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Brass Monkey to open second store in Hanningtons Estate
The artisan ice cream store will be open by May!
Independent artisan ice cream maker Brass Monkey is teaming up with micro roasters Pharmacie and opening a second Brighton store within Hanningtons Lane.
Brass Monkey’s existing Kensington Gardens store, within the North Laine, has a very loyal following and customers can’t seem to get enough of its organic ice creams, cakes and drinks. The choice of ice-cream flavours changes regularly, but expect cardamon, saffron and rosewater, sweet masala chai and dark chocolate sorbet, rather than the more traditional offer.
Brass Monkey has signed a 5 year lease on 8 Hanningtons Lane, comprising 324 sq ft. The shop has a prominent position within the heart of the new Lane, opposite the Gingerman Restaurant Group’s The Flint House restaurant. It will have outdoor seating and provide a slightly more extensive menu.
Joint owner of Brass Monkey Phil Wood comments, “Andrew Foulds of Redevco walked into the shop one day and loved our ice cream so much, he persuaded us to come and have a look at the plans for Hanningtons Estate. Once we had seen the designs for Hanningtons Lane and this unit in particular, we were completely sold! A second store wasn’t yet on our agenda, but this is too good an opportunity to miss and by working with Pharmacie, we hope to offer something really special and unique within the Lanes. I am genuinely excited about being part of Brighton’s new creative retail quarter.”
Pharmacie is an independent environmentally conscious micro-roaster based in Brighton and Hove. The brand currently opens its doors at Cambridge Gardens in Hove to customers only on a Saturday, but also has pop ups and sells its coffee wholesale and online throughout the week.
Work is due to be completed on Hanningtons Lane, which sits behind North Street, in April. Brass Monkey will be fitting out over the coming weeks and hope to be open by May. The Flint House is also opening its doors in April. For more information visit www.hanningtonsestate.com.
Andrew Foulds, Portfolio Director at Redevco comments, “Brass Monkey is exactly the type of retailer we hoped to attract to Hanningtons Lane. We could have let this unit to national coffee chains 10 x over, but that is not what this scheme, is about. We are looking to curate a carefully blended mix of tenants, including many independents, which complement the exciting mix of retail already found in the Lanes. We held a retailer day last week, so brands could see the Lane taking shape for the very first time. Some exciting conversations have come out of this and we hope to announce some more new names very soon.”
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Fashion | Insiders
What goes into making a Uniqlo garment?
The Art and Science of LifeWear
Text: Norman Tan
Image: Uniqlo
Norman Tan
As Norman Tan found out at Uniqlo’s first-ever apparel expo in New York City — co-hosted with fabric technology company, Toray Industries — it’s a lot more than meets the eye
"Why do we wear clothes?" asks John Jay, the global creative president of Uniqlo's parent company, Fast Retailing. We're seated on the fifth floor of Spring Street studios — an exhibition and conference space on the western edge of New York's Soho borough. It's an overcast Fall day and the rolling grey clouds overhead are starting to spit; speckling the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Hudson River. "Is it to keep warm? Is it for protection?" he continues.
"I suppose, on a day like today, it's to keep warm," I venture. "But I also wear clothes based on what they represent. As visual cues of what I want to project to the world." Jay nods, almost expecting my answer. "Well, at Uniqlo, we make clothes to change the world."
It may sound rather grandiose and esoteric, but Jay's statement strikes at the heart of why Uniqlo exists — an echo of the Japanese company's corporate vision statement: Change clothes and change conventional wisdom in order to change the world. Clothing, like food and shelter, are basic human needs. So, the rationale goes, if Uniqlo can offer quality casual apparel at an accessible price point that is constantly being innovated (to deliver greater warmth, more comfort, and made even more lightweight), then it can help change the world.
And it all started with HEATTECH in 2003. Co-developed with fabric technology partner, Japan's Toray Industries, HEATTECH offers warmth in a thin single layer of innerwear — reducing bulk to change the way we dress in cooler months. This seamless fusion of style with technology was an immediate hit, spawning a succession of innovations: Ultra Light Down, a lightweight and highly portable down jacket; AIRism, silky smooth innerwear that wicks away moisture to keep the wearer cool; and KANDO pants, a stretchable and breathable trouser developed with pro-golfer Adam Scott and Toray, just to name a few. Today, these innovations are all housed under the umbrella term, 'Uniqlo LifeWear'.
But, as aptly noted by Jay, the message of Uniqlo LifeWear is currently lost in a world where there are "too many brands and too many clothes." Much like standing in the refrigerator aisle of the supermarket, baffled by the endless array of milk brands on offer, the retail customer of today is stricken by choice paralysis. Why should I buy Uniqlo over Zara? What's the difference between Uniqlo LifeWear and GAP? Well, as it turns out, a lot more than meets the eye.
To celebrate 15 years of this one-of-a-kind partnership between Uniqlo and Toray, the companies co-hosted their first-ever apparel expo in New York; shedding light on the inner workings of their LifeWear apparel through a series of large-scale installations and live experiential displays.
Click on the video below for an inside look at the LifeWear exposition in New York City entitled, 'The Art and Science of LifeWear'.
So what do you buy when you purchase a Uniqlo product? To unpack both the emotional and practical benefits of buying and wearing LifeWear, I sat down with Jay to discuss the philosophical considerations (that is, the "Art of LifeWear"), followed by a meeting with Masahiko Nakasuji (group senior vice president for Fast Retailing) and Hajime Ishii (Toray's general manager for fibre and textiles) to uncover the technological innovations (the "Science of LifeWear", so to speak) that goes into each Uniqlo garment.
THE ART OF LIFEWEAR:
In conversation with John Jay (global creative president of Fast Retailing)
Where do you start when developing a campaign for Uniqlo LifeWear?
There's a question I always asked my clients when I worked in advertising: Why do you exist? You have to answer that before developing a campaign. Especially in the apparel industry — there are too many stores, there are too many clothes. Simply, our mantra and vision statement — changing clothing and changing conventional thinking in order to change the world — is why we exist.
For a brand that is famous of classic everyday staples, how does Uniqlo intend to change the world?
We are in the business of making clothes. We know that clothes are important for all people around the world — from people in highly developed countries to people in developing countries. So, if we can make an improvement in clothes, maybe we can make an improvement to people's lives. It's that simple. But in order to achieve this, we don't follow fashion trends but try to bring value to people.
"There's a question I always asked my clients when I worked in advertising: Why do you exist? You have to answer that before developing a campaign"
And what of the collaborations with designers like Jonathan Anderson?
The purpose of our collaborations with designers like J.W. Anderson and Christophe Lemaire is to help us explore what is essential in life. What is basic clothing? Basics have a negative connotation: People think it's boring. But our tagline of 'Simple Made Better' means that simple design is just the beginning — can we continue to make simple garments better and better? That's our goal. That's how we can improve people's lives. And how do we keep simple clothes from being boring? Innovation. That's why our 15 year partnership with Toray is so important.
What's your criteria when choosing which designers to collaborate with?
Shared philosophy. Lemaire is easy. His approach to clothing and what he makes, when you think about it, is very similar to LifeWear — a focus on the simplicity and the quality. But J.W. Anderson is completely different. He is very experimental. But when he meets you, he is dressed in Uniqlo. He lives in Uniqlo clothes. But every designer we work with is focused on constant improvement and innovation.
Tell us about the Uniqlo LifeWear campaign. What is the core message?
It's no accident that "Life" and "Wear" are joined together — maybe our sweater is only 49 US dollars, but it's not disposable. We want you to carry it for your entire life. We are trying to say that we are making quality clothes that are relevant and worthwhile.
How do you think Uniqlo's brand is perceived differently in the West compared to the East? Growing up in Melbourne, I felt that Uniqlo was always perceived as a fast fashion brand akin to GAP and Zara. But now living in Singapore, the locals appreciate its Japanese heritage and commitment to quality. How do you ensure the Uniqlo brand represents your LifeWear messaging?
We have to do a better job at telling our story in the West. This exhibition in New York showcasing the innovative technology in our clothing created by Toray is the first step. Apparel advertising generally has very few words. And the thing is, our apparel needs explanation. In a very simple T-shirt, we have tremendous R&D, engineering and technology invested in that garment. If I only show a hip guy wearing that T-shirt at a beach, it won't tell the full story. And that's part of our challenge. You might argue that because we are from Japan, there is an intuitive understanding that there is craft and technology, but it needs to be clearer.
So Uniqlo's advertising can't be focused on beauty?
Beauty is important, but we focus on practical beauty. It comes from our Japanese heritage. What the Japanese consider beautiful might be different from what the Americans consider beautiful — due to cultural differences but also the different age of both nations. However, this is what is so interesting about LifeWear. It comes from casual wear. Westerners invested casual wear, not the Japanese. But Uniqlo is taking casual wear and changing it, adding value to it, through innovation and constant technological advancement.
Days on the move. Versatility and comfort are key to a creative and energetic lifestyle. #UniqloU #uniqlo @kiraaurelie パデットコート +E: 402323 (11月上旬販売予定) #カシミヤ タートルネック セーター: 400453 コーデュロイ #ワイドパンツ +E: 403586 *その他、スタイリスト私物 *掲載アイテムはプロフィールのURLからご覧いただけます。
A post shared by UNIQLO ユニクロ (@uniqlo) on Oct 27, 2017 at 12:52am PDT
How can Uniqlo be part of the modern zeitgeist? How big a role will social media play in communicating Uniqlo core values to a digital generation?
Huge! I can't put enough capital Hs on the word 'huge'. It's how the world communicates. It's how people hold brands accountable. Are you authentic? Are you telling the truth? That's very apparent in digital media. And what's super important, is to also listen to our customers on social media. Our goal is to be the pre-eminent digital retail apparel company — offline, online, e-commerce, all of it.
What do you see as the biggest challenge to achieving this goal?
Too many stories, not enough people, not enough time! (Laughs). We just have to focus on the big picture. We focus on the philosophical question of why do we wear clothes: To be happy? To feel protected? There are many reasons why humans wear clothes, so we touch on those philosophical questions first, and then follow up with other campaigns to address those questions. We need to create an emotional connection with the customer to highlight the benefit of wearing LifeWear.
THE SCIENCE OF LIFEWEAR:
In conversation with Masahiko Nakasuji (group senior vice president for Fast Retailing) and Hajime Ishii (Toray's general manager for fibre and textiles).
Throughout the 15 year collaboration, I'm sure there has been much knowledge sharing between Uniqlo and Toray. Looking back, has there been any LifeWear innovations that happened out of a "happy accident" rather than an intended innovation?
Ishii: There are no "happy accidents" but we had a lot of conversations about how we can improve our products. For example, Uniqlo wanted us to create a warm fabric to be used for outerwear. This was initially very difficult. The first HEATTECH was developed in 2003 and we used cotton and polyester — combined together — to create something lightweight and that would also be warm. This was used for undergarments. Then in 2006, we further developed HEATTECH using four materials: acrylic, polyester, polyurethane and rayon. We kept improving our product so that it could eventually be used for outerwear like gloves and jeans, which are now available today.
Nakasuji: With the KANDO pants, it accidentally evolved into office wear. It was originally developed with professional golfer Adam Scott to create a pair of lightweight and flexible trousers for golf. Toray came up with a solution to meet Scott's needs as a professional golfer. But the product was so well crafted — with function in mind — that it became a huge hit as an office trouser rather than a golf trouser. It is very successful in Korea and China, and actually, you should try it in Singapore because it is fantastic for very humid weather. Because it was developed for golf, it is light, stretchable, and wicks away sweat.
Out of all of Uniqlo's products, which do you think has made the greatest contribution to everyday life?
Nakasuji: Just one?! (Laughs)
(Laughs) Yes, I know it's difficult, but if you could only choose one...
Nakasuji: I think it would be HEATTECH and Ultra Light Down (ULD) because they have changed the "winter life" of people. ULD is portable and light. It keeps people warm, they are more active and go out during cold months. Also, especially for our female customers, HEATTECH provides more flexibility when it comes to fashion in winter. Because HEATTECH is so thin, people can wear fashionable clothing on top of HEATTECH, and still be warm, instead of hiding their fashion clothes under a thick jacket.
I totally agree. During fashion week, I wear HEATTECH so that I can wear what I want to the shows without sacrificing on style.
Ishii: Also HEATTECH has environmental benefits. By wearing HEATTECH indoors, you can reduce temperature on your heaters by one degree Celsius. This leads to 13 kg reduction in carbon emissions per year.
Were the environmental benefits of HEATTECH intended from the beginning or was it a bonus from the invention?
Ishii: It was a consequence of the product. But it's a great bonus. Also, I can happily tell you that with ULD, we have now eliminated the use of fluorine to make it water repellant. So this will also benefit the environment.
You've mentioned how HEATTECH has evolved throughout the years. What do you think has been the most significant milestone it its development to date?
Ishii: One of the biggest challenges was to dye the four fabrics used in HEATTECH — acrylic, polyester, polyurethane and rayon — with a consistent colour; especially given the millions of products we create a year in different countries from China to Bangladesh.
Why was it challenging to create that colour consistency?
Ishii: When it comes to creating materials, it's not just design and technical advancements; there is also a human element to production. For example, in Bangladesh alone we have 3600 workers — each employee has to be trained to use the machinery, but there is also know-how in fabric treatment that needs to be taught. For example, there is a process of wetting and drying the material. All this needs to be done consistently and it took a lot of time.
Nakasuji: For me, a significant milestone was when HEATTECH evolved from innerwear to be used for outerwear. Now we have HEATTECH gloves, HEATTECH jeans, HEATTECH sweaters. Being able to apply the same fantastic technology to outerwear has given our customers more fashion options with the same benefit — staying warm and feeling protected from the cold.
Looking forward, what other technologies are in the pipeline?
Ishii: Talking about myself, I returned to Japan in 2011 and it was the year that we had the tsunami and earthquake; which led to radiation leaking from our power plants. I wanted to create something that would block out radiation — and this was something that Uniqlo wanted to do too. So, in the future, we are focusing on protection wear and garments that can be worn for health applications. For example, people with skin problems — as well as hospital patients after an operation — have been wearing our AIRism clothing because it is very smooth and soft on the skin. So this is something we are going to further explore and develop for the future. Look forward to more simple but extremely functional and technologically advanced casual apparel.
To purchase Uniqlo LifeWear garments or to find your nearest store, visit the Uniqlo Singapore website.
Musing Mutley
First Look: Lemaire x Uniqlo
Uniqlo opens its first global flagship store in Singapore
Uniqlo x Ines de la Fressange's fall collection is all about happiness
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Air New Zealand consolidates Norfolk Island routes
Declining customer demand from New Zealand means Air New Zealand is consolidating its services to Norfolk Island.
From May 2017 it will no longer offer a direct service from Auckland, but will continue to offer services from Sydney and Brisbane, where demand is stronger.
General Manager Networks Richard Thomson says, "The Auckland-Norfolk Island route is not commercially sustainable so it makes sense to focus our operations out of Australia, where there’s good potential."
Air New Zealand currently operates once a week between Auckland and Norfolk Island. From May 2017, the airline will continue to service the island with a core schedule of two flights per week from Sydney and one per week from Brisbane. This increases to five services a week during peak travel periods which will now extend from September to April.
The small number of customers currently holding confirmed bookings on the Auckland–Norfolk Island service beyond May 2017 will be offered the option of travelling via Sydney or Brisbane, applying their fare towards travel to another Air New Zealand destination, or a full refund.
Customers who’ve booked directly with Air New Zealand will be contacted to discuss their options, those who’ve booked through a travel agent should contact their travel arranger.
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CES: Emerging Opportunities and Equally Growing Risk of IoT
By George Gerba
The Internet of Things will grow larger once again at CES 2016 with both incremental and innovative advances in objects, systems and simplicity, but for the entertainment industry the past year should also serve as a cautionary tale. Smart home sensors that track and analyze movements to enable new levels of seamless interaction will impact both the home and the world at large. Security will likely become an increasing concern as the infrastructure is created to effectively connect devices and systems. Continue reading CES: Emerging Opportunities and Equally Growing Risk of IoT
Nokia Initiates Share-Exchange Offer in Alcatel-Lucent Merger
Initiating its planned merger with Alcatel-Lucent, first announced in April, Nokia began its share-exchange offer with that company’s shareholders in Paris and London. Nokia is paying €15.6 billion ($16.6 billion) for Alcatel-Lucent, with the idea that combining the two companies’ expertise in telecom and Internet gear will help it better compete in a global economy. Nokia not only faces competition from new players such as China’s Huawei Technologies but from Ericsson, which just struck an alliance with Cisco. Continue reading Nokia Initiates Share-Exchange Offer in Alcatel-Lucent Merger
New Ericsson, Cisco Alliance to Impact Internet of Things, 5G
Ericsson and Cisco Systems, leaders in mobile and Internet equipment respectively, are forming an alliance to beat back the competition, enjoy synergies in the mobile market and target the growing fields of Internet of Things and 5G. The alliance isn’t a merger, but in many ways acts like one: Ericsson and Cisco plan to integrate their existing equipment, combine some sales and consulting areas and perhaps develop new hardware and services. Competitors include Chinese company Huawei and Nokia, which just bought Alcatel-Lucent. Continue reading New Ericsson, Cisco Alliance to Impact Internet of Things, 5G
SMPTE 2015: Experts Greenlight IP Technology for Broadcast
Television production facilities began incorporating IP, or Internet Protocol, technology several years ago, and an increasing number of broadcast equipment manufacturers are supporting the video/audio signal transport format. But is IP networking mature and robust enough for broadcasters to consider replacing their now-standard SDI networks with “all IP” versions? Broadcasters and broadcast equipment manufacturers have been busy trying to answer that question, and some of their results were presented at SMPTE 2015. Continue reading SMPTE 2015: Experts Greenlight IP Technology for Broadcast
Apple and GE: Future of Business is Personalized Technology
The Internet has revolutionized consumers’ lives, say Apple and General Electric, but the business world has yet to enjoy similar benefits. Both companies have stated that they see enterprise as the next frontier. Apple and GE are just starting to focus on this space but both have plans to empower enterprise with tools — with Apple focused on the mobile Internet and GE on sensors and predictive data analysis — that interact with people, track tools and mediate between people and machines. Continue reading Apple and GE: Future of Business is Personalized Technology
MPEG LA Calls for Patents to Organize Joint DASH License
MPEG LA announced a call for patents for MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP), to the dismay of many industry watchers. When MPEG-DASH first debuted in 2011, the issue of royalties wasn’t raised and DASH was quickly and widely deployed, in everything from browsers to smart TVs. The problem is that DASH is an integral part of HTML5, which is beginning to displace Flash. With the specter of patents looming, some software vendors could find royalties to be an obstacle to staying in business. Continue reading MPEG LA Calls for Patents to Organize Joint DASH License
New Cisco Chief Announces Sale of STB Unit to Technicolor
Technicolor plans to acquire Cisco’s television set-top business for about $450 million in cash and $150 million in Technicolor shares. Chuck Robbins, who replaces John Chambers as CEO of Cisco next week, said the sale represents the first in a series of planned changes. “We will continue to make decisions to prioritize our portfolio and our investments to accelerate our business,” he wrote, noting that internal efforts associated with cloud services and the Internet of Things would be more widely distributed across Cisco’s engineering, sales and services units. Continue reading New Cisco Chief Announces Sale of STB Unit to Technicolor
Google Debuts Cloud Foundation and New Container Standard
Google simultaneously launched the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, with other technology companies, and its first version of Kubernetes, a method of dynamically scheduling a massive amount of application containers on a large scale. Together, the Foundation and Google’s Kubernetes would service large-scale enterprises, putting the Silicon Valley company and its foundation partners in direct competition with Amazon Web Services and Facebook. Last year, AWS released its own container management services. Continue reading Google Debuts Cloud Foundation and New Container Standard
Sprint Stops Throttling Speeds as Net Neutrality Takes Effect
The new net neutrality laws had a real-world impact when Sprint announced it would no longer throttle speeds for unlimited data customers. Sprint chief executive Marcelo Claure made the move in reaction to customers disgruntled by the fine print of a new $80/month unlimited text, talk and data plan, noting that video would be delivered at lower speeds. The 600 kilobits/second speed recommended by a consultant to Sprint would have particularly impacted high definition video, which runs at three to four megabits per second. Continue reading Sprint Stops Throttling Speeds as Net Neutrality Takes Effect
Ericsson: 70 Percent of World Will Have Smartphones by 2020
There are currently 2.6 billion smartphone subscriptions worldwide, and while developing markets have been leveling off, less mature markets are starting to experience significant growth. According to the latest annual Mobility Report from Ericsson, we should expect to see 6.1 billion smartphones in circulation by 2020, at which point phones will exceed the number of active fixed line subscriptions globally. Ericsson projects that the total number of mobile subscriptions will reach 9.2 billion in five years, as less developed markets continue their expansion. Continue reading Ericsson: 70 Percent of World Will Have Smartphones by 2020
Cisco Projects 80 Percent of Internet Will Be Video by 2019
While Netflix and YouTube combined account for roughly half of all Internet bandwidth consumed during peak hours in North America, the latest projections from Cisco suggest even greater growth for online video. The company predicts that in five years, video will be responsible for 80 percent of the world’s Internet consumption (and 85 percent in the U.S.). Cisco explains that the growth will be the result of cord-cutting, mobile expansion, Internet users consuming more (and higher quality) video, and an increase in the overall number of global users. Continue reading Cisco Projects 80 Percent of Internet Will Be Video by 2019
Mary Meeker: Internet Growth is Slowing, Video Remains King
Analyst and venture capitalist Mary Meeker has released her annual Internet Trends report, noting that nearly everything is now being optimized for mobile, online video continues its upward trajectory, global Internet user growth is finally showing signs of slowing (as is smartphone adoption), the on-demand economy is healthier than ever, and diversity increasingly matters to the tech industry. Interestingly, Meeker points out that video was responsible for 64 percent of Internet traffic and 55 percent of mobile traffic last year. Continue reading Mary Meeker: Internet Growth is Slowing, Video Remains King
Cisco 2019 Forecast: 5.2 Billion People Will Be Mobile Users
Cisco recently released its annual forecast for global mobile data traffic, predicting that mobile traffic will experience tenfold growth during 2014-2019. By the end of that period, Cisco expects that 69 percent of the world’s population (5.2 billion people) will be mobile users. The company also anticipates 4.6 billion smartphones, compared with 3.1 billion feature phones by 2019. The study, which also addresses connected tablets and Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, suggests that 97 percent of worldwide traffic will come from smart devices. Continue reading Cisco 2019 Forecast: 5.2 Billion People Will Be Mobile Users
Facebook Shares the Designs for its Custom Networking Gear
Facebook is designing its own custom hardware, including computer servers and networking switches — and other companies are following suit. The Facebook engines are being rebuilt so that they are more affordable, more efficient, and enable the company to easily expand its own networks. Other companies are taking a similar approach, creating a new market for custom networking gear and other hardware. Facebook shares its networking designs as part of the Open Compute Project. Continue reading Facebook Shares the Designs for its Custom Networking Gear
Google Launches Virtual Customer Service, Plans Help Desks
By Erick Mendoza
Google Device Experts is a new service that aims to educate prospective customers about different Google devices including smartphones, tablets and the Chromebook. The service videoconferences a customer with a Google representative who is trained to answer customer questions about products they are looking to purchase. The videoconferencing technology is the same used for Google Hangouts. The company also has plans to install virtual help desks at various retail locations. Continue reading Google Launches Virtual Customer Service, Plans Help Desks
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Sarah Hyland Takes Social Media Break After Receiving Negative Comments Following Cousin's Death
By Liz Calvario 3:29 PM PST, December 4, 2018
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Sarah Hyland is distancing herself from online bullies.
The 28-year-old Modern Family star announced that she was taking a break from social media on Monday, after she received backlash for asking for donations to help her family after her cousin died.
"You guys finally did it. Your horrible negative ignorant words have broken me. Happy? Staying offline for a while," Hyland tweeted. "I have a special announcement and video releasing on Wednesday I believe. So. There’s that. ✌."
You guys finally did it. Your horrible negative ignorant words have broken me. Happy? Staying offline for a while. I have a special announcement and video releasing on Wednesday I believe. So. There’s that. ✌🏼
— Sarah Hyland (@Sarah_Hyland) December 4, 2018
The actress' 14-year-old cousin, Trevor Canaday, was killed by an alleged drunk driver on Saturday. The following day, she shared a GoFundMe page to help her family with funeral expenses, yet was surprised by the negative comments that she received.
"I’d like to ask those who have negative thoughts or opinions about the tragedy that happened to my family, to keep them to themselves," she tweeted on Monday. "You don’t know all the details. And how dare you attack when a beautiful life has been lost."
I’d like to ask those who have negative thoughts or opinions about the tragedy that happened to my family, to keep them to themselves. You don’t know all the details. And how dare you attack when a beautiful life has been lost.
Some fans were upset that, as a celebrity with a high income, she would only donate $1,000 to the GoFundMe page and ask them to chip in. However, Hyland's boyfriend, Wells Adams, supported her by retweeting her on his social media page.
Hyland joins a slew of celebrities, including Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson, Gigi Hadid and more, who have stepped away from social media after being bullied online.
See more in the video below.
Wells Adams' Birthday Tribute to Sarah Hyland Is the Cutest Thing Ever
Sarah Hyland Flashes Her Fake Bump Following 'Modern Family' Pregnancy Shocker
Sarah Hyland Cried While Watching Shocking 'Modern Family' Death Episode (Exclusive)
'Ducky Dynasty' Star Sadie Robertston Announces Break from Social Media
Must-See Star Sightings: December 1-15, 2018
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Sony’s NGP line-up revealed
Sound Shapes! Reality Fighter! Hustle Kings!
News by Martin Robinson, Features and Reviews Editor
Updated on 3 June 2011
Sony's expanded its line-up for its NGP console, revealing a diverse range of software including new games from the developers of Invizimals and Everyday Shooter.
Reality Fighters is a new augmented reality game from Novorama, the team behind the PSP's Invizimals. It's a brawler that works in a similar fashion to the studio's previous game, projecting its combatants against the player's own backdrop.
Sound Shapes – currently a provisional title – is the latest game from Jonathan Mak, the developer behind the PlayStation Network's Everyday Shooter. It's a rhythmical platformer that also supports user-generated levels, and promises to make use of the NGP's networking capabilities. It's unsure whether Sound Shapes will be a full priced title or a budget release.
Hustle Kings, meanwhile, is a take on the PS3 pool game, and it features multiplayer support that allows participants to stagger their turns, allowing them to play multiple games with multiple opponents, and it will support cross-platform play with the PS3.
These games are in addition to Uncharted Golden Abyss, wipEout 2048, Little Deviants, Super Stardust Delta, Everybody's Golf and Resistance Retribution.
Features and Reviews Editor
Martin is Eurogamer's features and reviews editor. He has a Gradius 2 arcade board and likes to play racing games with special boots and gloves on.
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House OKs 70-year extension of 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund
by: Morgan Wright
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The House of Representatives voted Friday to approve legislation extending the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund until 2090.
The bill was renamed last week as the “Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is promising quick action on the bill to get it to President Donald Trump’s desk.
Congressman Tom Reed, R-New York, says the bill had strong support from both parties.
“You never forget. 9/11 is just one of those moments that is engrained,” Reed said. “When we talk about first responders who are suffering illnesses from 9/11, that cost is a rightful prioritization of taxpayer dollars.”
Congressman Joe Morelle, D-New York, says the victims are not limited to New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
“Of the 435 congressional districts, 433 have people and families who could benefit from this fund,” he said.
The bill passed the House by a 402-12 vote thanks in large part to lobbying efforts by first responders now suffering the effects of the toxic environment at Ground Zero, Shanksville and the Pentagon, not to mention the high-profile testimony of comedian John Stewart, who shamed lawmakers at a hearing.
“But again, this is the semifinals,” Stewart said. “The finals are two weeks from now in the Senate.”
One of the first responder victims, Luis Alvarez, died shortly after urging lawmakers to pass the bill.
“It was certainly a shame to see it come to this, where we had to push this vote, but thankfully, common sense prevailed,” Congressman Anthony Brindisi said.
Brindisi, D-New York, says he wants the Senate to act quickly since 9/11 victims’ payments have been cut with the fund running out of money.
Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, said Brindisi and the victims shouldn’t worry because the Senate will act quickly on the measure.
“We want to make sure that those first responders are taken care of,” Toomey said.
Jon Stewart tears into Congress for not funding medical care for 9/11 first responders
‘AN INSPIRATION, A WARRIOR, A FRIEND’: NYPD detective who fought for 9/11 victims given hero’s funeral
by Darlene Superville with The Associated Press, Alan Fram with The Associated Press / Jul 16, 2019
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a remarkable political repudiation, the Democratic-led U.S. House voted Tuesday night to condemn President Donald Trump’s “racist comments” against four congresswomen of color, despite protestations by Trump’s Republican congressional allies and his own insistence he hasn’t “a racist bone in my body.”
Two days after Trump tweeted that four Democratic freshmen should “go back” to their home countries — though all are citizens and three were born in the U.S.A. — Democrats muscled the resolution through the chamber by 240-187 over near-solid GOP opposition. The rebuke was an embarrassing one for Trump even though it carries no legal repercussions, but if anything his latest harangues should help him with his die-hard conservative base.
Education / 1 hour ago
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Spa makes 3 round-the-clock wins for Audi in 71 days
For the first time ever, an automobile manufacturer managed to decide the three most important 24-hour races in Europe in its favor: Nürburgring, Le Mans and now Spa-Francorchamps—all within just 71 days. For the second consecutive time, the Audi R8 won the most important endurance race for GT3 sports car.
66 sports cars from twelve different marques competed at the 54th running of the 24-hour race on the Grand Prix circuit in the Belgian Ardennes. After 509 laps on the 7.004-kilometer track two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars prevailed against their competition from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren and company. Andrea Piccini (I), René Rast (D) and Frank Stippler (D) triumphed in the R8 of Audi Sport Team Phoenix in front of their brand colleagues Christopher Haase (D) Christopher Mies (D) and Stéphane Ortelli (MC) from Audi Sport Team WRT.
The Le Mans winners Marcel Fässler (CH), Tom Kristensen (DK) and André Lotterer (D) in the second car of Audi Sport Team Phoenix after a spectacular recovery from position 63 finished in sixth place. The second Audi R8 LMS ultra of Audi Sport Team WRT with Marco Bonanomi (I), Edward Sandström (S) and Laurens Vanthoor (B) retired at the beginning of the 21st hour due to an accident in the famous “Eau Rouge” corner.
“Winning three 24-hour races within just 71 days is another milestone in the successful motorsport history of our company,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich after the historic triumph. “The field at Spa was unique and enormously competitive. There were more than 20 vehicles in contention for victory. In the end, the combination of quality, reliability and speed for which Audi is known prevailed yet again. Everybody who was involved in achieving this historic triple can be proud – first and foremost of course our teams and drivers, but naturally all of our employees in Ingolstadt, Neckarsulm and Biberach as well.”
After a difficult first race hour, the Audi R8 LMS ultra cars following a correction of the tire pressure managed to improve position by position and put pressure on the BMW cars that were initially leading. Audi started to gather its first leading kilometers in the fourth hour. From the ninth hour on, the Audi R8 LMS ultra cars took command of the field at Spa for good – and at times in extremely difficult conditions with torrential rain, minimal vision and a total of 16 safety car periods.
During the race the Audi drivers did not give each other the slightest break either. Up to 30 minutes before the end of the race, the two Audi R8 LMS ultra cars – numbers “16” and “1” – of the two Audi Sport Teams Phoenix and WRT were fighting a fierce duel for overall victory. The lead kept changing between the two cars. The overtaking maneuver that pre-decided the outcome was achieved by Frank Stippler shortly before 3 p.m. In addition, the strategy of Audi Sport Team Phoenix to change the front brake pads a second time on Sunday morning during a safety car period proved to be right. The final decision was made 30 minutes before the end of the race when Stéphane Ortelli had to sit a drive-through penalty.
“Like at the Nürburgring 24 hours, despite the enormously high speed as in a sprint race we didn’t have the slightest technical problem,” said a pleased Werner Frowein from quattro GmbH which is responsible for the development and sales of the GT3 sports car. “This triumph is another piece of proof that the R8 LMS ultra is the bench mark on the endurance circuit.”
Marcel Fässler, Tom Kristensen and André Lotterer, who were among the quickest drivers in the field, were able to see the qualities of the mid-engine sports car for themselves as well. Shortly before the end of the first hour, Lotterer was hit by another vehicle that suddenly turned into the pit lane. After changing the tie rod on the front axle the Le Mans winners resumed the race with a gap of eleven laps on position 63. In the end, they had pushed forward to position six and made up three laps.
As the best Audi customer team, the British GT3 Racing squad with their Audi R8 LMS achieved a remarkable 14th place overall and ninth in the Pro Am class. “And right in our first 24-hour race and only our fourth running of this car,” said Team Director Aaron Scott, positively summing up the race.
Teams Sainteloc Racing, JB Motorsport and Alfab finished with their R8 LMS cars as well. The R8 LMS ultra cars from Sainteloc Racing and United Autosports retired due to accidents. The French Sainteloc squad was running in the sensational fifth place overall some of the time.
Interview with Frank Stippler
You’ve driven many 24-hour races. Now you’ve won two rounds in just one year – the 24 Hours at the Nürburgring and at Spa with the Audi R8 LMS ultra. What was specific about each race?
The biggest difference to the victory in May was that there are so many vehicle categories on the grid for the Nordschleife, which means that there are big differences in speed in the field. That’s the greatest challenge. At Spa, it was exactly the other way around. With almost 70 entrants, the field arguably set a record because never before have so many vehicles contested such a high-caliber race in a single class. This made the battles extremely fierce, even when lapping. That was the thrill of this race. Naturally, a bit of fortune was involved as well.
Fierce battles make a victory particularly valuable. How did you experience these duels?
It already began with our starting from 29th place. We had to take a lot of risks to pass our rivals. Our car has an extremely large number of advantages but in terms of top speed there are unfortunately a couple of cars in the field that are even faster. That’s why in the braking zones we’re actually too far away for an attack. If you risk it anyway this always involves body contact.
And you had such contacts more than once, didn’t you?
My wheels alone were hit two or three times. After these incidents, I thought a lot about my rims, tires and wheel bearings. But the best thing was that these thoughts were obviously unfounded, because the Audi R8 LMS ultra was absolutely stable. I’m happy that with Audi, Audi Sport Team Phoenix and my two fantastic team-mates I was finally able to celebrate this success. All the findings we’re gathering with this vehicle will directly benefit the many customers who trust this customer sports car worldwide.
BMW on pole for Total 24 Hours at Spa
I know, this isn’t a BMW…but Audi sends me photos and BMW doesn’t…
LIVE streaming video from Spa
Of the 66 GT sports cars from twelve different marques that are pitted against each other in the competition of the world’s best GT3 vehicles at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, it was BMW that took the front row. McLaren is third and the first of ten Audi R8 LMS ultra cars is fourth. As expected, the most important GT3 race of the year features a uniquely competitive field as merely 1.544 seconds separated the fastest vehicles after the first qualifying sessions on Thursday night. Just a few hundredths ultimately decided who qualified for the so called “super pole” session at which the top 20 grid positions were to be awarded on Friday afternoon.
With Christopher Haase/Christopher Mies/Stéphane Ortelli (Audi R8 LMS ultra #1) on position four and Marcel Fässler/Tom Kristensen/André Lotterer (Audi R8 LMS ultra #6) in 13th place, one vehicle of each of the two Audi factory teams managed the leap into the top 20. Stéphane Ortelli and Marcel Fässler achieved their fastest times in the first qualifying session which turned out to be decisive as in the second session held in darkness none of the drivers managed to advance into the top 20 anymore.
Yet the eagerly awaited battle for the top 20 grid positions fell through as the “super pole” qualifying had to be cancelled after torrential rainfalls. The results of the first two sessions were used for the grid formation.
“Naturally, it’s a shame that there was no real battle for the pole position,” commented Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “But the conditions were really extreme and the cancellation of the super pole was absolutely right. The grid positions are not so important at a 24-hour race anyway.”
Marco Bonanomi/Edward Sandström/Laurens Vantoor (Audi R8 LMS ultra #2and Andrea Piccini/René Rast/Frank Stippler (Audi R8 LMS ultra #16) will be starting into the race that Audi won for the first time last year from positions 21 and 29. Like their team colleagues, they were only able to start qualifying with a delay since new data logging software of the race organizer had immobilized the electronics of all R8 cars.
The fastest time of a customer car was set by Filipe Albuquerque in the Audi R8 LMS ultra #40 of the French Sainteloc Racing team.
The race at Spa will start on Saturday at 1600 hrs (local time). Audi.tv will broadcast major portions of the race on www.audi-liveracing.com live on the internet starting at 1530 hrs.
The grid positions at Spa
1 Lauda/Franchi/Kechele (BMW) 2m 19.473s
2 Paltalla/Leinders/Martin (BMW) 2m 19.552s
3 Parente/Barff/Goodwin/Wills (McLaren) 2m 19.729s
4 Haase/Mies/Ortelli (Audi R8 LMS ultra) 2m 20.026s
5 Lemeret/van Hooydonck/den Boer (BMW) 2m 20.031s
6 Verdonck/Mondron/Clarke/van de Poele (McLaren) 2m 20.085s
12 Fässler/Kristensen/Lotterer (Audi R8 LMS ultra)
21 Bonanomi/Sandström/Vanthoor (Audi R8 LMS ultra) 2m 20.790s
27 Albuquerque/Guilvert/Lunardi (Audi R8 LMS ultra) 2m 20.957s
29 Piccini/Rast/Stippler (Audi R8 LMS ultra) 2m 20.982s
42 Wilins/Belshaw/Scott/Keen (Audi R8 LMS) 2m 22.488s
48 Patterson/Meins/Li/Blundell (Audi R8 LMS ultra) 2m 23.643s
53 Behrens/Ros/Ohman/Skoog (Audi R8 LMS) 2m 26.599s
55 Brunstedt/Bender/Mangs (Audi R8 LMS) 2m 26.958s
61 Marie/Hissom/Hirschi/Demay (Audi R8 LMS) 2m 20.022s
courtesy of Audi
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33lb/15kg Digital Electronic Kitchen Scale Meat Diet Food Postal Mailing Compact
1G-5KG Digital LCD Electronic Cooking Scales Kitchen Household Weighing USB
Gram Tool Device Weight Balance Digital Pocket Scales Weighing Electronic
Digital LCD 1g-5000g Kitchen Electronic Balance Scale Food Weight Postal Scales
Digital LCD 0.01-500G Kitchen Electronic Balance Scale Food Weight Postal Scales
shinycoast688 (2445 )
shinycoast688 has no other items for sale.
Details about Digital LCD 1g-5000g Kitchen Electronic Balance Scale Food Weight Postal Scales
Does not ship to United States | See details
30 days, seller pays return shipping | See details
Power: 1g-5000g Colour: Silver
Size: 18x14x1.55cm Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Type: Digital Scale MPN:
Units Measured: Grams (g) EAN:
Item location: London, United Kingdom
Excludes: Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Northern Ireland, Scilly Isles, Scottish Highlands, Scottish Islands, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa, Austria, Germany, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City State, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands (U.S.), Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Bolivia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, United States, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Congo, Republic of the, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon Republic, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, PO Box
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Kitchen Digital Scales,
Digital Scale Weight Management Scales,
Kitchen Balance Scale,
Digital Commercial Kitchen Scales,
Kitchen Scales,
Digital Weight Scale Indiana Weight Management Scales,
Balance Scale Kitchen Scales without Custom Bundle,
Digital Scale Kitchen Scales without Custom Bundle,
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Digital Scale Printer Commercial Kitchen Scales
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Pool/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
This Video Of Meghan Markle Recognizing A Fan She Used To Message On Instagram Is Moving
By Karen Ruffini
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times: Meghan Markle is a national treasure that we must protect and cherish at all costs. Yes, she's the Duchess of Sussex and is married to British royalty, but it's her kindness and generosity that make me think so highly of her. She's not just your average duchess, either. First of all, she's American. But beyond that, it's apparent to everyone that she really is someone who connects with non-royalty — and this video of Meghan Markle recognizing a fan will prove it to you (and might also make you tear up, because it's so damn pure).
Here's what went down: Meghan and Prince Harry were finishing up their tour in New Zealand on Tuesday, Oct. 30, and were walking through a crowd of supporters in Viaduct Harbour in Auckland. Meghan looked fabulously pregnant in a fitted knee-length dress and trench coat, but that's not what we're here to talk about (but I had to subtly throw it in, because she looked so good, you guys).
As she was walking past the crowd of fans, though, there was one woman, in particular, holding a sign that literally made Meghan's jaw drop. And if you don't believe me when I'm emphasizing the jaw-dropping moment, check it out for yourself:
See? Told ya.
So, who in the world would make the Duchess of Sussex have a reaction like that? Well, it turns out that the woman's name is Hannah Sergel, and the 20-year-old student was a fan of Meghan's long before she became British royalty.
According to Metro UK, Sergel was holding up a sign that read, "It's Hannah from Instagram," because — get this — Meghan and Hannah used to message each other on the social media platform before Meghan had to shut down her account. The publication noted that Sergel "opened up to the former actress about her battle with mental health and Meghan sent her a video among other messages to encourage and inspire her to work hard at university."
I'm sorry, but are you kidding me?
Meghan immediately recognized Sergel, and, in the video, you can see Meghan's jaw dropping as she mouths, "Oh my god!" before walking over to Sergel to greet her and give her a hug.
"I was friends with her on Instagram before she had to deactivate her account. We used to have conversations and stuff on there," Sergel told 1 News. "She would tell me to do well at university and encourage me to be myself."
Sergel said that she was left "so shaky and flustered" after meeting Meghan, but said that the encounter "means the world to me" and that Meghan told her "thank you for getting in touch" and she "said she would read my letter that I gave her."
WE. DO. NOT. DESERVE. MEGHAN. MARKLE.
Watch the whole exchange below if you feel like crying tears of joy and happiness:
Firusi Viral Video on YouTube
Sergel went on to tell Australian network 9Honey:
She recognized me and knew who I was so that’s why she came over. She gave me a hug which was incredible – when I first saw her I cried. She’s just such an incredible person and I’m just so glad she’s happy with Harry.
Same here, girl. Same here.
Sergel shared her experience on Twitter, writing, "can you believe meghan markle held me with both her hands then wen in for a hug i’m still in shock":
Sergel also noted that Meghan reportedly said, "come here" before giving her a hug:
According to Metro UK, Sergel set up a Meghan Markle Daily Twitter account back in 2015, and it was through the fan account that Meghan sent Sergel a video showing her support and encouragement, reportedly telling Sergel, "sending you lots of love, hope I get to see you soon."
If this exchange doesn't fill your heart with love and adoration for the Duchess of Sussex, then I truly don't know what will. Let's all give a standing ovation for Meghan, who DGAF about royal protocol and goes in for the real thing when it comes to her fans. God bless.
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Home>News>Policy
EPA just can't get it right
Jacqui Fatka | Aug 07, 2015
THE Environmental Protection Agency continues to face criticism over its waters of the U.S. rule as well as the rule-making and comment gathering process.
In May, the veil was first lifted on how EPA conducted its rule-making process for a rule that is supposed to help "clear up" which waters the federal government considers jurisdictional.
Reports indicated that EPA engaged in grassroots solicitation with groups such as Sierra Club to generate public comments in support of its rule-making.
EPA consistently claimed that it had received more than 1 million comments on the water rule and that about 90% were supportive.
However, according the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, only 20,567 of those comments were considered "unique," and of those, only 10% were considered substantive.
The vast majority of comments — more than 98% — appeared to be mass mailings generated by EPA's lobbying efforts.
Now, EPA may have to defend those actions as more than 100 members of the House have asked the EPA Office of the Inspector General to open a formal investigation into EPA's lobbying efforts to promote its rule-making and determine whether any federal anti-lobbying laws were broken.
Both the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee and the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee received internal documents from the Corps revealing some of the concerns many members of Congress and agricultural groups have voiced about how the water rule's expanded federal control over land and water is not supported by the experience and expertise of the agencies.
Maj. Gen. John Peabody, the Corps' deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations, wrote in an April 27 letter to Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works: "The draft final rule continues to depart significantly from the version provided for public comments, and the Corps' recommendations in relation to our serious concerns have gone unaddressed. Specifically, the current draft final rule contradicts long-standing and well-established legal principles, ... especially the decisive Rapanos Supreme Court decision. The rule's contradictions with legal principles generate multiple legal and technical consequences that, in the view of the Corps, would be fatal to the rule in its current form."
Ongoing lawsuits offer some hope that EPA can be made to stand up for its actions instead of just ramming more regulations down the throats of those in the countryside.
Volume:87 Issue:30
FSIS issues guidance on meat meal kits
Work to update dietary guidelines continues
Science leads EPA approval of safer insecticide sulfoxaflor
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Don’t Wait, Call Today
Local: 616-773-2702 / Toll Free: 1-877-459-8699
After Hours & Emergency Matters. No Charge for Initial Inquiry: 616-540-0007
Cases & Results
Thorough. Aggressive. Honest.
Are You Facing Charges for Embezzlement?
Embezzlement occurs when a person wrongfully takes property and converts it to his or her own use. It is different than burglary, however, because the property is acquired legally, but is later converted to another's personal use. This typically occurs among people who have fiduciary relationships. In short, embezzlement is a form of fraud.
Attorney Frank Stanley has more than 30 years of criminal defense experience and has built a reputation for providing outstanding, personalized service. He has protected the rights and reputations of white collar workers throughout Michigan for many years — workers just like you. If you are facing embezzlement charges, you need a lawyer who understands the system, a lawyer who will uncover all of the facts, and a lawyer who has an impressive history of success defending clients against fraud charges.
Contact The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC, online today to schedule your free initial consultation. You may also call our firm directly at 616-773-2702 or toll free at 877-459-8699.
Do You Need a Fraud Defense Lawyer?
Employee theft is a common form of embezzlement. For example, an employee who deposits a check in the incorrect account, a clerk who keeps a customer's refund or a CFO who misappropriates company funds all could face embezzlement charges.
Get experienced legal help immediately if you have been accused of:
Spending from client funds or escrow accounts
Inaccurately reporting profits or tax liability
Creating fictitious employees
Altering receipts, transaction data or account information
Covering up wrongful transactions
There has been a crackdown on white collar crime in Michigan with prosecutors seeking to deter embezzlers by pursuing stiff penalties. For example, in addition to losing your job and damaging your professional reputation, a conviction could result in significant fines and an extended prison term.
Attorney Frank Stanley defends politicians, managers, top executives and individual contributors who are facing business crime charges.
Contact a Defense Lawyer in Grand Rapids
Call 616-773-2702 or send an e-mail to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Brief case description
The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC
234 N. Division Ave.
Attorney serving Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Holland, Allegan, St. Joseph, Traverse City, Muskegon, Battle Creek, Hastings, Alma, Big Rapids, Ludington, Iona, Mt. Pleasant, Cedar Springs, Grand Haven, Kentwood, Allegan County, Ottawa County, Ionia County, Kent County, Barry County, Muskegon County and Kalamazoo County, southwest Michigan.
© 2019 by The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC. All rights reserved. Disclaimer | Site Map
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DVD GUTSCHEIN Video
> A < B C D E F G H J K L M N P R S T V W Z
Bestellnr.: DVD 623
Preiscode: 552
Live At Greenbelt
AFTER THE FIRE enjoyed initial UK chart success in 1979 with "One Rule For You" and
world wide success in 1983 with "Der Kommissar".
Having initially performed at the legendary Greenbelt Arts Festival in 1979 they returned
25 years later marking a return to live performances. Originally filmed as a private record of the event it has now been decided to release the show on DVD as a "warts and all" official release.
Track listing includes all "the hits" and more...What a night-you had to be there!
PETER BANKS, KEITH SMITH, JOHN RUSSELL, MATHEW RUSSELL, IAN NIBLO
Einzeltitel:
Intro (Thunderbirds)
Frozen Rivers
Dancing In The Shadows
Who's Gonna Love You
One Rule For You
Billy Billy
Laser Love
Starflight
Gina 2004
BONUS FEATURES: Greenbelt radio interview and unplugged session in The Tank
2. Photo slide show with reflections of Greenbelt from Peter and John
> Weitere Artikel des Interpreten
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Will the microbiome revolution happen?
by Eagle Genomics
Thu, July 25, 2019, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT
JLABS @ NYC
Get the views of panellists from Unilever, Janssen and Microsoft on the revolutionary potential of the microbiome.
Join life sciences knowledge discovery platform company Eagle Genomics at JLABS @ NYC for an evening of cocktails, discussion and to hear from industry-leading voices on the future of microbiome exploration and innovation.
With the microbiome set to impact multiple industries including health, food, personal care and agritech – our panel of industry leaders will discuss the challenges and opportunities in unlocking the microbiome's revolutionary potential.
Dirk Gevers - Global Head, Microbiome Solutions, World Without Disease Accelerator at Janssen
Sam Samaras - Global Vice President Science & Technology, Beauty and Personal Care R&D at Unilever
Daniel Carchedi - Director, Business Development and Strategy, Health & Life Sciences at Microsoft
Anthony Finbow - Chief Executive Officer at Eagle Genomics
Join the conversation on this new frontier for scientific discovery, hear the views of industry pioneers and celebrate an exciting announcement from Eagle Genomics in the heart of Manhattan.
The Eagle Genomics team
The views expressed during this event, including during any associated networking and/or individual meetings by anyone other than an employee of Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, its parent company or any affiliate companies (herein after referred to as “JJI”) are those of the speakers or experts alone, and such experts or speakers are solely responsible for the information and opinions expressed by them. By hosting this event, the presentations and any associated networking and/or individual meetings, JJI does not endorse the views of the speakers, experts or the attendees, and JJI makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the content, the views, advice or the information presented. By subscribing and participating in this event, you agree you have read and accepted this.
United States Events New York Events Things to do in New York, NY New York Networking New York Science & Tech Networking
Will the microbiome revolution happen? at JLABS @ NYC
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Eye For Film >> Movies >> Downsizing (2017) Film Review
Reviewed by: Anne-Katrin Titze
"Alexander Payne's latest, unclassifiable film gallivants with us through a number of different worlds that all seem familiar, yet perplexing." | Photo: Courtesy of Venice Film Festival
"What is the difference between troll and man?" asks the Troll King in Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt. The Old Man of the Mountain answers: "Out there, where sky shines, humans say: 'To thyself be true.' In here, trolls say: 'Be true to yourself and to hell with the world.'"
Our journey begins in a laboratory in Bergen, Norway, that looks like a big wooden toy box, Scandinavian style, with a white mouse and the ding sound of an egg timer. Scientist Dr Jorgen Asbjørnsen (Rolf Lassgård, ornery star of Hannes Holm's Oscar-nominated A Man Called Ove) has made a breakthrough discovery in his attempt to shrink humans to a five inch size and solve the problem of the world's overpopulation once and for all.
Our guide in Downsizing is Paul Safranek, an occupational therapist from Omaha, who wears company polo shirts and gets takeout at the pub and is played by Matt Damon with just the right touch of blandness and finite likability. One of the actor's great talents is that we follow him anywhere. Like a child in the playground who effortlessly convinces other children to join a game without them realising it. Not because of charisma, but because you almost forget that he is there. His experiences become ours. He is the champion of reactions.
Damon's Everyman is contemplating to have himself downsized for at least two convincing reasons.
1. It's good for the environment. At a televised conference it is demonstrated that the waste of 26 shrunken people - the original Norwegian test colony - over four years, does not even fill up one large black garbage bag.
2. Paul's wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) wants a bigger house and is unhappy about their financial situation. When you are small, your money is worth a lot more.
In a poignant scene, the childless couple look with a real estate broker at a spacious tacky house they can't afford. It is tasteless, mediocre, with no history, no style, no life, and Audrey loves it for what it represents. It is a dwelling so small in spirit and personality and so easily reproducible that it forewarns of things to come.
At an alumni reunion Paul and Audrey attend - possibly the most nightmarish of all the many settings in this film - you can feel the general resentment in the air. Contained self-hatred masked behind smiles is only topped by contempt for the others - all safely under wraps. A downsized couple makes their entry to pitch Leisureland, a small community that will solve all problems with a leisure filled life.
Jason Sudeikis as Dave Johnson sits on a cracker box, he himself the approximate size of one of the cheddar wedges behind him on the table, with spilled blotches of red dipping sauce at his feet, and gives a grandiose sales talk to his pal Paul about the sister colony in Tuscany and all the other advantages their small life provides for them.
The lure works and the Safraneks end up checking out Leisureland Estates. 20th century World's Fair or Disney projects when Walt was still alive may come to mind as Ella Fitzgerald croons "Heaven, I'm in Heaven" when they arrive for a visit. The houses are stuck a little later in time, namely the pompous blandness of what Eighties TV shows sold as luxury. Neil Patrick Harris and Laura Dern are creepily hilarious as Jeff and Laura Lonowski who advertise their vulgar, garish lifestyle of cheap diamonds and afternoon bubble baths to prospective new downsizing customers. Also watch out for a mini Margo Martindale who travels with the Safraneks on the shuttle.
Alexander Payne's latest, unclassifiable film gallivants with us through a number of different worlds that all seem familiar, yet perplexing, fishy and mundane, with man-made constructions recognizably unsightly and nature gigantically divine. Time jumps effortlessly, five years, ten years without much fuss. In tales people sleep for a hundred years without a problem, they shrink and grow or turn into donkeys. The science in Downsizing shares that matter-of-fact magic we don't question.
Wendy Chuck, the director's brilliant longtime costume designer, who also gave us newsroom clothes perfection in Tom McCarthy's Oscar-winning Spotlight, shows her expertise of capturing the essence of a moment. This time, she outfits very disparate domains with more layers than ever. The cut and color of Wiig's sweater at the class reunion in (the state of) Nebraska, the faded kurtas at the original colony village in the fjords, demonstrative party outfits in Leisureland - all of them speak about reality and aspiration.
Downsizing, co-written with Jim Taylor, evokes a dimension of folktale disposition. There were hints at lost lore in the juxtaposition of nature shots and gold-plated man-made edifice monstrosities in the Hawaii of Payne's The Descendants. The production design by Stefania Cella (Paolo Sorrentino's Oscar-winning The Great Beauty) and the cinematography by Payne regular Phedon Papamichael spark distinct visual realms.
Inklings about the possible abuse of voluntary vulnerability are woven together artfully with the hilariously absurd details of the actual physical transformation. After wedding-ceremony-like vows are spoken, valuable trinkets stored in a keepsake box, exceptional side effects explained, the genders are separated and physical preparation for the "mass reduction" can begin.
Not to go into too much detail, but the Hasidic Jews in the waiting room and the following procedure concerning hair and teeth can make you hold your breath, only to let out a sigh of relief when the little men are scooped up with kitty litter-like shovels to start their freshly-minted miniature careers. I was reminded of the new-chance-of-life eeriness of John Frankenheimer's Seconds and the futility of buying yourself a meaningful existence.
Nothing goes as planned for Paul as he will have to make some decisions on his own. While working in a cubicle answering phone calls for Land's End, Paul's private life without Audrey at first stagnates (his friend Dave suggests "single moms" as if they were a cereal flavour), then soars after his neighbor upstairs in the high-rise he now lives in invites him to one of his wild parties. Dusan Mirkovic (Christoph Waltz) is a Serbian businessman and together with his partner Konrad (Udo Kier) he gives the miniature high society the excesses it desires.
Waltz revels in the party boy sleaziness and his Dusan is monstrously full of himself and totally believable. Kier speaks one of the most memorable lines of the movie: "That's the wonderful thing about being small - suddenly you are very rich - unless you are very poor - then you are just small." After a night that got out of hand, Paul wakes up on the carpet in Dusan's apartment to the sounds of the cleaning crew coming in. Among them is Ngoc Lan Tran (Hong Chau) who lost half of her leg and is the only survivor of a group of refugees who arrived in a TV box from Vietnam after having forcibly been downsized.
Chau, (unforgettable also in Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice) from the first moment on, lifts Downsizing to another level of brilliance. It is as though her comedic timing, the delivery of her lines, her pirate's peg leg, her character's no-nonsense worldview, her caring heart, and the pitch of her voice all came together as a reminder what humanity means.
Lan, the cleaning lady with the bad prosthetic, shows Paul another world outside the wall of Leisureland. A tenement complex, built in what looks like a rusty container, houses the abject of this mini world - the poor and the dying, who speak languages other than American - they are the ones that are just small according to Konrad.
Yet, this space is the most compassionate, warmest, most appealing we see. There is a gigantic screen in the center, a sort of interior town square where the inhabitants sit together and watch movies. No infomercial praises the virtues of consumerism, instead, Sube Y Baja, a Mexican comedy from 1958 with Cantinflas, is playing and you just want to sit there and join them. This location is a stunning twist on Metropolis and a lovely valentine to the power of cinema.
Paul and Lan bond in the way the statue and the swallow bond in Oscar Wilde's tale The Happy Prince (and not just over the fact that everybody mispronounces their names). Suddenly there is purpose that cannot be found in amassing objects. A trip to the original downsized colony in Norway answers a few other important questions, in case we forgot that the future of our planet is at stake.
Reviewed on: 23 Dec 2017
Satire about a man who starts to think he would have a better life if only he could shrink himself.
Read more Downsizing reviews:
Angus Wolfe Murray
Director: Alexander Payne
Writer: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Starring: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Udo Kier, Rolf Lassgård, Ingjerd Egeberg, Soren Pilmark Jason Sudeikis, Neil Patrick Harris, Niecy Nash, Joaquim de Almeida, Maribeth Monroe, Margo Martindale
BBFC:
Venice 2017: Downsizing, Suburbicon and The Shape Of Water
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What Should Celgene's Investors Do With Everything Bristol-Myers Squibb Is Giving Them?
Shareholders get an all-or-nothing $9 contingent value right (CVR) when the acquisition closes.
Brian Orelli
(TMFBiologyFool)
Jun 20, 2019 at 9:05AM
With Bristol-Myers Squibb's (NYSE:BMY) acquisition of Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG) expected to close in the third quarter, Celgene's investors have to make a decision: whether to sell now or take $50 in cash plus a share in Bristol-Myers Squibb and a CVR for each share of Celgene they own.
At this point, Celgene's shares are trading at a little under Bristol-Myers' share price plus $50, meaning the CVR is essentially a free kicker. Of course, if the CVR isn't worth that much, investors can just sell now and move on if they're not interested in becoming shareholders of Bristol-Myers.
Let's look at how to value the CVR.
Thanks (for nothing?), Bristol-Myers
CVRs allow shareholders of the selling company to share in future success, while the buyer gets some protection from the risk of future failure; they're often used in negotiations of biotech acquisition deals in order to arrive at a price both sides can agree to.
Image source: Getty Images.
In Celgene's case, according to a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bristol-Myers Squibb offered one share and $57, but pulled back the offer.
The companies eventually settled for one share and $50 plus the CVR that will pay $9 if the following three drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration:
Approval Deadline
Ozanimod
Relapsing multiple sclerosis
Marketing application accepted; FDA decision expected on or before March 25, 2020
Liso-cel (JCAR017)
Relapsed-refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Transcend (NHL-001) study successful; collecting long-term data; plans to submit marketing application in second half of 2019, setting up an FDA decision in mid-2020
Idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121)
Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
Pivotal KarMMa study fully enrolled; plans for approval in second half of 2020
Data source: Celgene
Unlike many CVRs, where the individual components have different values tied to each event, Celgene's CVR is an all-or-nothing contract. Either all three drugs are approved by their respective deadlines and each CVR pays $9 or the CVR is worthless.
Remember all those probability questions about different colored marbles in a bag in middle-school math? This is where it finally pays off.
If you were opting to accept the CVR today, you would want to determine the risk-adjusted fair value of that $9. To do that, you need to determine the likelihood of each drug's approval and apply those three percentages to the $9.
But first, since the CVR won't be paid out until after the last drug is approved, which could be almost two years from now, investors should also factor in a discount to allow for the time that's lost while the money could be invested elsewhere, using the formula in this article.
For example, if you'd expect an 11% annual return elsewhere for the same type of investment, assuming 2 years left, the $9 payment would be discounted to $7.30. Now we can proceed to the next step in determining the fair value of this CVR: adjusting for the likelihood of each drug's approval.
The likelihood for the approvals
Deciding what percentage to assign for the likelihood of approval for each drug is substantially harder.
First, there's ozanimod. With positive phase 3 data in hand, ozanimod seems to be the most likely to be approved. But Celgene's investors will recall the FDA refused to accept the marketing application for this drug, because the agency said Celgene hadn't fully characterized how a metabolite (a breakdown product of the drug) might affect patients. Celgene ran experiments that it believes will convince the FDA that the metabolite isn't an issue, but that history adds uncertainty even though the efficacy data looks good enough for an approval.
The FDA accepting the marketing application for review is a good step, but it's possible that the metabolite is characterized enough for the agency to accept the application, but once reviewed, the FDA decides that it still wants more data to be convinced the byproduct isn't a problem.
Call it a 75% chance of approval for ozanimod.
Next, there's liso-cel. The data for this drug is compelling, with 46% of patients maintaining a complete response at six months according to data released last June. Celgene delayed submitting the data so it could have nine-month data for all patients, but the company said that was for commercial reasons, as a longer follow-up would help it compete with other chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies: Gilead Sciences' Yescarta and Novartis' Kymriah.
Manufacturing is a risk for all FDA approvals, but it's inflated for liso-cel, which requires taking patients' immune cells, manipulating them, and then putting them back into the patients. It appears Celgene has any manufacturing kinks worked out, with 99% of patients who had their cells removed being able to be treated. But manufacturing remains a black box to investors, and there's no telling what minor issues the FDA might find that lead to a delay in an approval.
Call it a conservative 70% chance of approval for liso-cel.
And last is ide-cel, another CAR-T drug, which is partnered with bluebird bio (NASDAQ:BLUE). Ide-cel is further behind, but there's reason to believe the drug is likely to succeed in the KarMMa trial. In a phase 1 study of 33 patients who had failed other treatments, ide-cel produced an 85% objective response rate, with 45% of patients having a complete response and 27% of patients achieving a very good partial response.
Considering these are late-stage patients, if the pivotal KarMMa study produces data anywhere close to the phase 1 response rates, an approval is likely. Like liso-cel, investors should take into account the aforementioned caveat about manufacturing.
Call it a 60% chance of approval for ide-cel.
Applying my estimations to the discounted rate of $7.30, the CVR's value can be calculated as follows:
$7.30 x 0.75 x 0.70 x 0.60 = $2.30
Other factors to consider
Bristol-Myers Squibb plans to list the CVRs on a stock exchange, so investors should be able to trade them, up until they're paid out or they expire as worthless. The value of the CVR should go up as each drug is approved. Even strong additional clinical-trial data from liso-cel or ide-cel could drive the price of the CVR higher if investors see a higher likelihood of approval for one of the drugs.
Bristol-Myers is allowed to repurchase the CVRs, potentially for pennies on the dollar. In theory, that should produce a floor for the valuation that's related to what Bristol-Myers perceives as the likelihood of approval, although there are no guarantees that it would decide that's the best use of its cash.
Dr. Orelli is a Senior Biotech Specialist. He has written about biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies for The Motley Fool since 2007. Follow @BiologyFool
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What Should Celgene's Investors Do With Everything Bristol-Myers Squibb Is Giving Them? @themotleyfool #stocks $BMY $CELG $BLUE Next Article
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IBM and Microsoft Outshine a Flat Dow
The DJIA is up, led by blue chip tech stocks, while the rest of the tech sector is being crushed.
Dan Dzombak
(TMFDanDzombak)
IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) are leading the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES:^DJI) up today as blue-chip tech stocks rally while more speculative members of the sector are being hit hard. As of 1:20 p.m. EDT the Dow was down 20 points to 16,342. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) was down 11 points to 1,852.
The tech sector is in the spotlight this week as momentum and speculative stocks in the sector continue to sell off. Facebook is down 5%, Amazon is down 5, and LinkedIn is down 9%.
Source: Finviz.com.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average only contains blue-chip tech stocks which are rising or steady today in contrast to the rest of the sector. On top of the general rise among stalwart tech stocks, IBM and Microsoft each have some good news pushing them higher today.
IBM is up 1.5% after the company launched an enterprise app store where consumers and businesses can directly buy applications from IBM. This is a big step for a business that normally sells only to IT departments. However, only about 25% of the apps can be downloaded directly from the store.
This continues the trend of the consumerization among business apps. It used to be that corporate IT departments were responsible for all the business applications that their employees used, but in this day and age, with more businesses allowing you to bring your own device to the office, that is no longer the case. The trend can also be seen in Microsoft's decision last month to bring its Office productivity suite to Apple's iPad. In IBMs case, if this catches on among its customers, it could mean that IBM will no longer need a huge salesforce to peddle its apps to corporations. This direct sales channel could be a boon then to the bottom line, as there are fewer marginal costs for each additional sale.
Microsoft is up 1.7% after the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear Novell's appeal of its antitrust case against Microsoft. The case, which Novell brought in 2004 and for which it was seeking $3 billion, stemmed from Microsoft withholding details of Windows 95 from Novell in order to give Microsoft's Word an advantage over Novell's WordPerfect. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Novell in September of last year, saying that Microsoft did not need to share advance details of its proprietary software with a competitor. This puts to rest a case that could have cost Microsoft a pretty penny -- and potentially opened it up to similar lawsuits.
Dan Dzombak has written for The Motley Fool since 2008. He covers value investing, investing process, and success among other things. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter by clicking the buttons below or head over to his blog at http://www.DanDzombak.com
Follow @DanDzombak
^GSPC
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IBM and Microsoft Outshine a Flat Dow @themotleyfool #stocks $^GSPC $MSFT $IBM $^DJI Next Article
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Citymapper's Cheaper-Than-The-Operator Transit Deal For London Burns Trust
Carlton Reid Contributor
I have been writing about transport for 30+ years.
Citymapper's Pass contactless card can also be linked to smartphones.
Citymapper
“Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to keep the regulator informed of what you are doing,” a mobility expert has warned after route-planning service Citymapper unveiled a London transit pass that undercuts the official offering from local government body Transport for London (TfL).
Deloitte’s Justine Bornstein added: “As we’ve seen with various forms of micro transit – such as dockless bikes and e-scooters – just introducing a new mode of transit without checking to see if it plays well with the other kids can create an unnecessary level of operational stress and difficulty.”
Bornstein is the manager for Deloitte’s Future of Mobility program and, last year, she was the specialist adviser to the U.K. parliament’s inquiry into “Mobility as a Service,” or MaaS. According to the House of Commons Transport Committee’s report, MaaS is the “term for the digital platforms (often smartphone apps) through which people can access a range of public, shared and private transport, using a system that integrates the planning, booking and paying for travel.”
London-based Citymapper did not seek TfL’s permission to introduce its MaaS-based Citymapper Pass. This is a most-modes contactless transit pre-payment card that, when launched, will cost £40 a week for unlimited travel on the underground, buses, and overground trains in two central zones, unlimited use of Santander bikeshare bikes and provide £12 towards trips with Citymapper’s cab share service.
Citymapper is also to offer a £31 option which excludes bike- and cab-shares which undercuts TfL’s own Travelcard by £4.10.
Despite the discount, Citymapper will pay TfL the full price for the tickets used. This loss-leader tactic is believed to be a way for Citymapper to gain a first-mover advantage in one of the world’s best cities for public transit.
Citymapper claims it is the first firm to operate such a service but multi-modal passes from a third-party operator are already available in Helsinki, Antwerp, and Birmingham via MaaS-innovator Whim of Finland.Officially, a TfL statement about Pass was diplomatic:
We are aware of CityMapper’s plans to introduce a subscription model, bundling together a number of transport options in London, and welcome products which promote public transport, walking and cycling.”
However, behind the scenes, officials at TfL are less than happy that the undercutting product was announced in a company blog posting.
“Cities are complicated,” said the posting.
“We’ve solved … many hard problems in urban mobility: multimodal routing to help with directions, a data factory that fixes open data so users can get accurate information … But we’ve always been missing something: ticketing and payment integration so that we can help users with the complete experience.”
Citymapper's Mobility as a Service functionality is multi-modal.
Citymapper was born in London in 2011 and enabled by TfL’s ten-year-old open data policy.
Last year Citymapper praised London’s transport body saying it was the “most forward-thinking public transport agency in the world.”
The route-planning to transit firm that now operates in 39 cities around the world felt at the time that there was a symbiotic relationship with TfL: “They are ... supportive as we mutually think about the future of the bus in the city,” claimed a blog posting.
However, relations became strained when Citymapper introduced its own demand-led “smart” bus service. Through regulations, TfL forced Citymapper to scale back its plans, with routes taking weeks to be approved and only smaller vehicles being allowed by TfL, a decision that grated with Citymapper.
“Regulation makes it hard to be smart,” complained the company in a blog posting.
Instead, regulators should back off, continued the posting, claiming that local government bodies are hidebound by “complex and bureaucratic procurement systems” while technology companies, such as Citymapper, “have the capability to do the best job.” One can imagine the winces at TfL when that posting went live.
In an email, a TfL spokesperson answered “no” to the question of whether TfL was concerned that Citymapper didn’t warn it about the announcement of Pass.
“This is entirely a commercial enterprise arranged and developed by Citymapper and it is of course, perfectly reasonable for them to pursue the strategy they think is right,” continued the statement.
It’s a leap, but not one of any great distance, to infer from that statement – and from taking off-the-record soundings from TfL staffers – that TfL is smarting from being left out of the loop. And when a regular/operator doesn’t feel it is being consulted by a commercial third-party it may not have as much trust in that party going forward.
In effect, Citymapper is playing with fire, and this could benefit competitors such as Whim, which work closely and cooperatively with local government transport bodies.
Citymapper was yesterday provided with questions for this article but has yet to provide answers.
Carlton Reid
I was Press Gazette's Transport Journalist of the Year, 2018. I'm also an historian – my most recent books include "Roads Were Not Built for Cars" and "Bike Boom", both ...
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Metta World Peace says bye to Palace: ‘A lot of history here'
'I see the flashbacks sometimes,' the man former known as Ron Artest said at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Metta World Peace says bye to Palace: ‘A lot of history here' 'I see the flashbacks sometimes,' the man former known as Ron Artest said at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Check out this story on Freep.com: http://on.freep.com/2kT3wyM
Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press Published 12:14 p.m. ET Feb. 9, 2017
Former Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas, left, is hugged by Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace during halftime Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Auburn Hills.(Photo: Carlos Osorio, Associated Press)
The man formerly known as Ron Artest was dressed in a suit for likely his final appearance at the site of his most infamous moment.
Metta World Peace was inactive for the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Wednesday night. But he admitted to reporters before the game that Nov. 19, 2004, still enters his thoughts when he steps onto the Detroit Pistons' home floor.
“I see the flashbacks sometimes,” he said. “Not necessarily out here — because when the fans are there, it’s cool. But when nobody is in there, you reflect on it. Sometimes you can look, and it’s like, I see exactly where everything happened.”
Dubbed Malice at the Palace, World Peace (back then named Artest and a member of the Indiana Pacers) set off an ugly brawl when he charged into the stands to pummel a fan after being struck by a thrown cup.
He was suspended by the NBA for a record 86 games. Now he is nearing the end of his NBA career, and the Palace is nearing the end of its run. The Pistons are moving downtown next season.
A lot of time has passed since World Peace has been lustily booed at the Palace. He has become a champion of inner cities and an advocate for mental health awareness. He reportedly visited a Detroit elementary school to speak with students Wednesday.
“Great building, great fans. I know we had a lot of wars on the court,” he said Wednesday. “The Pistons — those were the roughest games I ever played in.
“It’s different now. I always like to make some jokes, sometimes. I come to the building, I’ll just say like, ‘A lot of history here.'”
Malice at Palace prosecutor remembers 10 years later
Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.
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Take on the role of the characters in The Mummy, and on your own monitor take on a mystical Egyptian story, fight dangerous enemies, and finally defeat Imhotep himself.
Action | TPP | videos | Egypt | Egyptian mythology
developer: Rebellion
publisher : Konami
Game mode: single player
game release date:
FileImages 9
game score
The Mummy is a three-dimensional action game based on the 1999 cinema hit license, which combines arcade and logic elements. The aim of the game is to stop Imhotep, who has been brought back to life, from taking control of the world. In terms of assumptions, the game resembles a bit the first installments of the Tomb Raider cycle.
Rick O'Connell and his fellow researchers, siblings Evelyn and Jonathan Carnathans, find a mysterious book in Hamunaputra, the City of the Dead full of unimaginable riches. With its help they accidentally awaken to life a powerful Imhotep, on whom a curse was cast years ago. It turns out that a creature from ancient years intends to use its powers to take over the world. Rick and his companions cannot allow this to happen.
The Mummy is an action-packed TPP game in which a player-led character travels through levels full of traps, including mazes and pyramids, fighting enemies, solving puzzles and facing platform challenges. Rick has at his disposal a wide range of weapons, including double guns, rifles, rifles, machetes and magical amulets, with which he can eliminate hordes of enemies sent by Imhotep. The bestiary consists not only of various types of mummies, but also scarabs, scorpions and magically enlivened guardians of treasures.
On each of the levels, the goal is to complete different missions and get all the key elements needed to open the way further. The authors took care of a variety of challenges, which consist of testing cleverness, memory and logical puzzle thinking, escape sequences from a cloud of deadly insects or clashes with Imhotep's overwhelming forces. In some places, the title introduces a different way of playing, changing into a classic platformer with a view from the side or an arcade, in which the character flows down a log on the Nile. The vitality of the title is also affected by the large number of secrets on each map.
The Mummy is a three-dimensional production that is strongly based on a film license. During the background adventure, melodies composed for the cinema hit play in the background, and the voice of most of the characters was lent by Hollywood actors playing them. The title also uses fragments of the film to present subsequent plot motifs.
Tomb Raider II: The Dagger of Xian
Tomb Raider 4: The Last Revelation
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
PEGI Rating
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium II 300MHz, 64MB RAM, graphic card
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BLOG Judge Dredd: That First Picture
By sfx 2010-11-27T23:27:36.33Z Feature
Gathering evidence: blogger Alasdair Stuart analyses the iconic uniform as worn by Karl Urban
The first still from the new Judge Dredd movie has been released and it is, of course, Dredd himself. After all, anyone else would simply make the man angry. It's an interesting shot too, slightly out of focus and slightly low tech. But most interesting of all is how that low tech aesthetic has been applied to Dredd himself.
Starting with the iconic helmet, it's not only tough and functional but has real weight to it. The shield at the top looks solid and there's a hint of an extra storage ridge on the top which suggests the badge may serve as a respirator as it does in the comics. Most interesting of all though is the fact that the helmet has clearly been in the wars. There are scuffs in the paint work on both sides and whilst it looks muscular and real, it's also not perfect. This is not the precise, stylised look of the Stallone movie and that change in aesthetic really comes into its own below Urban's neck.
The iconic eagle shoulder pad is either gone altogether or hidden on the other side of the shot and the other shoulder pad is built into something which looks for all the world like a heavily modified flak vest. You can see the fastenings between each shoulder sleeve and chest plate and the shoulder pad and Judge badge are both built into this outer suit. It's a simple but devastatingly clever idea, splitting the uniform into a basic set of what looks a lot like biker leathers and an armoured over suit which is unique to the Judges. It's a simple, effective set up which is nicely rounded out by the big chunky gloves with what look like integral knuckle dusters. This isn't the Versace-ised world of the previous movie but is in fact much closer to Mad Max in tone and feel.
That tone really shines through with Dredd's lawgiver which is as far from the sleek precise weapon of the Stallone version as Urban's biker leathers are from Stallone's bodysuit. That is an ugly, functional gun crammed full of extra storage space for the mission-adaptable rounds and with a huge shell ejection port on the side by the look of things. In other words, form follows function. And here that function is to be as efficient a killing machine as possible.
That choice also, potentially, tells us something about the setting of the movie. This is, to quote Max Headroom, 20 minutes into the future and everything Dredd's wearing is functional, practical, looks real. This is a future with belt buckles and flak vests, with guns that are functional rather than elegant. This looks, as several people have already pointed out, a lot like early Dredd and, by extension, it makes sense to assume that's the period the film will draw from. It's already been stated that the film will be darker and grittier than its predecessor and judging by this still, they're holding to that.
A lawman in a very dark future, a uniform that's functional rather than showy and an ugly gun. It's a small, but very promising start to a film that, for now, is under the radar. If it keeps doing things this well? It won't be under the radar long. After all, he is the law.
This is a personal article by blogger Alasdair Stuart. What are you looking forward to most about the Judge Dredd movie? What do you fear most about it? Thoughts, suggestions, freak-outs and geek-outs welcome as always in the comment thread below...
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All the video game release dates for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch
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ASUS TUF Gaming FX504 Gaming Laptop
2:52 pm April 11, 2018 By Julian Horsey
As well as announcing the imminent availability of their new Asus RoG Strix GL503 and GL703 gaming laptops, Asus has also announced the launch of its new TUF Gaming FX504 gaming laptop, although the company has not yet announced any pricing for the Windows 10 gaming notebook. The affordable gaming laptop priorities stability and durability above all else and is equipped with the latest-generation Intel Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series graphics.
Internally the FX504 is powered by the 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750HQ processor, and features up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics with full Microsoft DirectX 12 support, offering a combination of “performance and portability”, says Asus.
Equipped with a 15.6-inch display with an ultrafast 120Hz refresh rate, a 3ms grey-to-grey response time, a 130 percent sRGB colour gamut, and wide-view technology. The gaming laptop is capable of displaying up to 120 frames per second (fps) and comes equipped with Asus’s HyperCool technology to “significantly prolongs its lifespan and provides stable cooling during intense gaming marathons”.
Wireless connectivity is provided by an Intel 802.11ac Wave 2 module providing data transfer rates of up to 1.7Gbps, 12X faster than baseline 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. Asus is also equipped the gaming laptop with 2×2 MIMO configuration offering up to 30 percent wider coverage than a traditional 1×1 configuration. For full specifications and details jump over to the official Asus website by following the link below.
Source: Asus
Filed Under: Laptops, Top News
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LG Class Smartphone Coming September 21
2:01 pm September 16, 2015 By Roland Hutchinson
It looks like LG is getting ready to launch a new smartphone, the LG Class and the handset will apparently be launched on the 21st of September.
The LG Class is a new Android smartphone that will come with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and the device will feature a 5.7 inch display.
The 5.7 inch display on the handset will come with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and the device will be powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor.
Other specifications on the handset will include 8GB of built in storage and 2GB of RAM, the device will also come with dual cameras.
The front camera on the new LG Class will apparently be a 5 megapixel camera and the rear camera on the handset is said to be a 12 megapixel camera. As soon as we get some more details on this new handset from LG, we will let you guys know.
Source Nowhere Else, Phone Arena
Filed Under: Mobile Phone News, Top News
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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 S Pen Bluetooth Confirmed In FCC Listing
1:05 pm July 4, 2018 By Roland Hutchinson
We recently heard a rumor about the new S Pen for the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 smartphone, the device was said to come with Bluetooth, this has now apparently been confirmed by an FCC listing.
The new Galaxy Note 9 stylus recently appeared at the FCC, the device is listed with the model number EJ-PN960 and it is listed as a ‘Stylus Pen’, it features support for 2.4GHz Bluetooth LE.
We recently heard that the new S Pen would be used as a remote for controlling music on the Note 9 and also used with other devices.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is rumored to come with Snapdragon 845 or a Samsung Exynos 9810 processor depending on the region, plus handset up to 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of included storage. The design of the handset is said to be very similar to that of the existing Note 8.
Samsung will be making their new Galaxy Note 9 official next month, the company is holding a press event on the 9th of August.
Source Sammobile
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National rankings and University of Northern Colorado wrestling beginning to go together
Sports | January 25, 2019
Samuel Mustari
smustari@greeleytribune.com
The University of Northern Colorado wrestling team — present and future — are in the national spotlight when it comes to national rankings.
First and foremost, two UNC wrestlers — 133-pound senior Rico Montoya and 197-pound junior Jacob Seely — received a No. 17 ranking in the first of four rankings from the NCAA Division I wrestling coaches’ panel rankings.
All four rankings will play a role in determining participants and seeding for the NCAA Division I Championships in March.
Heading into Friday night’s dual at the University of Northern Iowa, Montoya was 11-4, including 8-4 against Division I opponents. He was second in the Southern Scuffle earlier this month.
Seely is 10-4 this season, all against Division I opponents, including a fifth-place finish at the Southern Scuffle.
Seely
A berth in the NCAA Division I National Championships would be the third time for Montoya and second time for Seely.
The next coaches rankings will be released on Feb. 14.
In the latest national high school rankings from TrackWrestling.com, several UNC signees are ranked in the top 20.
Heading the list is Greeley Central 152-pounder Andrew Alirez, who is the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the nation.
At 126 pounds, future Bear Mosha Schwartz (Ponderosa) is ranked No. 13 while Pomona 145-pounder Theorius Robison is ranked No. 14 nationally.
UNC signee Drake Engleking (Longmont) is ranked No. 15 at 170 pounds.
Eagles happy to have Joly back for next season
Jordan Davis takes his talents to Spain to play for Baxi Manresa
Keeping Jacob Knipp upright just one goal of University of Northern Colorado football team
Weber State claims Big Sky Conference President’s Cup; University of Northern Colorado third
Top-notch assistant coach joins University of Northern Colorado baseball staff
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Victoria Grizzlies
Westshore Rebels
Victoria Shamrocks
Best of the West Shore
A Day in the Life West Shore
Women of the West Shore
B.C. Ferries charts a new course
The News embarks upon an investigation into beleaguered corporation
Oct. 30, 2012 10:00 a.m.
The Spirit of British Columbia churns through the waters of Active Pass en route from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. B.C. Ferries is undertaking community consultation to help find ways of saving millions of dollars.
When B.C. Ferries was made an independent company in 2003, the minister in charge heralded the move as a cost-saving measure.
“(The province) wants B.C. Ferries to meet its potential, to sail on time, to have clean facilities, a good selection of food choices and friendly services and, of course, to remain affordable,” said then-transportation minister Judith Reid.
But fares have remained anything but affordable, increasing by an average of 80 per cent in the past eight years. At the same time, the corporation is still losing money – $16 million last year alone.
Facing an order from B.C. Ferry Commissioner Gord Macatee to find $30 million from service cuts, the province will be gathering public input from communities that depend on ferry service as a lifeline, navigating the stormy waters of increasingly cash-strapped residents and frustrated commuters.
It’s a crisis Macatee acknowledged in his January 2012 report on the Coastal Ferry Act. “Current ferry fares and the proposed increases have reached the tipping point of affordability and are imposing significant hardship on ferry dependent communities,” he said.
As the provincial government launches its formal public consultation at coastalferriesengagement.ca, The News is taking a comprehensive look at B.C. Ferries in a four-part series. We’ll give an overview of the challenges that lie ahead in the wake of lower ridership, higher fares and year-over-year red ink on the company’s books.
First, we’ll tell you how we got here and where your money goes. Next, we’ll explore the impact of increasing fares on the major routes between Vancouver Island and the mainland.
Part three will look at the southern Gulf Islands and the potential impact of a looming reduction in sailings that will save an estimated $21 million.
In our final piece, we’ll look to the future of B.C. Ferries and find out what it can do to stay afloat.
dpalmer@vicnews.com
Parents seek help for new Ruth King school playground
Greater Victoria Harbour Authority aiming for another record season
Neighbours host relfective gathering following suspicious death of 60-year-old Metchosin man
‘Goodness prevails,’ says neighbour of Martin Payne
Sooke cougar sighting unconfirmed
Boy had a close encounter with the big cat
Explore Goldstream News Gazette
Goldstream News
Goldstream Weather
Goldstream Classifieds
© 2019, Goldstreaml News and Black Press Group Ltd.
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Scott nearing the $50 million mark
By AAP Jan 24 2019 9:02AM
Jan 24 2019 9:02AM
On the cusp of becoming the first Australian to earn US$50 million in career prizemoney on the PGA Tour, Adam Scott has made a significant putting change he feels could ignite a return to top form.
Playing the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines for the first time, Scott will debut an arm-lock putting grip that has been used by American stars Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Kuchar to win multiple PGA Tour titles during the past year.
Recent PGA Tour winners Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley also use the technique, which involves using a longer putter and resting it against the forearm of the lead arm.
Although he is regarded as a world-class ball-striker, Scott's past three seasons on the PGA Tour have delivered lowly rankings of 165th, 89th and 129th in the strokes gained in putting measurement.
Without a win in almost three years, former World No.1 Scott is excited by what he has seen so far with the method.
"I've only used it three days but it promotes a stable, solid feeling which gives you confidence and freedom in the stroke" Scott said at Torrey Pines.
"My first putt on a golf course with it was a 35-footer breaking left-to-right and it went in.
"Kuchar is a really good putter and so is Bryson. Webb putted amazing last year, particularly (when he won) the Players Championship.
"Those guys do it well and they're considered good putters."
Scott has been tinkering with his putting stroke in the lead up to his return to Torrey Pines. PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.
World No.42 Scott is making his Farmers Insurance Open debut, having only played the South course at California's famed Torrey Pines during the 2008 US Open.
Scott, a 13-time PGA Tour winner including the 2013 Masters, needs a little more than US$580,000 in prizemoney to surpass the US$50 million mark (AU$70 million) – which no Australian has done.
"(Career prizemoney) is irrelevant in the grand scheme, but pretty amazing what golf has come to in terms of opportunities," Scott told AAP.
"Just playing professional golf has been unbelievable because it has opened the whole world up to me.
"I know how lucky I am to have played in the era I'm in, but you cannot take it as a benchmark of great a player."
Only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson have cracked the $50 million mark, while current World No.1 Justin Rose is close and Scott sits just behind them in seventh on the all-time list.
The 38-year-old Scott would need to finish outright second at Torrey Pines to accomplish it this week.
The PGA Tour's all-time career prizemoney list does not include bonuses such as the FedEx Cup series.
Australian great Greg Norman was the first golfer to earn US$1 million in a season (1986) and was the first player in PGA Tour history to reach US$10 million in career prizemoney.
- Evin Priest, Australian Associated Press
© Golf Australia. All rights reserved.
adam scottbryson dechambeaudustin johnsonfarmers insurance opengreg normankeegan bradleymatt kucharnewspga tourphil mickelsontiger woodstorrey pineswebb simpson
Cream rises to the top during Masters first round
Defending Day in the mix at Torrey Pines
Day turns to Tiger ahead of Torrey title defence
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Inspired By Elegant Simplicity
habitusliving.com
Rebuilding The Dream
Celebrating Space and Landscap..
by Patricia Arcilla
The Design Co-Op Reimagines ‘Home’
Once upon a time, the phrase ‘dream home’ conjured the same hazy, idyllic images for everyone: a manicured lawn; a breezy verandah; a sun-dappled interior and hardwood floors, and enough space for a car out the front and kids out the back. Today, market forces have changed these aspects of homeward dreaming, or at least forced it to evolve to keep up with the times. For many, the ‘dream home’ has changed dramatically: hopes of a front yard have been adjusted to a balcony or patio, and carports have shrunk to the space for a single bike or scooter.
With this in mind, it’s easy to feel confused about the future of Australian housing. But everything’s looking up! From 23 to 25 March 2018, The Design Co-Op is infusing the Australian design community with a fresh dose of optimism and imagination about what’s still to come for our living spaces. The one-of-a kind event will unite the Australian design industry and foster valuable ties between professionals and the design-loving public, sparking a much-needed dialogue about the role of design in today’s housing market.
The brainchild of Anne-Claire Petre of Anaca Studio and Elizabeth Bull of One Fine Print, the event program is carefully crafted to showcase Australian design brands and empower attendees to transform any place into a meaningful “home”. The Design Co-Op will bring together 14 local brands, 3 leading interior designers, and 20 industry professionals. Whittling the line-up down to just 14 designers was no easy task, considering the local talent pool. “We wanted to work with brands that were aligned with our beliefs,” explained Anne-Claire and Elizabeth, “We started with the people we had either worked with before and who we knew would take this seriously and be meticulous about organisation.”
As is to be expected from an event curated by a furniture designer and a photographer, The Design Co-Op’s line-up marries style and functionality. Participating brands and designers span Australia’s diverse design landscape and include everything from lighting and furniture, to rugs, plants, and décor. From the rich textures of Cadrys and the tactile quirkiness of Cakebread to the colourful concrete of Fox & Ramona and the leafy luxury of The Plant Society, The Design Co-op truly has something for everyone.
Following a launch party on Friday March 23, The Design Co-Op will host a day of panel discussions that present a fresh perspective on topical issues. “The panels are all about sharing knowledge and making connections,” said Anne-Claire and Elizabeth, “We wanted to have casual discussions around subjects that are relevant to both the public and the design industry.” To kick things off, Amelia Barnes of design blog Rented Space will host “Rental is on the rise – why we shouldn’t compromise our home environment”. Responding to an increasingly rental-driven market, the panel is sure to appeal to today’s younger generations, who are gamely exploring new ways to evoke the cosiness of home in transitional, rented, and non-traditional spaces.
Photography by Michael Gordon Hill
Next, Natalie Mortimer of Australian Design Review will host “Challenges, wins, and outright fails – the real life of a design studio”. Going beyond the glamorous portrayal of design studios in social and print media, this panel will offer insights into what life is really like in three leading Australian design studios. And last – but certainly not least – Alice Blackwood of Indesign Magazine will host “How to lead by design? Opportunities to create change in the industry”. Ending the line-up on a future-facing, optimistic note, this panel will empower attendees to refresh the industry for today’s market and transform any space into a meaningful home.
The Design Co-Op sidesteps the monoculture of showrooms and tradeshows, instead highlighting the benefits of ‘cross-pollinating’ different brands and aesthetics. For the weekend-long Showcase, leading Australian interior designers – Fiona Parry-Jones of Von Haus, Lauren Li of Sisalla, and Manuela Millan of Meanwhile in Melbourne – will use products from The Design Co-Op participants to craft three distinct living spaces that evoke different interpretations of ‘home’. In so doing, Showcase will not only spark imaginations but also remind brands and designers of the benefits of working together, instead of in competition, with one another.
The Design Co-Op is a satellite event of Melbourne Design Week, an annual initiative of the Victorian Government that links businesses with communities.
Learn more about the event at thedesignco-op.com
Photography by Mike Baker
Photography by Elizabth Bull
Products From The Habitus Collection
Liebherr Barrique Freestanding Single Zone Wine Cellar WKb 4612
Resin Flow Soy Dish – Seaweed Malachite
PW90FMP
Connect Daily on Instagram
The New Outdoor Furniture Collection From Blu Dot
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Schools in Pennsylvania
History Schools in Pennsylvania
History Schools in Easton, PA
With an overall population of 26,263 and a student population of 2,406, approximately 2,406 of Easton students attend one of Easton's schools that offer history programs.
Lafayette College is the largest history school in Easton, based on student population. In 2010, Lafayette College graduated approximately 24 students from its history program.
A total of 27 students graduated with credentials in history from history schools in Easton in 2010. In 2009 tuition at history schools in Easton was $38,490 per year, on average.
In addition to tuition costs, you should plan on spending an average of $1,000 for books and supplies each year, while enrolled in a history program in Easton. And if you live on campus, you will face an additional expense of $11,799 per year, on average, for room and board at Easton-based history schools. Students who live at home can cut this cost down to approximately $0.
History Degree in Easton
History schools in Abington, Pennsylvania
History schools in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
History schools in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
History schools in Glenside, Pennsylvania
History schools in Villanova, Pennsylvania
History schools in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
History schools in Trenton, New Jersey
History schools in New Brunswick, New Jersey
History schools in Haverford, Pennsylvania
History schools in Madison, New Jersey
History schools in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
History schools in Reading, Pennsylvania
History schools in Allentown, Pennsylvania
History schools in Morristown, New Jersey
History schools in Wayne, Pennsylvania
History schools in Hackettstown, New Jersey
History schools in Center Valley, Pennsylvania
History schools in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
History schools in Princeton, New Jersey
History schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
History schools in Kutztown, Pennsylvania
History schools in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania
History schools in Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Political Science Schools in Easton
Liberal Arts Schools in Easton
History Schools in Easton, Pennsylvania
1 Lafayette College
High St, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042-1768
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'R. setigera' rose References
Flora of North America, Vol.9
Website/Catalog (2018)
Rosa setigera Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 295. 1803.
Climbing prairie rose
Rosa rubifolia R. Brown; R. setigera var. elatior Persoon; R. setigera var. glabra Torrey & A. Gray; R. setigera var. tomentosa Torrey & A. Gray
Desription
Resistance Breeding For Powdery Mildew and Black Spot in Roses.
Article (misc) (2005) Page(s) 110, Table 5.1.
R. setigera : Triploid
Native trees, shrubs & vines
Book (2002) Includes photo(s).
Rosa setigera. Climbing Prairie Rose.
Zones: 4-9; sun, part sun
Soil: moist
Native to: Thickets, hedgerows, swamp margins; southwestern Ontario to Iowa and Kansas south to texas and Florida
Size: Height 4-8 feet, width 5-10 feet
Color: light to dark pink; blooms early to midsummer
Rosa setigera is the closest we get to a native climbing rose. It sends out long, weak canes set with stout, back-curved thorns and large leaves with 3 oval leaflets (5 on lower leaves) grooved deeply along the veins. There are some thorns on the petioles as well. It holds its fairly large flowers in clusters of 3 to 7 from the tips of both primary and axillary canes. Since the flowers in each cluster open up over the course of a week, starting out dark pink and fading light, a shrub in full bloom has a striking multicolor appearance.The hips are small and ruddy green. Still, R. setigera's habit and prolific flowering make it about the best wild substitute for the hybrid climbers.
Botanica's Roses
Book (Dec 1998) Page(s) 59.
R. setigera ('Prairie Rose') North America, 1810... deep pink paling with age... produced over a long season... This rose is useful for its long flowering display and extreme hardiness... it has given rise to some excellent progeny over the years, such as 'Baltimore Belle' and 'Long John Silver'...
The Rose Bible
Book (Nov 1998) Page(s) 11.
R. setigera 'The Prairie Rose'. Height: 5 feet. Width: 6 feet. Flowers: single, deep pink. Hips: red, globular.
A Year of Roses
Book (1997) Page(s) 104.
Rosa setigera... the North American native rose ... will only just begin to bloom around the second week in July... Originally found throughout the Eastern Seaboard and the Prairie States, this scentless pink beauty creates mounds of color and is best left alone on an embankment or in an open field where it can sprawl.
Gardening with Roses: Designing with easy-care climbers, ramblers, & shrubs
Book (1997) Page(s) 16.
A tough North American native ... In late summer, the reddish canes are studded with pink flowers, which are followed by small, red hips' foliage turns an attractive scarlet-bronze in autumn.
Climbing Roses (Scanniello & Bayard)
Book (1994) Page(s) 4, 22. Includes photo(s).
Page 4: [One of the 65 climbing roses Stephen Scanniello describes in detail in his book and that grows in the Cranford Rose Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. There are several pages devoted to this rose, including its history, cultivation, and a photograph. Here are some highlights, but please refer to the book for more details.]
Played a role in the development of climbing roses. It was used by a number of breeders, including Dr. Walter Van Fleet.
Page 22: [Photo]
[One of the 65 climbing roses Stephen Scanniello describes in detail in his book and that grows in the Cranford Rose Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. There are several pages devoted to this rose, including its history, cultivation, and a photograph. Here are some highlights, but please refer to the book for more details.]
A wild rose native to North America… named by the French botanist André Michaux (1746-1802)… In 1811 a British botanist, Robert Brown, found a form of this rose that he mistook for a new species; he called it Rosa rubifolia because of its blackberry-like leaves. As a result, there is much confusion in the old literature, where R. setigera is often listed as R. rubifolia.
American hybridizers used it in their breeding programs… William Prince, and his son William Robert Prince, worked with it in the 1820s; unfortunately, the results of their efforts no longer exist… In general, hybridizers had difficulty perfecting R. setigera and breeding its good characteristics into roses of other classes.
'American Pillar' is one of the most successful setigera hybrids. (Van Fleet, 1902). Later, M.H. Horvath used R. setigera in the creation of his "Treasure Island" climbers. Two of the most successful were 'Doubloons' (1934) and 'Long John Silver' (1934).
Flowers: bright pink, scentless, 2 inches in diameter, five wavy petals. Hips: red. In autumn, the leaves turn fiery red, and during the coldest months, the canes… [become] a deep plum red that contrasts with the pronounced white of their menacing prickles…
The large, broad, rough leaves of R. setigera resemble those of blackberry bushes, and the canes, which can grow at least ten feet long in one season, are also like those of the blackberry - arching, extremely prickly and quick to root wherever they touch the ground. Because it roots so easily, and also because birds, which love the hips, distribute the seeds, R. setigera spreads rapidly and can be invasive.
not affected by insects and diseases.
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1-800-972-2070 24 hours a day / 7 days a week
Trusted Cremation Services in Romeoville
Family owned and operated for over two decades
Compassionate community service close to home
Heritage cremation serves all faiths
Simple - Affordable - Dignified
24 hour-a-day availability
Only $695 - $1395
Cremation Services Include
Transportation of the deceased to the crematory
Obtaining certified copies of death certificate
Assistance in filing for VA & Social Security Benefits
Rigid container (for the return of the cremated remains)
Package Pricing does not include: cash advance items, state fees for permits, certified copies of the death certificates, alternative cremation container, sales tax or newspaper charges. You will be able to see final cost prior to payment.
Contact our cremation specialists:
Veteran's Benefits
If your loved one was in the military they may qualify for a burial with Military Funeral Honors or (MFH). This Veterans benefit includes an Honor Guard detail of not less than two Armed Services members at the burial or memorial, burial in a Government cemetery, and a grave marker.
Family members of the deceased may be entitled to receive Social Security benefits if the deceased worked long enough and had Social Security taken out of their paycheck...
How to Give a Eulogy
The eulogy or speech given at a memorial service or funeral does not have to follow any specific guide on how to write a eulogy, but it is helpful if you know where to start.
Upon Trust SINCE 1993
I found Heritage Cremation when I was calling funeral homes in the area to make cremation arrangements for my brother. The cremation cost was a big concern for me and compared to the other funeral homes I found Heritage Cremations had the best price and the most compassionate staff. I was a bit worried because the cremation services price at Heritage Cremation was so much less than the other cremation services I was quoted, but I have to say the cremation service was beautiful. Visitors actually complimented me on the cremation service, and the kindness of the staff at Heritage Cremation.
— Leonard
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Why Romeoville(IL) Cremation Services Are Your Best Choice
Romeoville(IL) cremation services have noticed that funeral expenses have been increasing considerably over these past few years, which has led more people to turn away from the choice of a burial for a funeral and making a selection from the available cremation services in Romeoville(IL).<
When someone dies, it is a particularly difficult time for all the family and friends who were left behind as many decisions have to be made with various selections available to complete the funeral service.
For many people who associate funeral service as a religious ceremony, some Christians have expressed concern about making a cremation choice and they need to be sure that any cremation ceremony is particularly biblical, although most clergy are quite pleased to prepare a funeral service using Romeoville(IL) cremation services.
With the rising cost of funeral expenses today, many people are choosing a cremation instead of a burial. �Almost a quarter of funeral arrangements are being dealt with by cremation services in Romeoville(IL). This is more that several states across the US, but not as many as some others. Nevertheless cremation services in Romeoville(IL) are increasing rapidly and over the next few years as many as 75% of people will be choosing this for their funeral service.
What Options are Available?
Some people can go through their entire life without needing to arrange a burial or talk to people who are involved with cremation services in Romeoville(IL). For others, particularly from larger families, they may have been involved with a number of burials and cremations.
Where this is the first time that you have been involved with Romeoville(IL) cremation services, you may not be aware of all the service options that are available to you. You don't have to say yes to all of the alternatives, but knowing all of the selections that are accessible, will help you make the best choice.
A cremation is usually available at a lower cost from cremation services in Romeoville(IL) than that the corresponding burial arrangements. This may mean that there is more money available for the people who are arranging the cremation to look at the various options that are on offer.
You do not have to disrespect any of the traditional funeral services that you would automatically relate to a burial service, because when you are organizing a service with Romeoville(IL) cremation services any tributes or meaningful memorials can still be personalized so that you can dedicate to the life of the person who has passed on.
You can still arrange a private visit to see the deceased for the very last time before the service is conducted and this can be arranged whether you are going to be using an open or closed casket.
Particular choices of music that are directed to the deceased's favorite selections can be arranged by your cremation services in Romeoville(IL). Whether you choose traditional hymns, classical music or a much loved memory from The Beatles or Michael Jackson, they will be welcome at the cremation chapel.
When you are organizing options with your Romeoville(IL) cremation services, you can choose to hold the ceremony in a religious location which may be the person's usual place of worship, or another special location, all of which can be aided by the participation of close family and friends.
One of the final options that you will get to choose is whether the remains are to be placed in an urn in a graveyard or a dedicated outdoor mausoleum, interned into a plot where the rest of the family have been buried or kept in an urn on a mantle at home.
Should You Scatter the Ashes?
The cremation services in Romeoville(IL) will be able to discuss your wishes about scattering the ashes and whether you choose a cemetery, or a particular place that was special for the person, is another of the options you can choose. One advantage of the person being cremated is that the ashes can be made into a diamond that can be kept and worn throughout the family line or you can choose to scatter the ashes at a particular favorite location which might be out at sea or a preferred sports field.
The majority of people will still choose a memorial service and while almost 50% of people would prefer their ashes to be scattered after their cremation services in Romeoville(IL) have been arranged, the other half still intend to keep the ashes in an urn which gives them the opportunity to make a decision after the healing process has begun and the bereavement time has moved on considerably.
The majority of religious people still prefer to have their ashes either scattered or buried in a cemetery.
What about Being Embalmed?
When you have agreed for Romeoville(IL) cremation services to carry out your arrangements, the body will be transported to a funeral home of your selection. Once all of the necessary paperwork has been completed and a copy of the death certificate is on file, the majority of cremations are carried out during the following 3 to 5 days. The body will always be cremated on the day of the committal.
A person that is going to be cremated using Romeoville(IL) cremation services does not have to be embalmed, but can be if close family or friends will require a last visit to the deceased.
There will be many difficult days ahead while you arrange the funeral service and as a close family member, you will be greatly assisted by Romeoville(IL) cremation services.
Scattering of Cremations
How to Write an Obituary
Cremation Costs
Cremation Prices
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Actors: Matt Damon
Reminded me a little of parts of The Fringe TV show, though more focused on the love story element here. This human angle was something new to the trope and played out well with the backdrop of The Adjustment Bureau who also proved a little more human in the end. A nice, easy watch that may not be perfect on all levels.
Fight for your fate.
A man glimpses the future Fate has planned for him – and chooses to fight for his own destiny. Battling the powerful Adjustment Bureau across, under and through the streets of New York, he risks his destined greatness to be with the only woman he's ever loved.
Director George Nolfi
Release Date 3 March 2011
Budget $50,200,000
Revenue $127,869,379
Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, John Slattery, Anthony Mackie, Lauren Hodges, Shane McRae, Terence Stamp, Michael Kelly, Lisa Thoreson, Florence Kastriner, Natalie Carter, Phyllis MacBryde, Chuck Scarborough, Jon Stewart, Kar, RJ Konner, Susan D. Michaels, Gregory P. Hitchen, Amanda Warren, Jessica Lee Keller
In the year 2159, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster), a hard line government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Matt Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that, if successful, will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.
Director Neill Blomkamp
Release Date 7 August 2013
Movie Rating Not bad
Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, William Fichtner, Faran Tahir, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Maxwell Perry Cotton, Brandon Auret, Josh Blacker, Emma Tremblay, Adrian Holmes, Jared Keeso, Michael Shanks, Carly Pope, Ona Grauer, Terry Chen, Chris Shields, Christina Cox, Derek Gilroy, Talisa Soto, Claire Smithies
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Not as good as the first, but it ticked all the boxes from following the reboot of the original stories while adjusting to the new timeline. Nice switch with Kirk and Spock in the warp core incident, though feel that the resolution was a little too convenient and we were trying to wrap up the reboot so we could get on with some new stories (which is a good thing but made the film feel less than whole for anyone who knows the original works).
When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.
Director J.J. Abrams
Release Date 5 May 2013
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood, Peter Weller, Alice Eve, Noel Clarke, Nazneen Contractor, Amanda Foreman, Aisha Hinds, Joseph Gatt, Sean Blakemore, Nick E. Tarabay, Beau Billingslea, Deep Roy, Chris Hemsworth, Jack Laufer, Katie Cockrell, Kellie Cockrell, Jennifer Morrison, Leonard Nimoy, Kimberly Arland, Jonathan Dixon, Jeremy Raymond, Jay Scully, Tony Guma, Anjini Taneja Azhar, Jason Matthew Smith, Seth Ayott, Marco Sanchez, Lee Reherman, Scott Lawrence, Usman Ally, Nolan North, James Hiroyuki Liao, Rob Moran, Akiva Goldsman, Gianna Simone, Rene Rosado, Berit Francis, Benjamin P. Binswanger, Christopher Doohan, Andy Demetrio, Jacquelynn King, Long Tran, Ningning Deng, Jodi Johnston, Colleen Harris, Jeff Chase, Ser'Darius Blain, Heather Langenkamp, Melissa Paulo, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Monisola Akiwowo, Paul K. Daniel, Drew Grey, David C. Waite, Douglas Weng, Charlie Haugk, Max Chernov, Marc Primiani, Jesper Inglis, Jacob Rhodes, Kentucky Rhodes, Anthony Wilson, Eric Greitens, Melissa Steinman, Adam McCann, Jon Orvasky, Gerald W. Abrams, James McGrath, Brian T. Delaney, Arlen Escarpeta, Joe Moses, Kevin Michael Richardson, David Sobolov, Matthew Wood, Fred Tatasciore, Kiff VandenHeuvel, Audrey Wasilewski, Bill Hader, Tom Archdeacon, Jon Lee Brody, Britanni Johnson, Hiram A. Murray, Chris Gardner, Julianne Buescher, Joe Hanna, David Acord, Ellie Newlands, Candice Renee, Emily Towers, Gina Hirsch
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Home>News> Bun B Talks About The "Hip-Hop And Religion" Course He Teaches At Rice University
Bun B Talks About The "Hip-Hop And Religion" Course He Teaches At Rice University
By Angus Walker
Angus Walker
@gowangus
Bun B is a hip-hop professor at an elite university.
Did you know Bun B, one half of the legendary Houston duo UGK, is a faculty member at Rice University? While Bun's musical output has slowed in recent years, his knowledge of hip-hop remains unquestionable, and since 2011, he has been teaching said knowledge in a professional capacity. Last Thursday, Bun went on HOT 97 and talked to Ebro about the "Hip-Hop and Religion" course he teaches.
Bun will teach alongside Dr. Anthony Pinn, who joined Bun for the interview. Bun never attended college while Dr. Pinn holds a Ph.D. from Harvard and has been a Professor of Religious Studies at Rice University since 2003. A handful of lucky students in Houston are in for a treat.
Watch the full interview below. Big up Bun B!
News UGK Bun B
Juicy J's Rap Career Might Be Nearing An End
Yo Gotti, DeJ Loaf, Que & More Confirmed For SXSW 2015 [Update: Big K.R.I.T., E-40, Run The Jewels & Tons More Added]
NEWS Bun B Talks About The "Hip-Hop And Religion" Course He Teaches At Rice University
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Hozier Confirmed For Belsonic 2019
By: Aoife Bradshaw
Following his sold-out show in Ulster Hall last December, Hozier will make his long-anticipated return to Belfast for the Belsonic Festival in 2019.
Multi-platinum selling singer Hozier has officially been confirmed for his largest Belfast headline show to date at Belsonic Festival.
He will be joined by special guest Maggie Rogers when he takes the stage at Ormeau Park on Thursday, June 27th, 2019.
Other names on the lineup include George Ezra who has already sold out his date on June 22nd, Ben Nicky and Dimitri Vegas & Little Mike.
The 'Take Me To Church' singer released his latest EP, Nina Cried Power, earlier this year featuring iconic soul singer Mavis Staples - his first release since 2016's 'Better Love'. It went on to earn rave reviews not to mention being streamed over 25 million times on Spotify.
Moreover, this month Hozier unveiled an arresting new single along with a brand new video for 'Movement' featuring acclaimed ballet dancer Sergei Polunin.
Speaking of the video he said, "I was first confronted by Sergei’s talent when I saw a performance of his set to my music in collaboration with David LaChapelle. I believe one of the greatest things to become of your own work is for it to form part of another artist’s vision or execution. That performance itself gave rise to ideas for this song, so I was incredibly proud to work with Sergei on this video. He is a once-in-a-generation talent. He’s a man of incredible skill and artistry and shows a dedication to his art form that I find inspiring. I’m thrilled to share this with everyone."
Check it out here:
Tickets for Hozier at Belsonic priced at £30 plus booking fee will go on sale Friday November 30th at 9am from Ticketmaster.
Irish band Keywest to headline show at Belfast’s Limelight 2
New To Hot Press: AMOS
Humphrey releases new single 'Now And Forever'
Tickets for Rammstein's Belfast gig go on sale tomorrow morning
Sigrid announced as special guest for Stormzy's Belfast show
AVA Festival 2019: Belfast weekender continues to be a leading force in Irish dance music
More events announced for Other Voices in Belfast
Fontaines DC are coming to Belfast
Snow Patrol, The Academic, ROE and Joshua Burnside to play Other Voices
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hottikset.com
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Thousands of fans have begun to prepare for Oscars parties to find out which actors, actresses, and movies of the 88th Academy Awards will win a gold statue. As part of the celebration, Shutterstock’s company designers have worked again this year to create fascinating pop art-inspired posters for popular films nominated by the Academy.
Like the many of the different types of movies nominated for the Best Picture award, Shutterstock says its posters share a theme of endurance and testing how far you can stretch the lengths of human nature.
“On the surface his work simply looks cool, but this shallow analysis misses the irony behind his cultural representations”
When you think of many of this year’s Best Picture nominees, movies like The Revenant, The Martian, and Mad Max share a common theme of strength, resilience, determination, and power. These themes are stunningly carried over into Shutterstock’s pop-art posters this year. Posters featured include Jordan Roland’s Warhol-inspired Mad Max: Fury Road, which offer a take on Warhol’s “subversive dictator portraits to shape this poster of Immortan Joe,” says the artist. In Cristin Burton’s Flirst-inspired Oscar Pop 2016 The Revenant, the poster includes assembled pieces the artist used to “create a vast, sinister, and lonely landscape.”
People Happily Await the Begining of the Show
The pop-art posters include a fun view of movies but also of topics that aren’t so fun. In Flo Lau’s The Big Short, inspired by Keith Haring, the artist chose a comedic approach to the dark subject of the bursting of the 2008 housing bubble.
Flirst is a collage artist who assembles disparate pieces to explore how he can change the harmony of the whole. For my poster, a homage to The Revenant, I assembled pieces to create a vast, sinister, and lonely landscape. The poster features a figure with very few people on his side; this represents the film’s main character, Hugh Glass, who was brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead in the winter wilderness.
“I wanted to portray the same witty chaotic vibe in my poster”
In his “Barcelona” series, Mario Corea Aiello forms a grungy collage of newspaper and magazine cutouts and heavy paint strokes. I felt this style would parallel the vicious storm that left Mark Watney for dead on Mars in The Martian. For the color scheme, I deferred to Eric White’s cover art from the original novel by Andy Weir to capture the characteristics of an otherworldly storm.
On Set with the Crew
My inspiration for this poster is one part Roy Lichtenstein and one part Stefan Sagmeister. Spotlight is about journalists uncovering a massive scandal in one of Boston’s oldest institutions, and I found that the perfectly contradictory homophone “pray/prey” encapsulates the shock and horror felt by the community when this scandal was made public.
To illustrate this, I pixelated an image of a priest, then tore off his head and replaced it with an image of a wolf. I looked to Warhol’s subversive dictator portraits to shape this poster of Immortan Joe.Warhol had a remarkable ability to distract from the meaning of his art. On the surface his work simply looks “cool”.
Mad Max: Fury Road has the same effect: The stylized nature of the film gets more attention than the meaning behind it.
I chose to feature Immortan Joe because he is a terrible person, but his iconic look makes him instantly recognizable. When I first read the plot summary for Room, I envisioned lonely, sterile characters, who had been institutionalized by their secluded environment.
Of course, when I saw the movie that perception quickly changed; the characters are full of life, love, and joy, and the audience instantly empathizes with them on a raw, human level. KAWS’ statues play on a similar deceit. Initially they have a sterile, robotic feel, but when you view them in their human-scale sizes and see their playful aesthetic, you experience an unexpected sense of connection.
“Welcome to the Oscars, Or as some people like to call it, the white people’s choice awards”
The Big Short takes a comedic approach to a dark subject, and I wanted to portray the same witty, chaotic vibe in my poster. Keith Haring was my inspiration because his high-contrast, brightly colored political work, which touches on grim subjects like rape, death, and war, hinges on the same contrast as the film. The poster is based on the film’s alligator-in-an-abandoned-pool scene; the alligator represents the main characters in the movie, who took advantage of the 2008 housing bubble and left the world in desperation when it burst.
Getting Ready for the Big Night
I chose to focus on the muddy gray areas and loopholes within Bridge of Spies. The Cold War was fueled by each side’s increasingly dire hypotheticals, causing mass paranoia among citizens and governments alike.
A large part of the film’s narrative focuses on the extent of protection under the law, especially for a Soviet spy. I reimagined Lady Justice, mixing her blindfold with the American and Soviet flags to represent how both countries were tied to their individuals’ principles of justice even while locked in an unending battle for the upper hand. Set in the eponymous 1950s borough, Brooklyn features then-contemporary imagery that now exemplifies the commodification of Brooklyn as a global brand.
Just as the Pop Art movement utilized mass advertising and irony to re-contextualize commercial art, I drew from today’s vintage, artisanal design trends, which are inspired by that era and setting.
Telephone Booth Shooting
In that vein, I applied the animated footage and vector elements to illustrate how the contrasting settings of Brooklyn and Ireland re-contextualized the protagonist’s identity through a fluctuating sense of “home.”
The 88th annual Academy Awards are underway, and viewers are anxiously awaiting the ceremony to find out if their favorite flicks and actors win, which categories will see big “upsets,” and which speeches and performances will stand out. Not to mention how host Chris Rock will approach the “Oscars So White” controversy, and who he will target during the opening monologue. Did Leo finally take home a golden statue? The buzz began during the red carpet events prior to the official event.
Jennifer Jason Leigh, nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Hateful Eight, seemed slightly out of it during her interview with Ryan Seacrest on E!’s special. But arguably the biggest surprise was Best Actor nominee Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role nominee Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs) playing to their nostalgic fans by walking the red carpet together. Can you believe it’s been nearly two decades since they starred together in the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic (which took home Best Picture)?
“If hosts were nominated, I wouldn’t be here; instead, you’d have Neil Patrick Harris.”
Rock, who addressed the issues with ease and expected humor, added that he did seriously consider quitting after so many people spoke out and pressured him to do so. “But the last thing I need is to lose another job to Kevin Hart,” he said, as the crowd erupted in laughter (including Hart himself, who was in the audience).
Arguably, the best part of Rock’s monologue was his blatant dig at Jada Pinkett-Smith and her vocal “boycott” of the Oscars. “Isn’t she on a TV show? Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties,” he said.
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06/06/2017 04:58 EDT
Halima Aden Makes History As First Hijab-Wearing Model On Vogue's Cover
She's making history.
Sima Shakeri HuffPost Canada
The future of fashion is gloriously diverse.
Minnesota-based model Halima Aden is making history as the first ever hijab-wearing model on the cover of an edition of Vogue. She is gracing the front of the June issue of Vogue Arabia.
"All eyes on Halima Aden: The runway star shattering stereotypes," the cover reads.
That surreal & dreamlike feeling the moment you see yourself on the cover of @VogueArabia cannot be explained! I'm beyond appreciative for the opportunity to grace the June cover! #covergirl
A post shared by Halima Aden (@kinglimaa) on Jun 1, 2017 at 2:47pm PDT
The 19-year-old Somali-American first emerged in the public eye as a competitor in the 2016 Miss Minnesota pageant, where she wore a hijab throughout and donned a burkini for the swimsuit segment. Though she didn’t win, it helped shoot her to fame.
Soon after the competition, she signed to IMG Models, which also represents big names like Ashley Graham, Gigi Hadid, Kate Moss, and Gisele Bündchen.
She’s gone on to judge the Miss USA pageant, walk the runway at New York Fashion Week for Yeezy Season 5, and star in her first international campaign for a Ramadan-exclusive line for The Modist, a modest luxury-fashion e-retailer based in Dubai and London.
Aden’s come a long way from the little girl who didn’t see herself represented positively in fashion or the public eye and wanted to change that perception of Muslim women, she said in an interview for Cosmopolitan.
"Every little girl deserves to see a role model that is dressed like her, resembles her, or even has the same characteristics as her,” she said in a video for Vogue.
Who is #VogueArabia’s June cover star? Be the first in the know. Press play to find out now... . تُرى، مَن هي نجمة غلاف عدد شهر يونيو من #ڤوغ_العربية؟ كوني أول مَن يعرف ذلك. فقط اضغطي زر التشغيل واكتشفي الأمر الآن...
A post shared by Vogue Arabia (@voguearabia) on May 31, 2017 at 2:54am PDT
“Not seeing women that look like you in media in general and especially in beauty competitions sends the message that you’re not beautiful or you have to change the way you look to be considered beautiful,” Aden told HuffPost in 2016. “And that’s not true.”
Aden was born in a Kenyan refugee camp, and came to the United States when she was only six, according to Star Tribune. She's worked in a bunch of odd jobs, including as a room cleaner, and still drinks the Pediasure she grew up consuming because she was underweight.
She also sports braces, an unusual feature for a model, and told The Cut, "They’re a part of who I am."
The cover is particularly notable for Vogue Arabia. The magazine only launched a few months ago, and came under fire for having half-Palestinian model Gigi Hadid on the cover in a hijab, as she normally doesn’t wear one.
Many accused Hadid and Vogue Arabia of cultural appropriation, though others argued she should be able to wear a hijab because of her Palestinian roots.
When everyone on set is beyond amazing 🙌 - @voguearabia June issue 🎉
A post shared by Halima Aden (@kinglimaa) on Jun 5, 2017 at 12:56pm PDT
The move comes as more and more retailers are expanding their options and looking to cater to Muslim consumers. Nike recently made headlines by launching a line of sportswear for hijab-wearing women.
In another video for Vogue, Aden shared her hope that one day people will see women wearing hijabs as part of the norm.
“When I’m walking the runway I want people to see that, yes, I’m wearing a hijab — but I’m also a million other things. I want us to get to a place where we just see women.”
Also on HuffPost
Photo gallery Refugee-Born Model Halima Aden See Gallery
Refugee-Born Model Halima Aden
MORE: Halima Aden halima aden hijab halima aden pageant halima aden vogue halima aden vogue hijab hijabi model hijabi model vogue style video vogue vogue arabia vogue arabia hijab vogue hijab vogue magazine
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03/09/2016 03:54 pm ET Updated Mar 10, 2017
#117 Legacy: Linking the Past and the Future Through Story
By Rachael Freed
As storytelling beings, we are captivated by stories, particularly those that are connected to us. Stories we write about our families - our ancestors - their values, and their time in history, enable our children (and theirs) to transcend time and space, to discover or rediscover their history, deepen their roots and provide them with values that can influence their future.
Stories about ancestors can help us understand and experience compassion for those who came before us. Learning the lessons of history may help us to not repeat what went wrong and to admire and emulate what was right. Understanding the context of their lives, the decisions their time required, the trials that beset them, the opportunities they said yes or no to - all that and more can impact the values and behaviors of our children in this time and in the future.
It follows that if part of our purpose (and responsibility) is to make an impact on future generations, then we will likely be more successful if we pass on values and love in the format of stories rather than lectures or lists of instructions. (I refer you to Dora's vivid memory of visiting her grandfather when she was three years old, and what value she learned - page 48 in Your Legacy Matters.)
From The New Yorker, June 2015
... In life all our stories contain the stories of others
and are themselves contained within larger,
grander narratives,
the histories of our families, or our homelands, or our beliefs.
― Salman Rushdie
The proliferation of communication techniques and platforms, the accessibility of travel (live and virtual) match our almost universal literacy and deep passion to connect to our history and to pass forward these values and a sense of meaning. A spiritual concept accepted by all faith traditions is that each of us is a link in the chain of eternity. Future generations require understanding of the past for direction and we need children to ensure the survival of our memories and values.
Thanks to Michelle, a 2012 legacy writer, for sharing an excerpt of her poem expressing our connection:
...throughout all of history...
I write to the souls who are yet to be, wondering how their lives will be touched by me...
My mind grasping to understand how our lives are but a single strand
Woven together in mystery, connected throughout all of history
Never to be left dangling alone But entwined together as one of God's own...
Suggestions for Action
1. Bring your tea or coffee and your favorite pen and paper to your story corner to write. Set your timer, reflecting and writing each time for no more than 15 minutes.
...every grain of sand brushing against my hands represents a story, an experience, and a block for me to build upon for the next generation.
― Raquel Cepeda
2. Name all the ancestors that you know (knew as a child).
3. Reflect on your favorite story about each of them, preferably from a time when you were a child or adolescent.
4. Choose one and write that story in one paragraph.
5. Then write a paragraph about what you learned from this story (some value, some strength you admire, some understanding the story provides you about your ancestor - his/her life, times, challenges).
6. Repeat paragraphs 4 and 5 for as many ancestors as you want to remember, immortalize, and share with family members younger than you.
7. To simply turn your story into a legacy letter, refer to the four paragraph template (explained on pages 234 and 235 of Your Legacy Matters): context, story, learning, blessing.
May your ancestor stories link you to them
and to your children,
and may all of you be enriched
by these connections.
Rachael Freed, Founder of Life-Legacies (for information, visit www.life-legacies.com), Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality and Healing, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist. She trains and certifies Legacy facilitators internationally (online). An inspirational lecturer and workshop facilitator, she provides legacy-related programs and training for health care, philanthropic, and religious organizations, for public and non-profit corporations, and for diverse groups of individuals experiencing life transitions. Freed's latest book is "Your Legacy Matters: Harvesting the Love and Lessons of Your Life - An Intergenerational Guide for Creating Your Ethical Will". She is also the author of "Women's Lives, Women's Legacies: Passing Your Beliefs and Blessings to Future Generations" and "The Women's Legacies Workbook for the Busy Woman: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing a Spiritual-Ethical Will in 2 Hours or Less".
Freed has trained cardiac professionals internationally to support cardiac families. The 25th Year Anniversary Edition of "Heartmates: A Guide for the Spouse and Family of the Heart Patient" was published in August, 2012 and the Third Edition of "The Heartmates Journal: A Companion for Partners of People with Heart Disease", are the only resources available to support the emotional and spiritual recovery of families coping with heart disease. For more information, visit www.heartmates.us.
Follow Rachael Freed on Twitter: www.twitter.com/legacywriter
Rachael Freed
Author; Founder, Life-Legacies
Legacy Legacy Writing Salman Rushdie Storytelling Ancestors
This Blogger's Books and Other Items from...
Heartmates: A Guide for the Partner and Family of the Heart Patient
Your Legacy Matters: a Multi-generational Guide for Writing Your Ethical Will
by Rachael a. Freed
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Red State Democrats Oppose Republican Effort To Defund Obamacare
By Sabrina Siddiqui
UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 07: Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, is interviewed by Roll Call in his Russell Building office. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
WASHINGTON -- While pushing an effort to defund Obamacare or risk a government shutdown, congressional Republicans have insisted they might have some unlikely allies on their side: Senate Democrats up for reelection in red states.
But at least two of those Democrats, Sens. Mark Begich (Alaska) and Mark Pryor (Ark.), laughed off the suggestion Thursday that they would vote for a continuing resolution that permanently strips the Affordable Care Act of its funding.
"We're not going through another [vote to repeal Obamacare], 43rd or 44th -- no," Begich told reporters on Capitol Hill. "Do I have issues with Obamacare? Yes. We've proposed multiple amendments and ideas to fix it, to make it better and take out things that aren't working ... but we're not going through this process."
When The Huffington Post asked Begich to respond to the idea that Democrats facing tough reelection battles in conservative states might favor House Republicans' strategy, which ties Obamacare funding to a continuing resolution to keep the government running past Sept. 30, Begich laughed and shook his head.
"No -- I think those guys over there should focus on what the American people want, and that is a budget done," he said. "Quit playing with the continuing resolution, putting the debt at risk, and causing this great economy that's moved in the right direction to falter again."
Pryor also told HuffPost he didn't favor the approach. "No, I just don't," he responded with a smile.
"We voted on Obamacare ... and it's the law of the land. It's been through the Supreme Court," Pryor said. "It's not perfect, but let's work to make it better."
Begich and Pryor, along with Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), are all up for reelection next year in states that President Barack Obama lost in 2012. They've faced a multitude of attacks over Obamacare, with Republicans looking to seize on any delays or roadblocks in the law's implementation.
Hagan spokeswoman Sadie Weiner confirmed to HuffPost that the North Carolina senator would not vote for a continuing resolution that defunds Obamacare. Landrieu spokesman Matthew Lehner said in an email that the senator "will not vote for a continuing resolution that defunds the Affordable Care Act."
Some Republicans have nonetheless spent days prophesying that red state Democrats are so vulnerable, they might buck their own president on his signature health care law.
"I think if we get this bill out of the House and over to the Senate it'll be political suicide for the Democrats in red states that are up for election in the Senate," Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told The Hill on Tuesday. "That's why I think we should send it over there and let them vote on it."
Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas) echoed a similar view Wednesday when asked how Republicans could muster enough votes to defund Obamacare in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
"I want to see Mark Pryor vote on it," he told HuffPost. "I think people like [Pryor's GOP Senate opponent, Rep.] Tom Cotton and all their future opponents think this is a great thing politically."
Unfortunately for Huelskamp, that vote may never happen. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) can strip out the provision that defunds Obamacare with a simple majority vote and, once the upper chamber passes a revised bill to keep the government funded, put the ball back in House GOP leadership's court.
Even Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), one of the main proponents of the plan in the Senate, conceded there weren't enough votes in the upper chamber for it to be successful, and his colleagues seem far from eager to put up a fight. A number of Senate Republicans have continued to criticize the House GOP's plan; their skepticism only mounted on Thursday.
"Everybody knows we can't win this fight. That's the problem," Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) told reporters.
"I oppose Obamacare as much as anybody in the Senate, but it's just difficult for me to see how this leads us anywhere but a boxed canyon," said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).
This post has been updated to include comment from Landrieu's spokesman.
Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect that Sadie Weiner is a spokeswoman for Sen. Kay Hagan, not Sen. Mary Landrieu, and to clarify Hagan's position on a continuing resolution that defunds Obamacare.
Conservatives Pointing Fingers
Sabrina Siddiqui
Politics reporter, The Huffington Post
Government Shutdown Politics News Affordable Care Act Obamacare Government Shutdown Republicans Government Shutdown
Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
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Directory of Life Sciences Recruiters
Psychology - Biology - Meteorology
Life Sciences Recruiters
Recruiters by Specialty - Life Sciences
Connect with Life Sciences recruiters
NES International Ltd
the UK arm of the NES Group. Technical, Engineering, IT & Rail specialist recruiters.
Louis Heyden Group
Nationally focused retained executive search firm centered around the needs of the Automotive, e-Automotive, Industrial, High-tech, Communication and PR.
Mullings Group
has practices in medical device, pharmaceutical, bio-tech and emerging technologies industries.
Corporate Recruiters Ltd.
a technology focused search firm based in Vancouver, BC Canada. We handle searches for sales, technical resources, product management, marketing and senior leadership roles for early-stage to mid-siz
Harris & Associates
Executive Search and Placement with offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Specializing in consumer/retail, financial services, professional services, industrial, life sciences, technology, and no
Ray & Berndtson
International Executive Search Firm serving a variety of industries.
Chemical Search International
specialise exclusively in global chemical industry recruitment.
naturejobs
from the weekly journal of science, Nature.
RCM Technologies
a national provider of Business, Technology and Resource solutions. Job bank on site
The Brentwood Group, Inc.
Serving multinational companies since 1986, this firm focuses on providing customized, unbundled research and recruiting
BioQuest Inc.
Retained executive search firm specializing in senior management positions in the medical device, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and healthcare services industries.
Laboratory Robotics Interest Group
Aquatic Network
aquaculture, conservation, fisheries, limnology, marine science and oceanography, maritime heritage, ocean engineering, and seafood
Neil Michael Group, Inc.
an international, executive search firm that specializes in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and other life sciences.
Systems Integration Solutions, Inc.
Provide contract opportunities for Information Technology consultants.
Compa Staffing Resources
Seltek Consultants
search and selection consultancy involved with the recruitment of sales and technical staff in semiconductors, electronic components, telecommunications, life sciences and biotechnology
Alliance Staffing Solutions
a minority-owned business that offers specialized staffing services throughout the United States. We specialize in financial, administrative, healthcare, life sciences and located in columbus ohio
Lloyd Staffing
With over 10000 contingent workers, has staffing specialists who actively engage in relationships with candidate talent and hiring companies in an effort to bring together the two components of a su
Kimco
Staffing agency placing candidates in industrial, technology, financial, healthcare and biotech throughout California
Hobson Associates
Executive search specializing in technology, Information systems, manufacturing and industrial, CPG/Retail and the Life Sciences. Placing candidates nationwide and internationally.
Asia Pacific Management Resources
Executive International recruitment
Kincannon & Reed
international executive search in the agribusiness, biotechnology, and food industries. Offices in the US and Europe
Quantum Executive Search
Nationwide executive placement in a variety of industries. Job bank on website.
New Dimensions in Technology, Inc.
specializing in the permanent placement of professionals in numerous industry sectors, including Software Engineering, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Marketing, Business Development, Human Res
Tyler and Company
retained executive search firm specializing in health care placement.
The Chase Group, Inc.
executive search firm specializing in biomedical and pharmaceutical placement.
Ed Bertolas Associates, Inc.
Executive search firm specializing in Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, and Biotech industries throughout the United States.
Slayton International Inc.
high end executive search firm.
J. Robert Scott
a retainer based executive search firm
Corporate Diversity Search, Inc.
New York based firm places women and minorities in middle and upper level positions nationwide.
CTPartners
retained executive search firm, with specializations in Not for Profit, board services, CIO, Financial Servies, Risk Mangement, HR, Inclusion, Life Sciences, Healthcare, VC, Professional Services, gov
Bowdoin Group, The
executive search firm founded in 1994, specializing in Financial Technology Services, Technology Sales and Marketing, Life Sciences/Biotechnology and Information Technology Consulting.
TechHi Consultants Limited
Servicing North America Since 1982. We Are Known By The Company We Keep.
Peopleflex
Executive Search firm for finance and accounting
M.D. Parkin & Associates
National search firm serving the electronics industry. Primary areas served include semiconductor capital equipment, electronic components and contract manufacturing.
Kinetica Scientific Recruitment
London based company focusing on the sourcing of sales, marketing and service professionals for vacancies in Scientific and Engineering industries.
The Agency specializes in biotech and pharmaceutical search worldwide
Agility Staffing
woman-owned business based in East Hanover, New Jersey, we offer solutions in Retail, Healthcare, Banking, Life Sciences.
Savant Consulting
We deliver results that others cannot because of our small size and detailed knowledge of recruiting in technology driven industries including the life sciences and high technology.
Commonwealth Sciences
specializing in the life sciences in the Boston area. Job bank on website
Clark Executive Search, Inc.
Executive search firm specializing in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and the life sciences. Placing candidates throughout the United States and globally.
Indocruit & Associates
Recruitment firm specializing in the scientific technology industries including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, genetics, diagnostic, and the life sciences. Located in Central Californ
Caden Murry Group LLC
Search firm serving the Life Science sector specializing in medical device, engineering, clinical, regulatory, operations, sales and marketing.
Phillips Dipisa
Recruitment firm placing healthcare professionals. throughout the east coast and Midwest.
Lordstone Corporation
Executive search and research firm recruiting candidates worldwide. Specializing in Manufacturing, Industrial, Consumer Goods and Services, Financial Services, Technology, Communications and Life Sci
PHC Consulting
provides sales, sales management, marketing and service / support personnel to companies in the laboratory products industry.
Allen Austin Executive Search Consultants
Executive search firm for technology, health care, government, non profit, defense, financial, food, construction, real estate, communications, consumer, retail, manufacturing, industrial, education,
RG Search
A national search firm based in Austin, TX with a practice focused on medical device, life sciences and biotechnology
anagement Recruiters of Laguna Hills/Orange County
under the same ownership/management for over 20 years.
Langton Howarth
a scientific recruitment specialist based in the UK
Pharma-Cruiting
A Philadelphia based life sciences executive search firm specializing in Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Clinical Laboratory, Clinical Research, Medical Devices, Molecular Diagnostics, Personalized Med
Real-Time Recruting Solutions
an independent research and recruiting firm specializing in Director & C-Level searches in a wide range of industries and disciplines
John Keister & Associates
Executive Search: Engineering, Science, Mathematics
ChampionScott Partners
retained executive search firm focused exclusively on the technology industry and related sectors.
Life Science Partner
at the intersection of science and business
Boyle Associates
Executive Search For Start Up, VC And Private Equity Funded Medical Device, Life Science, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology Companies
Boyden
A global executive search firm, we serve a multicultural client base that encompasses mature markets, emerging economies and developing markets across the globe. Our clients include transnational, mu
Stanton Chase International
executive search firm with offices all over this planet and beyond.
Paula Blank International
a retained executive search firm focused on the life sciences
TalentWRx, LLC.
provides innovative talent solutions to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries throughout the United States.
Carrie Stone and Associates
a retained executive search and leadership consulting firm performing searches for CEO's, Vice Presidents, Board of Directors and other senior executive positions.
National Search Associates
Executive Search and Recruitment
Domann
retained search firm that brings more than 25 years of leadership development to secure exceptional executives for life science companies.
Gess International
based out of Tokyo, Japan, serves the high tech industries and corporations in the Asian Pacific Market.
Victoria Sergeant & Associates
a retained global life science and pharmaceutical executive search firm.
Northcoast ExecuSearch, Inc.
Goldbeck Recruiting
Headhunter and Recruiter in Vancouver BC Canada. focusing on Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Life Sciences.
PK Hunter and Associates
an Executive Search Firm and Consulting Firm that has a proven track record of service and achievement within the life sciences industry.
Kaplan and Associates
a retained executive search firm headquartered in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Hunt Executive Search
Specializing in Executive Search in the Consumer Packaging Goods industry including food, beverage, personal care. We are located in Charlotte, NC.
BIC Group
an Executive Search firm specializing in Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, Biotech & Diagnostics industries in Japan and APAC markets
Business System Technologies Corp.
search firm located in New Jersey
Technical Image Solutions
our focus is matching qualified Scientists, Engineers, and Technologists with employers requiring technical degrees and valuable experience.
specializing in bio-med-tech, healthcare and medical insurance. We offer executive search, consultants and contract specialists.
Network Scientific
We specialise in recruitment within the scientific, engineering and medical industries.
Ann Grogan and Associates
specializes in the southeastern United Sates.
BM Associates, Inc.
IT Services and consuting company with a focus in data communications
CD Warner & Associates
We are an International Executive Search Firm established in 1996 covering North America, Central America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim
The McCormick Group, Inc.
An executive search firm in the Washington DC area.
Major, Lindsey & Africa
excels in creating matches with specific firms and companies where the outstanding lawyers we place will grow and thrive, adding tremendous value to both their careers and the organizations that profi
Yoh
a staffing agency that provides talent, HR outsourcing, temporary staffing, contract consulting and management solutions to employers. Agile Development.
CVPartners
Our foundation is in providing companies senior level resources in the Finance and Accounting space.
Witt/Kieffer
executive search firm devoted to healthcare, life sciences, higher education and not-for-profit industries, Witt/Kieffer serves hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and other health-re
North Line Partners
We are passionate about the business of recruiting leadership to your company.
Bench International
Life Science, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare recruiters
Solomon Page Group
a specialty niche provider of contingent staffing and project based solutions, executive search, and contingency full time placement.
Boston Search Group
a retained executive search firm for technology, life science and education companies.
Carlyle & Conlan
Our client roster includes multinational corporations, mid-cap through emerging growth companies, nonprofit entities, educational institutions, associations and governmental units.
The Weatherhills Group
provides a broad range of Executive, Management, and Professional search services for Life Science organizations and perspective candidates throughout the United States. We are headquartered in Roches
Charles Aris, Inc.
Talented leaders are the bedrock of business success. They set winning strategies. They drive innovation. They ensure execution. In today's challenging global economy, talent is more vital than ev
Bremer Associates
We are a boutique search firm, personally hand-recruiting and specializing in passive scientists and engineers of all disciplines.
WorldBridge Partners
We are in the business of identifying, qualifying and delivering high impact players that drive corporate goals, consistently deliver on commitments and systematically increase corporate revenues.
Management Recruiters of Nashville
innovative, results-oriented organization specializing exclusively within healthcare and life science since 1999.
Paragon Solutions
Paragon is a Business Process Management Consulting Firm that specializes in enterprise information management to help clients achieve better business results.
Access Staffing
specializes in recruiting impact players for Manufacturing Operations, Engineering, and Sales, plus supports our unique national job board full of accounting, life sciences, healthcare, retail, and in
O'Hara Associates
a boutique executive search firm specializing in the recruitment of top leadership to Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, Healthcare IT/Healthcare Services, and Life Sciences Organizations
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IBM Hybrid Cloud
Reducing risk with a holistic approach to records management
Hennepin is Minnesota’s biggest county—and its size means big volumes of data for the administration to manage. Hennepin County is using IBM unified governance and content management solutions to establish a rock-solid retention strategy for millions of records—helping teams defensibly dispose of data to drive down costs and risk.
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Explore IBM UG&I products
As information volumes at Hennepin County grew, so too did the risk and cost associated with managing this content. How could the organization take back control of its data?
Hennepin County is building a robust framework for managing the lifecycle of millions of electronic records, supported by IBM® Enterprise Records and IBM FileNet® Content Manager software.
Reduces risk
by enforcing consistent records management and retention policies
Cuts costs
by defensibly disposing of data that is no longer of business or legal value
More efficient
content management unlocks greater value from information assets
Rising tide of information
Hennepin is the largest county in Minnesota, with a population of more than 1.1 million people. These residents rely on Hennepin County Government for vital services, from food and health care assistance to transportation and housing.
Such extensive operations generate equally large volumes of information for Hennepin County to manage. More than 20 years ago, the organization went digital, building a centralized repository for electronic documents with IBM FileNet® Content Manager. Today, the platform holds over 60 million files and is used by eight government departments, including human services, public health and the county court system.
As its electronic document volumes soared, Hennepin County grew concerned that a lack of consistency around managing content was driving up costs and risk.
Karen Axel, Business Analyst in Records Management for Human Services and Public Health at Hennepin County, elaborates: “We had established some policies for defensibly disposing of data for regulatory purposes, but otherwise we ended up following a ‘retain everything forever’ approach. As our data volumes grew over the years, we realized that it was simply unsustainable to store all content indefinitely.
“Like many county governments, we operate with a tight budget and we didn’t want to have those limited resources swallowed up by constantly rising storage demands. We were also opening ourselves up to a great deal of unnecessary risk around eDiscovery. We regularly receive requests to preserve relevant electronically stored information as part of a legal hold. As the amount of content we store increases, so too does the cost, risk and effort involved in an eDiscovery response—and we wanted to find a way to minimize this.”
“ Beyond reducing the ongoing expense of storing, managing and backing up data, we anticipate that improved records retention will drive down the cost of responding to eDiscovery requests. ”
— Mark Miller, Principal Systems Software Programmer, Hennepin County
Transformation story
Shaping smarter records management
Hennepin County set out to shape a new strategy for managing information throughout its lifecycle. The organization’s priorities were twofold: create a robust records retention schedule and establish consistent policies for maintaining and disposing of content based on regulatory, legal and operational requirements.
To help streamline its records management efforts, Hennepin County decided to deploy IBM Enterprise Records. Mark Miller, Principal Systems Software Programmer at Hennepin County, recalls: “One of the key reasons why we chose Enterprise Records is because of its close integration with our existing content management system. FileNet Content Manager is a critical platform for our organization and finding a records management solution that fit into our environment so seamlessly was a big plus.”
To guide a smooth implementation of Enterprise Records, Hennepin County chose to work with local content management specialist and IBM Business Partner, Genus Technologies. Axel comments: “Genus Technologies was a great partner. The team worked alongside us to design and deploy Enterprise Records, and helped with knowledge transfer so that our developers and programmers could successfully manage the solution themselves.”
As part of its Enterprise Records deployment, Hennepin County established thoroughly defined processes for defensibly disposing of information. The organization works with two primary types of records: case files and person files—the latter pertain to documents containing personal data on citizens. It uses information provided by state and county agencies to create retention policies for these records, which are reviewed by relevant business members before being put into effect.
In addition, Hennepin County has built a “purge queue” for automating electronic content disposal. This process sweeps records systems once every hour; if it finds a document that has passed its retention date, it will mark that item for deletion. Subsequently, another process will sweep FileNet Content Manager to check if any of the documents in the purge queue are linked to case or person files and, if so, marks them for advanced-level disposition. This triggers an additional workflow, which validates whether any of the documents marked for deletion are linked to active case or person files. Inactive documents are purged automatically; active documents are removed from the purge queue and placed back into a normal records state.
Defensible disposal at Hennepin County doesn’t stop with electronic files. The organization also stores physical records at an off-site archiving facility. When teams purge an electronic document from Hennepin County’s systems, another team will be notified to dispose of any corresponding physical records as well.
Axel notes: “When you have very complex, interdependent processes like we do, your content management and retention requirements can be quite complicated. One of the advantages of Enterprise Records is that it delivers the enhanced capabilities we need to address these complexities and put together a very defined process for records retention.”
“ With a better understanding of the content that we have, and a more consistent way of managing that content throughout its lifecycle, we can empower our people to work with information more productively. ”
— Karen Axel, Business Analyst in Records Management, Human Services and Public Health, Hennepin County
Results story
Driving down costs and risk
By establishing responsible, standardized retention schedules for its enterprise records, Hennepin County is driving a more proactive and methodical approach to information management, which will help reduce costs and risk.
“With well-defined retention schedules in place, we can routinely and defensibly dispose of information that is no longer of business, regulatory or legal value,” states Miller. “Beyond reducing the ongoing expense of storing, managing and backing up data, we anticipate that improved records retention will drive down the cost of responding to eDiscovery requests.
“Now that we aren’t retaining everything forever, records teams will no longer have to sift through years and years of documents looking for every piece of potentially relevant information. With clear retention dates for records, our teams can be confident that we’re not holding on to content past a certain date and we can shrink the scope of eDiscovery activities, saving time, effort and money. Plus, we can provide a full audit trail to prove that disposal has been based on policies that are compliant with our contracts and regulations.”
Ultimately, by helping to ensure that information is captured, retained and disposed of properly, a strong records management framework enables Hennepin County to operate more efficiently—delivering greater value for taxpayers’ dollars.
Axel concludes: “With a better understanding of the content that we have, and a more consistent way of managing that content throughout its lifecycle, we can empower our people to work with information more productively—providing the insight and control they need to deliver responsive service to citizens and shape services that enhance the health, safety and quality of life of residents and communities in Hennepin County.
About Hennepin County
Hennepin County is a county in the US state of Minnesota that is made up of 45 municipalities, including the city of Minneapolis. Home to more than 1.1 million people, Hennepin is the largest of Minnesota’s 87 counties in budget, estimated market value and population.
Solution components
Enterprise Records (IER, RM)
FileNet Content Manager
IBM offers a comprehensive, scalable Unified Governance and Integration platform and solutions—available on premises, on cloud and hybrid environments—successfully delivering trusted data for insights and compliance to businesses, governments and individuals. Learn more about Unified Governance and Integration at ibm.com/unified-governance-integration. Follow us on Twitter at @IBMAnalytics, on our blog at ibmbigdatahub.com and join the conversation #IBMUGI.
View more client stories or learn more about IBM Unified Governance & Integration Solution
Genus Technologies helps clients to unify the management of enterprise content, video and rich media, providing centralized control over all their digital assets. Founded in 2008, Genus Technologies is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2018. 1 New Orchard Road, Armonk, New York 10504-1722 United States. Produced in the United States of America, October 2018.
IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, and FileNet are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the web at “Copyright and trademark information” at ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml.
The content in this document (including currency OR pricing references which exclude applicable taxes) is current as of the initial date of publication and may be changed by IBM at any time.
Not all offerings are available in every country in which IBM operates.
All client examples cited or described are presented as illustrations of the manner in which some clients have used IBM products and the results they may have achieved. Actual environmental costs and performance characteristics will vary depending on individual client configurations and conditions. Contact IBM to see what we can do for you.
The client is responsible for ensuring compliance with laws and regulations applicable to it. IBM does not provide legal advice or represent or warrant that its services or products will ensure that the client is in compliance with any law or regulation.
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Meet the new GM of Sibaya
KwaZulu-Natal / 17 June 2019, 3:00pm / Staff Reporter
Myan Moodley is the new general manager of Sun International’s Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom. Picture: Kevin Mark Pass
Myan Moodley has taken the position of general manager of Sun International’s Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom.
The former general manager of Wild Coast Sun Casino has over 25-years of experience in the entertainment and hospitality industry for well over 25 years.
Moodley, born in Tongaat, north of KwaZulu-Natal, said his first job was at Southern Sun Hotel Inn on the Square as a trainee chef.
But, Moodley wanted more. He pictured himself wearing a suit and being in management.
He managed to get his wish when he worked at the Ritz Protea when he became a night manager and then the front office manager.
During his career, Moodley has been the general manager at nine properties and was part of the leadership team that opened four hotels for the Southern Sun group, including Southern Sun Maputo. Other properties he worked at include the Monte Casino, The Holiday Inn in Milpark and the Cape Sun.
He said: “I took every opportunity that came my way, no matter what or where it was. I wanted to learn, grow and succeed and was not afraid of change.”
When Moodley was offered the job as general manager at the Wild Coast Sun, he and his team grew the business by double digits year on year for five consecutive years. He attributes the successes achieved throughout his career to commitment, tenacity, hard work, relationships and “fear of failure which drove me.”
“The hospitality industry is exciting but also demands a lot of time and dedication. The people are what makes this industry so special – without the amazing team I work with, it will be impossible to steer this ship in the right direction.
“If you really want something and you have the passion to drive you, you will most certainly reach your goal,” concludes an inspirational Myan.
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Home»ireland
Mary Robinson: David Attenborough's climate change speech 'has echoed around the world'
Tuesday, December 04, 2018 - 08:54 AM
Climate change measures need to be thoughtful and inclusive, says former President Mary Robinson.
She was responding to a speech by renowned nature broadcaster David Attenborough at the opening ceremony of the COP24 UN climate conference in Katowice, Poland, where he called climate change "our greatest threat in thousands of years."
He told world leaders that climate change could lead to the collapse of civilizations, and much of the natural world.
“Right now we are facing a manmade disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years: climate change,” he said.
“If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.”
Sir David Attenborough, the icon of nature documentaries, addresses world leaders on climate change: 'The world is in your hands.'
Watch more #COP24 coverage: https://t.co/hXIqbqBEoH pic.twitter.com/iDXLamd6XB
— Reuters TV (@ReutersTV) December 3, 2018
Ms Robinson said it had been a wonderful idea to have Mr Attenborough speak at the conference.
She said: “It has worked wonderfully, his voice has echoed around the world.”
It was important to communicate, “to get through the UN speak, to get through to people,” she told RTE’s Morning Ireland.
“We’re running out of time. It is important to take action now. We must be more ambitious. Big changes are happening."
"There is more concern at political level. The Government and political parties are taking the issue more seriously.”
There is a long way to go to catch up, she said, “but we’re on the right track.”
Skibbereen locals 'will be campaigning hard' against approved plastics factory
Ms Robinson said there are very tough targets, “but they are doable.”
“We must take action with much more ambition to be on track for a carbon-neutral world. That’s why what David Attenborough said is important. The situation is potentially catastrophic, but it is doable. People need to take steps in their own lives. They need to get cross if governments are not doing enough.”
She said that Ireland is changing and needs to be a leader. But any changes need to be socially just, they need to be inclusive and thoughtful, she added.
The former President pointed out that changes in the peat industry need to include “a just transition”, with new jobs, new training and that the carbon tax should not have an impact only on those on low incomes who rely on fossil fuels for work.
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David Attenboroughclimate changeenvironmentIrelandMary RobinsonTOPIC: Climate change
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Wind blows and lightning strikes but birdies still fly in at pulsating Portrush
Fri, Jun 29, 2012, 01:00
Philip Reid
IRISH OPEN:AN IRASCIBLE, pernickety weather front did its best to spoil the occasion. But it couldn’t. Nothing could, or deserved to, as the Irish Open – on its return to an old stomping ground – delivered a rare auld atmosphere and, more importantly, on a course set up to ease any potential weather hardships, a plethora of birdies to deliver a statement of intent – this will be a great event!
And if the four Irish Major champions of recent vintage in the field completed their first day’s work with varying degrees of satisfaction, the bottom line was all finished with sub-par rounds.
None of them had inflicted any great damage to their aspirations of claiming a cherished title as Pádraig Harrington (68), Rory McIlroy (70), Graeme McDowell (71) and Darren Clarke (71) jockeyed into positions to challenge.
On a day when, for a time, thunder rattled the dark clouds overhead and threatened lightning forced a suspension in play for 95 minutes, such disruptions were mere nuisances to the greater good. The scores confirmed it, as Jeev Milkha Singh of India and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy led the birdie blitz with rounds of 65, seven-under-par, that gave them a share of the lead.
US PGA champion Keegan Bradley had an adventurous introduction to competitive links golf in company with McIlroy, the American eventually signing for an opening 73 and with some work left to make the cut.
The roars were loud, and constant. None more so when James Morrison holed-out with his tee-shot on the 14th, the much-feared “Calamity Corner”, for an ace (he gets a BMW X6 for his troubles) and, some time later, Jamie Donaldson holed-in-one on the sixth (he gets a vintage bottle of Bushmills).
For McIlroy, with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, following her exit from the women’s singles at Wimbledon, adding her voice of support to those of the vocal galleries, it was a round which promised more than it ultimately delivered. The world number two was four-under-par without a blemish on his card through 15 holes, but three-putted the 16th for bogey, and, then, repeated the infraction on the 18th. In between, he failed to birdie the par-five 17th.
“Not a great way to finish,” conceded McIlroy, “to drop a couple of shots (coming in) was pretty disappointing. It was just a sloppy finish . . . . I was happy with my game, not happy with the result. It could have been a lot better.
“As the day went on, the greens got a little slower. You could see that with some of the puts we were hitting. But I’m not too disappointed. I know my game is good enough to go out there (and shoot a low round).”
His mindset? “Just to go out there and try and make good swings and make good shots. Overall, if you cut out the last three holes, I’d be pretty happy.”
All in all, it was a strong opening gambit from the Irish contingent, headed by Harrington.
For a time, it looked as if his old sparring mate, Paul McGinley, coming here on the back of a tied-third finish in the BMW International, would even surpass him. But the Dubliner admitted that mental and some physical tiredness led to a closing three-putt bogey five on the 18th as he signed for a 69.
As for Clarke, who has taken his ambassadorial role with aplomb, this first round was as much about as the tournament as his own score. As it happened, the British Open champion – who hasn’t played in five weeks due to a groin strain – managed to turn his round around after a poor start which saw him reach the turn in two-over. Three birdies in seven holes enabled him to turn matters around.
“I just made three or four really, really stupid mistakes as if I didn’t know the course,” he confessed.
Showing his determination, though, Clarke did manage to transform his game to such an extent he became one of the 93 players – remarkably high, but indicative of the generous pin locations – who dipped under par.
And, on the bigger picture, Clarke was happy so many boxes had been ticked in the efforts to prove Royal Portrush worthy of even bigger things. “I’m not foolish enough to put words in the RA’s mouth, they obviously know what they are doing with the (British) Open championship, all we can do is show we can cope on all levels with a major tournament such as this . . . . we hope this is another step in the right direction and they will take a look and give it due consideration.”
For now, the focus is on the Irish Open. And Messrs Singh and Bourdy only have to look at the packed, chasing pack to know that all the really hard work lies in the days ahead.
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Lisa M. Weatherly*1,2, Rachel H. Kennedy*1,2, Juyoung Shim1, Julie A. Gosse1,2
1Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, 2Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono
* These authors contributed equally
Quantification of three DNA Lesions by Mass Spectrometry and Assessment of Their Levels in Tissues of Mice Exposed to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter…
Published: 11/01/2013
Mast cell degranulation, the release of allergic mediators, is important in allergy, asthma, and parasite defense. Here we demonstrate techniques1 for assessing effects of drugs and toxicants on degranulation, methodology recently utilized to exhibit the powerful inhibitory effect of antibacterial agent triclosan2.
Weatherly, L. M., Kennedy, R. H., Shim, J., Gosse, J. A. A Microplate Assay to Assess Chemical Effects on RBL-2H3 Mast Cell Degranulation: Effects of Triclosan without Use of an Organic Solvent. J. Vis. Exp. (81), e50671, doi:10.3791/50671 (2013).
Mast cells play important roles in allergic disease and immune defense against parasites. Once activated (e.g. by an allergen), they degranulate, a process that results in the exocytosis of allergic mediators. Modulation of mast cell degranulation by drugs and toxicants may have positive or adverse effects on human health. Mast cell function has been dissected in detail with the use of rat basophilic leukemia mast cells (RBL-2H3), a widely accepted model of human mucosal mast cells3-5. Mast cell granule component and the allergic mediator β-hexosaminidase, which is released linearly in tandem with histamine from mast cells6, can easily and reliably be measured through reaction with a fluorogenic substrate, yielding measurable fluorescence intensity in a microplate assay that is amenable to high-throughput studies1. Originally published by Naal et al.1, we have adapted this degranulation assay for the screening of drugs and toxicants and demonstrate its use here.
Triclosan is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent that is present in many consumer products and has been found to be a therapeutic aid in human allergic skin disease7-11, although the mechanism for this effect is unknown. Here we demonstrate an assay for the effect of triclosan on mast cell degranulation. We recently showed that triclosan strongly affects mast cell function2. In an effort to avoid use of an organic solvent, triclosan is dissolved directly into aqueous buffer with heat and stirring, and resultant concentration is confirmed using UV-Vis spectrophotometry (using ε280 = 4,200 L/M/cm)12. This protocol has the potential to be used with a variety of chemicals to determine their effects on mast cell degranulation, and more broadly, their allergic potential.
Mast cells are highly granulated immune effector cells that serve as key mediators in asthma, allergies, parasite defense and carcinogenesis13-16. They reside in nearly every vascularized tissue15, where they safely store allergic and inflammatory mediators in cytoplasmic granules until activated to degranulate. Degranulation is the exocytosis of membrane-bound granules, which results in the release of pharmacologically active mediators such as histamine, tryptase, and leukotrienes15. This process results in the initiation of type I hypersensitivity reactions that are critical in mounting defense against parasites as well as initiating allergic, asthmatic, and carcinogenic responses15.
Mast cells and basophils express FcεRI receptors, the high-affinity receptors for immunoglobulin E (IgE)17. Exposure to an allergen or antigen causes aggregation of multiple IgE-bound FcεRI receptors17, and it is this so-called "crosslinking" of IgE-bound Fc receptors that initiates the degranulation process: a cascade of tyrosine phosphorylation events, the activation of phospholipase C, efflux of calcium from internal stores, and influx of calcium into the cell18. This calcium influx is necessary for degranulation, and, further, signals granule fusion with the membrane before causing granule exocytosis15. Experimentally, a calcium ionophore can be used to shuttle calcium directly across the cell membrane19, which essentially bypasses all signal transduction steps prior to the calcium influx step20, allowing for the identification of a pathway target by a toxicant as being upstream or downstream of calcium signaling20.
Degranulation can be measured rapidly and effectively by monitoring the release of β-hexosaminidase into cell supernatant, which is released linearly from the granules alongside histamine6, but is much easier to detect using a simple enzyme-substrate reaction and a microplate reader to assay the fluorescent product. This microplate assay, as detailed in the protocol section, is based upon a robust method originally developed by Naal et al.1, which quantifies the cleavage of the fluorogenic substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminide by β-hexosaminidase. We have modified the assay to test effects of drugs and toxicants, with triclosan highlighted here. This method reliably quantifies degranulation, is an inexpensive alternative to, for example, flow cytometric-based detection methods21, and has the potential to lend itself nicely to high-throughput screening of a wide variety of anti-allergy drugs, as well as immunotoxic or allergenic chemicals. This last point is particularly important in light of the 2007 National Research Council report "Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy" (http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11970), which advocates for the development of high-throughput toxicology tests that utilize cell culture to reduce the costly use of traditional lab animals such as mice. The degranulation protocol developed by Naal et al.1 and modified by us2, utilizes the RBL-2H3 cell line, which is a well-accepted model homologous to human mucosal mast cells or basophils3-5. (Methods for culturing RBL-2H3 cells are detailed in Hutchinson et al.22). This assay could likely be adapted to any attached mast cell type.
Triclosan (TCS) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that has been used for more than 30 years in hospitals, personal care products, and consumer goods23,24. The mode of action for TCS’s antimicrobial characteristic is the inhibition of fatty-acid biosynthesis, likely by inhibiting enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase25,26. It is found worldwide in a wide range of consumer products such as shower gel, hand lotion, toothpaste, mouthwash, and in hand soaps at concentrations up to 0.3% or 10 mM24. Widespread use of TCS has resulted in detectable levels in humans27-29 and in rivers and streams30. A study done by Allmyr et al.27 demonstrated that TCS and its metabolites are present in both the plasma and milk from nursing mothers. Importantly, TCS is readily absorbed into the skin31-37. Queckenberg et al.37 found ~10% absorption of an ~70 mM TCS cream into human skin within 12 hr, resulting in significant concentration in the skin, where mast cells reside.
TCS has been shown clinically to manage human allergic skin disease7-11, but the mechanism by which TCS alleviates allergic skin diseases has been unknown38. Using the fluorescent microplate assay detailed in this video, we recently demonstrated that TCS, at concentrations as low as 2 μM, significantly dampens mast cell function and degranulation, providing a potential explanation for these clinical data2. In addition to providing an explanation for these clinical data, our findings in Palmer et al.2 suggest that TCS targets signaling molecules downstream of calcium influx. Due to the importance of calcium signaling in many immunological and other biological processes, TCS could potentially have adverse effects on a wide variety of necessary biological processes. In fact, Udoji et al.39 showed that TCS suppresses human natural killer cell lytic activity, another important innate immune function.
Beyond its potential as a therapeutic aid in allergic skin disease (or, conversely, as an immunotoxicant), TCS may also be an endocrine disruptor40-49. Thus, a clear procedure on how to prepare this chemical in solution is of interest to toxicologists. Because TCS is a small hydrophobic molecule, organic vehicles are often used to make it more soluble in water. In most toxicity studies where TCS has been tested, preparation has involved dissolution in water with the aid of an organic solvent such as ethanol, acetone, or oil2,50,51. However, often times these solvents are biologically active themselves, thereby complicating interpretation of the test chemical data51. In fact, according to Rufli et al.52 and others53, it is recommended that test solutions for aquatic toxicity experiments are prepared using physical methods over chemical methods, due to the potential of chemical solvents to create toxicity artifacts. We have previously shown that TCS dissolved in 0.24% ethanol/water (vol/vol) and sonicated for 30 min dampens RBL mast cell degranulation2. Ethanol at higher concentrations than 0.24% has been shown to dampen mast cell degranulation54,55 -examples of the potentially confounding effects of organic solvents on toxicity studies.
Not only is it important to consider the effect of solvents on the organism or cells used for study, but also it is important to monitor the effect of a solvent on the test chemical itself. For example, Skaare et al.51 found that dissolving TCS in polyethylene glycol (commonly found in toothpastes and mouthwash) weakened anti-bacterial and anti-plaque effects in healthy female women while dissolution in oils caused a complete loss of function. Therefore, the ability of different solvents to modulate toxicant and drug, including TCS, effects should be considered in assay design. Use of oils or flavor additives may interfere with the effects of TCS in various products50,51.
In an effort to eliminate the need to use organic solvents, we improved upon our method for dissolving TCS2 by eliminating the use of an organic solvent. In the present protocol, we dissolve TCS granules directly into aqueous buffer with heat (≤50 °C), and then verify the concentration of this TCS stock by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. These improvements are possible because TCS is soluble in water up to 40 µM (http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/2340red.pdf) and has been shown to resist degradation when heated to 50 °C (http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65/public_meetings/052909coms/triclosan/ciba3.pdf)56,57. We also have the added benefit of UV-Vis spectrophotometry, as TCS also is known to strongly absorb at 280 nm58 with a molar extinction coefficient of 4,200 L/mol/cm12.
This protocol provides a simple, yet effective way to dissolve TCS granules into a buffer without the aid of an organic solvent, including low cost and rapid verification of concentration, and describes a powerful fluorescent microplate assay for monitoring chemical effects on mast cell degranulation.
Note that all buffer recipes are included in a table at the end of the protocol text.
1. Preparation of Cells
Plan out 96-well plate setup scheme, centering test samples on the layout in order to avoid edge effects. Allocate three replicates for each TCS concentration tested (± degranulation stimulant of antigen or ionophore), as well as triplicates for spontaneous release (no degranulation stimulant), maximum release (0.2% Triton X-100 [TX] detergent lysis), as well as wells reserved for background samples (which will contain no cells). For each replicate experimental day, choose a new randomized layout of the TCS sample concentrations.
Warm RBL media (recipe provided in table) and trypsin in 37 °C water bath.
Check RBL cells in T-25 flask (2-4 days since last passage and less than 3-4 months since they were thawed) for general signs of good health: proper pH indicated by color of media, and lack of cloudiness. Place the flask under a light microscope to confirm that the flask is free of contamination and that the cells appear healthy, properly confluent, and mostly attached. Note that cells should be checked for mycoplasma contamination approximately every six weeks22.
Treatment Triplicates
Stimulated, 0 µM TCS A7, B7, C7, F4, G4, H4
Stimulated, 0.001 µM TCS F6, G6, H6
Stimulated, 0.1 µM TCS A4, B4, C4
Stimulated, 1 µM TCS A6, B6, C6
Stimulated, 5 µM TCS F5, G5, H5
Stimulated, 10 µM TCS A3, B3, C3
Stimulated, 20 µM TCS F7, G7, H7
Stimulated, plus highest [TCS] F3, G3, H3
Spontaneous, No TCS (includes mocks) A10, A11, A12, B10, B11, B12 A1, A2, A8, B1, B2, B8, C1, C2, C8, F1, F2, F8, G1, G2, G8, H1, H2, H8
TX-100, No TCS D10, D11, D12, E10, E11, E12
No Cells, Background, plus highest [TCS] G10, G11, G12, H10, H11, H12
Click here to view larger image.
Take the RBL cell flask into the sterile tissue culture (TC) hood. The cells are attached to the bottom of the flask. Working under the TC hood and using standard sterile technique, remove all media from flask with sterile pipette; the cells remain attached to the bottom of the flask. Next, rinse flask with 2 ml trypsin, then discard this wash.
Add exactly 2 ml trypsin to cover bottom of the flask. Put into 37 °C incubator for 5 min to allow the cells to detach from the bottom of the flask.
After 5 min, hit the side of the flask with an open palm to loosen cells. Immediately, add 18 ml RBL media to wash cells off the flask and to quench the trypsin. Immediately take the cell-media-trypsin mixture out of the flask and transfer to a new, sterile 50 ml tube (the total volume in this tube is now 20 ml).
After mixing gently but thoroughly, remove 50 µl of cell suspension from this tube, and transfer to a 1.5 ml sterile microcentrifuge tube, which is a sample to be counted. Take this sample, as well as the 50 ml tube containing the cell-media-trypsin mixture out of the TC hood to the benchtop.
Spin the 50 ml tube in centrifuge (with appropriate balance) for 8 min at 500 x g; this force pellets cells effectively.
During the spin time, count the cells in the sample that were isolated before spinning. To do this, first add 50 µl of trypan blue dye to 50 µl of cells in 1.5 ml tube, and gently but thoroughly pipette up and down 5x to mix. Immediately, transfer 10 µl of this mixture to the glass hematocytometer, and count cells in the grid area following manufacturer instructions. Count at least 100 cells for reasonable statistical results.
Back in the TC hood, remove supernatant from cells that were spun down.
Cap the cell tube, and flick pellet at the bottom of the tube to loosen cells.
Add media to trypsinized cells to yield a density of 0.5 x 106 cells/ml, based on the cell count.
Mix well but gently to keep cells suspended during the plating procedure. Using a Pipetman, put 100 µl cells/well in a 96-well plate (flat, black bottom), following the plate template sheet. Randomize how cells are added to wells to avoid systematic error, and mix after each set of three wells is added. Be sure not to put cells into the wells labeled for the background samples.
Once all cells have been transferred, place the plate lid onto the plate, and transfer to the incubator (37 °C/5% CO2) overnight. Clean up following standard sterile technique.
2. Preparation of Triclosan
Using a graduated cylinder, measure 250 ml Tyrodes Buffer (recipe provided in table) into a 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask labeled "TCS-buffer." Add stir bar. Use glassware, stir bar, thermometer designated for use with TCS only.
Also at this time, measure 250 ml Tyrodes into a separate 500 mL Erlenmeyer flask, labeled "control buffer." Use glassware, stir bar, thermometer that are NOT designated for TCS. Add stir bar.
Weigh out 0.0022 g of TCS granules and transfer to "TCS-buffer" flask (which contains 250 ml Tyrodes Buffer). In order to efficiently transfer granules to Erlenmeyer flask, use 10 ml from the measured 250 ml Tyrodes to wash off weigh boat, making sure all TCS has been transferred.
Place "TCS-buffer" flask onto a combination hotplate/magnetic stir plate, and set it to stir at a manageably high speed. Once well mixed, this TCS stock will nominally be 30 µM (actual concentration will be calculated after heating). (Do all mixing in a chemical fume hood.)
Also at this time, place the "control buffer" flask (containing no TCS) onto a second combination hotplate/magnetic stir plate, and set it to stir at a similar speed.
Turn on UV/Vis Lamp to warm up the lamp for later use.
Heat the "TCS-buffer" solution to 50 °C while stirring constantly. Once up to temperature, time for 90 min. During the 90 min, continue to monitor 50 °C temperature and appropriate stirring speed frequently.
Simultaneously, heat the "control buffer" solution (which is just 250 ml of plain Tyrodes buffer) to 50 °C with continuous stirring. Upon reaching 50 °C, time for 90 min, during which time temperature (keeping at 50 °C) and stirring are both monitored.
At end of the 90 min, take both Erlenmeyer flasks off the hot plates and transfer to the benchtop.
Using the wavelength scan function on a UV/Vis spectrophotometer, blank the machine on 1 ml of the heated "control buffer" solution before scanning 1 ml of heated "TCS-buffer" solution. Check the shape of the spectrum, and record Absorbance value at 280 nm. To determine the concentration, use the Beer-Lambert equation (A280=ε280ℓc) using an ε280 of 4200 L/mol/cm12 and ℓ of 1 cm.
After determining the TCS concentration, add 0.249 g bovine serum albumin (BSA) to the remaining 249 ml of the "TCS-buffer" solution, and mix well.
Simultaneously, add 0.249 g BSA to the remaining 249 ml of "control buffer" solution, and mix well.
3. Antigen-stimulated Degranulation Assay Using RBL-2H3 Cells
Before starting, check the pH of all buffers being used, and ensure that they are clear and not cloudy: this includes Tyrodes buffer, sodium acetate buffer, and glycine carbonate buffer (recipes provided in table).
Warm RBL media and trypsin in 37 °C water bath.
Make BT (1 mg/ml BSA in Tyrodes buffer): 0.05 g BSA + 50 ml Tyrodes Buffer (X2). Put into 37 °C water bath.
Make 0.2% Triton X-100: 3.136 ml of BT + 64 µl of 10% Triton X-100 (final concentration of Triton X-100 is 0.2%). Mix well by inversion, but do not vortex. Put into 37 °C water bath.
Start preparation of the TCS and heated Tyrodes buffer (steps "2," above). Note: Do not start the next step (IgE exposure) until the "TCS-buffer" and "control buffer" solutions reach 50 °C and stir for the first 70 min of the 90 min heat/stirring time.
Once both solutions have been stirred at 50 °C for 70 min, make up 0.1 µg/ml anti-DNP mouse IgE (Sigma) in RBL media for sample wells to be sensitized (100 µl/well). IgE stock should not be older than 30 days when stored at 4 °C; record how old the stock is. Flick to mix, but do not vortex IgE.
Under a TC hood, add 0.6 µl IgE stock (stock is 1 mg/ml) to 6 ml RBL media in a 50 ml tube. In a second 50 ml tube, add 6 ml of plain RBL media only (which is intended for nonsensitized samples).
Dump all media from 96-well plate (that was prepared on Day 1) into sink, and bring the plate under the TC hood.
Randomly add 100 µl media/IgE mixture to wells that should be stimulated (48 wells total). This mixture is not intended for "spontaneous", "TX," and "background" samples.
Randomly add 100 µl plain RBL media only to "TX," "spontaneous," and "background" wells.
Put plate lid on plate, and then move plate into 5% CO2 /37 °C incubator for 1 hr.
During 1 hr incubation, follow steps 3.13 - 3.24.
On the benchtop, prepare the antigen dilutions. Add 0.53 µl of 1.6 mg/ml stock DNP-BSA + 850 µl BT to get an antigen concentration of 1 µg/ml. Vortex and invert this stock to mix.
Once "TCS-buffer" and "control buffer" have been heated and then stirred for 90 min at 50 °C, continue on with the rest of the preparation for the TCS protocol (go to steps 2.6 - 2.8.1). After the BSA is dissolved into both solutions, continue below.
Begin preparing the exposure buffers, with ± Ag, ± TCS. First, from the 249 ml sample of "TCS-buffer" solution (that has already been heated and stirred for 90 min), transfer 50 ml to a new 50 ml conical tube. Remove 20 µl of this 50 ml aliquot and replace it with 20 µl of the 1 µg/ml antigen prepared earlier for a final antigen concentration of 0.0004 µg/ml DNP-BSA. Vortex and invert.
Label this "Tube 1, High TCS/+Ag/+BT." It is used for dilutions and highest TCS concentration exposure.
From the 249 ml sample of "control buffer" solution, transfer 50 ml to a new 50 ml tube. Remove 20 µl of this new 50-ml aliquot and replace with 20 µl of the 1 µg/ml antigen prepared earlier for a final antigen concentration of 0.0004 µg/ml DNP-BSA. Vortex and invert.
Label this "Tube 2, No TCS/+Ag/+BT". Used for TCS dilutions and 0 µM TCS concentration exposure.
Now take out 50 ml of "TCS-buffer" solution and put into another 50-ml tube. Remove 20 µl from this new 50-ml aliquot and replace it with 20 µl of plain BT. Vortex and invert. No antigen is added.
Label this "Tube 3, High TCS/No Ag/+BT." This is used for background.
Transfer 50 ml of "control buffer" solution to another 50-ml tube. Take out 20 µl from this new 50-ml aliquot and replace it with 20 µl of plain BT. Vortex and invert. (No Ag is added.)
Label this "Tube 4, No TCS/No Ag/+BT." This is used for background and spontaneous samples.
BSA TCS Antigen
Tube 1 High [ ]
Tube 2 NO
Tube 3 High [ ] NO
Tube 4 NO NO
Calculate and record volumes for dilutions after determining the concentration of the "TCS-buffer" stock. Total volume for each dilution concentration should be 1 ml and should be prepared in a sterile microcentrifuge tube. Use calibrated P2 and P1000 Pipetman.
Concentration High Triclosan+Tyrodes+BSA+0.0004 µg/ml Ag
(Tube 1 from above) Heated BT+0.0004 µg/ml Ag
(Tube 2 from above)
20 µM
5 µM
0.001 µM
0 µM (top of plate) ----------------------- 500 µl plus another 500 µl
0 µM (bottom of plate) ----------------------- 500 µl plus another 500 µl
After 1-hr IgE incubation, take plate out of incubator and toss all media into sink. (Note: if test chemicals are known to be more toxic than the consumer product TCS, hazardous waste disposal may be necessary.)
Using a Combitip, randomly wash cells in the 96-well plate with BSA-Tyrodes Buffer (200 µl/well). Release the wash buffer onto the sides of the wells, rather than directly onto the attached cells, in order to avoid disturbing the attached cells. Repeat the process a second time.
To prepare treatments for application, vortex and invert dilutions right before addition to the plate.
Starting with the top section of the plate: Randomly add triplicates of 200 µl each of the antigen solutions (with correct concentrations of TCS) to the corresponding wells. Continue to bottom of plate. Add "control buffer" solution plus Ag (from "Tube 2" above) to all "mocks" on the plate.
Add 200 µl of appropriate solutions to corresponding wells:
Add 200 µl of 0.2% Triton X-100 to "TX"-designated wells.
Next, add 200 µl of Tube 3 to the 3 wells labeled "Background (BkgD)-Highest TCS" on the plate.
Finally, add 200 µl of Tube 4 to 6 wells labeled "Spontaneous."
Incubate the plate for 1 hr in 37 °C/5% CO2.
During 1 hr incubation: Get two buckets of ice (one for "old" plate in incubator and one for new plate). Thaw 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide (4-MU) at room temperature for up to 40 min, keeping in foil because it is light sensitive.
Once 4-MU stock is thawed, make up 4-MU working solution: 150 µl stock + 14.85 ml of cold acetate buffer (recipe given in table); vortex and invert. Keep in 50 ml centrifuge tube, wrapped in foil, and on ice until use.
Using Combitip, randomly add 100 µl cold 4-MU working solution into the very bottom of each well of a NEW Grenier black 96-well plate (on ice bucket #2). Start first by adding the working solution randomly within the top of the plate, randomly within the bottom of the plate, randomly within Triton X-100 wells, and finally randomly within background wells.
Get out new box of P200 tips for next step.
At the end of 1-hr incubation, put cell plate from incubator onto ice bucket #1, pipette supernatant up and down 4-5x (gently, not introducing bubbles), going around the well for good mixing but not touching the cells while mixing. Systematically, take out 25 µl sample from each well and place into the new plate with substrate (same ordering of samples, as originally planned out). Pipette up and down to mix sample thoroughly when in new well, without introducing bubbles.
Incubate for 30 min at 37 °C/5% CO2.
After 30 min incubation, randomly add 200 µl of cold glycine-carbonate buffer per well (using Combitip) to fill wells up to 325 µl total. (Make this addition to the Triton X-100 samples last, to avoid Triton X-100 spillover). Check for bubbles before reading plate (poke with clean P10 pipette tip to pop any bubbles).
Run the plate in the fluorescence plate reader (go to section 4).
4. Fluorescent Plate Reader Instructions and Data Analysis
Open Gen5 program, and open experiment section.
Turn on plate reader and insert plate (upper left corner is A1).
Protocol Procedure Read to set custom readings. Do not add anything about samples, replicates, etc., in order to collect raw fluorescence data from each well.
Under "Read" choose "fluorescence," "Endpoint," "Normal Speed," "Gain 40," "Excitation 360/40," "Emission 460/40," Optics position: Top 50%. Top optical offset: 7mm. No shake, no delay, no kinetics, no monitor well, temperature: incubator off.
Choose flat black bottom, 96-well plate (Grenier 96-well, Flat Bottom).
Deal with the plate layout: Protocol plate layout. Set up samples without indicating repeats, dilutions, etc.
Plate read.
Save file: Click the "Excel" button, which will export data file to Excel. Do this for plate layout and for matrix. Save the file on the computer and on a USB drive.
In Excel, subtract the average background reading from every sample, including Triton X-100 wells.
Calculate relative % degranulation by dividing each value (already having had background subtracted) by the average Triton X-100 value, and then multiply by 100 to make it a percentage.
Average all triplicates, and calculate standard deviation. Graph data in excel as mean values ± standard deviation. For statistical testing, move now to Prism software by GraphPad.
5. Ionophore Stimulated Degranulation Assay Using RBL-2H3 Cells
Follow protocol for "Preparation of cells" (Section 1, Day 1) and "Preparation of triclosan" (Section 2, Day 2), as instructed above. The plate layout example for ionophore stimulation is shown below.
Stimulated, 0.01 µM TCS F3, G3, H3
Stimulated, 5 µM [TCS F5, G5, H5
Spontaneous, with DMSO, no TCS (includes mocks) A10, A11, A12, B10, B11, B12 A1, A2, A8, B1, B2, B8, C1, C2, C8, F1, F2, F8, G1, G2, G8, H1, H2, H8
TX-100, with DMSO, no TCS D10, D11, D12, E10, E11, E12
No cells background, with DMSO, plus highest [TCS] G10, G11, G12, H10, H11, H12
Before starting, check the pH of all buffers being used, and ensure that they are clear and not cloudy. Tyrodes, sodium acetate buffer, and glycine carbonate buffer (recipes provided in table).
Prepare one 50 ml conical tube of BT by adding 0.05 g BSA to 50 ml tyrodes buffer and by vortexing to mix well. Incubate in 37 °C water bath.
Make 0.2% Triton X-100 with 0.0032% DMSO (the final calcium ionophore vehicle concentration) by adding 96 μl of 10% Triton X-100 to 4.704 ml BT. Mix well. Next, take out 0.155 μl of this solution and discard. Now add back in 0.155 μl of 100% DMSO.
Prepare a 5 mM stock (2.5 mg/ml) of A23187 ionophore from powder by adding 400 μl of fresh 100% DMSO into the ionophore vial and vortexing to mix. Once in solution, transfer to a 1.5-ml conical tube, record contents and today’s date and expiry (3 months from preparation when stored properly at -20 °C).
Alternatively, if using a frozen stock today, thaw on ice, and check that the 5 mM A23187 ionophore is well mixed and clear. Vortex, flick, and invert this stock before using. Record date of preparation and Lot # of this A23187.
Once "TCS-buffer" and "control buffer" have been heated and stirred for 90 min, continue the rest of the preparation for TCS protocol (go to steps 2.6-2.8.1). After the BSA is well mixed into both solutions, continue with the remaining protocol steps.
From the 249 ml sample of "TCS-buffer" solution, transfer 50 ml to a new 50 ml conical tube. Remove 1.8 µl of the 50 ml aliquot and add 1.8 µl of 5 mM ionophore stock. Vortex 3x for 8 sec and invert 3x. Final ionophore concentration is 180 nM. Note that this concentration of A23187 will vary depending on stock potency, and an A23187 ionophore dose response is recommended to identify a concentration of A23187 that elicits a degranulation level of roughly 20% maximal release, which has been identified as a noncytotoxic to RBL-2H3 cells by cytotoxicity assay (see2).
Label this "Tube 1, High TCS/+Ionophore/+BT." Used for dilutions and highest TCS concentration exposure.
From the 249 ml sample of "control buffer" solution, transfer 50 ml to a new 50 ml conical tube. Take out 1.8 µl of the 50 ml aliquot and add back in 1.8 µl of 5 mM ionophore stock. Vortex 3x for 8 sec and invert 3x. Final ionophore concentration is 180 nM.
Label this "Tube 2, No TCS/+Ionophore/+BT." This is used for dilutions and 0 µM TCS concentrations.
From the 249 ml sample of "TCS-buffer" solution, transfer 50 ml to a new 50 ml conical tube. Take out 1.8 µl of the new 50 ml aliquot and add 1.8 µl of 100% DMSO. Vortex 3x for 8 sec and invert 3x; no ionophore is added.
Label this "Tube 3, High TCS/No Ionophore/+BT/+DMSO"; used for background.
From the 249 ml sample of "control buffer" solution, transfer 50 ml to a new 50 ml conical tube. Take out 1.8 µl from the new 50 ml aliquot and add 1.8 µl of 100% DMSO. Vortex 3x for 8 sec and invert 3x. No Ionophore is added.
Label this "Tube 4, No TCS/No Ionophore/+ BT/+DMSO"; used for spontaneous release samples.
BSA TCS Ionophore Added 100% DMSO
Calculate and record volumes for dilutions after determining the concentration of the "TCS-buffer" stock. Use calibrated P2 and P1000 Pipetman. Total volume for each dilution concentration should be 1 ml, and should be prepared in a sterile microcentrifuge tube:
Concentration High Triclosan+Tyrodes+BSA+180 nM A23187 (Tube 1 from above) Heated BT+180 nM A23187 (Tube 2 from above)
0 µM (top of plate) ---------------------------------- 500 µl plus another 500 µl
0 µM (bottom of plate) ---------------------------------- 500 µl plus another 500 µl
Take the cells plated yesterday out of the incubator, and empty the media into the sink. Using a Combitip, randomly wash cells in the 96-well plate with BT (200 μl/well). Repeat the wash a second time.
To prepare treatments for application, vortex and invert dilutions right before addition to the plate. Starting with the top section of the plate: Randomly add triplicates of 200 µl each of the correct concentration of TCS to the corresponding well. Continue to bottom of plate. Add "control buffer" solution plus A23187 (from "Tube 2" above) to all "mocks" on the plate.
Finally, add 200 µl of Tube 4 to six wells labeled "Spontaneous."
During the 1 hr incubation: Get two buckets of ice (one for "old" plate in incubator and one for new plate). Thaw 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide (4-MU) at room temperature for up to 40 min, keeping in foil because it is light sensitive.
Using Combitip, randomly add 100 µl cold 4-MU working solution into the very bottom of each well of a NEW Grenier black 96-well plate (on ice bucket #2): start first by adding the working solution randomly within the top of the plate, randomly within the bottom of the plate, randomly within Triton X-100 wells, and finally randomly within background wells.
At the end of 1-hr incubation, put cell plate from incubator on ice bucket #1, pipette supernatant up and down 4-5x (gently, not introducing bubbles), going around the well for good mixing but not touching the cells while mixing. Systematically, take out 25 µl sample from each well and place into the new plate with substrate (same ordering of samples, as originally planned out). Pipette up and down to mix sample thoroughly when in new well, without introducing bubbles.
After 30 min incubation, randomly add 200 µl cold glycine-carbonate buffer per well (using Combitip) to fill wells up to 325 µl total (make this addition to the Triton X-100 samples last, to avoid Triton X-100 spillover). Check for bubbles before reading plate (poke with clean P10 pipette tip to pop any bubbles).
Run the plate in the fluorescence plate reader (Follow all steps in section 4).
When heated to 50 °C for 90 min, the UV-Vis absorbance spectrum for TCS produces a strong, smooth curve between ~260 and 300 nm, with a peak at 280 nm, as shown in Figure 1. UV-Vis spectrophotometry is, therefore, an important tool that can be utilized to calculate concentration, since the published molar absorption coefficient at 280 nm is 4,200 L/mol/cm12. We have found that TCS does not fall out of solution during the time frame of the entire degranulation experiment, following the 50 °C heating (data not shown).
After using this heating method to dissolve TCS directly into aqueous buffer, we examined the effect of TCS on mast cell degranulation using a fluorescence-based assay that was optimized from Naal et al.1 This assay records the level of β-hexosaminidase released from mast cells after one-hour incubation by detecting a fluorogenic substrate product. Whether stimulated to degranulate by DNP-BSA antigen (Figure 2) or calcium ionophore A23187 (Figure 3), one can clearly see that TCS causes a significant dose-responsive inhibition of the release of β-hexosaminidase (i.e. degranulation).
Figure 2 is representative of results obtained for IgE-sensitized RBL cells, which were incubated for 1 hr in "TCS-buffer" or "control buffer," and exposed to a DNP-BSA antigen dose of 0.0004 µg/ml. This concentration of DNP-BSA elicited an average absolute degranulation response of 22.5% ± 0.1 (mean ± standard deviation) in the absence of TCS. Statistically significant inhibition of degranulation began at 5 µM, where degranulation levels were 0.79-fold ± 0.05 (mean ± SD) of the 0 µM TCS control levels. As the TCS concentration increases, there is a greater dampening effect of TCS, showing a strong dose response relationship. TCS, at 20 µM, almost completely abrogates the degranulation response, to levels roughly equal to spontaneous degranulation (where no antigen is present). Overall, this figure shows strong inhibition of multivalent antigen-stimulated mast cell degranulation due to concentration-verified TCS, without the use of organic solvents.
In Figure 3, calcium ionophore A23187 was used as a way to investigate the mechanism of TCS-induced dampening of degranulation in RBL mast cells. A23187 is used as an alternative stimulant because it bypasses the FcεRI crosslinking and other signaling events upstream of calcium influx, but still causes degranulation. RBL mast cells were incubated for 1 hr in "TCS-buffer" or "control buffer," containing a calcium ionophore dose of 180 nM. In the absence of TCS, this concentration of A23187 elicited an average absolute degranulation response of 25.1% ± 4.7 (mean ± standard deviation). Inhibition of degranulation was found with as little as 1 µM TCS (0.63 ± 0.11 [mean ± SD]). As TCS concentration increases, so does the severity of the inhibition: at 5 µM, 0.21-fold ± 0.04 of the 0 µM TCS control levels; at 10 µM, 0.09 ± 0.05; at 15 µM, 0.077 ± 0.006; and at 20 µM, 0.09 ± 0.02 (means ± SD). In fact, from 5 µM and higher concentrations of TCS, levels of A23187-induced degranulation were found to be near the level of spontaneous control (where no A23187 is present at all). Overall, Figure 3, in combination with Figure 2, indicates that the molecular events targeted by TCS are likely downstream of calcium influx.
Figure 1: Representative TCS UV-Vis absorbance spectrum. TCS has a robust peak at 280 nm, allowing easy determination of A280, as well as affording the ability to use the molar extinction coefficient of 4,200 L/mol/cm12 to determine the actual concentration of TCS dissolved in tyrodes buffer. The yellow line indicates the peak at 280 nm. In this example, the absorbance value at 280 nm is 0.11876, which indicates a TCS concentration of 28.28 µM. Click here to view larger image.
Figure 2: A representative degranulation response of IgE-sensitized RBL mast cells exposed to 0.0004 µg/ml DNP-BSA antigen and TCS (0-20 μM). A spontaneous release value (no antigen present) is depicted for reference. Values represent mean ± standard deviation of triplicate samples. As presented, data were normalized to control (0 µM TCS), and significant differences were determined in Prism software with a one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey’s post hoc test (comparisons made to 0.001 µM TCS average response). Significance is represented by ***p<0.001. Click here to view larger image.
Figure 3: A representative degranulation response of RBL mast cells stimulated with 180 nM A23187 calcium Ionophore in the presence of TCS (0-20 μM). A spontaneous release sample (no ionophore present) is depicted for reference. Values represent mean ± standard deviation of triplicate samples. As presented, data are normalized to control (0 µM TCS), and significant differences were determined in Prism software with a one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey’s post hoc test (comparisons made to 0.001 µM TCS average response). Significance is represented by ***p<0.001; **p<0.01. Click here to view larger image.
In 2004, Naal et al.1 developed a mast cell biosensor for high-throughput testing of degranulation. It is a robust assay that we have adapted for our TCS studies and detailed in this video. Prior to the Naal et al.1 assay, mast cell degranulation had been routinely assessed via β-hexosaminidase59-61, but these early methods utilized fluorometers in which one sample was read at a time. Importantly, Naal et al. established direct concordance between their more high-throughput method utilizing a microplate reader and the earlier method in which samples were read one-at-a-time in a fluorometer. In sum, Naal et al.1 greatly improved the speed, power, simplicity, and reliability of the assay by adapting it to a high-throughput microplate platform, as well as by incorporating several changes to the workflow. Here, we have further adapted this assay for a study of various test chemicals, in particular, here, the ubiquitous drug TCS. The video details the steps of this very useful assay. Additionally, we have also developed an organic-solvent-free method of applying TCS in aqueous buffer, and we show a simple, low-cost procedure for verifying TCS concentration. These methods should be helpful to the apparently growing field of triclosan toxicology. In this discussion, we detail several considerations for using this degranulation assay to test other chemicals as well.
TCS was prepared directly into aqueous buffer without the aid of organic solvents, concentration was verified by UV-Vis spectrophotometry (Figure 1), and then the effect of TCS (<30 μM) was examined on mast cell degranulation (Figures 2 and 3), using a fluorescence microplate assay to detect the presence of β-hexosaminidase, a surrogate marker for degranulation. We have found that TCS is able to significantly dampen the release of β-hexosaminidase from RBL mast cells when dissolved in a low concentration of ethanol (0.24% vol/vol)2 or, as depicted here, directly into aqueous buffer. By foregoing organic solvent, we actually see more pronounced dampening in antigen-induced degranulation as compared our studies in which TCS was dissolved in 0.24% ethanol (vol/vol). For example, here we have demonstrated a >50% reduction in antigen-induced degranulation (0.46-fold ± 0.07), which is much greater than the ~25% reduction we reported for 10 μM TCS dissolved in 0.24% ethanol (0.76-fold ± 0.02)2. In the same vein, we determined for A23187-stimulated cells that, by 5 μM, TCS inhibits degranulation to spontaneous release levels; this effect was not demonstrated until 10 μM TCS in our earlier, ethanol-utilizing, study2. There are two possible reasons for this discrepancy: either a 0.24% ethanol vehicle2 attenuates TCS’s ability to inhibit active mast cell degranulation, or the TCS we were using was less concentrated than anticipated (since concentrations were not verified by UV-Vis spectrophotometry in the previous study2). Regarding the molecular target for TCS’s inhibition of mast cell degranulation, it is likely occurring somewhere in the signal transduction cascade downstream of calcium influx2. We used calcium Ionophore A23187 as a degranulation stimulant to bypass early signaling events, and TCS’s inhibitory effect persisted, indicating that the target for TCS inhibition in the degranulation pathway is not likely located upstream of calcium influx. We have previously shown that membrane ruffling of these cells is also suppressed due to TCS treatment, suggesting the possibility of a common pathway target2.
Previous studies have found the absorbance spectrum of TCS having a maximum peak at 280 nm and a molar absorption coefficient was evaluated to be 4200 L/mol/cm at this wavelength (at pH values below the pKa)12. It has been shown that heating the TCS does not lead to thermal degradation57, and another study has shown success in dissolving TCS in water while being heated to 50 °C without aid of an organic solvent56. When any new test chemical is used, its solubility in the aqueous buffer, of course, must be carefully considered. We have also found that, when heating the TCS, the shape of the spectral readout is unaffected whether it is heated for 40-90 min (data not shown): this suggests a lack of degradation of the TCS when heated for a longer period of time. Note, however, that TCS dissolution is greater at 90 min than 40 min. We have also confirmed that TCS does not fall out of solution for the duration of the degranulation experiment (data not shown).
The DNP-BSA antigen and calcium Ionophore concentrations used in this study were chosen on the basis of antigen- and ionophore-dose response assays, and were selected to elicit moderate degranulation levels for the representative Figures 2 and 3. An example of an antigen dose response assay can be seen in Figure 1A of our previous work2. When determining the antigen or ionophore concentration to be used in your experiment, it is important to be aware that stimulant dose response experiments need to be done periodically, typically at least every two months, since RBL-2H3 cells sometimes function variably. The concentration that yields the desired degranulation percentage can vary depending on the age of the cells and on the antigen/ionophore preparation. Also, as we have seen with inorganic arsenite22, absolute degranulation percentages (levels of antigen used) can affect levels of toxicant effects on RBL degranulation, so toxicant dose-responses should be done at several different antigen/ionophore concentrations. It is also important to consider the final concentration of DMSO vehicle when stimulating degranulation with ionophore, since degranulation is affected by DMSO62. We have found the DMSO concentrations used in this protocol do not affect degranulation, background readings, or 0.2% Triton X-100 values2.
In addition to the multivalent antigen DNP-BSA and the calcium ionophore A23187, there exist several other methods of RBL-2H3 stimulation. One of these methods is stimulation via exposure to compound 48/80 along with quercetin63. Another is crosslinking of IgE-bound receptors with an anti-IgE IgG, as we previously tested along with TCS exposure2. Many other stimulation methods exist, and each of these methods addresses a different mechanistic aspect of mast cell degranulation. This plate reader assay can be adapted for use with many of these alternative stimulators, further expanding its utility.
This degranulation protocol has the potential to be used with a wide variety of chemicals. In a study of any test chemical using this assay, controls must be run for the following: (1) effect of the test chemical on background (no cells) readings; (2) effect of the chemical on spontaneous degranulation (cells with no IgE, no antigen, no ionophore); (3) effect of the chemical on Triton-X-100 values of lysed cells (no antigen, no ionophore). These tests can be easily worked into the plate layout. Previously, we found the TCS affects none of these three parameters2. Additionally, tests should be run to determine that the test chemical does not interfere with the β-hexosaminidase enzyme/substrate reaction itself in a cell-free preparation, as described in Figure S1 of the Appendix A supplementary data section of Palmer et al.2 We found that TCS does not interfere with the ability of β-hexosaminidase to cleave the fluorogenic substrate 4-MU2. Effects of any solvents used must also be considered in all these control experiments. For example, we confirmed that DMSO, the solvent for the ionophore, has no effect on Triton-X-100 sample fluorescence levels (data not shown). We also note that we selected all plastics used in this study for not containing the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A; unfortunately, though, all plastics currently on the market probably do contain some endocrine disrupting activity, which could potentially confound data64.
In the event that troubleshooting is required, several potential aspects of this protocol should be reviewed. For example, it may be that (1) spontaneous release levels are too high (greater than ~7% of lysis values); (2) a dose-response with either stimulant and/or test chemical is not observed; or (3) the TCS concentration in solution is too low (lower than 20 μM). In the first case, a high spontaneous level could be an indication of the cells being in culture too long or being contaminated with mycoplasma; therefore, try these experiments with RBL-2H3 cells that have been in culture between 2-20 weeks, and regularly test for mycoplasma. If a stimulant dose response is not observed, the dissolved stimulant concentration may be too low, and stocks should be remade. As an example, calcium ionophore typically is provided as a thin film, to be reconstituted with DMSO, requiring careful attention and much vortexing. Additionally, a new ionophore stock with a different lot number could have a different potency simply due to lot-to-lot variation; therefore, a degranulation dose response is recommended with each newly purchased ionophore stock. It is also worth noting that an apparent lack of effect with a given test chemical could be an indication that this chemical may require a longer incubation period in order to cause an effect. If you are not achieving a high TCS yield in solution, check that the temperature has remained constant (50 °C ± 5) while the granules are dissolving into buffer. The thermometer should never touch the bottom of the flask, a position that would result in an overestimate of the temperature of the solution. Also, make sure there is constant vigorous stirring and that the 90 min countdown is not started until the temperature has first reached 50 °C.
Table for Troubleshooting.
Problem Potential Reason Solution
TCS stock is determined to be <20 μM Nonuniform heating of the solution Ensure that the thermometer is positioned so that it is suspended in the solution and is not touching the bottom of the flask.
Stirring is not sufficiently vigorous Increase magnetic stirring on stir-plate to achieve a level of stirring that is vigorous without causing the solution to jump out of the flask. Ensure that an appropriately sized magnetic stir bar is used.
Problems with spectrophotometer Allow for proper warmup of UV lamp (typically 10 min), or replace bulb if necessary.
Spontaneous degranulation levels are too high (>~7%) Cells have acquired abnormal genetic mutations due to too much time in culture Perform experiments with a new cell thaw.
Cells are dying because of mechanical shearing When adding buffer or treatments adherent cells, be careful not to disturb the cells, by adding these volumes carefully to the sides of the microwells. Practice using the Combitip.
IgE/DNP-BSA does not cause release of beta-hexosaminidase over spontaneous release levels IgE is older than 30 days or has been subjected to freeze thaw Use a new, properly stored aliquot of IgE.
DNP-BSA has not been properly mixed Be sure to carefully add the small volume of DNP-BSA to the conical tube and to vortex thoroughly.
A23187 ionophore does not cause release of beta-hexosaminidase over spontaneous release levels A23187 stock has not been properly reconstituted Product arrives as a "thin film," and must be reconstituted with care and much vortexing. Transfer reconstituted stock to a new 1.5-ml tube for storage.
A23187 stock has not been properly stored Stocks are light sensitive. Once reconstituted, Parafilm the top, and store wrapped in foil at -20 °C. If there is a question about the storage of a stock, discard and begin tests with a new stock.
180 nM of A23187 ionophore does not elicit the same level of relative degranulation response, as that found in an earlier assay Lot-to-lot variation of A23187 ionophore Perform a dose response experiment for each new lot of ionophore. It is also recommended that stocks from the same lot be tested, due to potential variability in the reconstitution process.
As in any toxicology/pharmacology experiment, the test chemical must not be overtly toxic at the tested concentrations. We recommend using methods that test for both apoptosis and necrosis, either individually or combined (such as with clonogenic assays), as well as tests for general damage to the plasma membrane (such as lactate dehydrogenase leakage). TCS, at concentrations shown in this study, is not cytotoxic to RBL-2H3 cells2. A particular note of concern with the ionophore studies is that ionophore plus ionophore vehicle (likely DMSO), plus test chemical, plus any organic solvents used, could be a potentially cytotoxic brew, which must be carefully controlled, as done in Palmer et al.2
Our protocol for preparing TCS solutions without the use of an organic solvent will be useful for further toxicological testing of this ubiquitous chemical, without the interference of solvent artifacts, a particularly important consideration in aquatic toxicology. These methods also allow verification of the concentration of TCS in solution and quantification of the effects that chemicals, such as TCS, have on mast cell degranulation. This protocol can be used to assess the effects of a wide variety of chemicals on mast cell degranulation, such as suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals55, and can potentially be scaled up for high throughput screening. Additionally, other mast cell types may be used in this assay in future work.
We have nothing to disclose.
L.M.W. and R.H.K are supported by UMaine’s Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering (GSBSE); R.H.K. was also supported by the Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station. Additional funding was provided by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH P20-GM103423), the Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station (Grant Number ME08004-10, J.A.G.), the University of Maine ADVANCE Rising Tide Center (NSF Grant # 1008498), and a Research Starter Grant in Pharmacology/Toxicology from the PhRMA foundation (J.A.G.). We thank Drs. David Holowka and Barbara Baird for the antigen and cells. We are grateful to Hina Hashmi, Alejandro Velez, and Andrew Abovian for help with equipment and orders. This is Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station publication number 3311.
RBL-2H3 Cells
CRL-2256
The cells we used were a gift, but they are also available from ATCC
Triclosan/Irgasan
CAS# 3380-34-5
Should be stored in a low humidity environment
Gibco
EMEM
12-611F
Atlanta Biologicals
Gentamycin Sulfate
Lonza Biological Sciences
Albumin, Bovine Serum
Calbiochem
Surfact-Amps X-100 (Triton X-100; 10% solution)
HEPES
J.T Baker
CAS# 75277-39-3
BDH0244-500G
D-(+)-Glucose
Biomedicals
CAS# 50-99-7
Potassium Chloride Crystal
Calcium chloride dihyrdate
4-Methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminide (4-MU)
EMD Biosciences
474502-250MG
Wrap in foil – is light-sensitive
Anti-DNP Mouse IgE
Reagent has concentration of 1 mg/ml. Aliquot 25 µl of reagent into separate microcentrifuge tubes and Parafilm. Store aliquots at -20 °C that are not being used and store aliquot that is being used at 2-8 °C for no longer than 1 month.
DNP-BSA
Gift from Dr. David Holowka and Dr. Barbara Baird, Cornell University
Suggest: life technologies DNP-BSA catalog# A23018
Calcium Ionophore A23187
C75-22-1mg
Ionophore was made from a powder by adding 400 µl of fresh 100% DMSO into the ionophore vial and is kept at -20 °C
Note: we have used the ionophore past its 3 month expiration date successfully
BDH3094-2
Anhydrous Sodium Carbonate
CAS# 497-19-8
BDH3026
Reference Buffer, pH 7
Reference Buffer, pH 10
pH electrode storage solution
DU 7500 Spectrophotometer
No longer sold
Synergy 2 plate reader
Uses Gen5 Microplate Data Collection and Analysis Software
Module S
Hematocytometer
Hausser Scientific
7 x 7 CER HOT/STIR 120 V
Combination hot plate/magnetic stir plate
Tissue culture water bath
Model# 89032-206
Tissue Culture biological safety cabinet
SafeGARD (TC hood)
The Baker Company
Model# SG403A-HE
Tissue culture incubator
Model# 3598
Pipetman
Range: P2-P1000
Model# AG204
Symphony/VWR
Model# SB70P
Pipet-Aid
Combitip dispenser
Acetate Buffer, pH 4.4
Make 0.12 M acetic acid and titrate to pH 4.4 with 10 N NaOH. This is 5.3 ml glacial acetic acid into 1 L of MilliQ water: (1 L)*(0.12 mol/L)*(60 g/mol)*(ml/1.37 g) = 5.3 ml because density of glacial is 1.37 g/ml
Sterile Filter into autoclaved glass bottle
Substrate (4-MU)
Sigma M-2133, 250 mg, C18H21NO8, FW 379.4 CAS (37067-30-4) Store in -20°C Stock: 0.12 M in DMSO (46 mg in 1 ml DMSO), warm to 37 °C, vortex, sonicate 10 min. in water-bath sonicator with warm water, vortex again
For each experiment, make fresh solution of substrate in acetate buffer (100x dilution), for final concentration of 1.2 mM in acetate buffer
Glycine Carbonate Buffer, pH 10
26.7 g glycine 47.1 g anhydrous sodium carbonate Add deionized water for 1 L, and adjust pH to 10
Tyrodes (2 L), pH 7.4
135 mM NaCl: 15.78 g (or 270 ml of 1 M) 5 mM KCl: 10 ml of 1 M stock 1.8 mM CaCl2: 7.20 ml of 0.5 M stock 1 mM MgCl2: 4.00 ml of 0.5 M stock 5.6 mM glucose: 2.02 g (11.2 ml of 1 M) 20 mM HEPES: 40 ml of 1 M stock Using concentrated HCl pH from ~9.7-7.4
RBL Cell Media
Thaw fetal bovine serum (FBS, stored at -20 °C) for about 4 hours in 37 °C water bath Follow standard sterile technique Get out 1 L minimum essential medium (MEM) with L-glutamine (with Earle’s salts) Pour off some MEM to have 800 ml MEM, add 200 mL warm FBS Add 1 ml gentamicin sulfate antibiotic to 1 L of media with sterile pipette Only use media bottles that have been autoclaved and marked for cell culture use only.
Sterile filter (0.2 mm) into autoclaved glass bottle
Plastic material used:
200 µl Disposable sterile pipet tips with graduations in 96 rack
1,000 µl Sterile aerosol pipet tips with HighRecovery
10 µl micro tip low binding sterile
Disposable/conical Microcentrifuge tubes for high G-force
Disposable/graduated/conical/sterile 50 ml centrifuge tubes with screw caps
CELLSTAR Tissue Culture Treated T-25 Flask w/ Filter Cap
Greiner Bio One
CELLSTAR 10 ml Paper/Plastic Wrapped Serological Pipette
CELLSTAR 2 ml Paper/Plastic Wrapped Serological Pipette
CELLSTAR 25 ml Paper /Plastic Wrapped Serological Pipette
1 cm cuvettes
CELLSTAR, 96W Microplate, Tissue-Culture Treated, Black, with Lid
96-well Plate
Combitips
Polypropylene/
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Foran, C. M., Bennett, E. R., Benson, W. H. Developmental evaluation of a potential nonsteroidal estrogen: triclosan. Mar. Environ. Res. 50, 153-156 (2000).
Gee, R. H., Charles, A., Taylor, N., Darbre, P. D. Oestrogenic and androgenic activity of triclosan in breast cancer cells. J. Appl. Toxicol. 28, 78-91 (2008).
Helbing, C. C., van Aggelen, G., Veldhoen, N. Triclosan Affects Thyroid Hormone-Dependent Metamorphosis in Anurans. Toxicol. Sci. 119, 417-418 (2011).
Ishibashi, H., et al. Effects of triclosan on the early life stages and reproduction of medaka Oryzias latipes and induction of hepatic vitellogenin. Aquat. Toxicol. 67, 167-179 (2004).
Kumar, V., Chakraborty, A., Kural, M. R., Roy, P. Alteration of testicular steroidogenesis and histopathology of reproductive system in male rats treated with triclosan. Reprod. Toxicol. 27, 177-185 (2009).
Matsumura, N., et al. Effects of nonylphenol and triclosan on production of plasma vitellogenin and testosterone in male South African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 28, 1748-1751 (2005).
Veldhoen, N., et al. The bactericidal agent triclosan modulates thyroid hormone-associated gene expression and disrupts postembryonic anuran development. Aquat. Toxicol. 80, 217-227 (2006).
Raut, S. A., Angus, R. A. Triclosan has endocrine-disrupting effects in male western mosquitofish, Gamusia affins. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 29, 1287-1291 (2010).
Park, H. G., Yeo, M. K. The toxicity of triclosan, bisphenol A, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether to the regeneration of cnidarian, Hydra magnipapillata. Mol. Cell. Toxicol. 8, 209-216 (2012).
Vandhanaa, S., Deepa, P. R., Aparna, G., Jayanthi, U., Krishnakumar, S. Evaluation of suitable solvents for testing the anti-proliferative activity of triclosan - a hydrophobic drug in cell culture. Indian J. Biochem. Biophys. 47, 166-171 (2010).
Skaare, A. B., Kjaerheim, V., Barkvoll, P., Rolla, G. Does the nature of the solvent affect the anti-inflammatory capacity of triclosan? An experimental study. J. Clin. Periodontol. 24, 124-128 (1997).
Rufli, H. Introduction of moribund category to OECD fish acute test and its effect on suffering and LC50 values. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 31, 1107-1112 (2012).
Hutchinson, T. H., Shillabeer, N., Winter, M. J., Pickford, D. B. Acute and chronic effects of carrier solvents in aquatic organisms: A critical review. Aquat. Toxicol. 76, 69-92 (2006).
Toivari, M., Maki, T., Suutarla, S., Eklund, K. K. Ethanol inhibits IgE-induced degranulation and cytokine production in cultured mouse and human mast cells. Life Sci. 67, (00), 2795-2806 (2000).
Kennedy, R. H., Pelletier, J. H., Tupper, E. J., Hutchinson, L. M., Gosse, J. A. Estrogen mimetic 4-tert-octylphenol enhances IgE-mediated degranulation of RBL-2H3 mast cells. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health A. 75, 1451-1455 (2012).
Fort, D. J., et al. Triclosan and Thyroid-Mediated Metamorphosis in Anurans: Differentiating Growth Effects from Thyroid-Driven Metamorphosis in Xenopus laevis. Toxicol. Sci. 121, 292-302 (2011).
Fiori, J., et al. Macromolecular Symposia. in Brazilian Polymer Congress. Pinto, J. C. 299-300, 26-33 (2011).
Mezcua, M., et al. Evidence of 2,7/2,8-dibenzodichloro-p-dioxin as a photodegradation product of triclosan in water and wastewater samples. Anal. Chim. Acta. 524, 241-247 (2004).
Soto, E. O., Pecht, I. A monoclonal-antibody that inhibits secretion from rat basophilic leukemia-cells and binds to a novel membrane component. Journal of Immunology. 141, 4324-4332 (1988).
Pierini, L., Harris, N. T., Holowka, D., Baird, B. Evidence supporting a role for microfilaments in regulating the coupling between poorly dissociable IgE-Fc epsilon RI aggregates and downstream signaling pathways. Biochemistry. 36, 7447-7456 (1997).
Aketani, S., Teshima, R., Umezawa, Y., Sawada, J. Correlation between cytosolic calcium concentration and degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells in the presence of various concentrations of antigen-specific IgEs. Immunol. Lett. 75, 185-189 (2001).
Koo, N., Kim, K. M. Distinct effects on M-2-type pyruvate kinase are involved in the dimethylsulfoxide-induced modulation of cellular proliferation and degranulation of mast cells. Arch. Pharmacal Res. 32, 1637-1642 (2009).
Senyshyn, J., Baumgartner, R. A., Beaven, M. A. Quercetin sensitizes RBL-2H3 cells to polybasic mast cell secretagogues through increased expression of Gi GTP-binding proteins linked to a phospholipase C signaling pathway. J. Immunol. 160, 5136-5144 (1998).
Yang, C. Z., Yaniger, S. I., Jordan, V. C., Klein, D. J., Bittner, G. D. Most Plastic Products Release Estrogenic Chemicals: A Potential Health Problem that Can Be Solved. Environ. Health Perspect. 119, 989-996 (2011).
May I have the video clip for my research project, since I am doing experiments on human basophilic leukemia cells
Posted by: Liu W.
In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of T, B and Myeloid Cells Suppressive Activity and Humoral Responses from Transplant Recipients…
Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy…
Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Alveolar Periosteum and Effects of Vitamin D on Osteogenic Activity of Periosteum-derived Cells…
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Brian Franco, vice president of real estate, and Lisa Tarr, vice president of marketing and communications, for Pet Paradise Resort and Day Spa and its corporate holding company, American Pet Resort LLC.
The Mathis Report: Pet Paradise moving headquarters to San Marco
Thursday, Jul. 26, 2018 |
Renderings of new Pet Paradise headquarters.
The 16-year-old Jacksonville pet boarding and day care company is planning for growth.
Pet Paradise Resort and Day Spa, the Jacksonville-based developer and owner of boarding and day care for dogs and cats, intends to relocate its headquarters to San Marco.
The 16-year-old company will move to 1551 Atlantic Blvd. to accommodate its growing staff, which is working on adding eight to 10 Pet Paradise centers a year.
Brian Franco, vice president of real estate for its corporate parent American Pet Resort LLC, said the company is “expanding exponentially” and needs more space.
Pet Paradise occupies about 5,000 square feet of office space in Southside at 5130 University Blvd. W. next to one of its pet centers.
About 25 corporate staff members will move to the second floor of the Atlantic Boulevard building. A permit application indicates a renovation cost of $500,000 for 7,424 square feet of space in the three-story structure.
Kasper Architects & Associates is the architect for the build-out. Franco said the company is pricing the project and choosing a general contractor.
Pet Paradise will move its headquarters to the second floor at 1551 Atlantic Blvd. in San Marco.
Franco said Pet Paradise intends to add 10 or so full-time employees at the headquarters and also will continue to boost systemwide employment as centers open.
Franco said that upon the relocation, the company’s call center will move from the Baymeadows area into the University Boulevard offices. That also is about 25 employees.
Pet Paradise operates 35 locations with more than 800 employees throughout the South.
In Northeast Florida, Pet Paradise will open its fourth location in September. It will be prototype at 14976 Walden Springs Way in the Bartram area and will be followed in October by one in Greenville, South Carolina.
In addition to Bartram and University Boulevard, Pet Paradise operates Northeast Florida centers in St. Augustine and near Jacksonville International Airport.
Franco said the company will open three resorts this year and eight to 10 a year “for the foreseeable future.”
Franco said the resorts operate in the South, Southeast and Southwest - north to Virginia, west to Phoenix and south to South Florida.
“The plan is to continue to grow in the growing states,” he said.
The new locations will offer vet wellness services, he said. Those will be added over time to existing locations.
Pet Paradise offers full-service dog boarding, cat boarding, dog grooming services and pet day camp.
Businessman Fred Goldsmith launched Pet Paradise in 2002 when he was looking for a place to leave his bichon frise and realized there was a market for pet boarding facilities.
In December 2002, he led a group of investors who bought the first Pet Paradise resort and soon bought a Palm Coast facility. In 2005, Pet Paradise built its airport prototype location near Jacksonville International Airport.
In June 2016, Pet Paradise partnered with Crane Group, a family-owned holding and management company in Columbus, Ohio. Crane holds a majority interest.
Pet Paradise also partnered with the Jacksonville Jaguars this year to operate a dog day care at TIAA Bank Field when the team is playing at home.
The Mathis Report: JinkoSolar seeking $2 million build-out
The Mathis Report: Plans for new Gate Parkway shopping center include Wawa
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Local Groups successful in receiving ANZAC Centenary Grants
Posted by Joanne Ryan Mp on February 25, 2015
Three local organisations have been successful in obtaining ANZAC Centenary Grants.
‘I congratulate these three local organisations in their success in receiving ANZAC Centenary Local Grants’ said Ms Ryan.
Wyndham City Council in conjunction with the Werribee RSL have secured a total of $41,574 for several projects. These include a special Centenary Commemoration day for local secondary schools, the installation of a Centenary plaque at the Werribee Cenotaph, a digital story telling project of 60 local ANZACS and a series of interpretive panels outlining the impact of World War 1 in our region.
Werribee Secondary College has secured $5,592 to restore historic military equipment and uniforms, donated to the school in 2011. Restoring this equipment will enable them to be used in various commemorative services by the Werribee Secondary College Cadets.
Werribee Men’s Shed, located at the Wyndham Park Community Centre, has secured $10,410 to establish an ANZAC reflective garden. This garden will commemorate the Australians that served in World War One. The garden will feature 5 heritage Pink Lady apple trees provided by the Werribee Heritage Orchard Association and a basalt boulder with a plaque.
The other successful local project, previously announced, is the Little River Historical Societies monument, honouring two Little River World War 1 nurses, Kitty McNaughton and Sadie McIntosh.
‘I look forward to joining the community to commemorate the Centenary of ANZAC in April and wish these groups well in their hard work to complete these projects’ concluded Ms Ryan.
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Olympus VR-360 Review
Camera Reviews / Olympus Cameras / Olympus Stylus i Preview
VR-360 Overview
Navigate Review Jump to review page...
Full model name:
Olympus VR-360
16.00 Megapixels
Sensor size:
(6.2mm x 4.6mm)
12.50x zoom
(24-300mm eq.)
Viewfinder:
Extended ISO:
1/2000 - 4 sec
Max Aperture:
4.1 x 2.4 x 1.1 in.
(104 x 60 x 28 mm)
6.1 oz (172 g)
Olympus VR-360 specifications
Buy the Olympus VR-360
size sensor
Olympus VR-360 Overview
Inside the compact 1.1 inch thick body of the Olympus VR-360, the company has selected both a 1/2.3"-type, 16 megapixel CCD image sensor and an Olympus-branded 12.5x optical zoom lens which offers focal length equivalents across a generous range from a 24mm wide angle to a 300mm telephoto. A 3.0-inch LCD display with roughly 154k pixel (460k dot) resolution--where each pixel comprises separate red, green and blue dots--offers the VR-360's only option for framing and reviewing images, as there's no optical viewfinder on this model. Usefully given the telephoto reach on offer, the Olympus VR-360 does offer true mechanical (sensor shift type) image stabilization, - one half of Olympus' "Dual Image Stabilization" system for fighting blur. The other half is what Olympus refers to as "Digital Image Stabilization" - essentially a setting that causes the camera to raise ISO sensitivity (along with shutter speeds and image noise) in an attempt to freeze motion. ISO sensitivity ranges from a low of ISO 100 to a maximum of ISO 1,600 equivalent.
Maximum image dimensions in the VR-360's native 4:3 aspect ratio are 4,608 x 3,456 pixels, and the camera also includes a 16:9 aspect ratio mode, with a maximum 4,608 x 2,592 pixel resolution. The Olympus VR-360 employs a contrast-detection autofocus system operating off data streaming from the camera's image sensor, and includes a face detection function linked to both the autoexposure and autofocus systems. Olympus' AF system also allows for tracking of a subject as it moves around the frame, once a lock is achieved. Olympus Shadow Adjustment function -- first seen on the company's digital SLRs -- is included to help restore detail in shaded areas without blowing out the highlights in high-contrast scenes.
The VR-360 includes a variety of what the company terms Magic Art Filters, which are similar to the in-camera Art Filters first introduced in Olympus digital SLRs in 2009. Two 2011 model-year Magic Filters -- Water Color and Reflection -- are included, in addition to the Pop Art, Pin Hole, Fish-Eye, Soft Focus, Drawing, Sparkle, and Punk filters seen in previous models. A total of 15 scene modes are offered in the Olympus VR-360, allowing users some degree of control over their images without needing to understand the subtleties of shutter speeds and apertures. Scene modes include Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Night Scene with portrait, Sports, Indoor, Candle, Self-portrait, Sunset, Fireworks, Cuisine, Documents, Beach and Snow, Pet, and 3D. As well as Program Auto, there's also an Intelligent Auto mode which can automatically select the correct mode from a subset of the available scene modes. A 3D Photo mode captures two images from slightly differing angles, and combines the result into an MPO-format image suitable for viewing on 3D-capable displays.
The VR-360 can capture high definition 720p videos at 30 frames per second, using AVI Motion JPEG compression. Connectivity options include both USB 2.0 High Speed data, composite standard definition video output, and Type-C Mini HDMI high definition video output. A rechargeable LI-50B Lithium Ion battery with charger is included with the VR-360, although information on battery life wasn't available at press time. Images are stored in a modest 34.9MB of internal memory, as well as on Secure Digital cards, including the higher-capacity SDHC and SDXC types.
No plans have been announced to sell the Olympus VR-360 in the US market. In Europe, we understand that the VR-360 will ship from March 2012, with pricing of about €150.
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Indiana State Department of Health
isdh IN.gov
Trauma System/Injury Prevention
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Current: Trauma System/Injury Prevention Program Home
Trauma System/Injury Prevention Program Home
ISDH Mission: Promoting and providing essential public health services to protect Indiana communities.
ISDH Vision: A healthier and safer Indiana.
Trauma and Injury Prevention Division Mission: To develop, implement and provide oversight of a statewide comprehensive trauma care system that:
Prevents injuries.
Saves lives.
Improves the care and outcomes of trauma patients.
Trauma and Injury Prevention Division Vision: Prevent injuries in Indiana.
Grant opportunity for coroners
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is providing funds to cover supplies for coroners to support their investigation efforts in the hopes of improving the collection of data for drug overdose and violent deaths. The full grant opportunity can be found here.
"In The Process"
Please note: to be considered for "in the process of ACS verification", please submit your application to IDHS 30 days prior to the next Indiana State Trauma Care Committee (ISTCC) meeting. Click here to see the dates of ISTCC meetings for 2019.
The EMS Commission’s Triage and Transport Rule requires the most severely injured patients to be taken to a trauma center. For the purposes of the rule, a trauma center is defined as a hospital that is verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), a hospital that is state designated as a trauma center – such as in Illinois who doesn’t use the ACS to verify trauma centers, or a hospital that is “in the process” of becoming a trauma center. This last phrase was added to allow hospitals that want to become trauma centers the opportunity to receive the patients necessary to show a track record of excellent trauma care required for the ACS verification process.
The EMS Commission has posted the forms necessary to apply to become an “in the process” hospital. By filling out these forms and submitting them to the EMS Commission, members of the Indiana State Trauma Care Committee will review these documents and make a recommendation to the State Health Commissioner who will make the final recommendation to the EMS Commission who will then respond to the applicant regarding their “in the process” designation. Approval by the EMS Commission will define a hospital as a Trauma Center for purposes of the Triage and Transport Rule allowing any EMS Provider to take trauma patients to your facility.
The form can be found on their web site, located here. The spreadsheets are located here.
Please mail complete packet to:
EMS Certifications
Indiana Department of Homeland Security
302 West Washington Street, Room W246
45-Minute Map
June 2019: Elkhart General Hospital has been verified as a Level III trauma center.
May 2018: Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center has been verified as a Level III trauma center.
December 2017: Franciscan Health Crown Point has been verified as a Level III trauma center.
August 2017: Methodist Hospitals - Northlake Campus and Reid Health have been verified as a Level III trauma centers. Terre Haute Regional has been verified as a Level II trauma center.
July 2017: Community Hospital Anderson has been verified as a Level III trauma center.
June 2017: Union Hospital Terre Haute has been verified as a Level III trauma center.
May 2017: IU Health Bloomington has been verified as a Level III trauma center.
September 2016: Good Samaritan Hospital has been verified as a Level III trauma center.
August 2016: Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper is now considered a trauma center for purposes of the triage and transport rule. The 45-minute map below reflects this change.
April 2016: St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital has been verified as a Level III trauma center.
February 2016: Union Hospital Terre Haute is now considered a trauma center for purposes of the triage and transport rule. The 45-minute map below reflects this change.
December 2015: Franciscan Health-Crown Point, Reid Health and Terre Haute Regional are now considered trauma centers for purposes of the triage and transport rule.The 45-minute map has been updated. Data sources and algorithms used to create the map were updated in January, 2014. The new data should provide a more accurate measurement. However, the ISDH has not attempted to confirm the accuracy in the field. Maps developed prior to January, 2014 cannot be directly compared to the current map.
August 2014: Methodist Hospital - Northlake Campus is considered a trauma center for purposes of the triage and transport rule.
June 2014: Community Hospital of Anderson and Good Samaritan Hospital is considered a trauma center for the purposes of the triage and transport rule.
January 2014: St. Vincent Anderson Hospital and St. Elizabeth East Hospital are now considered a trauma center for purposes of the purposes of the triage and transport rule.
Key highlights of trauma and injury prevention for the state of Indiana are:
Injury is the leading cause of death for Hoosiers under the age of 45 and the fifth leading cause of death for Hoosiers of all ages.
Problems posed by injury are most acute in our rural areas.
A major way that states address the problem of trauma is through the design, implementation and oversight of a statewide trauma system. The ISDH has that statutory responsibility in Indiana.
Indiana has in place several elements of a statewide trauma system, but we don’t yet have what can honestly be described as a “system.” Other challenges with our current approach to trauma include:
We don’t have enough EMS providers, especially in rural areas.
There aren’t enough trauma centers.
At the state level, not all components of the trauma system are located in the same state agency.
See the Trauma White Paper for more information about the trauma system in Indiana.
Please enter your e-mail address to sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences.
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'I'm sorry for not being there... I wasn't able to help Jastine'
'Jastine like a sister to me – I will never forget her'
Mourners grieve as they pay their respects. Photo: Steve Humphreys
Grief-stricken Teresita Valdez (centre, wearing black), Jastine’s mother, leaving the funeral home. Photo: Colin Keegan
Jastine Valdez
Danillo Valdez, father of murder victim Jastine Valdez, leaves Thomas Murphy & Sons Funeral Home in Bray where she is reposing. Photo: Colin Keegan
Ryan Nugent
The best friend of tragic Jastine Valdez has described the young woman as “like a sister” to her, in an emotional tribute.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/im-sorry-for-not-being-there-i-wasnt-able-to-help-jastine-36948153.html
https://www.independent.ie/incoming/article36948124.ece/89177/AUTOCROP/h342/LDEZ%20IN%20REPOSE%2029SH%20Read-Only.jpg
Jill Ordonez told the Irish Independent that she had known Jastine (24) for 12 years and said she’ll always have great memories of her good friend. Ms Ordonez – who lives in the Philippines – said “I love her so much” when speaking about Jastine, who was murdered last weekend. The two friends had been inseparable back in the Philippines, before Jastine moved to Ireland around three years ago.
“This is hard for me since Jastine is not just a best friend to me but a sister.
“I just want to thank her for the 12 years of laughter, sisterly love and true friendship. I’m sorry for not being there when this painful tragedy happened to her, I wasn’t able to help her.”
Jastine’s home town of Aritao in the Philippines has been rocked by the news of her murder.
After the reposal of Jastine’s remains in Bray, Co Wicklow, it is expected that a repatriation process will begin at the start of next week, as she returns to the Philippines to be laid to rest in the company of her friends and family. Almost €130,000 has been raised in order to support her family on a GoFundMe page over the past five days.
Meanwhile, the circumstances of killer Mark Hennessy’s death are being investigated.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has appointed a Cork-based team of investigators to look into the circumstances of Hennessy’s death.
As both Hennessy and his victim Ms Valdez are dead there will be no criminal inquiry. Instead, the Garda investigation will inform the inquests.
Family 'stunned' by secret life of Jastine Valdez killer Mark Hennessy
'Our daughter planned to settle in Ireland, buy a house and make a new life' - Jastine Valdez's parents
Liz Kearney: Jastine Valdez’s murder leaves all of us looking back over our shoulders
'Abnormal' high temperatures to come to an end this week Irish News
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California - Los Angeles (whole County)
Gail Bluestone • Amanda Abizaid • Arelius • Ron Blake • Michelle Bloom • Merrill Collins • Lars Deutsch • DiLee • D. Edward • Amy Engelhardt • Kiran Gandhi • Vito Gregoli • Beto Hale • Lili Haydn • Beth Ann Hilton • Ciro Hurtado • Toni Jannotta • Solomon King • Dave Kinnoin • Lisa Konczal • Joanne Lazzaro • Curtis Macdonald • Gael MacGregor • Robert Margouleff • Mark Maryanovich • Mari Nobre • Nathalia Palis • Leanna Primiani • Shane • Kelli Smith-Lewis • Wendi Smith-Kilman • Charise Sowells • Susan Surftone • Danaë Vlasse • Wayne Wilkins • Jimi Yamagishi • Glenn Zottola • Emily Zuzik
Gail Bluestone
From Emmy-winning children’s television to Broadway albums and to award-winning albums, Gail Bluestone’s music continue to entertain audiences everywhere. She’s a voting member of NARAS (The Grammys®); An ASCAP Artist; Society of Composers and Lyricists. She writes with her award-winning sister Eileen Sherman…
Website1: www.joshuashermanpresents.com
Website2: www.ebsoriginals.com
Contact: musicalblue@hotmail.com
As a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist – piano, guitar, and flute - Amanda is best known as the captivating vocalist on the theme song "A Place In Time" from Paramount's The 4400, the featured song "Dreams in Ashes" from Lifetime Television’s Odd Girl Out, as well as other lead vocal appearances in songs appearing in Smallville…
Press Kit: https://amandaabizaid.com/music/epk
Website: https://amandaabizaid.com
Contact: amandaabizaid@gmail.com
Arelius
Originally from London, Grammy® nominated songwriter Wayne Wilkins moved to LA and quickly earned a name for himself songwriting and producing records for major artists. His latest project ARELIUS he has gone back to his roots in classical contemporary piano music.
Website: www.arelius.world
Contact: iamarelius@gmail.com
Ron Blake is a Los Angeles based trumpet player and arranger. In his early years he played and recorded professionally with artists like Dr. Dre and the legendary salsa singer Celia Cruz. Since then, he has been playing, arranging, and recording with numerous artists such as Elton Green Day, Santana, Ben Harper...
Website: www.hispeedhorns.com
Contact: recordings@hispeedhorns.com
Michelle Bloom
Children's music artist Michelle Bloom's debut album "Big Backyard" is inspired by the music of the 1970's, classic children's books, distant horizons, wheeling stars, and warm campfires. Winner of a Parent's Choice Gold Award, Michelle believes in honoring the history and art of writing lyrics. Her album includes a 16-page insert that allows them to be read like a poem or sung out loud…
Website: www.allthingsbloom.com
Contact: michelle@allthingsbloom.com
Merrill Collins
As founder and CEO of the indie record label Spiraling Music, Merrill Collins produces original recordings and musical educational projects. She has released over a hundred solo and collaborative works since 1983 in genres such as new age, neo-classical, and world fusion. The nature of her instrumental music is genuine, emotionally touching, and rich with improvisation. Two recent New Age CDs feature a trio with.…
Website: www.spiralingmusic.com
Contact: merrillcollins@gmail.com
Lars Deutsch
Two-time Emmy® winner Lars Deutsch has a masters degree in classical composition. He has scored over 300 films and commercials, lectures in composition and audio production. As a songwriter and music producer he has written numerous songs for recording artists, tv shows and commercials…
Website: www.larsdeutsch.net
Contact: mail@larsdeutsch.net
DiLee
Diana “Dilee,” is a singing/songwriting cross-media artist turned fashion designer and manufacturer. Being plant based since birth, Diana experimented on her own clothing line with plant based soap to wash the delicate sequin garments and it worked fine. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband Jeffrey and still performs around the world…
Website: https://dilee.tv/
Contact: info@dilee.tv
D. Edward
D. Edward, Oakland California native now living in LA is a Filmmaker, Composer, Actor, Record Label owner, Music Producer, Singer, Songwriter and Studio musician. He won an Indie Music Channel Award for Best R&B Producer and the OIM People's Choice Award.
Press Kit: http://dedwardmusic.com/epk
Website: www.dedwardmusic.com
Contact: dale@dedwardmusic.com
Amy Engelhardt
As a session/concert singer, Amy’s diverse credits include Jurassic World, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Real Steel, and more. As a songwriter and performer, she tours her solo shows, "Diary of a Westward Ho" and "My Own Devices" in clubs and house concerts and appears annually in Harry Shearer & Judith Owen’s Holiday Show. She has also released a solo CD "Not Gonna Be Pretty"...
Website: www.amyengelhardt.com
Contact: iaremusic@gmail.com
Kiran Gandhi
Kiran, who performs as Madame Gandhi, is a Los Angeles-based artist, activist and music industry thinker who was listed as Forbes 30 Under 30 Music Class of 2019. Gandhi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Women’s Studies from Georgetown and an MBA from Harvard. Between 2011-2013, she worked at Interscope Records as the label’s first ever data analyst…
Website: www.madamegandhi.com
Contact: noor@madamegandhi.com
Vito Gregoli
By the time he was in his teens, Vito was already hailed as a guitar virtuoso. But a spiritual quest that led him to the New Age and World Music scenes. Whether it’s laying down killer guitar tracks, composing original music or adding depth and polish to artists he produces, Vito brings integrity and unique artistry...
Website: www.vitogregolimusic.com
Contact: Vito@VitoGregoliMusic.com
Beto Hale
Hailing all the way from Mexico City, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Beto Hale is a one-man band and he is back with this mesmerizing song, “Mujer de Plata”, available for streaming from your favorite platforms…
Website: https://www.betohale.com
Contact: betohale@gmail.com
Lili Haydn
Grammy® winning Lili Haydn is the violinist in the world music group OPIUM MOON. Lili has played with with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Roger Waters, Sting, Josh Groban, Robert Plant and Jimi Page for whom she opened on their entire last US tour, and George Clinton, who called her "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin."
Website: http://lilihaydn.com
Contact: lili@lilihaydn.com
Beth Ann Hilton
Beth Ann Hilton is the founder of The B Company, a boutique PR & Marketing firm based in Los Angeles, serving a global roster of entertainment and media companies. They work with business clients, artists, authors, partners and other promotional companies who share their positive vision and values. Their specialty is in promoting new age, world and contemporary instrumental music...
Website: www.thebcompany.com
Contact: bethhilton@thebcompany.com
Ciro Hurtado
Latin Grammy® nominee and guitarist and composer from Perú, Ciro Hurtado is one of the founding members and currently the musical director of the Latin American folk jazz ensemble, Huayucaltia. He has toured extensively in the USA and Peru with them, opening for artists such as Jackson Browne and Sting. He has performed at the most important performance venues in southern California, and been awarded the prestigious Durfee Master Musician Fellowship…
Website: www.cirohurtado.com
Contact: inti@ix.netcom.com
Toni Jannotta
Toni is a dancer who became an actress who became a jazz singer thanks to the influences she experienced while waitressing at the famous jazz dive Donte's in North Hollywood, California. She has performed and taught in Europe and has toured the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland where the distributor of her first two CD's, TCB Music, Montreux, is located. ...
Website: www.tonijannotta.com
Contact: tonij@tonijannotta.com
Solomon King
Hailing from Motor City, blues rocker Solomon King came onto the LA scene and stole the show. He got a Grammy nomination and starred in a movie about volatile producer Phil Spector. He’s lived hard and done it all, in true rock and roll fashion…
Press Kit: https://solomonkingmusic.com/press-kit
Website: https://solomonkingmusic.com
Contact: solomonking@mac.com
Dave Kinnoin
Chances are if you’ve heard songs by Mickey Mouse, Kermit the Frog, Winnie the Pooh, Big Bird… you know Dave Kinnoin. He’e has written songs for some of the most beloved characters in movies and on television. He has also released award-winning albums with Grammy winning writer Randy Sharp…Read more…
Website: http://songwizard.com
Contact: davekinnoin@songwizard.com
Lisa Konczal
Lisa is a professional dancer and music photographer / video producer. She has worked with Grammy, Oscar and Emmy award-winning artists. Lisa enjoys collaborating with musicians, performing at their shows as a dancer, and producing marketing content to promote their brand.…
Website: www.lisakonczal.com
Website: www.veritecreative.com
Contact: lisa@veritecreative.com
Joanne Lazzaro
Joanne Lazzaro is a classically trained flutist who “accidentally released a New Age solo Native American flute album.” Under The Stars (2015) went on to win multiple awards both in the USA and globally, establishing her as an independent world flutes recording artist.…
Website: www.kokopelli.la/media-press-kit.html
Website: www.kokopelli.la
Contact: kokojo@kokopelli.la
Curtis Macdonald
Curtis Macdonald is a Contemporary Instrumental artist that weaves a tapestry of New Age, Smooth Jazz and Electronica into a blend that captures the heart and reflects an array of emotions. His lyrical piano melodies and improvised solos…
Website: www.cmmpmusic.com
Contact: cmacdon101@aol.com
Gael MacGregor
From her start singing in church, Gael has traveled the world, lending her big voice to opera, musical theatre, caberets and orchestras. She's sung R&B, blues, country, rock and big band. She also does music supervision and music licensing in Hollywood.…
Website: www.gaelmacgregor.com
Contact: gaelmacgregor@yahoo.com
Robert Margouleff
Grammy® Award winning producer Robert Margouleff is best known for his five years as recording engineer, synthesist and co-producer on Stevie Wonder’s most legendary albums, including Fulfillingness’ First Finale, Talking Book and Music Of My Mind. In 1973, Margouleff won a Grammy for his recording of Innervisions…
Website: www.margouleff.com
Contact: robert.margouleff@gmail.com
Mark Maryanovich
One of LA’s most sought-after photographers, award-winning Mark Maryanovich has captured everyone from Chris Cornell to Henry Rollins. His commercial clients include Gibson Guitars, and his work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Billboard, and on Album covers from Sony, EMI and …
Website: www.markmaryanovich.com
Contact: mark@markmaryanovich.com
Mari Nobre
2015 Latin Grammy Award Certificate recipient. Recipient of the Jazz Educator Award for Best World Music Album. Recipient of the Jazz Ed Magazine Reader Poll as Best World Music Artist. Recipient of the Akademia Music Award as Best World Music Beat composer. Nominated by the Hollywood Music in Media Awards as Best World Music singer/songwriter.
Website: www.nobresil.net
Contact: Nobreband@gmail.com
Nathalia Palis
Nathalia is a Colombian singer songwriter with a degree in Music Therapy (Berklee College of Music) and MA in Clinical Psychology (Antioch University), her work with children and heritage inspired her to compose bilingual songs in order to teach Spanish while exploring a variety of musical styles…
Website: www.nathaliamusic.com
Contact: nathalia@nathaliamusic.com
Leanna Primiani
As a composer, Leanna’s signature modern classical aesthetic is distinguished by dreamy ambience, bold textures, and a fusion of synthetic and organic instrumentation where it’s often hard to distinguish pure orchestral passages from electronic-based motivic movements. She has conducted for the LA Opera, National Symphony, California Opera Association, and has been the music director for the Central California Ballet…
Website: http://leannaprimiani.com
Contact: lprimiani@gmail.com
Shane won her first National Talent Competition at age 14 and went on to study at Julliard. As 2018 Recording Academy District Advocate for positive change in legislation, Shane is a community leader in Los Angeles. She volunteers her time and talents counseling artists and business owners, and assisting abuse victims and the homeless…
Website: https://songwritingshane.com/
Contact: info@songwritingshane.com
Kelli Smith-Lewis
Kelli Smith-Lewis and Wendi Smith-Kilman are Smith Sisters Bluegrass. Winners of two Academia Awards, 3 Josie Award nominations including Artist/Group of the Year in Folk / Bluegrass / Americana as well as nominations for both Album of the Year and Duo of the Year… Read more
Press Kit: www.smithsistersbluegrass.com/press-kit/
Website: www.smithsistersbluegrass.com
Contact: smithsistersbluegrass@gmail.com
Wendi Smith-Kilman
Charise Sowells
Charise Sowells aka "Lake Lady" is a Minnesota born singer-songwriter, composer, recording artist, and music producer who has lived and toured throughout the USA. As an independent artist, she has performed her original music internationally and been featured in Ukulele Magazine, SF Weekly, and on NPR's Facebook page…
Website: http://unabashedproductions.com
Contact: unabasht@unabashedproductions.com
Susan Surftone
When you combine the smoothest surf tone sounds with smokey blues, and mix in a little sass and attitude, you get the sultry Susan Surftone, a master of surf guitar and happier times….
Press Kit: https://susansurftone.com/press.html
Website: www.susansurftone.com
Contact: susansurftone@gmail.com
Danaë Vlasse
Danaë Xanthe Vlasse is the director of Music Vision Studios, where she teaches piano, theory and composition. She is an MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher with a degree in Piano Performance and over 15 years of teaching experience. As a composer…
Press Kit: www.danaevlasse.com/pressmedia-epk.html
Website: www.danaevlasse.com
Contact: vlassed@gmail.com
Jimi Yamagishi
Having toured the California coast since the mid 70s, folk singer/songwriter Jimi Yamagishi is one of those artists whose range of experience & depth of emotion translates into a genre-defying range of music, defined only by his warm vocals & eloquence in lyric.…
Website: www.jimiyamagishi.com
Contact: jimi@jimiyamagishi.com
Glenn Zottola
Glenn Zottola’s career in jazz has had the trajectory of a ‘shooting star’ and he is one of a few players to play both Trumpet and Saxophone with equal prowess. At 17, Lionel Hampton asked him to tour with him. Over the years he played with Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, and Ella Fitzgerald. He has over thirty jazz record albums to his name…
Website: http://glennzottola.com
Contact: glennzottola@gmail.com
Emily Zuzik
Emily Zuzik is a dynamic vocalist and Los Angeles singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress by way of San Francisco, Austin, and New York City. She’s toured acoustically, led rock bands, co-written with Grammy® winning songwriters and electronica producers alike and licensed many works for TV and film…
Website: www.emilyzuzik.com
Contact: info@emilyzuzik.com
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FAN South-1 Well Spud
Stena DrillMAX (Stena Drilling Ltd.) (Drillship)
The Cairn operated FAN South-1 exploration well has commenced drilling. The well is being drilled in 2,139 meters of water to an expected total depth of 5,317 meters below the mudline. The Stena Drillmax drillship is completing the well.
Source: http://far.live.irmau.com/irm/PDF/2305_0/SpudoftheFANSouth1deepwaterexplorationwell
More News for Operator: Stena Drilling Ltd.
Well result – Zaedyus-2, offshore French Guiana
Following speculation in the French press, Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) announces that the Zaedyus-2 appraisal well (GM-ES-2), offshore French Guiana, has completed drilling. The well, drilled 5km up-dip from the Zaedyus-1 well, encountered a total of 85 metres of reservoir quality sands with oil shows in several objectives but did not encounter commercial hydrocarbons at this location. Results of drilling, logging and sampling to date have shown that the reservoirs at this location are not in communication with Zaedyus-1. Integration of information obtained from the two wells with the 3D seismic data suggests the reservoirs are geologically separated from Zaedyus-1. As Zaedyus-2 is up-dip and disconnected from Zaedyus-1, this result has no bearing on the bulk of the undrilled prospectivity which is located downdip of Zaedyus-1. Future drilling on the Zaedyus fan system should therefore target the significant upside in the Zaedyus down-dip prospects and the down-dip elements of Zaedyus Deep. The Zaedyus-2 well was drilled in the Guyane Maritime licence using the Stena DrillMax Dynamically Positioned Drillship. The well was drilled in water depths of 1,894 metres and has been drilled to a depth of 6,200 metres and logging operations are ongoing. The second well in this four-well programme is Priodontes-1, targeting an adjacent prospect within the same Cingulata fan system, and is expected to commence drilling in early December. Tullow has a 27.5% stake in the Guyane Maritime licence and is partnered by Shell, who are operator and hold a 45% stake, Total (25%) and Northpet (2.5%), a company owned 50% by Northern Petroleum plc and 50% by Wessex Exploration plc.
Fregate-1 exploration well to be plugged and abandoned following evaluation
The Fregate-1 exploration well being drilled in Block 7, offshore Mauritania, is being plugged and abandoned at a depth of 5,426m MD BRT. The well discovered gas-condensate and oil pay in multiple thin, but good quality sands within the Lower Cormoran (Santonian) and in the first primary target Petronia (Santonian to Coniacian) intervals. However, the deeper primary target (Fregate Main) contained only a minor hydrocarbon column. The results are being evaluated. Fregate-1 has confirmed the potential of the Late Cretaceous turbidite reservoirs which were proven to contain light oil in Block 7 by the Aigrette-1 well (Dana, 2006) and gas and gas-condensate by Pelican-1 (Dana, 2003) and Cormoran-1 (Dana, 2010) and extended the Block 7 oil province into the south of the block.
Stena Don coming to Sandnes
The drilling rig Stena Don, which has been contracted by Statoil, is en route from the Kværner shipyard in Warnow, Germany, to the Offshore & Marine yard in Sandnes. The newbuilding left Warnow on Saturday 18 August, and will take around 7 to 10 days to complete the journey. Stena Don will be fitted with bow propellers and be tested in the Gands Fjord near Sandnes, south of Stavanger. Statoil has entered a five-year contract with Stena Drilling and expects the rig to be handed over sometime in the autumn. It has not yet been decided where the rig will operate. The rig is being transported on a barge until it has cleared the Øresund bridge between Sweden and Denmark. It will then be taken off the barge and towed to Sandnes, reports project manager Arne Jacobsen in Statoil's rig management unit. Stena Don is one of the latest generation of rigs. It is equipped with dynamic positioning and will not get in the way of flowlines or pipelines. The rig will therefore be very efficient, adds Mr Jacobsen. Stena Don can be used for most operations within exploration and production drilling, including well maintenance. It has been constructed to operate in winter conditions in northern waters.
Taking over Stena Don
Statoil has taken over the new drilling rig, Stena Don. The five-year operations contract with the Stena Drilling shipping company is thereby realised. Stena Don has received the approval of the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate and Statoil, and is today, 21 December, leaving the Offshore & Marine shipyard in Sandnes en route to the Halten Bank. To begin with the rig will be operating in the Norne area, and the first well will be drilled on the Stær prospect. The rig should be in position on the field on Monday. This rig is one of the most modern drilling rigs in the world. It has a dynamic positioning system, which means that it can hold its position without the use of anchors. It can therefore be moved quickly from one drilling location to another without the risk of coming into conflict with subsea facilities.
Stena Don heading north
Statoil will use the state-of-the-art drilling rig Stena Don on the Halten Bank when the rig is handed over from Stena Drilling this autumn. The rig will be used to drill exploration and production wells in the area in the course of next year. Stena Don’s first assignment will be to drill an exploration well in the Stær prospect near the Svale find. The drilling programme for the rig has only been clarified for the first year, but Statoil plans to contract Stena Don for five years. The rig will also be used for maintenance of subsea wells, reports Arne Jacobsen, project manager in the rig management unit in Exploration & Production Norway. The contract is an important step in the modernisation of Statoil’s rig portfolio: This rig represents a new generation of drilling and completion rigs. It has a dynamic positioning system, which means that it can hold its position without the use of anchors. It can therefore be moved quickly to a new location without the risk of coming into conflict with subsea equipment,” says Mr Jacobsen. Stena Don was named in a ceremony at the Offshore & Marine yard in Sandnes on Saturday 20 October.
Tullow come up dry with Mauritania well
Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) today announces that the Tapendar-1 exploration well in the C-10 licence, offshore Mauritania, has not encountered hydrocarbons and the well is being plugged and abandoned. Tapendar-1 is the second exploration well in Tullow’s Mauritania exploration campaign, following the Frégate-1 well in February 2014. The objective of Tapendar-1 was to test two targets of Miocene and Upper Cretaceous age. At the Miocene interval a major undrilled turbidite fairway was penetrated and encountered excellent quality, well developed, reservoir sands. However, these sands were water bearing at this location. The deeper Upper Cretaceous target tested a salt flank play, which at this location, did not encounter any sands. The well reached total depth of 3,752 metres and is currently being plugged and abandoned after which the Stena DrillMax drill ship will leave Mauritania. Tullow has a significant exploration position offshore Mauritania. A variety of exploration prospects and plays, independent of the Tapendar and Frégate results, remain highly prospective. Data from the Frégate-1 and Tapendar-1 wells will now be analysed and integrated into the seismic data previously acquired across Tullow’s Mauritania acreage before the next well locations and timings are confirmed. Seismic acquisition in Blocks C-3 and C-18 will also continue this year. Tullow operates the C-10 licence with 59.10% equity and is partnered by Premier Oil plc (6.23%), Kufpec (11.12%), Petronas (13.5%) and SMHPM (10%).
Fairmount Fuji Assisted Drillship Stena Forth
Fairmount Marine’s multipurpose support vessel Fairmount Fuji has assisted drillship Stena Forth, owned by Swedish Stena Drilling, when passing by Cape Town, South Africa. Fairmount Fuji was contracted to perform several cargo runs. Stena Forth anchored offshore Cape Town for crew changes and replenishments. Fairmount Fuji is equipped with a spacious 280 square meters deck. This made her ideal for the transport of goods. Fairmount Fuji sailed up and down between Cape Town port and Cape Town anchorage for a number of cargo runs.
Fairmount Fuji Assisted Stena Icemax
Fairmount Marine’s multipurpose support vessel Fairmount Fuji has assisted drill ship Stena Icemax while making a stop-over at Cape Town. On request of the owner of Stena Icemax the Fairmount Fuji carried out several cargo runs from the port of Cape Town to the anchorage. Stena Icemax was under way from the Far East to French Guiana and required to make a stop-over at Cape Town for crew change and replenishment. Stena Icemax is a 228 meters long new build drill ship designed for deep water operations in harsh environments. Fairmount Fuji is a multipurpose support vessel with a spacious aft deck of 280 square meters and with towing capabilities. Directly after assisting Stena Icemax the Fairmount Fuji was prepared for her next assignment in West Africa region, where she will act as an accommodation and general support vessel for an offshore operator.
Drilling on Tyrihans South
Statoil spudded an appraisal well on the Tyrihans South find in the Norwegian Sea on 21 September. The Stena Don semi-submersible rig is carrying out the drilling, which is expected to take about one and a half months. “We hope to prove additional oil and gas reserves on Tyrihans South,” reports Knut Christian Grindstad, vice president in the Halten/Nordland exploration unit in Harstad. Gas and oil have already been proven in Tyrihans South and North respectively, in 1983 and 1984. The blocks in which these finds have been proven lie in production licences 073 and 091, and are situated 40 kilometres south of the Asgard field. Water depth is about 285 metres. The well on Tyrihans South will be drilled to between 3,000 and 4,000 metres depth. “We consider Tyrihans to be an Åsgard satellite, and are contemplating direct subsea tie-back to existing infrastructure on Åsgard,” confirms Mr Grindstad. Timing of the development will depend on available capacity in the infrastructure and the solution chosen for the sale of the gas. Licensees in production licence 091 are operator Statoil with 55 per cent, Norsk Hydro (33) and ExxonMobil (12). Licensees in production licence 073 are operator Statoil with 54.67 per cent, TotalFinaElf (33.33) and Norsk Hydro (12). Stena Don is one of the world’s most modern drilling rigs. Its features include dynamic positioning, which maintains the correct position without the use of anchors. The rig arrived on Tyrihans from an operation on the Statoil operated Norne field. It will also drill the first exploration well on the Blameis structure east of the Norne field later this autumn.
Dry in Blåmeis
No hydrocarbons were encountered with an exploration well drilled by Statoil on the Blåmeis prospect in the Norne area of the Norwegian Sea. “This well was drilled in a prospect with a large oil potential, but which was also regarded as high risk,” says Roger Inge Johansen, exploration manager for the area. “So the result wasn’t very surprising. But we’re disappointed all the same.” The 6608/11-3 wildcat was drilled in production licence 128, about 15 kilometres east of Statoil’s Norne field, with the aim of proving oil in Jurassic sandstones. Drilling terminated at a depth of roughly 2,000 metres, in Triassic sediments. PL 128 embraces blocks 6608/10 and 11, where earlier discoveries include Stær, Svale and Falk as well as Norne. The well was drilled by Stena Don in 21 days – about a week faster than planned. “This rig has once again done a very efficient job, and the operation was implemented without accidents to people or material assets,” says Mr Johansen. The results of this well will have no impact on the future exploration programme in the Norne area. Two new wildcats have been approved by the licensees. They will be on the Lerke and Gråspett prospects, and are due to be spudded in the first half of 2003.
Oil find near Norne
An oil discovery has been made by Statoil in the Stær structure close to the group’s Norne field in the Norwegian Sea. The find could contribute to a unitised development of several reservoirs in the area. Its commerciality will now be assessed. Stær lies about three kilometres north-east of the Norne production ship, and its oil quality is similar to that in the other field. “This is particularly interesting because we’ve previously made discoveries in the Svale and Falk structures,” says exploration manager Roger Inge Johansen in the Halten/Nordland business cluster. “Stær is accordingly very important for achieving a unitised development of finds in the Norne area.” Exploration well 6608/10-8 in production licence 128 was drilled vertically from the Stena Don rig to a total measured depth of 2,660 metres, and terminated in early Jurassic rocks. A sidetrack, 6608/10-8A, was also drilled 600 metres out from the vertical well to clarify the size of the field. This had a total measured depth of roughly 2,600 metres below the seabed. Stena Don has also been chartered to drill a well in the Blåmeis structure east of Norne this summer.
Wildcat spudded on Blåmeis
The first exploration well on Statoil’s Blåmeis prospect in the Norwegian Sea was spudded on 26 November by Stena Don, and is expected to take about a month to complete. This structure is thought to contain oil, reports Knut Chr Grindstad, exploration vice president for the Halten/Nordland cluster in the north Norwegian port of Harstad. Blåmeis is close to the group’s existing Norne field, in an area where Statoil has already found oil in a series of structures named after birds – Stær (Starling), Falk (Falcon) and Svale (Swallow). None of these discoveries is large enough to support a stand-alone development. Statoil is accordingly considering various options, which include coming up with technology that could make it easier to tie back small finds to Norne’s production ship. Developing these discoveries as a cluster will also improve their economics. The Norne vessel is due to go off plateau in 2003, and needs additional oil to maintain production levels. Great expectations are attached to the Blåmeis wildcat. Mr Grindstad says that a possible oil discovery could also be tied back to Norne. Should the most optimistic hopes be borne out by the well, however, the field could become a stand-alone development. Possible Blåmeis oil is expected to be heavier than Norne crude, but this will not be known until drilling has been completed and its results analysed. Plans call for the well to be drilled to a depth of about 2,000 metres.
Drilling on Graspett
A wildcat has been spudded on Statoil’s Gråspett oil prospect in the Norwegian Sea, and should take about a month to complete. The well is being drilled from Stena Don on behalf of the partners in production licence 128. Gråspett lies in block 6608/10 close to Statoil’s Norne field. The group has previously found oil in the nearby Stær, Falk, Lerke and Svale structures, but none of these is large enough to support a stand-alone development. “We’re considering various solutions for phasing the finds into the Norne production ship,” explains Knut Chr Grindstad, vice president for exploration in Halten/Nordland. “One option is to link them in a cluster with a shared tie-in to the vessel. We have hopes for the Gråspett wildcat, where a discovery would strengthen the prospects for such a solution.” Preliminary plans call for well 6608/10-10 to be drilled to a total depth of 2,800 metres. In addition to Statoil with 40,455 per cent, the partners in PL 128 are Norsk Hydro with 13.500 per cent, Norsk Agip 11,500 per cent, Shell/Enterprise 10 per cent and Petoro 24,545 per cent.
Duster on Graspett
A wildcat on Statoil’s Gråspett prospect in the Norwegian Sea has been completed without encountering signs of oil. Drilled on behalf of production licence 128, covering blocks 6608/10 and 6608/11, the well lies 175 kilometres off northern Norway and three kilometres north-east of Statoil’s Norne field. It was drilled in 374 metres of water to a total measured depth of 2,750 metres below sea level and terminated in Jurassic rocks. No hydrocarbons were found in the relevant sandstones. Statoil has previously made discoveries in the Stær, Falk, Lerke and Svale structures in the same area, but none of these is large enough to support a stand-alone development. “The Gråspett wildcat has played its part in clarifying the resource position around Stær and Svale,” explains section manager Roger Inge Johansen in the Halten/Nordland cluster. “Failure to make a discovery with this well does not affect assessments of developing these finds and tying them back to the Norne production ship.” In addition to Statoil, with 40.455 per cent, partners in PL 128 are Petoro with 24.545 per cent, Norsk Hydro 13.5 per cent, Norsk Agip 11.5 per cent and Shell/Enterprise 10 per cent.
New wildcat off the Faroes
A sub-basalt exploration well is to be drilled by Statoil on the Brugdan prospect in licence 006 off the Faroe islands next summer. This operation will be carried out by the semi-submersible Stena Don, which is currently on charter to Statoil in Norway. The partners in licences 003 and 001, operated by Statoil and Amerada Hess respectively, have signed an agreement to farm into the Statoil-operated 006 licence. They have been allowed by the Faroese Petroleum Administration to offset their drilling commitments in licences 003 and 001 by participation in the planned wildcat. “We’re very satisfied to have reached agreement with our partners and the Faroese authorities on drilling this well,” says Gregory T Himes. He is Statoil’s vice president for the former Soviet Union and Europe in the global exploration cluster of the International Exploration & Production business area. "The Brugdan prospect has provided a real technical challenge for the explorationists trying to interpret beneath very thick sections of volcanic rock," says Mr Himes. This drilling target is about 70 kilometres from the nearest well discovery, Rosebank, but he emphasises that the geology could be completely different. Statoil has a 30 per cent interest in Rosebank, which is operated by Chevron. The Brugdan well will be drilled to a total depth of about 3,780 metres below sea level, in roughly 450 metres of water. Statoil has 27.15 per cent of licence 006, which is one of its four operatorships on the Faroese continental shelf. Its partners in licence 006 are DONG with 21.91 per cent, Anadarko 13 per cent, Enterprise Oil (Shell) 12.47 per cent, Amerada Hess 11.09 per cent, BG group 10.31 per cent, Faroe Petroleum 4.04 per cent and Atlantic Petroleum 0.03 per cent.
Brugdan not commercial
Drilling by Statoil as operator of well 6104/21-1 in licence 006 off the Faroe Islands has been completed. No commercially viable oil or gas volumes were proven. The well was drilled by the Stena Don rig to a total depth of 4,201 metres in roughly 480 metres of water. Only traces of gas were found in the structure. "We are obviously disappointed that the drilling did not reveal commercial volumes of hydrocarbons, " says Rúni M Hansen, vice president for Statoil Færoyene. "A positive aspect is that the well has given us useful knowledge about drilling in volcanic sub-basalt rock. That will be helpful in future exploration off the Faroes. Originally, the plan was to drill down to 3,780 metres but Statoil applied for permission to drill deeper. Due to technical problems, the well had to be abandoned early. The well has now been permanently plugged and abandoned. Cores from the well will be thoroughly examined to gather information for future exploration. According to Bjarni Djurholm, trade and industry minister for the Faroes, the well is an important source of knowledge about the geology below the sub-basalt rocks on the Faroese continental shelf. "Preparations for the third Faroese licensing round are under way," says Mr Djurholm. "I expect it to be announced in the autumn of 2007 as scheduled." The partners in licence 006 are Statoil with 27.15%, Dong (21.91%), Anadarko (13%), Enterprise Oil (Shell) (12.47%), Amerada Hess (11.09%), BG group (10.31%), Faroe Petroleum (4.04%) and Atlantic Petroleum (0.03%).
Stena contract extended
A charter with Stena Drilling for the Stena Don semi-submersible has been extended by Statoil for three years plus a one-year option. Worth a total of just under NOK 4 billion, including the option, this contract will come into effect in December. “The rig market is tight because of the high level of exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf,” observes Gunnar G Opsahk, sub-surface head for the Halten/Nordland business cluster. “Extending our charter with Stena Drilling secures us access to rig capacity for our drilling and completion activities for a long time to come.” Plans call for Stena Don to drill wells on the Heidrun, Norne and Åsgard wells in the Norwegian Sea.
Additional resources to Åsgard
Operator Statoil has completed drilling an exploration well at the Yttergryta prospect on the Norwegian Sea's Halten Terrace. Well 6507/11-8, which lies in production licence 062 around one kilometre east of the Midgard field, was proven to hold gas in sandstones of Jurassic age. It was drilled to a total depth of 2,749 metres below sea level and halted in early Jurassic rocks. Due to be completed in 2008, it was drilled as a combined exploration and production well and temporarily plugged. "The well is promising since additional resources were proven in a new structure, thus increasing the hope of further gas finds in the area close to the Midgard field," says Frode Fasteland, acting head of production on the Norwegian continental shelf. "To ensure the quickest possible development, considerable pre-investments have been made, including the installation of a subsea template and preparations for a future gas pipeline to Midgard in advance of the well coming into production." The Stena Don drilling rig drilled the well in a water depth of 297 metres. Statoil is operator for production licence 062 with a 31.1% interest. Other licensees are Total with 24.5%, Hydro (14.7%) and Eni (9.8%).
Contracting the Stena Don drilling rig
Statoil has signed a three-year contract with Stena Drilling for hire of the Stena Don drilling rig. The contract value is USD 437 million over a period of three years. Plans call for the semi-submersible rig to be used for drilling on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). The rig was also under contract with Statoil from 2001 to December 2009. “We have long experience with Stena Don, and we look forward to continuing the cooperation with this rig,” says Anders Opedal, head of procurements in Statoil. The schedule of work for the rig is being considered by relevant licences on the NCS. The rig will play an important role in Statoil’s efforts to reach its NCS production targets.
Statoil secures drillship for Kwanza basin drilling
Statoil has signed a three year contract for the ‘Stena Carron’ drillship for exploration drilling in the pre-salt blocks (Blocks 38 and 39) in the Kwanza basin in Angola. The agreement managed by Stena Drilling is for a three-year fixed term with start-up Q4 2013 / Q1 2014. The estimated total contract value is USD700 million. Statoil has also secured two one-year extensions. Statoil has also allocated the ‘Discoverer Americas’ drillship to East Africa to perform exploration drilling in the Statoil-operated blocks in Tanzania and Mozambique. "Statoil has now secured rig capacity for its planned global exploration programme in 2013 and 2014. We have drilled four successful wells in Tanzania over the last year, and are now committed to drilling additional wells in Tanzania as well as in Mozambique and Angola," says Tim Dodson, executive vice president for Exploration in Statoil. "Together with a three-well campaign in the Gulf of Mexico, three Statoil-operated wells in Canada, and a one-year drilling campaign in the Barents Sea, this demonstrates an ambitious exploration programme." In Angola, Statoil will test the pre-salt potential in the Kwanza blocks by drilling the commitment wells in block 38 and 39. In East Africa Statoil, along with its respective partners, plans to drill three to four wells testing the further potential in block 2 in Tanzania and explore the block 2 and 5 area in Mozambique. In the Gulf of Mexico Statoil will drill three operated wells during 2013 utilising the semi-submersible Maersk Developer. The company also has exploration activities in two to three partner operated wells in this region coming up, in addition to a three-well campaign offshore Newfoundland in Canada. "We are pleased to secure these ultra-deep water rigs," says Statoil's chief procurement officer Jon Arnt Jacobsen. "Statoil has an ambition to produce 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2020, which requires that we ensure sufficient and appropriate rig capacity. We have secured rigs for our needs in 2013 and 2014, and we are also targeting the allocation of rigs and developing new rig concepts to ensure more capacity in the market."
Statoil comes up dry with Dilolo-1 well in Angola
The Dilolo-1 exploration well in block 39 offshore Angola in the Kwanza basin was drilled to its pre-salt target. The first drilling operation in block 39 has now been completed. In this first well hydrocarbons were not encountered, but the operation did provide a valuable calibration for other prospects in the area. Further studies are needed in order to fully understand the well results. The well is now in the process of being plugged and abandoned. The ‘Stena Carron’ drillship will soon move to block 38 to spud the exploration well Jacaré-1.The Angolan pre-salt is a frontier play where Statoil will participate in eight commitment wells across five blocks.
Statoil takes financial hit to cancel 'Stena Carron' contract
Statoil has decided to cancel the Stena Carron rig contract after fulfilling the work commitments in the Statoil-operated blocks 38 and 39 in the Kwanza basin offshore Angola. The rig contract which was originally due to last until June 2017 will cease with effect from 21st November 2014. Statoil’s first well results from the area have been disappointing and although the company still sees remaining prospectivity in the basin and on the Statoil acreage, more time is needed to evaluate the well results and mature new prospects before deciding on future activities. The first two Statoil-operated wells in this pre-salt play, Dilolo and Jacaré, have been drilled safely and very efficiently. These two wells also fulfil the drilling commitments on these two blocks. The Jacaré well in block 38 has now been plugged and abandoned. Statoil is participating in eight commitment wells across five blocks in the Kwanza basin. So far four wells have been completed and one well is ongoing in block 40 operated by Total. The costs of terminating the operations and associated services including the Stena Carron rig contract will be onerous contract and expensed in fourth quarter amounting to approximately USD 350 million. The 2014 guiding for organic exploration expenditures of USD 3.5 billion remains, including the Jacaré well cost in Block 38, which will be expensed in fourth quarter. In addition it is expected that the signature bonus in block 38 will be impaired.
'Stena DrillMAX' spuds Starfish-1 well
Tap Oil Limited (“TAP”) is pleased to advise that at 0820 hours Perth time on 19th June 2013, the Stena DrillMAX, Dual Derrick Drillship commenced drilling the Starfish-1 oil exploration well in the Offshore Accra Contract Area, Ghana. The well will target a large stratigraphic trap in the deep water of eastern Ghana, interpreted to be potentially comparable to the Jubilee oil field in western Ghana. Tap estimates that the well will target prospective resources potentially half a billion barrels, (431 mmbbls (P50)). The Starfish prospect is located in the Offshore Accra Contract Area in offshore Ghana along the prolific offshore West African Margin. The Starfish prospect was matured following reprocessing of the original 3D seismic data and the acquisition of the new 3D survey in 2011 over the outboard deep water area. The Contract Area is now covered by quality 3D seismic data. In the event of a discovery at Starfish-1 confirming a significant petroleum system, there are a number of other leads and prospects identified on the block that would be of interest. The Operator, Ophir Energy, continues to work on the existing lead and prospect inventory. The well will be drilled as a vertical well in a water depth of 1,500 metres and is expected to take 35 days (trouble free) to drill to a proposed total depth of 4,560 metres. Tap’s cost for the well is expected to be approximately A$11.6 million.
Tap Oil releases starfish-1 drilling update
Tap Oil Limited (“TAP”) provides the following update of the Starfish-1 oil exploration well in the Offshore Accra Contract Area, Ghana. During the period from 1400 hours (AWST) on 19 June 2013 to 1400 hours (AWST) on 25 June 2013 the well was drilled to a depth of 2,627 metres. The 20” (508mm) casing was run and set at 2,218 metres and the BOPs were installed, prior to drilling ahead in the 17½” (444.5mm) hole section.
Tap Oil releases second starfish-1 drilling update
Tap Oil Limited (“TAP”) provides the following update of the Starfish-1 oil exploration well in the Offshore Accra Contract Area, Ghana. During the period from 1400 hours (AWST) on 25 June 2013 to 1400 hours (AWST) on 2 July 2013 the 17½” (444.5mm) hole section was drilled to final total depth. The 13?” (340mm) casing was run and set at 3,035 metres and the well drilled ahead in the 12¼” (311mm) hole section to 3,695 metres.
Starfish-1 well reaches TD in Ghana
Tap Oil Limited (“TAP”) provides the following update of the Starfish-1 oil exploration well in the Offshore Accra Contract Area, Ghana. During the period from 1400 hours (AWST) on 2 July 2013 to 1400 hours (AWST) on 9 July 2013, Starfish-1 was drilled to a final total depth of 4,380 metres. Wireline logging operations were undertaken to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of the primary target. The Operator has commenced its preliminary analysis. Tap’s preliminary interpretation of the wireline logs and MDT data is that no movable hydrocarbons have been encountered in the well, based on the current data.
Tap Oil releases final starfish-1 well update
Tap Oil Limited (“TAP”) provides the following update of the Starfish-1 oil exploration well in the Offshore Accra Contract Area, Ghana. In the period since 1400 hours (AWST) on 9th July 2013, wireline logging operations were completed and the well is being abandoned ahead of the rig being released. There will be no further weekly reports on the well. Logs have confirmed the presence of a gross 230m sandstone interval in the primary target interval although the logs show these to be water wet. The secondary target contained poorly developed sands which were also water-bearing. The Joint Venture will continue to evaluate all data from the well in order to re-assess the overall block prospectivity ahead of the 23 September 2013 election date to enter into Phase 2. This will include further examination of what Tap considers to be possible evidence of residual oil in the secondary and primary targets. Any such evidence may provide further support for an active petroleum system in the block.
Apache spuds Suriname well
Apache Suriname Corp. LDC, a subsidiary of Apache Corp. (“Apache”), has started its drilling operations in Block 53 utilizing Stena’s DrillMax drillship. It’s the first time that a 6th generation drillship has operated in offshore Suriname. This dynamically positioned drillship has a length of 228 meters and is 42 meters wide. The Popokai (Parrot)-1wild cat will be drilled in 1,492 meters of water and lies approximately 200 kilometres from the Surinamese coast line.
Shell spuds Deep Sleep prospect in US Gulf of Mexico
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas Inc (“Freeport”) has announced that its partner Shell has commenced drilling at the Deep Sleep prospect in blocks 18 and 19 of the Atwater Valley area. Shell spudded the well in 4,253ft of water and plans to drill down to depths of 31,700ft. The drilling is being conducted from the Stena IceMax drillship, which Shell plans to send to Canada for drilling operations in the 2nd half of 2015.
Stena Carron Contract with Esso
Stena Carron Drilling Limited (UK Company) has been awarded a drilling contract by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (Guyana Company) for Stena Carron. The contract is for a period of one year at $235 000/day plus 1 priced six month option with further options to be agreed at market rate. The unit has started mobilization to location and plan commencement end of January 2016.
The PSA has given Statoil consent to use the Stena Don mobile drilling facility for drilling and completion of wells 35/11-B-22 and B-13
Stena Don is operated by Stena Drilling, and is a Sonat/Hitachi-designed, semi-submersible drilling facility, built in 2001. The facility received Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) in March 2002. Fram is an oil field in the northern North Sea around 20 kilometres north of Troll. Water depth in the area is around 350 metres. The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway has now granted consent to use Stena Don on the Fram field in accordance with Statoil's application.
CNSOPB permits resumption of drilling with conditions
The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) today permitted Shell Canada to resume drilling with restrictions at its Cheshire L-97 exploration well. Drilling was halted on March 5th after an operations incident on the Stena IceMAX drillship. After securing the exploration well with two barriers and successfully disconnecting to ride out heavy weather, the riser was accidentally dropped to the seafloor. No one was injured and no well fluids or synthetic oil-based drilling fluids were spilled to the environment. The CNSOPB review confirmed that the crew of the Stena IceMAX appropriately prepared for heavy weather in the days leading up to the incident on March 5th by suspending drilling, installing two barriers to secure the well (a downhole plug and the closing of the Blowout Preventer, BOP), and displacing drilling fluids in the riser to sea water. When vessel motion exceeded the operational limits, the decision was made to disconnect and ride out the weather with the riser attached to the vessel through the tensioner riser system, a standard procedure. To maximize the distance between the bottom of the riser and the BOP so as to protect the integrity of the well, the tensioner system holding the riser was fully retracted. The key factors in the cause of the incident were the heave of the vessel andthe inability of the riser tensioner system to compensate for the difference in the movement between the riser and the vessel with the tensioner system in a fully retracted position and with the Riser Anti-Recoil System (RARS) inactive. For the past three months the CNSOPB has thoroughly reviewed the incident and investigation report. It engaged independent, outside, world-class expertise in deep-water drilling to provide additional oversight. Aberdeen Drilling Management (ADM) worked with the CNSOPB in the review of the incident, the work procedures, the investigation report and an assurance plan that CNSOPB required from Shell Canada, to determine whether drilling can be safely resumed, and, if so, under what conditions. “This has been a rigorous and exhaustive review of the incident,” says CNSOPB CEO Stuart Pinks. “We are satisfied that the cause of the incident has been properly determined and that appropriate corrective actions have been taken so that drilling may resume safely. As an additional safeguard, the CNSOPB has introduced a condition further tightening operating limits under which drilling may occur.” Until such time as the CNSOPB completes further reviews, Shell Canada is required to lower its well disconnect criteria on the Stena IceMax based on vessel heave of five metres. The previous criteria was eight metres. Before permitting a return to drilling the CNSOPB sought and received assurance on a number of matters arising from the review of the incident and the investigation report. These included: Equipment – That all repaired and replacement equipment is certified, installed, commissioned, tested and compliant. Procedures – That procedures and operational criteria are reviewed and amended, where applicable, with specific focus on updated disconnect procedures and the use of weather forecasting. Training and competency – That people are trained and fully aware of changes to procedures, their roles and responsibilities, and are specifically aware of weather related disconnect criteria. In addition, disconnect drills and simulations are conducted to ensure that personnel in positions critical to the disconnect process are fully conversant with revised procedures. Risk Management – That a review of the incident investigation findings and learnings related to equipment, work procedures, and personnel competency be conducted to ensure risks are ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable). Pinks says the CNSOPB continues to review the incident, including the investigation report, to determine if future regulatory actions or changes are required. No decisions have yet been made with respect to the riser that remains on the seafloor.
ExxonMobil Says Second Well Offshore Guyana Confirms Significant Oil Discovery
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) today said that drilling results from the Liza-2 well, the second exploration well in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana, confirm a world-class discovery with a recoverable resource of between 800 million and 1.4 billion oil-equivalent barrels. “We are excited by the results of a production test of the Liza-2 well, which confirms the presence of high-quality oil from the same high-porosity sandstone reservoirs that we saw in the Liza-1 well completed in 2015,” said Steve Greenlee, president of Exxon Mobil Exploration Company. “We, along with our co-venturers, look forward to continuing a strong partnership with the government of Guyana to further evaluate the commercial potential for this exciting prospect.” The Liza wells are located in the Stabroek block approximately 120 miles (193 kilometers) offshore Guyana. Data from the successful Liza-2 well test is being assessed. The Liza-2 well was drilled by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd., approximately 2 miles (3.3 km) from the Liza-1 well. The Liza-2 well encountered more than 190 feet (58 meters) of oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs in Upper Cretaceous formations. The well was drilled to 17,963 feet (5,475 meters) in 5,551 feet (1,692 meters) of water. “This exploration success demonstrates the strength of our long-term investment approach, as well as our technology leadership in ultra, deepwater environments,” said Greenlee. The Stabroek block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.
Stena Don Stacked in Norway
Stena Drilling has selected Semco Maritime’s facilities at Hanøytangen for a warm stacking of the offshore drilling rig Stena Don. The rig will be warm stacked at the Hanøytangen yard in Bergen, ready for future work, explains Business Development Manager Øistein Tømte, Semco Maritime. Stena Don arrived at the yard 16 November and has previously been on a contract in the Troll field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Stena Don is a class 3 semi-submersible rig built in 2001, and has recently been upgraded with a modern equipment package. The harsh environment rig is suitable for drilling, completion and workover operations worldwide. “Hanøytangen’s facilities include both wet dock and dry dock, which are tailored for assignments such as this where a rig arrives for a brief stopover, a Compliance Renewal survey or large-scale upgrade work before returning to operations,” says Øistein Tømte. The well-equipped dock facilities at Hanøytangen comprise several dock areas, including a dry dock of 116x125 meters and quay areas with depths of at least 100 meters. The dockyard is fitted with modern equipment for repair and handling of rigs, rig gear and other very large elements on water and land, including crane capacity at all docking areas.
Licence Update Frontier Exploration Licence 2/14 Southern Porcupine Basin
Providence Resources P.l.c. (PVR LN, PRP ID), the Irish based Oil and Gas Exploration Company, provides an update on the Frontier Exploration Licence (”FEL”) 2/14, which lies in c. 2,250 metre water depth in the southern Porcupine Basin and is located c. 220 kilometres off the south west coast of Ireland. The licence is operated by Providence Resources P.l.c. (“Providence”, 80%) on behalf of its partner Sosina Exploration Limited (“Sosina”, 20%), who are collectively referred to the “JV Partners”. FEL 2/14 contains the Paleocene “Druid” and the Lower Cretaceous “Drombeg” exploration prospects. The Minister of State for the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has given his consent to the progression to the second phase of the licence, subject to the completion of the agreed work programme which includes the drilling of the 53/6-A exploration well on the Paleocene Druid prospect and the subsequent integration of the well data into a comprehensive assessment of the petroleum potential of the licence. In November 2016, the Company signed a drilling contract for the provision of the Stena IceMAX drill-ship to drill an exploration well in FEL 2/14 during 2017. The drilling contract provides for one firm well, plus an additional option, which is electable at the discretion of the JV Partners for the drilling of a second follow -on well. Other key service contracts are now being finalized for the drilling operations for the planned 53/6-A exploration well. Based on the latest project timeline and, subject to standard regulatory approvals and consents, the 53/6-A exploration well is currently planned to spud in June 2017.
ExxonMobil Announces New Oil Discoveries Offshore Guyana
ExxonMobil announced today positive results from its Payara-1 well offshore Guyana. Payara is ExxonMobil’s second oil discovery on the Stabroek Block and was drilled in a new reservoir. The Payara-1 well targeted similar aged reservoirs that were proven successful at the company’s Liza discovery. “This important discovery further establishes the area as a significant exploration province,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company. “We look forward to working with the government and our co-venturers to continue evaluating broader exploration potential on the block and the greater Liza area.” The well was drilled by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, and encountered more than 95 feet (29 meters) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. It was safely drilled to 18,080 feet (5,512 meters) in 6,660 feet (2,030 meters) of water. The Payara field discovery is about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the 2015 Liza discovery. In addition to the Payara discovery, appraisal drilling at Liza-3 has identified an additional high quality, deeper reservoir directly below the Liza field, which is estimated to contain between 100-150 million oil equivalent barrels. This additional resource is currently being evaluated for development in conjunction with the world-class Liza discovery. “These latest exploration successes are examples of ExxonMobil’s technological capabilities in ultra-deepwater environments, which will enable effective development of the resource for the benefit of the people of Guyana and our shareholders,” Greenlee said. Drilling on Payara began on Nov. 12 with initial total depth reached on Dec. 2. Two sidetracks have been drilled to rapidly evaluate the discovery, and a well test is underway to further evaluate the successful well results. The well data will be analyzed in the coming months to better determine the full resource potential. The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.
CHC Wins Contract with Providence Resources PLC
CHC Group (the "Company" or "CHC") today announced it has signed a new contract with Providence Resources plc ("Providence") to provide helicopter services in support of its Exploration well program on the Druid/Drombeg prospect in Frontier Exploration Licence 2/14 of the southern Porcupine Basin, Offshore Ireland, some 215 kilometers off the southwest coast of Ireland. The contract will see a dedicated Sikorsky S-92 flying out of Cork Airport beginning this June and will once again see CHC work in conjunction with Lloyd’s Register ("LR") as the wells project management company."We are delighted that Providence and LR have, once again, selected CHC as its aviation partner," said Mark Abbey, CHC Regional Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). "With our extensive experience transporting offshore workers in the oil and gas industry, dedication to safety, and reputation for the highest quality service, we look forward to building on our relationship with the Providence team in Ireland,""This is a great continuation of our relationship with both Providence and LR," added Karl Fessenden, President and CEO of CHC Helicopter. "We look forward to supporting this operation and providing the global standards for safety, logistical support and efficiency that customers around the world expect from CHC."
Senegal SNE-6 Appraisal Well result
Cairn is pleased to announce the results of another successful appraisal well offshore Senegal. Rig performance continues to be excellent and operations have been safely and successfully completed ahead of schedule and under budget following drilling, logging and drill stem testing (DST). The objective of the SNE-6 well, together with the previous successful SNE-5 well, was to flow oil from one of the principal units in the upper (400 series) reservoirs and demonstrate connectivity between the two wells. Pressure data from SNE-6 immediately confirmed good connectivity with SNE-5 and accordingly a short DST was performed. SNE-6 is being plugged and abandoned and the Stena DrillMAX drill ship is moving location to commence operations at the FAN SOUTH exploration well, ~20km south west of the SNE-3 well in ~2,175m water depth. FAN SOUTH is targeting a mean prospective resource of more than 110 mmbbls with dual prospects; an Upper Cretaceous stacked multi-layer channelized turbidite fan prospect and a Lower Cretaceous base of slope turbidite fan prospect, which is equivalent to the FAN-1 2014 oil discovery.
53/6-A Well Starts Drilling on the Porcupine Basin
Providence Resources has announced that the 53/6-A exploration well on the FEL 2/14 license began drilling on the 11 July. The well is being drilled by the Stena IceMax harsh environment drillship.
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MQA Support Announced for Latest Astell & Kern Portable Players
Rafe Arnott | Dec 11, 2018
In a world that seems bent on division when it comes to the streaming and download/playback format MQA, Astell & Kern has placed themselves even more solidly in the for MQA column with their announcement today that as of December 12th (tomorrow), MQA support (which is already available on the SP1000 portable player) will be available via firmware update for the SP1000M, SE100 and SR15 players as well.
For those not aware of the MQA battle royal taking place for the hearts and minds of music lovers and audiophiles everywhere, let me give you the brief skinny.
MQA, an end-to-end recording, compression, streaming and playback algorithm developed by Meridian founder Bob Stuart to deliver high-resolution audio via online delivery has been both soundly embraced and rejected by the hi-fi cognoscenti as either the sound they’ve been waiting for or a consumer cash grab as thousands upon thousands of songs and albums get the MQA treatment and are offered on streaming services such as Tidal or for purchase and download. There are three levels of “unfolding” of the MQA format, all of which are either software or hardware dependent on their level of file resolution delivery/playback.
Whatever your take upon hearing one of your favourite LPs or cuts once its been given the full MQA, there’s no denying the format has taken the music industry by storm and is here to stay as ever more DAC manufacturers open up their hardware for MQA playback certification.
Astell & Kern press release highlights below
Irvine, CA – Astell&Kern, a global leader in portable high-resolution audio players, announces new firmware updates that will add MQA support for the A&ultima SP1000M, A&futura SE100 and A&norma SR15 on December 12, 2018. MQA support was added to the A&ultima SP1000 in November 2018.
MQA’s award-winning technology captures and reproduces the sound of the original studio master in a file that’s small enough to stream and download easily. With the TIDAL Masters integration, users can instantly stream thousands of MQA tracks on their players.
These Astell&Kern players with MQA support have a full decoder built in, so they can unfold all the way to the original resolution of the file. MQA playback is supported both via downloaded MQA audio files and through the embedded Tidal app, allowing users to stream high resolution audio via Tidal Masters.
The following player lines support MQA:
A&ultima
The A&ultima line of players are equipped with two AK4497EQ DACs. A separate DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) is dedicated to each independent left and right audio channel, producing a wider soundstage and better stereo separation. With the addition of an Octa-Core CPU, the A&ultima line of players not only boot faster, but are able to process digital audio playback without lag or compromise in sound.
A&ultima players support native playback of up to 32-bit/384kHz high-resolution PCM audio and native playback of DSD audio, up to DSD256, a Parametric EQ (PEQ), VCXO Reference Clock (Femto Clock) for minimal jitter and vivid, HD screens. The A&ultima line supports fast charging and data transfer via USB-C.
The A&ultima SP1000 includes 256GB of internal memory and features a 5-inch HD screen. It is available in Copper and Stainless Steel bodies. A limited-edition Stainless Steel Black Onyx is also available. The SP1000 retails for $3,499 USD.
The A&ultima SP1000M includes 128GB of internal memory, features a 4.1” HD screen and is available with an aluminum body in Blue Lapis or Black Onyx (North America only) for $2,399 USD.
A&futura
The A&futura SE100 is equipped with a professional grade DAC chip from ESS, the SABRE ES9038Pro, which offers 8-channel procession of sound inputs. With 4-channels of dedicated processing per left and right channel, the SE100 is capable of producing even more detailed and clear sound with excellent SNR. The SE100 can play back up to 32 bit/384kHz PCM audio and can play Quad DSD natively. Thanks to an updated amplifier design and noise control technologies implemented by Astell&Kern, the SE100 produces 4.1 Vrms (balanced output) from its built-in amp only. The SE100 also features an Octa-core CPU, 5-inch touch screen, 128GB internal storage, support for fast charging, and can play back music for about 10 hours. Its aluminum alloy body design is solid and durable, and the classical design of the volume knob and diamond-patterned glass back plate completes the premium look and feel of the player when holding it in your hand. The SE100 has also been awarded a “Red Dot Design Award 2018”. The SE100 is currently available for $1,899 USD.
A&norma
The A&norma SR15 is the first model from Astell&Kern’s new standard line of players. The A&norma line is designed to provide those new to high resolution audio a feature-packed introduction to the Astell&Kern brand. The A&norma SR15 is packed with several features found in previous Astell&Kern flagship devices so that even beginners can enjoy the fullest musical details when listening with an A&norma player. The SR15 uses two of the proven Master HIFI level Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, and features a Quad-core CPU which provides abundant power to process high-res music and creates an intuitive and snappy user experience. The A&norma SR15 can playback up to 24bit/192kHz PCM audio, and DSD64 natively. All of these features are packaged in a solid aluminum alloy body that resembles the popular AK70 series. The SR15 is currently available for $699 USD.
All current generation Astell&Kern players also include both 3.5mm unbalanced and 2.5mm balanced outputs, Wi-Fi connectivity, support for the AK Connect app, USB DAC function, DLNA networking support, OTA software updates, digital audio output via USB, aptX HD Bluetooth, microSD card slot to support additional storage up to 2TB, and support for music streaming services via embedded apps and the new Open App service (support for streaming services varies by country).
MQA support for other Astell&Kern products will be announced at a later date.
19600 Fairchild Road, Suite 125, Irvine, CA 92612
support.inc@iriver.com
(949) 336-4540/4541
astellnkern.com
MQA ...........
Submitted by Simply Nobody on December 12, 2018 - 5:38am
If you don't have MQA, you are not in the game :-) ........
Commercial Failure to Date of MQA
Submitted by PAR on December 12, 2018 - 6:58pm
" there’s no denying the format has taken the music industry by storm"
That is simply not true. MQA was launched in December 2013. It is now 5 years later. In that time it has attracted no significant channels of distribution at all, one only of other than microscopic size i.e. Tidal but even then only for subscribers to the HiFi tier having only a few tens of thousands of sign ups according to reports, a couple of minor download sites and one or two odd Japan only labels issuing variations of MQA encoded CDs.
That's it. It doesn't matter how many pieces of hardware are able to decode MQA as after 5 years there is , in reality, hardly anything there to decode. The two majors encoding MQA tracks are basically only doing it to supply Tidal.
If one looks at other format failures from Elcassette to DVD-Audio their timeline from launch to discontinuance indicates that MQA is likely now in a morbid condition at best. It is worth noting that MQA themselves have not made a a single announcement about progress on the supply side of the marketing equation at any of the major audio or other consumer shows this year.
Submitted by Rafe Arnott on December 13, 2018 - 2:03pm
Nobody I know in the audiophile world doesn't have a strong opinion about MQA one way or another, your response is a case in point, which is what I meant when I wrote that.
Thanks Rafe
Given that we may well have differing views I have to offer big respect to you for publishing my comments.
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Ed Husic and the Future of Work
Ed Husic: Pushing for more public debate on Future of Work issues
Labor’s spokesman on the digital economy Ed Husic has become a fixture in the innovation and startup sector in the past couple of years. He is a pragmatic original thinker, he understands the industry dynamic, and he is well-liked.
Across a range of issues he is one of Labor’s best media performers, but on articulating disruptive tech and its impact on jobs Mr Husic is as good as anyone in the Parliament. (The Prime Minister was also good on this stuff, before he stopped talking about it.)
It is his role as Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy that keeps Mr Husic tethered to the tech and innovation sectors.
But he is also Shadow Minister for Employment Services, Workforce Participation and Future of Work, and this is where he has been driving discussion about preparing Australian industry for the arrival of disruptive technology.
I sat down with Mr Husic recently at an offsite meeting of the Hello Espresso group. In this podcast, he spends time wondering out loud why there are more people in the ‘debate’ about Jobs of the Future and the impact of disruptive tech.
The point about Husic being a good communicator is that the subject of disruptive tech and the future is not straight-forward. We know the Coalition has shied from talking about big picture disruptive issues since it got spanked at the 2016 election for its focus on startups and innovation.
“The whole discussion about innovation was a good thing because – at last – we were talking about the opportunities for Australia,” Mr Husic says.
After the fallow years for tech under Tony Abbott, the national conversation under Malcolm Turnbull turned to the opportunities for the innovation sector.
“It wasn’t an esoteric or niche issue – we were finally having a discussion as a community about how we are going to open up [new companies],” he said.
The concern now is that if politicians can’t articulate why this stuff is important, it becomes more difficult to develop policy.
“The problem seemed to be … that the world of politics is incapable of being able to describe or interpret the way in which technology would change things – in a way that makes people comfortable,” Mr Husic said.
And so the policy discussions were strangled because the public reaction was that “technology was just a job killer.”
“My longer term concern is that if we can’t even describe the value if technology and innovation to the nation now, how do we interpret the value of automation down the track?”
This is a theme Mr Husic has been pressing on Future of Work issues in recent months. If we can’t talk frankly about workforce change, then it becomes difficult to prepare for the disruption.
Our response to change becomes reactive and reflexive, and that’s not the best way to build public policy, let alone respond to technology changes in a business. This was a key theme in Mr Husic keynote address to the Australian Financial Review’s Innovation Summit this week.
Also in this podcast, Mr Husic talks about the structure of the Digital Transformation Agency and some of the turmoil that agency has been through in the past year, as well as government ICT procurement and opportunities for small and mid-tier Australian tech companies to get a bigger share of Commonwealth spending.
It would not be unexpected that he also discusses at length some of the government ICT problems of the last year and a half – from CensusFail to the ATO outages – and the Senate Inquiry that is looking at these problems.
While DTA chief executive Gavin Slater was in a rebuilding phase for the delivery components of the agency, “we want to see evidence of that, because [from the outside] it seems the DTA has ditched a lot of the delivery focus that it once had.”
There were also concerns about the number of key delivery personnel who had left the organisation in the wake of the agency restructure 12 months ago.
“I do think if they are focused on delivery … their big challenge now is to rebuild public faith that government can get digital transformation right,” Mr Husic said.
Given a level of inertia within the public sector in relation to technology, he says the political commitment has to come from the most senior ranks of the Cabinet to get things moving.
When former Digital Transformation Office chief executive Paul Shetler was hired, he effectively reported through the then-Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“I don’t doubt Angus Taylor’s commitment to the DTA … but [the situation] went from having a Cabinet minister [overseeing the agency] to someone on the outside running it,” Mr Husic said.
“I think for the longer term reform, this has to be at the Cabinet level and there has to be a department that can coordinate people.”
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Over the next five decades, many of my life-defining events have been connected to Ali.
In 1974, with Ali as stylistic mentor, I became a competitive kickboxer. In 1977, my girlfriend Lynn and I unsuccessfully tried to get married in Madison Square Garden at the Ali-Earnie Shavers bout.
Then, in 1981, I sold my first-ever story to a big, national magazine; that piece concerned Ali's influence on my life. Yet by 1986, when I was working for a chain of movie stores in Lexington and Louisville, I seldom thought about him. He'd been a childhood obsession.
My first day in Louisville, on a tour of the video company's stores, my supervisor pointed at a ranch-style house and said, "Muhammad Ali's mom lives there." From then on, whenever I passed by, I radared in on the house. The Friday before Easter 1988, an ivory-colored Winnebago with license plates that read "THE GREATEST" was parked out front.
I worked up courage, went to the door, knocked. Ali opened the door, looking as big as God. He leaned under the frame to see me, waved me in, did magic tricks, invited me to stay for dinner.
We've been friends ever since. Over the years, our friendship inspired me to finally realize my decades long dream: with Ali as muse and mentor, I became a writer: a magazine journalist and memoirist, and eventually a book author.
Ali has been not only my great friend, but my great subject. Among my work are numerous stories, two internationally bestselling books, and the libretto for an acclaimed chamber opera that premiered last year at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Most recently, I've written a book titled Approaching Ali: A Reclamation in Three Acts, which offers the most intimately detailed look at his enormously rich life after boxing and during his years with Parkinson's disease.
Today, though, I want to tell you about the first time I met Ali face-to-face. It was July, 1975. At 23, I was a North Carolina based junior-lightweight kickboxer and full of beans. So, when my karate friend Bobby, who was Ali trainer Angelo Dundee's nephew, said that if I drove up to Ali's Pennsylvania training camp he'd get me in the ring with him, I packed my old Camaro and hit the highway.
Tugging on red Everlast trunks I'd bought for this occasion, I heard him through the dressing room walls, exhorting spectators who'd each paid one dollar to watch him train. "I'll prove to the world that I am not only the greatest boxer of all times," he said, "I am the greatest martial artist."
His was the most elemental voice I'd heard; it sounded huge, melodic, eternal. Listening to him made me so nervous I shook a little and felt I needed to pee. The old guy strapping a pair of red leather gloves on my arms looked at me and laughed. "He won't hurt a little white boy like you," he said.
The old guy was stooped, his face long, his eyes yellow with age. "Naw, he won't hurt you," he told me again. "Not too bad, anyways."
Ali was standing in the center of his ring when I stepped through the ropes. Insect-looking splotches of dried blood dotted the porous canvas under my feet. As I stared up at him, he came into focus and everything else blurred. His skin was unmarked and without wrinkles, and he glowed in a way that could not be seen in photographs or on television.
He introduced me to the crowd as a "great karate master," an accolade I didn't merit. Then he opened his mouth steamshovel-wide, pointed his gloved left fist at me and, in a voice directed to no one in particular, but to the world in general, he shouted, "You must be a fool to get in the ring with me. When I'm through, you gowna think you been whupped by Bruce Lee.
"Are you scared?" he asked, looking at me straight and level. "Are you scared? — Just think who you're with. How's it feel, knowin' you're in the ring with The Greatest of All Times?"
The bell rang and he danced to my right around the twenty-foot square of taut canvas. Suddenly I was no longer nervous. My thighs were strong and full of spring, there was looseness in my movement.
He bounced from side-to-side in front of me; I felt every step he took shoot into my feet and up my legs. I bent to the right, tossed a jab toward his belt line, straightened, snapped a long, tentative front-kick to his head. I figured it was the first kick he'd ever had thrown at him, but he pulled away as easily as if he'd been dodging feet his entire life.
He stopped dancing and stood flatfooted in front of me, studying my movements. I tried to lever in a jab from way outside. His eyes were snappingly bright, his face beaming and round and open. He waited until my punch was a half-inch from his nose and pulled his head straight back. I punched nothing but air and dreams.
He turned square toward me, teased by sticking out a long white-coated tongue, stepped back to the ropes, took a seat on the second strand where his head was only a little higher than mine, and beckoned me in with a brisk wave of gloves.
I slid inside his arms three half-steps; he was so close I felt his breath on my shoulder. I dug a roundkick into his right kidney, felt his flesh conform to the shape of my shin, saw the opening I was hoping for, faked a jab and rocketed from my crouch, blasting a spinning backfist-jab-left hook combination straight into the center of his jaw. The punches felt so good I smiled. People in the crowd Oohed and Aahed.
He opened his eyes fried-egg-wide in feigned disbelief. For the next two seconds I deserved his serious attention. For two long seconds we were inseparably bound, whirling in a galaxy of electricity, each seeing nothing but the other. For two week-long seconds I was flying.
Then he came off the ropes and squashed me with one flyswatter jab.
I saw the punch coming: a piece of red cinnamon candy exactly the size of a gloved fist. I tried to slip to the side and couldn't — it was that fast. The back of my head bounced off my shoulders. A chorus of white light went off behind my eyes. A metal taste clouded my mouth, then there was a second heavier thump as he caught me with a left hook I didn't see. The spectators sounded way, way off; my legs went to soup.
He knew I was hurt and he stepped back. Then his eyes went kind, he slid an arm around my shoulders, we exchanged hugs, and it was over.
But I'd accomplished something I'd never, yet always, believed I'd have opportunity to do.
I had boxed with Muhammad Ali.
As we stepped down from the ring together, my childhood hero and the world's greatest pugilist spoke in a way few men had ever talked to me — softly, gently, almost purring. "You're not as dumb as you look," he said. It was one of his canned lines, my personal favorite. And then: "You're fast," he said. "And you sure can hit to be sssooo little."
He may as well have said he was adopting me.
I began to quake. My insides danced. But I stayed composed long enough to say the one thing I hoped would impress him most. With confidence I'd learned from watching him on television and hearing him on the radio countless times, I said simply, "I know."
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latin soul in an english body
Home » The Guide » Appearances » 1991 first ever UK tour dates
LONDON Hackney Empire
Kirsty at Hackney Empire, Feb 1991 © Terry Hurley
Feb 2, 1991. Charity gig in aid of Homerton Hospital, Hackney. KM (assisted by Elliott Randall & Phil Rambow) with Frankie Miller & band: ‘Brown-eyed Handsome Man, That’ll be The Day, There’s a Guy Works Down The Chip Ship’. KM with Ron Wood & the Wilfs: ‘Neon To Dust, Walk Right Back, Sugar Bee.’
Kirsty with Ron Wood at Hackney Empire, Feb 1991 © Terry Hurley
ALBANY NY (Cancelled). Source: Di
‘Walking Down Madison’ single released on Virgin.
‘Electric Landlady’ album released on Virgin.
LONDON Fleadh, guesting with the Pogues
June 6, 1991. Kirsty’s final appearance on the show as a solo artist, this time with ‘Walking down Madison’. The show was compered by Mark Goodier.
BBC Radio 1, Nicky Campbell Show
June 26, 1989. ‘Chip Shop, Walk right back, Darling let’s have another baby, A new England’. Phil Rambow (guitar), Lu Edmonds (guitar?), Billy Bragg (guitar), Guy Pratt (bass). Later released on ‘What do pretty girls do?’
‘My Affair’ single released on Virgin.
WHTG Interview
Kirsty MacColl appeared on my former radio station (WHTG in Asbury Park, New Jersey) on July 8, 1991.
She didn’t perform, but she did an interview (of which I have a partial recording). Afterwards, she went out to dinner with a few people from her U.S. record company and a handful of us from the radio station. Lovely evening!
Mike Sauter
THURLES Féile Festival
August 3/4, 1991 guesting with Billy Bragg and (separately) The Pogues. The Wonderstuff and the Happy Mondays also played so Kirsty was positively surrounded by chums. , She was interviewed by Lorraine Kelly on TV-AM just prior to this weekend.
LONDON GLR
August 27-29, 1991. Kirsty did three shows for GLR Radio, no record of content. Source: TH
LONDON Town & Country
September 23, 1991. Private show for Virgin executives only. Bet she loved it.
LONDON Mean Fiddler
Kirsty at the Mean Fiddler, Sept 1991 © Terry Hurley
September 25-26, 1991 (no support). The first proper solo gigs! Same set both nights, the photos and reviews are from the 26th. Set Lists: ‘Walking Down Madison (slow version), Fifteen Minutes, Days, Don’t Come The Cowboy…, My Way Home, Children of the Revolution, Halloween, A New England, Lying Down, Free World, All The Tears That I Cried, Dancing in Limbo, All I Ever Wanted, My Affair, Walking Down Madison, We’ll Never Pass This Way Again, They Don’t Know, You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby, Chip Shop.’
NME Review from 5 October, by Dele Fadele
“So that’s what you look like!” Kirsty MacColl exclaims, faced with an altogether too respectable crowd of 30 and 40 somethings, then launches into an eerie, sparse and spine-tingling version of ‘Walking down Madison’. For someone who seldom treads the boards, she sure knows the right devices to stoke up an audience. She can be cutting, sharp, witty, acerbic and always observes situations with a sharp eye for detail. If only she wasn’t so bogged down in the boredom and drudgery of the everyday, there could be a Nobel Prize yet.
Kirsty with Elliott Randall at the Mean Fiddler, Sept 1991 © Terry Hurley
“OK that’s facetious, but this is generally a medium-sliced size of enjoyment with plangent highs when it could be ‘all’ highs. Certainly, the hand picked and efficient backing band are often too clinical and measured, straining to reproduce musical memories rather than re-interpret and make some of their own. And the drummer is particularly guilty of bringing the more Latin tunes – with dizzying percussive pitter-patter – down a notch by being resolutely leaden and straightforward. But, on the favourable side there are horns sharp as scythes and Ms MacColl’s delightful voice.”
“When Kirsty hits the higher register or subsides into a gentle scream you sit bolt upright. And when she wavers between shifting sands of violins, keyboards, drums and bass beating a military tattoo or wrestling with a vague Irish melody, you know why her singing voice is in so much demand in the industry. But let’s not forget the wry and acute – if sometimes too realist – songs. ‘Days’ is fluffy cloud pop with an autumnal edge, while ‘Children of the Revolution’ is spooked and wired with just traces of a latent Happy Mondays influence.”
“The bracing classic trio of ‘Don’t come the cowboy with me Sonny Jim’, ‘They don’t know about us’ and ‘There’s a guy works down the chip shop swears he’s Elvis’ are diverse – almost routinely – and rather funny as well, with pathos bubbling underneath in places. My affair echoes Brazilian metropoli with humid, dense percussion and the dance version of ‘Walking down Madison’ is only marred by the screeching and wailing of the gung-ho guitarist.”
“Kirsty MacColl should get here more often as she certainly has more to offer than some of her simpering compatriots who’re merely content to be ciphers for a masked Svengali. She’s got the guts, the songs, the jazz, and the faraway rhythms. Why hang on to them when you can spread them around?”
Terry’s Mean Fiddler ticket, 26 September 1991
Guardian Review by Robin Denselow:
“Kirsty MacColl may have been writing and recording for 12 years, but she’s still something of a genial enigma, largely because it has taken her so long to get round to live performance. Her career thus far has been low key but colourful, starting out as the teenage composer of the charming singalong ‘They Don’t Know’ (later a big hit for Tracey Ullman), then moving on to record her own hits like the whacky burst of rockabilly, ‘There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis’, while constantly being asked to duet with famous friends like the Pogues. Meanwhile, largely unnoticed, her own writing has been developing and maturing. She is not a novelty singer or a folkie (she’s the daughter of the late Ewan MacColl) but a mainstream rock artist with bravely eclectic taste, and the planned autumn tour should have confirmed her new status. But it’s been cancelled – thanks to the recession, say her record company – and all she’s allowed are two tantalising shows at the Mean Fiddler.”
“Which is tragic, for this was a memorable live debut, if with a very shaky start. She came on looking as vulnerable as the late Sandy Denny, then gradually gained confidence to match Denny’s humour and ability to find unexpected power just when it seemed she’d be swamped by the band. And this band is very special – an eight piece that included Steely Dan guitarist Elliott Randall, grinning wildly as he unleashed some scorching solos, and a tight Latin brass section who doubled on guitar and fiddle. They changed track constantly, to match her very different songs, from the thoughtful ‘Walking Down Madison’, to a Latin dancer, ‘My Affair’, or the country-tinged ‘All I Ever Wanted’. Not all her new ballads were quite this strong, but she topped up with songs from Bragg, the Kinks and the Smiths (a belting version of ‘You Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby’) and of course her rocker about chips and Elvis.”
Kirsty at the Mean Fiddler, 1991 © Terry Hurley
Cancelled dates at Chippenham Gold Diggers (Sept 29), Manchester International 2 (Sept 30), Leicester Polytechnic (October 2) and Reading University (Oct 3).
‘All I Ever Wanted’ single released on Virgin.
LONDON Borderline
November 24, 1991. Kirsty was a surprise unannounced guest at a Borderline gig for Children in Need, sponsored by GLR, which also featured Alison Moyet, Sam Brown, Voice of the Beehive, Squeeze, Tasmin Archer, Ian McNabb and Thomas Lang. According to Mick via twitter, “[Kirsty] was really pleased that, even so, most of the audience knew the words to her songs.” Highlights were broadcast on GLR, though its 4 hours were condensed to 2 on air.
MILTON KEYNES Woughton Centre
Ad for the Woughton Centre, 6 December 1991
December 6, 1991 (support: The Forget-Me-Nots). The December tour lineup (until the 22nd) was KM, Mark Nevin, Pete Glenister, Dave Ruffy and Gary Tibbs.
Set list: ‘Children of The Revolution, Days, Mother’s Ruin, The Last Day of Summer, Free World, You Just Haven’t Earned It yet Baby, Still Life, Fifteen Minutes, Don’t Come The Cowboy…, Angel, Happy, Tread Lightly, Train In Vain, Walking Down Madison, A New England, They Don’t Know, Chip Shop.’
Please note Terry’s ticket number!
Terry’s Woughton Centre ticket
NEWCASTLE Riverside
Poster from the Riverside
Framed poster from John’s personal collection.
December 10, 1991 (support – The Forget-me-nots). Set list: ‘ Children of the Revolution, Last Day of Summer, Mother’s Ruin, Free World, You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby, Still Life, My Affair, Fifteen Minutes, Don’t Come The Cowboy…, Angel, Tread Lightly, Train In Vain, Walking Down Madison, Happy, A New England, They Don’t Know, Chip Shop.’
SHEFFIELD Leadmill
NORWICH Waterfront
COVENTRY Tic Toc
December 15, 1991 (no support). ‘A New England, Children of the Revolution, Mother’s Ruin, Last Day of Summer, Innocence, You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby, Still Life, My Affair, Fifteen Minutes, Don’t Come The Cowboy…, Angel, Tread Lightly, Train In Vain, Walking Down Madison, Happy, Free World, They Don’t Know, Chip Shop.’
CAMBRIDGE Junction
December 17, 1991. KM, Mark Nevin, Pete Glenister, Dave Ruffy, Gary Tibbs.
1. A New England, 2. Children of the Revolution, 3. Mother’s Ruin, 4. Last Day of Summer, 5. Innocence, 6. You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby, 7. Still Life, 8. My Affair, 9. Fifteen Minutes, 10. Don’t Come The Cowboy…, 11. Angel, 12. Tread Lightly, 13. Train In Vain, 14. Walking Down Madison, 15. Happy, 16. Free World, 17. Dancing in Limbo, 18. They Don’t Know, 19. Chip Shop.
NORTHAMPTON Irish Centre
Ticket from the Irish Centre in Northampton
December 18, 1991 (support – The Forget-me-nots). Set list: ‘A New England, Children of the Revolution, Mother’s Ruin, Last Day of Summer, Innocence, You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby, Still Life, My Affair, Fifteen Minutes, Don’t Come The Cowboy…, Angel, Tread Lightly, Train In Vain, Walking Down Madison, Happy, Free World, Dancing in Limbo, They Don’t Know, Chip Shop. ’
Kirsty at the Irish Centre, 1991 © Terry Hurley
Kirsty with Mark Nevin at the Irish Centre, 1991 © Terry Hurley
BRADFORD Queens Hall
December 20, 1991. “Some freezing cold, wet December night … ” GH.
Ticket from Bradford, 20 December 1991
DUBLIN Olympia Theatre
December 22, 1991 (no support) with Special Guest Shane MacGowan! Set list: ‘A New England, Children of the Revolution, Mother’s Ruin, Last Day of Summer, Innocence, You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby, Still Life, My Affair, Fifteen Minutes, Don’t Come The Cowboy…, Angel, Tread Lightly, Train In Vain, Walking Down Madison, Happy, Free World, Dancing in Limbo, They Don’t Know, Chip Shop, Fairytale of New York’ (featuring Shane). ‘“Erasure’s Andy Bell was in the audience, and backstage.“’ TH
THE GHOSTS OF OXFORD STREET (TV)
December 25, 1991. Includes a version of ‘Fairytale of New York’ sung with Shane. Copies are in circulation.
Kirsty at Hackney Empire, Dec 1991 © Terry Hurley
Poster from the Hackney Empire, December 1991
December 29-31, 1991. These 3 shows featured KM as part of a superb line up with Zap Mama opening the shows, Billy Bragg topping the bill and Phill Jupitus compering.Lineup: KM, Mark Nevin, Dave Atherton, Dave Ruffy, Gary Tibbs.
Bragg: ‘Richard, Little Time Bomb, St Swithin’s Day, A Lover Sings, Honey I’m A Big Boy Now, The Few, The Man In The Iron Mask, Levi Stubbs Tears’, KM & her band: ‘A New England, Fifteen Minutes, Don’t Come The Cowboy, Train In Vain, Walking Down Madison, Free World, They Don’t Know, Chip Shop, Fairytale of New York’, KM & Bragg duet: ‘Darling Lets Have Another Baby’. Jupitus as Porky the Poet: ‘Bestiality’, Bragg: ‘Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards, The Warmest Room, Sulk, Accident Waiting to Happen, Help Save The Youth Of America’, Everybody: ‘Auld Lang Syne’, Billy Bragg: ‘You Woke up my Neighbourhood, Greetings to the New Brunette, Body of Water, North Sea Bubble, Must I Paint You A Picture, Mother of the Bride’, Bragg with KM on backing vocals: ‘Cindy of a Thousand Lives, Sexuality’, Bragg: ‘Between The Wars, A New England, Billericay Dickie’, Everybody: ‘A Message To You, Rudi’, Bragg: ‘A13, Trunk Road to the Sea.’
Kirsty and Billy at Hackney Empire, Dec 1991 © Terry Hurley
Photo by Terry Hurley, who recalls “The guitarist who stepped in for Pete Glenister for these shows was Dave Atherton of a band called The Adventure Babies. Kirsty said that Dave stood in at ‘24 hours notice’ so Pete must have had some urgent commitments or fell ill or something because Pete definitely played the 22 December gig at the Borderline (I was there!)”
David Sinclair wrote in The Times, “‘Let’s remember the hostages who are home at last’, said Billy Bragg as the seconds ticked away to midnight on New Year’s eve. ‘The Birmingham Six, the Tottenham Three … hostages of the British legal system.’ A mighty roar went up, then it was the bells courtesy of Radio 2, which seemed bizarre, given that the show was being broadcast live on Greater London Radio followed by an up-tempo pseudo-skiffle version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
“Bragg’s year-end shows have become a tradition, and like other regular seasonal rock shows by Lindisfarne, Gary Glitter, Marillion it has become a relaxed and unchallenging ritual. There was a comedian, called Porky [Phill Jupitus], who made fun of Americans and Northerners and parodied Bragg’s song ‘Sexuality’ by turning it into a hymn to the joys of bestiality. And there was, of course, Bragg himself, the perennial song and joke man with a shopping list of familiar political slogans.”
“And then there was Kirsty MacColl, seeing out a year of ups and downs which brought a chorus of acclaim for her album ‘Electric Landlady’, but a rude shock when her record company initially declined to underwrite her touring costs. It has to be said that, as a live performer, MacColl is not the best advertisement for her own work. The woman who pulled off the barely imaginable feat of providing a romantic foil for Shane MacGowan on The Pogues’ song ‘A Fairytale of New York’ is apparently a retiring personality, and at Hackney her stage presence was low-key to put it mildly. With her competent four-piece band, featuring guitarist Mark Nevin (formerly of Fairground Attraction), ranged in front of the scenery flats for the pantomime currently in residence at the theatre, it all looked cheerfully makeshift. But after a tentative start with ‘A New England’ (written by Bragg) and ‘Fifteen Minutes’ an unappealing moan about how awful it is to be a pop star, the mood of orderly bonhomie gradually brought her out of her shell.”
Poster from the Hackney Empire in 1991
“Her voice, with its clear vowel sounds and pronounced folky lilt, teased out fresh nuances from the old Clash song ‘Train in Vain’ which segued, falteringly, into ‘Walking Down Madison’ the standout track from ‘Electric Landlady’. As Nevin coaxed a polite shrieking noise from his guitar and wah-wah pedal, MacColl reminded us that ‘It’s not that far from the sharks in the penthouse … to the bag lady frozen asleep in the park’ a message which seemed to capture rather well the pessimistic spirit in which this new year will have been greeted by many people.”
“Wisely sticking to the more uptempo material from her varied portfolio, she rocked out with ‘Free World’ and set off at a lively canter through the rockabilly swing of her first hit ‘There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip shop Swears He’s Elvis’. By the time she ended the set with the Johnny Moped song ‘Darling Let’s Have Another Baby’ performed as a vaudevillian duet with Bragg, she had generated considerable warmth. The only major disappointment of the night was Bragg’s failure to join her for ‘A Fairytale of New York’ which MacColl bravely sang by herself.”
1. Train In Vain, 2. Walking Down Madison, 3. They Don’t Know, 4. Fairytale of New York, 5. Darling Let’s Have Another Baby
ter says:
Kirsty MacColl Primer
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Video shows 68-year-old Seattle woman being attacked and robbed in front of her home
Posted: Sat 3:28 PM, Jun 15, 2019
SEATTLE (KCPQ/CNN) – From her neck to her knee, 68-year-old Mei Mei Yeung is bruised and banged up after she endured a violent robbery.
Video shows a 68-year-old woman being attacked and robbed in Washington state. (Source: KCPQ/Tribune/Mei Mei Yeung/CNN)
Surveillance footage from Wednesday shows a man run up the driveway and attack her from behind as she's walking home.
Yeung tries to fight back and cry for help.
The robber takes her necklace and then goes after her rings, dragging Yeung to the ground as he tries to pull them off.
Yeung tells the robber that she'll give them to him.
The robber says, "Let go. Let go right now."
Yeung says that's the point when she felt the most helpless, lying on the ground and unable to get up.
The 40 seconds of terror ends when the robber dashes away with Yeung's rings, necklace and purse - but then Yeung follows right behind him.
"I think with her adrenaline, she ended up chasing him to his car. She's a fighter, at the end of the day," said Kevin Lo, Yeung's son-in-law.
The robber got into a black sedan and took off.
"It can be anyone's mom," Lo said. "It can be your mom, your sister, your grandma, you know, you. It can happen to anybody. In a quiet neighborhood like this, it's really shocking."
Lo said this wasn't the first time his mother-in-law has been robbed.
Someone snatched off her necklace in Seattle's Chinatown-International District four years ago.
Over the years in Seattle, there have been a rash of incidents of elderly Asian women being robbed for their jewelry and cash.
Yeung said she never reported the last robbery to police, but this time the family isn't staying quiet.
"By not saying anything, you're not helping anybody," Lo said. "You're hurting yourself and your community."
Copyright 2019 KCPQ via CNN. All rights reserved.
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Self-help guru convicted in lurid sex-trafficking case
Posted: Wed 11:04 AM, Jun 19, 2019 |
Updated: Thu 6:53 AM, Jun 20, 2019
NEW YORK (AP) — The guru of a cult-like self-improvement group that attracted Hollywood actresses and heiresses was convicted Wednesday of manipulating his female devotees through shame and humiliation and turning them into what prosecutors called his sex slaves.
A jury in federal court in Brooklyn took less than five hours to find Keith Raniere guilty on all counts of sex-trafficking and other charges accusing him of coercing women into unwanted sex using systematic shame and humiliation. / Source: Jane Rosenberg
A jury in federal court in Brooklyn took less than five hours to find Keith Raniere guilty on all counts of sex-trafficking and other charges accusing him of coercing women into sex.
"Raniere was truly a modern-day Svengali," Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said outside court, calling him a lying manipulator who "ruined marriages, careers, fortunes and lives."
Raniere listened attentively, but showed no reaction as he learned the verdict.
His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said Raniere plans to appeal.
"Keith maintains his innocence. It's a very sad day for him," Agnifilo said. "I think he's not surprised, but he maintains that he didn't mean to do anything wrong."
Raniere's sentencing is set for Sept. 25.
Raniere, 58, once had an international following with a foothold in Hollywood with his self-help group, called NXIVM. His adherents included TV actress Allison Mack, best known for her role as a friend of a young Superman in the series "Smallville"; a Seagram's liquor fortune heiress, Clare Bronfman; and a daughter of TV actress Catherine Oxenberg of "Dynasty" fame.
"This was a very frightening group," Oxenberg said after the verdict. Her daughter India left NXIVM after her mother became an outspoken critic of it.
"I had to save a child who was caught in the grips of this cult, so I wasn't going to stop until I succeeded," Oxenberg said.
Prosecutors had told jurors that Raniere — a man known as "Vanguard" and revered as "the smartest man in the world" among some followers — was actually a creepy con man who barely got passing grades in college.
The sorority, sometimes called "The Vow," was created "to satisfy the defendant's desire for sex, power and control," Assistant U.S. Attorney Moira Penza said in closing arguments.
Among the more damning allegations against Raniere were that he had some women branded with his initials and that he started having sex with one of his followers starting at age 15. Prosecutors said he took a series of nude photos of the teen that were shown at trial, one by one, to the eight women and four men who comprised the jury.
Raniere kept the child pornography stashed in his private study as "a trophy" of "his sexual conquest," Penza said.
The defense argued Raniere was a genuine believer in unconventional means for self-improvement and that all his sexual encounters with female followers of NXIVM were consensual. His behavior could be seen as "repulsive and offensive, but we don't convict people in this country for being repulsive or offensive," Agnifilo said in his closings.
Raniere was arrested at a Mexican hideout in 2018 following an investigation his Albany-area group.
His organization began to crumble amid sensational reports about The Vow alleging its members were held down and branded in ceremonies at a "sorority house" for them that had a mock dungeon.
Mack and Bronfman, who were named as defendants with Raniere in a federal indictment, pleaded guilty before they could go to trial with him. They didn't testify, leaving a cooperating member of his inner circle and three victims from the secret sorority as the key witnesses.
The cooperator described how female "masters" forced "slaves" for Raniere to give up "collateral" — nude photos and other material that would ruin them if ever made public - to keep them in line.
One of the victims, whose names were withheld to protect her privacy, described being confined to a bedroom for more than 700 days on orders from Raniere as punishment for showing interest in another man. Another explained how Raniere lured her to a home when she was blind-folded and bound to a table so that another woman could perform a sex act on her; and the third recounted making up an excuse to leave the community so she could avoid completing an assignment from her "master" — Allison Mack — to "seduce" Raniere.
Agnifilo, the defense attorney, sought to point jurors to evidence of text and other messages between Raniere and the woman he said showed they had caring relationships that ended with "no hard feelings." And since the group never released any of the slaves' collateral, "Where's the extortion?" he asked.
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Journal of Plastics Technology
Specialized Information -
- Biodegradable Plastic under Maritime Conditions
Biodegradable Plastic under Maritime Conditions
Contributing to Keeping Plastic Garbage out of Our Seas
It is foreseen in the project to develop a fiber material for bio-based nets, or a so-called "Dolly Rope". The product will be a mat produced specifically to combat abrasion in bottom fishing practices (© Angela Ottmann, BUND Inselgruppe Föhr)
Leibniz Universität Hannover, the Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Hydra Marine Sciences GmbH, are currently working together with other partners on the development of bio-based plastics that directly biodegrade in the sea. The team of researchers has so far created different demonstration components in order to test their degradation behavior. These materials would be utilized as an alternative to products whose entry into the sea cannot always be avoided. A large example of this is the products utilized by fisheries in their everyday activities.
Marine litter – marine pollution with solid waste – is an increasing environmental problem. It is estimated that 10 million tons of waste are released into the world’s oceans each year, whereas around 70% is plastic. "Of course, waste reduction is the top priority as a solution strategy, but there are areas where plastic inputs cannot be completely avoided, for example, in fisheries and aquaculture. Here, polymers that degrade in the sea would be far more sensible,” explains project leader Prof. Hans-Josef Endres.
Creating Fishing Supplies not Susceptible to Wear and Tare
Currently the MabiKu project, (marine biodegradable, bio-based plastics) is primarily focused on the coastal North and Baltic Seas in Germany. As a first step, researchers have determined plastic products that often unintentionally end up in these locations. For example, it is foreseen in the project to develop a fiber material for bio-based nets, or a so-called "Dolly Rope", together with the manufacturer Engel-Netze GmbH. The product in consideration will be a mat produced specifically to combat abrasion in bottom fishing practices. Normally, these mats protect the net but quickly fray or break off due to contact with the ground. This creates issues when the fine, loose, threads from the mats are deposited into the sea, as they are fatal to animals that may digest them. In addition to this production goal, the team would also like to work on marine-degradable injection molding components and films for packaging materials.
Working against Premature Degradation
Materials that are especially promising in these cases work best when they are optimized to reach their full potential. When combined with novel blends, enriched with fillers, and processed into demonstration products of different dimensions, this provides researchers the chance to carry out a very thorough examination on marine degradation. In addition to the fibers and foils, a compact injection-molding component has also been foreseen within the project.
A particular challenge in this regard is choosing the correct mix of materials in which the products in the “use phase” fulfil their original purpose for as long as possible, (and function as well as possible) and only disintegrate when they have become "marine waste". This is particularly difficult for products that are also used in the sea as intended, such as fishing nets used multiple times that must remain sturdy. "Here, for example, only coatings that lose their protective function after prolonged contact with water or the ground can be seen as a possible technical approach," explained Endres.
However, MabiKu's overall goals, (which will not be fully achieved over the three-year period) involve the establishment of an officially recognized certification method of the degradation of marine biopolymers, and the launch of the first products developed in response to the issue. The project partners, as well as the certifier DIN CERTCO, wish to continue to pursue these very critical goals, even after the project’s end.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) through the project agency Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. (FNR). Information and contact persons are available on www.fnr.de under the registration numbers 22005417 , 22025118 and 22028618 .
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Overlooked In The '70s, 'Wanda' Finally Gets Her Due
By John Powers • Mar 14, 2019
Barbara Loden wrote, directed and starred in Wanda, a 1970 film about a drifting woman.
Courtesy of Criterion
Originally published on March 18, 2019 10:17 am
It is the dream of every neglected artist that their work will be redeemed by posterity. And sometimes it is. Back in 1970, for instance, the big movie was Patton — a box office hit that won the Best Picture Oscar. But today, it's overshadowed by another film from that year that almost nobody saw, a gritty story about a drifting woman.
The film is called Wanda, and it was written and directed by its star, Barbara Loden. Based on the true story of a crime gone wrong, Wanda — which is just out in a restored version from the Criterion Collection — is now reckoned a cinematic landmark. It boasts a legion of champions, including Yoko Ono, Isabelle Huppert, John Waters and Rachel Kushner, and it inspired a splendidly idiosyncratic book, Suite for Barbara Loden, by the French writer Nathalie Léger.
Wanda begins amid the slagheaps of Pennsylvania coal mining country, where Wanda Goronski — played with eerie authenticity by Loden — is being divorced for being a lousy wife and mother, a charge she freely admits. Possessed of little money and fewer plans, she picks up a traveling salesman in a bar — he sleeps with her and dumps her — beginning an apparently aimless journey that will lead her to other bars and other dire men.
The most important of these is Mr. Dennis — played by Michael Higgins — a gruff, mustachioed crook who hits her, orders her not to look "cheap" and dragoons her into helping him rob a bank. She tries to resist, but, as usual, lets events carry her along.
Now, Wanda is an unforgettable movie but not an especially alluring one. You have to be in the mood. Made for a paltry $115,000 — $750,000 in today's money — Wanda's raw style finds Loden leaning in to her taste for Andy Warhol and documentary realism.
Intimate but unsentimental, the story reveals its meaning obliquely, in the expressions flickering across Wanda's face and in slow, long-distance shots of our heroine inching her way across the bleak landscape — a metaphor for her life's passage toward a different life.
Although Wanda won the award for best foreign film at the Venice Film Festival, not everyone loved it. Critic Pauline Kael admired Loden's integrity but said the film's drab realism made novelist Émile Zola — a very grim realist — "look like musical comedy." Wanda also horrified some viewers by creating, in those early days of Women's liberation, an uninspiring heroine who had no fight.
But later feminist critics like Amy Taubin, who wrote the essay for this Criterion edition, led a reappraisal. They grasped that Wanda's passivity caught the reality of countless women who had so thoroughly internalized male expectations that they didn't know what they wanted or who they were.
Which doesn't mean that Wanda is willing to settle. In the iconic 1953 movie The Wild One, Marlon Brando's motorcycle hoodlum is asked, "What're you rebelling against?" And he replies, "Whaddya got?" Wanda's behavior strikes me as a recessive blue-collar woman's version of that same idea. She may not know what she wants, but she sure knows what she doesn't.
In fact, Wanda refuses to embody any of the female images she comes across in the film — mothers, sweatshop seamstresses, fashion mannequins, streetwalkers. Nor does she want to sleep in dingy hotel rooms with ugly-souled men. You see, just because she can't articulate her desires, doesn't mean she doesn't yearn for something more.
For Loden, such inarticulate rebellion was less ideological than profoundly personal: The film is her own emotional autobiography. She fled an abusive North Carolina childhood to become first a dancer at the Copacabana nightclub in New York, then an actress who would marry the acclaimed director Elia Kazan, a difficult man who both adored her and bossed her around. Having spent years being defined by and trading on her femininity, Loden once said that she had hit 30 as a compliant woman with no clue to her own identity or goals.
Making Wanda was her declaration of independence — from being known as "Kazan's wife," from playing roles written for her by others, from the plush Hollywood filmmaking she thought an outdated lie.
Her freedom was short lived. Unable to find backing for another film — she wanted to adapt Kate Chopin's The Awakening — Loden died of cancer at age 48. But her legend continues to grow. On the basis of a single movie, posterity has made her a symbol of all the women filmmakers who might have had great careers but never really got the chance.
Copyright 2019 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air.
TERRY GROSS, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. The actress Barbara Loden, who died in 1980, is best known for writing, directing and starring in the 1970 film "Wanda," which has become recognized as a classic of women's cinema. Loden plays the title character, a woman who abandons her life in a Pennsylvania town and goes where life carries her. A restored version has just been released by the Criterion Collection, and our critic at large John Powers says that watching it again, he sees why its reputation keeps growing.
JOHN POWERS, BYLINE: It's the dream of every neglected artist that their work will be redeemed by posterity, and sometimes it is. Back in 1970, for instance, the big movie was "Patton," a box office hit that won the Best Picture Oscar. But today it's overshadowed by another film from that year, a gritty story about a drifting woman that almost nobody saw. The film is called "Wanda," and it was written and directed by its star, Barbara Loden.
Based on the true story of a crime gone wrong, "Wanda," which is just out in a restored version from the Criterion Collection, is now reckoned a cinematic landmark. It boasts a legion of champions that includes Yoko Ono, Isabelle Huppert, John Waters and Rachel Kushner. Now, there's a Mad Hatter's tea party for you. And it inspired a splendidly idiosyncratic book, "Suite For Barbara Loden," by the French writer Nathalie Leger.
"Wanda" begins amid the slag heaps of Pennsylvania coal mining country where Wanda Goronski, played with eerie authenticity by Loden, is being divorced for being a lousy wife and mother, a charge she freely admits. Possessed of little money and fewer plans, this slim blonde picks up a traveling salesman in a bar. He sleeps with her and dumps her, beginning an apparently aimless journey that will lead her to other bars and other dire men.
The most important of these is Mr. Dennis, played by Michael Higgins, a gruff, mustachioed crook who slaps her around, orders her not to look cheap and dragoons her into helping him rob a bank. She tries to resist but, as usual, lets events carry her along. Here, Mr. Dennis tells her that her geyser-like (ph) hairdo is so ugly that she ought to wear a hat.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WANDA")
MICHAEL HIGGINS: (As Mr. Dennis) Why don't you - why don't you cover it up?
BARBARA LODEN: (As Wanda) Cover it up?
HIGGINS: (As Mr. Dennis) Yeah.
LODEN: (As Wanda) What'll I cover it up with?
HIGGINS: (As Mr. Dennis) Maybe you get a hat and put it over it.
LODEN: (As Wanda) A hat.
HIGGINS: (As Mr. Dennis) Yeah, a nice hat - put it on you.
LODEN: (As Wanda) Well, 'cause I don't have anything to get a hat with.
HIGGINS: (As Mr. Dennis, unintelligible).
LODEN: (As Wanda) I don't have anything, never did have anything, never will have anything.
HIGGINS: (As Mr. Dennis) You're stupid.
LODEN: (As Wanda) I'm stupid?
HIGGINS: (As Norman Dennis) You don't want anything; you won't have anything. You don't have anything; you're nothing - may as well be dead. You're not even a citizen of the United States.
POWERS: Now, "Wanda" is an unforgettable movie but not an especially alluring one. You have to be in the mood. Made for a paltry $115,000 - 750,000 in today's money - "Wanda's" raw style finds Loden leaning in to her taste for Andy Warhol and documentary realism. Intimate but unsentimental, the story reveals its meaning obliquely - in the expressions flickering across Wanda's face and in slow, long-distance shots of our heroine inching her way across the bleak landscape, a metaphor for her life's passage toward a different life.
Although "Wanda" won a big prize at the Venice Film Festival, not everyone loved it. Critic Pauline Kael admired Loden's integrity but said the film's drab realism made novelist Emile Zola - a very grim realist - look like musical comedy. "Wanda" also horrified some viewers by creating, in those early days of women's liberation, an uninspiring heroine who had no fight.
But later, feminist critics like Amy Taubin, who wrote the essay for this Criterion edition, led a reappraisal. They grasped that Wanda's passivity caught the reality of countless women who'd so thoroughly internalized male expectations that they didn't know what they wanted or who they were, which doesn't mean that Wanda is willing to settle.
In the iconic '50s movie "The Wild One," Marlon Brando's motorcycle hoodlum is asked - what are you rebelling against? - and he replies - what do you got? Wanda's behavior strikes me as a recessive blue-collar woman's version of that same idea. She may not know what she wants, but she sure knows what she doesn't.
In fact, Wanda refuses to embody any of the female images she comes across in the film - mothers, sweatshop seamstresses, fashion mannequins, streetwalkers - nor does she want to sleep in dingy hotel rooms with ugly-souled men. You see, just because she can't articulate her desires, that doesn't mean she doesn't yearn for something more.
For Loden, such inarticulate rebellion was less ideological than profoundly personal. The film was her own emotional autobiography. She fled an abusive North Carolina childhood to become a dancer at the Copa in New York then an actress who would marry the acclaimed director Elia Kazan, a difficult man who both adored her and bossed her around.
Having spent years being defined by and trading on her femininity, Loden once said that she had hit 30 as a compliant woman with no clue to her own identity or goals. Making "Wanda" was her declaration of independence from being known as Kazan's wife, from playing roles written for her by others, from the plush Hollywood filmmaking she thought an outdated lie.
But her freedom was short-lived. Unable to find backing for another film - she wanted to adapt Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" - Loden died of cancer at age 48. But her legend continues to grow. On the basis of a single movie, posterity has made her a symbol of all the women filmmakers who might have had great careers but never really got the chance.
GROSS: John Powers reviewed the new Criterion DVD and Blu-ray release of Barbara Loden's 1970 film "Wanda."
Tonight our book critic Maureen Corrigan receives an award from the National Book Critics Circle. It's the Nona Balakian Award (ph) for Excellence in Reviewing. Congratulations, Maureen.
(SOUNDBITE OF ALLISON MILLER'S BOOM TIC BOOM'S "WELCOME HOTEL")
GROSS: If you'd like to catch up on FRESH AIR interviews you've missed, like our interview with Episcopal priest Barbara Brown Taylor about how teaching the religions of the world changed her understanding of her own faith - or with New York Times deputy general counsel David McCraw about press freedom and the legal issues he's faced in the Trump era, check out our podcast. You'll find lots of FRESH AIR interviews.
FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. Our interviews and reviews are produced and edited by Amy Salit, Phyllis Myers, Sam Briger, Lauren Krenzel, Heidi Saman, Therese Madden, Mooj Zadie, Thea Chaloner and Seth Kelley. I'm Terry Gross.
(SOUNDBITE OF ALLISON MILLER'S BOOM TIC BOOM'S "WELCOME HOTEL") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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You are here: Home / General / Review / Chic Scandinavian Style on the High Seas
4 April 2018 By Karen Burns-Booth 5 Comments
Chic Scandinavian Style on the High Seas
Chic Scandinavian Style on the High Seas – Ocean cruises have just got a whole lot cooler with Viking Ocean Cruises taking to the high seas; known for their award-winning river cruises, Viking are now offering ocean cruises with four new “all veranda” ships with many more on order. Their new ships are beautifully designed for comfort, with spacious seating and elegant, understated decor, and every stateroom cabin has a veranda with that ultimate sea view.
A West Indies Explorers Cruise
Viking Ocean Cruises in the Viking Sea
Slip into your comfy clothes and pop your slippers on, as I’m about to take you on a virtual trip in a beautifully designed but cosy cruise ship, where understated elegance, style and comfort are primordial, and where every guest has a sea view from their veranda stateroom cabin…….this is the first post I’ll be sharing about my recent cruise with Viking Ocean Cruises on board the Viking Sea. Regular followers of Lavender and Lovage will know from my social media feeds, that I’ve just come back from a Caribbean cruise, with Viking, on their West Indies Explorer cruise………today’s post is an overview, a taster if you will, of what to expect when you board this ship, where you’ll be sleeping and eating, as well as a brief snapshot of the entertainment and other on board facilities. So, why not do as I did when I was on board the Viking Sea, grab a cup of coffee (or a cocktail!), sit back, relax and sail away with me for a moment or two…….
Image: Sparkx.org
…….firstly, as someone who regularly cruises, I was hugely impressed on boarding Viking Sea; this was a ship of supreme elegance, with contemporary and yet traditional Scandinavian style and design. Light and space is evident everywhere on the ship, from the Atrium and The Viking Living Room on Deck one, where guest services are located, to the spacious veranda stateroom cabins, the ship is cleverly designed so it never appears to be overcrowded or full, even when it has its full capacity of passengers sailing, which by the way is 930 guests, putting Viking Ocean Cruises into the Small Cruise Ships category, which is JUST the way I like my cruise ships to be. And, by the way, Viking Sea won best overall ship in the small-mid size ship category, best entertainment, best service, best fitness, best public rooms and best shore excursions in the 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards. Its sister ship Viking Star won for best dining, best cabins, best value and best for first-time cruisers in the same size category, so it appears I am good company for rating this ship so highly.
There is an abundance of easy chairs, sofas, loungers and sun-beds in all of the public areas……..all of them in an array of natural fabrics with muted hues of grey, cream, ochre, blue and white with highlights of burnt orange; knitted cushions, wool throws and furs adorn chairs and the backs of some sofas, and all around the ship, there are curated collections of books which you can read, as well as a selection of board games and puzzles and some quite simply gorgeous art and art installations. It’s like being at home, but without having to make the beds, do the washing up or cooking! The Atrium, with its grand stairway leads up to more seating on the next deck, and it has a discreet public computer area behind the stairs, where you can check your emails and print your destination itineraries etc. And, did I mention, that WiFi is INCLUDED in the cost of your cruise on Viking……..yes, really! For me, this was one of the biggest inclusive features, as well as not paying extra for “alternative dining”, use of the Spa and an included excursion in nearly every port. And, all wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner are included on board, as well as speciality teas and coffees, at any time. And not forgetting that EVERY stateroom cabin has a veranda, there are NO inside cabins on any of the Viking ocean cruise ships.
We’ve talked about the inside, well most of it, I’ll come back to the restaurants, bars and entertainment a little later, but what about outside…..the Viking sea is just as sleek and chic on the outside, as she is on the inside…….with beautiful wooden planking on the outside decks, two pools – one large, main pool and an infinity pool, which I believe is the only one on an ocean-going cruise ship at present, as well as plenty of tables and chairs for “Al Fresco” dining with a view. The Pool Grill and Pool Bar was a favourite with me, for casual but tasty lunchtime dining, and for afternoon cocktails, I usually gravitated to the Aquavit Terrace next to the hot tub and infinity pool. There’s also a Sports Deck on deck nine, with some extra seating away from it all. The deck areas offer more sun-beds and loungers for just that, lounging, with plenty tables for eating outside, or to rest those important poolside cocktails on. Even the outside cushions blend in with the exterior decor of the this sleek ship, again, cool blues and greys add an air of relaxation.
And, when it comes to the Staterooms, there’s plenty of space for living home-away-from-home for two weeks; there are five levels of stateroom, as well as an Owner’s Suite, which is like a large apartment at sea! I stayed in the Penthouse Veranda cabin for the main part of my trip, which is a very comfortable and spacious 338 square feet stateroom, with a sofa, complimentary mini bar with snacks (which is replenished daily), a large desk and integrated vanity unit with lighted mirror, and an en-suite shower and toilet with Freyja® toiletries. A robe and slippers are also provided, and there is a hair dryer, 42″ flat-screen LCD TV which has movies available on demand. My King-size Viking Explorer bed was a dream to sleep in, and I loved the cashmere blanket at the bottom of my bed. Each level of stateroom has 24 hour room service, and that all important WiFi too. For the latter part of my trip, for one night, I slept in a Deluxe Veranda cabin, which was only slightly smaller than the Penthouse Veranda, and had almost exactly the same benefits, with the mini-bar being just soft drinks, although each cabin does have a coffee maker, and a bottle of purified water which is refilled daily.
I’ve already mentioned that there is Spa on the Viking Sea, which is available to use by all, and there are a range of spa treatments that can be purchased if you wish, as well as a hairdressing salon too. There is NO casino on the ship, which for me and many others I spoke to, was a blessing, this is a ship what was built for comfort, enjoyment, relaxation, good food and wine as well as the chance to explore new or much-loved destinations, it’s a place to unwind and have a wonderful holiday where the ship takes you to a new port without the need to check in and of hotels and brave the check in and security queues for flights, trains or coaches…….you board, unpack and are taken to numerous exciting destinations whilst having your own space for the length of the voyage. For me, that is the beauty of taking a cruise, whether it be an ocean cruise or a river cruise. One of the most fascinating and intriguing part of the ship, was the Viking Heritage Centre, a small museum of sorts, which told of the story of the seafaring Vikings, told through artefacts, costume, books and photos….
If an army marches on its stomach, than it’s true to say that part of the lure of an ocean cruise is the food and wine; and Viking Sea DID NOT disappoint on that front, the food was exemplary with a choice of casual or more formal dining, although I must stress that Viking Cruises are steering away from the formal aspect of cruise dining, making it more accessible for all, with that elegantly casual and relaxation frame of mind coming into play again. You can dress up if you wish, and many people did on the cruise I was on, but put simply the choice is YOURS and is not part of a formal dining itinerary, which puts many people off. As well as the Pool Bar and Pool Grill that I have already mentioned, Viking Sea offers several other dining options – The World Cafe on the pool deck offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it a self-service buffet style dining area with some cooked to order food stations. On many cruises I have been on, these buffet style easy dining restaurants have been little more than a school canteen, not the World Cafe…..the food was exceptional with a wide variety on offer, from sushi to curries and roasts, it was always fresh and appetising. The Restaurant is the other “included” dining area where reservations aren’t required, the menu changes daily and offers a great selection too.
If you fancy eating what you have shopped for and prepared, then The Kitchen Table is for you, which offers a cookery class and the chance to eat in a super sleek private dining area. The other two “alternative” dining areas, are Manfredi’s (an Italian style restaurant) and the The Chef’s Table, which offers an utterly sublime tasting menu with paired wines. Both restaurants offer specialist dining at NO EXTRA COST, you just have to make a booking beforehand. As well as these main dining rooms, you can also grab an authentic Norwegian waffle with all the trimmings from Mamsen’s Deli in the Explorer’s Lounge, as well as some amazing Scandi style open sandwiches and cakes there for lunch, all included and at no extra cost, and the stunning Wintergarden on the Pool deck offers an afternoon cream tea every day between 3pm and 5pm, again, at no extra charge. The Viking Bar on deck one offers breakfast pastries and sandwiches throughout the day, for a “grab and go” breakfast or snack. I will be featuring the food on board the Viking Sea in detail in my next post, so do keep popping back to read all about the amazing meals and wine I enjoyed whilst on my cruise.
Before I end, I’d just like to highlight some of the other areas on the ship; for nightly shows, dancing and music, Torshavn is the place to go, in addition to special outside shows, on the main pool deck. There’s a theatre and two cinemas on board, and some very enticing shops that sell jewellery, watches, perfumes and some beautiful Scandi knits, felted slippers and even some mini globes! There is live music daily in the main Atrium, where there is a very grand Steinway Grand Piano, and whilst I was in board, a fabulous string trio played nightly, as I sipped my aperitif and decided where I was going to eat that night. This a ship of perfect proportions with just enough to entertain you, with excellent dining, comfortable cabins and the chance to explore a new destination every day…….subject to what cruise you choose to go on. I’ve shared all of the prices and a small fact file below, as well as gallery of images of the ship, and I hope that you have enjoyed your virtual cruise with me today, on board the Viking Sea…..look out for my next post, which will be all about the food on board, and then my final post will cover the destinations I visited whilst in the West Indies. I’m also sharing a South African curry recipe tomorrow, so do pop back to see that too, à bientôt, Karen
Disclaimer: I was a guest of Viking Ocean Cruises, and all of my transport, transfers, food, accommodation and excursions were included in this complimentary press trip; all views and opinions remain my own and I was not asked to write a favourable review, nor was I paid to attend this trip.
West Indies Explorer Cruise:
West Indies Explorer
From £2,490 | 11 Days | 9 Guided Tours |
Prices start at £2,490 per person for a Veranda Stateroom San Juan to San Juan
Return flights from the UK
One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call
Unlimited free Wi-Fi
Alternative restaurant dining at no extra charge
Beer, wine & soft drinks with on board lunch & dinner
24-hour speciality coffees, teas & bottled water
Access to top-rated spa & state-of-the-art fitness centre
Self-service launderettes
Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase
YOUR STATEROOM INCLUDES:
Private veranda
King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linens & pillows
Separate seating area
42″ flat-screen LCD TV with intuitive remote & complimentary Movies On Demand
110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
Spacious closet & drawers
Mini-bar; security safe; hair dryer
Spacious glass-enclosed shower
Heated bathroom floor & anti-fog mirror
Premium Freyja® toiletries; plush robes & slippers
Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
Explorers Lounge
Atrium Stairway
BOOK NOW AND SAVE UP TO £500 PER PERSON
On All Ocean Cruise
Offer expires 31 May 2018
Day 1 — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Arrive in San Juan to embark your ship today. You will stay aboard your ship overnight, giving you ample time to explore El Viejo San Juan, or Old San Juan, with its seductive colonial charms, easy island tempo and authentic culture. Wander its narrow lanes, literally paved with history, laid with blue adoquín stone once used to ballast Spanish galleons. This evening, stroll the Old Town’s azure byways romantically illuminated by street lamps.
You have another day to take in the history and architectural beauty of San Juan, from its fanciful Condado district to the magnificent 16th-century Fort San Felipe del Morro, set on a promontory at the entrance to San Juan Bay. Or visit the lush woodland of El Yunque national rainforest. Later today, you will sail away into the Caribbean’s blue waters. With Viking’s destination-focused itinerary, you will call on a new port daily, with not a single day spent at sea.
Day 3 — Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Witness the lush beauty that once lured the pirates Blackbeard and Captain Kidd to Tortola, part of the British Virgin Islands. You will traverse Tortola, ascending to its greatest heights to admire spectacular Caribbean vistas. Experience some of its British flavor, pass through charming fishing villages and cast your eyes on magnificent blue-green seascapes. Alternately, take to the waters to explore the grottoes of Virgin Gorda.
Day 4 — St. John’s, Antigua
Visit Antigua today, once Britain’s “Gateway to the Caribbean.” On an island tour from our berth in St. John’s, you will admire lush green beauty all around and visit English Harbor. Its restored Georgian dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is named for Admiral Horatio Nelson, who commanded the Crown’s fleet here in the 18th century. Today, yachts line the quays. But the island’s stunning scenery hasn’t changed since Nelson’s day, blanketed with tropical forests and punctuated by sheer cliffs dropping into blue waters.
Day 5 — Castries, St. Lucia
Call on the lush and mountainous island of St. Lucia, with its sheltered harbors, quiet byways and Creole-inspired cuisine. A short drive from our berth in Castries, admire breathtaking views of azure waters and hillsides shrouded in tropical green. Witness the art of batik making here and glimpse prolific banana plantations. Or, venture across the island to view the spectacular Pitons, towering twin peaks draped in forests.
Day 6 — Bridgetown, Barbados
Relish the intense Caribbean beauty of Barbados today when you call on its capital, Bridgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will discover ample evidence of British rule here, from cricket matches and afternoon tea to the Commonwealth’s third oldest Parliament. You will marvel at spectacular vistas from the heights of Farley Hill, descending to sea level and the roiling waves of Bathsheba’s Soup Bowl, popular with surfers. Or head underground to explore the stalactites and stalagmites of Harrison’s Cave.
Day 7 — Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
Experience the colorful culture and breathtaking natural beauty of French Guadeloupe, often called the “Butterfly Island” because its two main islands are joined with bridges. See both sides from our berth in Pointe-à-Pitre. The national parks of the west island attract adventurers to mountainous, lush rainforests. The flatter east island boasts a rich culture, fine Caribbean cuisine and craft villages awash in island flavors, from pungent spices to fresh tropical fruits. Experience both, or hike in Guadeloupe National Park to marvel at the towering Carbet Falls.
Day 8 — St. Kitts (Basseterre), St. Kitts & Nevis
Call on St. Kitts today, Britain’s first Caribbean settlement that grew into a sugar-producing powerhouse; 68 plantations operated at the height of the boom. You will learn about this lucrative colonial era at St. Kitts’s Fairview Great House & Botanical Garden, a fascinating repository of relics and beautifully preserved rooms that provide a glimpse of the lives of sugar barons. Or visit the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 9 — Philipsburg, St. Martin
Explore two countries on one island today when you call on St. Martin. You will dock on the Dutch side, in Philipsburg, and have the chance to contrast the two cultures. See the great salt pond on the Dutch side, the charming old village of Quartier-d’Orleans and the French capital, Marigot, called the “Caribbean Paris.” Or, choose to simply relax on the island’s famous Orient Beach, one and a half miles of gorgeous white sand.
Day 10 — Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Explore one of the Caribbean’s most beloved islands today, St. Thomas. You will dock within walking distance of its capital, Charlotte Amalie, set on one of the most picturesque harbors in the region. Get acquainted with the beauty of St. Thomas during a scenic drive along a spectacular route, stopping at the famous Mountain Top for breathtaking views of the sea and surrounding islands. Alternately, you might cross the emerald-green island to Magens Bay, home to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
Day 11 — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Disembark this morning and return home, or continue your exploration of the Puerto Rican capital with our extension here.
* One shore excursion included per port as indicated (included); all others available at an extra charge. Depending on your stateroom category, shore excursions may be reserved beginning 90 days before your cruise sails. Not all excursions will be available for all sailings. Full details of the excursions available on your specific departure date can be viewed at My Viking Journey once your cruise booking has been made. Viking Cruises reserves the right to withdraw, change, and/or cancel a tour or to make changes in the itinerary and hotel accommodations whenever, conditions warrant it. Please see Terms and Conditions for full details.
Travel, Dine & Wine in Style on Celebrity Equinox around the Mediterranean
The Autumn Garden, Windfalls and Old Fashioned Scottish Apple and Ginger Chutney
Christmas Fairy Cakes in a Jar, Day Seventeen on the Advent Calendar and The Big Christmas Bake-off
Gifts in a Jar, Day Ten on the Advent Calendar and Christmas Eve Hot Chocolate
Filed Under: North America, Review, Slider, Travel Highlights, Travel Stories Tagged With: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Cruise, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, San Juan, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Martin, St Thomas, Viking, Viking Ocean Cruises, West Indies, West Indies Explorer
David at Reasons To Cruise says
15 April 2018 at 11:56 am
Viking really does boast a range of beautiful ships. Your photos are wonderful, and your trip sounds heavenly.
I thought they were super-expensive but the lead-in price for your itinerary sounds really good value, especially with flights included. Must resist booking….
Thank you so much David,
Yes, their ships are just fabulous and thanks for your compliments about my photos too….
Yes, the prices are very reasonable when you factor in the that air fares are included, you have an excursion in every port included, there is wine/beers/soft drinks included and NO alternative dining charges and of course, NO WiFi to pay, which has added on a lot of money for me in the past!
Margaret Robinson says
Hi — I read this when you first put in on your blog and found it very interesting. The photos are great as well. We don’t travel via the larger ships but are Viking River Cruise fans. It’s good to know that either way one travels on a Viking ship, they’re in for a treat.
Love you blog and read it weekly.
EXACTLY that Margaret! The ocean cruises are just as fabulous as the river cruises and as you say, all the passengers are in for a real treat!
I was looking for a chili recipe and saw the travel section and thought I’d take a look. I like the fact that Viking doesn’t nickel and dime people with extra dining charges and having to pay for Wifi.
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Exclusive Excerpt: BLADE SONG by J.C. Daniels
1 August 2012 Jackie Exclusive Excerpts, LE Guests, Shiloh Walker 0
I am excited to welcome author Shiloh Walker today who is releasing a brand new urban fantasy novel under the name JC Daniels. Blade Song is definitely worth a read, if not for the yummy mean involved.
Kit Colbana—half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades—has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.
So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters—especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.
Or maybe it’s all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she’s gotten in over her head. Or maybe it’s because if she fails—she’s dead.
If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she’ll even live long to collect her fee…
Exclusive Excerpt from Blade Song!
aneira [a-nir-a] derived from Antianeirai, found in the Illiad, warrior women, meaning ‘those who war like men’. Also known as Amazons.
Something a lot of people don’t know about the aneira. Weapons sing to us. They whisper. They talk. Even modern weapons do it, although it’s muted, almost like a radio station that’s gone all static-filled. Most of the weapons in there spoke to me in that muffled sort of voice, although there was a compound bow that wasn’t bad.
But there was something else—
I followed the sound of it while Damon paced along at my back.
“So, son, what are you looking for? Big guy like you might like this one…” He touched a big piece of work. I recognized it. Overpriced, but the manufacturer made them well. However, I wouldn’t be able to draw the damn thing. Its main feature was that it was made for big guys. I wasn’t big.
I kept walking and paused by the one bow that did seem to whisper to me. It wasn’t the one singing—I still couldn’t see her, but this one…I touched a hand to him.
“That’s an awfully strong bow for a girl your size, sweetheart,” the man said, glancing at me dismissively.
“Really?” I picked it up.
Made by Athens. I hadn’t used them before. But when I touched the bow, his whisper grew to a steady stream, one I decided I liked, even as the song in the back of my head grew louder. Smiling, I drew back on the bow. “I like him,” I murmured.
“We’ll take it,” Damon said.
I released and lowered the bow, held onto it as I kept walking. There was a cabinet the end. The singing came from there. “What’s in here?” I asked.
Damon said quietly, “Remember I pay double.”
“Handmade. Traditional bows. The compound would suit you fine and it’s a lot cheaper, especially since you have to pay double. Despite what people think, if you know how to shoot, the compound is no more or less accurate than a recurve bow.” The man was standing at my elbow now, although he was actually talking to me now, instead of Damon.
“I know.” I smiled. I had to see what was in that cabinet. Had to.
“The cheapest bow in there is fifteen hundred dollars. That means it will cost you three thousand. You got that on you?” he asked, his voice edging into belligerence.
I looked at Damon, deflating a little. I didn’t, damn it. But I had to have what was singing to me…singing so sweetly, I almost wanted to cry.
“I got it,” he said.
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my face.
When he opened the cabinet, I saw her.
Oh, sweetheart…come to mama…
Shiloh Walker/J.C. Daniels
Meet J.C. Daniels!
J.C. Daniels exploded in being in May of 2012. She’s the pen name of author Shiloh Walker and was created basically because Shiloh writes like a hyperactive bunny and an intervention was necessary. J.C. is the intervention. The name… J.C. Daniels is a play off of the three people who pretty much run Shiloh’s life.
Blog: Blog
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
Want to purchase Shiloh’s novels?
Blade series
Blade Song at Amazon
Night Blade (2013)
Broken Blade (2014)
Fragile (writing as Shiloh Walker)
Fragile at Amazon | Book Depository
Broken at Amazon | Book Depository
Ash Trilogy (writing as Shiloh Walker)
If You Hear Her at Amazon | Book Depository
If You See Her at Amazon | Book Depository
If You Know Her at Amazon | Book Depository
The First Book of Grimm at Amazon | Book Depository (writing as Shiloh Walker)
The Second Book of Grimm at Amazon | Book Depository (writing as Shiloh Walker)
The Missing at Amazon | Book Depository (writing as Shiloh Walker)
The Departed at Amazon | Book Depository (writing as Shiloh Walker)
Stolen at Amazon (writing as Shiloh Walker)
RT Poster Reading Challenge & Contest Part 2
Biting Cold by Chloe Neill
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At the #CMCon16 Beach with KC Burn
14 October 2015 Jackie CMC At The Beach, Coastal Magic, LE Guests 0
As one of the #CMCon16 featured bloggers, I get to have a little fun with a few of the fabulous authors who will be hitting the beach for Coastal Magic 2016 by showcasing their many stories. Last year I interviewed four of the the CMC15 authors, but this year I’m changing it up. I came up with this really fun idea to have the authors introduce us to their worlds by sending their characters to the beach.
Quite a few of the authors took me up on it and today KC Burn is taking us to the beach with Drew and Cliff, the sexy duo from her supernatural mystery, North on Drummond.
Drew Drummond stood in the hot sand, staring moodily at the water breaking in waves against the shore, horizon stretching for miles. The absolutely worst place for a red-haired guy who could get burnt just by standing too close to a photo of the sun. Didn’t matter that he was hanging out at the beach in his hometown of Sandy Bottom Bay, Florida. Maybe it even made it worse. Ease of access didn’t change the sticky humidity or give the place any exotic flavor.
The heat from the sand quickly warmed up his feet. Without shade, the temperature would be close to unbearable within minutes.
How had he gotten talked into this excursion again?
Cliff Garcia, the town’s sexiest cop and Drew’s boyfriend, bounded up beside him, gorgeous brown skin chock-full of sun-protecting melanin. “Nope. We didn’t forget the umbrella.”
It was all Cliff’s fault. There wasn’t much Drew would deny Cliff, and he’d been bugging Drew for ages to spend the day at the beach. Presumably out of some perverse need to torture Drew.
Drew would bet his entire life savings—meager though they were—Cliff had never experienced the excruciating agony of a vicious sunburn. His boyfriend was brown head to toe and all points in between. While Drew loved the contrast when they were naked in bed, it was practically a law of the universe that Drew did not belong at the beach.
Cliff hummed to himself as he set up the umbrella and squat beach chairs. Drew concentrated on not sweating to death. He had on long shorts, a long-sleeved T-shirt, a completely dorky Gilligan hat, and SPF 4000 applied thickly enough he was more prepared for a lube-wrestling match than sunbathing, and he was having infinitely less fun.
“Sit, sit,” Cliff urged. “Did you want to go for a swim?”
“Are you insane? I’d probably start smoking like a bug under a magnifying glass.” Drew had been partially kidding, but Cliff’s expression fell.
“I’m sorry. Did you just want to go home?”
Thing was, there wasn’t a whole lot to do in their tiny town. Sure, it was the second-most haunted town in Florida and had built up a thriving cottage industry around paranormal activity—Drew himself was a psychic tarot reader—but most activities had tourists in mind, not locals. Cliff had gone to a lot of trouble, including packing a huge cooler with snacks and beverages. He’d even invited some of their friends to come along and grudgingly invited Drew’s brothers too. Telling Cliff this was about the last thing in the world Drew wanted to do today would be like kicking puppies.
“Don’t be silly. Of course I don’t want to go home.” Was he overcompensating with the enthusiasm? A little lie with the best of intentions. “But I don’t think I’ll swim yet. I’ve just gotten myself slathered.”
Cliff leered at him. “You know I’m happy to help with your reapplication.”
Drew smiled. “This is a family beach, mister. You go have a swim if you want. I’ll read for a bit and swim after the others get here.”
Drew plopped down in one of the chairs. Cliff ripped of his shirt and yanked down his shorts to reveal a skimpy yellow bathing suit. Nope. No way would Drew risk letting Cliff apply his sunscreen. He was way too tempting in that tiny suit, and Drew didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of townspeople who already thought he and his family had questionable morals. He’d definitely wait until his friend Kyle or one of his brothers arrived, to eliminate any chance of springing wood.
He pulled out his book but wasn’t quite ready to start reading. Instead he grabbed the tiny plastic spade and bucket Cliff had included in the mammoth bag of beach stuff. Drew had teased him for including it, but now that he was here, a fine, salty mist hitting his face from the crashing waves, he totally wanted to dig in the sand.
He was busy excavating through a thick patch of buried shells, some of them attractive and unbroken, when a mini shower of cold water droplets splashed over him. He shrieked and looked up to see Cliff’s wide smile.
“Scared the crap out of me.”
Cliff didn’t look particularly chastened as he grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist, and sat in the other beach chair.
“Find anything interesting?” At least he was kind enough not to comment on Drew’s disparaging remarks about the pail and shovel.
“Some nice shells. There’s sort of a cache down here.” Drew dug his fingers through the assortment of shells, chasing an enticing roundish cylindrical piece with a knobby end.
Suddenly the sunny beach scene disappeared, and all Drew could see was a flash of metal, gleaming under a moonlit night, as it came down with a sickening thunk. When it rose up again, blood dripped from the blade, and a chill swept through Drew.
Drew blinked, Cliff’s words reaching his ears midsentence, like he’d just tuned in to a different radio station. Cliff knelt in front of him, hands gripping Drew’s biceps.
“—kay? Drew. Are you okay?”
Just a few moments ago, Drew had been so heated he’d been worried about melting into a puddle. Now he couldn’t stop the violent shiver from racking his frame.
“Just breath slowly.” Cliff wrapped a spare towel around Drew’s shoulders. “I have to find my phone. Call this in.”
The chill faded quickly as Cliff burrowed frantically through their beach bag.
“I’m okay. You can relax.” The psychic episodes that had begun after a recent head injury hadn’t been that plentiful, but there had been enough of them that Cliff probably shouldn’t still be this freaked out. Even if they almost always entailed death and destruction.
“Relax? Are you kidding? You’re holding a human bone—a metacarpal, I think—and were talking about blades and blood. Someone’s dead, murdered. Did you see who?” Cliff pulled the phone out from the bottom of the bag with a grunt of satisfaction.
“Hold on; hold on.” Drew realized he was gripping the bone in his other hand and dropped it, then swiped his palm across his towel. “It’s okay. No murder.”
Cliff raised an eyebrow in clear disbelief. “No murder?”
Drew shrugged. “Well, okay, yes, it was a murder, but the murderer is long dead. The blade was, I think, a cutlass. A pirate cutlass. This bone must have been washed ashore or something after the last hurricane, gotten buried under the sand.”
Cliff flopped heavily onto his back, heedless of the sand in his hair. “A pirate murder.”
“Probably hundreds of years ago.”
“Don’t suppose your psychicness happened to note the location of any loot, did it?”
Drew laughed. “No. Sorry.”
Cliff sighed. “What a shame. Be nice to get something fun out of this talent of yours.”
“I have other talents, you know.” Drew made sure his tone was laden with innuendo. Heavy-handed, perhaps, but he didn’t like seeing murders, even if they were hundreds of years old, and Cliff was a much more attractive distraction.
“You do, do you?” Cliff pushed himself up and grinned at Drew. “Since we’re the only ones here, we could just go home now.”
They’d been at the beach for less than an hour and were going to go home to get naked in bed for the rest of the afternoon. Best beach trip ever.
Drew grabbed the sunscreen and sunglasses, ready to pop them back in the bag, when he heard a little squeal.
Drew glanced over his shoulder. Kyle waved and headed straight for them, flanked by Drew’s two much larger brothers.
Cliff groaned. “Rain check, baby?”
Drew patted Cliff’s hand. “I see some rain on the horizon. Maybe in an hour or so?”
“An hour?” Cliff pressed a quick kiss on his temple. “That’s the best psychic vision you’ve ever had.”
Meet KC Burn!
I’ve been writing for what feels like my whole life. I’m a sucker for a happy ending (get your mind out of the gutters!) so it’s been romance almost all the way. After moving from Toronto to Florida for my hubby to take a dream job, I discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled my own dream — getting published. After a few years of editing web content by day and at night, neglecting my supportive hubby and needy cat to write about men loving men, I was uprooted yet again, and now reside in California.
Writing is always fun, despite the hard work, but writing about my guys is more fun than I’ve had in a long time. Love between consenting adults is a beautiful thing, and should be celebrated, regardless of sexual orientation. I hope you enjoy reading my stories as much as I love writing them.
Contact Info: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | GoodReads | Amazon
Want to purchase KC’s novels?
Galactic Alliance
Spice Solace
Alien Outlaw
Voodoo Vice
MIA Case Files
Blood Relations
North on Drummond
Toronto Tales
Rainbow Blues
Doctor Chicken (Pen Name #1)
First Time, Forever
Come Undone: Romance Stories Inspired by the Music of Duran Duran
Don’t miss your chance to meet over 50 fabulous urban fantasy, paranormal, and romance authors at Coastal Magic next February! This super casual book-lover weekend happens on Daytona Beach, and gives everyone the chance to hang out with fellow readers and amazing storytellers.
REGISTRATION is now open! If you haven’t been to Coastal Magic yet, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. Be sure to keep up with all things Coastal Magic, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | RSVP at the Facebook Event.
#CMCon16
Coastal Magic
KC Burn
LE Guest
Mini-Fiction
The Shadows by J.R. Ward
At the Beach with Jeffe Kennedy
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You're Just Seconds Away from Find The Best Growth Suburbs
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The Principles of Supply and Demand and How They Apply to Residential Property
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Auction Clearance Rate (ACR)
LocationScore
Ben: So here we are, The Location Score Lads and we are here to talk to you about Auction Clearance Rate. So Bryce, what's Auction Clearance Rate?
Bryce: Yeah, it's the bane of my life Ben. Particularly when it's running really high, but as a Buyers Agent, we go to an auction and we want to be the only bidder at the auction but...
Ben: Go away everyone...
Bryce: it's like going to a restaurant on a Friday night and if it wasn't for the other old people around here, it's a bit like that but the auction clearance rate as it sounds - how do these properties clear during the auction clearance campaign but what's often forgotten is it also includes the period leading up to the auction if it sold prior, (the three days), and also after. So the Auction Clearance Rates that you see on a weekend get adjusted through the week. But largely as we speak, how many properties go under the hammer, under the campaign; versus those that sort of fiddle away and they've got to go through a private campaign.
Ben: Totally, and I think what's really important to understand here is that there is confidence here with the agent because he's got enough buyers and he wants to take it to auction. So for me it's one of the absolute key indicators for real time demand in a market, whereas we get a lot of data that gets reported three or four months later. I just absolutely love this stuff because it's in real time for me. So Jeremy, in terms of auction clearance rate score, tell me some other things you may have seen that have been good scores and not so great scores.
Jeremy: Well obviously the best score is 100%, worst is 0. DO you need any more information? I think some of the scores can be a little misleading like whenever you see something like 0 or 100%, it's possible that there's only been 1 auction. 33%, there may have been 3 auctions and 1 sold. Again, very thinly traded so it can be an unreliable indicator if the volume is quite small. But you see something like 81.6% and you know there's been more than just a couple of auctions there, and that is a high rate. Anything above about 70% you're looking at, for a large area, where demand is definitely exceeding supply. And anything below about 40% should be triggering alarm bells.
Bryce: And it's more of a big metropolis market measure. I think it'a a wonderful measure but it doesn't work everywhere. If you think about the Perth Market, the Tasmania market, even the Queensland market, when it's a bit of a seller's market there may be a few more auctions but generally speaking it's a Melbourne and Sydney measure. Not exclusively but generally speaking. So it's a terrific measure, but so long as you're in a market that's big enough. So I guess it's another reinforcement that these indicators are great but in isolation they don't tell the full story.
Ben: And you want to look over a period of time too so let's say we've only got that week where there's a record f 100% for that 1 auction sold, but then there's the next weekend where there's 12 going to auction and it may have been a long weekend that weekend and so that skewed the number but we start to see that number trend out over time and that's really important to understand. That we're not just saying ok let's just look at one week or two weeks or three weeks. We're actually trying to look for a trend and you'll see that in the reports that you get around that trending line. And if the auction clearance rate is trending up, that's a really good sign that the area is under demand pressure isn't it.
Jeremy: Yes for a large market like city market, if you can see that in the trend, it's an indicator that something is going on there. But in smaller markets just at a suburb level, it really becomes an issue of how many auctions in a thinly traded market. And you can find that some properties lend themselves well to auction, so atypical properties or affluent areas have more auctions than lower socio-economic demographics.
Ben: And one last tip is also, don't just look at the actual suburbs, you've got to break it down into units and houses because there might be really strong demand for houses but not so strong demand for units. If you're looking to buy a unit in that market, it may not be a good measure of supply and demand. So there you have it, Auction Clearance Rate. Another one of the important variables on Location Score.
Note: This is just a brief explanation on Auction Clearance Rate. If you are interested to learn how you can apply this in your own research, our upcoming webinar will unpack this in more details. Learn more about our webinar here.
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Love the website. It's quick and easy to use and navigate. When researching a property, rather than manually search each individual detail about a suburb, LocationScore wraps it all together on one page which allows you to decide whether to investigate the suburb further or move onto the next. Look forward to more valuable information to come.
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100 Suburbs Set to Boom!
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Author and creator of The Wombles honoured with a Green Plaque on her former Wandsworth Common home
25th June 2019 25th June 2019 Toby Porter 0 Comments
A children’s author and creator of The Wombles, Elisabeth Beresford has been honoured with a Green Plaque on her former Wandsworth Common home.
The plaque was unveiled at her home in Earlsfield Road at a ceremony on June 5 attended by her son and daughter, Marcus and Kate, and the current residents of the house, Roger and Fleur Hambury.
Daughter Kate Robertson explained that despite living near Wandsworth Common, the book was set on Wimbledon Common following a family Boxing Day trip there.
Kate said she loved visiting ‘Wombledon Common’, and a legend was born.
“I’d like to thank Wandsworth Common for this tribute to my mother. She’d have been very proud,” she said.
From left, Fleur Hambury, Kate Robertson, Marcus Beresford, and Roger Hambury
The Wandsworth Green Plaque scheme honours people and places that are important in the history of the borough.
Previous recipients have included Clement Attlee, the Biograph Cinema in Wandsworth, Dame Margaret Rutherford, the Festival of Britain Gardens and the site of the V2 rocket incident in Tooting.
Cabinet member for community services Councillor Steffi Sutters said: “The Green Plaque scheme helps us recall our shared history and connects us to the people and places that have helped make the borough what it is.
“The Wombles are remembered as Wimbledon residents, so I’m delighted that we have acknowledged Elisabeth Beresford’s place in Wandsworth history – especially as The Wombles were ecological torchbearers with their work making good use of the things that the everyday folks left behind.”
Dementia volunteer honoured
Woman killed after fatal road collision in Wandsworth
Charlton Athletic sign former Bolton, Manchester…
Former Crystal Palace man still training with…
Charlton Athletic Women sign former Yeovil midfielder Evans
Former Charlton Athletic striker has raised £75,000…
Former cop convicted of rape in Antigua
Surrey Docks Fitness and Watersports Centre offers…
← In My View: Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham speaks on his decision to join the Liberal Democrat Party
Special 30th Anniversary screening: Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing’ →
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LightFair International 2014 breaks attendance records
ATLANTA -- The 25th edition of LIGHTFAIR® International (LFI®) set new all-time attendance and trade show records for its five-day run in Las Vegas June 1-5, according to Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman and president of LFI managing partner AMC, Inc.
The LFI 2014 trade show floor covered a record 239,800 net square feet and spotlighted 576 exhibitors, including 107 first-time exhibiting companies and 103 manufacturers headquartered outside the U.S.
Attendance broke all previous records with 26,059 professional attendees registered. The LFI 2014 attendee population included representatives from 74 countries.
"LIGHTFAIR International 2014 achieved its ultimate calling as the world's global stage for lighting design and technology," notes Portman. "In every dimension, from education to product presentation to industry convergence, the show was unprecedented in scale and performance across its 25 years of growth," Portman adds.
LIGHTFAIR International is the world's largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference. It is sponsored by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and produced by AMC, Inc.
"The 25th anniversary of LIGHTFAIR International represents more than just the history of lighting, it promises the quickly-evolving future of lighting and design -- which is only seen at LIGHTFAIR," says Marsha Turner, chief executive officer, IALD.
"LIGHTFAIR International brings together exhibitors from across the globe and offers world-class education," notes William Hanley, executive vice president, IES. "Missing LIGHTFAIR is not an option if you want to keep up with trends and stay ahead of the competition."
LIGHTFAIR International has been recognized by its ranking within the Trade Show News Network (TSNN) 2013 listing of the Top 25 Fastest-growing Trade Shows for Net Square Footage and the 2013 listing of the Top 250 U.S. Trade Shows. LFI also has been listed as a Trade Show Executive (TSE) 2013 Fastest 50 honoree and 2012 Gold 100 honoree.
LFI's expanded trade show floor featured a product mix of more than 40 categories that included integrated design, alternative energy and solar power, OLEDs, healthcare, hospitality, digital signage and software.
The 2014 LFI Conference curriculum offered more than 220 hours of education and contained 81 accredited courses, making it the largest Conference in LFI history. LIGHTFAIR introduced two Forums this year -- the LFI Healthcare Lighting Forum and the LFI Hospitality Lighting Forum.
The LFI Innovation Awards® highlighted the best in new product innovation and celebrated 25 years of innovation by recognizing its 25-year exhibitors. LFI received 261 submissions from 135 companies and spanned 14 categories that were judged by an independent panel of lighting professionals. For a full list of the LFI Innovation Awards submissions and winners, please visit http://www.lightfair.com/lightfair/V40/lia/.
The LFI 25th Anniversary Celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in the LFI 25 networking lounge. During the trade show, attendees gathered in LFI 25 to celebrate the 25th anniversary event by watching a celebratory video, having their photo taken or taking selfies with the photo backdrop and participating in the #LFI social media conversation on the interactive digital wall.
Institute keynote Craig W. Hartman, FAIA, design partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), presented poetics of light in architecture in "Shadow and Light: Reflections on Architecture." Institute keynote Richard Seymour, co-founder and design director, seymourpowell, inspired attendees with a look ahead to the future of design and to the dramatic changes that are turning science fiction into reality in "Organicz: The Organic Digital Interface." Impact speaker Martin Klaasen, owner, founder and principal, Klaasen Lighting Design, discussed the impact of the fast evolution of LED lighting technology on lighting design and explored the question "Have LEDs High-Jacked the Lighting Design Industry?"
The LFI Mobile App offered enhanced features to assist attendees with a personalized schedule, tools to easily and quickly navigate the trade show floor with SmartRoute and quick access to important event information to provide the ultimate on-site experience.
Attendees and exhibitors stay connected to LFI on social media during the show and can engage LFI all throughout the year via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Videos released during the show on YouTube captured the LIGHTFAIR experience through highlights and attendee and exhibitor interviews.
For LIGHTFAIR International 2014, the Pre-Conference program took place from Sunday, June 1-Monday, June 2, 2014 and the LFI Trade Show and Conference ran from Tuesday, June 3-Thursday, June 5, 2014. For more information about LIGHTFAIR International, please visit WWW.LIGHTFAIR.COM.
LIGHTFAIR® International is the world's largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference and is sponsored by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). The event is produced and managed by AMC, Inc.
LightFair International - Lisa Kay Bokovoy
lisab@lightfair.com
www.lightfair.com
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Lee Rowley
MP for North East Derbyshire
About Lee Rowley
About North East Derbyshire
Lee's Blog
Broadband Survey
Local Plan Consultation
Resident Surgeries
Meeting Dronfield Town Council
Monday, 9 April, 2018
As part of his commitment to try to meet all Parish Councils in North East Derbyshire, Lee attended one of Dronfield Town Council's full meetings this evening.
Since his election, Lee has tried to meet as many Parish Councils as possible and has already attended or met a number of Councils around the constituency and will continue to do so for all those Councils who want to meet.
Tonight, Dronfield discussed a number of issues including crime, anti-social behaviour and local issues raised by residents.
"It was good to be able to join Dronfield Town Councillors to find out more about what they are working on currently," said Lee. "Many thanks to Cllr Foster, the leader of the Council, to all the Councillors and to everyone who attended."
Temple Normanton wins Lee's first Christmas Card competition!
Thursday, 20 December, 2018
Temple Normanton Junior Academy pupil, Zach, was winner of Lee's first Christmas card competition - and Lee popped into school today to say thank you and present Zach with his prize and certificate!
Lee Rowley MP for North East Derbyshire
Promoted by L. Preston on behalf of Lee Rowley, both of NDCA, 3 Rutland Street, Matlock, DE4 3GN.
Copyright 2019 Lee Rowley MP for North East Derbyshire. All rights reserved.
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Bill Text: VA HB1814 | 2019 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Virginia House Bill 1814 (Prior Session Legislation)
VA State Legislature page for HB1814
Prefiled
Comm Sub
Chaptered
Bill Title: Deferral of jury service; persons who have legal custody/responsibility for care of a child.
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-18 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0518) [HB1814 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HB1814-Chaptered.html
CHAPTER 518 An Act to amend and reenact §8.01-341.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to deferral of jury service; persons who have legal custody of and are responsible for the care of a child. [H 1814] Approved March 18, 2019
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §8.01-341.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§8.01-341.2. Deferral or limitation of jury service for particular occupational inconvenience or for persons who have legal custody and are responsible for a child.
The court, at the request of a person selected for jury service or on its own motion, may exempt any person from jury service for a particular term of court, or limit that person's service to particular dates of that term, if serving on a jury during that term or certain dates of that term of court would cause such person a particular occupational inconvenience. Any such person who is selected for jury service, and who is exempted under the provisions of this section, shall not be discharged from his obligation to serve on a jury, but such obligation shall only be deferred until the term of court next after such particular occupational inconvenience shall end ends. For purposes of this section, "occupational inconvenience" includes inconvenience to a person (i) who, during the term of court for which such person is selected for jury service, is enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited public or private institution of higher education and who is attending classes at such institution during such term and (ii) who has legal custody of and is necessarily and personally responsible for a child or children 16 years of age or younger requiring continuous care by him during normal court hours. The provisions of this section shall not interfere with the exemption available under subdivision 8 of §8.01-341.1.
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Klipsch Museum Of Audio History
PWK Quotes Anecdotes Klipschisms Submit Your PWK Story
Dope From Hope
GIVE Donations Membership
About Who We Are OFFICER AND TRUSTEE BIOS Public Disclosure Documents Board Of Advisors Partners
PWK/
Klipschisms
Submit Your PWK Story
Social/
Dope From Hope/
OFFICER AND TRUSTEE BIOS
Public Disclosure Documents
The Klipsch Heritage Museum Association
Klipsch Audio – In 1946 Paul W. Klipsch, inventor, acoustics pioneer and maverick, founded Klipsch Audio with the sole purpose of bringing the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience into his living room. Through the use of highly efficient speaker designs, handcrafted cabinetry and a thirst for real engineering breakthroughs – Klipsch, the great American loudspeaker company, was born in Hope, AR. Today, our diverse range of quality audio products includes speakers and headphones for almost any consumer and professional application – including cinema, whole-house, wireless, home theater and portable offerings. Honoring our founder’s legacy, Klipsch continues to be the legendary high-performance brand of choice for audiophiles and aficionados around the world. We are the Keepers of the Sound®. Klipsch Group, Inc. is a VOXX International Company (NASDAQ: VOXX).
Classic Album Sundays founded by Colleen Murphy is the world's most popular record club. CAS allows the listener to fully immerse themselves in the music by presenting the musical context, the story behind the album and an uninterrupted replay of the album on vinyl on an audiophile hi-fi sound system (with phones switched off and no conversation). People learn about the history of the album and then hear things in the music that they have never heard before. The events are mainly attended by non-audiophiles who are sometimes moved to tears when they hear the details of their favorite recordings.
The Audio History Library attempts to document the genesis of the audio industry. The AHL is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational charity serving as the world’s only repository and resource for the technological history of acoustic and electronic products that have made possible the very existence of the radio, television, concert touring, film (other than silent) and recording industries.
The Antique Wireless Association vision is to preserve and share the history of technology used to communicate and entertain from the first telegram to today’s wireless text messaging.
©2019 Klipsch Heritage Museum Association | Terms and Conditions
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Google Maps Basics
Safety & Privacy
Running a Website
Do More Web & Search
Marziah Karch
by Marziah Karch
Excels at serious game design and develops online help systems and manuals.
Google Maps is Google's search engine for locations and directions.
Google Maps works well as an exploration tool. You can enter keywords, just like the web search engine, and relevant results will be revealed as markers on a map. You can search for the names of cities, states, landmarks, or even just types of businesses from broad categories, such as 'pizza' or 'horse riding.
The Maps Interface
There are four main types of maps offered within Google Maps. Maps is a standard graphic representation of streets, city names, and landmarks. Satellite is a satellite view woven together from commercial satellite photos. Satellite view doesn't provide any geographic labels, just the raw image. Hybrid is a combination of satellite imagery with an overlay of streets, city names, and landmarks. This is similar to turning on the roads, borders, and populated places labels on Google Earth. Street view offers a panoramic view of the area from street level. Google periodically updates the street view using a car with a special camera attached to the top.
Not every area has enough detailed information to zoom closely in Satellite or Hybrid view. When this happens, Google displays a message that asks you to zoom out. It would be nice if it either did this automatically or switched to Maps view.
Google Maps also provides an overlay of traffic information in select US cities. The roads will be green, yellow, or red, depending on the level of congestion reported. There is no detailed information telling you why an area is congested, but when you navigate, Google will generally tell you an estimate of how long you will be delayed.
If you want to see even more detail than a satellite image, you can zoom to Street View in most cities. This function allows you to see 360-degree pictures of the actual street level view. You can zoom along a road or move the camera to either side to see the road as it would actually appear on a road trip
It's extremely helpful for someone trying to drive somewhere for the first time. It's also very cool for the "Internet tourist," who likes to view famous locations on the Web.
Map Manipulation
Manipulating maps within Google Maps is similar to the way you'd manipulate maps within Google Earth. Click and drag the map to move it, double-click on a point to center that point and zoom in closer. Double right-click on the map to zoom out.
If you prefer, you can also navigate with the zoom and arrow buttons on the upper left corner of the map. There's also a small overview window on the bottom right corner of the map, and you can use your keyboard arrow buttons to navigate as well.
Customized Driving Directions
I tested this feature with driving directions to the zoo because I knew the shortest route involved a toll road. Google Maps warned me that my route included a partial toll road, and when I clicked on that step in the driving directions, it pointed to the exact spot on the map, and I was able to drag the route to the slightly longer road that avoided tolls.
Google Maps lets you drag and drop driving directions for any route to customize your travel. You can also view traffic data while you do this, so you can plan a route over less busy streets. If you happen to know a road is under construction, you can also easily drag your route to avoid this.
The printable instructions are updated with your new route, along with updated distance and driving time estimates.
This feature is extremely powerful, and sometimes a little difficult to use. It's easy to accidentally drag the new route to back over itself or drive in loops. If you make a mistake, you need to use the back arrow on your browser to undo it, which may not be intuitive for some users. In spite of the occasional glitch, this is probably one of the best new features to ever happen to Internet driving directions.
Where Google Maps Excels
Google Maps is the best choice for exploring. Yahoo! Maps and MapQuest are both very useful for finding specific driving directions to and from a known address. However, both require that you enter an address or search path before you see a map and both have interfaces with a lot of extra visual distraction.
Google Maps opens with a map of the U.S. unless you've saved your default location. You can start by searching for keywords, or just explore. The simple, uncluttered Google interface is also a strong point for Google Maps.
Mix-up, Mashup
Google allows third-party developers to use the Google Maps interface and customize it with their own content. These are called Google Maps mashups. Mashups include sightseeing tours with movies and audio files, social location services like FourSquare and Gowalla, and even Google’s own Summer of Green.
Make Your Own Maps
You can also create your own content overlays and either publicly publish them or share them with select friends. Creating a custom map could be a way to give driving directions to a hard to reach the house or add additional information to a commercial building's campus.
When we originally reviewed Google Maps, we said that it would be fantastic if only they'd include some way to plan alternate routes. It seems our wish has been granted and then some.
Google Maps has a great, clean interface, and mash-ups are a lot of fun. It's easy to switch from a Google search to find a store or location in Google Maps. Google Street View is sometimes creepy but always fascinating, and the ability to easily plot alternate routes turns Google Maps into a home run.
How to Use Google Maps (You're Welcome)
What Is Google Earth?
Use MapQuest to Create Printed Driving Directions
Here's How to Take a Virtual Walk Down Your Street With Google Maps
Google Maps Alternate Routes
10 Easy Google Maps Hacks
Get Driving Directions and Access Hidden Features in Google Maps
Road Tripping? Build a Custom Google Maps Route for Your Phone
Here's How to Turn On Biking Features in Google Maps
The Best Map Apps for Your iPad
Get Where You're Going With Apple Maps
Why Have a GPS When You Have an iPad?
How to Drop a Pin on Google Maps
What's Good About the Google Maps App for iPhone
How to Use Google Assistant With Google Maps
Is Your House on Google Street View? This Site Helps You Find It Fast
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Preparing for an Ambush
This group of kids was playing up high in a tree limb over the Nam Song River in Laos, when my kayak rounded the corner. As they saw me they whooped and hollered, and I could tell mischief was in their minds. I quickly got out my camera from the dry bag, and took one quick shot before storing it safely away. As I neared, they all jumped into the water at once, yelling and swimming frantically towards me. It was all fun and games but I didn't want them to flip my boat even with my gear in a dry bag, so I paddled quickly before they could latch on.
Forbidden Garden
Inside this ancient walled city a gardener tends to the nursery of flowers. Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam.
Rainbow Over Mato Tipila
Every time the conditions were right and a rainbow appeared I ran up to the Joyner Ridge trailhead as fast as I could and tried to capture this shot. This was one of those times. Mato Tipila (Devils Tower National Monument), Wyoming.
Eastern Sierra God Rays
One of the most remarkable sunsets I've seen. Bishop, California.
Sleepy Macaque
Resting in a tree in Tonsai, Thailand.
Elephant eye
The eye of one of the adult elephants at the Elephant Nature Park satellite site. The elephant tourism business in Thailand is big money and can be a shady and brutal business. The elephants can often be treated terribly.
However, there are some business that are reputable. You should never ride an elephant. The training for the elephants to allow people to ride them often involve beatings and other harmful practices. If visiting an elephant tourism site, thorough research is essential, to make sure you are not supporting a place that is harming elephants.
Near Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Climber on 'Top Gun'
Eric Bissell works out the moves on the route 'Top Gun,' one of the longest standing un-climbed projects in Tuolumne (first tried in 1985). He tried the route over 5 seasons before finally sending in July of 2016. This photo is from an attempt in 2014. The route is easily visible on the standard climbers descent from Stately Pleasure Dome.
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California.
Huckin' for it
Pim Shaitosa really goes for it on the short but punchy crux of ‘To Exist is to Resist’ 5.11d (7a). Nam Pha Pa Yai, Thailand.
Climber On 'License To Climb'
Climber Kate Sabo, pulls on one of the best and definitely the most iconic climb in Ha Long Bay. Half the adventure is reaching the route by hiring a boat driver to take you about 1 1/2 hours from Cat Ba Island to reach this small pinnacle of rock in the middle of the sea. The route is characterized by amazing quality vertical technical limestone with lots of pockets and side-pulls and rated 7a+. Vietnam.
Tuolumne River and Cathedral Range
The Cathedral Range peaks of Unicorn and Cockscomb are lit up in orange alpenglow at sunset with the Tuolumne River rushing in the foreground.
Yosemite National Park, California.
Alongside the Tuolumne River.
In the cold of a December morning I crept into the small wooden hut before dawn and waited. Just enough room for me and my camera gear, there was a hole in the wall big enough for a camera lens to peer through. In the early grey light this Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perched and sat, contemplating who knows what.
Klamath Basin, California.
Perched in front of its aerie, this Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), had at least one chick that could be heard begging for food.
Castle Rock State Park, California.
The Knitting Woman
In the streets of Liming, Yunnan, China.
Turtle Tower
At Hoan Kiem Lake, or Lake of the Returned Sword, lies the Turtle Tower. In the heart of Hanoi, this lake provides a respite from the busy city.
Death Valley Super Bloom - Brittlebush
Once or twice in a lifetime the wild flowers of Death Valley explode into rarely seen combinations of grandeur and diversity. I was lucky enough to visit for a few days in March of 2016. This image is of a Brittlebush or Encelia farinosa.
Death Valley National Park, California.
Winter In The Valley
Bridal Veil Falls is just a sliver on this winter day in Yosemite Valley.
Snowy Egret
It was a magical morning that I captured this Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) on camera with the light just right as it waded in the shallows of the mud flats searching for small fish.
Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz, California.
Yellow Bellied Sap Suckers
A mother (Sphyrapicus varius) tends to her chick nested in a cavity of an Aspen tree. City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho.
Climber on Scarface II
Named after the zig zag scar shaped crack at the bottom of the route (and the Indian Creek climb of the same name), this is a fun and iconic climb in Laojunshan National Park, Liming, Yunnan, China.
Climber on El Matador
El Matador is the most iconic climb at Devils Tower, and also one of the most iconic in the world. The second pitch makes a perfect box in between two columns.
It's all about the legs!
Mato Tipila (Devils Tower National Monument), Wyoming.
Time and Stillness
Something about looking at this image has always brought me a sense of peace and quiet. Maybe its the silkyness of the ocean and the steadfastness of the rock, or maybe just the memory of that time and place. Big Sur, California.
These Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) try to fade into their surroundings in the Klamath Basin, California.
The Race Track
Unexplained moving rocks on a desert playa in Death Valley National Park, California.
Sea Lion Napping
The California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) takes a nap at the popular surf spot, Steamer Lane, in Santa Cruz, California.
Coyote Trap
I came across this strange scene in the Eastern Sierra. I'm not sure what happened here, but the image captivated me. Though the common North American Coyote (Canis latrans) has been continually hunted and trapped for the past ~200 years this persistent and iconic species continues to thrive.
Dinosaurs Roam This Earth
These herons stalking prey in the Arcata Marsh made me fell as if I'd gone back in time to when dinosaurs still roamed this earth.
Highliner
Walking gracefully in the last light as the sky turns orange, on the 200 foot high-line over the ocean in San Luis Obispo. California.
Rays of Light on Royal Arches
This wintery scene was briefly brightened when the clouds lifted for a few moments allowing a stripe of light on the Royal Arches and North Dome above.
High Line on Lost Arrow Spire
Lost Arrow Spire, an inspiration to climbers and slack liners alike. It was first climbed in 1947, and the first successful high line walk took place in 1985.
A collection of favorite images from Lucas Barth Photography
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My Italian Bucket List
Marianne Blackham August 2, 2018
My "Bucket List" of things to do in Italy!
Throw a coin in Trevi Fountain for luck/wish to return.
Visit Vatican City -- There is so much to do in Vatican City. The Pope offers a blessing one day a week, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and museums are some of the offerings available at Vatican City.
Tour the Colosseum -- There are tours that explain all about the bloody history of the Colosseum.
Walk around Campo de Fiori -- Campo de Fiori has an amazing farmer's market. The food and flowers are a sight to behold.
Head to the Spanish Steps.
Watch people in Piazza Navona.
See the Cinque Terre -- Cinque Terre is composed of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cinque Terre is connected by trains and boats, and inaccessible by car.
Take a Gondola ride in Venice -- Snuggle up with your significant other and enjoy a romantic evening ride to see Venice all lit up.
Visit St. Mark's and watch people in the square.
Head to the Bridge of Sighs -- Rialto Bridge is a popular tourist spot.
Take a day trip to Murano/Burano -- Murano is known for its glass; and Burano is known for its lace.
Drive along the Tuscan countryside to view the wildflowers, including poppies.
Visit the David -- The David is a marble masterpiece created by Michelangelo.
Tour Uffizi -- Uffizi holds priceless collections from the Italian Renaissance.
Take a walk to Ponte Vecchio.
Get a picture in Pisa and enjoy the sights -- The Tower was spared from a WWII artillery strike because a US sergeant was impressed by the beauty. There is also a cathedral by the Tower.
Visit vineyards in the Tuscan region.
Walk around San Gimignano -- San Gimignano is known for its Medieval towers.
Visit Civita di Bagnoregio -- Erosion has altered this town over the centuries; and Civita di Bagnoregio owes the unchanged nature of the town to its isolation. The population surges to 100 during the summer, from around 10 during winter time.
Take in the views from Mole Antonelliana (in Turin).
Enjoy Lake Como -- The Huffington Post has called it the most beautiful lake in the world.
Visit the Duomo (in Milan).
View, or ski, the Italian Alps.
Head to Juliet's house in Verona.
Take in the landscape in Umbria.
Walk around Positano -- Positano is a beautiful area on the Amalfi Coast, and is close to many beaches on the Amalfi Coast.
Visit Mount Etna in Sicily -- Sicily also has several beaches, popular Palermo, and Valley of the Temples.
Head to see Pompeii ruins -- Pompeii was covered in ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Eat pizza in Naples.
Enjoy some gelato.
Hope you enjoy Italy,
Tags art, florence, food, history, italy, lake como, luxury travel, luxury, milan, museums, pompeii, positano, rome, ruins, sicily, tours, travel, tuscany, venice, vineyards
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Thompson Street house deemed total loss after fire
"The structure was so damaged that they weren't able to pinpoint a cause and location," said Marion Fire platoon chief Adam Fetter.
Thompson Street house deemed total loss after fire "The structure was so damaged that they weren't able to pinpoint a cause and location," said Marion Fire platoon chief Adam Fetter. Check out this story on marionstar.com: https://www.marionstar.com/story/news/local/2018/10/14/thompson-street-house-deemed-total-loss-after-fire-marion/1642619002/
Emily Mills, Marion Star Published 3:47 p.m. ET Oct. 14, 2018 | Updated 9:59 a.m. ET Oct. 15, 2018
(Photo: Getty Images/Ingram Publishing)
MARION - A Thompson Street house has been deemed a total loss after a fire Sunday morning.
Marion City Fire platoon chief Adam Fetter said the fire department received a call about a two-story single family home at 380 Thompson St. with "100 percent fire involvement on the first floor and second floor" shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday.
When the department first received the call, three adults, all residents of the house, were inside, but they all made it out safely, Fetter said. No one was injured in the fire.
The fire required 14 on-duty employees from the Marion Fire Department, along with two employees from the Marion Township Fire Department for mutual aid, four additional off-duty employees and a fire investigator.
Fetter said the department believes the house is a rental property. On the auditor's website, its building value is listed as $31,540.
Crews were on scene for about three-and-a-half hours Sunday. No cause or point or origin of the fire has been determined, Fetter said.
"The structure was so damaged that they weren't able to pinpoint a cause and location," Fetter said.
ejmills@mansfieldnewsjournal.com
Twitter: @EmilyMills818
Read or Share this story: https://www.marionstar.com/story/news/local/2018/10/14/thompson-street-house-deemed-total-loss-after-fire-marion/1642619002/
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Putting the great in outdoor
Mike Baker of the Outdoor Media Centre on how the industry is reviving the outdoor medium and the key benefits of doing so.
By Lucy Tesseras 29 May 2013 12:00 am
Sponsored by OMC
Outdoor, arguably the world’s oldest medium, continues to make inroads on other media and last year was no exception. Thanks to the emergence of new technology, coupled with investment across all environments and heavy advertiser spending on visual branding at the London Games, 2012 was the year that outdoor passed a new threshold: 10 per cent of display advertising media, according to Nielsen.
Now the industry is presenting a new value proposition, hoping to encourage more advertisers to re-evaluate their media strategies and to invest more in outdoor. Outdoor’s marketing teams (both sellers and buyers) have identified five key benefits of using the medium. These go by the name of ‘Outdoor to the Power of Five’.
Active audience
First up is the audience: young, urban, mobile and connected – in other words, highly likely to own a smartphone or tablet. Unlike some other media, the heaviest consumers of outdoor are the most attractive – they earn the most and travel the furthest. Or as Steve Cox, marketing director at JCDecaux Airport, puts it: “The people you most reach with outdoor are the people you most want to reach”.
There’s clear evidence that the people most exposed to outdoor are also those most likely to buy because of it too, as last year’s Customer Journey research from the Outdoor Media Centre showed.
Secondly, the active space. This reminds us where the message is being delivered – where people are close to the point of purchase and in buying mode.
It’s not just the proximity. It’s the mindset consumers are in and the context you find them in. Think commuters on their way to work, shoppers on the high street, motorists heading home, fitness fanatics in the gym. There’s a chance to tailor campaigns to targeted subgroups in an appropriate environment.
Third comes impressions that last. The outdoor image is typically a single compelling image, the very essence of the brand, and often that image will stick with us for years.
Ocean Outdoor’s marketing director Richard Malton explains: “A strong outdoor image burns itself into the retina. Think Wonderbra, or the Wayne Rooney George Cross ad for England.”
The amplification medium
Fourth up, outdoor is the amplification medium. This means that outdoor takes the advertiser’s message further. It will always deliver incremental reach onto broadcast, press or online campaigns, and can build on awareness generated in these media to deliver final prompts to purchase for consumers out shopping. What’s more, it’s the medium most likely to generate a mobile search and to influence others and create word of mouth, according to TGI data.
Bright future
Finally, outdoor sits at the heart of technological change. According to Nick Mawditt, recently hired director of marketing and insight at Talon, we have seen the fabric of outdoor change dramatically towards a context of activation.
“Digital screens now take one in five of every pound spent on outdoor,” he says. “At the same time, interactive elements such as near-field communication (NFC) and touchscreens mean the outdoor experience can be much more immersive and engaging.”
My month has been dominated by return on investment. The Outdoor Media Centre recently conducted an overview with the econometrics units at nine major media agencies and published a report, which I have been taking out to media owners, agencies and a few advertiser clients.
What is interesting is the extraordinary range of ROI values reported. There are definitely some clients who don’t seem to be getting a fantastic return on their outdoor investment, to be fair, but the majority of agencies recorded a positive result. And the best ones did more than 10 times better than the worst ones. This is pretty encouraging, but just what drives those differences?
First, there are natural category differences. I suspect we do best with categories in the natural heartland of outdoor: brands that are used outside, such as mobile phones, or that target affluent, young, urban, mobile audiences, such as fashion; those that rely on strong visual branding and packshot recognition as part of their marketing programme such as perfumes; impulse purchases such as confectionery and drinks;
and launches, such as attractions, shows, media programmes, games, books and films.
Travel is another strong suit, as outdoor can paint a beautiful picture and create longing for faraway destinations as an antidote to the drabness of the UK. Motors are enjoying a revival at the roadside too.
The creative effect
There’s no question, outdoor is a medium sensitive to creative effects. Great outdoor creative creates impressions that last.
Outdoor is a strong brand builder, but if the campaign is going to go through the econometrics process, wouldn’t it be logical to make posters more directive, tactical and price-based, with lots of call to action, bold pricing and ‘buy it now’ splashes – a bit more like radio in pictures?
But that’s not the kind of work that creatives necessarily like to produce and equally it’s not the work that clients are demanding or indeed signing off. So that’s a bit of a contradiction in my opinion: I’d say either go full force down the measurement route and do activation-heavy posters or go for beautifully art-directed posters that build brands long term. Did The Economist actually sell more copies at the newsstand in each week that the fabulous David Abbott posters ran? I wonder.
New audience research by outdoor media analytics firm Route gives us a lot of new insights into where outdoor works, with whom and with what kind of advertising formats. As experts in people’s mobility, we have never been so well placed to help advertisers reach their consumers in exactly the right environments.
Outdoor Media Centre
43-45 Dorset Street
W1U 7NA
Email: mbaker@outdoormediacentre.org.uk
Website: www.outdoormediacentre.org.uk
Shops may be closing but it should motivate not put off retail marketers
The stat out the week comes from the Centre for Retail Research – one in five shops are due to close in the next five years. This is troubling for the retail sector but should provide retail marketers with an incentive to improve what they do in the world of physical retail to arrest that decline.
It’s business not as usual in new era of content
Lou Cooper
B2B brands are following their consumer peers by adopting innovative content marketing strategies across the array of media channels, in an effort to engage their audiences better.
O2 names Nina Bibby as top marketer
Josie Allchin
O2-owner Telefonica has announced Barclaycard CMO Nina Bibby as its next consumer marketing director, following the exit of Sally Cowdry earlier this year.
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Asthma medication linked to growth suppression in children
Published Thursday 17 July 2014 Published Thu 17 Jul 2014
By James McIntosh
Two new reviews of studies involving inhaled corticosteroids - the drugs found in inhalers given to people with asthma - have found that the drugs appear to impede the growth rate of children. These findings could be of concern to both parents and physicians.
Asthma is a chronic lung condition that occurs widely in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 25 million people (about 1 in 12) have asthma. This percentage is much higher in children; around 9.3% of children (6.8 million) are believed to have the condition.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) have stated that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the preferred medicine for long-term control of asthma, and that they are the most effective medicine for treating the inflammation and narrowing of the airways that are caused by the disease.
The NHLBI also state that young children who wheeze and develop respiratory infections frequently are most at risk from asthma. This fact suggests that the group of people who are most likely to require ICS are the same group who would be most affected by any growth suppressing side effects, should they be found to exist.
Inhaled corticosteroids and growth
A group of authors worked together on two systematic reviews of ICS, published by The Cochrane Library. One review focused on the effects of ICS on growth rates when compared with placebos or non-steroidal drugs, and the other review concentrated on investigating different dose levels.
The effect of ICS on growth
Inhaled corticosteroids are regarded as the best long-term form of asthma treatment but could come with a risk of growth suppression for children.
The first systematic review examined the results of 25 trials that involved a total of 8,471 children with mild to moderate asthma. Of the 25 trials, 14 - involving 5,717 of the participating children - measured growth over a year.
The majority of ICS were tested, and results suggested that they suppressed growth when measured against placebos or non-steroidal drugs. In these control groups, the average rate of growth was recorded as being around 6-9 cm a year, and in the groups receiving ICS, the average growth rate was reduced by 0.5 cm.
Linjie Zhang, from the Faculty of Medicine at the Federal University of Rio Grande, Brazil, and lead author of this review, says that the growth suppression "seems minor compared to the known benefits of the drugs for controlling asthma and ensuring full lung growth."
The effect of ICS dosage on growth
The second systematic review investigated the results of 22 trials in which asthmatic children were treated with low or medium doses of ICS, with the different trials testing varying doses of most of the available ICS. Of the 22 trials, only three followed the participating children for a year or longer, following 728 children. One of these trials also tested three different dosing plans.
In the three trials that reviewed the participants for a year or over, lower doses of ICS were found to improve growth by 0.25 cm a year.
Further studies required
The researchers found that across the different studies, growth suppression rates varied. The researchers could explain some of the variation on account of the different ICS being used, but as the drug types were indirectly compared, Zhang says "conclusions about the superiority of one drug over another should be confirmed by further trials that directly compare the drugs."
Another limitation found by the reviewing researchers was the length of time of the trials. Prof. Francine Ducharme, from the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Montreal, Canada, was the senior author of the second review and says:
"Only 14% of the trials we looked at monitored growth in a systematic way for over a year. This is a matter of major concern given the importance of this topic. We recommend that the minimal effective dose be used in children with asthma until further data on doses becomes available. Growth should be carefully documented in all children treated with ICS, as well in all future trials testing ICS in children."
The authors suggest that longer trials, trials directly comparing different doses and trials directly comparing different drugs are needed in order for the conclusions drawn from their systematic reviews to be fully authenticated.
Last month, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting that infants who are exposed to allergens and bacteria during their first year of life are less likely to experience allergies, wheezing and asthma.
Meditation may help to lower heart disease risk The AHA conclude that meditation may be useful to help lower the risk of heart disease, but that it should be used with other heart-healthy interventions. Read now
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Pediatrics / Children's Health Primary Care / General Practice Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
'Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: dose-response effects on growth,' Ducharme et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009878.pub2, published 16 July 2014, abstract.
'Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: effects on growth,' Zhang et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009878.pub2, published 16 July 2014, abstract
The Cochrane Library news release, accessed 16 July 2014.
Additional source: CDC Asthma in the US, accessed 16 July 2014.
Additional source: CDC FastStats: Asthma, accessed 16 July 2014.
Additional source: NHLBI How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled?, accessed 16 July 2014.
Additional source: NHLBI Who Is at Risk for Asthma?, accessed 16 July 2014.
Visit our Respiratory category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on Respiratory.
McIntosh, James. "Asthma medication linked to growth suppression in children." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 17 Jul. 2014. Web.
McIntosh, J. (2014, July 17). "Asthma medication linked to growth suppression in children." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
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LFA Participating In Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) To Fund Critical Research, Education Programs, Support Services And Advocacy Initiatives
Published Thursday 2 September 2010 Published Thu 2 Sep 2010
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) encourages current and retired federal employees to direct pledges to the Lupus Foundation of America (CFC #10566) during the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) which kicks off this Wednesday, and runs through December 15, 2010.
Funds generated from the campaign will go toward the LFA's efforts to advance the science and medicine of lupus through its national research program, increase public understanding and awareness of the disease, advocate on behalf of people with lupus, and provide services and programs to individuals living with lupus and their families.
"The CFC is an important partnership and a critical source of funding that enables the LFA to continue its focus to care for people with lupus while driving research and searching for a cure," said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO, Lupus Foundation of America.
Learn more about how CFC contributions are helping LFA to fund lupus research, education program, support services and advocacy initiatives to help the 1.5 million Americans who are living with lupus.
Lupus Foundation of America (LFA)
Could targeting this heart hormone help control blood pressure? The heart releases a hormone that has a key role in blood pressure. Now, a study of rats shows that its function depends on a sugar molecule attachment. Read now
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Visit our Lupus category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on Lupus.
Lupus Foundation of America. "LFA Participating In Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) To Fund Critical Research, Education Programs, Support Services And Advocacy Initiatives." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 2 Sep. 2010. Web.
Lupus Foundation of America. (2010, September 2). "LFA Participating In Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) To Fund Critical Research, Education Programs, Support Services And Advocacy Initiatives." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
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Vintage fire engine carries coffin of former Malmesbury firefighter in funeral procession Featured
Former firefighter the late Roy Evans was carried to his funeral in Sherston on a 1943 Austin fire engine on Friday.
Matthews funeral director James Beesley walked ahead of the vintage fire engine, which was followed by the family cars and then fire appliances from Malmesbury, Tetbury and Cricklade. The procession began at Malmesbury fire station, passed along Park Road and through Parklands on its way to Holy Cross church in Sherston.
Well-wishers paid stood by the side of the road to pay their respects, bowing heads and tipping hats as the wicker coffin went passed.
Firefighters lined the path to form a guard of honour as the coffin was taken into the church, and when it was taken out again after the funeral service.
Malmesbury watch manager Chris Harvey said the church was packed. He described Roy as "a real Malmesbury hero."
Roy died on December 31 after a 12-month battle with cancer.
He was born on December 16 1958 in Malmesbury Hospital and grew up and went to school in Sherston. School was not his favourite pastime and he much preferred to be outside in the fields or fishing and enjoying country life.
His first job was working on the family farm as a farm labourer before progressing onto driving straw lorries down to Cornwall.
Roy had a real love for motorbikes and was fearless in the way he rode them. He would frequently attend motorbike days out, riding all over the country.
He joined Ranalagh Gates in the late 1970s, where he started his lifelong wielding career during which time he became a father to his son Chris. In 1993 Roy joined Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service as a retained firefighter, a position he held for almost 19 years. During Roy’s time with the Fire Service he fell in love with a female colleague Juliette, and the couple married in 2007.
Roy was made redundant when Ranalagh Gates closed and worked for a short time for the neighbouring company Sweetenham & Bradley, before starting up his own business The Iron Works & Gate Company with his son Chris. His work can be found in many locations around the town including the town gates and Malmesbury Fire Station's firefighters' memorial bench.
Read this article on the Gazette and Herald here...
More in this category: « Malmesbury Marlins chairman to swim Channel for second time BREAKING: Dyson ditches Malmesbury as its head office for Singapore »
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Search type Website Staff directory
List of staff
Dr Lawrence Benson - personal details
Select a page Personal details Research Publications Teaching
Role: Lecturer In Healthcare & Public Sector Management
Email: ztm?42r4Vv42bT27ht2r#4b/4?VtrVQX#9igMsnHeWF_c%t!^km|*}z{+yNG517pdP`u6b2J4.CEro/jBXh$UL'R8DYq3KOSaI-QwvZflV0~?Tx=@A
Manchester Business School
Lawrence started his career as a NHS planning and commissioning officer in London and West Yorkshire in 1992 he moved to health services management education and development. Before moving to MBS he worked as an academic at the Universities of Bradford and Huddersfield. Lawrence joined the MBS as a Lecturer in Healthcare and Public Sector Management in 2003 and was promoted in 2008 to the position of Senior Fellow in the Health Policy and Management Group. Lawrence is an experienced researcher and teacher working within healthcare management and policy. He gained his PhD in 2003 from the University of Bradford studying partnership working within Primary Care Group boards. His research and evaluation experience at MBS has included healthcare networks amongst clinicians and managers in Coronary heart disease and Children’s' services, NHS Networks commissioned by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and the introduction of Assistant Practitioners during their introduction to the NHS in Greater Manchester. Lawrence teaches on a range of programmes including doctors who are specialitytrainees, clinical scientists and business and management undergraduates.
His main research interests are Partnerships between health and social care organizations within the context of regionalized government and Leadership and service improvement exercised by proto medical leaders.
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Pauline Collins Titles, Movies and Posters
CAST: Gilbert, Lewis, Pauline Collins, Tom Conti, Alison Steadman, Julia McKenzie, Joanna Lumley, Bernard Hill,
Young Mr. Lincoln
CAST: John Ford, Henry Fonda, Alice Brady, Marjorie Weaver, Arleen Whelan, Eddie Collins, Pauline Moore,
A Soldier's Story
CAST: Norman Jewison, Howard E. Rollins Jr., Adolph Caesar, Denzel Washington, Patti LaBelle, Robert Townsend, Scott Paulin, Wings Hauser, Art Evans, Larry Riley,
CAST: Joffe, Roland, Patrick Swayze, Pauline Collins, Om Puri, Shabana Azmi, Art Malik, Ayesha Dharker, Santu Chowdhury, Imran Badsah Khan,
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
CAST: Woody Allen, Gemma Jones, Pauline Collins, Anthony Hopkins, Rupert Frazer, Kelly Harrison, Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Freida Pinto, Eleanor Gecks, Antonio Banderas, Ewen Bremner, Christian McKay, Philip Glenister, Jonathan Ryland,
CAST: Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins, Michael Gambon, Sheridan Smith, Andrew Sachs, Gwyneth Jones, Trevor Peacock, David Ryall, Michael Byrne, Ronnie Fox, Patricia Loveland, Eline Powell, Luke Newberry, Shola Adewusi, Jumayn Hunter,
Secrets of a Windmill Girl
CAST: Arnold L. Miller, April Wilding, Pauline Collins, Renee Houston, Derek Bond,
Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War
CAST: Ian Sharp, Pauline Collins, Peter Capaldi, Anna Wilson-Jones, Gwenllian Davies,
CAST: Beresford, Bruce, Glenn Close, Frances McDormand, Julianna Margulies, Pauline Collins, Jennifer Ehle, Elizabeth Spriggs, Tessa Humphries, Sab Shimono, Cate Blanchett, Wendy Hughes, Johanna Ter Steege, Pamela Rabe, Clyde Kusatsu, Stan(ford) Egi, Susie Porter, Lisa Hensley,
CAST: Julian Fellowes, Alex Etel, Timothy Spall, Maggie Smith, Christopher Villiers, Pauline Collins, Eliza Bennett, Rachel Bell, Dominic West, Carice van Houten, Douglas Booth, Jenny McCracken, Christine Lohr, Alan Charlesworth, Hugh Bonneville,
From Time to Time
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Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
forgotmyusername
June 2013 edited February 10 in General Movies & TV Posts: 2,782
Arnie has signed up and it has been revealed there will be three new stand alone movies based on the premise that the series will be a reboot!
What's wrong with the studios, don't they like original screenplays anymore? Don't they like being creative? Or is it the lure of a cgi money making strategy.
It really does upset me. Soon we will be watching reboots of reboots...batman, spiderman anyone?
Sick of it really, the original Terminator should not be touched. I even enjoyed Bale's movie, it was great, I don't why it got the slagging off it did? It set up a premise of the war that I would have liked to have seen some more of.
Oh well let's see how they destroy the legacy.
Skydance Productions, Annapurna Pictures and Paramount Pictures have jointly announced they will partner on a rebooted Terminator movie, to be released by Paramount Pictures on June 26, 2015.
The first in a stand-alone trilogy, Terminator will be produced by Megan Ellison of Annapurna and David Ellison of Skydance. Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake of Skydance will serve as executive producers. Laeta Kalorgridis (Avatar, Shutter Island) and Patrick Lussier (Drive Angry) are attached to write the screenplay.
Launched in 1984 with star Arnold Schwarzenegger as the title character, Terminator spanned 3 subsequent films, which have earned over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
David Ellison most recently executive produced, along with his partners at Paramount, World War Z, Star Trek Into Darkness, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. A 5th installment of in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise is in active development, along with a 3rd film in the "G.I. Joe" franchise, among other films.
Megan Ellison most recently produced the Academy Award®-nominated Zero Dark Thirty, The Master and executive produced Spring Breakers via her Annapurna Pictures banner and has David O. Russell's American Hustle, Spike Jonze's Her, and Bennett Miller's Foxcatcher set for release later this year.
boldfinger
June 2013 Posts: 4,914
Yeah great, another trilogy with four parts.
Why can´t they just make a decent film that stands for itself?
Sir_James_Moloney
June 2013 edited June 2013 Posts: 395
forgotmyusername wrote:
Original screenplays have always been more challenging, commercially, than films based on pre-existing IP.
Filmmaking is a very unusual business - unlike selling cars or cutlery or combine harvesters or computers, studios are producing and selling a one-off product every time. And they're expensive to make. And there's no way of knowing whether a film will be a success and make a lot of money or be a failure and lose a lot of money. Heaven's Gate is an example of what happens when things go very wrong.
As William Goldman wrote in Adventures in the Screen Trade, "nobody knows anything" i.e. you can't predict if a film will be successful before it hits cinemas. This is a problem hardwired into the film business. The best way to mitigate it is to make films that already have a pre-existing consumer base. That means films based on popular books or plays; or sequels or remakes; and usually with established stars.
It's not new: out of the 10 Best Picture winners from the 1940s, "the Golden Age of Hollywood," only 1 was an original screenplay. 8 were based on existing books or plays and a ninth, Casablanca, was based on an unproduced play. Almost every film Hitchcock ever made was based on pre-existing material and he even remade his own film, The Man Who Knew Too Much. The popular version of The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland was the sixth(!) time the story had been made into a film.
Without adaptations, remakes, sequels and prequels, the film industry as we know it wouldn't exist.
CraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
No problem with a new Terminator film but I think a reboot is a bad idea. 4 was decent enough considering who directed it, so they really should continue onwards on what has already been established.
June 2013 edited June 2013 Posts: 28,232
Yeah, I just heard about this. I guess the money machines Hollywood use to preserve their existence are getting a bit empty.
CraigMooreOHMSS wrote:
It performed very badly at the box office though.
4 was kind of a reboot anyway, why not just make a sequel?
Agent007391 wrote:
Because why would one make a sequel to a film which lost money?
It made twice it's budget, which would actually mean it broke even - just about. But you're right, it definitely underperformed.
That aside, it definitely deserved a sequel. And now that Arnold is dedicated to coming back, whether or not the previous film made money is less of an issue as fans will come to see him back as the character regardless, no?
M_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
June 2013 edited June 2013 Posts: 3,076
District 9 is a better movie then Terminator 4. Also Transformers 2 who special effect are made by the people who did Terminator 3 is a better movie.
I whas happy to hear to Paramount going to make T5 because Paramount is connect with the T1 and T2 directer work for Paramount (and Fox) with Titanic/Avatar and Paramount have connections with Universal (T2 is re-released by them on BD and dvd, and a lot of Paramount movies (Animated) be released by Universal or the other way around who soon going to be released by Fox who going to take over Dreamworks.). Afterall Terminator franchise is a MGM/Fox/Sony/Universal/Paramount thing and Terminator 4 is more a Warner/Sony thing. So Warner runed the franchise, Christian Bale be in Terminator 4 i see symbol of Warner and there making the prequel tv series and my feeling be Terminator 4 feels a bit like that.
Mabey there get scary after Die Hard 5, but the good thing be is that it be easier to get a directer for T5 and 100 minutes movie is les of problem. The directer of Terminator 4 is not the problem. Note i haven't seen Die Hard 5 but i heard it is QOS of Die Hard franchise, it have left over from Die Hard 4 i whas afraid wil not happen and like Mi4 i like the idea it be a story with russians.
No, both Warner Bros and Sony lost money and Halycon, the production company, was unable to fully repay the equity investment in the film.
As a rule of thumb, a film generally needs to make back about 3 times its production budget to break even (cinemas take approx 50% of Box office and the distributor's P&A costs are usually at least 50% of the production budget.)
The Last Stand, his first starring role in 10 years, flopped badly.
The Last Stand, his first starring role in 10 years, flopped badly.[/quote]
The Last Stand was a stand alone feature though, the difference here would be Arnold returning to his most iconic role. Surely that would make a difference. Probably one of the reasons Salvation underperformed was because he wasn't in it?
Arnie was in it...and Arnie is only in it as a bit part apparently. I want the rock to take up the baton...awesome.
Arnie was in it...
Everyone knew it wasn't really him.
Sir_James_Moloney wrote:
Lost money or not, it was better than T3, and that got a sequel.
I know but retro cgi Arnie just being pure evil had be hiding behing the sofa. T3 was awful like having ones testicals coated with honey and putting them in a bee hive.
Samuel001 Moderator
June 2013 Posts: 13,200
Hopefully Cameron keeps the rights in 2019 meaning we won't have to endure three more of these films. One should be enough.
Terminator could also have picked up where Sarah Connor Chronicles left off. That would have been real interesting. Maybe someone might continue the TV series.
If I have my Termintor chronology correct, Sarah Connor Chronicles was a tangent which branched from T2, in which she didn't get killed, while T3 and T4 were a different tangent extending from T2 in which Sarah is killed and Judgement Day happens.
I am happy at least that more Terminator is being served up. A re-boot makes for 3 different Terminator continuities, I guess.
Well we Bond fans can hardly talk. Rebooting seems to be very much in fashion these days...
OHMSS69
All that friggin money in Hollywood and all they can come up with is re hased, rebooted, remakes?
They should stop force feeding us these CGI expensive films and just save the money and concentrate on more story driven tales.
Several of these films did not do too badly at the box office and even won some Oscar Gold. They do not cost as much to make, the studio can earn back it's money that much faster. They would rather spend 200 million and sweat bullets that the film may not recoup its costs rather than spending 10-20 million and earn back the money the first weekend or two.
"If they keep serving slop, the people will acquire a taste for it."
I read about this this morning and I don't see a need for a reboot. T2 and TS are my two favorites of the franchise. But hey at least we have Arnold in the role again, although I'm hoping for "The Legend of Conan" first.
Aziz_Fekkesh Royale-les-Eaux
June 2013 Posts: 391
Gawd, just stop with the series already. T:S wasn't terrible, but they really goofed up a lot of details in it. End the series on a semi-good note and come up with an original idea!
IMHO I think they should continue after TS; it would be a nice change from the whole time travel thing and I would like to see the humans win the war.
timmer wrote:
Much as I loved The Sarah Connon Chronicles, and would love to see a continuation showing the time-misplaced John in a future where nobody knows who the hell he is, the show is sadly dead.
Then again, there's going to be a Veronica Mars movie. The future is not set.
Also, McG (what the hell kind of a fake name is that?) stated that his ideas for a fifth movie, set after Salvation, would have revealed that Sarah faked her death in order to survive Judgement Day.
myworldisenough
Well I for one am very excited by the prospect of this. I love the Terminator franchise and think the opportunity is there to do something special. Reboots are not necessarily something to fear. Bond's done very well for himself since his reboot and the recent Batman reboot is another example of what a great idea it can turn out to be. Superman has gone and done it also, although I've not seen Man of Steel yet so can't really comment on that one.
Shame they never continued on from 'Terminator: Salvation.' Heard about this news earlier and thought of how cool it will be to get a new trilogy, but I had no idea it was going to reboot. Somewhat lowers my interest. I don't see these new films being better than 'Terminator' or 'Terminator 2.'
Besides, as great as Schwarzenegger is, is he really going to return as a Terminator? He's too old. I thought the models for the machines were supposed to be near perfection?
RogueAgent
That is just pathetic! It does not need a reboot? The last movie whether you enjoyed it or not? Has set up the apocalyptic wartime of all these entries so far! So lets see some more all out full on battles! That's what we all want!!!
RogueAgent wrote:
Whilst I would be happy to explore more of the post apocalyptic point in the franchise, I am more happy that they have chosen to revisit the origins of the franchise whereby a mean killing machine is sent from the future to be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. The first movie The Terminator remains my favourite because it is sci-fi but first and foremost is a frightening horror of cat and mouse. Human fighting against all odds against an unstoppable machine that will never never give up until you are dead or somehow can destroy it first.
DarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
I'm a sucker for anything Terminator, I must admit. Growing up on Cameron's originals, I sustained a solid appreciation for the franchise even after ROTM and Salvation. I will acknowledge, however, that the quality of the franchise has been in steep decline after T-2; in fact I will admit that I would just as well have been happy to leave things alone after T-2. That said, I'm an easy lay for more Terminator product and I think there's tons of material that can be extracted from the fascinating world of Terminator.
When it comes to hope that any future film in the series, reboot or not, will ever match or even top the quality of the first two, I have none. I rather think of the Terminator franchise as ranging, on average, from good to great, with the first two films being exceptionally great almost by accident. They benefit from Cameron's direct involvement, a luxury the other two never had. So, if the new film ends up between good and great, I'll be happy. To put a different spin on it, it doesn't have to be exceptionally great, like T-2, to get me excited for it.
I'm always interested to see what a new Terminator film brings. Because ultimately, the war against the machines offers fertile ground for truly impressive sci-fi stories. Yes, I can dig yet another Terminator film and I'm not ashamed to admit it. ;-)
Yes, rumour has it Dwayne The Rock Johnson is in talks....
That got a sequel because it made money. That's how it works. Sadly, it has little or nothing to do with the perceived quality of the film.
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The SHSBC Is Dead
February 10, 2015 By Mike Rinder 160 Comments
ASHO Day and Foundation have been “combined” into one org. AOSHUK and SH Fdn have also been “combined” into one org.
Never in a million years would any scientologist have expected that TWO Orgs specifically created by L. Ron Hubbard would be closed in the “golden era of scientology.”
Unthinkable.
But like many of the other blasphemies that have been wrought in recent years, it was hidden in plain sight with loud pronouncements of “greatest expansion ever.”
And then there is this: Saint Hills NO LONGER DELIVER THE BRIEFING COURSE.
And this has NOT been broadly announced as not even David Copperfield could pull off making this appear to be a stroke of brilliance.
It’s an ugly, dark secret that nobody is talking about. But if you don’t believe me, call ASHO Reception and say you are interested in the Briefing Course and would like to start. See what they tell you (“We are not delivering the Briefing Course, but come on in and do the Purif…”)
Would any scientologist ever have believed that the American (or European or Australian or the “St Hill”) “St. Hill” Organization would not deliver the “St Hill Special Briefing Course”?
I guess Miscavige has to go through and ensure the pronunciation/punctuation is all correct on the Briefing Course lectures and is stuck because he cannot find voice talent that sounds enough like L. Ron Hubbard to be able to correct the lectures? This is a course that is primarily “LRH lectures”. Are they really going to “fix them” for GAG III?
What sparked this post was the promotional piece below.
To anyone familiar with St Hills over the years, the omission of the SHSBC is quite startling.
And the sheeple just keep on buying it.
My Deposition
Tony Ortega has posted the transcript of my deposition in the Garcia case. It is not especially enlightening as it was aimed at seeking dead agent material for the HBO Documentary and little about the case. But some may be interested in reading it.
Filed Under: Golden Age of Tech Tagged With: asho, David Miscavige, golden age of tech II, PAC
bob90805 says
Pass the coolaid!
It doesn’t actually say they stopped delivery of the SHSBC, although one can infer it since they’re promoting Academy Levels and Survial Rundown (WTF? They’re a Class V org now?!). I guess they just can’t confront saying something like “We’re sorry; we screwed up; there’s no more Briefing Course, but we’re still accepting donations. Besides, you don’t really need us anyways as donating large sums of money to the IAS can produce case gain.” I wonder what LRH would say about that?
Student says
Has anyone the BC-checksheets of 1991?
craig graessle says
Forget 1991 check sheet, get a 1972 BC check sheet for the asking
Friend says
Nobody will ever get from alone .. only with himself .. a realisation of a SerFac .. so, on a higher state he will know about a GPM .. but he will never clear that with himself .. everybody will stay stuck with his own decisions .. not accepting the opposite ..
But you can learn to do that .. anyway .. the path from LRH was in this way .. he lost his own way, but it tells you that it is a hard way to go .. it is a hard way to be really yourself ..
Independent Scientolgists who’ve listened to all the SHSBC tapes and done all the auditing actions as students or interns or in HGCs or as Field Auditors, ought to have their history collected, and summarized on their opinions of having done that full course.
I’m not a Scientologist, and think the whole thing is a waste of one’s life, but some Independent Scientologists, if this subject is really worth it, should do a history.
At this point in the Scientology subject’s history, if the Independent Scientology movement is really real, some one of them ought become their own more traditional subject’s “historian”.
Official Scientology has not developed a real historian, Danny Sherman can’t be considered that, he’s not free to debate and really discuss even tech tech like even Scientologists haven’t ever been able to debate, except to their Cramming Officers, or in their own sessions or word clearing sessions when they are freer to give their tech opinions.
The rules of Scientology I found just don’t allow proper roles to develop around this subject, the Squirrel Field Auditor role that official Scientology doesn’t allow, is kind of who I as an atheist ex member consider a really real Scientologist who’s somewhat able to discuss Scientology from top to bottom in public, so long as the squirrel Independent Scientologist does NOT muzzle themselves by dodging and failing to discuss ever noon and cranny of Scientology. (Hubbard security rules, his anti verbal tech rules, add up to self censorship make the whole subject so difficult to really even fully define, since Scientologists can’t get over the Hubbard rules and theory about even talking about OT levels 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 freely in detail, and talk of the Xenu engram that resulted in Hubbard’s OT levels 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 being the “solution”, and on top, Hubbard himself still having a “body thetan” at the end of his life that he couldn’t rid himself of this lifetime, I’m still NOT seen any Scientologists even get up to discussing these final “case” aspects realistically within the whole Hubbard “tech” framework.)
BC Grads, and higher, the Class 8s, the Class 12s, who still believe, but where are these top level Scientologists?
No backwards looking simplified Scientologist who knows the tech top to bottom, who’ve really simplified it all into public language, and whose uncensored themselves, I’ve still not seen such a Scientologist emerge.
Globetrotter says
Hey Chuck, great points. Having been a Scientologist but no longer considering myself one, I can say that I didn’t think Scientology was a waste of my life, I think of it in similar terms as reading a book or attending a conference on something that interests me. As long as I can pick out the parts that interest me or can be useful for me, it’s nothing but a learning experience, even if 80% of the book or conference is stupid, a waste of time or downright false. I can still learn from anything. I believe that anyone who used to be a Scientologist but grew up and moved on, must have learned something from the experience. It’s life. There is always something to learn, even if the source of the “lessons” is imperfect, evil, untrue or whatever.
No part of life is a “waste” in my opinion. We are all here to learn and grow, and personally, I think that being in Scientology for a number of years taught me SO many things I don’t even know where to start… even though they are definitely not the things the church or LRH probably hoped I would learn from the “experience”… I learned that understanding and compassion are key, and lack thereof makes people and organizations miserable. I learned that no one has monopoly on the truth or wisdom – especially not Hubbard who expressed that very thought early on and then proceeded with an all-out attempt to monopolize truth and wisdom. I learned to think for myself – for real, not the Scientology version. I learned that it is incredibly easy to manipulate people, and how devastating effects it can lead to and how hard it is to undo the effects of such manipulation. Once of the first things I read in a Hubbard policy when I became a Scientologist was a little poem that I still remember:
It is ironic and interesting at the same time, that for whatever reason, one of the very first Hubbard policy letters I read when I first encountered Scientology, was this one:
HCO POLICY LETTER OF 13 SEPTEMBER 1978
An old poem which has been newly adapted as policy:
There is so much bad in the best of us
And so much good in the worst of us
That it ill behooves any of us
To talk about the rest of us.
… and this is one (quoted by Hubbard, but originally from Robert Louis Stephenson) is one of the things that rings truest to me from everything I ever read in Scientology now, that I’m “out”.
I am not attacking Scientology, I’m not for it, I’m not against it. I experienced it and learned from the experience. I think that the BIGGEST problem with Scientology is that it IS a cult and people lose their judgement and part of their sanity if they become too infested by it. If it was just a benign subject that let people be as they wish and use any part of it the way they wanted, express their opinion freely about it, etc. I think many parts of it would be quite useful. I benefited greatly from auditing. I don’t think anyone benefited from being declared and turned against their own family members or followed by a private investigator – which are all part of the “Scientology experience”.
So, no regrets here. It’s just life – if your attitude towards life is positive and you can turn anything that happens to you into a learning experience, then ALL you do is learn, regardless if the subject of your current study is good, bad, evil or utterly irrelevant to anyone but you.
My best advice to anyone in regards to Scientology: treat it like it was a book which you can read it if you want, ignore if you want, consider some opinions of the author for what they are – opinions – see if there is anything in it that you can use, and meanwhile, don’t forget that it’s YOUR life and no one, not LRH, not David Miscavige or any other person is more important, more significant than you are in your own life. You create your own personal reality. If you have been in Scientology, you were part of it and created that very experience for yourself. Cheers, mate. It was you and me then, now it’s someone else doing what we used to. Life is awesome. Look forward, not back, and LIVE it. That’s my two cents.
Awesome comment Globetrotter. +1!
Globetrotter,
Great comment. I’ve always loved that poem, it’s so basic.
Odd Thomas says
What you said, Globetrotter. 🙂
When I was in London, back in the day, I went to a world class department store called, Harrods. Pretty famous actually, because they had everything and everything was beautiful – just about. I went there just before Christmas 1976 and it was a madhouse. People were rifling through bins, so hot and heavy that garments were flying up and out and littering the floor. One of these items were cashmere sweaters selling for 50-70 pounds apiece. That was approx $250-$300 back then and people were stepping over them on the way to something bigger and better.
Point being – people are fickle, people are strange. One person’s ideal scene is another’s nightmare – whose to say who’s right?
Most religions historically have been viewed as a package. You either believe or you don’t. You either have total faith or you don’t.
In my opinion religions started out as a means for people to answer questions about the unknown. About those things in life that may have frightened them or simply left them confused and uncertain. A religion – a gathering of like-minded people – found solace and to some degree answers in their new-found religions. Early on, agreement brought about some sense of security and comfort. Knowing there was a God, and that some form of communication with that being was possible, meant that some change in a person’s life was also possible. This brought about hope and with hope came the willingness to carry on. So religions have always had some benefit.
SCN was no different, but like all other religions, many of us got caught up in the marketing and selling of it. You couldn’t have SCN unless you bought the whole package. You got the nice shirt and trousers with the ill-fitting boxers and shoes, two-sizes too small.
Not everything in SCN made sense. Not everything written had the same value or the same prospects for change and improvement. But from KSW on, you bought everything or nothing. And in my opinion this is when we started to lose our ability to deal with SCN as a subject – like any other subject – where we could pick and choose according to need. We were stopped from differentiating and expressing our own free will. More and more we had to accept the bad with a dwindling amount of good, until finally there was no reason to continue. Which is what eventually pushed me out the door.
Most religions have had good and decent origins. Most intended to help and succor those who were feeling lost. History also tells us that most religions drifted away from their core values, driven to change by those who saw other uses for them – mostly selfish and having something to do with power and money.
I thought SCN was somehow immune to this “inevitable” process. I was wrong. But there was and is still some really good things to be had. Like some of those shoppers mentioned above, who found some great buys among the discards.
Lets give my words to this matter. I have studied the SHSBC at home (not on course) .. I have also studied the OEC at home .. so I have never delivered auditing to anyone .. I have everything studied for myself, and can only use it as knowingness about which I learned ..
Why I did this this way? Very simple, I was in desaster with my bridge, and lost confidence to myself in this way .. and tried to find out what went wrong. Was it me, or was it the church?
Cancel the SHSBC is stupid .. if you go through this material, you will find what went wrong and what was out of order or whatever .. you will learn on the SHSBC all why’s about the bridge and what the final goal of it is .. LRH did explain himself what is wrong in his books, and why auditors did make failures in his auditing
The only product of audiiting is to find the bypassed charge of the case .. if you get it, you are through, and all will be good .. if the SHSBC goes out .. nobody will ever know for what all this stuff is .. it will all be a lot of figure figure .. with no end .. but this a reversed bridge .. for sure ..
Heh. In 700802-1 A Short Briefing of Guardians Office Technical Personnel, Hubbard talks specifically about the problems that happened when Saint Hill stopped giving the Briefing Course.
Elena Salvatore says
I read the deposition from start to finish. It was just embarrassing. Bert Deixler has (had?) a good reputation, and knows what he’s doing, but now he’s acting on the orders of Miscavige he’s just flushing it down the toilet one question at a time. Lack of predicate used just to try and catch Mike off-guard. Poor Babbitt giving up so much he eventually says ‘I’m just a pot plant’. The same questions over and over and over again in a blatant attempt to get the right soundbite for his client.
Oh, and Mike’s house is now ‘international headquarters’. I don’t know who he was trying to scare or impress with that one but it was hilarious.
It is nice to see you remain calm and collected under examination.
You are one cool dude.
OTVIIIisGrrr8! says
COB determined that the BC was Dev-T and totally CI to GAT II. Indeed, COB originated that requiring anyone to listen to the 300 checksheet lectures on the BC got in the way of fundraising for Ideal Orgs and IAS statuses.
COB will soon release a streamlined and improved GAT II BC. This new version can be completed in as little as one week at Flag. A new GAT II BC uniform is required for students on the GAT II BC.
COB’s GAT II BC theory makes it clear that a being is only as big as his or her IAS status. This is COB’s epochal and monumental breakthrough and it promises that planetary clearing is finally within reach without having to listen to endless lectures.
In other happy news, We in RTC wish to point out that the Ideal Pacifica canteen is now serving an organic beef hamburger on a brioche bun for $7.95. Fries included.
threefeetback says
Grrr8!,
Thanks for the update. Yesterday, it was good to hear that Craigslist has received the blessing of RTC.
Let Dave know that he needs to accelerate his Exit Plan. With the recent developments in Utah, he needs to get moving on the Conslidation Program. The cult needs to be transformed from his McDonalds knock-off ecclesiastical real estate scam to the new and improved Christian Science Reading Room model of non-existence, prior to his departure from the scene and going into exile with a mountain of cash.
Seriously? Organic beef on a BRIOCHE for $7.95 – WITH fries?
You Still-Ins sure know how to get a Suppressive into present time!
All of a sudden I see all my overts and witholds against the Church so crystal clearly.
Sorry Indies, sorry, guys, farewell, nice knowin’ ‘ya, but a cognition of magnitude has just occurred. Gotta do my A to E, and then it’ll be Pacifica for me all the way up the Bridge, or all the way back down the Bridge, look, whatever, so long as I’m allowed in that canteen…seeya!
So aqua-some to see someone who can clearly recognize their priorities! 🙂
doigo says
Mike, loved the deposition…you ended up bringing in things and raising questions (airplane, Shelley) that he didn’t intend. He was not controlling the deposition nearly as much as he thought he was. You were calm and he wasn’t. Awesome job! DM is not going to be happy, and it’s all his own fault.
Stop pointing at the witness! It’s intimidating!
He’s not intimidated.
Just stop pointing at him.
I can just see Deixler strutting around attempting to create melodrama befitting his mission from on-high.
Seocnd that Doigo and Mike.
An excellent job!
jakethegreat1 says
One wonders, does Scientology ‘training/auditing/accepting’ actually spiritually blind people? while having them imagine they can spiritually see better than ever before (and better than anyone else)? It would certainly seem so.
Having read perhaps thousands of comments of ex-scientologists (and indie scientologists), the word sheeples comes up often. And this word refers to Scientologists of the highest levels of being, in Scientology, yes? Sea Org Staff? for example, yes?
How can an individual (times hundreds if not thousands) after years and years and years of dedication to Scientology principles and practices end up so pathetically unable to see the proverbial writing on the wall of life? How can one that ‘knows how to know’ not know they are being (and have been) conned out of their money, their families, their sanity and indeed, out of their very lives?
Is this, or was this undeniably remarkable sad state of spiritual affairs of human beings an accident?
The SHSBC Is Dead.
Ron loved the SHSBC. He touted it so highly because: 1) He personally taught it at St. Hill, and 2) it was by far the most comprehensive and helpful training course Scientology had to offer. That is why Ron called SHSBC graduates “the dukes of the auditor elite”. I do not know if Ron really cared very much how well Scientology did after he passed on, but he certainly knew that Scientology would be in real trouble if the SHSBC was ever done away with or supplanted with something else. DM, this cannot be a proud day for you.
Q and A time: (it’s late here on the west coast but Joe got me going tonight with his post)
Q: What is the one question Lou can never ask Dave without being banished forever?
(It’s ok if you need to censor it Mike!)
A: Is it in yet?
You’re so bad Coop! I’m blushing.
Ms.P says
Mike I loved your deposition, you were brilliant. You know so well how to deal with these guys. He was trying to intimidate and annoy you and you turned it around. I could visualize him getting annoyed. Well done.
Off topic – in my neck of the woods the church is going all out with their commercial. For a week now it’s been playing during reruns of The King of Queens. LOL.
spirit says
I agree with Tony Ortega on the thing of Deixler making Mike read the thing from their file. It makes the church and scientology look bad so they don’t gain anything there. It does make me happy to know so many people including myself aren’t having to do that shit anymore.
Y’all are really missing the main points here. There’s no freakin/ UPSIDE to the BC, folks. First of all, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, it takes way way WAY too long to do, I mean THOUSANDS of hours, freakin’ YEARS tro finish. And of course, THAT is … you guessed it, counter intention to spending time at work pulling in the moolah for your “bridge progress” and “third dynamic contribution,” You think Michael Chan and the freewinds speakers tell people to get on the freakin’ BRIEFING COURSE!!!! You think Duggan and Nancy and the gang do the BRIEFING COURSE!!! Geez, you’re just a freakin’ AUDITOR who has studied Scientology on the BC. You’re wasting YEARS of your life that could go to making MONEY, folks, MONEY!!! And the pathetic Sea Org members who spend their lives going to four musters a day at ASHO … some very nice people, I will admit … ever see chickens walking around? I see that where I now live sometimes. Even with their heads still on, we’re not talking REALLY smart animals here. ASHO staff. But some are very nice people … and some are just fucking idiots of course but such is life. (though I do admit that Kirstie Alley would probably benefit more from doing the BC than she does from going on talk shows either whining about how she can’t get laid anymore or how proud she is of not stuffing her gob for a few weeks. Can’t SOMEONE at CC just get her a date fercryinoutloud? Or just get some young SO guy to “do it for the team”? Give him a plaque a staff meeting or something.)
Joe P, you’re cracking me up. I do get tired of Kirstie Alley’s obsession with her weight which is at best, boring, and at worst pathetic. Kirstie, so you’re fat, so what? Who cares? Go on a diet and lose weight and get laid, or else just be fat – so what? Make up your mind, woman, because you are an entertainer and you’re also supposed to be an actor and a comedienne. There are a number of overweight, highly talented actors and entertainers. The late Shelley Winters comes to mind. Rosemary Clooney with that divine voice. Shelley Winters used to be a frequent guest on the Tonite Show with Carson. She was always witty, interesting and interestED, with amusing, frank stories about her work, exhusbands, etc and clever banter with Carson and the other guests. She had become very fat and sometimes she would allude to it briefly, make fun of herself a little, but she never harped on it and she was such a refreshing and interesting guest that you didn’t give a damn about her weight. But then, she was an amazing actress, a tremendous talent. Rosemary Clooney too had gotten heavy, but she was so warm and personable, so uptone if you please, that the audiences on Carson just loved her. Kirstie, forget about your weight, OK? Stop talking about it because you are wasting your life and your talent, and you are boring everyone. End of rant.
Have to add that Rosie Clooney is one of my all time favorites. In the second half of her career she became a truly great and swinging Jazz singer. Shelly Winters won two Oscars for her acting. BTW Kirstie is not currently fat. She’s back in shape … physically anyway.
Excellent rant Aqua. Hasn’t she heard that she’s not her body yet?
You and Joe are on a roll! I stand in awe and applaud…… and LOL. +1000
BTW, I think Krusty won’t get laid because she is whiney and bitches incessantly. Such is life in the fast lane.
Does anyone know if they are still delivering the OEC/FEBC anywhere?
Jag says
Not only is the BC gone, but so are the Tech & OEC Vols – at least from PAC. Not sure about other places. (wonder if this means cramming is now defunct too) One of my convincing arguments last year to get someone out of the bubble (which I did successfully), was to ask them what LRH would think about his baby, the BC, being shut down.
You go, Jag! Lead your people out!
Another course that is no longer being given is the Primary Rundown. Scientology has changed beyond recognition. It’s just incredible that folks still in the church could accept such travesties as combining Day and Foundation and replacing LA Org staff with SO members. And now this – not delivering the BC.
Indeed, it’s actual policy that it’s a suppressive act not to put the PRD at the beginning of all study.
The whole miscavige era has decimated everything resembling Scientology. It surely can’t be long until the whole kit and kapoodle collapses.
Another “disappeared” course is the Key to Life. And its follow up, Life Orientation Course.
It’s been reassigned to the MAAs offices. There they slam in SP declares without telling you and then get the rest of the perps to disconnect from you which is the Key to forcing your Life’s Ethics in.
Mike Ellis takes over on the CPR and helps you reorient your life around the correct order of donation magnitude and then you both go out and eat pie. After a good belch, go to Walmart, get a box out of the trash and set up housekeeping.
Let’s count them up on our fingers: BC no longer taught, KTL and LOC no longer taught, OEC and FEBC no longer taught. Did I miss any? The disappearing act has been going on for many years. It is a slow-mo implosion of the church.
Not to forget the “Data Series Evaluator’s Course”. That was one of the first to go but maybe was
after the Primary RD disappeared.
Heaven forbid someone learns to think logically and spots what DM is brewing!
Natas Em says
First, Let me explain. I am a “never in” so I don’t get all the A.S.H.O. or the title of this blog today S.H.S.B.C. .. Im not interested in scientologys alphabet soup to learn what all that is supposed to stand for or mean .. but I hope one day it wil be C.L.O.S.E.D ..
Nice job on your deposition Mr. Rinder . Just read parts of it.
exccla says
MaCarren-I im happy you are calling out the Kuglers. There are so many we all know [but can’t talk to] like them . Ryan Kugler is a kool-aid drinker too. I wish we all had a magic trick to bring them to their senses.I think most of those in have come to ignore or deny what they see and hear.
knatherthomas says
Without the BC there’s really no reason for ASHO to deliver any training at all since LA Org, CCI and all other Class V orgs already deliver the Academy levels & NED training. The only thing ASHO still has to offer is auditing those people who aren’t qualed to go to Flag. But if there’s no BC how is ASHO going to produce the needed pool of Interns for delivery? Apparently we are witnessing a slow-mo implosion. What are Bill Scrifvars and Jim Plett supposed to do now?
What will Bill and Jim do now? ,,,,,,, Call in. ….. Man, those phones boys!
Good Fella says
Both Bill and Jim have been reassigned to
the new Ant Hill Special Sowing Circle. They’re
still hiring.
Funny, but I thought of Bill Skrifvars too. And Dick Orchu. What are these guys going to do now that there is no BC and no students? Maybe they’re supping Survival R/D. I wonder if these two veteran SO Course Sups ever twig on the out tech that is being run in on them and their courserooms? LRH in the PTS/SP Course warns that the tech division is the first place that an SP will attack and to watch out for that. So Bill, are you asleep at the wheel? Or just not-ising it all?
The Church has finally arrived into the “Stop” section of the Start-Change-Stop equation when everything is about decay, ruin, death and destruction. This one is a good example. Another one (which I’m not sure has dawned on any of the cool aid drinkers) is that the so called “church” just made the Preservation of the Tech project, which cost tens of millions of dollars, completely obsolete and useless. I’m not talking about having to re-preserve every new edition of Miscavigeology on metal plates in titanium boxes lest the survivors of a planetwide disaster find some non-golden-age-take-two unpure materials should they find the secret bunkers and had nothing better to do than try to audit each other, but they will have no e-meters to do so, because the Warehouse VIIs require an annual check-in via the internet with the IAS to work AT ALL. If the check-in doesn’t happen, the meter stops working. So in an imagined post-apocalyptic world, all of Scientology will be preserved for about a year, when the last Mark VIII Ultra E-meters will self destruct and faithful Scientologists will be in a real pickle: they will only have Mark VIII Ultra E-meters that no longer work (specifically designed to become $5000 paperweights without the internet connection to the IAS) and older E-meters that are no longer approved for auditing. So if they use them, they are “squirrels”, and if they don’t audit because they don’t want to be squirrels, they are, well, Scientologists who can’t do Scientology. What to do…?
Possibly DM’s case is stuck on the lower bridge
so who needs the rest?
The blue building’s old morgue in the RPF tunnels
has now been resurected and spreading throughout
the compound.
zemooo says
ASHO just laid off 1/2 of their staff and made those who stayed work longer hours. Typical, Radio Shack behavior, but without the useful capacitors and transistors.
So who is doing the Briefing Course now? Given the recent clam Sea bOrg missions that stole people from Copenhagen and HAPI to send to Clearwater, why are different levels of the pyramid scam ‘stealing’ each others loyal minions to send to more expensive locations? I guess that someone higher up thinks their ‘stats’ are more important then the cash flow lower down the totem pole. That is a very short sighted business plan.
How many other ‘straight up and vertical’ layoffs are going to occur? Well anyone doing printing or video work at Hemet already knows where their jobs are going. I do have to wonder what will become of Hemet when the KCET work is done. Given the long period of ‘fund raising’ that will occur, the Hemet jobs are probably good for 4 or 5 years. Or until someone gets pissed off at being regged for the 4th time for some golden cross at the KCET site.
CuriousAbout says
What zeemoo!? ASHO FB’ed half of its staff out of the Sea Org!!!
Do you have more info on this?
americansainthill.org a domain linked to in search results from scientology.org, and with history as being ASHO’s site, now leads to a “parking” page in japanese..
SadStateofAffairs says
So MIscavige has successfully killed off ASHOD/F, since those orgs have no reason to exist without the SHSBC. And he has turned the other AOSHes, who at least have OT Levels up to V, into case handling clinics, half crippling them as well. And, best of all for him, the training Bridge ends at Grad V, no more know-it-all Class VIs and VIIIs to cry “squirrel” at all his altered tech. Another master stroke of destruction.
I don’t think your feelings are mixed at all Martin. I’m sorry you had to sit through (assuming you did the BC) all those confusing hours of tapes with so much useless data. What a waste of time that was (or could have been) for you. Saying the BC tapes only have a couple hours of worthwhile data sounds like something Miscavige would say.
Curious onlooker says
Isn’t the briefing course where all the old training films are screened? Would the reluctance to show films populated with scientologists who were later declared SP’s have anything to do with taking the course off the menu?
I think you are right about that.
JennyAtLAX says
“Science, Art, Religion, and Philosophy, every conceivable branch of knowledge, is but a means whereby he [the Theosophist] gains a glimpse of the Divine Wisdom that is the manifestation of the mind of God.”
Art as a Factor in the Soul’s Evolution by C. Jinarajadasa (Benares, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1915), pages 1-2.
I, JennyAtLAX, declare and state as follows:
People often believe that their spiritual eternity lies solely in the hands of religious leaders such as L. Ron Hubbard (and, to a lesser extent, David Miscavige). Relying on the beliefs and practices of but one religion, such as Scientology (or $cientology), actually deprives man of his quest for knowledge, in discovering the meaning of life. This is made even clearer through what we learn daily from the blogs of Mike Rinder and Tony Ortega.
Thanks, Mike!
Pericles says
Too sad.
NOLAGirl says
Hey Mike, does your “International Headquarters” have a happy hour? 🙂 If not, I’m going to need the number for Human Resources. Hehehe!!
If ASHO and ASHOUK are no longer delivering the BC, then I don’t understand how they can continue to call themselves “Saint Hill” organizations, because the delivery of the BC was once the factor that distinguished the first Saint Hill from all the other orgs! Am I missing something here?
Nope, Aquamarine, that is correct. Saint Hills=Briefing Course. Not now. So odd.
But for the Koolaiders out there, never fear. It will be back and probably released to a great deal of fanfare with all new GAT II Tech Vols – Just the way LRH intended.
If it gets re-released as a GAG III thing, there will be no more tapes of LRH talking. That will be replaced with “What Do You Do Drills” and Memorization and drilling to a wall. That will cut the time in half to do the BC. See how smart DM is? He saved you all that time.
I hear you Aqua,
” I don’t understand how they can continue to call themselves” ……….. (fill in the blank here folks)
How about ‘A CHURCH’ for starters. Do real churches treat their staff and parishioners ‘THAT WAY’? Tommy Davis says they don’t do that anymore. Marion Pouw said “we don’t do that …… anymore!”
Just like Dave doesn’t beat staff ……. anymore. We don’t demand money for nothing ….anymore? The hole does not exist …… anymore. You batshit crazy cultites only have one more anymore left and that will be $cientology does not exist ANYMORE!. Can’t Wait!!!..ANYMORE.
So true Aqua, another oxymoron like purchased spiritual gain, ethical MAAs or an extortionist charity. Now a
St.Hill with no briefing course. What a sad, sad thing.
I’ve been hearing for some time the BC courseroom at AOSHUK is empty. I’ve got mixed feelings about this. On one hand it begs the obvious question – how in pete’s name can they make Class VIIIs when there is no Class VI course? Or should people go from Grad V straight to Class VIII – or what? I suppose it’s almost a redundant question seeing as there’s so few people this would affect anyway. Feelings of nostalgia for its loss though, are tempered by the knowledge that no more will have to sit through hundreds of hours of confused, often contradictory and downright misleading information littered with self-aggrandizing yarns, space opera and parables. I’m sure anything worthwhile in these tapes could be condensed down to an hour or two at most.
gayle says
Almost every advanced org auditor at every AO is a grad 5 who then was put on class 9 auditor training. It’s been that way for decades.
Exactly, the BC was viewed as too long of a training cycle when bundles of money could be made
delivering NOTs.
Martin, They don’t need auditors anymore!
More case gain per $ is now routinely being achieved through the direct fleecing process. Make a direct donation for nothing in return and achieve the new tone level recently discovered by Dear Leader called Serenity of Bankruptcy.
EP = You can float around for days not giving a shit about who you owe your debts to or how you might ever pay them off.
Coop, I heard that if someone gives $75,000,000, they not only get to take over what’s left of the cult, but, they’re guaranteed to go to Target 2 and help fatso! Now you and I both know that that’s a bargain anyway you slice it!
The Duggans must be salivating over the concept of reaching Target 2 status ….. I think they only have 25 million left to complete it. I wonder if he will rise to Serenity of Bankruptcy on the tone scale or whether that will require dumping more cash into the cow? Either way, it’s exciting times for ole Bobby Poo.
SCN8008 says
Was personally told by a REAL Class IX from FLAG/Sandcastle, that one only needs to be OT III, be able to deliver the lower Grades and do some special courses to deliver the OT-levels!
No kidding here. Sorry.
PS: DM is considered to be a Class XII ! (Yepp, 12!!!)…
Class XII what? Apples, pears peaches – what?
Maybe peal the label off a cal-mag supa-dupa sized soda cup (remember those at Flag, mmm yummy. I can still taste the rising bile while practicing smiling and talking in front of my friends while sipping that battery acid concoction – I was so cool & standard back in the day) just fill in the details, send it in and receive your collectable up the bridge training coupon award certificate thingo. Collect the whole series and receive a specially framed personally computer authenticated auto-signature of COBs Class XII cert in a special edition peach colour glossy desk demountable pen set – looks great!
Begin your journey to Class XII today.
DM a Class XII. I lol’d and lol’d at that one. As for just having to be OT III to deliver lower grades – words fail. Does it get any more squirrelly?
” Class XII what? Apples, pears peaches – what?”
Pimples. Pimples on his ass! He will have many more after the judges ruling next week…..in fact they’ll be popping out all over the place by then!
Lawrence says
If I remember correctly and I think I do, LRH said in 1978 that the pre-requisite for becoming a NOT’s auditor was Class IV / OT III. BUT. . . .do you remember that this was before the release of New OT IV (the OT drug rundown) ? and then for people that got their NOT’s before they got their New OT IV came the NOT’s Drug Rundown? (because OT IV is a pre-requisite for OT V)? and the OT Drug Rundown is only taught on the Class VIII Course where it can be co-audited? There was a lot of changes in the way the Bridge was laid out right after LRH discovered the NOT’s phenomenon (i.e. the existence of dormant BT and clusters). A litle piece of tech right of the top of my head! 🙂
Couple of questions…
First, what org is delivering the BC? Is it Flag?
Secondly, if one had paid for the BC and had that money “on account”, if the org no longer can deliver it, would that make getting a refund easier?
Good question. If one paid in advance for the BC and has money on account and the orgs are no longer delivering the BC, would that make getting a refund easier? Why not do a test case or a class action lawsuit on this? Good idea.
” if the org no longer can deliver it, would that make getting a refund easier?”
Are the two of you cooking up some new flavor of Kool Aide? The frickin Cult is not going to refund squat for any reason whatsoever to anyone, anytime in any org anywhere unless they are FORCED to under threat of exposure of crimes and unless you have successfully punched them in the face AKA “filed a suit which would result in one of the fearless eight testifying in a court of law OR requiring the Pope to take the stand”.
As with so many Scientology auditing and training services, the SHSBC was becoming a major personal and legal liability to David Miscavige and to the Church of Scientology.
It’s just another sign that the jig is up for Scientology.
1subgenius says
You’re a good witness Mike. In the moment. Listen to the question Don’t try to guess where the examiner is going. Just answer the question. Tell the truth.
I hope someday to visit World Headquarters. That would be cool.
The Saint Hill Special Briefing Course was developed
so that ALL scientologists could audit the OT levels.
Makes sense that Prince Xenu ( David Miscavige)
would get rid of the SHSBC
Jose, you just jogged my memory. I was an OT co-auditing the FPRD back in the day. We went to town and audited many lists on each other. But AOLA got mad about this because they were not getting any income from us because we didn’t have to pay for the auditing and only paid for CS time. Many times the AO registrars tried to get us to give up on coauditing and come pay them money for our FPRD and NOTS. They considered it a cut GI line to them. So they put their heads together and came up with a new “RULE.” The new rule, not based on any LRH at all, was that no OTs could coaudit FPRD unless they were also a Class VIII auditor first. So that meant that even Class VI’s who had done the entire BC would not be allowed to coaudit. So then they could step right up to the registrar and pay for professional intensives in the AOLA HGC and thus AO and DM get the money. It’s all about the money and has been ever since DM took over.
HCOBsRead says
Incorrect Jose Chung. When LRH made the BC there were no “audited” OT levels and none “in the pipline”. It was ALL Solo.
Then when was Staff at Saint Hill everyone was liars including LRH ?
The SHSBC was for All Scientologists be able to audit the OT levels..
Jose, it is WELL documented that LRH was an inveterate liar. But, be that as it may, my friend was one of the first US public to do C.C. at St. Hill and through 3 as soon as the Ship was delivering it. NO Cl VI cert ot course required. So, with THOSE facts you answer your own Q…
Good grief, I was there, the Green House was where the first BC was delivered by LRH.
Go back to OSA kindergarten with the other trolls. Go kiss D.M.s ass. I mean Prince Xenu, sorry.
That’s great that you were there Jose. Really that’s cool stuff. So, what PL or HCOB are you referring to? Or LRH ED. I delivered Ad Courses for years and have NEVER ran across any such HCOB or PL. Just because a person points out a WELL documented fact about * doesn’t make them an OSA troll. But, that comment DOES make YOU a Thought Stopper*
* see Marty’s blog for more info.
I don’t think HCOB as yet understands he is standing in front of the choir Jose.
roger gonnet says
For sure there is no SHSBC sinbce almost two décades, Mike. I observed that even in the 90s, almost nobody was getting the last level.
But the cult said that many people had paid… and were “coming soon”! wow!!
M Greene says
I thought one had to complete the SHBC in order to do OT 9 and 10. lol
I suppose anyone currently on SHBC is stopped to do the bridge all over again.
Are we to then assume training on the levels is now fading into nonexistence or at least pushed aside for
more “important” training cycles? I would be very surprised
to know that those still in that have done the Levels & BC do not have a slight glimmer of WTF. It is hard to imagine these folks having done the BC not considering it to have been a bright point in their lives. The friends made and camaraderie are hard to forget. Yes I understand all those who feel all of Scientology is BS causing people not to think logically etc etc but if you have not done (better yet not had the confront to do) the BC, I would say to you give it rest on this point as the BC means a lot to many people.
Friends made on the BC are friends for life. The BC changed the view of existence of all who went through it, we were all stronger from having done it.
Come on Potpie, you don’t need no stinkin training anymore……just do statuses. They produce way more case gain.
Training??? Auditing??? Oh, puleeeeeeeese! EVERYONE knows case gain comes from handing over huge sums of money. C’mon now! Get with the program: Take a second out on your home and then take a third out on your home. Cash in your children’s college funds. They don’t need no stinkin’ WOG education! And, their allowance? Hand it over! Case gain is bought, not earned! Wake up people!
iamvalkov says
Yes. You will feel incredibly light and free once you throw away your “bank” (accounts and all your money). Therein are the real wins! “Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose….”
I know Cooper….I’m waiting for the statues grade chart to supplant the regular grade chart..
Ella R says
Great job with the deposition, Mike. You kept your cool but seemed to really unsettle Deixler.
Had Deixler continued, Mike would have had him engaged in a conversation about how he was trying to help him better understand Miscavige and scientology.
This IS a disaster; I would have never thought of SHSBC disappearing, but there you have it.
Sometime I wonder, is scn going down so badly because it was started based on lies and personal purposes LRH may have had, or DM is getting to the last ends of his very well planed destruction of all Missions, Orgs, materials, etc?
Either way, the demise of it is imminent.
Seems like both.
Mike, seriously, how can the clams not realize that the clown dwarf has totally squirreled all of scientology? I mean, no more Briefing Course? One of the foundations of the cult? How do they justify this? Is the clown dwarf now infallible? What’s next? Everyone has to redo the Comm Course? The obviousness of the situation is slapping them in the face!
That’s some pretty heavy duty control mechanisms they’re using…
jrfool says
It had to happen. I’m surprised that no one on lines had cognited to shut it down before now. There are rules forbidding ‘verbal tech’ you know!
Yes, this is truly a stunner. In a true LRH Scientology sense an equivalent would be like saying Budweiser will no longer be brewing beer.
It’s been known around the traps for awhile now but the BC basically began a slow & horrible death as soon as miscavige first got his grubby little fingers on it.
All those different levels he introduced, heaps of them plus all the practicals at the end of the course, geezers, violates just about every study datum there is.
I think it’ll stun more of a select few than those who don’t know what it is but most of the people who never made it happen to do the course when it was more or less standard and available at staff rates will recognise the missed opportunity (OK OK please I’m only saying this to those that think there’s some merit to the tech if done correctly and yes I’m aware everyone has the right to state their opinion over and over ad nauseam until we all throw up and clap hands, I HEAR YOU!) but none the less it’s Hubbard’s Duke of Dukes Elite course and imho the only route to CL8 & 12. So I suppose for now and forever on Cof$ lines the alternate route to Clear has been buried as well. Who could CS it is a couple of years anyway. But really anyone who could sure would have run away from miscavige years ago.
The R6 Bank makes it’s getaway and sure won’t allow itself to be caught again – not a laughing matter if you understand what that stuff is about. I hope it remains alive somewhere as better than 50% of the tech is HOW you do it, not the data.
RIP SHSBC – although you’ll have the company of your murderer soon enough.
Yes, it is a stunner. I did the SHSBC and the Sr. SHSBC back 75-76 and it was booming, both Day and Fdn were producing about 99 graduates of the Sr. SHSBC each year I was there. The BC was the reason the ASHOs existed, it was their bread and butter.
There are places the tech on those courses still exists and is available to any who are interested. I received an email from an old BC friend of mine from those days just two days ago, and he is redoing his BC in the field. There are groups that still deliver LRH.
Hey Bob, Indeed, important it is carried on intact. There’s a place in ANZO I know where such expertise is passed on without pressure, money demands and results are expected and in Nth Idaho too I believe is a good delivery centre.
The sort of “can do” of a SHSBC grad is a rare and precious thing. How to make one is just as valuable.
You’re not alone Yawn. I too think there is a lot of merit in the auditing tech when it is done with compassion and only for the benefit of the individual. There are hundreds of millions of dollars languishing in bank accounts as evidence that we have lots of company. If anyone doesn’t like it they can kiss my ass, and I’d probably like that.
Rita says
The deposition is an excellent read. “Well, I thought it was a good question.” Mike, that was the best answer ever! You are making them look really bad and I love it.
Here’s my fave in response to Drexler’s question about your obligation as a Scientologist to tell the truth:
“I don’t think that my faith as a Scientologist required me to tell the truth”.
Bravo! A superb response.
RolandRB says
Why do the SHSBC when you can do The Basics and Objective Processing five times instead?
One Point Won says
RolandRB,
I’m not sure what happened when I just read your striking post…either I laughed so hard I cried, or I cried so hard I laughed…
ML, 1.1
Just when I thought that I couldn’t be shocked anymore regarding what is happening, and then to find out that Saint Hills are no longer delivering the Briefing Course. Yes, unthinkable. Jaw dropping.
TheWidowDenk says
Makkk – My take exactly. Anyone remember the water horse and the buffalo? I’m spending the day in mourning for the loss of the Briefing Course whilst celebrating all I learned. Rachel
Sorry about misspelling your name. It should be Mak. Fingers not in tune with brain this morning.
Widow, I felt that way when KTL and LOC were discontinued, with no explanation. I loved those courses and was shocked. I’m sure I would feel the same way about the BC if I had done it.
I’m in shock too. The whole reason ASHO was there was to deliver the Briefing Course. Solely and only. Maybe the church’s justifier is that everyone has to re-train from bottom up on GAG II and so there is no one qualified to be on the BC and so we close it. That sounds plausible until you factor in one key fact: You didn’t have to be an interned Class IV to do the BC. In fact you didn’t have to be a trained auditor at all to do the BC. The only reqs were you had to be Clear and/or Class IV. Many had absolutely NO auditor training when they routed onto the BC but did so because they were Clear. Well, with DM cancelling everyone’s Clear status, he effectively made everyone out-qual for the BC. I think he took it out so that no one would see how much the church has shrunk when they look into the empty BC courserooms. Also as one commenter here stated, there are tapes with LRH’s voice saying things that absolutely contradict the tech as DM has altered it. People would listen to LRH and cog that DM has squirrelled the tech. That’s why there is no more BC as well as why there are no more Clears to route on to it and no more students to fill the chairs. The BC is dead. RIP.
Cindy, thank you; as is frequently the case I have just learned and gained more insight from one of your posts.
Spot on Cindy, couldn’t have said it better myself. This is all so sickening. Of course he has to bury this course, it proves what a real squirrel he is.
Thank you Mrs P and Aquamarine. And Mike, thank you big time for testifying and for your amazing blog. It is so well done. And it is recording history in the making.
Nickname says
Somebody else commented a while back that the goal seems to be the destruction of Scientology. It surprises me, that it took this long to destroy the SHSBC. But at this point it seems merely symbolic.
In a year or two, some chucklehead in Scientology will pronounce.the absence of the SHSBC as the “why” for the contraction they are undergoing – and they’ll re-instate it, and rev up the hamster wheel all over again.
IMHO It will all be over by then. There will be no re-instatement of anything $cientologese as it will be known as the 20th century plague. Once Miscavige leaves ………… that’s it for the cult.
EMAN says
Well, maybe, but DM will have to be gone…
I’m really glad to hear the latest RCS shrinkage report Mike. Seems right on track for a total collapse coming soon to a morgue near all of us!
March will probably come to be known as ‘Damage Out of Control Month’ for the Cult Chronicles. Hemet should be an absolute mess as if it could get any worse. Where is that cigar ……?
Careful with the cigar, Coop. You don’t want to get to close to the 188ft (47x real life!) straw effigy before it’s finished.
I say ‘light em up’ Grace …… and let the ashes fall where they may. As per the usual, lots of black smoke out Hemet way.
That made me laugh very loudly, Grace.
Instead of Guy Fawkes day, we could call it, “Dave’s Fault Day”.
deanblair06 says
I did the SHSBC at ASHO in 1971 when the building was on Temple in Los Angeles. I can’t believe they stopped delivery of that course as that was what ASHO was primarily delivering. I wonder what now has happened to the class 7 course which used to deliver Power Processing only at ASHO. Is anyone training on the Power Processes?
ASHO did not deliver the CLASS 7 Course anymore… euh… I was there 15 years and was not delivered. Public were not allowed to do that course… only SO Members. Even SO Members had to go to FSO for it 🙂
I have been unable to resolve that requirement to join the SO in order to do the training to deliver Power. Apparently, you could train to deliver everything else, but not Power Processes, which sit right on the cusp of solo sections of R6EW, the Clearing course, and the OT levels. (?) Whatever, the whole structure seems to have fallen apart. I speculate that I’d never allow management personnel within 50 yards of the tech personnel, I haven’t done the OEC Course but my guess is it was originally set up to be that way, and the same goes for ethics personnel never having access to PC folders.
As you know Dean, back then when one did the BC they got Power and R6EW for free.
Miscavige just can’t conceive giving something away for free. His solution to this?
Stop delivering the BC…..I’m sure that is quite logical in his twisted universe.
Possibly converting it back to a maternity ward and a day care center, to lease to Kaiser as a source of income, to keep the lights on.
Power was my absolute favourite of all the levels and grades. Power Plus blew me through the roof for many months. That, of course, was back in the 60s and 70s. I saw similar gain in other friends. And because there were such gains happening regularly, particularly personally empowering the pc, the grade had to go.
In the 70’s those who had done Power looked really good to me. Distinctly different in a good way.
Idle Morgue says
Mike – excellent job on the deposition.
Cooper – as always…love your posts. They make me laugh and you are SPOT ON Brother!
Can’t understand what the big whoop was on Power and Power Plus.
Anyone care to esplain?
I know Dean, it’s unbelievable. A friend of mine did power a few years back and he said it was boring. I had never ever heard anything but rave reviews of power processing until then. Astounding.
The BC had to die. There are a number of tapes that give the lie to Miscavige’s squirrelyness:
1. The meter at the time “could never be improved upon”.
2. Cases do not gain when audited over PTP’s. Therefore, any outer org trainees sent to St. Hill that arrive with PTP’s should be sent home.
3. Many discussions about F\N’s that give the lie to the “3 swing” interpretation of Miscavige and his myrmidons.
chrismann9 says
How did Tony know about this blog post before you published it?
Have you ever seen us together in the same room?
When I put Tonys beard over your face in photoshop you look identical.
Mike I quickly scanned over Tonys blog this morning and I think I misunderstood what he meant. Reading it again I’m not sure if he was referring to a specific blog post when he says “If you read Rinder’s excellent blog today….”.
Maybe he just meant your blog in general.
Wayne Borean aka The Mad Hatter says
Well, damnit, it is an excellent blog!
We love you Mike. Your explanations and elucidations make Scientology at least partially understandable for those of us who have never been in.
I say partially because the mindset in the Church is pretty alien. Time and time again I end up having a WTF moment when something new to me is mentioned. And damn, it seems like that happens at least once a week.
I can see why Scientologists who decide to leave have problems decompressing. The world inside the Bubble differs so wildly from the world the rest of us live in, that sometimes I’m amazed anyone makes it out.
“Hello, San Francisco Org? When can I start the Academy Levels?”
“First, let me inform you that the new San Francisco Church of Scientology/Arthur Murray Dance Studio is now completely ideal and beginning tap lessons start tomorrow at 1 pm.:
“Uhm … ok … do I need to have new tap shoes?”
“One moment, let me transfer you to the bookstore/shoe store.”
RIP BC. They should publish an obituary and explain therein how the irreducible minimum dwindled to nothing. Oh, but come to think of it, we already know about scientology shrinkage.
No more SHSBC? There is no loss here. Training requires an “exchange for services” which does not fit into a criminal organization’s principle income: money in exchange for nothing.
What about a new GAG III SHSBC? It will be 47X faster by eliminating the tapes and it will have a bonus check sheet on how to fleece new PCs for the IAS.
Very well said Robert!
He could speed up the GAG III checksheet and your bridge progress by doing a straight dono cycle for your cert. Pay $10,000 and get your cert in the mail. Oh yes, you would need to attend graduation and drool on about how magnanimously wonderful the cycle was and how much case gain was achieved without ever having to go in session!
On second thought, 10K is way too low for all that gain!!!!
It’s coming. All the tech vols of “old” have to be gathered up first.
They aren’t going to get mine.
My God !!! I am shocked 🙂 When I was at ASHO, this was the Course to do !! the BC was the ASHO baby !! It was great seeing all those people on the BC, Auditing. I got most of my auditing in there. Shame on DM !!! Those staff members are sooo brainwashed they can’t see it. I was also brainwashed. Took me 1 year to change and come back into real life. Good they declared me LOL If not, I would still be connected to this BS and being a puppet.
The gullibility and/or cowardice of those still IN to buy/condone this. (I’m not talking about UTR when I say “IN”). Anyone IN over 15 years that are still IN have sold out as far as I’m concerned and are the crux of the problem.
Come on Ben Kugler, Brad Kugler, Todd Kugler. YOU KNOW!!!! Speak out and help end the madness permeating the church. You and people like you are contributing to the madness at this point. When it all comes a crashing down, I don’t want to hear, “I didn’t know.” I have lost my patience with the cowardice.
Mix two parts cognitive dissonance with one part cowardice and you have a dangerous brew with no known antidote. Consume at your own risk!
Available without charge at your Idle Morgues. Contact your local registrar for more information on how to destroy your life and those you care about most. This is a public service message from your friendly Cult.
Thumbs up, Coop. You have it nailed.
McCarran, YOU nailed it! Anyone who is still left in drinking the KA has sold out and is part of the problem. I too have lost my patience with cowardice. They remind me of the Nazi officers who killed thousands of Jews in the Holocaust whose defense at the Nuremburg trials was, “I was following orders.” Think of the Karma these bastards will be enjoying for the next hundred lifetimes! And same goes for DM and the out integrity, cowardly Scns who remain in the church despite all the evidence around them.
How do you convert an jihadist, a North Korean, a skinhead
or a Scientologist to someone who can love again?
It can take many years, much (re)education and a lot of love.
Dan Locke says
Hey Eman – would love to talk! I log in through facebook. I think you click on my avatar and then you can message me or hang something on my wall.
Mike is right it is a blasphemy. And it is being done as well to see who if any’s thinking in the public this co-incides with. It co-incides with no one’s but here’s the “line plot”.
Anyone interested in doing the Briefing Course will have to go to Flag and Flag’s student’s points will become highest ever’s.
Briefing Course students can be recruited into the Sea Org and shipped out to former Briefing Course org’s that now specialize handling Purif public whose money they grab before their drugs wear off.
The Church of Scientology is not a religion, it’s like an old story half remembered. It is a money making group that doesn’t help anybody. Including itself. HBO Is about to point this out to 114,000,000 viewers. 🙂
(i.e. That is ONE HUNDRED and FOURTEEN MILLION viewers)
Taking up your comment about the Documentary, Lawrence, what I’m really excited about is that this is going to air on HBO.
Scientologists don’t have to wait in line to see it at a theater (and have OSA take their picture and bust them for seeing it).
They don’t have to go on to the “Evil Internet” to view it.
Just like a magazine in the grocery store checkout line, they can leaf through it without the risk of getting busted. The HBO special will come right to their living rooms. Scientologists will give up just about anything “for their eternity”.
However, because HBO is so popular, they won’t risk missing their favorite episodes of Game of Thrones, Real Time with Bill Maher, Curb your Enthusiasm or Girls by cancelling their HBO service.
Still ins and people on the fence; find out for yourself and watch this. It might be a little too high of a gradient since it talks some smack about Ron, but become informed about what little David Miscavige is doing with YOUR hard-earned money that YOU GAVE for social betterment and “saving the planet”.
This isn’t some black propaganda campaign to “smear Scientology”. You’ll see actual proof of where your money goes. If it’s going to an improper place/use, don’t you want to know? We fight for so many causes in the world – no GMOs, busting governmental abuse of power, countless conspiracies.
What IF what they are saying is true? Who’s side would you be on? Little David Miscavige’s or would you be a true friend of Ron and insist that this little criminal step down?
What could COB be doing that is making people so angry? Trust me, it’s not expansion of true Scientology. Wanna start looking somewhere?
Here is the Ron/COB comparison chart. Start. http://friendsoflrh.org/COBvsLRH/
Also, standard tech/lectures aren’t supposed to be changed one bit. Why have these sections been taken out of these lectures? Why are Ron’s words missing? What would Ron say about this? Why hide information about Black Dianetics from people who are only using Dianetics/Scientology for good? WHO would not let people be informed about this booby trap to the tech?
The answer is up to you. Are we going to defend LRH and STANDARD tech, or let someone change it on the old man?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG9X0gEedDs
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We're working towards a democratic learning society
Fashion Digital Night
Saturday, July 6: connected clothing on the catwalk at Altaroma.
DisAbuse event in Rome
Registration is open for the International Conference on September 27.
Against Poverty
Project OpenSpace kicks off in four cities.
When women succeed, we all win.
How They See Us
A video with the opinions of over 30 people who have worked with us.
Innovation Gym Network
Configurable, evolution-ready, inclusive and grassroots.
Phyrtual Factory
What are the expectations? Here are three points of view.
Enter the world of AI
The first course on artificial intelligence for schools is now on-line.
This year, Microsoft and the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, in collaboration with the Italian Postal Police, have organized a Safer Internet Day that will be held throughout Italy with young men and women as the true protagonists.
From North to South, students, coordinated by the FMD, will work together on a Youth Manifesto for a Safer Internet. The students will then present the Manifesto to the school community and promote it on the web.
We will keep you informed about the progress made in schools throughout Italy via interviews and multimedia presentations, beginning with IIS Salvemini in Alessano, in the Province of Lecce. Francesca Meini spoke to Principal Chiara Vantaggiato and Sofia Sergi, one of the students at the school.
“We often forget how fragile our children are as they grow up. They are as delicate as wax,” explains Principal Vantaggiato, who points out the issue of anonymity and the menaces in social media. “Schools must educate students on a safe use of the Internet, which is an extraordinary tool. It’s like having the Library of Alexandria in your pocket.”
Sofia, a student at the school, explains how she and her classmates decided to work on the cyber-bullying emergency.
The Safer Internet Day, promoted by the European Commission, has become a global event over the course of the years. It is now celebrated on February 9 in more than 70 countries around the world.
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MGS New York 19
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The Ritz Carlton – Jakarta Mega Kuningan, Jakarta, Indonesia
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3 great apps that take content marketing seriously
By James Haslam
App marketers are beginning to look beyond the confines of traditional paid marketing to impact their bottom lines. Thanks to the increasing difficulty of mobile marketing, as well as questions about the ethics and efficacy of paid advertising, marketers are seeking out different channels that can boost their brand image, build a community and increase app downloads.
Content marketing is one way of standing out. When done right, it’s often to great benefit for businesses. Take Intercom, the Live Chat app, which built a "$50MM ARR Empire" on the strength of its content marketing. In another case, Groove HQ gained 1,000 subscribers in 24 hours from a single blog post that was amplified effectively.
However, only a handful of app businesses are making the most of content marketing, and it could be a big opportunity you’re missing out. Here's a list of three of the best examples of content produced by app companies (and some honorable mentions) that will inspire you to put content marketing into action.
Headspace: Health, mindfulness, and blog posts
Everyone’s familiar with Headspace by now — its ads are seen almost everywhere, from 30-second spots on YouTube to impactful match cards on Tinder. However, many also know Headspace from the company blog, The Orange Dot, which publishes posts focused on reinforcing the message of both the brand and the product.
The lesson to take from Headspace is simple: “write what you know.” The Orange Dot augments its product with content, creating articles ranging from simple meditation tips to guides on improving sleep.
The Orange Dot also boasts a distinct Tone of Voice that’s amplified throughout the blog. Watch one of its ads, then follow up with a quick read of any post. Tonally, they’re similar, creating a sense of branding that pervades right through to the app’s onboarding content to put “users in a thoughtful, receptive state of mind.” Consistency, so goes the phrase, is key.
Blinkist: A unique monetization model
Blinkist is only one of a handful of apps that produces content which it both monetizes and distributes for free. Subscribers gain access to what’s called “Blinks,” or bite-size summaries of non-fiction books. However, Blinkist’s distribution of content goes further, with the Blinkist Magazine freely available, along with the podcasts Simplify and Self? Help!
All this content generation is at the heart of Blinkist’s brand building, setting themselves apart from the competition (and into the realm of bigger news publishers) by actively creating great content consistently. As with Headspace, the material is laser-focused on its niche, with titles such as “10 Books That Will Change How You Live Your Life” summarizing titles that exist for further reading on the app — boosting retention and discovery for users.
Blinkist is also knowledgeable of the paid channels which work well for it In a recent post on the MGS blog, Sandra Wu, Digital Marketing Manager of Blinkist, said, “we’ve found success with paid content marketing, an advertising strategy that drives people to a blog rather than the app store.” Though it might seem counterintuitive to some to reallocate budget from pure acquisition activities, it’s the background effects, known as uplift, that creates results. Blinkist gets “2x the CTR, which leads to 50% lower CPCs” by offering content advertisements instead of a direct download.
The lesson to learn from Blinkist? The real secret of content marketing isn’t just in producing great work, but amplifying it effectively.
Smule: Community highlights make great content
For the uninitiated, Smule is a social karaoke app that allows users to perform either solo or to duet with each other, creating unique, shareable content. Unlike our other examples, it’s the users that generate the most content — Smule can then curate the best of it.
This is where Smule’s YouTube channel comes in. Their channel highlights the best performers, which inspires new and old users alike to create content to hopefully receive the same coverage. Also, these highlights encourage discovery of new users to follow, and also to sing along with.
The result is a global music community with over 50 million active users. This proves finding the right channels to highlight your community and encouraging it to grow can be a great way to generate even more content, receive increased engagement and get new customers.
Some other examples of great content marketing come from Fitbit and Evernote.
When it comes to Fitbit, that “write what you know” mantra hits home, as the blog focuses on tons of recommendations for the best ways to fit more exercise into your day, and on dieting tips for all ages. The articles are audience relevant and help boost product retention like Headspace.
As we saw with Blinkist, Fitbit also promotes its content effectively, with a network of influencers both organic and paid to help drive the app’s popularity. Also, by writing about topics of all kinds, the receive links from a variety of different niches, from health blogs to tech magazines.
Evernote pulls off it’s content with style, by setting the blog apart with smart visuals. It’s a reminder that content isn’t all about the words — it’s also essential to make your blog visually appealing.
What’s to learn from our examples?
Be relevant: Whatever category you’re in, stick to it. Keeping your content suitable for your audience is critical, both for audience interest and brand building.
Find the right channels to promote: For some, organic traffic is enough. However, like Blinkist, you may find success in paid amplification. Others still might see the most value in content tied to influencer marketing. It all depends on where your audience is, and how they respond.
Celebrate your users where you can: Some platforms, like Smule, center on community-creatives, so show off your best when you can. This takes the effort out of creation, but also encourages users to stick with your app, and either find or produce more content.
Content marketing is nothing new, but it is a challenge to get right. Be prepared for a lot of experimentation (and many mistakes) on the road to a successful content offering. There’s still tremendous opportunity for motivated marketers —- but, just like paid advertising — one that is sure to become saturated, making the path to success that much harder.
If you’d like to learn more, I’ve recently published my first book — a guide to everything SaaS content marketing. The book will give new marketers the tools to succeed, by providing the steps to plan, write and publish content well while being mindful of the common pitfalls on the way. Download it today.
James Haslam -- Senior Content Manager at Adjust. Beyond guest posting across the web, you can find James’ work on Medium, and he regularly tweets on the state of mobile as well.
5 Tips For Mastering The Google UAC Challenge From InnoGames
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Beyond Facebook: How To Grow Your App Through Paid Content Marketing
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Sometimes the Most Special Creations Start with a Cardboard Box
Mazzy found a shoe box a few months ago (it was from a new pair of sneakers that Mike bought) and has been working on it steadily ever since, turning it into her ideal miniature bedroom. Some key features include the gold pompom chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the full length mirror made from reflective silver paper (“You can really see yourself in it, Mommy!”) and the floating cardboard desk with a built-in garbage chute and a cardboard laptop on top. The best part about that laptop? If you look closely, you can see that it has a drawing of Mazzy and Harlow as the screensaver.
This is one of the first projects that Mazzy has worked on over time, continuing to build and improve on it. Just the other day, the tail fell off her panda onesie and she realized it would make an excellent beanbag chair for her miniature room.
I posted about Mazzy’s creation on Instagram and a friend messaged me about a video that went viral a few years ago about a boy named Caine who made a cardboard arcade in his dad’s auto parts shop, when he spent the summer going with his dad to work. I had never seen the video before and it brought tears to my eyes. Apparently, one customer (the only customer who had ever actually paid to play on one of Caine’s arcade games) decided to organize a surprise flash mob of people who showed up to play at Caine’s arcade. The flash mob request hit the front page of reddit and well— I guess the rest is viral history.
If you haven’t seen it, I hope it brings you as many happy tears as it brought me!
I’m showing Mazzy tonight. Caine, even if this happened years ago, you continue to inspire.
Parental Tweet: On Mischief
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One response to “Sometimes the Most Special Creations Start with a Cardboard Box”
There was a follow up video “Caines arcade 2” and there are hundreds of cardboard challenge events all over the country the came from the original video. It’s really awesome. There are also really cool cardboard building materials available now. So much fun!
The Mommy Show Mommy Show Summer Rerun: Romilly Newman
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Opinion: Newark Needs More than Facebook Reform
Gordon MacInnes | October 15, 2010
The Christie, Booker, Zuckerberg extravaganza can't hide an inconvenient truth: Newark is in shambles.
Newark captured the nation’s attention with the recent pep rally on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," starring Governor Chris Christie, Mayor Cory Booker, and newly minted Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg.
But all the glitz, glitter and good feelings, not to mention the $100 million, aren't enough to silence some troubling questions or hide some unpleasant truths.
Newark is in financial shambles. The municipal government, smaller than the school district, is bent on trying to borrow its way out of bankruptcy. The Devils don’t pay rent for the Prudential Center. No one knows when Newark can reclaim its school district from the state and, when it does, if it will be run by an elected or mayoral board.
That last item raises another disturbing question: Who's really in charge of Newark's schools?
As a state-operated district, the education commissioner selects Newark’s superintendent, the superintendent runs the school system, seeking suggestions (or not) from an elected but powerless advisory board.
Mark Zuckerberg says his $100 million is contingent on Mayor Booker running the show. Christie says he will retain Booker as his deputy to oversee the Newark schools.
That may sound okay on Oprah, but it is likely to incite confusion and litigation back home.
The mayor is already backing away from the role announced by the governor. He now speaks of working with the Newark community and its elected advisory board. In Trenton, the acting education commissioner testified that the statute is very clear and that the governor and mayor have no authority to take over the Newark public schools.
Moreover, superintendent Clifford Janey is a lame duck. His contract runs until June. His chief academic officer is brand new and the business administrator is newish. For the people who have to do the work, there is no clarity about who is in charge and what the mission is.
Even Zuckerberg's generous gift can't obscure another disquieting issue.
Veteran Newark educators have heard promises of “change” and “reform” every time a new superintendent or mayor or commissioner or governor or president arrives. By now, they know that reformers overpromise and under-deliver. They know that the problems they must contend with are more complex than the simplistic nostrums advanced by reformers. Their skepticism is merited.
Newark is the regional favorite for reformers. For decades, foundations, universities, think-tanks, entrepreneurs, and federal and state bureaucrats have gravitated to Newark as the place to prove that something can be done. The same educational problems in Paterson or Elizabeth have been largely ignored. The Facebook Reform is just the latest in a long line of enthusiastically announced, quietly buried reforms.
After the riots, the cry was for black leaders at the district and school level to provide role models and a more racially sensitive curriculum. Since 1970, every superintendent has been black; half of all administrators are black.
Then came the push to increase state funding so Newark’s schools would have the money for better salaries and facilities. Thirty years later, Newark is the highest-spending urban district in the nation and is second only to Asbury Park.
In the 1990s, the NJ Supreme Court ordered every Newark school (and those in 30 other city districts) adopt a model of “whole school reform.” The result was chaos and confusion as 10 different models were implemented in the city’s 80 schools, many with conflicting educational approaches and some with no instructional focus at all.
The biggest reform came with the state takeover of the Newark system, citing a bloated headquarters, mismanagement, political favoritism, and (secondarily) poor achievement. Top officials were fired, a new team was brought in from New York City. That resulted in a reduction in low-level employees, poor financial management, and more attention to academics.
That's only the beginning:
Project GRAD has been working for more than a decade with Shabazz and Central high schools and their feeder K-8 schools, with an emphasis on improved academics and classroom management.
Global Village, based at NYU, has recently announced that it too will bring comprehensive services to bear on Central High and its K-8 feeder schools.
The federally funded School Innovation Grants were announced in June to “transform” three Newark schools, including Central High, “turnaround” Shabazz, and “restart” Renaissance.
The charter school movement has funded a Newark foundation to improve quality in Newark’s dozen charter schools and promote new charters to capture 25 percent share of the city’s students (up from 12 percent).
The Facebook Reform will have to wait in line. Newark has been reformed out. Instead of reform, let's try for steady, ambitious improvement.
Read more in Opinion
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Affordable Housing & Health: City Roles and Strategies for Progress
As the role of housing as a determinant of success in life — affecting health, access to education, and the opportunity for upward mobility — becomes better understood, cities face the daunting task of eliminating the affordable-and-healthy…
Invitation to Join
To harness the power of city leadership to address social determinants of health, the National League of Cities (NLC) is piloting Cities of Opportunity, which offers an agenda for action that seeks to…
Opioid Use Disorder: City Actions and Opportunities to Address the Epidemic
Ahead of the planned Mayors’ Institute on opioids in May, the YEF Institute’s Health and Wellness team released a new report, “Opioid Use Disorder: City Actions and Opportunities to Address the Epidemic.” This resource for cities contains short…
National Efforts to Combat Opioid Epidemic Must Include Funding, Focus on Medical Treatment
WASHINGTON — October 26, 2017 — Today, President Donald Trump elevated the federal response to the opioid addiction crisis by finally declaring it a public health emergency — but without opening up any new federal funding to combat the epidemic.…
What Should City Leaders Do About Healthcare?
This is the second piece in a three-part series about pensions and healthcare. Each piece will include insights gained at different state municipal league meetings across the country. Find the first installment here.
The National League…
Healthy older couple
Low on Funds? Your City Can Still Provide Nutritional Meals to Children Outside School.
Working with NLC through the CHAMPS initiative, a cohort of small cities in Alabama is showing the rest of the country how they are successfully increasing access to out-of-school time meals for children.
photo - Low on Funds? Your City Can Still Provide Nutritional Meals to Children Outside School.
Wilmington Delaware Youth Violence Prevention
What are the goals of the program?
In December 2013, realizing that the issue of firearm violence rates in the City of Wilmington, especially among youth, was becoming a crisis situation, the city leaders requested that the Centers for Disease…
Model Ordinance for Establishing Citywide Green Stormwater Infrastructure
A Complete Streets approach redefines what a street is intended to do, what goals a transportation agency is going to meet, and how the community will spend its transportation money. It breaks down the traditional separation of 'highways,' '…
Green City Center
Complete Streets Local Policy Workbook
A Complete Streets approach redefines what a street is intended to do, what goals a transportation agency is going to meet, and how the community will spend its transportation money. It breaks down the traditional…
Complete Streets Policies
Complete Streets policies formalize a community's intent to plan, design, operate and maintain streets so they are safe for all users of all ages and abilities. Policies direct decision-makers to consistently fund, plan…
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ENCINITAS: See Italian film ‘The Order of Things’ March 14 at La Paloma
ENCINITAS — The San Diego Italian Film Festival invites moviegoers to see “L’ordine delle cose” (“The Order of Things”) at 7 p.m. March 14 at the La Palomar Theatre, 471 S. Coast Hwy 101 in Encinitas. The film, in Italian with English subtitles, follows Corrado (Paolo Pierobon), a policeman...
Tags: Andrea Segre, cardiff current, carlsbad current, cinema, encinitas, encinitas current, film, global cinema, L’ordine delle cose, La Paloma Theatre, Marco Pettenello, movies, north coast current, Paolo Pierobon, San Diego, San Diego Italian Film Festival, The Order of Things, Yusra Warsama
ENCINITAS: Eco Alliance hosts ‘Racing Extinction’ screening April 20
ENCINITAS — North County Eco Alliance invites the public to an Earth Day screening of “Racing Extinction” April 20, 6-9 p.m., at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, 1613 Lake Drive in Encinitas. The documentary examines biodiversity loss, its effect on humanity, and the solutions that will ensure...
Tags: arts, encinitas, environment, film, north coast current, north county eco alliance, seaside center
Cool on the Coast: From scary to cerebral, October offers variety of events
It may be unseasonably warm in San Diego County, but fall is still the coolest on the coast. The North Coast has fall fun and Halloween haunts for both adults and family in October, plus the usual stellar lineup of art, music, theatre and lectures, ready to kick off the holiday season in cool coastal st...
Tags: Amos Robinson, ancestry, art, belly up, Blast Halloween Bash, carlsbad, Carlsbad Public Library, cats, CCR, Chapatti, children, Club M, cover band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Creedence Relived, Dan Cayan, Danny Elfman, Dead Man’s Party, Del Mar, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Dia de los Muertos, dogs, Dove Library, dream analysis, encinitas, Encinitas Library, family, film, Fritzi Gros-Dallion, genealogy, Grand Del Mar, Halloween, Harvest Festival, holiday, Household Guardians, I Got a Name, Ingrid Croce, Layla Marino, Mission San Luis Rey, Music, north coast current, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Oceanside, Oingo Boingo, Patricia Ariadne, pets, Pettybreakers, Rancho Coastal Humane Society, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, solana beach, The Sword, theater, Tom Petty, Z-Trip
Del Mar filmmaker Sue Vicory emphasizes the Power of One
Amanda Rhoades
When her kids went off to college, Sue Vicory didn’t settle into retirement. Instead, she asked herself who she wanted to be in the second part of her life. The answer was a documentary filmmaker. Vicory, a Del Mar-based filmmaker, will embark on a cross-country road trip early next year to promote...
Tags: 48 Hour Film Project, Amanda Rhoades, charity, Del Mar, film, filmmaking, my power of one, north coast current, San Diego, social justice, social media, Sue Vicory
‘IntelleXual’ podcasters celebrate 100 episodes of stimulating conversation
Adam Burkhart
On a recent Sunday, a couple of hours before the hosts and crew of “The IntelleXual Podcast” were to celebrate their 100th episode with a live taping at the Horton Grand Theatre in downtown San Diego, they gathered at the Palace Bar just around the corner. “Stimulating conversations is what...
Tags: Adam Burkhart, arts, Boman Modine, Carla Van Wagoner, David Dawson, Del Mar, Dick Van Dyke, encinitas, entertainment, film, independent, intellexual, intellexual entertainment, Matthew Modine, movies, my power of one, north coast current, podcast, podcasting, san dieguito academy, san dieguito high school, Sebastien Cipolla, Sue Vicory, vista
CARLSBAD: Libraries field two baseball events June 13 and 20
CARLSBAD — Carlsbad hosts two events for baseball fans in June at city libraries. A screening of the documentary “Ball Talk: Baseball’s Voice of Summer,” with film Director Kevin Bender, is set for June 13 at 1 p.m. at the Georgina Cole Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Drive. The second event is...
Tags: athletics, baseball, Bill Swank, Bob Chandler, carlsbad, documentary, film, history, Kevin Bender, library, north coast current, sports
Cool on the Coast: Jazz, poetry, throw-down round out May
As we close in on summer on the North County coast, May has a wealth of diverse and interesting things to do. Jazz, chocolate, literary lectures and more will keep you entertained in coastal North County all month long. Belly Up, Solana Beach: This month, San Diego County’s premier rock hot spot ...
Tags: art, arts, Beatles, belly up, cardiff, carlsbad, classic, Del Mar, encinitas, Everlast, film, food, garden, health, history, jazz, Layla Marino, literature, magee park, movies, Music, north coast current, Oceanside, poetry, Rolling Stones, solana beach, wine
Cool on the Coast: Belly Up brings in big alternative acts for April; month offers variety of events
With spring definitely sprung, April may not bring many showers in San Diego, but the North Coast still has lots of spring activities, concerts and fun for residents and those venturing to the area to cool off with the ocean and its breeze. With the ubiquitous amazing lineup or talent at the Belly Up,...
Tags: art, arts, belly up, Boob Ride, cardiff, carlsbad, classic, crafts, Dead Milkmen, Del Mar, encinitas, English Beat, Etruscan, film, food, garden, health, Helmet, history, J. Ernest Simpson, James van Praagh, Layla Marino, Matisyahu, movies, Music, north coast current, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Oceanside, Pete Yorn, quail gardens, Queen Bee, Rufus Wainwright, san diego botanic garden, San Diego International Wine Show, Sebastian Bach, solana beach, Studio Door, superman, susan g. komen, Temple Solel, wine
ENCINITAS: Asian Film Festival comes to La Paloma on Nov. 15
ENCINITAS — The San Diego Asian Film Festival hosts its first-ever day of screenings at Encinitas’ historic La Paloma Theatre on Nov. 15. Ken Ochiai, the director of “Uzumasa Limelight,” one of the selections, is scheduled to attend. The films scheduled for screening are “Hello! Junichi”...
Tags: film, film festival, filmmaker, filmmaking, La Paloma Theatre, north coast current, Pacific Arts Movement, San Diego Asian Film Festival, san diego filmmakers, SDAFF
Second act for film commission? Encinitas arts commissioner, county supervisor seek green light for agency
Debbie L. Sklar
What do “Top Gun,” the hit television series “Simon & Simon,” and other such high-profile projects as “Traffic,” “Almost Famous,” “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” “Lords of Dogtown,” “Bring It On,” “Veronica Mars” and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” all...
Tags: dave roberts, Debbie L. Sklar, film, filmmaker, filmmaking, francine filsinger, kevin faulconer, north coast current, San Diego, san diego film commission, san diego film consortium, san diego filmmakers, television, TV
Point of View: Locals in spotlight to revive film commission
Roman S. Koenig
Our region is in need of a film commission, and thanks to the efforts of some key players on the North Coast, we just might see it go from script to screen. County Supervisor Dave Roberts (a former Solana Beach city councilman) and Encinitas arts Commissioner Francine Filsinger (who serves on the board of directors of San Diego Filmmakers) have joined a growing chorus calling for a sequel to the region’s now-shuttered film commissi...
Tags: dave roberts, film, filmmaker, filmmaking, francine filsinger, kevin faulconer, mercury cinema, north coast current, Roman S. Koenig, San Diego, san diego film commission, san diego film consortium, san diego filmmakers, television, TV
The courtship of ‘Father Eddie’: Local film producers seek sponsors for project
Lauren Ciallella
There’s no question that the priesthood could use some positive press nowadays, and that’s why Father Eddie is counting on San Diego’s tight-knit community to help bring this story to light. “Father Eddie,” a feature film about an unemployed telemarketer who pretends to be a priest for a...
Tags: 48 Hour Film Project, Annie Willett-Thomas, arts, carlsbad, Chris Cashman, Chris Lusti, Father Eddie, film, kickstarter.com, Lauren Ciallella, Lisa Cashman, north coast current
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Government announces loss carry-back initiative for SMEs
Justin Grey
10 May 2012 — 1 minute read
As part of its new Federal Budget, the Gillard government has announced a loss carry-back initiative that it says will help SMEs facing economic pressures and encourage them to invest in their business.
While the new budget has certainly been met with some criticism from business, the government has moved to put a positive spin on it for SMEs through both the loss carry-back initiative and the recently announced $6,500 instant asset write off plan.
A recommendation from Australia’s Future Tax System review, the loss carry-back scheme will allow businesses to ‘carry back’ their losses to offset past profits and get a refund of tax previously paid on that profit. Currently, businesses are only able to carry forward their tax losses to offset future profits and reduce future tax liabilities. As part of the initiative, from July 1 companies will be able to carry back up to $1 million worth of losses to get a refund of tax paid in the previous year. And from July 1 2013, companies will be able to carry back up to $1 million worth of losses against tax paid up to two years earlier.
The government says the loss carry-back scheme will give businesses greater access to their legitimate tax deductions when they are making losses.
“The introduction of the loss carry-back will encourage companies to adapt to changing economic conditions and take advantage of new opportunities through investment,” a government press release stated. “It will help struggling companies adjust to the challenges and opportunities of the patchwork economy by improving cash flows and reduce disincentives for businesses to take sensible risks.”
A full analysis on the loss carry-back initiative, as well as the new Federal Budget in general and what it means for SMEs, will be provided in our June print issue.
My Business Reader Poll: On the whole, is the new Federal Budget good or bad for for SMEs?
Follow @mybusinessau on Twitter for breaking stories throughout the day.
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What to look for in a business consultant
My Business May 2012 issue out now
Last Updated: 26 October 2017 Published: 10 May 2012
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Home > All films > Films Science fiction > Jurassic World
Jurassic World is a american film of genre Science fiction directed by Colin Trevorrow released in USA on 12 june 2015 with Chris Pratt
Jurassic World (2015)
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Released in USA 12 june 2015
Length 2h4
Directed by Colin Trevorrow
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Fantastic, Action, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, Clonage, Dinosaur films, Films about computing, La préhistoire, Films based on science fiction novels, Animaux préhistoriques, Cyberpunk films
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Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Action, Adventure, Horror
Themes Films about animals, Clonage, Dinosaur films, La préhistoire, Films based on science fiction novels, Animaux préhistoriques
Actors Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeff Goldblum, Rafe Spall, B.D. Wong, Toby Jones
Un volcan se réveille sur Isla Nublar et menace les dinosaures laissés en liberté sur l'île à la suite de l'incident survenu dans Jurassic World. Owen, Claire et le riche anglais Lockwood vont organiser une expédition pour tenter de les sauver pour les transférer vers une autre île afin d'éviter leur disparition. Mais Owen et Claire découvriront qu'ils se sont fait berner par Lockwood qui dévie le transfert des dinos vers sa propriété située en Angleterre pour mettre les dinosaures aux enchères. Mais ils devront aussi affronter une autre menace : un nouvel hybride, l'Indoraptor.
Directed by Sam Raimi
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Fantastic, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, Films about children, Films about computing, Films about spiders, Spider-Man films, Superhero films, Cyberpunk films, Super-héros inspiré de comics, Children's films
Actors Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Daniel Gillies
Peter Parker plans to propose to Mary Jane Watson, who has just made her Broadway musical debut. A meteorite crashes near the two in Central Park, and an extraterrestrial symbiote attaches itself to Peter's moped. While fleeing police, escaped prisoner Flint Marko falls into a particle accelerator that fuses his DNA with surrounding sand, allowing him to shapeshift at will as the Sandman. Peter's best friend, Harry Osborn, who blames him for his father's death, attacks Peter using weapons based on his father's Green Goblin technology. Harry injures his head and suffers partial amnesia, forgetting that Peter is Spider-Man and his desire for revenge. During a festival honouring Spider-Man, Marko robs an armored car. NYPD Captain George Stacy tells Peter and Aunt May that Marko was Uncle Ben's killer, and Dennis Carradine was only an accomplice. While a vengeful Peter sleeps, the symbiote bonds with him. Peter wakes up hanging from a skyscraper. His costume becomes black and his powers increase, but the symbiote brings out Peter's dark side. Wearing the new suit, Spider-Man locates Marko and battles him in a subway tunnel, reducing him to mud using water.
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Comedy, Romance
Themes Time travel films
Actors Kristen Bell, Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jeff Garlin
Darius Britt (Aubrey Plaza) is a disillusioned college graduate who lives at home with her widower father (Jeff Garlin) and interns at Seattle Magazine. One of the magazine's writers, Jeff Schwensen (Jake Johnson), proposes to investigate a newspaper classified ad that reads:
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Post-apocalyptic films, Films based on science fiction novels, Films set in the future, Films about extraterrestrial life, Films about extraterrestrial life, Alien invasions in films, Disaster films, American disaster films, United States Armed Forces in films
Actors Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Liev Schreiber, Ron Livingston, Maika Monroe, Alex Roe
Four waves of increasingly deadly attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother. As she prepares for the fifth wave, Cassie teams up with a young man who may become her final hope – if she can only trust him.
Prometheus (2012)
Genres Science fiction, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Films about computing, Monde imaginaire, Films about religion, Dans l'espace, Sur une planète fictive, Films set in the future, Films about extraterrestrial life, Cyberpunk films, Space opera, Films about extraterrestrial life, Robot films
Actors Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, Charlize Theron
As a spacecraft departs a planet, a humanoid alien drinks an iridescent liquid; then dissolves. The remains of the alien cascade into a waterfall.
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Action, Crime
Themes Films about films, Films about computing, Medical-themed films, Psychologie, Films about sexuality, Snuff films in fiction, Films about television, Rape in fiction, Films set in the future, Films about psychiatry, Political films, Cyberpunk films, Dystopian films
Actors Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Vincent d’Onofrio, Michael Wincott
In the last two days of 1999, Los Angeles has become a dangerous war zone. As a group of criminals rob a Chinese restaurant, the event is recorded by a robber wearing a 'SQUID', or "Superconducting Quantum Interference Device", an illegal electronic device which records events directly from the wearer's cerebral cortex, and when played back through a MiniDisc-like device called a "deck", allow a user to experience the recorder's memories and physical sensations. Lenny Nero is a former LAPD officer turned black marketeer who deals in bootleg SQUID recordings. His main supplier, Tick (Richard Edson), tries to sell the robbery clip to him. Lenny eventually agrees to buy it at a reduced price, having to cut out the last part where the rig records the robber's death by falling; clips that record the wearer's death are known as "blackjack" (snuff) clips, because the experience is described as "jacking into the big black" by Tick.
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Genres Science fiction, Fantastic, Action, Adventure
Actors Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite, Vince Vaughn, Richard Schiff, Peter Stormare
Four years after the disaster at Jurassic Park, the wealthy Bowman family makes an excursion to the island of Isla Sorna during a yachting cruise. Their young daughter wanders off and is attacked by a pack of Compsognathus, but survives. The incident allows Peter Ludlow, John Hammond's nephew, to gain control of his uncle's company InGen, which is in severe financial straits after the events at Jurassic Park. Hammond contacts Ian Malcolm and explains that Isla Sorna is the island where the dinosaurs were engineered and nurtured before being moved to Isla Nublar, Jurassic Park's location. He also explains that after the park was shut down, Isla Sorna was abandoned during a hurricane and the dinosaurs left to survive in the wild, where they have been inexplicably thriving. Hammond asks Malcolm to join a team that will travel to Isla Sorna to document the dinosaurs in order to rally public support against human interference on the island. Ian initially declines but, after learning that his girlfriend, paleontologist Sarah Harding, is part of the team and is already on the island, he agrees to go.
Impostor (2001)
Directed by Gary Fleder
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Action
Themes Films based on science fiction novels, Films set in the future, Films about extraterrestrial life, Films based on works by Philip K. Dick, Films about extraterrestrial life, Alien invasions in films, Disaster films
Actors Gary Sinise, Madeleine Stowe, Vincent d’Onofrio, Tony Shalhoub, Tim Guinee, Mekhi Phifer
The movie takes place in the year 2079. Forty-five years earlier, Earth was attacked by a hostile and implacable alien civilization from Alpha Centauri. Force shield domes are put in place to protect cities, and a totalitarian global military government is established to effect the war and the survival of humans. The Centaurians have never been physically seen.
Hollow Man (2000)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Action, Horror
Themes Films based on science fiction novels, Serial killer films, Invisibilité
Actors Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue, Josh Brolin, Kim Dickens, Greg Grunberg, Joey Slotnick
Scientist Sebastian Caine has developed a serum that can make a subject invisible. His team of scientists, which includes ex-girlfriend Dr. Linda McKay and Dr. Matt Kensington, eventually enable the serum to work on a gorilla and restore it to visibility. Sebastian once again becomes obsessed with Linda while unbeknownst to him, she has become involved with Matt. Instead of reporting his success to the military, Sebastian lies to the oversight committee, which includes his mentor Dr. Howard Kramer, convincing his team to go right into human testing. The procedure is performed on Sebastian. It is successful and Sebastian turns completely invisible. He then enjoys sneaking around the lab in order to scare and play pranks on his fellow co-workers. They become worried that he is taking it too far. After three days, he is unable to revert to visibility.
Directed by McG
Genres Drama, Science fiction, War, Thriller, Action, Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Themes Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Transport films, Time travel films, Aviation films, Films set in the future, Political films, Road movies, Cyberpunk films, Dystopian films, Alternate history films, Chase films, Anticipation, Robot films, Disaster films
Actors Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Roland Kickinger, Moon Bloodgood
In 2003, Dr. Serena Kogan (Helena Bonham Carter) of Cyberdyne Systems convinces death row inmate Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) to sign over his body for medical research following his execution. One year later, the automated Skynet system is activated, begins to perceive humans as a threat, and eradicates much of humanity with nuclear weapons in the event known as "Judgment Day".
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Small business can have a big impact on the planet, new report shows
By Michael Tippett in News | March 15th 2018
Man shopping for fruit on Commercial Drive in Vancouver. Photo courtesy City of Vancouver website.
Small and medium sized businesses can have a massive impact on the environment, according to a new report.
Small and medium sized businesses can have a massive effect on the environment, according to new report published by Vancouver-based social enterprise Climate Smart. In a news release out today about the report, 200 Million Tonnes of Opportunity, the organization writes:
“Canada’s 1.2+ million small- and medium-sized businesses have direct control 200 million tonnes of carbon pollution, the same amount produced each year by every car, truck, train, plane, and ship in the country... With coaching and support, these businesses could significantly shrink Canada’s overall carbon footprint.”
The findings provide a hopeful path forward for those concerned about the environment and climate change because it shows how individual business owners and managers can have a direct impact on the planet. The report studied the effects of companies with fewer than 500 employees. This segment of companies represents the vast majority of the Canadian economy.
“Hundreds of thousands of printers, restaurateurs, roofers, retailers, and others are already profitably reducing their carbon footprints and driving clean growth," Climate Smart president Elizabeth Sheehan said.
"As Canada works to meet its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, it’s exciting that thousands of private-sector climate champions already taking the lead.”
Of course, the incentive for companies to embrace eco-friendly practices goes beyond saving the planet. Recent research suggests that consumer behaviour is heavily influenced by whether a customer believes an organization is eco-friendly. So by committing to the planet, companies can also grow their businesses. This is particularly true in the fashion, health and beauty and food verticals where consumers are buying what they see as indulgences.
"As Canada works to meet its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, it’s exciting that thousands of private-sector climate champions already taking the lead,” said @ClimateSmart president Elizabeth Sheehan.
The full report uses over 10 years of data and is available online at 200million.ca. It contains case studies that demonstrate the various ways these organizations are reducing their carbon footprint and serves as a how-to manual for SMBs looking to upgrade their eco-friendly practices.
Michael Tippett
VOCs from 'consumer' products
linda | Fri, 03/16/2018 - 15:52
VOCs from 'consumer' products (laundry, personal care, cleaning, pesticides...) now rival vehicle emissions as largest source of outdoor air pollutants!
"Volatile chemical products emerging as largest petrochemical source of urban organic emissions
Here, we focus on volatile chemical products (VCPs), including pesticides, coatings, printing inks, adhesives, cleaning agents, and personal care products. These products contain organic solvents, which lead to substantial emissions of VOCs to the atmosphere.
We show that success in controlling air pollution has changed the proportions of sources of anthropogenic VOC emissions in the United States, decreasing the relative contribution from transportation fuels and increasing the contribution from VCPs.
Fragrances are major contributors, most prominently of limonene, a-pinene, ß-pinene, and 3-carene (57)
Disclosure of ingredients used to make fragrances is not required (57), but terpenes are common and known aerosol precursors (41)"
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6377/760.full
Companies must disclose risks from climate change, former U.S. Treasury Secretary says
By Michael Tippett in News, Politics | March 14th 2018
Trans Mountain
Thousands rally against Kinder Morgan after court injunction
By Dylan Waisman in News, Energy, Politics | March 10th 2018
$25,000 by April 5. Ontario. Election. Climate. Please help us make our goal!
By Linda Solomon Wood in Opinion | March 1st 2018
Canada's Clean Economy
Canada preparing to gamble with your ‘higher risk’ clean power ideas
By Carl Meyer in News, Energy | January 18th 2018
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Allegheny Citizens Unite to Make History
Citizen Commission Proposed to Secure Allegheny County's Elections
Press Release - updated: Jul 20, 2017
PITTSBURGH, Pa., July 20, 2017 (Newswire.com) - Election integrity - DontTreadOnMyVote.com is an Allegheny County, non-partisan organization spearheading legislation for the formation of a county commission of citizen experts whose mission will be secure, accessible, auditable, and re-countable elections in Allegheny County.
“Pennsylvania’s state election law requires that all elections are auditable. Yet Allegheny’s votes are tabulated using electronic voting machines with no paper trail. This also means the voting record cannot be audited and is vulnerable to fraud or flawed software. Like millions of people around the country, our county citizens are increasingly concerned that their votes are vulnerable to manipulation and fraud —and they are voicing their concerns by signing our petition to create a Citizens Commission to make our elections more secure,” says Dr. Michelle Zuckerman Parker, founder of Election Integrity and the DontTreadOnMyVote movement.
In the midst of growing evidence of nationwide hacking and vote manipulation in the 2016 election, the proposed ordinance would create a commission, comprised of members chosen by County Council and the County Chief Executive, to review the County's voting systems and recommend improvements including the possibility of changing the system to paper ballots.
There are three simultaneous efforts for this legislation:
Citizens met with their County Councilperson who could introduce it, pass it, and implement it;
A petition drive to put the ordinance on the Council's agenda. The agenda initiative requires 500 valid signatures of registered voters in the County to be collected in a short time period;
A campaign to place the legislation directly before the voters in the November election. This requires 22,000 signatures to be collected by July 31.
The ordinance concept originated from a collection of local, like-minded organizations and people, including the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, VoteAllegheny, B-pep (Black Empowerment Political Project) and the national organization, Verified Voting.
The Election Integrity - DontTreadOnMyVote.com movement is quickly gaining momentum and attracting national attention, with the Twitter hashtag #22KSignatures. The website provides information for volunteers and for voters looking for a signing location. They are eagerly looking for more volunteers. Allegheny County residents are encouraged to sign, collect signatures or set up a signing station and citizens across the country are encouraged to enact similar movements.
Dr. Zuckerman-Parker earned her doctorate in Instructional Technology from Duquesne University and her undergraduate at Rochester Institute of Technology. She was previously funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for her innovative work to empower students to be change agents. She is a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant. She received the American Assoc. of University Women, "Friend of Equity Award" (2009), from Duquesne University. "Mind Heart & Spirit" Award (2008) and a two-year appointment as a member of "Emerging Scholars Network" of the International Assoc. for Media & Communication Research (2007).
Dr. Michelle Zuckerman Parker
Email: ElectionIntegrity@DontTreadOnMyVote.com
Source: Election Integrity-DontTreadOnMyVote.com
Categories: Elections, Civil Rights, Government
Tags: civil rights, Election, fraud, lawmaker, political movement, politician, politics, Vote, voter
Ordinance_by_referendum
http://donttreadonmyvote.com/
http://lwvpgh.org/
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Toe Blake | #6
LW | 5' 10" | 165 lb
577 235 294 529 --
Toe Blake
Birthplace: Victoria Mines, ON, CAN
View Player Bio +
NHL Career 577 235 294 529 -- 282 38 95 2 2 31 4 -- --
Toe Blake News
Toe Blake: 100 Greatest NHL Players
NHL100: Toe Blake
Toe Blake Awards
Hart Memorial Trophy
1938-1939 Montréal Canadiens
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
1934-1935 Montreal Maroons
Toe Blake Bio
"[Darn] right he was tough," Elmer Lach once said about his teammate Hector "Toe" Blake. "One time, he took on the whole Detroit [Red Wings] team. They all came after him and he stood there at center ice swinging his stick, saying, 'Which one of you [guys] wants it first?' It was like a bunch of dogs trying to get at him."
To some, Toe Blake is one of the funny-named guys who symbolize "old-time hockey" in the film "Slap Shot." To others, he was the rough-looking, fedora-and-suit-wearing coach of the Montreal Canadiens who only seemed to smile when his team won the Stanley Cup -- which means he smiled at least eight times.
For more of Toe Blake's 100 Greatest Players bio, please click here.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
NHL Second All-Star Team (1938, 1946)
NHL First All-Star Team (1939, 1940, 1945)
Played in NHL All-Star Game (1937, 1939)
Signed as a free agent by Mtl. Maroons, February 21, 1935.
Traded to Montreal by Mtl. Maroons with Bill Miller and the rights to Ken Grivel for Lorne Chabot, February, 1936.
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25% off your next visit
The Marquis of Granby
2 Rathbone Street, London, Greater London, W1T 1NR 020 7580 7836
Open today: Opening Hours: (Monday) 11am - 11pm (Tuesday) 11am - 11pm (Wednesday) 11am - 11pm (Thursday) 11am - 11pm (Friday) 11am - 11pm (Saturday) 11am - 11pm (Sunday) Noon - 10:30pm
Food menus at The Marquis of Granby in London
Our seasonal menu offers the best classic British dishes. Our skilled chefs create simple twists on the dishes you know and love to bring you interesting new flavours, using only the best ingredients. So, settle in at The Marquis of Granby in London for some seriously tasty pub food.
Our fish houses serve only the finest seafood and we’re sure that you’ll enjoy our fresh catch every time. We’re proud to continue our support for the courageous work of the RNLI, and we do this by donating 50p from each Ocean Fish and Chips meal that we sell. Take a trip to your nearest Nicholson’s Pub to enjoy an ultimate and authentic British Fish & Chips dish while showing your support to our chosen charity.
Why not complement your traditional British pie or fresh fish dish with a perfectly poured cask ale, a glass of fine wine, or even a taste from our extensive whisky and gin collections.
At The Marquis of Granby we’re proud pie connoisseurs, and you can be sure that you’ll enjoy our delicious pies, served under pastry or mash. Why not complement your traditional British pie with a perfectly poured cask ale, a glass of fine wine, or even a taste from our extensive whisky and gin collections.
To view our Allergen information please see below.
Our easy-to-use allergen guide is available for you to use on the food section of our website or on our Glass Onion app. We keep it online so that it’s always as up to date as possible and you can filter out dishes containing any of the 14 major allergens. If you can’t access the internet, we will be happy to provide you with the information. Our food and drinks are prepared in food areas where cross contamination may occur and our menu descriptions do not include all ingredients.
If you have any questions, allergies or intolerance's, please let us know before ordering. Our fish dishes may contain small bones. *Contains nuts. ^Contains alcohol. (v) = made with vegetarian ingredients, however some of our preparation and cooking methods could affect this. (ve) = made with vegan ingredients; however, some of our preparation and cooking methods could affect this. If you require more information, please ask your server. Where table service is offered, a discretionary service charge of 10% may be added. †Payments are made to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Ltd, which pays all its taxable profits to the RNLI. Registered charity in England (209603), Scotland (SC037736) and in the Republic of Ireland (20003326).
ALLERGEN AND DIETARY OPTIONS
2 Rathbone Street, London, Greater London, W1T 1NR
Press _self
© Nicholsons Pubs 2019
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Debbie Elliott NPR National Correspondent Debbie Elliott can be heard telling stories from her native South and occasionally guest-hosting NPR news programs.
Debbie Elliott
The Rev. T.J. Jemison escorts Mary Briscoe (left) and Sandra Ann Jones from jail in Baton Rouge, La., on April 4, 1960. The two had been in jail as a result of lunch counter sit-ins. AP hide caption
Code Switch
Rev. T.J. Jemison Remembered As Civil Rights Movement Pioneer
November 22, 2013 Louisiana is paying tribute Friday to the Rev. T.J. Jemison, a strong and steady voice against unequal treatment for blacks in the Jim Crow South. Jemison helped organize a bus boycott in Baton Rouge in 1953 and later advised Martin Luther King Jr. and others on how to orchestrate the Montgomery boycott.
Republican candidates Bradley Byrne and Dean Young are running in a special runoff election Tuesday to fill Alabama's 1st congressional district seat. Phillip Rawls and Campaign of Dean Young/AP hide caption
Phillip Rawls and Campaign of Dean Young/AP
A Clash Of Styles As GOP Factions Fight For Alabama District
October 31, 2013 In a special election to replace retired GOP Congressman Jo Bonner, one candidate believes in "dying on the hill" to repeal Obamacare. His opponent wants to go to Washington to "get something done."
Trombone Shorty, aka Troy Andrews, has started a foundation dedicated to music education in New Orleans. Jonathan Mannion/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Jonathan Mannion/Courtesy of the artist
A Young Torchbearer Lights The Way For New Orleans Music Students
October 10, 2013 At 27, bandleader Trombone Shorty is already an icon in his hometown. So he's giving back: Through his own foundation, the "supafunkrock" brass player is nurturing even younger talent in local schools.
Investigators work outside the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., following an explosion that killed four young girls. Three Ku Klux Klansmen were convicted in the bombing years later. AP hide caption
50 Years After The Bombing, Birmingham Still Subtly Divided
September 15, 2013 Fifty years ago Sunday, the Klu Klux Klan bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, killing four black girls. The scars from those days still divide the city, making it a bellwether for America's ongoing civil rights struggle.
One man was convicted in the bombing in 1977, but more than two decades would pass before any other suspects were tried for murder. AP hide caption
Congress Honors Victims Of Infamous Alabama Church Bombing
September 10, 2013 The Congressional Gold Medals for Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley come 50 years after the black girls were killed by a Ku Klux Klan bomb. Just as the federal recognition is long in coming, so was justice.
Sandra Boynton's new children's album and songbook is titled Frog Trouble. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
A Children's Author Wrangles A Cowboy Soundtrack
September 7, 2013 Writer and illustrator Sandra Boynton recruited some of rock and country music's finest to create an eclectic collection of tunes for her new album and songbook, Frog Trouble.
Gulf States Set Plan For Spending Coastal Restoration Funds
August 29, 2013 Federal and state officials voted Thursday on a plan to restore the Gulf Coast. The meeting in New Orleans is intended to set a course for recovery from the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.
Ronald Lewis, a resident of the Lower 9th Ward, says eight years after Hurricane Katrina, rebuilding his neighborhood is a story still in progress. Debbie Elliott/NPR hide caption
Debbie Elliott/NPR
Post-Katrina New Orleans A Story Of Modern Pioneering
August 29, 2013 It's been eight years since the hurricane devastated the city's Lower 9th Ward. Resident Ronald Lewis says rebuilding is a story still in progress. In a shed in his backyard, he's collected New Orleans memorabilia, evidence "of the resilience of the people."
Southern Poverty Law Center President Richard Cohen discusses a federal lawsuit against the Alabama Accountability Act on Monday. Cohen says all students in Alabama can't take advantage of the law. Dave Martin/AP hide caption
Dave Martin/AP
Suit In Alabama Seeks To Stop School Choice Law
August 19, 2013 Parents in some rural Alabama counties are asking a federal court to block a new state law that gives tax breaks to families who transfer out of failing schools. They argue that their children aren't getting a fair shot at a quality education.
American Safari tour guide Tad Pierson stands beside his 1955 pink Cadillac. Visitors to Memphis can get a personalized tour that highlights the city's rich music heritage. Debbie Elliott/NPR hide caption
Nickel Tour: Get To Know Great Tour Guides
The Vintage Cadillac With The Memphis Soundtrack
August 14, 2013 Tad Pierson has made a career out of his love for cars and American music. He says there are "fewer and fewer real-deal places to go and hear the real stuff," but it's his job to find and share it — one carload of listeners at a time.
Three civil rights workers stand guard in front NAACP attorney Arthur Shores' house in Sept. 1963. The house was blasted by dynamite the night before. AP hide caption
Remembering Birmingham's 'Dynamite Hill' Neighborhood
July 6, 2013 Dynamite Hill is a section in Birmingham so nicknamed because Ku Klux Klan members regularly bombed its streets during the Civil Rights era. NAACP attorney Arthur Shores had a home in this middle-class African-American neighborhood.
Racial Slur Puts Paula Deen's Empire At Risk
June 27, 2013 The world's largest retailer Wal-Mart is joining the list of companies severing ties with southern food star Paula Deen. The Savannah, Georgia-based cook and restaurateur has been on the front burner since an admission she used a racial slur in the past.
Paula Deen Makes Tearful Appearance On 'Today' Show
June 26, 2013 Celebrity chef Paula Deen appeared on The Today Show on Tuesday to address the controversy over her past use of racial epithets, among other things.
Shelby County, Ala., attorney Butch Ellis talks to reporters outside of the U.S. Supreme Court in February, when oral arguments were heard in the Voting Rights Act case. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
In Alabama, Voting Decision Seen As Sign Of Progress, Setback
June 25, 2013 In the state where the Supreme Court case got its start, many officials lauded the justices' ruling as an acknowledgement that times have changed. But others are skeptical that enough progress has really been made.
The Salt
Spoken Dish Asks Southerners: What Is Your Food Identity?
June 17, 2013 Food can reveal a lot about a person's history and values. A video history project is collecting the public's food memories — from grandma's cornbread to the favorite restaurants of civil rights giants — as a way to document the rituals of a changing South.
More from Debbie Elliott
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There were also two heavy rainfalls: on the early morning of the 12th; and around 3pm on the 17th, which – though less than an hour – was monsoonal and very thrilling to be out in!
Drying season is at its peak and so mint leaves, rose petals, moringa leaves and curry leaves were collected, shade dried and packed. Some tulsi leaves were also collected, dried and powdered and will be packed into veggie capsules – a good cough remedy. The neem giloy dried stems were ground to a powder in our new mill and then sieved and also packed into capsules.
For our workers this month, there were many 12-hour days, due to some urgent work in the Om Ashram and many litres of tamarind sherbet and mango juice were prepared to aid their hydration. There are no shady trees on the construction sites – especially on the roof! As you may have heard by now, the inauguration of Om Ashram has been scheduled for April 2020, so for the next 10 months there will be a huge burst of energy in order to achieve completion of this Holy Undertaking.
The ornamental area in the workshop garden was weeded by the end of the month and there are still plenty of ornamentals purchased in Sumerpur last year, and some have even produced babies! It would appear that they will survive for another season. Nearby, the eggplant bushes are surviving and producing fruit and the mango trees are looking well, but did not fruit this year.
The final 3 days of the month were off the charts and temperatures reached 47.5 degrees celsius. I was mentally preparing for spending a month in Australia in June and ensuring that all bases were covered before flying out on the 5th. June heat wave predictions look as scary as May and so irrigation has to be thorough. The talab (reservoir) is now 2 metres deep and there is no guarantee of a good monsoon.
Thank you to our small group of eleven people who visited in May and bought a lot of Jadan organic products, and to youngsters Paras and Punam who came and played each scorching afternoon in the shop.
The vegetable plantation in the Big Garden has been an outstanding success story of dedicated hard work and commitment from Deeperamji and his team of workers – even his wife chipped in during weighing time. The cowpea plantation behind the cool room is also looking very promising and is not far away from production. If one can achieve such results in this climate, then anything can be achieved in lower temperatures.
This month, the garden ladies started to cut the sorghum wheat for the calves' evening meal. The growth of this local fodder has been rapid. On the south side of the Shiv Bagh, we removed all of the 2017 papaya trees and the monsoon chilli and baigan plants, and some of this fertile area has been cultivated with lauki and marigolds. We had a small production of red amaranth and tumba in the area.
I look forward to showing you some photos of the Australian native rainforest in the June garden news. In the meantime, the devastatingly hot westerly wind is still roaring during the afternoons and the earth is baking.
The soil gives again and again without asking much
Soothed by the gentle human touch
Love from Jadan Ashram (though I am physically in the Australian rainforest now in Far North Queensland! – no guesses for where my heart resides…)
Puspa Devi
Learn more about the Hospital project
Medical aid and assistance in remote areas of India.
Learn more about the School project
A charitable school established for needy village students
Learn more about the Rainwater harvesting Project
Fresh water supply in drought affected areas.
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The Half-Life of Genius Physicist Raemer Schreiber
Our two-hour film highlights the life and career of Dr. Schreiber with respect and clarity. Raemer, his wife Marge, and young daughter Paula would move to the high-desert of New Mexico where he and other brilliant minds would change the world forever.
Director: Jared Brandon-Flande, John Webb
Actors: Jake Hecla, Richard Rhodes, Roger Meade, Taylor Wilson
Risky Drinking
Are you a risky drinker? Nearly 70% of American adults drink alcohol and nearly 1/3 of them engage in problem drinking at some point in their lives. Produced with The…
RAF at 100 with Ewan and Colin McGregor
To celebrate the centenary of the Royal Air Force, Ewan and Colin McGregor take to the skies in some of the world’s most iconic planes. These are the planes that…
Dirty John, The Dirty Truth
John Meehan created a terrifying trap of seduction, deceit and betrayal for countless victims. The illuminating revelations into his backstory showcase a series of events that flipped switches to create…
Terry Pratchett: Back in Black
A poignant and humorous film telling the story of the hugely popular author of the discworld series of books, in his own words.
Genre: Documentary, Drama, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Kurt Cobain: About a Son
An intimate and moving meditation on the late musician and artist Kurt Cobain, based on more than 25 hours of previously unheard audiotaped interviews conducted with Cobain by noted music…
Stalin – Trotsky: A Battle to Death
For 20 years, theirs was an ideological duel between two visions of Communism; a political duel, a duel for power, and above all, a duel to the death. By having…
Beautiful Losers
Emergency Call – A Murder Mystery
A father of four children gets brutally stabbed several times, with the children present in the family home. During the brutal action, his wife – Anneli Auer – is on…
Queer as Art
Documentary celebrating the LGBTQ contribution to the arts in Britain in the 50 years since decriminalisation. It features interviews with leading figures from right across the arts in Britain, including…
O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?
In 2006, O.J. Simpson sat down for a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred interview. For over a decade, the tapes of that interview were lost – until now.
Genre: Documentary, TV Movie
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Voith Using OpenText ECM Suite to Ensure Security, Privacy and Data Integrity
Voith IT Solutions GmbH
OpenText ECM enables the efficient exchange of information for authorized parties without compromising security policies
At Voith, we use several software technologies from Microsoft, SAP, and OpenText. Only together, can we leverage all of the benefits of this ecosystem that none of these technologies alone would provide.
Christoph Hammerl, Consultant, Voith IT Solutions
Introduce a way to securely store “strictly confidential” documents.
Solution needs to integrate into the standard Windows Client and Microsoft Office
Protect vital information assets from unauthorized access and distribution
OpenText Archive Server
OpenText Content Server
OpenText Document Management
OpenText Enterprise Connect
Strictly confidential documents are protected in secure ECM repository.
The Voith Datasafe project makes use of every security-related feature in the OpenText content lifecycle management solution.
Out-of-the-box solution is easy to use and easy to set up, with very few customizations.
OpenText Enterprise Connect enables users to access Content Server from their desktop. Seamless integration into Windows Explorer, Microsoft Office and Outlook.
About Voith IT Solutions GmbH
With 40,000 employees, about 300 locations across the globe and a turnover of more than 5.6 billion Euros, Voith GmbH is an international leader in the fields of paper, power transmission, hydro power and in the area of industrial services. For more information, visit: www.voith-it-solutions.com
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Home News Reports PM Modi's Ujjwala scheme provides 5 crore LPG connections to the poor, eight months ahead of schedule
PM Modi’s Ujjwala scheme provides 5 crore LPG connections to the poor, eight months ahead of schedule
Ujjwala scheme to provide free LPG connection
The Ujjwala scheme which is considered a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided free LPG connections to 5 crore poor households eight months ahead of schedule, Times of India has reported.
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana which was launched on 1 May 2016, aimed at safeguarding the health of women & children by providing them with cleaner LPG fuel for cooking, thereby replacing polluting fuel sources like wood and coal.
Following the launch and armed with a Rs 8000 crore budget, a target was set to provide free LPG connections to 5 crore poor households by 31 March 2019. These beneficiaries were identified on the basis of the Socio-Economic Caste Consensus (SECC).
Now according to the TOI report, this milestone has been achieved eight months ahead of schedule and in celebration of that, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan would hand over the 5th Crore connection to a selected beneficiary, at an event at the parliament.
The Ujjwala scheme was also in the news when it was hailed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for being instrumental in curbing air pollution.
Now following the early completion of the 5 crore target, the Modi government has set another milestone to provide the free LPG connections to 8 crore poor households by 2020. It has been estimated that out of 24 crore Indian households, 10 crore households still continue to be deprived of LPG connections.
government schemes
pradhan mantri ujjwala yojana
Ujjwala
Modi government 2.0’s first 100 day plan: 167 ‘transformative ideas’ shortlisted to be implemented by October 15th
Modi government 2.0 has shortlisted 167 'transformative ideas' and has set an internal target of 100 days to implement the plan
If Nirmala Sitharaman believes 42.7% tax is “not ideal”, she should reduce it
Abhishek Banerjee - July 13, 2019
This is the time to rollback all those new taxes introduced in the budget. To get those favorable global headlines back.
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Joseph Atherall, MSA Security Exec, Told Black Worker Hairstyle Was 'Ghetto,' Lawsuit Charges
Opposing Views Staff
A top executive at a security firm that has made millions from the City of New York and numerous other corporate and government clients — even training troops in the United Arab Emirates — warned an African-American employee not to wear her hair in braids because they look “ghetto,” according to lawsuit against the company.
The suit filed in Manhattan's U.S. District Court charges that an African American worker in the security company, one of a small number, endured a long series of racial taunts and harassment. When the company’s chief executive and another employee — both former members of the New York Police Department — tried to investigate the allegations, one was fired and one was forced into quitting, the lawsuit claims.
But the chairman of Michael Stapleton Associates, the security company known for its bomb-sniffing dogs that patrol many of New York’s important locales, calls the suit’s allegations “inaccurate and baseless.”
George Harvey said that Katherine Lemire, the company’s former president of investigations and also a former federal prosecutor and later, adviser to New York’s Police Chief Raymond Kelly, was not “subjected to any retaliation” for her attempts to investigate the alleged racial abuse.
Lemire says that she was left no choice but to resign under pressure from the company, while its chief executive, Patrick Timlin who also looked into the charges and reccommended that Harvey step down, was fired outright.
Their investigation was sparked when a company VP, Joseph Atherall (pictured), allegedly made a derogatory comment about the braided hairstyle worn by many African American women, to human resources employee Chanissa Green.
Green was simply reading a magazine depicting women with the braided hair when Atherall looked over her shoulder and according to the lawsuit, remarked, “When someone like me … sees someone with a style like that, we think ghetto — not professional.”
Atherall followed up his comment by telling Green, “I'll tell you what's beautiful: my daughter, with blond hair and blue eyes,” according to the lawsuit.
Green, who still works at the company, told Timlin and Lemire that she was subject to a long history of similarly racist comments over the years. At one point she was told, “You know what the deal is, Rosa Parks, you go to the back of the line.”
Another employee told her, “My grandfather owned your grandfather,” and when she walked into a room on one occasion, an employee remarked “we’re in the ‘hood now.”
She was also subject to repeated derogatory and racially-tinged comments about her hair, her family and her job, the suit charges.
Lemire’s suit asks for reforms within MSA to prevent such abuse, as well as back pay and monetary damages.
SOURCES: New York Times, New York Daily News, MSA Security
Joseph AtherallPatrick TimlinRacial HarassmentMSA SecurityKatherine Lemire
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Fired National Security Official Jofi Joseph May Have Run Second Anonymous Twitter Account About Sex, Prostitution
Google Execs Convicted in Italy
Amazon Workers' Lawsuit Advances To U.S. Supreme Court
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Home Supplements Nootropics Oxiracetam: Memory Boosting Nootropic
Oxiracetam: Memory Boosting Nootropic
Oxiracetam is a member of the Racetam family and also one of the oldest and most respected Nootropics in the world. Research suggests this compound may one day help treat cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s as well as play a role in helping to treat seizures. As a Nootropic, it’s often taken as a study aid for its ability to boost memory, learning, and overall cognitive performance.
Oxiracetam is a synthetic Nootropic that is not found naturally in nature or food and is water soluble. A typical Oxiracetam dosage ranges from 300-750mg although there are many accounts of those taking doses greater than 1g without unpleasant side effects. There isn’t a lot of clinical data to describe oxiracetam’s effect on the human mind. There have been some smaller studies that suggest the neuroprotective benefits of oxiracetam may be useful in treating cognitive disease such as Alzheimer’s (R)(R).
Oxiracetam does not have FDA approval as a dietary ingredient nor is it approved as a pharmaceutical medicine. It can be purchased from some retailers, usually in powdered form, and exists in a bit of a grey area of legality. For US Military, it falls within the scope of being not FDA-approved as a dietary ingredient and is banned from use by service men and women (R).
Common Experiences
Oxiracetam is thought to act on the acetylcholine and cholinergic pathways of the brain (R). This provides a stimulating effect that isn’t typically mood-affective like other racetams like Aniracetam. Results vary, but Oxiracetam is generally regarded as being able to offer many benefits to those suffering from dementia and typically over the age of 65.
Oxiracetam is regarded as being a memory-enhancing compound, especially with regards to long-term memory formation and the absorption of new information (R). This is common among many other Racetams and shouldn’t be considered characteristic of just oxiracetam.
Many users of oxiracetam report it as a less mood-affective compound that increases attention span, improves the speed at which one is able to process information, and improves overall learning ability. For these reasons, Oxiracetam is often preferred by many academic users in place of more extreme alternatives such as Adderal, Vyvanse, and Ritalin (R).
Oxiracetam vs Aniracetam
Oxiracetam and Aniracetam are both known to exhibit stronger overall effects than Piracetam. These two are regarded as two of the most popular Racetam Nootropics. Oxiracetam is known to be more stimulating than Aniracetam and less mood-affective. Oxiracetam is generally taken by people who have issues responding to Piracetam or simply want more pronounced effects. Oxiracetam can be characterized as stimulating mental energy with the risk of creating a slightly anxious ‘edge’ in some cases. Aniracetam is a fat-soluble compound and must be taken with fats, or with a meal, to be properly absorbed by the body. Oxiracetam is water soluble and can easily be administered between meals and is easily mixable in a glass of water.
Oxiracetam vs Piracetam
Oxiracetam is very similar to Piracetam and is generally thought simply to be a stronger version. Oxiracetam experiences tend to be more suited to the analysis and learning of new technical information. Piracetam is regarded as being more psychoactive and able to increase sensory perception, sociability, and may affect the way one hears sounds (R). Oxiracetam and Piracetam both offer benefits to overall cognitive functions and have both demonstrated promise in the healing of damaged brain tissues from injury, stroke, or degeneration. Oxiracetam seems preferred for application such as studying and learning new information while Piracetam seems to be preferred for the use in social settings and more recreationally.
Oxiracetam Dosage
As with nearly all Nootropic compounds, recommended dosages vary largely and are largely individual dependent, as well as dependent on individual goals. The typical dosage of Oxiracetam is recommended by most compound retailers as somewhere in the 750mg to 1000mg twice a day range. In cases such as these, it’s often best to look to reported dosages used in clinical settings, which offer non-subjective usage and averages across multiple people. The most commonly-seen clinical dose given seems to be 800mg, seen used in several studies investigating the effects and benefits of Oxiracetam in human trials (R)(R)(R).
Oxiracetam Side Effects
Oxiracetam is a non-toxic, non-food compound, and is therefore technically not considered a supplement in the eyes of the FDA. It’s regarded as being a safe compound and can be taken in fairly high and fairly wide-ranging dosages. Side effects are only reported by users that take somewhat ‘heroic’ doses of more than 3-4 grams per day. In these types of circumstances, Oxiracetam can be known to cause headaches, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety, and nausea. These side effects are rare and are generally reported as being mild when experienced (R).
Oxiracetam is among the best nootropic compounds in the world and has a long history of use as a cognitive enhancing compound. Clinical research on this compound is mostly focused on its application in helping delay cognitive decline, repair damaged brain tissue, and to treat seizures. Currently, there are no FDA approvals for such treatment and much of the research comes from small sample sizes and animal testing.
Oxiracetam dosages tend to range anywhere from 500mg to 3grams per day, taken without food. We feel it’s important to note that there are no standard dosages for this compound. Doses at the upper limit of this range have produced little or no side effects in clinical settings characterizing Oxiracetam as a generally safe to try compound.
Oxiracetam is safe, well-regarded among seasoned Nootropics enthusiasts, but still not accepted by the FDA. This should be of special note to men and women serving in the US military since it earns Oxiracetam a spot on the Department of Defense’s banned substances list. It’s unlikely a servicemember would ever be tested for this compound directly.
Oxiracetam is similar to other Racetam compounds in its ability to enhance learning, memory, and overall cognitive performance. We feel it’s an important compound for any Nootropic enthusiast to keep on their radar. It’s often taken in place of Piracetam for its increased potency and lack of mood-affective characteristics. Overall, we feel this compound demonstrates encouraging potential as a neuroprotective compound and may serve well as a study aid with less vicious side effects than Adderall, Vyvanse, or similar stimulants commonly used.
If you enjoyed this article, let us know by using the rating box below.
Reader Rating242 Votes4.7
This article was last updated on November 18, 2018
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