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The dataset generation failed
Error code: DatasetGenerationError
Exception: ArrowInvalid
Message: JSON parse error: Missing a closing quotation mark in string. in row 140
Traceback: Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/packaged_modules/json/json.py", line 153, in _generate_tables
df = pd.read_json(f, dtype_backend="pyarrow")
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/pandas/io/json/_json.py", line 815, in read_json
return json_reader.read()
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/pandas/io/json/_json.py", line 1025, in read
obj = self._get_object_parser(self.data)
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/pandas/io/json/_json.py", line 1051, in _get_object_parser
obj = FrameParser(json, **kwargs).parse()
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/pandas/io/json/_json.py", line 1187, in parse
self._parse()
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/pandas/io/json/_json.py", line 1403, in _parse
ujson_loads(json, precise_float=self.precise_float), dtype=None
ValueError: Trailing data
During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/builder.py", line 1997, in _prepare_split_single
for _, table in generator:
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/packaged_modules/json/json.py", line 156, in _generate_tables
raise e
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/packaged_modules/json/json.py", line 130, in _generate_tables
pa_table = paj.read_json(
File "pyarrow/_json.pyx", line 308, in pyarrow._json.read_json
File "pyarrow/error.pxi", line 154, in pyarrow.lib.pyarrow_internal_check_status
File "pyarrow/error.pxi", line 91, in pyarrow.lib.check_status
pyarrow.lib.ArrowInvalid: JSON parse error: Missing a closing quotation mark in string. in row 140
The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/src/services/worker/src/worker/job_runners/config/parquet_and_info.py", line 1529, in compute_config_parquet_and_info_response
parquet_operations = convert_to_parquet(builder)
File "/src/services/worker/src/worker/job_runners/config/parquet_and_info.py", line 1154, in convert_to_parquet
builder.download_and_prepare(
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/builder.py", line 1029, in download_and_prepare
self._download_and_prepare(
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/builder.py", line 1124, in _download_and_prepare
self._prepare_split(split_generator, **prepare_split_kwargs)
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/builder.py", line 1884, in _prepare_split
for job_id, done, content in self._prepare_split_single(
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/builder.py", line 2040, in _prepare_split_single
raise DatasetGenerationError("An error occurred while generating the dataset") from e
datasets.exceptions.DatasetGenerationError: An error occurred while generating the datasetNeed help to make the dataset viewer work? Make sure to review how to configure the dataset viewer, and open a discussion for direct support.
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February 16, 2023 in Meetings (updated on January 17, 2023 )
Our speaker today will be Mark Nielsen who is the Assistant Director for Transportation Planning and Programming. Mark will be giving us an update on the work on the Derby-Shelton Bridge, the Main Street/Rt.34 project in Derby, and also the construction of a fishing pier along the Housatonic River on O’Sullivan’s Island.
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CJ-3Bs on Display in Europe
by Derek Redmond
This is an interesting collection of photographs, new and old, showing Jeeps displayed in dealer showrooms, amusement parks, trade shows and other gatherings. I seem to find this kind of photo of CJ-3Bs more often from Europe than from North America, where the 3B has usually been overshadowed by other models (see for example The Gold Jeeps of 1961.)
Rotterdam, circa 1955
Here's an amazing, high resolution print found by Jan Hogendoorn, of an impressive display in the showroom at the NEKAF (Netherlands Kaiser-Frazier) factory in Rotterdam. Too bad we can't see what the color schemes on these Jeeps were!
The showroom had a multimedia show too; in the large copy of the photo you can clearly see the 16mm film projector in the background, aimed at the rear projection screen on the left. I wonder what film was being shown!
Also in the background is a display of Simca vehicles, which were assembled in the same plant.
On the wall to the right in the picture above, is mounted a series of photographs including this one, showing thirteen CJ-3Bs lined up outside the Rotterdam plant, painted black with red wheels for the Hague Police. This image is from late 1954, so that would place the above photo slightly later.
Because of their paint scheme, I couldn't resist colorizing another photo of this lineup, for Police Jeeps of The Hague on CJ3B.info.
Lunch date with a CJ-3B! When Roseanna and I were in Barcelona in 2016, Josep Bordas took us to see this Spanish-built EBRO Bravo (see Jeeps Made in Spain) on display in the "Club des Aventurers" restaurant, at the amusement park on Tibidabo mountain overlooking the city.
Tibidabo is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. Opened in 1901, it is accessible via a winding road or by taking a tram and a funicular railway. The trip is worth it just for the view of Barcelona and the Mediterranean (see the large copy of the photo) from the 1680 ft. summit, but there are also 25 rides and other attractions. Seen here is the "Talaia", built in 1921, which lifts you another 125 feet up.
Josep and I posed for a photo in front of the Club des Aventurers restaurant, and behind it the Collserola communications tower built for the 1992 Olympics, with an observation deck on its tenth floor.
The Jeep is one of a number of artifacts in the restaurant evoking travel adventures, including a beautiful wooden canoe.
In the back of the Bravo is a load of sacks labelled "Product of Colombia" which represent coffee beans (see The Path of the Jeep on CJ3B.info.)
The airplane on the restaurant's sign (above) is the Red Airplane ride at Tibidabo, which started operating in 1928 (the year of Richard Byrd's flight to the South Pole) and has been flying the same circular route over Barcelona ever since. One of the many attractions of this beautiful city.
See also a nice nighttime view of Tibidabo (240K JPEG), courtesy of tibidabo.cat under CC.
Lisbon, c. 1963
For the August 2016 CJ3B.info cover illustration, I thought I would have a little fun with this nice photo Federico Cavedo found of a CJ-3B and trailer in the showroom of a large import dealership in Lisbon, Portugal in the early 1960s. In the original black & white photo (200K JPEG) it was clear that the Jeep had not been painted in the U.S., because the windshield frame was not black, and the paint didn't really look like the very dark or very light colors Willys typically painted CJ-3Bs. So I assumed it was painted after assembly in Europe, probably in Spain.
I had to decide what color to make it when I colorized the photo. Orange and yellow were popular Jeep colors in Spain, and since the grey in the photo was obviously not light enough to be yellow, I decided to go with orange. It would be an attention-grabber.
Pine trees were brought into the usually pristine showroom of C. Santos Lda. and the floor was strewn with pine needles, to create an offroad setting for the Willys Jeeps. Other photos taken in the showroom between 1961 and 1963 would suggest that this photo dates from that time period.
The C. Santos showroom at the time was on Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon. It's obvious from the signs on the roof that Mercedes rather than Willys was the prestige line on sale. In fact Willys doesn't even seem to rate a sign. Massey Ferguson tractors are advertised, and if you look closely in the large version of the photo (400K JPEG), you can see a Studebaker sign right above the main entrance.
Cars on the street seem to mainly be very small, including some Volkswagen Beetles, which were also popular in North America by 1963 (see Christmas 1963 on CJ3B.info.)
A more typical display in the showroom, with no trees, is this one for the 1963 Lark from Studebaker, who were about to go out of business. See also the 1961 Mercedes 190 (140K JPEG).
The photos are courtesy of Restos de Colecção.
Norway, 1953
Here's a very different display, at an outdoor trade show in Hedmark, Norway in 1953. Norsk Scania-Vabis is showing Hanomag tractors built in Hanover, Germany, as well as several CJ-3Bs. The sign in Norwegian reads, "Willys Universal Jeepsolves transport problems in foresting and farming. The Jeep is both car and tractor, and also an engine to power working tools and accessories."
I wish we had a closer photo, because an examination of the large copy (220K JPEG) of this one reveals they are apparently set up to demonstrate hydraulic equipment including a chainsaw, running off the CJ-3B. Shades of John Ittel's demo of his Von Ruden chainsaw in 2016 at the Willys Rally and Spring Willys Reunion!
There is also a large piece of machinery in the back of the Jeep -- not sure what that is.
Norsk Scania-Vabis was the Norwegian subsidiary of the Swedish truck manufacturer, and in addition to several 3B's and a Willys pickup, they had a Scania-Vabis truck and perhaps a British-built Dodge truck on hand.
See also another angle (120K JPEG) of the whole display. The photos were taken by Erling Syringa, courtesy Digitalt Museum under CC license.
This undated ad for Norsk Scania-Vabis' truck and Jeep line (right) shows vehicles similar to those on hand at the trade fair in Hedmark.
Colin Peabody has pointed out that the banner in the photos has the Kaiser "K" logo, as well as the Willys-Overland and Scania-Vabis logos, so the company must also have been an importer of Kaiser automobiles. But that would soon end, when Kaiser ceased car production in 1955. (See What Henry Kaiser Gave Upto Make Jeeps on CJ3B.info.)
Interestingly, Daimler-Benz claimed that the three-pointed Scania-Vabis logo was too similar to their three-pointed star. They finally won the case in 1968, and the Scania logo was changed (Wikipedia).
Another former CJ3B.info cover photo, this picture was taken at the 33rd Belgian Agricultural Show in Brussels, 1953. Again the Jeep was apparenty painted in Europe, and this one might be yellow.
Features suggesting local assembly, are the Michelin tires and the marker lamps on the fenders. The bumper weight (actually a CJ-2A weight) and the absence of a tailgate, suggest the Jeep was set up for operating farm equipment from a rear 3-point hitch.
See more details in CJ-3Bs Built in Belgium
Geneva, 1961
The Kaiser display at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland concentrated on practicality. An interesting detail is the presence of chaff screens on the front of both the CJ-3B and the diesel CJ-5 on display.
The photo is found in Bill Munro's book Jeep: From Bantam to Wrangler .
Camp Jeep, 2000
Among the Jeeps on display at European Camp Jeep 2000 were several belonging to Jean-Francois Lavie, including his Rover V8-powered CJ-3B. The event was held in southern France, close to the Ardeche Canyon and not far from the location of the famous Trophee Cevenol off-road rally.
Jean-Francois says, "My home village is located nearby and when in France I used to do the Trophee Cevenol with my Hotchkiss and then this CJ-3B that I built for that particular trial. When I first did it in 1990 we were a few flatfenders, but when I did the last one I was alone."
The Willys wagon and the CJ-7 on display also belong to Jean-Francois, who also still owns his first Jeep, a French-built Hotchkiss M201 (60K JPEG). The M201 was a 24-volt version of the Willys MB, built for the French Army from 1955 to 1967 (see Jeeps in France on CJ3B.info.)
Mahindras in the UK, 2004
I'm guessing that maybe the only place in North America where you ever saw this many CJ-3Bs in one place was at the factory in Toledo. This is a July 2004 rally of Mahindra Jeep owners held near Warwick, England.
Keith King writes from the UK, "We now have a thriving UK Jeep community going to help keep the Jeeps from disappearing from public view -- it's The Mahindra Register. Here's a picture of the line-up from the 2004 Rally."
Thanks to Josep Bordas, Federico Cavedo, Jan Hogendoorn, Leif Hellström and Jeff Lavie. -- Derek Redmond
See also Jeep-Heep-Heep in the Swiss Alps.
Return to the Index of Unusual Photos on CJ3B.info.
Last updated 2 January 2020 by Derek Redmond redmond@cj3b.info
https://cj3b.info/Finds/FindsEurope.html
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« Why a painting is as good as a photo on a passport
Prank Calls and Moral Luck »
Sui generis, or generic gay? Pardoning Alan Turing
Published December 17, 2012 | By Anders Sandberg
There is a new call for a pardon of Alan Turing, who in1952 was convicted of homosexuality. An earlier petition for a pardon was declined by the UK government (he got an apology instead 2009). Lord McNally stated in the House of Lords that:
“A posthumous pardon was not considered appropriate as Alan Turing was properly convicted of what at the time was a criminal offence. He would have known that his offence was against the law and that he would be prosecuted.
It is tragic that Alan Turing was convicted of an offence which now seems both cruel and absurd – particularly poignant given his outstanding contribution to the war effort. However, the law at the time required a prosecution and, as such, long-standing policy has been to accept that such convictions took place and, rather than trying to alter the historical context and to put right what cannot be put right, ensure instead that we never again return to those times”.
However, the eminent signatories of the new call counter by arguing:
“To those who seek to block attempts to secure a pardon with the argument that this would set a precedent, we would answer that Turing’s achievements are sui generis.”
Does that make moral sense?
Martin Robbins wonders in The Guardian whether we have the rights to pardon Turing. First, why just Turing? Thousands of others have suffered under the same unjust law. Pardoning just Turing and not Oscar Wilde or the many, many unknowns seem unjust. Second, it is unclear what it would actually achieve – it will not help him, his legacy is unquestioned, and it does not seem to advance the cause of equality. And third, it is not clear who should be doing the pardoning: maybe it is Turing who should forgive the government.
Robbins’ piece mixes up forgiving with pardoning (although he rightly points out that that confusion already occurs in the recent letter, so it is not his fault): pardoning is more of a legal matter than a moral matter. In the UK only the government can pardon, and the real question is whether they should on moral grounds.
A pardon works by forgiving a convicted person of a crime and cancelling the penalty. This may or may not expunge blame or the memory of the crime; in US law Justice Field is often quoted:
“A pardon reaches both the punishment prescribed for the offence and the guilt of the offender; and when the pardon is full, it releases the punishment and blots out of existence the guilt, so that in the eye of the law the offender is as innocent as if he had never committed the offence.”
but in UK law it appears that the crime still remains. It is also policy “to only grant pardons to those who are considered “morally” innocent of the offence, as opposed to those who may have been wrongly convicted by a misapplication of the law”. So the government position is fairly understandable.
The argument that Turing, being sui generis (war hero, father of computer science, and so on) should be pardoned as an exception also neatly runs into a classic debate about the morality of even having pardoning. If we have rule of law, how can certain people be forgiven their crimes? Either the law applies consistently without recourse to arbitrary judgement of some people, or it does not. Pardons can of course be used to fix disproportionate sentencing or add a human touch to the legal system, but they can just as well be used by the powerful to bias the system. This may be one reason the government is loath to change its policy: once you start, it is hard to stop.
The problem here is that arguing in favour of a pardon from the extreme specialness of Turing makes things extra arbitrary. It all hinges on him as a person, not the nature of the crime or the prosecution. Is Oscar Wilde extraordinary enough to also get a pardon? What should a genius like Stephen Fry be allowed to get away with in the future?
Robbins’ second point might actually be the reason a pardon could make moral (if not legal) sense. A pardon would not help Turing in any way (not even posthumously; martyrs’ halos are bright) but might indeed be seen as an important social and moral signal. If people would interpret it as a firm statement against oppression of homosexuals in any time or place, it would do some good. But that is a big if: it seems likely any pardon would be more linked with the individual awesome person Turing than the mistreated homosexual.
In criminal justice there are two goals: justice as fairness (punishment must be deserved and proportionate) and justice as restoration (repair of the harm to victims and society and the reintegration of offenders). Pardons can be a way of reconciling these. In the case where the government punishes someone undeservedly and disproportionate it can try to restore things by restitution, or when not possible, various forms of apologies or pardon. As noted by Charles L. Griswold’s essay on forgiveness, political apologies are done by groups, institutions, and “corresponding notions of moral responsibility and agency”. In the case of Turing the only kind of apology or pardon that would make sense would be of this kind. Often, they become tiresome jockeying for political goodwill rather than anything similar to institutional regret.
One way for the government to actually show that it, on an institutional level, was sorry (in whatever sense an institution can be sorry) would be to perform a non-trivial act restitution. Rather than saying “never again” it should be implementing some actual measure reducing the likelihood of future undeserved or disproportionate treatment of homosexuals. Maybe gay marriage is a good start.
Posted in Anders Sandberg's Posts, Crime, Ethics | Tagged clemency, gay rights, homosexuality, Justice, law, pardon, restitution, Turing
3 Responses to Sui generis, or generic gay? Pardoning Alan Turing
Regina Rini says:
My inclination is to agree that a sui generis pardon for Turing is unjust to all those prosecuted for similar (nominal) crimes. But I can see one way of supporting the sui generis argument. Turing is a special case not just because he did something fantastic — lots of people (e.g. Oscar Wilde) did fantastic things. Rather, in the war effort Turing did something fantastic for the government of Britain. And that same government turned around and persecuted him. So, it might be argued, the government wronged Turing in two ways. First, in the way it wronged everyone persecuted for their sexuality: by punishing him for something that did not deserve punishment. And second, by displaying abominable ingratitude. Turing helped save the British state from Hitler’s regime. Presumably he was owed something good in return — perhaps, at minimum, discretionary application of a law that even then was understood to be problematic. So, in this sense, Turing really is special. Not simply because he did something great, but because he did something great for the British government. A Turing-specific pardon would then be a way of acknowledging the government’s particular failure, its massive ingratitude.
Anyway, that’s an argument. I don’t think it’s completely convincing, but it at least makes clear a way in which Turing’s case really is sui generis.
Incidentally, a genuine question: is there anything in the law that would prevent the government from issuing a blanket pardon to everyone convicted under that statute?
Anders Sandberg says:
I think it is the policy of only granting pardons “to those who are considered “morally” innocent of the offence, as opposed to those who may have been wrongly convicted by a misapplication of the law”. As Lord McNally said, there were never any question in Turing’s case (and presumably in a lot of the others) that he knew what the law was and knowingly broke it. So unless the government decided that they could not avoid breaking the law (a rather insulting retroactive interpretation) it would be hard to do a pardon of the entire group under the present policy.
While pardoning an entire group from a past unjust law makes more sense than pardoning an individual, it seems that the general arbitrariness of pardons still remain: why just that mistreated group, when there have been so many other unjust and now repealed laws like the anti-Catholic acts?
Timothy Murphy says:
Alan Turing’s status only seems to grow over time. Turing was convicted in 1952 for having sex with a male. This kind of prosecution was permissible in the United States until 2003. In the UK, by comparison, the Wolfenden Report called for the decriminalization of this kind of ‘crime’ in 1957, just 5 short years after Turing’s conviction.
Some commentators want a pardon for Turing, but others argue that Turing knew at the time of his acts that they were subject to criminal prosecution. Namely, everybody at the time knew the stakes, so there’s no re-writing of history.
One of the quirks here is that Turing’s advocates try to smuggle in a pardon for him, on the grounds that his accomplishments during WW II were ‘sui generis.’ The idea here is that his accomplishments were so outstanding that no one else could come forward and claim the same pardon.
This strategy fails on moral grounds. For example, why should someone be pardoned following a conviction simply because he or she makes contributions elsewhere? Or, why should someone have to offer major contributions to be pardoned for a crime that vanishes from the books altogether a bit later? It seems to me that we’re on the wrong track when we decide retrospectively that someone did or didn’t deserve a conviction on the basis of overall lifetime achievements.
If not a pardon, then, how about an annulment? What about annulling Turing’s conviction on the grounds that it was never properly within the government’s power to prosecute? This kind of annulment could, moreover, be extended to anyone convicted of the same offense, so there would be no question of favoritism: anyone convicted under sodomy statutes would enjoy the benefit, without having to be a National Hero. Britain only began dismantling its sodomy statute in 1967, so there may still be people still living whose lives were deformed by these convictions. I know that the law thinks in terms of guilt, conviction, and pardons as necessary. But it seems to me that an annulment would be an equitable way to respond to all those people who were convicted on these grounds, without having to stand head and shoulders above one’s peers.
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bucharest.ieglass.eu
Architecture as a socio-cultural practice for sustainability
The first SHARE International Architecture and Engineering Forum edition in Bucharest is scheduled for 21-22 March 2017. Here we will have the honor to host Mrs. Sheila Sri Prakash as the special guest of the event.
One of the first Indian females to establish her own practice Shilpa Architects in Chennai in 1979, she is now a world-renowned personality, a global leader in sustainability in architecture promoting an environmental-friendly design and sociologically sensitive planning.
Having the rich Indian context as her background, she has founded the field of Spaciology researching how space design and planning influences society, thus creating a link between how we understand and practice architecture and how we develop as human beings in a global world. During her membership in the Global Agenda Council for Design Innovation at the World Economic Forum, she formulated the Reciprocal Design Index – a sustainability matrix linking the parameters and metrics of sustainable design in terms of environmental, sociologic and economic impact. Counterpointing this achievement, she launched the Reciprocity Wave – an artistic movement which draws attention to urgent social and environmental issues – at public places in Chennai (Nageswara Rao Park) and Banglaore (Cubbon Park).
“It’s our effort to encourage young people to embrace a sustainable behaviour through the medium of art, design and sculpture. They created art works and sculptures from trash cans, bottles and dry leaves. The exercise was such an eye-opener to the visitors at the park. More such events are being planned.”
Her experience for 35 years in design pays off in The Muse, the global design studio of her firm Shilpa Architects Planners Designers. “Space can make or mar the quality of life. Indo-centric design evolves from an empirical understanding of our culture, family values and lifestyle,” she says. “Sensitivity to local ethos is crucial in designing spaces that people respond to. Vernacular building techniques, local materials and the work of traditional skilled artisans need to be inventively integrated with modern design and construction technology without making a building look like a pastiche of the past.”
She has been invited as a keynote speaker at Bloomberg’s Brainstorm Green Conference and Global Green Summit in Singapore, the Milan Design Summit, the Kuala Lumpur Design Forum, American Institute of Architects Tokyo Chapter, and 361 Degrees in Mumbai. Upon invitation from The Honorable Prime Minister David Cameron of the UK, she led efforts to enhance the sustainability of the Infrastructure at the 2012 London Olympics. She chaired a panel of global experts to make recommendations to the UN’s Rio+20 Summit in Brazil.
She was conferred the Honorable Architect award by The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA). She was named to the 50 most influential names in Architecture and Design in 2015 by Architectural Digest for having “built a formidable legacy” and an “inspirational practice that designs societies and not merely buildings or cities”. She has been named as one of the “100 Most Influential” people in Architecture in the World today by the Italian design journal – Il Giornale dell’Architettura (Journal of Architecture).
She has been a performing artist, bharathantyam dancer, musician, sculptor and is a passionate patron of the Arts. Dance has been instrumental in Sheila’s approach to architecture, being trained in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi traditional indian dances and having performed them before becoming an architect. Architecture and dance are both relying on lines, rhythm and harmony within a space. “As a dancer, I was trained to imagine spaces in my mind. The rhythm and repetition of movements helps me conjure up proportions within a space. Dance helps me visualise a space before it takes tangible form.”
Sheila has a B.Arch from the Anna University School of Architecture and Planning and also attended the Executive Education Program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. “I take my role as an architect seriously because my thoughts and actions are bound to have a lasting impact on people, society and the planet. What I’m striving to achieve is holistic sustainability through design.”
Named to the 50 most influential names in Architecture and Design in 2015 by Architectural Digest and listed among a category of “Reinventors” for having “built a formidable legacy” and an “inspirational practice that designs societies and not merely buildings or cities”
Named as one of the “100 Most Influential” people in Architecture in the World today by the Italian design journal – Il Giornale dell’Architettura (Journal of Architecture)
The Culture Trip, a UK based website has named Architect Sheila as one of The 9 Best Indian Architects.
Member of the Board of Studies in the Faculty of Architecture & Planning of Anna University, Chennai for a tenure of three years
Member of the Network of Global Agenda Council on Design Innovation of the World Economic Forum for 2011-12. Member of The Network of Global Agenda Council on Role of Arts in Society of the World Economic Forum for 2012-13.
Sheila Sri Prakash is going to attend the SHARE Forum in Bucharest on 21-22 March 2017 as a special guest, giving her precious insight on design and planning.
See more at: http://shilpaarchitects.com, thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/space-odyssey/article5480033.ece, http://www.wadeindia.com/sheila-sri-prakash
Light, material and space in Luke Lowing’s design philosophy
INGLASS 2017 BROCHURE
New Cities challenges and urban development
Case study on mirror houses by Peter Pichler, Zaha Hadid’s student
Esma Sultan Palace, from ruins to multi-purpose event space
Sky gardens on a super tall building, Master Class at INGLASS Bucharest
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Home › Tech › Buyer's Guide › Radar Detectors Laws & Regulations
Radar Detectors Laws & Regulations
Buyer's Guide Posted on —by Gadget 0
We all know that most of the police force in the country uses a speed gun to measure if motorists are moving faster that what is allowed by the current speed limits in our roads and highways. And it is also common knowledge for both the motorists and the police that there are devices that detect and jams these police radar speed guns to prevent being caught for speeding.
Radar detector and legal issues
Now the question that goes to everyone’s mind is that are such devices legal in first place? Because a product is popular doesn’t mean that it is legal. In reality, however, possession and use of such radar detector devices are tolerated in some states in the US and in some countries in the world. But still there are a number of places where radar detectors are illegal and anyone captured possessing one can be subjected to fines or confiscation of the device or both.
In the United States, the use of radar detectors is prohibited in the Commonwealth of Virginia where specific laws ban their use and possession in the vehicle. The same holds true in the District of Columbia where the laws to the ban came in effect in 1995.
In Illinois, radar detectors are only regulated in commercial vehicles of over 26,001 pounds while in New York motor vehicles over 18,000 pounds and any other commercial motor vehicles over 10,000 pounds are banned from having any kind of radar detectors. But in the states of Utah, California, Oklahoma, Colorado and Nebraska the use of radar jamming devices are outright illegal.
Interestingly, vehicles inside US military bases are not impounded and users fined if they have been found to be owners of radar detectors. However, using them is a different matter and the said act is illegal inside any US military bases.
Radar detector in USA
Other states that prohibit the use of radar detectors include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Outside the United States, radar detectors are also considered illegal in countries like Australia where basically all states besides Western Australia bans the sale, purchase or possession of radar detectors.
Radar detector in Canada
In Canada these devices are illegal in Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories. While in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan the use of the devices are not banned at all.
Radar detector in other Countries
Moreover, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and United Kingdom.
Canon EOS 1-D Mark III
Best Radar Detector
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Directive Principles of State Policy of India
An important feature of the constitution is the Directive Principles of State Policy. Although the Directive Principles are asserted to be "fundamental in the governance of the country," and it is the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws. The Directive Principles may be said to contain the philosophy of the constitution. The Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Part IV, Articles 36-51 of the Indian constitution constitute the most interesting and enchanting part of the constitution.
As the very term “Directives” indicate, the Directive principles are broad directives given to the state in accordance with which the legislative and executive powers of the state The idea of directives being included in the constitution was borrowed from the constitution of Ireland.
Directive ptinciples are not enforceable through courts. Main aim of Directive ptinciples is to provide social and economic base of a genuine democracy. They were inculcated in our Constitution in order to provide economic justice and also to avoid concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. Therefore, no government can afford to ignore them. They are infact, the directives to the future governments to incorporate them in the decisions and policies to be formulated by them.
Directive Principles enshrines the fundamentals for the realisation of which the state in India stands. They guide the path which will lead the people of India to achieve the noble ideas which the Preamble of the constitution proclaims: Justice, Liberty and Fraternity.
Some Inportant Directive Principles :
Article 39 - Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State.
The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing –
that the citizen, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood;
that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good;
that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment;
that there is equal pay for equal work for both men and women;
that the health and strength of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength;
that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.
Article 39A - Equal justice and free legal aid.
The State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.
Article 40 - Organisation of village panchayats.
The State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.
Article 41 - Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases
The State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want.
Article 42 - Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief
The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.
Article 43 - Living wage, etc., for workers
The State shall endeavor to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organisation or in any other way, to all workers agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, a living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas.The Constitution provides that every community can run its own institutions to preserve its own culture and language. The minorities are also given the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their own.
Article 43A - Participation of workers in management of industries
The State shall take steps, by suitable legislation or in any other way, to secure the participation of workers in the management of undertakings, establishments or other organisation engaged in any industry.
Article 44 - Uniform civil code for the citizen
The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.
Article 45 - Provision for free and compulsory education for children.
The State shall endeavor to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years.
Article 46 - Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.
The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
Article 47 - Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health.
The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purpose of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.
Article 48 - Organization of agriculture and animal husbandry.
The State shall endeavour to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.
Article 48A - Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life.
The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country.
Article 49 - Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance.
It shall be the obligation of the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest, declared by or under law made by Parliament to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export, as the case may be.
Article 50 - Separation of judiciary from executive.
The State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State.
Article 51 - Promotion of international peace and security.
promote international peace and security;
maintain just and honourable relations between nations;
foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings of organised people with one another; and
encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
The directive principles are like instruments of instructions which
were issued to the Governor in General and Governors of colonies and to those of India by the British Government under the 1935 Act under the Draft Constitution. It is proposed to issue such instructions to the president and governors. The text of these instruments of the instructions shall be found in scheduled IV to the Constitution of India. What are called directive principles is that they are instructions to the Legislature and the Executive. Such
a thing is, to my mind, to be welcomed.
- B. R. Ambedkar
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Historical Sites of Schubert
Visiting Schubert
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) is the only major composer of the 18th and 19th centuries who was actually born in Vienna. The city operates two museums dedicated to him: one where he was born and the other where he died. Additionally, there are numerous historical buildings and monuments around Vienna the commemorate Schubert’s life there.
Some Historical Schubert Sites in Vienna
Birth House Museum. Schubert was born in the little kitchen (left) in an house on Nussdorferstrasse. His father used the small apartment as a school house – a very crowded schoolhouse! Today, the museum includes the composer’s piano, glasses, guitar, other memorabilia, and a great collection of paintings of him and other scenes relating to his life.
Apartment (Museum) where Schubert died. Schubert stayed with his brother in this newly built apartment. It was very cold and musty, and these conditions served to harm the already weak Schubert. The museum has some interesting items from the end of the composer’s life, including some extremely touching letters.
Original Grave. After his death, Schubert was buried next to Beethoven in what is today called “Schubert Park”, just down Währingerstrasse from the Volksoper. In the 1880’s, the remains of both composers were moved to the newly opened Central Cemetery.
Grave in Central Cemetery in Vienna. Schubert’s final resting place is in the section of the cemetery dedicated to the great composers: Beethoven, J. Strauss, Brahms, and others. His tomb was designed by Theophil Hansen, the architect who designed the Musikverein and Parliament. You can see similarities of Greek design with the arched roof.
Schubert Garage. Schubert and his family lived here from 1801 to 1818. Today, auto mechanics work there, but continue the reverence to the composer. The building is called the “Schubert Garage”.
Liechtental Church. Schubert’s childhood church, just a couple of blocks from his birth house and “Schubert Garage” house. His parents were married here, and the great composer was baptized here. Schubert was organist here for ten years, and this is where two of his masses were premiered.
Schubert Statue in Stadtpark. One of the nicer statues of the composer is in Vienna’s Stadt Park, not too far from the the famous golden statue of Johann Strauss, Jr., the “Waltz King”.
Three Maidens House. Near Beethoven’s Pasqualatihaus Museum on Molker Bastei, is this house that has been named the “Three Maidens House”. There is a story that Schubert had three girlfriends who lived there. (It’s probably not true, but it makes a good story!)
Apartment where Schubert wrote the “Unfinished” Symphony. Schubert lived here in 1823 and 1824. The plaque in front of the building is one of the few images of Schubert without glasses. Next door was the long-time home of Antonio Salieri.
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TIJUANA 20100
WTF public relations officials make a supervision tour at the Baja California’s High Performance Center
A delegation of the WTF’s Public Relations Division and a group of South Korean Journalists arrived this weekend to the Baja California High Performance Center for a supervision tour to the official stages and facilities that will be used for the VIII World Junior Taekwondo Championship and the Olympic Qualifying Round.
During this technical visit the group of South Korean representatives checked all the adaptations made on many spaces such as the media working room and grand stands as well as the conference room.
The WTF Public Relations Division Director, Seok-Jae Kang, supervised the stage along with members of the organizing committee. Media work room is in good conditions, and just some extra adjustments must be made in other parts, stated Kang, who arrived to Baja California with a group of South Korean graphic reporters and journalists.
The stage located inside the Multipurpose Gym at Baja California’s CAR, will count on with special areas for general public, special, VIP Guests, judges and competitors. At the same time the federation requested an extra room on the second floor of the gym for its staff.
The computer installations are a very important issue, stated Kang. Thus the federation representatives will need technical assistance continuously to warrantee all the information will be sent to many parts of the world due to the high transcendence of this event.
The WTF extended their intentions of having a press conference on March 3rd with local, national and international media accredited to the coverage of the Olympic Qualifying Round and the World Junior Championship itself.
At the same time the federation informed that its first Photo Contest will take place during these two events in Mexico with an open invitation to all the graphic reporters accredited to participate in it.
By INDE Media.
masTaekwondo Team
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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS
Vol 13 No 1 July 1993
YES, we are still here, and the newsletter will continue as long as we are. So much for threats. Many readers know that I have an aversion to the word "toxics", an undefined word which has ingrained itself in modern bureaucratese (I can invent words too). For a long time, many practicing toxicologists have also argued that the use of the two words "toxic chemical" is redundant. In the first article in this issue I present some highlights of an article which appeared in the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis newsletter, Risk in Perspective. The authors have done an excellent job of covering this topic, and I will be happy to provide copies of the entire article to Cooperative Extension staff. The address of the center is included for those interested in subscribing to their newsletter.
Other articles in this issue include more information about lead, a description of a ciguatera food poisoning outbreak, some information about testing of milk for antibiotics, and of course, the highly popular "toxicology tidbits", which also includes some information not directly related to toxicology, but of interest. I have also included a short article from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report concerning the use of rear-facing baby seats in cars equipped with air-bags since it is likely that this information is not readily available elsewhere.
OPTIMAL USE OF "TOXIC CHEMICALS"
A new concept in environmental policy is "toxics use reduction" (TUR). The basic idea is to protect human health and the environment by reducing the use of chemicals judged to be toxic. Massachusetts and Oregon were the first states to enact TUR laws, and other states are considering similar laws. National TUR legislation is also likely to be debated in the years ahead. This article offers an evaluation of the TUR concept using the principles of risk analysis.
The Case for TUR
Proponents of TUR believe that toxic chemicals are bad and that less of a bad thing is a good thing. According to Dr. Kenneth Geiser of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, an advocate of the Massachusetts TUR legislation, "these laws bypass debates over acceptable levels of toxicity and the risk of specific levels or releases. They rest on a simple argument: the use of every toxic chemical should be reduced or eliminated."
Some proponents of TUR see it as a first step toward banning toxic chemicals. At a recent conference sponsored by Resources for the Future, Dr. Barry Commoner argued that the best way to keep toxic chemicals out of the environment is to stop producing and using them. He cites as success stories the bans of DDT and PCBs in the 1970's and the phaseout of lead in gasoline in the 1980's. Commoner argues that these examples should serve as models of sustainable industrial development.
Toxic Versus Nontoxic?
In practice, TUR laws define "toxic chemicals" by legislative mandate. The Massachusetts TUR list started with 300 chemicals and now includes over 900 chemicals that are targets of use- reduction planning efforts.
From a scientific perspective, the phrase "toxic chemicals" is a misnomer. There is no such thing as a chemical which is free of harmful effects at any dose. Drinking 1.5 quarts of water per day is normal and healthy while drinking 15 quarts of water per day would be lethal. Similar types of statements can be made about sugar, salt, aspirin, alcohol and any other chemical compound.
Since all chemicals can be toxic under certain circumstances, it is reasonable to question the rationale for a chemical's inclusion on or exclusion from a list of "toxic chemicals." Indeed, without considering the likelihood and degree of human exposure and ecological risks resulting from specific applications of chemicals, there is no defensible method for determining which chemicals should be included on TUR lists. Scientists at the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis have examined the various lists proposed by TUR advocates and can find no sound and consistent technical basis for the lists that have been generated.
A key problem is that a particular chemical may cause significant risk or no risk depending upon how it is used in commerce. The phaseout of lead in gasoline was a success story because this particular use of lead posed serious and widespread risks to children, adults, and the environment. The use of lead-acid batteries in automobiles is currently being reduced, although EPA estimates that the health and environmental risks of this application are not particularly great. Other applications of lead, such as its use in chimney flashing, pose relatively little danger to the public.
Since the potential for human exposure and risk varies widely from one chemical use to another, the focus of TUR laws should be changed from lists of chemicals to lists of chemical applications that are known or suspected to pose significant risk to human health and the environment. This strategy is already widely used in other regulatory settings such as the registration of drugs for particular clinical indications or the registration of pesticides for use on particular crops.
Competing Risks of Substitutes
Chemical substitution is a primary means of achieving TUR. Just because a substitute chemical has escaped inclusion on a TUR list does not mean that its use is innocuous. If the use of one listed chemical is reduced, it is critical to assess what chemicals, processes, and associated risks will replace it. Unless such competing risks are evaluated, TUR may fail to achieve its risk-reduction goals and may actually exacerbate health and environmental risks in certain settings.
Chlorinated drinking water presents a useful example for reflection because the chemical byproducts of chlorinated drinking water may cause cancer. Nonetheless, the addition of chlorine to drinking water is highly effective in combating microbial contamination and human disease. None of the alternative disinfection processes that have been proposed to date are equally effective or economical. If chlorine is banned in the near future, communities that cannot afford expensive alternatives to chlorine may be forced to expose their citizens to injurious microbial diseases. South America has recently experienced cholera epidemics as a result of inadequate disinfection of drinking water supplies.
All TUR legislation should be written to require that chemical users make risk-risk comparisons before engaging in TUR.
The Benefits of Toxic Chemicals
The success stories of TUR tend to involve the end use of chemicals, chiefly as solvents and cleaners. In some applications, the uses of these chemicals can be reduced considerably without incurring economic penalty or loss of benefits to commercial users and consumers. However, most TUR lists also include six of the eight organic chemical building blocks, from which many other chemicals and synthetic products are made. These are butadiene, benzene, ethylene, propylene, xylene, and toluene.
Nor is it clear that we should always promote less use of "toxic" chemicals. Scientists in industry and universities are discovering new applications of toxic chemicals that promise potential benefits to the public. While dioxin is among the most feared chemicals because of its toxicity and presence in defoliants used in Vietnam, recent scientific evidence suggests that dioxins elicit antiestrogenic responses in rodents and in human breast cancer cell lines. Some of the less toxic congeners are currently being investigated as antitumor agents that may be useful in the treatment of breast cancer.
TUR legislation should be written to require consideration of the benefits of chemicals, along with less risky ways to use them.
Broad-scale application of TUR is inefficient unless most uses of a chemical are associated with significant risks and few benefits. All TUR legislation should include a significant-risk requirement designed to focus scarce public and private sector resources on specific industrial processes and applications that are known or suspected to cause significant risks. Our ultimate goal is the optimal use of toxic chemicals in society.
REF: Risk in Perspective, 1(2), May 1993. (Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, Harvard School of Public Health, 718 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115).
CHINESE PATENT MEDICINES: MERCURY
Chinese Patent Medicines continue to be prepared according to ancient formulas, some of which include the use of two natural salts of mercury; cinnabar (mercuric sulfide) and calomel (mercurous chloride). Gastrointestinal absorption of mercury from these salts is considered to be very low since they are both practically insoluble in water. Recent studies however have shown that a tiny amount is absorbed and distributed to the kidneys (the primary site of toxic action for inorganic mercury). Thus, there is concern that long-term use of these preparations may lead to chronic mercury poisoning. The following table is an abridged version of one which appeared in the article referenced below.
Chinese Patent Medicines Which Contain Mercury
English Name Form Cinnabar
She Dan Chen Pi San Powder 12.3%
Xi Gua Shuang Powder 2.0%
An Gong Niu Huang Wan Pill 11.1%
Ci Zhu Wan Pill 14.4%
An Shen Bu Nao Pian Pill 6.9%
Bai Zi Yang Xin Wan Pill 3.8%
Zhu Sha An Shen Wan Pill 17.4%
Jian Nao Wan Pill 4.0%
Qi Li San Powder 7.0%
Zi Jin Ding Powder 6.25%
Bao Ying Dan Powder 4.98%
Hu Po Bao Long Wan Pill 4.7%
Peaceful 0.1%
Tse Koo Choy (contains 9.6 mg calomel) (total weight not presented)
REF: Kang-Yum, E. and Oransky, S.H., Chinese patent medicine as a potential source of mercury poisoning. Vet. Human. Toxicol. 34(3):235-238, 1992.
METHEMOGLOBINEMIA IN AN INFANT -- Wisconsin, 1992
Methemoglobinemia among infants is a rare and potentially fatal condition caused by genetic enzyme deficiencies, metabolic acidosis, and exposure to certain drugs and chemicals. The most widely recognized environmental cause of this problem is ingestion of nitrate-containing water. Ingestion of copper causes abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, and in cases of high-level exposure, vomiting. This report summarizes an investigation by the Division of Health, Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, of methemoglobinemia associated with ingestion of nitrate- and copper-containing water in an infant during 1992.
A 6-week-old girl (birth weight: 7 lbs 9 oz) was hospitalized June 1 for treatment of dehydration. On admission she weighed 6 lbs 10.5 oz and appeared "dusky." She was afebrile and had no signs of infection. A history obtained from her parents indicated that during her first 3 weeks she had appeared well and had consumed approximately 20 ounces per day of soy-based formula (consisting of a liquid concentrate diluted with 1 part water). During her 5th week, she developed loose stools and began to vomit after eating.
Diagnoses on admission included vomiting with failure to thrive and dehydration secondary to vomiting. She was treated and was discharged on June 2. On June 8, because of an acute weight loss (6 oz) and limited consumption of formula (< 3 oz) during the previous 24 hours, she was readmitted to the local hospital. On admission, she weighed 6 lbs 12 oz and appeared cachectic (emaciated). Her hemoglobin level was 13 g/dL, with 21.4% methemoglobin. She continued to vomit yellow- to blue-tinged liquid following ingestion of fluids. Methemoglobinemia was diagnosed, and supportive treatment, including oral fluids and oxygen, was initiated. Within 24 hours, her methemoglobin level declined to 11.1%. Further evaluation at a referral center did not identify any underlying medical problems. Since discharge, her parents have used bottled water for drinking and for preparation of formula and food.
The family's house was situated on a river between a river bank and approximately 100 acres of corn and alfalfa. Water was supplied by a 28-foot deep vacuum-sandpoint well located in a basement pump room. Water used for drinking and food preparation was filtered by a reverse-osmosis (R/O) unit installed for nitrate removal when the family purchased the house in 1989. Water samples collected from the R/O unit and from the well during the infant's hospitalization contained 9.9 mg/L and 58 mg/L nitrate-N, respectively (the U.S. EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate-N in drinking water is 10 mg/L). During the investigation in late July, the well water contained 39.6 mg/L nitrate-N and was free of coliform bacteria. An early morning first draw sample collected from the kitchen faucet contained 7.8 mg/L copper (the EPA MCL for copper in drinking water is 1.3 mg/L). Results of tests for corrosivity included a pH of 6.3 and an alkalinity of 16 mg/L (as CaCO3). Flushing the kitchen faucet for several minutes reduced the copper level to 0.2 mg/L. A midday water sample from the R/O system contained 0.6 mg/L copper.
Based on these analyses, the Wisconsin Division of Health recommended that the family use bottled water for drinking and for preparation of food.
Editorial Note: In 1991 and 1992, a total of 1825 exposures to nitrates/nitrites -- including 542 among children <6 years of age -- from environmental and other sources were reported to the Association of Poison Control Centers. The most common environmental cause of methemoglobinemia in infants in the United States is ingestion of water contaminated with nitrates from agricultural fertilizers, barnyard runoff, or septic-tank effluents. Acute toxicity may result after nitrate is reduced to nitrite in the stomach and saliva. Nitrite reacts with the oxygen- carrying protein, hemoglobin, reducing it to methemoglobin, which is unable to transport oxygen to the tissues. Methemoglobin levels above 10% may result in clinical anoxia, and levels above 60% can cause stupor, coma, and death if the condition is not quickly treated.
The symptoms described in this report appear to have been induced by simultaneous exposure to copper and nitrates at levels close to the federal drinking water standards for these substances; this phenomenon has not previously been implicated as contributing to the development of methemoglobinemia in infants. Copper is an effective emetic and gastrointestinal irritant, and ingestion of water containing copper levels of 2.8-7.8 mg/L has been associated with vomiting and diarrhea among adults and school-aged children. Although the dose required to cause acute symptoms in infants is unknown, children aged <1 year may be more sensitive to copper than older persons. Elevated copper levels in water used to prepare the infant's formula may have caused loose stools and vomiting after eating. Repeated vomiting and diarrhea may have resulted in dehydration and weight loss and, in turn, reduced gastric acidity sufficiently to enhance the growth of nitrate-reducing bacteria and facilitate conversion of ingested nitrates to nitrites. In addition, systemic copper poisoning has been reported to increase methemoglobin levels independent of nitrate exposure -- an effect attributed to the ability of copper to inhibit red cell enzymes needed to reduce endogenous methemoglobin.
The major source of dissolved copper in drinking water is copper pipes in household plumbing. Water that stands overnight in copper pipes may contain copper levels that exceed the federal drinking water standard. This problem is most often associated with corrosive water supplies or with new copper pipes and can usually be prevented by flushing the household plumbing before using water for drinking or food preparation.
This report underscores that drinking water may be contaminated with nitrates and/or copper in some areas of the United States. Accordingly, health practitioners should routinely advise pregnant women that water from private wells be tested for nitrate. In addition, copper exposure should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms.
REF: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 42(12), April 2, 1993
BICYCLE HELMET PROMOTION PROGRAMS -- Canada, Australia, and United States
The use of bicycle helmets substantially reduces the risk for serious head injuries during bicycle-related crashes. Despite this benefit, epidemiologic data indicate a worldwide low prevalence of helmet use. Strategies to increase the use of bicycle helmets in the United States and other countries include subsidies, legislation, and education. This report summarizes information regarding three strategies to increase bicycle helmet use and the impact of implementing these approaches in Canada (helmet subsidies), Australia (legislation), and the United States (education).
Canada. To assess whether the provision of bicycle helmets at reduced cost increases the use of helmets, the Division of General Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto conducted a randomized, controlled study in Toronto from May through September 1992. Students in three elementary schools in low-income areas were offered bicycle helmets for $10 U.S. These students were compared with students in similar low-income areas who were not offered subsidized helmets. Reported helmet ownership increased from 10% to 47% among students in the schools where subsidized helmets were offered, and reported helmet use increased from 6% to 34%. However, there were no statistically significant differences in rates of observed helmet use between these areas (3% before to 18% after the study) and the areas where no subsidy was offered (1%-21%).
Australia. In July 1990, the state of Victoria enacted laws that made bicycle helmet use compulsory. Specifically, these laws required that all persons cycling on roads, footpaths, or separate bicycle paths, and in public parks wear a securely fitted, approved bicycle helmet. During the 10 years preceding enactment of these laws, the state conducted promotional activities to increase helmet use, including educational campaigns, rebate programs, and publicity campaigns on radio and television. Direct observation surveys indicated the prevalence of helmet use among persons aged 5-11 years in Victoria increased from 26% before enactment of the law to 80% following enactment.
United States. During 1986, the Children's Bicycle Helmet Coalition in Seattle implemented a community-based education program to reduce bicycle-related head injuries among children by promoting the use of helmets. Components of this program included public and physician education, school safety programs, an outreach campaign for low-income populations, extensive media coverage, and informational brochures in monthly insurance and utility bills. An evaluation of the impact of this program indicated that, from 1986 through 1992, helmet use among 5-15-year-old children increased from 5% to 38%. In addition, the number of children in this age group treated for bicycle-related head injuries at the regional trauma center in Seattle decreased 50% from 1990 through 1992.
Editorial Note: Among the 96 million cyclists in the United States, approximately 950 fatalities and 580,000 emergency department visits occur annually as a result of bicycle injuries. Approximately 62% of these deaths and 32% of the injuries involve head trauma. Helmets are effective in reducing head injuries: the estimated risk for head injuries among persons not using helmets is 3.9-6.7 times greater than that among persons using helmets. However, fewer than 2% of U.S. children and fewer than 10% of all U.S. bicyclists wear helmets.
The Injury Prevention Program of the World Health Organization is coordinating a worldwide initiative to increase the use of motorcycle and bicycle helmets. The initiative focuses on three approaches: developing and testing helmets, promoting helmet use, and evaluating helmet-use promotion strategies. During the Second World Conference on Injury Control, to be held in May 1993, scientists and public health professionals will focus on promoting and evaluating helmet use.
REF: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 42(11), March 26, 1993.
CIGUATERA FISH POISONING -- Florida, 1991
Twenty cases of ciguatera fish poisoning from consumption of amberjack were reported to the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) in August and September 1991.
On August 9, the Florida HRS was notified of eight persons who developed one or more of the following symptoms: cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and chills and sweats within 3-9 hours (mean: 5 hours) after eating amberjack at a restaurant on August 7 or August 8; duration of symptoms was 12-24 hours. Three persons were hospitalized. By August 12, patients began to report pruritus (itching) of the hands and feet, paresthesia (prickling), dysesthesia (abnormality of sensation), and muscle weakness.
The Food and Drug Administration evaluated 19 amberjack samples believed to have originated from a single lot from the Key West dealer and obtained from restaurants and grocery stores in Florida and Alabama for ciguatera-related toxin. Forty percent of the specimens tested by mouse bioassay were positive for ciguatera-related biotoxins.
Editorial Note: Ciguatera is a naturally, sporadically occurring fish toxin that affects a wide variety of popularly consumed reef fish; ciguatera becomes more bioconcentrated as it moves up the food chain. Ciguatera and related toxins are derived from dinoflagellates, which herbivorous fish consume while foraging through macro-algae. Larger predator reef fish (e.g., barracuda, grouper, amberjack, surgeon fish, sea bass, and Spanish mackerel) have been implicated in previous outbreaks.
Humans ingest the toxin by consuming either herbivorous fish or carnivorous fish that have eaten contaminated herbivorous fish. The toxin is tasteless, and because it is heat-stable, cooking does not render the fish safe for consumption. As in this outbreak, ciguatera fish poisoning is diagnosed by the characteristic combination of gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms in a person who eats a suspected fish. The diagnosis is supported by detection of ciguatoxin in the implicated fish. No specific, effective treatment for ciguatera fish poisoning has been proven; supportive treatment is based on symptoms.
REF: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 42(21) June 4, 1993.
LEAD INTOXICATION ASSOCIATED WITH CHEWING PLASTIC WIRE COATING -- Ohio
In December 1991, a venous blood lead level (BLL) of 50 ug/dL was detected in a 46-year-old Ohio man during a routine pre-employment examination. He was referred to a university-based pharmacology and toxicology clinic for further evaluation; clinic physicians investigated the case. Although a repeat BLL obtained 1 month later was 51 ug/dL, he reported no exposure to known sources of lead during the interim. However, he reported numbness of his fingers and palms, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and a possible decrease in his ability to perform basic arithmetical calculations.
He had been employed for approximately 20 years as a microwave technician during military service and while employed at a television station, he reported no history of exposure to lead from soldering or welding. He had no activities or hobbies associated with exposure to lead or lead products, no previous bullet or birdshot wounds, and he denied drinking illicitly distilled alcohol or using lead additives in his car.
His residence was built in 1974 (after lead was banned from use in residential paint), and household water was obtained from a well. In January 1992, blood lead testing of family members revealed levels of 5 ug/dL for his wife and <5 ug/dL for his 17-year-old child. His only medication was ranitidine (ranitidine alters gastric acidity, which theoretically can influence gastrointestinal absorption of lead), which he had used for the previous 1 1/2 years for "indigestion." He reported occasional cigarette smoking.
Although results of a neurologic examination were normal, neuropsychiatric testing on March 13 demonstrated mild memory deficits, as evidenced by abnormalities on verbal and figural memory tests. Because of these abnormalities, beginning March 13, he was treated for 19 days with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), an oral chelating agent, and on April 4, his BLL had decreased to 13 ug/dL. However, BLLs on May 15 and July 23 were 49 ug/dL and 56 ug/dL, respectively. During a July 1992 follow-up clinic visit, he mentioned that for approximately 20 years he had habitually chewed on the plastic insulation that he stripped off the ends of electrical wires. Samples of the copper wire with white, blue, and yellow plastic insulation were obtained and analyzed for lead content. The clear plastic outer coating (present on all colors of wire) and the copper wire contained no lead; however, the colored coatings contained 10,000-39,000 ug of lead per gram of coating. On receipt of these results, he was instructed immediately to discontinue chewing the wire coating.
Editorial Note: Plastic coatings previously have been associated with lead exposure in the burning of lead-containing plastics during repair of a storage tank, the production of plastics, and the manufacture and use of stabilizers and pigments in the plastics industry. Although lead exposure also can occur among workers who burn the plastic coating off copper wire to recycle the copper, lead intoxication by this route has not been reported.
Lead compounds may be employed in the production of colored plastics (in which lead chromates are used as pigment) and in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics (in which 2%-5% lead salts [including lead oxides, phthalate, sulfate, or carbonate, depending on the desired quality of the final product] are used as stabilizers). Although environmental regulation has reduced considerably the amount of lead used in the United States in the manufacture of PVC plastics, manufacturers of electrical wire and cable continue to produce PVC stabilized and/or pigmented with lead compounds.
REF: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 42(24), June 25, 1993.
LEAD POISONING IN BRIDGE DEMOLITION WORKERS -- Georgia, 1992
Bridge demolition and maintenance are leading causes of lead poisoning among workers in the United States.
In February 1992, a temporary-service company was subcontracted by a steel corporation to cut apart steel beams that had been removed from a local bridge. Four men were hired. All four were immigrants from Mexico; only two spoke English. The work was performed outdoors, without protective equipment or training, using oxy-acetylene flame-cutting torches.In April, all four workers reported light-headedness and shortness of breath from the metal fumes, requiring frequent fresh-air breaks during the day. In early May, all four workers developed a variety of symptoms including headache, dizziness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, confusion, forgetfulness, arthralgia (joint pain), and abdominal pain. The severity of symptoms intensified through June, with nausea, vomiting, constipation, weakness, shortness of breath, loss of balance, and nervousness.
In early June, the steel company suggested BLL examinations of the workers; their BLLs, measured at the local health department, were 93, 90, 59, and 66 ug/dL. The workers' employment was terminated in late June on receipt of the test results by the company.
The health department recommended that the workers promptly seek medical evaluation and care; however, because they had no medical insurance and both the subcontractor and the steel company declined to assume the costs of treatment, the workers initially delayed seeking medical treatment. They subsequently contacted an attorney, who initiated worker's compensation proceedings and arranged for a local hospital to admit them for treatment. Each worker received three 5-day chelation treatments with intravenous calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid approximately 15 days apart. All four reported improvement but continued to experience memory deficits, arthralgias, headaches, dizziness, and/or sleep disturbances.
Editorial Note: An estimated 90,000 bridges in the United States are coated with lead-containing paints. The findings in this report are consistent with other studies that indicate that minority groups are disproportionately exposed to lead and other occupational hazards.
REF: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 42(20), May 28, 1993.
TOPICS IN MINORITY HEALTH
Childbearing Patterns Among Selected Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups -- United States, 1990
Childbearing patterns in the United States reflect marked increases in and variation among different racial/ethnic groups. Groups with high rates of teenage childbearing traditionally have elevated risks for low birthweight (LBW [<2500 g (5 lb 8 oz)]) and other poor birth outcomes associated with serious infant morbidity, permanent disability, and death. To characterize childbearing variations among American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic ethnic groups, CDC's (Centers for Disease Control) National Center for Health Statistics analyzed data from U.S. birth certificates for 1990. Birth certificates are the primary source for monitoring childbearing patterns and maternal and infant health; data for this report were based on 1990 birth certificates.
Overall, the fertility rate (births per 1000 women aged 15-44 years) in 1990 was 70.9. The fertility rate for Hispanics (107.7) was approximately 71% higher than that for white non- Hispanics (62.8). Fertility rates varied even more markedly among subgroups, from 40.8 (Japanese Americans) to 118.9 (Mexican Americans).
For teenagers (aged <20 years), birth rates were highest for Hawaiians, black non-Hispanics, and Hispanics. In particular, rates for teenaged Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, black non-Hispanics, and Hawaiians were each two to three times the rates for white non-Hispanics, Cuban Americans, and Filipino Americans and up to 31 times the rates for Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, and "other" Asians/Pacific Islanders. Rates for American Indian/Alaskan Native teenagers were approximately twice those for white non-Hispanic teenagers.
(Note: Copies of this article are available to Cooperative Extension employees by calling 916-752-2936)
TOXICOLOGY TIDBITS
Too Many Cooks Spoil the Stew
The ration mix-up of the month occurred on a farm in north-eastern Alberta, where one cook too many became involved in the formulation of a cattle ration. The first person placed two old automobile batteries in the bucket of a front-end loader and went off for lunch. Another individual started and operated the tractor without even looking at the bucket. This driver picked up a bucket full of grain and dumped the load into a feed grinder. The resultant ration was fed to 140 head of cattle. Several animals died and many became sick. The attending veterinarian drew blood samples from 21 surviving animals. Dr. Roy Smith of the Animal Health Laboratory in Edmonton analyzed these samples for lead content. Lead levels ranged from 0.227 parts per million (ppm) to 0.762 ppm. Smith says that serum lead levels higher than 0.050 ppm would suggest significant exposure to lead in cattle.
REF: Herd Health Memo, 10, April 1993.
2,4-D Cancer Link Weakly Suggestive
After wrestling for two days with the "inadequate" available data from human and animal studies, half of the 10 attending members of EPA's Special Joint Committee on the Weight of Evidence of Carcinogenicity of 2,4-D concluded April 2 that the evidence was "weakly suggestive" of cancer causation.
Comprised of scientists designated by the agency's Science Advisory Board and Scientific Advisory Panel, the 2,4-D panel easily achieved agreement that the evidence of carcinogenicity was not sufficiently persuasive to merit any of the first four descriptors suggested by EPA -- "proven human carcinogen," "highly probable...," "probable..." or "somewhat probable..." -- but then the haggling over descriptive terminology started.
Following a lengthy discussion, the panel's chair, Dr. Genevieve Matanoski, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, called for a show of hands on "weakly possible," and three members raised their hands. Next, five members voted for "weakly suggestive" and Dr. Richard Monson of the Harvard University School of Public Health cast the lone vote for "possible."
Although Matanoski did not vote, earlier she said she believed the human epidemiologic data "in and of itself is very weakly suggestive... I think it's very weak evidence even without any animal data."
REF: Kansas Pesticide Newsletter, 16(5), May 13, 1993.
In 1992 there were 231 cases of Lyme Disease reported in California. The greatest number of cases occurred on the East Coast, 1119 in Pennsylvania and 3370 in New York.
Economic Impact of Motor-Vehicle Crashes -- United States, 1990
Injuries resulting from motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for persons of every age from 6 through 33 years. Motor-vehicle crashes during 1990 accounted for 44,531 fatalities, 5.4 million non-fatal injuries, and 28 million damaged vehicles, and an estimated total cost of $137.5 billion. Major sources for cost were property damage ($45.7 billion [33%]), productivity losses in the workplace ($39.8 billion [29%]), medical-care expenses ($13.9 billion [10%]), and losses related to household productivity (10.8 billion [8%]).
In 1990, crashes that involved any alcohol (i.e., blood alcohol concentration [BAC] level >0.01 g/dL) cost $46.1 billion and represented approximately 33% of all economic costs attributed to motor-vehicle crashes. Of this amount, $37.5 billion (81%) reflected crashes in which a driver or pedestrian was legally intoxicated (i.e., a BAC of at least 0.10 g/dL in most states). Alcohol use was disproportionately involved in crashes associated with death or critical injury, accounting for an estimated 50% of total incidence and 55% of total cost for these crashes. In contrast, alcohol was involved in approximately 15% of noninjury-related crashes.
The economic impact of motor-vehicle crashes during 1990 was approximately 2.5% of the gross domestic product in the United States.
REF: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 42/(23), June 18, 1993.
Warnings on Interaction Between Air Bags and Rear-Facing Child Restraints
Air bags and child safety seats are effective in preventing deaths and serious injuries from motor-vehicle crashes, and child safety seats are required by law in all 50 states. However, laboratory crash test data indicate a potential for injury if a child is placed in a rear-facing restraint in the front seat of any vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag. Although no children have been injured in this way, parents should not use a rear-facing restraint in this manner.
In a crash, a rear-facing child restraint with its back close to the instrument panel could be struck by the rapidly inflating air bag, and a child in the restraint could be seriously injured (Figures A and B). Rear-facing child restraints must be used in the rear seat of vehicles with passenger-side air bags. To be properly protected, infants must ride in a rear-facing child restraint until they weigh 20 pounds or are approximately 1 year of age. Those vehicles with passenger-side air bags and without back seats are therefore not suitable for rear-facing child restraints. This consideration should be addressed when a family car is purchased or rented.
Parents should always read and follow the child restraint instructions and the vehicle owner's manual for specific directions on where and how to install a particular child restraint in a particular vehicle. Although all children should travel in the back seat of vehicles, forward-facing child restraints may be used in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag if the child's age and weight meet the restraint manufacturer's requirements; the vehicle seat should be moved as far back as possible so the child is positioned similar to a restrained adult.
Industry is pursuing technologic solutions to reduce the compatibility problem. Government, industry, and professional organizations are developing public information strategies to advise the public of the necessary precautions.
REF: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 42(14) April 16, 1993.
Milk Quality Assurance
The National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments in April 1991 adopted several proposals regarding milk quality which have been incorporated into the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO). The PMO sets the federal standard governing the quality of the nation's milk supply.
One new requirement was that starting January 1, 1992 all truckloads of milk arriving at milk processing plants must be tested for beta lactam antibiotics before being unloaded. (Many New York State milk plants were already doing this, but records of results were not available from a central source). Starting January 1, 1992 all positive drug tests on truckloads of milk must be reported to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.
For the 1992 calendar year, less than one-tenth of one percent of all milk in tank trucks arriving at commercial milk plants in New York tested positive for beta lactam drug residues. Reports received by the Division of Milk Control showed that 263 truckloads, or part-loads tested positive - in some cases, only one compartment of a two compartment truck was positive. The total milk represented by these positive truckloads was 7.6 million pounds that were dumped (7.6 million pounds divided by 8.93 billion pounds delivered to NY plants equals .08%; or divided by an estimated 11.9 billion pounds of milk produced in NY equals .06%).
Furthermore, the Division of Milk Control (NYS Ag & Markets) routinely and randomly tests for beta lactam drug residues in samples of finished dairy products from commercial plants. During 1992 there were no positive drug residue tests in such samples.
In relation to the total dairy industry and to consumer interests, it is evident that even the very small percentage of milk that tests positive to drug residues (and usually in very low concentration) is intercepted and dumped before being unloaded at milk plants, and that the effectiveness of this monitoring is indicated by no positive residue test on finished dairy products from commercial plants.
REF: Veterinary Update, Cornell Veterinary Extension, April 1993.
Salinomycin Toxicosis in Pigs
Salinomycin toxicosis caused death in 25 of 150 affected 16 week old pigs. Deaths occurred one day after changing to a feed containing floor sweepings from a mill, hay and other feed stuffs. Affected pigs had dark red to brown urine and ataxia but were alert. Some pigs were listless with fever of 104F preceding death. Pulmonary edema, dark brown urine and nephrosis were noted at necropsy. The feed contained 720 ppm salinomycin which is reported to be toxic at 166 ppm. Cattle receiving the same ration had no problems. Removal of the feed ended the problem.
REF: Lab Notes, 6(2), 1993, California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System.
Moldy Sweet Potatoes
Moldy sweet potatoes, fed as a supplement, caused dyspnea, emphysema, interstitial pneumonia and death in 30 of 180 cattle.
REF: Lab Notes, 6(2), 1993 California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System.
Question Link Between Human Lung Cancer and Pet Bird Exposure
Veterinarians should be aware of a recent report in which Kohlmeier et al1 concluded that pet bird ownership is associated with increased risk of developing primary lung cancer in human beings. This report demonstrates a misunderstanding of causal inference at the population and individual levels. Concluding that an exposure is a risk factor for a population must be based on valid findings.
Determining whether an exposure causes a disease in an individual is difficult, but such determination can be supported by demonstrating biological plausibility. Unfortunately, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis suggested by Kohlmeier et al are not consistent with all available information. Although inhalation of avian antigens may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, neither hypersensitivity pneumonitis nor pulmonary fibrosis, which occasionally results, is associated with lung cancer. In addition, avian particulates, owing to their size, are not likely to reach the alveoli, nor have they been proven to be carcinogenic. Finally, a mycologic pathway is unlikely, given that pet birds seldom are a source of Cryptococcus neoformans, even among immunosuppressed individuals, because few birds shed this organism and there is little aerosolization from feces.
In conclusion, there is little justification for the causal inference by Kohlmeier et al that pet bird ownership is a risk factor for lung cancer and that human beings should avoid pet bird exposure.
1Kohlmeier L, Arminger G, Bartolomcycik S, et al. Pet birds as an independent risk factor for lung cancer: case-control study. Br Med J 1992;305:986-989. REF: JAVMA, 202(9), May 1, 1993.
Arthur L. Craigmill, PhD.
Environmental Toxicology University of California
Davis, CA 95616-8588
(530)752-2936 FAX: 752-0903
Email: alcraigmill@ucdavis. edu
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Consultant engaged for independent review into Black summer bushfires
9 June, 2021Posted in: Community
Bushfire, Bushfire Recovery, Interim Administrator, Wingecarribee Shire Council
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Interim Administrator Viv May has announced that a specialist risk consultant has been engaged to undertake an independent review into Council’s response following the 2019/20 Black summer bushfires.
Mr May made the announcement during Council’s Ordinary Meeting of Wednesday 9 June 2021.
“At the previous Council Meeting I commented that I would be seeking a ‘warts and all’ report into Council’s immediate response to the bushfires and ongoing recovery actions,” Mr May said.
“Following further consideration and discussions, and to ensure that there is no potential or perceived conflict of interest from staff, I have recommended that an independent review into Council’s handling of the aftermath of the bushfires be the most suitable course of action.”
Mr Dave Owens from Risk-e Business Consultants will undertake the review.
Mr Owens is a former Deputy Commissioner of the NSW Police Force with 30 years of service. He has also been a State and Regional Recovery Coordinator and has extensive knowledge into the establishment and running of Recovery Committees and funding applications. Mr Owens was involved in the NSW Government’s Independent Bushfire Inquiry which resulted in 76 recommendations.
Mr May reiterated that the report would focus on Council’s response to the bushfires only.
“While I will be seeking input from the NSW Rural Fire Service and Resilience NSW, the report will not look at the actions of any other agencies.
“Not-for-profit organisations will also be approached as they too played an important role both during and after the bushfires,” Mr May added.
The independent review will focus on Council’s immediate response to the bushfire emergency including support for impacted residents. Council’s short-term recovery response, establishment of recovery committees, long-term recovery plans, applications for State and Federal funding and effectiveness of the Mayoral Relief Fund will also be examined.
Community workshops may be organised throughout the course of the review.
“The purpose of this review is to ensure that should the Shire ever be faced by a similar threat we will be best prepared to respond and meet the needs of our community.”
A draft report from Risk-e Business Consultants will be returned to Council by the end of July 2021.
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Rissa brevirostris
This small gull breeds on a few islands in the Bering Sea region and winters at sea across the northern Pacific Ocean, west to Japan and east to the Gulf of Alaska. It is a close relative of the widely distributed Black-legged Kittiwake and similar in appearance. Some important differences are Red-legged Kittiwake’s shorter bill, red leg color (pink in juveniles), darker gray mantle, and the absence of the Black-legged’s strong black juvenal wing pattern. See field guides for other distinguishing traits.
The status of Red-legged Kittiwake in the Pacific Northwest is imperfectly known due to lack of observers in its pelagic habitat. However, it appears to be a rare but probably regular visitor to inshore and offshore waters along the outer coast. Most records are in winter and early spring (December through April): six from Oregon, five from Washington, and one from British Columbia. Eight of these 12 records have been of birds found dead or dying on beaches. The region’s three summer records—two from Washington, one from Oregon—occurred from late June to mid-August.
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Home Celebrity Is Omar Apollo Gay? Find All The Details About Star’s Sexuality & Personal Life
Is Omar Apollo Gay? Find All The Details About Star’s Sexuality & Personal Life
Omar Apollo is a Mexican American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been rising to the scene ever since his songs went viral on Spotify. Although not much is known about the personal life of the singer, many fans speculate that Omar Apollo is gay. But is that really the case? Let’s find out about the star’s sexuality and personal life.
Early Life!
Omar Apollo was born on May 20, 1997, in Hobart, Indiana on May 20, 1997, to his father, Omar Apolonio Velasco. The 23 years old singer spent most of his childhood playing with his two brothers and sisters. His father crossed the border in Guadalajara when he was 23 years old and paid a visit to his Mexican mother. Omar eventually joined him in the United States in 1992.
His parents worked tirelessly to raise their children, opening the neighborhood eatery, The Super Taco’. In the year 2009, they even became citizens of the United States. Pedro Infante, Los Panchos, The Beatles, Paul Simon, Neil Young, John Mayer, Prince, Rick James, and others were among the artists he listened to as a kid. His family gave him a guitar when he was 12 years old, but it was an electric guitar without an amplifier.
Career!
The musician began his career by uploading songs such as Brakelights on the internet, which went viral and helped him gain popularity in 2017. He took out a $30 loan from a friend and put the song Ugotme on Spotify. It quickly made its way onto the Fresh Finds playlist, where it racked up 20,000 streams in a single day. After a year, the song has surpassed 15 million streams on Spotify.
Omar has also worked at Jimmy John’s and Guitar Center. Moreover, Omar released his debut EP, Stereo, in 2018, which was favorably welcomed by critics and strengthened his fan base. Through this, he followed his accomplishment by traveling in other sections of Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Chicago. And embarked on tours like the Want Tour and the Voyager Tour, among others. His second EP, Friends, was published in April 2019.
It was produced by John Shanks, a well-known producer. He became close to Shanks and is now managed by his son, Dylan. Whom he contacted on Twitter when Dylan hired him for a university concert at New York University. He signed with Artists Without A Label in 2017 and performed at SXSW that year. Meanwhile, in the year 2019, Omar Apollo went on his first-ever European tour and got a chance to perform at Lollapalooza. During that time, he teamed up with the producer Kenny Beats. And released hit tracks like Hit Me Up and Frio.
Is Omar Apollo Gay?
Though Omar Apollo has been active only for a few years in the music industry, fans have been curious about his personal life and sexuality of the singer. Many fans have speculated that the singer is gay based on his outfits, song lyrics. And the fact that he has always been supportive of LGBTQ rights. And it turns out to be the truth, Omar Apollo. The singer has been openly gay for several years now, and he has never shied away from expressing his sexuality in his songs and performances.
Also Read Is Gavin Leatherwood Gay? Find All About Actor’s Sexuality
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Media release: Llanelli to host 2018 Celtic Media Festival
LLANELLI, in Wales, has been announced as the host location for the 2018 Celtic Media Festival.
And the festival has also opened its Call for Entries today, Tuesday 19th of September.
Film, programme and content-makers may submit entries for the prestigious Torc Awards for Excellence online at www.celticmediafestival.co.uk.
The Celtic Media Festival 2018 will take place in Llanelli, Wales, the first time the festival has been held in the Carmarthenshire town.
A total of 23 Torc Awards will be presented at the 2018 festival.
Past winners of Torc Awards for Excellence include BBC Northern Ireland’sLine of Duty, BBC’s Poldark, RTÉ One’s Love/Hate, BBC Wales’ Y Gwyll/Hinterland and TG4’s’s Corp + Anam, while the BBC’s Sherlock, BBC/RTÉ’s The Fall and BBC Cymru Wales’ Doctor Who are just a few of the major productions to be nominated in previous years.
Previous high-profile guests include River producer Chris Carey, Tilda Swinton, Rhys Ifans, Peter Mullan, Ken Loach, The Killing director Birger Larsen, My Mad Fat Diary writer/showrunner Tom Bidwell, and Doctor Who and Torchwood producer Russell T Davies.
Full details of the festival programme, delegate registration, and how to purchase tickets, will be announced early next year.
Catriona Logan, festival director, said: “We’re breaking records every year and it’s testament to the explosion of creativity and output in the creative content and media sector in the Celtic regions.
“Each year, the quality and quantity of productions submitted through the Call for Entries gets bigger and better. As a festival, we’re constantly innovating, and it’s exciting to be bringing the 2018 festival to Llanelli in Wales for the first time.”
The 39th Celtic Media Festival takes place from the 2nd-4th of May 2018 and will see hundreds of delegates enjoy a packed festival programme in Llanelli.
Supported by BBC Scotland, RTÉ, TG4, BBC Wales, Northern Ireland Screen, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BBC Northern Ireland, MG ALBA, S4C and the Carmarthenshire Council, the festival consistently attracts international delegates wherever it is held, and offers a programme that celebrates the influential media industry of the Celtic nations and regions, as well as providing networking opportunities for delegates and speakers alike.
Despite moving to a new location each year, the Celtic Media Festival maintains its unique atmosphere, one which evokes its nurturing, collaborative nature, no matter where it calls home.
For full information on the Call for Entries and award categories, and a first look at the 2018 Festival identity, go to www.celticmediafestival.co.uk
For further information, images or interview requests, please contact:
Celtic Media Festival press office
Naomi Wright | Celtic Media Festival | press@celticmediafestival.co.uk | T: +44 (0)141 553 5409
For more information on Celtic Media Festival 2018, visit www.celticmediafestival.co.uk
About the Celtic Media Festival
The Celtic Media Festival 2018 is being held from 2nd-4th of May 2018.
The Celtic Media Festival’s aim is to promote the languages and cultures of the Celtic countries on screen and in broadcasting. The Celtic Media Festival is supported by broadcast, film, cultural and economic development organisations throughout the Celtic countries.
The festival is an annual three-day celebration of broadcasting, film talent and excellence from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Cornwall, Brittany and Galicia.
One of the many festival highlights will be the presentation of the Torc Awards for Excellence.
Categories include Factual Series, Arts, Drama, Sport, Current Affairs, Best App, Innovation and Radio Station of the Year. For further details, please see www.celticmediafestival.co.uk
For more details on the history of the festival, award categories and delegate registration, please visit www.celticmediafestival.co.uk
The 2018 festival is core funded by: BBC Wales, BBC Northern Ireland, RTE, TG4, MG ALBA, Northern Ireland Screen, BBC Scotland and S4C and Carmarthenshire Council.
MEDIA RELEASE issued by Celtic Media Festival. You too can share your stories (aka press or media releases), on this site. Email here for more information.
Check out twitter.com/scotsbulletin for your very own media releases feed…
Check out too twitter.com/allMediaNews and twitter.com/allFestivalsPR.
Celtic Media Festival contact details…
Contact: Catriona Logan
Email: catriona@celticmediafestival.co.uk
By Administrator · September 19, 2017 at 11:30 · Comments Off
Celtic Media Festival · Media - broadcasting · Scotland-wide
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Media Release: Moderator laments Iraqi church attack
THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland today paid tribute to those killed in yesterday’s Iraqi church attack.
Says a spokesperson: “Over 50 people died after security forces raided a Roman Catholic church in Baghdad in an attempt to free Iraqi Catholics who had been captured by al-Qaeda-linked gunmen.”
Right Reverend John Christie said: “It is impossible to comprehend the shocking tragedy which has taken place at the Church of our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad.
“It is impossible to comprehend the thinking which provoked this outrage. I can find no words which adequately offer solace for the families bereaved in such tragic circumstances nor indeed any words which will offer any adequate comfort for those who survived this dreadful incident
“All we can do in such circumstances is to commend those who have been bereaved and those who have survived to the love and grace and peace of Christ and assure them of the prayers and thoughts of us all.”
The spokesperson added: “In 1800, an estimated 2,500 Christians died as a result of opposition to their faith. In 2009, this figure rose to 176,000.
“At this year’s General Assembly the Kirk’s World Mission Council called on congregations to show solidarity with persecuted Christians around the world.
“The council’s report said believers in partner churches come under severe pressure because of their minority status and urged Scottish churches to help in whatever way they can.
“Among the recommendations were increased pastoral support, communication, lobbying, prayer and inter-religious dialogue.”
MEDIA RELEASE posted by the Church of Scotland. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Gordon Bell
Email: gbell@cofscotland.org.uk
Website: http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk
By Newsman · November 1, 2010 at 16:38 · Comments Off
The Church of Scotland · International affairs · Scotland-wide
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Premarital sex and religion. Religion, Christianity, And Premarital Sex 2023-01-06
Premarital sex and religion Rating: 4,1/10 1496 reviews
In William Shakespeare's play, "The Merchant of Venice," the character of Antonio is portrayed as a complex and multi-dimensional individual.
At first glance, Antonio appears to be a wealthy and successful merchant, but he is also depicted as a melancholic and melancholy figure. He is prone to fits of sadness and depression, and he often speaks about death and the fleeting nature of life. This melancholic disposition is likely a result of Antonio's deep love for his friend Bassanio, who he is willing to do anything to help, even going so far as to put up his own life as collateral in a risky business deal.
Despite his sadness, Antonio is also shown to be a kind and generous individual. He is quick to offer assistance to his friends and is always willing to lend a helping hand. This is exemplified in his willingness to offer financial support to Bassanio, even though it puts his own financial stability at risk.
Throughout the play, Antonio's character is contrasted with that of the Jewish moneylender Shylock. While Shylock is greedy and calculating, Antonio is selfless and compassionate. He is willing to forgive Shylock for demanding a pound of flesh as repayment for a debt, showing a level of mercy and understanding that is lacking in the character of Shylock.
In conclusion, the character of Antonio in "The Merchant of Venice" is a complex and multi-dimensional individual. He is depicted as both melancholic and generous, and his selfless actions and willingness to forgive show his kindness and compassion. Despite his flaws, Antonio's character ultimately stands in contrast to the greedy and calculating nature of Shylock, making him a compelling and memorable character in the play.
Half of U.S. Christians say casual sex sometimes or always acceptable
Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. Such a tendency might have arisen due to the fact that they are more influenced by the ideas of democracy that does not restrain them from following their desires as long they do not violate the freedom of another person. The future implications of the matter may concern the analysis of other social and cultural factors that could potentially modify the tendency of having premarital sex. In response, the Church calls people to live the virtue of chastity. The offender is typically an acquaintance, date or authority figure. Now, I got into the study, and I studied and I studied, and about halfway into it, I started to have some fears and doubts. And so what I did is I got very angry and I rebelled against Christianity and I kind of joined the like, you know, there was a time when I kind of associated myself with the anti-Christian woke mob for a bit.
5 Most Sexually Liberated Churches or Religions in the World
If her behavior gets out of patriarchal control, she must be cruelly punished. You know the instructions we gave you in the Lord Jesus. According to the researchers, the socio-cultural background of a community plays one of the most significant roles in terms of modern sex education, claiming less developed countries to pay minor attention to the issue Vanwesenbeeck et al. A native of Chicago with a bachelor degree in computer science, his interest in the priesthood stemmed from his experience as a church musician. Women who cohabit prior to marriage or who have premarital sex have an increased likelihood of marital disruption. The couple easily forgets that the action could conceive a child and that they could become "Mommy and Daddy.
The first being sex must be saved for marriage, and My mother has never discussed sexual health, usage of contraceptives, sexually transmitted infections or general emotional feelings. The eminent scholar R. Journal of American College Health, 1-9. One is contrasted with the other. Before the man and woman come together as husband and wife, and before they express their love as husband and wife, they are first blessed by God.
Premarital Sex and Religious Perception
Oxford: Oxford University Press. After a year-long betrothal, the man took the woman into his home, and they consummated the marriage with sexual intercourse. What if the paper is plagiarized? Due to the lack of communication from my mother, I frequently felt perplexed about what was happening to my body, yet I was too embarrassed to ask questions. So it was very much nondenominationalist, very old testament. God's upholding of the sacredness of marital love is clearly evidenced in the blatant condemnation of the sins against it. Properly used male condoms can help protect against some STIs, but not others which spread by skin-to-skin contact.
Religiosity and Premarital Sex in Adulthood on JSTOR
For example, An article distributed a month ago in the Archives of In any case, while mentalities towards early sex and Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Again, if your right hand is your trouble, cut it off and throw it away! But the other sexual prohibitions are generally still observed. With greater economic independence and more female-headed households, women are freer to control their sex lives, as feminist writers like Helen Gurley Brown 3 pointed out. In some countries, gender differences with premarital sex can be linked to virginity. Human Behavior, Development, and Society, 21 1 , 16-27. Our business model is you and your subscription.
Hinduism and Premarital Sex
Their teachings must be deemed immoral because they diminish empathy and feminine happiness resulting from a natural exploration of sexuality. PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!! You must know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is within — the Spirit you have received from God. Does the Bible Say a Couple Must Get Married if They Have Sex? The Manusmṛti 3:21-26 refers to the various societal views of gāndharva vivāha. The Author Father William Saunders is pastor of Our Lady of Hope parish in Potomac Falls, Virginia. Merely having sex or living together does not fulfill the functions of the Biblical model of marriage. That fornication and other sexual sins are numbered among the more serious sins We know that the Law is good, provided one uses it in the way law is supposed to be used — that is, with the understanding that it is aimed, not at good men but at the lawless and unruly, the irreligious and the sinful, the wicked and the godless, men who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, fornicators, sexual perverts, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and those who in other ways flout the sound teaching that pertains to the glorious gospel of God — blessed be he — with which I have been entrusted I Timothy 1:8-11.
These crimes are often not reported because of fear or embarrassment. Thorough the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, God blesses the couple joined in this sacred bond and generously bestows grace so that they may assume the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity. The questions used for this analysis can be found The survey did not ask respondents if they themselves would engage in any of these practices. Moreover, the idea of having sex is only acceptable in cases when both partners are committed to each other regardless of their marital status. To understand the relationship between religiosity and sexual behavior, it is important to restrict the sample by studying the religious population.
Premarital Sex is a Mortal Sin
The Catholic Church continues to teach that sexual love between a man and a woman is reserved to marriage. For example, when speaking of Christianity, most young adults, while influenced by the faith culture, do not consider premarital sex as a sin. Abstinence - avoiding all sexual contact - is the best protection against STIs. Father Saunders is the author of. Kane History of Dharmaśāstra, Volume 2, Part 1, p. It is sinful and may well exclude many unrepentant sinners from Heaven.
Premarital Sex: The Influence Of Religiosity On Sexual Behavior: Free Essay Example, 533 words
Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction. The major findings indicate that religiosity reduces the number of partners and does so partly because of moral disapproval of premarital sex. A total of 477 first-year students attending the universities with strong Christian church affiliation, age 17 to 19, who reported being Caucasian were examined. I started to question whether or not this document was actually created by the Omnipotent, Omniscient Creator of the universe. However, nowadays it is not easy to give the ultimate answer to this question. It was understood to me that without these activities, I was not a good catholic.
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Like a lead tomb
Home/Works/Essays
PUBLISHED BY: CAMBRIDGE PRESS, 2011 Journal of Palliative and Supportive Care
When my father was in hospice for half an hour, he must have had a very strong premonition; more than an epiphany, a surge that if he didn’t do something, something really outside his box, no good was going to come of this. So, as the hospice nurse placed the third morphine patch on his arm, and poured some concoction under his tongue, with no relief to his pain, he looked up at me, his heartbroken daughter, his eyes cloudy and moist, then turned growling to his wife, my utterly overwhelmed mother, and whispered, the droopy globes in his head directed toward the nurse, “Get this crazy woman off of me. She’s going to kill me. I want to go to the hospital.”
Fortunately, my husband, a physician on staff at the hospital where my father had recently been discharged after receiving radiation treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, was at home, where my parents had been staying, and heeded my father’s plea. He lifted my dad from the chair he was curled in, loaded him into our car, and got him readmitted to the hospital.
Understand, placing my father in hospice was not an easy decision, and was not made single mindedly. Therewere at least five doctors consulted, myself, my older brother, oncology nurses, social workers, our rabbi, and last but not least my mom, who disapproved of the whole concept from the bitter moment she put pen to consent paper. My parents have been arried for sixty-five years. They met before the big one, WWII.
The only person we did not consult was—you guessed it—dear 88-year-old-dad. But after all, in our defense, he was so, so—did I not make it clear enough?— so very, very sick. The pain, the vomiting, the absolute, unequivocal distress. We could not take it!
It all started a month earlier with sudden onset back and hip pain. After only a few tests, the diagnosis was confirmed that his 10-year-old stagnant prostate cancer had at last spread to his spine and hip and would require ten radiation treatments and ongoing Lupron injections. Once complete, he would be fine and in remission. Uh huh.
We were not forewarned that the radiation to his spine would be shot through his chest, burning his esophagus, so that after his treatment was complete, he would not be able to swallow. Because of some preexisting comorbid medical conditions that compromised his life, other means of feeding was not safely feasible. My mother and I tried every which way to get him to eat anything and ignore the pain, but every day only brought more frustration and, oddly, more tales of childhood suffering and comrades in arms during the war in Belgium and Germany who were cold, hungry, prisoners, and were killed. The fervidness of these stories could have humiliated Frank McCourt for his carefree childhood. Dad had morbid dreams day and night, and suffered panic attacks and all-consuming anxiety about what would happen to the prisoners during the winter months without blankets while they were sleeping on the dirt floors.
Without nutrition, in addition to the residual pain of his cancer and the ache of emptiness, there comes the weakness that carries with it the inability to care for oneself, the hospital dependency, the opiate pain medicines, the hallucinations, then the hospital psychosis, the anti-psychotic medicines, the constant sleep, more weight loss, and before we knew it, my father was dying and my family insisted on bringing him home to do so.
For the week he stayed in my house, before hospice was called in, I heard every war story he could remember and couldn’t tell me about during all the years I grew up in our home. He told me why he still got panic attacks nd where he was when he had his first. He was taking the BMT Canarsie subway line back home from work. The train screeched to a stop and the sound seemed the same as the sound of the coyotes in Germany that my father and his comrades would hear in the night, warning them of oncoming trouble. The men would jump deep into their foxholes, not knowing if the howls were coming from 50 yards or 5 miles away, and the soldiers, cared, not shitless scared, Dad said, but scared “like a lead tomb was lying on your chest” scared. By the time the train got moving toward home again, he couldn’t breathe.
When it became clear to my mother that visiting nurses, our love and support, and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, weren’t saving this man, the family, after a tumultuous week of plumping pillows and begging Dad to sip Ensure, all convinced my mother to sign the paper that, “was going to kill him.” She just knew he would live if we gave him more time. We just knew he wouldn’t and he had to be made comfortable. We all begged
her and she succumbed. All we asked dad was, “Do you want to live like this?” Was that enough to ask?
They did more for him whenwe got him back to the hospital. Taking chances with the comorbid ailments (what was there to lose?) they pushed the IV nutrients and risked his kidney function, added some steroids to perk up his appetite and energy, tossed in an anti-psychotic/anti-depressant, and behold, some Maalox for his esophagus. In 2 weeks he was eating all the hospital food and doing laps around the floor with the physical therapist.
I took him back to my house with my mom to start the recuperation again. I wonder if that nurse would have “killed” him. He does not even know he was in hospice for half an hour. I think the question we should have asked him was, “Are you ready to die?” It has been 3 months now. The VA has offered him a lifetime home health aide.
It’s in the Telling
Womens Encounters
Essays, Poems
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Front Page, Industry News
Martin Scorsese screens work-in-progress ‘Hugo’ at the New York Film Festival
Tuesday October 11th 2011
NEW YORK – Martin Scorsese was greeted with a standing ovation Monday night at the 49th New York Film Festival, as he took the stage at Avery Fisher Hall to present a surprise work-in-progress screening of his upcoming 3D family release, Hugo.
“This is a really special evening for us,” said NYFF selection committee chairman Richard Pena, introducing the director. “Theres only one other time, back in 1991, that we’ve screened a work-in-progress as part of the festival, and that was Beauty and the Beast. We’re just as proud this evening to have this film.”
Scorsese explained that the print being shown was not color-corrected, still required tweaks to the sound mix and music, had partial credits and incomplete visual effects.
“There are still what are called previsualizations,” said Scorsese. “Computer generated people that they promise are going to be human — pretty soon, I hope. And you will see a few wonderful green screen moments where you can put in anything you want.”
The Paramount release opens Nov. 23. Scripted by John Logan from Brian Selznick’s bestselling novel, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” the adventure film follows the story of an orphaned boy living in a railway station in 1930s Paris, whose search for a message from his dead father yields discoveries concerning the French film pioneer Georges Melies.
Young cast members Asa Butterfield and Chloe Moretz took a bow following the screening, but Scorsese did not reappear onstage. The cast also includes Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law, Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer, Christopher Lee, Michael Stulhbarg, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour and Helen McCrory.
NYFF announced the surprise addition to the program last week, identifying the film only as an uncompleted feature by a master director, due for release later this year. Despite attempts to keep the title under wraps, word leaked out Monday that Hugo was the mystery title.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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In the Gloaming
Gloam' is a noun for the period just after sunset. "In the Gloaming" is a 1874 poem that became a 1877 hit song about loving and breaking up. John 13 begins tonight's account of the Lord's Supper with these words: "It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end." And this love was in the gloaming.
Scripture tells you this. Paul passing on what he received concerning the Lord's Supper, begins with, "Our Lord Jesus, the same night" John, as well, makes a point of telling you that as soon as Judas takes the fatal sop from the hand of Jesus, "He went out. And it was night." The first line of a Maundy Thursday hymn in our hymnal is' Twas on that dark, that doleful night.." In the gloaming, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper and I reference not just the twilight. Jesus gives the Gift of gifts in the gloaming of betrayal as the OT says by His "close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared My bread" (Ps. 41:9). The one the group trusted with their physical treasurers; the only disciple that was probably from the more Jewish Judea than from lowbrow Galilee is going to betray Him this night. But the gloaming is deeper than betrayal; it's a deep as death. Jesus knows His hour has come. He knows in a few short hours, He's going to tell His 3 closest disciples, "My soul is overwhelmed within Me to the point of death," and then after taking a few steps He's going to face plant (Mt. 26: 38-9).
You may find yourself in the gloaming tonight as well. Is the sun setting on America? "Are the good times really over for good?" Surely we have been rolling down hill like a snowball heading for hell picking up easy divorce, baby killing, living together, gay marriage and banishing the Divine to the realm of fantasy. Part of being in the gloaming is that you don't know what full dark holds. Life, death, and disease go on apart from pandemics. The gloaming of medical issues is always with us, so is the gloaming of familial, martial, and economical problems. But of course with the gloaming of Covid-19 all dark is denser, all clouds are gloomier, and all fears, worries, cares, and doubts rest heavier on your shoulders.
Even without any of these, there's the gloaming that comes with your sins and sinfulness. The Devil is always roaming seeking someone to devour, but in the very good times and the very bad ones, his roaring is louder. In the good times he comes with a devil-may-care attitude. In the bad times, it's the devil-take-the-hindmost. Wring as much pleasure, joy, happiness any way you can out of such times. Go ahead eat, drink, be merry for tomorrow you may die or it get worse. This may not mean much to you non-hunters, but the most dangerous time for deer during rifle-season is in the gloaming. Migratory birds you can only shoot till sunset, but deer you can shoot one-half hour after sunset. And even non-hunters know, that's when you see deer most often. In the gloaming, deer don't see the danger. We may not either. Jesus does.
What does Jesus do in the gloaming? He give gifts. He gives gifts to the disciples He knows to a man will forsake Him this night. He gives gifts to Peter who assures Him he won't even though Jesus tells him he will. He gives gifts to Peter who won't believe His words. He gives gifts to the ones who will leave Him alone to face the powers of darkness in the gloaming. Jesus has the right to give gifts to sinners who deserve nothing but judgment, to cowards who deserve to be abandoned to their fears, to worriers who deserve to be worried to death. Jesus can give gifts to sinners, cowards, worriers and worse because He is the true Passover Lamb. He was selected before time by the Father to carry into the gloaming the cowardice, fears, worries, lusts, and sins of the world. He will bear all the shame, pain, and punishment of hell they call for, so the wrath of God may pass over a world of sinners. If you've ever been in a deep wood or thick jungle, the gloaming starts on the edge and gets progressively darker till it's full dark, no stars. At this point, you're feeling ahead with your toes. This is Jesus from Gethsemane till the 3 dread hours when the sun fails completely.
The blood the OT Passover lamb was painted on their door posts, so the angel of death, more frightful than anything you've ever imagined let alone seen, would pass over them. Jesus' blood does the same for the sins of the world. He bleeds out over us all but gives His NT Church something far better than the Old. He gives us His Body to eat and His Blood to drink. He doesn't say, "Take post; this is My Body." Or, "Take paint; this is My Blood," but "Take eat; take drink." Years ago it was reported that 70% of Catholics don't believe Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ. I don't know if that's true. I do know that is the what Protestants believe. I do know that when the ELCA, decades ago, entered into Communion fellowship with 3 denominations that never believed Communion was Jesus' Body and Blood, they gave up the Real Presence on their altars. I also know any Church confessing they do have the Body and Blood, and yet practices Open Communion is calling down weakness, sickness, and death on their members for communing those not discerning Christ's Body. So, in the gloaming let's not lose sight of what Jesus actually gives in this Meal. We speak of the Real Presence but some Reformed will use this term. That's why we want to speak of Christ's Body and Blood being present. "Melanchthon wanted to emphasize the presence of the person of Christ and not that of His body and blood in the Lord's Supper..." (Brecht, Luther III, 329). He did this to make Calvinists comfortable. Luther on the other hand didn't. He said, "'the body of Christ wears the bread'" (Peters, Baptism & Lord's Supper, 154, fn. 38). And we don't want to be so afraid of the Catholic error of transubstantiation we distance ourselves from the miracle that takes place. Again Luther: "'Therefore this sacrament is brought about by the Word of Christ, on which all things are founded. And thus, what was bread before the consecration, now it is the body of Christ after consecration, because the Word of Christ changes what was created'" (Ibid., 166, fn.100).
Don't misunderstand. Luther rejected transubstantiation which says the bread and wine can't be there "as a philosophical construct that was not in the Bible" (Brecht, Luther III, 225). But he also said, "I do not argue whether the wine remains wine or not. It is enough for me that Christ's blood is present; let it be wine as God wills. Sooner than have mere wine with the fanatics, I would agree with the pope that there is only blood (LW, 37, 317). In the gloaming, a picture of a loved one would be a comfort, a symbol of their love would too, but having the person there would be supremely better. To have in your body the same Body Jesus gave into death on the cross to save you from eternal darkness, to have in your mouth the very Blood Jesus shed there for the remission of your sins, is light in the gloaming. Read Psalm 114. The Lord's presence in the OT Church caused the sea to flee, the Jordan to part, the mountains to skip, and the hills to tremble. You do not see, you may not feel God's Body and Blood surging through your veins, but all creation, including angels, archangels, and all heaven, as well as Demons, Death, and Disease see it, feel it, and shiver even in the gloaming.
Jesus worked miracles when He walked the earth to draw attention to the kingdom, to Himself, the king, and to a new heaven and new earth which He was bringing about in His Person and by His Work. The miracles He works now that His kingdom is here are Baptism that makes new creatures; Absolution that forgives what no man can, and the miracle of miracles: His Body given as Bread and His Blood as Wine. And we wouldn't dare do this last miracle had He not commanded, "This do often.", and had He not promised, it's "in remembrance of me." This special word remembrance' is practically untranslatable in English. Our word remembrance suggest a recollection of the past, but anamnesis (a-na'm-na-ses) means making present an object or person from the past (Dict. Of Sac. Theo, 45ff). The French translate "to bring Me back to you." Luther commenting on 1 Cor. 10:16f, and 11:27, "insisted tirelessly that the Lord confronts us in a physically tangible way" (Peters, 177). Francis of Assisi more starkly said, "'I see nothing corporally of the Most High Son of God in this world except His Most Holy Body and Blood..'" (Oxford. Hit of Wor., 236). Non-denom's, Calvinists, Evangelicals, Protestants, and Episcopalians don't see this. We do.
Luther used physical analogies to draw people to the Lord's Supper: "'Thus for us the Sacrament is a street, a bridge, a door, a ship, and a stretcher, on which and by means of which we journey from this world into eternal life'" (Elert, Structure, 319). He also liked "Medicine of Immortality" that Ignatius got from the liturgy of Antioch (Sasse, This is My Body, 148): "breaking one bread, which is the medicine of immortality and the antidote that we should not die but live forever in Jesus Christ" (Lightfoot, 2, Ephesians, 20, 55). This is how our Large Catechism puts it: "But those who feel their weakness, who are anxious to be rid of it and long for help, should regard and use this Sacrament as a precious antidote against the poison in their systems" (V, 70).
But what about now in this gloaming? We're not all able to gather to receive the Lord's Supper. In the days of ship travel, Christians would celebrate a "'dry mass'" lest they spill the Body and Blood. It was a condensed rite that retained the Lord's Prayer, the Agnus Dei, the Pax Domini, and post-communion Collect, but always omitted the consecration and communion (Oxford. Hit of Wor., 642). There are times, in the gloaming of sickness and dying, a person can't receive anything by mouth. There have been times in the Church's past where no pastors were available to consecrate the elements. Do you think the Good Shepherd let His sheep starve or even go hungry at such times? No more than your infants and children we don't commune now do. The Body and Blood of Christ on the altar is also in the Font and in the mouth of Absolution. In the gloaming it can be so dark you can't see them, but His Words pierce the gloam and where they are He is. Eat, drink, enjoy. Amen
Maundy Thursday (20200409); I Cor. 11: 23-30
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EARTH GANG IS BACK WITH ”ALL EYES ON ME”
Written By: Vincent Miron
Amongst all the upcoming artists and rap groups, one duo is set to take over this year.
That’s going to happen soon, with their release of this new song: ”All Eyes On Me”. The Atlanta duo Earth gang has come out with another hit that will most likely be part of their next album that drops this month, ‘Ghetto Gods’. Officially going to be out in less than a week, next Friday the 28th. In their latest work though, they cover sensitive topics.
Bars that carry common ground with any listeners that include references to last year and, how if you’re playing the song you’ve survived the hard part of the pandemic. A line about how money was tight when there was no work and everyone had to manage with only a stimulus check. Not only that, deeper and more meaningful lines are sprinkled throughout the track. Showing love to BLM and, even admitting they haven’t made it until their moms are set for life. These are some of the features making this a banger to start off the year with, but without even mentioning their performance yet.
It’s obvious when they signed to a huge label owned by J. Cole that their talent is unreal. You can hear it yourself on ”All Eyes On Me” when they bring together ‘Hip Hop’, ‘Soul’ and mix in some ‘RnB’. This comes all together with the help of their unmatched vocal performances, on both their parts.
You have to play this track and, tune in on January 28th for their album release!
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Naked volunteers pose for Tunick artwork on Bondi Beach
By BBC
Some 2,500 naked volunteers have posed in the early morning light on Sydney's Bondi Beach for an artwork designed to raise awareness of skin cancer.
The installation is American photographer Spencer Tunick's latest project, aimed at encouraging Australians to get regular skin checks.
Legislation was changed to allow public nudity on the beach for the first time.
Australia is the country in the world worst affected by skin cancer, the World Cancer Research Fund says.
People pose naked on Bondi Beach, Australia
From 3:30 local time, volunteers gathered on the beach to take part in the installation, done in collaboration with the charity Skin Check Champions during skin cancer awareness week.
"We have an opportunity to raise awareness about skin checks and I'm honoured... to come here, make my art and just celebrate the body and protection," world-renowned artist Tunick said in quotes cited by Reuters.
Bruce Fisher, 77, who participated in the event, told AFP: "I've spent half my life in the sun and had a couple of malignant melanomas taken off my back.
"I thought this was a good cause and I love taking my clothes off on Bondi beach."
Tunick is well-known for masterminding images of mass nudes in some of the world's most iconic locations.
Lubbock United Way meets $5 million fundraising goal, honors volunteers
Lubbock United Way met their $5 million fundraising goal and honored volunteers from the 2022 campaign.
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Magic & Spells
Non-Player Characters
Dragons Wars
Dragon Wars - the Classic Fantasy Role-Playing Game
Welcome to this Dragon Wars fan site. Dragon Wars is a fantasy role-playing video game. It was developed by Rebecca Heineman and published by Interplay Entertainment and distributed by Activision in 1989. The game was developed as a fusion of the Bard's Tale engine and Wasteland's design philosophy. With the possibility that Interplay would soon be parting ways with Electronic Arts, the design team decided to separate the game from the Bard's Tale name. Released under the title of Dragon Wars, it was always considered a sequel to the Bard's Tale trilogy, and considered to be Bard's Tale IV. This site was created to as a shrine to Dragon Wars, and contains all the information you need to play and complete the game. And, since the game is no longer under copyright laws, you can even play the game in your browser window!
Namtar, the beast from the pit has perverted the island continent of Dilmun. Starting with a group of four, you begin in the prison city of Purgatory. You must scour the continent in search of weapons and long lost magic in order to rid the land of Namtar and his army. The game summary and synopsis from the back of the box reads:
The designers of the Bard's Tale series, Wasteland, and Battle Chess pooled their talents to create the ultimate role-playing fantasy. They knew it had to be a first-rate story with sophisticated graphics. The result was Dragon Wars.
Sailing across uncharted seas, you and your party are in search of a legendary paradise called Dilmun — a place where the streets are paved with gold and no one wants for anything.
However, King Drake of Phoebus has declared all magic illegal - magic users have been slain or fled into exile. In retaliation, enemy islands have threatened to unleash their guardian dragons, the most destructive force in the world. While docked at a harbor in Dilmun, you are arrested on suspicion of spell casting.
Imprisoned and stripped of everything but your wits, you are sentenced to life in a cesspool called Purgatory. Magic is your only salvation - a worldly possession in a world possessed.
Since the game was branded separately from the Bard's Tale franchise, it was feared that the game would not be received as well. While the designers thought the game was better than any other game in the Bard's Tale series, they feared that it would not do well without the tie-in to the old title and without Electronic Arts's marketing muscle. So they advertised the game with the slogan "Bard's Tale Fans Rejoice!", and mentioned the ability for players to import Bard's Tale characters.
The game was reviewed in 1989 in Dragon #152 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars. The game was given a positive review in Computer Gaming World in 1989, noting improvements over the Bard's Tale series, saying that, "Tighter design, attention to detail, balanced combat, and a carefully constructed plot line all combine to produce a CRPG well worth playing." In 1993 the magazine stated that the game was "a good choice when you want something a bit more than a standard slicer/dicer". The game was later included in the Interplay's 10 Year Anthology Classic Collection released in 1993.
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Úvodná stránka Zámok Programy Služby Správy Galéria
Pozdrav Eszterháza Históra rodiny Obdobie najväčšieho rozkvetu v Eszterháza Po období najväčšieho rozkvetu Joseph Haydn v Eszterháza Castle Tour Cziráky Margit Rosegarden Video Top performances and wonderful little things, curiosities and everyday life from the heyday of Eszte Achievements of the age Fotografie pre tlač
Cziráky Margit Rosegarden
Prince Miklós Esterházy IV and his wife, Countess Margit Cziráky, designed the rose garden during the restoration of the park, which was started in 1902. The plans of some of the gardens were made by Anton Umlauft, one of the best-known gardeners of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The rose garden was completed in 1908. It was almost completely destroyed during World War II and during the turning points that followed. The roses were died out, the pergola systems collapsed, everything went wild, only the pavilion “left to tell the tale”.
Based on the scientific research of garden history, the rose garden was restored in 2015, and visitors to the garden can enjoy the splendor of nearly 8,000 roses now. In the rose garden, which is an extraordinary sight and provides delicate scent, the cross-shaped pergola with ramblers and the pagoda-like pavilion in the middle have been renewed. As part of the investment, a collection of Hungarian rose species was housed here. This year we supplemented it with ever-blooming roses bred by German and English growers to achieve a richer scent.
The most popular rose species in the rose garden are in full bloom by mid-May. The huge flowers of the "Mami" species, which change from butter-coloured to pink, can be seen along the pergolas for several hundred meters. The flowers of the "Futótűz" (wildfire) species are red, the deep burgundy of the "Crimson Glori" species and the orange flowers of the "Rozália" variety are dazzlingly beautiful.
Plant care work in the rose garden begins in early March and runs continuously until mid-November. New English and German rose species have been planted, and the promenades have also been renewed, so the new road surfaces further contribute to the beauty of the blooming roses.
Magnificent roses bloom in the garden of the Esterházy-palace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYFkZfXZ0E4&feature=emb_title
360 virtual tour in the rose garden in the springtime I. and rose garden in the springtime II.
On the 31st of May, 2021, the beautifully renovated Rose House of Margit Cziráky Rose Garden at Esterházy Palace in Fertőd was ceremoniously handed over together with its beautified surroundings. The Rose House, which was the home for head gardeners, is the reception building of the rose garden, but it is also suitable for exhibitions, civil weddings and events.
The construction of the Rose house and landscaping works around the building totalled HUF 106,821,122, for which the VELUX Foundations provided DKK 1,883,488, ie HUF 80,286,015, and the Hungarian Government provided HUF 26,535,107.
As a result of the complete renovation, the entire structure of the 140-square-meter building was refurbished: the roof and floor were replaced, and the entire mechanical and electrical system of the building was renewed. The complete façade was also renovated, and the surroundings of the Rose House were completely renewed. Paving, planting, grassing and fencing took place during the landscaping.
Now, the Rose House fits harmoniously into the park and landscape complex of the Esterházy-palace in Fertőd. The primary function of the building, which offers the comfort of the 21st century, is to receive guests to Margit Cziráky's Rose Garden and to use it as a service buildng. There is also a ceremonial hall in the building, which is suitable for exhibitions and events with its service rooms. The surroundings of the building are an excellent venue for outdoor events. In the Rose House, a washroom block has also been set up for the disabled. The building contractor was Becska és Társai Építőipari Kft.
“In recent years, we have managed to make the palace of Fertőd instantly come to people’s mind when we hear the name Esterházy. Now the Rose Garden has received a worthy reception building, which meets the requirements of the 21st century.”-told Katalin Egresitsné Firtl, the CEO of the Eszterháza Cultural, Research and Festival Center Public Benefit Nonprofit Limited Liability Company. She thanked the VELUX Foundations and the Hungarian Government for the financial support, and thanked all the people, who contributed to this development that suggests that Eszterháza is the wellspring of wonders!
Tuesday-Sunday 9.00-17.00
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You are at:Home»Articles»The internationally renowned Agri Scientist on leading world’s largest plant genome sequencing project (3300+ Chickpeas) from India
The internationally renowned Agri Scientist on leading world’s largest plant genome sequencing project (3300+ Chickpeas) from India
By Biotech Express on November 21, 2021 Articles, Articles- Editorials, Interviews, Interviews - Academia
The Nature, a topmost science journal in the world has published a breakthrough research paper of Indian scienists recently, “A chickpea genetic variation map based on the sequencing of 3,366 genomes, led by Prof Rajeev Varshney, Research Program Director at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on November 10, 2021. Since then, this research is making rounds in social media, newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc. Biotech Express has undertaken in-depth analysis of this research and interviewed Prof Varshney to know background, achievements and future plan of this work. To the best of our knowledge, in recent decades, this is the first time, that an agricultural biotechnology research led by an Indian scientist has found its place in Nature. Not only from India perspective, but this is also the largest genome sequencing study for any crop that reports whole genome sequencing of 3,366 genotypes on an average of 12X coverage.
Prof Varshney, a JC Bose National Fellow, is a recipient of the most coveted Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (honored by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi), and ICAR-India’s highest and most prestigious Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award- 2019 from the Government of India. He is an elected fellow of all four national science and agriculture academies of India (INSA, NASI, IASc and NAAS) as well as of several foreign science academies including the German National Science Academy, The World Academy of Sciences, America Association for Advancement of Science, Crop Science Society of America, and American Society of Agronomy. He is a recipient of several prestigious awards including Professor Jayashankar Life Time Achievement Award, GD Birla Award for Scientific Research, Professor Lalji Singh Achievement Award, Career360 Outstanding Faculty Research Award- 2018, China’s Qilu Friendship Award-2015, Illumina Agricultural Greater Good Initiative Award etc. It is also important to mention that the “Tropical legumes Project” led by Prof Varshney recently got Africa Food Prize for ICRISAT.
Brief background of the group leader
Leader of this study, Prof. Rajeev Varshney is an agricultural research scientist specializing in genomics and molecular breeding with 20+ years of service in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. He is currently serving as Research Program Director- Accelerated Crop Improvement; and Director, Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems Biology at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). He is an Honorary and/or Adjunct Professor in 10 universities/institutes in Australia, China, Ghana and India including Murdoch University, The University of Western Australia and The University of Queensland, Australia. He is a globally recognized leader for his work on genome sequencing, genomics-assisted breeding and translational genomics in legume and cereal crops and capacity building in developing countries.
Prof. Varshney has made centrally important contributions to improving food security in India and Africa by creating genomic resources of ten major “orphan” tropical crops including pigeonpea, chickpea, groundnut and pearl millet. He has developed and deployed DNA marker technologies for the identification of useful genetic variation in these key crops. He has used these resources to identify genetic loci and candidate genes for drought and pest tolerance in key staple crops for sub-Saharan Africa and India. He has initiated and led major international programmes that are creating and already delivering 11 superior crop varieties through genomics-assisted breeding to some of the world’s poorest farmers.
Prof. Varshney, a highly prolific author and Highly Cited Researcher for 8 consecutive years (2014-2021) in a row has published >500 papers in high impact factor journals including 19 papers in Nature journals. Based on his publications, he has h-Index of 108 with >46,000 citations. He is the youngest and the only Indian agricultural/plant scientist and the 4th Indian to achieve an h-index of 100 as per Google Scholar. He is editor of 17 books from Springer, CRC Publishers, etc.
Prof. Varshney is an elected fellow to about 10 science and agriculture academies/ societies in India, Germany, USA, etc. and recipient of several noted awards including the most coveted science award, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, and the most prestigious agricultural science award, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award from Government of India. Recently ICRISAT won the 2021- Africa Food Prize for the outputs and impact of Tropical Legume projects, led by Prof Varshney as Principal Investigator for 7 years.
Who are other prominent members in the group
This is one of the largest study of its kind involving 57 researchers from 41 organizations across 10 countries. From ICRISAT, members from the team included Dr Manish Roorkiwal, Mr Prasad Bajaj, Ms Anu Chitikineni, Dr Mahendar Thudi, Dr Hari D Upadhyaya, Dr Aamir W. Khan, Dr Vanika Garg, Mr Vinod Kumar Valluri, Dr Pallavi Sinha, Dr Vikas K. Singh, Dr Abhishek Rathore, Dr Muneendra K. Singh & Dr Himabindu Kudapa. For contributions of each member, please refer the nature paper:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04066-1#author-information.
Why Chickpea only, why it is found important for this study?
Chickpea is one of the important legume crops, cultivated in more than 50 countries and is a rich source of protein. With high nutritional values, chickpea is a key crop towards nutritional security, especially in developing countries of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Having chickpea in its basket of mandate crops, ICRISAT embarked on this ambitious initiative of the “3000 chickpea genome sequencing” project in 2014.
When and how did you come up with the idea of this study?
An international team of researchers led by me published the first chickpea genome in Nature Biotechnology in 2013. After we published the chickpea reference genome, we were encouraged by the then Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Shri Ashish Bahuguna, and the then Deputy Director General of ICAR, Dr Swapan Datta, and the then Director General of ICRISAT, Dr William Dar to develop a road map for genomics- assisted breeding in chickpea. Subsequently, we worked with the then Director, ICAR- IIPR, Dr NP Singh and chickpea breeders and researchers from ICRISAT, ICAR-IIPR, International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dryland Areas, and state agricultural universities in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, New Delhi. With the initial funding support from DAC, Ministry of Agriculture, and encouragement from the then Management of ICRISAT, “The 3000 Chickpea Genome-Sequencing Initiative” was launched in 2014
Any preliminary studies by your group or lab?
Yes, our group together with partners from across the globe have undertaken several projects on chickpea crop. The key selected ones that played significant role in transforming chickpea crop breeding programs for development and delivery of improved varieties includes:
– Draft genome sequence of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) provides a resource for trait improvement – Nature Biotechnology 2013(https://www.nature.com/articles/nbt.2491)
– Recent breeding programs enhanced genetic diversity in both desi and kabuli varieties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)- Scientific Reports 2016(https://www.nature.com/articles/srep38636)
Resequencing of 429 chickpea accessions from 45 countries provides insights into genome diversity, domestication and agronomic traits- Nature Genetics 2019(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-019-0401-3)
– A chickpea genetic variation map based on the sequencing of 3,366 genomes- Nature, 2021 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04066-1)
From where you get the fund for this project?
The project launched with initial funding from Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. However, over the years several partners alongwith their donors and funding agencies contributed in this study. Some key funders include Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology under the Indo- Australian Biotechnology Fund, Government of India and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
How many different types of novel genes are uncovered through this project?
This study identified 29,870 genes that includes 1,582 previously unreported novel genes. Furthermore, the study identified blocks of genes in landraces (domesticated varieties developed by farmers) that can significantly enhance performance of the crop by improving traits like yield, climate resilience and seed characteristics. Called haplotypes, these blocks of genes are what crop breeders strive to bring into cultivars. Using historical data of all chickpea varieties released between 1948 and 2012, the research sheds light on the deployment of these haplotypes in the varieties. We examined 129 varieties released in the past. Though a few superior haplotypes were detected in some of these varieties, we found that most varieties lacked many beneficial haplotypes. We have arrived at 56 promising lines that can bring these haplotypes into breeding programs to develop enhanced varieties.
What various accessions are included in the study?
In this study, we have sequenced 3,366 chickpea germplasm accessions including 3,171 cultivated and 195 wild types.
What other crops you think are important for such kind of studies and why?
Most of the crops, including legumes, grown in the dryland regions of the world are important from this point of view. As roughly 2.5 billion people – 30 percent of the world’s population – live in the dry areas, which cover more than 40 percent of the world’s land surface. Scarce natural resources, land degradation and frequent droughts severely challenge food production in these areas. Productivity in dryland regions face a multitude of challenges – persistent water scarcity, frequent droughts, high climatic variability, various forms of land degradation, including desertification, and loss of biodiversity.
What are future implications of this study on hunger index and/or to combat world hunger?
Reports suggest that global efforts to end world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030 are not on track, due to several drivers including the recent COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the latest FAO report estimates that between 720 and 811 million people in the world faced hunger in 2020 – as many as 161 million more than in 2019. The world needs to realize this urgency and put together all possible efforts to address global hunger and malnutrition, in best possible manner. Such kind of advanced genomic research has the potential to revitalize the agricultural landscape by advancing and accelerating the crop breeding efforts. It has the potential to provide a complete picture of genetic variation within any crop with a validated roadmap for using the knowledge and genomic resources for crop improvement programs.
We have already suggested some novel approaches such as haplotype based breeding, genomic prediction, optimal contributions selection for redefining the chickpea breeding etc. These approaches are expected to deliver high-yielding, climate resilient and nutrition rich crop varieties to provide food and nutrition.
Prof Varshney, a highly prolific author, has published more than 500 high-quality research papers/articles including 19 papers in Nature journals and has h-index of 108 with more than 46,00 citations. Thomson Reuters (Clarivate Analytics) has recognized him as a highly cited researcher for the last 8 years in a row (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014) and honored him with research Excellence India Citation Award-2015.
Chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.), commonly called “chana” or “bengal gram” is one of the oldest grain legume crops that is grown over 50 countries worldwide. Due to its rich protein and nutrient content, chickpea provides an affordable dietary resource to meet the nutrition security demands of growing population, particularly in India and several other countries of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Although crop improvement programmes in India and elsewhere have delivered superior varieties in past, it is imperative to use biotechnology approaches for bringing revolution in crop improvement in chickpea. Genomics- assisted breeding approach is a key approach in this direction. However until 2005, there were very limited genomic resources available in the crop. Therefore, the crop often used to be called ‘orphan crop’ and genomics- assisted breeding was like a dream in this crop. The timeline of sequencing projects conducted under the leadership of Prof Varshney is provided in Figure 1.
Prof Rajeev Varshney, an Indian scientist, popularly known as “genomics guru”, after completing his post-doctoral tenure at Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics & Crops Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany and joining ICRISAT in 2005 took it as a challenge for bringing genomics revolution. In 2007, after establishing the Centre of Excellence in Genomics (now called Centre of Excellence in Genomics & Systems Biology) at ICRISAT, and working with a range of partners across the world, Prof Varshney has been engaged in developing genomic resources and translating these genome information for crop improvement in tropical crops such as chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut and pearl millet.
With an objective to bring genomic revolution, the first chickpea genome sequence was reported in Nature Biotechnology in 2013 (https://www.nature.com/articles/nbt.2491) by an international team led by Prof Rajeev K Varshney. This scientific breakthrough provided for the first time a much-required gene repertoire for chickpea. This genome sequence was used to understand the genetic base by sequencing of 100 elite varieties of chickpea released in 14 countries under the leadership of Prof Varshney. This study was published in 2016 in Scientific Reports (https://www.nature.com/articles/srep38636). Subsequently, Prof. Varshney’s team embarked on the scientific journey to sequence 429 chickpea lines from 45 countries and the results of this study were published in Nature Genetics (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-019-0401-3). This study involving scientists from 21 research institutes globally identified genes for tolerance to drought and heat. This effort also provided key insights into the crop’s genetic diversity, domestication and molecular basis of agronomic traits for chickpea improvement.
The new breakthrough study published in Nature on Nov 10, 2021, however, provided a deeper understanding of chickpea’s genome based on the development of a detailed genetic variation map from 3,171 cultivated and 195 accessions of wild species of chickpea. Involving 57 researchers from 41 organizations across 10 countries, this study assembled chickpea’s pan-genome based on genome sequencing data of 3,366 chickpea lines from 60 countries. This article provides: (a) genome variation map (pangenome) of chickpea, (b) origin and migration routes of chickpea to various parts of the world, (c) chickpea species divergence, (d) genetic load/burden responsible for lowering crop performance, (e) superior haplotypes for agronomic traits for undertaking haplotype-based breeding, (f) foundation for genomic prediction and optimal selection for developing superior varieties.
“By employing whole-genome sequencing, we have been able to affirm the history of chickpea’s origin in the Fertile Crescent and identify two paths of diffusion or migration of chickpea to the rest of the world. One path indicates diffusion to South Asia and East Africa, and the other suggests diffusion to the Mediterranean region (probably through Turkey) as well as to the Black Sea and Central Asia (up to Afghanistan),” said Prof Varshney. He added, “The team, by developing pangenome, identified 29,870 genes that includes 1,582 previously unreported novel genes and by employing whole genome sequencing”. A pangenome highlighting genome diversity in chickpea is given in Figure 2.
In an interview with Mr K P Singh, Professor Varshney told, “Our Nature paper added knowledge on both fronts- basic biology, and agriculture related applications. While the study provides insights on genetic diversity, species divergence, domestication, migration routes, the study also identifies “good” genes and “bad” genes in chickpea genome. We propose not only accumulating good genes to develop better varieties, but also purge bad genes during breeding so that we have high performing crop varieties”.
While recollecting the history of the project, Prof Varshney mentioned that after we published the chickpea reference genome, we were encouraged by the then Secretary, Department of of Agriculture and Cooperation, Shri Ashish Bahuguna, and the then Deputy Director General of ICAR, Dr Swapan Datta, and the then Director General of ICRISAT, Dr William Dar to develop a road map for genomics- assisted breeding in chickpea.
Subsequently, we worked with the then Director, ICAR- IIPR, Dr NP Singh and chickpea breeders and researchers from ICRISAT, ICAR-IIPR, International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dryland Areas, and state agricultural universities in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, New Delhi. With the initial funding support from DAC, Ministry of Agriculture, “The 3000 Chickpea Genome-Sequencing Initiative” was launched in 2014 (Figure 3). Subsequently several partners, funding agencies joined the project and we enhanced the scope of the project.
Large-scale sequencing data were generated on HiSeq 2500 sequencing machine at ICRISAT (India) following “Make In India” initiative of Government of India.
It took about 3 years to generate all data at ICRISAT and partners in India, and then about 3-4 years for data analysis and interpretation together with partners around the world and about one and half years with the manuscript preparation, submission, revision and acceptance. “In summary, though it has been a long journey with many ups and downs (excitements and disappointments), we have successfully completed this project and published its outputs in Nature, the world’s topmost science journal”, said Prof Varshney.
Translating genome information for developing better varieties
Based on genome information from earlier studies, ICRISAT together with its national partners in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, mapped around 30-50 agronomic traits. Notably a genomic region (referred as “QTL-hotspot”) containing genes for drought tolerance traits was identified by Prof Varshney and his team. He together with researchers from ICRISAT and other institutes from India and other countries introgressed this “QTL-hotspot” for drought tolerance, and also genes for Fusarium wilt (a serious disease responsible for yield reduction) in several elite varieties. As a result, several improved varieties were developed together with national partner Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur (UAS-R) and others in last 3 years. These varieties include three drought tolerant varieties: ‘Pusa 10216’ (with ICAR- IARI, Figure 5), ‘Pusa Chickpea 4005’ or ‘BG 4005’ (with ICAR- IARI) and ‘IPCL4-14’ (with ICAR- IIPR), and three Fusarium wilt resistant varieties: ‘MABC-WR-SA-1’ alias ‘Super Annigeri-1’ (with UAS-R), ‘Pusa Chickpea 20211’ alias ‘Pusa Chickpea Manav’ and ‘IPCMB 19-3’. Drought tolerant Pusa Chickpea 4005 and IPCMB 19-3 were among 35 crop varieties dedicated by Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi to the nation on 28 September2021.
Taking improved varieties to small-holder farmers
While crop improvement teams around the world has been delivering improved varieties, in many countries they don’t reach to farmers in real time. Secondly, even if the varieties reach to farmers, without availability of information and practicing proper agronomy, farmers are not able to harness the full potential of genetics. To overcome the above mentioned issues, Prof Varshney highlighted two examples- one on Tropical Legumes project funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the other one on delivering more produce and income to small-holder farmers funded by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, that were led by him as Principal Investigator. He said, “Tropical Legumes projects through collaborative efforts of ICRISAT, IITA, CIAT and national programmes in 13 countries in Africa and two countries (India and Bangladesh) in Asia, facilitated release of 266varieties, production of 498,034 tons seeds, adoption of improved varieties of legumes under in 5 million ha area and creation of 52 next generation scientists (Figure 4). By assuming 0.2 ha land per farmer, the Tropical Legume projects is benefitting 25 million lives in 15 countries of SSA and Asia”. For this outstanding work and positive impact on livelihood of small-holder farmers in 13 African countries through TL projects led by Varshney, ICRISAT has been awarded Africa Food Prize-2021 on 8th Sept 2021.
Regarding delivering more produce and income to small-holder farmers project, Prof Varshney mentioned, “In collaboration with scientists from ICRISAT, ICAR-IIPR and 7 agricultural research stations/ state agricultural universities in 6 states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh), we had an outreach of 32 varieties/hybrids of pulse crops to about 1,822 farmers from 158 villages of 25 districts from above mentioned 6 states. Farmers- preferred varieties and hybrids are being promoted for production at large scale in these states.
Testimonials to Prof Varshney by Stalwarts of Agribiotechnology
GurdevKhush, World Food Prize Laureate, University of California- Davis, USA
“Congratulations Rajeev and your team for this outstanding achievement. I am so proud that this breakthrough research has been published in the high impact journal Nature. I am sure this paper will be read and appreciated by agricultural scientists world over.”
Rajendra S Paroda, Padama Bhushan Awardee & President, Trust for Advancing of Agricultural Sciences, India
“I am extremely happy to see this chickpea genomics paper published in Nature, which is not easy yet you have done it Rajeev. Let me congratulate you and all the co-authors for this. I am sure the findings of this study will help in accelerating pre-breeding and genomics-assisted breeding for needed genetic improvement in chickpea.”
Partha P Majumder, National Science Chair, Government of India
“This is awesome work! Very elegant and deep, with significant translational implications. I am very proud of you, Rajeev. Especially because you are making these contributions from India”.
Shobha Sivasankar, Section Head- Plant Breeding and Genetics, International Atomic Energy Agency, Austria
“Congratulations, Rajeev, on this excellent work!!! Great to see your leadership for this massive effort, and a wonderful achievement and contribution to the chickpea community! Well done!!”
Arvind Kumar, Deputy Director General- Research, ICRISAT, India
“Rajeev and Team, Heartiest congratulations to you all. A proud moment for all of us. The outputs from this article are expected to help chickpea improvement programmes around the world and will contribute to enhance crop productivity, resilience and nutrition. Great work and keep it up”.
David Morrison, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Murdoch University, Australia
“It is wonderful to see this international collaboration delivering impact oriented outputs to improve international agriculture. Congratulations, Rajeev and thanks for working with us at Murdoch University.”
Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, Ghana
Congratulations, to you Rajeev and your team for this outstanding feat. It is great to see so-called orphan crops like chickpea joining the elite group of crops- thanks to your leadership and contributions. I am sure that the outputs of this article will be contributing to enhance crop productivity and deliver higher produce to small-holder farmers in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and further help to raise livelihoods.”.
Andreas Graner, Executive Director & Head of Genebank, IPK-Gatersleben, Germany
“Many many congratulations to Rajeev and team for this landmark paper in crop genomics published in Nature. This is indeed a largest plant genome sequencing study at the whole genome level. Pan genome, species divergence, and domestication and migration routes are providing insights in the area of basic plant science. At the same, superior haplotypes, genomic prediction approach and genetic load reported in this article will turbocharge chickpea improvement. Further, the outputs of this article will also help in germplasm management. Great work, indeed, Rajeev!”
Peter Davies, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Australia
“Here at Murdoch, we’re working hard in pursuit of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals of eliminating hunger and poverty and promoting sustainable production. Rajeev’s research is important in this pursuit and we’re really pleased to be collaborating with him on a global scale.”
Chike Mba, Team Leader, Seeds and Plant Genetic Resources, Plant Production and Protection Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy.
“I have read with keen interest the recent publication on the chickpea genome variation in the esteemed scientific journal, Nature. The seminal article, which chronicles a massive amount of work on whole genome sequencing of chickpea at a large scale, is a most timely contribution to the efforts to understand and exploit the heredity of the crop’s traits. In particular, the information contained in the paper will be extremely important for enhancing use of genomics-assisted breeding in the genetic improvement of this food security crop. I look forward therefore to a greater ease in breeding more productive and nutritious varieties of chickpea that are also climate resilient in support of the low input production systems of small-holder farmers in developing countries. My sincere congratulations and appreciation to you, Rajeev, for establishing and leading this international consortium and for the successful completion of this herculean task! Well done, Rajeev and team!”
Prof Rajeev Varshney Once again appears among the Top 1% of the Highly Cited Researcher in world
Last but not the least, Prof. Varshney has been included (again) 8th time in a row in #HighlyCitedResearchers list for 2021 https://bit.ly/3cdpgyq. This list recognizes the true pioneers in their fields over the last decade, demonstrated by the production of multiple highly-cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and year in the Web of Science™. Of the world’s scientists and social scientists, Highly Cited Researchers truly are one in 1,000.
As per one study at Stanford University (USA) published in PLoS Biology on 16 Oct 2021, Prof. Varshney was included again in Top 2% World’s Scientists. He is ranked at 2nd in Plant Biology & Botany section among Indian scientists.
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« Judge to law enforcement: Go get ACORN
Czarred And Feathered »
Obama’s 5 Health Care Myths
Posted by Sophist in Business News, Political
The United States does have to confront the reality that some people in this country are crushed by medical costs, and some receive inadequate treatment. But the debate over how to remedy these problems should be framed by facts, not myths.
If you’re trying to follow the health care debate, you know there are some “truths” which have been repeated so frequently, and with such vehemence, that they have become gospel. How often have you heard “the costs are skyrocketing” or “our system is broken” or “Americans overwhelmingly support reform”? Here’s a heads-up: Some of these are simply baloney.
For instance, those pushing reform have described our healthcare system as “broken,” thus in desperate need of overhaul. The primary evidence for this claim is a report issued by the World Health Organization in 2000 which ranked the U.S. 37th in overall “health performance” despite being number one in spending. (It is noteworthy that the WHO no longer publishes such a ranking — deeming the process “too difficult.”) Betsy McCaughey, in a recent talk before the Manhattan Institute, noted that the rankings were heavily weighted towards social goals, and less towards the effectiveness of medical care. In other words, the WHO studied the distribution of medical attention, and the fairness in financial contribution, placing as much weight on such issues as on actual performance.
Further, according to Princeton professors Uwe Reinhardt and Tsung-mei Chung, the rankings “are not based on the actual values achieved by the nation, but on the ratio of the achieved values to the values that ought to have been achieved, given the country’s educational attainment and spending.” They point out that the rankings, in effect, were determined by the opinions of those surveyed. In short, this is hardly a scientific assessment.
Even against this bias, the U.S. ranked number one in “responsiveness” — that is in actually delivering care, but got hammered on “fairness of financial contribution.” The country that scored highest on that metric — Colombia — ranked 82nd on responsiveness. Would you rather be treated in Colombia or in the U.S.?
The WHO publishes reams of data that may more accurately describe the medical care a country receives. For instance, life expectancy is a decent proxy for the overall level of health and healthcare in a country. The life expectancy of those born in the U.S. was 78 years in 2007, up from 77 in 2000 and 75 in 1990. This figure is not at the top of the heap — Japan’s sushi-eaters can hope to live to 83, for instance, while a number of Western countries (Iceland, Italy and Australia among others) are at 82, but it is certainly respectable and better than most. The Russian Federation, for instance, has a life expectancy of only 66 years. Another gauge of a country’s medical support is infant mortality. In the U.S., the WHO says, 4 out of every 1,000 births ends in death; only a handful of countries report a lower figure. Statistics show that 99% of births in the US are attended by “skilled health personnel” — a figure only surpassed by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tuvalu, among others. (Do we detect the challenges confronted by the WHO’s data collectors?)
Myth number two about our healthcare system is that the growth in spending on healthcare has accelerated in recent years. In fact, in 2007 — the most recent year for which we have data — health care spending decelerated, to 6.1% from 6.7% in 2006. More interesting is that the rate of growth has dropped every year since 2002, and that the average increase so far this decade — 7.4%, though modestly ahead of the growth rate in the 1990s, trails far behind the 11.3% increase rate of the 1980s and 12.7% of the 1970s. Health care spending may be growing too rapidly, but it is not accelerating.
Myth number three about health care spending is that the increases in outlays portray a system “out of control” and bloated by greed and inefficiency. In fact, some argue that the growth in the sector stems directly from the aging of the population and advances in medical technologies. Knee replacements are expensive, but they are also now commonplace. Lipitor and other statin drugs cost a great deal, but they also prolong life and can eliminate heart disease. (The unfortunate reality is that prolonging life costs money, too.)
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, from 1997 to 2007 the number of prescriptions purchased in the US rose 72%, while the population grew just 11%. Over half of Americans take one prescription drug on a regular basis; one in five takes four or more. Overall, prescription drugs account for only 10% of the healthcare dollar, but this category has grown faster than overall spending. The reality is that Americans choose to spend money on the best treatments available.
Our fourth healthcare myth is that Americans overwhelmingly want to see the system changed. It just ain’t so. A Gallup poll conducted late last year showed that 49% of respondents wanted to maintain the current system, while 41% wanted it to change. In a more recent Rasmussen poll, only 50% of all voters are in favor of the president’s reform plan. A mere 12% of respondents think their healthcare coverage will improve under the proposed overhaul, while 37% expect their coverage to be worse. The remaining 37% do not expect to see any change. In other words, 74% of Americans do not see healthcare reform improving their own situation.
The fifth myth is that Americans are deeply concerned about extending health insurance to those not covered. In fact, a recent Kaiser Foundation poll found that 54% of Americans are not willing to pay more — either in higher health insurance premiums or higher taxes — to increase the number of Americans that have coverage. As a country, we are concerned about the rise in healthcare expenditures, and are heartbroken when we hear of people who have been denied medical treatment, but we do not want to pick up the tab for them.
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 7:43 am and is filed under Business News, Political. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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What’s New in China
Sarah Schafer on the blogging revolution taking place in China:
The success of blogs is changing Chinese expectations. The controversial reports found on the Web—and the vibrant, individualistic, often emotional style in which they’re written—have underscored how hollow the state-run press is. Indeed, whereas in the West bloggers tout themselves as an alternative to the mainstream media, in China they in many ways are the new mainstream: rather than, say, watching bland programs on state-owned CCTV, many urban Chinese turn to Web sites such as Sohu.com, Sina.com and Baidu.com for breaking news—and then disseminate that information via e-mail and mobile-phone text messages. “A Chinese blogger is just like an American columnist,” says Zhao Jing, a journalist whose popular blog on Microsoft’s blog service, MSN Spaces, was recently shuttered on orders from Beijing. “We journalists can’t tell the truth, so we tell it with blogs.”
I saw an amazing Frontline documentary about Tank Man of Tianaman Square on PBS. Robin Munro on the symbolic victory the students achieved:
… The students’ decision to peacefully evacuate the square minutes before the final assault was definitely going to come, was a triumph of rationality over violence. It was a triumph of political wisdom and sanity over what was, on the government’s side, panic, fear, cowardice in mobilizing an army against an unarmed citizenry. … The future prevailed in the sense of those students who walked out of the square and said: “We’ve made our point. OK, you have the tanks. We’re not going to let you kill us pointlessly.”
The theater of the massacre was, by and large, elsewhere. It was the rest of the city, and that was where the Beijing citizens fought and died to protect their students, and also to protect the sense of civic pride and consciousness they themselves had developed in those crucial few weeks leading up to that.
In the same website, the interviewer asks 4 students at Beijing University to identify the famous photograph of Tank Man standing in front of the army tank. None could do it, and the filmmaker explains that it is not simply “shyness in front of the communist minders”.
Frontline had an open discussion among Sinologists about democracy in China. Anne Thurstone writes:
Today, the Party seems embarked on a major effort at transforming its basis of legitimacy. The introduction of competitive elections at the village level is one such example. The Party is using those elections to recruit popular village leaders into its ranks. Jiang Zemin’s new theory of the “three represents” is another example. I initially did not take the “three represents” seriously. My unscientific sampling of taxi drivers, street vendors, hotel attendants, and restaurant staff has yet to reveal a single person able to recite the substance of the theory. But most of my academic Chinese friends are taking the theory — that the Party represents the most advanced productive forces (the entrepreneurs and capitalists), the most advanced cultural forces (the intellectuals), and the great masses of the Chinese people (the workers and peasants) — seriously indeed. The three represents essentially turns Maoism on its head, redefining the class basis of the Party’s support. Mao’s revolution, after all, aimed to overthrow the capitalists; and intellectuals were at the lowest rung of the hierarchy of status. Jiang’s theory incorporates into the Party the very people Mao was trying to destroy.
Some of my Chinese friends tell me that the greater inclusiveness of the three represents will ultimately result in reforms within the Party. If it is true, they argue, that economic development and the rise of a middle class ultimately lead to demands for democratization, then the Party is admitting the very people most likely to make such demands. And while intellectuals may be politically quiescent now, they have always been at the forefront of democratic movements and can be expected to be the vanguard of the next wave of democratic demands. By welcoming into the Party those people with the greatest proclivity toward democracy, the likelihood is that the Party will ultimately both be willing to reform itself from within and be responsive to grassroots demands for democratization. And such responsiveness by the Party suggests that a democratic transition could be peaceful.
Rebecca MacKinnon estimates that only 5% of Chinese bloggers know how to access a proxy server:
If you know how to use a … proxy server you can configure your browser to get around the firewall. … [O]verseas dissident and human rights groups are doing everything they can to make these tools known to people inside China. Nobody has done a systematic study of how many Internet users actually use proxy servers. … However, I’ve queried a lot of Chinese bloggers unscientifically, and the answers I’ve gotten back suggest that only 5-10 percent or so of Chinese Internet users really know how to use a proxy server, and a much smaller number actually use them on a regular basis.
There are several reasons for this. One is that [proxy servers] are time-consuming to use because the Chinese net police are constantly blocking them, and another is that many users are worried that … they’ll call attention to themselves as being “up to something.” Another reason, however, is that Chinese users, like most Internet users everywhere, gravitate towards information that is easily accessed with minimal amount of hassle. Only the true political junkies make the extra effort.
A Shanghai blogger comments on Internet censorship (using typographical obfuscation to evade censors):
In addition, as far as poli****cal and individual fr***dom goes, there has been real and steady progress in China since 114968793. Private property rights have been written into the constitution and have been a de facto reality in the cities since the the mid-1990s with the rise of commercially traded housing. Homosexuality has been decriminalized. Citizens no longer require Party and ‘work unit’ approvals for marriages, overseas trips and other aspects of their private lives. While the Internet is ce***ored, the vast majority of information on the World Wide Web is accessible to anyone with a few dollars to spend in an Internet cafe. This is a sea change from pre-Internet China, when state-owned media and neighborhood gossip were almost the only information sources available. And while unfurling a banner in Ti@@@@@@@en Square will get you swift and unfriendly attention from the cops, you can sit in a restaurant in Beijing and complain about the Pa$$$$$ty in a loud voice and you will be fine.
(For the record, my English language Asiafirst weblog got a lot of traffic when it came out; it used to be the #1 search result when you typed in “China weblog” or “India weblog” or “Asia weblog”. That was in 2002, a really long time ago). Now, according to a new report, 52% of office workers in China are blogging–not about politics but their coworkers. I loved writing that weblog, but I was spreading myself way too thin and had to discontinue). For the time being I content myself with watching Asian movies and reading classic Asian literature.
Susan Ogden writes about how democracy is not a panacea to China’s ills. Just compare with India: (I’ve written about the India vs. China debate before):
ake legal and judicial reform as a critical element in democratization. China’s legal scholars, often serving in legal associations that advise the government, have worked hard to reform the legal system, but it is not as easy as it looks. What does “justice” or “rule of law” really mean in practice? How does a judicial system implement “equality before the law”? Who is the final arbiter of the “legality” of laws, the National People’s Congress or the Supreme Judicial Court? Should judges in the higher courts be appointed by political leaders? And if so, what kinds of political and judicial views should those appointees have?
Fundamental questions such as these still come regularly to the forefront in our own system, and the answers keep changing. It’s not as if today’s legal scholars in China are political sycophants bereft of ideas. Many have been trained in the West, and many Western lawyers, faculty, and even U.S. Supreme Court justices have been invited to China to help them think through legal and judicial reform.
Second, to suggest that the reason a country such as Indonesia fell apart was because it lacked democracy may or may not be correct. But if it is, then how to explain why India, which has had a democratic system since 1947, has not been able to pull itself together? Why has Indian democracy not produced a government that is willing to address the problems of its people? Malnutrition in India is remediable; that is, India has the food to feed all its people, but it does not. The result is that malnutrition remains at unconscionably high levels while grain rots in the fields because of government policies. According to United Nations data, the mortality rate for those under age 5 (per 1,000 live births) is 47 for China, 105 for India. After half a century of democratic rule in India and authoritarian rule in China, the adult illiteracy rate (age 15 and above, as of 1998) is 17.2 percent for China, and 44.3 percent for India. India has done nothing to control its soaring population growth, and it has still not abolished the caste system in practice. And so on. Can one say that Indian democracy has fulfilled the social and economic rights of its people better than has China’s political system, or that political rights for Indians have preserved human dignity?
So, then, what is the problem and the cure? In truth, China has lots of problems, and a panacea-type response like “democratization” doesn’t address the issues. Take, for example, some of the industries now threatened with bankruptcy because of international competition. How would “democratization” help them? How would democratization solve the problem of massive unemployment resulting from the shut-down of state-owned enterprises? Or take the financial sector. State-owned banks are on the verge of bankruptcy, a lot of it tied to forced underwriting of state-owned enterprises. How would “democratization” address this problem? How would democratic theory speak to the issue of the relationship of industries to banks or government in a society making the transition from a socialist to a capitalist economy? What China needs are specific financial reforms, including strategies that enhance transparency, such as greater supervision and oversight, independent auditors, and appropriate accounting procedures. Problems must be addressed issue-by-issue and step-by-step. Meaningful reforms can be made under any form of government. There is no guarantee that a democratic government will be more willing to undertake them than an authoritarian one, as the resistance of the Japanese government to such financial reforms makes all too clear.
On a totally unrelated note, I’ve been struck by the number of Chinese-produced films are available at Blockbuster stores and online. For the first time, I feel like I’m at a feast. I made a list of films to watch, and unfortunately the crappy Abiword program on my Nokia 770 corrupted the file.
Next post: Guilt about not blogging
Previous post: Running Down Shiny Hallways
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Cardinal Mazarin
July 14, 1602 – March 9, 1661
In "The Three Musketeers", Alexandre Dumas created one of literature's greatest villains: Cardinal Richelieu, the conniving, manipulative, purely evil puppet-master who will stop at nothing to stop our titular heroes (plus a certain fourth joiner). So, when Dumas decided to bring back the musketeers in the sequel...
There was no Richelieu. Perhaps it was a case of been there, done that, but Dumas set the sequel twenty years after the original, imaginably titling it... "Twenty Years After". By then, the historical Richelieu was deep in the ground, so Dumas needed a new villain. Enter Cardinal Mazarin.
Mazarin is presented as Richelieu's pale shadow: he is incompetent, he is greedy, he is petty, he has a big nose, he is shtupping the queen. In fact, Richelieu is practically rehabilitated by comparison, as d'Artagnan yearns for his original, real adversary. Unfortunately for him, after those twenty years in wilderness, he has no choice but to serve Mazarin in his quest to relive his glory days. It works out. (Mostly. Not so much in the sequel that followed this one.)
Of course, the real-life Mazarin was not exactly like his bumbling literary counterpart. In fact, he did much good for France, including winning the Thirty Years War. We're not sure if he shtupped the queen...
But he did have a big nose and was subject of Jewish rumors, so there is that.
Jeno Fuchs
The Jesuits
Logan Lerman
Richard Lester
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Explore Sources
Below you’ll see several documents from King’s Chapel’s records. Looking at each, what is the source of each page? Although they are from different volumes and years, look closely for any commonalities between these pages. Do any names or details appear across documents?
Each of these documents provides a small glimpse into the lives of Lancaster and Margaret Hill, a Black couple who worshipped at King’s Chapel between the 1750s and 1770s. Lancaster and Margaret were married at King’s Chapel on April 9, 1755.
Lancaster Hill came to Boston from Charlestown in 1751. A free man, he married Margaret, a woman enslaved by Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, at King’s Chapel in 1755. Despite his free status, slavery defined much of Lancaster’s life. The lives of his wife and children were at the whim of Dr. Gardiner. The Hills were married at the Chapel because Dr. Gardiner was a member, and when he began attending Trinity Church, so did Lancaster and Margaret. They appear in the Trinity vital register burying one of their infant children, and their son was later married there in 1793. Lancaster operated a grocery on Marlborough Street, modern Washington Street, across from Dr. Gardiner’s home, a spot probably chosen to maintain a close proximity to his wife and children. In 1777, Lancaster put his name to Prince Hall’s petition calling on the recently independent Massachusetts government to put an end to slavery due to the “natural and unalienable right...to freedom.” The petition, purposefully mirroring the language of the American Revolution, unfortunately failed. Lancaster would however live to see his children and all those enslaved in Massachusetts freed after the court cases of Elizabeth Freeman and Quock Walker abolished slavery in the Commonwealth in 1783. Unfortunately, Margaret died in 1782, and though her exact status is unclear, it is believed she remained enslaved all her life.
The appearance of Lancaster and Margaret in the King’s Chapel vital register offers a concrete record of their life and marriage, but it also can reveal much about the enslaved and free Black experience in colonial Boston. Lancaster and Margaret did not choose to attend King’s Chapel; they attended because Dr. Gardiner did. Even though Lancaster was free he still had to sit upstairs in the uncomfortable gallery pews to which all Blacks were relegated, by vote of the King’s Chapel Vestry, its governing board. Lancaster’s life was very much defined by slavery in spite of his free status, and his name on Prince Hall’s 1777 petition is a powerful reminder of the effects of slavery in Boston.
Return to "Explore" Page
Next: Learn about Hannibal Allen & Rhoda Hall
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Home > News > Korea > First lady visits ex-President Roh’s widow
First lady visits ex-President Roh’s widow
First lady Kim Keon-hee paid a visit to the widow of former President Roh Moo-hyun at her home in the southeastern village of Bongha on Monday.
Kim took a train to the village in Gimhae, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and stopped first at the grave of the late former president to pay her respects.
The visit was widely interpreted as the start of Kim’s public activities, as she has largely kept a low profile since the presidential campaign.
Dozens of local residents welcomed the first lady with cheers and applause, prompting her to stop in her steps to acknowledge them with silent nods.
She then entered the home of Roh’s widow, Kwon Yang-sook, and their meeting took place in private for about one and a half hours.
Roh was a liberal icon who took his own life in 2009 amid a sprawling corruption probe.
During the meeting, Kim said if Roh were alive, he would probably tell President Yoon Suk-yeol that he should be a president of unity, according to presidential spokesperson Kang In-sun. “Everybody liked Roh, who called for national unity,” Kim added.
In response, Kwon said she feels sorry for not attending Yoon’s inauguration ceremony due to health problems. “Those in the top seat cannot help but be rated and criticized. You’ll need a lot of patience.”
She then asked Kim to make all efforts to be faithful to her role as first lady.
Yoon told reporters earlier Monday to not read too much into the first lady’s visit, saying it was something she had wanted to do since last year.
“She’s been planning to visit since last year, but the schedule didn’t work out, and now she’s going,” Yoon said as he arrived for work, when a reporter asked if he had sent a message in advance and whether the visit would mark the beginning of Kim’s public activities.
“Why do you have to interpret everything in such a complicated way?” he quipped.
First lady Kim Keon-hee pays her respects at the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha village, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on June 13, 2022. (Yonhap)
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About MMIC
MMIC projects
MMIC team
Sculpture Quadrennial
Being Good
Johannes Säre ‘Ascent to the Abyss of Lost Ideas’
In his works Johannes Säre often questions the classical strategies of conceptual art and the self-assigned value of neo-conceptualism in contemporary art. Instead of relying on words and text, Säre’s space with a lit window awakens our bodies’ senses and enables in us the capability to receive a more primal experience. In 2014 this work was a nominee for the Köler Prize and won the public’s choice award.
Johannes Säre is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in photography. He was born in Tartu in 1983, completed his educational path in Tallinn at the Photography Department of the Estonian Academy of Arts. He belonged to JIM comprised of a group of photography students (Johannes Säre, Iti Kasser, and Maido Juss), which was established in 2007 and has now been disbanded. The group dealt with the cultivation of DIY-star-mythology in the classic post-modernist idiom and the production of anonymous pseudo-identities that are “hollow on the inside”.In Säre’s individual work, he has set out from a typical neo-conceptualist position, i.e. the ironic-playful recycling of the 20th century’s conceptualist artistic legacy (for example, the solo exhibition Rhizome in 2011 and Little House on the Periphery with Kristiina Hansen at the Hobusepea Gallery in 2012) and recently focused on the construction of minimalist theatrical spatial installations in solo and group exhibitions both in Estonia and internationally.
Mākslas menedžmenta un informācijas centrs
Kalpaka bulvāris 13, Rīga, LV-1050
squadrennial@gmail.com
facebook.com/squadrennial
instagram.com/squadrennialriga
MMIC is a non-profit cultural organization with experience in organizing international projects and with partners from more than 25 countries around the world.
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