into another lane, it careened off a cliff. And looking back at the series will never be the same.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/05/19/game-of-thrones-recap-series-finale-season-8-episode-6-the-iron-throne-jon-dany-arya-sansa-bran/3704539002/
Here's another:
Game of Thrones loved the Starks in the end — a bit of a twist, really, since it couldn’t always figure out what to do with them. Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) spent long years hiking north, before returning to Winterfell with his emotion chip removed. Arya (Maisie Williams) sold her cockles — “Oysters, clams, and cockles!!!” — on a semester abroad where she learned a very awesome shape-changing power the final season forgot about. Sansa (Sophie Turner) followed Dany into forced marriage — a miserable wound the series would try healing by promoting her into a Very Important Administrative Role that also pushed her to the narrative sidelines.
https://ew.com/tv-reviews/2019/05/20/game-of-thrones-finale-series-review/
Edited June 17 by Le Cygne
Jamie Roberts reacted to this
JonCon's Red Beard
Location:City of Kings
48 minutes ago, Dragons Are Real said:
A friend told me something similar. "I'll watch only because I want to be free!". Makes you wonder how many people are just watching due to inertia rather than because they're enjoying it.
Suzanna Stormborn
John Locke the 'Believer'
Location:Alderaan
Apparently there was a water bottle on screen during the Jon/Dany scene, just like the Starbucks cup.
edit: correction it was in the great council scene
I hate D&D more than anyone else in the Entertainment industry.
Edited May 20 by Suzanna Stormborn
The Coconut God reacted to this
LordImp
Protector of the realm
1 hour ago, Dragons Are Real said:
Dragonstone
The meeting was at the dragonpit in King's landing , not Dragonstone.
magically already rebuilt
Only Eastwatch was destroyed , Jon was at Castle Black . So pretty much the entire wall and the castles was functioning , so no need to rebuild anything.
4 minutes ago, LordImp said:
Right, sorry. Guess I had trouble paying attention to what was happening because everything was moving so fast and making so little sense.
LordImp reacted to this
After watching Dany fight tooth and nail for the weak and innocent throughout the series run (even showing off her affinity for somewhat alarming vengeance in just straight-up burning her enemies), her transition from the Mother of Dragons to the Queen of the Ashes happened so quick it felt like we had whiplash; it also didn't feel earned, nor did the sudden distrust of Dany by her advisers and other characters after they championed her for seasons...
The show has replaced all of Cersei's defining characteristics—ruthless convictions and cunning gameplay—with the fact that she's a mother. They didn't help matters by keeping her framed in a tower window all season, flanked by characters straight out of a late-in-the-episode Saturday Night Live sketch: a mute monster (The Mountain), a mad scientist (Qyburn) and the steampunk pirate paramour whose name must not be mentioned. When you look back, Cersei really didn't do anything all season; making her a passive bystander in her own life.
If "The Bells" taught us anything it's just women are just too emotional to rule, even if they are making moves—controversial as they may be—that men in this cutthroat world have made for thousands of years.
Add in the fan outrage over Ser Brienne of Tarth being reduced to crying in a bathrobe after Jaime leaves her just after she was finally (and deservedly) knighted (not to mention that her final solo scene of the series was documenting Jaime's merits!) and Missandei, the one woman of color on the show, ultimately serving as a device to move the plot forward, and it's not surprising that many viewers feel that the female representation on the show is lacking.
But the biggest issue came in episode two, when Sansa's rape, which caused possibly the show's biggest controversy when it aired in 2015, was brought up again during her reunion with the Hound. Jessica Chastain, Turner's Dark Phoenix co-star, took to Twitter after the episode aired to slam the scene which Sansa inferred the horrors she has endured over the course of the series, including the Ramsay Bolton assault, had turned her into a stronger person. "Rape is not a tool to make a character stronger. A woman doesn't need to be victimized in order to become a butterfly," Chastain tweeted. "The #littlebird was always a Phoenix. Her prevailing strength is solely because of her. And her alone."...
The criticism of the way the female characters storylines are playing out on screen could very well be because of the lack of female voices behind the scenes. Benioff and Weiss have written a majority of the series' episodes, with the list of directors is equally as small and mostly male... Maybe if Espenson or Taylor came back around they could've noted it's not a good look to say that the two powerful women who actually want the Iron Throne are just too damn emotionally unstable to rule, and that a white man who didn't want power truly deserved to be king, with another white dude who didn't want the position ultimately becoming king in the end.
https://www.eonline.com/news/1042391/why-game-of-thrones-final-season-was-always-destined-to-disappoint
Here's another article that addresses this, too:
https://news.yahoo.com/sadly-apos-game-thrones-apos-133431672.html
Edited May 20 by Le Cygne
Mindwalker reacted to this
http://www.theleehousehold.com/pics/writing.jpg
Wife found this and sent it to me. Can't stop laughing.
Edited May 20 by Dragons Are Real
Link didn't work
Laughing Storm Reborn
Have no fear, sers
Location:On the vanguard making history
Stay tuned for next season as Bronn gets to be lord paramount of westeros with some coin funded brothels as turist bait.
MVP of the entire show: Edmure Tully
Lol to Sansa telling Edmure to sit down. I still dont understand why Sansa gets a higher voice or more power than anyone else sitting in that council. Like why is everyone listening to her?
And Lol to Bran playing the long-con, the very long-con to make himself King. He knew what Dany would do the whole time apparently and let it happen so that he could be king? So how is he any better than Show-Dany? WTF is wrong with these people?
And someone please give me ANY ANY ANY ANY ANY reason that Jon was brought back from the dead or RLJ? give me any fucking reason!!!!!
Mindwalker and Le Cygne reacted to this
Lion of the West
Bannerman of Casterly Rock
53 minutes ago, Suzanna Stormborn said:
I imagine it was so that he could get close to Danaerys, come into her confidence but still not be a raging Mother of Dragons!!!-fanatic, and so drive that dagger into her heart. And also to make their relations and Jon's murder of Danaerys more impactful than if someone who was more distanced from her did it.
1 hour ago, Lion of the West said:
yes but that means that the Song of Ice and Fire, the Prince that was Promised is only around to help Dany's story make sense?
That's what I'm getting at, what a poor state of events for the Jon Snow character.
I'm sorry D&D did this to you Jon and Dany.
SeanF
He had to kill Daenerys, who in two episodes, went from Saviour of the World to She Wolf of the SS.
All I can say about this season as a whole is "It hurts us, it hurts us".
The Knight in Motley
I think the books might retain the Song of Ice and Fire, but the show has become an entry level college poetry reading of salt and schadenfreude.
You know, the most depressing part of this whole debacle? The books, and early seasons, have some really powerful story telling and themes. Actions, no matter how well intended, have consequences. Interactions, however brief, are remembered and can either come back to bite you, or help build you up somewhere down the line.
Then we have what the show has done in the last couple seasons, which sadly means even actions and potential set up early in the series end up wasted and forgotten. AT this point, nothing has consequences, nothing matters, and nobody remembers shit even scene to scene.
And then people that enjoy passively sucking up whatever garbage is thrown in front of them accuse those of us that pay attention of being mad because our favorite characters didn't get the ending we wanted or predicted. Um, no. I'm upset that the endings they got made no sense whatsoever. Point to point to point with no connections, no consequences, no relevance, and in some cases blatant spitting on what came before just because.
Bleh. What a shit-show.
So, am I the only one wondering about the ridiculous setups for spinoffs and whether the actors would ever come back to work for the hacks if things fall into/out of place properly? Like if Arya's Pirates of Darkwater spinoff comes along, will Maise actually come back for it? If Jon's King of the North North adventures in Dragon Sitting spinoff gets a greenlight a few years down the road, would Kit dare come back for it? Sam's Being a Maester with a cute Sidepiece spinoff . . . wait, that won't happen. We sorta liked Sam for about five minutes there at one point.
Cas Stark
Well, the show is over.
And not one person every said THE WOLVES WILL COME AGAIN.
Suzanna Stormborn reacted to this
Leticia Stark
The sweet part was always about the Starks, and as a Stark fan I'm happy, but I can't help and feel bad about Dany and Jaime and Jon.
Jon didn't die but he was literally a glorified extra and If he died in the end nothing would change.
And the Drogon scene with Dany was 100x better than the Ghost/Jon one, don't @ me.
Ser Quork
9 minutes ago, Leticia Stark said:
The Prince that was Pointless.
Dragons Are Real, -Winterfellian-, Suzanna Stormborn and 2 others reacted to this
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6709
|
__label__cc
| 0.692675
| 0.307325
|
IT'S COME TO THIS: TO DEFEND AGAINST ISLAMO-TERROR DURING OLYMPICS, LONDON IS GETTING MISSILE BATTERIES ON ROOFTOPS
LONDON — “It looked like one of those things where you get free pizzas through the post,” Hilal Bozkurt said, describing the innocuous-looking leaflet that came through her mail slot recently. “But this was like, free missiles.”
The leaflet was from the Ministry of Defense, and it briskly informed Ms. Bozkurt that her building, Fred Wigg Tower, part of a sad-looking public housing project in a depressed neighborhood in an unloved corner of this city, had been selected as a possible front line against terrorist attacks during the Olympics. Because of the 17-story tower’s strategic location and “excellent all-around view,” the leaflet said, the military was considering installing a “high-velocity missile system” on the roof.
“The air defense system will be manned by fully trained, professional soldiers,” the leaflet said, adding in the “frequently asked questions” section that it would “improve your local security and not make you a target for terrorists.”
WE IN THE WEST NOW HAVE TO INSTALL ANTI-MISSILE BATTERIES WITHIN OUR OWN BORDERS.
IOW: THE GLOBAL WAR AGAINST ISLAMO-TERROR IS NOT OVER.
BESIDES INSTALLING THESE MISSILE BATTERIES, THEY SHOULD BE ATTACKING ISLAMISM ON THE STREETS AND IN THE MOSQUES.
HMMM: LOS ANGELES FBI AGENT ASSIGNED TO NATIONAL SECURITY AWOL?!?
Stephen Ivens, a 35-year-old special agent who works in national security for the FBI's office in Los Angeles, was reported missing on Friday morning by his family. He was last seen on Thursday evening. Investigators say they have found no evidence of a crime in Ivens' disappearance and suspect the avid hiker and runner left his home in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank on foot headed into the rugged Verdugo Mountains.
Steve Gomez, an FBI special agent, said Ivens' gun was not found at his home after he left, suggesting that he had taken it with him.... "He was known to have been distraught and investigators believe he may be suicidal," Gomez said.
HMMM... STAY TUNED...
MORE PROOF OBAMA IS CRATERING: HOLDS EVENT IN RENO AND ALMOST NOBODY SHOWS UP!
Is This Something? Obama Stump Speech in Reno Draws Dozens
Hmmm. Probably not. I'll call it "more Saturday Stupid."
As leader of the free world President Obama will be used to making speeches to millions of people around the globe.So he might have felt the occasion was a little beneath him yesterday when he stopped off in Reno, Nevada, to deliver an address outside a couple's garage.
In what could be a disastrous photo opportunity for the President's campaign, Mr Obama spoke to a handful of people in the crucial swing state.
The president's 15 minute address outside the home of Paul and Val Keller on Friday afternoon, drew a small audience of neighbours and supporters - though even his hosts said they were not sure if they would vote for him in the coming election.
RELIAPUNDIT:
HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS I FOUND FROM THE EVENT:
ONE OF THE BIG OBAMA LIES: "OBAMA SAVED THE AUTO INDUSTRY"
OBAMA DID NOT "SAVE THE US AUTO INDUSTRY".
HE USED TAXPAYER MONEY TO BAILOUT GM AND CHRYSLER - BY SCREWING THE BONDHOLDERS AND SHAREHOLDERS AND HELPING THE UAW.
FACT: MOST OF THE COMPANIES BUILDING CARS IN THE USA WERE DOING FINE AND DIDN'T NEED A DIME: NOT FORD, NOT NISSAN, NOT HONDA, NOT BMW AND SO ON.
FACT: FIAT ENDED UP BUYING CHRYSLER AND THEY'RE DOING JUST FINE.
FIAT COULD HAVE BOUGHT THEM WITHOUT OBAMA GIVING AWAY A FEW BILLION OF OUR MONEY.
AND SOME OTHER CAR COMPANIES MIGHT HAVE BOUGHT DIFFERENT PARTS OF GM.
SO THE GM/CHRYSLER BAILOUT IS NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT.
BESIDES: GM STILL OWES US $26BILLION!
The way forward on abortion and Roe v Wade
All the SCOTUS has to do to move the nation forward on abortion is move FORWARD from Roe v Wade.
Should they get a pertinent case, the SCOTUS should maintain protection for all independently viable fetuses older than 20 weeks everywhere in the USA, and return regulation for abortions of fetuses under 20 weeks to the states.
If liberals like Obama think MARRIAGE is a state's issue then abortion certainly should be - up to a point of viability - that's when the federal government must intercede on the side of life.
OBAMA UNDERSTANDS JESUS AS WELL AS HE UNDERSTANDS ECONOMICS
OBAMA CITED JESUS IN HIS ENDORSEMENT OF GAY MARRIAGE.
AND HE THINKS YOU CAN TAX AND REGULATE YOUR WAY OUT OF A RECESSION AND TOWARD PROSPERITY.
BOTH ARE RANK MISCONCEPTIONS.
IN THE LIGHT OF HISTORY, THEY ARE BIZARRE.
EITHER OBAMA IS A MORON OR A DECEITFUL MENDACIOUS EVIL-DOER.
OR SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE - MAYBE THAT MAKES HIM A CENTRIST AFTER ALL!
OBAMA'S GAY MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT PROVES, ONCE AGAIN, HE IS A SELFISH EGOMANIAC - BECAUSE IT HURTS ALL CONGRESSMEN RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION IN TIGHT RACES
NOT ONLY DOES OBAMA HAVE NO COAT-TAILS, DEMOCRATS IN TIGHT RACES NOW HAVE TO RUN-AWAY FROM OBAMA.
OBAMA IS A LIABILITY TO THE USA AND TO DEMOCRATS.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE NOMINATED HIM IN 2008, AND IN 2012, THEY SHOULD HAVE DUMPED HIM.
A MORE ACCURATE AND TRUTHFUL DNC LOGO
THE SANDWICH IS 250 YEARS OLD TODAY!
EU BANKERS REALIZE GREECE WILL PROBABLY EXIT EURO
WHAT WAS ONCE CONSIDERED TABU AND OFF THE TABLE, IS NOW OPENLY BENG DISCUSSED AS LIKELY:
Europe central bankers have been openly expressing views on the possibility of Greece leaving the eurozone as its leaders struggles to form a government.
Germany's top banker said it was up to the Greeks to decide, but if they did not keep to their bailout commitments, they would receive no new aid.
His counterpart in the Irish Republic said a Greek exit would be damaging but not necessarily fatal to the euro.
Greece is to make a final attempt at forming a government on Sunday.
THE EXIT WILL BE GREAT FOR GREECE.
AND IF IT SPELLS THE END OF THE EURO FOR THE REST OF THE EU, THEN IT'S A GREAT GREAT THING.
SHORT, THERE WILL BE SOME HAVOC, BUT IN THE LONG TERM IT WILL BE GREAT.
EUROPEANS WILL HAVE MORE DEMOCRACY AND MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN ECONOMIES AND DESTINIES.
ROMNEY'S SPEECH AT LIBERTY COLLEGE GAVE ME TINGLES UP MY LEG
ROMNEY IS A GOOD MAN. HE WILL BE A GOOD PRESIDENT.
TODAY'S MUST READS:
ISLAMO-MISOGYNY - THE REAL WAR ON WOMEN
CO2PHOBIA IS WRECKING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY - (ALSO READ THIS, HERE)
OBAMA'S CHOSEN CHAIRMAN OF THE JCOS IS PROTECTING THE JIHAD
UNLESS WE CHANGE COURSE, THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IS HEADED FOR ANOTHER BIG RECESSION
NY'S DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMEN ARE TRAITORS
THE COMING ROMNEY LANDSLIDE? IT WOULD SEEM SO!
ROMNEY IS SURGING AND IS NOW OVER 50%, WHILE OBAMA - (WHO HASN'T REACHED 50% IN EONS!) - IS FADING.
AND IT'S NOT JUST IN THE USA: AN AP SURVEY SHOWS THAT ALL OVER THE WORLD PEOPLE HAVE FINALLY FIGURED OUT OBAMA IS A PIECE OF CRAP.
AND THE MORE OBAMA FOCUSES ON BULLSHIT LIKE TRAYVON AND FLUKE AND GAY MARRIAGE THE WORSE HE WILL DO.
VIDEO: ISLAMO-JIHAD, RAPE AND THE LEFT
VIA GOV - WHO HAS MORE, INCLUDING THE TEXT. EXCERPT:
... no amount of politically correct liberal/left evasion can disguise reality, and reality confirms the overwhelming culture of these paedophile rapists to be Islamic, and the overwhelming race of the majority of the victims to be indigenous British girls.
And this is not just a one-off case. It’s not only in Britain where this sort of thing happens, because the multiple gang rapes of indigenous girls by Muslims is replicated in every country where Muslims co-exist with non-Muslims:
There is a rape epidemic in Oslo. The vast majority of the perpetrators are Muslim, the vast majority of the victims are Norwegian Girls.
There is a rape epidemic in Malmö. The vast majority of the perpetrators are Muslim, the vast majority of the victims are Swedish girls.
There is a rape epidemic in Copenhagen. The vast majority of the perpetrators are Muslim, the vast majority of the victims are Danish girls.
There is a rape epidemic in Sydney. The vast majority of the perpetrators are Muslims, the vast majority of the victims are Australian girls.
WATCH IT! READ IT!
INDISPUTABLE FACT: IF OBAMA WINS, THEN TAXES GO WAY UP AND THERE WILL BE HUGE CUTS TO NATIONAL DEFENSE
IF OBAMA IS RE-ELECTED THEN THE BUSH TAX RATES WILL VANISH - RAISING TAXES ON EVERYONE BY 15%.
AND, THERE WILL BE MASSIVE CUTS TO THE PENTAGON.
ONLY ELECTING ROMNEY CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO STOP THIS.
AND ONLY THE ELECTION OF ROMNEY AND A GOP MAJORITY IN THE SENATE - AS WELL AS HOLDING IT IN THE HOUSE - CAN GUARANTEE IT'S STOPPED.
ONLY ELECTING ROMNEY GIVES US A CHANCE TO STOP THE US FEDERAL BUDGET AND US ECONOMY FROM SINKING.
RE-ELECTING OBAMA GUARANTEES THE US FEDERAL BUDGET AND US ECONOMY IMPLODE.
CLOWARD-PIVEN WILL HAVE BEEN FULFILLED BY OBAMA.
OBAMA WILL DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN - INCLUDING ATTACKING IRAN.
AS HIS OTHER OPTIONS FADE AWAY, WAR BECOMES MORE LIKELY.
AND IT'S THE WAR'S AFTERMATH, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE - EVEN THIS, MAYBE...
OBAMA BOWS DOWN TO GAYS AND HOLLYWOOD - AND WHAT'S NEXT....
HARDLY A SISTER SOULJAH MOMENT...
WHY DID OBAMA COME OUT NOW?
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS.
NOTHING IS AS IMPORTANT TO OBAMA AS IS OWN ADVANCEMENT; THE ADVANCEMENT OF HIS LEFT-WING POLICIES IS A CLOSE SECOND.
OBAMA SEEKS BOTH AT ANY COST.
AND AS HE CRATERS IN THE POLLS HE WILL BECOME MORE DESPERATE:
IF YOU THOUGHT HIS GAY MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS BIG, THEN WAIT FOR HIS POLITICALLY TIMED ATTACK ON IRAN.
JONAH GOLDBERG AND TURGENEV ON YOUTH
JONAH GOLDBERG:
IVAN TURGENEV:
Oh Youth: Little dost thou care for anything; thou art master, as it were, of all the treasures of the universe — even sorrow gives thee pleasure, even grief thou canst turn to thy profit; thou art self-confident and insolent; thou sayest, ‘I alone am living — look you!’— but the days fly by all the while, and vanish without trace or reckoning; and everything in thee vanishes, like wax in the sun, like snow....
And, perhaps, the whole secret of thy charm lies, not in being able to do anything, but in being able to think thou WILT do anything; lies just in thy throwing to the winds, the forces which thou couldst not make other use of....
OBAMA TRADING CARDS! (updated: scroll down!)
Collect them! Trade them!
MUST SEE TV: BECK EXPOSES SEVERAL BIG OBAMA LIES
OBAMA IS THE LOWEST PIECE OF LEFT-WING LYING CRAP EVER TO BE ELECTED TO ANY OFFICE IN THE USA.
GAO: America has 2.5 TRILLION barrels of recoverable oil on federal lands in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming
The Green River Formation, a largely vacant area of mostly federal land that covers the territory where Colorado, Utah and Wyoming come together, contains about as much recoverable oil as all the rest the world’s proven reserves combined, an auditor from the Government Accountability Office told Congress on Thursday....
... “USGS estimates that the Green River Formation contains about 3 trillion barrels of oil, and about half of this may be recoverable, depending on available technology and economic conditions,” Mittal testified.
“The Rand Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, estimates that 30 to 60 percent of the oil shale in the Green River Formation can be recovered,” Mittal told the subcommittee. “At the midpoint of this estimate, almost half of the 3 trillion barrels of oil would be recoverable. This is an amount about equal to the entire world's proven oil reserves.”
... In her written testimony, Mittal noted that three-fourths of the Green River shale oil is under federal land.
“The federal government is in a unique position to influence the development of oil shale because nearly three-quarters of the oil shale within the Green River Formation lies beneath federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior’s (Interior) Bureau of Land Management (BLM),” she testified.
WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN OPEN UP THESE RESERVES AND DRIVE THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL BACK DOWN TO $45 - WHERE IT BELONGS.
ONLY OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS STAND IN THE WAY.
OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIGH PRICE OF ENERGY - WHICH DRIVES UP THE PRICES OF EVERYTHING ELSE, HURTING POOR AND WORKING CALSS PEOPLE THE MOST.
AND SLOWING THE PACE OF THE RECOVERY.
GENDERCIDE IS ALIVE AND WELL IN... CANADA?!
THE ECONOMIST:
Sex selection is overwhelmingly associated with China and India.
But it may be spreading to rich countries, too.
A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) on April 16th looked at 767,000 births in Ontario province from 2002-07 and checked them against the mother’s country of origin.
For first-born children, the sex ratio was normal—105 baby boys to 100 baby girls (since boys are slightly more vulnerable to childhood diseases, this ratio provides for equal numbers at marriageable age).
For second children, the ratio was normal for mothers born in Canada.
But mothers born in South Korea bore 120 boys for each 100 girls.
And for Indian, Filipina and other East Asian mothers, the ratio was 110-111 to 100.
The explanation for this pattern in India is that couples welcome a first-born of either sex, but if she is a daughter, then some ensure the second child is a son.
That applies even more to third children: in Ontario, mothers born in India gave birth to 1,883 sons and 1,385 daughters, a hugely distorted ratio of 136 to 100.
THIS GENDER BIRTH-RATE DISTORTION IS CAUSED BY MOTHERS CHOOSING TO HAVE SONOGRAMS IN ORDER TO DISCOVER THE GENDER OF THEIR BABY AND THEN USING THE INFORMATION TO MURDER THEIR BABY IF THEY DON'T LIKE ITS GENDER.
ABORTIONS FOR THIS REASON ARE ABSOLUTELY MURDER AND THE MOTHERS - AND FATHERS IF THEY ARE AWARE - AND THE DOCTORS SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR MURDER.
IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO TELL THE PARENTS THE GENDER OF THE BABY UNLESS THEY SIGN A PLEDGE NOT TO ABORT - WHICH IF BROKEN IS PUNISHABLE AS A PREMEDITATED MURDER.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND TO ALL MOTHERS!
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS WHO WAS APPOINTED BY OBAMA HAS GUTTED THE PENTAGON'S COUNTER-JIHAD PROGRAM
Since 2004 until last month a Pentagon course for U.S. military officers taught that Islam — as opposed to al-Qaeda — is the true enemy of America and that a "total war" against Muslim cities without regard for civilians would be necessary to protect American interests, as reported by Noah Shachtman and Spencer Ackerman of Wired.
The course at the Defense Department’s Joint Forces Staff College — which teaches mid-level officers and government civilians about planning and executing war — was suspended last month after a student told Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey that he objected to the material.
GEE: IT'S ALMOST AS IF OBAMA WANTED US TO BE LESS WELL-INFORMED AND LESS WELL-DEFENDED TO OPPOSE IRAN, THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AND GLOBAL JIHAD.
IF OBAMA REALLY WAS A CRYPTO-MUSLIM OPERATING AS A DOUBLE AGENT FOR THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD THEN WOULD HE BE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?
Prenbendalism: America, Under Obama, Is Beginning To Look Like A Degenerate "Prebendialist" State Such as Nigeria
Richard A. Joseph, director of The Program of African Studies at Northwestern University, is usually credited with first using the term prebendalism to describe patron-client or neopatrimonialism in Nigeria. Since then the term has commonly been used in scholarly literature and textbooks.
The Catholic Encyclopedia defines a prebend as the "right of member of chapter to his share in the revenues of a cathedral."
Joseph used the term to describe the sense of entitlement that many people in Nigeria feel they have to the revenues of the Nigerian state.
Elected officials, government workers, and members of the ethnic and religious groups to which they belong feel they have a right to a share of government revenues.
Joseph wrote in 1996, "According to the theory of prebendalism, state offices are regarded as prebends that can be appropriated by officeholders, who use them to generate material benefits for themselves and their constituents and kin groups..."
As a result of that kind of patron-client or identity politics, Nigeria has regularly been one of the lowest ranked nations for political transparency by Transparency International in its Corruption Perceptions Index.
Other results include the corruption investigations into the activities of 31 out of 36 Nigerian governors, the frequent comments in the Nigerian press about the problems of corruption (for example, Victor E. Dike's article in the Daily Champion of Lagos, "Nigeria: Governance and Nigeria's Ailing Economy" and the common defenses of prebendalism as necessary for justice and equality in government funding (for example Oliver O. Mbamara's editorial, "In Defense of Nigeria: Amidst the Feasting of Critics" at Africa Events.
A Prebendalist State is a primitive state in which tribes send representatives to loot the Central authority for a region. The region functions as a state, even when it lacks natural cohesion other than that being vaguely defined in the aftermath of Colonialist rule.
Prebendalism is acknowledged as being active in post-colonial states like those of Nigeria and India.
Obama's 1) Identity Politics, 2) his allegiance to Union cronies, and 3) the vote-buying system he uses to push his agenda, have turned America into a Prebendalist State.
Given Obama's obsession with the evils of American Imperialism and "Colonialist" abuse, is it surprising that Obama's model for a working state is Africa?
It is possible, maybe even likely, that Obama sees minorities in America as being the victims of American Colonialism, just as much as Africans are.
Therefore, because Prebendalism is a means for such victims to obtain "Justice" thought payment of something very much like Reparations, Obama seems to be instituting exactly the same kind of system, as if by design.
Whether it is intentional or not, the course we taking, into African-style Prebendalism, is absolutely frightening.
MUSLIM ANTI-SEMITISM TAUGHT IN TORONTO
Andrew Bostom writes about the discovery of how a madrassa, unsurprisingly, was teaching Jew-hatred in Canada:
What was not discussed, almost axiomatically, is that these calls for jihad against non-Muslims, and rationalizations for Muslim Jew-hatred, were drawn, in appropriate context, from the Koran, and Sunna (the hadith, the Muslim prophet Muhammad’s words and deeds, and sira, the earliest pious Muslim biographies of Muhammad), Islam’s most important, sacralized canonical sources. This glaring omission—failing to identify, let alone elaborate upon, the canonical Islamic references often plainly cited in the “offending” curricular materials—is entirely consistent with the coverage of similar stories in recent years, for example from New York City, and Fairfax, Virginia, in the US, and indeed virtually all mainstream reportage on the education of Muslim children attending Islamic schools in the West.
Just as predictably, representatives of the Jewish community reacted with shock and indignation that their delusion of a Canadian cultural relativist paradise had been momentarily shattered. Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, opined
To think that this is happening right here in Canada, in our backyards, in our own country where we promote tolerance, diversity, understanding, human rights, and bringing those types of concepts over the from the ancient world if you will, its just unbelievable.
David Spiro, Greater Toronto Co-Chair of The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, in a 5/7/12 press release, added,
Using religion to promote hatred among youth is not just offensive and abhorrent – it shows a stunning disregard for Canada’s basic values of decency and tolerance.
And I would add that any religion built on teaching violence and bigotry is, quite simply, redundant. And that the failure of Canada's politicians to actually deal with this is fairly consistent with their own forms of political correctness over the many years. Why should it be surprising this could be taking place there? What does need to be done is to confront Canada's political class on these issues and ask if they really want to make this a better world, and Canada a safer place to live.
9 MUSLIMS MEN CONVITCED OF 631 RAPES OF CHILDREN
ISLAM = ROR. LINK FIXED
THE SWAMP THAT BREEDS ISLAMO-TERROR IS THE ISLAMO-MISOGYNIST HOME:
FAMILIES THAT BREED BOYS WHO BELIEVE IT'S GOOD TO MURDER THEIR OWN MOTHERS AND SISTERS TO RESTORE "FAMILY HONOR" ARE OF COURSE GOING TO GROW INTO MEN CAPABLE OF COMMITTING GENOCIDE AND MASS RAPE AGAINST PEOPLE THEY DEEM "INFIDELS".
THE END GLOBAL JIHAD WE HAVE TO END ISLAMO-MISOGYNY.
JUST AS WE ENDED SLAVERY.
MIROBAMA?!?!?!?
UH-OH: EUROPE TO GO INTO RECESSION THIS YEAR
The eurozone economy is forecast to shrink this year as its debt crisis continues to bite.
The European Commission's spring forecast confirmed its prediction of a 0.3% contraction in 2012 in the economies of the 17 countries that use the euro.
THE SOLUTION IS DUMPING THE EURO, AND ROLLING BACK THE EU - BOTH ARE ANTI-DEMOCRATIC AND RETARD GROWTH AND PROSPERITY AND SELF-DETERMINATION OF NATIONS AND SUFFRAGE.
FOUR MORE YEARS!?!?!? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
HOW COULD ANYONE WANT FOUR MORE YEARS OF THE SAME!?
A MAN IS ONLY AS GOOD AS HIS WORD
OOPARTS OR "ANCIENT ANOMALIES"
Scientific American:
Of all the many unexplained phenomena, experiences, and objects in the world, ones that hold a great deal of fascination for me are what I categorize as "ancient anomalies." Also called "ooparts," these are objects that by scientific measure are very old, but in form or construction appear to be quite modern. They are impossible fossils, out-of-time technology, anachronistic artifacts. In other words, if our history of the world is correct, they just should not exist. And there are many examples - many more than geologists, archaeologists, and other scientists care to admit.
Why are they so fascinating? Many reasons. First of all, most of them are real and tangible. Unlike ghosts, mysterious creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, and phenomena like telekinesis, these unexplained artifacts have been seen, touched, and examined. There they are before our eyes, with nothing in our current experience or knowledge to explain them. Second, because they do exist and do not fit the standard scientific timeline or geologic and anthropologic chronology, they suggest, in their own baffling way, that either our dating techniques are wrong, geology does not progress the way we suppose it does, or there is far more to the history of life on this planet than we currently know about. In any case, these bothersome ooparts upset established, orthodox thinking. Here are a few, for your consideration:
These are the best kind of ooparts because they have been documented, often photographed, and examined by experts:
"Spark plug" in a geode. In 1961, the owners of a gift shop in Olancha, Calif. found a fossil-encrusted geode in the Coso Mountains. When one of the owners cut the geode in half with a diamond saw, however, he found an object inside that was obviously artificial. The object had a metal core surrounded by layers of a ceramic-like material and a hexagonal wooden sleeve. When X-rayed, the object seemed to resemble a modern spark plug or some other electronic component. Yet it had been completely encased in a geode that was covered with fossils estimated to be 500,000 years old.
Very old nail.
In 1851, The Illinois Springfield Republican reported that a businessman named Hiram de Witt found a fist-sized chunk of auriferous quartz while on a trip to California. When it accidentally slipped from his hands, it split open, and out fell a cut-iron nail. The quartz was about 1 million years old.
Gold thread among the rock.
The Times of London reported in 1844 that workmen quarrying stone near the River Tweed in Scotland found a piece of gold thread embedded in the rock eight feet below ground level.
Chain in coal.
In 1891, Mrs. S. W. Culp, of Morrisonville, Ill. was fragmenting coal into smaller pieces for her kitchen stove when she noticed a chain stuck in the coal. The chain measured about 10 inches long and was later found to be made of eight-carat gold, and described as being "of antique and quaint workmanship." According to the Morrisonville Times of June 11, investigators concluded that the chain had not simply been accidentally dropped in with the coal, since some of the coal still clung to the chain, while the part that had separated from it still bore the impression of where the chain had been encased.
Ancient modern tools.
While quarrying limestone in 1786, workers came to a bed of sand about 50 feet below ground level. In the layer of sand, however, they found the stumps of stone pillars and fragments of half-worked rock. Digging further, they found coins, the petrified wooden handles of hammers, and pieces of other petrified wooden tools. The sand in which the discovery was made was beneath a layer of limestone dated at 300 million years old.
Mysterious vase.
In June, 1851, Scientific American reprinted a report from the Boston Transcript about how a metallic vase, found in two parts, was dynamited out of solid rock 15 feet below the surface in Dorchester, Mass. The bell-shaped vase (see photo), measuring 4-1/2 inches high and 6-1/2 inches at the base, was composed of a zinc and silver alloy. On the sides were figures of flowers in bouquet arrangements, inlaid with pure silver. The estimated age of the rock out of which it came: 100,000 years.
Too-old screw.
In 1865, a two-inch metal screw was discovered in a piece of feldspar unearthed from the Abbey Mine in Treasure City, Nev. The screw had long ago oxidized, but its form - particularly the shape of its threads - could be clearly seen in the feldspar. The stone was calculated to be 21 million years in age.
FASCINATING STUFF.
HOW OBAMA AND THE LEFT ARE TRYING TO POLARIZE AMERICA
TRAYVON.
FLUKE.
GAY MARRIAGE.
SEAMUS THE DOG.
THEIR ONLY CHANCE AT WINNING IS BY DISTRACTING AND DISTORTING AND FALSELY ACCUSING.
At What Point Does It Cease To Be Mothering And Start To Be Child Molestation?
RELIAPUNDIT ADDS:
Iotw:
ANOTHER STUPID INNACURATE OBAMA BOAST: brags about $299 MILLION in Stimulus funds given to a "GREEN" company that has since downsized their American plant built a factory in Hungary
Johnson Controls received $299 million in taxpayer-funded stimulus dollars to make electric batteries and open up two factories in the U.S.
But instead of opening two American factories, as they expected, Johnson Controls only opened one, according to a report last year from the Washington Post, and that plant only operates at half-capacity.
But never fear, Johnson Controls just announced last month that they will build a second plant after all... in Kecskemet, Hungary. That's from a story in the Milwaukee Business Journal.
And it gets better. Demand hasn't been what they expected so Johnson Controls is going to layoff an unspecified number of workers at their corporate headquarters according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Oh, and it was just reported earlier this month by Kevin Kistler that the battery plant where Slagle works in Springfield Township was hit with a hefty fine from OSHA for exposing employees to an unreasonable amount of lead.
RTWT!
IN 1913, JEWS WERE FORBIDDEN TO ENTER THE PATRIARCHS TOMB
Via One Jerusalem, this is an ancient filming of Israeli cities in 1913. Of important note is how at the time, Muslims forbade Jews entrance to the Tomb of the Patriarchs. They were only allowed to pray outside. It should serve as a vital message of what could happen if the ummah were ever to retake control of Jewish and Christian sites again anywhere in Israel.
Islam is inherently hegemonic and seeks to take over the West
MUST SEE TV.
OBAMA'S DEFENSE OF TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE WASN'T WRITTEN IN STONE
SOME THINGS ARE WRITTEN IN STONE,
AND SOME THINGS AREN'T.
Moses holding The Two Tablets -
East Wall Frieze of the US Supreme Court
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN STONE.
OBAMA'S PLEDGES ARE NOT.
OBAMA'S PLEDGE TO DEFEND TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE WAS LIKE HIS MANY OTHER PLEDGES:
TO TAKE PUBLIC FINANCING OF HIS 2008 CAMPAIGN.
TO CLOSE GITMO.
TO MOVE KSM'S TRIAL TO NYC.
TO NEVER RAISE TAXES ON THE MIDDLE CLASS.
TO MAKE SURE OBAMACARE LOWERED COSTS AND ALLOWED YOU TO KEEP YOUR PRESENT INSURANCE.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, POLITICIANS DO NOT KEEP THEIR PROMISES.
THAT'S A KEY REASON TO SUPPORT SMALL GOVERNMENT: THE SMALLER GOVERNMENT IS THE LESS UNPRINCIPLED POLITICIANS CAN STEAL OR STEER TO THEIR CRONIES.
POLITICIANS WHO DO KEEP THEIR PROMISES ARE PRINCIPLED - AND THEY ARE RARE.
SPAIN'S PRIVATE SECTOR DEBT - AND NOT ITS GOVERNMENT DEBT - IS COLLOSAL
An important metric in the euro zone debt crisis has been government debt as a percentage of the total economic output, and Spain has a relatively low ratio of 70 percent, compared with 165 percent for Greece and 120 percent for Italy.
But according to a recent report by McKinsey on global debt, Spain’s nonfinancial private sector debt is 134 percent of gross domestic product, higher than any major economy in the world with the exception of Ireland, where the figures are skewed by the outsize presence of foreign multinationals. Factoring in bank, household and government obligations, the total figure rises to 363 percent of G.D.P., trailing only Japan at 512 percent and Britain at 507 percent.
“The problem in Spain is not government debt, it’s private sector debt,” said Jonathan Tepper of Variant Perception, a London-based research boutique with a specialty in Spain.
SPAIN'S PROBLEMS ARE NOT THE RESULT OF THE BUSH TAX CUTS, OR UNFUNDED WARS, OR WALL STREET GREED - OR THE 1%.
THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE AND COMPANIES - BORROWING MORE THAN THEY CAN PAY BACK, AND BANKS LENDING TOO MUCH MONEY TO PEOPLE AND COMPANIES WHO CAN'T PAY IT BACK.
THE PEOPLE WHO PROPERLY MANAGED THEIR FINANCES SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO PAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T - THAT REMOVES THE MORAL HAZARD FOR THE BAD FOLKS AND IMPOSES IT ON THE GOOD FOLKS.
IT'S MORALLY UPSIDE-DOWN - SO OF COURSE, IT'S WHAT THE LEFT SUPPORTS.
ICELAND DID IT THE RIGHT WAY; GREECE AND SPAIN SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT: SAY NO TO BAILOUTS; SAY YES TO BANKRUPTCY AND WITHDRAWING FROM THE EURO AND GOING BACK TO CHEAP NATIONAL CURRENCY.
IT WILL IMPROVE THEIR COMPETITIVENESS, AND THEIR DEMOCRACIES.
PREDICTION: AFTER OBAMA LOSES THE ELECTION HE WILL THEN DIVORCE MICHELLE...
... AND MARRY A MAN.
WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.
GUARANTEED NOT HALAL: MISS PIGGY
MISS PIGGY:
JIHADIST CHILDREN'S PUPPET CHARACTERS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT:
HATRED IS TAUGHT. JIHAD IS TAUGHT. THE OSLO ACCORDS AND SUBSEQUENT AGREEMENTS CALLED FOR AN END TO THIS TYPE OF HORRIFYING PROPAGANDA. BUT IT GOES ON. AS LONG AS IT GOES ON, THERE WON'T BE PEACE.
"Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us." - GOLDA MEIR
OBAMA: BLOWHARD
OBAMA IS WORST PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME -
FROM AN AMERICAN POV, THAT IS.
FROM THE POV OF PUTIN AND
THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AND IRAN,
HE'S THE GRRRRRRREATEST!
NEW VIDEO: FARAGE ATTACKING THE EU AND THE EURO AND DEFENDING DEMOCRACY FOR EACH NATION
MUST SEE TV: FARAGE ON THE EURO CRISIS
BBC VIDEO. EXCERPTS:
"This has all gone badly wrong and the EU Titanic has now hit the iceberg.... "It's a European Union of economic failure, of mass unemployment and of low growth."
Of the euro, Mr Farage also said: "This now poses huge dangers to the continent. We face the prospect of mass civil unrest, possibly even revolution in some countries that are being driven in to total and utter desperation... "In Greece what we saw last Sunday was rather reminiscent of the German election of 1932. We saw the status-quo centre collapse and the extremes of Right and Left rise. "This project could even cause the rebirth of National Socialism in Europe. We are headed the wrong way.... "We must break up the eurozone. We must set those Mediterranean countries free."
MORE ON THE EURO-CRISIS HERE.
MORE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROOF OF THE BIBLE'S TRUTH
A bundle of new discoveries on a rocky hill in Israel may upend the community of Biblical historians struggling to understand Judah in the time of King David. Professor Yosef Garfinkel from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a team of archaeologists have been excavating the ancient city of Khirbet Qeiyafa, and have recently unearthed a trio of cultic shrines that date back to the time of King David. Along with stone and metal tools, pottery and art objects, the site provides the first evidence of a cult at the time of King David. Based on the archaeologists' analysis, the religious practices of the cult also match the traditions described in the Bible.
"This is the first time that archaeologists uncovered a fortified city in Judah from the time of King David. Even in Jerusalem we do not have a clear fortified city from his period. Thus, various suggestions that completely deny the biblical tradition regarding King David and argue that he was a mythological figure, or just a leader of a small tribe, are now shown to be wrong," Garfinkel told Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He explained that radiometric measurements performed at Oxford dated the artifacts to around 1020 to 980 BC, 30 to 40 years before the construction of King Soloman's temple. "Over the years, thousands of animal bones were found, including sheep, goats and cattle, but no pigs. Now we uncovered three cultic rooms, with various cultic paraphernalia, but not even one human or animal figurine was found. This suggests that the population of Khirbet Qeiyafa observed two biblical bans - on pork and on graven images - and thus practiced a different cult than that of the Canaanites or the Philistines."
EVERY TIME THEY STICK A SHOVEL IN TO THE HOLY LAND THEY PROVE THE BIBLE IS TRUE.
WHO LEAKED THE FACT THAT WE HAD A DOUBLE AGENT IN AQAP - AND WHY???
Saudi Arabian intelligence operatives are upset that information on one of their double agents working with al Qaeda in Yemen has leaked out.
CNN has reported a double-agent controlled by Saudi Arabian intelligence was responsible for delivering a sophisticated al-Qaeda bomb into the hands of the CIA....
... The intelligence community is furious - the Saudis say the information came from Washington, and compromises their intelligence assets on the ground, as well as on-going operations.
THIS LEAK WAS NOT AN ERROR; IT WAS A DELIBERATE LEAK AIMED TO HURT OUR COUNTER-TERROR EFFORTS.
HOW? SIMPLE: THE JIHADISTS HAVE MOLES AND SYMPS WORKING HERE - ON THE INSIDE!
CNN: Spy chief orders review of bomb plot leaks
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has ordered an internal review across the intelligence community to determine if leaks regarding a Saudi mole who infiltrated an Qaeda affiliate in Yemen came from any of the 16 intelligence agencies he oversees.
OBAMA CALLED PUTIN TO CONGRATULATE HIM
HE ACTUALLY CONGRATULATED PUTIN.
Putin snubs USA, won't come to Camp David...
From Foreign Policy:
A senior administration official told The Cable that Putin's ongoing formation of the new Russian government was the main reason he will not be coming to the United States.
"Putin will not attend the G-8," the official told The Cable. "He has to finalize the cabinet in the new Russian government. However he will meet with the president on the margins of the G-20 summit in mid-June."
Also, the domestic optics would bad for Putin if he goes to the United States as his first overseas trip as president. Putin criticized the U.S. government throughout the campaign and accused Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of fomenting unrest inside Russia during the election campaign.
For the administration, Putin's absence cuts both ways. Medvedev is seen in Washington as more amenable to working with the U.S. government than Putin and has good relationships with Obama administration officials. But Putin's decision to not attend delays what would have been his first meeting with Obama as president and removes a chance for the two leaders to promote an image of cooperation in the wake of tensions between Washington and Moscow that surrounded the Russian elections.
All of Obama's apologies, all his groveling, bowing, and diminution of America have not bought him any friends he can count on in crunch time.
KEITH JUDD'S 40% REVEALS THAT OBAMA IS VERY VULNERABLE
WHEN "NONE OF THE ABOVE" GETS 40%,
THEN YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6710
|
__label__cc
| 0.636182
| 0.363818
|
UNESCO, 2 results 2
Preparatory Commission of UNESCO, 1 results 1
UNESCO Staff Associations, 1 results 1
Conference of Allied Ministers of Education , 1 results 1
International Institute of Intellectual Co-operation, 1 results 1
Archives and Documentation of International Organizations
FR PUNES AG 15
The Archive Group has three fonds:Archives of the Intergovernmental Bureau for Informatics (IBI)Archives of the International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies (ICPHS / CIPSH)Part of the archives of the African Training and Research Ce...
Archives of Colour Reproductions of Paintings
This Archive Group refers to a project of the Culture Sector from 1949 to ca. 1979. Since 1949, UNESCO, with the assistance of its National Commissions, made contact with publishers of reproductions of famous paintings throughout the world. The r...
Archives of Field Offices, Institutes and Centres
The Archive Group is composed of archives of UNESCO Field Offices, Institutes and Centres which have been transferred to the UNESCO Archives in the Headquarters building in Paris. It further includes a collection of information about the archival...
Archives of Staff Associations
The archival holdings of the UNESCO Staff Associations concern all activities of the associations (cultural activities, journeys, sports, gala, tombolas, incl. photos of the events), the relations between the association and the Director General, ...
UNESCO Staff Associations
The Audiovisual Section, Sector for External Relations and Public Information, keeps the major part of the audiovisual collections covering the period 1945 to present, namely: - A film collection of 12,500 cans, containing a little over 1,000 titl...
Conference of Allied Ministers of Education
The Archive Group contains the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education fonds.
In 2004, UNESCO launched an electronic records management initiative in order to archive the growing number of e-mails and electronic documents. The same year, the Archives and Records Management Unit started to regularly crawl the UNESCO portal a...
International Institute of Intellectual Co-operation
The Archive Group is composed of the International Institute of Intellectual Co-operation (IICI) fonds.
Microcopies
Microcopies of official documents
Publications, documents and records on UNESCO
The Archive Group contains publications, articles, films, research, documents and records about UNESCO, its purpose and its activities. It also contains a number of small private fonds of former staff members, consultants, and delegates.
The Archive Group consists of coded official documents issued by the Secretariat and then transferred to the Archives.
Secretariat Records
Secretariat records, as separate from Secretariat Documents issued with official document codes, include programme files, project files, division files, registry files, administrative files, and working files. The Archival Group is comprised of t...
UNESCO Publications
The Archive Group consists of publications produced or funded by the UNESCO Secretariat from the foundation of UNESCO in 1946 until now. The Archival Group is arranged into three collections:Works published directly by UNESCO under its own imprint...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6712
|
__label__wiki
| 0.587966
| 0.587966
|
On modeling locus heterogeneity using mixture distributions
Shili Lin1 and
Swati Biswas2Email author
© Lin and Biswas; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2004
Locus heterogeneity poses a major difficulty in mapping genes that influence complex genetic traits. A widely used approach to deal with this problem involves modeling linkage data in terms of finite mixture distributions. In its simplest setup, also known as the admixture approach, a single parameter is used to model the probability that the disease-causing gene of a family is linked to a reference marker. This parameter is usually interpreted as the overall proportion of linked families.
In this article, we address two issues regarding the admixture approach. First, we tackle the question of whether the single parameter of linked proportion is well defined in general. By formulating the likelihood under a classification scheme based on distributions, we show that such a parameter is meaningful only when a certain well-characterized condition is met. Second, we study a condition given in the literature for validating the admixture approach. A counter example is constructed to illustrate that the condition does not necessarily lead to valid estimates.
Estimators from the admixture approach may be inconsistent. This holds even if a condition given in the literature to validate the approach is satisfied.
Recombination Fraction
Reference Marker
Locus Heterogeneity
Mapping disease genes influencing complex genetic traits is far more difficult than mapping genes underlying Mendelian traits. One of the difficulties is due to locus heterogeneity, in which the disease in different families (or in different individuals within a family) is caused by different loci or non-hereditary factors. Finite mixture distributions have been proposed to model linkage data in the presence of locus heterogeneity [1], also known as admixture modeling. It is currently a widely used approach for testing heterogeneity and/or linkage [2]. In its simplest setup with two parameters, each independent data unit (usually a single family) is assumed to be either linked or unlinked. Here a family is said to be linked if its disease-causing gene is linked to a reference marker. In the two-parameter setup, all linked families are assumed to have the same linkage parameter, the recombination fraction θ. The heterogeneity is modeled by a single parameter (α) that denotes the probability that a family is linked. This parameter is interpreted by many researchers as the overall proportion of linked families.
Despite the popularity of the admixture approach, a number of authors have pointed out limitations with the approach, albeit reaching different conclusions on its practical values. For example, one of the assumptions of the admixture approach is that there is only inter-family, but no intra-family, heterogeneity. Goldin [3] and Durner et al. [4] carried out simulation studies to show that violation of this assumption does not necessarily lead to a loss of power for detecting linkage. Another inherent assumption of admixture approach is that the genetic models at the linked and unlinked loci are the same. Vieland and Logue [5] showed that violation of this assumption leads to asymptotically biased parameter estimates. They showed that in this situation, the parameter α does not even measure the proportion of linked families within the sample, contrary to popular belief. Similar conclusions were obtained in the simulation study by Pal and Greenberg [6], in which the authors simulated data under various two-locus heterogeneity models, genetic parameters, ascertainment schemes, and phenocopy frequencies to see their effect on α. Nevertheless, these studies as well as some other simulation studies (see [7] and references therein) support the use of admixture approach as a robust tool for testing linkage in the presence of heterogeneity.
Other researchers take a different view, pointing to potentially severe biases of the estimates obtained from the admixture approach (e.g., [8, 9]). Whittemore and Halpern [9] provided comprehensive discussion on the genetic assumptions underlying the admixture approach. One of the foci was on whether the admixture parameter (α) is meaningful when certain assumptions are violated. Janssen et al. [8] showed, through examples, that estimates of α and θ can be severely biased when the distribution of informativeness in the linked families is not roughly the same as that in the unlinked families, under some measure of informativeness for linkage studies. They used a measure called Effective Number of Informative Meioses (EFNIM) to assess the informativeness of a family. It is based on the Expected LOD (ELOD) score of a family. They argued that, if the Linked and Unlinked Families are nearly Equally Distributed (LUFED) in terms of EFNIM, then the admixture procedure should provide satisfactory, i.e., nearly unbiased, results.
In this article, we consider the same problems discussed in Janssen et al. [8] and Whittemore and Halpern [9], but from a more statistical perspective in terms of formulating the likelihood based on finite mixture distributions. In the usual formulation of finite mixture modeling for statistical inference, the data in the sample are independent and identically distributed (iid). The distribution of each of these data points is a finite mixture of several component distributions, with known or unknown mixing proportions, called weights [10, 11]. In linkage analysis with family data, unless all families follow the same distributions both under linkage and no linkage (i.e., all families having the same component distributions), the usual admixture approach does not reflect the correct likelihood function (or, equivalently, the heterogeneity LOD function). In most genetic studies using family data, this condition is violated as data usually come from families of various structures, sizes and complexities. That is, the families are not iid; they are independent but not necessarily identically distributed. Therefore, the admixture modeling with a single heterogeneity parameter is under parameterized. So, a natural question is what is its implication on the estimators of the parameters. Are they consistent? Under what condition does consistency hold? We investigate these questions by formulating a more general likelihood that assigns a separate heterogeneity parameter to each class of families following the same distribution. Then using this formulation, we show that the estimators from the admixture formulation are consistent only if a certain condition holds. Furthermore, we study the argument by Janssen et al. [8] on the LUFED condition for obtaining nearly unbiased estimates. We show that LUFED is a necessary condition for obtaining consistent estimates. However, as we illustrate through counter examples, this condition is not sufficient to guarantee consistency. In fact, for certain data satisfying LUFED, the asymptotic estimates can be far from their true values.
Formulation of expected log-likelihood
Suppose that data from independent families in the sample are classified into T types such that families in the same type follow the same distribution. That is, families are classified into the same type based on their "structures" that lead to the specification of their distributions. Here we use the term structure in a broad sense that includes not only the pedigree structure but also any other available information about the pedigree (such as knowledge of phase) that contributes to the distribution from which the family is generated. Note that structure does not include any phenotypic or genotypic data of a family. Families with the same structure but different phenotypic and/or genotypic data are simply different realizations from the same distribution and hence are iid, and are classified into the same type. In the most general setup, with g potential linkage scenarios, e.g., linked or unlinked (g = 2) in the simplest setting, the probability distribution, ft*, for a realization (y t ) from type t, t = 1,…,T, can be expressed in terms of its component distributions, f ti , i = 1,…,g [10]:
where the mixing parameters satisfy 0 ≤ α ti ≤ 1 (i = 1,…,g), , and θ is the linkage parameter vector, including various recombination fractions.
To simplify our presentation without compromising our objectives, we assume that the disease under study is caused either by a locus linked to the reference marker with a recombination fraction θ or by a locus unlinked to the reference marker. Further, we assume that the genetic (trait) models at the linked and unlinked loci are the same. So, the linkage parameter vector is θ= {θ, 1/2}, and the probability distribution is simplified to
ft*(y t ; {θ,1/2}) = α t f t (y t ; θ) + (1 - α t )f t (y t ; 1/2),
where α t is the probability that a type t family is linked. Note that the two distributions under the mixture have the same parametric form but differ in their linkage parameter values, being θ or 1/2. Also, note that a single α parameter is used for all families in the same type.
Let a denote the true proportion of linked families in the entire sample. Let p t , t = 1,…, T, be the true proportion of type t families in the linked group. Thus p= (p1,…, p T ) is the distribution of types among the linked families. Recall that all families in a given type have the same distribution, i.e., same likelihood for any value of the recombination fraction. Similarly, define q= (q1,…, q T ) to be the distribution of family types among the unlinked group. Then the probability that a family is of type t is s t = ap t + (1 - a)q t , and the probability that a type t family is linked is thus . Furthermore, let r denote the true common recombination fraction for the linked families. The likelihood contribution for estimating the parameters {α t , θ} by a type t family with data y t is
L t (α t , θ | y t ) = α t f t (y t ; θ) + (1 - α t )f t (y t ; 1/2). (1)
Then the expected contribution to the log-likelihood from a family of type t can be expressed as
Note that r and are the true underlying quantities, whereas θ and α= (α1,…, α T ) are the parameters to be estimated from the data. Combining the expected log-likelihoods, ELL t , t = 1,…, T, we can form the total expected log-likelihood from all family types as follows:
Since the above formulation of likelihood is correct under the stated assumptions, it can be shown that ELL(α0, r) ≥ ELL(α, θ), for any (α, θ), following Stuart and Ord [12]. This implies that this formulation of likelihood is guaranteed to provide consistent estimators of (α, θ). Note that α is a vector of nuisance parameters; only θ is the true parameter of interest.
We note that the above likelihood, although similar to the one presented in Vieland and Logue [5], is different from it in two respects: First, their likelihood (and hence log of likelihood ratio, referred to as 2T-HLOD in their paper) allows for different trait models at the linked and unlinked loci (as they wanted to see the effect of incorrectly assuming same trait models at the two loci) while these two are assumed to be the same in (1). Second, 2T-HLOD involves different α parameters for families with different structures as well as different phenotypic data. So, families with the same structure have different α parameters if they have different phenotypic data. On the other hand, in (1) families with the same structure (and hence their data coming from the same distribution as elucidated at the beginning of this section) share a common α parameter. Since the issue addressed by Vieland and Logue [5] is different from ours and is based on different assumptions, the two likelihood formulations are not directly comparable.
The two-parameter setup
In this subsection, we show that the two-parameter setup leads to correct likelihood formulation only when p= q, that is, the distribution of family types among the linked families is the same as that among the unlinked families. In this setup, all α t 's are set to be equal to a common parameter, α, the overall proportion of linked families. Hence, the total expected log-likelihood is with respect to the recombination fraction θ and a single proportion parameter α:
The expected log-likelihood ratio between the two sets of parameter values, (a, r) and (α, θ), is
When p t = q t for each t,
and by Jensen's inequality [13]
In other words, when p= q, ELL(a, r) ≥ ELL(α, θ), for any (α, θ), implying that = a and = r are the maximum likelihood estimates of α and θ. However, as shown in the examples in the next section, when p≠ q, ELL(a, r) may be smaller than ELL(α, θ) for some parameter values (α, θ). That is, the maximum likelihood estimates of α and θ may not be consistent because the likelihood model is incorrectly specified (under-parameterized). In order for the two-parameter formulation to be correct, the following constraints should be placed on the makeup of the families:
which implies that p= q given the additional constraints that and . Notice that p= q is stronger than the LUFED condition. Equal distributions of types in the linked and unlinked families according to the classification scheme based on distributions of the data implies equal distributions of informativeness in the same two groups. Therefore, LUFED is a necessary condition for the admixture approach. We also note that p= q is not necessarily satisfied for every dataset (see Discussion).
In general, in a parameterization that demands an estimate for the overall proportion of linked families, α, the relationship between α and α t is as follows:
where u t and v t are also unknown parameters (with constraints ∑u t = 1 and ∑v t = 1) that need to be estimated. Note that u t and v t are the parameters to be estimated from the data and are not necessarily the same as p t and q t , respectively, as the latter are the true values of the former. We have shown earlier that the maximum likelihood estimates for α t exist. However, one cannot solve the equations in (3) to obtain a corresponding estimate for α. This is because there are only T + 2 equations (including the two constraints) but 2T + 1 unknown parameters, and thus not all parameters are identifiable when T ≥ 2. Hence, one may not be able to find a meaningful estimate of the overall proportion of linked families, contrary to popular desire for such an estimate. This is consistent with the finding of Whittemore and Halpern [9], although the conclusions are reached from two different perspectives (see Discussion).
Further investigation of LUFED condition
We have already shown that LUFED is a necessary condition for obtaining consistent estimators using the admixture approach. In this section, we investigate, through a contrived dataset, whether LUFED is also a sufficient condition for achieving satisfactory results, as contended by Janssen et al. [8]. We use ELOD, a popular measure of informativeness [2], for family type classification in terms of their informativeness for linkage studies. This measure is the basis for the EFNIM criterion of Janssen et al. ([14, 8]); see these two references for detailed description of EFNIM.
In our contrived dataset, the linked group consists of two types of families: Phase Known (PK) double backcross families in proportion p1, and Phase Unknown (PU) families in proportion p2, where p1 + p2 = 1. The unlinked group is also composed of PK and PU families, but in proportions q1 and q2, respectively, where q1 + q2 = 1. We choose to work with the PK and PU families as the PK families were used by Janssen et al. [8] to evaluate the admixture approach, and more generally, these family types are frequently used to evaluate exact properties of linkage analysis methods [2]. We assume that there are m children in all PK families and m + 1 children in all PU families. As these two types of families have different distributions [2], we have two family types (T = 2) under the classification scheme according to distributions.
Now, let us consider the ELOD of each family. The ELOD of a PK family with m children is:
where, as before, θ is the parameter for recombination fraction while r is the true recombination fraction. Similarly, one can find the ELOD of a PU family with m + 1 children:
For r close to 0, it can be seen that ELODPK(θ) and ELODPU(θ) are both approximately m log10 2, when they are evaluated at θ = r [2]. Hence, both PK and PU families, irrespective of their linked or unlinked status, are of one common type according to the ELOD criterion for classification. Thus the data satisfy Janssen et al.'s [8] LUFED condition. Note that the ELOD criterion for classification (and hence the LUFED condition) is based on homogeneity LOD scores to evaluate the informativeness of a family for linkage study and thus does not involve α parameters.
It is worth noting that this dataset may serve as an example for understanding classification based on distributions and family realizations that make up a family type. The phase information as well as the number of offspring are part of the family structure, which is the basis of classification according to distributions. However, phenotypes and genotypes do not configure into this classification scheme. For example, the PK data type consists of families with several phenotypes, i.e., various combinations of recombinant/non-recombinant (m/0, m - 1/1,..., 1/m - 1, 0/m) offspring.
To illustrate our results, we consider two specific settings for the distributions of families in the linked and unlinked groups under the classification scheme according to distributions: (a) p= (0.9, 0.1), q= (0.1, 0.9); and (b) p= (0.3, 0.7), q= (0.4, 0.6). For each of these two settings, we take m = 3 children in PK families and m + 1 = 4 children in PU families. In both settings, the overall proportion of linked families, a, is 0.5, and the true (small) recombination fraction, r, is 0.02. So, as discussed above, the distribution of informativeness among the linked families, under the ELOD measure, is the same as that among the unlinked families. The two pictures in Figure 1 show the contour plots of the expected log-likelihood under the two settings, for the two-parameter admixture formulation as given in (2). We see that the values of the parameters (α, θ) where the maximum expected log-likelihood occurs are not the same as their true values. So the estimates are inconsistent. The extent of this inconsistency depends on several factors, including how close p is to q. As seen in Figure 1 (a), where p differs greatly from q, the parameter estimates are far away from the true values. On the other hand, in Figure 1 (b), where p is close to q, the estimates are not too far from the truth. In fact, the estimates are expected to converge to the true parameter values when the difference between p and q approaches 0.
Contour plots of the expected log-likelihood for the two-parameter model: (a) p1 = 0.9, p2 = 0.1, q1 = 0.1, q2 = 0.9; (b) p1 = 0.3, p2 = 0.7, q1 = 0.4, q2 = 0.6. The numbers in each plot are various levels of the expected log-likelihood. The expected log-likelihoods at the parameter combinations represented by a curve are the same.
This article addresses two questions. Is the single parameter representing the overall proportion of linked families in the admixture approach well defined? Can one validate the admixture approach if the distributions of linkage information in the linked and unlinked families are roughly the same according to a certain measure of informativeness? A simple situation, where the disease is caused either by a linked or an unlinked locus following the same genetic model, suffices for our purpose. That is, although issues such as age-dependent penetrances, locus-dependent models, and intra-family heterogeneity are very important in analyzing data in the presence of locus heterogeneity, they are not within the scope of this article.
The first question of interest was addressed in Whittemore and Halpern [9], where they characterized the genetic conditions under which the parameter for overall linked proportion is meaningful. In contrast, we consider the same question from a more statistical perspective by characterizing statistical conditions under which the linked-proportion parameter is well defined and consistent estimate can be obtained. Our basic argument is built upon the realization that an implicit assumption in the usual admixture approach can be badly violated. The admixture approach assumes that, implicitly in the way its likelihood is formulated, all families follow the same distribution. However, data from different families may follow different distributions, defining various types of data. Our results show that, if the distributions of the family types, classified by the distributions of the data, are the same for both the linked and unlinked families, i.e., p= q, then the parameter is meaningful, and a consistent estimate exists. Otherwise, the desire for an estimate of such a parameter is ill-conceived. Note that the condition p= q may not be satisfied in practice, even asymptotically, because linked and unlinked groups may have other differences such as different fertility levels, age of disease onset, disease severity, etc, that may indirectly lead to different family structures (and hence different distributions) in the two groups. Although the problem considered in Vieland and Logue [5] is different from what we consider, as they focus on violation of different implicit assumptions of this approach, from a broader perspective, their as well as our conclusions demonstrate the inconsistency of estimators obtained from the admixture approach.
The second question stems from our curiosity on an argument made by Janssen et al. [8] for the admixture approach. We show, through counter examples with a contrived dataset, that the answer to the question is no under the ELOD measure for informativeness. The difference between the estimates and the true values of the parameters, even with infinite amount of data, can be large, if one would carry out the analysis under the admixture approach. This should serve as a warning against complacency when the LUFED condition is met. We do realize that, with phase known and phase unknown data, these examples can be quite extreme in human genetic studies, although such data arise frequently in experimental crosses. In situations where data from more general family structures are available, the effect of violation of the admixture approach assumptions may be much smaller.
The criteria for classification of families deserve further clarification because it is the heart of the problem. We discuss two criteria for classification, one according to the distributions of the data, and the other according to a measure of informativeness of the data for linkage studies (leading to the LUFED condition). The classification scheme based on the distribution criterion leads to a necessary and sufficient condition for validating the admixture approach. This result is a by-product of our theoretical development for finding an answer to the first question. The classification scheme based on the informativeness criterion, on the other hand, leads to the conclusion that LUFED is only a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition for the admixture approach, contrary to Janssen et al.'s [8] contention.
Finally, we note that although the general formulation of likelihood based on forming groups of families with the same distribution gives consistent estimators, its practical utility seems to be limited. This is mainly due to the difficulty of classifying families according to distributions, in most applications, except for simple situations such as those involving only the PK and PU families. The general likelihood formulation is used here as a vehicle to further the understanding of potential problems in using the two-parameter admixture approach. A practical solution that embeds the correct likelihood formulation in a Bayesian framework is being pursued in a separate study.
This work was supported in part by NSF grants DMS-9971770 and DMS-0306800 to S.L.
Both authors were involved in all aspects of this research project. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Department of Statistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Smith CAB: Testing for heterogeneity of recombination fraction values in human genetics. Ann Hum Genet. 1963, 27: 175-182.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Ott J: Analysis of Human Genetic Linkage. 1999, Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press;Google Scholar
Goldin LR: Detection of linkage under heterogeneity. Genet Epidemiol. 1992, 9: 61-66.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Durner M, Greenberg DA, Hodge SE: Interfamilial and intrafamilial heterogeneity – effective sampling strategies and comparison of analysis-methods. Am J Hum Genet. 1992, 51: 859-870.PubMed CentralPubMedGoogle Scholar
Vieland VJ, Logue M: HLODs, trait models, ascertainment: implications of admixture for parameter estimation and linkage detection. Hum Hered. 2002, 53: 23-35. 10.1159/000048601.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Pal DK, Greenberg DA: Evaluating genetic heterogeneity in complex disorders. Hum Hered. 2002, 53: 216-226. 10.1159/000066195.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Hodge SE, Vieland VJ, Greenberg DA: HLODs remain powerful tools for detection of linkage in the presence of genetic heterogeneity. Am J Hum Genet. 2002, 70: 556-558. 10.1086/338923.PubMed CentralView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Janssen B, Halley D, Sandkuijl L: Linkage analysis under locus heterogeneity: behavior of the A-test in complex analyses. Hum Hered. 1997, 47: 223-233.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Whittemore AS, Halpern J: Problems in the definition, interpretation, and evaluation of genetic heterogeneity. Am J Hum Genet. 2001, 68: 457-465. 10.1086/318186.PubMed CentralView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
McLachlan GJ, Peel D: Finite mixture models. 2000, New York: John Wiley and Sons;View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Titterington DM, Smith AFM, Makov UE: Statistical analysis of finite mixture distributions. 1985, New York: John Wiley and Sons;Google Scholar
Stuart A, Ord K: Kendall's advanced theory of statistics. 1991, New York: Oxford University Press;Google Scholar
Rao CR: Linear Statistical Inference and its Applications. 1973, New York: Wiley;View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Janssen LAJ, Sandkuijl LA, Sampson JR, Halley DJJ: Computer simulation of linkage and heterogeneity in tuberous sclerosis: A critical evaluation of the collaborative family data. J Med Genet. 1992, 29: 867-874.PubMed CentralView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6714
|
__label__wiki
| 0.701828
| 0.701828
|
Evolving epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a two-year observational study
Lionel Piroth1, 2Email author,
André Pechinot2, 3,
Vincent Di Martino4,
Yves Hansmann5,
Alain Putot1,
Isabelle Patry6,
Tahar Hadou7,
Benoit Jaulhac8,
Catherine Chirouze9,
Christian Rabaud10,
Alain Lozniewski7,
Catherine Neuwirth2, 3,
Pascal Chavanet1, 2 and
Anne Minello11
© Piroth et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2014
Current recommendations for empirical antimicrobial therapy in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) are based on quite old trials. Since microbial epidemiology and the management of patients have changed, whether these recommendations are still appropriate must be confirmed.
An observational study that exhaustively collected the clinical and biological data associated with positive ascitic fluid cultures was conducted in four French university hospitals in 2010–2011.
Two hundred and sixty-eight documented positive cultures were observed in 190 cirrhotic patients (median age 61.5 years, 58.5% Child score C). Of these, 57 were classified as confirmed SBP and 140 as confirmed bacterascites. The predominant flora was Gram-positive cocci, whatever the situation (SBP, bacterascites, nosocomial/health-care related or not). Enteroccocci (27.7% E. faecium) were isolated in 24% of the episodes, and in 48% from patients receiving quinolone prophylaxis. E. coli were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanate and to third-generation cephalosporins in 62.5% and 89.5% of cases, respectively. No single antibiotic allowed antimicrobial coverage of more than 60%. Only combinations such as amoxicillin + third-generation cephalosporin or cotrimoxazole allowed coverage close to 75-80% in non-nosocomial episodes. Combinations based on broader spectrum antibiotics should be considered for empirical therapy of nosocomial infections.
Our study confirmed the changing spectrum of pathogens in SBP and bacterascites, and the need for more complex antibiotic strategies than those previously recommended. Our findings also underline the need for new clinical trials conducted in the current epidemiological context.
Bacterascites
Antibiotic susceptibility
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), defined as an infection of ascites in the absence of a contiguous source of infection, is a frequent and severe complication in cirrhotic patients, with a significant risk of mortality, ranging initially from more than 80% in historical reports to 10-30% in the most recent studies [1–3]. Early diagnosis and early optimal treatment of these infections with appropriate antibiotics and the prevention of hepatorenal syndrome with albumin are required [4]. Current European and most other international guidelines recommend the use of a third-generation cephalosporin as the first choice, or amoxicillin-clavulanate acid or fluoroquinolones as an alternative choice [5–7]. These recommendations are based mainly on clinical trials that were very often conducted a decade or more ago, and on the assumption that E. coli would be involved in nearly half of the cases.
Several studies have pointed out changes in the epidemiology of the causative bacteria in SBP and bacterascites and in their susceptibility to antibiotics. In particular, the development of beta-lactamase enzymes, which confer resistance to clavulanate, or extended spectrum beta-lactamases in Escherichia coli[8]. The potential emergence of enterococci, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, or fluoroquinolone-resistant bacteria, following norfloxacin prophylaxis, is also a cause of concern since they may be associated with a higher risk of therapeutic failure [9].
There is thus a need for regular epidemiological studies. We previously conducted a retrospective multi-center study in North Eastern France, which showed the growing implication of Gram positive bacteria, in particular enterococci, and the increasing frequency of acquired antimicrobial resistance among some of the bacteria involved (in particular E Coli) [10].
A new 2-year observational study was conducted in the same area to confirm the changes in the spectrum of causative pathogens in SBP and bacterascites, their biological and clinical presentations, and therapeutic interventions and outcomes.
The study was conducted in four university hospitals in north-eastern France (Besançon, Dijon, Nancy and Strasbourg) between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2011, in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration and the approval of IDD Ethics Committee. All the infectious agents isolated from peritoneal liquid in cirrhotic patients hospitalized during this period were systematically and prospectively recorded by the referent microbiologist of the participating hospital. There was no limitation regarding the indication of paracentesis, but infectious agents isolated from peritoneal dialysis or from secondary bacterial peritonitis were not included. When the same strain was isolated twice or more from the same patient within a month, only the first was considered.
Microbiological and biological data
For each positive ascitic fluid culture, the biological characteristics of the ascitic fluid, as well as the microbiological characteristics of the infectious agent (s) isolated were recorded. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed with antibiotic disks (Bio-Rad, Marnes-la –Coquette, France; or Vitek 2 System, Bio Mérieux, Tassin la demi-lune, France) according to the 2010–2011 updated recommendations of the CA-SFM (comité de l’Antibogramme de la Société Française de Microbiologie) (http://www.sfm-microbiologie.org). In the determination of the antimicrobial coverage of antibiotics, intermediate strains were considered resistant. Multi-drug resistant bacteria were defined as vancomycin-resistant enterococci, methicillin-resistant staphylococci, extended-spectrum betalactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria, carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria, and Gram-negative bacteria resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics (i.e. at least three usually-active drugs from different classes, in particular penicillins + beta-lactamase inhibitors, antipseudomonal penicillins + beta-lactamase inhibitors, 2nd generation cephalosporins, 3rd generation cephalosporins, cephamycins, monobactams, aminoglycosides, folate pathway inhibitors, fosfomycin, fluoroquinolones).
SBP was defined as bacterial growth with an ascitic neutrophil count above 250/mm3, whereas bacterascites was defined as bacterial growth with an ascitic neutrophil count below this threshold [2, 11]. When the ascitic neutrophil count was not available (because of immediate bedside inoculation into culture bottles and/or failure to count neutrophils), the cases were not classified into these two categories.
The infection was deemed nosocomial when the ascitic fluid paracentesis was performed after 48 hours of hospitalization. The infection was deemed related to health care when it was nosocomial and/or when it occurred in patients with previous repeated and/or recent hospitalization (<3 months) for medical care. Thus, though a nosocomial infection is always health-care related, a health-care related infection may be not nosocomial.
Clinical data collection
The clinical presentation at the time of ascitic fluid paracentesis and the different antibiotics administered were collected by the local investigator for each positive ascitic fluid culture, in particular to ensure that no secondary peritonitis was suspected. The final outcome (i.e. in hospital survival) was also collected.
Categorical variables were compared using Fisher’s exact and chi-square tests, and continuous variables using the Kruskall Wallis test. Analyses were performed in the whole group, in the subgroup with available ascitic neutrophil counts (allowing differentiation between SBP and bacterascites), and distinguishing between nosocomial or not, or health-care related or not. Since it cannot be excluded that coagulase-negative staphylococci were skin contaminants, even when associated with an ascitic neutrophil count above 250/mm3, sensitivity analyses were repeated after excluding the episodes involving coagulase-negative staphylococci. A backward step-by-step logistic regression was conducted for multivariate analysis of the factors associated with clinical outcome, including all of the factors associated in univariate analysis with a p value of less than 0.10.
All tests were two-sided and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All statistical analyses were done using Stata version 12.0.
During the two-year study period, 6,220 samples of ascitic fluid from 1659 patients were analyzed. At least one infectious agent was found in 268 samples (4.3%). Of the 190 patients with at least one positive ascitic fluid culture, 80% were hospitalized in hepatology wards.
The median age of these patients at their first infection was 61.5 years (interquartile range (IQR): 53.4-69.8). There were 137 men and 53 women, most of whom presented severe cirrhosis (58.9% Child C, 36.3% Child B and 4.7% Child A) with a median Child score of 10 (IQR 8–12). The mean number of ascitic fluid samples in which an infectious agent was isolated was 1.41 +/-0.92 per patient, and the mean number of infectious agents isolated per positive sample was 1.29 +/- 0.77. Ten percent of these patients were on quinolone prophylaxis.
Characteristics of the positive ascitic fluid cultures
Biological and microbiological data
The characteristics and the distribution of infectious agents involved in the 268 infections are shown in Table 1. Overall, Gram-positive cocci were found to be predominant (64.9%) followed by Gram-negative rods (33.9%), and 84.3% of the infections were monomicrobial. In all the plurimicrobial cases (15.7%, mainly involving only 2 infectious agents), secondary peritonitis was clinically excluded. MDR bacteria were involved in 34 episodes (13 vancomycin-resistant enterococci, 3 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 10 extended betalactamases-producing E Coli, 17 other multiresistant Gram-negative bacteria).
Distribution of the main infectious agents isolated in 268 ascitic fluid samples during the period 2010–2011
Total (n = 268) (n,%)
Ascitic neutrophil count (median, IQR)
Non-nosocomial episodes (n = 109) (n,%)
Nosocomial episodes (n = 159) (n,%)
SBP (n = 57) (n,%)
Bacterascites (n = 140) (n,%)
With FQ prophylaxis (n = 27) (n,%)
Without FQ prophylaxis (n = 241) (n,%)
Streptococcus (other than S. pneumoniae)
955 (200–1710)
Enterococcus sp.
65 (24 .3%)
392 (18–815)
Coagulase negative Staphylococcus
63 (8–155,5)
Gram positive cocci
Klebsiella sp.Enterobacter sp. Serratia sp.
Pseudomonas sp.
Gram negative rods
Anaerobes
Not all the infectious agents are listed in this table. Since several agents were isolated in the same sample of ascitic fluid, the total may exceed 100%.
1comparison between non-nosocomial and nosocomial episodes.
2comparison between SBP and bacterascites.
3comparison between episodes with and without fluoroquinolone (norfloxacine) prophylaxis.
Fifty-seven (21.3%) positive ascitic fluid samples were classified as confirmed SBP, 140 (52.2%) as confirmed bacterascites, and 71 (26.5%) could not be classified because of missing neutrophil counts (mainly because of immediate bedside inoculation into culture bottles without associated assessment of the neutrophil count). The SBP/bacterascites ratio was thus close to 1/2.5.
The median neutrophil count in the ascitic fluid was 92/mm3 (range 0–9700), and the median protein concentration was 14 g/L (range 2–125). In patients with confirmed SBP, the median neutrophil count in the ascitic fluid was 880/mm3 (range 270–9700), and the median protein concentration was 15 g/L (range 4–35). The median neutrophil count was higher in ascitic fluids with Gram-negative cocci than in those with Gram-positive ones (100 vs. 77/mm3, p = 0.003).
No significant difference in microbial distribution was observed between SBP and bacterascites, except for a non-significant trend towards a greater proportion of Gram negative rod infections in SBP (p = 0.09) even though such infections were still in the minority (40.4% vs. 56.1% Gram-positive cocci in SBP, respectively). MDR bacteria were more often involved in SBP than in bacterascites (19.3% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.006).
Nosocomial and/or health care related episodes
Ascitic liquid fluid paracentesis was performed within the first 48 hours of hospitalization for 109 (40.7%) episodes, thus defined as non-nosocomial. As 20 of these episodes followed repeated or recent hospitalizations, the number of potentially health-care related episodes was 179 (66.8%).
MDR bacteria were also significantly more often found in nosocomial (17.6% vs. 5.5% in non-nosocomial episodes, p = 0.002) and in healthcare-related episodes (16.2% vs. 5.6% in non-healthcare-related episodes, p = 0.006).
In all cases, Gram-positive cocci were predominant. However, pneumococci and Staphylococcus aureus, albeit rare, were more frequently isolated in non-nosocomial episodes, as were Gram-negative anaerobes, whereas enterococci were more frequently isolated in nosocomial and healthcare-related episodes. Indeed, the same distribution was observed in the 179 healthcare-related positive ascitic fluid samples as in the 89 non-healthcare-related samples, with a higher frequency of enterococci (31.3% vs. 10.1%, p = 0.0001 and of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.0% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.04), and a lower implication of pneumococci (0.0% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.01).
Enterococci (E. faecium in 18/65, 27.7%) were also isolated significantly more often in ascitic fluids from patients with previous quinolone prophylaxis (48.1% vs. 21.6% in those without quinolone prophylaxis, p = 0.04). The difference was even greater when considering SBP alone (50.0% in those with vs. 15.6% in those without quinolone prophylaxis, p = 0.02). KES (Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Serratia spp.) were also found more frequently in patients with previous quinolone prophylaxis (Table 1).
Coverage of antimicrobials for positive ascitic fluid cultures
The effective coverage of antimicrobials for all of the infectious agents found in each positive ascitic fluid culture is shown in Table 2.
Susceptibility of the infectious agents found in 268 samples of ascitic fluid to different antimicrobials during the period 2010-2011
Total (n = 268)
After exclusion of coagulase negative staphylococci (n = 195)
Non-nosocomial episodes (n = 109)
Nosocomial episodes (n = 159)
SBP (n = 57)
Bacterascites (n = 140)
Amoxicillin + clavulanate
Broad-spectrum penicillin
Broad-spectrum penicillin + beta lactamase inhibitor
Third-generation cephalosporin
Fluoroquinolone
Aminoglycoside
Glycopeptide
Percentages indicate the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy on the infectious agent (s) isolated in positive ascitic fluid cultures.
(intermediate strains were considered non-susceptible).
Many antibiotics used alone offer antimicrobial coverage close to 50%, but none allowed coverage higher than 60%. Excluding coagulase-negative staphylococci increased the expected coverage of most beta-lactams, except for third generation cephalosporins. The expected coverage of other antibiotics was unmodified, except that of glycopeptides, which was nearly 12% lower.
The coverage was similar for confirmed SBP and bacterascites, except for glycopeptides and cotrimoxazole, which showed lower coverage in SBP. Coverage for amoxicillin and amoxicillin-calvulanate was nearly 10% higher in non-nosocomial or non-healthcare–related than in nosocomial or healthcare-related) infections, respectively, and coverage for third-generation cephalosporins was more than 25% higher in non-nosocomial and non-healthcare-related infections.
The coverage of antimicrobials used alone or in combination in non-nosocomial infections (after exclusion of coagulase-negative staphylococci) or in confirmed SBP is shown in Table 3.
In vitro susceptibility to antibiotics alone (first row or column) or in combination (other rows/columns) on the infectious agents isolated either from non-nosocomial ascitic fluids after exclusion of coagulase negative staphylococci (upper right half) or from confirmed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (including coagulase negative staphylococci , lower left half)
n = 84
amoxicillin-clavulanate
Piperacillin-tazobactam
Third generation cephalosporin
Fluoro-quinolone
Combinations with in vitro coverage above 75% are in grey.
Most frequently found bacteria isolated from ascitic fluid samples (n = 268): coagulase negative staphylococci (n = 73): enterococci (n = 65), Escherichia coli (n = 48), streptococci (n = 32), and KES (Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia) bacteria (n = 29).
Most frequently found bacteria isolated from non-nosocomial ascitic fluid samples (n = 109): coagulase negative staphylococci (n = 24), Escherichia coli (n = 20), streptococci (n = 17), enterococci (n = 16), and KES (Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia) bacteria (n = 10).
Most frequently found bacteria isolated from confirmed SBP (n = 57): Escherichia coli (n = 15), coagulase negative staphylococci (n = 13), enterococci (n = 13), streptococci (n = 7), and KES (Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia) bacteria (n = 5).
Clinical outcome
Fifty-one patients (26.8%) died, 119 (62.6%) were discharged and 20 (10.5%) were still in hospital at the end of the study. Death was significantly associated with SBP (37.0% vs. 18.5%, p = 0.01), but no statistically significant association was found for the empirical antimicrobial treatment given (whether active or not against the isolated infectious agents). Other factors positively associated with death in univariate analysis (p < 0.10) were age (p = 0.05), ascitic neutrophil count (p = 0.04), involvement of E. coli (p = 0.007) and MDR bacteria (p = 0.07), whereas there was an inverse correlation between the involvement of coagulase-negative staphylococci and death (p = 0.01). No association was found between gender, the nosocomial or healthcare-related nature of the infection, the ascitic protein concentration, the use of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis, appropriate empirical therapy, or the total duration of antibiotic therapy and death.
In multivariate analysis, age (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.03 per year increment, Confidence Interval (95% CI): 1.00-1.06, p = 0.02), Child stage (OR 3.15 per stage increment, 95% CI: 1.57-6.32, p = 0.001) and MDR bacteria involvement (OR 2.30, 95% CI: 0.98-5.38, p = 0.055) were or tended to be significantly associated with death. These associations were similar when coagulase-negative staphylococci episodes were excluded.
Our study shows that: the spectrum of causative agents of SBP has changed since the EASL recommendations for the management of SBP [5], and thus that recommendations on antibiotics therapy should probably take into account these changes in bacterial epidemiology.
While Gram negative rods were the main infectious agents a few decades ago, and are still reported to be so in the most recent recommendations and reviews [6, 12], our study confirmed that Gram positive cocci are now predominant, even when skin contaminants such as coagulase-negative staphylococci are excluded, or when the analysis is restricted to confirmed SBP or to non-nosocomial infections [10, 13, 14]. Moreover, even though the global implication of E Coli is declining slightly, the proportion of E Coli that produce betalactamase (including extended-spectrum betalactamase) is increasing, as is the proportion of E Coli with reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones, as already reported [9]. In addition, the proportion of enterococci infections is increasing, as already reported by us and others [10, 13, 14]. Enterococci were involved in nearly a quarter of the cases in our study, and these infections appear to be significantly associated with the use of quinolone prophylaxis, in particular in patients with confirmed SBP. Thus, quinolone prophylaxis, which is widely accepted and used by physicians in primary or secondary prevention of SBP [15], reduces the risk of infection, but favors the emergence of bacteria with natural or acquired resistance, such as enterococci, that are able to translocate [6, 16]. This has to be kept in mind when considering fluoroquinolone prophylaxis, in particular for primary prophylaxis of SBP, which should be restricted to cirrhotic patients with low-protein ascites (<15 g/L), poor liver function and a fragile hemodynamic status, and to patients who are recovering from an episode of SBP who have a high risk of developing SBP [5, 6].
Secondly, and in keeping with this evolving epidemiology, the currently recommended first-line antibiotic (third-generation cephalosporin alone) covered only one third of the infectious agents isolated from SBP in our study, and the two alternative choices (amoxicilline-clavulanate and fluoroquinolones) did not sufficiently increase the antimicrobial coverage. Even when only non-nosocomial, or non-health-care related, or non-coagulase-negative staphylococci infections were considered, no single therapy was able to offer antimicrobial coverage of more than 60%. This contrasts with the high clinical efficacy observed in previous reports, and particularly in clinical trials conducted between 1985 and 2000 [5, 17, 18]. The immediate use of antibiotic combinations for the empirical treatment of ascitic fluid infections should be considered, even though there is no strong clinical evidence to support this suggestion, nor any assessment of the impact on microbial resistance. The type of antibiotic combination may differ depending on the situation, as already suggested [19].
Amoxicillin clavulanate, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, fluoroquinolones, teicoplanin and cotrimoxazole have satisfactory pharmacokinetics at significantly higher concentrations than the MICs of susceptible common pathogens in ascitic fluid [20–24]. Thus, as we observed in non-nosocomial episodes, combinations such as amoxicillin + third-generation cephalosporin, amoxicillin-clavulanate + cotrimoxazole or to a lesser extent amoxicillin-clavulanate + fluroquinolone (in patients without quinolone prophylaxis) may be of particular interest, considering their coverage and their limited risk of toxicity in cirrhotic patients. In nosocomial episodes (and particularly in SBP), teicoplanin could be an interesting association partner for betalactams (in particular piperacillin-tazobactam or penems). New broad-spectrum drugs such as ceftarolin should also be considered in specific studies.
Whether these suggested combinations are associated with a better clinical benefit than the currently recommended therapy has to be established. In the present study, although we observed a high in-hospital death rate (37% in SBP and 18.5% in bacterascites), we failed to demonstrate a survival benefit associated with the use of early appropriate antimicrobial therapy, even though we were unable to reliably adjust to the different associations used in current practice, the different timing and durations, and moreover the different management of comorbidities. The trend towards a higher risk of mortality associated with the involvement of MDR bacteria may not only be linked to greater therapeutic difficulties, but also highlight a surrogate marker of repeated exposure to antibiotics and of more frequent and longer hospitalizations. In addition, the fact that ascitic neutrophil counts were not systematically assessed and that antimicrobial therapy for confirmed SBP was not used systematically may have affected the results of the study, even though there was no clear difference between these unclassified episodes and the others. In addition, bacterascites must be considered a serious condition given the mortality rate we observed in patients with confirmed bacterascites (close to 20%), even though it is probably in part also a surrogate marker of advanced liver disease. Another potential limitation is that the statistical power may be insufficient, since the incidence of positive ascitic fluid culture (and of SBP) was lower than that observed a few years ago in the same area. Last, and more generally, microbial epidemiology may also vary from one region to another or from one ward to another [6].
Physicians have to be aware of the limits of antimicrobial therapy. Recommended first-line treatments are at risk of becoming ineffective on the infectious agents involved, at least in culture-positive SBPs. However, they may still be effective in patients with negative ascitic fluid cultures. Quinolone prophylaxis, even though associated with a clinical benefit by lowering the frequency of infectious episodes, is also likely to increase the involvement of bacteria with acquired or natural resistance to quinolones, such as enterococci. Combinations such as amoxicillin + third-generation cephalosporin, or amoxicillin-clavulanate + cotrimoxazole, deserve to be considered in non-nosocomial episodes in patients with a severe clinical presentation, and in those with no biological improvement in the ascitic fluid after 48 hours of first-line therapy. Last, since the benefits and the risks of such proposals have to be established, there is a need not only for surveys but also for new clinical trials that include the newest broad-spectrum antibiotics conducted in the current epidemiological context.
The authors thank Sandrine Treuvelot, Clemence Massip and Caroline Brechet for their help in managing the data, and all the patients and participants to the study.
LP, AnP, VdM and AM participated in the design of the study; YH, AP, IP, TH, BJ, CC, CR, Al, CN participated in the collection of the data and helped in their interpretation; LP, AnP, VdM and AM analyzed the data; LP, VdM, PC and AM drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Département d’Infectiologie, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France
Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, CHU Dijon, France
Service d’Hépato-Gastro-Entérologie, CHU Besançon, France
Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, CHU Besançon, France
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, CHU Nancy, France
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, CHU Strasbourg, France
Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU Besançon, France
Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU Nancy, France
Service d’Hépato-Gastro-Entérologie, CHU Dijon, France
Thuluvath PJ, Morss S, Thompson R: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis–in-hospital mortality, predictors of survival, and health care costs from 1988 to 1998. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001, 96: 1232-1236.PubMedGoogle Scholar
Rimola A, Garcia-Tsao G, Navasa M, Piddock LJ, Planas R, Bernard B, Inadomi JM: Diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a consensus document. Int Ascites Club J Hepatol. 2000, 32: 142-153.Google Scholar
Tandon P, Garcia-Tsao G: Bacterial infections, sepsis, and multiorgan failure in cirrhosis. Semin Liver Dis. 2008, 28: 26-42. 10.1055/s-2008-1040319.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Sort P, Navasa M, Arroyo V, Aldeguer X, Planas R, Ruiz-del-Arbol L, Castells L, Vargas V, Soriano G, Guevara M, Gines P, Rodes J: Effect of intravenous albumin on renal impairment and mortality in patients with cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. N Engl J Med. 1999, 341: 403-409. 10.1056/NEJM199908053410603.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
EASL: Clinical practice guidelines on the management of ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhosis. J Hepatol. 2010, 53: 397-417.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Wiest R, Krag A, Gerbes A: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: recent guidelines and beyond. Gut. 2012, 61: 297-310. 10.1136/gutjnl-2011-300779.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Runyon BA: Management of adult patients with ascites due to cirrhosis: an update. Hepatology. 2009, 49: 2087-2107. 10.1002/hep.22853.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Song KH, Jeon JH, Park WB, Park SW, Kim HB, Oh MD, Lee HS, Kim NJ, Choe KW: Clinical outcomes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species: a retrospective matched case–control study. BMC Infect Dis. 2009, 9: 41-10.1186/1471-2334-9-41.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Fernandez J, Acevedo J, Castro M, Garcia O, de Lope CR, Roca D, Pavesi M, Sola E, Moreira L, Silva A, Seva-Pereira T, Corradi F, Mensa J, Gines P, Arroyo V: Prevalence and risk factors of infections by multiresistant bacteria in cirrhosis: a prospective study. Hepatology. 2012, 55: 1551-1561. 10.1002/hep.25532.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Piroth L, Pechinot A, Minello A, Jaulhac B, Patry I, Hadou T, Hansmann Y, Rabaud C, Chavanet P, Neuwirth C: Bacterial epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance in ascitic fluid: a 2-year retrospective study. Scand J Infect Dis. 2009, 41: 847-851. 10.3109/00365540903244535.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Chu CM, Chang KY, Liaw YF: Prevalence and prognostic significance of bacterascites in cirrhosis with ascites. Dig Dis Sci. 1995, 40: 561-565. 10.1007/BF02064369.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Pleguezuelo M, Benitez JM, Jurado J, Montero JL, De la Mata M: Diagnosis and management of bacterial infections in decompensated cirrhosis. World J Hepatol. 2013, 5: 16-25. 10.4254/wjh.v5.i1.16.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Pariente EA: Antibiotic treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: don’t forget enterococci!. Gastroenterology. 1992, 102: 375-376.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Lee JH, Yoon JH, Kim BH, Chung GE, Myung SJ, Kim W, Kim YJ, Kim EC, Lee HS: Enterococcus: not an innocent bystander in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009, 28: 21-26. 10.1007/s10096-008-0578-3.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Thevenot T, Degand T, Grelat N, Elkrief L, Christol C, Moreau R, Henrion J, Cadranel JF, Sheppard F, Bureau C, Di Martino V, Pauwels A: A French national survey on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in cirrhotic patients. Liver Int. 2013, 33: 389-397. 10.1111/liv.12093.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Frances R, Gonzalez-Navajas JM, Zapater P, Munoz C, Cano R, Pascual S, Santana F, Marquez D, Perez-Mateo M, Such J: Translocation of bacterial DNA from Gram-positive microorganisms is associated with a species-specific inflammatory response in serum and ascitic fluid of patients with cirrhosis. Clin Exp Immunol. 2007, 150: 230-237. 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2007.03494.x.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Ricart E, Soriano G, Novella MT, Ortiz J, Sabat M, Kolle L, Sola-Vera J, Minana J, Dedeu JM, Gomez C, Barrio JL, Guarner C: Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid versus cefotaxime in the therapy of bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients. J Hepatol. 2000, 32: 596-602. 10.1016/S0168-8278(00)80221-4.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Navasa M, Follo A, Llovet JM, Clemente G, Vargas V, Rimola A, Marco F, Guarner C, Forne M, Planas R, Banares R, Castells L, Jimenez D: Randomized, comparative study of oral ofloxacin versus intravenous cefotaxime in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Gastroenterology. 1996, 111: 1011-1017. 10.1016/S0016-5085(96)70069-0.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Bert F, Andreu M, Durand F, Degos F, Galdbart JO, Moreau R, Branger C, Lambert-Zechovsky N, Valla D: Nosocomial and community-acquired spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: comparative microbiology and therapeutic implications. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2003, 22: 10-15.PubMedGoogle Scholar
Ducroix JP, Guerlin M, Hary L, Smail A, Denamur E, Eb F, Andrejak M, Baillet J: [Clinical and pharmacokinetic study of ceftriaxone in the treatment of 14 episodes of ascitic fluid infection]. Pathol Biol (Paris). 1988, 36: 1007-1010.Google Scholar
Grange JD, Gouyette A, Gutmann L, Amiot X, Kitzis MD, Islam S, Acar JF, Jaillon P: Pharmacokinetics of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in serum and ascitic fluid in cirrhotic patients. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1989, 23: 605-611. 10.1093/jac/23.4.605.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Hary L, Andrejak M, Leleu S, Orfila J, Capron JP: The pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1989, 36: 613-616. 10.1007/BF00637745.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Sambatakou H, Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Galanakis N, Giamarellou H: Pharmacokinetics of fluoroquinolones in uncompensated cirrhosis: the significance of penetration in the ascitic fluid. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2001, 18: 441-444. 10.1016/S0924-8579(01)00441-1.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Wise R, Donovan IA, McNulty CA, Waldron R, Andrews JM: Teicoplanin, its pharmacokinetics, blister and peritoneal fluid penetration. J Hosp Infect. 1986, 7 (Suppl A): 47-55.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6715
|
__label__wiki
| 0.719733
| 0.719733
|
Virological efficacy and emergence of drug resistance in adults on antiretroviral treatment in rural Tanzania
Asgeir Johannessen1, 2Email author,
Ezra Naman2,
Sokoine L Kivuyo3,
Mabula J Kasubi4,
Mona Holberg-Petersen5,
Mecky I Matee6,
Svein G Gundersen7, 8 and
Johan N Bruun1, 9
© Johannessen et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2009
Virological response to antiretroviral treatment (ART) in rural Africa is poorly described. We examined virological efficacy and emergence of drug resistance in adults receiving first-line ART for up to 4 years in rural Tanzania.
Haydom Lutheran Hospital has provided ART to HIV-infected patients since October 2003. A combination of stavudine or zidovudine with lamivudine and either nevirapine or efavirenz is the standard first-line regimen. Nested in a longitudinal cohort study of patients consecutively starting ART, we carried out a cross-sectional virological efficacy survey between November 2007 and June 2008. HIV viral load was measured in all adults who had completed at least 6 months first-line ART, and genotypic resistance was determined in patients with viral load >1000 copies/mL.
Virological response was measured in 212 patients, of whom 158 (74.5%) were women, and median age was 35 years (interquartile range [IQR] 29–43). Median follow-up time was 22.3 months (IQR 14.0–29.9). Virological suppression, defined as <400 copies/mL, was observed in 187 patients (88.2%). Overall, prevalence of ≥1 clinically significant resistance mutation was 3.9, 8.4, 16.7 and 12.5% in patients receiving ART for 1, 2, 3 and 4 years, respectively. Among those successfully genotyped, the most frequent mutations were M184I/V (64%), conferring resistance to lamivudine, and K103N (27%), Y181C (27%) and G190A (27%), conferring resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), whereas 23% had thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs), associated with cross-resistance to all nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Dual-class resistance, i.e. resistance to both NRTIs and NNRTIs, was found in 64%.
Virological suppression rates were good up to 4 years after initiating ART in a rural Tanzanian hospital. However, drug resistance increased with time, and dual-class resistance was common, raising concerns about exhaustion of future antiretroviral drug options. This study might provide a useful forecast of drug resistance and demand for second-line antiretroviral drugs in rural Africa in the coming years.
Lamivudine
Drug Resistance Mutation
Virological Suppression
Total Lymphocyte Count
Reverse Transcriptase Gene
Access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) of HIV/AIDS has increased substantially over the past few years throughout the developing world. Lower prices of antiretroviral drugs combined with political determination have given rise to one of the greatest public health operations of our time, spearheaded by World Health Organization (WHO), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). By December 2007, three million people were receiving ART in low- and middle-income countries, but still this was only 31% of those estimated to be in need of it [1].
ART programs in developing countries are now moving from early pioneer projects to a sustained effort. Inevitably, the long-term challenges of providing ART will become increasingly evident, including late drug toxicities, treatment failure and emergence of drug resistance [2–4]. Indeed, some have argued that scaling up ART in Africa could create widespread drug resistance [5, 6]. Early reports, however, have documented good adherence to therapy [7] and short-term virological efficacy comparable to industrialized countries [8].
Although several studies on ART efficacy in Africa have been published, the majority have been carried out in larger cities [9–11], often with NGO support [10, 12], and usually with short follow-up time [9, 10, 12]. However, the majority of Africans reside in rural areas [13], and little is known about the long-term effects of ART in such settings. The key to long-term benefit of ART is sustained suppression of viral replication and avoidance of resistance [14–16]. Our aim was to assess virological efficacy and emergence of drug resistance in HIV-infected patients up to 4 years after starting first-line ART in a rural Tanzanian hospital.
Study setting, participants and treatment
Tanzania is a low-income country with an estimated HIV prevalence of 6.2% [1]. The National AIDS Control Program started to scale up antiretroviral treatment from 2005, and by December 2007, 135,696 people were receiving ART [1]. Haydom Lutheran Hospital is a 400-bed hospital in Manyara region owned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. It is the main health care provider to a rural population of about 260,000 people. In 2002, the hospital launched a comprehensive HIV prevention and intervention program, which has previously been described in detail [17]. In brief, free treatment and care has been offered to all HIV-infected patients since October 2003, including free drugs and in-patient care. Clinical officers have been trained by experienced HIV physicians to treat and follow-up patients. The HIV program in Haydom is now integrated in the National AIDS Control Program.
All patients were assessed with a standardized evaluation form at enrolment, where demographic data, medical history, clinical findings and laboratory investigations were recorded. ART was initiated in accordance with WHO's recommendations [18–20]: WHO stage 4 irrespective of CD4 cell count, WHO stage 3 with CD4 ≤350 cells/μL, or CD4 ≤200 cells/μL with any WHO stage. However, reliable CD4 cell counts were not available until September 2006; thus, most patients started ART based on clinical criteria only (WHO stage 3 and 4). In addition, triple-drug combination ART, and not single-dose nevirapine, was offered to HIV-infected pregnant and lactating women, from pregnancy week 20 till cessation of breast-feeding, irrespective of WHO stage and CD4 cell count, to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT).
First-line treatment was stavudine or zidovudine, combined with lamivudine, and either nevirapine or efavirenz. A generic fixed-dose combination of stavudine, lamivudine and nevirapine was preferred whenever possible. Patients with CD4 ≤200 cells/μL or WHO stage 3 or 4 disease were given co-trimoxazole prophylaxis 960 mg thrice weekly. Second-line treatment was available from December 2006 and comprised lopinavir/ritonavir, didanosine and abacavir. Criteria for switching to second-line ART was virological failure as recommended by WHO (i.e. >10,000 copies/mL) [20]; however, viral load was not measured routinely, and only selected patients with high clinical suspicion of failure were tested.
Nested in a longitudinal cohort study of patients consecutively starting ART, we carried out a cross-sectional virological efficacy survey between November 15, 2007 and June 6, 2008. All adults (≥15 years) who had received first-line ART for more than 6 months were considered eligible. Patients were included regardless of previous adherence or treatment interruptions. However, those who had stopped ART for ≥1 month and not re-started at the time of the survey were classified as "stopped treatment" and excluded. Furthermore, those who had already switched to second-line ART were excluded since genotypic resistance results prior to the switch were unavailable. Ethical approval was granted by National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania and Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics in Norway, and all patients gave written consent to participate in the study.
Laboratory investigations
Standard laboratory investigations at baseline included: Full blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver function tests, creatinine, blood sugar, hepatitis B surface antigen and syphilis serology. Patients who started ART were followed up with laboratory investigations every three months. Hematology was measured using the Sysmex KX-21 Hematology Analyzer (Sysmex Corp., Kobe, Japan). CD4 cell counts were available from September 2006 using the FACSCount flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, California, USA).
Plasma specimens for virological analyses were stored at -20°C until shipment to the reference laboratory. Manufacturer's instructions were followed with regard to sample collection and transport. HIV viral load was measured at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using the Cobas TaqMan 48 Analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Branchburg, New Jersey, USA) with a lower detection limit at 40 copies/mL; however, due to equipment breakdown, one third of the samples were analysed with the Cobas Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor v1.5 (Roche Diagnostics, Branchburg, New Jersey, USA) with a detection limit at 400 copies/mL. All specimens with viral load >1000 copies/mL were sent to Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, for genotypic resistance testing. The ViroSeq HIV-1 Genotyping System (Abbott Molecular, De Plains, Illinois, USA) was used to determine HIV-1 subtype and mutations in the protease and reverse transcriptase genes. Only drug resistance mutations listed in the Spring 2008 update from the International AIDS Society were considered [21]. Resistance profiles to antiretroviral drugs were interpreted according to the Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database (HIVdb Program, http://hivdb.stanford.edu).
The main outcomes of interest were on-treatment virological suppression and clinically significant genotypic resistance. Virological suppression was defined as HIV viral load <400 copies/mL, since this was the detection limit of the least sensitive assay used in this study. Clinically significant genotypic resistance was defined as HIV viral load >1000 copies/mL and presence of ≥1 drug resistance mutation listed in the Spring 2008 update from the International AIDS Society [21]. Duration of ART was rounded off to the nearest full year (1, 2, 3 or 4 years) when presenting prevalence of virological suppression and drug resistance. Logistic regression was used to study associations between baseline characteristics and emergence of drug resistance. Univariable analysis was performed for the following variables: Sex, age, WHO stage, initial ART regimen, duration of ART, body mass index, hemoglobin level and total lymphocyte count. CD4 cell counts were excluded because of too few observations. Variables with P < 0.1 in univariable analyses were advanced into a multivariable regression analysis, using the forward stepwise (Wald) method to avoid overcorrection. Multicollinearity was excluded using Spearman's correlation coefficient with a cutoff at 0.7. Data were analysed with SPSS version 16.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA), except 95% confidence intervals (CI) for proportions which were calculated with NCSS version 2007 (NCSS, Kaysville, Utah, USA). All tests were two-sided and level of significance was set at P < 0.05.
Out of 549 adults who enrolled in the HIV program and started ART, 126 patients (23.0%) died, of whom 76 died within 3 months of starting ART. Seventy-nine patients (14.4%) were transferred to another health facility, 46 (8.4%) were lost to follow-up, whereas 27 patients (4.9%) self-stopped treatment after receiving ART for a median of 11.3 months. Fifty patients were not eligible for the virological survey because they had taken ART for less than 6 months, and 3 because they were on second-line ART. Among the remaining 218 patients who were selected for the survey, plasma was obtained from 212 of them. Six patients failed to participate due to: Temporary travel to another area (n = 3), error in specimen preparation (n = 1) or unknown (n = 2). The study profile is presented in figure 1.
Profile of the study cohort, Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Tanzania, 2003–08.
Median follow-up time among 212 patients included in this study was 22.3 months (interquartile range [IQR] 14.0–29.9). Median age was 35 years (IQR 29–43), and 158 patients (74.5%) were women. At the time of ART initiation, 110 (52.1%) had clinical AIDS (WHO stage 4). The most common AIDS defining events were: Wasting syndrome (87.3%), oesophageal candidiasis (10.9%), extrapulmonary tuberculosis (4.5%) and Kaposi's sarcoma (4.5%). Initial ART regimen was stavudine/lamivudine/nevirapine in 122 patients (57.5%), stavudine/lamivudine/efavirenz in 39 (18.4%), zidovudine/lamivudine/nevirapine in 45 (21.2%), and zidovudine/lamivudine/efavirenz in 6 (2.8%). Among 66 patients with a baseline CD4 measurement, median CD4 cell count was 118 cells/μL (IQR 51–189).
Virological results
Overall, 187 patients (88.2%; 95% CI 83.1–92.2) had suppressed viraemia (<400 copies/mL). Two patients (0.9%) had 400–1000 copies/mL, 14 (6.6%) had 1000–10,000 copies/mL, 5 (2.4%) had 10,000–100,000 copies/mL, and 4 (1.9%) had >100,000 copies/mL. The proportion of patients (95% CI) with suppressed viraemia after 1, 2, 3 and 4 years was 94.8% (87.2–98.6), 88.0% (79.0–94.1), 75.0% (57.8–87.9) and 87.5% (61.7–98.4), respectively (figure 2). The small number of patients who received ART for 3 and 4 years (n = 36 and n = 16, respectively) gave rise to wide confidence intervals for those groups.
Proportion of patients on ART with: A) suppressed viraemia (<400 copies/mL), and B) ≥1 clinically significant resistance mutation. Vertical lines indicate 95% confidence interval.
Genotyping was successful in 22 of 23 samples with viral load >1000 copies/mL. HIV-1 subtypes were A (n = 3), C (n = 7), D (n = 8) and CRF01_AE (n = 2), whereas 2 were inconclusive (different subtypes in the protease and reverse transcriptase genes). Among those successfully genotyped, 18 patients (82%) harboured at least one clinically relevant resistance mutation in the reverse transcriptase gene (table 1). The most frequent mutations were M184I/V (n = 14; 64%), conferring resistance to lamivudine, and K103N (n = 6; 27%), Y181C (n = 6; 27%) and G190A (n = 6; 27%), conferring resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs), associated with cross-resistance to all nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), were found in 5 patients (23%), of whom 1 had ≥3 TAMs. Fourteen patients (64%) had dual-class resistance, i.e. resistance to both NRTIs and NNRTIs. None had clinically relevant mutations in the protease gene.
Genotypic resistance results in 23 patients on ART with virological failure (HIV-1 RNA >1000 copies/mL)
ART regimen: initial (currenta)
Months on ART
Viral load
Protease mutations
Reverse transcriptase mutations
ZDV/3TC/NVP (ZDV/3TC/EFV)
M36I, L63P, H69K, I93L
K103N
d4T/3TC/EFV (d4T/3TC/NVP)
I13V, L33V, M36I, I64V
K103N, M184V
d4T/3TC/NVP
CRF01_AE
I13V, M36I, L63P, H69K
D67N, K70R, K103N, V179T, M184V, K219Q
I13V, K20R, M36V, L63P, I64V, I93L
G190A
L10I, I13V, M36I, H69K
M184V, Y188C
d4T/3TC/NVP (d4T/3TC/EFV)
I13V, K20R, M36I, I62V, I64V
Y181C, M184I
M36I, H69K, I93L
K103N, V179T, M184V
M36I, D60E, H69K, I93L
?b
L10I, I13V, G16E, M36I, H69K
K101P, M184V, G190A, T215F
I13V, L63P, I64V, V77I
K101E, M184V, G190A
I13V, I64V, V77I
M41L, V75I, Y181C, M184V
ZDV/3TC/NVP (d4T/3TC/NVP)
I64V
d4T/3TC/EFV
K20R, M36I, H69K
L10V, G16E, M36IV, H69K
K103N, Y181C, M184V
M36I, I62V, L63P, H69K, V82I, I93L
K65R, V75I, V108I, Y181C, M184V, L210W
K20R, M36I, I62V, I64M
K70R, Y181C, M184V
?c
I13V, M36I, H69K
L10I, M36I, H69K
Y181C, M184V
I13V, M36I, D60E, I64V
I13V, M36I, L63P, H69K, V82I
V179T, M184V, G190A
aOnly specified if different from initial regimen.bCRF_01AE in the protease and A in the reverse transcriptase gene. cA in the protease and CRF_01AE in the reverse transcriptase gene.
ART, antiretroviral treatment; d4T, stavudine; 3TC, lamivudine; NVP, nevirapine; EFV, efavirenz; ZDV, zidovudine.
Hence, in total, 18 of 212 patients (8.5%; 95% CI 5.1–13.1) harboured drug resistance by use of a standard genotyping assay. The prevalence (95% CI) of any clinically significant drug resistance after 1, 2, 3 and 4 years was 3.9% (0.8–11.0), 8.4% (3.5–16.6), 16.7% (6.4–32.8) and 12.5% (1.6–38.3), respectively (figure 2). Dual-class resistance was observed in 3.9% (0.8–11.0), 6.0% (2.0–13.5), 13.9% (4.7–29.5) and 6.3% (0.2–30.2), respectively. Again, the small number of patients on ART for 3 and 4 years gave rise to wide confidence intervals.
Predictors of drug resistance
In univariable logistic regression analysis only duration of ART was significantly associated with emergence of drug resistance (≥3 years on ART; odds ratio [OR] 4.49; 95% CI 1.13–17.8; P = 0.033). Anemia (hemoglobin <10 g/dL; OR 2.84; 95% CI 0.97–8.32; P = 0.058) and lymphopenia (total lymphocyte count <1.2 × 109/L; OR 2.91; 95% CI 0.99–8.53; P = 0.052) were borderline significant. No associations were found for age, sex, clinical stage, body mass index or initial ART regimen. In multivariable analysis where duration of ART, anemia and lymphopenia were included using the forward stepwise method, only duration of ART remained in the final model, with the same odds ratio and P-value as above (table 2).
Predictors of drug resistance in 212 HIV-infected adults on ART in rural Tanzania
Univariablea
Multivariableb
Predictor variables
OR (95% CI)
Duration of ART
≥ 3 years
4.49 (1.13–17.8)
≥ 10 g/dL
<10 g/dL
≥ 1.2 × 109/L
<1.2 × 109/L
a No significant associations were found for age, sex, clinical stage, body mass index or initial ART regimen.
bStepwise multivariable logistic regression using a forward selection procedure. NS denotes that the variable did not meet the significance level criterion (P <0.05) for inclusion in the final model.
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; ART, antiretroviral therapy.
Two patients with low-level viraemia (400–1000 copies/mL) and one patient whose genotyping failed were assumed not to harbour resistance in our study. To assess whether this assumption might have biased our results, we conducted a sensitivity analysis where these patients were classified as resistant. In the resulting multivariable model, both duration of ART (≥3 years on ART; OR 6.47; 95% CI 1.28–32.6; P = 0.024) and lymphopenia (total lymphocyte count <1.2 × 109/L; OR 4.24; 95% CI 1.48–12.2; P = 0.007) were significantly associated with resistance. Hence, the effect of lymphopenia might have been underestimated by misclassification bias in the main analysis, whereas duration of ART was a strong and significant predictor of resistance in both analyses.
Virological suppression rates were good up to 4 years after starting ART in a rural Tanzanian hospital. These results are in keeping with early reports from resource-limited settings, where short-term virological efficacy rates were as good as those reported from Europe and North America [8]. We show that suppression of viraemia can be sustained for several years even in rural Africa, where logistical support is challenging and patients often live in poverty. However, like in many other African ART programs the attrition rate was high, and strategies to reduce early mortality and other program losses need to be identified [11, 12, 22, 23].
Experiences elsewhere have shown that poorly managed HIV programs can give rise to widespread drug resistance [24]. A number of factors may have contributed to the sustained virological efficacy of the ART program in the present study. First, all treatment and care for HIV-infected patients was provided free of charge, which has previously been shown to improve treatment efficacy [8]. Second, all patients had three days of adherence counselling with a nurse prior to starting ART. Third, a close collaboration between the clinical staff and a network of community home-based carers ensured follow-up of patients in their villages. Fourth, regular educational peer-support meetings contributed to reduce the stigma and isolation many patients experience after receiving an HIV diagnosis. Fifth, antiretroviral drug supply continuity was uninterrupted from the beginning of the program. And finally, visiting HIV physicians focused on capacity building of local clinical officers, with emphasis on common curable opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis and cerebral toxoplasmosis.
Overall, emergence of drug resistance was relatively uncommon; only 8.5% harboured clinically significant resistance mutations. Although the proportion of patients with drug resistance was low, however, in a high-prevalence country like Tanzania the absolute number of individuals in need of second-line ART can rapidly become substantial. If our results were extrapolated to Tanzania as of December 2007 [1], then 11,500 patients would harbour drug resistance and be in need of second-line ART. Such an extrapolation is not necessarily valid, but it illustrates the magnitude of the problem that drug resistance can inflict on national ART programs. The number of individuals receiving ART has increased 20-fold over the past 4 years in sub-Saharan Africa [1], but access to second-line antiretroviral drugs is still limited in many developing countries due to higher costs and lack of fixed-dose combinations. Our study underscores the growing global need for affordable and convenient second-line antiretroviral regimens.
The prevalence of drug resistance increased with time and reached approximately 15% after 3–4 years on ART. Most previous studies on ART in Africa have focused on early treatment efficacy, showing good virological results with a limited observation time [10, 12, 25]. Only a few studies have assessed long-term (>2 years) emergence of drug resistance in sub-Saharan Africa. An early study from Senegal showed that 12.5% had one or more drug resistance mutations after a median of 30 months on ART [26], whereas a recent study from Côte d'Ivoire found 22% resistance after a median of 37 months on ART [27]. These results should not be used as an argument against HIV treatment in Africa; in fact, the results are comparable to a recent study from Canada, where 20% developed resistance after 30 months on the ART regimen most widely used in resource-limited settings (stavudine/lamivudine/nevirapine) [28]. Thus, emergence of drug resistance appears to occur at a similar rate in Africa as in a Western setting.
Of concern, among 18 patients with drug resistance mutations, 14 harboured dual-class resistance. All 14 had a combination of M184I/V, conferring resistance to lamivudine, with one or more of K103N, Y181C and G190A, conferring resistance to NNRTIs. Five of these patients also had thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs), associated with cross-resistance to all NRTIs. In 3 patients the standard second-line regimen in Tanzania would not be adequate, i.e. would not introduce at least 2 fully active drugs, which is the recommended strategy in treatment failure [29]. Other studies from low- and middle-income countries, using the same first-line treatment, have found a similar pattern. In a recent study from Angola, 65% of patients with virological failure had dual-class resistance [30]. Furthermore, a study from Thailand found that second-line treatment options, in the absence of newer antiretroviral drugs, were limited for 48% of patients failing their initial regimen [31]. Expanding access to newer antiretroviral drugs, including new HIV drug classes, should be a priority in the global efforts to control HIV/AIDS.
It has been shown that in the presence of a failing ART regimen, resistance mutations accumulate, jeopardizing future treatment options [32]. Early detection of treatment failure rely on viral load measurements, a standard component of ART programs in resource-rich countries [29]. In the present program, like in most resource-limited settings, viral load was not measured routinely, and treatment failure had to be assessed by clinical signs and CD4 cell counts. However, clinical signs and CD4 decline, as recommended by WHO to detect treatment failure in the absence of viral loads, have poor sensitivity and specificity, and result in frequent misclassifications [33, 34]. Hence, there is an urgent need for a simple, affordable viral load assay adapted for use in basic, tropical environments, so that treatment failure can be detected before multiple mutations occur.
In our study only duration of ART was significantly associated with emergence of drug resistance. Baseline anemia and lymphopenia were borderline significant in univariable analysis, and our sample size might have been too small to reveal a true association. Other studies have found that low CD4 cell count and high viral load at baseline increase the risk of drug resistance [35]; however, these measurements were not available in our study.
There were some weaknesses of this study. First, virological efficacy could only be assessed in patients who were alive and in care. A high early mortality accounted for most of the program loss, which probably reflected advanced immunodeficiency at enrolment rather than treatment failure [17]. Many patients were transferred out when the National AIDS Control Program started scaling up ART in other villages, but it is unlikely that this introduced any systematic bias. Among patients who stopped treatment (4.9%) or were lost to follow-up (8.4%), there was probably a proportion who either died or developed drug resistance. Our study must be considered an "on-treatment" analysis, and virological suppression rates and resistance estimates in an "intention-to-treat" analysis would have been poorer. Another limitation of this study was the lack of longitudinal viral load and resistance results. A cross-sectional virological survey may be more influenced by random biological variations and laboratory artefacts, being derived from a single time point. Also, we can not ascertain whether drug resistance mutations existed prior to initiation of ART, which was recently observed in rural South Africa [36], or developed during treatment. However, Haydom Lutheran Hospital was the first ART provider in the area, and single-dose nevirapine was not used for PMTCT, so it is unlikely that there was any significant primary resistance. Furthermore, this study was limited by lack of adherence data, which is considered the most important predictor of resistance [35]; however, adherence estimates would not have altered our conclusions. Finally, this was a hospital based study and probably there was a selection bias towards more advanced immunodeficiency at baseline, which has previously been shown to increase the risk of drug resistance [35]. On the other hand, late presentation has been observed in many African ART programs [10–12, 25, 37, 38], and we believe our findings can be representative of other similar settings.
We found good virological suppression rates up to 4 years after initiating ART in a rural hospital in Tanzania. These results suggest that ART can be safely scaled up in rural Africa with similar long-term virological efficacy rates as those reported for industrialized countries. However, prevalence of drug resistance increased with time, and dual-class resistance was common, raising concerns about exhaustion of future antiretroviral drug options. Earlier detection of treatment failure and timely switch to second-line ART could reduce accumulation of drug resistance, underscoring the growing need for virological monitoring in resource-limited settings. This study might provide a useful forecast of drug resistance and demand for second-line antiretroviral drugs in rural Africa in the coming years.
We thank the patients who participated in the study. We thank the staff at Haydom HIV Care and Treatment Centre, the hospital management (Oystein E Olsen and Isaack Malleyeck), the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Control Program for collaboration and support. The HIV program at Haydom Lutheran Hospital is sponsored by the Norwegian Government through the hospital block grant of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
12879_2008_873_MOESM3_ESM.doc Authors’ original file for figure 3
AJ analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript. EN collected the data. MJK and MH-P were responsible for the laboratory analyses. MIM participated in the conception of the study. SLK participated in the data collection and coordination of the study. SGG and JNB conceived the study, and participated in its design and coordination. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Ulleval Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
HIV Care and Treatment Centre, Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Mbulu, Tanzania
National Institute for Medical Research, Haydom Research Station, Mbulu, Tanzania
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Ulleval Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Research Unit, Sorlandet Hospital HF, Kristiansand, Norway
Centre for Development Studies, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromso, Norway
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2008. 2008, Geneva: UNAIDSGoogle Scholar
Sukasem C, Churdboonchart V, Chasombat S, Kohreanudom S, Watitpun C, Pasomsub E, et al: Surveillance of genotypic resistance mutations in chronic HIV-1 treated individuals after completion of the National Access to Antiretroviral Program in Thailand. Infection. 2007, 35: 81-88. 10.1007/s15010-007-6169-x.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Marconi VC, Sunpath H, Lu Z, Gordon M, Koranteng-Apeagyei K, Hampton J, et al: Prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance after failure of a first highly active antiretroviral therapy regimen in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Clin Infect Dis. 2008, 46: 1589-1597. 10.1086/587109.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
van Griensven J, De Naeyer L, Mushi T, Ubarijoro S, Gashumba D, Gazille C, et al: High prevalence of lipoatrophy among patients on stavudine-containing first-line antiretroviral therapy regimens in Rwanda. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2007, 101: 793-798. 10.1016/j.trstmh.2007.02.020.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Harries AD, Nyangulu DS, Hargreaves NJ, Kaluwa O, Salaniponi FM: Preventing antiretroviral anarchy in sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet. 2001, 358: 410-414. 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05551-9.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Popp D, Fisher JD: First, do no harm: a call for emphasizing adherence and HIV prevention interventions in active antiretroviral therapy programs in the developing world. AIDS. 2002, 16: 676-678. 10.1097/00002030-200203080-00025.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Mills EJ, Nachega JB, Buchan I, Orbinski J, Attaran A, Singh S, et al: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa and North America: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2006, 296: 679-690. 10.1001/jama.296.6.679.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Ivers LC, Kendrick D, Doucette K: Efficacy of antiretroviral therapy programs in resource-poor settings: a meta-analysis of the published literature. Clin Infect Dis. 2005, 41: 217-224. 10.1086/431199.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Kamya MR, Mayanja-Kizza H, Kambugu A, Bakeera-Kitaka S, Semitala F, Mwebaze-Songa P, et al: Predictors of long-term viral failure among ugandan children and adults treated with antiretroviral therapy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2007, 46: 187-193. 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31814278c0.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Coetzee D, Hildebrand K, Boulle A, Maartens G, Louis F, Labatala V, et al: Outcomes after two years of providing antiretroviral treatment in Khayelitsha, South Africa. AIDS. 2004, 18: 887-895. 10.1097/00002030-200404090-00006.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Bussmann H, Wester CW, Ndwapi N, Grundmann N, Gaolathe T, Puvimanasinghe J, et al: Five-year outcomes of initial patients treated in Botswana's National Antiretroviral Treatment Program. AIDS. 2008, 22: 2303-2311. 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283129db0.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Ferradini L, Jeannin A, Pinoges L, Izopet J, Odhiambo D, Mankhambo L, et al: Scaling up of highly active antiretroviral therapy in a rural district of Malawi: an effectiveness assessment. Lancet. 2006, 367: 1335-1342. 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68580-2.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
UNFPA: State of World Population 2007. Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth. 2007, New York: UNFPAGoogle Scholar
Hogg RS, Bangsberg DR, Lima VD, Alexander C, Bonner S, Yip B, et al: Emergence of drug resistance is associated with an increased risk of death among patients first starting HAART. PLoS Med. 2006, 3: e356-10.1371/journal.pmed.0030356.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Grabar S, Le Moing V, Goujard C, Egger M, Leport C, Kazatchkine MD, et al: Response to highly active antiretroviral therapy at 6 months and long-term disease progression in HIV-1 infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005, 39: 284-292. 10.1097/01.qai.0000160925.33935.72.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Raboud JM, Montaner JS, Conway B, Rae S, Reiss P, Vella S, et al: Suppression of plasma viral load below 20 copies/mL is required to achieve a long-term response to therapy. AIDS. 1998, 12: 1619-1624. 10.1097/00002030-199813000-00008.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Johannessen A, Naman E, Ngowi BJ, Sandvik L, Matee MI, Aglen HE, et al: Predictors of mortality in HIV-infected patients starting antiretroviral therapy in a rural hospital in Tanzania. BMC Infect Dis. 2008, 8: 52-10.1186/1471-2334-8-52.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
WHO: Scaling up antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings. Guidelines for a public health approach. 2002, Geneva: WHOGoogle Scholar
WHO: Scaling up antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings: Treatment guidelines for a public health approach. 2003 revision. 2004, Geneva: WHOGoogle Scholar
WHO: Antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection in adults and adolescents: Recommendations for a public health approach. 2006 revision. 2006, Geneva: WHOGoogle Scholar
Johnson VA, Brun-Vezinet F, Clotet B, Gunthard HF, Kuritzkes DR, Pillay D, et al: Update of the Drug Resistance Mutations in HIV-1: Spring 2008. Top HIV Med. 2008, 16: 62-68.PubMedGoogle Scholar
Weidle PJ, Malamba S, Mwebaze R, Sozi C, Rukundo G, Downing R, et al: Assessment of a pilot antiretroviral drug therapy programme in Uganda: patients' response, survival, and drug resistance. Lancet. 2002, 360: 34-40. 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)09330-3.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Toure S, Kouadio B, Seyler C, Traore M, koury-Dogbo N, Duvignac J, et al: Rapid scaling-up of antiretroviral therapy in 10,000 adults in Cote d'Ivoire: 2-year outcomes and determinants. AIDS. 2008, 22: 873-882. 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3282f768f8.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Richard N, Juntilla M, Abraha A, Demers K, Paxinos E, Galovich J, et al: High prevalence of antiretroviral resistance in treated Ugandans infected with non-subtype B human immunodeficiency virus type 1. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2004, 20: 355-364. 10.1089/088922204323048104.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Wester CW, Kim S, Bussmann H, Avalos A, Ndwapi N, Peter TF, et al: Initial response to highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1C-infected adults in a public sector treatment program in Botswana. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005, 40: 336-343. 10.1097/01.qai.0000159668.80207.5b.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Laurent C, Ngom ueye NF, Ndour CT, Gueye PM, Diouf M, Diakhate N, et al: Long-term benefits of highly active antiretroviral therapy in Senegalese HIV-1-infected adults. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005, 38: 14-17. 10.1097/00126334-200501010-00003.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Seyler C, Adje-Toure C, Messou E, Dakoury-Dogbo N, Rouet F, Gabillard D, et al: Impact of genotypic drug resistance mutations on clinical and immunological outcomes in HIV-infected adults on HAART in West Africa. AIDS. 2007, 21: 1157-1164. 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3281c615da.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Tam LW, Hogg RS, Yip B, Montaner JS, Harrigan PR, Brumme CJ: Performance of a World Health Organization first-line regimen (stavudine/lamivudine/nevirapine) in antiretroviral-naive individuals in a Western setting. HIV Med. 2007, 8: 267-270. 10.1111/j.1468-1293.2007.00463.x.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Hammer SM, Eron JJ, Reiss P, Schooley RT, Thompson MA, Walmsley S, et al: Antiretroviral treatment of adult HIV infection: 2008 recommendations of the International AIDS Society-USA panel. JAMA. 2008, 300: 555-570. 10.1001/jama.300.5.555.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Garrido C, Zahonero N, Fernandes D, Serrano D, Silva AR, Ferraria N, et al: Subtype variability, virological response and drug resistance assessed on dried blood spots collected from HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy in Angola. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2008, 61: 694-698. 10.1093/jac/dkm515.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Sungkanuparph S, Manosuthi W, Kiertiburanakul S, Piyavong B, Chumpathat N, Chantratita W: Options for a second-line antiretroviral regimen for HIV type 1-infected patients whose initial regimen of a fixed-dose combination of stavudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine fails. Clin Infect Dis. 2007, 44: 447-452. 10.1086/510745.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Cozzi-Lepri A, Phillips AN, Ruiz L, Clotet B, Loveday C, Kjaer J, et al: Evolution of drug resistance in HIV-infected patients remaining on a virologically failing combination antiretroviral therapy regimen. AIDS. 2007, 21: 721-732. 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3280141fdf.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Mee P, Fielding KL, Charalambous S, Churchyard GJ, Grant AD: Evaluation of the WHO criteria for antiretroviral treatment failure among adults in South Africa. AIDS. 2008, 22: 1971-1977. 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32830e4cd8.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Chaiwarith R, Wachirakaphan C, Kotarathititum W, Praparatanaphan J, Sirisanthana T, Supparatpinyo K: Sensitivity and specificity of using CD4+ measurement and clinical evaluation to determine antiretroviral treatment failure in Thailand. Int J Infect Dis. 2007, 11: 413-416. 10.1016/j.ijid.2006.11.003.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Harrigan PR, Hogg RS, Dong WW, Yip B, Wynhoven B, Woodward J, et al: Predictors of HIV drug-resistance mutations in a large antiretroviral-naive cohort initiating triple antiretroviral therapy. J Infect Dis. 2005, 191: 339-347. 10.1086/427192.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Barth RE, Wensing AM, Tempelman HA, Moraba R, Schuurman R, Hoepelman AI: Rapid accumulation of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-associated resistance: evidence of transmitted resistance in rural South Africa. AIDS. 2008, 22: 2210-2212. 10.1097/QAD.0b013e328313bf87.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Zachariah R, Fitzgerald M, Massaquoi M, Pasulani O, Arnould L, Makombe S, et al: Risk factors for high early mortality in patients on antiretroviral treatment in a rural district of Malawi. AIDS. 2006, 20: 2355-2360. 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32801086b0.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Lawn SD, Myer L, Orrell C, Bekker LG, Wood R: Early mortality among adults accessing a community-based antiretroviral service in South Africa: implications for programme design. AIDS. 2005, 19: 2141-2148.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6716
|
__label__wiki
| 0.59838
| 0.59838
|
Methodology article
Components of acquisition-to-acquisition variance in continuous arterial spin labelling (CASL) imaging
Roberto Viviani1Email author,
Petra Beschoner1, 2,
Hanna Lo1,
Nadine Osterfeld1,
Jan Thöne3 and
Eun-Jin Sim1
© Viviani et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010
Images of perfusion estimates obtained with the continuous arterial spin labelling technique are characterized by variation between single acquisitions. Little is known about the spatial determinants of this variation during the acquisition process and their impact on voxel-by-voxel estimates of effects.
We show here that the spatial patterns of covariance between voxels arising during the acquisition of these images uncover distinct mechanisms through which this variance arises: through variation in global perfusion levels; through the action of large vessels and other, less well characterized, large anatomical structures; and through the effect of noisy areas such as the edges of the brain.
Knowledge of these covariance patterns is important to experimenters for a correct interpretation of findings, especially for studies where relatively few acquisitions are made.
Spatial Covariation
Arterial Spin Labelling
Brain Perfusion
Global Cerebral Blood Flow
Arterial spin labelling (ASL, [1]) is a non-invasive technique for the measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF), enabling investigators to study brain perfusion with magnetic resonance techniques (see [2, 3] for general introductions). Recent advances in arterial spin labelling techniques allow the practical acquisition of CBF estimates with wide spatial coverage of the brain using multi-slice or 3D acquisitions [4]. This has made of ASL a very promising technique for the systematic investigation of the physiology and functional determinants of brain perfusion, and of individual differences in baseline CBF at rest [5–7].
Several studies have described the spectral components of time series in ASL data [8–10]. This study is concerned with the spatial patterns of covariation in the residual images of linear models fitted to quantitative perfusion images obtained with the continuous arterial spin labelling (CASL) technique, as implemented by [11]. A previous study investigated the principal components associated to subject-to-subject spatial variance, and described acquisition-to-acquisition variance [12]. Study of spatial covariation is of interest for two reasons. Firstly, it gives insight on the interplay of brain physiology with respect of vascularisation, and the signal acquired with this imaging technique. Secondly, knowledge of spatial covariation is important to experimenters because it constitutes a violation of the stationarity assumption on the random field that models spatial covariation of residuals after smoothing [13, 14]. Under this assumption, residuals are spatially distributed like smoothed white noise. Concretely, the violation of this assumption means that under the null hypothesis the estimated effects are likely to reflect the pattern determined by the most important patterns of covariation, rather than a random set of blobs scattered across the brain. Therefore, when inspecting images of the estimated effects, knowledge of the form these images are likely to take even if the null hypothesis is true can assist in evaluating the spatial patterns produced by an experiment or an observational study, and distinguishing between sources of variation due to vascularisation and those due to the variable of interest.
Here, we refer to acquisitions as to images of CBF values computed from applying a compartment model to two scans, one with and one without labelled spins [11]. In a study of baseline perfusion at rest, acquisition-to-acquisition variance arises from variation from one estimated perfusion image to the other within subjects. In a study in which participants carry out a task in the scanner, acquisition-to-acquisition variance is constituted by the residual variance arising from one estimated perfusion image to the other within experimental conditions/factor levels. Figure 1 displays maps of acquisition-to-acquisition variance, collected from participants resting quietly in the scanner with closed eyes for 8 min, and therefore originated from a study of the first type. One can see that this variance shows differences of one order of magnitude across the brain, and that these differences follow anatomical features such as the course of large vessels [12]. High variance also occurs at the edges of the brain and in ventricles, where the model used to estimate perfusion may not hold (because quantified CBF is estimated from a ratio, misspecification of the model may amplify the variation in the denominator). Because the reasons for high variance in these areas and near large vessels may differ, it is conceivable that spatial covariance may show different intensities depending on the mechanism at the basis of variance. Specifically, we would expect high variance at the edges of the brain to arise because of high variation from one voxel to the next leading to low spatial covariance, while near large vessels groups of voxels may tend to assume largely different values from one acquisition to the other, giving rise to larger spatial correlations.
Acquisition-to-acquisition variance maps. Acquisition-to-acquisition variance, axial slices, overlaid on a template brain. Very large variance (in red) is present at the edges of the brain and in correspondence of the course of large vessels (MCA: middle cerebral artery; PCA: posterior cerebral artery; ACA: anterior cerebral artery and frontal arteries; IA: insular arteries; CA: middle occipital and choroidal arteries; RS: sinus rectus). Most of the brain parenchyma, in contrast, displays lower variance (in yellow, green, and blue), especially in white matter. On the right, the histogram of the variance values shows a long right tail; isolated values reach σ2 = 30 000.
In this study, patterns of spatial covariation will be identified by carrying out a principal component analysis of the estimated acquisition-to-acquisition variance shown in Figure 1. The sample consists of a total of 13 680 images collected from 228 participants, and because of its size should yield a quite reliable eigendecomposition. To characterize the origin of these components further, the relation of the main components of variation with global CBF levels will be investigated.
Principal component analysis
Figure 2 shows the first four principal spatial pattern of acquisition-to-acquisition variation obtained through principal component analysis. The relative weights of the first 20 components, expressed by the proportion of variance captured in the data, are displayed in Figure 3, left. Even if individual acquisition images may be characterized by variance at high spatial frequency [12], the common modes of variation displayed in these images tend to be spatially smooth (very similar components, not shown here for brevity, were obtained by analysing non-smoothed data).
Principal components maps. From top to bottom, component images of the first four components of acquisition-to-acquisition variance, overlaid on template brains. On the right, histograms of the component scores (unitless). The scale and sign of these images is arbitrary. The coefficients of the first component are positive across the brain; for better contrast, a different colour scale was used than for the remaining components.
Screeplot. On the left, screeplot of the first 20 principal components. On the right, scatterplot of the first component score on global CBF values (differences from the mean subject global CBF in ml/100 gr/min). Component scores refer to individual volumes. To increase the clarity of the plot, global CBF was ranked, and sampled at intervals of 200 rank scores.
The first component explained about 10% of the variance, and contained variation shared by all voxels, shown by the coefficients of the component being of the same sign over the whole volume. This mode of variation was determined by the perfusion level of the acquisition in the whole volume, as is shown by the high correlation of the score of this component with global CBF values (R2 = 94%, p < 0.001, Figure 3). Areas of high acquisition-to-acquisition variance, visible in Figure 1, were represented in the spatial pattern of this component, which loaded with different intensity depending on overall acquisition-to-acquisition variance. Taken together, the evidence presented in these Figures shows that when global CBF of the acquisition is high, the computed regional CBF at the large vessels is even higher than the average level; furthermore, also perfusion in the cortex increases more than in the white matter. However, the variation of the first component appears to affect the calcarine and medial occipital cortex more than other cortical areas and as anticipated by their vicinity to large vessels (slices at z = 0 and 24, top row, Figure 2). Furthermore, the high variance at the edges of the brain and in ventricles of Figure 1 is underrepresented. Outside the brain parenchyma, high spatial covariation is observed in the space between the hemispheres and in the Sylvian scissure.
The second and third components, each accounting for about 5% of the variance, captured variation located along the course of main vessels. The dissociation between anterior and posterior areas visible in the comparison between these two components reflects the main subdivision of branches stemming from the internal carotids and the vertebral artery. The fourth component, accounting for about 2.5% of the overall variance, reflected dissociation between the brain parenchyma as a whole and the high-variance edges. In these components, association with global CBF was negligible (R2 was 1.5, 2.4 and 0.3% for the second, third, and fourth components), in contrast to the first component. No component up to the 10th was noted to reflect right-left asymmetries in perfusion.
In this study, the pattern of spatial covariation in the acquisition-to-acquisition variance in CASL images was investigated using principal component analysis in a large sample of images. The results obtained here reflect the effectiveness and accuracy with which this technique could be implemented in our laboratory, and are certainly of limited generalizability to future techniques that may seek a more accurate estimation of CBF. However, the CASL imaging protocol implemented here represents a pragmatic approach to CBF estimation (that is frequently adopted in fMRI ASL studies), and its adoption may be informed by the results presented here.
The first component of variation captured changes in the overall intensity of the quantitative CBF estimate in each acquisition. These changes affected gray more than white matter and large vessel areas more than the rest of the brain parenchyma. An important aspect of this component of variation is its high correlation with global perfusion levels (which does not arise by necessity). Even if the spatial pattern of covariance is somewhat different, this component is in this respect analogous to the first component obtained by the principal component analysis of subject-to-subject variance, which also captures changes of global perfusion levels [12]. The finding that the first component is associated with global perfusion levels in both subject-to-subject and acquisition-to-acquisition sources of variance suggests that many factors, now affecting variation between subjects, now affecting variation between acquisitions, may have a common effect on global perfusion levels. What one then sees is that differences in global perfusion levels affect brain regions with distinct but characteristic spatial patterns, depending on whether these factors have acted between acquisitions or between subjects. This observation is relevant for the application of procedures that, with the aim of reducing this source of variance and increase testing power, correct for global CBF values [15–17].
The second and third components reflected a vascular factor, consistent with the predominant dissociation between the anterior and posterior regions due to the two main sources of arterial supply, internal carotids and cerebral artery. This source of variation may ensue from labeled spins that have not yet reached the capillary bed, or from interactions between the timing of the labeling pulse and the rhythm of blood flow. These components reflect the interplay of brain physiology, specifically of large vessels, and the signal acquired with this imaging technique. In contrast, variation at the edges of the brain is underrepresented in covariance patterns, loading strongly only on the fourth component. This is consistent with the observation of the noisy character of the data at the brain edges.
The relative importance of the first three components, accounting together for over 20% of the total variance, shows that residual variation across voxels in this type of images is affected by important violations of the stationarity assumption on the Gaussian random field modeling residual variation. Furthermore, the spatial pattern of these components follows anatomical boundaries, such as the anterior and medial temporal lobe, the medial occipital and calcarine cortex, the insula (especially posteriorly), and the subgenual portion of the anteromedial prefrontal cortex. When averaging these images, some combination of these patterns, apparently following anatomical structures, may arise just by chance, as was demonstrated in the case studies. The anteromedial part of the temporal lobe and the lower half of the medial aspect of the brain hemispheres appear to be particularly affected. Note also that the apparently homogenous high variance of the medial aspect of the brain hemispheres visible in the sagittal slice of Figure 1 is in fact produced by the superposition of spatially characterized patterns.
Using principal component analysis, we investigated the patterns of spatial covariation arising from changes in the global estimated perfusion levels and their interplay with vascular anatomy.
Perfusion images at rest (8 min., 120 scans giving 60 acquisitions of perfusion estimates) were acquired using continuous arterial spin labeling [11] from 228 right-handed participants (101 males) aged between 17 and 52 years at the time of the scan (mean age 24.7, std. dev. 5.4) who gave informed consent. The study protocol was approved by the local ethical committee and was in compliance with national legislation and the Code of Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects of the World Medical Association. Exclusion criteria were neurological or medical conditions, use of medication, or a history of mental illness, and subclinical structural abnormalities.
All magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were obtained with a 3-Tesla Magnetom Allegra (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) MRI system equipped with a head volume coil. All participants were scanned at the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Ulm. A standard T2-weighted structural brain scan from the clinical screening routine in use in our hospital (TR 4120, TE 82) was taken on all participants to exclude subclinical structural abnormalities. A continuous arterial spin-labelling technique was used as described in ref. [11]. Interleaved images with and without labelling were acquired for 8 min by using a gradient-echo echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence with a field of view of 22 cm. Image size was 64 × 64 × 15 voxels, slice thickness 6 mm with a gap of 1.5 mm, giving a voxel size of 3.44 × 3.44 × 7.50 mm. The images were acquired with TR 4000, TE 17, anterior-to-posterior phase encoding, a flip angle of 90°, and a bandwidth of 3005 Hz/Pixel. A delay of 1 sec was inserted between the end of a 2 sec labelling pulse and image acquisition to reduce transit artefacts. The SPM2 package was used (Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology, London; online at http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk) for realignment and stereotactic normalization to an EPI template (Montreal Neurological Institute, resampling size: 2 × 2 × 2 mm). Reconstruction of CBF values at each voxel was obtained using the Perf_resconstruct_V02 SPM add-on software by H. Y. Rao and J. J. Wang, from the Department of Radiology and Center for Functional Neuroimaging at University of Pennsylvania (online at http://www.cfn.upenn.edu/perfusion/software.htm). The software implements eq. (1) of ref. [18], or, equivalently, eq. (1) of ref. [11]. The 'simple subtraction' method was used. No scaling procedures such as 'grand mean scaling' were applied to the data. All volumes were smoothed using an isotropic Gaussian kernel of full width half-maximum (FWHM) of 6 mm prior to the principal component analysis. An explicit mask was obtained by combining an a priori thresholded tissue probability maps provided by the SPM package at 0.25 for gray or white matter with another mask thresholding the standard deviation of the mean images to less than 25 (as described in ref. [12]). Furthermore, slices lower than z = -24 mm. were excluded, since very low slices have very large variance in our data (these slices are close to where the labelling pulse was given). We also excluded slices above z = 48 mm. to prevent lack of coverage of the top of the brain in some individuals to influence the outcome of the principal component analysis. After masking, each volume contained 158 856 voxels.
The data of the present sample contain two sources of variance: subject-to-subject, and acquisition-to-acquisition. The former is the variance arising from differences in brain perfusion among individuals, while the latter is constituted by variation due to unaccounted effects and experimental error in the data collected within each individual. Formally, in an experiment in which j = 1,... m baseline perfusion images are acquired in a single session from i = 1,... n individuals, the data at each voxel may be modelled by a simple random effects ANOVA:
where y ij is the voxel signal, A i is the average regional CBF in subject i, and ε ij is an experimental error term at each acquisition containing the unaccounted effects. A and ε are assumed to be independent random variables with means μ and zero, and variance (the subject-to-subject variance) and σ2 (the acquisition-to-acquisition variance), respectively. Voxel-by-voxel estimates of acquisition-to-acquisition variance were obtained by standard ANOVA estimators; in the present case, the estimator of acquisition-to-acquisition variance is given simply by the variance of images centred relative to the subject mean image.
Principal component analysis was carried out as described in the Appendix of ref. [19] on the estimated images . The analysis was carried out by directly calling the relevant BLAS and LAPACK routines in the version of these packages provided with MATLAB R2006b (The Mathworks, Natick, MA) installed on a machine equipped with a 64-bit Athlon processor (Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale, CA) running Windows XP (Microsoft, Redmond, WA). Data were single-centered voxel by voxel, thus considering voxels to be 'variables' and the average individual volumes to be 'observations' in the usual principal component terminology [20]. A nm × nm covariance matrix was then computed from the outer product of the data acquired in each voxel. In the present case, n = 228 and m = 60, giving a covariance matrix of size 13 680 × 13 680. A singular value decomposition of this matrix gave the principal directions of variation in time, i.e. a set of orthonormal vectors of size 13 680. The spatial components ('eigenimages') were obtained as the coefficients of the voxel-by-voxel regression of all volumes on this set of vectors. The principal component analysis also delivers a principal component score, one for each volume. This score is the inner product between the eigenimages and the CBF values in each volume, and represents the extent to which each volume displays the pattern identified by the components. The correlation of this score with global CBF values provides a summary measure of how much the pattern of variation is associated with changes in global perfusion. All images were generated with the software package MRIcroN, obtained from http://www.sph.sc.edu/comd/rorden/mricron/.
The authors are grateful to Dr J.J. Wang from the Department of Radiology and Center for Functional Neuroimaging at University of Pennsylvania for providing the CASL sequence and software for the estimation of the perfusion values, and to Dr. Georg Grön of the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Ulm for help in obtaining and setting up the CASL sequence. This study was funded as part of the research activities of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm. No conflict of interests declared.
12868_2009_1589_MOESM1_ESM.eps Authors’ original file for figure 1
RV conceived of the study and its design, carried out scans, wrote software for the statistical analysis, analyzed data, and drafted the manuscript. PB, HL, NO, JT recruited participants, carried out scans, and contributed to writing the manuscript. EJS coordinated the study, carried out scans, and contributed to writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 12, Ulm, Germany
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Hochsträß, Ulm, Germany
Department of Neurology, St Josef Hospital/Ruhr-University Bochum, Gudrunstr. 56, Bochum, Germany
Williams DS, Detre JA, Leigh JS, Koretsky AP: Magnetic resonance imaging of perfusion using spin-inversion of arterial water. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1992, 89: 212-216. 10.1073/pnas.89.1.212.PubMed CentralView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Buxton RB: Introduction to Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Principles and Techniques. 2002, Cambridge: Cambridge University PressView ArticleGoogle Scholar
Aguirre GK, Detre JA, Wang J: Perfusion fMRI for functional neuroimaging. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2005, 66: 213-236. 10.1016/S0074-7742(05)66007-2.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Wolf RL, Detre JA: Clinical neuroimaging using arterial spin-labeled perfusion magnetic resonance imaging. Neurotherapeutics. 2007, 4: 346-359. 10.1016/j.nurt.2007.04.005.PubMed CentralView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Abler B, Hofer C, Viviani R: Habitual emotion regulation strategies and baseline brain perfusion. NeuroReport. 2008, 19: 21-24. 10.1097/WNR.0b013e3282f3adeb.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Beschoner P, Richter S, Lo H, Sim EJ, Baron K, Osterfeld N, Horn AB, Viviani R: Baseline brain perfusion and working memory capacity: A neuroimaging study. NeuroReport. 2008, 19: 1803-1807. 10.1097/WNR.0b013e32831997f1.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Rao H, Gillihan SJ, Wang J, Korczykowski M, Sankoorikal GMV, Kaercher KA, Brodkin ES, Detre JA, Farah MJ: Genetic variation in serotonin transporter alters resting brain function in healthy individuals. Biol Psychiatry. 2007, 62: 600-606. 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.11.028.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Aguirre GK, Detre JA, Zarahn E, Alsop DC: Experimental design and the relative sensitivity of BOLD and perfusion fMRI. NeuroImage. 2002, 15: 488-500. 10.1006/nimg.2001.0990.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Wang J, Aguirre GK, Kimberg DY, Detre JA: Empirical analyses of null-hypothesis perfusion fMRI data at 1.5 and 4 T. NeuroImage. 2003, 19: 1449-1462. 10.1016/S1053-8119(03)00255-6.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Mumford JA, Hernandez-Garcia L, Lee GR, Nichols TE: Estimation efficiency and statistical power in arterial spin labelling fMRI. NeuroImage. 2006, 33: 103-114. 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.05.040.PubMed CentralView ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Wang J, Zhang Y, Wolf RL, Roc AC, Alsop DC, Detre JA: Amplitude-modulated continuous arterial spin-labeling 3.0-T perfusion MR imaging with a single coil: Feasibility study. Radiology. 2005, 235: 218-228. 10.1148/radiol.2351031663.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Viviani R, Sim EJ, Lo H, Richter S, Haffer S, Osterfeld N, Thöne J, Beschoner P: Components of variance in brain perfusion and the design of studies of individual differences: The baseline study. NeuroImage. 2009, 46: 12-22. 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.01.041.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Worsley KJ, Marrett S, Neelin P, Evans AC: A three-dimensional statistical analysis for CBF activation studies in human brain. J Cerebr Bl Flow Metab. 1992, 12: 900-918.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Worsley KJ, Marrett S, Neelin P, Vandal AC, Friston KJ, Evans AC: A unified statistical approach for determining significant signals in images of cerebral activation. Hum Br Mapping. 1996, 4: 58-73. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0193(1996)4:1<58::AID-HBM4>3.0.CO;2-O.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Friston KJ, Frith CD, Liddle PF, Dolan RJ, Lammertsma AA, Frackowiak RSJ: The relationship between global and local changes in PET scans. J Cerebr Bl Flow Metab. 1990, 10: 458-466.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Ramsay SC, Murphy K, Shea SA, Friston KJ, Lammertsma AA, Clark JC, Adams L, Guz A, Frackowiak RSJ: Changes in global cerebral blood flow in humans: Effect on regional cerebral blood flow during a neural activation task. J Physiol (Lond). 1993, 471: 521-534.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Arndt S, Cizadlo T, O'Leary D, Gold S, Andreasen NC: Normalizing counts and cerebral blood flow intensity in functional imaging studies of the human brain. NeuroImage. 1996, 3: 175-184. 10.1006/nimg.1996.0019.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Wang J, Alsop DC, Li L, Listerud J, Gonzalez-At JB, Detre JA: Arterial transit time imaging with flow encoding arterial spin tagging (FEAST). Magn Reson Med. 2003, 50: 599-607. 10.1002/mrm.10559.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Viviani R, Grön G, Spitzer M: Functional principal component analysis of fMRI data. Hum Br Mapping. 2005, 24: 109-129. 10.1002/hbm.20074.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Jolliffe IT: Principal Component Analysis. 1986, Heidelberg: SpringerView ArticleGoogle Scholar
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6717
|
__label__cc
| 0.597208
| 0.402792
|
What Makes A Character Believable?
01/01/2015 Laura Discussions, Reading, Writing 35
I think everyone has read one of those books that in theory, should be great: it has an interesting concept, a good plot, a killer twist, skilful world-building if it’s sci-fi or fantasy… but for some reason, something about it just doesn’t click. Although it should be right up your street, it just doesn’t do it for you.
One of the biggest reasons I find for this when it happens is the characters: if they just aren’t convincing then how am I ever going to enjoy reading about them? Even in fantasy and sci-fi where a suspension of belief is required on behalf of the reader, you have to be able to believe the characters could exist in the universe of the story if you are going to care about them at all.
The last book I can remember reading where I felt the characters ruined a good story was Hugh Howey’s Wool: whilst for the most part I liked the heroine Juliette, Lukas (the ‘love interest’) as a character I felt was all over the place, and Juliette falling in love with a character like him seemed inconsistent with her own character.
These badly drawn characters can completely destroy a book for me, and so as someone who not only reads fiction but also writes it, I’ve been trying to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes characters believable. Here’s what I came up with (and I’d love to know your thoughts!):
Characters must be non-stereotyped.
Stereotypes are by nature, flat and unrealistic. A stereotype is essentially a shortcut to convey a lot of information about a character in a short space of time, so the author doesn’t have to worry too much about character building. The result? Characters that make you roll your eyes in exasperation: another blonde, brainless American cheerleader? Another impossibly handsome stranger with a supernatural secret? Another fantasy damsel-in-distress? No one person in real life embodies a stereotype, and so neither should believable characters!
Characters must have realistic dialogue.
Characters who speak in full, grammatically correct English all the time? Youngsters who abbreviate every other word, so that they’re practically incomprehensible? Scottish people, who actually say ‘och aye the noo!’? All make a character less believable – it’s all far too ‘stylised’ and/or stereotyped. Now, I’m not saying authors should write dialogue how people actually speak, with every ‘erm’ and ‘um’ included, but if you can’t practically hear a character talking when you’re reading the book, then for me it’s not working.
Characters must have consistent personality traits.
Now I know characters develop throughout a novel or perhaps end up not being what they seem, and I love that! When someone you thought was an out-and-out villain shows a softer side or someone you thought was one of the good guys turns out to be corrupt and you just didn’t see it coming it really adds to the drama and makes the characters seem more complex and three-dimensional. But only if it’s believable. If the author plants hints here and there which you only really notice after the truth comes out it can be believable for a character to suddenly change, as they are just showing their true colours. However, if it seems like the author just suddenly decided to take the plot in a different direction and needed a character to completely change in order to do it then it can be jarring and incredibly off-putting.
Characters must have believable motivation.
Everyone wants something, whether that something is a day off work, a snack, kids or a huge lottery win (although who wouldn’t want that!), and characters should be no different. If Frodo didn’t desperately want to destroy the Ring and save the Shire (plus the rest of Middle Earth) from Sauron, then why would he trek all the way to Mordor? Not for a holiday, that’s for sure! And if Katniss didn’t love her sister then why would she volunteer to go into The Hunger Games in her place?
Often the biggest character motives are love, wealth or the pursuit of knowledge, but it really could be anything so long as it makes sense for that character. A selfless character, for example, would be motivated by the need to save others, whilst a greedy character will mainly be motivated by the desire to accumulate wealth or material possessions. However, if a character seemingly has no motivation, and there are no reasons behind their actions, then how are we supposed to believe in them? No one does anything for no reason, however subtle that reason is, and so in my opinion, neither should characters!
So, I’d love to know, what do you think makes characters believable? Do you agree with my ideas, or do you have any more of your own? And have you read any books recently with unconvincing characters?
Tags: Character
35 Responses to “What Makes A Character Believable?”
A great post! I agree with everything you’ve written here. I particularly agree about realistic dialogue – if a character’s speech sounds unrealistic I find it draws attention away from what they’re actually saying! Another thing which I think makes characters more believable is their flaws – no one is perfect so it goes without saying that characters shouldn’t be either!
It definitely distracts from what characters are actually saying when the dialogue is unrealistic, because all you can think about is how bad the dialogue is! And character flaws is a really good one. I hate books where the main character is set up as some kind of perfect hero/heroine, because not only is it unrealistic but you just can’t relate to them at all, and I think it makes them really unlikable (which I guess is the opposite of what the author intended!). Believable characters definitely need flaws, so that’s a great point!
Jillian @ Jillian's Books
LOVE THIS POST! I feel like you just stated every thing that a character should and should NOT have! 🙂 I hate it when characters are stereotyped. I once read Haven by Kristi Cook, and the beginning was literally like Twilight – you know: new girl goes to school, new girl meets suspicious (yet handsome) boy. Ugh, I was sick of that, honestly. And I agree that characters should have a realistic motive that leads them to do stuff. Because if the author doesn’t provide a good enough motive for the characters, technically I’d feel it’s useless to read the book 😛
Great post! I love the points you gave out <3
I’m so glad you liked the post! 😀
I hate that so much when you start reading a book and then think, ‘hey wait, this is exactly like that other book!’, and I think it’s mostly because some authors try and replicate characters and plots to the point where they then become stereotypes. I’m definitely sick of the whole ‘new girl meets suspicious yet handsome boy’ thing too, because it’s just so overdone I can’t take those kinds of characters seriously at all anymore (especially if the new girl is tomboyish/pretty but doesn’t know it/selfless – basically Bella Swann!). And I definitely agree that it’s useless reading the book if the author doesn’t give characters enough motive. If they have no motive then you’d think they wouldn’t do anything, and then there’d be no story!
Great post! I love it when character are realistic and it can really make or break a book for me soemtimes, but I never really thought about what realistic means. I think you pretty much nialed it down in this post.
Stereotypes can play a part, but I like it when character turn out to be much more and have more depth then the initial stereotype idea, I have read some books which did this well, although in general give me a unique character over a stereotype.
Consistent personality traits are one of the most important things for me, if a character is supposed to be like A, but then acts the opposite of that it really rubs me wrong.
Motivations are also really important and I love learning what drives characters, but if they just do things for the sake of it, it can feel really flat.
You definitely have a point about the whole stereotypes thing – I have read some books where you meet a character and assume they are going to fit in with a certain stereotype and then they turn out to be totally different, and I really like when that happens! And I think that’s still realistic too because I suppose in real life you can make assumptions about people because you’ve related that person to a stereotype, and then they turn out to be completely different than you thought.
And I love learning what drives characters too, and I think when authors hide characters motivations for quite a while then it can make the whole book a lot more exciting, and the characters even more real, because they obviously have depths. Characters with no motivation definitely feel flat!
Charlie Anderson
I agree with all of your points. The worst books I’ve read are the ones where the MCs compromise their character and things in that vein take a turn for the absurdly unbelievable. I read a handful like that last year and I guess you could say I was a bit bitter after finishing the books. Like Lola, I enjoy when a character turns out to be more than what we interpreted them as for the majority of the book. One thing I’ve noticed (or maybe it’s just my perception) is that I’m finding “filler” dialogue that really doesn’t serve a purpose in furthering character interactions or plot. That’s starting to bother me.
It really is annoying when characters (especially main characters) suddenly do something totally out of character, and I can definitely understand why you would feel bitter after finishing books where that happens. When I start reading a book I get invested in the characters (even if I don’t really like them), and so when they completely change I end up feeling a bit cheated.
And I have read a few books recently where I felt there was a lot of filler dialogue, and it can really put me off a book. If it doesn’t contribute to either the plot or character development then there really is no point to it at all, so I definitely agree with you there!
Karen Blue
Yea, I agree with everything you pointed out. I have never really thought about what makes characters believable, I just know what makes then unbelievable when I read it. I recently read an erotic mystery called If I Were You and it hit every cliche for the characters and made it so unbelievable.
Terri M., the Director
I’m with you, Karen. Using tons of cliches makes the whole story fall apart. There’s not a lot of creativity involved when an author does that.
The books I enjoy most are the ones I connect to with the characters on an emotional level. The reactions of the characters have be relatable or realistic for the situation. It’s probably one reason I had such a hard time connecting with Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl.
Second Run Reviews
There’s definitely no creativity involved when authors use cliches or stereotypes for characters, and even if the plot is good it certainly ruins the entire story.
And I definitely prefer books where I can connect to characters on an emotional level too. I have never read Gone Girl, as from what I’ve heard about it as the main characters don’t sound very likeable. Characters don’t necessarily need to be ‘good guys’, for me to like them, as I love a lot of anti-hero types characters, but for me they have to have some depths, and some redeeming qualities, and as you say, their reactions have to make sense for the situation and be relatable.
Character cliches definitely ruin books for me too, as it’s like the author has basically reused characters and their actions always end up being predictable. I like characters with quirks and unique traits a lot better, as they’re so much more believable!
I LOVED this post. I find this extremely helpful since I’m currently writing. Reading tips like this definitely affects the way I approach my story, especially with my characters.
I completely agree with your view on stereotyped characters! Taking a flat character and beating the hell out of him to make him more interesting is the best way to do it. That sounded violent, but you know what I mean.
Gail @ Hey, It’s Gail
Glad you have found this post helpful! I write some fiction myself and I think creating good characters is definitely one of the hardest things to do.
And I definitely know what you mean about the stereotyped characters thing! You can use the basics of stereotypes and flesh them out, and give them depths and they can end up as really interesting characters. For example, I like those characters that on the surface appear to be some kind of stereotypical ‘has it all’ kind of person, but then it turns out that it’s actually all a facade.
Good luck with the writing!
Stereotypes make for dull characters, but sometimes I can get over those. The two mood killers for me are inconsistent characters and characters that lack believable motivation– especially when these two things combine create whiny/angsty/angry characters. Sometimes if I can’t believe their motivation, I can’t buy in to their anger, and that makes me put a book down.
I definitely agree with you. Inconsistent characters and lack of motivation can definitely end in whiny or angry characters, and I think a lot of authors use ‘anger’ itself as a motivation without explaining why the character is angry, and that just destroys any kind of believability.
Ana @ Butterflies of the Imagination
Awesome post, Laura. I agree with so many of the things you said here. Like you, I’m also a writer so I think it’s especially important for me to understand what makes a believable character so that I can recreate one. Believable motivation is extremely important, or else the whole story would be ruined, and I think the key to this is to set up some backstory that shows how true the motivation is.
Backstory is definitely a great way to demonstrate a characters motivation! I think a character’s past or background in a lot of ways can contribute to their motivations (like, a character who was brought up in a poor family would maybe be motivated by that to try and become wealthy?), and can definitely show where that motivation came from.
Best of luck with your writing!
THIS. A THOUSAND TIMES THIS. As a reader + writer myself, I find it so frustrating to see characters who are hastily-drawn and poorly-written. Personally, I absolutely love character-driven stories, and a book with a great plot but horrible character really is not going to get a very good rating from me. It has to be about the people, always. Wonderful post! x
Badly written characters are definitely frustrating, and a great plot with bad characters will definitely receive bad ratings from me too. That was kind of the case with the book i mentioned early in the post (Wool by Hugh Howey). The concept sounded great, but the characters just didn’t work for me.
C.J. @ ebookclassics
I completely agree with you as well and laughed about young characters who speak perfectly because I saw a lot of discussion on this specifically about The Fault in Our Stars. Another thing I notice a lot is that maybe the main character is well-developed, but all of the secondary characters are stereotypes and just serve the purpose of helping to move the plot along.
I have seen that before as well, where the main character is good, but the secondary characters are just stereotypes, and seen as character relationships can make or break a book for me it’s also really off putting. It kind of seems like so much effort has gone into one character that the author has forgotten about the others!
Totally true. Sometimes flat or unbelievable characters can ruin an otherwise great book! The worst for me is when I can’t emotionally connect with a character because they don’t really respond to the world around them fully – when I feel like I’m just going through the motions with them. One book that felt like this to me was a dystopian with a great concept called The Only Boy – I just felt like I was seeing it all through distant eyes, and it totally ruined it for me.
That’s true for me as well – if a character doesn’t seemed immersed in the world of the story then it does feel like you’re just going through the motions, and it can totally ruin the book. Especially when it’s written in first person, because you would think that you would be experiencing through the book what it is like to live in that world, so if it feels distant then the character and perspective is obviously not working, and it’s really disappointing in a book where the concept looks good.
YES YES YES TO THIS ALL. Sometimes I find absolutely nothing wrong with the book, but I end up just not clicking with the characters at all. Most of the time, I find characters making stupid decisions annoying, but it’s not necessarily the decisions that annoy me, but why or what caused the character to do it when it didn’t seem like they would.
Awesome post Laura!
Characters making stupid decisions is definitely really annoying, and a lot of the time it is because of a lack of convincing motivation. I have read a few books like that recently, and it totally puts me off! Thanks for commenting!
Consistent personality traits, yes! I hate it when it doesn’t make sense. Last time I read about a book where a girl was learning to fight, but she didn’t have the feeling for it and she was too clumsy. A couple chapters later she was fighting a group of guys like a professional ninja.. That doesn’t make any sense!
That really doesn’t make any sense! I’m pretty clumsy myself and I doubt I’ll be pulling any ninja moves any time soon, even with training! I really hate when you read books like that, because if parts of it don’t make sense then it feels like you really can’t believe any of the rest of it. Thanks for commenting!
Excellent points. I’ve been reading several of the novels of Willa Cather lately and she excels at character development, making you understand her characters’ motivation even if you may not like or agree with them.
I think sometimes that’s how you know the characters are really well written – if you don’t agree with the character, or even like them, but you can still see where they are coming from in terms of motivation. I have never read anything by Willa Cather so maybe I should!
Roberta R.
“Another impossibly handsome stranger with a supernatural secret?”
Haha, the world is full of them. Not. But apparently, one book out of two has a specimen of those!
Good point about the motivation, selfless or selfish that it is. Also, any author should study their material of choice firsthand. For example, you can’t simply ASSUME a teen would talk in a certain way, but you should get close to a real one and learn from experience…
Bad teen dialogue is definitely one of my pet hates in books! I think so many authors just work off a stereotype of how they think a teenager would speak and it just doesn’t work. The best way to make it sound authentic definitely would be to learn from experience and actually listen to different people really speak.
Jee Ann
Ah, dialogues… one of the reasons I’m wary of first person POVs is that the “speaking language” leaks into the action, the tags, the beats, and descriptions, which just bores me or make me gag. There was one story with an interesting premise, until the FMC, also narrator, talks about a guy walking towards her in all his hunky hotness. I wanted to cry!
That’s definitely a big problem with first person POVs – the dialogue and the actual body of the writing sounds kind of the same, and it really can get boring after a while.
Weekly Recap| Dec 28, 2014 – Jan 3, 2015 | Oh, the Books!
[…] Laura talks about what makes a character believable. […]
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6718
|
__label__wiki
| 0.559044
| 0.559044
|
The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army
Jane Portal, Hiromi Kinoshita
Harvard University Press, 2010 - 240 páginas
Standing guard around the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi, the ranks of a terracotta army bear silent witness to the vast power of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, who unified China in 221 BCE. Six thousand warriors and horses make up the army, while chariots, a military guard, and a command post complete the host. A new look at one of the most spectacular finds in the annals of archaeology, this book also considers the historical and archaeological context of the Terracotta Army, as well as the extensive research and excavation carried out since its discovery in 1974.
In richly illustrated chapters, experts in the field describe the Qin's rise and military conquest, the empire's ideology and practices, and the emperor's achievements and legacy. The authors examine the site itself, including new discoveries such as terracotta bureaucrats, acrobats, and strongmen, life-size bronze birds, hundreds of suits of stone armor, and terracotta warriors with colored faces preserved with new technology.
From explorations of the massive mausoleum and the rituals that surrounded it, to explanations of the actual manufacture of the Terracotta Army, the book offers a detailed and authoritative tour of one of ancient history's most eloquent memorials, with all it says of China's long and coherent cultural past--and future potential.
Reseña de usuario - ruric - LibraryThing
British Museum catalogue to accompany the First Emperor: China;s Terracotta Army exhibition. Lots of lavish photos of the items on display plus descriptions and 6 essays giving context for the first ... Leer reseña completa
Reseña de usuario - carterchristian1 - LibraryThing
I have just seen the exhibit of the soldiers at the High Museum, based on the British Museum exhibit. This book by the British Museum curator faithfully reflects the exhibits themselves. The High ... Leer reseña completa
Jane Portal
Jane Portal,Hiromi Kinoshita
Jane Portalis an Assistant Keeper in theDepartment of Asia in the British Museum, where she is responsible for the Chinese collections. Her publications includeGilded Dragons,Chinese Love Poetry, and the award-winningBritish Museum Book of Chinese Art.
Título The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army
Editores Jane Portal, Hiromi Kinoshita
Editor Harvard University Press, 2010
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6722
|
__label__wiki
| 0.768213
| 0.768213
|
New York sues U.S. to stop fintech bank charters
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York state’s top banking regulator on Friday sued the federal government to void its decision to award national bank charters to online lenders and payment companies, saying it was unconstitutional and put vulnerable consumers at risk.
FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at her phone as she passes by a Lending Club banner on the facade of the the New York Stock Exchange December 11, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
Maria Vullo, superintendent of New York’s Department of Financial Services, called the July 31 decision by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to let financial technology companies, or fintech firms, obtain charters “lawless, ill-conceived, and destabilizing of financial markets.”
She said New York could best regulate those markets, but the OCC decision left consumers “at great risk of exploitation” by weakening oversight of predatory lending, allowing the creation of more “too big to fail” institutions, and undermining the ability of local banks to compete.
“The OCC’s reckless folly should be stopped,” Vullo said in her complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
OCC spokesman Bryan Hubbard said in an email that the regulator, part of the U.S. Department of Treasury, would vigorously defend its authority to grant national charters to qualified companies “engaged in the business of banking.”
Vullo’s complaint joins a slew of litigation from regulators in Democratic-controlled or -leaning states challenging Trump administration policies.
FILE PHOTO: The Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Federal Courthouse is pictured in the Manhattan borough of New York, NY, US, August 26, 2014. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo
It seeks a declaration that the OCC exceeded its authority under the National Bank Act and violated the Constitution’s 10th Amendment by usurping state powers.
The fintech industry includes such companies as the online lenders LendingClub Corp and OnDeck Capital Inc, and the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.
Fintech firms have long pushed for national bank charters to let them operate nationwide without needing licenses in every state, a process they say can impede growth and boost costs.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said easing regulation of newer financial companies can “encourage financial ingenuity to foster the nation’s vibrant financial services and technology sectors.”
But critics believe granting national bank charters to fintech firms, including those that do not hold deposits, could shield unscrupulous companies from state oversight.
Vullo oversees more than 2,200 banks, financial services companies and insurers with about $7 trillion of total assets.
“Financial centers like New York, which have developed comprehensive and well-functioning regulatory bodies, should not needlessly bear the harmful brunt of an overreaching federal agency,” the complaint said.
The case is Vullo v. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 18-08377.
Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Bernadette Baum
Facebook Could Be Fined $1 Million a Day if It Launches Libra Cryptocurrency Project
ChainLocks Makes Dash “The Most Secure Cryptocurrency, Even More So than Bitcoin”
Trump Lashes Out at Facebook’s Libra Cryptocurrency on Twitter
WeChat to Enter Cryptocurrency Game, Compete With Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp?
Chia Network creates a $100,000 contest to bolster its cryptocurrency platform
Powell says Fed is looking into Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency, flags ‘serious concerns’
Visa Pours Millions into Cryptocurrency Startup Anchorage
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6733
|
__label__wiki
| 0.699106
| 0.699106
|
Maurice Shen, PhD Last Updated Jan 31, 2019
Researcher: Omer Donmez, Research Technician, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Omer Donmez obtained his bachelor degree from the University of Cincinnati, with a major in environmental studies and a minor in biology. Throughout his undergrad, Donmez developed a strong interest in the field of genetics, particularly the genetic basis of autoimmune diseases. Since graduation, Donmez pursued his dream job at the Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology (CAGE) at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital—one of the top children’s hospitals in the US, with prestigious research expertise in autoimmune diseases—as a Research Technician.
Outside of the lab, Donmez enjoys going to the movies and hiking. He’s also an avid soccer fan who follows every World Cup tournament closely.
Current Research: Examining the Roles of Transcription Factors in the Etiology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Working on a collaborative project led by Dr. Leah Kottyan and Dr. Matthew Weirauch, Donmez is studying the roles of transcription factors in the etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus). Specifically, Donmez examines which transcription factors in SLE patients preferentially interact with risk loci for SLE as found by previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS). “There are 83 well-established risk loci for SLE, but the mechanism through which these loci cause the disease is unclear,” says Donmez.
To answer this question, his lab developed a new computational method, RELI, which is built upon a library of datasets consisting of the genomic coordinates of functional genomic datasets (you can read more about RELI here). “We do tons of ChIP-seq experiments,” Donmez says, “and through RELI, we can prioritize transcription factors and cell types that were potentially affected by disease-associated variants.”
Using this approach, Donmez’s lab recently identified that transcription factors operate across disease loci, with Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) implicated in various autoimmune diseases, including SLE. Their results were published in Nature Genetics. “The implication of EBNA2 is particularly important,” Donmez added, “As most people get infected with EBV at some point in their lives.”
Figure 4. Cell type and TFs disease-associated loci. Nature Genetics
The Challenges of Finding Antibodies for Protein-DNA Complexes
"We work with patient samples and can’t afford to waste them on antibodies that don’t work."
But making such discoveries can be challenging due to the extremely specific antibodies required. “One of the difficulties that I face constantly is finding the antibodies for our ChIP-seq experiments,” says Donmez. Indeed, many labs studying protein-DNA complexes share the same challenge.
For a ChIP-seq experiment to work, antibodies need to meet a stringent set of criteria.
First, the antibody must bind to an epitope that is accessible when the target protein is bound to the DNA in its native conformation. It is particularly crucial that the antibody does not bind to an epitope on the DNA-binding domains of the protein, as it may displace the DNA, leading to weak or no signal in the subsequent sequencing experiment.
Second, an antibody must be highly specific to the target protein, since immunoprecipitating an off-target protein will confound the sequencing data if the off-target protein is also DNA-bound. At the same time, the antibody also needs to have high binding affinity, as the signal strengths of the subsequent sequencing experiment depend on the amount of target protein immunoprecipitated. For these reasons, Donmez always run antibodies through validation experiments using model cell lines in the lab to verify their specificity and affinity to DNA-bound target proteins. “We work with patient samples and can’t afford to waste them on antibodies that don’t work,” says Donmez. In his last validation experiment, only 2 out of 7 antibodies that the vendors recommended for ChIP actually worked in his lab.
Antibody Validation is Critical, and BenchSci Helps with Sourcing the Best Antibody Candidates
"I like how the antibodies are ranked by the number of citations for a specific technique."
While Donmez established a rigorous validation process to ensure they only use antibodies that work on their samples, he cannot validate all possible antibodies for their targets of interest due to the shear amount of antibodies available. “I find that BenchSci is particularly useful for sourcing candidate antibodies to validate,” he says. “I like how the antibodies are ranked by the number of citations for a specific technique.”
Knowing which antibodies have been frequently published in ChIP-seq experiments dramatically reduces the list of antibodies that Donmez has to validate. “The same information would’ve been extremely difficult to obtain if I were to do a manual literature search on PubMed or Google Scholar,” he says.
Since being introduced to BenchSci by his colleague, it has become Donmez’s gold standard for antibody search. He has already used BenchSci to compile new lists of candidate antibodies for several new targets that his lab plans to study. “I remember the platform was offline for a short period of time when I visited a couple months ago,” Donmez recalls, “And I really missed you guys.”
(PS: We missed you too and will be sure not to let it happen again!)
Topics: BenchSci Case Studies
Maurice Shen, PhD Maurice Shen is the Head of Academic Relations at BenchSci. Trained as a scientist, Maurice likes to work with the scientific community to make everyday life in the lab more efficient and a bit more fun. He is also addicted to video games and karaoke. Connect with me on LinkedIn
BenchSci Case Studies Nov 9, 2018
Tiago Oliveira on Antibodies for Understanding Cancer Biology Through Glycoproteomics
BenchSci Sep 24, 2018
BenchSci Case Studies Jul 31, 2018
Stephanie Guerra on Antibodies for Characterizing Novel Combination Therapies for KRAS-mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6736
|
__label__wiki
| 0.633451
| 0.633451
|
Tune In’s Best of the Best
America’s Next Top Model
Fall TV Guide
Tune In – Holiday Guide
DWTS: Girls, girls, girls
By Joey Guerra on November 20, 2012 at 8:56 PM
window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' });
Photo: © 2012 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Image 1of/8
DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL-STARS - "Episode 1509" - Each couple danced a dance style they have not yet danced to a theme which was chosen for them by another couple on last week's Results Show, on "Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars" MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on ABC. (ABC/ADAM TAYLOR) TOM BERGERON, KELLY MONACO, VALENTIN CHMERKOVSKIY less
DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL-STARS - "Episode 1509" - Each couple danced a dance style they have not yet danced to a theme which was chosen for them by another couple on last week's Results Show, on "Dancing ... more
DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL-STARS - "Episode 1509" - Each of the remaining five couples danced to a classic song from "BAD25," the album released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's legendary "Bad" album, on "Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars" MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on ABC. (ABC/ADAM TAYLOR) VALENTIN CHMERKOVSKIY, KELLY MONACO less
DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL-STARS - "Episode 1509" - Each of the remaining five couples danced to a classic song from "BAD25," the album released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's ... more
Photo: © 2012 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL-STARS - "Episode 1509" - Each couple danced a dance style they have not yet danced to a theme which was chosen for them by another couple on last week's Results Show, on "Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars" MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on ABC. (ABC/ADAM TAYLOR) TONY DOVOLANI, MELISSA RYCROFT less
DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL-STARS - "Episode 1509" - Each of the remaining five couples danced to a classic song from "BAD25," the album released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's legendary "Bad" album, on "Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars" MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on ABC. (ABC/ADAM TAYLOR) MELISSA RYCROFT, TONY DOVOLANI less
DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL-STARS - "Episode 1509" - Each couple danced a dance style they have not yet danced to a theme which was chosen for them by another couple on last week's Results Show, on "Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars" MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on ABC. (ABC/ADAM TAYLOR) DEREK HOUGH, SHAWN JOHNSON less
DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL-STARS - "Episode 1509" - Each of the remaining five couples danced to a classic song from "BAD25," the album released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's legendary "Bad" album, on "Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars" MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on ABC. (ABC/ADAM TAYLOR) SHAWN JOHNSON, DEREK HOUGH less
Who run the world? Girls — at least on this show.
Next week’s “Dancing with the Stars — All Stars” finale will be a decidedly female affair. Olympic champion Shawn Johnson, reality star Melissa Rycroft and soap diva Kelly Monaco will all compete for the crown.
Sports heroes Apolo Anton Ohno and Emmitt Smith were sent home after Monday’s random displays. Not too surprised on either front. Apolo didn’t generate the same excitement as other contenders. And Emmitt just seemed tired. At least now he can lay down for awhile.
Paula Abdul must be gunning for a judging slot next season. How else to explain her second appearance in recent weeks? She danced a little and lip synced a lot during the “Dream Medley,” a mashup of her pop hits that included live staging and animation. It wasn’t terrible. But it was just sort of — flat. Like an aunt who was once really cool showing you how she used to “get down” at the discotheque.
I’d rather just remember you like this, Paula:
Not One Direction The Wanted was also here, shuffling awkwardly about the stage since they apparently don’t dance. And someone needs to tell that one guy to shave. And get a haircut.
If we’re talking pure talent, it’s Shawn’s crown to lose. But Melissa is surging and is the judges’ pet. Expect some serious underscoring for Kelly, who has the biggest fanbase.
“DWTS All Stars” airs at 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays on ABC.
Who is your pick to win DWTS - All Stars?
Melissa Rycroft
Kelly Monaco
Joey Guerra | Music Critic/Writer
Tubular Search
Categories Select Category 24 Aliens in America All other TV Alvin Schultz’s guest blogs America’s Best Dance Crew america’s got talent america’s next great restaurant america’s next top model American Horror Story american idol Arrested Development Arrow Asylum Award shows Bachelor in Paradise Bachelor Pad Battlestar Galactica Big Brother Bionic Woman Blade Blood and Sand brothers and sisters Casting celebrity apprentice chuck Clash of the Choirs Comic Con Conrad Murray Coven Dallas Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann dancing with the stars Deadwood Degrassi: The Next Generation Desperate Housewives Dirty Sexy Money dollhouse Duets Eli Stone Everwood Everybody Hates Chris Fear the Walking Dead Fixer Upper FlashForward Food Network Star Freak Show Friday Night Lights fringe game of thrones GCB General Gilmore Girls glee Gods of the Arena gossip girl Grey’s Anatomy Guiding Light Hawaii 5-0 Hell’s Kitchen Heroes HGTV Hotel How I Met Your Mother ICU-Tube Invasion jamie oliver’s food revolution Jericho jersey shore Journeyman K-Ville Last Comic Standing Life Is Wild Lipstick Jungle Live To Dance lost Lost Chats Mad Men Making Menudo MasterChef Meerkat Manor Murder House Nashville Star Nightmares & Dreamscapes Nip/Tuck Olympic Games Oprah’s Big Give Outlander Person of Interest Prison Break Private Practice project runway Pushing Daisies Rachel Vs. Guy real housewives Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Real Housewives of Dallas Real Housewives of Miami real housewives of new jersey Real Housewives of New York City reaper Rescue Me Revolution Ringer Rock Star Rubicon RuPaul’s Drag Race Sarah Palin’s Alaska saturday night live Scream Queens Set Your DVRs Shedding for the Wedding sister wives Skating With the Stars so you think you can dance spartacus Sportsball Stargate Universe Start-Ups: Silicon Valley Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Summer Games supernatural Superstars of Dance Survivor Survivors Team Blue Team Red The 4400 The Americans The Apprentice The Bachelor The Bachelor Paris the bachelorette the biggest loser The Cape the event The Fashion Show The Final Countdown The Hills The Jay Leno Show The Next Great American Band the next iron chef The Office The Real World The River The Secret Circle The Sing-Off The Sopranos The United States of Tara the vampire diaries The View the voice the walking dead The West Wing The X Factor Tonight Show top chef Top Chef Just Desserts top chef masters Torchwood Touch Treasure Hunters Treme true blood tune in Tune In – Fall Guide Tune In – Holiday Guide Tune In – Summer Guide Tune In – Winter Guide Tune In’s Best of the Best Twitter Ugly Betty V Vengeance Veronica Mars Watch This What Just Happened What Not To Miss What You Missed Winter Games
abc america's got talent america's next top model american horror story american idol dancing with the stars dwts fringe game of thrones glee hawaii five-0 HDS What Just Happened HDS What You Missed hearst digital studios jimmy fallon jimmy kimmel jimmy kimmel live late night mad men nbc project runway r.i.p. real housewives real housewives of beverly hills real housewives of new jersey real housewives of new york city rupaul's drag race saturday night live snl soaps so you think you can dance spn supernatural the americans the bachelor the bachelorette the tonight show the vampire diaries the voice the walking dead the x factor tune in TV What Just Happened What You Missed
Who will Jojo choose on 'The Bachelorette?'
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6737
|
__label__cc
| 0.726835
| 0.273165
|
Almost a year has passed since release 1.2 of DaCHS – I’ve let the normal autumn release slip last year because there weren’t so many release-worthy new features in DaCHS at the traditional release time (i.e., after the College Park interop), and also because running betas when you do need a new feature is a fairly stable thing by now.
But here it finally is: Release 1.3 (tarball for the die-hard self-builders; everyone else just switches back the release branch as necessary and then runs an update/upgrade cycle).
Here’s the commented changelog:
New //ssap#view mixin that should be used for future SSAP services, and that existing SSAP services should migrate to at some point. See A new view on SSAP in DaCHS on this blog for details.
Columns can now be hidden from TAP/ADQL (and other interfaces) by setting hidden="True".
There is now a setting [web]maxSyncUploadSize=500000 (meaning: about 500 kByte) as the default upload limit on sync queries. In compensation, clients uploading too much now receive a more useful error message (except it doesn’t reach TOPCAT users most of the time because it does chunked uploads). To get back the behaviour of 1.2 (which is probably ok if you can live with the occasional resource hog), add maxSyncUploadSize=20000000 to your /etc/gavo.rc.
Adding support for https (certificate reading, certificate updating with letsencrypt, registering alternate endpoints, no WebSAMP with https). See HTTPS in DaCHS on this blog for details.
New source_table and preview columns in obscore. If you’re using the various obscore mixins, this should be automatic. If you have defined views manually, you will have to amend these (and have a broken obscore until a dachs upgrade ran without error).
No longer producing arraysize="1" in VOTables for scalars (except char, for compatibility with a legacy TOPCAT workaround; see VOTable 1.3 Erratum 3 for background information).
Support for draft TIMESYS in VOTable (with STC 2 annotation; ask about details if you’re interested. This is for draft VOTable 1.4 and probably only relevant to you if you’re publishing time series).
You can now add targetType and targetTitle properties to URL-valued columns to help Aladin figure out what to do with URLs (see Datalinks as product URLs in the reference documentation).
New gavo_transform, gavo_ipix, and gavo_urlescale ufuncs for ADQL, fixed gavo_urlescape to have acceptable performance.
New generating CatalogResource records with auxiliary capabilities in accordance with Oct 2018 VODataService WD.
//soda#sdm_genDesc now matches accref rather than pubDID by default. If you use Datalink with SSA and have a custom pubDID schema (or no index on accref), add a useAccref="False" to your descriptorGenerator statement.
There is now a --foreground option for dachs serve start. This is mainly to play nice with systemd, and indeed, the Debian package now comes with a systemd unit file. I’m not terribly familiar with systemd, so please have an eye on DaCHS controlled by systemd and let me know if you see something that’s not as it should be.
Fixes for various bugs (most notable: ” in ADQL, WCS in SIAP cutout products) and many minor improvements. Check out the source tree (still via subversion) and read the changelog if you want to know the whole truth.
On systems running from the Debian package, the update should be automatic with the next system upgrade. However, you’ll be saving yourself quite a bit of headache if you check the health of your installation before the upgrade; see Upgrading DaCHS in the operator’s guide on how to upgrade professionally.
Author Markus DemleitnerPosted on May 28, 2019 May 28, 2019 Categories DaCHSTags DaCHS, SSAP, systemd, time series, votable
The plenaries of the Paris interop take place in a tent, because Paris Observatory doesn’t have a room large enough given the number of participants. Well, this certainly gets the prize of the most original venue of all the Interops I’ve been at.
About every six month, the people making the standards for the Virtual Observatory meet to sort out the next things we need to tackle, to show off what we’ve done, and to meet each other in person, which sometimes is what it takes to take some excessive heat out of a debate or two. We’ve talked about Interops before. And now it’s time for this (northern) spring’s Interop, which is taking place in Paris (Program).
This time I thought I’d see if there’s any chance I can copy the pattern I’m enjoying at Skyweek now and then: A live blog, where I’ll extend the post as I go. If that’s a plan that can fly remains to be seen, as I’ll give seven talks until Friday, and there’s a plethora of side meetings and other things requiring my attention.
Anyway, the first agenda item is a meeting of the TCG, the Technical Coordination Group, which is made up of the chairs and vice-chairs of the IVOA’s working groups (I’m in there as the vice chair of the semantics WG). We’ll review how the standards under review progress, sanction (or perhaps defer) errata, and generally look at issues of general VO interest.
Update (2019-05-12, 10:50): Oh dang, my VOResource 1.1 Erratum 1 hasn’t quite made it. You see, it’s about authentication, i.e., restricting service access, which, in a federated, interoperating system is trickier than you would think, and quite a few discussions on that will happen during this Interop. So, the TCG has just decided to only consider it passed if nothing happens this week that would kill it. To give you an idea of other things we’ve talked about: Obscore 1.1 Erratum 1 and SODA 1.0 Erratum 1 both try to fix problems with UCD annoation (i.e., a rough idea what it is) not directly related to the standards themselves but intended to help when service results are consumed outside of the standard context, and RegTAP 1.0 Erratum 1 fixes an example in the standard regulating registry discovery that didn’t properly take into account my old nemesis, case-insensitivity of IVOA identifiers. So, yay!, at least one of my Errata made the TCG review.
Update (2019-05-12, 12:15): Yay! After some years of back and forth, the TCG has finally endorsed my Discovering Data Collections note. This is another example of the class of text you don’t really notice. It’s supposed to let you, for instance, type in a table name into TOPCAT and then figure out at which TAP service to query it. You say: I can already do that! I say: Yeah, but only because I’m running a non-standard service, which I’d like to cease at some point.
Update (2019-05-12, 15:55): The TCG meeting slowly draws to an end. This second half was, in particular, concerned with reports from Working and Interest Groups; this is, essentially, an interactive version of the roadmaps, where the various chairs say what they’d like to do in the six month following an Interop. The one from after College Park (VO insiders live by Interops, named by the towns they’re in) you could read at 2018 B Roadmap in the IVOA Wiki – but really, as of next Friday, you’d rather look at what’s going be cooked up here (which will be at 2019 A Roadmap).
Update (2019-05-12, 16:30) It’s now Exec, i.e., the governing body of the VO, consisting of the principal investigators (or, bosses), of the national VO projects (I’m just sitting in for my boss, really). This has, for instance, the final say on what gets to be a standard and what doesn’t. This is, of course, a bit more formal than the hands-on debates going on in the TCG, so I get to look around a bit in the meeting room. And what a meeting room they have here at Paris observatory. Behind me there’s a copy of Louis XIV’s most famous portrait (and for a reason: Louis XIV had the main part of the building we’re in built), along the walls around me are the portraits of the former directors of Paris observatory (among them names all mathematicians or astronomers know: Laplace, Delaunay, Lalande, the Cassinis, and so on), and above me, in the meeting room’s dome, there’s an allegoric image of a Venus transit that I can’t link here lest schools block this important outreach site. What a pity we’ll have to move into a tent when everyone else comes in tomorrow…
Update (2019-05-13, 9:11) The logistics speech is being given by Baptiste Cecconi, who’s just given the carbon footprint of this meeting – 155 tons of CO2 for travel alone, or 1.2 tons per person. That, as he points out, is about what would be sustainable per year. Well, they’re trying to make amends as far as possible. We’ll have vegetarian-only food today (good for me), and locally grown food as far as possible. Also, the conference freebie is a reusable cup so people won’t produce endless amounts of waste plastic cups. I have to say I’m impressed.
Update (2019-05-13, 9:43): One important function of these meetings is that when software authors and users sit together, it’s much easier to fix things. And, first success for me this time around: The LAMOST services at the data center of the Czech academy of sciences do fast positional searches now; you’ll find them by looking for LAMOST in TOPCAT‘s SSAP window, in Aladin 10, in Splat, or really whereever clients let you do discovery of spectral services in the VO.
Update (2019-05-13, 10:59):Next up: “Charge to the Working Groups”. That’s when the various working group chairs give lightning talks on what’s going to happen in their sessions and try to pull as many people as they can. Meanwhile, in the coffee break, I’ve had the next little success: With the people involved, we’ve worked out a good way to fix a Registry problem briefly described by “two publishing registries claim the same authority” (it’s always nice to pretend I’m in Star Trek) – indeed, we’ll only need a single deletion at a single point. Given the potential fallout of such a problem, that’s very satisfying.
Update (2019-05-13, 14:07): While the IG/WG chairs presented their plans, the Ghost of Le Verrier (or was it just the wind?) occasionally haunted the tent, which gave off dreadful noises. And after the session, I quickly ported the build infrastructure for the future EPN-TAP specification (SVN for nerds; previously in this blog for the rest of you) to python 3. Le Verrier was quiet during that time, so I’m sure the guy who led the way to the discovery of Uranus approved.
Update (2019-05-13, 14:29): Mark SubbaRao from Chicago’s Adler Planetarium is giving a plenary talk (in other places, this might be called a “keynote”) on Planetaria and the VO. And he makes the point that there’s 150 million people visiting a plenetarium each year, which, he claims, is a kind of outreach opportunity that no other science has. I’d not bet on that last statement given all the natural history museums, exploratoria, maker faires and the like, but still: That the existence of planetaria says something about the relationship of the public with astronomy is an insight I just had.
Update (2019-05-13, 15:07): So, you think you just sit back and enjoy a colourful talk, and then suddenly there’s work in there. Specifially, there’s a standard called AVM designed to annotate astronomical images to show them in the right place on a planetarium dome (ok, FITS WCS can do that as well) and furnish it with other metadata useful in outreach and education. As Registry and Semantics enthusiast, I immediately clicked on the AVM link at the foot of http://www.data2dome.org and was greeted by something pretty close to a standard IVOA document header. Except it declares itself as an “IVOA draft”; such a document category doesn’t really exist. Even if it did, after around 10 years (there are conflicting date specs in the document) a document shouldn’t be a “draft” any more. If it’s survived that long and is still used, it deserves to be some sort of proper document, I think. So, I took the liberty of cold-contacting one of the authors. Let’s see where that goes.
Update (2019-05-13, 16:29): We’ve just learned about the standardisation process at IPDA (that’s a bit like the IVOA, just for planetary data), and interestingly, people are voting there on their standards – this is against the IVOA practice of requiring consensus. Our argument has always been that a standard only makes sense if all interested parties adopt it and thus have to at least not veto it. I wonder if these different approaches have to do with the different demographics: within the IPDA, there are far fewer players (space agencies, really) with much clearer imbalances (e.g., between NASA and the space agency of the UAE). Hm. I couldn’t say how these would impact our arguments for requiring consensus…
Update (2019-05-13, 17:11): Isn’t that nice? In the session of the solar system interest group, Eleonora Alei is just reporting on her merged catalog of explanets – which is nice in itself, but what’s pleasant for me is to learn she got to make this because of the skills she learned at the ASTERICS school in Strasbourg last November. You see, I was one of the tutors there!
Update (2019-05-14, 8:50): Next up is the first Registry session, with a talk on how to get the information on all our fine VO services into B2Find, a Registry-like thing for the Eurpean Open Science Cloud as its highlight. I’ll also present my findings on what we (as the VO) have gotten wrong when we used “capabilities” do describe things, and also progress on VODataService 1.2; this latter thing is, as far as users are concerned, mainly about finally enabling registry searches by space, time, and spectral coverage.
Update (2019-05-14, 14:11): So, I did run into overtime a bit with my talks, which mostly is a good sign in Interops, because it indicates there’s discussion, which again indicates interest in the topic at hand. The rest of the morning I spent trying to work out how we can map the VO Registry (i.e., the set of metadata records about our services) into b2find in a way that it’s actually useful. I guess we – that’s Claudia from b2find, Theresa as Registry chair, and me – made good progress on this, perhaps not the least because of the atmosphere of the meeting: In the sun in the beautiful garden of Paris observatory. And now: Data Models I.
Update (2019-05-14, 14:51): Whoops – Steve just mentions in his talk on the Planetary Data System that there’s ISO 14721, a reference model for an Open Archival Information System. Since I run such an archive, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I’ve never heard of that standard. The question, of course, being if this has the same relationship to actually running an Archive as ISO 9001 has to “quality” (Scott Adams once famously said something to the effect of: if you’ve not worked with ISO 9001, you probably don’t know what it is. If you have worked with ISO 9001, you certainly don’t know what it is).
Update (2019-05-15, 9:30): I’ve already given my first talk today: TIMESYS and TOPOCENTER, on a quick way to deal with the problem of adjusting for light travel times when people have not reduced the times they give to one of the standard reference positions. There’s more things close to my heart in this session: MOCs in Space and Time, which might become relevant for the Registry [up-update: and, wow, of quick searches against planetary or asteroid orbits. Gasp]; you see, MOCs are rather compact representations of (so far only spatial) coverages, and the space MOCs are already in use for the Registry in the rr.stc_spatial table on the TAP service at http://dc.g-vo.org/tap. The temporal part of STC-based discovery is just intervals at this point, which probably is good enough – but who knows? And I’m also curious about Dave’s thoughts on the registration of VOEvents, which takes up something I’ve reviewed ages ago and that went dormant then – which was somewhat of a pity, because there’s to this day no way to find active VOEvent streams.
Update (2019-05-15, 11:16): Now I’m in Education (Program), where I’ll talk about the tutorial I made for the Astroplate workshop I blogged about the other day. Hendrik is just reporting about the PyVO course I’ve wanted to properly publish for a long time. Pity I’ll probably miss Giulia’s Virtual Reality experiences because I’ll have to head over to DAL later…
Update (2019-05-15, 14:18): After another Exec session over lunch I ran over to a session somewhat flamboyantly called “TAP-fostered Authentication in the Server-Client scenario“. This is about enabling running access-controlled services, which I’m not really a fan of; but then I figure if people can use VO tools to access their proprietary data, chances are better that that data will eventually be usable from everyone’s VO tools. Data dumped behind custom-written web pages will much less likely be freed in the end, or so I believe. Anyway, I’m now in the game of figuring out how to do this, and I’m giving the (current) Registry perspective. The main part of the session, however, will be free discussion, a time-honored and valuable tradition at Interops.
Update (2019-05-16, 9:00): I’m now in the Theory session, where people deal with simulated data and such things (rather than, as you might guess, with the theory of publishing and/or processing data). The main reason I’m here is that theory was an early adopter of vocabularies. Due to my new(ish) role in the semantics WG, I’ll have to worry about this, because things changed a bit since they started (I’ll talk about that later today) – and also, some of their vocabularies – for instance, object types – are of general interest and shouldn’t probably be theory-only. Let’s see how far my charm goes…
Update (2019-05-16, 12:20): I was doing a bit of back-and-forth between a DAL session (in which, among other things, my colleague Jon gave a talk on a machine-readable grammar for ADQL and Dave tells us how ADQL 2.1 goes on (previously on this blog), and a code sprint the astropy folks have next to the conference, where we’ve been discussing pyVO’s future (remember pyVO? See the update for yesterday 11:16 if not).
Update (2019-05-16, 14:27): Again, in-session running: I gave a quick talk on how we’ll finally get to do data collection-based discovery (rather than service-based, as we do now; lecture notes) and then walked through the garden of Paris observatory to the semantics session, where I joined while people were still discussing the age-old problem of enumerating the observatories, space-probes, and instruments in the world (an endeavour that, very frankly, scares me a tiny bit because of its enormous size). After talks on the use of vocabularies in CAOM2 (Pat) and theory (Emeric), I’ll then do my first formal action in the semantics WG: I’ll disclose my plans for specifying how the IVOA should do vocabulary work in the future.
Update (2019-05-16, 17:56): So, the afternoon, between my talks in Registry II and Semantics, planning for the Semantics roadmap (this is something where WG chairs say what they’re planning until the next Interop; more on this, I guess, tomorrow), talking with the theory people about how their vocabularies will better integrate with the wider VO, and passing on pyVO to core astropy folks, was a bit too busy for live-blogging. I conclude with a “splinter” on the development of Datalink. This is pure discussion without a formal talk, which, frankly, often is the most useful format for things we do at Interops, and there’s almost 20 people here. In contrast to yesterday’s after-show splinter (which was on integration of the VO Registry with b2find), I’m just a participant here. Phewy.
Update (2019-05-17, 8:52): We’re going to start the last act of Interops, where the working group chairs report on the progress made during the interop. That, at the time of writing, only three WGs already have their slide on it shows that that’s always a bit of a real-time affair – understandibly, because the last bargains and agreements are being worked out as I write. This time around, though, there’s a variation to that theme: The astropy hackathon that ran in parallel to the Interop will also present its findings, and I particularly rejoice because they’re taking over pyVO development. That’s excellent news because Stefan, who’s curated pyVO for the last couple of years from Heidelberg, has moved on and so pyVO might have orphaned. That’s what I call a happy end.
Update (2019-05-17, 13:01): So, after reviews and a kind good-bye speech by the Exec chair Mark Allen – which included quite a bit well-deserved applause for the organisers of the meeting –, the official part is over. Of course, I still have a last side-meeting: planning for what we’re going to do within ESCAPE, a project linking astronomy with the European Open Science Cloud. But that’s not going to be more than an hour. Good-bye.
Author Markus DemleitnerPosted on May 12, 2019 May 17, 2019 Categories MeetingsTags InterOp
Aladin showing some Bamberg Sky Patrol plates (see towards the end of the post for what this is and how I made it).
At the Astroplate conference I blogged about recently, the people behind APPLAUSE gave a couple of talks about their Data Release 3. APPLAUSE is a fairly massive endeavour to make available data from some of the larger plate archives in Germany, and its DR3 even hit the non-Astronomy press last February.
Already for previous APPLAUSE releases, I’ve wanted to bring this data (or rather, its metadata) to the VO, but it never quite happened, basically because there was always another little thing that turned out to be too tedious to work out via mail. However, working out things interactively is exactly what conferences are great for. So, the kind APPLAUSE folks (thanks, Taavi and Harry) and I used the Astroplate to map their database schema (“schema” is jargon for what boils down to the set of tables and columns with which they describe their data) to the much simpler (and, admittedly, less powerful) IVOA Obscore one.
Sure, Obscore doesn’t deal with multiple exposures (like when the target field and the north pole were exposed on one plate to help precision photometry), object-guided images, and all the other interesting techniques that astronomers applied in the pre-digital age; it also doesn’t usefully cope with multiple scans of the same plate (for instance, to correct for imprecisions in the mechanics of flatbed scanners). APPLAUSE, of course, has to cope with them, since there are many reasons to preserve data of this kind.
Obscore, on the other hand, is geared towards uniform discovery, where too funky datasets in all likelihood cause more harm than good. So, when we mapped APPLAUSE to Obscore, of the 101138 scans of 70276 plates that the full APPLAUSE holds in DR3, only 44000 plate scans made it into the Obscore table. The advantage: whatever can be sensibly mapped to Obscore can now be queried together with all the other data in the world that others have published through Obscore.
You can immediately see the effect when you run the little python program doing the global discovery we gave in our plates tutorial. Here’s what it prints now (values from pre-APPLAUSE-in-Obscore are in square brackets):
Column t_exptime: 3460 values
Min 12, Max 15300, Mean 890.24 [previous mean: 370.722]
Column em_mean: 3801 values
Min 1.8081e-09, Max 9.3e-07, Mean 6.40804e-07 [No change: Sigh!]
Column t_mean: 4731 values
Min 12564.5, Max 58126.3, Mean 49897.9 [previous mean: 51909.1]
Column instrument_name: 4747 values
Matches from , Petzval, [Max Wolf's residence in
Heidelberg, Maerzgasse, Wolf's Doppelastrograph,
Heidelberg Koenigstuhl (24), Wolf's
Doppelastrograph,] AG-Astrograph, [Zeiss Triplet
15 cm Potsdam-Telegrafenberg], Zeiss Triplet,
Astrograph (four 10-cm Tessar f/6 cameras),
[3.5m APO, ROSAT PSPCC, Heidelberg Koenigstuhl
(24), Bruce Astrograph, Calar Alto (493),
Schmidt], Grosser Refraktor, [ROSAT HRI,
DK-1.54], Hamburger Schmidt-Spiegel,
[DFOSC_FASU], ESO 1-metre Schmidt telescope,
Great Schmidt Camera, Lippert-Astrograph, Ross-B
3", [AZT 22], Astrograph (six 10-cm Tessar f/6
cameras), 1m-Spiegelteleskop, [ROSAT PSPCB],
Astrograph (ten 10-cm Tessar f/6 cameras), Zeiss
Column access_url: 4747 values [4067]
So – for the fields selected in the tutorial, there are 15% more images in the global Obscore image pool now than there were before APPLAUSE, and their mean observation date went a bit farther into the past. I’ve not made any statistics, but I suspect for many other fields the gain is going to be much higher. For a strong effect, try some random region covered by the Bamberg Sky Patrol on the southern sky.
But you have probably noticed the deep sigh in the annotations to the statistics above: Yes, we don’t have the spectral band for the APPLAUSE data, which is why the stats on em_min doesn’t change. As a matter of fact, from the Obscore data you can’t even guess whether a plate is “more red” or “rather blue”, as Obscore doesn’t have an (agreed-upon) field for “qualititive bandpass indicator”.
For some other data collections, we did map known emulsion/filter combinations to rough bandpasses (e.g., the Palomar-Leiden Trojan Survey, which only had a few of them). For APPLAUSE, there are 435 combinations of filter and emulsion (that’s a VOTable link that you can paste into TOPCAT’s load button in order to have a look at the table). Granted, quite a few of these pairs are (more or less) spurious because of inconsistent spelling. But we still gave up on researching the bandpasses even before we started.
If you’re a photographic plate buff: You could help us and posteriority a lot if you could go through this list and at least for some combinations tell us what, roughly, the lower and upper limits of the corresponding bandpasses might have been (what DaCHS already knows, plate-relevant data near the bottom of the file). As usual, send mail to gavo@ari.uni-heidelberg.de if you have anything to contribute.
Finally, here’s the brief explanation of the image for this article: Well, I wanted to find some Bamberg Sky Patrol images for a single field to play with. I knew they were primarily located in the South, and were made using Tessar cameras. So, I ran
SELECT t_min, access_url, s_region
FROM ivoa.obscore
WHERE instrument_name like '%Tessar%'
AND 1=CONTAINS(POINT(345, -38), s_region)
on GAVO’s TAP service. Since Aladin 10, you can do that from within the program (although some versions will reject this query because they mistakenly believe the ADQL is bad. Query through TOPCAT and send the result over to Aladin if that bites you). Incidentally, when there are s_region values in Obscore tables, it’s a good idea to use them as I do here, as it’s quite a bit more likely that this query will use indices than some condition on s_ra and s_dec. But then not all services fill s_region properly, so for all-VO queries you will probably want to make do with s_ra and s_dec.
From that result I first made the inset bar graph in the article image to show the temporal distribution of the Patrol plates. And then I grabbed two (rather randomly selected) plates and had Aladin produce a red-blue composite of them. Whatever is really red or really blue in that image may correspond to a transient event. Or, as certainly the case with that little hair (or whatever) that shines out in blue, it may not.
Author Markus DemleitnerPosted on March 27, 2019 Categories DataTags adql, obscore, plates
Plate technology at Bamberg observatory: a blink comparator with one plate mounted, and a survey camera that was once used at Boyden Station, an astronomer outpost in 60ies South Africa.
I’m currently at the workshop “Large surveys with small telescopes: past, present, and future” (or Astroplate III for short) in Bamberg, where people are discussing using and re-using the rich heritage of historical observations (hence the “plate” part) as well growing that heritage in the age of large CCDs, fast computers and large disks.
Using and re-using is of course what the Virtual Observatory is about, and we’ve been keeping fairly large plate collections in our data center for quite a while (among them the Archives of Landessternwarte Königstuhl or the Palomar-Leiden Trojan surveys, and there is the WFPDB TAP-accessibly). Therefore, people from GAVO Heidelberg have been to all past astroplate conferences.
For this one, I brought a brand-new tutorial on plate scans in the VO, which, I hope, also works as a general introduction to image discovery in the VO using SIAP, Datalink, and Obscore. If you’re doing image stuff now and then, please have a quick look at the thing – I am particularly grateful for hints on what to improve or perhaps particularly obvious use cases for the material discussed.
Such VO proselytising aside, the conference is discussing the wide variety of creative, low-cost data collectors out there as well as computer-aided re-analysis extracting new knowledge from decades-old data. If I had to choose a single come-to-think-of-it moment, it would be Norbert Zacharias’ observation that if you have a well-behaved object and you’d like to know where it was in 1900, it’s now more accurate to extrapolate Gaia astrometry to the epoch of observation than to measure it on the plate itself. Which is saying a lot about the amazing feat of engineering that Gaia is.
This is not, however, an argument for dumping the old data. Usually, it is exactly what is not so well-behaved (like those) that’s interesting – both in terms of astrometry and in terms of photometry (for which there’s a lot more unruly behaviour in the first place). To figure out how objects don’t behave well, and, for objects disguising as well-behaved only on time scales of the (say) Gaia mission, which these are, the key is “old” data. The freshness of which we’re discussing this week.
Author Markus DemleitnerPosted on March 13, 2019 April 12, 2019 Categories Howtos, MeetingsTags data discovery, plates, SIAP
A New View on SSAP in DaCHS
When I started working on the VO in 2007, my collagues in Garching already had a software that implemented major parts of the simple spectral access protocol (SSAP) that was being developed back then. It would publish spectra in the FITS format by just blindly dumping all header cards into a database table and then defining a view over that “raw” metadata table to make the whole thing match SSAP’s expectations for how the output table should look like. Sometimes you could just map through a header to an SSA column, sometimes you would just convert a unit, sometimes you would have to write a fairly complex SQL expressions combining multiple fields.
Back then, I didn’t like it – why have two things (a table and a view) that can break when one (just a table in SSA’s format) would do, too? Also, SSAP has about 50 metadata fields, but lets you put constant values into VOTable PARAMs, which seemed a very reasonable way to attain more compact responses. So, when DaCHS grew SSAP support, I defined a mixin (essentially, a configurable interface definition) that let operators define SSA tables and their constant parameters in a fairly simple fashion and directly produced a table you could base your SSAP service on.
That made assumptions about which pieces of metadata are constant and which are not; for instance, the original mixin (“hcd” for “homogeneous collection”) assumed all spectra in a data collection came from the same instrument and had the same resolution and (what was I thinking?) SNR. Unsurprisingly, that broke fairly soon. So, I added a second mixin (“mixc”) for when different instruments or codes produced the data.
But even that was headache, at the latest when I started making time series services using SSAP. And I had to fix a few bugs in the mixins themselves in the meantime, which mostly required re-imports of the data in that design. Such re-imports are non-trivial when you have millions of spectra, and they need to happen at software upgrade time or the services would break with the upgrade. Ouch.
It was about mid-2018 when it dawned on me that sometimes it’s better to have two things that can break even if one would do, after all. Specifically, if fixing the one thing is expensive, it’s an excellent idea to put a facade on top of it that’s cheap to change and can already be used to repair most deficiencies. Why re-build the house if a paint job does the trick?
As to having more compact query responses when you stuff metadata that’s constant in all the rows into VOTable PARAMS – well, in the age of web pages pulling in a megabyte of javascript and two megabytes of images to display five lines of text, I’ve become a bit cavalier in that department. Sure, the average row may have grown by a factor of three, but we’re still talking only a few megabyte even with large responses. To me, these extra bytes seem a fair price to pay for the increased flexibility and overall more straightforward architecture.
So, I’ve now come up with a view-based solution in DaCHS, too: the //ssap#view mixin. This is a bit less radical than the Garching software of 2007, as it doesn’t dump raw headers but instead lets you do the primary transformations in the RD. But it no longer constrains what pieces of metadata should be constant and which may vary between spectra, and it uses the same names for the same pieces of metadata throughout (which also is a step forward over the old SSAP mixins).
With this, DaCHS operators should no longer use the hcd and mixc mixins for new services. The new technique is already reflected the respective tutorial chapter, and the SSAP template (you’re using dachs start, aren’t you?) now uses it, too.
If you have a spectra publishing project in your pipeline, this would be the perfect time to upgrade to the DaCHS 1.2.4 beta, which has the new mixin. It would be great if we could iron out remaining wrinkles before the next release makes changes a load on my conscience.
As to migrating existing SSAP services: Well, it would be great if I could drop the old mixins in a couple of years, as they cause quite a bit of uglyness in DaCHS’s built-in //ssap RD. But the migration regrettably isn’t straightforward, so you may want to wait a bit before embarking on that journey (I’ll be happy to help, though).
Author Markus DemleitnerPosted on January 16, 2019 Categories DaCHSTags DaCHS, musings, SSAP
Find Outliers using ADQL and TAP
Two pages from Annie Cannon’s notebooks, and a histogram of the basic BP-RP color distribution in the HD catalogue (blue) and the distribution of the outliers (red). For more of Annie Cannon’s notebooks, search on ADS.
The other day I gave one of my improvised live demos (“What, roughly, are you working on?”) and I ended up needing to translate identifiers from the Henry Draper Catalogue to modern positions. Quickly typing “Henry Draper” into TOPCAT’s TAP search window didn’t yield anything useful (some resources only using the HD, and a TAP service that didn’t support uploads – hmpf).
Now, had I tried the somewhat more thorough WIRR Registry interface, I’d have noted the HD catalogue at VizieR and in particular Fabricius’ et al’s HD-Tycho 2 match (explaining why they didn’t show up in TOPCAT is a longer story; we’re working on it). But alas, I didn’t, and so I set out to produce a catalogue matching HD and Gaia DR2, easily findable from within TOPCAT’s TAP client. Well, it’s here in the form of the hdgaia.main table in our data center.
Considering the nontrivial data discovery and some yak shaving I had to do to get from HD identifiers to Gaia DR2 ones, it was perhaps not as futile an exercise as I had thought now and then during the preparation of the thing. And it gives me the chance to show a nice ADQL technique to locate outliers.
In this case, one might ask: Which objects might Annie Cannon and colleagues have misclassified? Or perhaps the objects have changed their spectrum between the time Cannon’s photographic plates have been taken and Gaia observed them? Whatever it is: We’ll have to figure out where there are unusual BP-RPs given the spectral type from HD.
To figure this out, we’ll first have to determine what’s “usual”. If you’ve worked through our ADQL course, you know what to expect: grouping. So, to get a table of average colours by spectral type, you’d say (all queries executable on the TAP service at http://dc.g-vo.org/tap):
select spectral,
avg(phot_bp_mean_mag-phot_rp_mean_mag) as col,
count(*) as ct
from hdgaia.main
join gaia.dr2light
using (source_id)
group by spectral
– apart from the join that’s needed here because we want to pull photometry from gaia, that’s standard fare. And that join is the selling point of this catalog, so I won’t apologise for using it already in the first query.
The next question is how strict we want to be before we say something that doesn’t have the expected colour is unusual. While these days you can rather easily use actual distributions, at least for an initial analysis just assuming a Gaussian and estimating its FWHM as the standard deviation works pretty well if your data isn’t excessively nasty. Regrettably, there is no aggregate function STDDEV in ADQL (you could still ask for it: head over to the DAL mailing list before ADQL 2.1 is a done deal!). However, you may remember that Var(X)=E(X2)-E(X)2, that the average is an estimator for the expectation, and that the standard deviation is actually an estimator for the square root of the variance. And that these estimators will work like a charm if you’re actually dealing with Gaussian data.
So, let’s use that to compute our standard deviations. While we are at it, throw out everything that’s not a star1, and ensure that our groups have enough members to make our estimates non-ridiculous; that last bit is done through a HAVING clause that essentially works like a WHERE, just for entire GROUPs:
sqrt(avg(power(phot_bp_mean_mag-phot_rp_mean_mag, 2))-
power(avg(phot_bp_mean_mag-phot_rp_mean_mag), 2)) as sig_col,
where m_v<18
having count(*)>10
This may look a bit scary, but if you read it line by line, I’d argue it’s no worse than our harmless first GROUP BY query.
From here, the step to determine the outliers isn’t big any more. What the query I’ve just written produces is a mapping from spectral type to the means and scales (“µ,σ,“ in the rotten jargon of astronomy) of the Gaussians for the colors of the stars having that spectral type. So, all we need to do is join that information by spectral type to the original table and then see which actual colors are further off than, say, three sigma. This is a nice application of the common table expressions I’ve tried to sell you in the post on ADQL 2.1; our determine-what’s-usual query from above stays nicely separated from the (largely trivial) rest:
with standards as (select spectral,
having count(*)>10)
join standards
using (spectral)
join gaia.dr2light using (source_id)
abs(phot_bp_mean_mag-phot_rp_mean_mag-col)>3*sig_col
and m_v<18
– and that's a fairly general pattern for doing an initial outlier analysis on the the remote side. For HD, this takes a few seconds and yields 2722 rows (at least until we also push HDE into the table). That means you can keep 99% of the rows (the boring ones) on the server and can just pull the ones that could be interesting. These 99% savings aren't terribly much with a catalogue like the HD that's small by today's standards. For large catalogs, it's the difference between a download of a couple of minutes and pulling data for a day while frantically freeing disk space.
By the way, that there's only 2.7e3 outliers among 2.25e5 objects, while Annie Cannon, Williamina Fleming, Antonia Maury, Edward Pickering, and the rest of the crew not only had to come up with the spectral classification while working on the catalogue but also had to classify all these objects manually, this is an amazing feat even if all of those rows actually were misclassifications (which they certainly aren't) – the machine classifiers of today would be proud to only get 1% wrong.
The inset in the facsimile of Annie Cannons notebooks above shows how the outliers are distributed in color space relative to the full catalogue, where the basic catalogue is in blue and the outliers (scaled by 70) in red. Wouldn't it make a nice little side project to figure out the reason for the outlier clump on the red side of the histogram?
1I'll not hide that I was severely tempted to undo the mapping of object classes to – for HD – unrealistic magnitudes (20 .. 50) but then left the HD as it came from ADC; I still doubt that decision was well taken, and sure enough, the example query above already has insane constraints on m_v reflecting that encoding. From today's position, of course there should have been an extra column or, better yet, a different catalogue for nonstellar objects. Ah well. It's always hard to break unhealty patterns.
Author Markus DemleitnerPosted on October 10, 2018 Categories Data, Howtos, UncategorizedTags adql, colours, henry draper, outliers
HTTPS in DaCHS
Another little aspect of HTTPS support in DaCHS: In the web interface, the webSAMP button must disappear in pages served through HTTPS: it simply wouldn’t work.
(Warning: No astronomy-relevant content at all this time).
I can’t say I’m a big fan of the mighty push towards HTTPS that’s going on right now – as I’m arguing in the updated operator’s guide it doesn’t do people’s privacy a lot of good (compared to, say, pushing for browsers to not execute Javascript by default or have DNSSEC widely deployed), but it’s a fairly substantial operational liability. With HTTPS, operators have to deal with cryptographic material, regularly update their certificates, restart their services in time and assemble the whole thing correctly (don’t get me started about proxying, SNI, and all those horrors). Users, on the other hand, have to keep their CA certificates in order, in particular when they do programmatic VO access, where the browser vendors, their employers and who knows who else doesn’t do it for them. Pop quiz: How would you install a new CA certificate on your box? And will your default browser see it?
But on the other hand, there are some scenarios in which HTTPS makes sense, and I can remotely fantasise that some of those may even be relevant to the VO. And people have been asking for HTTPS in DaCHS a number of times, at times even because their administrations urged them to switch. So, here it is, hopefully. Turning it on is reasonably easy when you use Letsencrypt (which in particular entails having ports 80 and 443); the section on Letencrypt in the operator’s guide tells what to do. In particular don’t forget the cron job, because without it, things would break after three months (when the initial certificate expires).
Things get difficult after that. For one, if your box is known under several names (our data center, for instance, can be reached as any of dc.g-vo.org, vo.uni-hd.de, and dc.zah.uni-heidelberg.de; this of course also includes things like www.example.org and example.org), you’ll now have to tell DaCHS about it in the new [web]alternateHostnames configuration item; for instance, we have
serverURL: http://dc.zah.uni-heidelberg.de
alternateHostnames:dc.g-vo.org, vo.uni-hd.de
in our /etc/gavo.rc.
And then the Registry has to know you have https. There’s actually no convention for that in the VO yet. But since I’d really like to have at least fallback interfaces with plain HTTP, we’ll have to come up with something. For now, my plan is to have the alternative protocol (i.e., HTTPS for sites that have an HTTP-serverURL and vice versa) using the brand-new VOResource 1.1 mirrorURLs (in RegTAP 1.1, they are in the mirror_url column rr.interface). To make DaCHS declare the alternate URLs, set [web]registerAlternative to True.
Another change I’ve introduced for HTTPS is that the default HTML template for the form renderer (i.e., the one people use who come with a browser) now suppresses the SAMP button if the request came in through HTTPS; that’s because WebSAMP doesn’t work with HTTPS and probably never will – at least I can’t see a way to make it happen without totally wrecking what security guarantees HTTPS gives.
All this doesn’t yet cater for the case when you use a reverse proxy to terminate HTTPS. If you are in that situation, please talk to me so we can figure out a sane way for you explain to DaCHS what to tell the Registry.
Anyway, if you want to try things out, just switch to the beta repostitory and upgrade. Feedback is highly welcome.
Oh, and if you’re a client developer: Our data center is now reachable through HTTPS (at https://dc.g-vo.org), and we already have pushed the records with mirrorURLs declaring HTTPS support to the RegTAP service at dc.g-vo.org (the others will have to wait a bit longer, as we haven’t re-published our registry records yet (it’s all experimental, after all).
Author Markus DemleitnerPosted on September 24, 2018 September 27, 2018 Categories DaCHS, OperationsTags DaCHS, https, RegTAP
Deredden using TAP
Raw and dereddened CMD for a region in Cygnus.
Today I published a nice new service on our TAP service: The Bayestar17 3D dust map derived from Pan-STARRS 1 by Greg Green et al. I mention in passing that this was made particularly enjoyable because Greg and friends put an explicit license on their data (in this case, CC-BY-SA).
This dust map is probably a fascinating resource by itself, but the really nifty thing is that you can use it to correct all kinds of photometric data for extinction – at least to some extent. On the Bayestar web page, the authors give some examples for usage – and with our new service, you can use TAP as well to correct photometry for extinction.
To see how, first have a look at the table metadata for the prdust.map_union table; this is what casual users probably should look at. More specifically, at the coverage, best_fit, and grdiagnostic columns.
coverage here is an interval of 10-healpixes. It has to be an interval because the orginal data comes on wildly different levels; depending on the density of stars, sometimes it takes the area of a 6-healpix (about a square degree) to get enough signal, whereas in the galactic plane a 10-healpix (a thousandth of a square degree) already has enough stars. To make the whole thing conveniently queriable without exploding a 6-healpix row into 1000 identical rows, larger healpixes translate into intervals of 10-helpixes. Don’t panic, though, I’ll show how to conveniently query this below.
best_fit and grdiagnostic are arrays (remember the light cuves in Gaia DR2?). In bins of 0.5 in distance modulus (which is, in case you feel a bit uncertain as to the algebraic signs, 5 log10(dist)-5 for a distance in parsec), starting with a distance modulus of 4 and ending with 19. This means that for a distance modulus of 4.2 you should check the array index 0, whereas 4.3 already would be covered by array index 1. With this, best_fit[ind] gives E(B-V) = (B-V) – (B-V)0 in the direction of coverage in a distance modulus bin of 2*ind+4. For each best_fit[ind], grdiagnostic[ind] contains a quality measure for that value. You probably shouldn’t touch the E(B-V) if that measure is larger than 1.2.
So, how does one use this?
To try things, let’s pull some Gaia data with distances; in order to have interesting extinctions, I’m using a patch in Cygnus (RA 288.5, Dec 2.3). If you live on the northern hemisphere and step out tonight, you could see dust clouds there with the naked eye (provided electricity fails all around, that is). Full disclosure: I tried the Coal Sack first but after checking the coverage of the dataset – which essentially is the sky north of -30 degrees – I noticed that wouldn’t fly. But stories like these are one reason why I’m making such a fuss about having standard STC coverage representations.
We want distances, and to dodge all the intricacies involved when naively turning parallaxes to distances discussed at length
in a paper by Xavier Luri et al (and elsewhere), I’m using precomputed distances from Bailer-Jones et al. (2018AJ….156…58B); you’ll find them on the “ARI Gaia” service; in TOPCAT’s TAP dialog simply search for “Gaia” – that’ll give you the GAVO DC TAP search, too, and that we’ll need in a second.
The pre-computed distances are in the gaiadr2_complements.geometric_distance table, which can be joined to the main Gaia object catalog using the source_id column. So, here’s a query to produce a little photometric catalog around our spot in Cygnus (we’re discarding objects with excessive parallax errors while we’re at it):
r_est, 5*log10(r_est)-5 as dist_mod,
phot_g_mean_mag, phot_bp_mean_mag, phot_rp_mean_mag,
ra, dec
gaiadr2.gaia_source
JOIN gaiadr2_complements.geometric_distance
parallax_over_error>1
AND 1=CONTAINS(POINT('ICRS', ra, dec), CIRCLE('ICRS', 288.5, 2.3, 0.5 ))
The color-magnitude diagram resulting from this is the red point cloud in the animated GIF at the top. To reproduce it, just plot phot_bp_mean_mag-phot_rp_mean_mag against phot_g_mean_mag-dist_mod (and invert the y axis).
De-reddening this needs a few minor technicalities. The most important one is how to match against the odd intervals of healpixes in the prdust.map_union table. A secondary one is that we have only pulled equatorial coordinates, and the healpixes in prdust are in galactic coordinates.
Computing the healpix requires the ivo_healpix_index ADQL user defined function (UDF) that you may have met before, and since we have to go from ICRS to Galactic it requires a fairly new UDF I’ve recently defined to finally get the discussion on having a “standard library” of astrometric functions in ADQL going: gavo_transform. Here’s how to get a 10-healpix as required for map_union from ra and dec:
CAST(ivo_healpix_index(10,
gavo_transform('ICRS', 'GALACTIC', POINT(ra, dec))) AS INTEGER)
The CAST call is a pure technicality – ivo_healpix_index returns a 64-bit integer, which I can’t use in my interval logic.
The comparison against the intervals you could do yourself, but as argued in Registry-STC article this is one of the trivial things that are easy to get wrong. So, let’s use the ivo_interval_overlaps UDF; it goes in the join condition to properly match prdust healpixes to catalog positions. Then our total query – that, I hope, should be reasonably easy to adapt to similar problems – is:
WITH sources AS (
SELECT phot_g_mean_mag,
phot_bp_mean_mag,
phot_rp_mean_mag,
dist_mod,
gavo_transform('ICRS', 'GALACTIC', POINT(ra, dec))) AS INTEGER) AS hpx,
ROUND((dist_mod-4)*2)+1 AS dist_mod_bin
FROM TAP_UPLOAD.T1)
phot_bp_mean_mag-phot_rp_mean_mag-dust.best_fit[dist_mod_bin] AS color,
phot_g_mean_mag-dist_mod+
dust.best_fit[dist_mod_bin]*3.384 AS abs_mag,
dust.grdiagnostic[dist_mod_bin] as qual
FROM sources
JOIN prdust.map_union AS dust
ON (1=ivo_interval_has(hpx, coverage))
(If you’re following along: you have to switch to the GAVO DC TAP to run this, and you will probably have to change the index after TAP_UPLOAD).
Ok, in the photometry department there’s a bit of cheating going on here – I’m correcting Gaia B-R with B-V, and I’m using the factor for Johnson V to estimate the extinction in Gaia G (if you’re curious where that comes from: See the footnote on best_fit and the MC extinction service docs should get you started), so this is far from physically correct. But, as you can see from the green cloud in the plot above, it already helps a bit. And if you find out better factors, by all means let me know so I can add an update… right here:
Update (2018-09-11): The original data creator, Gregory Green points out that the thing with having a better factor for Gaia G isn’t that simple, because, as he says “Gaia G is very broad, [and] the extinction coefficients are much more dependent on stellar type, and extinction is also more nonlinear with dust column (extinction is only linear with dust column and independent of stellar type for an infinitely narrow passband)”. So – when de-reddening, prefer narrow passbands. But whether narrow or wide: TAP helps you.
Author Markus DemleitnerPosted on August 17, 2018 September 11, 2018 Categories Data, HowtosTags adql, arrays, extinction, healpix, tap, user defined functions
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6740
|
__label__wiki
| 0.742204
| 0.742204
|
Playboy Gold Slot Goes Live
March 16, 2018 by Sophie Lise
In January 2018 Microgaming announced that it was collaborating with Triple Edge Studios to release a brand new Playboy Gold slot. Now, this online casino game has gone live, and fans of the famous bunnies are flocking to casinos to join in the fun.
Triple Edge Studios was first introduced at ICE Totally Gaming and Playboy Gold was set to be the very first collaboration.
A Famous Brand Association
Microgaming has already released licensed content in collaboration with Playboy, and the launch of Playboy Gold strengthens the partnership considerably. Playboy is the world’s most famous men’s magazine and Microgaming is a legend in the online casino software world, so the 2 brands both bring something special to the table.
Triple Edge Studio’s is also set to earn itself a good name, and Playboy Gold is being touted as the first of many high profile game releases that will come this year.
Appealing Online Entertainment
Playboy Gold has been designed to appeal to a broad audience, and aside from its racy theme, it also boasts 100 paylines and multiple bonus features. The game set up is also unusual in that it has 6 reels and 10 rows and has also been optimised for play on desktop and mobile.
The Playmates also play a roll in the game and you’ll come across them when bonus features are triggered. The famous logo also makes and appearance, and is the key to triggering this new online slots game’s jackpot payout.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6750
|
__label__wiki
| 0.674878
| 0.674878
|
Smiley, Jane
A riveting new novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winner that traverses the intimate landscape of one woman's life, from the 1880s to World War II.
Margaret Mayfield is nearly an old maid at twenty-seven in post-Civil War Missouri when she marries Captain Andrew Jackson Jefferson Early. He's the most famous man their small town has ever produced: a naval officer and a brilliant astronomer--a genius who, according to the local paper, has changed the universe. Margaret's mother calls the match "a piece of luck."
Margaret is a good girl who has been raised to marry, yet Andrew confounds her expectations from the moment their train leaves for his naval base in faraway California. Soon she comes to understand that his devotion to science leaves precious little room for anything, or anyone, else. When personal tragedies strike and when national crises envelop the country, Margaret stands by her husband. But as World War II approaches, Andrew's obsessions take a different, darker turn, and Margaret is forced to reconsider the life she has so carefully constructed.
Private Life is a beautiful evocation of a woman's inner world: of the little girl within the hopeful bride, of the young woman filled with yearning, and of the faithful wife who comes to harbor a dangerous secret. But it is also a heartbreaking portrait of marriage and the mysteries that endure even in lives lived side by side; a wondrously evocative historical panorama; and, above all, a masterly, unforgettable novel from one of our finest storytellers.
Publisher: New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2010.
Read more reviews of Private Life at iDreamBooks.com
heinrij Nov 09, 2015
I usually like Jane Smiley, but was disappointed in this one. I guess a book about a boring marriage is a boring book. Which this one definitely was. I would rat it PS. No violence or bad language, or explicit sex.
DorisWaggoner Sep 25, 2015
Not up to "A Thousand Acres" or "The Greenlanders," my favorite Smiley novels, but still excellent and heartbreaking. We follow Margaret from her small town Missouri girlhood and spinsterhood to her acquiescence in the matchmaking of two mothers in the 1880s. The mothers hope her life will be enlivened and his will be calmed. Andrew's the most famous man their small town has produced, but his fame as an astronomer plummets as his crackpot ideas and stubborn temper lose him jobs. By the time they marry, he's lost a job at U. of Chicago, and they head to a naval post in San Francisco Bay, where they're still stuck in WW II. Margaret tries to make the best of things, but gradually learns that Andrew's just not capable of looking beyond his telescope and grudges. His ultimate betrayal endangers her and the few friends she's been able to make. I found myself reading this in one gulp, sad as the story was, and the characters stuck in my head long after, even some of the secondary ones. What a strong writer, who knows how to make details count!
xoJmeLynnxo May 29, 2012
Rather slow at times but still a decent read.
burleighsmith Jul 19, 2011
This story is wonderful—telling the saga of a quiet Missouri-born (1878) woman as she gradually gains a voice. It’s thoroughly engaging. I liked the historical elements—especially imagining life around the turn-of-the 20th century in rural Missouri and in St. Louis—but more liked how fully it drew the development of this intelligent character. With this growth came her opportunities to enjoy a life, which, of course, pleases the reader, but also feels very believable. Compelling writing.
gengen Mar 21, 2011
This was a long and painful read - and it's not even a long book! It was a book club pick, so I had to get through it, but thankfully I also had it on audiobook, so I was able to listen while doing just about anything else. Otherwise, I really don't think I would have made it through
Truffs Feb 26, 2011
A wifes gradual realization that her husband is not estude and a boring self centered companion.
mahccl Dec 15, 2010
Mentioned as a best book of 2010 in Sunday Star Times pC8 12.10.10 - based on Middlemarch.
debwalker Dec 08, 2010
A woman constrained by marriage to an eccentric scientist.
lightbytheway Dec 07, 2010
I almost forced myself to finish this book. The writing is "overcooked". It could have been more simple and more to the point. The characters are interesting enough but the story doesn't flow.
lightbytheway Oct 24, 2010
"Private Life"
by Jane Smiley
United States. Navy — Officers — Fiction
Officers' Spouses — Fiction.
Marriage — Fiction.
Psychological Fiction.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6759
|
__label__wiki
| 0.668133
| 0.668133
|
Login Career Page
alisonwong
About alisonwong Wong Weng I
So far alisonwong Wong Weng I has created 16 blog entries.
Administrative Officer/Senior Administrative Officer for the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City
The State Key [...]
Administrative Officer/Senior Administrative Officer for the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart Cityalisonwong Wong Weng I2019-07-15T23:40:10+00:00
Associate/Assistant Professor in Statistics
The Faculty of [...]
Associate/Assistant Professor in Statisticsalisonwong Wong Weng I2019-07-15T23:40:14+00:00
Associate/Assistant Professor in Electromechanical Engineering
The Department of [...]
Associate/Assistant Professor in Electromechanical Engineeringalisonwong Wong Weng I2019-07-15T23:40:16+00:00
Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineeringalisonwong Wong Weng I2019-07-15T23:40:18+00:00
Chair/Distinguished/Full Professor in Intelligent Sensing and Network Communication
The Chinese Ministry [...]
Chair/Distinguished/Full Professor in Intelligent Sensing and Network Communicationalisonwong Wong Weng I2019-07-15T23:40:17+00:00
Chair/Distinguished/Full Professor in Intelligent Transportation
Chair/Distinguished/Full Professor in Intelligent Transportationalisonwong Wong Weng I2019-07-15T23:40:23+00:00
Associate/Assistant Professor in Intelligent Transportation
Associate/Assistant Professor in Intelligent Transportationalisonwong Wong Weng I2019-07-15T23:40:22+00:00
Associate/Assistant Professor in Urban Public Safety and Disaster Prevention
Associate/Assistant Professor in Urban Public Safety and Disaster Preventionalisonwong Wong Weng I2019-07-15T23:40:21+00:00
Associate/Assistant Professor in Urban Big Data and Intelligent Technology
The Chinese Ministry of Science [...]
Associate/Assistant Professor in Urban Big Data and Intelligent Technologyalisonwong Wong Weng I2019-07-15T23:40:20+00:00
Copyright © Office of Administration (ADMO). All rights reserved. | UM Home | UM News | UM Event Calendar
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6760
|
__label__cc
| 0.694868
| 0.305132
|
Home > Northwest Coast > Sculpture > Salmon Bentwood Box
Salmon Bentwood Box
Coast Salish (Musqueam) Nation
Yellow Cedar wood, Red Cedar wood, Acrylic paint
5 x 4.75 x 4.75"
Categories: Northwest Coast, Sculpture, Bentwood Boxes
Born in 1948, Joseph was raised on Musqueam land in Vancouver, BC and over the years has raised his own family in Vancouver. His ancestral name is Katxalacha and it was handed down to him from the Paul family of the Squamish Nation situated in North Vancouver.
Joseph took an early interest in carving and had the opportunity to observe his late father, Sylvester, who carved culturally significant ceremonial masks and house posts, using the traditional Coast Salish form line. Joseph’s late brother Danny Campbell gave him his first carving knife and also demonstrated numerous carving techniques and styles, including the structured and complex northern form line, a style which Joseph continues to use in most of his work.
Joseph began carving small scale works, swiftly progressing to larger scale, with objects such as talking sticks, masks and panels. Consequently, Joseph commenced designing and building bentwood boxes under the guidance of his good friend and mentor, master bentwood box carver, Larry Rosso. Since that apprenticeship, Joseph has progressed steadily with his range of expertise and precision in perfecting his design and carving techniques. He continues to create more finely crafted and complex pieces with each completed work. Campbell not only furthers his carving techniques through his practical skills, but also drives himself to improve his knowledge of design, working in contemporary media to advance and broaden his artwork.
Campbell studied Advanced Design with Master Haida artist Robert Davidson, and has worked with instructor George Rammel at Capilano College on the art of bronze casting. As Campbell’s artwork continues to thrive, many collectors has developed a strong affinity for his work; his bentwood boxes can be found in collections across Europe, United States, Canada, Asia, and the South Pacific.
Medicinal Plants Bentwood Box – Camas, Ginger, Rose, Salmon Berry
Jane Marston
Yellow Cedar wood, Cedar bark, Copper, Acrylic paint
Ceremonial Talking Stick
Dr. Richard Hunt
Red Cedar wood, Abalone shell (over 150 individual inlaid pieces), Acrylic paint
More images available upon request.
69 x 12 x 11″ (including base)
Nanasimgit Panel Pipe
Christian White
https://coastalpeoples.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/Nanasimgit-Panel-Pipe.mp4
Argillite, Catlinite, Abalone shell, Mother of Pearl
4.75 x 10.25 x 1.25″ (without base)
8 x 12 x 5.25″ (with base)
This ornately detailed panel pipe inlayed with catlanite, abalone shell and mother of pearl tells the ancient story of Nanasimgit.
The man or Nanasimgit is depicted at the bottom of the pipe holding skils to represent his stature. It shows the numerous potlatches he has held. The following story is a shortened version as told by the artist, Christian White:
One day, the man’s wife was washing sea otter skins near the ocean, when a Killerwhale arose from the surface. It coaxed her into the water and carried her seaward while her husband watched in disbelief. Without hesitation, he quickly decided to follow them until the Killerwhale dove near a two-headed kelp, which prevented him from going any further. He was feeling quite distraught as he returned back to the village but by then he had decided to seek the help of his uncle, the Frog.
The Frog offered him advice on how he could get his wife back and suggested that he take specific objects with him for his journey. He brought spruce root twine, a gimlet and medicine, placing them in his canoe. But, before he embarked on his journey, he was urged to undergo a fast in order to cleanse his body, which involved various rituals.
Once the fast was completed, the man embarked on his quest until he came across the kelp he had encountered before. He tied his canoe to the kelp along with his possessions and climbed down beneath the surface to find himself in another world. He followed a path where he encountered three blind women that resembled Geese. He used his medicine to cure two of the women while the third one chose not to accept the medicine. The cured women vowed to repay him for his deed. As he proceeded onward, the man came across two slaves, from the Killerwhale clan, chopping wood. As they proceeded to chop the wood, the head of their axe fell off and they began to cry knowing the consequences they would face from the Chief. The man stopped to assist them and in return they directed him to his wife’s dwelling. The slaves warned the man of the watchmen pole that stood in front of the longhouse protecting the inhabitants. The watchmen had the ability to scent out and watch out for intruders.
While he proceeded further on his path and thought about how to divert the watchmen, the man encountered a Heron repairing a canoe without success. The man stopped to offer him his gimlet to successfully repair the canoe. In return for his generosity, the Heron helped conceal the man under his wing blanket from the Black Whale guards and the watchmen. He successfully entered the longhouse to happily find his wife. At this point, the watchmen discovered the man taking his wife back with him, but were unable to stop him.
When the man arrived back with his wife to his village he felt a different connection with her, as though she was not herself. At night, he would keep her in a bentwood box, but one morning when he awoke, to his surprise she escaped. She left to be with her Killerwhale family and fully transformed into a Killerwhale. This was the last he saw of her.
Beaver Fish Bowl
Derek J. White
Sterling Silver; Repousse, Engraved
Raven with Light Bentwood Box
Red Cedar wood, Yellow Cedar wood, Acrylic paint
Eagle & Raven with Light Bentwood Box
Eagle & Bear Bentwood Box
Red Cedar wood, Yellow Cedar, Acrylic paint
Killerwhale Bentwood Box
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6767
|
__label__wiki
| 0.909628
| 0.909628
|
Bank of New York Mellon experimenting with Bitcoin
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Bank of New York Mellon is experimenting with Bitcoin, which it considers a possible new way to conduct financial transactions. But the bank is still dealing with the challenges of using the open-source technology, whose decentralized...
New hires at Bitreserve, Factom
Bitcoin wallet startup Bitreserve announced Monday it has hired Anthony Watson as its president and chief operating officer. Watson joins Bitreserve from Nike Inc., where he served as the global chief information officer, sat on the Executive Committee, and developed a...
Bitcoin Foundation board refutes claims made by rebel member
On Tuesday, the Bitcoin Foundation issued a response to claims made by newly elected board member Olivier Janssens, who declared the organization to be “effectively bankrupt” and called for a membership rebellion against a governance he accused of acting in secrecy, reported the...
Rand Paul accepting Bitcoin donations for U.S. presidential campaign
Republican Senator Rand Paul announced Tuesday his 2016 U.S. presidential bid, and he is accepting Bitcoin donations to support his campaign. Reuters reported that the acceptance of Bitcoin donations “reflects the Kentucky senator’s tendency to embrace new technology, his...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6771
|
__label__cc
| 0.735049
| 0.264951
|
My week in film: Blue Ruin, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Amazing Spiderman 2 and more…
Posted on May 14, 2014 by harrietwarman
Inspired by the effervescent Avengers Assemble, I sought out Thor (2011) for another watch to compare the tone of Branagh’s earlier effort with Whedon’s spot-on get-the-gang-together adventure. As with Avenger’s Assemble, one of the main pleasures of Thor is Tom Hiddleston’s demi-God Loki, brother to our titular hero. Hiddleston is deft at combining the pathos of Loki’s identity crisis, with the camp of a truly despicable villain, and in Thor his origin story is well worth revisiting, even if the more spectacular action set pieces are confined to realms other than earth, leaving Thor and his comrades battle with Loki’s metal man henchman seem a little underwhelming.
David Cronenberg is a director I’ve shied away from mainly due to my irritation with eXistenZ (1999), which seemed to belabor its point somewhat, however having finally seen The Fly (1986) and caught up with come more recent work, A History of Violence (2005), and Eastern Promises (2007), my irritation has lifted and I’m certainly trying to see more. With that in mind I watched A Dangerous Method (2011), which looks at the relationship between Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), a nd the battle for morality and ethics in the birth of psychoanalysis, as represented by Jung’s torment at this relationship with a patient, Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightly).
The key Cronenberg concerns are all present – sex, the death drive, the mind/body divide, an emphasis on the corporeal – making this perhaps the perfect subject for the director, and none more perfectly expressed than in Knightley’s committed performance, her body contorting in a pure expression of mental anguish.
In Blue Ruin, a man seeks vengeance for the murder of his parents on the day their killer is released from prison, leading to a bloody series of retaliations, a form of justice kept ‘in house’ and away from the police. The immediate aftermath of Dwight’s (Macon Blair) somewhat calamitous yet shocking first kill sees him come face to face with the innocent quotient of his enemy’s clan, in a moment of pathos-filled humour, in which Dwight is required to release a passenger from his unplanned escape vehicle, and is given the first hint that his side of this story is not the only great tragedy at stake. Director/writer/cinematographer Jeremy Saulnier establishes a suitably sticky atmosphere, as the heat of the Virginia forests seems to emanate from the image of each blood-soaked character. Blue Ruin won the FIPRESCI International Critics prize in Cannes 2013 and it’s easy to see why – Saulnier here achieves a pure clarity of character, plot and form that draws strength from being both terrifyingly simple and artfully realized.
With Jane Campion’s Golden Globe winning Top of the Lake (2013), murder or the threat thereof is also the driving force of a plot that has Elizabeth Moss’s Detective Robin Griffin return to her home town, ostensibly to visit her dying mother, yet pulled into a rape investigation when a pregnant 12 year old attempts suicide in the titular Lake Top. Issues of gendered power plays are at the heart of this stellar mini series, as Robin’s status as a lone female sees her subject to forms of male protection both welcome and unwelcome, an inappropriate marriage proposal, threatening displays of violence, psychological manipulation and name calling, whilst other women seem to have varied experiences of the same enforced passivity at the hands of local land-owning alpha male, Matt (Peter Mullan).
Whilst Robin searches for Matt’s runaway daughter Tui (Jacqueline Joe), a camp sets up at Paradise, the lakeside land sold from under him by business partner Bob Platt, and a group of women move into storage containers, under the guidance of GJ (Holly Hunter). Although GJ professes not to teach or impart wisdom – only the ‘the body knows what to do’ all the characters of Top of the Lake are drawn to her at some point, whether seeking help, shelter or a chance to offload anger and fear – represented by one male onlooker that directly questions the specificity of her gender.
Showcasing the New Zealand landscape as a site of astonishing beauty and acute danger, Campion creates an atmosphere that never allows the viewer to assume the worst is over, as Robin’s investigation reveals inextricable links between her own past and present self.
Finally, my viewing this week ended on lighter notes, with a double bill of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Anthony & Joe Russo, 2014) and The Amazing Spiderman 2 (Mark Webb, 2014). I thought Captain America: The First Avenger (Joe Johnston, 2011) a terrible bore of a film – due mainly to the unimaginative direction (but then what was I expecting from the director of Jurassic Park 3?) so helpfully my expectations were low, and this new, post Avengers, ‘Phase 2‘ iteration of the Steve Rogers story proved engaging, delightfully silly and earnest only when it mattered most. Action scenes involving Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow maintained the excellent standard of choreography for this character that began with Iron Man 2 (John Favreau, 2010) with the kind of fighting style that believably demonstrates how a woman of Romanoff’s strength and size can immobilize swathes of henchmen.
Emma Stone was also given ample space to show strength and characteristic intelligence as Gwen Stacy – saving Spidey’s (and the rest of New York’s) life in The Amazing Spiderman 2, which puts the romance between Peter and Gwen at the centre of the film. Though Andrew Garfield as Peter was once again the perfect, sinewy, athletic Spidey, I was left with a sense that his world is less tangible than that of the Avenger’s and its respective solo ventures in the series – despite also being a Marvel title. Perhaps it’s due to every villain so far having originated in that comic book cliché of accidental merge with toxic animal/goo/experiment gone wrong in the Osborn lab, or maybe Amazing Spiderman 2 failed to exploit the potential of any one of its villains, instead settling for broadly painted caricatures doing little justice to the caliber of the actors playing them. Nevertheless, Stone and Garfield are a sheer joy to watch, being that rare example of sizzling on-screen chemistry.
Coming next on My week in film… In cinemas I’ll review Frank, and at home – an as yet unknown plethora of film from around the world.
Posted in My week in filmTagged A Dangerous Method, Andrew Garfield, Anthony & Joe Russo, Avengers Assemble, Blue Ruin, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Comic book film, David Cronenberg, Elizabeth Moss, Emma Stone, Jane Campion, Jeremy Saulnier, Joss Whedon, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Webb, Marvel, New Zealand, Scarlett Johansson, superhero, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Thor, Tom Hiddleston, Top of the Lake, US Independent film2 Comments
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6774
|
__label__cc
| 0.741836
| 0.258164
|
German au pair Nancy Schwerdtner conquers the Boston marathon with her dad
Exactly one month ago today, German au pair Nancy Schwerdtner finished her first marathon. But not just any marathon, the Boston Marathon—the oldest annual marathon and one of the most prestigious races in the world. And she wasn’t the only person to finish her first marathon that day—her dad joined her for the race to celebrate his 50th birthday and to fulfill a goal he has had his whole life.
Nancy’s host mom said, “We were super proud of Nancy. Because my kids are in school all day she was able to train here in our house on our treadmill through the very long winter. She would also fit in runs while my daughter was at her competitive cheer practice during the week. When time was really tight she would do her runs late at night! Nancy has been an excellent role model for Brooke and Lauren. Her healthy lifestyle, dedication to meeting goals and helping us keep our house full of healthy foods makes her the perfect big sister for our family.”
Nancy and her dad before the race.
Nancy herself shared more details about amazing experience.
How did you and your dad decide to do this together?
My dad has had a wish since he was a child—to run a marathon before he turned 50. He remembered this two years ago and started to train for a half marathon last year and then a marathon this year. There was a marathon in Germany scheduled for one day after his birthday and he was going to run this one, but once I knew I was going to the U.S., I had it in my mind that should do something big. I researched big marathons, and the Boston marathon was just perfect on his birthday. I told my mom about it. She liked the idea as a gift for him and actually I liked the idea of running a marathon [myself] at 19. I always did a lot of sports with my dad, we cycled a lot when I was younger. Well, I told him about my idea to run a big marathon and that I would run it with him and he loved the idea. That was the day when I started to run.
How did you train?
I started at zero and whereas my dad had better basics. I just started running 8 months ago when I was sure that I would run a marathon. I was sporty before, but I never ran longer than 2 miles. [Neither of us] really followed a prepared training schedule. All in all I ran so much more than him. I did more longer runs and more runs in total. My dad knew my pace so he trained for this, and at the end we ran perfectly together.
Nancy running strong at the half-way mark.
How did you manage to train and still do your duties as an au pair?
I have two older twins who are in school, so I was off-duty every morning until the afternoon. But I had to manage and plan my time well. I tried to combine a lot. When I was on my way home from the gym I stopped to do groceries. All the laundry I did in the morning before the gym or when the washing machine was running I went for a run. I tried to use every minute [of my time] in a useful way and combine a lot of things and it worked out. Nevertheless, my host parents are absolutely into the running and supported me all the time—they where like my personal coaches. It was a tough but great time.
Nancy’s dad after conquering Heartbreak Hill, the most challenging part of the course.
Can you describe how you felt before, during and after the race?
Surprisingly I wasn’t nervous in the morning. When we started the race we were in scores of runners, it was a mass movement. The first hour went by so fast and then we looked forward to Wellesley College; my dad was so excited for this. Only one hour later we were there and I did my first official half marathon, it felt so easy which I didn’t expect. We always had something to look forward to—the next thing was Heartbreak Hill where my mom waited for us. I think I was looking for her for 40 min, but when we saw her I was so happy because then I knew there was just one fourth [of the race] left. My mom asked us if we ran because we looked too relaxed after 20 miles, but until this point we had no problems. The last hour was probably the hardest one. My dad still had so much energy which nobody could believe. He clapped everyone’s hands on the side and was the happiest man on the earth for 4 1/2 hours. That inspired me and made me so happy. I didn’t have as much energy left but we continued without walking and the last two miles felt longer than anything before in my life. But, we sped up every mile, that was so unbelievable. I don’t know how we did it but when we got to the finish street I got out the little poster and we run through the finish together and we were both the happiest dad and daughter! We got our medals and felt super proud. A little later somebody called me and I looked to the side and saw my host dad with his brother and a friend. We went over to him with the biggest smile—I was so surprised and glad to see them. I couldn’t really talk and I even don’t remember what I said because I was so overwhelmed.
All smiles after crossing the finish line.
How did the day end for you?
Because of the weather we were freezing and had to go to our hotel. I didn’t want to because then everything will be over but we had to. Everyone told us that we would be so sore the next day and wouldn’t be able to walk down the stairs but when we woke up we could feel that we ran for sure but we weren’t sore at all! All I can think now is: I will never forget this day.
Au pairs, have you done something during your au pair year that you are proud of? We want to hear about your accomplishments—big and small! Submit your story here.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6782
|
__label__cc
| 0.709659
| 0.290341
|
compliments, comments and complaints
This site requires Javascript to be enabled. For further guidance on how to enable scripting in your web browser please follow this link
All pages Adult learning Bus timetables Council job vacancies Schools job vacancies County Councillors Council meetings Cumbria support directory Documents (e.g. PDF) Family information directory Fire incidents Local events News releases School details A to Z (county wide)
Search the A to Z list
Early help and learning
Children's Centres
Cumbria Children in Care Council
Focus family
Specialist youth services
Targeted youth support
Youth offending service
Cumbria Youth Offending Service
Cumbria Youth Offending Service is one of 155 Youth Offending Teams in England and Wales. At a national level, the Youth Justice Board has a statutory duty to monitor the effectiveness of the youth justice system and give advice to ministers. In order to fulfil its duty, the Board sets performance targets for Youth Offending Services and monitors their work. The Board provides additional financial support to Yot partnerships in the shape of ring-fenced grants to promote good practice and/or to develop new services.
Youth Justice Board
Located within the County Council's Children's Services Directorate, Cumbria Youth Offending Service remains a discrete service with responsibility for its own budget and planning. The YOS is represented on a range of partnership groups and strategic boards, ensuring a balanced approach between a focus on children and young people, and the criminal justice system.
Cumbria YOS is overseen by a Management Board, the Management Board provides strategic direction and coordinates the provision of youth justice services by Cumbria Youth Offending Service and partner organisations. The Board is made up of appropriate representatives who attend and participate in meetings. The Board ensures the provision of accurate and timely data returns, both for its own use and that of the national Youth Justice Board. It gives support and guidance to YOS manager and holds them to account. It ensures that the Youth Justice Plan is implemented.
Youth justice services require a high level of skilled face-to-face contact with young offenders, their families, their victims and those who have to pass sentence in our courts. Our staff are our greatest asset and the partnership is committed to further improvements in its arrangements for the induction, training, supervision and appraisal of the staff who work in the Yos.
Penrith Community Fire Station
Carleton Avenue
Cumbria CA10 2FA
Carlisle and Eden
Carlisle East Community Fire Station
Eastern Way
Carlisle CA1 1PB
Allerdale and Copeland
Workington Community Fire Station
CA14 5BF
Barrow and South Lakes
South Division
Newbridge House
Ewan Close
LA13 9ED
Cumbria Annual Report 2017/18 14/11/2018 274k
Cumbria Youth Offending Service Strategic Plan 2017/18 14/11/2018 9013k
Youth Justice Board For England and Wales
Crown Prosecution Service (Cumbria)
Cumbria County Council
Cumbria Constabulary
Inspira Cumbria (Formerly Connexions Cumbria)
Nacro
Cumbria and Lancashire Community Rehabilitation Company
Straight to
Compliment, Comment or Complaint
About Children`s Services
Latest news, jobs and more...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6783
|
__label__wiki
| 0.889774
| 0.889774
|
Ex-General Hospital star Amber Tamblyn's Paint It Black Gets Snapped Up For Spring Release
Jillian Bowe
Amber Tambl
Former General Hospital actress Amber Tamblyn's first crack at directing is making serious strides. Tamblyn's indie film, Pain It Black has just recently been acquired by Imagination Worldwide along with all the global rights. Per Deadline, the film is slated for an April release and was just featured at the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Palm Spring fest.
Based on the Janet Fitch novel by the same name, the story centers on two women from different walks of life coming together after a man they both loved dies. The women are soon caught in a dark and twisted relationship based on blind need and distrust.
Tamblyn released a statement to the trade site:
“This movie has been eight years in the making for me, and I’m so honored to call Imagination Worldwide my partner in its release,” Tamblyn said. “My hope was to make a movie that was as visually intoxicating as it is psychologically — a true and twisted look at the violent, terrifying and beautiful subconscious lives of women in the throes of major life changes. I wanted to make a film about the literal way in which women grieve, not a film about women’s grief. Think David Lynch directing Grey Gardens, only with a deeper and more dangerous emotional intelligence.”
Amber TamblynGeneral HospitalPaint It BlackPop Confidential
Amber Tamblyn's "Spiral" Update
By Luke Kerr
Amber Tamblyn Heads To House
By Jillian Bowe
Amber Tamblyn Signs on For 'X/Y'
Amber Tamblyn to Explore 'Anatomy of Violence' in CBS Pilot
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6797
|
__label__wiki
| 0.791049
| 0.791049
|
Home Dance Review: ‘The Migration Project: live performance art installation’‘ at Jane Franklin Dance...
Review: ‘The Migration Project: live performance art installation’‘ at Jane Franklin Dance Company
The Migration Project is a live music, multi-media event directed and developed by Jane Franklin of the Jane Franklin Dance Company that raises many questions: When is it necessary to pick up from where one lives and move to a place full of promise? What does it mean to be an American? How do the newly relocated adjust to their new surroundings? Ultimately, the show asks the audience member: “What’s your migration story?”
Matthew Rock and Amy Scaringe at Theatre on the Run. Photo courtesy of Jane Franklin Dance Company.
Running through November 19th, at Arlington, Virginia’s Theatre on the Run, the show examines human flight—to greener pastures—through several relocation narratives taken from residents in the DMV (District, Maryland and Virginia). The narratives included everything from recent relocations, family histories, to immigration stories from many, many decades ago. A common theme of the narratives are the urge to locate new opportunities or the necessity of fleeing the intolerable.
Bluegrass fiddler Patrick McAvinue helped begin the immersive visual experience as the Company danced to the audio narratives in front of artist Rosemary Feit Covey’s painted flats. Covey’s art consisted of stark, white faces on a black background, which invoked a quote from the poem “The New Colossus” by 19th Century poet Emma Lazarus: “huddled masses, yearning to be free.”
The element that made it all work to high effect were the Company’s dancers: Emily Crews, Carrie Monger, Matthew Rock, Amy Scaringe, Brynna Shank and Rebecca Weiss. Their gracefully coordinated body-movements brought humanity and life to the narratives and the imagery. At times, the dancers encouraged audience members to migrate to different seats and view the show from various vantage points, making the show more of a participatory one. Thanks to video artist, Dawn Whitmore, a resident artist at Arlington Arts Center, the show featured eye-catching video that included immigration documents, and her own drawings, all of which nicely matched the audio narratives. Aiding the mood of the show was Greta Daughtrey’s apropos light design.
The core of the show were the narratives from the likes of Andie deVaulx, an Educator Artist from France and England; Magdelena Dornin, an Internal Designer from Poland; Ken Hays, an Engineer from Germany and Slovakia; Florence and Harry Katrivanos, Partners in the near-to-the-theater New District Brewing Company, from Greece; Connor McKoy, a Media Relations specialist from the US Southeast; and Vivek Patil, a Biotech Entrepreneur from India among many others.
Rosemary Feit Covey (Artist).
There was talk in the narratives of immigrants escaping “Russian pogroms”; “leaving a Jewish life for a White Southern wife”; “hiding in a boiler room”; kale farms in long-ago Silver Spring, Maryland; a reference to the local Weenie Beanie eatery in Arlington; a story about obtaining a New York State driver’s license through bribery; and Patil’s story of growing up in the “cocktail” of a Hindu/Catholic household.
A show like this needs music to tie all the visual themes together. Composers of the excellent music included David Schulman, who composed “Botany of Desire”; Mark Sylvester’s “Other Freds Banjo Themes” from Other Freds and “Joe’s Theme” from Nothing But Sky; and Haskell Small’s “Ellen Andrèe”, “Aline Charigot,” and “Charles Ephrussi” from Renoir’s Feast.
Franklin, the Company’s Artistic Director, and a recipient of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region Creative Communities Award among many other accolades, has a visually enrapturing, emotionally captivating show for audiences to see. So take flight, drive, or migrate to Theatre on the Run and enjoy this enlightening mix of dance, audio, and visuals.
Running Time: 60 minutes, with no intermission.
The Migration Project: live performance art installation plays through November 19, 2016 at Jane Franklin Dance Company performing at Theatre on the Run – 3700 South Four Mile Run Drive, in Arlington, VA. For tickets, call (703) 933-1111, or purchase them online.
Note: The November 13th and 19th performances include a beer ticket for one full pour (14 oz.) at New District Brewing Company.
Jane Franklin Dance Opens ‘The Migration Project: live performance art installation’ on Friday, November 4th.
In the Moment: Jane Franklin on ‘The Migration Project’ Opening Tomorrow Night at Theatre on the Run.
Previous articleReview: ‘Out of the City’ at Passage Theatre
Next articleReview: ‘The Wild Party’ at the University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at The Clarice
William Powell, an accomplished DC-area actor and Ruby Griffith Award Winner for Assistant Directing, has appeared in principal roles in the independent films “Angels Within,” “The Red Effect,” “Recession Proof,” and “Conscious Imprisonment.” William has appeared in commercials for the likes of Car Max, T. Rowe Price, and GEICO; appeared in TV shows like HBO’s “VEEP,” and appeared in the stage plays "A Raisin in the Sun," “Barefoot in the Park,” and “Bye Bye Birdie.” He is also the host of the "Inside Acting!" radio show, heard World-Wide.
Riverside Center for the Performing Arts Announces Cast and Creative Team for South Pacific
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6798
|
__label__wiki
| 0.760097
| 0.760097
|
Ohio State CB Denzel Ward sitting out Cotton Bowl against USC
By Bryan FischerDec 29, 2017, 8:34 PM EDT
The New Year’s Six Bowl games get underway Friday night with the Cotton Bowl pitting No. 5 Ohio State against No. 8 USC but there will be one notable name not in the lineup at AT&T Stadium.
That would be the Buckeyes’ star cornerback and All-American Denzel Ward, who didn’t show up on the field during warmups for the game. The junior was not expected to sit out the game based on comments by coaches earlier in the week but it seems like he’s the latest in a growing line of potential first-round picks to sit out a bowl game.
Go bucks! pic.twitter.com/DfBOKYQzhO
— Denzel Ward (@Flash_Ward12) December 30, 2017
Denzel Ward is the best CB I've studied this fall. Special player.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) December 30, 2017
What makes this move a bit unique is the fact that Ward is sitting out a pretty major bowl game to protect against injury. It wasn’t long ago in a game involving OSU that Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith was seriously injured on a play and caused him to drop quite a bit in the draft. That scenario has played a role in a rash of players sitting out bowl games ever since, from Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey last year to others such as N.C. State’s Bradley Chubb skipping the Sun Bowl.
With Ward out of the lineup, Kendall Sheffield likely slides in as the starter opposite Damon Arnette while true freshman Jeffrey Okudah rotates in with added playing time.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6799
|
__label__cc
| 0.686704
| 0.313296
|
Booknotes: The Old North State at War
• The Old North State at War: The North Carolina Civil War Atlas by Mark Anderson Moore, with Jessica A. Bandel and Michael Hill (Office of Archives and History - NC Dept of Natural and Cultural Resources, 2015).
A deeply ambitious and exceptionally beautiful atlas of Civil War North Carolina, The Old North State at War is the kind of thing I was hoping would come out of the Sesquicentennial. Mark Moore is one of the leading lights of Civil War cartography and the 99 maps he contributed to the volume are works of art, both incredibly detailed and aesthetically appealing. North Carolina campaigns and battles big and small, cavalry raids, sieges, naval clashes, amphibious landings and guerrilla operations ... they're all in there [see here for map list and table of contents]. Home front issues also closely inhabit the book's pages, with page length sidebars describing elections, politics, slavery, black soldier recruitment, home grown Unionism, profiles of prominent North Carolinians, the war's legacy, and more. In addition to the maps, numerous photographs, charts and tables are inserted with regularity. At 200 11x17 landscape format pages, it's a very large and heavy book (the shipping box said 6 lbs) with a price commensurate with the first rate production values. An interview with Moore will be posted soon.
Teaching History with Technology February 11, 2016 at 4:43 AM
Besides his Bentonville and Wilmington maps(which are fantastic!), is there anything else he has out there published?
DW@CWBA February 11, 2016 at 7:05 AM
His maps are in many books and articles but I am not aware of any other CW books with him as headline author. If you are interested in Jan & Dean he did just publish a book about them!
Krick & Ferguson: "GETTYSBURG'S CONFEDERATE DEAD: ...
Booknotes: Historical Archaeology of Arkansas
Booknotes: If I Have Got to Go and Fight, I Am Wil...
McFarland: "EDWARD J. STEPTOE AND THE INDIAN WARS:...
Booknotes: New National Geographic guides
Booknotes: Fighting for General Lee
Booknotes: Bacteria and Bayonets
Venter: "KILL JEFF DAVIS: The Union Raid on Richmo...
Booknotes: Trevilian Station, June 11-12, 1864
Booknotes: Herndon on Lincoln
Acken, ed.: "SERVICE WITH THE SIGNAL CORPS: The Ci...
Booknotes: Linking the Histories of Slavery
The U.S. Army Campaigns of the Civil War Series
Author Q & A: Mark A. Moore on "The Old North Stat...
Booknotes: Edward J. Steptoe and the Indian Wars
Cathey & Waddey: "'FORWARD MY BRAVE BOYS!': A Hist...
Booknotes: Ghosts - Images of War
Booknotes: Observing Hancock at Gettysburg
Pollard: "FORTS AND POSTS IN KANSAS DURING THE CIV...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6810
|
__label__wiki
| 0.532422
| 0.532422
|
Jim Mcintyre
Topic Originator: AdamAntsParsStripe
Date: Thu 1 Nov 04:38
I wonder if Pars fans still want him back?
If you only turn up to moan then do it elsewhere
Re: Jim Mcintyre
Topic Originator: daviepars1885
Tbf he has been left with a pile of pihs to work with not that i said i wanted him back
Topic Originator: Parsweep
Is that him judged after 3 games in charge then aaps ?
Bobvo
Topic Originator: chewie
Ludicrous post. I was never a fan, but he needs a chance. The ones to avoid are the Likes of Hartley and McCann who got these clubs into this mess.
chewie, Thu 1 Nov 06:04
Right. So if he came to East End Park a month ago and lost what? 13 goals in 3 games, you'd be sitting there saying it isnt his fault and just continue blaming the previous team?
I could almost guarantee if AJ was booted and Jim came in we would not have seen a sudden change of fortunes and knowing Pars fans as I do at home games, they are a very unforgiving bunch.
WORST, Thu 1 Nov 06:22
Clearly looking for an argument ^^^
That is hilarious coming from yourself 😂😂😂
To be fair, 2 of the games were against Hearts and Celtic. In the first, had Miller scored the penalty, who knows. In last night's game, the second Celtic goal was never a penalty and Celtic have not long put 6 past St Johnstone and 3 past Hearts. They have games coming up against St Mirren and Motherwell - lose both of them and there may be the semblance of a point.
But , seriously what do people think?
Changing a manager isnt always the best option nor is bringing one back who was there previous and failed in the Premier League?
Didn't he win the League Cup and have Ross County in the top 6 a few seasons ago? I'm sure Dundee fans would love that sort of failure!
kelty_par, Thu 1 Nov 06:24
We could use that logical argument with AJ too and Pars.
Little things go against us like dominating but missing chances and lose a late goal.
He did and good on him but I took time to read up on County fans comments after he was sacked.
I expected sympathy but was surprised to read they backed his departure and most of them mentioned a lack of a plan B when things went wrong.
Shades of East End Park when we went down.
Topic Originator: Rastapari
Faked injury and undermined his manager while here...hope he fails spectacularly.
I Hope You're Ok Today....
Topic Originator: GG Riva
AdamAntsParsStripe, Thu 1 Nov 06:26
I totally agree with the first part of your post, AAPS, but the second part is a bit harsh. I'm pretty sure, JM wasn't given any money to strengthen the team, after he won promotion to the SPL. They were condemned to go down before a ball was kicked.
Not your average Sunday League player.
Rastapari, Thu 1 Nov 06:46
I've heard that bandied about before, Rasta. Are you just repeating a rumour or do you know know something we don't? Not asking you to post any evidence, just curious.
McIntyre at Dundee isn't the only example of a new manager failing to deliver a 'bounce'. Kearney at St Mirren and McKinnon at Falkirk are another two and Gary Caldwell at Partick hasn't had a great start. Changing managers doesn't always have the desired effect - at least in the short run.
Topic Originator: Gem 1977
He only became Dundee manager on the 17th October. Games on 20th, 23rd and 31st, he's hardly had time on the training pitch with the players.
Here's to the first of the day, fellas! To old D.H. Lawrence.
Neh! Neh! Neh! Fuh! Fuh! Fuh! Indians
The introduction of the transfer windows hasn't helped. New managers used to be able to change their squads sooner than they can now.
Topic Originator: DeeMan
The board were right to sack McCann.
They were wrong to hire McIntyre. Didn't rate him when he was at Dunfermline.
Dundee didn't even interview anyone else for the job, just hired the first out of work manager they came across. Didn't even notice that he'd want to bring Billy Dodds with him. Total incompetence from John Nelms.
Topic Originator: widtink
What's the feeling of the Dundee fans?
Do they think he needs time to sort it out or are they getting impatient already?
They've took some skelpings recently.
GG Riva, Thu 1 Nov 07:49
I heard from two players and witnessed an astonishing episode myself which led to a director having a word with JM in front of me at the time....he's poison as far as I'm concerned and will not retract anything said about him....as I say...I witnessed an episode that in any other profession would have seen him sacked...an odious turd of a human.
His stint at the Pars never sat well with me. Very turgid time to be a player then and Stephen Kenny was very clearly punted from within.
Topic Originator: Grant
His stint at the Pars sat pretty great with me, Stephen Kenny was clearly punted because he wasn't a very good manager at us.
Got us promoted and by and large had us playing pretty decent football, was a fan of him as a manager by and large and it was a ridiculous decision to sack him.
Topic Originator: steaua
His behaviour towards one of our disabled fans at a Morton game , certainly didn;t sit well with me.
Post Edited (Thu 01 Nov 17:42)
I'm not a fan for the reasons stated by Rastapari. I was amazed when he got the manager job here. That said, there is still no way he is accountable at Dundee for their current mess. The Falkirk comparison is a good one. They know that Hartley signed duds that not even Guardiola would be successful with. McKinnon will be given time.
Topic Originator: StuPar82
Rastapari, Thu 01 Nov 14:12
Not trolling, Rasta, genuine question here: do you hold other senior players from the time with such disdain?
Topic Originator: 1981par
I was happy with McIntyre in charge. Did well for the Pars. Can’t fault him
Topic Originator: Parnott
Remember cheering for Macca?
Topic Originator: renegade master
Rastapari
Some of us know, some of them would like to know, others are blind to the obvious!
JM is indeed a fraud and a few others who liked the golf course and bookies are in that group along with him!
Date: Fri 2 Nov 06:48
renegade master, Thu 1 Nov 23:08
This...there's another particularly fawned over chancer from that time that screwed over the club big time.
Topic Originator: HalbeathRoad
What a bizarre road this thread has travelled down
Topic Originator: Playup_Pompey
indeed bizarre thread to have a pop on. Certainly done some amount of training for someone who was downing tools and trying to get the manager sacked. Did he get Leishman sacked too or just the Irish Mourinho?
Topic Originator: petrie_pants
Like McKinnon at falkirk he's inherited an absolute shambles of a squad. The guy won us the league and some on here are questioning his capacities as a manager. Laughable. Away for a lie down folks. Would have him back in a heartbeat.
Topic Originator: DA-go Par Adonis
I would just like to use this opportunity to tell you all that I know something about the club that you all don't know.
It's big. Really big. But I can't say any more.
If I was in World War Two they'd call me spitfire
DA-go Par Adonis, Fri 2 Nov 09:26
Christ how much more do you want?
More detail?
Topic Originator: dd23
Write a book Rasta, I’d love to know about everything that went on in that time. I always thought Kenny was a good manager and a good appointment although it obviously didn’t work out for him here.
Rasta, I just get tired of posts from people hinting at things they know without actually saying anything.
If someone knows something that they can share, then do so.
If someone has been told something in confidence, then they should keep it entirely to themselves.
Topic Originator: PARrot
Precisely. If you are going to say nothing its always best to say nothing.
Topic Originator: red-star-par
Is this referring to JMs pint glass party piece?
That's fair enough so I'll expand, I have had family in or around the club since Jackie Hart (My Mum's dad) was the groundsman through to my Uncle Joe Nelson being kit man, so on the odd occasion had family business at EEP and would drop in.
I had already heard from two players I knew reasonably well that there were certain older players with "injuries" who were causing trouble with the then new management team and fancied themselves as potential for the job and that the atmosphere was murder. The two players are remaining anon for the simple reason it is now pointless to name them.
What I witnessed whilst waiting to see whom I arranged to meet was the aforemention JM showing quite an astonishing disregard for respect toward his employers..both management and club...which happened in front of a then director who pulled him aside for a word.
Some of the stories I heard in that time about a particular two perma injured seniors throughout Kenny's reign were disgusting...end of, the two chances should have been sacked imo.
Now I am not defending Kenny as a manager before we go down that route...but we all know whose long term injuries cleared up within days of Kenny' s departure...utter cheats and frauds whom some in here still fawn over.
If anyone would like to have that tale filled in I'll gladly recount names and all in person and what I witnessed, jyst come up and see me if I'm at the game.
I'm not playing I ken he kens, jyst putting my two bob in why I wouldn't have had JM as manager first time around let alone have him back...imo an arrogant and utter snake.
Fair play Rasta.
If I see you, I might get some of the blanks filled in. It might help me with one or two current/future projects.
Topic Originator: saltonsgonagetu
The guy was passed over for at least 5 jobs since he became available ,folk in football circles talk
Rasta has confirmed what I've always suspected - some players were obviously not pulling their weight during Stephen Kenny's time at EEP. Maybe that was partly the manager's fault, in that he was unable to get the best out of all the squad, but it was completely unprofessional on the part of those players. By not giving of their best when they went out on the park, they cheated loyal Pars fans who paid good money to watch them. As Rasta says, you don't have to be an Einstein to work out who these players were. One of them was definitely JM. I'm saddened to think that other players, who were doing their best at the time, will have been tarred with the same brush.
I spoke to one of the players Rasta alludes to, in the Main Stand before a game, expressing surprise that he wasn't playing. "Aye, the gaffer wanted me to play, but I felt a wee twinge in training on Thursday and thought - better not to risk it. " Now, that might sound perfectly reasonable, but the broad smile and wink he gave me afterwards made me think he was at it. This player was then on £3.5k a week. I remember thinking if he'd been on £2k a week and £500 a point, he'd have played.
GG Riva, Fri 2 Nov 16:01
The whole thing was very suspect.
It doesn't admonish Stephen Kenny as the buck stopped with him but for players to down tools was unforgivable.
The thrashing by Hamilton at EEP that season was the clearest signal to any fan that some players set out to get him sacked.
It only needs a few key players for that to happen not the whole team.
Topic Originator: mach1
I don't know anything about the Jim McIntyre stories, but I think half the support strongly suspected the part that some of the players had in turning the animosity towards Kenny.
His track record before and since being at the Pars does not indicate an incompetent manager, albeit in Irish leagues.
He did manage the team to a win over Rangers en route to the Scottish Cup Final, ironically McIntyre getting the winner in the semi final.
If any truth in the players not giving their best for Kenny, it dies not say much that the Board and the Chairman were unaware of such goings on, but then maybe they too wanted him out one year after appointing him.
Topic Originator: da_no_1
Assuming the other got a lucrative testimonial?
"Some days will stay a 1000 years, some pass like the flash of a spark"
Topic Originator: eastendalloapar
I think that most of our fans have heard these stories. I often wondered if Kenny was the type of manager who expected the players to burst a gut in training and playing. Paul le Guen wanted the same at Rangers and he was let down badly. Is it that most of the players in Scotland don't give 100%, 100% of the time?
matt forsyth
Kennys training was by all means, an absolute shambles. The likes of Tam McManus who even admits to being a fan of him has done interview/blog posts about his time and charge and it's little wonder that he had absolutely no respect.
In any job an incompetent manager can make you perform well below your best, it's amazing just how much people get drawn in by how nice a guy he apparently was to the extent they completely forget how dreadful he was at us, remember when he was first appointed and didn't score in something like 9 games? That's before you could blame the players for apparently working against him.
He's not been a success at every club either, when he manages the "bigger" Irish sides he also failed, maybe he can't deal with larger clubs?
McIntyre is our biggest 2nd best manager in the past 19 years? He never played up to the fans in our support and probably wasn't as nice a guy as Kenny, he put some good teams on the park though which is by far and away the most important point of a manager.
Post Edited (Fri 02 Nov 17:42)
Think you need to look at Kenny's record with Derry nd Dundalk.
After those 9 games you mentioned we beat, Rangers in the Cup and got to the final.
The best manager in the world cannot achieve anything if the workforce turn against him or her.
Shades of George Farm and the players who didn't like him.
Strange what you say about the training Grant. One of the prominent senior players at that time thought it was brilliant.
Topic Originator: sonofpetrie
da_no_1, Fri 2 Nov 16:46
He surely did. My sister worked with his Mrs at the time. They all thought themselves very clever at the time.
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary"
They hadn't turned against him in those first 9 games though and he was dreadful, he took us over in 11th and at one point had us 12 points behind. Why not look at his record with Shamrock Rovers? Good managers don't let the workforce turn against him, good managers don't offer troublesome players new contracts.
Not heard a good word about the training Marv. The ones where they talk specifically about the routines they did brings it home how ridiculous some of the drills were.
If you're going to look at Kenny with Shamrock Rovers, you may as well look at AJ with Kilmarnock, but let's try to make a fair comparison.
Good managers can do nothing if the workforce turn against him, not in football or any other walk of life.
You may not have heard a good word about training, but apparently Marv has.
You don't rate him and many would agree with you, but that does not negate what others think.
The workforce doesn't turn against good managers, and that's the end of that.
That's mot the end of that at all.
Proper professional footballers give 100% effort for their employers, no matter what they think of the manager. They should do what they are told and give their best. I was sickened by some of the performances some players put in at that time, so much so that I stopped going as regularly. A few players cheated the club and the fans
Topic Originator: Ronaldo
"good managers don't offer troublesome players new contracts"
... if it's solely down to the manager who gets offered contracts.
I hasten to add...i was not and have never been to any significant degree "in the know".
My family members rarely talked serious club business...the conversations with the players came about through mutual...for a time frequent company..nothing more...work chat.
The incident I alluded to earlier happened in front of me...and I believe another frequent poster on here yet to comment saw something very similar.
There were background influences looking after the cheats too.
Edit..that last bit wasn't meant to be conspicuous...put simply...family ties.
Yep, I seem to remember a player was married to the daughter of some board room hanger on, who indicated the manager would be out of work pretty soon
Topic Originator: OzPar
Date: Sat 3 Nov 00:13
The Stephen Kenny dismissal left a lot of Pars fans quite bitter and disappointed, myself included. There was something clearly amiss in the dressing room and the sleekit manner in which he was dismissed by Yorkston and replaced by McIntyre was absolutely shameful.
The truth is Kenny inherited a crock of schight. The club was 3 pts adrift at the bottom of the SPL after 17 games when he arrived and while we just missed out on escaping relegation, he managed to take us to two cup finals in his 13 months tenure. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that is something no other Pars manager has ever achieved.
The player squad was largely the creation of the Jim Leishman/David Hay eras with a couple of Calderwood leftovers. It was an aging and unfit squad with players all too fixed in their ways.
When he arrived, 20 players in the squad were injured and had not played since the start of the season. Eight required operations.
Kenny and his assistant Declan Devine immediately saw that fitness was a serious issue. Sensibly, they instituted double training sessions and the famous ice-baths that aided recovery and are considered the norm at football clubs today. Incidentally, I understand that ice-baths are still being used at EEP.
Their emphasis was on training and preparation and improved recovery programmes, their philosophy was playing with width and keeping the ball on the deck. The old guard didn't take too kindly to that and soon the gossip mongers were out in force.
Kenny was a young manager with enormous promise and perhaps with a squad of his own making, rather than the crocks he inherited and foolishly resigned, the Pars would have had a different history.
Don't forget that it was he who managed to convince Liverpool and Celtic that
they should loan us two of the brightest young stars we had seen at EEP in more than 20 years. Following their successful loans, who would we have got the following season had we survived in the Premier?
Around the same time, a similar story was emerging at Easter Road where a young John Collins was trying to institute a modern football philosophy that demanded players achieve peak fitness and perform at levels regarded as a norm on mainland Europe. Alas, the dinosaurs that ruined the Scottish game for decades on and off the field were not ready for the likes of Kenny or Collins and good old-fashioned pragmatism won the day. It was a pyrrhic victory.
Correct Oz.
There were just too many things that didn't add up.
We could hardly score a goal nevermind win a Premier league match apart from the last few games yet we went on a Scottish cup run beating top teams in the country while bonus cash was offered.
I don't doubt they ALL tried in that last run in to try save us from the drop but more to do with keeping a place in the squad knowing we were heading for a final.
It was the following season we saw quite a blatant execution of players letting the club and fans down and I still remember the whispers about JM even before Stephen Kenny was disposed off.
It left a very bad taste in the mouth.
An excellent post OzPar. When it all happened, I revealed a lot of what has been said above, but I was crucified on .net even although I knew what the truth was. I truly hope it never happens again at our club.
Grant, Fri 2 Nov 20:49
Well that isn't true at all.
Topic Originator: Kessel
The Stephen Kenny fan club still out in force. An absolutely horrendous manager who had our players "training" by doing 5-a-side most days. Absolutely mental. No wonder the squad were about as fit as the regulars of a local boozer.
Kessel, Sat 3 Nov 02:18
Not so much a Kenny fan club...more a group of people bright enough to know a set of senior players cheated the fans and club.
''The workforce doesn't turn against good managers, and that's the end of that.''
Whether a professional footballer likes his manager or not, should be completely irrelevant when he has been selected to play and steps onto the pitch. The manager does not pay his wages.
The money comes mainly from loyal fans, of course and the very least they are entitled to is that the players do their level best for the duration of every game. To give anything less than 100% is completely unprofessional and cheating those who subsidise your income.
And if you can't give of your best because you haven't looked after yourself or trained hard enough during the week, your even more culpable, in my humble one.
Players are at the end of the day human, and football is there job. And in any job a good manager can elevate your performances while a bad one can absolutely destroy your motivation and performances, I've seen both ends of that scale on a workforce. While it's nice to think that the players will always give 110% etc etc it's just not the case, it's why a decent manager is such a priority.
How early did these players turn against him? First 9 games of the his tenur when we didn't score aye? Also using the challenge cup final as some sort of plus point, lol.
Remember McManus speaking about how he had the players practising shooting from the halfway line and they weren't allowed to leave until they'd scored last our keeper, they were begging him to. Let one in and eventually an absolute trundle went in. Kenny didn't even realise and was delighted.
I have worked for a few managers whose man management skills were very poor.
I still worked to the best of my ability, because that was what I was paid to do.
Nobody is trying to say that Kenny was a great manager, but if you don't want to believe, or even support the fact that several players were determined to oust their boss, then carry on.
If they were so upset, they should have tendered a transfer request, instead of effectively working to rule.
They were being very well paid at the time as well.
Topic Originator: twin par
Totally agree Oz. As marv said,people were crucified, including myself for saying the same.I still stand by what I said.I don't love my employer, but always give my all.
I was always appalled by the fact that certain pars players could be spotted utterly minced out their heads on a Saturday night in aldos chippy during the SK years. Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that , but every weekend ??? Chancers
Post Edited (Sat 03 Nov 14:48)
Topic Originator: Parallel Lines
I can see Jimmy getting punted in January if they are still bottom
I looked for my pet in all the books on animals and birds and then I found it in the Book of Revelations.Marty Feldman
Macca doesn't do irony....he's just been on the radio talking about respecting and trusting your manager😂
Fraud and snake....treated our club with utter contempt until he landed the gig.
I sincerely hope the players at Dundee show him the same respect he showed.
Topic Originator: GEW35
Well said Rastapari.
The squad were about as fit as the regulars of a local boozer because they spent more time in the local boozer as well as the local bookies than they dedicated to training. They were a disgrace
red-star-par, Sat 3 Nov 16:30
This... I got a bucket load of abuse because I called out a certain well connected and at the time fat and injured chancer.....got a cracking picture of him a bit worse for wear outside a bookies chomping a pie on a Friday afternoon....he had quite an accomplished pair of breasts for an alleged professional sportsman and a knack for recovery after his manager was sacked.
Again...no defence of Kenny...more a scathing insight to the contempt and arrogance of a fat chancer stealing a wage who still unfathomably gets fawned over.
Rastapari, Sat 3 Nov 18:55
This, this a thousand times this. Cheers Rasta. I've no idea where the adulation came from for that particular buffet assassin. Still i'm sure with his ludicrous wage and undeserved send off he could afford plenty of sports bras for his boy boobies.
If we are talking about the same former chubby faced club captain, then in fairness under Calderwood, he did okay. Flung the towel in soon after though. I remember in the dark days of Davie Hay, when he couldn't play at Parkhead due to injury, I was surprised to see him picking up a suit from Pullars drycleaners in the Kings Gate, while his understudy young Greg Ross was scoring the winner against Celtic. I always thought it strange that being club captain, he wouldn't be at the game to provide some backing for the lads rather than preparing for his usual Saturday and Sunday nights out
That would be because not one **** was given...a selfish cheat of a man...in all respects.
He was trying to get in about a flatmate of mine...his absolute 100% nae chance always amused me,given he was married.
I'm just shocked and disappointed that football players can make bad decisions and do and say bad things.... It's almost like they're humans like the rest of us.
Here was me thinking they were all superheroes too.
Gutted min 😂
Topic Originator: Boston Red Sox
Couldn’t believe that snide waste of rations got the payday he received. Both he and JM were parasites of the most despicable level.
Same rules apply
I take it we’re referring to someone who had a testimonial against Man Utd?
Topic Originator: TAFKA_Super_Petrie
Is the 3rd man in this group of 'injured' players now a copper by any chance?
"People always talk about Ronaldinho and magic, but I didn't see him today. I saw Henrik Larsson; that's where the magic was."
Topic Originator: Rusty Shackleford
I hope someone cracks this code soon because the suspense is killing me. Someone needs to nipper it in the bud.
Topic Originator: General Zod
I can’t believe he got a testimonial against Man Utd. Compare that to proper pars men like Andy Tod and Stewart Petrie’s equivalents. Shameful.
widtink, Sat 3 Nov 21:12
Bad decisions like feigning injury?
Bad decisions like screwing over a support week in week out for months to the tune of about 5k a week?
I take it he let you buy him a pint up the town once...
Rastapari, Sat 03 Nov 21:33
Judging by the size of the Kent that wasn’t and exclusive club🤔
Nope, cos I've no idea who you're on about... And I don't really care to be perfectly honest. They're not at the club anymore as far as I can gather from the comments but I really don't want or need to know who this is all about.
My post was more along the general lines of... Footballers are just as flawed as the rest of us.
Nothing more... Nothing less.
It certainly wasn't a pop at anyone.
More a general statement.
Oh... And for the record... I don't drink.
Topic Originator: Boomer
A top player in SK era said his training was brilliant main issue was he basically let the more senior guys off with murder! Put too much trust in them to be professional on and off the park and most of them took the p***. Other posts seem to have a common theme Sk far from perfect but some players surely at fault?
Truth is senior players took the p×××
.They know who they are.
Topic Originator: Par
General Zod, Sat 3 Nov 21:33
This, a sold out stadium as a reward for selling the jersey!
They were dark days. SK and some players didn't come out of this with any glory.
It wasn't all one sided as anyone in Gothenburg realised but extremely unprofessional and Jim McIntyre was without question shoehorned into the managers chair.
There were a few unhealthy rumours doing the rounds in Gothenburg, which led to a few unhealthy chants. Also Pars fan's fighting amongst themselves in the ground and in the streets. Always though there was a big divide in the support then.
Date: Sun 4 Nov 02:48
After reading the Gothenburg comments above, I found this article on the BBC website. Although it is a painful reminder of those times, it is worth reading through to the comments at the very end. Given what has been discussed, you might appreciate the irony...
BK HACKEN 1-0 DUNFERMLINE (2-1)
Dunfermline failed to reach the first round of the Uefa Cup after losing out to BK Hacken in Gothenburg.
Stevie Crawford wasted a great chance for the Pars, shooting wide from 12 yards, before Ari Skulason slotted the Swedes in front after 27 minutes. Jim Hamilton missed with a close range header before getting sent off, picking up two foolish bookings for dissent. The Fife side continued to press but the 10-men could not find a way through the home defence.
A tiny crowd, including around 1,000 travelling fans, scattered across the 43,000-seater Ullevi stadium to watch a scrappy match unfold.
Hacken carved out a decent opportunity when Paulo Jose Oliviera crossed from the byline but Sol Bamba did superbly to block Daniel Larsson's effort. Two minutes later Dunfermline passed up a gilt-edged chance. Paul Gallacher's long kick was flicked on by Hamilton into the path of the on-rushing Crawford but he planted his drive just wide, with the goal gaping.
Hacken broke the deadlock when Daniel Larsson's cross from the right drifted over to the unmarked Skulason and he struck a left-foot shot into the ground across Gallacher. Five minutes later, the Fifers missed another glorious opportunity, Hamilton nodding wide at the far post from Owen Morrison's cross. Crawford then fired past on the turn after another Hamilton flick on.
After 50 minutes, it was Bamba's turn to threaten, when he just failed to touch in Stephen Glass' free-kick. But Dunfermline's cause was hampered with Hamilton's bizarre 57th-minute red card. Booked in the first half for dissent, the forward picked up another yellow card when he kicked the ball away after being adjudged offside.
Strikers Tam McManus and Mark Burchill were thrown on, but being a man down prevented the Pars from really testing their hosts. And Oliviera should have added a second goal for the Swedes on the break but Gallacher palmed his shot into the side-netting.
Manager Stephen Kenny remains committed to Dunfermline after falling at the first Uefa Cup hurdle. The Pars have made a poor start to life in Division One.
But when asked if he was thinking about leaving the Fife club, Kenny told BBC Sport: "Absolutely not. We prepared well for this game and we missed two great chances in the first half. It's very disappointing because we thought we could do well here."
Striker Jim Hamilton was upset at his sending off in Sweden, having been shown two yellow cards for dissent.
"They were two bad decisions in my eyes," Hamilton told BBC Sport. It's very frustrating because with 11 we would have gone on to win the game. We were well on top. We created the better chances and they probably had one shot in the first half."
The small band of fans from Fife booed their team off the park and Hamilton had sympathy for those who travelled.
"I can understand their frustration," he added. "They have paid a lot of money to come over. But we need them to get behind us because we need everyone giving 100% for the club."
Post Edited (Sun 04 Nov 06:01)
I don’t remember anything about that game. Certainly not Hamilton being sent off. I’m sure I heard that Owen Morrison was lucky to leave the country alive. Don’t think he was popular...
I appreciate you were being a tad flippant with the above post but you do make a valid point - footballers are only human and they sometimes fall short of our expectations. If these allegations are true, or even partially true, however, then they're rather more serious than "bad decisions " or errors of judgment.
I don't know how good a manager SK was at the time, but that is almost irrelevant because, as mach1 says, if a proportion of your workforce set out to undermine what you're trying to do, you've got no chance. In this case, if the allegations are true, a group of senior players set out to get rid of a young, relatively inexperienced manager. We don't know if he approached the BoD about them, but they didn't back him if he did. With hindsight, he should have asked them to move these players out and resign if they refused, but that would obviously cost him money if he walked out.
From what has been said on this thread, there's every reason to conclude that these allegations are not groundless and it will leave a bad taste in the mouth of many fans because these players didn't just let their manager down, but themselves, the club and above all, they cheated the fans who paid their wages.
Player power is nothing new in football, as far better managers than SK have found out, but it is completely unprofessional conduct by the players who orchestrate it. We don't want to back to the times when the likes of Jim McLean at Tannadice and our own George Farm were allowed to bully players by laissez faire Boards, but the 1968 SC winning Pars team showed that it is possible to dislike the manager but still play for the jersey.
Ahhh .net with its 20/20 hindsight’s. Hovis ad music kicks in and everyone hates us. Any manager who thinks Bobby Ryan, Owen Morrison and many others were good players you need to be asking questions.
Any manager who blames the leaves/bird feathers on the pitch for the training not being right is a fraud.
As discussed before Kenny done well when he first came it. All seemed to go a bit t!ts up after a relegation and pre season where he had his chance to put his mark on the side and build his own side.
Surprised the daily record doesn’t have a “staff member doesn’t get along with manager” headline
Playup_Pompey, Sun 4 Nov 08:43
Don't see many sticking up for Kenny though....
I'm sorry but those senior players are snakes, there are far worse tales than have been outlined here too.
I've just been asked on social media if I would recount them to the player's involved faces....ooooh a strong 100% yes...in fact I'd dearly love to in one particular case.
I don’t pretend to know all the ins and outs of Stephen Kenny’s tenure but it was patently obvious to us fans watching that the team were not playing to their potential. Player power was definitely in evidence which I found extremely disappointing. We were paying good money to watch a team, most of whom on the park were not trying a leg and others were “injured”.
Many of the players didn’t like SK (& his team), they didn’t like the training, they didn’t like much about him at all and decided to get rid - I was told this directly at that time by someone who worked closely with the players. So, it was no surprise to me that SK left. Whether he was/is a good manager I have no idea but I hate to see anyone lose their job by someone else’s actions.
There are a number of players from that era who still rankle with me. I was desperate to see a certain team playing in a certain testimonial game but no way was I going to contribute to the coffers of that particular player!!
It was a time of supporting the Pars that I found really difficult and hope never to see again. I do remember my dad telling me that the players disliked George Farm back in the 60s - didn’t stop them winning a cup though.
Topic Originator: Heinz57
Well done Rasta and co for highlighting all this. About time too. We all know things weren’t right then and you can’t hide forever. I too avoided “this testimonial” for the same reason as above. Better players weren’t given this opportunity. Disgrace.
GEW35, Superb post and absolutely spot on. I loved Man U and the chance to see them at EEP was a dream come true, however, I never set foot at DAFC that night. I could not contribute , knowing what was going on . Some of the Pars players were a disgrace to our club and yes to the fans who were keeping them in their fancy lifestyles with the fancy wages they were getting.
Our Fans were well and truly cheated by players they idolised and would have scraped every penny to go to watch them, and this was what they thought of us. I hope this will never again at DAFC. Agree or not, this was a very dark time at our club.
Footnote: At the time of the Rio Ferdinand Testimonial at Old Trafford, I was in the DASC Ofiice selling the first of the shirts Fans were donating to help "SAVE THE CLUB", and a Pars supporter came to me and gave me and my Husband two tickets to go down to this game. This we did, and I am thankful to this day. It was a beautiful gesture .
I was utterly confounded by how that testimonial came about. As said, many others got nothing like it.
Maybe a case of who you know, not what you have contributed took over.
That said I was not so much in the know of goings on as a few others on here, although I had strong suspicions and heard a few rumours.
I did attend the game as my young grandson desperately wanted to see MU and their stars, but most certainly not to show respect for the player who it was organised for.
I've tried to get a handle on your post, PuP, but have come up short, sadly. Can you enlighten me and any other dimwit in the same boat?
Are you saying it was all Kenny's fault that some of the players, allegedly
(a) did not always give 100% on the park and
(b) falsely declared they were unfit to play in some games?
I'll reiterate...i'm more than happy to go into more detail...just come grab me for a blether.
I'm just glad these thieving cheats are getting their day in the sun...it was red and black cards for mentioning this back in the day.
Topic Originator: Toumba Libre
I’m also glad that this is being allowed to be aired without censorship.
It would be interesting to hear SK’s (and a few other players) honest thoughts on what went on and for the truth to be made public.
If only the trouble makers had been punted rather than being allowed to steal a wage.
Am I right in thinking that SK’s biggest regret was allowing certain players to stay or renew their contracts?
Toumba Libre, Sun 4 Nov 12:01
Purely anecdotal evidence I'll concede but from what I heard not entirely up to him.
Topic Originator: londonparsclub
Who was the chairman ?
Say no more
Rastapari, Sun 04 Nov 12:28
That doesn’t surprise me.
Perhaps SK does not want to talk about what must have been a horrible time in his career. Yes it would be great to know the truth, however some of the players being mentioned are quite wealthy and could get lawyers to fight these stories.
I know that by the time he was sacked he looked a broken man and I for one felt sorry for him. I remember the rumours that were flying about at that time.
Topic Originator: Bamba-Daft
red-star-par, Sat 03 Nov 16:30
100% this.
Topic Originator: Angus_W
Don't get it, why dig all this up......?
Everyone involved at the time has moved on.
The players.
The manager.
The BoD Chairmen ....... etc.
If you wrote a book on it & interviewed everyone involved you'd get several different versions of the truth, so what's the point?
🔩 ya 🚀
eastendalloapar, Sun 04 Nov 13:32
He came in fresh faced with so much enthusiasm but after we got relegated, you could almost see him getting more grey and worn out from one week to the next. As you say, he looked like a broken man by the time he was sacked.
I might write a book before I leave this planet, believe me it would be some reading re this awful period. Just a wee taster, some of the youth players at the would come out with some corkers from the dressing room after training. Very sad time.
Angus_W, Sun 4 Nov 14:26
There can only ever be one true version of the truth, Angus.....
Looking through the thread, I must take my share of the blame, as I asked Rasta if he was merely repeating old rumours or he knew something we didn't. He opened up after that and I'm glad he did. Pars fans who were shortchanged during that time have a right to know the truth. Just because it happened a long time ago, doesn't mean it should remain buried for the sake of a group of players who were completely unprofessional and pretty poor role models.
Btw, are you of the same opinion, regarding Jimmy Savile? He's moved on as well....... to a very hot place, I hope.
Topic Originator: Big T Par
It's absolutely galling to be reading all this. I remember at the time, putting myself in a lot of debt and hardship, to get a season ticket and to go to all the away games to support our team. To hear that some of the players were not even trying is f*****g criminal😡😡😡
I agree Big T . Remember going week in week out . You knew something wasn't right but not the extent of it .
Those players should hang their heads in shame
No matter how poorly we've played at times this season at the very least they've given plenty effort.
Exactly GG Riva, we need this to be made public so that this never happens again. Individuals apparently undermined the manager and put themselves above the fans and the club. I don’t know why you wouldn’t want it to be discussed, especially since a lot of people don’t or didn’t know what went on.
It is being talked about again because some fans were wanting JM to be back at the club and if what’s being said is true then he (and others) should never be allowed anywhere near DAFC again.
The idea that it should be swept under the carpet and forgotten about is ridiculous.
Topic Originator: Hummingbird Harry
Tounba Libre, it is true, I can assure you and when some of us tried to make it public back then we were talked down by mates, relatives and friends of the guilty. I was targeted in Legends one day by one of them lying about me to their cliche and well, I won't go right into it, but the person was a player's partner at the time. and they had to get her out of Legends toot sweet, nobody does that to me.
GG-R
The Jimmy Saville comparison one is a poor one. That's a criminal case and people's lives were damaged.
I agree that the truth is important but in this case I don't think we will ever fully know it. The deed is done and the culprits are long gone. Does this really benefits the current BoD, club & fans dragging all this up...and to what end?
The best we are going to get is some moral victory, at what cost?
We probably were being short changed by certain players, but let's not forget during the Calderwood/Yorkston/Masterton era we were paying a fortune in wages and running up massive debts. Correct me if I'm wrong but I can't remember any protest marches along HR or threads on .net protesting about the financial state of affairs.
Collectively we were all ignoring the financial plight and enjoying the ride. We are football supporters not business men but deep down we all knew it was a runaway train that was going to come of the tracks one day.
The club is now stable and were are run by good honest people (I hope!).
I'd rather look forward.
Quite simply...this a Pars forum...were talking about Pars history...a history that some wanted to be swept under the carpet.
Imo these chancers should have their day in the sun....all eyes on them.
My Mum brought the subject up at a meet the manager night and one of those cheating hoors was in attendance...stared at the floor the entire time...a coward.
Now I think these things bear being brought up...especially in the context of some people wanting one of these snakes back in the club...a club they don't even deserve to be associated with.
I get what you're saying and agree to a point but with this lot and the extent they went to to undermine our club...they're worth the mention imo.
So let's talk about history...in the hope it helps not repeat.
Topic Originator: Big Marcus
Jimmy Saville comparisons are outrageous.
The reference to Jimmy Savile was a throwaway comment and not intended as a like for like comparison, Angus. For sure, his crimes were far more serious than the less than honourable conduct of some of our former players, but let's not lose sight of what they did and the sense of betrayal induced among our support. I can see from the rest of your post that we're pretty much on the same wavelength. I agree that the club was poorly managed and poorly run during the Masterton era and could only end in tears. None of this excuses the dishonest conduct of a number of players during that time. It was your suggestion that there was no point in bringing this up so long after the fact, that I disagreed with and if you quickly read through the thread, you'll see that you're in a tiny minority with your stance on it.
Has someone given Brian a valium?
Thought this would have been heaved off double quick.
Very refreshing to see though.
I'm pretty sure SK admitted he was unprepared for the pars job ,but I'm sure the players downed tools after SK cancelled the Christmas party even though we we're bottom of the league at the time
Topic Originator: parbucks
McIntyre has a job at present.
We have a manager so any vacancy discussion is futile.
Stevie Crawford was the only one of the players who had gone through the same type of training as what SK tried to install while he was at Plymouth. He tried his very best to educate his fellow pro's.
When however that meant missing out on their afternoons on the golf course and in the bookies it started going downhill as it wasn't just our players involved.
Some serious money was played for on a few gold courses against players from other squads and a few of our players were making a bit of money on the afternoon 4 balls.
Craig Robertson also had a major part in the downfall of the manager.
As much as SK was undermined by quite a few the super injunction prior to the Haken game which I was then black carded for at the time was his ultimate downfall and the decision had already been made within the club prior to the Haken game.
The backlash continued even after he left with many players unhappy with the JM appointment.
PS the 5 a side training was a major part of close control and pressing trying meant to be fun and bonding and used very like futsol on the continent for folk to keep using it as a stick to beat the man really know very little. Most of the time it was played without keepers who were training elsewhere so direct attack and defence training.
The training throughout Europe is light years ahead of Scotland as reflected in our national team, having done many of my Scottish youth training badges and having been trained to a high level in England 30 years ago we are still light years behind Europe now!
Change is needed unfortunately the vast core of players in Scotland don't want it, the players generally released to Scotland on loan are those needing toughened up or need to learn discipline as an improvement to their game.
Stephen Kenny could have been our Alex Ferguson with the right squad and time, he literally was the right man wrong time.
I had the pleasure to speak to him a number of times and he was the most polite person you would meet who was passionate on success which he so wanted to achieve with Dunfermline, he was a broken and haunted man when he left Fife!
Those players JM included were the ones responsible for that!
Well said sir ! AGREE TOTALLY.
This thread is hugely welcome. It’s cathartic to read and perhaps, finally, we can truly begin to move on. Many of us have wanted this all out in the open long ago.
100% agree with you, RM. A massive thumbs up.
It is so refreshing to see this finally come out. It has too long been a festering sore at EEP. Way too many myths have surrounded the period, largely because SK and his supporters have remained silent.
There is always two sides to a story and at last the silent side is being heard.
I think the truth is probably that there was fault on all sides of this one.
That's why there will always be an emotive debate - as people like to have one person or group of people to be 100% accountable.
Topic Originator: Frank Butchers LoveHandles
I always believed it was Kenny being a poor manager but reading this is very damning of some of the players involved. It was always startling our form in cup competitions against our rank League form. The 3 results against Hamilton, Livingston and Stirling when we got relegated suggested to me that a few of them had downed tools.
Awight Pat!
Renegade Master absolutely taps it...cap doffed.
The cup competition carried a win bonus! Hence why they upped the anti!
As for Scott Thomson he knew the script and as far as I know he hardly hardly exchanged a word with JM as it was indeed ST who thought was going to take the managers job on SK's downfall. Little did he he know that JM was working so sneekit he had actually undone a fellow Judas in the process.
JM is in deed lower than a snakes belly!
renegade master, Sun 4 Nov 22:19
Rastapari, Renegade master, Steaua et al. I for one am grateful for your contribution and insight... despite others not wanting it discussed.
I always felt SK would have been
fantastic for us if he had managed to get rid of that rotten core.
What I would say is that I mainly enjoyed McIntyres spell in charge. We were a pretty good team to watch playing really good football. Cardle, Bell, Graham, Gibson and Kirk were all his signings and all contributed a great deal.
Thing is I actually agree with those averse to this being hauled up...but it has been.
I'll only speak for myself when referencing the "insight" you mention in that it wasn't inside information or insidious...it was very ordinary exchanges and very ordinary circumstances....which sadly begs the question was that the norm..the mindset?
Now to be clear...there are valid arguments that a different type of manager would have flourished in an atmosphere like that and played the players...SK was not that man.
To counter...unavoidably the background noise and influence was thus that at that stage of his career...and the level of dishonesty from senior team figures...he stood little chance.
I digress...
Reading through the thread the comments from seasoned posters who were aware of certain things at the time it struck me they became aware in the most ordinary of circumstances.
It's a wee toon..folks know folks..it's not really a great leap when you think about it.
Topic Originator: Jealous Furniture
Thanks everyone for the info on this, and also the .net admins for leaving it all up.
Honestly I had next to no clue about any of this, I had heard that JM was always gunning for the manager's job but had no idea it was to this extent.
Fairly shocked about ST too. And a bit saddened, I always thought he had a real investment in the Pars. Oh well. I missed most of the start of the 07-08 season because I worked Saturday shifts at the time, so didn't see how bad the performances were.
I also missed the testimonial though, thank fvck.
Hints at other players who were "injured"... I'm trying to remember that far back but can't think of any.
I don't stay in the town so missed all of the rumours that were probably flying about back then. What's the Gotherberg story? A super-injunction???
Having read all this I think the most shocking revelation in this thread is that an utter diddy like Owen Morrison played a European tie for the Pars!
A bit off topic but just read that Owen Morrison was charged with being in possession of cocaine with intent to supply and handling a stolen car in 2015.
JF the super injection is still in place as far as I'm aware and woe betide anyone on here or elsewhere who breaks it!
So please no-one divulge the information you may find yourself in court quicker than you get from A to B in the alphabet.
Stephen Kenny could've been our Sir Alex Ferguson, that's absolutely wild.
Very good point from RM regarding the Challenge Cup, certainly adds up, never thought about that before.
Date: Mon 5 Nov 00:00
Grant he he was light years ahead of the current crop of incumbents on the managerial merry go round look at Steve Clarke, Steve Robinson, Neil Lennon, Steven Gerrard, Gary Holt.
All managers bringing the European ethos to their respective clubs having served their time outwith Scotland and slowly but surely showing dividends.
The players to the managers are the ethos, that was our downfall.
Same as Paul le Guan (sp) at Rangers them lot were their for their final pay cheques, John Collins at Hibs.
Craig Levein learnt so much at Leicester when he returned to Scotland he got Raith playing and seriously improved Dundee Utd but was faced with identical challenges in his Scotland role and made some personal errors.
It's what he saw in Cathro at Hearts who was not strong enough to implement, you can't doubt that the ruthlessness of Levein at Hearts knowing he has the full support of Ann Budge has been spectacular.
That is where we failed in the support of SK.
St Mirren also need to give Oran Kearney time but I'm not sure he is going to get it as they are scared of relegation but the thought of JM keeping SK's pal in a job is quite amusing!
Post Edited (Mon 05 Nov 00:11)
TAFKA if I remember correctly it was a rising scale with a £1000 per man for reaching the final!
It was also implemented towards the end in the league to try and stave of relegation.
Topic Originator: rossmcno1
Originator: Grant like | nolike
See Brian Clough and Leeds United for the ultimate example of this!
Sometimes in a football club you get too many bad apples and no matter how good the manager - they’ll rot the rest.
For me SKs biggest mistake was not emptying the entire squad when relegated, meaning that his remaining budget was so right we saw more of the Jamie Harris/Bobby Ryan quality rather than the Noel Hunt quality from Ireland. One thing JMc did when he got to his first full season, was to get rid of a large number of the poor performers...ironically what he didn’t do when he got to the Premier.
He evidently wasn't light years ahead of anyone.
Man management is a humongous part of management, it's all fine and well having ethos but that doesn't count for anything if you can't implement it. To compare him to Alex Ferguson is an absolute travesty, Cathro is a far better comparison, someone who may very well have meant well, but ultimately not a good enough manager for the size of the club.
Interestingly Jim McIntyre after his dismissal went and worked at Bristol for a time to broaden his horizons, from someone who works at Queen of the South the increased professionalism when he took over from AJ was huge.
With that in mind, would I take McIntyre back? In a heartbeat.
You’ve got to wonder who was starting the unsavoury rumours about SK at the time too. One including a fairly young local female. What utter scumbags we had attached to the club back then.
''Man management is a humongous part of management, it's all fine and well having ethos but that doesn't count for anything if you can't implement it. To compare him to Alex Ferguson is an absolute travesty...''
I think the poster making the comparison was probably hinting at potential, Grant, but I agree with you. if SK was even remotely in the Fergie mould, he'd have booted any trouble makers right out of EEP, just like Fergie did when he arrived at OT and found a drinking clique. I think it's more likely that SK was a young, naive manager who got precious little backing from the Board.
''Interestingly Jim McIntyre after his dismissal went and worked at Bristol for a time to broaden his horizons, from someone who works at Queen of the South the increased professionalism when he took over from AJ was huge.
With that in mind, would I take McIntyre back? In a heartbeat.''
Not me. He could be better than Pep, Jose or Klopp. I still wouldn't want someone like that managing the club I love. When a man abandons his principles, he loses his dignity.
''The workforce doesn't turn against good managers, and that's the end of that.
Sometimes in a football club you get too many bad apples and no matter how good the manager - they’ll rot the rest.''
I don't think Clough at Leeds was the best example you could have chosen, Ross. He went in to Elland Rd with a Billy Bigbaws attitude, which was guaranteed to turn the senior players like Giles, Bremner, J. Charlton, Hunter and Co. by telling them, '' Chuck all your effing medals in the bin - you won them all by cheating...''
Had he adopted a more softly, softly approach, he might have lasted rather more than 44 days, for he was a damn good manager, but that would have run completely against his rather arrogant personality......
General Zod, Mon 5 Nov 05:38
These rumours coincided with the Gothenburg trip.
I was barely off the plane and people were spreading these stories.
There was a sense of foreboding about the game after that and fans at the match were visibly furious with our abject performance.
SK looked totally down and dejected afterwards.
I know that some of our fans were raging at the goings on against SK, so much so that one of them went to SK's house to apologise for what was happening to him and his family. It so happened, his wife was on her own as Stephen was in Newcastle doing his European badges. What the hell must they have thought about what they had come in amongst.
Let me just say, I am thankful for the Chairman we now have as he is off very strong character and in my opinion, would not have let any of that happen.
edit - shouldn't have guessed any names, I know nothing about this carry on!
In the interest of balance, I'm sure the players would have a different take on this.
We interviewed quite a few of them during the Into the Valley research and Stevie C for the podcast. From memory, there's nothing particularly controversial but it's unfair on some guys that gave years of decent service to the club to just accept they downed tools on SK's watch. I accept the counter-argument that nobody is going to confirm that they did.
That's not to doubt anyone's particular anecdotes or reading of the situation of the time, just some caution that different people can have different viewpoints of exactly the same events.
Also in the interest of balance, here's Stevie Crawford's take on these events (from about 18:20 onwards).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw0Bw6hrK1s
Topic Originator: Bertiesback
It's laughable to read that all SK had to do was boot the trouble makers out. I remember vividly at the time being constantly told there was no more to either sign replacements or to terminate the contracts of the troublemakers.
I was one of quite a few who thought Kenny got a raw deal and was let down by the club and a great many of the fans. I recall quite clearly the exchanges on here being some of the most angry outside the admin and independence debates.
For the record I have never thought much of McIntyre.
Owen Morrison I always thought was a wee fandan, but that was really just based on his general reeking attitude on the pitch and unmerited swagger. I've heard vague things about him but he was such an average player in a poor time for the club that I'm not too fussed.
Topic Originator: Digs
Balance? How dare you Da-Go. You know thats not how dotnet works.
I hardly post on here nowadays, but it's slightly troubling to read some of the stuff here being presented as fact with no corroboration other than the poster saying it's true. That's not aimed at anyone or any post in particular btw, more a commentary on the complete acceptance of these posts with no critical thought or questioning.
So, as Da-Go says, in the interests of balance, I'll repeat what I always say when this comes up.
1. SK has gone on record as saying he wasn't ready for this job and he got a lot wrong. His words. There was no mention of anyone undermining him even when prompted.
2. I've spoken to two senior players about this time, at length, and separately, one of whom I've known since school. He told me several things about decisions that were made, standard of training, and some of the things the players themselves had to do to keep up fitness-wise as the training was so poor.
The other player, backed up these statements, pretty much word for word, in a separate conversation over a year later. I've since had another conversation not too long ago, a full ten years later, with another player who also backed up what was said in his own words without prompting.
Of course there is two sides to every story, and it could be perceived that senior players were 'against him' but every single one of these guys are winners. All of them. You simply don't make it as a footballer if you wouldn't kick your granny to win a game, and so as senior players they are going to speak up if they disagree with the manager. Some of those players were repaid for trying to talk some sense into their manager with being dropped, with him telling people they were injured. On more than one occassion, they weren't.
Everyone is entitled to believe what they want. Personally, I'll continue to take the word of guys I've known a long time, who have told me the same things, separately, over the course of years, over some randoms on the internet.
Put it this way, for the way the circumstances were highlighted to me, it would be a conspiracy of epic proportions for them all to get their stories straight, to ensure they all kept up a lie, repeating the same story months and even years apart.
Stair Maistreas na Beatha
Jealous Furniture - there are plenty of Pars fans with positive things to say about Scott Thomson.
I don't know any of the accusers or accused particularly well, so I'd urge caution by anyone looking to make a judgement.
This is what I posted on the other site:
Stevie C just did a podcast - we'll hopefully get his career reflection part up imminently. I've also got plenty of interviews from various players for the Into the Valley research (Volume 2, 2005-2015 will be written one day, I promise!). From memory, there's nothing too controversial or scathing about Stephen Kenny - I think Scott Wilson was the most candid.
I think what we've got to remember is that a lot of these players gave several years to the Pars and performed in one of our best ever teams. They're not going to down tools the minute someone comes through the door because there's no reason for them to do so.
I think the truth is something like this. Kenny had ideas that worked well at Derry. The players had an idea of what worked well for them previously. Kenny was a young manager and didn't quite command the respect necessary to get the players to come round to his thinking. The results were poor, which causes both sides to believe more than ever before that they were right. Kenny, should, following relegation, have wielded the axe and got in some younger, hungrier guys who might have bought in to what he was trying to do. For whatever reason, this didn't happen - maybe lack of backing by the board, maybe the belief that the good results at the end of the SPL season would set us in good stead for our campaign in the Championship.
Things then turned to **** very quickly. There was a poor atmosphere all over the club, with fans torn on whether to back the manager or not. Kenny didn't know how to turn it around and, eventually, things got so bad that he had to go as there was a genuine worry that we'd be relegated to the 3rd tier and financial ruin (which we now know was in the post anyway).
Some players, thinking Kenny wasn't going to turn it around, perhaps weren't as professional as they could have been. On the one hand, that's extremely poor. On the other hand, they could argue that they needed a new guy at the helm to stop the inevitable slide.
The board had to sack Kenny as there's no other realistic course of action.
It will always be talked about though due to Kenny's exploits in Europe with Derry before us and Dundalk after. There's clearly an extremely good manager in there when given the right circumstances to carry out his work. We'll never know whether these circumstances could have been replicated at the Pars though - especially as he hasn't been an unmitigated success everywhere he's been e.g. Shamrock Rovers and, arguably, Bohemians.
I’d like to echo the previous posters and pass on my sincere thanks to Rastapari, Steaua, Renegade Master and the others who have shed light on to the goings on. I always thought SK was a brilliant appointment and I’m glad that those who conspired against him, the club, and us fans have been exposed. I’m sure there’s a lot more that may yet come out but having only heard a few wee rumours with no names mentioned previously it’s enlightening to have this info. Stephen Kenny always struck me as a really decent person so if as a result of this, people’s perceptions of him are changed for the better, then hopefully that can be a small comfort to him too.
Excellent, reasoned posts from Digs and DA-go above.
This thread has turned into a bit of a slagfest about two former Pars players in particular. My concern, which I voiced further up, is that a number of honest, hardworking pros, who played in that team would also be tarred with the same brush. This is exactly what's happened, with one poster going through Kenny's squad, looking for other likely candidates to add to the gang of two.
The candid interview by Stevie Crawford (thanks to Oz for flagging it up) shows that Kenny wasn't exactly a wise old head and far from the finished article. Stevie is/was quite philosophical about his dealings with the manager, but other senior players may not have been inclined to be so charitable. Kenny himself has admitted he wasn't ready for the job, but he will have learned a lot during his time at EEP, which helped to make him the better manager he is today.
Some very interesting and well typed out posts there DA and Digs. The level of conspiracy theory that this is all going into now is absolutely wild.
Jim McIntyre can't melt Irish managers etc.
My Pars-supporting pal once won 2 free tickets to an East Fife game and I went along with him, Nipper played for East Fife at the time and my pal grabbed him after warm up & got him to sign his Pars shirt. Nipper looked like he was going to punch his puss clean off his heed for asking... but maybe was just confused, maybe was "in the zone". Made me laugh at the time though!
Topic Originator: ParsYob
JF, my pal played for East Fife at the same time. When I was getting married, Nipper went to East End and got a Pars strip signed by the full bunch that were there. Gave us the strip free as well. Thought it was a great gesture
Unlike most other professions, a young guy who takes over as a football manager has no formal training in management.
He will have the experience of years playing the game, watching other managers at work and he most likely will be pretty conversant with the coaching and tactical aspects of the job, but he is equally likely to have little or no inkling of just how complex a football manager's task can be. There's a whole lot more to consider.
As is illustrated quite well in the Stevie Crawford video interview, the player's interaction with the manager is through a pretty narrow prism; on the training ground, in the dressing room, at the match and in one-to-one meetings in the manager's office. As Stevie pointed out, the individual player doesn't really get to know how the manager deals with the other players at a personal level. His view is as part of a collective.
Football is one of those businesses where a manager has to deal with a wide range of personalities - from shy retiring types to wild demanding narcissists and everything in between.
And it is guaranteed that you will never ever have a harmonious work environment. There will perpetually be players pissed off because they have been dropped or are injured or are jealous because they think they are not getting paid as much as the player over there who is nowhere near as good as them.
It must be a daunting task for a young manager to undertake and the odds of making mistakes are surely very high. Leadership skills are obviously very important, but ultimately it is experience that makes the good manager. You can be sure that, at 46, Stephen Kenny will be a far more rounded manager than he was at 36 at Dunfermline.
As others have said, it is quite likely to have been a case of the right man at the wrong time.
That is so true, Oz, but you would have hoped the board took all these things into account when making the appointment.
Listening to Stevie Crawford's interview, one thing that came across to me was the lack of knowledge we fans have of what is going on behind the scenes yet we are so prepared to pass judgement without the full facts; for example players sometimes being asked to play when they aren't 100% fit.
And of course a lot of the senior professionals at the time would have been able to call his bluff from an early stage in regards to his methods.
We had guys who worked under folks like Watty Smith, Dick Advocaat, Tommy Burns, Bobby Robson etc so you could see them being more than a little suspect towards someone possibly trying to make so many changes. Doesn't make it right but i can see why.
Actually had a quick look at stats for that season and was genuinely surprised how many of the players you may have had in mind regarding the afore mentioned shennanigans played in well over 30+ games that season.
Either way it's very refreshing to read both sides to this, always interesting to hear. This normally crops up once or twice a year on here with the usual points and counter arguments made but this has been by far the most in-depth i've ever seen it covered especially without any admim interference so credit for that.
Don't think I've ever seen Brian praised so much before on a thread.
Met and spoke to him very briefly post match in the pub on Saturday, really lovely guy. He might still be there which is why the thread hasn't been punted right enough....
As a footnote, take a wee look at this link. It kind of puts things into perspective.
Stephen Kenny is now being touted as the next Republic of Ireland manager... and there's a super little video of him being interviewed after winning the FAI Cup Final this week.
http://www.offtheball.com/Soccer/Stephen-Kenny--The-Next-Republic-Of-Ireland-Manager
He certainly looks a very happy and contented man these days.
Nice to see someone winning success and respect as well.
He certainly looks to have grown into a different person since leaving us.
This McIntyre thread has now turned into a Stephen Kenny thread. I used to cover the Pars for the press and really liked SK. You couldn't meet a nicer guy. On our first meeting I (jokingly) asked him what I should call him. Mr Kenny? No, he thought I was being serious and insisted I call him Stephen.
Always answered my calls too and I felt really sorry for him when we had to interrogate him after the Hamilton and Stirling Albion disasters.
Rumours at the time about players undermining him and I always felt the Pars should have given him more time to turn things around.
Deeman, if you do relegated and we play Dundee next season you could let you pals know why there will be more booing than usual towards your manager!
Exactly TAFKA. It's funny how the likes of Scott Thompson managed to play for, what was it, 8 different managers? Yet he's labelled as some kind of Machiavellian schemer who was undermining folk left, right and centre. The stuff about him being fat is laughable; no doubt the same folk will call Wayne Rooney etc fat too. Since leaving us, Kenny has had success and failure at different clubs but any time he's been interviewed he's mentioned the fact that he was too young and inexperienced, that he had no bad feelings about the club but that he feels it was a missed opportunity etc. He's never once said that players didn't want to play for him or undermined him, which he could have done even without naming names. He signed guys like Owen Morrison and Bobby Ryan who were awful, and he gave new contracts the guys who were apparently undermining him. I also think he underestimated the quality of the Scottish game - I remember he was asked how he'd compare the two leagues at the first Meet the manager night and between him and Declan (Docherty? Maybe? The assistant manager) they didn't seem to have much thought into it. I'm sure he's a better manager for the experience but to say that he was ahead of him time or something is beyond mental.
i remember that meet the manager night and had a bit of a braveheart speech at end of the night that had the room standing in applause.
Aye, he talked a good game. I remember at one point he said that he wanted to hear the crowd and see flags etc and a clearly uncomfortable Craig Robertson had to whisper in his ear that we weren't allowed flags... another one of those mental decisions the old board took with little thought to why or how the fans would be affected!
Date: Tue 6 Nov 10:55
I don't know about that kelty. I still have my Pars flag from the 2007 Cup Final. There were plenty that day.
If we get relegated he won't BE our manager next season. He'll be lucky if he makes it past January.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6812
|
__label__wiki
| 0.824236
| 0.824236
|
By admin_fs On Monday, July 15th, 2019
Sharif family laundered quake victims’ aid money to UK, alleges report
LONDON: A new investigative report by the British newspaper the Daily Mail has allegedly revealed that Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Muhammad More...
Fawad Chaudhry expresses reservations over federal government support to Judge Arshad Malik
Jeddah: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has expressed his reservations over the federal government’s support to Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik. Addressing a reception in Jeddah More...
DFID rebuts Daily Mail story alleging Sharifs laundered quake victims’ aid money
LONDON: The Department for International Development (DFID) on Sunday discredited a report published by the Mail on Sunday in which it was alleged the Sharif family had laundered quake victims’ aid money and had More...
Pakistan, US, Russia, China agree to continue efforts for Afghan peace
BEIJING: The United States, Russia, China and Pakistan at a consultation meeting in Beijing have agreed to continue joint efforts for realizing a political settlement in Afghanistan to bring peace and stability More...
10 passengers die, 22 injured in tragic accident in Sanghar
SANGHAR: At least 10 passengers lost their lives and 22 others sustained critical injuries when a bus rammed into a rickshaw travelling near Khadro, a town located in Sub-District Sinjhoro, Sanghar district of Sindh. Meanwhile, More...
Christchurch shootings: New Zealanders hand over guns
Christchurch: New Zealanders have started handing over their semi-automatic weapons as part of a buyback scheme following a ban after the Christchurch attacks. Gun reforms were enacted after a gunman shot dead 51 More...
Pakistan can play a vital role in Afghan peace process: US, RUSSIA, China
WASHINGTON: US, Russia and China have acknowledged in a joint statement that Pakistan can play a vital role for peace in Afghanistan. It has been said in a joint communiqué issued by US state department that More...
How affidavit of judge suddenly leaked to media? Hussain Nawaz
London: Son of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Hussain Nawaz said how affidavit of judge became suddenly leaked to media? In his message on social networking site twitter, Hussain Nawaz said how the affidavit More...
PM’s visit to US will further strengthen bilateral ties: Qureshi
LONDON: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has expressed optimism that US visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan will further strengthen bilateral ties between Pakistan and the US. He was talking to Charge d’ More...
There is no point to keep Nawaz in prison anymore: Hussain Nawaz
LONDON: Son of the former premier Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that there isn’t any point left to keep his father in custody anymore after the revelation of such concrete evidence. Hussain More...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6813
|
__label__cc
| 0.546219
| 0.453781
|
SqueeCap List
Fanfiction: Ink in Water - Chapter 1 (Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms 三生三世十里桃花)
Chapter 1. Fools Will Believe What They Want to Believe
written by Bunny
consulting by LigayaCroft
edited by Friend of Bunny
Outside, the wind howls like a chained and starved animal. Sending currents of snow through the entrance of the cave. The encompassing walls of ice glow a frigid shade of aquamarine with wisps of vapor that hover on the surface.
All around, the raw chill seeps in through her skin and wraps around her bones and tendons like poison. The smell of his skin—fresh rain mixed with earth—the only reminder of warmth in this icy abyss. Encapsulated in his arms, they share the remaining shreds of heat in their bodies. He has been channeling his energy to provide for them, but it is now dwindling. Occasionally his arms wrap a little tighter around her to make up for it.
In silence, she counts his every exhale that brushes against the tops of her lashes. Water drips from a nearby icicle and dives into the small puddle beneath it. It makes a chime each time. She can’t recall when it began, or when it will end. The intervals provide a semblance of time. But after enough intervals, time blurs towards an eternity. Maybe they will reach eternity, or maybe it’ll all be over soo—
Herrrhem,
Bai Qian blinked.
Two dark eyes were staring straight at her. Four walls of a bedchamber suddenly solidified in the periphery. Moyuan was sitting across the table. This was Kunlun Mountain.
“Shifu…” Eyes wide, she blinked a few more times to focus them. “W—Were you saying something?”
“That’s more than enough…”
“Enough?”
His gaze moved from her down to the table between them, beckoning her to follow.
When Bai Qian looked down, her eyes almost dropped out of their sockets. A warm pot of tea was tipped sideways in her hand, its spout poured out steaming hot liquid that filled Moyuan’s cup and kept on pouring until it created a path along the table, down the edge, and onto his lap.
“Sh—Shifu!” Her face blanched like a sheet of paper. “I-I’m sorry!”
Floundering to gather her wits, she threw the pot down. It made a loud clunk as the ceramic bounced against the wood surface of the table. Bai Qian lunged up from her seat and rushed over to his side. Handkerchief, she needed a handkerchief. She bit down on her lip and looked around.
Moyuan sighed and conjured one with magic. It appeared on the table in front of them. Her knees plopped down miserably beside him as she snatched up the cloth to dry off the liquid that sat in his lap. The dark blue material he had on made it difficult for her to assess the damp spots and her hand wandered around a bit until she could locate them.
Seemingly unbothered, he silently watched her work and rewarded her with a slight curve of his lips. “Little Seventeenth, what were you daydreaming about?”
“Huh?” Bai Qian felt a heat climb onto her cheeks, her already flushed face became two shades redder. “Ah… I...”
She wished to know more than he. Where exactly did her mind go? It was like it had left her body entirely. Let it wander and wander it did, right into that cave.
Bai Qian pursed her lips together. Her hand stilled and rested on his lap. His one eyebrow was slightly arched, beckoning her to respond. What kind of answer was she supposed to give him? They could not talk about that. She thought it had carefully been sealed and buried in the back of her mind, yet it was now crawling its way out of its grave. Make something up. Think!
“What else would Seventeenth be thinking about, Shifu? Most likely about how much she is missing the Crown Prince...” Changshan interjected as he entered the room.
His arrival was like a vision of buddha in her eyes. Bai Qian did not even notice his teasing words and could only feel gratitude in her heart.
As he got closer, his hawk vision immediately took notice of the mess she made on the table. The empty teapot was still rolling on its side, and the runaway tea that branched out from the big puddle in the center continued to drip down the table’s edge.
“Seventeenth… what did you do? Don’t tell me that after all this time you’ve forgotten how to serve tea.”
A look of guilt plastered on her face as she sank deeper down into her knees. Bai Qian knew she could be clumsy but lately, it was as though she only had half a brain to function with.
Her attention moved back to Moyuan, who had taken on a dour expression, like he had just heard his enemy’s name brought up. Noticing that her hand was still resting on his lap, seemingly useless, she retrieved it back.
“What is it, Changshan?” He asked.
“Shifu, Dong Hua Dijun and Si Ming Xingjun have arrived. I’ve set up tea in the main hall. Please join us when you are ready.”
Moyuan nodded and began to stir from his seat. Bai Qian stayed planted on her knees and watched as he got up. She found herself inspecting his every movement. It was still too hard to believe, that the body in front of her now was the same one that laid motionless on that stone bed for what had felt like an eternity.
One month ago, the words ‘Mo Yuan’ and ‘return’ slipped out from Zhe Yan’s lips in the same sentence and in an instant, it was as though the Four Seas and Six Realms had been flipped on its head. Her fluxing emotions still ceased to be soothed. 70,000 years, they had been apart. Now, they were back on Kunlun Mountain, with everyone wearing the same familiar faces. It was as though time had reversed its course.
She should be happy. He appeared unchanged from the man who used to smile at her and call out ‘Little Seventeenth’ for all those years. But for some reason, it kept creeping up, this indescribable feeling that resembled sadness whenever she looked too closely at him.
“Come, Seventeenth. Do you intend to sit here and watch Shifu change out of the robe you just dirtied?”
Her head turned in the direction Moyuan had gone, he was already on the other side of the room untying the ties to his outer robe. Bai Qian retrieved her eyes at once and bolted up onto her feet, following on the heels of Changshan.
“It’s been only three days since Shifu’s been back and already we’ve been overrun with visitors!” Changshan sighed as they walked down the hall, “Seventeenth, I hope you’re not planning on leaving anytime soon, we can use all the tea pouring hands we’ve got.”
“Ah senior… You saw how clumsy I was. Best not to have me serve tea to our honored guests…” She squinted her crescent eyes up at him.
Changshan returned her a beaming smile like a ray of sunshine. “You are perfect for the task, Little Seventeenth… If you keep serving tea like that, maybe we can finally get some peace and quiet around here.”
Her face dropped. Since when did Kunlun Mountain, a Taoist sanctuary, home to the revered God of War, become a tea house that she had to serve at?! Bai Qian grumbled under her breath the whole way to the kitchen where Changshan loaded both her unwilling arms up with plates of refreshments, before scooting her out.
The awning chimes at the front entrance were swaying with mirth today, carried by a strong breeze that came from the East. Their ringing chorus filled the air with a lively tune. Bai Qian found her eyes drawn upward by them as she approached the steps leading into the main hall. One foot in front of the other, it was a simple enough task on most days, but today—today was a peculiar day. She had gotten the first two steps right, but missed the third step.
Two plates full of mung bean cakes and red bean cakes went twirling into the air as her body began to topple backward. One minute she was looking at swaying wind chimes and the next, she was staring straight up at an azure blue sky. Expecting to feel her head hit the ground a moment later, Bai Qian was surprised to find that her body had stilled in midair. There was something holding her up. It looped tightly around her waist. An arm?
Above her, the confections that went flying up earlier, were now on their way down. Bai Qian clamped her eyes shut and braced for the strikes, but they never came. She peeked with one eye and saw that another arm had appeared above her with a plate that caught all of the morsels in perfect arrangement. Her heart was racing out of her chest, she had to take two deep breaths to still it.
When she prepared to pull herself up, Bai Qian was surprised to find that the arm holding her was narrowing tighter to keep her still. The hand belonging to it, tenderly squeezing her flesh. Unbelievable!
She started to struggle until a young man’s face finally came into view. Long gray hair, jade-like skin, striking features that far surpassed even godly standards, and a pair of shining emerald eyes.
“Ah, how many years have we parted for, beauty? I’ve finally caught you…” The melodic words dripped like honey from his tongue.
“You—!” Bai Qian couldn’t believe her eyes. “W-Why it is you?!”
A string of loud coughs suddenly erupted from within the hall. Bai Qian flipped her head to the other side and saw about twenty pairs of round eyes fixed in her direction. Her captivated audience appeared motionless in their seats. Her eyes flickered between the many faces and all the blood rushed to her head at once.
Bai Zhen was shaking his head, Zhe Yan was suppressing a snicker, Dong Hua Dijun casually raised an eyebrow, her First senior swallowed nervously, and Si Ming was most likely already writing a retelling of this scene in his head.
In a calm voice, Moyuan broke the silence. “Xiao Yu, it’s been a while… Come, join us.”
As soon as he recognized who was speaking, her captor immediately unfurled his arm from her waist and tossed her to the side. Those green eyes were now aimed straight at Moyuan and glimmered like a child’s. He handed the plate of cakes he had caught earlier haphazardly to her and took off with arms outstretched. The pure white robe he had on floated like a cloud down the length of the hall.
“Yuuan-Yuuan!”
Bai Zhen, who was seated next to Zhe Yan, sprayed a mist of tea out of his mouth and onto the other’s face.
“You’ve come back to me! Left without a single warning, you cold hearted scoundrel…” Xiao Yu reached Moyuan’s dais and plopped right down onto it next to him, not leaving a gap between them. He twirled a jade flute in his hand, and when the word ‘scoundrel’ left his mouth, it smacked down on Moyuan’s lap. “Who told you to build that blasted bell?! And so eager to sacrifice yourself, huh? Has there ever been a bigger fool?”
Bai Qian’s lip twitched. Her seniors all looked like they had just seen a ghost. Has there ever been a person that dared to strike and scold the God of War?
She had to remind herself that this man… was a special case. It had been some 90,000 years since she had seen him last, but there was no way to forget this sort of person. Her Shifu, being the all powerful god that he was, stood utterly helpless against him.
“Xiao Yu, have you been well?” He asked.
“If by well you mean wandering the Six Realms and drifting like a leaf in the wind because of how much I’ve missed you, then yes.”
“Haven’t you always… wandered the realms?”
“…Yes.” He pondered it for half a second, “But never mind that! Now that you’re back, I’ve decided to come stay with you!”
Xiao Yu’s happy chirping made its way into Bai Qian’s ears as she walked into the hall, she froze and shot her upturned eyes at him. “Over my dead body you will!”
He turned to Moyuan and sighed, “She still has the same temper, no?”
“Beauty… I know you must be jealous, but Yuan-Yuan has been mine since before you were even born.” He simpered, “Besides, you already have yourself one of Father Immortal’s twins, you can’t have them both you know…”
How does he already know about Shifu and Ye Hua?
She glowered at him. “What nonsense are you spouting off, you old pervert?”
“What? Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. Maybe you were thinking of trading one for the other?” He rose from his seat and fluidly made his way over to her. “Or unless… it’s me that you want, in which case, we can figure out an arrangement.”
“L-Lecherous!”
Her feet began to backtrack but he caught up soon enough. With one hand, he strung the front section of her hair around his fingers, while the other hand lifted her chin up to face him.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at this face, it has gotten this stunning… You were just a furball back then, how could I have known?”
She was rendered motionless. Those deep green eyes like pools of water were bearing into her. In her head, Bai Qian wanted push him away, but for some reason, her entire body had gone limp just by looking at him. His face kept nearing until it was breath away from hers.
Moyuan cleared his throat, “Xiao Yu…”
He twisted his head around and grinned, “Don’t be impatient Yuan-Yuan, there’s enough of me to go around!”
Bai Qian’s eye was now twitching. Someone like this, actually existed, and had lived for this long! How miraculous the Heavens were...
He had let her go soon after and returned to Moyuan’s side. The latter was looking evermore listless by the minute. Bai Qian staggered and set a hand on her chest, her heart was hammering away again. Zhe Yan, who sat across the walkway watching the scene unfold, was now stifling his laughter so hard that he was turning blue in the face.
“Old Phoenix, is that you? And Hua-Hua is here too?” Xiao Yu’s head swiveled back and forth between Dong Hua Dijun and Zhe Yan with delight. It was as though he had just now been made aware that there were other people in the room. All other parties besides the ones addressed, were sitting mouth agape. None of them able to process how Dong Hua Dijun’s name had been shortened to this extent.
“Rascal,” Zhe Yan smirked, “I’ve been trying to find your whereabouts all these years, how did you manage to not leave any traces?”
“You can’t go to the wind, it can only come to you.” Said a lounging Dong Hua Dijun.
Bai Qian rolled her eyes. This was no wind, this was a tornado.
“Beauty, I’m parched! Can I have some tea?”
She was just preparing to sit down when his voice stopped her halfway in her seat. Bai Qian shot him a look of murderous intent, about ready to grab the pot of tea and serve it down his throat. But beside him, Moyuan was looking at her with tired eyes, almost pleading.
Begrudgingly, the tea was brought and poured for him. She then moved over to refill Moyuan’s cup as well.
“Aiya, to have such a beauty serving tea for you everyday Yuan-Yuan, why wasn’t I born with your luck?” He blew on his tea and eyed her, “Beauty, why don’t you come and be my disciple instead? I’ll teach you things your Shifu here wouldn’t dare to teach you…”
Bai Qian was about to lunge toward him with the teapot when Moyuan stuck his arm out and caught her by the waist. He turned to a sniggering Xiao Yu, “I’m afraid you wouldn’t want this disciple of mine, she has always been a bit… unruly.”
“Ah, but taming her would be the best part.”
How dare they talk about her as though she were some sort of wild animal! She gritted her teeth and glared daggers at the both of them, steam collecting in the caverns of her ears. Moyuan’s outstretched hand gently tapped her side in an attempt to calm her. Xiao Yu didn’t seem to notice at all, he reached across Moyuan to pick up a mung bean cake from the nearby table and bit off half of it before holding the other half up in front of the other’s face. Moyuan politely shook his head.
“This person… Always disregarding other people’s affections.” He said with a chewing mouth, “I remember in our school days, Yue’er used to labor away making you sweets, you never accepted them once. In the end, I had to eat them all. Why that girl never figured out you don’t like sweets, I don’t know.”
“Princess Ying Yue? Have you seen her?” Zhe Yan asked, “She disappeared about 30,000 years ago without a word. Her father has been tearing the Six Realms apart looking for her since.”
Bai Qian felt her skin prickle at the sound of that name.
“No, I haven’t seen or heard a thing… It is quite the mystery.” Xiao Yu replied, then turned over to Moyuan, “What I did hear was that the little brat had tried to barge into the Ghost Realm to wage a war shortly after what happened to you. Barely escaped with her life… Such devotion, that one.”
Moyuan’s face darkened.
“Ying Yue… The name sounds familiar.” Dong Hua said, swiveling his tea cup in his hand.
“Only daughter of the Ruler of Fenyi kingdom and future queen of the Serpent Clan.” Said Si Ming, who had been waiting for the opportunity to chime in, “Dijun, you may not remember her, but she was also under Father Immortal’s tutelage.”
“Ah, that one…” Dong Hua seemed clearly amused. “A calamitous beauty as I recall. Didn’t she want to serve herself to you on a platter, Moyuan?”
“My poor Yuan-Yuan had to fight them all off with a stick back then! It’s not easy having this sort of face and being the son of Father Immortal.”
“Xiao Yu, if I remember correctly… wasn’t it always you holding the stick?” Zhe Yan quipped.
As they bantered on, Bai Qian walked dazedly back to her seat. She continued to listen with one ear while trying to sort through her memories of that princess Ying Yue. They had met once before, the same time she met Xiao Yu. That time, she had accompanied Moyuan on a trip to the Southern Lands in her second year as his disciple. It seemed to be Heaven’s will that these events would be recalled today. First the flashback, then the unexpected appearance of the Tornado Storm, and now this princess… The last thing she needed was for someone to actually mention—
“Yuan-Yuan, I must say, I was surprised to hear that you had a twin, but more surprised to hear that your Seventeenth disciple has been snatched up by him. That year on Mount Qinyao, Beauty was just a pup at the time, but after what happened I had assumed that the two of you—”
CLANG!
Moyuan had dropped his teacup holding hand down onto the armrest beside him. The loud sound echoed through the hall, leaving behind a stone cold silence. Bai Qian felt a quiver run through her body. Her eyes turned to him. His pale face was looking even paler, and those dark eyes appeared even darker. They swept toward her and lingered for a moment, heavy as a storm cloud brewing.
This bag of memories, it had been dug up and handed to her today. She had been carrying it around, not wanting anyone to notice, especially him. Yet, somehow, it managed to get knocked right out of her hands. Its contents were now spilled out on the floor between them.
“Oh, have I said too much?” Xiao Yu tapped his mouth with his flute a few times.
“How are you feeling, Moyuan?” Zhe Yan seemed to have taken notice of his pallor. “Be mindful of your energy, you don’t have a lot of it left. If you feel tired, you should rest.”
Moyuan slowly nodded and turned to Xiao Yu, “You may stay here as long as you like, think of Kunlun Mountain as your home. Dong Hua, Zhe Yan, the both of you as well. I will retire for now, we will catch up soon.”
The room continued to be silent as he got up. When he walked past her, their eyes refused to meet. How many times did they do that in the days and months following their return from that trip?
She listened as his footsteps drummed on and faded away. Xiao Yu, who was still sitting in Moyuan’s spot, soon resumed his chatter with the others. Her seniors began to disperse and go about their way. But all came to a halt when a cry came bellowing out from the inner hall.
“Shifu!! What’s wrong, Shifu?!”
Zhe Yan’s face immediately changed color as he shot up from his seat. There was rarely an occasion that someone like the Old Phoenix would put on such an expression, and the moment she saw it, Bai Qian’s heart fell down to her feet. She watched with eyes glazed over as he bolted past her. The remaining bodies in the room all leapt up one after another to follow, leaving her the last one behind.
A part of her already knew what was waiting in that hallway. That must be why her feet were unwilling to take her there. When they eventually gave in, they loitered at the edge of the crowd that formed around him. The words thrown back and forth in a flurry, confirmed her intuition. Between the cracks of their hovering bodies, she could already see.
How many more times did she need to see it?
His body, slumped on the ground, motionless.
There are some things in this world that are just too good to be true. But fools will believe what they want to believe, up until the moment the illusion slips.
3310Fanfic4 Alternative Reality Bai Qian Eternal Love Fanfic Fanfiction Mo Yuan Three Lives Three Worlds Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms 三生三世十里桃花
Copyright by Squeecappers
This is our mascot, the Twitterbean! It watches dramas and is constantly on Twitter, like us (original artwork by lafer/KLnoona)
Recapping Projects
Love & Destiny
Ashes of Love
Recently Done!
Kinou Nani Tabeta
BG: Personal Bodyguard
Rants and Weekly Raves (RAWR)
3310 Tidbits
ET Sightings
Promo Posts
Hair Posts
The Rise of Phoenixes
Moyuan and Baiqian, Book 2 (Lala)
Mo Yuan and Shao Wan, Vol 2
Ink in Water (MYBQ) by Bunny
A-Li's Story by LigayaCroft
Mo Yuan and Bai Qian by LalaLoop
When A Man Loves - Episode 20 Final (A SqueeCap)
Jang Bori Is Here! - Episode 52 FINAL (KimJiCap)
Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms 三生三世十里桃花 - Episode 48 (Recap)
Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms 三生三世十里桃花 - List of Characters
Goddess of Marriage - Episode 36 FINAL (KimJiCap)
Birth of a Beauty - Episode 21 FINAL (A WookiCap)
Rants and Weekly Raves #247 (RAWR)
Rants and Weekly Raves #248/9 (RAWR)
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6816
|
__label__wiki
| 0.969496
| 0.969496
|
Drama Channel
Search Drama
Click for full search results
What do you fancy watching?
> The Forsyte Saga
> You May Also Like
The Forsyte Saga
A Charles Dickens adaptation about the 19th-century English system.
Amanda Root stars in a great adaptation of Austen's classic novel.
Jane Austen's classic novel where a naive young girl visits the wealthy Tilney family.
Sylvestra Le Touzel stars in this lavish adaptation of Jane Austen's novel.
The Cazalets
The Cazalets take up residence in Sussex after World War II breaks out.
Anna Maxwell Martin & David Morrissey staring in the 1930s novel adaptation.
A Charles Dickens tale of murder, inheritance and love.
Set amid the Victorian splendour of Britain's first department store.
An epic love story set against the First World War.
The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby
This modern-day interpretation of the classic Charles Dickens tale.
The Agatha Christie Hour
A collection of ten hour-long dramas based on short stories by novelist Agatha Christie.
Staring Benedict Cumberbatch Parade's End is adapted from the novels by Ford Madox Ford.
Based on the P.D. James novel, we visit the characters of Pride and Prejudice.
Charles Dickens' classic novel starring Tom Hardy, Timothy Spall and Julian Rhind Tutt.
Sherlock Holmes - The Case of the Silk Stocking
Rupert Everett takes on the role of the great detective.
The Scold's Bridle
Miles Anderson stars as Detective Inspector Harmer in this Minette Walter adaptation.
PD James: Death in Holy Orders
Based on the best-selling novel of PD James and starring Martin Shaw as Adam Dalgliesh.
Douglas Booth, Ray Winstone and Gillian Anderson star in the Dickens classic.
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Loosely based on Baroness Emmuska Orczy's novels and starring Richard E. Grant.
Daniel Radcliffe stars in the adaptation of Charles Dickens's David Copperfield.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
The classic, four-part drama series based on the novel by Thomas Hardy.
King of period drama Andrew Davies adapts the much-loved novel by Jane Austen.
Cider with Rosie
Cider with Rosie is the novel adaptation starring Juliet Stevenson.
Bob Hoskins stars in the fantastic adaptation of Conan Doyle's novel.
The two-part period drama adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens.
Sherlock Holmes: Terror By Night
Terror By Night is a Sherlock Holmes film starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.
Four-part period adaptation starring Romola Garai as the titular heroine.
Mrs Bradley Mysteries - Speedy Death
The engagement party of Mrs Bradley's god-daughter ends in murder.
Catherine Cookson: The Black Candle
An enlightened mill owner faces problems when her sister marries badly.
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Thomas Hardy's tragic tale of man who's past misdeeds come back to haunt him.
Catherine Cookson: A Dinner of Herbs
Catherine Cookson's saga of love, hate, betrayal and revenge spanning three generations.
Opposites attract as Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage fall for each other.
Fanny Hill
Rebecca Night and Alison Steadman star in this adatption of John Cleland's novel.
Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth star in this lavish adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.
Lark Rise to Candleford
Laura Timmins makes the move to town in this delightful drama with an all-star cast.
Crimson Petal and the White
Chris O'Dowd stars in this powerful saga of love, lust, desire and revenge.
Cold Comfort Farm
Kate Beckinsale stars in this adaptation of Stella Gibbons's comic novel.
Blockbuster mini-series based on Barbara Taylor Bradford's bestselling romance.
UKTV
UKTV Play
Subscribe to Drama:
Drama Facebook Page
Drama on Twitter
Drama on YouTube
Drama Newsletter
Imagined by UKTV
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6817
|
__label__cc
| 0.667044
| 0.332956
|
Cognition, Political, Social April 5, 2017 May 4, 2017
Why more highly educated people are less into conspiracy theories
In this era of “fake news” and rising populism, encountering conspiracy theories is becoming a daily phenomenon. Some people usually shrug them off – they find them too simplistic, biased or far-fetched – but others are taken in. And if a person believes one kind of conspiracy theory, they usually believe others.
Psychologists are very interested in why some people are more inclined to believe in conspiracy theories, especially since the consequences can be harmful: for example, by avoiding getting their kids vaccinated, believers in vaccination conspiracies can harm wider public health; in other cases, a belief in a conspiracy against one’s own ethnic or religious group can foment radicalism.
One of the main differences between conspiracy believers and nonbelievers that’s cropped up in multiple studies is that nonbelievers tend to be more highly educated. For a new study in Applied Cognitive Psychology, Jan-Willem Van Prooijen at VU Amsterdam has conducted two large surveys to try to dig into just what it is about being more educated that seems to inoculate against belief in conspiracy.
For the first survey, Van Prooijen recruited over 4000 readers of a popular science journal in the Netherlands, with an average age of 32. He asked them about their formal education level and their belief in various well-known conspiracy theories, such as that the moon landings were hoax; he tested their feelings of powerlessness; their subjective sense of their social class (they located their position on a social ladder); and their belief in simple solutions, such as that “most problems in society are easy to solve”.
The more highly educated a participant, the less likely they were to endorse the conspiracy theories. Importantly, several of the other measures were linked to education and contributed to the association between education and less belief in conspiracy: feeling less powerlessness (or more in control), feelings of higher social status, and being sceptical of simple solutions.
A second survey was similar, but this time Van Prooijen quizzed nearly 1000 participants, average age 50, selected to be representative of the wider Dutch population. Also, there were two phases: for the first, participants answered questions about their education level; feelings of power; subjective social class; belief in simple solutions; and they took some basic tests of their analytical thinking skills. Then two weeks later, the participants rated their belief in various conspiracy theories.
Once again, more education was associated with less belief in conspiracy theories, and this seemed to be explained in part by more educated participants feeling more in control, having less belief in simple solutions, and having stronger analytical skills. Subjective social class wasn’t relevant in this survey.
Taken together, Van Prooijen said the results suggest that “the relationship between education and belief in conspiracy theories cannot be reduced to a single psychological mechanism but is the product of the complex interplay of multiple psychological processes.”
The nature of his study means we can’t infer that education or the related factors he measured actually cause less belief in conspiracies. But it makes theoretical sense that they might be involved: for example, more education usually increases people’s sense of control over their lives (though there are exceptions, for instance among people from marginalized groups), while it is feelings of powerlessness that is one of the things that often attracts people to conspiracy theories.
Importantly, Van Prooijen said his findings help make sense of why education can contribute to “a less paranoid society” even when conspiracy theories are not explicitly challenged. “By teaching children analytic thinking skills along with the insight that societal problems often have no simple solutions, by stimulating a sense of control, and by promoting a sense that one is a valued member of society, education is likely to install the mental tools that are needed to approach far-fetched conspiracy theories with a healthy dose of skepticism.”
—Why Education Predicts Decreased Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Image under licence via Gettyimages.co.uk
Christian Jarrett (@Psych_Writer) is Editor of BPS Research Digest
Cold symptoms feel worse when you’re lonely
The common cold may hit lonely people especially hard, at least from a subjective perspective. By Christian Jarrett
The ways that student samples differ from the public varies around the world
78 thoughts on “Why more highly educated people are less into conspiracy theories”
Sounds like fake news to me.
Jack Tripper says:
One massive flaw in this article is the lack of information on said “strongly educated” IQ’s, or gathering data on their actual intelligence as opposed to simply getting an education in university as evidence. Almost anyone can attend universities, this has very little to do with their actual individual intellect. Who can’t name someone they went to college with who isn’t that bright? Would have been a stronger article had anything about actual measured intelligence. Not claiming to know one way or the other just seems extremely biased and filling in an article without the most important information on the people studied; Especially when it comes to studying the way people think, calling “conspiracy theorists” stupid and uneducated essentially. The personality and perspective of the writer is more telling than the actual “evidence”. It’s lacking.
Rothmeier Jones (@Roth_Trader) says:
You are perfect example of an uneducated person who lacks critical thinking skills that this article describes. Don’t you know that anyone who believes any conspiracy is stupid? The only people who believe conspiracy theories are those with low IQs. The highly educated elites are better than everyone else and feel more in control.
Buddy Story says:
“It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education” -Albert Einstein
“Who can’t name someone they went to college with who isn’t that bright?” This is like saying most people win the lottery because I saw someone win on TV. Yes the uncommon example is interesting and easy to find, but it does not represent the average or norm of a group.
“The personality and perspective of the writer is more telling than the actual “evidence”. It’s lacking.” This is you saying this opinion is not flattering of you so you don’t like it. Do you really think you can determine personality and perspective from this short article?
john roop says:
Those who attend college,and especially those who graduate with atleast a 4 year degree,become SOCIALIZED in the same manner.It’s not so much about intelligience,but about the education PROCESS that enables people to attain “social tools”which gives individuals a framework of thought processes and lends confidence to the people who’ve attained a homogenous level of processing thoughts.
This guy is as lame as they get anyone that buys his books deserve what they get. Advanced critical thinking is what brings these hoaxes to their knees. Idiots like this writer bank on the herd mentality to get them through and hope that the lion eats someone on the outside of the herd. I will now be writing to let people know who this fraud really is. What a fool believes.
Pingback: Why More Highly Educated People Are Less Into Conspiracy Theories | Stop Making Sense
joe o sullivan says:
And yet millions of highly educated people still believe in god because it’s an accepted ‘conspiracy theory’, or at least some of them pretend to believe. Most people just don’t want to be known as crackpots, or heathens unless their friends are crackpots and heathens too.
Roy Niles says:
Belief in a god is a cultural theory, not a conspiracy. Conspiracy theorists believe in secret plans and planners that more rational people understand would serve no realistic purposes. Not that the higher educated are necessarily rational, but it couldn’t hurt.
That reply indicates ignorance. What you perceive as a realistic purpose within your current worldview would be entirely different under the conditions of the alternative reality that you’re dismissing without investigation.
JayCee087 says:
That’s essentially what it is. As much as the west preaches individualism and non-collectivism, we are very much a society lead by the herd. No one wants to be seen as a pariah, a lone wolf, a “crackpot” as you put it, at least intellectually, so they will be in either one or two camps. The popularity and hence size of said camp likely depends on who takes hold of the narrative and yells the loudest.
Robert Elart Waters says:
To suggest that a belief in God it is in any way a “conspiracy theory” is not only not very logical, but kind of a crackpot, conspiracy theory kind of thing to do.
Mike Sampat says:
more highly educated = more brainwashed
Richard Alden Peterson says:
Because quality education enables skills such as critical thinking, objectivity, and knowledge? Highly educated individuals tend to be the most free-thinking and open-minded individuals in our society, the ones who enable their imagination to be the visionaries of the future giving us a better world, a more creative culture. It’s true, they are “brainwashed” to believe in themselves as unique free-thinking souls with the courage to penetrate the unknown fearlessly, and to not get in line to be sheep to the slaughter as narrow-minded conservatives hope they will be. I wouldn’t give up my education for anything; it set me free and made me the successful creative person I am today.
Rita Simpson says:
I agree in part, although my education was later in life, going to uni at 40, and loving it, but also finding they don’t want you to think and have your own ideas, or develop new or different theories, they just want you to learn what they’ve told you to research, and repeat it back in your understanding of it. They don’t like to be questioned, and there’s no room for crossover of fields, such as psychology with anthropology, which was annoying since they were my joint fields. Neither one had time for the other, and denied certain information provided by me, as wrong and irrelevant. I wasn’t brainwashed into believing myself as a unique free thinking person, I already was one before uni, but I did have the courage to challenge them, and being educated made me stronger. Education didn’t remove my previously beliefs, it made me less afraid of talking about my beliefs, that I do believe in evolution AND religion together; that witchcraft of whatever kind still exists in societies; ghosts exist – I’ve had an experience of this once; there is an afterlife (whatever your religious belief or not) since my father died and has let me know of this; UFOs I have seen for myself; the existence of aliens because UFOs exist; that governments try to control people by whatever means and are all corrupt lining their own pockets at the expense of the people they’re supposed to support; survival theories following apocalyptic events; and most lately a suspicion that some kind of plot to take world control exists by whatever foreign power decides to try it. I am not a crank, and won’t be fobbed off by people who are afraid to know more about underlying threats to society, I’d rather know and be ready for whatever is to come than wait to be kicked up the rear end while my head is stuck in the sand.
Skeptic says:
Well, if I *am* to be brainwashed, I prefer to be brainwashed by the likes of Galileo, Aristotle, Kant, or Darwin, than by the likes of David Icke, Art Bell, or the bronze-age nomads who believed a god spoke to them from a burning bush, that the earth is flat, and slavery is fine.
None of this gets any easier when you consider that there are people roaming the earth with the opinion that everything they teach in schools is ‘wrong’ and that all teaching is just a form of indoctrination. As an example, I had a prolonged discussion with someone in their 40’s who argued that ‘Algebra’ was useless and that it had no place in the education system. Extremely worrying, when you consider that ‘Algebra’ is essentially the cement that holds the building blocks of mathematics together. Then there’s the individuals that argue that there was no holocaust in WW2 – well, Hollerith machine summary printouts which were discovered after the war beg to differ. Also, there is exact evidence that punch card technology of the time was used for mass record keeping for those camps in addition to punch cards with details market on them for ‘Extermination’. Forget trying to convince conspiracy theorists, as you can’t reason someone out of something that they weren’t reasoned into in the first place – it’s a waste of time. They’re lost.
Sean McKeown says:
In a Time of Universal Deceit — Telling the Truth Is a Revolutionary Act: Galileo, Aristotle, Kant, or Darwin in their day were ridiculed and attacked as David Icke is today. Skeptic I would suggest a little cognitive dissonance is at play here
Benny says:
Correct. Moreover the article seems to be biased from the very start. It makes a case by presuming that the moon landings is not hoax and vaccinations are indeed good ( despite of tons of evidence is available today against it). This write up is itself a conspiracy (not theory).
Both of which are pretty good bets, given that the notions that the moon landings were hoaxes and that vaccinations are bad are both absurd and so completely discredited that no reasonable person could take either seriously.
Sorry, Benny, but the reason you don’t like the article is that it’s about people like you.
The same people who are “highly educated” and don’t believe conspiracy theories also believe that marijuana is harmful for the body and should be illegal. They ignore the science that shows that marijuana cures cancer. But they ignore those facts because they are “highly educated” and thus are more elite than everyone else. They know better and they trust their government. Only stupid people who have cancer want marijuana legalized.
While others ignore abundant evidence that chronic use of the stuff, especially in adolescence, can take six to eight points off one’s IQ. Roth_Trader, ad hominems only tangentially related to the subject matter of an article are not only ineffective arguments but kind of scream that the writer is himself trying to advance an agenda rather than discuss the matter at hand.
The ABSOLUTE LAST ATTRIBUTE many people who refuse to question the accepted narrative of some historical events, such as the official version of the 9/11 story, is – “a healthy dose of skepticism”.
Ellesar says:
I disagree. I believe that education increases scepticism.
Look at WHY people wanted to believe that the attack on New York was not all it seemed. Right wing extremists who want the populace to believe that the US Government is against them, and brought in Jew blaming, as usual, saying that it was a deliberate plot by the American Jews to start war in the Middle East! I am sure there is more nonsense, I won’t pretend to be fully informed on the subject.
In a certain sense, you’re right. It seems (to me) – when skepticism reinforces orthodoxy, educated people seem to be more skeptical. But the opposite seems to be true, amongst educated people, when skepticism calls into question the accepted orthodoxy.
Skepticism is one thing. Lunacy and ignorance are different matters entirely. The latter are the subjects of this article.
Kriss (@christabel6) says:
But other research has found that anti-vaxxers for example are frequently middle class and educated. There is a risk to being vaccinated (though not of autism) which is so well accepted that the NHS has a compensation fund in place. See here for a discussion https://aeon.co/essays/anti-vaccination-might-be-rational-but-is-it-reasonable
Anti-vaxxers should not be mentioned in this article – they do not believe it is a conspiracy, but simply that their child is/ could be damaged by vaccines. This does not have sound science to back it up, they appear to be using anecdotal ‘evidence’ from (imo) rather neurotic parents.
Rakie Chang says:
There’s no ‘sound science’ to back it up because institutions like the CDC who proclaim that vaccines are 100% safe refuse to do control studies to compare vaccinated/non-vaccinated populations. If they did they would most likely find a negative correlation between number of vaccines received and good health. It’s pretty simple really – vaccines contain mercury, mercury is extremely toxic, injecting babies with mercury is not a good idea! People aren’t anti vaccines they’re pro safe vaccines.
Mercury exits in some vaccines in trace amounts of at most a few milllionths of a gram. You get more mercury into your body from eating a seafood meal. Harmless, and, in particular, the study linking it to autism was expsoed as BS. But the experiment about the relationship between health and vaccines was done before. Look at infant and child mortality before and after vaccines. In the past children regularly died or were crippled for life from horrible diseases like dyphteria, polio, measels, smallpox, typhus, rabies, and so on. Vaccines eradicated them, although there is a small resurgence of those fiends – in the population of the unfortunate children whose idiot parents didn’t vaccinate them. “Hey, sorry your legs don’t work, sonny – when you were born, I read a stupid website that said polio vaccines are dangerous”.
Milo Madacky says:
Well, it all depends on a definition of ” education”. 😉
MaryContrary says:
More education = better salary? No need to acknowledge Orwell when you’re happily shrouded in comfort.
I am highly educated, but economically impoverished. The cushion of more money is not the reason that a better educated person is less likely to believe in conspiracy theories. To me it is clear that the scenarios typically presented as conspiracies are rooted in magical thinking, immature thinking, scapegoating, feeling powerless (not all poor people feel powerless), the need for excitement etc.
Education increases scepticism and analytical thinking. Whenever I have read about a conspiracy theory, I can see the gaping flaws in the ‘logic’. For example the last conspiracy theory I can across was that there is a conspiracy to make the British Royal Family Jewish! Part of the ‘evidence’ given for this absurdity is that Kate Middleton’s mothers maiden name is Goldsmith!
Agreed. I recently saw a video on Youtube… some dude claiming that the 9/11 planes were ‘photoshopped in’ because part of the wing disappeared behind a building when it shouldn’t have. Thing is, the building in question just ‘looked’ like it was further away, an optical illusion. He didn’t even bother to research on Google maps beforehand. That’s the type of stuff you’ve got to deal with, and stupid people lap it up without even bothering to double check it for themselves. That said, you can be educated and still be stupid.. 🙂
i noticed that many conspiracy theories people believe in would be pointless even if they were true. Suppose he entire royal family converted to judaism tomorrow. Apart from the queen no longer being the head of the church, which she is only formally in any case, what difference would it make? Not much more logical is the idea to, apparently, poison most of the population with “chemtrails”. Again,if it were true (apparently the evil conspirators do not breath air), what’s the point? You’d think the evil slave-master rulers would want *more* slaves, not less.
MDH says:
I think it’s absolutely crucial to see how this is mediated by, on one hand, feelings of control, comfort in one’s place in society and not feeling hard-done, ie accepting the society for what it is, and on the other, questioning attitudes, critical thinking etc.
To test these, one should compare highly educated marginalised/socially excluded people (not necessarily from marginalised groups, just once whose social status is not commensurate with their education) with more conformist/adjusted/lucky ones.
I’d love to see whether educated people’s beliefs in conspiracy theories are more related to how likely/unlikely the theory is (ie are they more likely to believe in plausible conspiracies eg Kennedy assassination than unplausible ones eg Moon landing hoax in comparison to uneducated people) and whether these beliefs are mediated by their expertise (whether doctors and biologists are less likely to believe in medical conspiracies or all conspiracies, whether engineers are less likely to believe in blown-up-Twin-Towers than non-engineers etc), or if it’s a general trend…
I met a woman a while ago who went on about the Illuminati, and she was the most stupid person I had met for years!
I think another factor for lovers of conspiracy theories is boredom. It makes life more exciting if you decide that there are secret plots all over the place. There is a childish fascination with it.
I assume that anti-vaxxers are not actually believing that the vaccines are INTENDED to harm children. If there are people who do believe that then yes, of course they are conspiracy theorists, but I can’t imagine what reason they would produce for the medical profession wanting to harm children.
Try thinking about the problems facing mankind, overpopulation leads to greater poverty, higher crime, inequalities, discrimination, etc. Humanity has taken over the planet, at the expense of all other species lives, wellbeing, and their habitats. As populations grow the world becomes an increasingly smaller place, finding green untouched areas is hard in towns and cities, nothing is preserved. We as a race impact on the planet and everything living to its detriment. The medical profession could have been instructed at a high level that vaccines should be compulsory, and without knowing of any intention to harm – not just children, but genetics that transfer down the generations. How medics could be unaware of this is unknown, but it’s not impossible to consider this a long-term project to reduce populations in a way that doesn’t come via normal loss through war and slow disease. This is an internal war to curb our growth. A conspiracy theory? – maybe, who knows …..
Overpopulation is a real issue, but those who call for a “drastic reduction in population” to make the human population “less damaging to the planet” – in other words genocide on a level that would make the dead of the holocaust or WWII seem like a rounding error – are not exactly inspriing confidence about their deep love for humanity. They are in effect holding a sign, “up with famine and pestilence!” – or, since they always imagine the blessed reduction in population occurring somewhere else, far away from them – “up with famine and pestilence, so long as it kills other people i don’t care about!”.
Pingback: Interesting Links for 06-04-2017 | Made from Truth and Lies
hipjipc says:
Considering the amount of lies people believe in that are held as truth, I’d say those accepted “truths” that have been so for eons are and always have been far more dangerous and destructive than a few individuals who opt out of vaccinations. The biggest false truth is the military industrial complex. The U.S. has been in almost perpetual war for over 200+ years and waged under the guise of “To Protect Country and Freedom” and it’s wrapped up all nice and pretty in pride and patriotic duty/sacrifice and celebration. It’s illusion/delusion is pinned with medals of honor for rape, thievery, torture and murder. The reality is that war is business waged purely for profit and power. It’s all a real game of thrones played by high functioning sociopaths using low functioning humans as “Monopoly” game pieces/tokens/PAWNS. These “Players” could never be satiated by virtual world video games. Each generation this “FARCE” is recycled. And this is just one example of the “false truths” the human race keeps alive. I see “conspiracy theories” as metaphorical ice picks that could eventually break down false truths. It’s highly unlikely that the education factor in all of this is not as relevant as the LOGIC and COMMON SENSE factor. Because … THEY HAVE! If one looks at the “education” factor, it is rife with books of history written by subjective/biased authors. This is especially true when war is written about. A good example would be the text books most read in the U.S. in early education. Do those text books tell the real truth about the extermination of the natives of the U.S.? No. Not even close. They even report that slavery was abolished. False. Today LOGIC and COMMON SENSE shows one that it has NEVER been abolished. It is referred today mostly as Human Trafficking. I could go on listing all the false truths among the human race of amnesiacs. But what good will it do. I understand why people hang onto them. Fear and self-preservation.
Well said, and I agree 100% with what you say.
E Everett says:
What you are writing sounds like garbage to me. Let’s resurrect Tesla and get his opinion on this matter. He would not be afraid of the truth and would try to warn people. I think you should research some of these “so called” conspiracy theories yourself before writing an article like this. For instance, there is an entire group of very educated and intelligent architects and engineers (Architects and Engineers for 911 Truth) that believe 911 was an inside job. There are many former CIA, ex-military and other very intelligent folks who also believe in finding the truth. I am sorry, but if you don’t believe something is happening behind the scenes in this world and has for a very long time, you have to really enjoy your ignorance. There is an overwhelming body of evidence regarding many conspiracy theories and they are labeled as such to immediately discredit them. You need to wake up yourself as people like you are part of the problem.
Very well said hipjipc. People need to wake up to these truths. Watch the Matrix movie again and realize you all need to be “unplugged” people.
Another factor to consider here is cognitive dissonance. In order to believe in conspiracy theories we have to admit to ourselves that we have been tricked and that our long held ideologies are flawed, this is a difficult thing to do for anyone but particularly difficult the older and more educated we are.
I agree absolutely.
jdoggtothemutherfknD says:
Sure Rakie, I see what your saying and I think your beliefs are well intentioned but what your saying totally goes both ways. As in, if a person believed and fought for all these “theories,” and then one day realized that those therories were lacking so much information, critical thinking, and not to mention a huge annoyance of spreading misinformation for the communities that are actually trying to make a difference in the world, it is very hard to to let go and admit to ones self that you were actually the person you thought you were fighting against. Trust me it is very hard to come to terms with and emotionally painful. This goes for the, sadly, few anti-vaxxers out there that decided to switch gears deciding to vaccinate after researching and willing to accept scientists’ research and evidence. I will be critical here of some doctors and pro-vaxxers. I think more people would be willing to give an ear to the misinformation about vacinations that is out there if the anti-vaxxers were made to feel so bad and stupid for making a misinformed decision.
However, with my experience, I am specifically talking of the 911 inside job conspiracy. I was a huge believer. Not just in this conspiracy but in many others. Some friends of mine still believe the hype. I love them as people but it has come to the point where I avoid taking about it with them because instead of taking my critical thinking into consideration, at this point they just see me as becoming “brainwashed, conformist, joining the “dark side”.
The breaking point for me was this: There was a scene in one of those “informative” 911 inside job videos (and trust me I watched all of them and was convinced) that spoke of 4/4 timing in music and how all pop/rock music was in 4/4 timing because it was in step to the human heart beat and the heart was connected to the brain and the brain could be controlled. Basically they were saying that “the elite rulers of the world” deliberately made 4/4 the preferred timing in North American mainstream pop/rock to control the young people of the world through pop music on the radio, t.v etc.
I not university educated. In fact I didn’t even finish high school and either did my whole family. I grew up poor and uneducated and remained that way. However, I had been a pro musician at that point for about 15 years. When I watched that scene I had a “enlightenment” and understood how people with the ability to think critical would have seen it. The reason was because when it came to music, which I was educated in, not from university, but from experience, everything changed. What they were saying in that video about the time signature being used to control the young masses sounded so ridiculous to me that I burst out laughing how stupid it was. Then I had remembered I believed all the other theories in the video. I felt sick and really dumb when I thought about all the time I invested watching those videos. All the debates with people about how they didn’t know anything and were just sheep, brainwashed when in fact in was me who was closed minded and the sheep to not even listen to people who had spent countless hours researching, studying and understood what it was to be a critical thinker. I didn’t even know what that meant. I felt so ashamed when I thought of some of the conversations I had. Spreading misinformation about about government structures and politics, things I knew nothing about and I’m sure it was soooo obvious when I was tangled in debate. I’m turning red just writing about it.
I started to get interested in science and became educated about how the world works and how we can make it better. Yes there are tyrants and greedy people in every field but there are also good, smart people who want to make a difference in the world that are in healthcare, science, politics, engineering, business and even religion.
dumbestblogger says:
Less educated people get bossed around more. When you have a whacky management team in charge of you it’s pretty darn easy to believe in conspiracy theories.
Pingback: Links (7) | Nintil
Pingback: Why people believe in conspiracy theories « jothicharles
I suspect that the same explanation tells us why modern neo-atheists- fairly uniform in their ignorance of the content of the Bible and religion, the nearly universal and trans-cultural nature of religion, and prone to mistaking sixth-grade ad hominems for arguments- infest discussions of subjects having little to do with their own fanaticism with attempts to interject intolerant expressions of their personal prejudices into them.
Tom Brinckman says:
It’s funny how a so called intelligent person would write a piece of garbage like this.
Intelligent people are the ones that question things not the other way round.
It’s the below 120 IQ that fluster around believing everything that’s told to them and what they see on TV or read in the News Paper.
Intelligent people look at what they are shown and go yeah right what a load of rubbish or yep that looks about right.
If you have ever watched Controlled demolitions and not just one but hundreds and then look at the Twin Towers collapsing you know straight away that’s how they were brought down.
Any Engineer worth his salt would tell you the speed they fell was impossible any other way.
Anyone with even half a brain watching the Apollo 11 mission should have had questions after especially considering that on the Moon they weighed one Sixth that of Earth and not only weighed one sixth but had one sixth the gravity pulling on them.
A one inch step would have turned into a 6 inch hop.
A 6 inch hop would have been a 36 inch high jump and so on.
All told the Astronauts with back packs weighed 25kgs.
If on Earth you could lift 10kgs with one hand you could have picked up a 60kg item on the Moon.
An Astronaut could have picked up the Moon Buggy by himself very easily as it only weighed 35kgs on the Moon.
None of the so called intellects looked at them on the Moon and saw anything wrong, yeah you people really are intellects.
Metal objects in the Sun reach 250C this is fact even confirmed by NASA as ISS and Shuttle crew had trouble with metal objects in space and need to use insulation wraps or Blankets to hold metal objects or their gloves would melt or get damaged.
Did the Apollo Manned missions show any heat problems ?
They lived in an Aluminium Box that was in direct Sunlight, none of you wondered geez um the side facing the Sun would get really hot as in 250C, the walls of the LM are 3mm thick and there is Oxygen inside the LM that would get hot as they couldn’t afford to lose to much air and had air scrubbers to help remove CO2 from their air.
Remember they had a very strict weight limit and why they left everything on the Moon instead of bringing it back with them.
No you people that are so intelligent look at the whole show and see no problems for the simple reason you are not intelligent.
You see a LM sitting on 2+ inches of dust and see no problems even though the rocket was only about 12 inches off the ground and would have blown with it’s over 3800lbs of thrust any lose dust and rocks quite a distance away, yet in your eyes with no understanding of rockets or thrust on a one sixth gravity Moon see no problems as no Air.
The Rocket had it’s own Oxygenator so still produced exhaust, if it had 3000+ thrust against the top of the rocket Engine the exhaust still had to evacuate the engine in a downward direction and the cone could be tilted slightly to manoeuvre the LM as it came down to aim the engine in the direction they wanted it to descend, with 4 multi directional stabilisers at each leg of the LM.
For those of you that have never looked at engines or braking or any physics involved with descent or ascent, if you have an object that weighs around 3000lbs you need a rocket engine that produces more than this to slow it down as mass moving requires more energy to slow.
You can Google the equation as I am feeling lazy at the moment 🙂
If you watch the landing and listen to them talk and actually take notice of the speeds they are descending you can work out how much fuel and power was required to slow the LM to land at a safe speed.
No atmosphere so no braking of any sort other than the rocket engine.
Google test firing of rockets and you can even see them testing the LM descent stage Rockets in a vacuum and it shows a very nice exhaust trail.
But the less intelligent a person the more gullible and less inquisitive they are.
Lucky we had intelligent people in the sciences or we would still be in caves wondering why God is throwing lightning bolts at us in a storm, or why the Volcano God is mad at us even though we threw a few nice Virgins into the thing.
What do you think inventors and scientists do ? Are they not intelligent as they question and pick apart every thing another scientist tells them to try and prove them wrong or right.
It’s called the Scientific method and the Apollo manned missions fail this in a big way as only NASA has ever said they put a man on the Moon, no other entity even came close.
Even now it can’t be repeated and many are trying and time frames from 2018 to 2025 are being bandied about.
If it was so easy and 100% success from Apollo 11 to 17, success in the fact no life was lost in any of those missions.
It was pretty close though with Apollo 13 though and was just lucky Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton were there or it would have gone to shit 😉
Lt.Dan says:
Thank God i found a non-brainwashed comment ❤
Intelligent_Truther says:
Thank you! Someone with a NON-washed brain finally!
I would say this was a reactionary piece, and he got his reaction, everyone knows the first thing we are taught is to question everything, what does a two or three year old say when you tell them something ? Why of course lol.
Why would it be built into us at such an early age to ask questions if all we are meant to do is take everything for granted on what we are told.
The books have been changed many times since I went to Primary School 60 years ago.
How on Earth can you work at a profession and become an expert and then hear someone say something you know for a fact is wrong and then not say something.
Then because it goes against something like the Moon landings of course you then have to be wrong and a Conspiracy theorist.
How just because you are an expert in a couple of fields that prove at least two things they said was possible on the Moon, in reality are not and because you have worked in that field for so long and seen it’s not possible as well as others you talk to in those same fields also agree with you, yet tell any believer in something they couldn’t have done this or that and you are instantly classed a moron or retard lol.
I know which people are the lower IQ and it’s definitely not those that question as imagine a scientist with that attitude lol
The whole premise of this article is highly educated equates to high intelligence. A number of conspiracy theories require highly critical/abstract thinking and an awareness of subtle inconsistencies that require high intelligence. Whereas accepting the accepted story relies on a large degree of cognitive dissonance an indicator of low intelligence but found in a lot of educated people. There is a valid theory that education is merely indoctrination with a certain narrative, education is no precursor to thinking. An example being the JFK assassination where we have to believe in the “accepted story of the magic bullet and the incredible contradictory information presented of the single shooter. Only a fool would be happy with the official story.
Pingback: #5 The problems with history – Crazistory
fionacampbellstuartsite says:
How amusing. I have an IQ of 158 and am a member of Mensa and am a conspiracy realist as I have lived through many of the experiences people write about. Does that make me less educated? Oh, by the way. I hold a first class honours degree also. I think there maybe a conspiracy abroad here……….what say you?
Yes. If you believe ANY conspiracy theory, then you have a low IQ. Simple as that.
Oh.. GIVE ME A BREAK!!! I just looked up your Twitter “Rothmeier Jones” and you are nothing but a NWO puppet with your pyramid BS and OBVIOUS agenda pushing horse-shat all over the place, so just STOP already!
The sheep dont know
Intelligence has nothing to do with gullibility, just because you have a high I.Q doesn’t mean you have common sense or can’t be gullible 🙂
I also have a high I.Q and was tested by the Companies I have done work for as the job I did required a high I.Q as well as very high logic skills.
I was booted from Religious instructions as a 6 year old for asking questions and was made to sit in the library instead during those lessons which I was very happy to do as I read every book in the school library rather than wasted time on myth being treated as real.
I never take anything as gospel and question everything as I like to learn.
How can you say you have a high I.Q and then believe everything you are told, what a crock.
The CIA coined the term conspiracy to stop gullible people like yourself from looking at anything they wanted kept secret or from people delving to much into them.
Seems to work for you, oh and by the way I have a really nice Bridge for sale would you be interested ? It’s not a conspiracy 😉
Exactly Fiona, how can anyone that says they are intelligent just believe on faith, I always told my children I would believe anything they told me up to the point I catch them in a lie, I always told them, never lie to me, for one I will know and secondly you will lose my trust.
I am a Photographic expert, I repaired film,photos and glass plate negatives for the Government as well as three Universities.
I have repaired radiation damaged films, it’s not hard to tell a film exposed to radiation.
It is one of the harder problems to repair,
If you look at the Soviets Moon images you will understand why, look at older Military spy images before they worked out how to do it correctly as well.
Madam Curie also found out what radiation does to a film plate, if you remember your Science lessons 🙂
One dose of x-rays will give a great image of our Bones onto film, now do this same dose 21 times and tell me how much of the film would still be useable.
Most experts agree that Regolith on the Moon at 15 feet thick would be sufficient to protect man on the Moon. Yet NASA will have you believe that a maximum of 3mm was sufficient to protect the Apollo 11 astronauts during a Solar Maxim.
There is just so much wrong with the NASA Apollo missions, I could write for days 🙂
The Photographs proved they lied for my Peers as well as for myself.
One simple other thing was the TV camera they sent on the Lander was a Westinghouse 20fps camera, how did we get back 24fps video from this ? I am not saying you cant convert said video to any FPS you like, the film will only have the 20fps original data to use and there for a 24fps copy would have 4 of the frames duplicated, there are no duplicates, how did they get the extra data ?
Film and Photos are one thing you can not BS to me. The biggest problem now is they lost all the original video as well as all the photos and telemetry data ? No Original data from Apollo 11 exists any more, I can show you glass plate negatives from some of the first Cameras ever made and yet a so called Historic event such as the Apollo 11 wasn’t worth saving anything from :), how silly to think any conspiracy exists 🙂
I do not believe every conspiracy, I give weight depending how much validity it has as far as Photographic or Video, as soon as I see faked photos a red flag goes up.
I was also alive and well listening to Von Braun and Van Allen talking about the problems of the crater the Lander could fall into from the rocket exhaust to the worries of the radiation in the VABs.
Van Allen sent a Rocket into space and found the VABs and the Geiger counter he sent with the rocket registered a maximum reading, he then shielded the second geiger counter to be able to with stand the maximum reading and it to came back at maximum. Even with shielding enough to handle the maximum on a Geiger counter they still got enough to kill humans in a matter of hours.
Show the shielding they ended up using for the Astronauts suits or the Command module or Lander ? 3MM maximum Aluminium.
Why is it no one does any tests in our modern era to show how safe the VABs are ?, they send Missions to the ISS all the time, one geiger counter on board and go as close to the VABs as is safe to show just how simple it was for them back in the late 60’s and 70’s with 50’s and 60’s technology ;), just get close enough to get the shooting star effect the Shuttle Astronauts spoke of and do a geiger counter reading ? go a little closer and see how fast the readings go up and it will be simple to work out how strong it will be in the actual VABs from this information.
We never get any actual scientific information from any of the missions as then we can work out for ourselves as not everyone is mentally retarded there are some people still about that know how to use math to work out problems 😉
why is questioning they validity of official narratives written of as crazy? This stigmatizing of individual thought worries me. As a highly educated person I do not dispute the need for vaccinations and the fact that it planet is a sphere. To not question for example the facts of 9-11, the implausible way that attack was carried out is irresponsible.
If you are referring to the studies that indicate educated people are less likely to be religious- then yes, you are correct that the uneducated are more susceptible to conspiracies. To be intelligent is to be comfortable not knowing .
bestwilliam4445 says:
The truth js that you don’t have money to give to me, i we be the 1 to give you money because your level is not that of first class just as I’m
It’s of the reason why i want to help you so that you will become wealthy just as every member of our organization
Pingback: Blog Post #3: Denier Mode – Halfway There
Pingback: BPS: Why more highly educated people are less into conspiracy theories | Unhinged Group
Stonebridge says:
Scepticism is one of the best qualities you can instil in students. It leads to questioning the status quo, to thinking out of the box and reaching their own conclusions based on what they have learnt. Education comes as a standard package for all of us. It is our unique interpretation of it that drives evolution and change.
Pingback: My So-Called (Millennial) Entitlement – Trust Issues – Medium – RE-WORK
Pingback: My So-Called (Millennial) Entitlement – Reacle
Pingback: Today I learned | Page 125 | Physics Forums
Ko says:
The phrase “Conspiracy Theory” was coined and weaponized by the CIA as stated in document 1035-960 during the 1960’s, to discredit the public from discussing certain important events. Operation Northwoods, Operation MockingBird, Operation PaperClip, and Operation MK ULTRA to name a few are some of the most important yet highly classified information kept from the masses for years etc. There is a reason why so many Americans and even Engineers/ experts believe 9/11 was an inside job of some sort. One of the biggest false flags in modern history, if not the biggest. Secret societies exist, and the biggest enemy of any empire like the U.S for example, is not any foreign enemy or army; but it’s none other than one domestically disguised from within. From within. This is why JFK was intentionally assasinated by members of the CIA quite possibly, members of his own government. Geoengineering/ Chemtrails controlling the weather, & Agenda 21 or 21/30. I could go on, but it doesn’t take an education to look at the tell tale signs of what is really at stake & is happening
Merlin says:
Education is indoctrination, which is to program young minds over time according to the predetermined desires of those masterminding the curiculum. And no, the education system never was hijacked by anyone, that is the intended purpose of education. It was invented for that purpose. Mass mind control. Like stated in this article…”education is likely to install the mental tools that are needed to approach far-fetched conspiracy theories with a healthy dose of skepticism.” Mind you, that the word “install” was used. And note that “mental tools” is just another way of saying “programmed beliefs/assumptions”. The more educated you are, the more programmed you are. That’s why the highly educated dismiss the very idea of something as soon as you attach the words “conspiracy theory” to it. See, that term has been programmed into them as being synonymous with untrue. Those with high intelligence yet not highly educated are not as likely to dismiss the possible and obvious truths about the world. The highly educated write carefully worded articles in opposition to the less educated by reinforcing the preprogrammed beliefs/assumptions of the highly indoctrinated…I mean educated. But the evil geniuses are well aware of the intelligence of the free human mind and know how to string them along with false conspiracies that are partly or mostly true.
Very true, I couldn’t agree more.
Give me a break! This article is LAUGHABLE at best and just PROVES even more that the illuminati and their media minions have to continue to put out this garbage coining people who actually THINK as being the dumb “uneducated” people in society v s. the “highly schooled sheeple.” I am what one would consider a “highly educated” person in regards to the education system of today and I literally count it as DUNG at this point!
Don’t kill the messenger and those of us who are trying to expose the unimaginable truth just because you don’t want to hear it and couldn’t be bothered by anything except your “high education,” which is nothing more than HIGHLY EXPENSIVE BRAINWASHING that uuuuh YOU actually PAID to undergo! THAT my friend is classic idiocy at it’s finest! Continuing on that note, the real survivors in the coming “set up and paid for wars” are going to be the truly WISE that have “real and usable” SURVIVAL SKILLS combined with TRUE FAITH, not useless “knowledge” about a completely fake history. They will sadly find out one day the joke was on them!
Leave a Reply to dumbestblogger Cancel reply
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6823
|
__label__cc
| 0.517178
| 0.482822
|
FROM ACADEMIC FREEDOM TO ACADEMIC CAPITALISM
Articles, Issue 5
Diane Reay, University of Cambridge
For the first decade of the 2000s I was a member of FAAB – Feminists against Academic Bollocks. We wrote satirical sketches, sang and danced, tried to embody innovative forms of resistance to the academic status quo, and gave conference performances. In part, this was about performance as reclaiming a feminist identity, but it was also centrally about what is legitimated and delegitimated in the academy, and the gendering and classing of the academic persona.
One of the songs we sang to the lyrics of Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I will survive’ started:
At first we were feminists, we were organised
Then we entered academia and were atomised
But then we spent so many nights
cursing how you did us wrong
And we grew strong
And we learned how to get along
But now they’re back
From outer space
With neoliberal ways
that put sad looks upon our face
We need to change the way we work
We need to make more of a fuss
Well we haven’t made nearly enough of a fuss! And it is neoliberal ways rather than feminisms that have got stronger.
The neo-liberal university
For the last three decades scholarship in British universities has been increasingly under threat from theories and practices conceived in American business schools and management consulting firms. The main corollary of positioning higher education as a private investment is that there is little commitment, either in Government policy, or the public imagination, to Higher Education as a public good. This onslaught of privatization within the university sector is not just about turning a university education from a public entitlement into a private investment, it is also an attack on the University as a public institution.
There has been a creeping privatization of higher education over the last thirty years, resulting in over a third of universities out-sourcing aspects of their work, from the running of their student residences to the maintenance of their buildings.
However, now we are facing more far reaching privatization of many university services. The stated objective, ‘greater efficiency’ is yet another spurious means to open up the university sector to what is termed ‘the free market’. However, the two main consequences are the transformation of a public institution into a source of profit for many private firms, and a shift in the main focus of academia from teaching and learning to marketing.
Just as insidious is the conversion of knowledge into something to be sold, traded and consumed. We no longer have independent knowledge underpinned by academic freedom, but a knowledge economy where the value of knowledge is decided by political elites on the basis of its utility to them. The result is that we have seen the death of universities as centres of critique. Rather, the role of academia has become one of servicing the status quo rather than challenging it in the name of justice, human flourishing, freedom of thought or alternative visions of the future.
Recent funding changes are yet another nail in the coffin of the public university and a critical questioning academia. If we need evidence of how far academia in the UK has progressed along the road towards full blown academic capitalism the following facts from an article by George Monbiot in 2009 provide telling evidence:
The Medical Research Council is run by a billionaire arms manufacturer
The Natural Environment Council is run by the head of a large construction company
The Higher Education Funding Council is run by the chairman of a real estate firm
Oxford University has a Rupert Murdoch Professorial Chair of Language and Communications
However, as well as adopting the worst of current neoliberal capitalism, academia has retained the worst of its elitist past. It is a territory which is heavily discursively policed; where, for example, the prevailing hegemony means modernist statements that assert gender and class inequality can be discounted as simplistic, reeking of old discredited metanarratives. The ruling principles which guide all hegemonies; namely that they present elite interests as everyone’s interests are rarely made explicit and challenged.
Consequences for Academic Work
Between 2004 and 2010 the total number of students in UK universities increased by 9%. Over the same period the number of HE managers working in finance, marketing, widening participation, human resources, student services and quality assurance increased by 33%. Within contemporary HE. professional judgement has largely been replaced by the wholesale importation of micro-management practices of audit, inspection, monitoring, efficiency and value for money.
But over the past decade we have also seen the invasion of impact. UK academia has been captured by the impact agenda in which the usefulness of academic research is judged against its wider social and economic usefulness. But usefulness is contingent upon relations of power. Useful research is all too often that which those with the power to make judgments believe is valuable to their interests. While impact is increasingly seen as necessary, natural, self-evident and unquestionable, I would argue that it is being socially and historically constructed to serve the interests of British elites. They can now control the focus and type of research conducted. The risks for research that is critical of policy and the status quo, are self-evident.
Alongside an insidious, creeping control of academic work we have rampant casualization. Fourteen years ago I wrote a paper called ‘Dim dross’, outlining the low status and poor working conditions of junior researchers. Despite campaigning at the level of the union and through professional associations, nothing has changed. There is now an even wider gulf between academic labour and academic capital. Subordinate workers, overwhelmingly women, service those who generate academic capital, overwhelmingly men. The appropriation of one’s intellectual labour remains a constant hazard for research staff, becoming a normative, routine practice within the academy. Junior research staff are vital to the professional status and career advancement of grant holders (academics on stable contracts). There is a clear process of intellectual extraction in which the labours of research staff both in the field and outside of it are converted into both academic and symbolic capital, which accrue to the project directors rather than the researcher.
According to Hesa 43% of teaching staff and 68% of research-only staff are on fixed term contracts in the UK. Only the catering and residential care industries employ a higher proportion of fixed-term contract workers. However, we are now seeing a new deeper form of exploitation in UK higher education – zero hours contracts – where scholars go hungry as a result of casualisation,
The University and College Union estimated in July 2013 that 47 per cent of ‘teaching-only’ contracts are zero-hours contracts, which offer workers no certainty on their hours or income. The consequence is that without guaranteed income, academics on zero-hours contracts are unable to make financial or employment plans on a year-to-year or even month-to-month basis and can be driven to resort to ‘bin diving’. Zero-hours contracts generate a loss of professional dignity alongside a loss of voice for staff, and are part of a trend towards increasing numbers of badly paid, unheard, insecure and overworked staff. In a Guardian article, teaching and research associates spoke of ‘never knowing that they will have enough to survive’.
The UK academic status quo over the last 30 years has been one that increasingly valorizes the entrepreneurial competitive individual but, with the growing importance of economic and political impact, it has also become a culture that rewards and sanctions compliance and conformity and, moral as well as professional, flexibility.
So what has happened to ‘the community of scholars’ in the new managerialist era? I suggest that it has been reconfigured as an upper echelon of elite, mainly male, academics serviced by an army of casualised teaching, research and administrative staff, a poor shadow of what a community should be. And do I have any solutions? Apart from trying to speak out about these developments, I am afraid not. I feel as complicit and compromised as many other academics are feeling. FAAB, the Feminist Collective I mentioned at the beginning, often ended performances with this short poem from Adrienne Rich. I think it encapsulates a very important message for all of us ensnared in contemporary neoliberal academia:
If not with Others, How?
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
[Adrienne Rich – Reprinted from Blood, Bread and Poetry (New York; W.W. Norton, 1986)]
jeanette turner
I dearly wanted to go back into education after my time there with the OU (where I met an amazing, brilliant feminist tutor Deborah Steinberg) this dream however has been thwarted mainly because I cannot afford to do it although if I lived in Wales or Scotland I could just about do it as the fees for the OU are about a third of what they are in England Notwithstanding this disparity I agree with your view entirely We are becoming more and more marginalised as the rise and rise of neo-liberalism tjghtens it’s ever greedy grip, in every area of our lives We are enslaved so thus captive to it’s demands as our lifeblood is sqeezed from us as we the common people try to keep afloat/stay alive. B Cambell has a book out on March 3-6 : The end of Equality (A MANIFESTO OF THE 21ST CENTURY) which I believe addresses these issues Thanks for reading Jeanette Turner
Chris Hanretty
I’m not sure about your figures on the growth on managers in HE. According to http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/highereducation/Documents/2013/PatternsandTrends2013dataforcharts.xls the increase for managers has been 18%, compared to 12% growth in academic staff
Diane Reay
hi Chris, my figures come from HESA via Times Higher, see article below, although I was comparing increase in non academic managers with increase in student numbers
University manager numbers rising ‘twice as fast as academics’
2 MARCH 2012 | BY JACK GROVE
The percentage increase in the number of managers in higher education in recent years is more than twice that for academics, an analysis of new figures has suggested.
Data released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency reveal there were 15,795 managers in higher education in December 2010 – up by almost 40 per cent on the 11,305 employed in the 2003-04 academic year.
That was compared to the 19.2 per cent increase in academics since 2003-04.
Just a quick note of attribution: that’s not exactly a poem by Adrienne Rich, it’s an extra line she added to a very famous saying of Hillel the Elder, a first-century Jewish sage, in the context of an essay about Jewish feminism (see her essay in Barbara Ryan, ed. _Identity Politics in the Women’s Movement_)
The original text she’s commenting on is:
‘Hillel says, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?”‘ _Ethics of the Fathers_, 1:14
Olloverkrumwall
The threatened take over of the London University Institute of Education by UCL might be an opportunity to campaign for the forum for debating public education that the Insititute at its best provided. See my letter in tomorrow’s Times Higher:
<The seriousness of the threatened take-over of London University's Institute of Education by University College London commented on by Miriam David (20th Feb) is that at a time when public education in England faces a 'Great Reversal' to a minority higher education, alongside the possible privatisation of many universities, schools and colleges, the whole notion of education, pedagogy and learning is being lost. It is being substituted for by training, didacticism and cramming.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6834
|
__label__cc
| 0.703463
| 0.296537
|
/ Cloud Zone
What is Serverless? — Part 3: Kubernetes and Serverless
Containers, ahoy!
Vamsi Chemitiganti
Nov. 30, 18 · Cloud Zone ·
This is a 5-part blog series. See part 1 and part 2.
Kubernetes is an open-source solution for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. The business value provided by Kubernetes has been extended into the serverless world as well. In general, serverless loves Kubernetes — with Kubernetes being the ideal infrastructure for running serverless applications, because of a few key reasons.
1. Kubernetes Allows You to Easily Integrate Different Types of Services on One Cluster
From a developer's standpoint, apps typically incorporate multiple types of components. Any complex solution will use long-lived services, short-lived functions, and stateful services. Having all the options in one Kubernetes cluster lets you use the right tool for each job and still be able to easily integrate things together (whereas separate clusters will add both an operational and cost overhead.) FaaS works best in combination with other apps that runs natively on containers, such as microservices. For example, it may be the right fit for a small REST API, but it needs to work with other services to store State, or be suitable for event handlers based on triggers from storage, databases, and from Kubernetes itself. Kubernetes is a great platform for all these services to inter-operate on top of.
2. Kubernetes Is Great for Building on Top Of
It provides powerful orthogonal primitives and comprehensive APIs.
3. You Can Benefit from The Vibrant Kubernetes Community
All the work being done in the community in areas such as persistent storage, networking, security, and more, ensures a mature and always up-to-date ecosystem of enhancements and related services. This allows serverless to take advantage of things like Helm, Istio, ConfigMaps, Secrets, Persistent Volumes, and more.
4. Kubernetes Allows Container-Based Applications to Scale Reliably and In a Cost-Effective Manner
By clustering the containers within a container manager where they can be scheduled, orchestrated, and managed, Kubernetes reduces operations cost considerably when compared to not using a cluster manager, and greatly increases the reliability of your service.
5. Kubernetes' Scheduler and Cluster Management, Service Discovery, Networking
All are required in a FaaS framework, and so by running serverless on top of Kubernetes you avoid having to re-invent things, and can focus on the serverless functionality, leaving container orchestration functionality to Kubernetes.
6. Kubernetes Provides Portability
Kubernetes has emerged as the de facto standard for container orchestration across any kind of infrastructure. It thus ensures a consistent and native experience across cloud providers and across environments — from staging, to UAT, to Production. This enables true portability across any infrastructure — private or public. (Keep in mind, though, that as we've seen in Part 2 of this series, depending on your chosen serverless framework, the application may need to be re-written if it is to be migrated to a different environment, not because of the Kubernetes backend, but because of the lock-in to integrated services provided by a specific cloud provider.)
Challenges with Kubernetes for Serverless Applications:
While Kubernetes is a great underlying orchestration layer, it does require extensive set up and management overhead. There is still significant amount of software "plumbing" to be built before deploying a serverless application, even with Kubernetes. The code/function has to be written, the code has to deployed, containers need to be built and registered and then various configuration steps on Kubernetes (e.g. deploy, service, ingress, auto-scaling, logging) have to be carried out. Kubernetes is so robust and complex to manage, that it poses challenges to Ops in terms of the learning curve and the operational complexity — that hinder serverless adoption, particularly for on-prem environments.
What is needed is a solution to help with reducing the time and effort spent on "plumbing" the Kubernetes infrastructure required for developing serverless applications. What would be ideal for developers is to have a framework where functions are deployed instantly with one command. There should be no containers to build and no Docker registries or Kubernetes clusters to manage. Developers should focus only on "the code," while the complex steps involved in packaging, deploying and managing applications are automated by the serverless framework, while being entirely native to Kubernetes.
Enters the open source Kubernetes-native serverless framework, Fission.
More on that, on our next blog in this series.
Cluster Orchestration (The DevOps 2.0 Toolkit)
Kubernetes: Orchestrate Your Node.js (Micro)Services
Kubernetes Cluster Orchestration and Management as a Service
Cloud Native Data Grids: Hazelcast IMDG With Kubernetes
serverless ,kubernetes ,microservices ,cluster management ,api ,cloud ,container orchestration
Published at DZone with permission of Vamsi Chemitiganti , DZone MVB. See the original article here.
Cloud Partner Resources
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6841
|
__label__wiki
| 0.802083
| 0.802083
|
Land tenure and landscape change: a comparison of public-private lands in the southern High Plains
Todd D. Fagin1Email author,
Jacqueline M. Vadjunec2,
Nicole M. Colston2,
Kathyrn Wenger2 and
Amy Graham2
Long-term drought in the southern Great Plains increases the vulnerability of coupled human-environment systems at a variety of scales. Developing better understandings of the dynamics at regional scales will become increasingly important as long-established land-use regimes break down in the face of climate change, resource depletion, and evolving governance. To demonstrate differential vulnerability during drought periods, this study hypothesized that observed increases in woody vegetation in grasslands would vary across land-tenure regimes. We argue that differences in State Trust Land governance, in part, lead to differential land management practices that contribute to landscape change.
The study area encompasses adjacent counties, Cimarron County in Oklahoma and Union County in New Mexico, with similar climate variability and agricultural economies. We analyzed National Land Cover Database (NLCD) land-cover maps from 1992 and 2011 to assess changes in landscape composition and structure between 1992 and 2011.
During both years under consideration, each county in the study region, across various land-tenure regimes, was dominated by herbaceous vegetation. However, there were changes in both composition and structure across the whole study area, in particular losses of herbaceous vegetation and increases in woody vegetation. The greatest gains in woody vegetation occurred in State Trust Lands of Cimarron County. Overall, the data suggest a fragmentation of herbaceous vegetation and a coalescing of shrubland patches.
Research about the influence of land tenure on land management decisions, specifically the role of State Trust Land leases in overgrazing, informs the broader context of drought management in the southern Great Plains. Recommendations include continued research to highlight the specific mechanisms of land-tenure governance that drive landscape change.
Landscape composition
Landscape structure
Southern Great Plains
Socio-ecological vulnerability
National Land Cover Database (NLCD)
Agriculture is a primary driver of landscape change (Houghton 1994). Poor management decisions may increase land degradation through, for instance, habitat fragmentation, soil erosion, decreases in biodiversity, the introduction of invasive species, and loss of watershed capacity (Richards 1990; Bennett and Saunders 2010). In areas with high climatic variability, such as recurrent drought events, implications of agricultural practices may become significant not only for the impacted region but also increasingly for larger areas, both at national and global scales (GLP 2005; IPCC 2013; Turner 2002; United Nation 2006). Studying drought-related landscape change at regional scales, therefore, offers insights potentially transferable to a broader range of contexts.
Long-term drought can increase the vulnerability of coupled human-environment systems, threatening the basic structure and functioning of environmental services, as well as a household’s sustained use and socio-economic well-being provided by these services (Kasperson et al. 1996). Hence, vulnerability has both social and ecological components (Stone-Jovicich 2015) and can be defined as the inability of a (socio-environmental) system to adequately cope or rebound after a disturbance (Wisner et al. 2004). Drought, in particular, represents a slow-onset and often understudied type of disaster occurrence (Cutter 2004). Furthermore, institutional or governance policies may intervene in ways that impact both people and landscapes (Ostrom 2005; Walker et al. 2006).
In this paper, we explore the role of governance on landscape trajectories within two adjacent counties experiencing drought in the southern Great Plains: Cimarron County, OK, and Union County, NM (Fig. 1). Starting in 2000, the area endured a 15-year drought, with much of the region experiencing what the US National Drought Mitigation Center designated as “extreme” (D3) to “exceptional” (D4) drought—the most severe drought categories (U.S. Drought Monitor 2015). In an effort to demonstrate the differential vulnerability resulting from governance policies, which may be exasperated during drought periods, this study hypothesizes that observed increases in woody vegetation in grasslands will vary across land-tenure regimes. In particular, we predict that differences in State Trust Land governance lead to distinct land management practices that drive this landscape change.
The study area, Cimarron County, OK, and Union County, NM, in the southern Great Plains is a matrix of public and private lands. Data based on the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) (USGS GAP Analysis Program, U.S. Geological Survey 2012)
Cimarron County, OK, and Union County, NM, adjacent counties in the southern Great Plains (Fig 1), share similar geographies, frontier cattle histories, population densities, and agricultural economies. Union County covers an area of ~9903 km2 (~3824 mi2) with an estimated 2014 population of 4297. By comparison, Cimarron County covers an area of ~4752 km2 (~1835 mi2) with an estimated 2014 population of 2294 (U.S. Census Bureau 2015a, b). However, the population density between the two counties remains roughly the same, ~0.43–0.48/km2 (~1.12–1.25/mi2). Agriculture is the most important source of employment in both counties, with 468,296 ha (1,157,186 acres) and 796,166 ha (1,967,370 acres) of farmland in Cimarron and Union Counties, respectively (USDA-NASS 2014). Overall, 36.9 % of Cimarron County’s agricultural lands are classified as cropland, with a large proportion as Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands, as well as dry land and irrigated agriculture (USDA-NASS 2014). In Union County, 3.36 % of agricultural lands are classified as cropland, the majority of which is irrigated agriculture (USDA-NASS 2014). Furthermore, the majority of land in both counties, 62.1 and 80.4 %, in Cimarron and Union Counties, respectively, is dedicated to rangeland. However, the total market value and economic importance of these activities for both counties are extremely similar. Crops account for ~17 % of total market value in both counties, while livestock accounts for ~83 % (USDA-NASS 2014).
There are two distinct, but overlapping, regional landscapes across the study area, beginning with the High Plains in western Oklahoma eventually sloping up into the Southwestern Tablelands in northeast New Mexico. The High Plains, which occur throughout each county, are a semi-arid high plateau region classified as cold steppe (Köppen BSk) and characterized by shortgrass prairies (now predominately converted to croplands), coarse and sandy soils, and rolling, irregular plains. Elevation slopes from 1463 m (4800 ft) in the west to 732 m (2400 ft) in the east. The far northwestern corner of Cimarron County (Black Mesa) and parts of northern and eastern Union County are dominated by the Southwestern Tablelands, a region characterized by dissected plains, hills, canyons, mesas, and badlands. More rugged and less arable than the High Plains, the Southwestern Tablelands are dominated by rangelands and consist of shortgrass prairies, juniper-pinyon woodlands, and scrub oak savannas (Woods et al. 2005; Griffin et al. 2006; Graham et al. 2013).
The average annual temperature in the two counties is 13.3 °C (56 °F), with summer maximum temperatures averaging 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) and winter minimum temperatures averaging −4.8 °C (23.3 °F). The average annual precipitation ranges from approximately 381 mm (15 in.) to 508 mm (20 in.) with precipitation maxima occurring in May through August. However, starting in 2000, the area experienced drier than normal periods and ongoing drought conditions ranging from “abnormally dry” (D0) to “exceptional” (D4), with the most damaging D3-D4 drought conditions sustained from approximately 2008 to early 2015 (Lindsey 2008; U.S. Drought Monitor 2015).
In summary, both counties are comparable in terms of population densities, drought conditions, and farm economies (ranching and farming), as well as share similarities in rangeland use and physical geography. The study area allows for useful comparisons about the effects of land tenure on rangeland use and land-cover change, particularly woody plant encroachment, which can inform studies in drought vulnerability.
Woody encroachment in the grasslands
Within the past century and a half, woody plant abundance has increased at the expense of native grasslands in many parts of the world (Briggs et al. 2002; Van Auken 2009; Barnes et al. 2008). These increases in woody plant abundance have been attributed primarily to changes in fire regimes (Bragg and Hulbert 1976; Archer et al. 1995), livestock grazing (Schole and Archer 1997; Wilcox 2008), climate variability (Bahre and Shelton 1993; Archer et al. 1995), or a combination thereof (Miller and Rose 1995). The ecological consequences of these changes are numerous and include changes in the structure and function of habitat for various grassland and understory organisms (Fulendorf et al. 2002; Horncastle et al. 2005; Engle et al. 2006), decreases in productivity and herbaceous species diversity (Barnes et al. 2008; McKinley et al. 2008), changes in microclimate (Jackson et al. 1990; Barnes et al. 2008; McKinley et al. 2008), and changes in biogeochemical cycles (Barnes et al. 2008; McKinley et al. 2008).
Within Cimarron and Union Counties, the primary shrubby species most commonly associated with encroachment are walking stick cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata (Haw.) F.M. Knuth), a tree-like cactus species native to the southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico, and one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma (Engelm.) Sarg.), a small evergreen shrub native to the Rocky Mountain foothills (Johnson and Hoagland 1999). Other encroaching woody plants include salt cedar (Tamarix spp.) and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.). Increased dispersal of the species in these semi-arid climes has been linked to overgrazing. In particular, overgrazing creates gaps for seeds and stems to become established (Allen et al. 1991) and reduces fuel load and, thereby, fire that help restrict woody plant establishment (Paysen et al. 2000). As a result of overgrazing, dense cholla, mesquite, and juniper thickets often form in former herbaceous-dominated areas.
Public lands in Oklahoma and New Mexico
Land managers in the region must make land-use decisions based on complex economic and other external influences, such as changing policies regarding the lease and use of public lands. Since the outmigration of the region during the “Dust Bowl,” ranches in the study area have steadily decreased in number and increased in size (Lowitt 2006). In particular, extra land is essential to sustain operations during times of drought, when stocking rates are low. To this end, ranchers often lease school land to sustain and/or expand operations. Over 20 % (96,815 ha) of land in Cimarron County is designated as State School Land, leased out by the Commissioners of the Land Office (CLO) “for the production of income for the support and maintenance of the common schools and the schools of higher education” (CLO (Commissioners of the Land Office) 2009). This represents almost one third of all State School Lands in Oklahoma (Oklahoma Ad Valorem 2006).
For the most part, ranch families have leased State School Lands for multiple generations (many over 80+ years). In 1982, though, the Oklahoma Board of Education sued the CLO, which controls the State School Lands, over the constitutionality of state land lease policy. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that ranchers should no longer have preference to school lands, nor should the Oklahoma legislature set maximum lease prices as they had for generations (Economist 1997). The resulting open-bidding policy has driven leasing prices beyond many ranchers’ affordability, costing them access to significant portions of ranches historically managed by their families for generations (Lindsey 2008).
In Union County, by comparison, approximately 18 % of the county (176,763 ha) is state public land leased for state profit, while in Oklahoma, such public State Lands are called “State School Lands,” and in New Mexico, such lands are called “State Trust Lands.” For ease of reading, we use the term “State Trust Land” throughout this paper in regard to both. In both locations, lands were first set aside to fund the common schools starting with the Land Ordinance of 1785 (the original Federal Land grant), followed by the Enabling Act of 1906 in Oklahoma and 1910 in New Mexico (for a more complete history, see Culp et al. 2005; Vadjunec and Sheehan 2010).
Despite some similarities, the leasing policy in New Mexico radically differs from the open-bidding system in Oklahoma (CLO (Commissioners of the Land Office) 2014, see Table 1). In New Mexico, preference rights are attached to a household’s deeded land (Culp et al. 2005). The household then has access to that leased land in perpetuity unless the family sells the rights to the land or breaks the 5-year lease. In the event that a lessee has not adequately secured the lease, however, there exists a mechanism for them to respond to a competitive bid (New Mexico State Land Office 2016a). New Mexico also offers financial incentives (e.g., reduced rents) for practicing sustainable practices, while Oklahoma does not. Lastly, during drought when stocking rates might be reduced, New Mexico allows lessees to apply for a reduction in rent, while Oklahoma does not.
Comparison of population, public lands, and State Trust Land policies in Cimarron County, OK, and Union County, NM
Cimarron County, OK
Union County, NM
Households (n)
Households (2014)
Public lands (ha/%)
State Trust Lands
(>1 %)
State Lands policy
Lease/term
Preference rights
Yes, if secured properly by lessee
Open bidding
Generally, no. Preference rights given if secured by lessee; otherwise, lessee gets to match any competitive bids
Sustainability incentives offered
Yes, reduced rents (up to 25 % off)
Fees reduced during drought
Yes, considered by application
Sources: Culp et al. 2005; CLO 2015; US Census Bureau 2015a; b; Vadjunec (2015); New Mexico State Land Office 2016a, 2016b
Additionally, ranchers also lease federal lands in both counties, although to a lesser extent (roughly 1 % of land are federal lands in both counties, see Table 1). Since rules for grazing leases and permits are set at the national level, ranchers in both counties are subject to the same set of regulations.
Differential vulnerability
Differences in leasing policy, we predict, have significant impacts on the land-use decisions of agriculturalists in each county. In Oklahoma, ranchers may have less incentive to practice sustainable grazing because they may not be able to renew their lease in 5 years, while in New Mexico, land managers generally do not have to worry about being outbid and losing their land. Consequently, agriculturalists in Cimarron County perceive increased vulnerability, due to “growing risk and changing ideas of stewardship,” when it comes to State Trust Lands (Vadjunec and Sheehan 2010, p. 170). Indeed, such differential vulnerability appears to be both perceived and real. For instance, the residents of Cimarron County have received over $27 million USD in Federal USDA disaster subsidies between 1995 and 2011, while the residents of Union County have only received a fraction thereof, $~9 million USD (EWG (Environmental Working Group) 2015). This difference in federal disaster funds is substantial given that Union County is twice the size of Cimarron County.
Overall, we predict that differing governance policies in the study area, specifically State Trust Lands, result in distinct land stewardship practices that may make people more or less vulnerable to land degradation, here woody plant encroachment in former grasslands, particularly in times of extreme climate vulnerability. Furthermore, since federal land leasing policies are similar in both counties, we do not expect to see significant differences in landscape change on federal lands. In order to test our hypothesis, we use landscape-level structure and compositional changes, specifically increases in woody plant cover and habitat fragmentation in erstwhile grassland, as an indicator for overall land management practices. Indeed, such increases, though likely not linked to a single causative factor, can often be linked to certain land management decisions, such as fire suppression or grazing intensification (Bahre 1991; Bahre and Shelton 1993; Van Auken 2009), and may be amplified during periods of climatic stress, such as drought (Fuhlendorf et al. 2008).
If land-tenure policies do not affect land management practices, particularly during periods of climatic stress, we would expect to see similar rates of woody plant encroachment across similar biophysical regimes throughout the rangelands of the study region and across the different land-tenure regimes of each county. Conversely, if such changes vary across the different land-tenure regimes but otherwise similar biophysical regimes, it may indicate that land-tenure policy does, indeed, influence land stewardship.
Mapping vulnerability
In an effort to map areas of socio-ecological vulnerability during times of drought, this study assessed landscape degradation in the form of woody plant encroachment across similar biophysical regimes using comparative land-cover maps from 1992 and 2011. We selected these years for comparison for several reasons. First, the 1992 land-cover dataset represents the land cover of the region during the first decade following changes in Oklahoma State Trust Land policies. Additionally, the 1992 dataset reflects the land cover during normal precipitation years (8 years before drought). Conversely, the 2011 data reflect the land cover after a decade of drier than normal conditions and post land-tenure regulation changes.
We used reclassified multi-temporal raster land-cover data from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) in conjunction with a public land ownership database (USGS GAP Analysis Program, U.S. Geological Survey 2012) to determine land-cover trajectories with an emphasis on land tenure. More specifically, we reclassified 30-m 1992 (Fry et al. 2009) and 2011 (Homer et al. 2015) NLCD land-cover classes to a modified Anderson Level I classification scale (Anderson et al. 1976), identifying areas as water, built-up, barren, forest, shrubland, herbaceous, and cultivation. Changes in methodology, input data, and land-cover class definitions between the 1992 and 2011 NLCD products confounded direct comparisons between the datasets (Fry et al. 2009). To help rectify this matter, we used the NLCD 1992/2001 Retrofit Land Cover Change dataset (Fry et al. 2009). The dataset classifies each pixel with a “from” value, indicating its land-cover type in 1992, and a “to” value, indicating its value in 2001. Thusly, we used the datasets “from” value to reclassify to a modified Anderson Level I schema for 1992. Additionally, because the Retrofit dataset collapses the herbaceous and shrubland classes into a single class, we initially classified these areas as herbaceous. However, shrubland was an important category to capture, so we then utilized ancillary data sources (e.g., NLCD 1992 (Vogelmann et al. 2001) and digital orthophotographs) to delineate the 1992 shrubland cover.
Next, we used the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US version 1.3; USGS GAP Analysis Program, U.S. Geological Survey 2012) to delineate land-tenure regimes. For each county, we identified federal lands (primarily National Grasslands and National Monuments), state parks, and State Trust Lands. All other lands were classified as private/others. However, state parks were negligible in each county, occupying less than 1 % of the landscape in each county, so these lands were excluded from further analysis. Furthermore, while land ownership and boundaries do, indeed, change over time, the public/private land matrix remains relatively consistent as public lands rarely go up for sale in this region. Our analysis, therefore, assumes such changes were minimal during the time period under consideration.
For each land-cover dataset, we calculated basic patch and class-level landscape metrics, including number of patches; total, class, and patch area; percentage of landscape occupancy; and contiguity index (Gökyer 2013; McGarigal 2015). These metrics were calculated for the study region as a whole, at the individual county level, and for each land ownership class within the two counties for the two periods (1992 and 2011) under investigation. If our initial hypothesis is correct, we expect to see an increase in overall patchiness (more, yet smaller patches) and decrease in spatial connectedness (contiguity) of herbaceous vegetation and a concurrent decrease in patchiness and increase in spatial connectedness of the woody vegetation classes, particularly on State Trust Lands.
Lastly, in order to determine the potential drivers (e.g., land-tenure regimes, biophysical, or a combination thereof) of the observed landscape change at the various levels of analysis, we overlaid the two land-cover datasets and reclassified all pixels to either changed (when the pixel changed from herbaceous to shrubland) or no change (all other change combinations). We then generated 9496 random (X, Y coordinate) points throughout the study area, a value derived by the total number of pixels in the study area, a 95 % confidence level, and margin of error of 1 %. To address potential spatial autocorrelation issues, points were placed at a minimum of 0.5 km from one another and proportionally distributed across each county and land-tenure type in areas classified as herbaceous in 1992.
For each point, we determined the change category (change/no change), land-tenure regime (private/others, federal, or State Trust Lands, state park), and topographic wetness index (TWI) value (Sørensen et al. 2006). The latter was selected because it encompasses several biophysical characteristics, such as topography, hydrology, and edaphic conditions (Sørensen et al. 2006). We then ran a series of binary logistic regressions with change category as the dependent variable and land tenure and TWI values as the independent variables, to determine whether the observed change was driven primarily by biophysical variables of drought (e.g., TWI) or land-tenure regimes.
Landscape composition 1992-2011
The 1992 landscape of the bi-county region was dominated by herbaceous vegetation with small amounts of cultivated lands, shrubland, and forest dispersed throughout (Figs. 2 and 3 and Table 2). Similar patterns emerged at the individual county level and across the various land-tenure regimes thereof. However, whereas cultivation was the second largest land-cover class in Cimarron County (101,924 ha; 21 %), cultivated lands occupied only a small fraction of lands (29,577 ha; 2.99 %) in Union County. Conversely, woody vegetation classes of shrubland and forest combined covered over 10 % (103,048 ha) of Union County lands, while they occupied only 1.16 % (5582 ha) of Cimarron County lands.
Landscape composition in the study region, 1992 and 2011. Data based on the reclassified National Land Cover Database 1992 (Fry et al. 2009) and 2011 (Jin e al. 2013) data
Changes in land-cover proportions across the study area and land-tenure regimes, 1992 and 2011
Comparison summary of land-cover change, countywide and by land-tenure regime (1992-2011). Values in hectares and percentage of landscape
Countywide
Land cover ha (%)
365,206 (75.95)
38,022 (−10.41)
63,349 (−7.45)
124 (−0.12)
29,577 (2.99)
1311 (−4.50)
Shrubland
5218 (1.09)
32,941 (631.28)
363 (0.08)
1 (−0.12)
93,608 (96.69)
175 (−9.9)
1730 (−11.43)
5878 (97.64)
3 (3.36)
3 (n/a)
106 (12.35)
Private lands
These patterns were further reflected at the land-tenure level in each of the counties. Within Cimarron County, both private lands and State Trust Lands were dominated by patches of herbaceous and, in the case of private lands, cultivated classes. This stood in stark contrast to the Union County private and State Trust lands, which consisted of numerous, albeit relatively small, patches of woody vegetation interspersed among larger patches of herbaceous land cover (Table 3). Within each county’s federal lands, though, relatively large patches of herbaceous vegetation dominated.
Comparison of landscape metrics from 1992 and 2011 across the main land-tenure regimes in the two counties. A. number of patches; B. Average patch area (ha); C. Contiguity index (CI), a higher values indicates more spatial connectivity
Land regime/county
Herbaceous (#)
Cultivation (#)
Shrubland (#)
Forest (#)
State land
Herbaceous (ha)
Cultivation (ha)
Shrubland (ha)
Forest (ha)
Herbaceous (CI)
Cultivation (CI)
Shrubland (CI)
Forest (CI)
By 2011, the landscape of the bi-county study region was still dominated by herbaceous vegetation (~1,113,589 ha (75.52 %)), though at a smaller proportion than in 1992 (Figs. 2 and 3 and Table 2). In particular, both the shrubland and forest classes increased and, combined, they covered almost 15 % of the bi-county landscape (~199,696 ha). This pattern was further reflected at the individual county level. Both counties saw an increase in woody vegetation, particularly in the shrubland category, and a concurrent decrease in herbaceous land cover. These changes were greatest in Cimarron County, which saw a 631 % increase in shrubland and 10.41 % decrease in herbaceous vegetation, compared to a 104 % increase in shrubland and a 7.45 % decrease in herbaceous vegetation in Union County.
Herbaceous land cover remained the largest land-cover class across all land-tenure types within each county, though consistently in diminished quantities compared to the 1992 values. Across all land-tenure regimes within each county, the greatest gains were in the shrubland land-cover class. This increase in woody vegetation was most accentuated in the Cimarron County State Trust Lands (Table 2).
Landscape structure 1992-2011
Structurally, the 1992 landscape of the bi-county region was characterized by several fairly large, contiguous patches of herbaceous vegetation (e.g., two patches >475,000 ha plus other large patches) dissected by many small, less spatially connected woody vegetation patches. County-wise, Cimarron County followed the patterns of the study regions, as a whole, while Union County was characterized by more, typically smaller, patches of herbaceous and woody vegetation types. Nonetheless, large swaths of the eastern portion of the Cimarron County landscape were also composed of large agricultural patches (Fig. 3, Table 3).
Similar patterns emerged at the land-tenure level in each of the counties in 1992. Within Cimarron County, both private lands and State Trust Lands were dominated by patches of herbaceous and cultivated lands. This stood in distinct contrast to the Union County private and State Trust lands, which consisted of numerous, albeit relatively small, patches of woody vegetation interspersed among larger patches of herbaceous land cover (Fig 3, Table 3). Within each state’s federal lands, though, relatively large patches of herbaceous vegetation dominated.
The landscape of the bi-county study region was less patchy in 2011 than in 1992, indicating a coalescing of previous disjunct patches. In particular, there was a decrease in the number of patches of each land-cover class and a concurrent increase in average patch area (Table 3). The greatest decrease in the number of patches came in the shrubland land-cover class, which saw a concurrent increase in average patch size and spatial connectivity, indicating a coalescing of previously isolated woody vegetation patches. The largest increase in average patch area, though, was in cultivation as center-pivot agriculture increased in the bi-county study region (Wenger 2016).
At the individual county level, though, both Cimarron County’s herbaceous and shrubland vegetation become more patchy (more patches, smaller mean patch area, and less connectivity) than 1992, as large, relatively unbroken patches of herbaceous vegetation experienced woody encroachment. These changes were most pronounced on State Trust Lands, though private lands experienced similar trajectories. By contrast, Union County saw decreases in the number of patches and increases in the mean class area countywide and across different land-tenure regimes (Table 3).
Drivers of landscape change
The results of the binary logistic regression (see Table 4) indicate that in the bi-county study region, State Trust Lands were ~2 times more likely than private lands and ~7 times more likely than federal lands to change from herbaceous to shrubland (p = 0.000). Similarly, private lands were ~3 times more likely to change from herbaceous to shrubland than federal lands (p = 0.003). Overall, the model predicted that 15 % of State Trust Lands, 8 % of private lands, and 2 % of federal lands would change from herbaceous to shrubland. When the topographic wetness index (TWI) was incorporated into the model to determine whether these observed changes may actually be driven by biophysical conditions rather than land tenure, we found that change was always associated with lower TWI value (i.e., flatter, less prone to excessive drainage) areas but did not diminish the importance of land tenure on these observed changes.
Binary logistic regression results. A. Land tenure only; B. Land tenure and topographic wetness index (TWI)
Bi-county
State trust vs. private
State trust vs. federal
Private vs. federal
The model predicted similar results at the individual county level. Within Cimarron County, State Trust Lands were ~2 times more likely than private lands to change from herbaceous to shrubland (p = 0.000), with a predicted 18 % of State Trust Lands and 7 % of private lands so changing. However, our samples did not include any federal lands in Cimarron County that changed from herbaceous to shrubland, so federal lands were excluded from these analyses.
In Union County, State Trust Lands were ~2 (p = 0.000) times more likely to change from herbaceous to shrubland than private lands and ~5 times more likely to change from herbaceous to shrubland than federal lands. Private lands were also ~3 times more likely to change than federal lands (p = 0.015). The binary logistic regression model predicted that 13 % of State Trust Lands, 8 % of private lands, and 3 % of federal lands within Union County would change from herbaceous to shrubland.
We predicted that differential governance policies in the study area, specifically State Trust Lands, result in distinct land stewardship practices, making people more or less vulnerable to land degradation (measured as woody plant encroachment) particularly in times of extreme climate vulnerability. While the land-cover datasets we used for these analyses do not differentiate between specific shrubland types, they nonetheless provide insight into the complex land cover and governance dynamics occurring within the study area. The increases in shrubland and concurrent loss of herbaceous vegetation seem to show high rates of woody plant encroachment during the period of investigation. Additionally, while disentangling the causal mechanisms of these changes is difficult, the different rates of change within each county and under different land tenures may implicate governance (i.e., local and state politics) as a compounding factor in woody plant encroachment.
Indeed, discussions with agriculturalists (Vadjunec 2015; Fagin 2016) suggest that woody plant encroachment has been exacerbated by the extended drought coupled with certain land management decisions (e.g., overgrazing) and complex, constraining, and often conflicting governance practices, particularly on State Trust Lands. In periods of extreme moisture deficits, grazing pressure (ratio of demand/availability of forage) increases, even though the state attempts to control such measures by setting stocking rates. Land managers often must balance the needs of short-term profit over long-term ecological health, especially during recovery periods when stocking rates may technically increase, but historically ranchers would usually let the land rest to ensure long-term recovery. When permanency on a track of land is not guaranteed, land managers may be more reluctant to cull herds to more sustainable levels, to follow set grazing guidelines, or to let State Trust Land rest as needed, resulting in overgrazing and, thus, presumably woody plant encroachment.
This is not to say that land managers are necessarily poor land stewards but rather that the differential governing system of State Trust Lands may offer both opportunities and constraints to land managers. For instance, in Union County, NM, land managers’ long-term security due to the leasing process enables them to make longer-term management decisions. In Cimarron County, OK, on the other hand, controversial leasing policies lead to insecurity and may make it more difficult for land managers to consider long-term sustainability. Given the insecurity generated by leasing policies regarding State Trust Lands in Cimarron County, there is little incentive for land managers to think long term, even though many state that they would like to, or claim to have done so before the open-bidding system was adopted. As Vadjunec and Sheehan (2010, p. 170), who have studied State Trust Land policies in Cimarron County, explain, “with their future now uncertain (in five-year increments with no preferential treatment given to the lessee), many land managers express difficulty caring for leased land like it was their own, as they have done in the past.”
Additionally, governance rules also vary substantially between the two counties/states. For instance, Harding and Union Counties, NM, are part of the Canadian River Riparian Forest Restoration Project (other counties outside of Cimarron County in Oklahoma are part of the project as well). The Canadian River Riparian Forest Restoration Project provides incentives for agriculturalists to remove water-thirsty shrub species, such as salt cedar (Harding County 2016). In fact, the “New Mexico Statewide Natural Resources Assessment, Strategy, and Response Plan” offers programs that promote “management on private and state lands that reduces tree competition (ENMRD Forestry Division 2010, p. 45, italics, our emphasis).” Furthermore, the New Mexico State Land Office (2016b) states that it “supports the use of prescribed fire,” as well as “forest health thinning and restoration projects target[ing] state trust lands with an unhealthy density of trees and/or undesirable species composition to improve ecological function.” However, Oklahoma does not openly promote such management on State Trust Lands, unless under highly controlled circumstances. Specifically, CLO policy states that no conservation work can be completed on State Trust Land without written consent first (CLO (Commissioners of the Land Office) 2014).
Indeed, one rancher in Cimarron County described a situation where he removed cholla on State Trust Lands (at his own time and expense), only to receive a letter from the CLO informing him that if he continued to remove cholla from his leased land, he would need to add a snow fence at his own expense to capture precipitation (Vadjunec 2015). Whereas discussions with residents in Union County suggest that in many ways they are encouraged to treat State Trust Lands “as their own” to some extent in their management decisions, Oklahoma policy distinctly separates private and state land management to a much greater extent. Furthermore, discussions with agriculturalists in Cimarron County reveal a common complaint—that their hands are tied when it comes to making land management decisions on State Trust Lands (see also Vadjunec and Sheehan 2010). As a result, governance in both counties appears to be distinct in reality and/or practice (formally and informally).
For this analysis, we used the best (and most recent), readily available multi-temporal data for the bi-county study area. Changes in NLCD methodology, input data, and land-cover class definitions between the 1992 and 2001 NLCD products, though, make direct comparisons between the datasets more complicated (Fry et al. 2009). The reclassification of the NLCD 1992/2001 Retrofit Land Cover Change dataset (Fry et al. 2009) attempted to address this issue; grassland and shrub cover were aggregated into a single class in the Retrofit dataset. This was problematic for our specific analysis because the phenomenon we were most interested in was woody plant encroachment. We overcame this data gap by incorporating the shrubland land-cover class from the NLCD 1992 (Vogelmann et al. 2001) into our reclassified 1992 dataset. However, we expect this may have resulted in an underestimation of overall shrubland cover, for the 1992 imagery, specifically.
As a result, the amount of change in woody plant encroachment between 1992 and 2011 may be overestimated in the current analysis. However, we note that the uncovered relationships and patterns of change still hold weight. Since the limitations stated above are presumably uniform throughout the study area, we would expect to see similar landscape dynamics throughout. Yet, overall, we still see a statistically significant and higher rate of shrubland change in Cimarron County, in general, and within Cimarron County State Trust Lands, specifically. Furthermore, the observed structural and compositional differences suggest the importance of land tenure to landscape change in the study area, regardless of any potential issues with the 1992 dataset. These additional analyses support our current conclusion regarding greater woody plant encroachment occurring in these areas. To better estimate the rates of change, in the future, we plan on using high-resolution aerial photography and an image object-based classification (Vadjunec et al. 2015).
This study shows that governance decisions being made at the state level influence the practices of agriculturalists at the local level. These decisions, in turn, have implications for both individuals and the structure and functions of landscapes. In Cimarron County, agriculturalists perceive greater vulnerability surrounding their use of State Trust Lands (Vadjunec and Sheehan 2010). Beyond their perceptions regarding vulnerability to what they perceive to be unfair leasing policies, agriculturalists in Cimarron County also receive significantly greater Federal USDA disaster subsidies. However, these state- and local-level land-use decisions have wide-reaching regional effects as seen through regional-level landscape change (i.e., the preponderance of woody plant encroachment on State Trust Lands in Cimarron County, OK).
Public lands, including state and federal lands, are a staple of ranching and farming in the American West. Understanding the governance of such lands and how they impact land use, land management, livelihoods, and landscapes is increasingly important in the face of drought and increasing vulnerabilities due to climate change. State Trust Lands are particularly concentrated in the American West. As Culp and colleagues (2005, p. 54) explain, “nine of the eleven Western states—Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming—hold nearly 85 percent, or almost 40 million acres, of the remaining trust lands in the lower forty-eight states.”
A comparative approach in the study of landscape changes in distinctively different locales increases the transferability of research findings. Focusing on adjacent counties under different land-tenure systems presents an opportunity to examine the changes actors face in many of the Western grasslands on both a local and a regional basis. The research site offers a unique opportunity to further explore this issue because Cimarron County is the only county in America that shares a border with four states: New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Kansas. This area is increasingly vulnerable to cyclical drought, growing impacts from mechanized agriculture and underground water depletion, and historical and changing land-use trajectories (Savage 2004). Developing better understandings of the complex human-environment dynamics at work and also how best to uncover such relationship between people and landscapes will become increasingly important as long-established land-use regimes break down in the face of climate change, resource depletion, and evolving governance.
We are grateful to the people of Cimarron and Union Counties for sharing their time and knowledge with us. We also thank Brenda D. Phillips for the help with a much earlier draft of this paper.
This research has generously been funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant (#CMMI-1266381) and fellowship (#SMA-1415368). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
TDF contributed to the research design, methodology, fieldwork, analysis, and paper write-up. JMV contributed to the research design, methodology, fieldwork, and paper write-up. NMC contributed to the fieldwork and paper write-up. Both KW and AG are graduate research assistants who participated in the fieldwork. Each also helped in the early drafts of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
TDF, a geographer by training, works at the Oklahoma Biological Survey at the University of Oklahoma. His research interests include land-use/land-cover change, historical vegetation reconstructions, biogeography and landscape ecology, habitat fragmentation, geographic information systems, and remote sensing.
JMV is an associate professor in the Department of Geography at Oklahoma State University. Her interests include environmental governance, common (public-private) property and natural resource management, land use and livelihoods in traditional agricultural communities in the Americas, and participatory and mixed research methods.
NMC is a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Geography at Oklahoma State University. Her interests include environmental science, environmental education, citizen science, and environmental communication.
KW is a Ph.D. student at Oklahoma State University in the Department of Geography. Her interests are disaster resilience and adaptation, governance, land-use/land-cover change, and mixed research methods.
AG is a Ph.D. student at Oklahoma State University in the Department of Geography. Amy is interested in better understanding how gender influences drought perceptions, as well as understanding how drought impacts both men and women differently.
Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, 111 E. Chesapeake St, Norman, 73019, OK, USA
Department of Geography, Oklahoma State University, 337 Murray Hall, Stillwater, 74078, OK, USA
Allen L, Allen E, Kunst C, Sosbee R (1991) A diffusion model for dispersal of Opuntia imbricate (cholla) on rangeland. J Ecol 79(4):1123–1135View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Anderson J, Hardy E, Roach J, Witmer R (1976) A land use and land cover classification system for use with remote sensor data. Geological Survey Professional Paper 964. United States Government Printing Office, WashingtonGoogle Scholar
Archer S, Schimel D, Holland E (1995) Mechanisms of shrubland expansion: land use, climate or CO2? Climatic Change 29:91–99View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Bahre C (1991) A legacy of change: historic human impact on vegetation in the Arizona borderland. University of Arizona Press, TucsonGoogle Scholar
Bahre C, Shelton M (1993) Historic vegetation change, mesquite increases, and climate in southeastern Arizona. J Biogeogr 20:489–504View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Barnes P, Liang S, Jessup K, Ramirez P, D’Souza L, Elliott K, Phillips P (2008) Ecological impacts of Ashe juniper on subtropical savanna parklands and woodlands. In: Van Auken O (ed) Western North American Juniperus communities: a dynamic vegetation type. Springer, New York, pp 133–155Google Scholar
Bennett A, Saunders D (2010) Habitat fragmentation and landscape change. In: Navjot S, Sodhi S, Ehrlich P (eds) Conservation biology for all. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 88–106Google Scholar
Bragg T, Hulbert L (1976) Woody plant invasion of unburned Kansas bluestem prairie. J Range Manage 29(1):19–24View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Briggs J, Hoch G, Johnson L (2002) Assessing the rate, mechanisms, and consequences of the conversion of tallgrass prairie to Juniperus virginiana forest. Ecosystems 5:578–586View ArticleGoogle Scholar
CLO (Commissioners of the Land Office) (2009) Annual report: growth the trust. CLO, Oklahoma CityGoogle Scholar
CLO (Commissioners of the Land Office) (2014) Unofficial Administrative Rules OAC 385:1-1-1 through 385:40-1-12. CLO, Oklahoma City, Available from https://clo.ok.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CLO-Administrative-Rules-2014-Unofficial-Website.pdf (Accessed 4/2015)Google Scholar
Culp P, Conradi DB, Tuell CC (2005) Trust land in the American West: a legal overview and policy assessment. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Cutter S (2004) Are we asking the right questions? In: Perry R, Quaramtelli E (eds) What is a disaster: new answers to old questions. Xlibris, Philadelphia, pp 39–48Google Scholar
Economist T (1997) For cattle or schools. Economist 342(8000):27–30Google Scholar
Engle D, Bodine T, Stritzke J (2006) Woody plant community in the cross timbers over two decades of brush treatment. Rangeland Ecol Manag 59:153–162View ArticleGoogle Scholar
ENMRD Forestry Division (2010) New Mexico Statewide Natural Resource Assessment and Strategy and Response Plans. Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, Santa FeGoogle Scholar
EWG (Environmental Working Group) (2015) Farm Subsidy Database., Available from https://farm.ewg.org/index.php (Accessed 11/2015)Google Scholar
Fagin T (2016) Fieldnotes, Cimarron County, OK and Union County, NMGoogle Scholar
Fry J, Coan M, Home C, Meyer D, Wickham J (2009) Completion of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) 1992-2001 Land Cover Change Retrofit product. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 1379Google Scholar
Fuhlendorf S, Archer S, Smeins F, Engle D, Taylor C (2008) The combined influence of grazing, fire, and herbaceous productivity on tree-grass interactions. In: Van Auken O (ed) Western North American Juniperus communities: a dynamic vegetation type. Springer, New York, pp 219–238Google Scholar
Fulendorf S, Woodward A, Leslie D, Shackford J (2002) Multi-scale effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on lesser prairie-chicken populations. Landsc Ecol 17:617–628View ArticleGoogle Scholar
GLP (2005) Science Plan and Implementation Strategy, IGBP Report 35/IHDP Report 19. IGBP Secretariat, StockhokmGoogle Scholar
Gökyer E (2013) Understanding landscape structure using landscape metrics. In: Ozyavuz M (ed) Advances in landscape architecture., InTechGoogle Scholar
Graham A, Fagin T, Vadjunec JM, Phillips B (2013) Persistent drought, land tenure, and land-cover change in the Southern Great Plains: a case study from Cimarron County, OK and Union County, NM. Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, Los AngelesGoogle Scholar
Griffin G, Omernik J, McGraw M, Jacobi G, Canavan C, Schrader T, Mercer D, Hill R, Moran B (2006) Ecoregions of New Mexico (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs). U.S. Geological Survey, RestonGoogle Scholar
Harding County (2016) Canadian River Riparian Restoration Project., Available from http://www.hardingcounty.org/about/federal-agencies/canadian-river-riparian-restoration-project/ (Accessed 4/16)Google Scholar
Homer C, Dewitz J, Yang L, Jin S, Danielson P, Xian G, Coulston J, Herold N, Wickham J, Megown K (2015) Completion of the 2011 National Land Cover Database for the conterminous United States—representing a decade of land cover change information. Photogramm Eng Rem S 81(5):345–354Google Scholar
Horncastle V, Hellgren E, Mayer P, Ganguli A, Engle D, Leslie D (2005) Implications of invasion by Juniperus virginiana on small mammals in the southern Great Plains. J Mammal 86(6):1144–1155View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Houghton R (1994) The worldwide extend of land use change. Bioscience 44(5):305–313View ArticleGoogle Scholar
IPCC (2013) Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Jackson L, Strauss R, Firestone M, Bartolome J (1990) Influence of tree canopies on grassland productivity and nitrogen dynamics in deciduous oak savanna. Agric Ecosyst Environ 32:89–105View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Johnson F, Hoagland B (1999) Catalog of woody plant of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Biological Survey., Available from http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/shrubndx.htm (Accessed 9/2015)Google Scholar
Kasperson J, Kasperson R, Turner B II (1996) Regions at risk: exploring environmental criticality. Environment 38:5–29View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Lindsey R (2008) Devastating drought settles on the High Plains., NASA’s Earth Observatory, Available from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OklahomaDrought/. Accessed 9 Aug 2009Google Scholar
Lowitt R (2006) American outback. Texas Tech University Press, LubbockGoogle Scholar
McGarigal K (2015) Fragstats Help. University of Massachusetts, ᅟ, Available from http://www.umass.edu/landeco/research/fragstats/documents/fragstats.help.4.2.pdf(Accessed 9/2015)Google Scholar
McKinley D, Norris M, Blair J, Johnson L (2008) Altered ecosystem processes as a consequence of Juniperus virginiana L. encroachment into North American tallgrass prairie. In: Van Auken O (ed) Western North American Juniperus communities: a dynamic vegetation type. Springer, New YorkGoogle Scholar
Miller R, Rose J (1995) Historic expansion of Juniperus occidentalis (Western Juniper) in southeastern Oregon. Great Basin Nat 55:37–45Google Scholar
New Mexico State Land Office (2016a) Obtaining a lease on agricultural lands., Available from http://www.nmstatelands.org/obtaining-a-lease.aspx (Accessed 4/2016)Google Scholar
New Mexico State Land Office (2016b) Forest and watershed. Available from http://www.nmstatelands.org/forest-watershed-health.aspx (Accessed 4/2016)
Oklahoma Ad Valorem (2006) Forum. 15(2):4Google Scholar
Ostrom E (2005) Understanding institutional diversity. Princeton University Press, PrincetonGoogle Scholar
Paysen T, Ansley R, Brown J, Gotffroed G, Haase S, Harrington M, Narog M, Sackett S, Wilson R (2000) Fire in western shrubland, woodland and grassland ecosystems. In: Brown J, Smith J (eds) Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RMRS-GTR, OgdenGoogle Scholar
Richards J (1990) Land transformation. In: Turner (ed) The earth as transformed by human action. Cambridge University Press, CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Savage C (2004) Prairie: a natural history. Greystone Books, VancouverGoogle Scholar
Schole R, Archer S (1997) Tree-grass interaction in savannas. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 28:517–544View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Sørensen R, Zinko U, Seibert J (2006) On calculations on the topographic wetness index: evaluation of different methods based on field observations. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 10:101–112View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Stone-Jovicich S (2015) Probing the interfaces between the social sciences and social-ecological resilience: insights from integrative and hybrid perspectives in the social sciences. Ecology and Society 20(2):25View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Turner B II (2002) Toward integrated land-change science: advances in 1.5 decades of sustained international research on land-use and land-cover change. In: Steffen W, Jager J, Carson D, Bradshaw C (eds) Challenges of a changing Earth: proceedings of the Global Change Open Science Conference. Amsterdam, SpringerGoogle Scholar
U.S. Census Bureau (2015a) Quickfacts, Cimarron County, OK., Available from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045214/40025,35059,00 (Accessed 4/2015)Google Scholar
U.S. Census Bureau (2015b) Quickfacts, Union County, NM., Available from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045214/35059,00 (Accessed 4/2015)Google Scholar
U.S. Drought Monitor (2015) United States Drought Monitor. A project of the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)., Available at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ (Accessed 9/2015)Google Scholar
United Nation (2006) The Millennium Development Goals Report 2006. United Nations, New YorkGoogle Scholar
USDA-NASS (2014) Census of Agriculture: United States Summary and State Data. United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service., Available from https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/usv1.pdf (Accessed 9/2015)Google Scholar
USGS GAP Analysis Program, U.S. Geological Survey (2012) Protected Areas Database of the United States (PADUS) version 1.3 combined Feature Class., Available from http://gapanalysis.usgs.gov/padus/data/ (Accessed 9/2015)Google Scholar
Vadjunec J (2015) Fieldnotes, Cimarron County, OK and Union County, NMGoogle Scholar
Vadjunec J, Sheehan R (2010) Ranching and state school land in Cimarron County, Oklahoma. Great Plains Res 20:163–177Google Scholar
Vadjunec J, Fagin T, Colston N, Graham A, Wenger K (2015) Contested Frontiers: governance, land use/land-cover change (LULCC), and vulnerability to drought in the grasslands of the American West. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers conference, ChicagoGoogle Scholar
Van Auken O (2009) Causes and consequences of woody plant encroachment into western North American grasslands. J Environ Manage 90(10):1–42Google Scholar
Vogelmann J, Howard S, Yang L, Larson C, Wylie B, Van Driel J (2001) Completion of the 1990s National Land Cover Data Set for the conterminous United States. Photogramm Eng Rem S 67:650–662Google Scholar
Walker B, Gunderson L, Kinzig A, Folke C, Carpenter S, Schultz L (2006) A handful of heuristics and some propositions for understanding resilience in social-ecological systems. Ecology and Society 11(1):13, [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss1/art13/ Google Scholar
Wenger K (2015) Land Change and Vulnerability to Drought: Impact and Growth of Center Pivot Irrigation in Union County, NM and Cimarron County, OK. MS Thesis. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.Google Scholar
Wilcox B (2008) Juniperus woodlands and the water cycle on karst rangelands. In: Van Auken O (ed) Western North American Juniperus communities: a dynamic vegetation type. Springer, New York, pp 202–215Google Scholar
Wisner B, Blaikie P, Cannon T, Davis I (2004) At risk: natural hazards, people’s vulnerability and disasters. Routledge, LondonGoogle Scholar
Woods A, Omernik J, Butler D, Ford J, Henley J, Hoagland B, Arndt D, Moran B (2005) Ecoregions of Oklahoma (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs). U.S. Geological Survey, RestonGoogle Scholar
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6846
|
__label__cc
| 0.50616
| 0.49384
|
Latest in A Thousand Suns
‘Atlantics’ Director Mati Diop Says “It’s Sad & Still Hard To Believe” She’s The First Black Woman In Competition— Cannes Ones To Watch
French-Senegalese filmmaker and actress Mati Diop has been considered a talent to watch ever since she made her on-screen debut in Claire Denis' 35 Shots of Rum. She has starred in movies including Antonio Campos' Simon Killer and directed prize-winning shorts and thoughtful documentaries, including 2013's A Thousand S…
By Andreas Wiseman
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6848
|
__label__wiki
| 0.580254
| 0.580254
|
Layoffs Watch '08: Credit Suisse
Credit Suisse announced this morning that it will be cutting 500 jobs in investment banking and “administrative support” divisions. Spokesman Bruce Corwin claimed the layoffs are due to shrinking client demand, though one might note the “coincidence” between the start of the tortuously long summer lines at the Shake Shack and a sudden reduction in headcount. Luckily, for any interns tasked with spending three quarters of his/her June/July/August waiting to order someone else’s Shroom Burger, we’re told that the cuts are worse than what’s being reported. Supposedly over half the real estate finance group “will be gone before the end of the day,” and there will be “severe carnage” across the entire firm. Severance packages are said to include two months pay, period.
On the bright side, let’s give it up for whoever’s idea it was to break the layoffs news (and the inevitability forthcoming news of blown earnings) on the same day rival Swiss bank UBS came out with a fifty page report detailing in easy bullet-proof form* how it went about systematically destroying value over the last year or so. That was smart. Very smart.
Credit Suisse Says It's Cutting 500 Jobs as Client Demand Wanes [Bloomberg]
*Helpful for anyone interested in following suit but unsure where to start.
While Brady Dougan is keeping his job, the same cannot be said for 1/3 of European investment bankers. Credit Suisse is to cut senior staff in its European investment banking department by up to a third, three sources familiar with the matter said, as tighter regulation and weak markets hit the sector. "In the European investment banking business, they are going to get rid of 60 directors and managing directors," one source said on Monday. The investment banking department affected advises on mergers and acquisitions, stock market listings, financing and debt issues, as opposed to other areas of the broader investment bank that focus on securities trading. "It is about a third of the directors and 10-15 percent of the MDs," the first source said, referring to what are typically two most senior job ranks in the banking world. The layoffs would happen in July, this person said. The formal redundancy process can last several months. A second source said the cuts could end up affecting 20-30 percent of senior investment banking staff in Europe. Credit Suisse To Make Heavy Job Cuts In Europe [Reuters]
Layoffs Watch: Credit Suisse
The House Of Dougan has apparently said Do svidaniya to a handful of comrades.
Cuts are said to be going down circa now at the Swiss bank.
Cuts are expected to go down at the House Of BD.
Cuts are going down at the House of Dougan today. From the front lines: "Layoffs started at Credit Suisse this morning, across the investment bank. All levels affected, including a good amount of senior guys." Apparently these reductions are part of a round cuts announced last year and were to be expected (though the "let's have a chat" from HR this morning may still have been a slight surprise for those being asked to take a seat).
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6850
|
__label__wiki
| 0.530904
| 0.530904
|
The Dog That Changed Me
with Katherine Schwarzenegger
A podcast about the power dogs have to transform our lives. In each episode i'll talk to one guest about how their decision to rescue a dog has made them into the person they are today. We will hear from a variety of people; actors, singers, dancers, veterans and more! Instead of hearing about their professional career we will be talking about their furry soulmates. On this show we celebrate every little thing that makes our dogs our best partners. Come join us and find out how the power of a single pup can change our world for the better.
Judy FridonoJudy Fridono, Owner of Ricochet – the surfing therapy dog and star of the new IMAX® film, Superpower Dogs – talks with Katherine about therapy and service dogs, Ricochet’s remarkable journey and the amazing abilities of all dogs.
Julianne HoughDancer, actress and singer, Julianne Hough joins Katherine to talk about her house full of dogs and how adopting dogs at different stages in her life has impacted her relationships with them.
LeAnn RimesSinger, actress and author, LeAnn Rimes talks to Katherine about her love for adopting dogs (once owning seven dogs at one time!), the relationships of her pets and the recent adoption of her family’s new dog, Fleetwood.
Deb FairExecutive Director of PEDIGREE Foundation, Deb Fair talks with Katherine about raising her three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, dressing them up for holidays and tips for bringing a new dog home.
Minka KellyActress Minka Kelly discusses with Katherine the passing of her beloved dog, finding a new pup to join her life and the compassion that dogs provide every day.
Haylie DuffActress, singer and television host Haylie Duff talks with Katherine about her love for rescuing dogs, funny moments when introducing her pups to her baby and how her daughter is learning about pet adoption.
Dan LaskoUnited States Marine Corps veteran featured in a previous PEDIGREE brand commercial, Dan Lasko, talks with Katherine about how a service dog helped him re-adjust when coming home and how he’s paying it back with a house full of adopted pups.
Bryce Dallas HowardIn this episode, actress and director Bryce Dallas Howard joins Katherine to discuss her love for animals – starting from childhood, the lessons her dogs have taught her and the heroic effort from one of her dogs that saved her little brother.
Mandy MooreActress and singer Mandy Moore joins Katherine to talk about the challenges of owning a puppy, the adorable personalities of all of her animals, and how her pets have gotten her through tough moments in her life.
The Dog That Changed Me TrailerI am Katherine Schwarzenegger and this is the dog that changed me, a podcast about the power dogs have to transform our lives. In each episode i'll talk to one guest about how their decision to rescue a dog has made them into the person they are...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6852
|
__label__cc
| 0.707353
| 0.292647
|
Find Non-Profit Jobs
Post NP Jobs
Non-Profits Employers in L.A.
Refine by Categories
Nonprofit-Social Services 66 Youth services 38 Education (K-12) 36 LGBT 28 Healthcare / clinics 27 Education (Higher) 21
Environmental 20 Health Care 20 Economic / Development 18 Museums Libraries and Historical Sites 18 Performing Arts 16 Animal Rights 14 Legal Aid and Advocacy 13 Medical and Disability Research 13 Immigration Support and Advocacy Services 12 Foundations 10 Homelessness 9 Training 9 Foodbanks and Nutrition 6
Refine by State
Social Justice Development¶m=EmploymentType
Community Engagement Manager
The Urban Peace Institute is seeking a highly qualified Community Engagement Program Manager to support our successful place-based initiatives and community engagement strategies which include the facilitation of school safety collaboratives, leadership development trainings, and facilitation of neighborhood-level stakeholder tables. This position will be supervised by the Executive Director. Working with UPI team members the Program Manager will be responsible for the development and implementation of place-based strategies as well as building and maintaining strategic partnerships and initiatives. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Manages the implementation of community-level place-based initiatives including program development, budget and contract management, staff supervision, strategic partnership development, and community engagement. Provide leadership and support to staff executing program deliverables and ensure the highest quality; Oversees and manages Place-based Initiatives development on issues such as community and school safety, community policing, neighborhood-level leadership development, community research, and coordination of collaborative stakeholder tables; Works in alignment with organization-wide initiatives to strengthen overall UPI agenda; Researches and integrates best practices into program work such as safe passages, leadership, community-based campaigns, and violence prevention; Demonstrates appropriate organizational leadership; Develops and maintains county-wide networks and partnerships with multiple sectors involved in community and public safety efforts; Tracks national, state and local developments in policy forums including legislative activity around UPI issues; Directly supervise assigned program staff; Works with Executive Director and Senior Team on fundraising, strategic planning, staff management and contract development; Participates in organization-wide planning, development, and communication activities as needed and ensures adherence to organization-wide goals and policies within the program area; Conducts presentations, briefings, and workshops to a broad array of stakeholders and partners; Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director. Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required: 4+ years experience in senior program management, community engagement, staff supervision and partnership management required; Master’s degree in relevant field of study including public policy, criminology, sociology, social work, public health and others or BA with equivalent experience is required; Demonstrated commitment to social justice and a disposition to work in an organization focused on civil rights and equity; Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse people across the spectrum of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity and gender orientation; Bilingual Spanish preferred; Substantive background in public safety, violence prevention, and/or community organizing is required. Successful candidates will have high level of comfort and experience with two or more of these areas. Experience working specifically on issues of gang violence, violence prevention and/or the needs of the formerly incarcerated is a plus; Strong familiarity with data from a variety of sources, including economic development or public health studies, census reports, law enforcement agencies, nonprofit database systems, etc.; Direct experience working on program development, community engagement, staff management, and report-writing is required.; Excellent interpersonal skills and the proven ability to work with communities of color; Excellent written and oral communication skills, i.e. facilitation, outreach, report writing, and message delivery; Flexibility to adjust and contribute to continually evolving work situation and changing priorities; High computer proficiency and comfort a must Urban Peace Institute is an “at will” and equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply. In addition, the organization will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. careers@urbanpeaceinstitute.org https://www.urbanpeaceinstitute.org Please send resume and cover letter stating interest in the position specifically detailing: 1) experience with community engagement/organizing, 2) program development, and 3) commitment to urban peace issues and/or social justice to: ATTN: Fernando Rejón, Executive Director 1910 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Or e‐mail to: careers@urbanpeaceinstitute.org
Urban Peace Institute Los Angeles, CA, USA Marketing / PR
· Develop a press strategy and launch all press releases · Focus on traditional media content and outlets, including but not limited to, print newspapers, magazines, online blogs, and prison publications · Produce and edit original written content for the organization including but not limited to editorials, blogs, newsletters, magazine articles, press releases, literature, petitions, and speeches · Coordinate any media consultants · Develop relationships with editors and media professionals to further DPN's reach and influence · Develop and manage an organization-wide blog contribution schedule · Edit and format other staff content as requested · Maintain and update the DPN website including updating plug ins and platforms, updating content, adding all news mentions to news page, adding new videos and photos · Develop relationships with prisoners and act as a medium to magnify their voices through traditional media · Respond to letters from incarcerated people and outreach to incarcerated people through letter writing · Actively get organization-wide content placed in local, national, and worldwide publications · Research and identify new writing opportunities and outlets · Represent DPN in media interviews and at events along with other staff members · Expand organizational contacts through networking or sponsoring events · Provide accurate sources and links for text used online · Maintain knowledge of new writing trends · Develop talking points with staff members prior to interviews and speaking engagements · Develop and implement all social media content and social media strategy on platforms including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Snapchat, Pinterest, YouTube, Vimeo, and the DPN Website · Interact with public on all online platforms and send correspondence to appropriate staff · Retain consistent growth in followers and establish new goals · Identify and implement new online platforms · Develop and implement a social media marketing plan and budget · Format and post blogs · Work to launch new video content, to archive video content on YouTube, Vimeo, DPN website, and to produce social media videos · Work to launch press releases and archive on the DPN website · Provide a detailed analysis of platform and marketing analytics · Graphic design including but not limited to social media graphics, gifs, protest signs, banners, slide presentations, merchandise, and literature · Build a strong DPN base through social media · Establish, work towards, and evaluate base-building goals · Format and send newsletter · Source and credit when necessary · Work with management to strategize messaging and persuasive visual content · Source and credit Creative Commons when necessary · Research and maintain knowledge of new social trends, and design trends and techniques ‘Dignity and Power Now’ is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We welcome all qualified applicants, including formerly incarcerated individuals. We are proud to comply with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring (LA Ord. 184652). Please send CV and a thoughtful cover letter to admin@dignityandpowernow.org Please send work samples such as writing, social media and graphics samples.
Dignity and Power Now Los Angeles, CA, USA Marketing / PR
National Grant Writer (CA-1)
The Grant Writer is responsible for applying a high level of technical and creative writing skill to proposals to foundations, family foundations, and corporations for the purpose of soliciting funds. They maintain the accuracy of the annual grants calendar and prospect sheets, and lead the development of written project content and budgets for national, chapter and prospective site grants. This role also requires the ability to professionally manage and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The Grant Writer works as a part of a dynamic Development and Marketing Team and must feel a strong connection to and promote the organization’s mission, vision, values and principles, and uphold the professionalism of the organization at all times. This position reports to the Director of Strategic Impact and Grants. Essential Functions and Responsibilities Write grant proposals and reports on a timely basis as outlined on the organizational grant calendar; maintain a portfolio averaging 6 grants-related proposals per month. Manage the grants program, identifying new prospects, developing grant content and budgets, and maintaining annual grants calendar. Participate as member of Development and Marketing Team that is responsible for meeting annual revenue goals. Share responsibility for targeted revenue goals associated with foundation grant activities. Collaborate with national team, existing and prospective chapter leaders, to develop narrative content and budgets for grant proposals. Steward foundation contact relationships as assigned in order to place the organization in the strongest position to receive grant funds. Maintain clear and accurate written and electronic records of grant proposals and reports, including grant activity tracking in shared drives and databases. Keep relevant staff informed about upcoming deadlines and deliverables, thereby ensuring smooth completion of work responsibilities. Assist in research and identification of grants appropriate to Friends of the Children. Maintain confidential information in a sensitive and appropriate manner. Special projects as assigned in support of organizational objectives. Required Education, Experience & Abilities Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field. A minimum of 3-5 years of non-profit grant-writing experience, including collaboration with program management and finance to develop content and budgets. Demonstrated success in obtaining grant driven funding from foundations and/or corporations. Ability to analyze and synthesize information for writing grant proposals, letters, articles, etc. Ability to edit written materials accurately and consistently, including own work. Exceptional analytical as well as intuitive abilities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as strong interpersonal and teamwork skills. Strong organizational and time management skills. Able to plan, organize, and complete multiple grant proposals and/or reports and follow-up as required. Proven track record of meeting deadlines. Excellent attention to detail, strong computer skills, and general understanding of financial principles. Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and effectively solve problems. Ability to cultivate and sustain relationships and work effectively with a wide variety of constituencies, including staff, program children, current and potential donors, Board members, and community partners. Ability to represent, effectively and professionally, the organization to a wide variety of audiences. Willing to be flexible, with the ability to work evenings and weekends if necessary for fundraising activities. Benefits Full benefits (401k, Health, Dental, Vision, Life) Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12 ½ years. No matter what. #ThePowerOfOne
Friends of the Children Los Angeles, CA, USA Development
California Program Coordinator
Alliance for Justice seeks a full-time, experienced Program Coordinator based in our Southern California office, located in downtown Los Angeles, to provide a range of administrative and programmatic support for AFJ’s California’s offices as well as AFJ’s DC headquarters. The position reports to AFJ’s California Director. The position may occasionally require travel, primarily within California, to support program events. This position is non-exempt under California and federal wage and hour laws. Essential Functions Provide administrative support to AFJ’s Bolder Advocacy program in its Northern and Southern California offices with some additional support for other AFJ staff as needed. Promote AFJ workshops, events, publications, technical assistance, capacity tools, and other resources, including through e-mails, online platforms, phone calls, etc. to expand the audience for Bolder Advocacy programming. Support California staff in building and maintaining relationships with California nonprofits, foundations, and other partners. Collaborate with DC-based program coordinator on implementing systems for data management, program metric collection, and grant reporting of technical assistance, workshop participation, capacity tool usage, and outreach. Manage technical assistance phone and email “hotline” together with DC-based program coordinator. Handle workshop requests from initial inquiry, through negotiating fees, to providing logistical and billing support. Assist with tracking data on technical assistance and workshops using Excel, Salesforce, SalsaLabs, GoToWebinar, and other similar platforms. Assist with managing online tools for assessing advocacy capacity. Manage and coordinate logistics for workshops, fundraising events, film screenings, and public events conducted by AFJ’s California staff, including planning, registration, booking travel, materials, marketing, and invoicing. Schedule meetings, maintain calendars, and prepare activity reports for California staff. Assist with donor research and grant tracking in collaboration with Washington, DC-based Development team. Support Bolder Advocacy and Outreach staff in building and maintaining relationships with AFJ organizational members, including identifying potential new members, assisting with recruitment, and stewarding member relationships. Assist Justice program, Development, Outreach and Communications staff, as needed. Respond to external inquiries, manage phones, and process mail. Coordinate with other staff to maintain office supplies and equipment. Other duties as assigned by the California Director or in coordination with the Bolder Advocacy Director. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities • Experience in administrative and/or program support position, preferably as an Executive Assistant, Program Assistant, Administrative Assistant, or related position. • Commitment to social justice, civil rights, and public interest issues. • Nonprofit and/or public interest organization experience. • Exceptional organizational skills, including attention to detail and ability to handle multiple tasks. • Excellent computer skills and knowledge of software, particularly Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) as well as social media skills. • Initiative, creativity, and judgment to manage own workload and support the Bolder Advocacy team. • A strong understanding of database programs and content management systems. • Comfortable with numbers, designing graphs/charts. • Superior verbal and written communications skills. • Succeeds in a collaborative environment. • Able to work with remote office staff. • Brings a great attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, patience, and a sense of humor to the workplace. Preferred but not required: • Spanish or other relevant non-English language skills. • Experience with managing budgets, grants, and invoicing. • Knowledge of Salesforce and Salsa is preferred. Familiarity with online survey tools, e.g. Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, SurveyGizmo is a plus. • Basic HTML experience. • Background in event planning and logistics. • BA or BS degree.
Alliance For Justice Los Angeles, CA, USA Programs
Policy and Community Liaison
Community Health Council’s (CHC) policy work is achieved through local coalitions that address health disparities and equity. Under the direction of the Director of Policy and Research, the Policy and Community Liaison will work closely with CHC’s Region 2 Best Start team, as well as our health systems team. Primary responsibilities will be supporting policy tracking, review and analysis at the local, county, state and federal levels, as well as training and support on research design and community-based research projects in the Region 2 Best Start communities. Other responsibilities will include supporting stakeholder engagement, coalition building, and developing policy priorities and policy recommendations as defined by community and coalition partners. This position provides support in linking community-based and driven research, policy and systems changes with enduring community-level investments that promote health and well-being. Specifically, this position will: • Provide technical assistance around research design, data collection and data analysis for community partners, including the Region 2 Best Start communities. • Design and facilitate trainings for community partners, including residents and organizational partners around research, policy, and community engagement. • Stay up to date on policy topics and trends, such as housing and homeless services, streetscape improvements and parks/open space development, transportation, healthcare access and regulation, economic and workforce development, youth development, early childhood education, public and charter school systems, reduction of environmental contamination traditional and innovative food enterprises; reduction of environmental contamination; streetscape improvements to encourage walking, biking, and other active transportation; health promoting land use standards that support economic development, and conversion of under-utilized land for health benefits. • Research and translate complex policies into formats, visual or otherwise, that can be effectively presented to the community. • Provide input on the impact of changes in the policy landscape as it aligns with CHC priorities. • Support and build the capacity of a comprehensive and sustainable system of care for South Los Angeles, including an increased and strengthened workforce; increase the knowledge, participation, and leadership role of consumers and stakeholders in policy and local resource development to address health disparities; and ensure equitable access to high-quality healthcare for the under-served. • Promote policies that transform the city’s infrastructure to create health supporting community resources for economic parity in South Los Angeles. • Engage a broad cross-section of community stakeholders to increase authority of underserved populations over local resources through capacity building, leadership, and economic development. Detailed Description of Duties and Responsibilities: Community-Based Research and Training Develop and implement strategies for conducting community-based research in partnership with community partners and coalitions; including overall research design, development of survey tools, data collection administration and data analysis and training; Design and facilitate trainings on community-based participatory research, as well as other research strategies, for community residents, nonprofit organizations and other audiences; Provide ongoing technical assistance on community-based participatory and other research strategies Conduct and analysis research based on specific project needs and community interests and input, including interviews, focus groups, community surveys, observations, etc. Policy Monitoring, Analysis & Advocacy Monitor and provide updates and analysis of relevant policy issues at national, state, county, and city levels; Conduct primary data collection using a community based participatory approach as needed. This includes key informant interviews, focus groups, surveying, polling and environmental assessments. Deliver engaging presentations that effectively disseminate policy information; Develop and produce policy reports, issue briefs, comment letters or similar materials to inform community members and policymakers; Research and maintain a database of relevant materials related to policy priorities including news articles, regulations and/or best-practice models; Develop and maintain relationships with government agencies, elected offices and other key advocacy organizations. Public Relations Attend and represent the coalition/committee and CHC at all relevant external meetings, conferences, trainings, etc.; Create educational collateral to support coalition partners and other stakeholders (i.e. fact sheets, toolkits, presentations, newsletters and web content). Stakeholder Engagement and General Administration Outreach, organize, and actively engage community members in public decision-making processes at the local, state and/or national levels; Plan, convene, and facilitate collaborations/community meetings, forums, trainings, focus groups and other activities as necessary; Build strong and vibrant coalitions to advance the policy priorities and ensure broad stakeholder input; Cultivate, engage and support coalition and community members in a wide spectrum of policy and advocacy activities; Collaborate with team members across disciplines and subject matters; Provide administrative support on internal and external meetings, such as coordinating meeting logistics, including notices/flyers, printed materials, food, room reservations, informational updates, taking notes/minutes, etc. Qualifications and Skills: Master’s degree in public health, public policy, urban planning, public affairs, sociology, anthropology, social welfare or other health-related field; AND Minimum of one to two years of research or policy experience in a nonprofit, foundation or governmental setting; OR Bachelor’s degree in public health, public policy, urban planning, public affairs, sociology, anthropology, social welfare or other health –related field PLUS at least three to five years of professional experience in a nonprofit, foundation or governmental setting. Knowledge and experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including community-based participatory research Knowledge of policy development and legislative processes. Knowledge of Los Angeles area policy issues, especially issues relevant to South Los Angeles preferred Proficient in Microsoft Office (especially Microsoft PPT and Excel); familiarity with GIS, SPSS, STATA, SAS or other quantitative software, and qualitative analysis software (e.g., NVivo) a plus; Ability to interact with diverse populations, sectors and disciplines at all levels—public-legislatures, government, private enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and specifically with South LA residents. Critical and strategic thinker who thrives in innovation. Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment while maintaining an entrepreneurship spirit. Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as excellent public speaking skills. Willingness and ability to travel locally. Professional demeanor, able to function independently and within a team. Knowledge of Asana Project Management software a plus. Community Health Councils is a non-profit, community-based health advocacy, policy and educational organization. We offer a competitive salary and generous benefits including medical, dental, vision and 403b plans; vacation, sick and holiday benefits. CHC is an equal opportunity employer. Women and persons of color are encouraged to apply. How To Apply humanresources@chc-inc.org http://www.chc-inc.org Please email a Cover Letter and Resume as separate attachments to humanresources@chc-inc.org and include the exact title of the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email.
Community Health Councils, Inc. Los Angeles, CA, USA Programs
· Provide accounting and clerical support to the accounting department. · Perform accounts payable – process invoices and enter bills and payments into QuickBooks. · Perform cash deposits and accounts receivable functions. · Process outgoing bills for mailing. · Type accurately, prepare and maintain accounting documents and records. · Prepare bank deposits, general ledger postings and statements. · Reconcile accounts in a timely manner. · Daily enter key data of financial transactions in database, preferably QuickBooks and spreadsheets. · Enter data and maintain various accounting spreadsheets and cost allocation worksheets. · Enter cost allocation in QuickBooks. · Assists in payroll processing and employee deductions, benefits maintenance. · Assists in audits and accounting for government contracts, donations. · Maintain accounting files and record retention. · Perform account analysis and spreadsheets. · Perform other accounting functions as needed. Full Health Benefits Vision & Dental Benefits 403 (b) How To Apply humanresources@chc-inc.org https://chc-inc.org/ Please submit your resume with cover letter.
Community Health Councils, Inc. Los Angeles, CA, USA Administration / Clerical
Associate Director of Development, Corporate Relations & Individual Giving
Qualifications and Experience: Bachelor’s degree required. A graduate degree is desirable. Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising or related field, preferably in a nonprofit setting, with a strong emphasis on writing and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated track record of solid fundraising results and demonstrated success soliciting major gifts, including the ability to plan, organize, and execute fundraising activities effectively, as well as the ability to participate in high-level corporate and foundation solicitations. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The successful candidate will possess strong knowledge of corporations and foundations, their structure, and giving patterns; the ability to set priorities, to coordinate multiple projects, and to personally ask for and to close gifts; will have excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate MALDEF’s mission and to produce clear, grammatically correct, and persuasive correspondence, program information, publicity material, and funding proposals; will be a highly energetic, goal-oriented self-starter with outstanding organizational and interpersonal skills and possess the ability to deal effectively and comfortably with high-level donor prospects. Strong time management and organizational skills; highly-motivated with attention to detail and the ability to meet goals and deadlines; ability to handle multiple projects and to perform well under pressure; strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work as a part of a team, to collaborate with others, and to take direction; strong administrative skills with the ability to work with volunteers, board members, and corporate leaders is required. Must have broad knowledge of local, state, and national Latino issues, organizations, and leadership and excellent computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office and strong social media media/Internet-based fundraising skills; knowledge of Raiser’s Edge is highly preferred. The ability to speak Spanish is desirable. Compensation: $55,000/year to $75,000 depending on experience. MALDEF offers a generous benefits package, including 100% employer paid medical, dental, vision for the employee and qualified dependent family members, short- and long-term disability insurance, term life insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution and match, employee assistance plan, 11 paid holidays, and 20 days of personal time off (PTO) per year and an annual bonus. How to Apply: Send cover letter and résumé by email to: jobs@maldef.org . For ease of processing please title your email as follows: Your Name – LA Assc Dir of CR & IG . Attachments should be in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .txt or .pdf format. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Position Open Until Filled. ■ Equal Opportunity Employer For more information, visit: www.maldef.org How To Apply jobs@maldef.org http://www.maldef.org/about/career-opportunities Send cover letter and résumé by email to: jobs@maldef.org . For ease of processing please title your email as follows: Your Name – LA Assc Dir of CR & IG . Attachments should be in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .txt or .pdf format. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
MALDEF - Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Los Angeles, CA, USA Senior Management - Director
California Director - Los Angeles
Food & Water Watch is a leading national advocacy organization that runs dynamic and cutting-edge campaigns in support of clean water, healthy food, and a livable climate for all. We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food, water, and common resources through various issue campaigns. Nationally, Food & Water Watch has had several major victories including banning fracking in New York and Maryland, stopping over half a dozen major fossil fuel infrastructure projects, preventing water privatization in 40 communities, and working to introduce strong climate and water legislation in Congress. In California, we have been a driving force behind the growing movement to ban fracking, shut down drilling, power plants and other fossil fuel infrastructure, and move off of fossil fuels and onto 100% renewable energy. Our California team of seven organizers works out of four offices in Oakland, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles. With Los Angeles being the hub of our largest regional campaign and a critical power base in the state, this position will be based there. This position reports to the Organizing Director. Specific Responsibilities: Oversees the development and implementation of long- and short-term campaign and organizing goals, strategies and tactics for local, state and federal campaign priorities in California. Supervises and mentors organizing staff and ensures that individual performance goals are met. Serves as Food & Water Watch representative on statewide coalition, manages relationships with statewide leaders and elected officials. Supervises contract lobbyist in Sacramento and leads the development of our legislative strategy. In consultation with the development department, plays a key role in developing a California fundraising strategy, which includes identifying potential foundations and high-donors, writing grants and soliciting donations. Coordinates with the Creative Strategy and Engagement Department in creating a compelling narrative for on-line donors and activists that tells the story of our work in California. Works as part of the national Organizing Department Management Team and leads regional meetings and strategy sessions. Works with Organizing Director, Communications and Policy staff to develop media strategies, including print, radio, TV, and social media. Drafts opinion pieces, letters to the editor, and blog posts. Speaks at public events, forums, and other venues, and serves as a representative of Food & Water Watch to the public and the media. Increases Food & Water Watch’s impact by expanding our membership base, seeking new coalition partners, and building our staff. Periodic travel within California and to Washington, DC. Other duties as assigned. Requirements: At least 10 years of successful advocacy or grassroots organizing experience. At least 5 years of successful staff management experience Significant knowledge of California politics and legislature Documented success in planning and implementing short- and long-term strategic campaigns and organizational goals. Knowledge of public interest campaigns, including grassroots organizing strategies and advocacy techniques. Strategic thinker as evidenced through previous organizing campaigns and successes. Experience working with grassroots organizations. Clear written and oral communication skills with ability to work with remote staff. Ability to manage time with competing priorities. High energy and enthusiasm. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and general social media. Qualifications Desired but not required skills: Familiarity with constituent relationship management (CRM) databases and online organizing software and strategies. Familiarity with California water, climate, and energy policy. Significant fundraising experience. Bilingual, in English & Spanish, a plus College degree Compensation: Salary dependent on experience.
Food & Water Watch Los Angeles, CA, USA Senior Management - Director
Los Angeles Nonprofit Organizer Role
Food & Water Watch are seeking an Organizer based in our Los Angeles, California office to bottom line our work in the Los Angeles and Southern California area. Under the direction of the California Director and a Los Angeles Senior Organizer, this position will plan and implement campaigns, recruit and oversee volunteers, and assist with fundraising. The leading campaign for Food & Water Watch in Los Angeles is the 100% real, clean energy by 2030 campaign. This position will help implement key aspects of this campaign, including organizing on the West Side of Los Angeles to support the Protect Playa Now coalition, which is working to Shut down the Playa del Rey Gas Storage Facility, Transition the Playa del Rey Scattergood Gas Powered Generating Station to clean energy, End neighborhood drilling, and Transition Los Angeles to 100% real, clean energy by 2030. Specific Responsibilities: Work closely with Food & Water Watch organizing staff Build a strong base of organizations and individuals in support of our campaigns Participate in coalitions on campaign issues Develop and implement long and short-term campaign and organizing goals, strategies and tactics Participate in coalitions on campaign issues Implement grassroots organizing and public education campaigns Implement strategic campaign plans through field organizing, online, and media strategies Work with Communications and Policy Staff to develop and implement media strategies including print, radio, TV, and social media. Draft opinion pieces, letters to the editor, and blog posts Speak at public events, forums, and other venues, and serve as a representative of Food & Water Watch to the public and the media Develop online action alerts to engage our activists on key issues in the region Recruit, supervise, and develop volunteers and interns Increase Food & Water Watch’s impact by expanding our membership base Work and assist Development staff on maintaining donor relationships Maintain familiarity with a diverse set of issues and research, and respond to information requests from activists, coalition members, and media Develop educational materials such as factsheets, action alerts, web content, and newsletter articles on various campaign issues. Maintain social media presence for the coalition. Maintain activist database and email lists to effectively communicate to members and supporters Other duties as assigned Qualifications: Education: College degree or equivalent education and experience Experience: At least 2 years of successful advocacy or grassroots organizing experience Clear demonstration of ability to develop effective organizing strategies, and guide others to develop effective organizing strategies Familiarity with California politics and southern California communities Fundraising experience a plus Applicant must be legally eligible to work in the United States 100% employer-paid health care, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance. Three weeks paid vacation to start and three personal days. Food & Water Watch offices are closed for all federal holidays and an extra week at the end of December. Paid sick days. Paid family and medical leave. 403(b) retirement plan with annual employer contribution after the first year on staff. Professional development opportunities on an ongoing basis. Please include your resume, cover letter and three professional references to be considered. We will review your application and if we feel that your knowledge, skills and abilities are potentially a good match for our organization, we will be in contact with you. Position open until filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Food & Water Watch strives for a diverse work environment and encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
Food & Water Watch Los Angeles, CA, USA Programs
Executive Assistant - Nonprofit
We are looking for an exceptional, experienced, and highly dedicated Executive Assistant. The coveted candidate will be committed to getting results in a fast-paced, collaborative, and strategic growth-focused environment, and is ideal for an impeccably organized, superbly detail-oriented individual with a strong interest in racial and social justice issues. If you’re passionate about utilizing your expertise and administrative skills to enhance daily workflow and impact during this unique time in history, we want you to bring your talents and acumen into the inner workings of the movement. Job Responsibilities Calendar Management & Complex Travel Coordination Coordinate the schedule of your direct manager with a strong understanding of shifting and regular priorities, while working closely with other members of your team to maximize impact and workflow Lead scheduling internally and externally with various internal teams on behalf of your direct manager, acting as a key liaison and representative for your team Flawlessly manage and coordinate various travel arrangements for your direct manager and/or those collaborating with your team, ensuring accuracy, efficiency and impeccable attention to detail with shifting needs and priorities Execute all meetings and events, coordinating contractors and vendors as needed Create meetings and associated timelines; prepare and distribute meeting notifications, agenda materials, and manage all correspondence and meeting execution with the highest level of accuracy, efficiency, and attention to detail Data Entry & Records Management Ensure efficiency, accuracy and quality control for financial reports, tracking and reconciling all expenses in collaboration with the Finance department Complete and submit timesheets and department invoices effectively and efficiently, minimizing any margin of error or risk Collaborate with other team members and departments to produce and/or collect accurate data for reports and other actionable items for your direct manager Manage and update your team’s shared files with the most current content for briefings, travel, meeting schedule, etc. with ultimate discretion Take meeting notes and share next steps with collaborators as needed; attend working group meetings, record and circulate minutes Additional Administrative Responsibilities Lead and support administrative projects; ensuring that they are accomplished in a timely and accurate manner, continually updating your direct manager with status reports Manage and/or support special event invitation process and confirmations, vetting requests and strategic content while working closely with your team Provide support for other administrative positions and duties as required, including event management Travel independently (10-30%) in support of engagements QUALIFICATIONS The ideal candidate will be extremely proactive and convey administrative excellence, exercising complete discretion and poise under pressure, while demonstrating effective written and oral communication skills. Candidates with excellent attention to detail and the ability to prioritize time-sensitive assignments will excel in this role. You should have: A minimum of 3-6 years of experience in an administrative role supporting a senior level principal or an Executive level office (nonprofit/social justice organization experience preferred) Demonstrated experience crafting internal and external facing client/partner communications and high-level proficiency in MS Office Impeccable verbal, written, research, communication and deck creation skills, and experience Demonstrated alignment with Color Of Change’s mission, and a strong commitment to racial and/or social justice Excellent organizational skills and the ability to communicate complex ideas in clear, concise terms (verbally and written) Ability to prioritize competing projects and multi-task across a broad spectrum of collaborators, based in various office locations or working remotely Ability to exercise independent judgment and take initiative in an environment with shifting priorities Able to work independently in a face-paced environment, with a proactive approach Dedication and ability to work flexible hours, and travel (30-50%) Commitment to confidentiality and ability to exercise absolute discretion HOW TO APPLY Click the "Apply for this position" link below and submit a resume and COC-specific cover letter. Applications will be received on a rolling basis. MORE INFORMATION The salary for the Executive Assistant position is $72,000. This is a full-time exempt position. Color Of Change also offers a competitive benefits package. Color Of Change (COC) is an equal opportunity employer. COC prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity or any other basis prohibited by law.
ColorOfChange Oakland, CA, USA Administration / Clerical
SR. Development Database Manager
Color Of Change seeks an entrepreneurial-minded Sr. Development Database Manager in Oakland who will be charged with building a new best-in-class database infrastructure; developing internal policies and protocols and ensuring the highest level of team fidelity. The right candidate will be committed to getting results in a fast-paced environment and be able to handle competing priorities. The Sr. Development Database Manager will begin the role by assessing the organization's current tools within the first 30 -days. You will be asked and be charged with developing more effective policies and procedures within the first 90days. This role will oversee all database/CRM maintenance, data analysis, reporting, cleaning, and requests for information across COC’s three organizational entities: 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC. This position reports directly to the Sr. Director of Development and will work closely with the Director of Individual Giving and Director of Institutional Partnerships to support the team’s infrastructure. In addition, this role has one full-time direct report: Development Coordinator. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Oversee all functions of database management including data and gift entry, volunteer management, clean up and reporting. Oversee all gift efforts by developing, maintaining, and updating information on new and existing donor prospects. Routinely examine and clean current data records to ensure data accuracy to eliminate duplicate records, inconsistent data to maintain overall database integrity and accuracy of data imported into the database. Process contributions received through all giving mechanisms and disseminate information to Development and Finance teams. Create and manage department dashboard for analysis, tracking metrics, fundraising and financial reporting. Identify data that is to be captured and recorded in database and assist the Director of Institutional Partnerships and Director of Individual Giving in determining the best structure. Develop MS Excel spreadsheets tools to manipulate data where database tools are insufficient. Interacts with all necessary departments (particularly Finance) to analyze and gather report requirements for generating criteria and output. Commitment to develop and maintain internal policies and procedures to ensure the quality and integrity of the database. Create and maintain standard queries and reports while working cross-functionally to report revenue and inform protocols related to gift processing. Work with Finance and Development team to reconcile projected revenue with actuals. WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS: A Relationship Builder. You are genuinely committed to being effective versus being right, and possess strong listening skills. You like learning what motivates people, what inspires their generosity, and makes them feel appreciated. You have the ability to initiate, organize and manage projects and to interface successfully with colleagues in a collaborative approach. Persistent and Optimistic. You are intrinsically motivated and undaunted by ambitious goals. You have the creativity and tenacity to find your way around a “no” answer to a more productive “not right now,” “maybe,” or,best yet, “yes.” Exceptional in Written Communication and Quantitative Analysis. Demonstrated ability to design and implement systems for tracking and reporting revenue deemed invaluable and user-friendly by fundraisers and senior leaders to track progress against goals. Your working style is about creating order and planning ahead. You are a strategic thinker who always has their end goal in sight. You are a skilled project manager and keep yourself and others on your team on track within timelines. An Organizational Maven. You can manage across multiple work streams and functions, keeping deadlines and managing complexity by simplifying solutions, systems, and processes with clarity and attention to detail. You have an ability to efficiently initiate and complete multiple tasks on time. Adaptable and Flexible. You can handle any curveball, and in fact, you expect them. You can meet deadlines and manage competing priorities. Additionally, you are strategic and have the ability to pivot quickly as priorities shift and the team continues to take shape. You can and are willing to travel 15% of the time between offices. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: In this role and organization, strategic thinking and adaptability are paramount. While experience in a similar role in the civil rights sector is not required, a commitment to civil rights and racial justice is. A qualified candidate should have: Ideally 10+ years of professional experience with demonstrated database/CRM management experience. Talent manager with at least 4+ years of experience directly managing staff . Successful track record designing and implementing systems, and training staff on database protocol. Proficiency with financial statements and/or experience working with generally accepted principles of finance and accounting. Strong quantitative data and analytical skills, with an ability to manage and analyze large data sets A desire to use and analyze data in creative ways to drive and measure results. Expertise in Microsoft Excel, Keynote, and Google Docs. Deep commitment to and understanding of current social justice issues that intersect race, media, economics, criminal justice, gender, and climate justice. Experience working within a structured and effective Development department and ability to bring an entrepreneurial approach both to their career path and development work. HOW TO APPLY Click the "Apply for this position" link below and submit a resume and COC-specific cover letter. Applications will be received on a rolling basis. MORE INFORMATION The salary for the Sr. Development Database Manager position is $80,000. This is a full-time exempt position. Color Of Change also offers a competitive benefits package. Color Of Change (COC) is an equal opportunity employer. COC prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity or any other basis prohibited by law.
ColorOfChange Oakland, CA, USA Information / Web
Associate Grant Writer - Los Angeles Nonprofit
The Development Team of Color Of Change (COC) ensures there are sufficient resources for COC to remain a powerful influencer across broad segments of the progressive movement. We are creative and passionate professionals committed to excellence in the pursuit of Color Of Change’s mission. We are committed to racial equity in America and building an effective, unapologetic and unrelenting opposition-- built to win media wars and win back hearts and minds; block destructive policies from taking effect; mobilize missions of people to define the majority, and ultimately govern the country. We do this through driving COC’s resource development strategy and infrastructure, to advance the Color Of Change mission. POSITION DESCRIPTION Color Of Change seeks two Associate Grant Writers (Associate Writers) that will integrate their deep passion and general understanding of social and racial equity concepts, policies, activities in America to create compelling solutions and narratives on how institutions and foundations can partner with Color Of Change to advance its mission. Through leveraging data insights from our studies and campaigns the Associate Writers, under the direction of the Director of Institutional Partnerships will chiefly be responsible for supporting the identification of potential fits between grantor funding priorities and COC’s mission as well as writing and editing letters of intent, grant applications and proposals, and preparing timely reports to funding sources on grants received. This position will report to the Director of Institutional Partnerships. Core Responsibilities Supports all research activities for potential grant opportunities that align with COC’s mission by performing prospect research on foundations and informing all relevant internal stakeholders of grant opportunities and eligibility requirements regularly. Ensures that standard elements such as qualifications statements, staff biographies, support letters, and required funder forms are accurate and readily available. Supports the development of case statements and narratives to identify strategic areas for program growth that describe COC’s campaigns in a way that will inspire funding interest that fuels our media, criminal & economic justice, and power & voice work. Responsible for identification, research, and strategic outreach for new and existing institutional and foundation partners. Supports the submission of proposals, applications, letters of interest, and concept papers by synthesizing campaign and organizational needs and goals into provoking proposals. This also may involve developing and executing work plans and timelines, meeting facilitation, quality assurance, internal communications with internal/ external partners and funders, and final submission. Facilitates grantor understanding of Color Of Change by supporting the organization of interactions with the appropriate COC staff, board members and donors. This may include sharing information about COC with grantors, arranging and conducting video/conference calls, and site visits. Any other duties as assigned to help advance COC’s fundraising strategy and organizational infrastructure. We’re Looking For Someone Who Is: Creative: You can conceptualize and describe funding needs in a way that is compelling to prospects, donors, board members, and other stakeholders. You have a knack for designing logic models and conveying information and research that is compelling, clear, and analytic in style. An Organizational Maven: You can manage across multiple work streams and functions, keeping deadlines and managing complexity by simplifying solutions, systems, and processes with clarity and attention to detail. You have an ability to efficiently meet deadlines. Adaptable and Flexible: You can handle any curveball, and in fact, you expect them. You can meet deadlines and manage competing priorities. Additionally, you are strategic and have the ability to pivot quickly as priorities shift and the team continues to take shape. You can and are willing to travel if needed. A Self Starter: You have the ability to initiate, organize and manage projects, and to interface successfully with colleagues in a collaborative approach. Collaborative: You see yourself as central to cultivating productive relationships with contacts across the social and racial justice space including agencies, movement builders, advocacy organizations, and academia. What You Will Need: Professional Experience: A minimum of one (1) year of professional/ progressive work experience in proposal or program development. Experience Generating Funding For Racial and Social Equity Movements: You have a deep passion and broad but general understanding of the racial and social equity ecosystem as well as the concepts and agents that are funding and pushing the work forward. You have had exposure to drawing insights from outcomes data and/or crafting LOIs, concept papers, proposals and stewardship materials for progressive institutions that have secured significant, multi-year gifts. Mission Alignment: You have enthusiasm, familiarity and demonstrated alignment with Color Of Change’s mission and campaigns and also a commitment to building/deepening your commitment to racial justice. You are steadfast in your support of COC’s long-term sustainability and are committed to a career with impact. COMPENSATION The salary for the Associate Grant Writer is $73,000. Color Of Change offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including generous vacation and holiday schedules and medical, dental and disability insurances. Color Of Change is an equal opportunity employer. Color Of Change prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity or any other basis prohibited by law. APPLICATION SUBMISSION Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
ColorOfChange Oakland, CA, USA Development
The Director of Development creates and implements a strategic approach to fundraising which may include major gifts, corporate donations, grant solicitation, government and corporate contracts and in-kind resources. Primary Duties and Responsibilities: Collaborate with the Executive Director, Advisory Board and Development Committee to create a fund development plan which increases revenues to support the strategic direction of the organization Implement the fund development plans in accordance with ethical fundraising principles Develop and manage timelines for various fundraising activities to ensure strategic plans and critical fund raising processes are carried out in a timely manner Monitor and evaluate all fundraising activities to ensure that the fundraising goals are being achieved Prepare and submit grant proposals and applications Oversee the planning and execution of special fundraising events Identify and develop corporate, community and individual prospects Oversee the administration of a donor mailing list and database which respects the privacy and confidentiality of donor information Engage volunteers for fundraising purposes and manage fundraising committee Develop and manage fund development budget Oversee a comprehensive communication plan to promote the organization to its donors and maximize public awareness of the fundraising activities of the organization Coordinate the design, printing and distribution of marketing and communication materials for development efforts Build relationships with community stakeholders to advance the mission and fundraising goals of the organization Qualifications: 3 to 5 years of fundraising experience Knowledge of fundraising management Knowledge of special events planning and management Knowledge of the management of volunteer resources Knowledge of grants research and proposal writing Computer proficiency: · Fundraising software · Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Personal Characteristics: The Director of Development should have a basic familiarity with and appreciation of innovative contemplative practices that promote compassion, as well as personal and systemic transformation, and should demonstrate competence in the following areas: · Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve the finances of the organization and to create new opportunities · Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization · Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques · Focus on Donor Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of donors to meet or exceed their expectations · Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with staff and volunteers to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness · Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization · Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization · Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results · Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities · Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem · Integrity: Always maintain and practice the high ethical standards of the organization and its mission · Self-Care: Commitment to a balance of intense work focus with personal wellbeing and health Benefits include paid holiday/sick/vacation time, a 403(b) plan with employer match, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, health and dependent care flex spending plans, and telecommuting. Qualifications Required: 3 to 5 years of fundraising experience Knowledge of fundraising management Knowledge of special events planning and management Knowledge of the management of volunteer resources Knowledge of grants research and proposal writing Computer proficiency: · Fundraising software · Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Center for Council Los Angeles, CA, USA Development
Associate Regional Campaign Director
The Associate Regional Campaign Director is a regular, full-time position reporting to a Deputy Campaign Director and is based within the region. The Associate Regional Campaign Director will work with a Deputy Campaign Director to develop and execute proactive and holistic campaign plans to win elections and legislative outcomes. At the direction of a Deputy Campaign Director, the Associate Regional Campaign Director will have primary responsibility for a significant geographic area encompassing several states, will directly manage discrete campaigns or projects within the region, and may directly supervise temporary employees and contractors in the execution of those campaigns or projects. They will be a critical thinker and thought partner who grasps HRC’s long-term goals and the dynamics that shape our work in the electoral and legislative space, while understanding the day-to-day execution necessary to deliver on our mission. They will enjoy managing a variety of projects simultaneously and will have the organizational skills necessary to stay on top of that scope of work. They will thrive in a fast-paced, campaign-like environment and bring with them an inclination to solve problems creatively. Position Responsibilities: Help create a presence for HRC and serve as a point of access to HRC in the region. Develop and implement strategic legislative and electoral campaign plans for priority states in the region in collaboration with in-state partner organizations and HRC leadership, ensuring the integration of these plans into HRC’s strategic legislative, electoral, membership, communication and education goals. Implement strategies to support HRC-endorsed candidates in federal, state, and local elections, as well as provide assistance to HRC-supported ballot initiative campaigns in the region. Implement strategies to support federal, state, and local legislation in states within the region, and provide technical support and assistance to maximize HRC’s local lobbying efforts. Lead HRC’s efforts to partner effectively with state and local LGBTQ and allied organizations in the region to advance the goals of the LGBTQ movement. Implement outreach efforts in the region to selected constituencies, including people of color, transgender communities, religious communities, business leaders, youth, and others. Serve as the primary staff liaison to HRC steering committees in the region with regard to the committees’ political activities. Increase the number of grassroots volunteers and advocates identified and willing to take action in support of HRC’s electoral and legislative priorities. Design and implement advocacy training programs for volunteers and supporters in the region. Ensure that all volunteer outreach and engagement is meticulously tracked in VAN and reports are submitted as required. Share HRC’s commitment to inclusion and the intersectionality of the LGBTQ movement by integrating campaign and outreach efforts to defend and advance shared advocacy priorities like reproductive rights, immigrant rights, and other civil rights causes. Hire and manage temporary employees and contractors, as well as supervise the work of other HRC employees on deployment. Other duties and responsibilities as assigned. Position Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience. Five or more years in community, issue, labor, legislative or electoral organizing strongly preferred, including substantial experience supervising staff or volunteers representing a rich mix of experience, backgrounds, and perspectives. A demonstrated record of successful coalition-building (experience in states in the relevant region preferred). Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a metrics-driven issue or electoral campaign effort. Demonstrated experience with VAN and a familiarity with other standard organizing and advocacy tools and social media required. Must have strong speaking and writing skills, and strong verbal communication skills. Strong skills with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and Google Apps (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Drive). Must be located within the region no more than one hour from a major airport and able to travel for weeks or months at a time to support specific, time-limited campaigns. Must have a valid driver’s license. Must have reliable vehicle available because this position requires extensive travel. Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in other languages a plus, especially Spanish. Strong interest in the rapidly changing LGBTQ equality movement and a working knowledge of LGBTQ issues. A demonstrated commitment to advancing HRC’s goals and objectives. All positions at the Human Rights Campaign may require travel on a regular basis or periodically. Where the need arises for business travel, appropriate compensation as outlined by the Fair Labor Standards Act will apply. No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to queries about application status.
Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles, CA, USA Senior Management - Director
Reporting directly to the Director of Communications (“Director”), the Communications Manager (“Manager”) oversees the planning and production of key materials and assets related to communication advocacy, fundraising and event-based campaigns. The Manager will oversee the content strategy and maintenance of communications channels, including organizational email campaigns, websites, social media, digital advertising, and earned media. As assigned by the Director of Communications, the Manager assists in coordinating and managing the production of organizational and programmatic messaging frameworks, which inform campaign strategy and production plans. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Strategic Communications Advocacy • Develop and execute a communications strategy in partnership with programmatic staff to reinforce the organizational mission and vision, lift the visibility of the organization’s programmatic work and support identified goals and priorities; • Provide communications technical assistance to coalition and partner organizations and allies to augment ongoing advocacy campaigns; and • Manage process for speaking engagements, including identifying opportunities for APCA staff and partners to address key stakeholder groups on priority issues. Copy Writing • Produce persuasive writing that drives targeted audiences to be educated or act; and • Develop and disseminate messaging to support the work of coalition and state-based partners. Content Production • Oversee workflow from the production of messaging and asset design to print and posting content on multiple websites and blogs; • Develop and manage the communications editorial calendar in collaboration with other APCA teams;drafting and posting content regularly to keep the site up-to-date, and managing the blog writing and editing process for staff and guest contributors; • Review, edit, proofread, and oversee the production of APCA publications, including reports, one-sheets, infographics, the organization’s annual report, education materials for donors, event promotions, and other materials; • Manage relationships with vendors such as designers, web developers and printers; and • Handle administrative tasks related to communications work such as document/asset storage,maintaining media lists and tracking placements, and fulfilling requests for APCA materials and information. Digital Platform Management • Oversee organization’s website, social media and email marketing to share organizational news, promote advocacy campaigns, events, and broaden programmatic audiences; • Implement search engine optimization techniques to increase visibility; • Enforce process guidelines, quality and frequency standards, and best practices for user engagement for email and social media campaigns; and • Maintain organizational YouTube channel. Targeted Advertising • Develop advertising strategies for Twitter Ads and Facebook Editors, ensuring ad creatives are optimized for delivery and in compliance with social media advertising policies and political content guidelines; and • Execute list acquisition and retention campaigns to grow APCA’s base of engaged followers; continued optimization of conversion and engagement rate. Earned Media • Support media relations, including writing and disseminating press releases, pitching stories to targeted reporters, drafting talking points and message frameworks, crafting statements, and arranging interviews with APCA spokespersons; and • Create and execute strategic, high-quality press events that spur coverage, shift narratives, and drive key stakeholders to act; and • Draft communications plans and tool kits that draw upon traditional media relations tactics while integrating innovative uses of digital platforms and content. Research & Analytics • Track and analyze data gathered from websites, search, email, social media to optimize interaction with target audiences and expand reach; and • Work with Director to update performance dashboards each quarter and share with staff. General Duties • Support organization-wide planning, development, and communication activities, as needed and ensure adherence to APCA’s goals and policies; and • Other duties as assigned, dependent on organizational needs and employee skills. Qualifications An individual must be able to perform each essential job function assigned to satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • Sincere and demonstrated commitment to advancing social, economic, and/or racial justice progress for the highest-need communities. • Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree in communications or marketing preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential job duties considered. • Strong interpersonal, written, analytical, and verbal communication skills are required. • Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to details are required. • A minimum of four years of digital advocacy and/or media relations experience, including a demonstrated record of managing digital platforms, producing persuasive content, pitching stories, cultivating reporter relations, and staffing messengers for interviews. • Experience in strategic communications advocacy preferred. • Ability to work with diverse groups of people, including local, state, and national partner organizations. • Collaborative, dependable self-starter with a record of producing high-quality work for different audiences under tight deadlines. • Ability to create and present compelling and persuasive presentations on controversial or complex topics to movement leaders and partner organizations promptly, often on short notice. • Excellent computer skills, proficient with MS Office, Photoshop and/or Canva, Mail Chimp and/or non-profit CRM applications; Adobe and Final Cut experience a plus. • Flexibility to adjust and contribute to continually evolving work situations and changing priorities. • Must be able to travel locally and statewide. Salary Competitive compensation depending on experience. Includes full health, dental and retirement benefits. To Apply Please send cover letter, resume and a strategic communications advocacy writing sample such as a press release or blog post to: Jorge Jimenez Director of Human Resources, Finance and Administration hr@advanceproj.org Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Advancement Project Los Angeles, CA, USA Marketing / PR
California Program Manager
People Management Manage two Program Coordinators in providing holistic support to one cohort of Kayne Scholars and Mentor Coaches each, including: Supporting their cohort of Scholars throughout the program cycle, including onboarding, matching, program tracking, coaching and case management, and dismissals/re-matching Consistently collecting and tracking program data, coordinating survey distribution and recording data in Salesforce and/or Airtable Planning and facilitating workshops, including curriculum tailoring and workshop preparation, facilitating content and group discussions, and supporting with set up and registration Collaborating with staff from partner organizations (such as ScholarMatch College Advisors) to provide seamless student support in delivering the Kayne Scholars Program Developing as professionals, providing coaching and support as needed to assist Program Coordinators in achieving their program and professional development goals Program Management Oversee all ANY-CA program elements, including logistics, operations and staff preparation to ensure Saturday workshops and all virtual program events (1) run smoothly, (2) create a positive and challenging learning environment for Scholars and Mentor Coaches, and (3) provide an engaging experience for visitors and guests. Manage volunteers and volunteer selection, including Mentor Coach recruitment, selection, and training, as well as Career Coach support Oversee the Kayne Scholars Representatives to engage the Scholar community and provide opportunity for student leadership and program ownership Case Management Provide holistic support, with a career development and career exploration focus, to one cohort of Kayne Scholars and Mentor Coaches on a variety of topics: Exploring careers and sourcing, securing and succeeding in STEM and business (90% annual internship goal) Successfully building and maintaining professional relationships and a mentoring relationship College success (in partnership with Scholar Match College Advisors), including time management and leveraging on-campus resources Personal issues, including crisis prevention and intervention, confidence-building and interpersonal coaching General Programs In partnership with Kayne and ScholarMatch, support in evaluating and selecting Kayne Scholars, as well as support annual Scholar interview day and orientation (various Saturdays outside of workshop days) Support site fundraising, partnership development, and community engagement efforts as needed Additional projects and duties as determined by the California Program Director Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree is required Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects and tasks effectively Able to inspire teams and mobilize individuals and groups to action Superb public speaking and facilitation skills; experience teaching or training youth and adults preferred (knowledge of first-generation population a plus) Experience providing career and/or college advisement to adolescents, college students or young professionals Strong listening, coaching, and mediation skills, with a high level of empathy and ability to create a culture of accountability Ability to work in a fast paced, data-driven environment with a start-up feel Results-oriented with a commitment to outcomes-driven performance; able to create a culture of accountability and excellence Seeks continuous improvement and feedback High level of energy and commitment As ANY workshops are held on Saturdays, this position will require flexibility and willingness to work nontraditional work hours To Apply Please submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@americaneedsyou.org (subject line: CA Program Manager – Last_Name, First_Name). Please note that your application will not be considered without a cover letter. No phone calls please.
America Needs You Los Angeles, CA, USA Programs
The Center for Policing Equity is looking for a skilled, Human Resources (HR) Generalist with a passion for social justice issues. Under the direction of the Associate Executive Director , the HR Generalist will coordinate all HR processes for Center for Policing Equity employees. Using problem solving and analytic skills, the HR Generalist will coordinate all personnel processes including recruitment, hiring and onboarding new employees, executing on HR and personnel protocols for active employees, and administration such as processing payroll. The HR Generalist must be knowledgeable about HR best practices and administration. Key Responsibilities Develop job descriptions in collaboration with key staff members Coordinate posting of job descriptions across all relevant job forums Coordinate recruitment efforts for attracting talent Conduct screening interviews for applicants and escalate superior candidates to the appropriate teams/supervisors for full interviews Conduct reference checks and credential verification processes once candidates have been identified Create and deliver offer letters to prospective hires Enter new hire information into the internal payroll system Work with new employees’ supervisors to create onboarding plans for new hires Conduct new employee orientation and provide benefits information Process employee payroll and leave accruals using the internal payroll system Coordinate and monitor all leaves of absence including family and medical leave participation and workers compensation incidents Collect and maintain employee personnel records Conduct exit interviews Analyze and make recommendations for optimizing current HR policies and procedures Work with PEO to ensure organization is adhering to multiple HR laws that may vary by state Qualifications (required) Previous work experience in HR administration (minimum of 3 years) Demonstrated working knowledge and ability to understand, interpret, and apply principles and best practices for HR administration Demonstrated ability to handle confidential materials with discretion and sensitivity Interpersonal skills to relate tactfully and diplomatically with employees Experience working with payroll software applications and Microsoft Office Ability to work independently Strong written and verbal communication skills Superior attention to detail Proactive in surfacing problems and finding solutions Ability to quickly adapt to a growing organization Passionate about social justice issues Other Relevant Qualifications (desired, but not required) Bachelors degree in relevant field Passion for social justice Application Submission Guidelines Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. However, applications received after June 1, 2019 will receive delayed consideration. Please submit the following materials to apply for this position: CV/resume Cover Letter Please be sure to label each PDF file by including your name. For example, your submitted CV should be labeled, “LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME.CV.pdf.”
The Center For Policing Equity Los Angeles, CA, USA Human Resources
Program Manager (Administration and Operations)
CPE is looking for a skilled Program Manager with a passion for social justice issues. The Program Manager will leverage their background in project management, stakeholder engagement, and change management to help scale their program’s work, drive efficiency, and build cohesion and collaboration across a diverse, geographically distributed team. This role will also collaborate with Program Managers across the central, org-wide Program Management Office (PMO) to establish, promote, and enforce CPE’s standards for project management and operational protocols. This role reports to the Senior Vice President of Program Management, and collaborates closely with the Executive Director, who owns the roadmap and strategic priorities of the Administration & Operations program. Key Responsibilities Project Management: Plan and manage multiple related projects of varying scope/complexity while meeting deadlines Risk Management: Proactively identify risks to the program’s success, and work with teams and org leadership to mitigate these risks before they become issues Stakeholder Engagement: Clear communication and distillation of complex ideas into easy-to-understand language, for diverse audiences including org executives, junior staff, and external partners Process Evolution and Change Management: Work with the PMO to develop, enforce, and improve established processes, tools, standards, and documentation needed to successfully execute strategic initiatives across the program Desired Qualities and Skillset Bachelor's degree / 5+ years of Project or Program Management experience Demonstrated experience with a variety of project management methodologies and tools Ability to quickly adapt and apply new project management tools and processes to a growing organization Exceedingly strong communication skills (both written and verbal), with a passion for distilling complex ideas into language that is easy to understand Be a strong team player, assisting the overall team and peers to achieve success Application Submission Guidelines Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. However, applications received after June 1, 2019 will receive delayed consideration. Please submit the following materials to apply: Resume/CV Cover Letter Please be sure to label each PDF file by including your name. For example, your submitted CV should be labeled, “LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME.CV.pdf.”
The Center For Policing Equity Los Angeles, CA, USA Administration / Clerical
Senior Development Director
The Center for Policing Equity is seeking a Development Director to lead fundraising activities and oversee donor relations. The successful candidate will be responsible for executing annual campaigns to meet funding goals, communicating with current and prospective donors, and building a strong development team. The position involves engaging with high net worth individuals and managing individual, foundation, and government grants. If you have a strong background in nonprofit development and interest in criminal justice reform, we encourage you to apply. Specific areas of responsibility include: Fundraising Design, implement, and manage all fundraising activities including annual giving, special project campaigns, and other solicitations. Cultivate new donors and maintain relationships with existing donors through personal visits along with key CPE principals, phone calls, electronic communications, special events, and other communications vehicles. Maintain contact with prospects and help develop grant proposals. Lead project teams in proposal development. Ensure grant submission and reporting deadlines are met. Assist in identifying new opportunities for support. Organize major donor/prospect events and follow up as needed, including assessing the return on investment for each event to inform future planning. Integrate a digital strategy with overall fundraising plan, including appeals and influencer communication. Board of Directors Relations Serve as development liaison to the board of directors and engage board members with outreach and prospect cultivation. Assume responsibility for all development reports to the board and attend all board meetings. Development Office Infrastructure Supervise donor and gift record-keeping. Coordinate development research activities. Oversee database management and gift processing. Manage pledge reminder and acknowledgement programs. Advise Executive Director and finance department on budgeting for development/fundraising activities. Qualifications: A minimum of seven years professional fundraising experience, preferably in a criminal justice reform or advocacy-focused nonprofit. Proven experience in designing and managing development and major gifts programs. Experience with developing and maintaining productive working relationships with board members, donors, volunteers, and program and administrative staff. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work as a leader and as part of a team. Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credentials a plus.
The Center For Policing Equity Los Angeles, CA, USA Development
Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager
Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this is an extremely fast-paced and dynamic role. The Sr. Policy and Advocacy Manager acts as the internal and external face of advocacy for the organization. This position requires excellent interpersonal skills, experience building strong partnerships, a proven track record of success with policy analysis, and interactions with policy makers. Experience in project management, personnel management, and public speaking is preferred. S/he will be largely self-directed, motivated, and innovative. Working with a small team of interns and part-time staff, the Sr. Policy and Advocacy Manager will develop strategy and implement campaigns to ensure FoLAR’s key issues and projects geared towards a restored LA River are accomplished at the local and state levels, with some occasional focus on the federal level as well. The Sr. Policy and Advocacy Manager is a top expert on River policy and planning issues and will work with FoLAR staff and partner organizations to develop strategies that influence decision-making and policy at the local, state, and federal level. The successful candidate will be expected to remain current with events and trends that relate to LA River restoration, the LA River community, and the activities and internal projects of FoLAR, as well as comply with policies and procedures of FoLAR. Responsibilities o Develop strategy and direct advocacy campaigns as they relate to FoLAR’s mission o Track various issues and planning and policy decisions at the local and state levels o Assist in the development of the annual policy budget and department work plan o Manage policy department, which may include interns and part-time staff o Work collaboratively with the Communications Manager to strategize and execute advocacy campaigns that focus on inside and outside games o Ensure each primary campaign includes aspects of community organizing, engagement, education o Manage government relations contractors o Assist ED in monitoring and analyzing the political landscape to determine programmatic goals and adjust priorities appropriately o Educate and engage agency and elected officials at the local, federal, and state levels on priority issues o Build and maintain FoLAR’s strong coalition of disparate interests, including a broad range of organizations, elected officials, agencies, and community leaders o Assist ED and Development staff in securing policy and advocacy funding o Plan, coordinate, and implement advocacy-related programs o Identify new and creative approaches to integrate policy objectives into organizational activities and programming o Communicate effectively internally to ensure that policy and organizational priorities are clear to staff o Staff the Policy and Legislative Committee with heavy oversight from the ED, attend Board meetings; help present issues/proposals to full Board and achieve buy-in Qualifications o Bachelors degree in planning, public policy, environmental science or related area required. Masters degree preferred. o At least three years of progressively responsible experience in issue advocacy, legislative affairs, and/or campaigns; or other relevant experience/education. o Confidence in public speaking and offering persuasive and often times dissenting opinion to field experts and/or positions of power o Ability to absorb, retain, and strategically apply highly technical information o Personnel management experience preferred o Spanish speaking strongly preferred o Demonstrated ability in working on collaborative projects that involve multiple organizations, stakeholders, and decision-makers o Knowledge of government affairs and processes related to achieving policy change and funding o Strong interpersonal and communications skills and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively when writing and speaking o Ability to multi-task and manage many projects simultaneously with scrupulous attention to detail o Ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters professionally To Apply To apply for this position, please email your cover letter and resume to resumes@folar.org with “Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager Application” in the subject line. Format is important; please send the cover letter in the body of the email as text and any documents (resume, etc.) as easily accessible attachments. No calls or walk-ins.
Friends of the Los Angeles River Los Angeles, CA, USA Legal
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6853
|
__label__wiki
| 0.900726
| 0.900726
|
Home Aerospace Aircraft Israel Considers Tilt-Rotor Ospreys to Modernize its CSAR, Special Operations
Israel Considers Tilt-Rotor Ospreys to Modernize its CSAR, Special Operations
Tamir Eshel
The CV-22 Osprey will take over Air Force Special Operations Command helicopter missions when the MH-53 'Pave Low' (seen below) retires in October 2011. U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter
Moving to bolster its special operations and combat search and rescue capabilities, the Israel Air Force (IAF) is re-evaluating the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft as an optional future vertical lift capability. The IAF evaluated the tilt-rotor plane for several years, until 2009 when the issue was removed from the IAF agenda for the quadrennial procurement plan.
According to Israel’s Jerusalem Post newspaper, the IAF plans to send a delegation of officers to the United States, to meet with Marine Corps representatives and review the V- 22 Osprey’s performance, and adaptability for operations in Israel.
Israel’s expressed interest in the V-22 Osprey is timed for the quadrennial defense plan 2012-2016. With the Air Forces’ main acquisition program – F-35A delayed beyond the horizon of the current plan, IAF attention is given to other priorities, including CSAR, combat transport and special operations. Photo: U.S. Marine Corps
The MV-22 producer, Bell-Boeing leverage the successful rescue of the USAF F-15E aircrew from Libya in March this year, by a pair of U.S. Marine Corps V-22s, aided by AV-8B Harriers, to highlight the versatility and usability of vertical take-off and landing aircraft for Combat Search and Rescue, Special Operations and rapid response operations.
Israel has eyed the V-22 for years, to augment and potentially replace existing heavy lift helicopters, but funding the expensive aircraft was not a priority in past acquisition plans. Although the V-22 cannot entirely replace the IAF upgraded CH-53D (Yasour 2025), particularly for the helicopter’s capability to carry vehicles internally, the Osprey offers much heavier payload capacity (nine tons Vs. the Yasour current 5 tons). The cruising speed of the V-22 is faster than the Sea Stalion (250 vs 170 knots), the Osprey also has much lower acoustic signature, making it more suitable for covert operations.
The MV-22 can transport 24 combat troops, or more than 9 tons of cargo, carried internally and externally (sling load). The Osprey has a mission range exceeding 1,600 km, (compared to 1,000 km of the CH-53D), making it attractive augmenting the IAF operations at very long range.
While the MV-22 could augment the operational capabilities of the IAF, its success is not dependent on its own performance, but on cooperation with other assets to fulfill a mission. The mission in Libya was achieved by a coordinated team of AV-8B Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) fighter jets securing the area for the Ospreys, using their VTOL capabilities to land and snatch the downed pilot. Operating along with conventional rotary-wing aircraft (such as AH-64 Apache or AH-1 Cobra) would have degraded the Osprey’s advantages, flying along with much slower support aircraft. Alternatively, relying on fighter jets would reduce the mission endurance of the aircraft or require a larger, more complex task force.
Given a positive decision about the Osprey, could therefore lead the IAF to reconsider the F-35B Short Take Off Vertical Landing aircraft, which could be deployed effectively from forward locations, supporting the new assets. The F-35B could also offer advantages in dispersing air combat assets to temporary operational bases, avoiding infrastructure damages at air bases, caused by enemy missile and rocket attacks.
If Israel will eventually decide to buy the Osprey, it is likely the final configuration for the IAF will follow the U.S. Air Force Special Operations variant (CV-22) than the Marine Corms MV-22 version. Israel is apparently interested in a ‘sub size’ squadron of up to ten MV-22s. The Pentagon does not allow export of the Air Forces’ Special Ops equipped CV-22, although Boeing officials say the two aircraft are basically identical, with the CV-22 having more mission equipment that could be applied in country.
The CV-22 Osprey will take over Air Force Special Operations Command helicopter missions when the MH-53 ‘Pave Low’ (seen below) retires in October 2011. U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter
Previous articleNew Delhi Approves $4.1 Billion C-17 Procurement
Next articleAirbus Military Tests AEW&C Configured C295
A Locally Developed ‘Loyal Wingman’ to Fly in Australia by 2020
Boeing Commits to Reciprocal Procurement in Israel to Support $10B Mega Deal
Boeing, Saab to Build the US Air Force’s Future Trainer
Boeing Selected to Develop Refueling Drones for the US Navy
UK E-3D Replacement Opens Opportunities for BizJet-Based AEW
Gain Full Access to Defense-Update:
Russian Helicopters has displayed the latest version of the KA-52 attack helicopter at the Army 2019 defense expo at Kubinka, in the Moscow region. A derivative of the Kamov KA50 helicopter that used a tandem cockpit, KA-52 This version is based on the KA50, KA-52K is in service with the Russian Army and a navalized version, KA-52K is operated by the Egyptian Navy.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6854
|
__label__cc
| 0.749112
| 0.250888
|
.nz Statistics by Calendar Year
.nz Statistics - by Calendar Year
This document records the total number of domain names registered, by calendar year, up to the end of 2016. The total number of names registered has increased from 560 on 31 December 1994 to 718,143 on 31 December 2018. By far the largest growth has been in the .co.nz second level domain (see Table 1).
The percentage growth rate peaked in the year to 31 December 1995 (see Table 2). The largest numerical growth rate was achieved in the year to 31 December 2013.
Table 1: Domain Names Registered as at 31 December by 2LD (1994-2018)
This table shows the the total number of domain names registered by 2LD at 31 December from the end of 1994.
02 Jan 97 *
31 Dec 17 31 Dec 18
.ac.nz
.cri.nz
.geek.nz
.gen.nz
.govt.nz
.health.nz
.iwi.nz
.kiwi.nz
.maori.nz
.mil.nz
.org.nz
.parliament.nz
.school.nz
* No data available for 31 December 1996.
Table 2: Growth in Domain Names Registered - Calendar Years 1995-2018
This table shows year-on-year growth in the total number of domain names registered at 31 December.
Year Domain Names Growth since previous year % growth since previous year
31 Dec 2018 718143 13574 1.93%
31 Dec 2014 598200 55846 10.30%
31 Dec 2004 174061 31593 22.2%
31 Dec 2000 83052 35735 75.5%
31 Dec 1997 16343 7723 89.6%
02 Jan 1997 * 8620 6156 250%
31 Dec 1995 2464 1904 340%
31 Dec 1994 560 --- ---
The statistics above are generated from the .nz register. From November 2002, they include all active domain names in the .nz register. Prior to November 2002, they reflect the number of names delegated to the Domain Name System by Domainz.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the statistics and analysis above, please contact us at info@dnc.org.nz. We welcome suggestions for the display of useful .nz statistics.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6860
|
__label__cc
| 0.517932
| 0.482068
|
Understanding High Performance Compute
The scale and elasticity of cloud makes it an ideal environment for large-scale compute-intensive workloads such as Grid Engines, High Performance/Throughput Compute (HPC/HTC) and Massively Parallel Processing (MPP), all of which have an enduring requirement for large amounts of processor cores and memory.
UKCloud's High Performance Compute service is designed for these types of workloads. In return for a volume and term commitment for a large number of compute cores, customers get a cost-effective, highly scalable infrastructure.
High Performance Compute leverages the benefits of the UKCloud assured cloud platform, providing you with a trusted cloud platform that's connected to key government networks, such as HSCN for health and social care, and Janet for research and education.
For workloads that require a temporary, more flexible or dynamic service, UKCloud's UKCloud for VMware may be more suitable. It offers exceptional performance and scalability, and consumption-based pricing. We also offer UKCloud for OpenStack, so we can deliver a suite of services to meet all of your needs.
High Performance Compute:
Uses a proven hyperscale architecture to deliver predictable performance at scale
Is optimised for the sensitivity of your specific workload via the DDoS-protected internet-facing Assured security domain and the trusted Elevated domain
Offers a choice of virtual machine (VM) sizes to suit the core and memory density requirements of your compute-intensive workload
Is tuned to reflect the inherent resilience provided by your Grid Engine solution
Meaning that you can:
Deploy compute-intensive workloads on a massively scalable and inexpensive platform
Avoid the CAPEX costs, risk and complexity associated with deploying a private infrastructure
Build hybrid cloud solutions optimised for both compute-intensive workloads or more traditional workloads
Integrate compute-intensive workloads with systems and datasets located on secure government networks (such as HSCN, Janet and PSN)
High Performance Compute features
We understand that long-term compute-intensive workloads require a platform that is suitably scaled, has no resource contention, offers flexible core-to-memory ratios, and is delivered at an appropriate per-core-hour price point.
UKCloud's High Performance Compute is designed to meet these requirements, and to provide an easy-to-deploy and easy-to-use infrastructure that can power your Grid Engine or parallel processing workloads.
The service is provided with a variety of cluster-wide options as follows:
Choice of our security domains. We provide both an internet-connected Assured OFFICIAL domain and Elevated OFFICIAL domain, which is primarily connected to government secure networks.
Choice of network connections. This includes PSN (including legacy networks such as GSI, PNN, CJX), RLI, HSCN and Janet.
Virtual CPU mode option. High Performance Compute is based on hyper-threaded cores which provide a cost-effective solution for compute-intensive workloads. You can opt for Native mode by using up to half the allocated cores to ensure a one-to-one mapping between virtual CPUs and physical (non hyper-threaded) cores for maximum processing power.
Choice of core-to-memory ratio. All VMs in your compute-intensive cluster must be identically configured based on one of two core-to-memory ratios.
High Performance Compute includes as standard:
One production virtual data centre (VDC) and one non-production VDC
VMware High Availability (HA) protection (only with persistent storage)
Basic load balancing
DDoS-protected internet
Personalised support via Customer Success Managers, Technical Account Managers and a telephone support desk
To model a total cost of ownership, you may also want to consider additional elements, such as connectivity, and service options, such as cloud enablement and cross-domain services.
High Performance Compute is subject to the following:
The minimum cluster size is 1,920 cores, which can be scaled in blocks of 960 cores.
All VMs within the cluster must exist within a single production VDC and within a single site.
All VMs within the cluster must be identically configured and programmatically deployed with appropriate workload distribution such as a grid engine. This is because the SLA does not apply to availability of individual VMs.
If using Tier 0 storage is configured with two local disks in a RAID 10 configuration. All available storage in the cluster will be allocated to the customer with a 6-month minimum commitment.
If any VMs are deployed with MS Windows Server OS, all provisioned cores must be licensed and will be charged at the current rate (as shown in the Pricing Guide).
There is a two-year (24-month) fixed-term commitment, which can be continued via a further 24-month call-off contract subject to the standard procedures.
Committed Compute Spend is calculated as the effective hourly cost multiplied by the number of hours in a two-year period (for example 24 x 365 x 2 = 17,520).
50% of the Committed Compute Spend must be paid upfront; the remaining 50% will be invoiced equally over 24 months.
Early Termination Fee: if the contract is terminated before month 24, the customer will be liable for the remaining cost of the Committed Compute Spend
In addition to the Committed Compute Spend, a final balancing payment equivalent to 20% of the Committed Compute Spend will be due at month 24 of the contract. The final balancing payment will not apply in the event that the customer enters into a further two-year (24-month) fixed-term commitment.
For more information, see the High Performance Compute Service Definition.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6861
|
__label__cc
| 0.51943
| 0.48057
|
Response to Mike Cushman, leading Jewish activist in University and College Union – David Hirsh
June 7, 2016 — David Hirsh
Last week I wrote this piece about the latest pro Israel Boycott motion overwhelmingly passed by UCU Congress. In that piece I argued that UCU still has a problem with cultural and institutional antisemitism, but that there was no longer much noise about it. The reason there is not much noise, I argued, is that there are almost no activists left within the decision making structures of the union who want to make a noise. Specifically, I argued, there are no Jews left at Congress willing or able to oppose antisemitism. True, there are some Jews there, but they are either antizionist pro-boycott Jews, or they are people who choose to keep their heads down.
Mike Cushman has responded to my piece here. It is good that he has responded in public because I am still bureaucratically excluded from the internal email discussion, so I have no idea what is said there. I have no right to read what is said about me and I have no right to reply either.
Mike begins his piece by demonstrating in practice how Jews who refuse to identify as antizionist are generally treated in the union. He says Engage is ‘scurrilous’. I didn’t know what that mean so I looked it up: ‘making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation’. Of course I don’t lie about people; I analyse what they say and do in a way with which they disagree. Engage makes arguments.
This is how Jews get bullied in UCU: ‘Colleagues have said that we should not respond to Hirsh’s calumnies [‘the making of false and defamatory statements’], suggesting that he is such a marginal and pitiful figure that he is not worth the attention but craves it.’ My trade union colleagues and my academic colleagues talk about me in these terms. Why? Because I oppose the boycott and I oppose antisemitism. This is how Jews who opposed the boycott and who opposed antisemitism were bullied out of the decision making structures of the union.
Since when have socialists and trade unionists spoken contemptuously of the marginal and the pitiful? Only when they are Jews who can be constructed as ‘Zionist’.
Cushman then writes this: ‘Only Jews who subscribe to ‘my Zion right or wrong’ are real Jews in Hirsh’s eyes – the rest of them, a steadily growing number, are presumably ‘asaJew’ as Engage so eloquently describes them.’
Mike Cushman knows that this is not true; he knows that I am critical of much Israeli policy, he knows that I have spent thirty years arguing against the Israeli right. See this recent talk, for example, which I gave in debate with Melanie Philips, and see this description of the event. So this is the another key mode of UCU bullying: even somebody considered to be on the far left of the Jewish community is understood, within UCU, to be a ‘myZion right or wrong’ Jew. In the normal world this characterisation may appear unobjectionable but within UCU it functions as an epithet meaning that I am a supporter of a racist ideology of Jewish supremacism and apartheid. All Jews, who refuse to disavow Israel, are thought of as this singular and disgraceful entity. They are excluded from the community of the UCU.
Allow me to explain what Cushman means when he refers to an ‘asaJew’. I have seen Mike stand up to introduce a pro boycott motion at UCU Congress. He stands up and he announces how courageous he is to oppose the Zionists. His first concern is to satisfy the audience that there is nothing antisemitic about the proposed academic boycott of Israel. For some reasons why his boycott may be antisemitic, follow this link. But Mike does not tend to begin by making his argument; instead he begins with something like: ‘As a Jew, I can tell you that there is nothing antisemitic about this boycott’, or about the culture in this union, or about the fact that the only Jews left at Congress are antizionist or silent Jews. This very phrase, ‘asaJew’ is trotted out as though it gave the speaker some kind of credibility. If this guy is Jewish, they want people to think, and if he says there is no antisemitism, he must be right. It is a mobilization of a Jewish identity as a political weapon. It is an inversion of the Macpherson principle. To read more about Jewish antizionism, follow this link.
I have never argued that antizionist Jews aren’t Jews, or aren’t real Jews. What I say is that there is a huge consensus within the Jewish community about the legitimacy of Israel, against boycotts and how to recognize antisemitism, which Mike Cushman and his ‘asaJews’ stand outside of and which they oppose. And they always use the prefix ‘as a Jew’ when they do so.
The Macpherson principle does not rely on the victims to define racism but it does take what victims say seriously. If it is true that there is a broad consensus in the Jewish community about antisemitism, it does not follow that the consensus is correct; but it does mean that the existence of such a consensus is relevant.
Mike Cushman tries to pretend that there could be an ‘institutional boycott’ of Israeli academic institutions which would not boycott any Israeli scholars. For reasons why the ‘institutional boycott’ is a myth, and for what PACBI actually says about individual Israeli scholars, see this piece.
Mike has forgotten that in 2006 NATFHE, the union which merged with AUT to form UCU, passed a motion which called for a boycott of Israeli scholars who failed to “publicly dissociate themselves” from “Israel’s apartheid policies.” Indeed PACBI did move away from the McCarthyite test after this, preferring the institutional test. Steve Cohen, author of ‘That’s Funny You Don’t Look Antisemitic‘, wrote this piece after the NATFHE decision in 2006, in which he argued that this kind of political test functions in a specifically antisemitic way.
Mike asks: ‘Does [Hirsh] expect UCU, or anyone else, to believe that there has been a spontaneous uprising of the recent spate of accusations’ of antisemitism? The UCU motion explains this ‘uprising’, and much more, as a manifestation of Zionist power. A much simpler explanation for the fact that lots of people are talking about antisemitism in the Labour movement is that there is antisemitism in the Labour movement. Here is a list of some recent examples on the one hand, and also a list of people who say that the examples are actually made up by the state of Israel to smear the left. Which is more plausible?
Mike Cushman is normally a skeptic when it comes to the workings of the bourgeois legal system. But when the decision goes his way, he clings onto it with all his strength. If people want to read more about the Fraser case against UCU, they should have a look at this link. It is worth remembering that none of the boycotters or the antizionist Jews were called as witnesses in UCU’s defence. I wonder why not.
David Hirsh
UCU member
Posted in Uncategorized. 2 Comments »
2 Responses to “Response to Mike Cushman, leading Jewish activist in University and College Union – David Hirsh”
David, I wonder why you stay in UCU. You have no access to the internal email network, you cannot know what is said about, how you are insulted, or worse, unless someone who is still on the list lets you know, and then you cannot tell anyone else without risking your informant being expelled from the list.
Sadly, given the state of trade union law in the UK these days, you don’t even need the “protection” of a trade union.
I suppose that if by remaining a member you still receive all the general publicity, including details of the resolutions at Congress, I presume that you regard this as sufficient reason. Personally, on retirement, I decided that the angst wasn’t worth the gain, because I can still enter the (more general) fight against BDS both here and elsewhere.
I wish you the storength to continue the fight from within.
Michael Caplan Says:
David, I’ve been reading and watching a lot of your presentations lately, and while I’m not speaking to this one in particular, I do want to take the opportunity to thank you for your work. I wonder, with Brian Goldfarb above, how you manage to stay strong dealing with such blatant (if one has eyes for it) bias, how you keep sane faced with the neverending parade of naked (and ugly) emperors. But I’m terribly glad you do, both for the personal inspiration I take from it, and for the good you’re doing, whatever setbacks you may encounter. I’ve been exploring the Engage site over the past few days, and was excited and moved to read your “About” page. As I’ve become aware recently, Jewish and other pro-Israeli individuals in the West are driven to the political right because it tends to support Israel (despite the familiar right-wing antisemitism that also exists). This leads, however, to a certain blindness to the right’s destructive tendencies. In Canada, for example, we had to endure nine years of a Conservative government under Stephen Harper that was repressive, secretive, divisive, heartless and short-sighted. Its ethical violations, moral vacuity and disdain for parliamentary goverment are on record, for any unprejudiced observer to see. (The “Con job” was a good one, and enough Canadians were taken in.) But the Montreal Jewish Council presented him with its King David Award as “an individual who is a light unto the world”. From afar, via Facebook, Ayaan Hirsi Ali gave him her endorsement. Alvin Rosenfeld, in the 2015 Shindleman Family Lecture for the Canadian Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, said he would gladly trade Obama for Harper if he could. The list could go on. This situation is so strange, so angering and saddening. For that reason, again, thank you and thank Engage for your tireless efforts on behalf of a consistent progressive politics.
« UCU passes new boycott motion with paranoia about Zionist power mixed in – David Hirsh
Antisemitism and the British Labour Movement – David Hirsh »
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6864
|
__label__cc
| 0.699522
| 0.300478
|
(-) Remove Starting Grant (StG) (19) filter Starting Grant (StG) (19)
(-) Remove <label class='research-domain' title='Diagnostics, Therapies, Applied Medical Technology and Public Health'>LS7 (19)</label> filter LS7 (19)
Project acronym Bio-ICD
Project Biological auto-detection and termination of heart rhythm disturbances
Researcher (PI) Daniël Antonie PIJNAPPELS
Host Institution (HI) ACADEMISCH ZIEKENHUIS LEIDEN
Summary Imagine a heart that could no longer suffer from life-threatening rhythm disturbances, and not because of pills or traumatizing electroshocks from an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) device. Instead, this heart has become able to rapidly detect & terminate these malignant arrhythmias fully on its own, after gene transfer. In order to explore this novel concept of biological auto-detection & termination of arrhythmias, I will investigate how forced expression of particular engineered proteins could i) allow cardiac tissue to become a detector of arrhythmias through rapid sensing of acute physiological changes upon their initiation. And how after detection, ii) this cardiac tissue (now as effector), could terminate the arrhythmia by generating a painless electroshock through these proteins. To this purpose, I will first explore the requirements for such detection & termination by studying arrhythmia initiation and termination in rat models of atrial & ventricular arrhythmias using optical probes and light-gated ion channels. These insights will guide computer-based screening of proteins to identify those properties allowing effective arrhythmia detection & termination. These data will be used for rational engineering of the proteins with the desired properties, followed by their forced expression in cardiac cells and slices to assess anti-arrhythmic potential & safety. Promising proteins will be expressed in whole hearts to study their anti-arrhythmic effects and mechanisms, after which the most effective ones will be studied in awake rats. This unexplored concept of self-resetting an acutely disturbed physiological state by establishing a biological detector-effector system may yield unique insight into arrhythmia management. Hence, this could provide distinctively innovative therapeutic rationales in which a diseased organ begets its own remedy, e.g. a Biologically-Integrated Cardiac Defibrillator (Bio-ICD).
Imagine a heart that could no longer suffer from life-threatening rhythm disturbances, and not because of pills or traumatizing electroshocks from an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) device. Instead, this heart has become able to rapidly detect & terminate these malignant arrhythmias fully on its own, after gene transfer. In order to explore this novel concept of biological auto-detection & termination of arrhythmias, I will investigate how forced expression of particular engineered proteins could i) allow cardiac tissue to become a detector of arrhythmias through rapid sensing of acute physiological changes upon their initiation. And how after detection, ii) this cardiac tissue (now as effector), could terminate the arrhythmia by generating a painless electroshock through these proteins. To this purpose, I will first explore the requirements for such detection & termination by studying arrhythmia initiation and termination in rat models of atrial & ventricular arrhythmias using optical probes and light-gated ion channels. These insights will guide computer-based screening of proteins to identify those properties allowing effective arrhythmia detection & termination. These data will be used for rational engineering of the proteins with the desired properties, followed by their forced expression in cardiac cells and slices to assess anti-arrhythmic potential & safety. Promising proteins will be expressed in whole hearts to study their anti-arrhythmic effects and mechanisms, after which the most effective ones will be studied in awake rats. This unexplored concept of self-resetting an acutely disturbed physiological state by establishing a biological detector-effector system may yield unique insight into arrhythmia management. Hence, this could provide distinctively innovative therapeutic rationales in which a diseased organ begets its own remedy, e.g. a Biologically-Integrated Cardiac Defibrillator (Bio-ICD).
Project acronym DrugComb
Project Informatics approaches for the rational selection of personalized cancer drug combinations
Researcher (PI) Jing TANG
Host Institution (HI) HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO
Summary Making cancer treatment more personalized and effective is one of the grand challenges in our health care system. However, many drugs have entered clinical trials but so far showed limited efficacy or induced rapid development of resistance. We critically need multi-targeted drug combinations, which shall selectively inhibit the cancer cells and block the emergence of drug resistance. This project will develop mathematical and computational tools to identify drug combinations that can be used to provide personalized and more effective therapeutic strategies that may prevent acquired resistance. Utilizing molecular profiling and pharmacological screening data from patient-derived leukaemia and ovarian cancer samples, I will develop model-based clustering methods for identification of patient subgroups that are differentially responsive to first-line chemotherapy. For patients resistant to chemotherapy, I will develop network modelling approaches to predict the most potential drug combinations by understanding the underlying drug target interactions. The drug combination prediction will be made for each patient and will be validated using a preclinical drug testing platform on patient samples. I will explore the drug combination screen data to identify significant synergy at the therapeutically relevant doses. The drug combination hits will be mapped into signalling networks to infer their mechanisms. Drug combinations with selective efficacy in individual patient samples or in sample subgroups will be further translated into in treatment options by clinical collaborators. This will lead to novel and personalized strategies to treat cancer patients.
Making cancer treatment more personalized and effective is one of the grand challenges in our health care system. However, many drugs have entered clinical trials but so far showed limited efficacy or induced rapid development of resistance. We critically need multi-targeted drug combinations, which shall selectively inhibit the cancer cells and block the emergence of drug resistance. This project will develop mathematical and computational tools to identify drug combinations that can be used to provide personalized and more effective therapeutic strategies that may prevent acquired resistance. Utilizing molecular profiling and pharmacological screening data from patient-derived leukaemia and ovarian cancer samples, I will develop model-based clustering methods for identification of patient subgroups that are differentially responsive to first-line chemotherapy. For patients resistant to chemotherapy, I will develop network modelling approaches to predict the most potential drug combinations by understanding the underlying drug target interactions. The drug combination prediction will be made for each patient and will be validated using a preclinical drug testing platform on patient samples. I will explore the drug combination screen data to identify significant synergy at the therapeutically relevant doses. The drug combination hits will be mapped into signalling networks to infer their mechanisms. Drug combinations with selective efficacy in individual patient samples or in sample subgroups will be further translated into in treatment options by clinical collaborators. This will lead to novel and personalized strategies to treat cancer patients.
Project acronym ECSTATIC
Project Electrostructural Tomography – Towards Multiparametric Imaging of Cardiac Electrical Disorders
Researcher (PI) Hubert, Yann, Marie COCHET
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITE DE BORDEAUX
Summary Cardiac electrical diseases are directly responsible for sudden cardiac death, heart failure and stroke. They result from a complex interplay between myocardial electrical activation and structural heterogeneity. Current diagnostic strategy based on separate electrocardiographic and imaging assessment is unable to grasp both these aspects. Improvements in personalised diagnostics are urgently needed as existing curative or preventive therapies (catheter ablation, multisite pacing, and implantable defibrillators) cannot be offered until patients are correctly recognised. My aim is to achieve a major advance in the way cardiac electrical diseases are characterised and thus diagnosed and treated, through the development of a novel non-invasive modality (Electrostructural Tomography), combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and non-invasive cardiac mapping (NIM) technologies. The approach will consist of: (1) hybridising NIM and MRI technologies to enable the joint acquisition of magnetic resonance images of the heart and torso and of a large array of body surface potentials within a single environment; (2) personalising the inverse problem of electrocardiography based on MRI characteristics within the heart and torso, to enable accurate reconstruction of cardiac electrophysiological maps from body surface potentials within the 3D cardiac tissue; and (3) developing a novel disease characterisation framework based on registered non-invasive imaging and electrophysiological data, and propose novel diagnostic and prognostic markers. This project will dramatically impact the tailored management of cardiac electrical disorders, with applications for diagnosis, risk stratification/patient selection and guidance of pacing and catheter ablation therapies. It will bridge two medical fields (cardiac electrophysiology and imaging), thereby creating a new research area and a novel semiology with the potential to modify the existing classification of cardiac electrical diseases.
Cardiac electrical diseases are directly responsible for sudden cardiac death, heart failure and stroke. They result from a complex interplay between myocardial electrical activation and structural heterogeneity. Current diagnostic strategy based on separate electrocardiographic and imaging assessment is unable to grasp both these aspects. Improvements in personalised diagnostics are urgently needed as existing curative or preventive therapies (catheter ablation, multisite pacing, and implantable defibrillators) cannot be offered until patients are correctly recognised. My aim is to achieve a major advance in the way cardiac electrical diseases are characterised and thus diagnosed and treated, through the development of a novel non-invasive modality (Electrostructural Tomography), combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and non-invasive cardiac mapping (NIM) technologies. The approach will consist of: (1) hybridising NIM and MRI technologies to enable the joint acquisition of magnetic resonance images of the heart and torso and of a large array of body surface potentials within a single environment; (2) personalising the inverse problem of electrocardiography based on MRI characteristics within the heart and torso, to enable accurate reconstruction of cardiac electrophysiological maps from body surface potentials within the 3D cardiac tissue; and (3) developing a novel disease characterisation framework based on registered non-invasive imaging and electrophysiological data, and propose novel diagnostic and prognostic markers. This project will dramatically impact the tailored management of cardiac electrical disorders, with applications for diagnosis, risk stratification/patient selection and guidance of pacing and catheter ablation therapies. It will bridge two medical fields (cardiac electrophysiology and imaging), thereby creating a new research area and a novel semiology with the potential to modify the existing classification of cardiac electrical diseases.
Project acronym EPI-Centrd
Project Epilepsy Controlled with Electronic Neurotransmitter Delivery
Researcher (PI) Adam WILLIAMSON
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITE D'AIX MARSEILLE
Summary Many efficient drugs have been designed to treat neurological disorders, but have failed in the clinic because they were toxic, could not cross the blood-brain barrier, and/or had deleterious side effects in healthy regions. I propose a conceptual breakthrough to solve these three issues, with minimally-invasive organic electronic ion pumps (OEIPs) to provide targeted treatment where and when it is needed. I will use epilepsy as the disease model because of its high rate of drug-resistance (30%) and will offer concrete opportunities for clinical transfer of such state-of-the-art technology. The clinical problem: Resective surgery is frequently the last option available to a patient with drug-resistant epilepsy (> 1 million persons in the EU). However, surgery fails in 30% of the cases and can have deleterious consequences with severe postoperative neurological deficits (impaired motor function, speech and memory). Furthermore, some cases of epilepsy are simply untreatable surgically because resective surgery would leave unacceptable damage to core functions. Clearly, a new therapeutic approach is needed when neurosurgery is not possible or deemed too risky. The OEIP solution: As I have demonstrated, OEIPs combine state-of-the-art organic electronics and pharmacology to control epileptiform activity in vitro by directly delivering inhibitory neurotransmitters on-demand. I additionally demonstrated that thin-film flexible organic electronics can be used to create minimally-invasive depth probes for implantation which significantly reduced tissue damage compared to standard rigid implants in vivo. I will integrate OEIPs on such probes creating devices which will have both the high-quality recordings provided by the organic electrodes for electrophysiological seizure detection and the molecular delivery capability of the OEIP for seizure intervention. The devices will be a closed-loop system to detect seizure onset and intervene in the affected brain region.
Many efficient drugs have been designed to treat neurological disorders, but have failed in the clinic because they were toxic, could not cross the blood-brain barrier, and/or had deleterious side effects in healthy regions. I propose a conceptual breakthrough to solve these three issues, with minimally-invasive organic electronic ion pumps (OEIPs) to provide targeted treatment where and when it is needed. I will use epilepsy as the disease model because of its high rate of drug-resistance (30%) and will offer concrete opportunities for clinical transfer of such state-of-the-art technology. The clinical problem: Resective surgery is frequently the last option available to a patient with drug-resistant epilepsy (> 1 million persons in the EU). However, surgery fails in 30% of the cases and can have deleterious consequences with severe postoperative neurological deficits (impaired motor function, speech and memory). Furthermore, some cases of epilepsy are simply untreatable surgically because resective surgery would leave unacceptable damage to core functions. Clearly, a new therapeutic approach is needed when neurosurgery is not possible or deemed too risky. The OEIP solution: As I have demonstrated, OEIPs combine state-of-the-art organic electronics and pharmacology to control epileptiform activity in vitro by directly delivering inhibitory neurotransmitters on-demand. I additionally demonstrated that thin-film flexible organic electronics can be used to create minimally-invasive depth probes for implantation which significantly reduced tissue damage compared to standard rigid implants in vivo. I will integrate OEIPs on such probes creating devices which will have both the high-quality recordings provided by the organic electrodes for electrophysiological seizure detection and the molecular delivery capability of the OEIP for seizure intervention. The devices will be a closed-loop system to detect seizure onset and intervene in the affected brain region.
Project acronym FRAGMENT2DRUG
Project Jigsaw puzzles at atomic resolution: Computational design of GPCR drugs from fragments
Researcher (PI) Jens CARLSSON
Summary Despite technological advances, industry struggles to develop new pharmaceuticals and therefore novel strategies for drug discovery are urgently needed. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play important roles in numerous physiological processes and are important drug targets for neurological diseases. My research focuses on modelling of GPCR-ligand interactions at the atomic level, with the goal to increase knowledge of receptor function and develop new methods for drug discovery. Breakthroughs in GPCR structural biology and access to sensitive screening assays provide opportunities to utilize fragment-based lead discovery (FBLD), a powerful approach for drug design. The objective of the project is to create a computational platform for FBLD, with a vision to transform the early drug discovery process for GPCRs. As structural information for these targets is limited, predictive models of receptor-fragment complexes will be crucial for the successful use of FBLD. In this project, computational structure-based methods for discovery of fragment ligands and further optimization of these to potent leads will be developed. These techniques will be applied to address two difficult problems in drug discovery. The first of these is to design ligands of peptide-binding GPCRs that have been challenging for existing methods. One of the promises of FBLD is to provide access to difficult targets, which will be explored by combining molecular docking and biophysical screening against peptide-GPCRs to identify novel lead candidates. A second challenge is that efficient treatment of neurological disorders often requires modulation of multiple targets, which also will be the focus of the project.
Despite technological advances, industry struggles to develop new pharmaceuticals and therefore novel strategies for drug discovery are urgently needed. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play important roles in numerous physiological processes and are important drug targets for neurological diseases. My research focuses on modelling of GPCR-ligand interactions at the atomic level, with the goal to increase knowledge of receptor function and develop new methods for drug discovery. Breakthroughs in GPCR structural biology and access to sensitive screening assays provide opportunities to utilize fragment-based lead discovery (FBLD), a powerful approach for drug design. The objective of the project is to create a computational platform for FBLD, with a vision to transform the early drug discovery process for GPCRs. As structural information for these targets is limited, predictive models of receptor-fragment complexes will be crucial for the successful use of FBLD. In this project, computational structure-based methods for discovery of fragment ligands and further optimization of these to potent leads will be developed. These techniques will be applied to address two difficult problems in drug discovery. The first of these is to design ligands of peptide-binding GPCRs that have been challenging for existing methods. One of the promises of FBLD is to provide access to difficult targets, which will be explored by combining molecular docking and biophysical screening against peptide-GPCRs to identify novel lead candidates. A second challenge is that efficient treatment of neurological disorders often requires modulation of multiple targets, which also will be the focus of the project.
Project acronym iAML-lncTARGET
Project Targeting the transcriptional landscape in infant AML
Researcher (PI) Jan-Henning Cornelius KLUSMANN
Host Institution (HI) MARTIN-LUTHER-UNIVERSITAET HALLE-WITTENBERG
Summary Infant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has a dismal prognosis, with a high prevalence of unfavorable features and increased susceptibility to therapy-related toxicities, highlighting the need for innovative treatment approaches. Despite the discovery of an enormous number and diversity of transcriptional products arising from the previously presumed wastelands of the non-protein-coding genome, our knowledge of non-coding RNAs is far from being incorporated into standards of AML diagnosis and treatment. I hypothesize that the highly developmental stage- and cell-specific expression of long non-coding RNAs shapes a chromatin and transcriptional landscape in fetal hematopoietic stem cells that renders them permissive towards transformation. I predict this landscape to synergize with particular oncogenes that are otherwise not oncogenic in adult cells, by providing a fertile transcriptional background for establishing and maintaining oncogenic programs. Therefore, the non-coding transcriptome, inherited from the fetal cell of origin, may reflect a previously unrecognized Achilles heel of infant AML, which I will identify with my expertise to understand and edit the AML genome and transcriptome. I will apply recent breakthroughs from various research areas to i) create a comprehensive transcriptomic atlas of infant AML and fetal stem cells, ii) define aberrant or fetal stage-specific non-coding RNAs that drive leukemia progression, and iii) resolve their features to probe the oncogenic interactome. After iv) establishing a biobank of patient-derived xenografts, I will v) evaluate preclinical RNA-centered therapeutic interventions to overcome current obstacles in the treatment of infant AML. Targeting the vulnerable fetal stage-specific background of infant AML inherited from the cell of origin may set a paradigm shift for cancer treatment, by focusing on the permissive basis required by the oncogene for inducing and sustaining cancer, rather than on the oncogene itself.
Infant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has a dismal prognosis, with a high prevalence of unfavorable features and increased susceptibility to therapy-related toxicities, highlighting the need for innovative treatment approaches. Despite the discovery of an enormous number and diversity of transcriptional products arising from the previously presumed wastelands of the non-protein-coding genome, our knowledge of non-coding RNAs is far from being incorporated into standards of AML diagnosis and treatment. I hypothesize that the highly developmental stage- and cell-specific expression of long non-coding RNAs shapes a chromatin and transcriptional landscape in fetal hematopoietic stem cells that renders them permissive towards transformation. I predict this landscape to synergize with particular oncogenes that are otherwise not oncogenic in adult cells, by providing a fertile transcriptional background for establishing and maintaining oncogenic programs. Therefore, the non-coding transcriptome, inherited from the fetal cell of origin, may reflect a previously unrecognized Achilles heel of infant AML, which I will identify with my expertise to understand and edit the AML genome and transcriptome. I will apply recent breakthroughs from various research areas to i) create a comprehensive transcriptomic atlas of infant AML and fetal stem cells, ii) define aberrant or fetal stage-specific non-coding RNAs that drive leukemia progression, and iii) resolve their features to probe the oncogenic interactome. After iv) establishing a biobank of patient-derived xenografts, I will v) evaluate preclinical RNA-centered therapeutic interventions to overcome current obstacles in the treatment of infant AML. Targeting the vulnerable fetal stage-specific background of infant AML inherited from the cell of origin may set a paradigm shift for cancer treatment, by focusing on the permissive basis required by the oncogene for inducing and sustaining cancer, rather than on the oncogene itself.
Project acronym iMDx
Project Microfiber Electrofluidics for Integrated Molecular Diagnostics
Researcher (PI) Mahiar Max HAMEDI
Summary "Diagnosis of an increasing number of diseases (such as HIV, Ebola and antibiotic resistant bacteria) rely on centralized laboratories with specialized instruments and skilled personnel. This type of clinical analysis with long lead times and high cost is inappropriate for point of care diagnostics. Portable, automated, and disposable devices with integrated molecular diagnostics (iMDx), could solve this problem. Such devices, however, basically do not exist today. This research program will develop materials, methods, and diagnostic techniques to enable portable integrated molecular diagnostics (iMDx) devices, that are disposable (almost zero-cost), and that can detect a broad range of diseases using DNA amplification. To achieve this, we will develop ""3D microfiber electrofluidics (MEF)"". MEFs rely on simple and readily available porous sheets including paper, and textiles. Their fabrication is simple, and yet they are very powerful because they can monolithically integrate 3D microfluidics, 3D microelectronics, electrochemical analysis, storage of reagents / biomolecules, as well as handling and manipulation of cells. We will develop techniques, using the combined capabilities of MEFs, for real-time DNA amplification and electrochemical DNA detection directly from samples. We will use three amplifications techniques for realizing a comprehensive iMDx platform: i) DNA detection, using established and state of the art amplification methods (e.g. PCR, LAMP, RPA). ii) RNA detection, using ""nucleic acid sequence-based amplification"" (NASBA). iii) Protein detection, using antibody to DNA translation through ""proximity ligation assay"" LPA, and using the detection of the amplified DNA is the indirect measure of proteins. The outcome of this program has the potential to be ground breaking, and change the structure of measuring, processing, and pricing of biomedical information, and dramatically broaden its accessibility and applicability. "
"Diagnosis of an increasing number of diseases (such as HIV, Ebola and antibiotic resistant bacteria) rely on centralized laboratories with specialized instruments and skilled personnel. This type of clinical analysis with long lead times and high cost is inappropriate for point of care diagnostics. Portable, automated, and disposable devices with integrated molecular diagnostics (iMDx), could solve this problem. Such devices, however, basically do not exist today. This research program will develop materials, methods, and diagnostic techniques to enable portable integrated molecular diagnostics (iMDx) devices, that are disposable (almost zero-cost), and that can detect a broad range of diseases using DNA amplification. To achieve this, we will develop ""3D microfiber electrofluidics (MEF)"". MEFs rely on simple and readily available porous sheets including paper, and textiles. Their fabrication is simple, and yet they are very powerful because they can monolithically integrate 3D microfluidics, 3D microelectronics, electrochemical analysis, storage of reagents / biomolecules, as well as handling and manipulation of cells. We will develop techniques, using the combined capabilities of MEFs, for real-time DNA amplification and electrochemical DNA detection directly from samples. We will use three amplifications techniques for realizing a comprehensive iMDx platform: i) DNA detection, using established and state of the art amplification methods (e.g. PCR, LAMP, RPA). ii) RNA detection, using ""nucleic acid sequence-based amplification"" (NASBA). iii) Protein detection, using antibody to DNA translation through ""proximity ligation assay"" LPA, and using the detection of the amplified DNA is the indirect measure of proteins. The outcome of this program has the potential to be ground breaking, and change the structure of measuring, processing, and pricing of biomedical information, and dramatically broaden its accessibility and applicability. "
Project acronym MGUS screening RCT
Project Screening for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: A population-based randomized clinical trial
Researcher (PI) Sigurdur Yngvi KRISTINSSON
Host Institution (HI) HASKOLI ISLANDS
Summary Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a very common precursor condition to multiple myeloma (MM), and related diseases, and can be found in approximately 4-5% of individuals over the age of 50 years. MM is always preceded by MGUS. Current risk stratification schemes, designed to predict those that will progress, are based on retrospective data and rely almost solely on serum protein markers. While they can differentiate high and low-risk patients, they cannot predict outcome for individual patients, are not integrated with one another, and have limited biological correlation. Based on retrospective data, it is recommended that individuals with MGUS are followed indefinitely; however no prospective study has ever been performed to evaluate this or identify optimal monitoring in MGUS individuals. We recently showed that MM patients with a prior knowledge of MGUS had superior survival compared to MM patients without, which raises the question whether routine screening for MGUS in the population might improve survival. To evaluate the impact of screening for MGUS on overall survival, to provide evidence for the optimal MGUS follow-up, and to integrate biological, imaging, and germline genetic markers in evaluating individual risk of progression, we propose to invite all individuals >50 years in Iceland (N=104,000) to participate in a screening study for MGUS. This will be done by utilizing already present infrastructure for screening in Iceland and the fact that most individuals >50 years have their blood drawn for various reasons during 3 years. We plan to perform electrophoresis and free light chain analyses in these individuals to diagnose MGUS. Individuals with MGUS will be invited to be included in a randomized clinical trial with 3 different arms to identify the optimal work-up and follow-up strategy and to build a new risk model for progression. Our large, unique, population-based study has major clinical and scientific implications.
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a very common precursor condition to multiple myeloma (MM), and related diseases, and can be found in approximately 4-5% of individuals over the age of 50 years. MM is always preceded by MGUS. Current risk stratification schemes, designed to predict those that will progress, are based on retrospective data and rely almost solely on serum protein markers. While they can differentiate high and low-risk patients, they cannot predict outcome for individual patients, are not integrated with one another, and have limited biological correlation. Based on retrospective data, it is recommended that individuals with MGUS are followed indefinitely; however no prospective study has ever been performed to evaluate this or identify optimal monitoring in MGUS individuals. We recently showed that MM patients with a prior knowledge of MGUS had superior survival compared to MM patients without, which raises the question whether routine screening for MGUS in the population might improve survival. To evaluate the impact of screening for MGUS on overall survival, to provide evidence for the optimal MGUS follow-up, and to integrate biological, imaging, and germline genetic markers in evaluating individual risk of progression, we propose to invite all individuals >50 years in Iceland (N=104,000) to participate in a screening study for MGUS. This will be done by utilizing already present infrastructure for screening in Iceland and the fact that most individuals >50 years have their blood drawn for various reasons during 3 years. We plan to perform electrophoresis and free light chain analyses in these individuals to diagnose MGUS. Individuals with MGUS will be invited to be included in a randomized clinical trial with 3 different arms to identify the optimal work-up and follow-up strategy and to build a new risk model for progression. Our large, unique, population-based study has major clinical and scientific implications.
Project acronym NeuroTRACK
Project Tracking and predicting neurodegeneration spreading across the brain connectome
Researcher (PI) Federica Agosta
Host Institution (HI) OSPEDALE SAN RAFFAELE SRL
Summary Current knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases is limited by poor understanding of how they progress through the central nervous system (CNS). It has recently been hypothesized that clinical progression in these conditions involves the systematic spreading of protein misfolding along neuronal pathways. Protein aggregates would trigger misfolding of adjacent homologue proteins in newly-affected regions, and this would propagate in a “prion-like” fashion across anatomical connections. This proposal seeks to decipher the mechanisms of network-based neurodegeneration by understanding how the complex architecture of brain networks (the connectome) shapes the evolving pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, and to develop tools for monitoring disease progression from presymptomatic to later stages of the disease. NeuroTRACK will apply emerging network science tools to longitudinal, structural and functional brain connectivity 3T magnetic resonance imaging data from patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) – a devastating, relentlessly progressive, young onset, neurodegenerative disorder. The study will involve both sporadic and familial cases, including presymptomatic gene mutation carriers. The proposal addresses the following fundamental questions: i) How and where does pathological protein propagation occur in the FTLD phenotypes? ii) Can pathological spreading be predicted from brain connectome fingerprinting? iii) How do different protein abnormalities translate into large-scale network degeneration? iv) How early are brain network changes detectable in the (even presymptomatic) course of the disease? The ground-breaking nature of the experiments planned in this proposal will pave the way to the development of novel tools for understanding the biological underpinnings of other CNS proteinopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and to identifying individualized, early interventions to modify disease progression.
Current knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases is limited by poor understanding of how they progress through the central nervous system (CNS). It has recently been hypothesized that clinical progression in these conditions involves the systematic spreading of protein misfolding along neuronal pathways. Protein aggregates would trigger misfolding of adjacent homologue proteins in newly-affected regions, and this would propagate in a “prion-like” fashion across anatomical connections. This proposal seeks to decipher the mechanisms of network-based neurodegeneration by understanding how the complex architecture of brain networks (the connectome) shapes the evolving pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, and to develop tools for monitoring disease progression from presymptomatic to later stages of the disease. NeuroTRACK will apply emerging network science tools to longitudinal, structural and functional brain connectivity 3T magnetic resonance imaging data from patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) – a devastating, relentlessly progressive, young onset, neurodegenerative disorder. The study will involve both sporadic and familial cases, including presymptomatic gene mutation carriers. The proposal addresses the following fundamental questions: i) How and where does pathological protein propagation occur in the FTLD phenotypes? ii) Can pathological spreading be predicted from brain connectome fingerprinting? iii) How do different protein abnormalities translate into large-scale network degeneration? iv) How early are brain network changes detectable in the (even presymptomatic) course of the disease? The ground-breaking nature of the experiments planned in this proposal will pave the way to the development of novel tools for understanding the biological underpinnings of other CNS proteinopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and to identifying individualized, early interventions to modify disease progression.
Project acronym PREDICT
Project PREcision medicine Drug combination testing In neuroblastoma organoids to guide Clinical Trials
Researcher (PI) Jan Jasper MOLENAAR
Host Institution (HI) PRINSES MAXIMA CENTRUM VOOR KINDERONCOLOGIE BV
Summary Neuroblastoma are pediatric tumors that respond poorly to chemotherapy and have a very poor prognosis. To improve treatment options, a global development towards precision medicine is ongoing. This strongly focusses on molecular genetic target identification in tumors and subsequent assigning patients to the best trials according to their molecular profile. Still it is difficult to predict which patients will benefit from these targeted compounds. In addition, if tumors do respond to single compound targeted therapy, they almost always relapse. These tumor evolution processes could be prevented by simultaneous intervention in different activated tumor pathways. We now want to study how we can select patients that will most likely respond to a targeted compound and what combinations of targeted compounds are most effective? This can’t be tested in a clinical setting since the number of neuroblastoma patients that can be included in Phase1/2 trials is very small. Recent research shows that tumor organoids mimic human tumors and can effectively be used as xenograft in nude mice as well. These in vitro and in vivo models could be used as an alternative selection system for optimal combination treatment in a personalized approach. The overall aim is now to test if combinations of targeted compounds can cause complete remission in neuroblastoma organoid model systems to select combination treatment options for personalized clinical trials For this purpose we will generate neuroblastoma organoids that properly represents the complexity and heterogeneity of individual tumors and build a repository that represents the various subtypes of neuroblastoma tumors. We will identify synergistic compound combinations that are effective in neuroblastoma tumors that are characterized by specific molecular genetic aberrations. Thereby we will build an efficient pipeline to generate personalized models that can be used in precision medicine programs to perform compound validation.
Neuroblastoma are pediatric tumors that respond poorly to chemotherapy and have a very poor prognosis. To improve treatment options, a global development towards precision medicine is ongoing. This strongly focusses on molecular genetic target identification in tumors and subsequent assigning patients to the best trials according to their molecular profile. Still it is difficult to predict which patients will benefit from these targeted compounds. In addition, if tumors do respond to single compound targeted therapy, they almost always relapse. These tumor evolution processes could be prevented by simultaneous intervention in different activated tumor pathways. We now want to study how we can select patients that will most likely respond to a targeted compound and what combinations of targeted compounds are most effective? This can’t be tested in a clinical setting since the number of neuroblastoma patients that can be included in Phase1/2 trials is very small. Recent research shows that tumor organoids mimic human tumors and can effectively be used as xenograft in nude mice as well. These in vitro and in vivo models could be used as an alternative selection system for optimal combination treatment in a personalized approach. The overall aim is now to test if combinations of targeted compounds can cause complete remission in neuroblastoma organoid model systems to select combination treatment options for personalized clinical trials For this purpose we will generate neuroblastoma organoids that properly represents the complexity and heterogeneity of individual tumors and build a repository that represents the various subtypes of neuroblastoma tumors. We will identify synergistic compound combinations that are effective in neuroblastoma tumors that are characterized by specific molecular genetic aberrations. Thereby we will build an efficient pipeline to generate personalized models that can be used in precision medicine programs to perform compound validation.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6867
|
__label__cc
| 0.611919
| 0.388081
|
The Circular Saw
(Note: The Rabbit Skinners, my second novel, concerns Herculean FBI agent James Strait, whose life is devastated by a rare disease. His promising career suddenly ended, he returns to his rural hometown in northern Arizona and resigns himself to a life of disability, until a little girl asks him to use his skills to find her missing friend. This passage, which occurs as Strait returns to his hometown on an Amtrack train, describes how it feels to have a Meniere’s Disease attack. I drew upon my own experiences with Meniere’s to write it.)
The Amtrak trip to Pine River took two days. Strait had reserved a room, and the FBI paid a month’s rental for it, at a hotel called The Blue Rabbit, an historic downtown fixture that had existed long before Strait had left town a dozen years before. The Blue Rabbit, a couple of blocks from the train station, was also the name of the restaurant and pub on the ground floor.
Strait was too large to sleep comfortably in the upright seat of the Amtrack train. His long legs were trapped bent in the space between his seat and the back of the one in front of him. While others slept, he listened to music on his ancient iPod. He had everything ever recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young stuck on there, and of course everything by Neil Young himself, and countless songs from artists of the same era, the mid-to-late sixties to the very early seventies. A narrow, precious historical window. It wasn’t the golden age of contemporary American music. It was the only age. It was the music his father had listened to.
As the trip progressed, he grew steadily more exhausted. He tried to politely thwart the attempts at small talk by the bubbly old lady seated next to him who repeatedly offered him salted peanuts from a plastic bag in her purse and jabbered about her grandchildren. Along with the salted peanuts, he ate pretzels and cheese crackers and overpriced, mayonnaise-oozing sandwiches from the snack bar.
At the time the train crossed the northeastern corner of New Mexico and entered the state of Arizona, Strait noticed the tinnitus hiss in his right ear getting louder. The train trundled across a section of the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the country. From the window, it seemed a land of bus-sized orange-pink stones strewn randomly by some giant personage upon an unpopulated sand-whipped flatland that gave way to rising terrain, where scrubby bushes pushed through the crevices with ridges so jagged that the rocky soil comprising them appeared to have been melted, tossed up, and flash-frozen in mid-air. Tiny human habitations appeared sometimes along the train tracks, patches of tenuous structures that flew past before Strait could get a clear look at them.
As they wended their way through the state, the scenery started to look more familiar. A glimpse of Lake Mary brought back a memory of the time his father had taken the family on a weekend fishing trip and his brother Ricky had fallen into the lake and nearly drowned. Strait’s fear of losing his big brother in the cold blue-green water was a torture that flashed back to him powerfully even now although he and Ricky—now Richard, a tax attorney in Florida—hardly ever spoke.
The train passed close to the segment of the highway where the police had found his Aunt Sally. Drunk as usual, she’d driven wildly northwards through the state after running away again from her abusive husband and had spun into a ditch, snapped her spine into two, and died. Somewhere much farther south along this stretch he and some high school buddies had driven all the way down to Phoenix and shot up a bunch of cactuses with hunting rifles borrowed without parental consent and had actually outrun a police car that tried to pull them over.
The scenery changed to mountainous pine forest. A storm had passed through and the cool, moist mountain air heavy with pine moved into the train. Strait was caught by surprise at the surge of emotion he felt, a mingling of melancholy and joy.
Evening fell and the landscape disappeared into darkness.
A couple of hours later, the train, with a screech of iron and clank of bumping cars, pulled to a stop at Pine River Station. Strait was becoming dizzy. He knew the length of time without sleep was dangerous and the lousy food from the snack bar wasn’t helping. When he stood to depart the train, the walkway seemed to sway back and forth. Fuck.
He needed to get to the hotel room fast. A Meniere’s attack out here would be a nightmare. He’d collapse to the sidewalk and start gasping and vomiting. People who saw him wouldn’t understand. They wouldn’t see the world spinning like he did and would think he was drunk. If he tried to tell them he had Meniere’s disease and ask them to leave him alone on the pavement until the attack passed—but he couldn’t do that because he would need to lie there vomiting on the sidewalk for eight hours. All night. He could get attacked and robbed as he lay helpless. Someone might call an ambulance but being in a hospital wouldn’t help him. There was nothing to do for a Meniere’s attack except let it pass. All they could do is stick him in a bed for the night, same as a hotel but a hundred times more expensive
Panic rising. There. Down the street. A blue neon sign three stories above ground with a blink effect that made a cartoon rabbit hop and rest and hop and rest. The name spelled out in ornate cursive: The Blue Rabbit. Strait remembered the entrance to the hotel was around the corner. He heard a rumble of voices from inside the bar as he hobbled past, animated, laughing, and the smell of alcohol threaded with cigarette smoke drifting out.
The dizziness was hitting him like a tsunami. He turned the corner, sending the parked cars and buildings on either side of the street careening leftwards. He stopped and propped himself against the hotel wall and stood rigid, sucking huge breaths of night air deep into his lungs, fighting back nausea and praying for the world to stop moving.
He pushed open the door and entered the lobby. Thank God, no other customers at the reception desk, just a clerk sitting there absorbed in her Smartphone game. He stuttered out his name and managed to pull out his wallet and remove his credit card, struggling not to show how scared and sick he felt. The girl hardly looked up as she ran his card. Strait wanted to cry with gratitude when she assigned him a room on the first floor whose front door was only twenty feet down a hallway.
“There’s a patio area on the street side. Just go out the other door in the room,” she said as she handed him the key.
He weaved down the hall to the door, somehow got the key in the hole on the first try and threw open the door. He nudged it shut, zig-zagged across the room, grabbed a table from in front of the TV and dragged it to the bedside, tore the vomit bucket and other supplies from his duffel bag and tossed them on the table, and collapsed backwards on the bed.
The ceiling light in its round plastic cover directly over the bed began to move leftwards as though attached to a giant, revolving cylinder. The rotation soon became so rapid it was a blur, like the ceiling was being spun on a fast merry-go-round. Strait moaned. He began to gasp in breaths desperately to stop himself from vomiting. Sweat was flowing freely from his skin, but he was icy cold. His heart was beating so hard his whole body shook with each pulse. The tinnitus in his right ear was an airplane roar. The sickness descended upon him, saturated him like poisonous glue, filled every cell of his body and he needed to vomit. Moving his head to the bucket was almost impossible because the slightest movement made the rotating ceiling also buck and bounce wildly. He threw his arm over his eyes in an attempt to lessen the impact of the spinning. He took a deep breath and flipped on his side with his head toward the bucket.
Everything he’d eaten on the train was hurled somewhere around the bucket. Throwing up eased the nausea slightly but it quickly boiled up again and he vomited more violently, retching so desperately that his stomach cramped. He collapsed again on his back and the movement flipped the spinning room on its side and bounced it up and down and Strait lurched back to the vomit bucket for more painful retching.
The spinning went on and on. Strait sank into a dark region, a place filled with a reek of mayonnaise and boiled ham, where life was crushed to fragmentary heaving gasps. With his eyelids pressed tightly shut and his arm thrown over his face, he sensed rather than saw the spinning, but the need to puke was just as bad and the roaring in his ear was so loud it hurt. At some point, the nausea was reduced such that with steady, deep breaths, he could stop retching. He lay completely immobile, spinning for a very long time.
During this attack, as with the others, Strait saw himself stripped of all superfluity and the world parsed down to its most toxic essences. The rotations of the room transmuted to a single nightmare object: a mammoth circular saw. Its flashing silver serrated blade turning and turning as it descended, in stops and starts, to cut him from his life.
As the blade moved closer, Strait cried out the name of the child.
(Excerpt from my second novel, The Rabbit Skinners)
Also available from the same author, The Language of Bears, a seriocomic literary fantasy that Kirkus Reviews called “a smart, literate, odd, and skillfully written tour de force.”
12 thoughts on “The Circular Saw”
noelleg44 says:
Thanks for following my blog – nice to meet a fellow mystery writer. And I loved Japan when I visited there many years ago, especially Kyoto. I’ll have a shout out to you in a post soon. Come back for a visit any time!
Hi Noelleg44! Thanks for your visit, comment, and follow. Nice to meet you!
dayya says:
Always a pleasure to read good writing!
Dayya, thanks so much for your kind words!
Thank you for swinging by the Ranch and for the follow. We ❤︎ visitors, especially mystery writers. 😊 BTW, nice post.
Thanks back atcha, Tails!
Bunk Strutts says:
Never heard of Ménière’s disease until now. Years ago I met a woman with similar symptoms.
Richard H. McBee Jr. says:
Reblogged this on Rick McBee's Writings and commented:
Here’s a new book that looks like it could have a really interesting plot! Will have to do some research on Menieur’s Disease. I thought it was a French pastry but sounds like a bad actor of a disease to have. Enjoy.
Hi Richard, thanks for your comment. You’re right. “Meniere’s” does sound like a French pastry, but in fact it’s a monstrous condition. I know this from firsthand experience. One motivation for writing The Rabbit Skinners was to have some kind of entertaining narrative text out there from which perhaps people not familiar with Meniere’s could learn more about it; one problem Meniere’s patients have is that people don’t know about the condition and so don’t understand what we go through. That said, my book is not a “disease book” and while Meniere’s does provide a strong motivating factor in the protagonist’s actions, the book is a literary mystery-suspense novel, with a strong bent toward being anti-racist, which I think is an especially important theme these days.
I re-blogged your synopsis. Very nice. Hope you do well. Keep in touch.
Hi Richard, Thanks so much for the reblog! Nice to meet you.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6871
|
__label__wiki
| 0.573202
| 0.573202
|
You are viewing a post from electro kami classic - hello!
The five best recent rap cameos on pop songs
Have you noticed how rap stars have become like big name actors that give pop songs enhanced credibility? It’s as though pop songs are not good enough on their own without a rapper chiming in. It also might be because pop singers desperately need to prove their R&B credentials.
Ironically, this trend also works in reverse. For example, would Eminem have gotten nearly as much mileage out of “Love The Way You Lie,” had Rihanna not also cooed along with that Detroit kingpin? These five examples of pop singers hanging out in the studio with rappers aren’t the first, and they certainly won’t be the last.
1. Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg “California Gurls”
Perry is perhaps the queen of the rap cameo. In addition to seeming much more hip with Snoop Dogg opening her summer song with the words, “Greetings loved ones,” but she also helped soften Snoop’s hardcore image significantly. In the song’s video, Snoop and Perry frolic in a living Candyland game, for heaven’s sake! It’s child’s play.
2. Katy Perry featuring Kanye West “E.T.”
With “E.T.,” Perry enlisted that Taylor Swift party crasher, Kanye West. Instead of trying to steal any of Perry’s music awards, West wants to probe her like an alien. One has to wonder, however, what her new husband Russell Brand thinks about this idea.
3. Erykah Badu featuring Common “Love of my Life”
Erykah Badu is crazy, but man the girl can sing! On this slow jam, Common raps soulfully along with Badu, which makes it nearly a perfect match.
4. Ciara featuring Ludacris “Oh”
This song is the perfect combination of soft and smooth. Ciara, of course, is the smooth while Ludacris adds the hard. Think of it like the way some like salty and sweet tastes together. You don’t think they belong in the same food, but somehow they still work.
5. Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull “On The Floor”
In this instance, Lopez needs Pitbull to firm up her tune because she’s just so soft and airy. Without his help, Lopez might just float away. This isn’t balance so much as it is the song’s necessary spine.
May 7, 2011 /by Electro Kami Staff
Tags: Awards, Good Vibes, Hip Hop, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Lists
https://electrokami.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/electrokami.png 0 0 Electro Kami Staff https://electrokami.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/electrokami.png Electro Kami Staff2011-05-07 12:07:422018-08-26 21:14:20The five best recent rap cameos on pop songs
Seven more great music videos that will make your head explode
5 Screen Gangsters We All Hate to Love
Six Scintillating Soundtracks
Top Four Free Games
Six quick ways to get smarter faster
Lame names for a programming language
When to use third-party plugins or frameworks
The Twelve Best Pink Floyd Songs from Their Top Albums
Who needs an original idea when you can re-make a re-make of a really bad adaptation... Turns out the real plot for Revenge of the Nerds was the assimilation of the...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6873
|
__label__cc
| 0.578912
| 0.421088
|
South Dakota State Preview: Bye Week
It's been an interesting road to the bye week for the South Dakota State football team.
The Jackrabbits (2-0) began the season with a weather-related cancelation at Iowa State then responded with back-to-back routs of Montana State and Arkansas - Pine Bluff, outscoring those two opponents 135-20.
But because of the missed game and the lopsided scores, the SDSU starters have yet to play a complete game in 2018, meaning a week off may be the last thing the Jackrabbits need heading into a marquee Missouri Valley Conference opener, when third ranked SDSU plays at #1 North Dakota State, September 29.
The Jacks head into the open week on the heels of a historic 90-6 win over Arkansas - Pine Bluff, last Saturday (September 15).
In the victory, SDSU needed just five offensive plays to score three touchdowns in the first quarter, jump-starting a day that would see them set five school records.
Isaac Wallace led a 369-yard running attack with a career-high 192 yards.
A trio of Jackrabbit quarterbacks completed 19-of-21 passes for 557 yards and eight touchdown passes. Cade Johnson and Adam Anderson each went over 100 yards receiving on the day.
Zy Mosely picked off two passes to key the defense, while Chase Vinatieri kicked 11 extra points.
I talked with Jackrabbits head coach John Stiegelmeier about the Arkansas - Pine Bluff win and the bye week:
Filed Under: College Sports, FCS, Missouri Valley Football Conference, SDSU, South Dakota State Jackrabbits
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6882
|
__label__cc
| 0.623768
| 0.376232
|
The use of bodybuilding supplements has risen by ten folds. Gone are the times when bodybuilders worked out and consumed nutritious foods to supplement their body. The effect is pretty clear in both the cases. While professional body builders building a natural body remained in shape even after quitting the gym, people who depended on heavy supplements have been found to only lose the shape but also go through premature ageing. The best thing, however, is to eat proper food and take supplements too, which is what bodybuilders usually do. Here are some pros and cons of using bodybuilding supplements.
In regard to the blood brain barrier (BBB), which is a tightly woven mesh of non-fenestrated microcapillary endothelial cells (MCECs) that prevents passive diffusion of many water-soluble or large compounds into the brain, creatine can be taken into the brain via the SLC6A8 transporter.[192] In contrast, the creatine precursor (guanidinoacetate, or GAA) only appears to enter this transporter during creatine deficiency.[192] More creatine is taken up than effluxed, and more GAA is effluxed rather than taken up, suggesting that creatine utilization in the brain from blood-borne sources[192] is the major source of neural creatine.[193][192] However, “capable of passage” differs from “unregulated passage” and creatine appears to have tightly regulated entry into the brain in vivo[193]. After injecting rats with a large dose of creatine, creatine levels increased and plateaued at 70uM above baseline levels. These baseline levels are about 10mM, so this equates to an 0.7% increase when superloaded.[193] These kinetics may be a reason for the relative lack of neural effects of creatine supplementation in creatine sufficient populations.
Perform bent over rows to work your back. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, about 6 to 10 inches (15–25 cm) behind the barbell or two dumbbells. Bend slightly at the knees but keep your shins vertical. Bend forward at the waist with your spine and head straight. Lift the weight with an overhand grip up to your lower chest or upper abdomen. Lower slowly until your arms are nearly extended, without touching the ground. 3 x 8.[5]
What are the benefits of konjac? Konjac is a plant with a starchy root, or corm. This corm is used in dietary supplements and in the production of jellies and flour. Find out more about the potential health benefits of konjac, including managing diabetes, reducing cholesterol, and treating constipation. Get some tips, too, on how to use it safely. Read now
Taking high doses of creatine might harm the kidneys. Some medications can also harm the kidneys. Taking creatine with medications that can harm the kidneys might increase the chance of kidney damage.
Some of these medications that can harm the kidneys include cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); aminoglycosides including amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin, Gentak, others), and tobramycin (Nebcin, others); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), indomethacin (Indocin), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene); and numerous others.
In patients with DM1 given a short loading phase (10.6g for ten days) followed by a 5.3g maintenance for the remainder of an 8-week trial noted that supplementation resulted in a minor improvement in strength (statistical significance only occurred since placebo deteriorated) and no significant difference was noted in self-reported perceived benefits.[565] Maintaining a 5g dosage for four months also failed to significantly improve physical performance (handgrip strength and functional tests) in people with DM1, possible related to a failure to increase muscular phosphocreatine concentrations.[566]
When lifting to complete fatigue, it takes an average of two to five minutes for your muscles to rest for the next set. When using lighter weight and more repetitions, it takes between 30 seconds and a minute for your muscles to rest. For beginners, working to fatigue isn't necessary, and starting out too strong can lead to too much post-exercise soreness.
A: The literature supports roughly 0.8-1 gram per pound of bodyweight in young adults. Can you eat more? As long as you have healthy, functioning kidneys, yes. Will you receive any further physiological benefit from it? Most likely, no. Not only that, since our calories are set, if we choose to overconsume protein then we must reduce either carbohydrates and/or fat in order to keep caloric expenditure within our set range. Once protein needs are met (~0.8-1g/lb of bodyweight) you will likely see greater benefits from higher carbohydrate consumptions given the influence they have on anabolism and the anaerobic energy pathway. However, as I mentioned above, these recommendations will differ for older trainees given the blunted anabolic response from the ingestion of amino acids.
Do a single set of repetitions. Theories on the best way to approach weight training abound, including countless repetitions and hours at the gym. But research shows that a single set of exercise with a weight that fatigues your muscle after about 12 to 15 repetitions can build muscle efficiently in most people and can be as effective as three sets of the same exercise.
The lower the rep range (and therefore the higher the intensity and the heavier the weight), the more rest there should be between sets. So most of the time, exercises being done in the 5-8 rep range need longer rest periods than exercises being done in the 8-10 rep range, which need longer rest periods than exercises being done in the 10-15 rep range.
Extracellular creatine (creatine outside of a cell) appears to influence creatine uptake into a cell. It seems that prolonged and excessive levels of creatine actually suppress uptake (a form of negative regulation to prevent excessive influx).[180] In vitro studies in rat muscle cells have shown that including 1mM creatine into cell culture medium substantially reduces creatine uptake into cells. The inhibitory effect was partially negated by protein synthesis inhibitors, suggesting that high levels of creatine induce the expression of a protein that suppresses creatine transporter activity.[180] Similar findings were reported in a later study in cultured mouse myoblasts, which noted a 2.4-fold increase in intracellular creatine levels in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cyclohexamide.[174]
Co-ingesting creatine with caffeine partially negated the benefits of creatine supplementation (at 5mg/kg bodyweight) during the loading phase in one study.[590] The exact mechanism responsible for this effect is not known, but might be related to opposing actions on muscle contraction time.[591] However, another study in trained men found that co-ingestion of 300mg caffeine per day during creatine loading at 20g per day (split into 4 doses) had no effect on bench press 1RM, time to fatigue, or sprinting ability.[592] However, this study also found that creatine alone or when combined with caffeine had no effect on any of these parameters over placebo, either. Thus, the study may have been underpowered or done in too short a time frame (the test was done after only 5 days of loading) to observe any possible effects.[592]
Creatine is known to increase skeletal muscle cellular volume alongside increases in water weight gain.[346] Since glycogen itself also increases the osmolytic balance of a cell (draws in water)[347][348] and preliminary evidence shows a strong trend of creatine augmenting glycogen loading,[153] creatine is thought to be related to an increase in cell volume, which is known to promote glycogen synthesis.[112]
Compound exercises work several muscle groups at once, and include movement around two or more joints. For example, in the leg press, movement occurs around the hip, knee and ankle joints. This exercise is primarily used to develop the quadriceps, but it also involves the hamstrings, glutes and calves. Compound exercises are generally similar to the ways that people naturally push, pull and lift objects, whereas isolation exercises often feel a little unnatural.
Heath bent his legs — each thigh about 32 inches around, bigger than his waist — and lifted the black case. Inside was his latest Mr. Olympia trophy. In bodybuilding, it is called the Sandow, and Heath has won the last six, most recently in Las Vegas in September. Arnold Schwarzenegger, still the world’s most famous bodybuilder, won six in a row, too, and then a seventh a few years later. Two men, Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman, have won eight.
By that logic, a 160-pound man should consume around 160 grams of protein a day—the amount he'd get from an 8-ounce chicken breast, 1 cup of cottage cheese, a roast-beef sandwich, two eggs, a glass of milk, and 2 ounces of peanuts.) If you don't eat meat for ethical or religious reasons, don't worry — you can count on other sources, too. Soy, almonds, lentils, spinach, peas, and beans are packed with protein.
Your basal metabolic rate (BMR)—the calories you burn just to live—is driven by a host of factors, including your sex, genetics, and age, Tim Church, M.D., professor of preventative medicine at Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University, tells SELF. Research published in the medical journal PLOS ONE also shows that the size of your internal organs plays a huge role in why some people burn more calories at rest than others—in fact, the study found that 43 percent of the differences between people’s metabolic rates can be explained by organ size.
Cornelissen VA, Defoor JG, Stevens A, Schepers D, Hespel P, Decramer M, Mortelmans L, Dobbels F, Vanhaecke J, Fagard RH, Vanhees L. Effect of creatine supplementation as a potential adjuvant therapy to exercise training in cardiac patients: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2010;24:988–999. doi: 10.1177/0269215510367995. [PubMed] [CrossRef]
xEndurance’s Creatine-JB is a fantastic, all-natural creatine for athletes. It’s a little expensive at a dollar per serving, but it has a really pleasant citrus flavor and it contains a gram of lactate, which has been shown in some studies to improve time to exhaustion in short duration, high intensity workouts. It’s also third party tested by Labdoor and Informed Choice.
In regard to practical interventions, concurrent glycogen loading has been noted to increase creatine stores by 37-46% regardless of whether the tissue was exercised prior to loading phase.[176] It is important to note, however, that creatine levels in response to the creatine loading protocol were compared in one glycogen-depleted leg to the contralateral control leg, which was not exercised.[176] This does not rule out a possible systemic exercise-driven increase in creatine uptake, and the increase in creatine noted above[176] was larger than typically seen with a loading protocol (usually in the 20-25% range). Consistent with an exercise-effect, others have reported that exercise itself increases creatine uptake into muscle, reporting 68% greater creatine uptake in an exercised limb, relative to 14% without exercise.[153]
No. It’s not easy for everyone to get the recommended amount of protein in their diets through good eating habits alone. Others may not have clinically low testosterone, but still benefit from boosting their levels to improve their muscle building capacity. You can fix these common problems through muscle building supplements. These easy to take pills and powders can also help you boost your performance at the gym which will, in turn, spur your body’s muscle building and recovery response.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6883
|
__label__wiki
| 0.882084
| 0.882084
|
Ford calls on UK to launch scrappage bonus
John Revill
Sviggum said the French and German sales declines in January were less than the European average.
Ford of Europe has joined calls for the British government to introduce scrappage incentives to boost new car sales during the recession.
Fords head of European sales and marketing Ingvar Sviggum said schemes in France and Germany, which give money to consumers changing old cars for new models, have reduced the impact of the economic downturn.
I went to see five German dealers this week and there were a lot of customers coming in to take advantage of the scrappage incentives, Sviggum said on a conference call.
Most were buying new cars for the first time, he said. Many of the people I spoke to were used car buyers before.
Sviggum: I really hope we will see more of the same programs in other major markets like the UK.
In the UK, new-car sales were down 30.9 percent to 112,087 last month, according to J.D. Power Automotive Forecasting.
The British government is currently considering whether to introduce a scrappage bonus.
French new-car sales dropped 7.9 percent to 149,385 while German sales declined 14.2 percent 189,385, J.D. Power said. Western Europe sales fell on average by 25.4 percent.
In France, the government offers 1,000 euros to buyers who swap a car, which is at least 10 years old for a new model.
In Germany, consumers who swap a car at least nine years old for a new vehicle can receive 2,500 euros.
The Italian government plans to offer incentives of between 1,500 euros and 5,000 euros to buyers who exchange a car at least 10 years old for a new model.
Spain has a scrappage scheme, which offers consumers up to 10,000 euros of zero interest financing to buy a new car whose value is 30,000 euros or less.
Sviggum said Spain should simplify its scheme. The Spanish scheme is very complicated. It has to be something that dealers and consumers understand.
In 2009, Ford expects total sales for all carmakers fall to between 12.5 million and 13.5 million in 2009 in its main 19 markets, down from 16.6 million in 2008.
Sviggum scrappage incentives could slow the slump. If we can reduce the industry decline by 50 percent that would be very important, he said.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6884
|
__label__wiki
| 0.625015
| 0.625015
|
GM will integrate Russia into its Europe business
MUNICH -- General Motors Co. will integrate its Russian operations into its GM Europe business in a move that will help the automaker's struggling Opel brand.
Russia is forecast to surpass Germany as Europe's biggest new-car market within five years despite a recent slowdown in the country's economy that has led forecasters to predict a 5 percent drop in vehicle sales to 2.79 million this year.
"This is the right decision at the right time. Russia is an important part of the European market and for Opel it is the third biggest market in Europe," Karl-Thomas Neumann, GM Europe President and Opel CEO, said in a statement on Friday.
GM's business in Russia is currently run by GM International Operations based in Shanghai.
Not only will Opel's own sales in Russia be consolidated at GM Europe, so will those of Chevrolet, which sells more than twice as many cars in Russia, and GM's premium brand, Cadillac.
Chevrolet is Russia's fifth best-selling car brand with nine-month sales of 127,742 units, down 17 percent, according to the Moscow-based Association of of European Businesses. Opel was the No. 12 brand with sales of 60,045, down 2 percent. Cadillac sales were down 32 percent to 1,124.
Neumann said: "Opel enjoys high reputation in Russia. With our strong model portfolio we want to clearly increase our market share."
New Russia boss
GM said Andy Dunstan will take over the management of its business in Russia effective Nov. 1. Currently Dunstan is head of sales for central and eastern Europe and international operations. Dunstan will report to Neumann. GM's current Russia boss, Jim Bovenzi, will move to Detroit as executive director of global localization strategy.
Opel has been hit by the slump in its core German and other EU markets. The brand's EU sales fell by nearly 4 percent in the first nine months to 620,386 units, according to industry association ACEA.
GM made a turnaround of its European business a top priority after racking up around $18 billion in losses over the past 12 years. GM's European operations lost $1.8 billion last year and the automaker said on July 25 that it expects a "slightly better" result this year.
GM aims to return its European operations to breakeven by 2015.
Win for Neumann
"This will allow GM Europe to emerge more quickly from the red," said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of the CAR automotive research institute at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.
Dudenhoeffer said it appeared that Neumann had won out in a battle for influence within GM.
Five years ago, Opel was a rising brand in Russia, selling almost 100,000 cars, twice as many as Volkswagen brand. But the aborted sale of Opel to a consortium that included Russia's state-owned Sberbank and Canadian supplier Magna International sent sales that year crashing by two-thirds.
GM Europe surrendered responsibility for the Russian market to GM's international unit in 2010. The loss was heavily criticized by Opel's labor leaders.
Unlike rival Volkswagen, Opel cannot rely on growth markets like China and Brazil to offset the slump in the euro zone. GM confines Opel to Europe, so it does not to compete with other GM brands.
For example, GM's Buick builds the Opel Insignia in China, badges it as a Buick Regal, and books the profits, leaving Opel with only niche products to sell, such as its Astra GTC coupe. As a result, Opel sold just 4,500 vehicles last year in the world's largest car market.
A main reason why other mass-market rivals such as Volkswagen are profitable is their ability to compensate for weak European business with rising sales in emerging markets such as China, Brazil and India.
By comparison, Opel pulled out of Australia in August, leaving it with only a few, small non-European export markets such as Chile, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
Reuters contributed to this report
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6885
|
__label__cc
| 0.694233
| 0.305767
|
3R Center
BurgerSearch
The 3R-Center was established June 2013 by the Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, in a unique collaboration with both the pharmaceutical industry and animal welfare organizations.
Go to About us
Vision, mission and tasks
Every year 1,5 million DKK is reserved for research funding for 3R-projects.
Improve your research
3R organizations
The Danish 3R-Center prioritize collaboration with 3R-organizations around the World. That is why our secretariat has visit several of these organizations to establish cooperation
Go to 3R organizations
EURL-ECVAM
FICAM
Norecopa
SWETOX
Bf3R
The three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) are guiding principles for the ethical use of laboratory animals.
Go to 3R
Russell & Burch
Information about Laboratory animals in Denmark. What is a Laboratory Animals? And what are the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement)
Go to Laboratory Animals
How many laboratory animals are used
Species and purpose
Species and severity
The Danish 3R-Center is hosting an annual 3R-symposium. The presenters are from all over the World and the talks are in English.
Go to Symposium
ResearchProjectsProjects 2018The mouse passport
The mouse passport
Axel Kornerup Hansen
The mouse is the most widely applied experimental animal both in Denmark and globally. In diabetes research, which is one of the largest research areas in Denmark, mice are raised with a high fat diet that causes them to develop obesity and a type-2-diabetes-like condition.
How many animals to be used in each experiment are determined by how differently the mice reacts, and how fat or diabetic they become. Recent research has shown that this variation is largely controlled by the gut bacteria of the animals, which today, in contrast to previously, can be relatively easily characterized by a molecular examination of a fecal sample. Another influencing factor may be the animals' DNA.
Although very uniform inbred mice are used, newer methods have shown that the mice in their genetic material outside the actual genes mutate at high frequencies, and that these mutations control the variation of different expressions in the mouse. In this project, each mouse is characterized by their gut microbiota and their genetic material, after which an obesity test is performed with a well-known treatment.
It is determined how much of the variation in the results that can be described using these characteristics, and it is calculated how many animals to use, if such characteristics are available compared to the amount of animals to be used the way experiments are carried out today. In the long run, giving each mouse an individual characterization, a 'passport', will enable such studies with fewer mice, because it may be known which ones are the most or least susceptible to obesity and treatment, and if so it can be taken into account in the data evaluation, and eventually also be possible to select the most suitable mice for the study.
Sign up for our newsletter - don't miss information about our annual symposium etc.
Danish 3R-CenterStationsparken 312600 GlostrupTelephone: +45 7227 6900E-mail: info@3rcenter.dk
Research fundingProjectsImprove your researchSymposium
ContactBoardSecretariatCollaboratorsAnnual report
ReplacementReductionRefinementRussell & BurchThe Danish 3R SurveyComments on the number of laboratory animalsDirective 2010/63/EU
3R News from around the worldNewslettersSign up for our newsletter
Search 3rcenter.dk
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6892
|
__label__cc
| 0.53292
| 0.46708
|
The Etymologies: Index by Elvish Words
Language by language
All languages together
Back to Ardalambion
The former index to the Etymologies is a list of the English glosses given in this work, so that the Elvish word for a certain concept is easily located. I hereby complement it with a second index, listing all the Elvish words in Etym. While the Elvish words are easier to locate than their English glosses, since they usually bear at least some semblance to the stems they are derived from, some words may also turn up in unexpected places. For instance, I guess it is far from obvious to most people that many Quenya words beginning in L are to be found under stems beginning in D.
Tolkien's spelling is retained, also where it differs from the spelling used in LotR (like k, q, ks rather than c, qu, x in Quenya; otherwise, I recommend the LotR spelling). The digraphs th, dh are used instead of the special letters (edh, thorn), that are used a few times in Etym.
Brackets mark words that were struck out by Tolkien, e.g.
[Barada] (T) BARÁD
When not only the word, but also the stem in question was struck out, the entire entry is bracketed:
[eske (Q) EZGE]
In Etym, many Quenya words have genitives in -en, -n. Such words are listed to demonstrate how the words behave when they are inflected; sometimes the stem changes. However, while writing LotR Tolkien revised the Quenya case endings, and -(e)n now came to be the dative ending instead of the genitive ending. In accordance with this revision, the words in question are identified as datives ("dat. sg.") in this index, though Tolkien intended them to be genitives at the time Etym was written.
Sometimes, both an earlier and a later form of a word is given in Etym. (In many cases, the change has to do with Sindarin nd becoming nn or similar assimilations.) I have used the sign > for "later becoming":
brand > brann (S) BARÁD
Similarly, < means "that was earlier...":
brann < brand (S) BARÁD
The abbreviations used are the same as in the other index, but they may be repeated here:
A - Archaic/Ancient/Ancestral/Asterisked, used to identify the primitive forms listed. Such forms are usually, though not always, asterisked as "unattested". Note that the abbreviation A does not actually appear in the text in LR. Most of the "A" words must be assumed to be actually PQ, or in some cases possibly Eld (see below), but these abbreviations are rarely used in the Etymologies.
Dan - Danian (Nandorin)
Dor - Doriathrin
Eld - Eldarin, presumably Common Eldarin, the common ancestor of all the Eldarin (as opposed to Avarin) tongues - including the two most prominent, Quenya and Sindarin.
Ilk - Ilkorin, the language of the Eldar that remained in Beleriand while the other went over the sea to Aman. The Ilkorindi thus correspond to the Sindar in Tolkiens final conception, and indeed the status of the Ilkorin language in the mature mythos is uncertain: its place may have been usurped by another language when Tolkien turned "Noldorin" into Sindarin and transferred this language from Aman to Middle-earth (see S below).
L - "Lindarin", read: Vanyarin. (Tolkien originally intended Lindar as a name of the First Clan, but later it became a name of the Third Clan, the Teleri. In any case, this abbreviation only occurs twice, under ING and ÑOL.)
OS - Old Sindarin, "ON" in the text in LR (see S below).
Oss - Ossiriandeb (only occurs once, in the entry LÁWAR).
PQ - Primitive Quendian, the original language invented by the Elves at Cuiviénen, the ultimate ancestor of all the Elvish tongues (cf. A above).
Q - Quenya, "Qenya".
R - Root meaning, a gloss applied to the primitive stem (the head of the entry) itself. Note that the abbreviation R does not actually appear in the text of LR.
S - Sindarin, Grey-elven. In the text in LR, the abbreviation "N" is used instead: In the thirties and the forties, Tolkien was still clinging to the idea that the Welsh-sounding language in his mythology was Noldorin, the language that the Noldor developed in Valinor (while Quenya was the tongue of the First Clan only). When he was completing LotR, Tolkien finally decided (or realized) that this was the language of the Grey-elves in Middle-earth instead. In accordance with this revision we use the abbreviation S instead of N, and likewise OS, Old Sindarin, where the text has ON for "Old Noldorin".
T - Telerin
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6906
|
__label__wiki
| 0.629092
| 0.629092
|
Europe’s reliance on Russian gas
Filed under: Business News, Latest, Politics News — Tags: Algeria, dispute, economic, electricity, EU, Europe, European Union, gas, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Russian, Russian gas, ship, Soviet, Soviet Union, Ukraine — expressyoureself @ 4:14 pm
Turned-off taps have caused gas shortages in Europe
The latest developments in the dispute over the price Ukraine pays Russia for its gas has yet again affected deliveries to other countries.
Several countries in Europe have reported a sharp decline or even complete cessation of gas supplies from Russia via pipelines through Ukraine.
This has reinforced unease in Europe about the important role that Russia has a supplier of gas.
A quarter of the gas used in the European Union (EU) comes from Russia.
And that share will rise.
Increasingly dominant
Europe’s need for gas is likely to increase.
Europe’s gas pipeline network
Economic growth, when it resumes after the current recession, will mean more demand for electricity.
Gas accounts for about a fifth of the EU’s electricity and the share is likely to grow, partly because gas produces less by way of greenhouse gas emissions than coal or oil.
The EU does have other suppliers, including Norway and Algeria by pipeline, and Qatar and Algeria, again, by ship.
But Russia, with the world’s largest gas reserves and an extensive network of pipelines to Europe, is likely to be increasingly dominant.
Soviet legacy
The EU, unless it drastically changes its energy strategy, will need Russia.
EU GAS IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA
100% dependent on Russia: Latvia, Slovakia, Finland, Estonia
More than 80% dependent: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Czech Republic
More than 60% dependent: Greece, Austria, Hungary
Source: European Council on Foreign Relations, 2006 figures
But Russia in turn needs Europe to buy its gas, and also its oil.
So it is not in Russia’s interest for Europe to become more wary of using gas as an energy source.
So far the disturbances to EU supplies have been a side effect of the recurrent dispute between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides blaming the other for the reduced supplies to the west.
The quarrels are a legacy of the end of the Soviet Union.
Ukraine has been receiving relatively cheap gas.
Russia’s Gazprom wants to charge more, and the negotiations are complicated further by questions about what fees Ukraine should receive for gas crossing its territory.
Some European countries are protected with substantial stocks to cover any supply disruptions for many weeks, although some, such as Bulgaria have very little cover.
The disruptions also reinforce the attractions of developing new pipelines that avoid potential problem areas.
Have you been affected? Are you worried by the crisis?
Gazprom to control Serbia’s oil
Filed under: Business News, Latest, Politics News — Tags: BELGRADE, Black Sea, Boris Tadic, Bulgaria, Central Asia, Dmitry Medvedev, EU, Europe, European Union, gas, Gazprom, Kosovo, Moscow, Nabucco, NIS, Oil, Russia, Serbia, Washington — expressyoureself @ 7:18 am
Serbia is being offered a secure gas supply in return for its oil monopoly
Russia and Serbia have signed a controversial energy deal that will hand Russian gas giant Gazprom control of NIS, Serbia’s oil monopoly.
Under the deal, Gazprom is to build a gas pipeline through Serbia and an underground gas storage facility there.
Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev and his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic signed the agreement in Moscow.
The plan is for Serbia to host part of a new pipeline called South Stream, to deliver Russian gas to southern Europe.
Gazprom is taking a 51% stake in NIS for 400m euros (£380m; $560m), officials say.
Diplomatic tensions
Both countries signed an energy co-operation agreement in January, but the details have only just been finalised. Belgrade had delayed signing because a small party in Serbia’s ruling coalition had argued that the terms on offer to Gazprom were too generous.
Critics say Russia’s pledges to build South Stream by 2015 are not firm enough, given the current economic downturn.
South Stream is designed to take Russian gas under the Black Sea to Bulgaria and then to Serbia for transit towards the lucrative markets of southern Europe.
Washington and the European Union are backing a rival pipeline project called Nabucco, to bring gas from Central Asia, which would bypass Russia.
Correspondents say the planned pipeline could undermine the European efforts, which aim to reduce European dependency on Russian gas.
Serbia’s energy diplomacy is complicated by the fact that Nabucco has EU backing – yet Serbia wants to join the EU.
Political tensions over Kosovo are also a complicating factor, with the EU supporting Kosovo’s independence, while Belgrade and Moscow insist the territory remains part of Serbia.
Energy-hungry Europe warms to Norway
Filed under: Latest — Tags: Add new tag, Amid frantic, Arctic, Arctic Circle, Arctic territory, Barents Sea, canyons, cold war, current political situation, Democracy, democratic politics, Easington, East Yorkshire coast, El Dorado, Energy, energy market, energy security, Energy-hungry Europe warms to Norway, Europe, European, European energy spine, European oil and gas market, fireworks, gas, geo-politics, Georgia, governments, human rights, international, international conference, Jens Stoltenberg, Kjell Ursin-Smith, Malcolm Wicks, market, Mr Stoltenberg, Norse, North - vast swathes of Arctic territory, Norway, Norway Prime Minister, Norwegian, Norwegian North Sea, observers, offshore, ONS, ONS Director Kjell Ursin-Smith, Ormen Lange, political, political interference, political situation, Politics, Russia, Russians, Scandinavian, seabed, southern Norway, Stavanger, supply, UK, UK Energy Minister, Ukraine, undiplomatic, world — expressyoureself @ 8:38 pm
Amid frantic newspaper headlines about the possibility of a new Cold War, more and more governments around Europe are talking about their need for “energy security”.
What most of them actually mean is that they are not sure whether or not to trust the Russians.
Norway remains one of only two major fossil fuel exporters in Europe
There are only two big exporters of fossil fuels in Europe: Russia and Norway, so the choice – for countries without energy reserves of their own or fast depleting them – is limited.
And, undiplomatic as it is to admit it, the Norwegians stand to do very well out of the current political situation.
Officially, a healthy and productive competition exists between the two countries who share a border well above the Arctic Circle.
“We are also partners,” says Norway’s Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, “because both Russia and Norway have an interest in the development of the European oil and gas market.
“And we welcome them into the market, because the market will be bigger if there are several suppliers.”
Mr Stoltenberg was speaking at the opening of an international conference about offshore energy in Stavanger, southern Norway.
And, alongside the reassurances to his Russian neighbours, he did hint at his country’s trump card, when asked why the rest of Europe should take Norway as its energy supplier of choice.
Norway offers a reliable energy supply and a stable democracy
“We are a reliable supplier. And we have proved that over many years. And we have a very transparent, open energy sector.”
The head of the conference, ONS Director Kjell Ursin-Smith, was prepared to go even further.
“The situation is very interesting for Norway, of course. We are looked upon as a stable nation, whereas Russia still has a tainted reputation in that respect. So I think we will try to prove that we are a stable producer of oil and gas for Europe.”
The proof of the UK’s commitment to Norway as a gas provider of the future is a massive new pipeline – the biggest engineering project of its kind in the world – known as Ormen Lange.
The pipeline, whose name means “giant serpent” in old Norse will stretch from the Norwegian North Sea fields to Easington on the East Yorkshire coast.
Some 745 miles of steel tubing have been painstaking laid up and down the canyons of the seabed, designed to deliver about 20% of the UK’s domestic gas needs for the next 50 years. It came on stream late last year.
The Ukraine issue sent a shiver down the European energy spine and Georgia is a recent episode which will focus a lot of minds.
Malcolm Wicks, UK energy minister
The days when Britain could rely on its own reserves to be self-sufficient in oil and gas are long gone – with a current annual depletion rate of about 8% a year – so there is no choice but to look abroad.
Britain has always made a virtue of its lack of political interference in the energy market, preferring to make deciding on a supplier a matter of pure economics and stress the need for “diversity of supply”.
But things might be changing.
“We’re aware of what’s going on now”, says the UK Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks.
He still stresses the need to source from more than one country, more than one route.
But, he adds, referring to the incident in 2006 when Russia turned off gas supplies to its neighbor in order to force higher prices: “The Ukraine issue sent a shiver down the European energy spine and Georgia is a recent episode which will focus a lot of minds.
“I think we have to be – how can I put it? – streetwise, when it comes to issues around energy security. Norway is a great partner to have. It’s a very sophisticated democracy with a great record when it comes to human rights. So the new pipeline is a good piece of democratic politics.”
The proportion of its energy western Europe has to import is likely to rise to about 70% in the coming decades, so the market is guaranteed and the stakes are high.
It remains to be seen whether the big two suppliers – Norway and Russia – will clash or co-operate when it comes to developing what is a potential El Dorado of the North – vast swathes of Arctic territory, largely in the Barents Sea, which new technology is opening up to oil and gas exploitation for the first time.
The disputes have already begun as to who owns what territory. Vast amounts of money are to be made.
Norway has known great wealth for nearly 40 years now, mostly thanks to its fossil fuel resources.
Russia, with an average per capita income still about a tenth the size of that of its tiny Scandinavian neighbor, has not.
And in these days of ‘new’ Russia rediscovering its confidence, reasserting its power in the world, observers of geo-politics can almost certainly expect fireworks.
Black hole star mystery ‘solved’
Filed under: Latest — Tags: Astronomers, Black hole, Black hole star mystery 'solved', clouds, computing time, elliptical disc, Energy, galaxies, galaxy, gas, Ian Bonnell, light, light light, Milky Way, Milky Way galaxy, Molecular clouds, motion energy, normal birth places of stars, orbits, Science magazine, scientists, St Andrews University, star, stars, Sun, supercomputer, supermassive black hole, UK, Universe — expressyoureself @ 10:06 am
The researchers modelled how molecular clouds are sucked into black holes
Astronomers have shed light on how stars can form around a massive black hole, defying conventional wisdom.
Scientists have long wondered how stars develop in such extreme conditions.
Molecular clouds – the normal birth places of stars – would be ripped apart by the immense gravity, a team explains in Science magazine.
But the researchers say stars can form from elliptical discs – the relics of giant gas clouds torn apart by encounters with black holes.
They made the discovery after developing computer simulations of giant gas clouds being sucked into black holes like water spiralling down a plughole.
“These simulations show that young stars can form in the neighbourhood of supermassive black holes as long as there is a reasonable supply of massive clouds of gas from further out in the galaxy,” said co-author Ian Bonnell from St Andrews University, UK.
Ripped apart
Their findings are in accordance with actual observations in our Milky Way galaxy that indicate the presence of a massive black hole, surrounded by huge stars with eccentric orbits.
The simulations, performed on a supercomputer – and taking over a year of computing time – followed the evolution of two separate giant gas clouds up to 100,000 times the mass of the Sun, as they fell towards the supermassive black hole.
The simulations show how the clouds are pulled apart by the immense gravitational pull of the black hole.
The disrupted clouds form into spiral patterns as they orbit the black hole; the spiral patterns remove motion energy from gas that passes close to the black hole and transfers it to gas that passes further out.
This allows part of the cloud to be captured by the black hole while the rest escapes.
In these conditions, only high mass stars are able to form and these stars inherit the eccentric orbits from the elliptical disc.
These results match the two primary properties of the young stars in the center of our galaxy: their high mass and their eccentric orbits around the supermassive black hole.
“That the stars currently present around the galaxy’s supermassive black hole have relatively short lifetimes of [about] 10 million years, which suggests that this process is likely to be repetitive,” Professor Bonnell explained.
“Such a steady supply of stars into the vicinity of the black hole, and a diet of gas directly accreted by the black hole, may help us understand the origin of supermassive black holes in our and other galaxies in the Universe.”
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6913
|
__label__wiki
| 0.678745
| 0.678745
|
Saudi judge condemns ‘immoral TV’
Filed under: Entertainment News, Latest, Politics News — Tags: Arabs, broadcasters, Clerics, dilemma, entertainment, holy month of Ramadan, immoral TV, Islam, judge, Muslim, programs, Ramadan, satellite television, satellite TV channels, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi royal family, Saudi rulers, sheikh, Sheikh al-Luhaydan, Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan, TV — expressyoureself @ 12:55 am
The most senior judge in Saudi Arabia has said it is permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV channels which broadcast immoral programs.
Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan said some “evil” entertainment programs aired by the channels promoted debauchery.
Dozens of satellite television channels broadcast across the Middle East, where they are watched by millions of Arabs every day.
The judge made the comments on a state radio program.
He was speaking in response to a listener who asked his opinion on the airing of programs featuring scantily-dressed women during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
“There is no doubt that these programs are a great evil, and the owners of these channels are as guilty as those who watch them,” said the sheikh.
“It is legitimate to kill those who call for corruption if their evil can not be stopped by other penalties.”
Royal dilemma
Given his position as the country’s most senior judge, the sheikh’s views can not be easily dismissed.
Clerics like Sheikh al-Luhaydan represent a huge dilemma for the Saudi royal family, our correspondent adds.
On the one hand, Saudi rulers need their support to claim that they rule in the name of Islam.
But on the other hand, fighting militant Islam can be difficult when the country’s top judge calls for the beheading of those he views as immoral broadcasters.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6914
|
__label__cc
| 0.576006
| 0.423994
|
Tag: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Co-op uses drone for home energy audits
While regulators hammer out rules for utilities using aerial drones, some power providers have figured out how to put unmanned vehicles to use on the ground—or underground—for home energy inspections.
A recent article in Electric Coop, the weekly newsletter of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, highlighted a custom-made drone being used in Indiana to inspect members’ crawl spaces.
Energy Advisor Steve Hite designed a home inspector that is immune to distractions like crawling creatures and water puddles. (Photo by Hendricks Power)
Home inspectors know that doing an energy audit can be hard on the back and knees and sometimes involve close, personal contact with spiders, rodents, snakes or standing water. A co-op energy adviser at Hendricks Power in Avon, Indiana, realized that robot technology might be able to eliminate the worst of the job.
Steve Hite developed a drone that carries a digital camera and transmits real-time video and still images to a laptop screen. Inspection Bots, a Colorado-based vendor and customizer, built “Robbie” for the co-op in 2015, and it has been used in dozens of audits since then.
According to inspectors who have used Robbie, it is similar to operating a remote control car. The device enters the crawl space through the door and provides a thorough visual inspection while the energy advisor operates it from above. “The drone has two speeds and seems to move through crawlspace areas with ease,” said Hite.
Homeowners can watch the inspection and discuss the findings with the auditor as it occurs. Hite said he sometimes allows the member to take the controls, if they are interested (who wouldn’t be?). Hendricks Power has also loaned the drone to other co-ops in the area to use in their home inspections.
Using robotic technology for overhead power line inspection will have to wait for the future, but with a little innovative thinking, drones can be improving efficiency, safety and customer service today.
Could a drone like Robbie help your utility conduct inspections in tight underground spots? Contact WAPA’s Equipment Loan Manager and cast a vote to add it to the Equipment Loan Program.
Source: Electric Coop, 10/31/16
Author Kevon StoriePosted on November 7, 2016 November 7, 2016 Categories Energy efficiency and conservation, Technology, Utilities in the newsTags drones, Hendricks Power, home inspections, Inspection Bots, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Around the Web: NRECA Unveils Interactive Website Tracking Cooperative Solar Development
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has unveiled an interactive website tracking solar development by electric cooperatives. Offering maps, data, photos and video, the website provides an overview and new details about the recent dramatic increase in cooperative-owned and purchased solar capacity.
Member-owned, not for profit co-ops either have online or are planning to develop 240 megawatts of owned and purchased solar capacity in 34 states. According to NRECA, this development is distinguished by its large footprint, rapid growth and potential for expansion.
“Co-op solar is consumer-owned solar,” said NRECA CEO Jo Ann Emerson. “The solar website shows how the consumer-owned utility business model can spur innovation and expand solar capacity in regions where this resource had previously been written off as too expensive or not viable.”
Highlights of the new website include maps showing the co-op solar footprint, solar projects developed abroad by NRECA International and median income levels and co-op solar development. Visitors will also find a chart showing the cumulative growth of co-op solar capacity, and videos, pictures and stories of significant co-op solar projects throughout the nation.
The website complements NRECA research, funded by the Department of Energy’s SunShot initiative, to develop tools and business strategies to accelerate the deployment of utility-scale solar.
Co-ops are making significant investments in renewable resource generation, using loans from the Rural Utilities Service and other sources. With solar becoming more cost-competitive, electric co-ops are poised to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in new projects. In addition, co-ops purchase renewable energy from large projects such as the 31 MW Cimarron Solar Facility in New Mexico and the 7.7 MW Azalea Solar Power Facility in Georgia.
Source: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association via Renewables Biz, 11/8/14
Author Kevon StoriePosted on November 20, 2014 November 20, 2014 Categories Education, Industry news, Renewables and green powerTags charts, development, maps, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, solar, SunShot Initiative
NRECA recognizes Western customer for helping Montana schools win national efficiency challenge
Western congratulates Southeast Electric Cooperative for earning the Community Service Award-Youth Division from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Earlier this year, the Montana cooperative helped to coach a team of students from Carter County, Mont., to victory in America’s Home Energy Education Challenge .
Karen Kreitel and Marlene Waterland of Southeast Electric Cooperative with NRECA CEO Glenn English and NRECA President Mike Guidry. (Photo by Southeast Electric Cooperative)
The national student competition encourages students and their families to start saving money by saving energy. The judges, who are science teachers, evaluated entries based on the inclusion of multiple schools, student participation, energy savings and a final report. At least 94 schools and 120,000 students participated nationwide.
In June, Energy Services Bulletin reported on the Carter County School District’s triumph in the competition. Southeast Member Services Representative Marlene Waterland worked with five schools in the co-op’s territory to help them with their energy saving plans. Educational displays she borrowed from Western’s Equipment Loan Program helped to demonstrate concepts about energy use to third- through eighth-graders.
The Carter County team – Alzada Elementary School, Carter County High School, Ekalaka Elementary School (K-8th grade), Hammond School (K-8th grade) and Hawks Home School – won the national competition by successfully reducing their home energy use by 3.4 percent. Montana Electric Cooperatives Inc. submitted that program to NRECA for national consideration.
Waterland accepted the award at the 12th annual TechAdvantage Expo Feb. 20. NRECA CEO Glenn English praised the small rural utility, noting, “Southeast Electric Cooperative has shown what it means to be a cooperative by engaging with the community – from age 5 on up – and finding new ways to improve the quality of life for their consumer members.”
Author Kevon StoriePosted on March 6, 2013 March 6, 2013 Categories Education, Energy efficiency and conservation, Utilities in the newsTags America's Home Energy Challenge, Community Service Award, education, Energy efficiency and conservation, national competition, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Southeastern Electric Cooperative
DOE awards NRECA Cooperative Research Network funding for solar project
The Cooperative Research Network (CRN), the research arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), is receiving $2.1 million of a $9 million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) to the North Carolina State University FREEDM Systems Center to develop a “plug and play” photovoltaic (PV) system.
CRN’s role in the project will be to coordinate demonstrations with at least two cooperatives to evaluate the PV systems and test the utility interconnection. In addition to assisting in the design of the project, CRN will also ensure the standards comply with the MultiSpeak specification, the de facto common interface model electric utilities use worldwide.
NRECA Research, Engineering & Technical Services Vice President John Hewa said, “CRN will be focusing on the integration of residential level solar resources on reliability and developing a system that works for both the consumer and the utility, simplifying the installation process without compromising safety or electric reliability.”
More than a dozen cooperatives across the country are developing community solar farms to meet the growing demand from consumer members for solar energy systems. This project will enable cooperatives to offer members more simple, safe and reliable options to add their own renewable energy generators.
The grant is part of DOE’s SunShot Initiative, which seeks to make solar energy cost-competitive with other sources of energy by 2020.
The Cooperative Research Network conducts original, collaborative research for the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives.
Author Kevon StoriePosted on December 28, 2012 Categories Government agencies in the news, Industry news, Renewables and green power, Technology, Utilities in the newsTags Cooperative Research Network, demonstration project, FREEDM Systems Center, grant, interconnection, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, solar power systems, utilities
APPA, NRECA applaud DOE move on water heaters
Electric utility groups are applauding the Energy Department’s (DOE) decision to reconsider a rule it issued last year that would limit the size of residential water heaters manufactured after April 2015.
In April 2010, the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency issued a final rule on energy conservation standards for residential water heaters. Electric utility groups feared the rule would interfere with demand-response programs in which consumers allow their utilities to control their water heater’s cycling based on grid conditions.
On June 6, DOE issued a request for information seeking comments on how the rule would affect utility programs that use high-storage-volume (above 55 gallons) electric storage water heaters to reduce peak electricity demand.
The American Public Power Association (APPA) , National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) , PJM Interconnection and the Steffes Corp. issued a statement June 12 applauding the DOE’s move to request more information on this issue.
“APPA is pleased that the Department of Energy has taken this important first step toward relieving the 2010 constraints imposed on electric water heaters in utility demand-response programs,” said President and CEO Mark Crisson. “Large-volume electric water heaters provide an environmentally friendly and cost effective means for utilities to improve overall system efficiency.”
NRECA CEO Glenn English concurred, noting that electric co-ops have relied on the energy storage capacity of residential water heaters to help manage demand on their distribution systems.
DOE will accept comments through July 13. Information on submitting comments can be found in the RFI. APPA encourages its members that have water heater programs to submit information. Read more.
Author Kevon StoriePosted on June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 Categories Energy efficiency and conservation, Government agencies in the news, Industry news, Technology, Utilities in the newsTags American Public Power Association, demand response, Department of Energy, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, request for information, rule making, water heaters
Nominate the 2010 Wind Power Co-op of the Year
Deadline for nominations: Dec. 31, 2010
It is time to honor one electric cooperative for its leadership in wind power. All electric cooperatives that are members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) are eligible to apply to be the 2010 Wind Cooperative of the Year.
Cooperatives can nominate themselves or other systems, and there is no cost to enter. The Wind Cooperative of the Year Award is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America initiative in partnership with the NRECA.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the award. Past winners are Kodiak Electric Association, Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Associated Electric Cooperative, Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative, Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Holy Cross Energy, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, and Great River Energy. The 2010 winner will be recognized at the NRECA TechAdvantage Conference in Orlando, Fla., on March 8 to 11, 2011. Please submit nominations (page two of form) to:
Randy Manion
Western Area Power Administration
Lakewood, CO 80228-8213
by close of business on Dec. 31, 2010.
Author Kevon StoriePosted on December 28, 2010 December 28, 2010 Categories Industry news, Renewables and green power, Utilities in the newsTags National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Wind Cooperative of the Year Award, wind power, Wind Powering America
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6928
|
__label__cc
| 0.730135
| 0.269865
|
Community › Wedding Boards › Etiquette
Etiquette Wedding Boards All Boards
knottie89a7197213caa2da, knottied99e83b1c1e07c7a, knottief3acc4a302b3c0a4, knottie94e6305504051daf, knottieaf768187ffa6d67a and 95 others joined.
20 Points Knottie5196610
20 Points meyers.savanna
20 Points ramonacreel
20 Points krystaka1010
Is it rude to say 'no shots no doubles'?
ScottishSarah member
September 2015 in Etiquette
Can I preface this by saying I have had so much help from this board both when lurking and also asking a question. Thanks for that!
Ok, so our venue does not let us bring our own alcohol, you have to buy it all through them (at normal bar prices). However, they will stock the bar with as much or as little as you like. We have full control of the bar with them. If we want only beer, or 20 gins, that's cool, and we don't have to buy back half empty bottles.
We were firstly going to go with wine, beer and soft drinks only, but looking at our guest list there are a few people that would prefer vodka and whiskey etc. We were thinking as mixed drinks cost the same for us roughly it would be rude to not give them the drink of their preference. Therefore we think we should ask the venue for an open bar. However....
Some friends and also vendors have recommended a No Shots No Doubles policy at the bar.
I am totally in agreement with the No Shots policy. Firstly I think it might be a rule of our venue, secondly, in our friendship circles on normal nights out, some guy will go to the bar, spend £50 on shots and make people drink them whether they want one or not. No offence but I don't want people doing that with our money IYKWIM???
However for the No Doubles it's different. What if our guests just prefer the taste of a double? It seems a bit rude to say you can have 2 gin & tonics but not a double???
Thoughts much appreciated!
Re: Is it rude to say 'no shots no doubles'?
P.S. This is a consumption bar. In Scotland legislation prevents venues from offering a bar that is paid per person per hour.
lyndausvi Western Slope, Colorado mod
I don't think no shots is rude. I've worked those types of weddings. Guests get a little bummed, but we blame it on our policy not the hosts, so they really have not choice to get over it.
I've never had a request for no doubles. Actually, I get few requests for them. One or 2 guys per party, but that is about it. I don't think it's horrible to say no doubles. The guests will just think it's a venue thing anyway.
What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests. Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated.
lyndausvi said:
Thank you for that. So it's normally just a few requests for doubles? That's exactly what I was thinking. How many people are really going to ask for doubles anyway??? It can't possibly be enough to make it worthwhile preventing it???
ScottishSarah said:
it really depends on your crowd. Some crowds have more double drinkers than others. In my own experience it's just a few per party that ask for doubles.
Thank you again, most of our crowd are beer/wine drinkers...
I'd let the bartender know that you wish not to serve shots or doubles. If anyone asks, the bartender can politely tell them that shots and doubles are not being offered. Our venue does not allow shots or doubles, but we're not putting signs or anything like that to let people know. If people ask, the bartender will tell them that shots and doubles aren't being offered.
jacques27 member
I don't think a no shot policy is out of line (I've been to venues with that policy), but my go to drink is a double bourbon on the rocks or sometimes a double neat with water back. Now, to some extent it's economics - usually a double is only a couple dollars more than a single rather than paying the cost of a single twice (at least in my region - maybe some places make you actually pay twice the cost of a single). Also, I just really, really like my whiskey, bourbon in particular. So, I might be slightly perturbed, but it's not a huge deal.
And since you're paying for it, it doesn't really matter. If your bar is just basing it based on total bottles consumed, it shouldn't matter. Though, I've worked consumption bars where we just rang up drinks in the till like we normally do to keep track and presented the hosts with the total at the end of the night - so two singles would ring up as $14 (7/drink) and a double would ring up as I think it was $10 or $11. So if your venue is coming up with your total like that, then it would be advantageous to you to allow doubles. If not, then it doesn't matter.
jacques27 said:
Where I work a double is double the costs of a single.
We have a no shot policy. No single or double neat with a water back, as they are basically a shot for some people.
XrebeccaX member
I think "no shots" is pretty common. Many venues don't allow it. I have never heard of no doubles but I'm not in the habit of asking for them, so I wouldn't know!
At my SILs recent wedding they had a full bar and there were a number of guests drinking LARGE quantities of whiskey from wine glasses. I asked for a Jameson neat as a nightcap and they informed me "no shots." I eventually got my drink but I don't understand how "no shots" was the rule of the night...yet pouring four-plus ounces of whiskey into a wine glass was A-OK.
simplylaurel member
I think these are reasonable rules. As other folks said, a lot of venues have a "no shots" rule already, so your guests won't think twice about it. And the few guests who do prefer doubles shouldn't be too worried; afterall, they're not the ones who have to worry about paying for the additional drink. So many weddings are beer & wine only (that's what I'm doing), your liquor-loving guests will probably just be happy that they get their choice of mixed drink at all.
vanadisisland member
Woo, I'm getting married in Scotland too!
As for your actual questions, I think 'no shots' is fine. Most wedding I've been to lately have been no shots, and it hasn't bothered anyone. I don't really see the point in no doubles to be honest, but I certainly don't think it's rude, and I don't think it would really bother doubles drinkers.
Thanks all, I'm really glad it's not considered rude or would piss off my guests. @vanadisisland ((waves)) where are you getting married?
((waves back)) Stirling Castle
Cool, I'm Fingask Castle in Perthshire, a few months before you!
vanadisisland said:
madamerwin member
We were allowed to bring our own alcohol, but we hired bartenders through our caterer. The catering company has a no shots/no doubles policy, and while H wasn't thrilled with it at first, it turned out not to be a big deal at all. We have some friends who could down 5 shots in an hour, so from my perspective, no shots was a good thing... The only odd part is that they wouldn't pour straight liquor over rocks either, but you COULD request liquor with water. Seems like a strange distinction, but whatever.
I was more concerned about no doubles, but it didn't seem like anyone really requested doubles anyway. Granted, the bartenders were pouring them pretty stiff, so that probably helped.
I don't think requesting your bartenders not to pour shots or double drinks is reasonable, but I wouldn't broadcast these rules to the entire guest list since it probably won't affect many people - rather, I'd let the bartenders know to tell guests who request shots/doubles that they cannot do that, but they don't need to explain why not. I doubt many guests would care.
tfmrserwin said:
Thanks so much all. I've decided that any signage will be tacky so we will just let our bartenders deal with it. You guys are brill!!
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6931
|
__label__wiki
| 0.511415
| 0.511415
|
Cyclist dies from injuries after crash with vehicle in Overland Park
Posted 9:50 pm, March 22, 2019, by Makenzie Koch
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A man riding a bicycle has died from his injuries Friday following a crash with a vehicle in Overland Park.
Police say the crash happened at about 9:30 a.m. on W. 135th Street at Caenen. Both the driver of the vehicle and the cyclist were headed eastbound on W. 135th, approaching Quivira, when the vehicle struck the cyclist.
The cyclist wasn’t wearing a helmet, police said. He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Friday afternoon, police said the man died at the hospital. His name has not been released at this time, pending notification of family.
Police say there were no signs of impairment and the crash is under investigation. If you saw this crash or have information that will help investigators, call 913-895-6413.
Grandview police identify motorcycle operator who has died after being involved in crash last week
14-year-old Overland Park girl dies from injuries after being hit by vehicle
Motorcyclist dies after striking a building in southern Kansas City
Early morning Northland crash kills man, injures others on 169 Highway
Police identify victim in early morning deadly crash on 169 Highway
Bonner Springs man killed in single-vehicle crash on I-435 and Shawnee Mission Parkway
Man police were looking for in connection to deadly hit-and-run at KC bus stop has turned himself in
Motorcyclist killed, passenger injured in Franklin County crash
One person killed, one person critically injured in Overland Park crash on Metcalf
Man pleads guilty to murdering Overland Park woman
17-year-old dies after falling out of Jeep in weekend crash in Lenexa
80-year-old man dies from injuries suffered in crash in KC’s West Bottoms
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6932
|
__label__cc
| 0.735926
| 0.264074
|
Pete Way Plans New Solo & Waysted Album/Tour 2019 – Joe Elliott
Pete Way is currently working with promoters to book 2019 worldwide tour dates for a joint trek which would feature a solo set from the legendary bassist, and include another set with his band, Waysted. The former UFO bassists says the shows will tie in with two releases – his long awaited solo album as well as a new album from Waysted, their first in over a decade.
Pete Way: “I’ve been in regular contact on a daily basis with Paul Chapman and we plan to start working on a new Waysted album imminently. Think “Save Your Prayers” 2. Waysted will have a very special guest singer of which I haven’t actually asked him yet. If you can guess who i’m going to ask, you and your lovely wife could win a free photo session with the legendary international rock royalty photographer Ross (rude) Halfin. Clue… His name begins with the letter “J” & he supports Sheffield United. He is the master of vocal melodies so “Pour some sugar on me,” “1 lump or 2.” He’s sometimes known to close friends as “Our Jo” or “Oscar Wilde.”
“I’m tracking the final 4 vocals needed to finish my long awaited solo album in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for your patience guys xxx
“My doctor says that I’m doing good but to please hurry up and finish off the solo album as the medical bills need paying 🙂
“Mike Clink (Gun’s N’ Roses producer) & my long term friend & associate Jason Poole are currently finalising the solo album
“In the meantime if Slash wouldn’t mind giving up his day job with Gun’s N’ Roses i’d love to get him involved. I know Slash has a kind heart & Duff (McKagan) inspires me to stay on track!
“I will be paying tribute to some of my close friends & rock heroes that have sadly passed at my shows and we can all sing along and raise a toast to them!
“I promise I will be sober & no drugs will be in my system!
“This really matters to me as do you the fans!
“Coming to rock ya 2019
“It’s only Rock N’ Roll but we like it!!!”
Previous: Greta Van Fleet on KCRW – Morning Becomes Eclectic 2018
Next: Lucy Rose “Is This Called Home” (Anatole Remix) Official Video Premiere
2020 Rock Legends Cruise w/ Roger Daltrey, Paul Rodgers, Robby Krieger, UFO, Uriah Heep – Tickets
Pete Way, “I have no plans to play any Waysted shows or record a Waysted album” 2019
Pete Way Band @ Sweden Rock Festival 2019 – UFO – Waysted – Fastway
Pete Way, “It was really great to catch up with Paul Chapman” + Focusing on Solo Project
Dee Snider, “Just Finished Martin Popoff’s Book ‘Lights Out’ on UFO” – Michael Schenker, Pete Way, Phil Moog, Andy Parker
Tom DeLonge: “Things are heating up” Supersonic Tic Tac UFO
UFO: 50th Anniversary Tour Will Be Phil Mogg’s Last
Pete Holmes on Michael Schenker: “He’s the influence for people like Eddie Van Halen”
Vinnie Moore Tour 2017 w/ Gus G – U.S. Dates, Tickets
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6940
|
__label__wiki
| 0.746901
| 0.746901
|
Valve and Bethesda cancel monetized Skyrim mods on Steam
By Kenneth Shepard
Valve and Bethesda have announced that they will be cancelling their plans to monetize fan-made mods for The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim after waves of negative feedback since the feature’s announcement.
The arrangement would have allowed modders to release Skyrim mods on Steam with both Valve and Bethesda collectively taking 75 percent of the cut. However, after much of the community reacted negatively to the implementation of paid mods, Valve issued the following statement on the Steam Workshop:
We’re going to remove the payment feature from the Skyrim workshop. For anyone who spent money on a mod, we’ll be refunding you the complete amount. We talked to the team at Bethesda and they agree.
We’ve done this because it’s clear we didn’t understand exactly what we were doing. We’ve been shipping many features over the years aimed at allowing community creators to receive a share of the rewards, and in the past, they’ve been received well. It’s obvious now that this case is different.
To help you understand why we thought this was a good idea, our main goals were to allow mod makers the opportunity to work on their mods full time if they wanted to, and to encourage developers to provide better support to their mod communities. We thought this would result in better mods for everyone, both free & paid. We wanted more great mods becoming great products, like Dota, Counter-strike, DayZ, and Killing Floor, and we wanted that to happen organically for any mod maker who wanted to take a shot at it.
But we underestimated the differences between our previously successful revenue sharing models, and the addition of paid mods to Skyrim’s workshop. We understand our own game’s communities pretty well, but stepping into an established, years old modding community in Skyrim was probably not the right place to start iterating. We think this made us miss the mark pretty badly, even though we believe there’s a useful feature somewhere here.
Now that you’ve backed a dump truck of feedback onto our inboxes, we’ll be chewing through that, but if you have any further thoughts let us know.
Bethesda also released an updated statement on the company’s blog:
After discussion with Valve, and listening to our community, paid mods are being removed from Steam Workshop. Even though we had the best intentions, the feedback has been clear – this is not a feature you want. Your support means everything to us, and we hear you.
Related Articles: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6942
|
__label__cc
| 0.591824
| 0.408176
|
Michael Harriman
thedieharder
December 2018 in Football
https://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/news/2018/december/the-big-match-preview-scunthorpe-vs-wycombe/
No mention of Michael Harriman's being injured. I will be very sad if he is no longer part of Ainsworth's plans. I think if there was no Fred or Randell then he would be a right winger. I'm not going to blame McCarthy for taking his place. I love him and all that but I like Harriman equally. Is it the end of the road? Hopefully not. I hope he starts tommorow.
I think he will play a part yet - exceptional player in my book.
@Shev said:
But when would that be?
EwanHoosaami
@thedieharder said:
possibly will have to wait & see what's happening with Fred & or Rendell. Both McCarthy & Fred are amongst the best two performers in the side. Difficult to see where MH fits atm. 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 & he won't get in front of Fred & Jason. Looks like he will have to be patient and jump at his chance when injury/suspensions allow. The last couple of performances I have witnessed for MH haven't exactly inspired, caught out of position too often and sloppy passing seemed to be a feature. I do however feel some sympathy as with no reserve side, it is difficult to impress and gain match fitness other than 1st team game time & possibly makes him over eager when the rare opportunity knocks. January will be a telling month I feel.
@EwanHoosaami said:
Very true point. It just depends how long he can wait until he cracks. I agree McCarthy and Fred are both two of the best players but can we keep Fred?
We will find out in a day or two. Neither Fred or Jason are likely to play every game from now untilMay, so his chance will come. A bigger concern for me is cover for JJ.
JJ must be the one position we can't cover that effectively. Sido and Harriman can turn out there I suppose, but not excellently.
About Harriman though, there has to be some player collateral damage when you're looking to progress upwards. Unfortunately he seems one of the biggest victims along with Saunders so far.
Paris has been squeezed to the fringe too, but he at least knows there are two loanees who may go ahead of him. But then Tyson has come straight back in ahead of him too.
We will find out in a day or two. Neither Fred or Jason are likely to play every game from now until May, so his chance will come. A bigger concern for me is cover for JJ.
We played Harriman as a left-back against Fleetwood Town and Accrington Stanley. I think this was to give him game time and to give JJ a break. I just don't think he is suited for the position though. I think the LB issue needs to be sorted but without excluding Jacobson. I thought that is why Charlie Fox was brought in?
Sorting out a backup left back needs to be sorted. He has to be left footed. He has been a victim which I agree with. Paris Cowan-Hall is premierly a winger. He hasn't played in a long time though. I miss him.
January 1 edited January 1
Starting today, hopefully! Though not his best position.
Tough one for him at the moment. Comes in for the occasional game, out of position, in a poor team performance.
Definitely not any more than a mere fill in at left back.
What I always like to see is Harriman, a player with some pace, in acres of space and waving frantically and the player with the ball trying to thread it through a couple of opposition players to someone sandwiched between two more instead...
I thought Harriman had a decent game yesterday. Maybe a warm up for a spell in wide midfield ?
wwfcwill
@Right_in_the_Middle said:
I’ve always wondered why he hasn’t been given more of a go at right midfield recently. He had that wonderful spell of 12-15 games a couple of seasons ago where he scored a load of goals, won MoTM a few times and generally played extremely well. Then a couple of injuries saw him shift back to fullback, where he lost form and got dropped. Since then he hasn’t really got a decent go at reclaiming his spot at right midfield. Might be difficult with the huge number of wingers we seem to have at the moment, but with the loanees returning, surely worth a go?
I wouldn't be surprised to see Fred return, so probably won't have the chance to.
That Harriman goal scoring spell seems so long ago now.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6947
|
__label__cc
| 0.711957
| 0.288043
|
Jim Trappe
Gastronomica: The Journal of Critical Food Studies
Vol. 14 No. 1, Spring 2014
(pp. 78-79) DOI: 10.1525/gfc.2014.14.1.78
Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares: The Love, Lore, and Mystique of Mushrooms Greg A. Marley White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2010 xvii + 263 pp. Illustrations. $17.95 (paper)
This book’s introduction reveals the author’s interest in human interactions with wild mushrooms as well as fungal roles in the environment, and he signals his belief in the power of stories to explain such phenomena. In the ensuing chapters, Marley’s storytelling skill informs and entertains equally well. The book’s nineteen chapters are clustered in six parts: (I) “Mushrooms and Culture,” (II) “Mushrooms as Food,” (III) “Dangerously Toxic, Deadly Interesting,” (IV) “Mushrooms and the Mind,” (V) “Mushrooms within Ecosystems,” and (VI), “Tools for a New World.” Each section is independent, although reading them in sequence conveys the continuity of the book.
Part I on mushrooms and culture provides the historical setting, detailing how present attitudes about wild mushrooms in America can vary in keeping with cultural traditions. Overcoming mycophobia entails joys and hazards, both well illustrated by Marley’s stories. Part II gets into the uses of fungi as food, including detailed descriptions of “the foolproof four,” four highly esteemed, wild …
Review: The Search for General Tso, directed by Ian Cheney
Review: Fasting and Feasting: The Life of Visionary Food Writer Patience Gray, by Adam Federman
Review: Big Hunger: The Unholy Alliance between Corporate America and Anti-Hunger Groups, by Andrew Fisher
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6948
|
__label__wiki
| 0.916355
| 0.916355
|
U.S. Concentration Camp Guards Promise Investigation Into Hateful Facebook Posts
Filed to: concentration campsFiled to: concentration camps
Rashida Tlaib
Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General
Ayanna Pressley
u.s.-mexico border
Joaquin Castro
Matthew Klein
Retired school teacher Carmen Rubio from El Paso (center) argues with a so-called “counter protester” outside of the Clint Border Patrol station on July 1, 2019 in Clint, Texas.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on Monday that it will investigate the shocking Facebook posts of some employees, the same employees who oversee the vast network of concentration camps that have been described by independent observers as “torture facilities” at the U.S.-Mexico border.
CBP is under fire after it was revealed by ProPublica on Monday that 9,500 current and former members of the law enforcement agency were members of a Facebook group called “I’m 10-15,” Border Patrol code for an “alien in custody.” The Facebook group included vulgar comments about dead migrants and photoshopped depictions of President Donald Trump committing sexual violence against Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken critic of America’s concentration camps.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection was made aware of disturbing social media activity hosted on a private Facebook group that may include a number of CBP employees,” Matthew Klein, head of CBP’s internal affairs unit, told ProPublica.
New Emails Reveal How the Trump Regime Creates Twitter Propaganda to Excuse the Migrant Baby Jails
On May 31, 2018, the Twitter account for Tyler Q. Houlton, former press secretary for the…
The investigation into the Facebook group will reportedly be conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, a department in the agency that has previously found “egregious violations” of health and safety standards at ICE facilities across the U.S. Those violations include rotten food being fed to detainees and inadequate medical care.
Ocasio-Cortez was one of several Democratic politicians, along with Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib, who all toured two concentration camps in Texas on Monday shortly after the ProPublica report was released. One member of the CBP Facebook group, which was started almost three years ago, encouraged any Border Patrol agents who saw the members of Congress to throw a “burrito at these bitches.” Another wrote, “Fuck the hoes,” according to ProPublica in a comment posted by a supervisor at the concentration camp agency. Ocasio-Cortez said that even she wasn’t safe in the facility on Monday.
“In the last facility, I was not safe from the officers in that facility,” Ocasio-Cortez told CNN after visiting a concentration camp in Clint, Texas. When asked about the Facebook group, she said, “It’s just indicative of the violent culture that we saw on the inside.”
Members of Congress were told by CBP not to take photos and were also instructed not to speak with the detainees. But some members spoke to detainees anyway and heard stories of systematic and sadistic torture. The members of Congress were told that the detainees had been sleeping outside and were brought indoors and given blue sleeping bags shortly before the politicians arrived.
Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro captured illicit video of the discussions against CBP’s instructions.
The women inside the facility also reported that detainees are given very little food, their medications are confiscated, they’re forced to sleep on the floor for weeks on end, and they resort to drinking from the toilets, a charge that CBP specifically denies.
“Drinking out of the toilet is completely untrue,” U.S. Border Patrol Chief of Operations Brian Hastings told CNN yesterday.
President Trump was asked about the Facebook group in the Oval Office on Monday and he seemed to excuse the behavior while also signaling to his most hate-filled supporters that he wouldn’t give up his campaign of terror against migrants.
“Well, I don’t know what they’re saying about members of Congress,” Trump said on July 1 in statements aired by Fox News. “I know that the Border Patrol is not happy with the Democrats in Congress. I will say that the Republicans do want border security.”
“The Border Patrol, they’re patriots, they’re good people. They know what’s coming in,” Trump said as a racist dog whistle to his supporters.
President Trump also said that deportations would be expedited after the July Fourth holiday.
“After July Fourth a lot of people are going to be brought back out,” Trump said, according to NBC News. “So people that come up maybe here for a short while, but they’re going to be gone, they’re going back to their countries. They go back home. ICE is going to be apprehending them and bringing them back.”
Wayfair CEO Refuses to Stop Furnishing Concentration Camps: Report
U.S. Government Says It's Not Required to Provide Migrant Kids in Custody With Toothpaste and Soap
Ravelry Bans Users Who Publicly Support the Trump Regime and the President's White Supremacist Ideology
President Trump Jokes With Smiling Vladimir Putin About Meddling in U.S. Elections
President Trump's Designated Protest Zones Are the Perfect Analogy for 'Censorship' on Social Media
Matt Novak is the editor of Gizmodo's Paleofuture blog
PGP Fingerprint: 0074 467E 1339 F416 DA8C 6CFA 0ABD A808 C05C D4A6 • PGP Key
Recent from Matt Novak
Computer Science Legend Alan Turing to Appear on New £50 Note in UK
Facebook Board Member Peter Thiel Calls Google 'Treasonous' and Says CIA Should Investigate
Huawei Says Little Has Changed Despite President Trump's Pledge to Ease Restrictions on Tech Giant
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6950
|
__label__wiki
| 0.908092
| 0.908092
|
You are here: Home Page > Arts & Humanities > Music > Musicology & Music History > Brian Eno's Ambient 1: Music for Airports
184 Pages | 3 line, 37 halftone
This book is available as part of Oxford Scholarship Online - view abstracts and keywords at book and chapter level.
Brian Eno's Ambient 1: Music for Airports
John T. Lysaker
Oxford Keynotes
More than other studies, it situates Music for Airports in the context of 20th century avant-garde music
Demonstrates that the album offers a sonic image of the ecological roots of meaning and human creativity
Introduces prismatic listening, a new concept of listening
Brian Eno's seminal album Ambient 1: Music for Airports continues to fascinate and charm audiences, not only as a masterpiece of ambient music, but as a powerful and transformative work of art. Author John T. Lysaker situates this album in the context of twentieth-century art music, where its ambitions and contributions to avant garde music practice become even more apparent.
To appreciate the album's multifaceted character, Lysaker advocates for "prismatic listening," an attentiveness that continually shifts registers in the knowledge that no single approach can grasp the work as a whole. Exploring each of the album's four tracks and their unique sonic arrangements, Brian Eno's Ambient 1: Music for Airports argues that the album must be approached from at least three angles: as an ambient contribution to lived environments that draws upon cybernetics and the experiments of Erik Satie, as an exploration of what John Cage has termed the "activity of sounds," and as a work of conceptual art that asks us to think freshly about artistic creativity, listening, and the broad ecology of interactions that not only make art possible, but the full range of human meaning.
If one listens in this way, Music for Airports becomes a sonic image that blurs the nature-culture distinction and rescues the most interesting concerns of avant-garde music from the social isolation of concert halls and performance spaces.
About the Companion Website
Introduction: White Noise, Seminal Sounds
Chapter One: A First Listen, or Through a Glass Lightly
Chapter Two: Music for Airports and the Avant-Garde: The Activity of Sounds
Chapter Three: Eno's Journey from Art School to the Studio: Becoming a Non-Musician
Chapter Four: Ambience
Chapter Five: Between Hearing and Listening: Music for Airports as Conceptual Art
Crossroads: An Afterword
Sources for Further Reading and Listening
John T. Lysaker is currently William R. Kenan Professor of Philosophy at Emory University. He works in the philosophy of art and literature, philosophical psychology, and 19th and 20th century American and Continental Philosophy. His books include You Must Change Your Life: Philosophy, Poetry, and the Birth of Sense, After Emerson, and Philosophy, Writing, and the Character of Thought. Current work includes a general theory of art and an extended inquiry into the nature of friendship.
"Lysaker empowers listeners and gives a deep lesson on the musical, cultural, and philosophical intersections they hear in Music For Airports. And beyond Eno, this book's ideas are valuable to the concerns and functions of ambient music at large. The focus here on coexisting levels of attentive depth is a welcome addition to our understanding of this, a music that proves itself more relevant every day." -- S. Alexander Reed, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Ithaca College and author of Assimilate: A Critical History of Industrial Music
"MFA quietly and resolutely challenges many received ideas about music; John Lysaker's new book provides a wonderfully wide-ranging, non-technical guide to the record in all its aspects, musical, social and philosophical. A mindful, multi-faceted examination of a mindful, multi-faceted masterpiece." -- Evan Ziporyn, Distinguished Professor and Director of Center for Art, Science & Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Producer/Arranger, Bang on a Can Music for Airports
Clair de Lune' />
Claude Debussy's Clair de Lune
Gurminder Kaur Bhogal
Democracy of Sound
Alex Sayf Cummings
Necessary Noise
Chérie Rivers Ndaliko
Postbop Jazz in the 1960s
Keith Waters
Sergei Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky
Kevin Bartig
Oxford Anthology of Western Music
Klára Móricz and David E. Schneider
Rethinking Reich
Sumanth Gopinath and Pwyll ap Siôn
Laurenz Lütteken
Leipzig After Bach
Jeffrey S. Sposato
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel
Tim Carter
Balanchine and Kirstein's American Enterprise
James Steichen
The Oxford Handbook of Music and World Christianities
Suzel Ana Reily and Jonathan M. Dueck
Mervyn Cooke
Arts & Humanities > Music > Musicology & Music History
Arts & Humanities > Music > Musicology & Music History > Music & Culture
Arts & Humanities > Music > Musicology & Music History > Contemporary Music
Arts & Humanities > Music > Musicology & Music History > Composers
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6953
|
__label__cc
| 0.622476
| 0.377524
|
How to Use Big Data to Make Cities Safer
WSII Fellow, Jonathan Wood, shares four lessons for urban planners based on his research with Wharton Statistics professors.
How can we use publicly available data to understand what makes a city neighborhood safe? To answer this question, Shane Jensen and Dylan Small, Professors in Wharton’s Statistics Department, are using their skills in big data to reveal patterns of crime and safety in the city.
Jonathan Wood, a WSII fellow and MBA/MD student, assisted the professors in their urban analytics research. Below, he shares four lessons for city safety based on their preliminary research.
What drew me to business school was the hope that the emerging field of data analytics—a core strength of Wharton’s—could be applied in the grassroots work of community development. Could an MBA unlock insights and resources struggling communities could use to walk themselves into prosperity and peace? No coursework directly addressed these questions, but through the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, I discovered the work of Professor Shane Jensen, who was spotlighting and tackling exactly these questions with the academic rigor you would expect from a statistician. I jumped at the chance to work with him through a Social Impact Fellowship and learn about the nascent field of urban analytics.
For practitioners of urban design and planning, the recent revolution in big data collection and analysis is offering a fresh look at historical perspectives. What do cutting-edge statistical tools have to say about the effects of economics, demographics, land use, and business vibrancy on crime? Can new sources of data give new empirical insight into the great debates of urban planning, which have shaped cities for the past half century?
Working with publicly available data, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the architecture firm Stantec Inc. investigated the relationship between safety (as measured by crime frequency) and a variety of neighborhood factors, including controllable elements of the built environment, across the city of Philadelphia. Their work was motivated by the seminal urban planning theory of “natural surveillance,” formulated most famously by urban activist Jane Jacobs in the 1960s. Jacobs hypothesized that well-designed and highly-trafficked public spaces deter crime through the omnipresence of collective “eyes on the street.”
But how might practitioners evaluate Jacobs’ qualitative design principles using quantitative methods and city-wide data? The Penn/Stantec team explored empirical measures of “vibrancy” within each neighborhood in Philadelphia, such as vacancy rates, commercial vs. residential zoning, the number and types of businesses, and hours of operation for those businesses. In their analyses, neighborhoods were defined based on the block group designation of the US Census Bureau.
Their findings suggests a number of practical principles for urban planners:
1. Even modest poverty alleviation in the poorest neighborhoods may reduce violent crimes.
While it may seem intuitive that violent crime decreases as a neighborhood’s median income rises, the researchers observed that the relationship is nonlinear. As incomes rise across a city, the most dramatic reductions in violent crime happen for neighborhoods with median income under $50,000. This finding has implications for urban policy and community development strategies: if cities want the most bang for their buck in crime reduction, they should strive to increase incomes in the poorest neighborhoods first. The relationship between income and non-violent crime does not appear to be as strong or non-linear, perhaps because non-violent crimes tend to be more acts of opportunity that occur away from the most impoverished areas.
2. Crime happens near businesses–but there is less crime where businesses are open longer.
A comparative analysis of high-crime vs. low-crime areas within the same neighborhood found higher concentrations of businesses in the high-crime areas, suggesting that crimes tend to occur around commercial activity. But a closer examination revealed a more subtle finding: in the low-crime locations, businesses tended to be open for longer-than-average hours. Although the association is relatively weak, this finding could also lend support to Jacobs’ natural surveillance hypothesis. Planners might consider following up this finding by experimenting with extended hours of local businesses in an effort to mitigate the draw of crime.
3. High-vacancy neighborhoods appear to have higher crime, but crime does not happen near vacancies.
Another interesting and subtle discovery was that high-vacancy neighborhoods had higher crime frequencies overall but, looking within a high-vacancy neighborhood, the crimes did not tend to occur near to those vacant properties. Rather, crimes occurred near the more populated features within desolate neighborhoods. This finding may help explain the relatively small impacts of Philadelphia’s “greening” initiatives, which transforms vacant lots into green infrastructure through landscape maintenance or urban gardening: additional green space may still encourage vibrancy, but too much uninhabited space near to those greened area may reduce their beneficial effects.
4. Particular business types are not clearly predictive of crime.
While it might seem plausible that a block dense with liquor stores would incur more crime than one packed with churches, the evidence is inconclusive. When exploring the effects of various business types (e.g. retail stores, gyms, cafes, lodging, liquor stores, and community institutions) on neighborhood crime rates, researchers noticed mixed and mostly statistically insignificant associations. Higher-resolution studies should provide more definitive insight into this question, but the association of specific business types to crime is an open question.
When it comes to the quantitative analysis of urban vibrancy, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The Penn/Stantec team noted that vibrancy appears to be an elusive and complex concept worthy of higher-resolution investigation that could also incorporate data from other urban centers. As the power of analytics is realized and applied in the realm of urban planning, it may beckon a revolution of evidence-based city design.
— Jonathan Wood, WG’18
First published by Wharton Social Impact Initiative January 26, 2018.
Community Service/Philanthropy
Public Sector/Nonprofit
Wharton Social Impact Initiative
Jonathan Wood, WG’18
At Wharton/Penn
joint MD-MBA candidate, 21st Century Scholar at Penn Med
Post-Graduation Plans
Aspirations to work at the intersection of primary care and community development
Prior Education
Advice from a Teacher Turned MBA
From Jamaica to Wharton: How This Undergrad Seized Upon Every Opportunity in His Path
How to Decide If Wharton’s EMBA Program Is the Right Fit
Why This PhD Student Chose to Study Business Ethics at Wharton
MBA Student on How the Core Curriculum Helps Career Switchers
3 Ways to Empower Women and Tackle Gender Inequity in the Workplace
Why This Iranian-born Plastic Surgeon Earned His MBA
How the Y-Prize Competition Marries Invention and Entrepreneurship
Two Crucial Things Student Social Entrepreneurs Need — and How to Get Them
Astros GM Jeff Luhnow Explains How Data Analytics Helped Houston Win the World Series
#OurWharton: How a Student-Run Podcast is Fostering Community on Campus
Why This Investment Analyst Says Wharton’s EMBA Program is Worth Self Sponsorship
How This PhD Student Discovered a Dynamic Research Community at Wharton
From Tom Brady to Philly’s Soda Tax: Prof. Diana Robertson Brings Real-World Business Ethics into the Classroom
How This Wharton San Francisco EMBA Student Balances School with Being a Doctor and a Dad
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6954
|
__label__wiki
| 0.930887
| 0.930887
|
DOD builds laser that IDs remote subjects by their heartbeat
The Defense Department has developed a device that uses an infrared laser to detect unique cardiac signatures of individuals up to 200 meters away.
Somewhat like the contact infrared sensors that use lasers to record a patient's pulse by tracking how the light changes in response to blood flow , the Pentagon's device, called Jetson, uses laser vibrometry to detect chest movements as an individual's heart beats, according to a report in MIT Technology Review. It can even detect these slight vibrations through clothes.
For Jetson, researchers modified a commercial device used to check vibrations in remote structures, like wind turbines, so that it could keep a quarter-sized laser beam on a target to get a reading. An algorithm converts the laser signals into a cardiac signature, which researchers said is 95% accurate when the subject is sitting or standing still.
Identifying a person with Jetson would require a database of cardiac signatures, but it could help warfighters positively identify suspects on whom they had taken earlier readings.
Besides the advantage of biometric identification at a distance, Jetson relies on heartbeats, which are considered more unique identifiers than fingerprints and irises and more difficult to counterfeit. It's also harder for subjects to "fool" the technology the way sunglasses and headscarves "confuse" facial recognition systems.
Heartbeat-based ID has been adopted for commercial use already. Nymi, a company specializing in enterprise biometric authentication, offers a wristband that uses a person's electrocardiogram as an identifier. NASA also developed a technology it licenses for verifying identity based on a person's electrocardiogram signal, but both of these approaches require direct contact with a subject's skin.
A researcher at the State University of New York at Buffalo built a radar-based remote cardiac sensor, the MIT Technology Review reported, that is just as accurate but only works up to 20 meters away.
Startup builds 3D models of building interiors for responders
How to prepare for emerging technologies
Machine learning models at the touch of a finger
Images of travelers, license plates stolen from CBP subcontractor
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6955
|
__label__wiki
| 0.538336
| 0.538336
|
8 Adventures for Adrenaline Junkies in South Africa
Formula 1 Racing Just Got a Brand New Logo
· November 27, 2017 ·1 min read
Formula 1 just got a revamped logo in order to start the beginning of a new era and of course the attraction of a new younger audience. After the end of the 2017 season at the Abu Dhabi, Grand Prix, the F1 onwers decided to reveal something exciting to the public. What was that you may ask? Well, it was their brand new logo that was inspired by the feedback of 14,000 fans from around the world. This is the first redesign ever in almost 50 years.
This overhaul is here to mark F1’s new brand, new identity and to resemble the shape of a Formula 1 with its flat and bold design. They wanted to keep it simple and clear for the digital space and the younger audiences who are very picky and very hard to accept something old. This is one way to impress them and to gain their attention. More brands should start taking this approach if they want to keep their companies alive. The director of F1 marketing she states the following:
“When we talked to fans about what made Formula 1 amazing, what we heard was people loved the real, exhilarating, unpredictable and incomprehensibly fast elements of the sport. It was about racing. But many felt those days were behind us and that the sport has become almost impenetrable for fans, particularly new ones.
It was clear we were going to need to address some fundamentals of our brand, if we were to realize our ambition to make Formula 1 a major entertainment player and claim our rights to be the global media brand we should be. What we say and do now is so important for our future, but it must always be driven by our fans. They come first.”
TechWhat's new
The New Apple TV 4K Is the Perfect Companion for 4K TVs
For more F1 news or cars in general click here
Top 30 Luxury Watch Brands You Need To Know
Previous Givenchy Reveals Star Heavy Spring Collection 2018
Next Viribus Unitis 153.27 watch – The military aircraft
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6956
|
__label__wiki
| 0.592191
| 0.592191
|
Finding Nemo-Impressed me
Posted: May 28, 2007 in Movies
Yesterday, I saw a Walt Disney’s computer animated picture Finding Nemo-Directed by Andrew Stanton produced by Pixer animation studios. It was awesome and I enjoyed a lot. I wondered how they brought the expressions and emotions among the fishes. The story was around Nemo-a small clownfish taken care by his father Marlin who lost his wife and all other children. Since Nemo was the only child left with him he wanted to protect Nemo from all dangers and safe guard him. But Nemo felt that he need not want such protections. So he swam near a boat and was been captured by a diver. Now the pitiful Marlin started its journey in search of his son. On the way he got the help of a blue surgeon fish Dory who knows to read human written lines. Dory was with Marlin till the end in finding the direction towards Sydney. The most exciting thing about Dory is that it suffers from Short term memory loss and makes fun and makes us laugh during the serious situations. Both these fishes reaches Sydney after overcoming number of obstacles and threats by other fishes like whales and shark. Meanwhile Nemo who was caught in a dentist’s tank tries to escape along with other fishes. Finally it succeeds and goes to ocean and meets his pity father who thought his son was dead. Thus they reunite after a number of adventures. It was a good work by Walt Disney which took myself in to that aquatic world. Kids will really love it. Good creativity!! Good Music!!..
stylesen says:
In the same line I would like to suggest “Cars” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317219/) which I saw recently 🙂
Got placed in TCS
A Tech talk by Angelo
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6957
|
__label__cc
| 0.697461
| 0.302539
|
The Burning and Destruction of Atlanta
Home > Learn > Historical Markers > Explore Georgia’s Historical Markers > Marker Time Period > 19th Century > The Burning and Destruction of Atlanta
Marker Time Period: 19th Century
Region: Atlanta Metro
Marker Subject: Civil War, Military History
County: Fulton
Marker Program: Georgia Historical Society
Year Erected: 2011
Marker Text: After capturing Atlanta in September 1864 during the Civil War, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, before leaving Atlanta on the March to the Sea, ordered the destruction of all railroads, factories, and commercial buildings of possible use to the Confederacy. On Nov. 11, 1864, Chief Engineer Orlando M. Poe directed the demolition of stone and brick buildings using specially made battering rams. On Nov. 15, Poe’s troops burned the wooden buildings in the downtown business district around the site of this marker. Though houses and churches were not targeted, some were burned nonetheless. Many houses had already been dismantled by both armies to make way for fortifications. Contrary to popular myth only forty percent of Atlanta was left in ruins.
Erected for the Civil War 150 commemoration by the Georgia Historical Society and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Tips for Finding This Marker: At the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Central Avenue in Atlanta
Explore Georgia’s Historical Markers
About the Historical Marker Program
GHS Markers Mobile App
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6960
|
__label__cc
| 0.67764
| 0.32236
|
You are here: Home / E-Ink, Clearink and E-paper News / Flexterra and E Ink develop a new flexible 6.8 e-reader
Flexterra and E Ink develop a new flexible 6.8 e-reader
June 6, 2018 By Michael Kozlowski 1 Comment
Flexterra and E-Ink have developed a new flexible 6.8 inch e-reader that is in the prototype stage and it should be refined over the course of the next twelve months. Flexterra has developed the backplane for this new device and E Ink the epaper display and internal components.
Flexterra has developed new OTFT system, which stands for “Organic Thin Film Transistor,” and it uses an organic semiconductor and related dielectric layers to form a TFT device. In contrast, a-Si TFT and LTPS TFT both use inorganic semiconductors (Si) to form a TFT device. Flexterra uses OTFT to make the backplane to drive the EPD to form a display module.
Based on the Flexterra Flexible TFTTM material, E Ink has worked with Flexterra to successfully develop and scale up the OTFT process and material for mass production in their G2.5 line for EPD applications. The prototype unit comprises of a 6.8 screen with a resolution of 800×600 and 150 PPI. I was told that higher resolutions are possible, but basically it is now proven that OTFT can be used to drive EPD and achieve similar optical performance as a-Si TFT. Furthermore, the flexible OTFT EPD was found to show better impact resistance than a-Si EPD in a ball-drop test based on bare EPD display without additional protection layers.
This is the first time that E-Ink has formed a relationship with Flexterra, who is a leading supplier of specialty materials to the flexible and printed electronics industry. Born out of over ten years of fundamental research in the chemistry and physics of flexible TFTs, Flexterra Flexible TFT™ technology represents a breakthrough which allows the mass production of flexible, robust high quality transistors for a variety of applications such as displays and sensors. Flexterra is an affiliate company of the SAES group which has been supplying advanced functional materials to the consumer electronics and display industries for over 70 years.
Filed Under: E-Ink, Clearink and E-paper News
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6965
|
__label__wiki
| 0.623941
| 0.623941
|
← Medievalists: 11 on the Geek Richter Scale
Life-changing news stories! No kidding! Well, perhaps a little less than life-changing . . . →
The Intuitive Medievalism of C S Lewis (Kalamazoo 2011 paper)
Finally this year, I earned my keep at the International Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo, MI by presenting a paper. For as long as some folks remember, there have been slews of sessions on J R R Tolkien, and a resounding silence on C S Lewis. This seems passing odd, given that Lewis contributed more to the field of medieval studies than did Tolkien. My theory for the many Tolkien sessions is that so many medievalists first got into their field under the influence of the grand master of fantasy.
In any case, two sessions of three papers each were presented at Kalamazoo 2011 on the subject of Lewis’s and the “Discarded Image” (the medievals’ worldview as he presented it to his Cambridge students, published posthumously in the the book of the same name). Here is my contribution to the second of those sessions. As always, reproduction of all or any part of the following without prior written consent by me is strictly prohibited.
The Intuitive Medievalism of C. S. Lewis
Paper given May 15, 2011, International Medieval Congress, Kalamazoo, MI
Two words in my title require some explanation. “Medievalism” is the easier of the two, I take it to denote the ways people since the Middle Ages have appropriated, reframed, and selectively highlighted medieval culture, to fit their own questions and agendas. Lewis was, professionally, a professor of literature, and he spent much time reading, teaching, and producing scholarly works on the Middle Ages, both its literature and its culture. And of course we needn’t go far in the work of Lewis, or of such of his modern friends as Tolkien, Williams, and Sayers, to find that the varied versions of “the medieval” plied by these authors were full of distinctly modern, or more accurately, anti-modern, concerns.
The other key term in my title, “intituitive,” requires more explanation. It is one thing to say that as a professor, so-and-so taught the Middle Ages. It is quite another to say that his or her medievalism was “intuitive” in the senses I’m about to suggest. For this reason, I won’t spend a lot of time in this paper rehearsing Lewis’s professional credentials or scholarly career. Such a rehearsal wouldn’t, in and of itself, prove my point.
So what might it mean to say that Lewis is an intuitive medievalist? One possible meaning of this phrase would be that Lewis loved the medieval from an early age. This, I think, can be demonstrated easily—for example at 18, he wrote to Arthur Greeves, “When I was reading [Beowulf] I tried to imagine myself as an old Saxon thane sitting in my hall of a winter’s night, with the wolves & storm outside and the old fellow singing his story. In this way you get the atmosphere of terror that runs through it—the horror of the old barbarous days when the land was all forests and when you thought that a demon might come to your house any night & carry you off. The description of Grendel stalking up from his ‘fen and fastness’ thrilled me.” (Letters, 143; Nov 1st, 1916). We’ll come back to this point about Lewis’s formation in a moment.
One might also argue for an “intuitiveness” in Lewis’s medievalism by showing its ubiquitous presence in his writings, or showing that it conditioned almost every part of his thought and life. I think these things are true too, though there is not enough space in a brief paper to make either of these cases (and it is the nature of such arguments that we’re never sure how much evidence is enough to prove them). I suspect the other papers in these sessions and future sessions in this track, along with our discussion, will help to move us toward a sense of this meaning of “intuitiveness” related to Lewis’s medievalism.
Another demonstration of the intuitiveness of Lewis’s medievalism might be that when he wrote imaginative stories, they were often (though not always) suffused with the medieval: in the imagery, the atmosphere, the characters, places, ideas—that medieval material poured out from his imagination, a faculty which, as Lewis had learned from Victorian romanticism, is deeper than reason. “Reason is the natural organ of truth,” he once said, “but imagination is the organ of meaning.”
A whole different aspect of this topic, by the way, is the degree to which romanticism nurtured Lewis’s intuitive medievalism. One thinks of his interest in William Morris, for example. But space doesn’t allow us to examine that here. So on we go.
Now, just one more run at this term “intuitive.” One day early in his Oxford career, while lunching with fellow don Owen Barfield and a student named Griffiths, Lewis happened to refer to philosophy as a “subject.” Right away, Barfield snapped back, “‘It wasn’t a subject to Plato. It was a way.’” And Lewis had to admit that Barfield was right: the pagan philosophers’ contemplative quest was anything but coldly intellectual. Intellectual, yes. But characterized by desire, yearning, even passion—a passion for meaning; a passion to see God.
Lewis’s medievalism was just like this. It was never an inert object of study—a “subject.” It was a “way”—a road travelled to get to meaning. In one of Lewis’s favorite images, he set out to “look along the sunbeam” of the medieval mind, to see what it illumined, rather than to look at the sunbeam and see nothing but the dust motes floating in it. To use Lewis’s technical terms for this difference, he enjoyed medieval values for the ways they helped him see the world, rather than contemplating them as objects in and of themselves.
This involves one final dimension of Lewis’s intuitive medievalism: I think that medievalism was not only important for Lewis as a source of understanding of the truth of things, but also that it was, for him, a primary way that his “chest”—the seat of his affections and thus his moral reasoning—received its formation. Thus he was medieval not only in his mind, but also in his heart. This we see not only in his youthful encounters with sehnsucht while reading medieval Norse myths, or in his abiding affection for the poetic vision of Dante, but also in his love for the way medieval people viewed the world and their place in it. As he said in The Discarded Image: “I have made no serious effort to hide the fact that the old Model delights me as I believe it delighted our ancestors. Few constructions of the imagination seem to me to have combined splendour, sobriety, and coherence in the same degree” (DI, 216).
On, then, to Lewis’s formative years.
Beginnings, finding tradition as truth-source
The first observation to make about Lewis’s formation may seem so obvious as to be trivial, but it bears repeating when looking at the depth and thoroughness of Lewis’s medievalism. From his earliest years, Lewis found the greatest pleasure in both reading and writing. His father’s house contained many books, which he read avidly, finding in some of them those earliest experiences of sehnsucht, joy. By age eight, he was trying his hand at authorship, writing and illustrating stories with his brother Warnie.
Then from 16 to 18, Lewis studied with the former headmaster of an Irish college, William T. Kirkpatrick, who observed that Lewis read more classics than any boy he had taught. His training in the classics under Kirkpatrick prepared Lewis to find in “old books” not only aesthetic pleasures but meaning for living, and in this he was attuned more to the medieval than the modern era, as we’ll see. In The Discarded Image, when he spoke of “the overwhelmingly bookish . . . character of medieval culture.” Books were also Lewis’s native element. That so many of the books he read were ancient or medieval is certainly important to my argument, but that they were books, and that Lewis loved them and sought in them wisdom for living, shows him to be intuitively at one with medievalism. In other words, Lewis came early to that bedrock medieval presupposition: our best authorities for truth are the ancient, written authorities.
It is true that as a young man, Lewis turned consciously against this insight, building instead a teetering modern “new look” philosophical edifice. But the respect for tradition was always there in the background, and it didn’t take long to re-emerge, in the oddest of ways.
It happened at Oxford, when his friends Harwood and Barfield converted—not to orthodox Christianity, but to the mystical philosophy of Rudolf Steiner (anthroposophy). As Lewis saw their new creed at the time, “here, apparently, were all the abominations; none more abominable than those which had once attracted me. Here were gods, spirits, after-life and pre-existence, initiates, occult knowledge, meditation. ‘Why—damn it—it’s medieval,’ I exclaimed; for I still had all the chronological snobbery of my period and used the names of earlier periods as terms of abuse. Here was everything which the New Look had been designed to exclude; everything that might lead one off the main road into those dark places where men wallow on the floor and scream that they are being dragged down into Hell. Of course it was all arrant nonsense. There was no danger of my being taken in. . . .”
Of course Lewis has set us up. Very soon after this episode, Lewis was “taken in” by many things that were “medieval.” In fact, he found himself on a path that wound up not only in traditional, orthodox Christianity, but also in the Cambridge Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature. And one of the chief aspects of Lewis’s movement from idealism, to theism, to Christianity, was his increased sense of the permanent verity and validity of truths and traditions of the past, and the fact that in many ways these older understandings have not been improved upon, especially in the areas of religion and ethics. And this was a medieval insight. Discussing how medieval authors, despite the rarity of books, often presented or repeated things their audience already knew, Lewis said, “One gets the impression that medieval people, like Professor Tolkien’s Hobbits, enjoyed books which told them what they already knew” (DI, 200).
Well, we must now ask the question, “What kind of books does Lewis tell us medievals loved?” Perhaps disappointingly, given his proclivities for the genre, L insists that romances were not the most typical, representative medieval form. Rather, even among the poets, it was books systematizing knowledge that formed medievals’ favorite class of reading material: “At his most characteristic,” says Lewis, “medieval man was not a dreamer nor a wanderer. He was an organiser, a codifier, a builder of systems. . . . There was nothing which medieval people liked better, or did better, than sorting out and tidying up” (DI, 200).
Though we may typically feel Lewis is at his most “medieval” when he imitates Dantean allegory in romantic tales such as his Narnia Chronicles or the Great Divorce, he was in tune with medieval thought as much in his philosophical and ethical thought, and therefore his Christian apologetics, as in his literary scholarship and his imaginative writings. To take the most looming example of this medieval systematic bent, the scholastics exhausted all their resources of ingenuity in the attempt to unify all the disparate strands of the Church Fathers’ thought. Perhaps it was in such works, then, as his English Literature in the 16th Century—based as this was on voluminous reading and intensely systematizing thinking, that Lewis was actually most “medieval.”
Lewis and scholasticism
But we must ask, what did Lewis really think of scholasticism? In a word, he defended it. In In the aforementioned English Literature in the 16th Century for the Oxford History of English Literature, Lewis censured the humanists for their anti-medievalism, which of course included a liberal dose of anti-scholasticism. “The schoolman,” he said, “advanced, and supported, propositions about things. The humanist replied that his words were inelegant. Of the scholastic terminology as an instrument of thought—that instrument which, according to Condorcet [con’-dor-seh’], has created une precision d’idees inconnue aux anciens [a precision of ideas unknown to the Ancients]—no reasoned criticism was usually vouchsafed.”
Lewis accuses the humanists of undertaking “a war against ideas,” and this charge strongly implies that he himself found in scholasticism some worthy intellectual substance. And he names the result of their attack a “new ignorance”–surely indicating the loss not of otiose speculation but of valuable knowledge. Indeed, he offered such a forceful and complete rehabilitation of the scholastics, and such a thorough-going scolding of their enemies, that as Dennis Danielson says, he fell into the trap of “countering caricature with caricature, oversimplification with oversimplification,” as when he used of the humanists such “jeering epithets” as “Philistine” and “obscurantist” (Dennis Danielson, “Intellectual Historian,” in Cambridge Companion to CS Lewis, 50).
One suspects that what led Lewis to such incautious polemical overstatement was that he had embraced the medieval not only intellectually but affectively; thus, like a knight defending his lady’s honor, he had leapt to his feet, swinging his keen blade at her enemy with broad strokes both energetic and indiscriminate. In short—we see here a result of L’s intuitive medievalism, in my affective meaning of the term.
This affective commitment may well have emerged from the distinctive mode in which Lewis approached history, what Wilhelm Dilthey called nacherleben: “the capacity to apprehend and re-enact a complex of thoughts, feelings, circumstances and characters in such a way that readers [following the writer himself!] may re-live and experience a world from which they would otherwise be quite cut off.” (Danielson, ??). Out of Lewis’s “continuous immersion in historical writings and themes” emerged not just a skillful scholar of the Middle Ages, but also an “experiencer” and a “re-enacter” of that age. He was indeed, as he argued in his Cambridge address, a “specimen”—who identified at the deepest level with the period of his expertise.
Well, it is all very well to say that Lewis sympathized in a general way with scholastic theology. But what about the substance of that theology? A good example here is Lewis’s advocacy for natural law. Gilbert Meilaender notes “how deeply Aristotelian are the roots of L’s understanding of morality.” This he bases on L’s understanding of character formation, moral education, the training of the emotions. All of this is captured in the image Lewis uses in his Abolition of Man, of the “chest.” “The head,” he insisted, “rules the belly through the chest.” Or: “Reason disciplines appetite only with the aid of trained emotions” (Gilbert Meilaender, “On Moral Knowledge,” Cambridge Companion to CS Lewis, 124 – 5).
Lewis made explicit, of course, that this is an “older” morality: “For the wise men of old . . . the cardinal problem had been how to conform the soul to reality, and the solution had been knowledge, self-discipline, and virtue” (Meilaender, 129). Natural law is of course both a classical and a medieval idea. But since Lewis’s particular formulation of morality is distinctly Christian (he insisted that we need moral training to overcome the distortions of sin), we may take it to be closer to the moral thought of Augustine and Aquinas than to strictly classical morality.[1]
Having become convinced of the objective reality of natural law, Lewis set out to teach it to others. Certainly he did this in both The Abolition of Man and Mere Christianity, as well as in other, shorter essays. But he also taught morality by telling stories. This was consistent with his Aristotelian understanding that morality is best communicated by demonstration and imitation. But it also drew from the medieval tradition of didactic fiction.
The best and most extended example of this in Lewis’s imaginative writings are his Narnia stories. Though we always knew that Lewis used story to teach morality, we now discover that he did this in a particularly medieval way: by subtly weaving into the stories, as epitomes of various virtues, the planets of the Ptolemaic cosmos, with all their ancient pagan and medieval Christian resonances. This is one of the many ways Lewis followed in his own writings perhaps his true literary master—Dante Alighieri.
Pagan sources, “happy syncretism”
And this brings us to one more way Lewis’s reflected the “medieval” bookish systematizing—exemplified in both the scholastics and Dante. As they created their compendia of knowledge for their readers, medievals syncretized gleefully. That is, not that they cared little whether the deepest truth of things was to be understood in Christian, Platonic, Stoic, or Pagan terms. Christianity always provided the framework for truth. But that within that framework, one might fit all the best thought of the pagans, as Christian thinkers had been doing ever since Justin Martyr and Clement of Alexandria. To take one of many examples, modern science emerged out of the medieval encounter between Christian theology and the thought of Aristotle.
Lewis, too, always felt more affinity to a thoroughgoing pagan person, pursuing virtue by Pagan lights, than to a godless modern, and he returned again and again throughout his writing life to the wisdom of the ancients. That the Narnia Chronicles turn out, if we believe Michael Ward, to hang on an elaborate secret scaffolding of pagan planetary mythology, or that the Abolition of Man and Mere Christianity ransack Aristotelian virtue ethics and natural law theory for their ethical understanding, or that his favorite of his own novels, Till We Have Faces, was a reworked Pagan myth—L saw none of this as contradicting his Christianity. Like medievals from Boethius to the Beowulf author to Dante, L was a syncretist in the medieval mold.
Lewis’s devotional Medievalism
Since time is short, I will end with one more point, though it is a meaty one. As I have argued, Lewis’s was not simply an intellectual medievalism. And one of the places where his medievalism touched his heart most deeply was in his Christian conversion and subsequent devotional practice.
Significantly, in his apologetic writings, Lewis frames both his own movement toward faith and the usual human process of conversion as an Augustinian quest of desire. Augustine’s dictum “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee” and his cry, in the Confessions, “Inebriate me, O God!” arose from a Christianization of a classical philosophy called eudaemonism (from the Greek word for happiness, eudaimonia). Classical philosophers had asked, “What makes man truly happy?” Early and medieval Christian eudaemonists answered out of the ubiquitous scriptural language of reward: We are happy when God fulfills his promises and our desires by giving us his loving presence. According to Augustine, the key to happiness is to want the one right thing, which is God himself.
Lewis agreed, and he found pernicious and un-Christian the modern ethic of absolute abnegation of desire: “If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith.” Instead he argued that “Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.” Following Augustine, he affirmed that “we are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by an offer of a holiday at the sea.” (Lewis, C. S. (1996). “The Weight of Glory.” The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses. Ed. W. Hooper. New York, Simon and Schuster: 25-26.) In The Great Divorce, he insisted, “No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it.’”
What we might call Lewis’s “devotional medievalism” extended, however, well beyond this Augustinian insight. Though at times low church in his worship, Lewis increasingly, as he grew older, turned to the early and medieval catholic traditions revived and preserved in high-church Anglicanism. Starting in 1940, he confessed his sins every Friday to a “spiritual director,” a high-church Anglican priest named Father Walter Adams. Having completed his first confession, he said “that the experience was like a tonic to his soul.” (Dorsett, Lyle W. “C.S. Lewis and the Cowley Fathers.” Cowley 32 n.1 (Winter 2006): cover, 11-12; 11.)
Lyle Dorsett says that “Thanks to Adams, Lewis learned to love liturgy, the 1662 Prayer Book, the Daily Office, and praying through the Psalter each month.” Adams “helped Lewis learn that the Eucharist is more than a memorial and symbol,” until he found himself able to “experience Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.” Beyond this, Lewis in his later years used the church calendar to identify with Christ and embraced such catholic traditions as the sacramental view of marriage and the veneration of the cross in Good Friday services.
This devotional medievalism came out not only in Lewis’s own practice and beliefs, but in his spiritual advice to others. In 1949, in the course of giving advice for spiritual growth to “Sarah Tate” (not her real name), Lewis recommended “other ‘old books I expect I’ve mentioned before: e.g. The Imitation, Hilton’s Scale of Perfection, . . . Theologia Germanica . . . Lady Julian, Revelations of Divine Love.’” (Dorsett, Lyle W., Seeking the Secret Place: The Spiritual Formation of C. S. Lewis (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2004).)
[The following section on the Theologia, Bernard, Francis, Aquinas-as-mystic, and Julian was only briefly summarized in the oral delivery of the paper:]
Lewis’s personal copy of the Theologia, which addresses the struggle in the believer between God’s will and self-will, bears frequent annotations. In his own works, Lewis cites the Theologia on the proper relation between Christianity and secular learning (along with Augustine, Aquinas, and Milton). The Problem of Pain also quotes twice from the Theologia, and the portrayal of Ransom in Perelandra as the “piebald man,” burned by the sun on one side of his body and pallid white on the other because of his journey to Venus, which reflects the inner struggle of natural self and spiritual self, can perhaps be traced to “the conflict between what the Theologia Germanica calls ‘God-hood’ and ‘I-hood’” (David Downing, Into the Region of Awe (Downer’s Grove: IVP, 2005), 92).
Lewis also deeply appreciated the mysticism of such medieval saints as Bernard of Clairvaux and Francis of Assisi. He referred to the Cistercian as “one of the ‘great spiritual writers’ of the Middle Ages.” In Lewis’s Allegory of Love, he cited Gilson’s La Theologie Mystique de St. Bernard, and in his essay “Transposition,” “Bernard’s celebration of the soul’s spiritual marriage with Christ called forth . . . the defense of the need to take metaphors from everyday life to describe the nuances of spiritual experience.” (71) Lewis’s copies of Gilson’s book and Bruno S. James’s biography of Bernard are both carefully annotated.
As for Francis, Lewis insisted to his friend Arthur Greeves that the Assisian was “one of the ‘shining examples of human holiness.” He loved the friar’s “gentle spirit and profound love of nature,” and was so taken with Francis’s habitual moniker for his own physical body, “Brother Ass,” that he sometimes used it as a sign-off in his own letters. (Downing, 71)
Even Thomas Aquinas, whom Lewis appreciated for his theological thought, citing him “over a dozen times in The Allegory of Love and The Discarded Image alone,” became for the Oxford don a devotional paradigm. On this point Downing adduces Letters to Malcolm, in which Lewis “observes that the great ideal in prayer is to speak to God as he really is from the depths of ourselves as we really are, without pretentions or evasions.” “‘The most blessed result of prayer,” said Lewis, “would be to rise thinking, ‘But I never knew before, I never dreamed . . .’” Then he mused, “I suppose it was at such a moment that Thomas Aquinas said of all his own theology, ‘It reminds me of straw.’” (Downing, 72)
Among the mystics, Julian was one of Lewis’s particular favorites. Notes David Downing,
Julian’s visions made a deep impression on L, and he refers to her in half a dozen of his books. In a letter written in 1940 to his friend Sister [74] Penelope, he spends more than a page talking about Julian’s vision of holding the whole universe in the palm of her hand and of Christ’s reassurances that ‘All shall be well.’ . . . Lewis concluded his sermon ‘Miracles’ with Julian’s vision of the hazelnut and referred to it again in The Four Loves as a vivid image to help Christians understand how far beneath the majesty of God are even the most magnificent things in his created order. Lewis quoted Julian on Christ’s reassurance that ‘All shall be well’ in The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain and again in his essay ‘Psalms,’ collected in Christian Reflections. Clearly, Julian is the sort of person Lewis had in mind when he described mysticism (in the same paragraph where he discusses the hazelnut vision) as ‘wonderful foretastes of the fruition of God vouchsafed to some in their earthly life.’ (Downing, 73-4)
Also well-known is Lewis’s appreciation for the doctrine of purgatory. In Letters to Malcolm he wrote, ‘I believe in Purgatory,’ though he qualified this by agreeing that the Reformers had been right to oppose “’the Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory’ as [it] had then become.” He loved instead the portrayal of purgatory found in Newman’s poem The Dream of Gerontius, in which “the saved soul, at the very foot of the throne, begs to be taken away and cleansed. It cannot bear for a moment longer ‘with its [99] darkness to affront that light.’” To Sister Penelope he once wrote, “look me up in Purgatory.” (Dorsett, 98-99; CSL, Letters to Malcolm, 139 – 40. CSL to Sister Penelope, September 17, 1963, in W[arren] H L[ewis], Letters [1966], 307.) Lewis clearly absorbed much of medieval western practice in his own devotional life, drawing the line only at such Catholic practices as saying the “Hail Mary” and praying the rosary.
From early on, as he struggled toward conversion, Lewis also appreciated both the aesthetics and the asceticism of the Middle Ages. On the former, the spiritual aesthetic of Dante’s Comedy would continue to influence his thought and writings to the end of his life, as well as the grandeur of the scholastic theology from which Dante drew. In a 1930 letter to Greeves, he described the Paradiso as “feeling more important than any poetry I have ever read.” He found in Dante’s crowning cantica a “blend of complexity and beauty . . . very like Catholic theology—wheel within wheel, but wheels of glory, and the One radiat[ing] through the Many.” (Letters, vol. I, 857)
So too with medieval asceticism. It was 1931 when Lewis took has famous late-night walk with his close friends Tolkien and Hugo Dyson and then, soon after, made a specific commitment to Christian belief while on his way to the zoo with his brother. The previous year, on Jan 30, he had written to Greeves “saying that things were continuing to go well for him spiritually, though he tried not to take pride in his progress, knowing that it came from the grace of [146] God, not from his own efforts.” In an ascetical key, he admitted “There seems to be no end” to his spiritual pride. He found in himself “Depth under depth of self-love and self-admiration,” which prevented him from “making even the faintest approach to giving up my own will: which as everyone has told us is the only thing to do.’” (David Downing, The Most Reluctant Convert: C. S. Lewis’s Journey to Faith (Downer’s Grove: IVP, 2002), 145 – 6.)
Without too much exaggeration, we can say that this struggle with pride and self-will is the taproot of the monastic tradition. So it should not surprise us that “[t]he next month he wrote to Owen Barfield in a tone of humorous panic: ‘Terrible things are happening to me. The “Spirit” or “Real I” [note the similarity to the ascetical language of the Theologia Germanica] is showing an alarming tendency to become much more personal and is taking the offensive, and behaving just like God. You’d better come on Monday at the latest or I may have entered a monastery’” (Downing, Reluctant Convert, 146). Though of course he never did this, Lewis the Christian always shared intuitively the ascetic vision of the monastic—as he did so much else from medieval faith. He regularly practiced such ascetic discipliknes as fasting, meditation, and frequent prayer.
Now, my last point under this heading of “medieval devotion.” Lewis’s love of concrete and common things: trees, mountains, weather, was sacramentalist: He said “every created thing is, in its degree, an image of God, and the ordinate and faithful appreciation of that thing a clue which, truly followed, will lead back to Him.” (57 in Daigle; Lewis, Commentary on Arthurian Torso by Charles Williams [Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1948], p. 116.) His love of the concrete was both medieval and antimodern, as he lamented the sapping of the medieval spirit from the world, and then from ourselves, resulting in the abolition not only of the spiritual dimensions of the material world, but also of the very spirits of human beings.
“We can observe,” he wrote in the preface of another author’s book, “a single one-way progression. At the outset the universe appears packed with will, intelligence, life and positive qualities; every tree is a nymph and every planet a god. Man himself is akin to the gods. The advance of knowledge gradually empties this rich and genial universe: first of its gods, then of its colours, smells, sounds and tastes, finally of solidity itself as solidity was originally imagined. As these items are taken from the world, they are transferred to the subjective side of the account. . . . The Subject becomes gorged, inflated, at the expense of the Object. But the matter does not rest there. The same method which has emptied the world now proceeds to empty ourselves. The masters of the method soon announce that we were just as mistaken . . . when we attributed ‘souls’, or ‘selves’ or minds’ to human organisms, as when we attributed Dryads to the trees” (“Preface” to The Hierarchy of Heaven and Earth: A New Diagram of Man in the Universe by D. E. Harding [New York, 1952], p. 9).
This process of reduction of the world and reduction of ourselves, says Lewis, “has led us from the living universe where man meets the gods to the final void where almost-nobody discovers his mistakes about almost-nothing.” How Lewis’s heart ached, having reconstructed “the heavens of medieval man, filled with life, light, and music,” to now live as one born out of time, in “the final void of the modern space age.” (Sister Mary J. Beattie, The Humane Medievalist: A Study of C. S. Lewis’ Criticism of Medieval Literature (Ph.D. [in Language and Literature, general], University of Pittsburgh, 1967), 30-31.)
Life as a “dinosaur” or “specimen”—the labels he used for himself in his Cambridge address—cannot have been easy for C S Lewis.
[1] (cf. Robert Louis Wilken’s understanding of early Christian morality in his Spirit of Early Christian Thought, as modified classical (pagan) morality)
This entry was posted in Medieval Wisdom for Modern Protestants and tagged C S Lewis, International Medieval Congress, J R R Tolkien, medievalism, Middle Ages, Owen Barfield, William Morris. Bookmark the permalink.
One response to “The Intuitive Medievalism of C S Lewis (Kalamazoo 2011 paper)”
Josh | May 26, 2011 at 3:05 pm | Reply
Thanks for this article. Great insight in Lewis’ thought!
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6966
|
__label__cc
| 0.515559
| 0.484441
|
Published by 1st CENTRAL at 24th July 2015
You never forget your first car – especially if it’s a toy car.
Millions of us were brought up on the likes of Matchbox and Scalextric. But for many, it seems this passion never left us as we swapped our model cars for real, full-size versions.
In fact, some of us can’t stand parting with our original mini-replicas, Honda’s new survey of over 2,000 adults suggests.
So let’s look at the facts:
– One in five of us (22%) still can’t kick the toy car habit, regardless if our children are about or not
– Roughly half of us enthusiasts aren’t ashamed to carry on playing, even if other grown-ups are around
– Nearly three in 10 of us have kept hold of the toy models so beloved in our childhoods
– One in 10 of us secretly store away our highly-prized imitation vehicles
– Almost 7% of us proudly place our collection on show
– 13% of us have been given toy motors as a present… in our adulthood
– 6% wish we had have been given such a gift… but are still waiting for one
– 21% of us have had such a toy handed down through the family
– 21% of us also hand down our own toy cars to younger family members
– … But 3.4% are sorry that we showed such charity
– 3.4% also jealously refuse to let toy vehicles out of our possession
But don’t just take Honda’s word for it.
Toy News also found that adults still have child-like enthusiasm for all things toy cars in a survey earlier this year. The trade magazine wanted to discover the favourite all-time toys.
Toy cars had two entries in the top 10 alone. Scalextric and Matchbox came in at fourth and eighth respectively.
4 classic toy cars
Scalextric: Slot-car racing never came more thrilling than this beauty. Players were invited to loop-the-loop, race figure-of-eights and tread that narrow line between achieving maximum throttle and departing the track.
Matchbox: Now owned by Mattel, Matchbox die-cast cars were as part of the 1970s play scene as Action Man, Barbie and Chopper bikes. Trucks, milk floats and Formula 1 cars all competed against each other in the race tracks of the young imagination.
Corgi: Kept ahead of the game in its 1960s/70s heyday by bringing out facsimiles of popular motors from big and small screens. Its James Bond Aston Martin, Batmobile and The Saint’s iconic Volvo P1800 were all smash hits.
Tonka: Supplied perhaps the most invincible vehicles of all. Tonka trucks were as teak-tough as a WWE wrestler in bullet-proof armour and as durable as The Mousetrap. No wonder parents were in no rush to get them damage-insured.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6978
|
__label__cc
| 0.566886
| 0.433114
|
Tag Archives: Open Prompts
Open Prompts #3
It’s been a few weeks, but here is the third installment of Open Prompts, where you tell me what to write, and then join me if you feel the muse move you.
The first two attempts produced Klutz and Saturday 4am, which has its own recurring story line and music video.
This time, I’m going to set the length at about 200 words. That’s pretty short, so I’m only going to take 3 prompts. If you have an idea, write it in the comments and I’ll include it in the story and credit you at the beginning. Pretty much anything goes, from the tone, genre and title, to characters, setting or objects in the story. Go nuts!
Story elements:
Length: 200 words
I’ll post the story this Friday, October 12. See you then~
21 Comments | tags: Open Prompts, writing | posted in Uncategorized
Saturday, 4am
This is the second story in the Open Prompts series. Because of the length constraint, it is not a full story, on the beginning. More will come, I promise. Here were the story elements suggested:
1. Title: “Saturday, 4am” (suggested by me)
2. Length: about 700 words (suggested by Reality of Christ)
3. vinyl records (suggested by Alastair)
4. A character named Edward “the Squid” Morrison (suggested by Christopher De Voss)
5. Genre: post-apocalyptic sci-fi (suggested by jomiddleton)
6. an android sidekick (suggested by Exit Fresh)
Edward Morrison was the unofficial king of the decaying residential area known as Free Frall. He worked alone, by night, collecting and gathering and making his influence felt among the ragged collection of survivors that haunted the rotting suburb. They would pay him a share of what they found by virtue of what he called “personality”. They called him the Squid, and he liked it.
Free Frall was in the wrong place for revival. It was too close to the bomb-blasted epicenter that had been London, but too far from the enclave of Cambridge, where a determined remnant tried to piece a civilization back together.
Edward checked his device screen. It was Saturday, 4 am. It was funny—five billion people dead and most of the rest living like trolls, but they still knew the day and the time, thanks to Cambridge. Technology galore, but no food.
He was in an area he rarely went to—the rusted sign named the cul-de-sac Brighton Circle. The last stop of the night. There was a house he had his eye on.
It was 4am and Joseph Watson was just getting ready to go to bed when he heard a creak from the stairs leading down to his cellar home. Droog, a dwarf-sized robot, whirred over to the door and did a scan. The light on his shoulder went red. Joseph was just reaching for his gun when the door flew open and Edward “the Squid” Morrison stepped in.
“What do you want, Squid?” Joseph said, trying to sound unconcerned.
“Joseph, so this is where you’ve been hiding!” Edward said, with a big smile. “I heard you were dead, but then I kept hearing rumors. I’m glad to see you.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet you are. You always took whatever you wanted from me,” Joseph said. “What—what can I get for you?” he added quickly, as Edward started to walk around the cluttered room with an appraising eye.
“Just seeing what you’ve found—you always did get the best junk. Where did you find this thing?” He toed Droog, who was following him around, still scanning him.
“It’s a ‘Munculus Bot. A guy in Cambridge found a bunch and is fixing them up and trading them. His name is Droog. He doesn’t know English.”
“I wouldn’t think you’d be too attached to it then,” Edward said. “Hey, what do you got here?” He picked up a thin, black disc and was rewarded when Joseph jumped up, fear plain on his face.
“You don’t want that, Squid. Here, take Droog if you’d like. Please, just—put it down.” Edward raised his eyebrows and started to twirl the disc in his fingers.
“Okay, I’ll tell you,” Joseph said. “Just—be careful. It’s music.”
“Music? Like hum-tunes? Why would I want that?”
“This is music from Before. There are tiny grooves that hold the music. No, not like that,” he said quickly as Edward held up the vinyl record to his ear. “I wrote an instruct for the scanner on my device to read them. Here.”
Joseph set the record down on the desk and placed his E-device in a wire frame that suspended it above the record. Then he turned it on and a tiny laser flashed rapidly around the black disc.
A sound unlike anything Edward had ever heard started to pour from the device’s speaker. It was a woman singing strong and clear in a strange language. It had such tragic and haunting tones that Edward involuntarily closed his eyes. It was as if a window had been opened out onto another world, but it was too dark to see more than an inch beyond the frame. And he so desperately wanted to see. The music soared and dipped and finally, faded away.
“What is she saying, in the music?” Edward asked.
“It’s another language,” Joseph said, with a shrug. “They say there were hundreds of them, Before. Maybe there still are, somewhere.”
“Where did you get this?” Edward asked. “Tell me, please.”
“I traded the four I have from a wanderer named Ryan. He makes runs from here to Cambridge and around. I’ve asked for more, but he hasn’t gotten me any. Please, take Droog if you want, but not the discs.”
“Fine, I’ll take Droog instead, but only if you give me the instruct for playing the music.”
“Okay, I guess. You’re going to go find more?”
Edward was, but that wasn’t all. Hearing that song at 4 am on Saturday was like uncovering a pearl in a mound of filth. It was something that for years had remained unsullied by the decay around it. There must be more, and he was going to find it.
(Mireille Mathieu – “Exodus”)
22 Comments | tags: Edward Morrison, fiction, house, music, Open Prompts, post apocalyptic, science fiction | posted in Aftermath
This is the second call for story elements in a series I’m calling Open Prompts (I’m not entirely sure I like that name though, so if you have a better suggestion, let me know). The result of the first Open Prompts was my story “Klutz” and originolS’s story “$0.99 Only”.
If you have a suggestion for a story element, post it in the comments. It’s pretty open, but here are some examples:
– the title
– the genre (fantasy, mystery, horror, etc.)
– the tone (dark, humorous , serious, absurd, etc.)
– a character’s name or other details about them (just one character at a time, though)
– plot elements (e.g. a silver dagger, a rainstorm, identical twins, etc.)
– the length (something between 50 and 1500 words)
– anything else you feel like.
I’m going to use six story elements, suggesting the first one myself to get the ball rolling. I know everyone has their own blogging/writing schedule, but if you’d like to join me, I’d be thrilled to read your story based on the same story elements.
The title is: “Saturday, 4am”
Have fun! Be creative! I’ll post the story this Friday.
This is the first of the Open Prompts stories, a story written using elements suggested by other bloggers. Here are the included elements:
1. Kermit, a klutz (suggested by me)
2. Spelunking (suggested by April)
3. Bobbie Sue (one leg), Grandpa (an alien abductee?), Big Al (the hero), Tookie (a stoner dog) (suggested by Christopher De Voss)
4. A dark tone (suggested by The Bumble Files)
5. A neon-pink umbrella (suggested by keep your youth forever)
6. Nisha, Kermit’s exact opposite (met in a hospital) (suggested by originalS)
Kermit Allan Mercer lay in a hospital bed, trying not to listen to the maddeningly incessant beep of the equipment that stood around him. Both his legs were broken and four ribs were cracked. But he had had worse injuries in the past, and considering he had been hit by a bus—tripping on the curb and falling into its path—he couldn’t complain.
“Hey, Big Al!” he heard a voice say from the doorway. It was his grandfather. Grandpa Spencer had always hated the name Kermit and insisted on calling him by his middle name. “Hey Big Al!” Every time. With Grandpa Spencer’s accent, it sounded like Abigail.
“Have they cut them off yet?” Grandpa Spencer asked, indicating Kermit’s legs. He laughed and walked in, followed by Kermit’s sister, Bobbie Sue, who wheeled herself in in a wheelchair. Her right leg was missing.
“Why are you in the wheelchair?” Kermit asked. “Where’s your prosthetic?”
“Aw, I put my foot through the weak spot in the porch and cracked it off again,” Bobbie Sue said. “I got an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. Hey, we brought you Tookie.”
She pulled out a small, scruffy dog and placed him on the covers. The dog blinked a few times and promptly walked off the bed, landing with a thud on its head. It lay on its back with all four legs in the air for a moment before getting up and wandering around listlessly in a small circle.
Grandpa Spencer and Bobbie Sue only stayed for twenty minutes but it was still enough time for Bobbie Sue to accidentally run her wheelchair into a cart of lunches and knock half the trays to the ground. Kermit was almost relieved when they left: there were just too many things to go wrong in a hospital. They left Tookie, although Kermit was pretty sure it was against the rules.
They had only been gone a few minutes when a girl appeared at the door. She was cute, with short curly hair. She was wearing camo pants and a black T-shirt and was carrying a neon-pink umbrella.
“Hey, I’m looking for my grandfather,” she said, sticking her head in the door. “Is he here?”
“This is a private room,” Kermit said, with a gesture that asked her to consider if he looked like her grandfather.
“Ah, sorry,” she said, but then she looked at him closely. “Hey, aren’t you Kermit Mercer? I saw you on TV, on that documentary.” She laughed and then pointed at his legs. “So, what’s the damage this time?”
“Please, just shut up,” Kermit said. He had enough comments like that from the doctors when they were treating him; he didn’t need it from random strangers too.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to make fun or anything,” the girl said. “I’m really sorry— it was just a surprise to actually see you. I’m Nisha, by the way.”
She came in another step and twirled her umbrella absently. “So, is it true that your whole family is cursed with klutziness? Sorry if that’s the wrong word for it. Is it just bad luck?”
“Well, there’s nothing good about it,” Kermit said, relenting a little from his first impression of her.
“How many bones have you broken?” Nisha said, coming closer, a look of fascination on her face. “More than ten?”
“38 bones, including these. I perforated an eardrum, cut off the first knuckle of my baby finger and had seven concussions. That’s nothing though: my younger sister tripped going over the railroad tracks and got her leg cut off. And of course, my parents…”
“Yeah, I heard about them on the documentary too. I’m really sorry about that.”
“Thanks, but they died when I was only five, before I even knew anything about the so-called Mercer Klutz gene. I grew up with my grandparents—my mother’s parents, of course. Grandpa and Grandma Mercer both died before they turned fifty, by falling onto or into things.”
Nisha came and sat down by the bed. “Well, I think—oh my, is that a dog? Is it high or something?”
Kermit looked over the side of the bed to see Tookie standing with his head to wall, walking steadily forward but not moving at all. “That’s just my dog, Tookie,” he said. “His mother had her puppies in our garage, right by some paint cans. The fumes killed all the puppies except Tookie, but he’s never been quite right either. I guess we even pass our bad luck off on our pets.”
Nisha put a hand on the covers and brushed against Kermit’s. He started to pull away but then stopped. “Sorry, force of habit.”
“Sorry if I startled you,” she said.
“No, it’s just that most people don’t want to touch me at all. They see that stupid documentary on how scientists are trying to isolate the Mercer gene for extraordinary klutziness or bad luck or whatever and then they think it’s transferrable, like the plague.”
“Is it?” Nisha asked.
Kermit looked at her bleakly. “I don’t know, honestly.”
“Well, do you know what, Kermit,” she said, giving him a dazzling smile. “I think I’m immune. I have never been in an accident, I’ve never had an injury, and I have wonderful luck. I met you today, didn’t I?”
Despite the cheesy line, he smiled. When she left a few minutes later—with another knee-weakening smile and a promise to return the next day—he hated to see her go.
The next day started badly. Tookie wandered off and got himself stuck with a syringe of morphine. It took some hurried intervention by Grandpa Spencer to keep him from being sent to the pound. Nisha arrived just as Grandpa Spencer was carrying off the sleeping, smiling dog, and Kermit introduced them.
“He seems nice,” she said, after Grandpa Spencer had left.
“He’s great,” Kermit said. “He raised me, after all. Of course, he does believe that he was abducted by aliens that live under the sea. I guess no one’s perfect.”
“So…no scuba diving then?” she asked and he laughed. “Seriously though, I wanted to ask you something. When you get out of here, do you want to go spelunking with me?”
Kermit studying her face for a moment. “You mean caving? Are you making fun of me?”
“No! Of course not. Look, it’s safe and I’ve done it lots of times. There are helmets and ropes and—”
“Look at this!” Kermit said, pointing to his legs. “I did this waiting for a bus. How do you think safety ropes are going to help?”
“But you’ll be with me,” Nisha said. “I’m good luck, I swear.”
“You don’t understand,” he said with a groan. “Danger surrounds me every day. It finds me whether I like it or not. I don’t go seeking it out on my own.”
“Well, maybe you should,” Nisha said, standing up. “Take the offensive for once in your life. Laugh in the face of death. Anyway, I gotta go. Maybe I’ll come by tomorrow. Think about it, at least.”
She did come again—several times a week, in fact, and Kermit did think about the idea. He could admit to himself that he was afraid—terrified, in fact—but he didn’t like being afraid. He hated it. His whole life had been one big defensive maneuver, dodging one potential danger after another—or as often as not, not dodging it. Finally, the week before he was released, he told Nisha that he would do it. He would go spelunking with her.
They went together a month later. Nisha picked him up and they drove for three hours out into the mountains on a dirt road. That ended and they walked another half hour to a dark cave mouth protruding from a moss-covered hillside. After they were suited up (Nisha triple-checked Kermit’s harness, with a wink and an amused smile), she led the way down into the darkness.
For Kermit, the initial climb down into the flashlit abyss was a mixture of terror and wonderstruck incredulity—terror that he might die at any moment, and incredulity that he had not already died. He fell down four times before they reached the first rest point, but although he was dirty and scraped, he was not bleeding or incapacitated. It seemed like a miracle.
Then came the big climb, an almost vertical drop of a hundred feet. The foot of the cliff sat next to a still pool of dark water.
“Do we have to?” Kermit asked, feeling faint at the mere sight. It made Russian roulette look like a safe bet.
“Well, we didn’t have to come down here at all,” Nisha said. “Don’t worry—there are lots of handholds and I’ll belay you down and up again. Okay?” He desperately wanted to refuse, but in the face of her indomitable optimism, he just nodded.
Somehow, he made it to the bottom. She lowered him slowly while he scrabbled ineffectively at the crevices and cracks in the rock face. She climbed down effortlessly after him and they had a snack at the bottom. After walking around and exploring a little, they decided to go back.
She was tying the rope onto her harness when she looked at him and asked, “Do you remember the Gray family?”
The shock Kermit felt could not have been greater if she had suddenly kicked him into the icy water behind him. “Why would bring that up?” he asked. “Oh God, why would mention that?”
She smiled, but her smile suddenly didn’t seem as pleasant. “So, you must remember George and Bertha Gray, whose son Brett you accidentally knocked under a school bus. You guys were in Grade 10, right? You remember the investigation, when the police acquitted you of any wrongdoing?”
Kermit just stared at her. “Why are you saying this?” he asked faintly. “Do you know how many nightmares I’ve had about that? It haunts me every single day.”
“Well, it haunts George and Bertha Gray too,” Nisha said. “They still hold you responsible. They had petitioned the school to have you removed on the grounds that you were a danger to the other students, but no one listened. And then you killed Brett. Anyway,” she continued, when she saw she wasn’t going to get a response, “the Grays paid me quite a bit of money to make sure you stay down in this cave. For Brett, but also for everyone else you are going to hurt or kill in your life through your…klutziness. Feel free to explore, but this cave has no exit except up this cliff. Okay?”
“Not my real name. Anyway, take care. Gotta go.” She started to climb, leaving him behind in the darkness.
For a moment, he watched her ascend, moving away from him. He had no ropes—not that it would have mattered if he had. He considered his options.
He would surely die if he stayed in the cave. He would surely fall if he tried to climb up. Dying by falling would be quicker and the further up he got, the more chance that he would die on impact. He took off his helmet and started to climb.
It was strange to be climbing without hope, to be climbing up only because it was the fastest way down. He searched for handholds in the dark, not worrying about how close he was to the top, but only trying to get a minimum distance from the bottom before he fell. Several times, he slipped, but he hung on and pulled himself back up. After a few minutes, he reached up and felt something hard and rubbery. It kicked when he grabbed it. It was Nisha’s boot. He had caught up with her.
“What are you doing? Let go of me!” she cried, kicking down at him more ferociously. Her heel smashed against his forehead and he fell back, grasping blindly as he did. He grabbed her boot and heard a shriek as she tumbled over him and down into the darkness. He heard a snap as the rope pulled up savagely on her body and slammed it into the wall.
Kermit opened his eyes to see that he was clinging to the rope that was now stretched taut from Nisha’s weight. He also saw that he was within three feet of the top. Miracles abounded that day: he made it to the top.
“I’m sorry,” he called down. “I think some of my bad luck rubbed off on you after all. Maybe we just traded.” Then he felt bad and climbed out and called 911.
The paramedics came, eventually, and incredibly, Nisha was not dead. A day later, Kermit was in the hospital waiting room with Grandpa Spencer and Bobbie Sue while Nisha was being operated on. Tookie was chewing thoughtfully on a nearby plastic plant when a surgeon came out.
“Well, she’ll survive,” he said. “We repaired a lot of the damage, although her spinal cord was broken—she’ll never walk again. Actually, I’m surprised she survived at all. She’s incredibly lucky.”
20 Comments | tags: accident, bus, caves, fear, fiction, funny, Open Prompts, quirky | posted in Dusk
How to Mess Around with Another Writer’s Story
Have you ever wanted to mess around with another writer’s story? Well, here is your chance. Introducing Open Prompts. Post some aspect of a short story in the comments and I will be sure to include it in my next story, to be posted on Friday, September 7.
– characters’ names or other details about them
– the setting
It’s pretty much open. I am planning on doing this on a regular basis, although this first one is a test. Every time, I will suggest one element and then take the first 5 suggestions I get in the comments, for a total of six elements per story. Please though, nothing obscene or sexually explicit. I’ll post the names of the story element contributors in the story. First come, first serve!
This isn’t just for me, of course. Feel free to join me in this: we all use the same story elements and then compare stories. Just post a link to your story somewhere so I can read it.
So, here is the first prompt:
1. There is a character name Kermit, who is a horrible klutz
25 Comments | tags: Open Prompts, writers | posted in Uncategorized
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6983
|
__label__wiki
| 0.693855
| 0.693855
|
Game Coverage
Ask Argus
Photo Updates
The Student News Site of Gresham High School
Drugs on Campus Becoming an Issue
A Gresham student using a juul in class.
Maggie Johnson
Robert Ragsdale, CUB Writer
Filed under Features, Showcase
Walk into any bathroom on campus and you can learn about the popular drugs teens are using today. Vapor residue from oil pens and vape pens (full of nicotine) can often be seen when visiting the restroom. Drug usage among teens is nothing new. Drugs have been the choice of teenage rebellion since they were first introduced. With the recent popularity of oil pens and vaping, drugs that were more popular in earlier decades are now on the rise again. Marijuana and nicotine usage is now more popular than other “party” drugs.
“I don’t really want to get into any hard drugs, I don’t want to do something that could seriously affect me, so weed and nicotine is all I use,” said Bryan a junior at Gresham High School.
Bryan, and many other students that think the same way, may not be right about marijuana according to Jesse Schram, a Clinical Social Worker and expert on addiction at Boston Children’s Hospital.
“Our research says if you’re smoking marijuana heavily over a long course of time your IQ can actually drop,” Schram said. “Marijuana and other substances can lead to other developmental problems like slowed motor control, motivation, and even loss of short term memory.”
Despite the research Schram says that students nationwide don’t see marijuana drug use as a problem.
“It’s kind of like this socially learned thing as well, if you’re around it at home or with friends, it becomes normal,” said Schram.
It is not uncommon to see students use substances such as oil pens containing marijuana, vapes, and other prohibited substances during school hours and many staff members don’t fully know how big this problem actually is.
“In the bathrooms, I’ve only seen other students using oil pens and mainly juuls,” an anonymous sophomore said.
Students have tended to just turn a blind eye to other students using these banned substances because they have been “normalized”. But why do students like to use these substances in the first place? “I think it’s that kids love the cultural cachet of being “cool” and getting high is seen as “cool” and rebellious and edgy, as well as feeling good,” English teacher Ms. Ginger said. “I do think some kids might use because of emotional situations that they are otherwise unable to escape.”
Wanting to fit in at high school is a very common thing for high schoolers, but there are also some students that use due to mental disorders such as depression or anxiety and even to cope with abuse, and issues at home. Substances can act as an escape for these young adults.
“We’ve seen people that have had trauma and abuse that went to substance use because of it,” Schram said.
Students often use these drugs at school, maybe to escape problems on campus.
“For obvious reasons the bathrooms [are where students use banned substances] if they are on campus, but if they will go off campus, its during lunch, late starts and early dismissals,” Mr. Shields, GHS security officer said.
Many staff members are aware that drug use is a problem at Gresham but don’t actually know how big this problem is. Estimates vary on the percentage of the student body who use drugs.
“I think it’s around 30/35% of the students who use,” Ginger said.
“It may be a sum of 60% [that use],” Shields said.
It would be very hard to get an accurate number and percentage of the students who use because many students would not be honest if asked.
According to Shields, on average a student gets in trouble every 12 days for intoxication or drugs.
“It’s probably between 10 to 20 cases a year so about 15 on average,” Shields said.
If someone does get into trouble for intoxication or drugs the student is suspended and then issued a school order drug test, the student must then have a meeting with the assistant principal to get re-established at school.
Drugs have become normal for students at Gresham to see, even though all may not be comfortable with them. Students may not think it will have an effect on them but studies say otherwise. Drug usage, even casually like many cases seen at GHS, can cause long term effects that can have negative consequences far beyond high school.
How do you feel about police on campus (commonly referred to as school resource officers)?
I like them
I don't like them
I'm indifferent towards them
Staff Send Off: Omar Carrillo
Staff Send Off: Cole Garber
Staff Send Off: Samantha Acosta
Staff Send Off: Kendyl Beam
New Principal Drake Shelton to Take Over Next Year
Have I Told You
I remember the first time someone thought I was a boy
My First Goodbye
Parents and Teens: Combating a Common Problem
GHS Poetry Slam Brings People Together
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6984
|
__label__cc
| 0.510378
| 0.489622
|
Intergenerational trust and betrayal — Julianne Schultz
Waiting our turn — Jerath Head
Your sons, your daughters — Courtney Landers
A consensus for care — Frances Flanagan
Who owns the future? — André Dao
A gonzo music memoir — Lochie McQueen
Unpaid opportunities — Michael Newton
Economic illiterates — Natalie O'Brien
The sickness of social organisation — Amy Corderoy
Young lady, that’s inappropriate — Bri Lee
Measuring imperfection — Fiona Wright
A little too close to the sun — Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Still talkin' up to the white woman — Timmah Ball
Peasant dreaming — Sam Vincent
Of monsters and men — Sam Carmody
Conversations with my sister — Michelle Law
The spectator — Kavita Bedford
Today is already yesterday — Ashley Kalagian Blunt
A cry from the heart — Jack Manning Bancroft
Revering the other — Daniel Jenkins
The bystander — Lech Blaine
Under the skin — Sophie Allan
To my future child — Keane Shum
Worlds beyond — Andrew McMillen
Off the plan — Briohny Doyle
Young Saigon — David Fettling
A modern epic — Cathal O’Connell
Caring for country — Billy Griffiths
The view from up here — Anna Snoekstra
Fossil Fuels — Jennifer Down
Ordinary things — Omar Sakr
Hey sweetheart, hey love — Charlotte Guest
Futurefear — Alison Whittaker
Online Only (12)
Sanctuary in the city — Sarah Binney
An algorithm for altruism — Adam Peaston & Kristi Mansfield
Kale as old as time — Alecia Wood
A future more fair — Jordan O’Reilly
Modern science, modern life — Lila Landowski
Breaking the cycle — John van Bockxmeer
Born on Aboriginal land — Caitlin Prince
A luxury of choice — Sam George-Allen
Un-Australian — Jarni Blakkarly
The housing black hole — Godfrey Moase
Maybe travel isn’t always moving on — James Butler
Navigating life in art — Yolande Norris
Standing Rock — Angus Mordant
Navigating life in art
by Yolande Norris
THERE WAS A cynicism creeping up on me: the idea that all we did in the arts world, or in galleries at least, was get people splendidly drunk in front of attractive backdrops once every six weeks or so. I was comfortable in my job at the Contemporary Art Space. The pay was relatively good, for a twentysomething anyhow. It was relaxed. The people were great. I knew I could easily stay there forever, and so I knew I had to go. With a few thousand dollars saved I resigned, with no plans other than to write my blog and see what happened.
Elsewhere in Canberra, something was eating at David, too. With his science/theatre collective, Boho, he was testing the possibilities of getting away from the art world, or rather, putting it to better use.
I met David Finnigan in 2009 at This Is Not Art – the way so many art-world stories begin. He was co-founder and director of Crack Theatre Festival, and I was incumbent co-director of the Critical Animals symposium. In late 2010 I took a phone call from him out of the blue. Would I meet for a coffee, to talk about a project that had come his way? And I would, of course – I had nothing else to do.
It was a festival designated by Robyn Archer as part of the Centenary of Canberra. Underground, emerging, youth. ‘Activating vacant spaces’; on-trend and spouting all the buzzwords. David knew about festivals, and especially knew enough that he didn’t want to go it alone. Despite my inexperience I could see this wasn’t the kind of gig that came up often. The fact it had a budget was rarer still. I googled ‘what is a producer’ and said I was in.
In a city so small and folded in on itself, it still surprises me that David and I hadn’t met much earlier. But then, my focus was quite narrow – as was his. I wanted to be an artist, and painting, drawing and galleries was all I thought about. David was reading fantasy and science fiction, trawling his parent’s bookshelves, fronting up to the Canberra Youth Theatre, and always knew he would write.
As bookish and precocious middle-class children from neat suburbs, school appealed to our sensibilities, and the accolades came easily. University was another matter. In thirteen years of Catholic education I hadn’t learnt how to have an original thought, and my four years at the ANU School of Art saw me reckon daily with that fact. Studying English at the ANU, David, also accustomed to private-school rigor, floundered in a lack of structure and supervision. I needed to break out, he needed to pull in. In both cases art compensated for a lack of social capital.
At the beginning of the century, Canberra was a town where you either got out or got involved. You created what you needed to thrive. Perhaps it was because we had both travelled and lived overseas as kids that, when our peers made the exodus to the flatlands of Melbourne, we were among the relative few who remained. In this tiniest of ponds, the independent art scenes were strong. The city was not yet within the velvet-gloved grasp of developers, and there were still places to play, still a small-town ease and a concentrated population of young and emergent artists.
There was a fervour for theatre and a swathe of independent companies. David was embedded in this scene, known as a playwright, poet and performer. He was publishing play scripts and other writings via a blog, throwing them at the world. Bored with television, I set up a blog too and started to write about the exhibitions I saw, the artist studios I visited, works that caught my eye.
At some point people started calling my blog posts reviews, and me a critic. Neither things I had intended, but it was sort of seductive to imagine people taking me seriously for the first time in my young life, and to recognise the currency of my own opinion. I seemed incapable of making what I considered ‘art’ but I knew about nothing else, and knew only artists and musicians. I started to understand that they needed people like me. Art needed words and words were all I had. Putting those words out into the world had never been easier – from your laptop, you could present whatever face you liked, and in that first decade of the 2000s David and I were becoming what we invented.
WE NAMED OUR festival You Are Here. It was an opportunity to workshop every obscure or unwieldy idea either of us had had, rallying all the creators and makers we knew in our little city and a handful from further afield. By the festival’s debut, in March 2011, we had a ten-day program of over a hundred free events, but no idea if anyone would come.
At first I found David insufferable. The days leading up to the festival were long and in close quarters. I tolerated his snark, his loud typing and inability to be still, and he my endless negativity and constant need to eat. We drank coffee after coffee because we had no office and therefore had to pay our way around the tables and power points of the city while we met with artist after artist after venue owner after government and corporate suit. Our personalities and modes of working were almost completely opposite. I was conservative, cautious, good with people, good with aesthetics. He could be erratic and took big risks creatively, but seemed to hardly register the visual world at all.
David did what he said he was going to do; he made plans and lived by them. He delivered. He defended. He was indefatigable. Though I hardly knew him, and wasn’t sure I liked him, I trusted him immediately and tried to keep the peace. We learnt to hold our own in meetings via a complex language of eyebrow raises and nose twitches, and the occasional under-the-table shin kick. We found a groove, and it worked.
Our budgeted fee was small and Canberra rents were high. David stayed with his parents to keep out of the red. I held on tight to a retail job in the city, selling dresses, jewellery and trinkets. As we got busier in our festival preparations, the shop got busier for Christmas, so he would come and meet me at work, trailing me around the shop floor with laptop open, speaking animatedly, then trying to look inconspicuous when a customer entered.
On the first night, our festival audience arrived first in ones and twos, then in a strong stream. The venue filled, the windows fogged and the walls sweated, and it was going to be okay. There’s nothing like that feeling, of building something that didn’t exist before, of watching other people discover it. Seeing them form an ownership, and seeing them feel proud. Robyn Archer was proud too. She gave us a contract for the next two years.
I was deeply loyal to Canberra – passionate about it. For me, home was a place to invest energy. But home was not part of David’s vernacular. It was just a place to return to, between other things. Since his early twenties, David had been cultivating the means to divide his working year between the UK, the Philippines and Australia. Following that first You Are Here festival, he had to choose between Canberra, and doing it all again, or a series of opportunities in London. It had a big pull for him, as did Manila. His creative practice, both as an independent maker and with Boho, came to life in these more complex, diverse and demanding worlds. But the festival was rare and reliable work, calling him back each time.
In late 2011 I was leading the planning for the second festival, but didn’t have an internet connection at my share house. I would walk three blocks to a friend’s place to use hers, and sometimes feed her dog in return. When David was in the UK, my nights were his days. We would sit chatting – work and idle conversation tripping over one another onscreen, becoming closer because of, or in spite of, the distance.
One night, we talked shop over Skype for a good twenty minutes before I mustered up the courage to tell him I was pregnant. I was quick to add that it wouldn’t get in the way of my work, so far as I could tell. I didn’t know anybody else who had had a baby, or was having one. When my round stomach tumbled and twitched above the table edge during meetings, I was aware of all the eyes upon it. My partner Mat and I got married, and had a party in the backyard of our mouldering duplex. Our housemates had been extricated and a tiny bedroom equipped with what we could only imagine a baby might need. I kept working.
I was panicking, submitting an Australia Council application for the festival on an intermittent internet connection, half an hour from deadline, when my waters began to seep. It’s happening! I emailed David, before completing the application and sending a barrage of half-finished tasks his way.
After my first son was born, I was gripped by a ferocious drive. I had a new perception of time, and I had something to prove. I began to write again. I was moving away from the blog – getting commissions for articles and being published. I wrote more pieces and had more work published in my first twelve months of motherhood than I had had in the five years preceding. Suddenly I wrote poetry too, if only for the fact that the form suited the small windows of opportunity available for creative pursuit. We took the baby to festival meetings, David pushing the pram or carrying my bags.
In 2013, David and I turned thirty and Canberra turned one hundred. We produced our third and final festival together, packed up the venues, gave back the keys and handed over to a new set of young producers. We continued speaking every day because, after three years, we didn’t know how not to.
MY SON WAS nearly one when home life began closing in. Some days I wept from boredom. I decided I needed a ‘real job’, after so long living precariously from one invoice to the next. What might lack in creative satisfaction could perhaps be made up for by a regular income. I set my sights on an entry-level role with the ACT’s arts-funding body – cocksure at first, then deeply rattled when I didn’t secure an interview.
‘You really need to have had some policy experience,’ they offered by way of explanation.
‘You would be miserable there,’ David said.
Instead I found a role as program manager for an arts centre, nine to five, five days a week. The regimentation felt awkward and archaic but I knew I needed to play the game. Mat took care of our son and brought him to me for feeding during the day.
That winter I was in the Canberra Theatre Centre audience for the premiere of Big hART’s Hipbone Sticking Out. A sprawling, freewheeling thing – heartbreaking, jubilant, haunting, acerbic. I left that night transformed; something had been lit inside me. Something to do with art as a means to understanding the world, its strengths and its weaknesses.
I needed to get closer to whatever and whoever it was that made that work a reality. And so, late one night, after a particularly disheartening workday, I shot off a gushy email to Big hART’s national producer. I hit send before I could second-guess, experienced a shudder of embarrassment and horror at my own presumption. And yet they responded, asking if I knew anyone who would be interested in part-time work.
I texted David immediately, in shock. I think I just got offered a job with Big hART.
It was comms work, largely online. The digital world needed words as much as the art world. I had no idea what I was doing but slightly more idea than the rest, and that was my pass in.
IN THE CLOSING MONTHS of 2013 I helped David prepare his application for an Australia Council Fellowship for early career artists. I riddled each page with track changes, horrified by how little confidence he demonstrated, how self-deprecating he was. It comes easy to me, this stuff. For the first time in years I wished I were an artist instead, that it were my own opportunities I were working at. I felt a sort of mellow grief for the potential other directions my working life would no longer lead. At least, not for some time.
Receiving the fellowship gave David room for more risk. His latest script was written in hotel rooms while overseas for his Churchill fellowship in 2014, and despite having not been performed or presented it was already contentious. Titled Kill Climate Deniers, the play unpicks the tangled politics of climate change while sitting in a trope somewhere between Tank Girl, Die Hard and Tarantino. We are accustomed to art going unnoticed by the wider populace, but this project was different: it was immediately taken to task by Andrew Bolt; there were calls for the ACT arts minister to resign; David was savaged online by rabid sceptics of climate change, and by those who love to hate art – and arts funding even more so. David’s career turned into a boxing ring, and I was in the corner passing the towel. He pushed on with a development of the work in Canberra, still unsure where this project might find a home, but determined that it must.
One weekend, Mat and I drove out to the town of Braidwood, eighty-six kilometres outside of Canberra, to visit a friend. The town is home to many artists, writers, fringe-dwellers and outside thinkers, and on that trip the winter light cast everything in gold. On our way home, I wondered aloud whether we should just move there, and that night, for reasons I can’t articulate, I found myself searching rental listings over dinner. Six weeks later we were headed back, this time following a removal truck.
The change was a jolt. To my colleagues at Big hART it made little difference where I was so long as there was Skype, but I worried about being away from the arts scene, the institutions and the government agencies – about dropping off the radar. This is my risk. But our rent had halved and small-town life normalised other parts of my life. Here it seems, almost everyone is a parent. Small children are everywhere. Not everybody works. For the first time in my two years of motherhood I felt okay about the role. I didn’t miss Canberra in ways I thought I might.
In October 2014 I travelled to Melbourne with Big hART, where Hipbone Sticking Out was headlining the Melbourne Festival. The audience loved it. The critics loved it. We were the darlings of the day. My son was back in Canberra with his dad, and as I sat with the cast in the festival lounge, being shouted champagne by the festival director, I was caught up in the moment, in its possibilities. But I had to come home. And home can be an artless place.
Property is still cheap in Braidwood. At the start of 2015 we combined a decade’s worth of savings with loans from our parents to take out a mortgage on a hundred-year-old cottage. The day we settled, the real estate agent presented us the keys tied with gaudy ribbon round a cheap bottle of sparkling, alongside a ‘Congratulations!’ gift box full of snacks from Aldi. Among the domesticity, knocking over the dominos of an average Aussie life, I felt misery lapping.
Write a poem. Just four words, at least. Before sundown. No fucking around! David texted. And again the next day, and the next. And I wrote them, while dinner was spitting on the stove, while my son sat in the bath. There is nowhere for these pieces of writing to live, but putting something on to paper helps a little.
I began to lose track of where David was and where he was going. He started to phone me from departure lounges.
IT HAD BEEN a long time since I’d seen David. I was in Canberra for the day, and David was back for a couple of weeks. We met for coffee. I’d been working with Big hART for a good six months, and perhaps it still hadn’t sunk in.
‘You’re doing so well,’ he said. ‘Right where you want to be. I know how hard you worked for this.’ Suddenly I was crying, proper crying, my face in my hands right there at the café. No one had ever said anything like this to me before, and it triggered the realisation of unacknowledged truths. Something to do with the disparity between how I saw myself and what the world saw of me. That no matter how hard I worked, or what direction I pushed, I would slide toward the identity of mother as if into quicksand.
He was alarmed, as were the waiters with their sidelong glances. I was too. I’d never realised I wanted to be seen, to be someone. I never realised how much my work meant to me. I never comprehended how much he understood that. And then I was sad for how rarely we were able to sit side by side and talk like this, how rarely he could be on the other end of the phone line.
In 2015 I became pregnant again. I told David over the phone while trying to build a fire with my other hand on a freezing Braidwood evening. He made a joyful noise so loud that I had to hold the phone away from my head. By the time he came to visit, the summer weather was searing, my belly was huge and the heat dizzying. He had just returned from an Asialink residency in the Philippines, his ninth visit in as many years, and barely paused for New Year in Australia before trading the typhoons, humidity and chaos for midwinter in London and Sweden, working on developments with Boho. I confessed to being afraid of what this next phase holds, but didn’t admit I feel our lives are about as far apart as they’ve ever been.
I had another boy on Australia Day, 2016. I arranged my maternity leave via Centrelink and sorted my affairs with Big hART, saying I’d be away six months – still naive, after all this time. By the time my leave ended, I was barely sleeping, unable to form a cohesive sentence and having panic attacks in the bind of postnatal depression. I was sick with worry about money but incapable of working. I resigned, and for the first time in my life I didn’t have a job. It felt like disappearing. The world of airports, international travel and touring theatre seemed a universe away. My weeks were visits to counsellors, phone calls to Centrelink, trips to the doctor and the supermarket.
At tax time I took a call from my accountant. An old family friend, he gives me mate’s rates and secures excellent returns – the catch being I need to listen to his well-meaning annual lecture about the state of my career and fiscal affairs.
He is still trying to understand why I am not working for the federal arts body or pursuing work as an editor or copywriter in a government department.
‘Someone of your age and number of years working should realistically be looking at about ninety K a year,’ he mused, before quizzing me on whether I was sure I didn’t have any car-related work expenses. My profit as a freelance writer, this time around, was the grand sum of nine dollars.
‘And how’s the baby? It’s good that you’re taking the time to be at home with the kids. I know I’m a grey-haired old fogey, but boys need their mothers, especially those first five years.’
I CALL DAVID late one afternoon as I walk around my garden, wearing the baby on my front and hoping he might sleep. David is in Melbourne for a few weeks, and sounds worn thin. He’s doing his taxes too. The fellowship money has been paid out in full now. No more where that came from, especially after Brandis. Everywhere we look arts organisations are losing funding, downsizing, closing up shop. I’m terrified for me, terrified for him, feeling bitter and jaded. The sector’s response to its stripping of funds has me disappointed and disgusted in equal measure.
‘What’re you gonna do?’ I wheedle, ‘What am I gonna do?’
I feel like I’m being prompted to roll over, to give in – like it’s game over. Like I should put the baby in daycare, head out tomorrow and get a regular job.
‘Like what job?’ he asks.
‘Like a shop, or at the bakery or something. I’m good at retail. Really good.’
‘So you do that for six months or so. Until the next thing happens. You always tend to catastrophise these things. If that’s the worst case, then that’s pretty okay. And just remember that it isn’t forever.
‘It’s same for me’ he continues. ‘I’ll get a hospitality job, or work in a pharmacy like I used to’.
‘The worst case then,’ I say hopefully, ‘isn’t actually all that bad.’
When we are once again in Canberra on the same day, neither of us recognise the inner-city anymore, and can’t think of a single place to meet. We end up sitting at a flat-pack café facing the long window frontage of a gym franchise in the mall, eyeing the men and women running on treadmills and lunging and hugging medicine balls while we drink coffee while the baby sleeps in the pram alongside. It’s the first time we’ve been able to talk face to face since I came adrift, and since I left my job. I wonder if he knows me still.
We talk about the things we want, and the things we don’t. I tell him comms work is all-consuming but empty, even in a company I love. I thought I was carving out space for myself, but instead I feel I’m backed into a corner, going nowhere. I want a job with more creative control, with room for strategy. I want to be an artistic director, a CEO, a manager. Head of a festival, head of an org. But right now, a spot in the background is about the best as I can give.
David wants none of these things, though he’s perfectly placed for them. He just wants to keep going, to make work. His greatest fear is losing the faculties that make it possible. He is about to head back to Sweden for a long stint. I won’t see him again until the very end of the year. Won’t be able to call.
Our time is up. Before loping away into the crowds of lunchtime strangers he presses a small paper parcel into my hand. It is well into the night before I can tear it open. The outside reads: One a day. And inside: ten envelopes, each with a note. Each note a memory, an expression of gratitude, an observation about me and my work, my practice, my art and the ways I have helped make his work possible, how I have steered him through. Snatches that seem to say: it doesn’t matter where to from here. The groundwork is done and we are each a prop for the other, a mirror and counterpoint. The rest is a dance between hard work and the dealings of fate, a future uncertain but ultimately shared.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6986
|
__label__cc
| 0.678085
| 0.321915
|
Surgery Overview
How Well It Works
Uterine fibroid: In the uterine wall
Myomectomy is the surgical removal of fibroids from the uterus. It allows the uterus to be left in place and, for some women, makes pregnancy more likely than before. Myomectomy is the preferred fibroid treatment for women who want to become pregnant. After myomectomy, your chances of pregnancy may be improved but are not guaranteed.
Before myomectomy, shrinking fibroids with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a) therapy may reduce blood loss from the surgery. GnRH-a therapy lowers the amount of estrogen your body makes. If you have bleeding from a fibroid, GnRH-a therapy can also improve anemia before surgery by stopping uterine bleeding for several months.
Surgical methods for myomectomy include:
Hysteroscopy, which involves inserting a lighted viewing instrument through the vagina and into the uterus.
Laparoscopy, which uses a lighted viewing instrument and one or more small cuts (incisions) in the abdomen.
Laparotomy, which uses a larger incision in the abdomen.
The method used depends on the:
Size, location, and number of fibroids.
Hysteroscopy can be used to remove fibroids on the inner wall of the uterus that have not grown deep into the uterine wall.
Laparoscopy is usually reserved for removing one or two fibroids, up to about 2 in. (5.1 cm) across, that are growing on the outside of the uterus.
Laparotomy is used to remove large fibroids, many fibroids, or fibroids that have grown deep into the uterine wall.
Need to correct urinary or bowel problems. To repair these problems without causing organ damage, laparotomy is usually needed.
The length of time you may spend in the hospital varies.
Hysteroscopy is an outpatient procedure.
Laparoscopy may be an outpatient procedure or may require a stay of 1 day.
Laparotomy requires an average stay of 1 to 4 days.
Recovery time depends on the method used for the myomectomy:
Hysteroscopy requires from a few days to 2 weeks to recover.
Laparoscopy requires 1 to 2 weeks.
Laparotomy requires 4 to 6 weeks.
Myomectomy preserves the uterus while treating fibroids. It may be a reasonable treatment option if you have:
Anemia that is not relieved by treatment with medicine.
Pain or pressure that is not relieved by treatment with medicine.
A fibroid that has changed the wall of the uterus. This can sometimes cause infertility. Before an in vitro fertilization, myomectomy is often done to improve the chances of pregnancy.
Myomectomy decreases pelvic pain and bleeding from fibroids.
Myomectomy is the only fibroid treatment that may improve your chances of having a baby. It is known to help with a certain kind of fibroid called a submucosal fibroid. But it does not seem to improve pregnancy chances with any other kind of fibroid.footnote 1
After myomectomy, a cesarean section may be needed for delivery. This depends in part on where and how big the myomectomy incision is.
Fibroids return after surgery in 10 to 50 out of 100 women, depending on the original fibroid problem. Fibroids that were larger and more numerous are most likely to recur.footnote 2 Talk to your doctor about whether your type of fibroid is likely to grow back.
Risks may include the following:
Infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries (pelvic infection) may occur.
Removal of fibroids in the uterine muscle (intramural fibroids) may cause scar tissue.
In rare cases, scarring from the uterine incision may cause infertility.
In rare cases, injuries to the bladder or bowel, such as a bowel obstruction, may occur.
In rare cases, uterine scars may break open (rupture) in late pregnancy or during delivery.
In rare cases, a hysterectomy may be required during a myomectomy. This may happen if removing the fibroid causes heavy bleeding that cannot be stopped without doing a hysterectomy.
When trying to get pregnant after myomectomy. Because fibroids can grow back, it is best to try to conceive as soon after a myomectomy as is safely possible and your recovery from surgery is complete.
When incisions have been made into the uterine wall to remove fibroids, future pregnancy may be affected. Sometimes placenta problems develop, such as placenta abruptio or placenta accreta. During labor, the uterus may not function normally, which can make a cesarean delivery necessary.
In rare cases, a hysterectomy is needed when the surgery reveals that the uterus is too overgrown with fibroids for a safe myomectomy.
Parker WH (2012). Uterine fibroids. In JS Berek, ed., Berek and Novak's Gynecology, 15th ed., pp. 438–469. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society of Reproductive Surgeons (2008). Myomas and reproductive function. Fertility and Sterility, 90(3): S125–S130.
Current as ofFebruary 19, 2019
Divya Gupta, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology
Current as of: February 19, 2019
Medical Review:Sarah A. Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Divya Gupta, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology
Parker WH (2012). Uterine fibroids. In JS Berek, ed., Berek and Novak's Gynecology, 15th ed., pp. 438-469. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society of Reproductive Surgeons (2008). Myomas and reproductive function. Fertility and Sterility, 90(3): S125-S130.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6988
|
__label__wiki
| 0.577808
| 0.577808
|
Corbyn has given up on Europe. For the good of Britain, we cannot David Miliband
The debate about Brexit has entered a new and potentially chaotic phase. Britain has already suffered an economic and reputational hit from the Brexit saga. Investments are on hold, jobs are being moved, the pound has lost value. Britain has come to be seen as a political risk rather than a force for stability. If our leaders continue to peddle illusions about the real choices, they risk turning damage into carnage.
The first illusion is that the fundamental problem with Brexit is the faulty negotiating tactics of the government. This is said by both the Brexiters and the Labour leadership. Boris Johnson says Britain should have shown “more willpower”. Dominic Raab says we should have threatened to withhold agreed payments. Owen Paterson says we should embrace no deal to frighten the EU into concessions.
The Labour leadership is not much better. Jeremy Corbyn’s Guardian interview has rightly caused a furore. He makes clear that his difference with the government lies in tactics not goals, personnel not principles. The assertion – it does not deserve to be called an argument – seems to be that a better atmosphere would get a better deal. But this is a confusion at best and a fantasy at worst.
There is no doubt that the government has botched the negotiations, with everything from the red lines over the customs union and single market to the premature triggering of article 50 (with, it must be remembered, Corbyn’s support) and the partisan approach adopted by the prime minister.
But this is a flawed starting point. The problems of the Brexit negotiations are structural and not primarily the result of the government’s incompetence. The contortions of Brexit are integral to it rather than incidental. The promises of Brexit can never be squared with each other or with reality. There is no future state where frictionless trade and the commitments of the Good Friday agreement (to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic) are compatible with departure from the customs union and single market. The debate about the backstop is a symptom of the problem, not the core problem. If you leave the club, then you cannot enjoy the benefits.
A second illusion is also vitally important. This is the idea that if Theresa May’s plan, or the Labour version of it, is passed, then we could be done with Brexit and get on with improving the country. The reality is that if the May plan is voted through, the contortions that have bent it out of shape will continue. They will reappear, many times, when the negotiations about the future relationships between the UK and EU finally get into detail and expose the trade-offs that were fudged in the 26-page political declaration appended to the withdrawal agreement.
The desire to get shot of Brexit from the headlines, to free up political and economic ability to get on with addressing the growing problems facing the country, is understandable. But the only way to create space for the country to move beyond Brexit is to give it the chance to decide whether to proceed with Brexit. There is no realistic future where we continue to negotiate with the EU and have the bandwidth to mobilise national willpower for the big challenges ahead.
The government published more than 100 papers on sectors of the economy affected by no deal. All of these would need detailed arrangements to be agreed on for the future. It took Canada seven years to effectively negotiate a trade agreement with the EU. That agreement does not come close to the deal that the UK currently has with the EU, not least because 80% of our economy is services based. As Sir Ivan Rogers, who was the leading UK diplomat in Brussels until two years ago, recently said in a lecture at the University of Liverpool: “The free trade agreement talks will be tougher than anything we have seen to date.”
There is one final illusion: the notion that the world beyond Europe is waiting to offer juicy trade deals to Britain. The EU has trade deals with more than 70 countries already, as well as facilitating trade with the likes of US and China through a series of side agreements that in the case of the US number no less than 147 to supplement the WTO minimum standards.
All of these other “third countries” have interests of their own. It is a fantasy to think that they are going to do anything other than confront Britain with very unpalatable choices – literally, in the case of America’s chlorinated chicken. There are three rule-makers in the 21st century: the EU, the US and China. Opt out of the EU, and we are rule-takers.
The prevalence of these illusions has become tiresome for our European neighbours, compounded by the attempt to blame them for the mess. I was told by someone who was there that after this month’s European council meeting, they “just want this issue to go away”. But my European friend added: “I have no words to express my sadness about all this.”
The paradox of our current situation is that our European neighbours are becoming hacked off just as the UK debate brings the possibility of a referendum closer than it has been before. A people’s vote is not an admission of defeat or a poke in the eye to those who voted leave. “Better safe than sorry” is the right approach when buying a house, and so makes sense when making a momentous national decision.
Fire at French ski resort of Courchevel kills two
Trump Sends MAJOR Threat — Says “If Iran Wants To Fight, That Will Be The Official End Of Iran!”
Bernie Sanders draws enthusiastic cheers in surprising Fox News town hall
WATCH: Sheriff Blames California For Providing ‘Sanctuary’ To Illegal Arrested For Alleged Cop Killing
Fellow Democrat Tells Sinema To “Watch Your A**” After Clapping During SOTU
Meghan McCain SLAMS Ivanka Trump And Jared Kushner For Coming To Her Father’s Funeral [VIDEO]
Millwall close to agreement with council over deal to stay at The Den
Jim Carrey Unknowingly Trolls HIMSELF After Dropping New Painting Of AL Governor Being Aborted
Ben Carson To KICK OUT Illegals From HUD Housing Program, Look Who Will Now Get Top Priority
Trump claims media are blaming him for New Zealand shooting
FIGHTING DIRTY: Eric Holder Unveils Scheme For Supreme Court If Dems Win 2020 Election
REPORT: Trump Is About To Make MAJOR Change To Asylum That Will Stop Central American Migrants
FAILED CANDIDATE: Only 3 Dozen People Showed Up To Beto’s Campaign Event
Judge Jeanine Delivers Fiery Verdict On Dem Hypocrisy Over ‘Foreign Dirt
This Is CNN; Panel Smears Trump Response To Synagogue Shooting As Insincere
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6989
|
__label__cc
| 0.548503
| 0.451497
|
Home News Spent a fortune on the appearance of Barbie dolls woman dubbed the...
Spent a fortune on the appearance of Barbie dolls woman dubbed the ugly
Photo: Konstantia Dimola page on Facebook
A resident of the city of Amsterdam (Netherlands) pulled 117 thousand pounds (9,3 million) on plastic surgery for the sake of appearance Barbie doll. Her story tells tabloid the Sun.
40-year-old Constance Dimola (Konstantia Dimola) underwent five surgeries for breast augmentation, liposuction of the ankles, the nose, contouring the face, change eye shape and lip augmentation. The woman admitted that dreams to become the owner of the world’s largest bust. “When I was five years old, I looked at my Barbie doll and wanted to be like her,” says the lover of the plastic arts.
According to Demoly, people on the street judge her appearance. The blonde recalls how one day she was approached by a stranger and called her a monster. “When I go shopping, people make fun of me. They called me “ugly”, “disgusting”, “terrible” and other nasty words she said. But most importantly, I am very happy with everything. Nothing else matters”.
Niderlandy says that is not going to stop the change in her appearance. At the moment she is preparing for operations on the nose, buttocks, and Breasts. “It takes all my money but all the money spent is worth it,” explains the woman.
Dimola believes that striving for a perfect appearance to attract male attention: slim waist, lush lips and huge Breasts. It complements your extraordinary image of Barbie long acrylic nails, a tattoo on the body and slutty clothes.
Previous articleThe pound sterling has fallen
Next articleShe has denied housing after 55 years of waiting
“Nord stream” stopped
Survived the blockade, the zoo called on to protect from the “construction mafia”
Crashed in Chechnya, the plane was disconnected several settlements
Disclosed the cost of the military parade in the USA
Photo: Jim Bourg / Reuters The celebration of U.S. independence Day July 4 cost the Ministry of defence of the country at 1.2 million...
FSB covered in the Moscow police the channel of illegal migration
Rapper L’One revealed the cost of the care of Timothy
Doctors will fight for “every inch” of the hands of survivors...
The woman secretly went to the surgery to remove fat and...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6994
|
__label__wiki
| 0.81083
| 0.81083
|
Home constant Constant Contact Google Fonts – Constant Contact Email Automation Tool Review – 2019
Constant Contact Google Fonts – Constant Contact Email Automation Tool Review – 2019
Introduction Constant Contact Google Fonts
Constant Contact happen to be in the email marketing game since 1995. During this time they have managed to turn into one of the most used email tools in the world. Constant Contact Google Fonts
What Makes them unique is that they’ve added features over the decades that none like surveys an event management tool, and social campaigns. These add to the diverse list of alternatives as well as automations and newsletters.
On top of these options, they also boast a Market with over 400 integrations that cater to even the most niche of products and programs. Yet despite these numbers and attributes, interest in Constant Contact appears to be according to Google Trends. Reason for us to take a look at Constant Contact’s ins & outs and check whether it’s still applicable in the 21st century.
If you are choosing an email Marketing tool for the small business, you could do a lot worse compared to Constant Contact (which starts at $20 per month). If you would like to try some of the features out without committing, then the company provides a trial. This review looks specifically. Were it not for a few unexplained technical hiccups, Constant Contact might have been an easy choice for our option.
How does Constant Contact pile up against the Competition for companies with 2,500 connections? It carries a price that is $45-per-month that is top. Many advertising tools also have a cap on but Constant Contact does not.
Since our last appearance, Constant Contact has Email autoresponders beyond those triggered by sign-ups, such as birthdays and anniversaries. You can send an email series to a certain set of contacts, like a day-by-day guide to getting started with your service or follow-ups to an occasion. This works by copying your contacts into different folders and matching them up with autoresponders. The image library currently allows 2 GB of storage. Users may also access paid and free stock photos straight through Constant Contact. Finally, you can now interact with support via Twitter. Constant Contact Google Fonts
Click here to subscribe to Constant Contact today.
Constant Contact is easy to use and has plenty Beginning with the data icons helpfully located alongside fields and options describing what they are Knowledge Base trainers accessible, and articles. Constant Contact has a Task page which lists the status of different jobs, such as uploaded contacts, so that you understand what is going on in the background.
Phone support is not 24/7 but the hours are Still pretty generous, moving from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the week, and 10 a.m. to 8 pm on weekends. Chat is available, along with the agents will call you to ensure you have.
Constant Contact offers a number of programs Based on how big your subscriber base. The least expensive plan is $20 a month for up to 500 subscribers and $45 for up to 2,500. A mid-tier plan costs $195 for 10,000 subscribers and $335 for 50,000. Price-wise, it is not too different from Campaigner. You can register for additional add-on providers, for example EventSpot ($20 per month for one occasion; $25 for up to five occasions ) for event registrations, and research ($10 per month) to run polls (all of which can be included at no additional charge on the Email Plus plan). The Basic account comes to store images used from the campaigns. MyLibrary Plus ($5 per month) expands your storage to 1 GB. Newsletter Archive ($5 a month) generates a widget that can be added to a website on which you can display links to around 100 mails. If you would like your customers to be able to see your messages, this is a handy add-on.
The free trial gives you access to all These attributes for 60 days however you can just send up to 100 emails. The trial is a superb way to get used to the platform for a limited number of messages. When you are sure about the platform, update to the paid version and start blasting away. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee, which can be uncommon in this space.
When you’re ready to create a newsletter, you May use the template to get started. The editing tool allows you tweak pictures text messages, and colours. There’s also a media library where you are able to save your own resources, such as company logos and other images. Constant Contact Google Fonts
As Soon as You’re satisfied with your newsletter, It is possible to send it immediately or schedule it for later (in 5-minute intervals, such as 3:05 a.m., 3:10 a.m., and so on). We could not find a recurring program to send messages on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis the way Campaigner does, or to send messages depending on the local time in the recipient’s location, as GetResponse can.
The Business also recently announced a new Attribute named Action Blocks, which enable marketers to include polls or RSVP cubes to regular emails. This permits recipients to answer messages with one click without having to depart the email inbox and go to some web page.
Tracking Efforts
Once you’ve sent a newsletter, you can monitor Its success using the accounts tab. The dashboard displays the fundamentals, such as unsubscribe requests, and opens, clickthroughs, bounces. A useful bar chart shows open prices and a chart compares performance over multiple campaigns. Users may also select up to five mails to compare high-level results side by side. The report has a convenient Refresh button so that you may see real-time outcomes. It is not like MailChimp in which you have to manually load the webpages. When we opened emails and clicked on the links, they were registered nearly immediately.
The Resource Center offers links to Info about typical clickthrough rates by industry. You can even look at relative metrics to figure out if your degree of involvement with your clients is improving or declining over the past 3 months. The cellular app is handy if you want to observe the effort functionality from your mobile device.
There are several ways Constant Contact: copy and paste, manually sort addresses into a form, upload a file (CSV, XLS, XLSX, or TXT), import from Gmail, or pull from Outlook and other (CRM) tools.
After we used the form to manually add an Speech, we repeatedly received an error message but it didn’t state what had gone wrong. We were prompted to hit the last button to go back and fix the issue but we could not because the page had expired from our browser (Firefox) cache. After a few tries, the entire webpage crashed. This was an unusual experience, to say the least. Constant Contact has ensured us its infrastructure has greatly improved because our first test and this is not likely to occur again.
The document upload import, and CRM Migration alternatives, on the other hand, were secure and easy to use. We think most people would wind up using one of these choices. We monitored the upload improvement under”Contacts: Activity” and was notified when the import was finish. Like Campaigner, Constant Contact allows Mailinator and other addresses that are disposable. It’s too bad most services do not follow the case of GetResponse$15.00 in GetResponse, which filters out famous disposable domains. Constant Contact rather flags contacts that are inclined to be other or transactional such addresses so that the user can choose whether to remove or store them.
Segments are based on that list you. When saving the contacts but it’s also really easy to go back, choose and adjust the list. In the Contact Manager, we clicked on the addresses we wanted to incorporate to another list. A new feature allows users to select a listing for contacts to be added to whenever they click on a specific link in an email, the business said. This attribute is available in all packages. It can be paired with an autoresponder so that, when a contact clicks a link, a pertinent email is sent to them automatically. Constant Contact allows you assign tags to contacts, which can be helpful if you need to monitor things like the way they signed up, even if they’re loyalty associates, or whatever else you might want to track. Constant Contact Google Fonts
Our only quibble with the Contact Manager is That it is a pain. After we glued our listing and cut, we simply dropped in addresses. We did not have other fields, such as name or address. We had to load each person record and update the subjects, to bring this. This was simple because the pages were slow to load in our testing. Since we could see the whole list in Contact Manager, it would have been nice to be able to just click on the missing area, enter, and just keep going down the page. So, lesson learned: Be certain to have all of the relevant fields populated before uploading the titles.
Constant Contact also lets you produce forms That customers can use to sign up for newsletters and emails. These forms may be hosted either on your own site or on Constant Contact’s servers. You can segment the users based on whether they used the form or alternative procedures, which can be useful. The company also recently announced a brand new signup form editor that is designed to permit users to produce inline forms that can be embedded onto a website in addition to pop-up forms that could be customized to show after a fixed amount of time or when a visitor attempts to leave the web site, the business said.
Constant Contact requires you to confirm that You have approval from your whole record! You also can’t use group addresses such as [email protected] or advertising @ addresses or distribution lists as there’s no way to confirm you have permission from each individual getting messages. You might also create autoresponders, listed under the Generate button, to send automatically when a user is added to some list. We used the templates to construct a publication that was Welcome to subscribers.
Constant Contact appears like a Professional platform but its error messages were disconcerting. This the instrument is solid, and for companies new to email marketing, Constant Contact is a good way to get started. We want it offered a little more flexibility in the scheduling of production and campaigns of autoresponders particularly. Constant Contact Google Fonts
If you do not want these extra features, However, then Constant Contact is an excellent option. Should you need a little bit more flexibility in your marketing plan, then have a look at email marketing Editors’ Choices Campaigner and MailChimp instead.
Because Constant Contact merely offers seven Different sorts of advertising automation functions, the firm doesn’t want to refer to itself as a marketing automation suite. Instead, Constant Contact likes to tell prospects that it’s a cross between email marketing and advertising automation or exactly what it calls”email automation.”
That’s because, unlike other tools, such as Editors’ Choice marketing automation systems Pardot and HubSpot, Constant Contact doesn’t does not offer branching logic. Instead, it focuses to start automation campaigns. For example, an automation workflow can be started by you when someone accomplishes a landmark, such as a birthday or anniversary for a customer or joins a list. But you can’t alter automationsbased on whether or not somebody opened an email, forwarded an email, or clicked on a link inside the body of the email.
These attributes, which make marketing Automation platforms automatic, slightly more intelligent and, well, than email marketing tools, make life more personalized and more easy for marketers for clients. In addition, Constant Contact doesn’t provide A/B testing (they do provide subject line A/B testing), no research advertising addition, and also the limited workflows it is possible to create don’t offer drag-and-drop builders, which are pretty much standard these days. If you require automation for interactions with clients, then Constant Contact is a automation system. However, if you would like innovative sequencing and adaptive workflows that adjust to your customers’ specific actions, then Constant Contact isn’t powerful enough to compete at the marketing automation space.
As Constant Contact themselves reiterate through their website, they are a tool for small businesses. And, as it’s worth assessing them on those terms. They definitely have enough of the fundamentals covered to meet small companies, as mentioned above, and if it were as straightforward as that we’d recommend them highly. Constant Contact Google Fonts
These days, the Matter, is that there are Lots of email Tools that offer even more than Constant Contact, and also for a whole lot less cash. This includes user experience, but also not only attributes. In fact, for the volume you pay with Constant Contact, you might end up using tools such as GetResponse and ActiveCampaign.
They do pick up things Due to their decent deliverability rates, integrations (especially social websites integrations), and for enabling different access levels for different users. And with recent enhancements to marketing automation and reporting, it will seem like they’re making an attempt to enhance the product. However, their lack of features, such as marketing automation, which makes it hard to recommend over others at their price point. Constant Contact Google Fonts
Click here to subscribe to Constant Contact now.
Beaver Builder
EasyShip
Advertising Boost
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line6998
|
__label__cc
| 0.664926
| 0.335074
|
Veterans Memorial Hall
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War – 2016 event
November 3, 2016 Jan
Source: Veterans Memorial Hall promotional “poster”
Events, General, Historical Group, Music and Musicians, Performance 150th Anniversary of G.A.R., concert, Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson, Friday Nov.11 2016, Grand Army of the Republic, John A. Logan Camp #26, Mary Logan Auxiiary #20, performance, poetry reading, Regimental Volunteer Band of Wisconsin, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, sounds of the American Civil War, SUVCW, Veterans Memorial Hall
“Armistice-A Memorial to Peace” Dedication – Veterans Memorial Hall
Events, General, Veterans Memorial Hall 211 N. Main St., A Memorial to Peace, Address by Congressman Adam Kinzinger, Armistice, Daughters of the American Revolution, Dedication, Nov. 11 2016, Tribute to our Veterans, Veterans Memorial Hall
Women’s Relief Corps
September 24, 2016 Lisa
Monday, 2:30 p.m. Memorial Hall, business meeting and election of officers
Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., chicken pot pie dinner, Memorial hall
Source: Rockford Morning Star 12/4/1932
General, Societies, Veterans Memorial Hall Memorial hall, Veterans Memorial Hall, Women's Relief Corps
Main St., North, 1501
April 23, 2016 Lisa
Source: Rockford Register Star 9/2/2011
West Side Cemetery (Greenwood)
Source: 1914 Rockford City Directory
Source: http://maps.google.com/streetview 2010
Addresses, Camp Fuller, Cemetery, Civil War, General, Historical Group, Rockford Public Library, Veterans Memorial Hall "A timeless Tribute to Every Soldier", 1501 N. Main St., Camp Fuller, Civil War, Dr. Van Horne, Greenwood Cemetery, Historical Architectural Heritage, Memoral Day Parade, Memorial hall, Rockford Public Library, Scott Lewandowski, Unknown Soldier, Veterans Memorial Hall, West Side Cemetery, Winnebago County Board of Supervisors, Winnebago County Courthouse
Tuskegee Airmen – 2016
February 22, 2016 Jan
Source: Rockford Register Star Feb. 21, 2016
Airplanes, General, Military, Veterans, Veterans Memorial Hall Adams Field Airport, Adeam Poulisse, African=American Military pilots, B-25 Bomber crew, B=25 pilot, Chm. of Black History Month Committee, Clinton National Airport, Gareth Persaud, Julian Johnson, L.C. Wilson, Milton Williams Jr., Montford Point Marines, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson, Tuskegee Airmen, U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, Veterans Memorial Hall, Winnebago County Board Member, World War II
Stroll on State – Nov. 28, 2015
December 10, 2015 Jan
Source: flier insert, Rockford Register-Star newspaper 11/25/2015
Animals, Events, Food, General, Holiday, Music and Musicians, Sports Boy Scout TreeLand, Comcast, fireworks, FrostyLand, Grandma and Grandpa's Warming Station, Holiday Market, Horse and Wagon rides, Ice Sculptor, Ice Skating Outdoor, Live Reindeer, Moonlight Jazz Orchestra, MovieLand, Nordlof Center, Official City Christmas Tree, Randy Finch, Riverview Ice House, S'mores Bar, SantaLand, Skate, The Studio, Veterans Memorial Hall
1120 Harlem Boulevard
February 27, 2015 Ellen
Thomas Winchester, prominent stonecutter, died at home 08/12/1933
Born in Wooler, Northumberland County, England on 10/14/1846
Came to Pecatonica in 1857
Married to Esther Corwin 12/29/1870 in Pecatonica
Survived by son Thomas R. Winchester of Lincoln, IL, and three daughters: Mrs. John R. Tole and Mrs. William M. (Mabel) McIntosh of Rockford, and Mrs. Harry O. Tear of Oalina, IL
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Mrs. Edith Pitney; a brother, John Winchester of Pecatonica; and two sisters: Mrs. Nellie Blowfield and Mrs. Anne Whitmeyer of Rockford
Mr. Winchester built the P. R. Walker School and the Masonic Temple, completed City Hall, and provided the stonework for Memorial Hall and the Library
The Reverend O. Garfield Backstrand of Trinity Lutheran Church will officiate, with burial in Forest View Abbey
Source: Rockford Morning Star, 08/15/1933
Addresses, Buildings, Business, Cemetery, Churches, General, Obituary, People, Rockford Public Library, Schools, Veterans Memorial Hall 1120 Harlem Blvd., 1120 Harlem Boulevard, Blowfield, Corwin, Esther Corwin, Esther J. Winchester, Forest View Abbey, John Winchester, Mabel Winchester McIntosh, Masonic Lodge, McIntosh, Memorial hall, Mrs. Anne Whitmeyer, Mrs. Edith Pitney, Mrs. Harry O. Tear, Mrs. John R. Tole, Mrs. Nellie Blowfield, Mrs. William C. McIntosh, P. R. Walker School, Pitney, Reverend O. Garfield Beckstrand, Rockford Public Library, Thomas R. Winchester, Thomas Winchester, Tole, Trinity Lutheran Church, Veterans Memorial Hall, Whitmeyer, Winchester
Downtown Rockford
February 3, 2015 Jan
View from Rockford Trust Building, 11th Floor, 2/3/2015, tweeted by Lauren Kravets, Channel 23 WIFR, in a story about conversion of the 11th Floor into apartments:
Veteran’s Memorial Hall near Center of photograph, library at photo right of Veteran’s Memorial Hall Parking Lot, N. Main street on left hand side of photograph, N. Wyman St. along right hand side of photograph.
Source WIFR23, Twitter.com
Buildings, General 2-3-2015, No. Main St., No. Wyman St., Rockford Public Library, Rockford Trust Building, Veterans Memorial Hall, view from 11th Floor
Main St., No., east side of 100 and 200 block
January 3, 2015 January 3, 2015 Jan
Source: Photograph from “Rockford Rocked” on www.facebook.com of the 100 and 200 block of No. Main St., not dated
The 200 Block includes the Church of the Christian Union and Memorial Hall. It also includes the Rockford Public Library. The library and Memorial Hall were not built and opened until 1903; this picture is later than 1903.
Addresses, Buildings, General 100 Block No. Main, 200 block No Main, Church of the Christian Union, Veterans Memorial Hall
Boy in Blue – Civil War Statue
December 1, 2014 December 1, 2014 Jan
Source: The Rock River Times; Vol. 22, No. 2; Oct. 29-Nov. 4, 2014
Art and Artists, General, Veterans, Veterans Memorial Hall "Boy in Blue", Civil War Statue, Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants, Jim Ryan, Scott Lewandowski, statue purchased 1903, Veteran's Memorial Circle, Veterans Memorial Hall, Winnebago County
Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: Radiate.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7001
|
__label__cc
| 0.711102
| 0.288898
|
Vivo Surprises with the Launch of Powerful Mid-range Smartphone V11i
Vivo surprised everyone with the launch of not just their latest phone, the V11, but with another powerful mid-range smartphone at a lower price point: the V11i.
A closer look at the Vivo V11.
The global smartphone brand gave two options for its consumers to ensure the consumers’ best mobile experience. The V11i is another midrange phone priced at just P15,999. It is the first smartphone with “Halo Notch” or Halo FullViewTM Screen 19:9 with a 90.4 % screen-to-body ratio in that price range.
The Vivo V11i is also equipped with high-end specs including a 6.3-inch FHD+1080*2280 In-Plane Switching (IPS) display panel, a Helio-P60 2.0 Ghz processor, Mali-G72 MP3 800 mhz GPU, 16MP+5 MP rear camera, 4GB RAM + 128 GB ROM memory, rear fingerprint, 3315mAh battery, and 9V 2A fast charging, which makes it better at its price point.
The Vivo V11 will feature a halo-like notch to for a more immersive screen experience.
Vivo keeps on surprising us with innovative products. We can’t wait for what’s still in store for us in the future. #
About Vivo
A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle. In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.
For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.
Gadgets, Mobile, Uncategorized
Gadget, Gadgets, Mobile, Philippines, Vivo, Vivo V11, Vivo V11i
Kids Can Build Their Own Jollibee Fun City
LJ Reyes Gives Birth to Wonder Jane
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7012
|
__label__cc
| 0.651781
| 0.348219
|
Best Funeral Ever Outtakes
Original Video:
Digital Video: Agents Adams
Digital Photography: Agents Nicholson, Sokoler
Outtakes:
Now that the cat is out of the bag about our Best Funeral Ever April Fool’s Hoax, we figured it would be fun to share some of the behind-the-scenes video and photos from the project. Here’s how we did it, along with some of the more ridiculous things we cut for being just too over-the-top.
Obviously we would never, ever do an Improv Everywhere mission at a real funeral. The goal for the hoax was to make it just believable enough that people would think we had somehow lost our minds and crossed the line. It was a great opportunity to parody ourselves, while also celebrating April Fool’s on our site like we do every year. If you’re not familiar with the Best Game Ever and the Best Gig Ever, give those a read to understand the context of the parody.
We met in a park a short walk from Brooklyn’s Greenwood Cemetery to shoot the “Agent Todd explains the mission” part of the video. I tried to play it real while also saying ridiculous things like, “If you can cry on cue, cry on cue.” You can see the “family” and the “priest” hanging out in the distance, out of the shot. We were also careful to keep the chairs out of the shot, since we would use them later for the funeral.
Coffin covered by a blue sheetAgent Reeves had access to a Hummer, so it served as our Trojan Horse for the coffin and all of our chairs. I was very nervous about smuggling the coffin in without getting noticed. Surely you’re not allowed to bring a prop coffin into a cemetery. We luckily breezed right by the security guard at the entrance, telling him we were just there to tour around. Greenwood Cemetery is a National Historic Landmark, so people come to tour it all the time. It’s the highest point in all of Brooklyn and actually has great views of the city skyline.
Agents Lee and Todd carry the coffinWe had two “lookout agents” on duty while Agent Lee and I carried the coffin out of the car and across the cemetery to the spot we had picked out. Guards at the cemetery regularly patrol the grounds in SUVs, so we were very paranoid that one would drive by and catch us walking around with this ridiculous coffin.
Agents Nicholson and Walker adjust the coffinI actually rented a really nice, realistic coffin from a costume store, but it turned out to be too large even for the Hummer. I guess that’s why hearses exist. Anyway, we had to settle for the wooden Dracula coffin, hoping that if we kept it out of full view it would still be believable.
Agent Adams filmsAgent Adams and I spent some time in the cemetery the day before looking for the perfect spot for our funeral (and observing where and when the security vehicles patrolled.) We found this awesome spot right next to an enormous bush. The bush would help us out in two ways: it partly hid us from the patrol guards, and we could act like we used it to hide our cameras in the video. It was also a nice open space that did not have any graves underneath it. Obviously we didn’t want to make a comedy video on top of someone’s grave.
Shooting through the bushesIt was important that the people we cast to play the family members were not regular Improv Everywhere agents. We didn’t want people to spot someone from another video of ours. Agent Moore was able to get a small group of actors from her theatre company, No Tea Productions, to play the parts. Agent Adams’ parents were in town, so we enlisted them as well.
Agent Adams’ parents: Agent Beethead and Agent Ruby Tuesday
The “Family”Agent Walker owned a priest costume, so we cast him as the priest, hoping no one would remember that he also played the part of Steve in The Mp3 Experiment III. We kept his face out of the video as much as we could. Agent Walker also made the music for the video. I gave him the direction of “upbeat funeral music,” and he delivered just that. It was also a chance for him to parody the music he’s made for other IE videos.
Actors laughing between takesWe worked under the assumption that at any moment we were going to get caught and asked to leave. Being a National Historic Landmark, the cemetery is public property, but they have lots of rules and regulations and surely filming a fake funeral is not allowed. We got all of the shots we needed as quickly as possible. Once we had all of the important stuff in the can, we decided to stage some more over-the-top moments, on the off chance they worked. This led to some pretty ridiculous bits that definitely couldn’t be used in the main video if it was going to be believable.
Agent Mather as the “grandson” spots the camera
Agent Lathan pays his respects…
…and then offers the family members a high five
Agent MikeTheMan won’t leave him hangingWe got some footage of Agent Reeves playing the part of “The mistress not allowed to sit with the family.”
Agent Lindquist steps forward to sing “Amazing Grace”
Actors cracking up Rather than bringing his own flowers, Agent Ace$Thugg stepped forward and grabbed the wreath from the stand and placed it on the coffin.
He then tripped over the coffin when Agent Mather tried to confront him.
Finally we staged a moment where Agent Mather got so fed up with Agent Simmons patting him on the back, he got up to punch him in the face.
Once we got all the shots we needed (and more than a few we didn’t need), we quickly packed up and put the coffin and chairs back in the Hummer. A security vehicle actually drove by while Agent Eng and I were carrying the coffin back, but fortunately the guard couldn’t quite see us through the trees.
We had no idea how the mission would go over on April 1st. We figured it had a chance of fooling lots of people early in the morning, but once everyone knew what day it was the joke would be obvious. What we didn’t anticipate is that some people would know it was April Fool’s but think that the video was an April Fool’s joke on a grieving family rather than a joke on THEM. I couldn’t believe how many people thought that. It implies we crashed a funeral, shot and edited a HD video, and posted it to YouTube all in the same morning. Improbable! Also, why would a prank website just post another prank on April Fool’s? April Fool’s is the day everything is backwards.
It was fascinating to see the different ways people reacted to it. Many were outraged, some got it and played along, others didn’t get it but still thought it was a good idea (it’s not!), and more than a few claimed they would never visit our site again. There are nearly 500 comments on the original post. They’re pretty hilarious to read so check them out if you haven’t. Even crazier are the comments on YouTube where most people STILL don’t get that it was a fake funeral even though I’ve edited the title, description, and annotations to plainly state what happened.
But the hands-down funniest thing about all of this is that the evening news on CW 11 covered this mission as if it actually happened. They think the prank is on the family (our actors) when actually the prank is on them.
So basically the extent of their reporting is watching a video on YouTube and then describing it as fact on air. They didn’t bother to email Improv Everywhere for comment, call the cemetery to verify, or try to get a quote from the “family.†They just watched the video and threw it on TV. Great journalism!
Update: The CW filed a copyright claim against us for posting their video of our video.
–Agent Nicholson’s Flickr Set
–Agent Sokoler’s Flickr Set
haha.. awesome.. CW11 even got fool
Gotta hand it to you all…
Absolutely brilliant!!
Agent Jay says:
I love the tv coverage, that was just the tip of the entire thing
Agent Bumble Bee says:
So much fail, CW 11.
You guys are ridiculous, but I love you anyway. The joke’s on everyone who took you seriously. I mean, really, the amount of time it takes to load a LOW QUALITY video into a video editor, edit it, export it, and upload it to youtube is enough that with HD you would’ve gotten the video up… probably around the time they were going on the air.
Agent Yo-Yo says:
This whole stunt worked so well on so many levels! I was one of the mourners, and I’d like to say to all of the other participants, it was an honor and a pleasure to be in the company of such highly skilled improvisational pranksters.
Aston says:
Just perfect. You had me all the way to the end. I was convinced you had lost your minds and gone too far. Then I read the comments and suddenly it was obvious I’d been had. Nice work.
amazing job you guys!!!
so good i didnt watch it before you putted it was fake because if i would had i would had even bothered to ask if it was true and just take off
you’re guys are amazing keep it with the missions!
Compwear says:
I’m so releived that this wasn’t real. Can’t believe I didn’t spot this one, I even got youtube’s joke when I watched the video xD
JeffinAZ says:
A sad commentary on the ‘media’ and how the general public is informed and processes the information that they are spoon-fed from day to day. Otherwise, this was a great and inventive prank, as always – fitting for the day! Cheers!
Rayna says:
haha, good one guys, CW11 wont even admit they were fooled they are saying they fooled you by pretending to be fooled. Cowards aren’t they wont even fess up that they got fooled.
Oh /you guys/. Some brilliant outtakes. Especially the high-five and Amazing Grace. Leyendas!
I love the fact that you fooled *US*!! What a great idea!! Bravo, bravo!
Robert C. says:
The girl in the green coat is still uber-hot!!
Well, u really got me and i’m glad that u really didn’t go nutso and lost a realistic view of the world. it’s a great prank.Totally got me! XD
Genius. The best part was definitely how much of the public STILL didn’t “get it,” not only after so many commenters gave it away, but even after IE explained the whole thing. As far as the outtakes, I lost it when Agent Lindquist stepped forward to sing Amazing Grace, only to be cut off.
Best April Fool’s Ever.
I have to say, you guys fooled me with this even though I’ve never fallen for any of the previous April Fools jokes on IE. I was pretty outraged about the whole thing and even showed the video to my friends to see if they were as outraged as I was. They were. Then I remembered what day it was.
Yoyoyo in da hiz says:
Youtubers are amazing complete retards, aren’t they?
Ursula says:
One of the people documenting via digital photo is a really good photographer. That was one of the things I noticed in the original post as well. Good for them.
Anitomica says:
Someone should send this page to them so they realize they were fools. :P Great to see the media get stung some times.
Todd Bradley says:
This was probably the least interesting Improv Everywhere project I’ve seen yet. When I found out it was a hoax, I didn’t really feel that much of anything – not cheated, not impressed, nothing. I guess that’s because the original premise was so blah. You guys have such a history of awesome projects, I can’t wait for the next one to hopefully wash the taste of this one out of my mouth.
floydette says:
Ah, the CW uses you to plug their website. Anything to plug the website.
E.M. says:
The comments on this one are the funniest stuff I’ve read in a really long time. I just love all the people who were saying “okay, I know it’s a joke, but it’s still in poor taste.” THAT IS THE POINT. The JOKE is that the group did something in such poor taste. It’s just…it’s such an easy thing to understand…god, I’m going to die laughing. I love it.
Sir Digby Chicken Caesar says:
One of the best social experiments I’ve seen in a long, long time. Great use of April 1st, keep up the good work!
IE Junkie says:
Best prank ever.
Improv Everywhere: 1
Rest of the World: 0
CW 11: -infinity.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!
Ginny Moon says:
I’ve noticed recently how controversial people have felt about Improv Everywhere lately, and I have to say it: you guys are AWESOME. It’s one of those ‘no-two-ways-about-it’ things.
In some ways, it looks like you guys have too much time on your hands and you’re just using it to play pranks, but… what better way to use your free time than to better society?
The reporter put it in his blog. I don’t believe him but here is some of what he wrote along with the link.
http://weblogs.wpix.com/news/jimwatkins/2009/04/the_april_fools_funeral_who_re.html
“Burying an April Fool’s joke within an April Fool’s joke is controversial, and quite possibly illegal in New York State. But once it’s been done, what’s to keep the alleged punk-ee from going for triple or nothing? What if I told you that some of us at PIX News didn’t think this whole funeral thing passed the smell test? And that, suspecting we were being played, decided to report the story as if we believed it, to see if Improv Everywhere would fall for it, and think they’d actually fooled one of the local TV stations, and put us all over their website, with links sending people back to OUR website? Remember, it was April Fool’s Day for us, too.
So you guys were great, and your gag was very funny. But what I just wrote? Now THAT’S good improv!”
Rob Fan says:
That was unsensible. No one has the right to ignore Rob’s high five.
>D says:
As my dying wish is that nobody will cry at my funeral for more than 5 minutes, you are welcome to come and make it so.]
– >D
Mel Skinner says:
Can I hire you guys to do my funeral?
bruno007 says:
I believe PXI has thrown down a gauntlet of sorts claiming they knew all along it was a hoax and reported it as news, but it was just a joke……. Anything else they might want to report on that’s “news worthy”?
Shane W says:
Did anyone read the blog that WPIX 11 reporter wrote in response to finding out they were pranked?
They play it all of as if they knew the entire time, but honestly!
Gabriella D says:
you guys are awesome! where did you get all the ideas?
I think even with the outtakes I woulda still fell for it… LMFAO what happened to doing your research or getting the whole story… did they even retract their story???
O lol way to pull it off news station…Sike wat idiots
Rob Cockerham says:
If the news station knew it was an AFD gag, and they may have, they should have given a wink to that possibility. Of course, it is very likely that some newsies realized it and others didn’t.
I heard a rumor once that news casters are occasionally selected for their looks.
I thought the playgound looked familiar when y’all posted the joke, but now that I can see the building in the background in this set of pictures, I must ask, if that P.S. 130 you’re filming in front of?
The high-five part was brilliant!
wayang times says:
you guys rock! more please!! and do u intend to do this overseas?
rtm says:
Journalism FAIL
Awesome! Man
Broth3r says:
I know you’re not stupid enough to do something like that! But this is great, you fooled all of us!! The best prank that felt real
HannahB. says:
Fantastic. :D
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7021
|
__label__wiki
| 0.731403
| 0.731403
|
Special Film Screening Friday October 19th – 7pm
Due to an overwhelming response for the Charlottetown Film Festival’s opening night screening, organizers have arranged for a special showing of these films in Historic St. Mary’s later this month, with a special performance by Catherine MacLellan!
The Charlottetown Film Festival is screening three films at their opening night on Friday, October 12th : O KANATA; ATHENA’S LOST TWIN and THE SONG AND THE SORROW, but due to limited seating in the venue, this event sold out almost immediately. A second screening of these films has been added Tuesday, October 16th, again at the City Cinema Theatre in Charlottetown, however organizers felt it was important to make these films accessible to as many as possible.
“Three remarkable documentaries by three talented Island women directors is such a cause for celebration” ChFF’s Cheryl Wagner says “and the core of each film shows the impact of song to lift us beyond any sorrow life brings. A night not to be missed.”
This third screening is scheduled in Historic St. Mary’s for Friday, October 19th at 7pm. The Charlottetown Film Festival partnered with Indian River Festival to offer these amazing films to an audience, who may not have been able to attend opening night screenings and travel the distance to Charlottetown.
It has been a privilege to create the film The Song and the Sorrow with Catherine MacLellan and the National Film Board” said Millefiore Clarkes, the films Director. “I am thrilled to have it screen at the Indian River Festival, as the film is full of music, and what place better to listen to and honour the music of Gene and Catherine MacLellan than St. Mary’s Church?”.
“We are excited about having these films screen in Historic. St. Mary’s and looking forward to bringing a film experience to IRF audience” said Don Quarles, Executive Director of the Indian River Festival. “Having these films shown on a large screen with our incredible sound system will be a treat for anyone wanting to see these films.”
Doors open at 6pm and food and beverage will be available for purchase in the pavilion, including Samuels Coffee, Upstreet Brewing beer, Wine, cookies from Crystal Green Farms and more!
The SONG AND THE SORROW, is dedicated to the Memory and Music of Gene MacLellan and is a National Film Board production. The documentary just won Best Atlantic Short Doc at FIN Atlantic International Film Festival 2018 in Halifax and the award for Best Atlantic Filmmaker at the 2018 Lunenburg Doc Fest.
“We are especially excited to Catherine MacLellan and Mille at this screening to answer questions after their film” said Quarles. “We have also been told there many be a few surprises including a special performance by Catherine. This will truly be a once in a lifetime experience and an event you do not want to miss”. He added “It can get a little chilly in the Church at this time of year, so we welcome folks to bring their own blanket to help keep them cozy and warm, and along with the hot and cold beverages we will be serving in the church, it will be a magical evening!”
Tickets are only $10 (plus tax / fees) and available online via the Festival website IndianRiverFestival.com, by calling Ticketpro at 1-888-311-9090 or the Festival Box office at 902-836-3733 OR CLICK HERE.
About the Charlottetown Film Festival
Devoted to celebrating and showcasing the works of emerging Atlantic filmmakers, with a special focus on Island screen artists, the film festival started in 2015, under the umbrella of The Charlottetown Film Society. Since this time, close to one hundred films have been screened – a banquet of feature films, documentaries, short dramas and comedies, animation, music videos. The Festival runs from October 12th-14th in Charlottetown and is committed to nurturing a growing film culture here on Prince Edward Island and throughout Atlantic Canada.
Special thanks to FILM PEI for the use of their projector and screen.
We always enjoy the concerts here – great music and evening out.
G. Barlow, New Hampshire
The Indian River Festival’s unique, beautiful venue is reason alone for it to be on anyone’s to do list! Favourite moments, Matt Anderson and strawberry shortcake!
Connie Clark, Patron
I had the pleasure of performing at the church in Indian River as part of the 2015 Indian River Festival. It is such a magical venue with beautiful acoustics and for a musician an absolute dream venue. Thank you so much for inviting us to play!
Erin Costelo, singer-songwriter
I love attending concerts at St Mary’s and especially appreciate hearing programs that are unusual – like Schumann’s Dichterliebe.
J. Roberts, Crapaud, PEI
7:30 pm Scandinavian String Alliance @ Indian River Festival
Scandinavian String Alliance @ Indian River Festival
Scandinavian String Alliance (SSA) is a touring project created by two Scandinavian bands, trio Fru Skagerrak and duo Kristian Bugge & Morten Alfred Høirup, who are playing and singing traditional as well as newly composed[...]
3:00 pm Lina Boudreau @ Indian River Festival
Lina Boudreau @ Indian River Festival
Lina Boudreau is a native of Memramcook, a picturesque little French-speaking village in New Brunswick, considered the cradle of the New Acadie. Her varied professional experiences have formed her into a versatile singer who can suit[...]
7:30 pm Frank Leahy with Don Messer’s Vi... @ Historic St. Mary's Church, Indian River
Frank Leahy with Don Messer’s Vi... @ Historic St. Mary's Church, Indian River
Frank Leahy is a renaissance man of our time. He has performed with over 2000 symphony pops, original music theatre performances and live concerts all over the world. Frank Leahy performs on the late Don[...]
7:30 pm Jeremy Dutcher @ Indian River Festival
Jeremy Dutcher @ Indian River Festival
JUNO Award recipient and winner of the 2018 prestigious Polaris Music Prize, this Tobique First Nation classically-trained tenor, musicologist, activist, and performer’s art is rooted in his Wolastoq heritage, where tradition and cutting edge modernity[...]
3:00 pm VC2 Cello Duo
VC2 Cello Duo
VC2 is an innovative cello duo able to captivate audiences through their performances of classical masterworks, unknown gems and boundary pushing music. Comprised of cellists Amah… V2 Cello Duo
7:30 pm The Small Glories @ Indian River Festival
The Small Glories @ Indian River Festival
thesmallglories.com Presented in partnership with Farmed Market and Music Manitoba. Roots powerhouse duo The Small Glories are Cara Luft & JD Edwards, a musical tour-de-force partnership planted on the Canadian Prairies. Thrown together purely by[...]
7:30 pm Shari Ulrich @ Indian River Festival
Shari Ulrich @ Indian River Festival
Shari Ulrich celebrates 45 years as a touring recording artist and multi-instrumentalist (violin, mandolin, piano, guitar dulcimer, & harmonica). From Pied Pumkin through The Hometown Band, and on as a solo artist and multi-instrumentalist has[...]
3:00 pm Montréal Guitare Trio @ Indian River Festival
Montréal Guitare Trio @ Indian River Festival
The CBC called them Canada’s “hottest” guitar ensemble. Multi-award winning MG3 brings virtuosity, creativity and irresistible audience engagement with their programme “Danza”, blending flamenco and sultry jazz with classic Spanish masterworks.The CBC called them Canada’s[...]
7:00 pm Sarah Hagen – Wine, Women & Wit @ Indian River Festival
Sarah Hagen – Wine, Women & Wit @ Indian River Festival
FINGERS THAT FLY: Sarah offers a programme of piano works inspired by birds and birdsong. Come out for an evening of joyous music by Schumann and Liszt, among others, and insightful commentary peppered with a[...]
7:30 pm Catherine MacLellan @ Indian River Festival
Catherine MacLellan @ Indian River Festival
In partnership with the PEI Potato Growers Catherine MacLellan has become one of Canada’s finest and favourite singer-songwriters on her own merits. She’s kept away from the media circus and celebrity scene, preferring to live[...]
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7022
|
__label__wiki
| 0.971374
| 0.971374
|
Home Music News Watch a New Mini-Doc About N.C. Rap Legends Little Brother
Watch a New Mini-Doc About N.C. Rap Legends Little Brother
by Eric Tullis
Bull City basics: The original Little Brother lineup of, from left, Rapper Big Pooh, 9th Wonder and Phonte Coleman
Surely by now you’ve heard that legendary North Carolina hip-hop group Little Brother has officially reunited—well, Phonte Coleman and Rapper Big Pooh have, sans 9th Wonder—with plans to tour and release a new album. One can only hope that it drops before their headlining performance in September at Raleigh’s Hopscotch Music Festival, if for no other reason than to give Little Brother acolytes some new material to rap along to in City Plaza.
If not, there’s always their four studio albums, numerous mixtapes, and Phonte and Big Pooh’s solo material to rock to. But perhaps the most important release, and the one that most fans know verbatim, is their critically acclaimed 2003 debut album, The Listening.
Now the story behind the creation of the group and the album is told in a new eleven-minute documentary that dropped on Okayplayer today. Commissioned by the North Carolina Arts Council, The Listening was directed by Holland Randolph Gallagher, who also wrote and directed the ten-episode Durham-based web series Hype. It features interviews with several Justus League members; in-depth talks with 9th, Phonte, and Big Pooh; and a spirited cameo by an early Little Brother apostle, Questlove.
Of course, there’s more to the Little Brother story than just The Listening, and hopefully this isn’t the last collaboration we'll see between Gallagher, the budding filmmaker, and Little Brother, the renewed N.C. rap legends.
reunion The Listening Phonte Coleman Holland Randolph Gallagher Music Documentary video Okayplayer Little Brother hip-hop 9th Wonder Rapper Big Pooh Hopscotch
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7023
|
__label__wiki
| 0.925813
| 0.925813
|
Home News Archives City Staffers Pick York Properties to Manage Union Station
City Staffers Pick York Properties to Manage Union Station
by Thomas Goldsmith
A long-familiar Oak City company got the nod from city staff Tuesday for providing leasing and management duties at the under-construction Raleigh Union Station.
York Properties, with roots as a construction company dating to 1910, submitted the best among three proposals, said David Eatman, transit administrator for the city. The other contenders were commercial real estate companies Cushman and Wakefield and NAI Carolantic. The transportation staff's choice will have to be signed off on by council members, likely at a July 5 meeting.
"The firm has a vested interest in the community," Eatman said. "York Properties presented what I thought were very reasonable expectations."
York Properties developed Raleigh's Cameron Village, the first such shopping center in the Southeast, and constructed city landmarks including Memorial Auditorium, the N.C. State University Bell Tower, and the Sir Walter Hotel.
Union Station, being built in the Warehouse District west of downtown, will replace the longtime Amtrak station on Cabarrus Street. The building is being constructed in phases and eventually will accommodate—in addition to passenger trains—commuter rail, local and regional buses, taxis, and bicycles, according to the city.
York will be responsible for managing the facility, finding businesses to fill several suites and open spaces, and supervising events in the building.
Council members in a work session heard that most vendors will expect initial preparation of the spaces, or up-fits, to take place before they add their own improvements.
"This is a really desirable location,” council member David Cox said. "Do we have to fund this ourselves?"
Raleigh will have to juggle several policy interests in renting to vendors, said Ruffin Hall, the city manager. Preparation of spaces for tenants, costing an estimated $396,000 overall, will allow the city to charge higher rent, Hall said. The other option is to ask businesses pay to get spaces ready, then charging less in rent.
"The more we do to offset that, the less we have to do in the city's overall budget," he said.
York will charge $1,000 a month minimum while the building is under preparation, then receive a percentage of the rent charged to businesses.
One of the attractive aspects of York's presentation was a detailed proposal for managing events into the station, Eatman said. Under the proposed agreement, the city would receive part of event fees and York would either receive a fixed monthly amount or a percentage of the bill paid by event planners.
"It's going to be a great venue for a number of public events," Eatman said, "If it's a city of Raleigh-sponsored event, that might have precedence."
Blogs News York Properties Union Station David Cox Cameron Village Issue: 2017-06-07 Raleigh
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7024
|
__label__wiki
| 0.647287
| 0.647287
|
Home » Agatha Christie » David Suchet » Hercule Poirot » Hugh Fraser » Pauline Moran » Philip Jackson » Poirot Project » reviews » Gaming Events 2019 - Poirot Project: The Case of the Missing Will (review) - infogaming7.blogspot.com
Gaming Events 2019 - Poirot Project: The Case of the Missing Will (review) - infogaming7.blogspot.com
steffani – February 10, 2019
This post is part of my 2016-19 Poirot Project. You can read the full story of why I’m doing this in my Introduction post. The previous post was a review of ‘The Yellow Iris’.
Beware: Here be Spoilers
The fourth episode of the fifth series of Agatha Christie’s Poirot was first broadcast on 7th February 1993. It was based on the short story of the same name, which was published in The Sketch on October 1923 – though the closeness of this adaptation is something I’m going to come back to shortly.
Christie’s short story is a neat – but rather straightforward – little puzzle for the great detective. It begins with Poirot and Hastings receiving a new client, which Hastings says is ‘rather a pleasant change from [their] routine work’ (though he doesn’t say what, exactly, he counts as ‘routine work’). Hastings’s happiness is short-lived, however, as it transpires that the client, Violet Marsh, is… shock, horror!... a New Woman:
‘I am not a great admirer of the so-called New Woman myself, and, in spite of her good looks, I was not particularly prepossessed in her favour.’
Poirot seems to quite like Violet, though, so the reader is prepossessed in her favour. Is this fair? Hastings can be a pretty bad judge of women… but then again, so can Poirot. After all, it’s Poirot who is taken in by Nick Buckley and Jane Wilkinson, and he’s got a definite soft spot for Jacqueline de Bellefort and (obviously) Vera Rossakoff. Fortunately, we don’t have to worry too much about these murderers and jewel thieves, as Violet Wilson has come with quite a different sort of puzzle.
Violet was the niece (and only relative) of rich businessman Andrew Marsh. During his lifetime, her uncle held ‘peculiar and deeply-rooted ideas as to the upbringing of women’, and was not happy when his niece decided to go to Girton. To teach her that her new-fangled ‘book learning’ is no match for his masculine brains, he uses his will as a final posthumous battle of wits: Marsh leaves all his property to Violet for one year, during which time she must ‘prove her wits’ or the fortune will pass to charities.
After Marsh died, Violet made a quick search of the house, couldn’t find anything obvious, and so immediately came to hire Poirot to solve the puzzle for her. Which he does.
It really is as simple as that.
Poirot visits Crabtree Manor, Marsh’s former home, spots a couple of inconsistencies, and then uses these to ascertain the whereabouts of a second will (dated shortly after the first), which leaves everything unconditionally to Violet. To be brutally honest, it’s a bit of a waste of his excellent little grey cells.
Hastings is thoroughly disappointed by the whole business. He seems bored as he narrates Poirot’s forensic search of the house, unimpressed by Poirot’s discovery of a label that doesn’t match the others, and confused by a last-minute epiphany on a train. As Poirot makes a dash back to Crabtree Manor for the big reveal, Hastings is grumpy and complains that Poirot isn’t paying him enough attention.
Despite his friend’s strop, Poirot is delighted by the case and sums it all up with ‘triumph’. He’s worked out the puzzle, and his client has won the battle of wits. He suggests that this means she has ‘justified her choice of life and elaborate education’, and also that her uncle’s trick was always intended to vindicate his niece’s academic career (assuming she was successful, of course).
Cranky Hastings sees things differently. ‘The old man really won,’ he grumbles.
‘“But no, Hastings. It is your wits that go astray. Miss Marsh proved the astuteness of her wits and the value of the higher education for women by at once putting the matter in my hands. Always employ the expert. She has amply proved her rights to the money.”
“It’s not fair! You never listen to me! I wish I’d never been born!” I shouted, as I ran out of the room and slammed the door.’
Okay. I made that last bit up.
‘The Case of the Missing Will’ is probably not on many Top 10 Poirot Stories lists. It’s a little bit of fun for both Poirot and the reader (not Hastings though), but it’s not the most memorable case. Nevertheless, Christie was clearly quite happy with the central conceit, as it’s one of the plots she reused later on.
The Miss Marple story ‘Strange Jest’ was first published in the US in 1941 and then in the Strand Magazine in 1944 (under the title ‘A Case of Buried Treasure’).* In this little tale, Miss Marple is introduced to kissing-(third)-cousins Edward Rossiter and Charmian Stroud, the sole heirs to their shared Great-Great-Uncle Mathew. Edward and Charmian are convinced that their Uncle Mathew was in possession of a large fortune in gold bullion, but when he died there was no sign of any fortune. Their friend Jane Helier convinces the lovebirds to enlist Miss Marple’s assistance to get their hands on the loot.
As in ‘The Case of the Missing Will’, the detective here accompanies the putative heirs to the dead man’s house, rifles through his property, and then produce the booty with a flourish. But it’s the differences between the stories that are most interesting.
What I really like about this pair of stories is the way that Christie fitted each of the ‘missing will’ pranks to the idiosyncrasies of the respective sleuths. So, in the earlier story, the clue comes in the form of a label that doesn’t match the others; in the later one, the hints come in sly uses of outdated slang (‘gammon and spinach’, ‘all my eye and Betty Martin’). In ‘Missing Will’, Poirot pores over an account of the day of the will’s writing and finds an interesting item in the schedule; in ‘Strange Jest’, Miss Marple sees a possible parallel with her own Uncle Henry.
It’s lucky that Charmian, Edward and Violet picked their detectives so carefully. I wonder if Miss Marple would’ve guessed Andrew Marsh’s invisible ink – and what would Poirot have made of Uncle Mathew?
I must admit, I really warmed towards ‘The Case of the Missing Will’ after I read ‘Strange Jest’. I thoroughly recommend reading them as companion pieces to remind you of the important differences between Christie’s two famous sleuths.
And now… controversy! It’s time to look at the ITV adaptation of ‘The Case of the Missing Will’, and the first Poirot episode to veer substantively away from its source story. Dun dun dunnnnnn…
‘The Case of the Missing Will’ was directed by John Bruce and written by Douglas Watkinson. It does not follow the plot of Christie’s short story, though it makes some allusions to it.
I’m just going to get this out of the way up front: I don’t think this is a problem. Christie’s short story would not have made a good episode of the TV show – or, at least, not one that would have fit with the rest of the series. I know the 90s was a simpler time, but I just can’t imagine us all curling up in front of the TV to watch David Suchet meticulously looking through drawers for an hour while Hugh Fraser stropped about in the background. I mean, obviously I’d watch that now. But I probably wouldn’t have liked it so much when I was fourteen. I would’ve probably changed over to… *checks 1993 TV listings*… So Haunt Me?? Urgh. Only one thing for it…
Picture Credit: TV Whirl
Fortunately, Douglas Watkinson stopped teenage me from having to make the choice between So Haunt Me and Bamboozle, as the TV version of ‘The Case of the Missing Will’ is a pretty standard Poirot episode. It’s also, in my opinion, very well done – I only realized that it’s not actually a Christie story years later when I started reading the early Poirot short stories.
So, let’s talk about the episode…
We begin with a flashback to 1926. A man named Andrew Marsh (played by Mark Kingston) is seeing in the New Year with friends. As the clock strikes twelve, he announces that he has made a will leaving most of his fortune to a medical foundation, with some to be held in trust for his ward (Violet Wilson)’s education. Violet (played as a child by Stephanie Thwaites) excitedly watches through the bannisters with the sons of Marsh’s friends, Robert Siddaway (Simon Owen) and Peter Baker (Glen Mead), but is dismayed to hear that her guardian imagines that her future lies in marriage, possibly to one of her young companions. Marsh’s friend Phyllida Campion (Susan Tracy) remonstrates, but it is clear that Marsh has rather fixed views on the role of women.
Thus, the stage is set for an episode that alludes to, but doesn’t follow, Christie’s story. We have a rich man named Andrew Marsh, who made his money farming in Australia (as Christie’s character had done), a young (sort of) heir named Violet, and some eyebrow-raising at the idea of women’s education. However, we also have a gang of Siddaways and Bakers (the Bakers here are not quite the household servants of the same names from the short story), a Miss Campion and Dr Pritchard who are not found in the source text. And, most important, Marsh’s will is definitely not missing.
The episode then jumps ahead to the present day. The present day being 1936, of course. Poirot and Hastings are attending a Cambridge University debate in the company of Violet Wilson. (As a side note, the adult Violet is played by Beth Goddard, in the first of her two Poirot appearances. Her second appearance will be in Appointment with Death ¬– another rather loose adaptation of Christie’s work. But we’ll talk about that one later.)
The debate is on women’s education – and women’s rights generally. Marsh is speaking against, and Robert Siddaway (played as an adult by Edward Atterton) is speaking for. Robert makes an unsurprisingly prescient speech, arguing that – when the inevitable war in Europe comes – women will be expected to work in factories, munitions works, and even the armed forces. The guffawing idiots in the audience (clearly oblivious to the roles women played during the war that ended less that twenty years earlier) shout him down with derogatory comments about the W.I. Overcome with outrage at the sexist nonsense she’s hearing, Violet interjects and the meeting descends into boorish chaos.
Robert’s invocation of an upcoming war is interesting here. I’ve said several times in these posts that the TV series conjures up a world that is permanently on the brink of WWII, but never actually fighting it. This episode comes closer than many to accepting that a war will happen: Robert makes specific reference to an alliance between Hitler and Mussolini, and – unexpectedly – we actually see a young British man in army uniform, as the Bakers’ son Peter (now played by Neil Stuke) is home on leave for the duration of the episode.
All this is perfectly in-keeping with the rest of the series, but it just feels a little bit heavy-handed in these opening scenes. That probably doesn’t mean anything though. It’s not like Britain’s relationship with other European nations was a particularly hot topic in early 1993 or anything.
Anyway… as I’ve said above, Christie’s short story is simply a treasure hunt for our little Belgian detective. The TV episode has to add a few extra twists and turns to keep us away from Bamboozle. Those twists include… Andrew Marsh decides to change his will! Then he gets murdered! Japp turns up to investigate! And he recognizes shifty Dr Pritchard (Richard Durden)! The will goes missing! Hastings rides a horse! Dr Pritchard says he thinks Andrew has a secret son! Miss Campion gets pushed down a moving staircase! Poirot questions Margaret Baker (Gillian Hanna) about her son Peter! Sarah Siddaway (Rowena Cooper) hints that Robert in Marsh’s son! Miss Lemon investigates!
‘What’s going on? What on earth is happening?’
(Violet has obviously read Christie’s short story.)
Joking aside, the story plays out in a typically Poirot way. A man is murdered shortly after making a new will (which goes missing), and there is a small circle of suspects. A red herring is dismissed (Japp recognized Dr Pritchard from an earlier case), and a misunderstanding is revealed (Marsh’s comments about parenthood meant that he had a daughter, not a son). And in typical Christie fashion (though not actually written by Christie), the case hinges on the question of who has specific medical knowledge (were you listening carefully?).
I have kinda mixed feelings about the episode’s ending. On the one hand, I like that Watkinson brings us back to Christie’s short story at the end. It’s revealed that Violet is, in fact, Marsh’s daughter (her mother is Miss Campion). After the pesky business of the murder has been cleared up, Poirot assures Violet that Marsh wanted to change his will to leave everything to her: ‘As proof that she was his daughter!... And his equal.’ This is a nice echo of Poirot’s assertion in the short story that Violet has ‘proved the astuteness of her wits and the value of the higher education for women’. At least the TV version of Marsh saw the error of his assessment before he died.
On the other hand, the revelation that Violet is Marsh and Miss Campion’s daughter leaves a couple of question marks. Violet grows up believing that she is the daughter of Marsh’s late business partner in Australia. When this unnamed partner – and, presumably, his wife/girlfriend – died, Marsh benevolently assumed guardianship of the orphan and employed Australian Margaret Baker as a nanny. When Marsh moved back to England, he was ‘called away to fight in France’, and Margaret married a policeman (played by Jon Laurimore) and had Peter.
The problem is… this isn’t true. Violet was born in 1913 to Phyllida Campion, while the woman was a student at Cambridge. Her birth was registered in England. So how did the baby end up in Australia? (Presumably she did end up in Australia, as Margaret Baker gives no indication that the nanny story was a lie.) Did Miss Campion send her straight over? Did she go with her? What exactly was the relationship between Phyllida and Andrew? Did no one spot that Andrew made a quick jaunt to Cambridge from Australia in 1912, and then miraculously produced his dead business partner’s child nine months later? Did Andrew falsely register Violet’s birth in Australia – giving her the surname ‘Wilson’? Did no one question why a single man, with apparently no blood relationship to the child, was registering the birth of a baby at least two weeks old (and that’s assuming Miss Campion gave birth and then immediately shoved the baby on a boat), with the implausible claim that both the child’s parents had died. The more you look at it, the harder to swallow it seems.
Quick! Let’s distract ourselves with Hastings on a horse!
Despite my concern about Baby Violet’s ocean voyage, I still really like this episode. There are some great little details to enjoy. Hastings’s horse ride, for instance… This is the moment when our intrepid sidekick discovers Marsh’s body. As he rides across the countryside with Violet, he looks up and exclaims:
‘What a charming folly!’
This always makes me smile – follies are never good news in Agatha Christie stories.
But by far my favourite bit of the episode is the return of Miss Lemon’s investigative skills. Obviously, I enjoy seeing her peering over card catalogues and registers with her acute eye for the detail of a filing system. But I also like the fact that it is specifically Miss Lemon who spots a slip from the doctor – he refers to ‘Mrs Campion’, rather than ‘Miss Campion’ – and, from the way she questions this, it seems she guesses the reason for the slip before any of the men. For this reason, Poirot entrusts the task of hunting down Miss Campion’s records to her, leaving poor old Hastings kicking his heels on his own in the car park (at least he doesn’t have a strop this time).
And so, ‘The Case of the Missing Will’ might not follow Christie’s original story, but it’s still a great episode. Watkinson does a good job of riffing on Christie’s story to create a script that is convincing as an adaptation (for viewers unfamiliar with the original). There are just enough allusions to reassure fans of Christie’s stories that the writer had read the original as well.
Oh, and we get to see Poirot in his pyjamas again. I’m building up a collection of these pictures, because I have a theory that the detective’s bedtime attire gets distinctly fussier as the series progresses. As you can see, he is not wearing a hairnet or moustache protector in this episode. I doubt anyone apart from me cares.
Right, onto the next episode (and a real favourite of mine) – ‘The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman’
* Academic footnote ahoy! Just to say, I have the version of ‘Strange Jest’ that appears in the eBook edition of the Miss Marple and Mystery: The Complete Short Stories collection, published by HarperCollins in 2011 (2008).
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7026
|
__label__cc
| 0.597259
| 0.402741
|
The Bride of Argyle - by Raymond Muller (Bungalow 29)
It was the first time any of us had seen a ghost.
One always assumes that when you finally get to see a ghost, you will react with shock, horror, terror and all the blood in your veins will turn to ice. It was nothing like that at all. When we saw the ghost of Bonnie McPherson one bright moonlit night in the elephant hide on Argyle farm, it was as if it was the most natural thing in the world that we would see her, albeit somewhat unexpectedly. We weren’t necessarily pleased to see her, but her presence did not frighten us and there was no terror involved. The overwhelming emotion we felt was sadness and compassion.
We had been roaming around Argyle farm one night on our Land Rover, looking for signs of big game. There was a full moon shining with the intensity of a thousand fluorescent lights. It was one of those nights when the moon was so bright that you couldn’t see the stars even though there was not a cloud in the sky. It was one of those mid-winter nights in the Lowveld that had just a bite of chilliness to it and made you want to cuddle up under a blanket on the back of the land rover. After having no sightings other than an occasional wildebeest and zebra we decided to head to the confines of the elephant hide. Have a cup of coffee out of the flask, warm up and maybe, with a bit of luck, see a herd of Elephant drinking under the moonlight.
Instead, we encountered the ghost of Bonnie McPherson sitting forlornly on one of the benches in the hide. Of course we didn’t know that she was the ghost of Bonnie McPherson just then, we just knew she was a ghost and we found out who she was the ghost of a few days later.
She did not say anything, she just sat there, a metaphysical incarnation of a person who had previously lived and she had a strange luminous transparency to her. She was pale. Of course all ghosts are pale, but we suspected that even in real life she would have been pale. Her fine blonde hair neatly adorned with a crown of faded flowers, framed her angelic face. Cornflower blue eyes, a light rouge dusting her cheeks and pale red lips neatly pursed into a faint wan smile presented the only color in her otherwise bleak monochromatic facade. She made no eye contact with us and the expression on her face did not change, either because ghosts are unable to change their expressions or because she simply chose not to. She wore a simple white lace dress and that, together with a small posy of dried veldblommetjies which she clutched in her fragile hand, clearly indicated to us that she was not just a ghost, but that she was the ghost of a bride. Whether she had died just before her wedding or shortly thereafter was impossible to tell but if one works on the assumption that ghosts wear the clothing they had on when they died, then it was apparent that this ghost had died on her wedding day. Perhaps you are now starting to understand why we reacted with sadness and compassion instead of fear and terror.
Days later we were to discover that she was not only the ghost of a bride, but the ghost of a jilted bride and had we known that then, our sadness and compassion would have been even deeper.
We took an unusual trip back to our bungalow from the elephant hide as the ghost had decided to hitch a ride with us. There was apparently not much we could do when she climbed aboard our vehicle and took a seat on the back bench. Various attempts to shoo her away failed and we reluctantly drove off with our uninvited passenger. Conversation was unusually stilted that night. The social etiquette of what to say or what not to say in front of a ghost was not high on any of our lists of skills and as such we resorted to silence. The ghost herself offered no contribution to the discussion but seemed quite at home in the back of the land rover.
We must have presented an interesting spectacle driving through the bush that night and fortunately we did not encounter any other game vehicles on the drive. The whole scenario would have been very difficult to explain. Getting back to the bungalow brought the conundrum of what to do with her to the fore. Debate went back and forth as to the merits of inviting her in to the bungalow versus simply leaving her to her own devices. The problem was solved when one of us went back to check on her. She was curled up on the back seat of the land rover, having commandeered one of our blankets. Whether she felt the cold or simply chose to follow a familiar human ritual of bundling up on a cold night, it was clear that she looked comfortable and intended to stay the night. We were thankful that she had resolved the situation for us by choosing to sleep on the land rover as we all agreed that it would have been uncomfortable for us to have her in the bungalow but we would have felt equally bad to simply turn her out into the night.
Dawn rose the next morning and we were interested to see if the ghost was still there or had left us. There was no sign of her and the blanket she had trussed herself up in the night before lay casually discarded on the floor of the vehicle. It appeared that she had left us but we wondered if she was possibly still there but that we simply could not see her in the bright light of day. As the day progressed and night started to fall it became apparent to us that she had not left us and was still very much there. It seems that the luminous transparency of a ghost makes them a lot more visible at night and virtually unseen during the daytime. So we faced a second night with the ghost, unsure of what we were supposed to do, unsure of the purpose of her presence in our lives, unsure of next steps. She eventually started to move about, seemingly more awake and active as the night wore on and she finally walked up to the bungalow and pointed to a shovel leaning against the wall.
It’s interesting to see how much communication can actually occur through gestures and it became quite clear that she wanted us to grab the shovel and follow her, which we did. She hopped back up in the land rover and she pointed the way forward with a delicate finger. We followed her directions into the night, driving deep into the bush on Argyle, eventually coming to a halt under the boughs of a giant wild fig tree. By now we were communicating quite well with each other and we started digging at an exact spot under the tree, following her clear but silent instruction. The digging soon resulted in the clanging of metal against metal and a long slim box was soon unearthed. Stored within the metal box was a beautiful old rifle, packed in grease and neatly wrapped in oil cloth. We uncovered the rifle under the light of the moon and stared in wonder at it. The ghost in the meantime had been sitting on an old log waiting for us to unearth the prize that she had led us to. After she was sure that we had the rifle in our possession and were not intent on placing it back in the hole we had just excavated, she walked off into the bush. After a few feet she stopped and gave a shy wave; an apparition in a lace wedding dress, clutching a small posy of flowers. She stopped from time to time and on her last turn I could swear that she gave a broader smile, proving at least that ghosts were able to change their expressions if they wanted to. She certainly gave the impression of being happier. This made us feel better even though we were very perplexed by the whole affair.
We inspected the rifle on our return to the bungalow and were able to ascertain a few things. It was an old Mauser, the type of rifle that the Boers used to lethal effect against the British in the Anglo Boer war. It was in pristine condition and the only aberration to its perfect condition was a series of hundreds of tiny notches carved into the wooden stock. Clearly the owner of the rifle had cared deeply for the rifle, giving it the name “Ou Betsie” which was neatly engraved on the barrel in an elaborate copperplate font. Two empty cartridge shells were wrapped up together with the rifle. We had unearthed a bushveld mystery and we pondered this strange series of events deep into the night. What could the connection be between the ghost and the rifle? We would soon find out. The answer required less investigative skill than one would think.
The decision was made to talk to Oom Boetman Slabbert. Oom Boetman and his wife were denizens of the bushveld and had lived in the Umbabat area for many years and we decided that if anyone knew about the presence of a ghost on Argyle, it would be them. We presented ourselves on their doorstep a few days later and after a few knocks we were invited in by the kindly old couple. The living room was in a state of disarray, with a variety of bushveld knick-knacks lying around. Pride of place amongst the various antelope heads and wooden carvings went to a large stuffed leopard in the corner. Its glassy-eyed countenance surveying over all who entered and it presented an obvious but moth-eaten talking point. We politely listened to the story of how he had been attacked by the leopard one evening and how his short sighted wife had mercifully killed the beast with a single shot. Oom Boetman still walked with a limp after the incident and his only way through the pain was to take frequent sips of medicinal brandy from an old hip-flask.
He positioned himself in an old dusty armchair and scooched around a bit until he was comfortable.
“A ghost you say? The ghost of a young woman?” He scratched his head and thought for a while. “ It could be the ghost of Bonnie McPherson “ he said , thinking deeply as if there were many ghosts that he had to eliminate before deciding on the right one.
“A bride? Yes, yes. That was Bonnie. People have been known to see her from time to time. Shame, poor Bonnie, it was a very sad story. How was she looking? “ . We assured him that other than her paleness, she looked fine and seemed in reasonable shape. We gave him an overview of our interactions with her, carefully omitting any detail about finding the gun. We had still not decided what to do about the gun. Half of the group felt it imperative to hand the gun over to the camp management. The other half of the group subscribed to the finders-keepers theory of life and wanted to hang on to it. The matter being largely unsettled, the decision was made not to mention the gun to Oom Boetman lest we added further conflict into a somewhat contentious disagreement.
Oom Boetman settled down further into his chair and spent the next few minutes laboriously stoking his pipe. He emitted plumes of blue smoke into the air until finally he got his pipe to an even burn and began to talk. He would point his pipe accusingly at us from time to time when he needed to emphasize a point. The discomfort of the old chairs we sat in was alleviated by the heightened enjoyment of listening to a seasoned story-teller.
“You ever wonder where Argyle got its name from. Seems strange to many that in an area where most of the farms are named in Afrikaans or Shangaan that you would have the name Argyle. It seems strangely out of place, but there is a simple enough answer to this. Back in the eighteen hundreds, old man Jock McPherson had come out to South Africa from Scotland looking for white gold, ivory, and hunted these parts as a young man. The locals liked him and got on well with him , what with him being Scottish and them having a common enemy with the Boerevolk “ For a brief moment Oom Boetman looked a little embarrassed. “ You know, the English “.
“He eventually settled right here and named his farm Argyle, reminding him of his home so far away. He sent away for a wife from Scotland and fairly soon thereafter she arrived; a shy rather sickly young Presbyterian girl from a different world, thrust into the heat and dust and wilderness of the Lowveld. The travelling predikant from Bushbuckridge married them and pretty soon she was with child. That would be Bonnie. Well things didn’t go as well as planned and soon after Bonnie’s arrival, the mother went down with blackwater fever and died. She is buried here on Argyle but interestingly her ghost has never shown up. Seems her soul was not for the bushveld and if she is roaming somewhere, it’s probably around a loch somewhere back in Scotland. Bonnie grew up with Jock as her father and companion and they formed a very strong and inseparable bond. She never went to school but instead she learned to ride and hunt and shoot and apparently she made a fine bushveld haggis for Jock, using bits and pieces of the impala instead of the sheep like they would have in Scotland. Life was good for both of them until Hermanus Lottering arrived one day and swept her off her feet. “
The story was briefly interrupted by Oom Boetman’s wife who presented us with a tray of coffee and koeksusters. She didn’t say much other than she shook her head and muttered how wild bushveld men were known to disrupt the lives of decent young women. There was something clearly autobiographical in her statement and Oom Boetman rolled his eyes and gave an apologetic shrug.
“Hermanus Lottering was a transport rider who led an ox-wagon from Pilgrim’s Rest to Delagoa Bay in Portuguese East Africa and he passed through the area frequently often stopping on the various farms where he would enjoy a home cooked meal and spin hunting stories to the farmers around the fire at night. It seems he had an eye for the ladies and he left a trail of broken hearts right through the bushveld. Bonnie and he were soon in love and were betrothed to be married. Jock was delighted that his beautiful young daughter had found herself a strapping young man. The people in the district were excited for the wedding but unfortunately the damn Englishmen started the war and all plans were put on hold as the young men in the district mounted up and rode off to war. It would be a few years before Hermanus and Bonnie would see each other again.”
It seemed as if we had unearthed an interesting story and we fidgeted while Oom Boetman once again fired up his pipe as the tobacco had long burned out. We waited patiently for him to complete his ritual and for him to start off again.
“Let me tell you something about Hermanus Lottering. A braver man there never was. Of course all the boers were brave, but Hermanus was the bravest of them all. He was an excellent shot and pretty soon he and his trusty Mauser which he called “Ou Betsie” were cutting a path of destruction through the British. He killed a whole platoon, then a company, even a brigade of the despised rooinekke, all by himself. He was a good Christian man though and he buried each man that he shot after saying a brief prayer asking God to forgive them for their stupidity for fighting against the Boers. He made a small notch on his rifle stock with his knip-mes for each man he killed. Legend has it that there were many hundreds of notches on his rifle. Stories of his bravery went far and wide. The British eventually gave a wide berth to the whole eastern Transvaal, for fear of running into him. Roberts, Kitchener and Milner all of them, quaked in their boots when his name was mentioned. Even the name of de la Rey did not cause as much anxiety in the British camps as did Lottering. Brave was not really sufficient enough of a word to describe him though. He became a god, a legend and all the while Bonnie remained faithfully waiting for him at Argyle. Waiting for the day when the war would be over so they could marry and live the life she wanted. “
Oom Boetman was a marvelous story-teller yet I had some doubt as to the veracity of his story. I had a reasonable knowledge about the Boer War and this chap Lottering was unknown to me, although I was by no means an expert, so it was hard for me to quibble. Oom Boetman must have sensed some of my skepticism as he stopped and with pointed pipe, addressed the issue head on. “The war continues to be a divide between us Boers and you English “He was sadly correct as neither side had not moved on very much in the last hundred years. “Lottering may have been a Boer scoundrel to your forebears, but to us, he was indeed a hero. A magnificent but flawed man. You should look him up, there are many stories written about him “
He continued his story after having suitably admonished me.
“Well Lottering returned to Argyle after the war and plans for the wedding started at once. It must be said though, that while Lottering was a brave man and a hero of the war, things had changed for him during the conflict. His greatness had somehow had a pernicious effect on his character. Never a modest man, he had become vainglorious and proud and rather pompous and self-important. Always a ladies man, he now unfortunately started to attract the attentions of the kind of woman who is drawn to a man of this sort and he soon became secretly enamored of a young woman named Elsie Brink. She was a Jezebel if ever there was one and the two of them secretly planned to elope. Unfortunately for Bonnie Mc Pherson, this all became a bit of a mess and on the very day of her wedding she found that Hermanus Lottering and Elsie Brink had absconded in his ox-wagon and she was literally jilted at the altar. Now the altar was a stump of an old ironwood tree that had been lugged into the boma at Argyle, but it was an altar nonetheless and it became the site of great sorrow and grief for Bonnie and for Jock Mc Pherson. You can imagine the scandal and the uproar that ensued. People had come for miles around to attend the wedding and now the disappearance of Lottering meant that the wedding party was in jeopardy. The men and women had put on their dancing shoes and were ready for a big opskop and the smell of the ox braaiing on the spit and the jugs of peach brandy sitting in the shade of the stoep created a dilemma for the guests. To partake would be a great sign of disrespect to the jilted bride, yet to let it all go to waste would be an even greater shame. The bushveld ensemble that had been tuning their instruments ready to belt out a rendition of “here comes the bride“ sat there disconsolately, not sure about what to do next. It appears that a mournful dirge would have been more appropriate”
“To add to the confusion Jock and Bonnie had disappeared. It was assumed that Jock had ridden off in pursuit of Lottering and Elsie. Bonnie, God bless her, had run off into the bush, inconsolable in her grief. Search parties set off and their findings were not good. Some miles away the ox wagon of Lottering was found under the shade of a wild fig tree and on closer inspection Lottering and Elsie Brink were both found lying side by side on a feather mattress in the back of the covered wagon. Each lay there with a bright crimson patch on their chest. Only an expert marksman could have placed the bullets through the hearts of these two with such deadly accuracy. Funnily enough, great shot that he was, Lottering was not able to protect himself and his trusty rifle “Ou Betsie “ was nowhere to be found, and it was clear that the shots to the hearts were Mauser shots ”
Oom Boetman stopped and sighed. The story had a clear impact on him and he waited a while, composing himself, dabbing at his eyes with an old handkerchief. He continued after taking a gulp of his coffee which had now gone completely cold.
“Well of course the local constable had been at the wedding and he and a few of the young guests soon rounded up Jock. They placed him in cuffs and took him off to the gaol at Hoedpruit. Jock long protested his innocence but of course the law took its course and he was eventually tried and convicted of murder. Poor Jock, they hung him in the jail in Pretoria. Some say he was innocent but it was right after the war and sentiment ran high amongst the Boerevolk. Jock may have been a Scot and not an Englishman, but people didn’t care too much at that point. He was British enough to make him guilty and of course he had killed a great hero of the Boer War, so his fate was sealed.”
With that Oom Boetman sat back and looked at us with the air of a man who has just successfully completed telling a great story, except of course he had left out one very important point, he had neglected to tell us what had happened to Bonnie and needed to be prompted to properly finish the story.
“Ah yes Bonnie, well that was a tragedy. She ran off after the wedding as you know, being inconsolable in her grief and all of that. Of course the lions must have got her. A few months later all that was found of her were a few of her bones and the remains of her tattered wedding dress under some thorn bushes. Right here on Argyle. So that explains why we see her ghost here from time to time. A sad story, a very sad story indeed”
With that Oom Boetman stood up and bade us all good night and went off to bed.
As good a story as it was, there were still some unresolved questions which troubled us. The issue of the gun was never satisfactorily resolved and remains a point of contention to this day. While we have never agreed on the rightful disposition of the gun, we all agree that it helped us solve the real riddle of the ghost of Bonnie McPherson.
A gunsmith of some repute had appraised the rifle after the finders – keeper’s faction of the family had run the gun through the bushveld checkpoint all the way to Johannesburg. He was duly informed of the story that the gun belonged to a Boer war hero named Lottering who had apparently killed a good many hundreds of British soldiers judging by the notches on the stock.
After careful evaluation over the next few days, the gunsmith summonsed us to share his verdict.
“Ladies and gentlemen I have some interesting news. It’s clearly an authentic old Mauser rifle from the Boer war. Quite valuable really and the interesting inscription on the rifle barrel can certainly be tied back to one Hermanus Lottering. It seems he was a young veldkornet who rode under Viljoen so your old chap Boetman was certainly correct in that part of his story. Only thing is, the lack of pitting in the barrel suggests that this rifle was never fired. Or if it was fired, it was only fired once or twice. Certainly if Lottering killed hundreds of British soldiers, he didn’t do it with this rifle. These two cartridges that came with it were probably the only two shots ever fired with this rifle. He smiled wistfully “A rifle like this deserved to be put to good use. I do hope the shooter put those two shots right on target. The beauty of this rifle is that someone neatly packed it away after use, took their time to grease it and wrap it in oil cloth. Where did you say you found it? In an old metal case buried under a tree? Well it’s quite obvious that the person who buried this rifle meant for it to be found later.”
For those of you who did not get the full story, either because you were not paying attention or because of the subtlety of the ending, let me make sure I spell this out for you.
Poor Jock was clearly wrongfully accused and the person who placed those heart shots was indeed Bonnie McPherson. She was a good shot and she was able to exact her revenge against the philandering Lottering and the wanton Elsie. It also seems that Lottering was not quite the war hero he made himself out to be.
Why Bonnie chose us to be the stewards of her mystery we will never know. I suspect she thought we were kind people who would ensure that her story would be told. She has never been seen since so we can only hope her soul is now finally at rest.
The rifle situation was never resolved and years later the debate still rages about what to do with it. Fortunately it has never been fired again.
Ingwelala reserve consists of four separate farms; Argyle, Si-Bon, Buffelsbed and Op Goedehoop. Argyle stands out as the only English name in the area which is populated with the likes of Ntsiri, Umbabat, and Ndlopfu etc. . . . It has always been a bit of an outlier to me. Now that I write this, Si-Bon also stands out as the only French sounding name in the district. Might make for another story?
This story is entirely fictional and all characters in it are not based on any living people.
© R Muller
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7028
|
__label__wiki
| 0.584483
| 0.584483
|
Guidance to Collaborating
University Technologies
Multiparty Collaboration
Plan Bee, founded by Warren Bader in 2011, was created to help reverse the worrying decline in the UK bee population and allows landowners and organisations to highlight, and increase, their sustainability credentials by adopting a Honey Bee Colony.
The Plan Bee Team provides a beehive management service to ensure the welfare of their bees and to ensure that the honey being produced is of the highest quality without compromising the environment that helped produce it.
The honey is then gathered and produced to make unfiltered and cold pressed honey which is available for UK and International markets under the product names, ‘Origin’ and ‘Flower o’ Scotland’ respectively.
Plan Bee is dedicated to producing raw, multi floral variety honey, they do not over pasteurise, heat treat or over strain the honey. No blending of honey from different varieties, regions or even seasons takes place. It is processed in small batches to ensure that it remains pure and true to the area where the bees forage.
The Business Challenge / FHIS Journey
Plan Bee was initially supported by the Food & Health Innovation Service (FHIS) who helped them in a number of ways. A meeting with Julian Mellentin, one of the world’s few international specialists in the business of food, nutrition and health, helped the company to define and analyse strategic choices of consumer buying habits of honey with a view to selling Scottish honey products internationally, on the basis of their natural health properties. Additional market and strategic analysis helped to ensure that the Plan Bee brand propositions make sense and are consistent with the credentials of ‘pure’, ‘natural’ and ‘clean’.
The FHIS also introduced Plan Bee to Interface - who initiated two projects with two separate universities.
Prof Mike Lean and his team at University of Glasgow carried out a preliminary analysis of the bioactive properties of Scottish honey, pollen and propolis with a view to later develop in vivo studies; researching their natural health and medicinal properties. They tested the nutritional value of Heather honey, which has the same consistency and thixotropic properties of the premium Manuka honey from New Zealand, to understand whether Heather honey has the same health and antiseptic qualities.
Warren explains, “We know that all honey, taken orally, has health benefits, but what with more and more cases of antibiotic resistance the medical community are looking for more traditional alternatives to treating open wounds. Paediatric surgeons are already using honey on wounds and we were keen to see if heather honey would have the same healing qualities and well as having other health benefits.”
In addition, Dr John Isaacs from the University of Abertay undertook a full analysis of the potential benefits accruing from the adoption of QR codes to help track the provenance of the honey. Collaboration between the company and host establishments will indicate potential deployment of codes in and around those establishments (e.g. at the site of hives, shop and restaurants, etc.) The company will receive advice on novel uses and presentation of codes that might enhance visibility, and hence awareness, engagement and adoption.
Since the initial engagement with the FHIS programme in 2012, Plan Bee Ltd secured £130k investment through Kelvin Capital and Scottish Investment Bank matched with crowdfunding and has won a number of accolades and awards.
The project with University of Glasgow contributed to a better understanding of whether the health benefits of Scottish (heather) honey can compete with Manuka honey and can thus be marketed as being better or on a par with Manuka honey. The collaboration with University of Abertay analysed the most efficient and effective methods of combing QR codes with augmented reality media to best highlight the provenance of the honey products.
Founder Warren Bader continues to develop new eco-innovative products to the market. For example The List magazine singled out Plan Bee’s Beehive Brae Honey Beer as one of its leading products during Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink 2015. It is produced with honey from Plan Bee’s sustainably managed hives. They have also developed infused honeys under the Origin brand.
Food & Drink, Agritech and Acquaculture
Social Enterprise and Third Sector
Glasgow & Clyde Valley
0845 013 0536 info@interface-online.org.uk
News | Blog
Subscribe to newsletter Connect
Accessibility | Privacy and Cookies | Site Map | Copyright 2019 | 20 Potterrow, Edinburgh, EH8 9BL
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7032
|
__label__cc
| 0.680163
| 0.319837
|
American Outdoor Brands Corporation Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2019 Financial Results
December 6, 2018 at 4:05 PM EST
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Dec. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- American Outdoor Brands Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: AOBC), one of the world's leading providers of firearms and quality products for the shooting, hunting, and rugged outdoor enthusiast, today announced financial results for the second quarter fiscal 2019, ended October 31, 2018.
Second Quarter Fiscal 2019 Financial Highlights
Quarterly net sales were $161.7 million compared with $148.4 million for the second quarter last year, an increase of 8.9%.
Gross margin for the quarter was 34.9% compared with 34.2% for the second quarter last year.
Quarterly GAAP net income was $6.7 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared with net income of $3.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the comparable quarter last year.
Quarterly Non-GAAP net income was $11.0 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared with $6.3 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the comparable quarter last year. GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments to net income exclude a number of acquisition-related costs, including amortization, one-time transaction costs, and fair value inventory step-up expense. For a detailed reconciliation, see the schedules that follow in this release.
Quarterly non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDAS was $26.7 million, or 16.5% of net sales, compared with $23.1 million, or 15.5% of net sales, for the comparable quarter last year.
James Debney, American Outdoor Brands Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased with our second quarter operational and financial results, which reflect year-over-year increases in revenue and profitability in both our Outdoor Products & Accessories segment and our Firearms segment. Our Outdoor Products & Accessories segment, a strategically important market that we first entered just four years ago, generated approximately one-third of our revenue in the quarter. Sales growth occurred in both our Hunting & Shooting product categories, as well as our Cutlery & Tool product categories, and came from a variety of retailers, particularly our online retailers. We continued to expand our addressable market in electro-optic products with the launch of several new Crimson Trace products including rifle scopes designed for short, medium, and long-range applications, as well as five new, innovative red dot sights. In our Firearms segment, revenue growth reflected the success of our 'bundle' promotions booked earlier in the year and shipped in the second quarter. New firearm products, which we define as products launched within the past twelve months, represented 26.6% of our firearm revenue in the quarter and included strong sales of our M&P Shield 380 EZ pistol, which we launched in February of this year."
"We made significant progress in the quarter on the completion of our new Logistics & Customer Services facility in Missouri – an important strategic initiative supporting our objective to be the leading provider of quality products for the shooting, hunting, and rugged outdoor enthusiast. This 632,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility will serve as our centralized logistics, warehousing, and distribution operation, for all of our products, facilitating our growth, enhancing our efficiencies, and allowing us to better serve customers across our entire organization. We remain on track to begin ramping initial operations in the near future."
Jeff Buchanan, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer, commented, "For the six months ended October 2018, we had positive operating cash flow of $9.1 million as compared with a cash outflow of $30.7 million for the six months ended October 2017. During the current quarter, we accessed $25.0 million of our $350 million line of credit, which is expandable to $500 million. Our balance sheet remains strong with approximately $36.4 million of cash and $148.1 million of total net borrowings, as compared with over $220.0 million of net borrowings at the end of the comparable quarter last year."
Financial Outlook
AMERICAN OUTDOOR BRANDS CORPORATION
NET SALES AND EARNINGS PER SHARE GUIDANCE, INCLUDING GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
Range for the Three Months Ending January 31, 2019
Range for the Year Ending April 30, 2019
Net sales (in thousands)
GAAP income per share - diluted
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
Inventory step-up expense
Transition costs
Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments
Non-GAAP income per share - diluted
Conference Call and Webcast
The company will host a conference call and webcast today, December 6, 2018, to discuss its second quarter fiscal 2019 financial and operational results. Speakers on the conference call will include James Debney, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Jeffrey D. Buchanan, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer. The conference call may include forward-looking statements. The conference call and webcast will begin at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time). Those interested in listening to the conference call via telephone may call directly at (844) 309-6568 and reference conference identification number 5876228. No RSVP is necessary. The conference call audio webcast can also be accessed live and for replay on the company's website at www.aob.com, under the Investor Relations section. The company will maintain an audio replay of this conference call on its website for a period after the call. No other audio replay will be available.
Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this press release, certain non-GAAP financial measures, including "non-GAAP net income," "Adjusted EBITDAS," and "free cash flow" are presented. From time-to-time, the company considers and uses these supplemental measures of operating performance in order to provide the reader with an improved understanding of underlying performance trends. The company believes it is useful for itself and the reader to review, as applicable, both (1) GAAP measures that include (i) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (ii) transition costs, (iii) acquisition-related costs, (iv) fair value inventory step-up, (v) the tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments, (vi) net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities, (vii) net cash used in investing activities, (viii) acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired, (ix) interest expense (x) income tax (benefit)/expense, (xi) depreciation and amortization, (xii) stock-based compensation expenses, and (xiii) changes in contingent consideration; and (2) the non-GAAP measures that exclude such information. The company presents these non-GAAP measures because it considers them an important supplemental measure of its performance. The company's definition of these adjusted financial measures may differ from similarly named measures used by others. The company believes these measures facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period by eliminating potential differences caused by the existence and timing of certain expense items that would not otherwise be apparent on a GAAP basis. These non-GAAP measures have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the company's GAAP measures. The principal limitations of these measures are that they do not reflect the company's actual expenses and may thus have the effect of inflating its financial measures on a GAAP basis.
About American Outdoor Brands Corporation
American Outdoor Brands Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: AOBC) is a provider of quality products for shooting, hunting, and rugged outdoor enthusiasts in the global consumer and professional markets. The Company reports two segments: Firearms and Outdoor Products & Accessories. Firearms manufactures handguns, long guns, and suppressor products sold under the Smith & Wesson®, M&P®, Thompson/Center Arms™, and Gemtech® brands as well as provides forging, machining, and precision plastic injection molding services. Outdoor Products & Accessories provides shooting, hunting, and outdoor accessories, including reloading, gunsmithing, and gun cleaning supplies, tree saws, vault accessories, knives, laser sighting systems, tactical lighting products, and survival and camping equipment. Brands in Outdoor Products & Accessories include Smith & Wesson®, M&P®, Thompson/Center Arms™, Crimson Trace®, Caldwell® Shooting Supplies, Wheeler® Engineering, Tipton® Gun Cleaning Supplies, Frankford Arsenal® Reloading Tools, Lockdown® Vault Accessories, Hooyman® Premium Tree Saws, BOG POD®, Schrade®, Old Timer®, Uncle Henry®, Imperial®, Bubba Blade®, and UST®. For more information on American Outdoor Brands Corporation, call (844) 363-5386 or log on to www.aob.com.
Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements under federal securities laws, and we intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor created thereby. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, our long-term strategy of being the leading provider of quality products for the shooting, hunting, and rugged outdoor enthusiast market; our belief that our new logistics and customer service facility will serve as our centralized logistics, warehousing, and distribution operation, enabling us to facilitate growth, enhance efficiencies, and better serve customers across our entire organization; our belief that we will begin ramping initial operations in our new logistics facility in December 2018; and our expectations for net sales, GAAP income per diluted share, acquisition-related costs, amortization of acquired intangible assets, fair value inventory step-up and backlog expense, tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments, and non-GAAP income per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 and for fiscal 2019. We caution that these statements are qualified by important risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, economic, social, political, legislative, and regulatory factors; the potential for increased regulation of firearms and firearm-related products; actions of social activists that could have an adverse effect on our business; the impact of lawsuits; the demand for our products; the state of the U.S. economy in general and the firearm industry in particular; general economic conditions and consumer spending patterns; our competitive environment; the supply, availability and costs of raw materials and components; speculation surrounding fears of terrorism and crime; our anticipated growth and growth opportunities; our ability to increase demand for our products in various markets, including consumer, law enforcement, and military channels, domestically and internationally; our penetration rates in new and existing markets; our strategies; our ability to maintain and enhance brand recognition and reputation; risks associated with the establishment of our new 630,000 square foot national logistics and customer service facility; our ability to introduce new products; the success of new products; our ability to expand our markets; our ability to integrate acquired businesses in a successful manner; the general growth of our outdoor products and accessories business; the potential for cancellation of orders from our backlog; and other risks detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018.
Contact: Liz Sharp, VP Investor Relations
lsharp@aob.com
AMERICAN OUTDOOR BRANDS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
As of:
(In thousands, except par value and share data)
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,276 on
October 31, 2018 and $1,824 on April 30, 2018
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Income tax receivable
Property, plant, and equipment, net
Intangibles, net
Accrued expenses and deferred revenue
Accrued payroll and incentives
Accrued income taxes
Accrued profit sharing
Accrued warranty
Current portion of notes and loans payable
Deferred income taxes
Notes and loans payable, net of current portion
Capital lease payable, net of current portion
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding
Common stock, $.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 72,705,772 shares issued and 54,538,910 shares outstanding on October 31, 2018 and 72,433,705 shares issued and 54,266,843 shares outstanding on April 30, 2018
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Treasury stock, at cost (18,166,862 shares on October 31, 2018 and April 30, 2018)
Total stockholders' equity
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Three Months Ended
For the Six Months Ended
Net sales
Cost of sales
Selling and marketing
General and administrative
Other (expense)/income, net:
Other income/(expense), net
Interest expense, net
Total other (expense)/income, net
Income from operations before income taxes
Income tax expense/(benefit)
Net income per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities:
(Loss)/gain on sale/disposition of assets
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
Stock-based compensation expense
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
Payments to acquire patents and software
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
Payments to acquire property and equipment
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from loans and notes payable
Payments on capital lease obligation
Payments on notes and loans payable
Proceeds from exercise of options to acquire common stock, including exmployee stock purchase plan
Payment of employee withholding tax related to restricted stock units
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid for:
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
% of Sales
GAAP gross profit
Fair value inventory step-up
Non-GAAP gross profit
GAAP operating expenses
Acquisition-related costs
Non-GAAP operating expenses
GAAP operating income
Non-GAAP operating income
GAAP net income
Change in contingent consideration
Non-GAAP net income
GAAP net income per share - diluted
Non-GAAP net income per share - diluted
RECONCILIATION OF NET OPERATING CASH FLOW TO FREE CASH FLOW
October 31 , 2018
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities
$ (1,589)
$ (30,652)
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDAS
Interest expense
Income tax (benefit)/expense
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDAS
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-outdoor-brands-corporation-reports-second-quarter-fiscal-2019-financial-results-300761611.html
SOURCE American Outdoor Brands Corporation
See Our Brands >
© Copyright 2019 American Outdoor Brands. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7038
|
__label__wiki
| 0.910656
| 0.910656
|
Family of Prominent Labor Leader say he is in poor condition in prison
Undated photo of Ali Nejati, a member of the Haft Tappeh Workers Management Board of Directors.
The family of prominent Iranian unionist and member of the syndicate of the workers of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane complex, Ali Nejati say that he was in poor condition in prison and expressed concern over his overall health.
The family visited Ar. Nejati yesterday, one month after his arrest on November 29.
They said that he had become thin and pale and that he was being kept in a crowded part of Shush Prison in the southern province of Khuzestan despite suffering from a serious heart condition.
“He has become extremely thin and pale. He was harassed and abused during interrogations without any considerations for his old age and health and was transferred to the hospital as a result,” the family said.
Iranian labor activist Ali Nejati was taken to hospital on December 13, after “being harshly pressured under interrogation”, the the syndicate of the workers of Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Mill reported.
“Nejati is suffering from heart complication,” the syndicate reiterated on its Telegram channel, adding, “he is suffering from several illnesses, including heart problems, and keeping him behind bars might seriously endanger his life.”
Ali Nejati was arrested on Thursday, November 29 and his attorney, Farzaneh Zilabi, said that her client has been charged with “disrupting public order”, “collusion and assembly against national security” and “cooperation in establishing a group intended to disrupt peace and security.”
Reports at the time indicated that he was violently detained and beaten upon arrest despite suffering from a serious heart condition.
The Judiciary said that the Iranian labor activist was arrested in relation to his previous records but his lawyer said that the two new charges were brought against him.
The Iranian labor activist was also detained in 2015 for participating in protests by the Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers and was sentenced to prison.
Zilabi said that Judicial officials refused to implement the legal proceeding’s article 502 that allowed ailing prisoners to serve their prison term outside of prison or receive an alternative sentence.
Before this, Haft Tappeh labor activist Esmail Bakhshi, who was detained on November 19, was released from prison but new reports said that he was currently under house arrest and that his home was being monitored by the Revolutionary Guards Corps Intelligence Department.
Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Mill
Nine Evangelical Christians Arrested During Christmas Week In Iran
Security forces clash with students Protesting campus bus crash
Iranian Police arrest 30 in protest against the killing of a young man
Basij Plainclothes Attack Tehran University Students Protesting Compulsory Hijab
Unpaid Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Mill workers summoned & arrested after protest…
Several Iranian Teachers Arrested During Nationwide Protest
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7039
|
__label__wiki
| 0.544965
| 0.544965
|
The Official Blog of the Syracuse University iSchool
A Digital Dark Age: Are We on The Brink?
By Ryan Perry | October 11, 2013
Imagine a catastrophic global electromagnetic storm cripples Earth’s digital information infrastructure. Sure, this may be a hackneyed conspiracy theory developed with apocalyptic imaginations, trumpeted by a nineties-era website, and supported by a healthy dose of pseudoscience–but it offers an intriguing thought experiment for what would happen if our digital records were suddenly and irrevocably destroyed. What documentary evidence would remain to future historians attempting to study our current civilization?
Digital Decay
Even in the absence of an apocalypse scenario, there remains a more likely possibility that data can be trapped on obsolete technology.
A prime example is the 5 inch floppy disc. As that medium fades further into disuse, it becomes more difficult (and maybe even impossible) to access the data stored in that format. Essentially, that data is lost to the historical record. Like physical objects, digital information can decay over time. Obscure and forgotten websites disappear every day, and with them, a small thread of our culture is lost to history.
As our cultural artifacts shift from paper to .doc; vinyl records to .mp3; film to .jpg, we leave fewer and fewer physical objects in the documentary record. Before the advent of digital photography, the pictures documenting our lives were developed, printed out, and stuffed into photo albums. Now, most everyday snapshots remain digital, shared on Facebook, sent via MMS to friends, and stored on hard drives.
A good friend of mine once recounted how his grandmother had tried to print off Facebook. While this seems an absurd anecdote, maybe she had it right, in terms of cultural heritage preservation. Facebook won’t last forever, and neither will all the pictures and social data contained on those servers.
Another Dark Age?
We refer to the period of roughly the sixth through the thirteenth centuries as the “Dark Ages” of European history due to the relative scarcity of documentary evidence from their culture.
As a result of our current reliance on ephemeral data, are we entering a Digital Dark Age?
Will the rise of digital culture greatly diminish the written record in artifactual evidence?
I’m not suggesting that physical records will be completely absent from the historical record, because we still produce great quantities of printed materials. However, archival scarcity could foreseeably be an unintended side effect of rampant digitization.
Thirty-first century historians will have no doubt that the digital world had a profound impact on our lives, but the record of that has the potential to be lost or at least incomplete.
Elements of digital visual culture have crossed into our analog lives (a phenomenon documented by the fascinating blog, The New Aesthetic), creating a shadow of the memes and modes of our digital lives. As data trapped in obsolete technologies becomes unavailable for future historians, we face the possibility of losing large portions of our history to digital decay and leaving these digital-analog placeholders.
rosettaproject.org
Two organizations are actively working to mitigate the impact of the Digital Dark Age.
The Internet Archive compiles periodic digital snapshots of the web for its Wayback Machine, creating a historical record of internet content throughout its history. While this data would not survive an apocalypse scenario, it combats the digital decay of dead links and disappearing content.
The Long Now takes another angle on the future of history and the Digital Dark Age. In addition to its more symbolic efforts—like adding a zero to dates (“02013” is written in anticipation of the year 10,000 problem) or building a clock that “ticks once a year, bongs once a century, and the cuckoo comes out every millennium”—The Long Now Foundation pursues more direct solutions.
Their “Long Now Salon” will contain a library that would function as
a manual for civilization, 3,500 volumes that could be used to rebuild civilization. Their “Rosetta Project” produced a microscopically etched disc containing “over 13,000 pages of information on over 1,500 human languages.” More than anything, The Long Now has started an important conversation about the long term fate of our digital heritage.
httpv://vimeo.com/59207751
As students of information science, we can appreciate the extent to which digital data defines our culture. The value of digital records are clear, but we need to consider the eventual fate of these artifacts. It is foolish to think that every artifact from our civilization can and should be preserved, but I for one find it troubling to think that vast portions of the record of our society could be deleted from the future.
Looking for more blog entries on the Digital Dark Age? Check out The Long Now’s blog archive. What do you think about the concept of a Digital Dark Age? Is this a reasonable concern? If it is, how can we mitigate its effects? Leave your comments here!
Ryan Perry
I am a second-year graduate student pursuing a Masters in Library & Information Science degree at Syracuse University's iSchool. My interests revolve around digital technologies, music, disc golf, hashing, and craft beer. I received a MA in American Cultural History from the University of Rochester and I hold down a night job as a live sound engineer. Find me on Twitter @unwordedly.
More Posts - Website - Twitter - LinkedIn
archived media
data archives
Subscribe to InfoSpace
Entrepreneurship and Startups (78)
Experiential Learning (107)
Information Studies (135)
iSchool Life (165)
Librarianship (207)
Round Up (82)
Social Media, Apps, and Tech Reviews (394)
Women in Technology (49)
More in Librarianship
Part of the Process: Problem Solving While Processing a Collection
The First Week of my Holocaust Memorial Museum Library and Archives Internship
Exploration Starts Here: Beginning My Internship at National Geographic
What Makes a Good Library Website?
Editor's Picks
Top 5 Most Popular InfoSpace Posts from Summer and Fall 2018
Maximizing Your Summer Internship Search Over Spring Break
Menotti Minutillo ’07 on Defining Your Own Role
Public Libraries Supporting Health and Wellness
Internship Insights: Experience Research at Airbnb
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7040
|
__label__cc
| 0.730074
| 0.269926
|
The ISPA Fellowship Program recognises professionals in the Internet services sector and provides individuals with access to information, activities and events, without requiring that those individuals join ISPA as members. ISPA’s members benefit from this program by gaining access to a broader pool of industry professionals, and through the contributions made by Fellows to ISPA’s structures and submissions.
To apply to become an ISPA Fellow, click here.
Benefits of becoming an ISPA Fellow
Individuals recognised by ISPA as ISPA Fellows gain the following benefits:
Association with a credible and recognised Internet industry body
Opportunities to network and interact with ISPA members
Ability to contribute to ISPA’s submissions on Internet policy
Access to the ISPA document library
Access to most ISPA mailing lists available to ISPA members
Participation in ISPA events, activities and workshops
Participation in ISPA’s annual iWeek conference
ISPA Fellows are also encouraged to consider volunteering on ISPA working groups and structures, where appropriate.
The difference between an ISPA Member and an ISPA Fellow
Unlike an ISPA Member, an ISPA Fellow is not entitled to vote on ISPA matters, or participate in the election of ISPA office bearers. ISPA is a recognised Industry Representative Body (IRB). This grants all ISPA members immunity for third party content, but also places compliance obligations on all members. Since an ISPA Fellow is not a member of ISPA, neither the special legal protections nor the compliance obligations apply.
Who can become an ISPA Fellow?
Anyone who is an Internet industry professional may apply to become an ISPA Fellow. In addition, ISPA may extend invitations to potential Fellows at its discretion. Fellows do not need to be located in South Africa. Good candidates for the fellowship program include:
Individuals previously associated with an ISPA member, who are still actively involved in the sector, but not currently associated with a particular member.
Elected directors of ISPA who are not associated with a particular ISPA member.
Participants in Internet sector internship programs who aim to become industry professionals.
Individuals active in the Internet industry locally or internationally who are interested in growing the sector.
How does someone become an ISPA Fellow?
Anyone may apply to become an ISPA Fellow via an application form on the ISPA website. ISPA may also extend an invitation to apply to specific individuals. Applications are reviewed monthly by ISPA’s Operations Committee, and fellowship applicants are promptly notified if their application has been accepted or declined.
How much does it cost to become a Fellow?
There is an annual fee of R1200.00 (excl. VAT). In special circumstances, ISPA may choose to waive this fee.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7043
|
__label__cc
| 0.715202
| 0.284798
|
England,Buckinghamshire,Milton Keynes
BMT10550
Recruitment Team
Marketing (General)
Content Manager (6 month FTC), Milton Keynes -
Are you a senior content writer who has B2B and B2C experience, and are looking for a creative, challenging and fast-paced six-month contract in Milton Keynes? Do you want to work with a leading services organisation and be at the forefront of an industry changing initiative that will positively change the lives of thousands of people across the UK? Do you have a demonstrable and varied portfolio of work across a multitude of industries? If so, then read on, as we have a very interesting contract role to run by you!
This is unique, and will suit someone with an established portfolio across multiple industries and channels. This division is brand new, so the environment - with a client that we know and love and have worked with for years - will be changeable, fast-paced and very rewarding.
Day to day, you will be managing and creating content for both B2B and B2C audiences, in both a commercial marketing function and a regulatory communications function.
On the B2B side, you will be reaching out to industry professionals, bringing them up to speed on the next steps, crafting and executing and executing a clear communications strategy and a creative messaging to keep everyone up to speed with the aims of this new division.
On the B2C side, you will be editing existing messaging and creating new material, crafting a branded tone of voice for this new initiative. You will be writing content for blogs, websites, social media, brochures, press releases and wider stakeholder communications, so will certainly have variety!
This is a newly-created role with multiple touchpoints, and is pivotal in creating the brand messaging as well as essential regulatory strategy and updates to stakeholders of all calibres, and is a wonderful opportunity for the experienced and successful content writer to really make an impact in this well-respected organisation.
Flexible working is on offer once set up in the role, and the offices are easily-reachable from Bedford, St Neots, Huntingdon, Letchworth, Stevenage, Hitchin, Oxford, Dunstable, Luton, Northampton and Hemel Hempstead.
For registration purposes please could you let us know where you are currently based or which locations you are considering as well as your required salary and notice period.
Please upload a Microsoft Word version of your CV where possible, excluding textboxes or images, as this can affect the consultant's job matching process and therefore your details may not be picked up for a role.
Any data we collect from you will be stored and processed in accordance with Brand Recruitment's Privacy Policy.
Search Brand Recruitment on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to hear about all of our latest jobs.
Brand Recruitment offers the services of an employment agency for permanent work. Visit Brand Recruitment online http://www.brandrecruitment.co.uk/ to apply for other key marketing jobs in the Central and Eastern region. If you have not heard back from us within seven days, please assume that your application has not been successful.
Apply for Content Manager
Already uploaded your CV? Sign in to apply instantly
Upload from your computer
Or import from cloud storage
Your CV must be a .doc, .pdf, .docx, .rtf, and no bigger than 1MB
Your covering message for Content Manager
Please email me a free CV review from
We'd love to send you information about Jobs and Services from MarketingWeek.com by email.
Yes please. I'd like to receive emails about jobs and services from MarketingWeek.com
When you apply for a job we will send your application to the named recruiter, who may contact you. By applying for a job listed on MarketingWeek.com you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You should never be required to provide bank account details. If you are, please email us.
Stopgap
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7049
|
__label__wiki
| 0.890354
| 0.890354
|
155mm howitzer shell explosion 1988
Home recreation 155mm howitzer shell explosion 1988
Accidents 2011
The two principal investigators for the research believed they had verbally [sic] established a milligram limit on the production of energetic materials, but the CSB investigation found there was no formal system for communicating this limit or verifying compliance.
M projectile - Wikipedia
The M can be fired more than 13 miles and on detonation it produces approximately 1, fragments. October 31, military prosecutors began an investigation into the cause of the explosion that left two people dead —. The deceased suffered multiple organ failures and burns covering 90 percent of her body, according to the Tri-Service General Hospital in Neihu, Taipei, where the explosion victims were being treated.
Kinematics Research.
M howitzer - Wikipedia
Three workers were injured in a Second World War fragmentation bomb explosion at a recycling company in Karlsruhe. A major explosion occurred in the heart of the city when the explosives warehouse at Siva temple caught fire and exploded. Well Done Bullets. Two containers of explosive caught fire, a police spokesman said; there were 98 containers in the depot.
The two employees were moving a pack of a waste product, which consisted largely of sodium chloride, from tonne containers, when the accident occurred.
M107 projectile
Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Birschkus, of the military command of Upper Austria, said the explosives could be used for various purposes: The weapon carriage is lightweight welded aluminum, mounted on a variable recoil mechanism. The reason for the explosion is still not known since experts have to come and analyse what went wrong". Ministry of National Defence. On August 4, ATS, the principal Swiss news agency, incorrectly reported that all four soldiers — three men and one woman — were out of danger, though one remained in a critical state.
Atlas V Delta IV. As a result of the investigation, the CSB recommended that Texas Tech revise and expand its Chemical Hygiene Plan to ensure the physical hazards of chemicals are identified and controlled.
The demolition operation, the biggest one of its kind undertaken by the army, was to be completed in three months.
Four people were killed and two others were injured in an explosion at an arms dealer shop in Upper Orakzai Agency. This was not caused by anyone". Local administration chief Fareed Ahmed said: Initially a case of accidental death was registered, and investigations into the case were handed over to API GS Pidurkar. Slade said the fire department received the call at A written statement published by the General Staff on its website, says the blast took place at Birschkus said the security directorate had also informed the public prosecutor in Wels.
The National Guard also disclaimed responsibility for disposing of the munitions.
Accidents MSIAC
It was not a powder store that exploded, otherwise the damage would have been enormous". A Lubbock, TX. Fire-fighters were called to the factory at Over Wallop where Wallop Defence Systems make aviation flares. A third bracket is located on front yoke. The SWAT team sometimes uses flash-bangs when entering a building.
kh-179 155mm howitzer wiki
zuzana 155mm self-propelled gun howitzer
122mm m 1910 howitzer shell
155mm howitzer round weight
155mm gun howitzer m71 philippine army uniform
heng long sherman m4a3 105mm howitzer shell
explosion du petrolier betelgeuse howard
minecraftfinest hunger games 155 howitzer
adalet explosion proof boxes how they work
m109a5 155mm self-propelled howitzers
what sign am i november 17 flight
amor de barrio descargar whatsapp
irvine herald how co group houston
people don't know when to stop
where do jewelled spiders live in winter
kosten zisterne 6000 lb sawhorse
thinner arms wikihow espanol
how to print image without margins definition
how to burn belly fat fast wikihow
whatsapp on canvas 2016
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7058
|
__label__cc
| 0.612481
| 0.387519
|
Book Review: Thrive (a New Lawyer’s Guide to Law Firm Practice)
By Sybil Dunlop on April 2nd, 2013
With May fast approaching, the time is ripe to find presents for the law school graduates on your list. While Thrive (a New Lawyer’s Guide to Law Firm Practice) may not be the best gift for every law grad, it is a perfect gift for those starting big firm practice. (You might, however, not want to pass off a copy to a friend who has not yet secured a post-grad gig.) An Anti-How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, this book details the ways to succeed through earnest hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm.
Advice for the Big Law Bound
The book is written (and narrated) by Desiree Moore—a 2005 law graduate who worked for a midsize firm and a mega-firm before chucking it all to become a law firm guru. She now teaches practical skills to law students, helping them transition from school to a legal career.
As a result of her own experiences, the book focuses primarily on the big law experience. So much so, in fact, that it could lead a new grad at a small firm astray. For example, she advises that “in no instance” should you let more than three hours go by without returning an email. At a small firm, however, you may be meeting with a client or taking a deposition for more than three hours. You will not be desk bound responding to emails. This kind of advice could only elevate your anxiety as you hear her imaginary three-hour clock ticking.
For the big firm bound, however, Thrive offers helpful tricks and tips. For example, it never would have occurred to me to remove the “sent from my iphone” tag which “needlessly lets people know that you are out of the office.” Ms. Moore also outlines helpful strategies to apply when others take credit for your work (at the conclusion of the project/matter, spin by the partner’s office to discuss, and identify, your work on the case). And, she advises avoiding fluffy snow boots, even during your commute, so that you can maintain a professional appearance, leaving me to conclude that Ms. Moore does not live in Minnesota.
In addition to providing practical tips, the book offers a big picture perspective that I found helpful as a newer lawyer. In a chapter on “Mistakes,” Ms. Moore describes her own worst moment—readers will empathize and be grateful that she shares the experience (which, of course, turned out okay). I also plan to take her advice when it comes to apologizing for a mistake—she notes that the attorney should apologize only once, enabling all to move on more quickly.
But What Does it Mean to Thrive?
The word thrive, of course, means to flourish. While Ms. Moore’s book offers helpful advice for those looking to succeed in a law firm environment, some of her advice struck me as counterintuitive for those looking to flourish in the fullest sense of the word. In an effort to look dedicated, she recommends offering to cancel scheduled vacations that conflict with projects. And, she advises turning down work only when it is not physically feasible to complete a project (I personally recommend a long-term approach to taking on new projects—if you take on two huge cases at the same time it might be feasible to keep up in the beginning, but it will become impossible when both cases hit an intensive discovery or briefing stage, leading to disappointing people in the future instead of the present). New lawyers must, of course, find their own balance, and I worry that Ms. Moore emphasizes saying yes to everything without talking about long-term balance and the lifecycle of a case.
Finally, the book is a tad humorless. Ms. Moore is incredibly earnest about the big law system that she enthusiastically describes. For this reason, sometimes her tips read like fortune cookie pieces of advice: “Never forego the opportunity to make a positive impression”; and “the best attorneys in any law firm have an impeccable work ethic.” It’s the sort of advice you would expect to see in the Boy Scout Handbook. And there is a nary a mention of the dark side of office life: working for a difficult individual, sexual harassment, etc.
All that said, if you just read Sheryl Sandberg and you are totally ready to “lean in” to law firm life, this book is a how to manual that will get the job done.
(image: Close Up of Green Seedling from Shutterstock)
Last updated June 7th, 2019.
Law Firm Management Books
Tiger Tactics Foreword
Why Women “Don’t Write” Business Books, Plus 10 Good Business Books Written by Women
Book Review: The Practice
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0007.json.gz/line7063
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.