Dataset Preview
The full dataset viewer is not available (click to read why). Only showing a preview of the rows.
The dataset generation failed
Error code: DatasetGenerationError
Exception: ArrowInvalid
Message: JSON parse error: Missing a closing quotation mark in string. in row 25
Traceback: Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/packaged_modules/json/json.py", line 145, in _generate_tables
dataset = json.load(f)
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/json/__init__.py", line 293, in load
return loads(fp.read(),
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/json/__init__.py", line 346, in loads
return _default_decoder.decode(s)
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/json/decoder.py", line 340, in decode
raise JSONDecodeError("Extra data", s, end)
json.decoder.JSONDecodeError: Extra data: line 2 column 1 (char 7293)
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 1995, 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 148, in _generate_tables
raise e
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/packaged_modules/json/json.py", line 122, 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 25
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 1027, in download_and_prepare
self._download_and_prepare(
File "/src/services/worker/.venv/lib/python3.9/site-packages/datasets/builder.py", line 1122, 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 1882, 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 2038, 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.
pred_label
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float64 | wiki_prob
float64 | text
string | source
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__label__cc
| 0.616408
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Volume 10, Issue 11 $3.50
Mark Matteson publishes his Sparking Success EZine Street newsletter on the first Wednesday of every month. The next newsletter will go out on December 3, 2014
Mark Matteson gives over 75 presentations each year. Book him now to secure the inspiring message that will spark your group's success! To watch Mark's demo video, go to: www.sparkingsuccess.net. Call 206.697.0454 or e-mail him at [email protected].
The Secret of Failure? Trying to Please Everyone!
by Mark Matteson
When I was 11 years old, my neighbor, Bill Robertson, played for me his LP, Revenge, by Bill Cosby. I laughed until I cried. Until then, I thought I knew who this guy was because I had seen him on the ultra-cool television show, I Spy. Like many children my age, I had to beg my parents to let me stay up and watch this cutting-edge show that aired Wednesday nights at 10:00 pm, way past my bedtime! On that show, he wasn't funny, just cool. Listening to the LP, I discovered this guy, Bill Cosby, was funny. As long as I can remember, I have been drawn to funny like a moth to a flame.
A brand-new biography, Bill Cosby: His Life and Times, was just released by Mark Whitaker. I devoured it in a week. Coming in at 532 pages, I know what you must be thinking, "Don't you work?" Hey, I spend a lot of time on airplanes these days (75 gigs a year). After learning about his life and times, I have even more respect for this American icon. He was, and is, an author, comedian, storyteller/raconteur, actor, philanthropist, movie and television star, and more.
Just why is this man still so popular after all these years? The television industry uses something called a "Q rating" to quantify business decisions. It's a complex formula, but it drives who gets to do what. It's essentially three things: honesty, likeability, and believability.
A reporter once asked Cosby at the height of his TV fame, "What is your secret to success?" Smiling, Cos replied, "I don't know the secret of success; but I do know the secret of failure...trying to please everyone!"
Here is my subjective list of the causes of Bill Cosby's success; submitted for your approval:
His father was an alcoholic. As a result, he vowed never to drink and he never has.
As a precocious young boy, he gathered inspiration and ideas from two primary sources: stories his grandfather read to him from the Bible and the Mark Twain novels his mother read to him.
He was a sponge for ideas via radio and television as a young man. His mentors were Mark Twain, Jack Benny, Groucho Marx, Mel Brooks, and Carl Reiner. Not a bad list of heroes.
Cosby was, and still is, a "Clean Observational Comedian" and set the tone for others like Jerry Seinfeld to follow. That led to a number of TV shows.
His memory is uncommon. He is able to pull up details from his childhood and describe events and people in unique ways.
His ongoing and lifelong use of improvisation makes every show he does unique, funny, unexpected, spontaneous, and fun. Observation and improv became magnificent obsessions for him.
He tells long stories, which he calls "Gourmet Meals," and short bits, called "Fast Food," that make you laugh, cry, and think.
Bill Cosby genuinely loves people. He is humble, kind, and approachable. Despite his wealth and fame, he stills does over 60 stand-up comedy dates a year. Actually, at 77 years young and half-blind, he sits down now. He has no entourage, travels alone, and wears a sweat shirt that sports a phrase used by his late son, Ennis, "Hello Friend".
His philanthropic commitment to children's television, including one season of The Electric Company and its grueling 180-episode schedule, changed television into something noble and educational. He was giving back and paying it forward.
The secret of success? "Be true to yourself, your gifts and follow your bliss." He followed his bliss from a young age. He was always looking to "find the funny" in life.
I visited the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut recently (thanks David Heimer!). I invested in a coffee cup with my favorite quotes from the master. To me, this summarizes Twain's "Fast Food" gifts, his humorous twist on proverbial phrases to make us laugh, think, and act in different ways:
A man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them... When in doubt, tell the truth... Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest... The lack of money is the root of all evil... Familiarity breeds contempt-and children... Clothes make the man; naked people have little or no influence in society... Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to... Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself... Humor is mankind's greatest blessing... If books are not good company, where will I find it?.. Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.
In many ways, Bill Cosby channeled Mark Twain's views, philosophy, ideals, and humorous take on the world. I think I need to download Cosby's old LP, Revenge, onto my iPhone and call Bill Robertson to thank him. I need a good laugh. "Hey, hey, hey!"
Cosby: His Life and Times
By Mark Whitaker
Jerry Seinfeld said, "Whenever I think of why my life as a comedian happened, the first name I think of is Bill Cosby. I know certain religions forbid idol worship. If anyone ever told me I had to stop idolizing Bill Cosby, I would say, 'Sorry, but I'm out of this religion!' So, if you want to join the Religion of Cosby, as I did back in 1966, Mark Whitaker's wonderful new book would be our Bible."
Billy Crystal had this to say, "Cosby always makes things look so easy. This compelling book tells us it wasn't always so. A revealing, honest look at my favorite comedian."
From extreme poverty in North Philadelphia, he was a high school dropout and the son of an alcoholic and absentee father and an overworked single mother. He went into the Navy and later attended Temple University on an athletic scholarship. He left Temple when his career in stand-up comedy blossomed in New York City. From guest appearances on the Tonight Show, he went on to star in two groundbreaking television series, I Spy in the 1960s and The Cosby Show in the 1980s, and take his place as a pioneer of children's educational television programs. From shows in Las Vegas, to best-selling comedy albums and books, he exerted what became known as the Cosby Effect. It was his role in positively affecting African-American culture as a controversial spokesman, role model, and mentor. With the Cosby Effect, he helped pave the way for a black president. This book is an essential read.
Mark resides in Edmonds, Washington and takes great pride in the fact he flunked high school English. To watch Markʼs demo video, go to: www.sparkingsuccess.net
Mark Matteson gives over 75 presentations each year. Book him now to secure the inspiring message that will spark your group's success! To watch Mark's demo video, go to:www.sparkingsuccess.net. Call 206.697.0454 or e-mail him at[email protected].
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| 0.618379
| 0.381621
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235: The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul, Dogura, Papua New Guinea
Mystery Worshipper: Johnny Tambourine.
The church: The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul, Dogura, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Denomination: Anglican.
The building: European-looking: white walls, red roof, birds in the rafters. There was a colourful mural above the altar and stones from cathedrals around the world (Chester, Canterbury, Melbourne) along the walls. Also a witchdoctor's stone turned upside down forms the base of the lecturn – cracking symbolism!
The neighbourhood: Dogura is a mission station, so there's a school and health centre on the Dogura plain (which used to be a site of tribal warfare). Down the hill is the fishing village of Wedau. Apart from that, there are awesome mountains plunging into the Pacific – gorgeous at dawn.
The cast: Bishop Tevita Talanoa of Dogura.
Morning Eucharist.
Comfortably full with about 300 people. Somehow it managed to hold 800 for a service later in the week.
No one welcomed me at the service, but that's because I'd already been welcomed a thousand times over the weekend by nearly everyone in the village.
No pews. Instead we had cushions on the concrete floor. Advice for any visitors: when kneeling, kneel upright with your knees at right angles. Kneeling back is agony on the feet.
Community-like, if that makes sense. The band was practising, children were playing and dogs were wandering around dodging the blows aimed at them.
"The Lord be with you..."
The Prayer Book of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea, the Good News Bible and New English Hymns.
Synth, guitar, drums, bass (very, very funky), bongos and a trumpet played by a monk with dreadlocks.
A dog made itself comfortable, falling asleep by the altar, Noah's Ark style. A lady sitting in front of me was wearing a T-shirt which had "... women's role in the church" printed on the back. I spent ages guessing what this role was (and still don't know).
An excellent mixture of high church (liturgy, chanted prayers, mitres and incense) and funky bass riffs during the anthems.
7 – Bishop Talanoa slipped between English and another langauge (Wedau, I think) during moments of excitement.
God has given us fantastic opportunities, so let's make the most of them. Spot on: true, practical, concise.
Hearing people sing "What a friend we have in Jesus" brought home to me the fact that the Church spreads all over the world. I found that profoundly moving. And taking communion at the front next to Christians from Papua New Guinea made that even more real for me: one bread, one body.
Nothing during this service, though in nearly every other service the notices would go on for 20 minutes, which diminished "the peace the world cannot give" somewhat.
I lost count of the number of people who introduced themselves and started chatting with me at the end of the service.
No coffee. I went snorkelling with one of the teachers from the school instead!
9 – the church is the focus of community life in Dogura and Wedau, and is broad enough for everyone. There were different types of services in the cathedral through the month and varying meetings in the week. The cathedral services really were wonderful, though, and I went there regularly during the two months I had in Dogura.
Absolutely! A wonderful community celebration.
That fabulous sense of Christianity being worldwide and having brothers and sisters on the other side of the world.
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| 0.513537
| 0.513537
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Comment on this report, or find other reports.
Our Mystery Worshippers are volunteers who warm church pews for us around the world. If you'd like to become a Mystery Worshipper, start here.
Find out how to reproduce this report in your church magazine or website.
1178: Trinity Cathedral, Sergiev Posad, Russia
Mystery Worshipper: Merchant Trader.
The church: Trinity Cathedral, Sergiev Posad, Russia.
Denomination: Russian Orthodox.
The building: Trinity Cathedral is situated in the lavra (monastery complex) known as Holy Trinity-St Sergius, founded in the 14th century by St Sergius of Radonezh. It is one of 13 churches in the lavra, and is a white compact building graced with golden domes rebuilt by St Nikon between 1408 and 1425. It is the most important but not the largest church on the site and is smaller than the nearby Dormition Cathedral built by Ivan IV in the 16th century.
The church: The lavra is a living community. It includes the Metropolitan's chambers, which constitute one of the out-of-town residences of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. The lavra is constructed as a kremlin (fortress) with impressive and beautiful 16th-17th century white walls with three tiers and six tiered towers. It is home to the relics of St Sergius, St Nikon, St Micah, St Serapion of Novgorod, Metropolitan Joasaph of Moscovy, Archimandrite Dionisius, and St Maxim the Greek. Trinity Cathedral contains a miraculous icon of the Holy Trinity designed and painted by the Russian artist Andrei Rublev and donated by Boris Godunov in 1600.
The neighbourhood: The city of Sergiev Posad, situated some 50 km outside of Moscow, grew up around the lavra. It was known as Zagorsk in the Soviet era. The city is famous for its beautiful gardens and a Russian toy museum.
The cast: A priest whose name was not given.
The date & time: Saturday, 5 November 2005, 1.30pm.
Molebens (prayer service) before the relics of St Sergius.
The queue to approach the tomb of St Sergius stretched from halfway across the outside courtyard (say 150 people), through the atrium (another 40), and along the interior left wall of the cathedral, across the iconostasis to the tomb on the right side of the cathedral (another 50 people). In addition, there were another 40 people in the atrium and another 50 in the body of the cathedral, leaving just enough room to stand and move around. As people left, equal numbers replaced them.
A very helpful Orthodox priest in the courtyard outside explained that the long queue was for those who wanted to approach the tomb of St Sergius, but that we were welcome to squeeze past through the door to go into the main part of the cathedral.
Pew? Like most Orthodox churches in Russia, you stand or fall to the ground – see below.
Given that this was an extended prayer service, I was only present for a part of the time. However, the people in the queue outside were talking quietly as they waited; it was clear that they were pilgrims rather than tourists. In the atrium, some people in the queue were writing down their prayer requests and others were buying candles and cards, while still others were saying their personal prayers and lighting candles under the icons. In the cathedral proper, both the queue and the others were listening to the payers chanted by the priest and joining in by crossing themselves at the correct times. All told, it was a very reverent atmosphere.
I do not know, and would not have understood them if I had been there at the beginning. The priest chanted the entire service, which I believe was a mixture of scriptural excerpts, prayers from the liturgy, and the prayer requests being given him.
None except for the prayer request papers.
None. The priest's chanting was unaccompanied by musical instruments. He was supported antiphonally by a woman in what appeared to be one of a handful of choir stalls at the back.
I was standing listenng to the priest chanting when the woman from behind started her chant, making me jump. Later, a women dropped to the ground, prostrating herself. As my turn came to offer up my own prayers, I singed my sleeve as I tried to reach across the lighted candles to place my own candle in one of the few remaining slots.
Traditional, unchanged for six centuries. As their turn came, people waiting in the queue kissed the relics, said their personal prayers, and in some cases passed their prayer request papers to the priest. Alternatively, people who were not in the queue made a smaller queue on the right side of the cathedral to pass their prayer requests.
No sermon. The architecture, liturgy and icons all preached their own message.
The chanting, the prayerful atmosphere, the pure beauty of the place.
Having to push through the crowd in the atrium to get out to find my friends. Knowing little Russian, I would never have been able to enquire of them had I lost track of them.
It was not the sort of place, service or occasion where individuals would be acknowledged in a crowd.
Coffee was not offered. However, there was a queue of pilgrims carrying bottles to the spring in the Chapel-Over-the-Well to collect holy water. Before arriving at the lavra, my friends and I found temporal refreshment in Sergiev Posad in the form of a cup of coffee boiled in a pan. It was weaker than Turkish or Greek coffee, which you can at least discern from tea. In Sergiev Posad we found no place that was serving lunch, but on the way back to Moscow we stumbled upon a fantastic gourmet meal for next to nothing.
6 – I found myself empathizing with the pilgrims who were visiting their holy places, and would go back to Sergiev Posad for another visit. However, this is not my tradition, and even if it were, I would want to go regularly to a less crowded place.
Yes. I was humbled by the prayerfulness and devotion of the pilgrims. I was part worshipper (not knowing Russian, the most I could manage was lighting candles and saying private prayers before the icons) and part tourist, and almost felt that I was trespassing on their holy ground.
The chanting, the lady prostrating herself, the crowds, and the devotion of the pilgrims.
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The Mystery Pilgrim
One of our most seasoned reporters makes the Camino pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Read here.
London churches
Read reports from 70 London churches, visited by a small army of Mystery Worshippers on one single Sunday. Read here.
More Mystery Worshipper reports
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| 0.944617
| 0.944617
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Eric Schmidt
Eric Schmidt, Technical Advisor to Alphabet Inc
Eric Schmidt is Technical Advisor to Alphabet Inc., holding company of Google Inc, where he advises its leaders on technology, business and policy issues.
Eric was Executive Chairman of Alphabet from 2015-2018, and of Google from 2011-2015.
From 2001-2011, Eric served as Google’s Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the company’s technical and business strategy alongside founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Under his leadership, Google dramatically scaled its infrastructure and diversified its product offerings while maintaining a strong culture of innovation, growing from a Silicon Valley startup to a global leader in technology.
Prior to joining Google, Eric was the chairman and CEO of Novell and chief technology officer at Sun Microsystems, Inc. Previously, he served on the research staff at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), Bell Laboratories and Zilog. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Princeton University as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Eric was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2006 and inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as a fellow in 2007. Since 2008, he has been a trustee of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Since 2012, Eric has been on the board of the Broad Institute and the Mayo Clinic. Eric was a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science 2009-2017. In 2013, Eric and Jared Cohen co-authored The New York Times bestselling book, The New Digital Age: Transforming Nations, Businesses, and Our Lives. In September 2014, Eric published his second New York Times bestseller, How Google Works, which he and Jonathan Rosenberg co-authored with Alan Eagle. In April 2019, Eric published his third New York Times bestseller, Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley’s Bill Campbell, which he co-authored with Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle.
Eric became the Chairman of the Department of Defense’s Innovation Board in 2016 and was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service in January of 2017 by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. He is Chairman of the US National Security Commission for Artificial Intelligence. He is a member of NASA’s National Space Council User Advisory Group which is chaired by the Vice President. Eric is an MIT Visiting Innovation Fellow, member of the Advisory Board for MIT IQ, member of the MIT Commission on the Work of the Future, member of the MIT CEO Advisory Board, and member of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing Advisory Council. Eric is founder of Schmidt Futures which helps exceptional people do more for others by applying science and technology thoughtfully and working together across fields.
marianna.limas2019-09-05T17:35:54+00:00
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Windsor Tobacco: Made in the Shade
August 22, 2019 • Agriculture, Business and Industry, Immigration, Windsor, Work
Tobacco barns in Windsor, Connecticut
- Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Carol M. Highsmith Archive
Early New England settlers found the Windsor area’s sandy loam the perfect soil for growing tobacco. Beginning in 1640, Connecticut farmers imported tobacco seeds from Virginia and by the mid-19th century the “Tobacco Valley,” which ran from Springfield, Massachusetts, to Hartford, Connecticut, had become a center for cash-crop production.
Commercial tobacco production expanded dramatically in the early 1800s thanks to the growing popularity of cigars among men in the US. Farmers in Windsor and the surrounding area specialized in growing tobacco for the two outer layers of the cigar—the binder and the wrapper. Though originally intended for local consumption, Connecticut tobacco soon found customers in cities like New York and Philadelphia.
By 1910, tobacco was the leading agricultural commodity in the valley: more than just shaping the landscape, the crop helped shape the region’s identity. This was especially true when it came to shade-grown tobacco.
Tobacco barns in Windsor, Connecticut – Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Carol M. Highsmith Archive
Shade Tobacco Becomes Valley Trademark
Valley farmers traditionally grew three varieties of tobacco. The first two, Broadleaf and Havana Seed, made the best binders. These varieties prospered when grown outside, with full exposure to the sun. In the late 1800s, however, a fine-grained tobacco from Sumatra began replacing cigar wrappers made in the valley. To combat this, local farmers raised shade tents of hand-woven cloth over their crops to cut down on sun exposure and to raise the humidity levels surrounding the crop. This technique produced a thin, flavorful wrapper leaf that matched the quality of the Sumatran leaves. This new “shade tobacco” became the third and most famous variety of valley-grown tobacco.
Windsor first experimented with shade-grown tobacco in 1900. Farmers grew a half-acre of tobacco under these conditions on a plot of land on River Street in the village of Poquonock. The tent provided optimal growing conditions for the tobacco and the successful experiment initiated the shade tobacco era in Windsor. Thanks, in part, to this success, Windsor became the largest tobacco producer in Connecticut.
In order to support their operations, commercial growers became increasingly reliant on migratory labor. Tobacco was a very labor-intensive crop to produce and Windsor and the surrounding areas soon exhausted the supply of local help. With the onset of the immigration restrictions that accompanied World War I, local farmers resorted to drawing their seasonal labor from college campuses throughout the South.
In addition to utilizing college students for summer work, farmers also took advantage of inexpensive child labor from local areas. Farmers brought children in on trucks in the morning and then returned them to their homes at night, avoiding costly housing expenses. Local children became indispensable in the completion of two important tasks: picking leaves and preparing them for curing in the sheds.
Two boys picking tobacco on a Connecticut shade tobacco farm – Connecticut Historical Society and Connecticut History Online
The World War II years brought further labor shortages, as did the passing of Connecticut’s 1947 Child Labor Bill, which set age and hourly restrictions on agricultural labor. Tobacco farmers looked to the West Indies for help. Beginning in 1947, Puerto Rican and Jamaican laborers came to Connecticut by the thousands to work in the tobacco fields. Hired as seasonal workers, many of them eventually settled in Connecticut, making a significant impact on the demography of the area that is still reflected today.
Like other forms of tobacco use, cigar smoking has seen significant decline in recent years, due in part to the health concerns associated with tobacco consumption. In addition, the development of cheap, mass-produced cigar wrappers by commercial enterprises has taken a significant toll on the local tobacco industry. In the 1930s, Connecticut had 30,000 acres of farmland dedicated to tobacco production; by 2006 this acreage had dwindled to less than 2,000 acres. Much of the former tobacco farmland is now used to grow nursery stock or has been developed into residential communities and shopping centers.
Museum Preserves Agricultural Heritage
In 1988, aware of the disappearing tobacco culture in the valley, local residents established the Connecticut Valley Tobacco Historical Society. Its mission was to preserve the stories and artifacts that made up such a significant part of the area’s identity. Thanks partly to a trust fund set up by John E. Luddy (a man who made a living selling shade cloth and other supplies to tobacco farmers), the Connecticut Valley Tobacco Historical Society was able to make a grant to the Town of Windsor for the construction of a tobacco museum at Northwest Park. Today, through its archives, collections, and exhibits, the Luddy/Taylor Tobacco Museum educates visitors on one of the most important aspects of Connecticut’s agricultural history.
Support ConnecticutHistory.org through your purchase of this classic DVD – Connecticut’s Tobacco Valley – (2001 w/CPTV – 1 hour)
“The Luddy/Taylor Connecticut Valley Tobacco Musuem,” 2017. Link.
“Windsor Historical Society,” 2016. Link.
Howard, Daniel. A New History of Old Windsor, Connecticut. Windsor Locks, CT: Journal Press, 1935. Link.
Anderson, P. J. Tobacco Culture in Connecticut. New Haven, CT: Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 1934. Link.
Glasser, Ruth. “Tobacco Valley: Puerto Rican Farm Workers in Connecticut.” Hog River Journal 1, no. 1 (Fall 2002).
Hooker’s Journey to Hartford
Accidental Shooting Leads to Witchcraft Conviction – Today in History: October 3
Ebenezer Tracy Made Some of the Finest 18th-Century Furniture
Seth Thomas Works Around the Clock in Wolcott
Six Cities Respond to 1902 Waterbury Fire – Who Knew?
Alse Young Executed for Witchcraft – Today in History: May 26
The Yankee Peddler 1850
Mary Townsend Seymour: Hartford’s Organizer, Activist, and Suffragist
Waterbury’s Radium Girls
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Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Published on September 25, 2011, by JPRoscoe - Posted in Movies 0
Visuals: 10/10
Great looking, complex story
Story is too complex, Kidman & Cruise in over their heads
Movie Name: Eyes Wide Shut
Studio: Warner Bros.
Genre(s): Drama/Mystery/Suspense
Release Date(s): July 16, 1999
Did Stanley say we were rolling or not?
Alice Hartford (Nicole Kidman) and Bill Hartford (Tom Cruise) seem to be the perfect husband and wife. They have a happy family and live among the upper crust in New York City. Things behind closed doors aren’t always as they seem. After an argument about what women want from men, Bill meets with a friend. He learns about a party in a large countryside house. What he sees there could threaten everything he has.
Eyes Wide Shut was the last film of the master filmmaker Stanley Kubrick and was released after his death. A loose adaptation of the 1926 book Dream Story by Arthur Schnitzler, the movie was met with mostly positive reviews but also reviews that were highly critical of the film and the married costars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The film also is considered one of the longest shoots with fifteen months of shooting.
Kubrick is always a big question and this film didn’t help to clear up his critics who sometimes took exception to his subjects and style. Todd Fields (the director who has an acting role in this movie as the piano player Nick Nightingale) and R. Lee Ermey (from Kubrick’s classic Full Metal Jacket) even got in arguments in the press on whether Kubrick himself liked the movie.
But how will anyone see my signature Tom Cruise smile behind this mask?
The movie looks fantastic with so many of Kubrick’s signature shots. Long tracking shots and interesting lightings help make the movie keep his style. The setting of Christmas allows some interesting use of lights and also provides a nice contrast for the characters that are a happy family on one side but involved in all sorts of crazy sexual things through the course of the story.
The highlight and most “Kubrick” part of this movie has to be the sex party. It also had controversy with an American release involving digitized people blocking out a lot of the “action” to get the R-Rating. The Venetian masks and the very play-like dialogue in this segment also help create a really creepy, suspenseful feel. Not only is Cruise’s character seeing things he shouldn’t be seeing, but the viewer also feels uncomfortable with him.
Dammit…Every orgy I attend ends up like this!
Part of the problem with Eyes Wide Shut is Cruise and Kidman. They seem really miscast to carry a movie heavy on dialogue and with extremely long scenes. I’ve seen movies that I’ve liked both of their acting (Cruise in Magnolia and Kidman in To Die For in particularly), but it feels like they really were struggling with this story and what they were supposed to be feeling/expressing. There scenes together for the most part feel a bit wooden and helped lend to the rumor of the manufactured romance.
Eyes Wide Shut is one of those movies you can’t stop debating. It is hard to understand and it either could be genius or crap depending on how you look at it. It is slow paced and deliberate. It feels like a wind-up for something that never happens, but that also is part of the plot/story (Cruise and Kidman never actually do have sex). It is a shame that Kubrick wasn’t around to defend or express his goals when the movie was released, but there is a good chance he wouldn’t do it anyway.
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Smyrna: The Destruction of a Cosmopolitan City, 1900-1922
Dallas DeForest
Destruction of a cosmopolitan city 1900-1922, a documentary from filmmaker Maria Iliou in collaboration with historian Alexander Kitroeff explores the vibrant mix of cultures that made Smyrna one of the great cosmopolitan cities of the Ottoman Empire during the early 20th century
Yesterday my wife and I went to the Benaki Museum’s excellent exhibit, “Smyrna: The Destruction of a Cosmopolitan City, 1900-1922.” It consists of a photographic exhibit and an accompanying documentary film. It’s directed and curated by Maria Iliou, who was aided by Alexander Kitroeff, a professor of history at Haverford College and a specialist in modern Greek history. The entire affair is very popular. Yesterday’s viewings were sold out and we had to go to the Benaki Piraios St. Annex to see the documentary. I suppose this shouldn’t be a surprise—the idea of Smyrna is still a potent force in modern Greece. Descendants of the refugees are certainly very well aware of where they came from and tend to take pride in the fact that they are mikrasiates.
Smyrna (as the above title suggests) was one of these late nineteenth-early twentieth century cosmopolitan cities of the Ottoman eastern Mediterranean. Others included Alexandria, Constantinople, Beirut, and so on. Smyrna’s largest population was Greek, some 120,000 by 1920, but it also included ca. 80,000 Muslims, 20,000 Armenians and a sizeable Sephardic Jewish population. It was also home to a number of very wealthy foreign families, the so-called Levantines, who hailed from Britain, France, and Italy predominantly (the Whittalls, Girauds, e.g.). By 1900 most of the members of these families had lived their entire lives within the Ottoman empire, based in Smyrna and esp. its suburbs, such as Bournabat and Kordelio. They amassed their fortunes trading the (predominantly) agricultural goods cultivated in Smyrna’s hinterland, most of which were meant for international markets. The Capitulations allowed them to trade tax free within the Ottoman empire, and also to live outside its laws (for the most part).
The photo exhibit is culled from numerous archives: the War Museum in Athens, the Library of Congress, Princeton University Libraries, National Geographic, the Pierre de Gigord Collection, Levantine Heritage Collection, the Haris Yakoumis Collection, and many more that are too numerous to list here. The selection was done carefully, and the photos on display bring the city to life nicely. Unfortunately one is not allowed to takes photos of the photos, so I’ll describe some of them here, and try to give an overall sense of it.
There are images of the city’s major power brokers and other important people: Rahmi Bey, the Ottoman governor; George Horton, the US consul; Mustafa Kemal (later Ataturk), the city’s eventual conqueror; Aristidis Stergiadis, the governor of the city from 1919 – 1922, appointed by Venizelos (also pictured, of course). But what caught my attention the most were the photos of the daily life of the city: the quayside, bustling with people, cafes, hotels, warehouses, ships, and camels laden with figs; the Rue Franque, the main commercial thoroughfare in the city, a narrow street packed with shops selling local and international goods; the elegant mansions in the Bella Vista neighborhood, where many Greeks lived, along the waterfront, beautiful examples of late Ottoman architecture blended with neoclassical forms; Ayia Foteini church, the Greek Orthodox cathedral in the city, with its tall bell tower; and English troops, absurdly obvious in their shorts and calf-high socks.
Smyrna’s Quayside
The quayside again.
Some esp. were outstanding for their vivid details: one photo shows a wealthy Greek couple dressed in expensive, western-style clothing next to a Turkish vinegar merchant, without shoes, who’s carrying an amphora of his product on his shoulder; in another, a disapproving father looks down upon a doctor examining his son; there is a picture of the Jewish quarter, which contains the raw, sweaty, dirty faces of commoners in the foreground, eyes wide open to the camera; and, finally, a memorable picture of refugee tents situated next to the Hephaisteion in Athens.
Greek Soldiers arrive, 1919
The film uses many of these images, but also much more—rare footage that, it seems, you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere. The entire film is set to music written by Nikos Platyrachos, and it runs the gamut of these 22 years. It begins with “Cosmopolitan Smyrna: 1900-1912,” then moves to “On Borrowed Time: 1912-1922,” then the city’s destruction in 1922. It features interviews with Giles Milton, A. Kitroeff, and several individuals with family connections to the city (Armenian, Greek, and Turkish). The movie is very balanced in its approach, but it doesn’t shy away from gruesome scenes or avoid discussing the atrocities which were committed there. Photos of corpses are shown on the quay after the fire, while vivid descriptions are given of the screams that came from the city on the night of the 13th, as the city burned. They were loud, unavoidable, and unrelenting. Over the next few days, the harbor became filled with the corpses of those attempting to flee the flames. People jumped into the water because they had nowhere else to go. The fires had penned them in, and the Turkish army wasn’t letting anyone leave. Even the allied ships, which were moored in the harbor offered no help. They were under strict orders not to intervene on the Greek or Armenian side, since it was clear that the Turkish nationalists had won the war. Eventually, however, an American Methodist minister, Asa Jennings, convinced the Greek navy in Lesvos that it had to send transport ships to evacuate the remaining survivors, which it eventually did (with the consent of the Turks).
On the whole, the film succeeds in its goals. It presents the cosmopolitan nature of the city vividly, while also reminding the viewer that it met a tragic end, one in which both sides were culpable: the Turkish conquest of the city was certainly a bloody affair, but so, too, was the Greek retreat through Asia Minor, which employed a scorched earth policy. The interviews, too, demonstrate that Smyrna as an idea certainly lives on today among the city’s descendants. It’s my hope that the organizers will publish this fine collection in the future. The exhibition and documentary run for another week, until March 18. Hours for the movie may be found here. The theater at the main Benaki building is small and fits no more than 50 people, so be prepared to go to the Piraeus Street Annex, where ca. 360 viewers can be accommodated. I’m told that Maria Iliou is working on a sequel, on the subsequent population exchange.
For Smyrna, see M. Llewellyn Smith, Ionian Vision: Greece in Asia Minor, 1919-1922, Giles Milton, Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922; and Jack Davis, “A Foreign Archaeological School and the Politics of Archaeological Practice: Anatolia, 1922,” Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 16.2 2003, 145-72, for the brief American excavations at Colophon in 1922 sponsored by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
The Use of Ottoman Hammams in Greece TodayIn „Baths and Bathing“
The Sephardic Jews of ThessalonikiIn „Ladino Music“
A Roza Eskenazi Tribute Concert in Greek, Turkish, and LadinoIn „Music“
This entry was posted in Benaki Museum, Modern Greece, Ottoman Greece, Smyrna. Bookmark the permalink.
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Source: https://mediterraneanpalimpsest.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/smyrna-the-destruction-of-a-cosmopolitan-city-1900-1922/
Smyrna (Minor Asia): The Destruction of a Cosmpopolitan City, 1900-1922
(Documentary; Greek subts)
Rubrik: Nationalismus/Εθνικισμοί
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Home Gannett, TV Stations Add…
Gannett, TV Stations Add Mobile WAPsites
Mobile, Newspapers, Online/Interactive, Television, Local
Mobile versions of newspaper and TV station sites WAPsites have mostly been corporate vanity projects, generally attracting just a couple of dozen regular users. But as the demographics for enhanced mobile services have graduated from kids downloading ringtones and wallpaper to adults using news and weather, commercial prospects have improved.
Crisp Wireless CEO Boris Fridman, a venture-backed enabler of media mobile sites since 2000, scoffed when I suggested the number of users at most newspaper sites was still so low. He suggests that a number of local properties attract much higher numbers, perhaps deep into the hundreds (my guess).
“It is still very early in the game,” Fridman acknowledges. But there are beginning to be enough users to move away from subscription models and to rely more on advertising. While few local advertisers are currently demanding to get on the phone, mobile ad campaigns are now running for car companies, including Honda, Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz, and packaged good makers like Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Most use short-form videos.
Things really began to change in the 2004-2005 timeframe as the demographics of users of mobile features changed, says Fridman. Gannett’s USA Today launched it in 2005, and today, “it’s a business.” Given the promise of its flagship property, Gannett has further embraced the medium, launching sites for 30 of its larger newspapers in late March. Each of the sites is customized for the look and feel of the local properties, with local news and weather.
Washington Post-Newsweek International has also embraced the Crisp Wireless WAPsites, signing up in late September 2006 for The Post, Newsweek and Slate.
Fridman says the Tribune Interactive papers are also on board (LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sun-Sentinel, Newsday) and other papers such as the Chicago Sun-Times. The basic deal with Crisp is a monthly fee for powering the site, with escalating fees based on page views. “The more they are used, the more we make,” says Fridman.
In addition to newspaper WAPsites, Crisp has also been enabling TV station sites, as well as sites for TV networks and magazines. “TV fits so well into the mobile paradigm,” says Fridman. NBC has its 23 owned and operated stations up and running. In late December, Internet Broadcasting Systems, a leading TV site enabler, put 29 of its stations up as well. Internet Broadcasting suggests it will be selling local as well as national ads. Crisp has 30 employees, with most of them in New York, with a satellite office in L.A.
@SES: A Conversation With Miva
iBegin Providing Free Yellow Pages Database
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Wirtschaft: Chronology of nuclear accidents worldwide
Gehört zu: Wirtschaft
Chronology of nuclear accidents worldwide
Reference: CNN-Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) — Following is a chronology of major nuclear incidents over the last 40 years. Some have come to light only since the end of the Cold War.
October 7, 1957 – Fire destroyed the core of a plutonium-producing reactor at Britain’s Windscale nuclear complex — since renamed Sellafield — sending clouds of radioactivity into the atmosphere. An official report said the leaked radiation could have caused dozens of cancer deaths.
1957/8 – A serious accident occurred during the winter of 1957-58 near the town of Kyshtym in the Urals. A Russian scientist who first reported the disaster estimated that hundreds died from radiation sickness.
January 3, 1961 – Three technicians died at a U.S. plant in Idaho Falls in an accident at an experimental reactor.
July 4, 1961 – The captain and seven crew members died when radiation spread through the Soviet Union’s first nuclear-powered submarine. A pipe in the control system of one of the two reactors had ruptured.
1965 – The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission deliberately produced a low intensity radioactive cloud from a nuclear reactor over Los Angeles.
October 5, 1966 – The core of an experimental reactor near Detroit partly melted when a sodium cooling system failed.
October 17, 1969 – In Saint-Laurent, France, a fuel-loading error sparked a partial meltdown at a gas-cooled power reactor.
1974 – Reported explosion in a Soviet breeder plant at Shevchenko on the Caspian Sea.
December 7, 1975 – An accident occurred at the Lubmin nuclear power complex near Greifswald on the Baltic coast in former East Germany. A short-circuit caused by an electrician’s mistake started a fire. Some news reports said there was almost a meltdown of the reactor core.
March 28, 1979 – America’s worst nuclear accident occurred at the Three Mile Island plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A partial meltdown of one of the reactors forced the evacuation of residents after radioactive gas leaked into the atmosphere.
Aug 7, 1979 – Highly enriched uranium spewed out of a top-secret nuclear fuel plant in Tennessee.
Around 1,000 people were contaminated with up to five times as much radiation as they would normally receive in a year.
April 25, 1981 – Officials said around 45 workers were exposed to radioactivity during repairs to a problem-ridden plant at Tsuruga, Japan.
November 1983 – Britain’s Sellafield plant accidentally discharged radioactive waste into the Irish Sea, prompting environmentalists to demand its closure.
August 10, 1985 – An explosion devastated the Shkotovo-22 ship repair facility which services Soviet navy nuclear-powered vessels. Ten people were killed and many died later from radiation exposure.
January 6, 1986 – One worker died and 100 were injured at a plant in Oklahoma when a cylinder of nuclear material burst after being improperly heated.
April 26, 1986 – Date of the world’s worst nuclear accident. An explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear plant spewed radiation over much of Europe. Thirty-one people died in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. Hundreds of thousands of people were moved from the area and a similar number were believed to have suffered from the effects of radiation.
March 24, 1992 – Radioactive iodine and inert gases escaped into the atmosphere after a loss of pressure in a reactor channel at the Sosnovy Bor station near St Petersburg in Russia, triggering international concern.
November 1992 – In France’s most serious nuclear accident, three workers were contaminated after entering a nuclear particle accelerator in Forbach without protective clothing. Executives were jailed in 1993 for failing to take proper safety measures.
November 1995 – At Chernobyl, serious contamination occurred when fuel was being removed from one of the reactors. One person received the equivalent of a year’s permitted radiation.
November 1995 – Two to three tons of sodium leaked from the secondary cooling system of Japan’s Monju prototype fast-breeder nuclear reactor in a
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Lotteries are a form of gambling, where the winner gets a prize if a certain number of numbers are selected. There are several types of lottery games available today, including the mega-millions lottery, the sports lottery, the school or college lottery, and the housing lottery.
The most common form of lotteries is the 50-50 draw. In this game, a player selects a number from a range of numbers and the bettor pays a fixed amount of money for a ticket. If a bettor wins, he or she can choose to receive a lump sum, annual installments, or annuity. This is a type of lottery that has a wide appeal to the general public.
While many people play the lottery for fun, the lottery has an important role to play in raising funds for schools, veterans, and other organizations. The revenue of state-run lottery programs covers advertising, operating expenses, and prize money. However, this form of gambling does carry a risk to the organizer.
In the United States, there are about 45 states and the Virgin Islands that offer a lottery. Each of these jurisdictions has its own rules and regulations for the game. Most lotteries have a hierarchy of sales agents, who pass the money paid for tickets on to the organization.
A large-scale lottery uses a computer system to generate random numbers. The odds of winning are low. But the jackpot can be quite large. An estimated $565 million is being offered in the Mega Millions lottery in 2015, and the odds of winning the first prize are 1 in 29 billion. Despite this, ticket sales are growing dramatically for rollover drawings.
The earliest record of a lottery in Europe dates to the 15th century. The Roman Emperor Augustus organized a lottery in which he awarded prizes to wealthy noblemen during Saturnalian revels. During the 15th and 16th centuries, private lotteries were common in England, France, and other European nations.
Lotteries in colonial America also raised funds for colleges, roads, libraries, and other public facilities. For example, in 1755 the Academy Lottery financed the construction of Columbia University. Another lottery was the “Slave Lottery,” which financed the purchase of slaves and land. Several colonies held public lotteries to raise funds for town fortifications and local militias during the French and Indian Wars.
Although there is much debate about the merits of lotteries, it is a relatively easy way to raise funds. Organizers must have a mechanism for collecting stakes, which is often deducted from the pool. Once the tickets are sold, the cost of the lottery is usually covered by the revenues of the advertiser, which is based on the total number of tickets sold.
Regardless of the nature of the lottery, its purpose is to give a fair chance to all. Whether the goal is to fill a vacancy in a college or a sports team, or to decide who will be a governor or a mayor, the lottery can make the process smoother.
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FeaturedFISM News
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg vacationed in Portugal while rail strike loomed
by mcardinal December 17, 2022
Matt Bush, FISM News
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg took a vacation from August 29 to September 5, at the height of tense negotiations with railway workers to avert a potential strike that would have cost the U.S. economy $2 billion per day.
The nature of Buttigieg’s trip was not initially disclosed, but the Washington Free Beacon revealed that his “personal trip” was actually a long-planned family vacation to Porto, Portugal.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation said, “As usual, while traveling on personal time he remained available and engaged on urgent issues, which in this case meant multiple calls with staff and stakeholders to work on the topic of rail labor negotiations. Overall, the Secretary’s work toward helping successfully prevent a rail shutdown included dozens of calls and meetings between April and December.”
The early-September timeframe of the trip was important because the strike was scheduled to begin on September 16, about one week after Buttigieg’s return. The strike was so likely to occur, in fact, that Amtrak began canceling long-distance trips and making other schedule adjustments to cope.
Ironically, one of the most controversial issues leading rail workers to strike involved paid sick leave from their jobs. According to the Washington Post, “Rail carriers have said their employees can take time off when they are sick by using paid vacation days.”
This policy forced rail workers to take paid vacation days if they were sick, had a doctor’s appointment, or if there was a family emergency. Steve Sample, a rail maintainer in northern Ohio, said, “The biggest thing we wanted is sick days. We get one personal day.”
While these rail workers pushed for seven paid sick days per year, the final deal resulted in a single day for the workers. These negotiations occurred while the leading negotiator for the transportation industry took a full week off, during one of the most important and tense points in the discussions, to take a family trip…to Portugal.
Rail workers just wanted a few days of paid sick leave. President Biden told them to pound sand and his Transportation Secretary vacationed in wine country.
Democrats are no longer the party of the working class.https://t.co/9bGn26xmqR
— Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress) December 15, 2022
While the trip showed a lack of concern and awareness for one of the most urgent things that has happened during Buttigieg’s short time as Transportation Secretary, there was a silver lining to the trip. Buttigieg flew on a commercial carrier rather than flying a private jet, which has become his custom.
Buttigieg has also been an outspoken advocate for climate change initiatives and for the government to reduce carbon emissions. He came out in favor of the “Green New Deal” as a presidential candidate in 2019, going so far as to call it “the right beginning for a broad plan to combat climate change.”
Buttigieg has also been singled out recently for taking at least 18 trips via tax-payer-funded private jets since taking office.
In the midst of taking private jets, which are by far the most carbon-intensive mode of transportation, across the country and even internationally, Buttigieg has said, “The climate crisis is here today, threatening Americans’ lives and livelihoods, our homes and businesses, and even the way we travel and operate our federal agencies. The good news is that we know what to do about it, and America is fully capable of rising to the occasion.”
Knowledge is knowing what is right, wisdom is actually doing it, and it is that wisdom that America needs in her political leaders right now.
ESG Under Attack and the Importance of Biblically Responsible Investing
Peru president urges Congress to bring elections forward amid deadly protests
Ukraine update: Biden says US won’t send fighter jets to Ukraine
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The Business Review, Cambridge
Vol. 25 * Number 2 * March 2020
The Library of Congress, Washington, DC * ISSN: 1540–7780
The primary goal of the journal will be to provide opportunities for business related academicians and professionals from various business related fields in a global realm to publish their paper in one source. The Journal will bring together academicians and professionals from all areas related business fields and related fields to interact with members inside and outside their own particular disciplines. The journal will provide opportunities for publishing researcher's paper as well as providing opportunities to view other's work. All submissions are subject to a double blind peer review process. The Journal is a refereed academic journal which publishes the scientific research findings in its field with the ISSN 1540-7780 issued by the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. The journal will meet the quality and integrity requirements of applicable accreditation agencies (AACSB, regional) and journal evaluation organizations to insure our publications provide our authors publication venues that are recognized by their institutions for academic advancement and academically qualified statue. No Manuscript Will Be Accepted Without the Required Format. All manuscripts should be professionally proofread / edited before submission. After the manuscript is edited, you must send us the certificate. You can use www.editavenue.com for professional proofreading/editing or other professional editing service etc... The manuscript should be checked through plagiarism detection software (for example, iThenticate/Turnitin / Academic Paradigms, LLC-Check for Plagiarism / Grammarly Plagiarism Checker) and send the certificate with the complete report.
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the journal. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any information (text; pictures; tables. etc..) from this web site or any other linked web pages is strictly prohibited. Request permission / Purchase article (s): jaabc1@aol.com
Classification of Stock Market Price Change by Data Mining
Dr. Nursel Selver Ruzgar, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
In this paper, eight Canadian banks’ daily stock market price changes are examined by three data mining techniques, logistic regression, fuzzy-roughNN and genetic algorithms. Thirty-seven years of data from 1980 to 2017 obtained from NASDAQ for eight Canadian banks with 21 independent variables and one dependent variable, price, were used to classify the daily stock price changes. Daily price changes are divided into three classes, “up”, “down” and “same” according to the previous stock market daily close price. To determine which method makes the better classification, three methods run separately for each bank. Then predicted values for 2018 with each method for each bank, were compared the original 2018 data to see how the predicted values were compatible with the real values. It was seen that, among the three methods, the genetic programming algorithms classified the stock price changes well. This paper demonstrates that the genetic programming method is applicable to a wide range of practical problems pertaining to price changes. Moreover, the results show that the genetic programming is a promising alternative to the conventional methods for financial prediction. Data mining (DM) and knowledge discovery is a family of computational methods that aim at collecting and analyzing data related to the function of a system of interest to gain a better understanding of the system (Triantaphyllou, 2010). DM attempts to formulate, analyze and implement basic induction processes that help extract meaningful information and knowledge from unstructured data. DM that aims to reveal valuable information from the overwhelming volume of data and achieve better strategic management and customer satisfaction is the process of using statistical, mathematical, artificial intelligence, and machine learning techniques to extract and identify useful information and knowledge assembled from large databases (Kusrini, 2009). DM can be used in different disciplines, such as engineering (Carrizosa and Morales, 2013), finance (Cheng, 2010), business, banking (Ferreira, 2018, Manurung, 2015), medicine (Ramamurthy and Chandran, 2011) and science (Singh, 2015). There are many DM methods to perform the analysis, such as clustering, classification, and association. Classification, which is a work of assessing a data object to include it in a certain class of available classes, is of the widely used DM method to extract information from various high-dimensional data sets.
Learning from WhatsApp’s Business Model: The World of Messaging Apps
Dr. Nadeem M. Firoz, Baruch College, CUNY, New York, NY
Atif Noor, Founder & CEO, Adaptly-AI.com, Baruch College, CUNY, New York, NY
The objective of this proposal is to determine WhatsApp’s positioning within the social media marketplace, analyze its strengths and weaknesses, and propose actionable strategic marketing models which will allow the service to further increase its user base by curtailing weaknesses and exponentiating strengths. This proposal will follow the service from its inception as a startup in Mountain View California to becoming the most popular messaging app in the world after being acquired by Facebook. Its features will be dissected and its value to the marketplace will be closely analyzed. The demographics, geodemographics and user segmentation of the service will be ascertained; along with its business models, marketing positioning, and SWOT analysis. Through diligent and thoughtful analysis of WhatsApp’s SWOT, viable options for growth and further market capitalization will become evident, and recommendations for implementation will be established. WhatsApp is a cross-platform messaging and Voice over IP (VOIP) service that allows users to send text messages and video calls, along with other rich media such as audio, images, documents, and even video calls. (whatsapp.com) The service was created by WhatsApp Inc. in Mountain View, California by founders Brian Acton and Jan Koum, who previously worked for Yahoo! (Forbes.com) After leaving Yahoo! in 2007, they applied to jobs at Facebook, but failed to get hired. Ironically, after the they were rejected jobs at Facebook, their company was acquired by Facebook in February 2014 for close to $19.3 billion dollars (techcrunch.com). By early 2018, the product had accumulated over 1.5 billion users, making it the most popular messaging app in the market. (Forbes.com) According to the company, “More than 1 billion people in over 180 countries use WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family, anytime and anywhere. WhatsApp is free and offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.” (Whatsapp.com) The app was named WhatsApp because it sounded like “What’s up?” and had a viral component to it. It was officially incorporated on February 24, 2009 (forbes.com) and the founders visited RentACoder.com (now known as freelancer.com) to find a Russian iPhone developer named Igor Solomennikov. In October 2009, Brian Acton was able to secure $250,000 in seed funding from past colleagues at Yahoo!
Collaborative Strategies in the Context of the Tourism Cluster in the Azores: A Qualitative Analysis
Antonia Canto, University of the Azores, Portugal
Anhelina Bykova, University of the Azores, Portugal
Dr. Joao Couto, University of the Azores, Portugal
The main objective of this study is to discuss the collaborative strategies within the tourism cluster on the Azores. A qualitative research framework was developed and responses obtained through interviews with 30 regional stakeholders were analyzed using the MaxQDA and NVivo programs. The results highlighted the existence of dynamics and collaboration between the regional tourism partners. The study reveals that the most dynamic partners are car rental companies, restaurants, tours companies, and hotels. Promoting collaboration is crucial for developing a tourist destination. For collaboration to be successful, it is important to establish collaborative strategies. There are several definitions of the concept, according to Child, Faulkner, Tallman, and Tallman (2005); collaborative strategies are an attempt by organizations to achieve their goals through cooperation with other organizations rather than competing with them. This work attempts to delineate a framework of collaborative strategies among several tourism cluster actors in the Azores region. A thorough analysis of the interviews collected from the various actors in this sector is undertaken. Particular attention is paid to the type of activity and to the location of such activity, so as to reasonably cover the tourism cluster in the Azores. First, we present the concepts of collaborative strategies and the tourism cluster, observing their evolution and complexity, and highlight the various contributions of several researchers in this field of study. Second, the method and instruments for gathering information are presented, together with the procedures undertaken in the elaboration of this study. The final section includes the results and discussion, which evaluates the existence and importance of collaborative strategies in the region. We first analyze the definition of the central concepts; this study follows Canto and Couto (2018), who define the concept of a tourism cluster and collaborative strategies, and observe the importance, dynamics, efficiency, and sustainability of the tourism cluster in the Azores. According to Beni (2012), a tourism cluster means a group of similar products or activities that developed together to “highlight that this concept” has a strong and significant connotation of junction, union, aggregation, and interaction. However, according to the same author, it is possible to deepen the concept by considering that the tourism cluster constitutes a permanent set of dynamic actions and reiterates community effort, social mobilization, entrepreneurship in economic investments, efficient inter-organizational communication, engagement of social actors and institutional agents, and interaction of all segments of the supply for the necessary and indispensable synergy in the productive arrangement for the consolidation of its sustainable development (Beni ,2012), While the definition of a tourism cluster refers to a group/union of activities and similar products that evolve together through the efforts and synergies of its collaborators, its objectives, according to Beni (2012), can be enumerated as follows: reducing operating costs and transactions between companies (1); harnessing and enhancing synergies for the production, marketing, and distribution of products and services (2); sharing technical, productive, and marketing information (3), and disseminating innovation (4).
Efficiency Changes in the Home and Community-based Services of Long-term Care in Taiwan
Chia-Mei Shih, Department of Resources Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Yu-Hua Wang, Institute of Gerontology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Dr. Li-Fan Liu, Professor, Institute of Gerontology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Jung-Hua Wu, Department of Resources Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Global aging trends have led to dilemmas in resource allocation. Most developed or OECD countries are struggling to ensure the sustainability of their long-term care systems, and Taiwan, a developing country, is not an exception. After years of effort, Taiwan has established home and community-based services in a formal long-term care infrastructure and has developed a nationwide database on long term care. However, the cost-effectiveness of the large amount of resources invested in this system has not yet been analyzed. This study sought to examine the performance of Taiwan’s long-term care system from 2011-2016, using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) based Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) approach. The results showed a regression in average total factor productivity over 6 years (-5.5%), mostly affected by deteriorating technological change (-6.6%). During that same period of time there was an ascending trend in technical efficiency due to a dramatic increase in financial investment since 2014, which produced an overall growth of 1.1%. Long-term care is a labor-intensive industry. Our study’s findings show that, while change factors within long-term care did help to improve the efficiency of the system to some degree, what really made a difference were factors that impacted the system from exogenous factors, such as improved technology. To sustain the productivity of the long-term care system we must focus on investment in innovations. The sustainability of long-term care (henceforth LTC) is currently a prominent policy priority in many countries since the aging trend is causing major fiscal issues (Mosca, van der Wees, Mot, Wammes, & Jeurissen, 2017). In recent decades, economic growth has been outpaced by the growth in public funded health expenditures in Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries. This trend is shown in the increasing proportion of health expenditure accounted for in calculations of gross domestic product (GDP) (Angelis, Tordrup, & Kanavos, 2017). A new set of public health and long-term care expenditure projections reaching to 2060 suggest that public spending on health and LTC in OECD countries and in the BRIICS (Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China and South Africa) will rise rapidly over the next 50 years despite cost-containment efforts ( through policy action) or downward cost-pressures (occurring without implicit policy actions). In the prediction, the total health and LTC expenditure across OECD countries will increase by 3.3-7.7 percent of GDP on average till 2060. For the BRIICS, these costs are projected to increase even more steeply by 2.8-7.3 percent of GDP over the same period overall (Maisonneuve & Martins, 2014).
The Impact of the Tohoku-Oki Earthquake on Tourism Share Prices in Taiwan
Dr. Chun-Huang Liao, Zhao Qing University, Guangdong Province, China
This study uses the event study method and the recursive Chow test to investigate the impact of the Tohoku-Oki earthquake on tourism share prices in Taiwan. Cumulative abnormal returns and structural changes in return relationships were estimated and tested. The findings show the Tohoku-Oki earthquake had a short-term negative impact on the stock returns of Taiwan’s tourism companies. Significant negative abnormal returns lasted for about 19 trading days, and the structure of the return relationships between the tourism index and market index changed in the short term after the earthquake occurred. By using hierarchical multiple regression analysis, this study found the variables of firm size, debt ratio, ratio of stock market value relative to assets, margin trading of stocks, and percentage of hotel revenue relative to sales can significantly account for the cumulative abnormal returns. To prevent such unexpected event impacts, suitable strategies of risk diversification should be undertaken by hoteliers and tourism operators. International travel between Taiwan and Japan is very popular, not only because of the close proximity, but also to some extent because of the history of colonization. However, on March 11, 2011, the Tohoku-Oki earthquake (Tajima et al., 2013; Ito et al., 2012) suddenly shut down this busy travel line. International tourism markets between both countries encountered a situation of chaos; many tourists canceled or changed their original itineraries. This unexpected earthquake influenced Taiwan’s tourism revenue and share prices slumped suddenly. Large seismic events are rare in modern history, so they are a natural experiment and a valuable case study that cannot be reproduced (Kollias et al., 2011b; Shan and Gong, 2012). However, literature on this kind of case is still rare. The Tohoku-Oki earthquake occurred at 14:46 on March 11, 2011, in the northeast area of Japan, just around the Miyagi, Fukushima, and Iwate prefectures. The earthquake of 9.0 Richter on the scale triggered tsunami and nuclear disasters, resulting in 86,000 deaths, more than 13,000 missing persons, and more than 550,000 people to flee disaster areas. The disasters caused economic losses amounting to USD 235 billion, much higher than other countries’ cases: the economic losses of USD 9.5 billion from the south Asian tsunami in 2004, USD 81.2 billion loss from U.S. hurricane Katrina in 2005 (Park et al., 2013), USD 1.340 billion losses from the China Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, and USD 8 billion losses from the Haiti earthquake in 2010 (Gao et al., 2012).
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The Business Review Journal
Vol. 24 * Number 2 * December 2016
The Library of Congress, Washington, DC * ISSN 1553 - 5827
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Independent Accountant Opportunity for Wealth Management Reporting on Crowdfunding Engagements
Dr. Michael Ulinski, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY
Dr. Roy J. Girasa, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY
The researchers examined the statutory provisions of crowdfunding as a type of liquidity for business startups. The opportunity for local and regional CPA firms was noted as larger CPA firms may not be agile as smaller sized firms to handle reviews needed in crowdfunding engagements. Both clients receiving funding from this new source of capital and intermediaries charged with researching the viability of projects could use specialty firms able to finish due diligence review requirements in a timely manner. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations for firms interested in a fast growing field of wealth management. The financial crisis of 2007-2009 that occurred in the United States and for a longer period globally that led to the highest level of unemployment since the Great Depression of the 1930s caused a major rethinking in Congress concerning how to deal with the crisis. Legislatively, the Dodd-Frank Act(1) sought to curb the abuses within the financial system with its 1,000 page, multiple titled divisions that encompassed perceived abuses and causes of the crisis particularly by banking institutions. As a result, the statute resulted in major overhauling of substantive financial sectors that also included the Volcker Rule(2) that essentially prohibited banks from engaging in risk-oriented investment activities such as in hedge funds, probation (not successful) of “too-big-to-fail” banks, reform of credit rating agencies, the creation of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC)(3)to regulate financial sectors of the economy that may create financial danger to overall U.S. financial stability, protection of consumers, and other provisions.
Improving Quality Using Plackett-Burman Screening Designs
Dr. John E. Knight, University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tennessee
The improvement of product quality can be achieved more effectively using a sequential methodology that includes experimental design as suggested by the six-sigma philosophy {Pande, Neuman, and Cavanagh (2000), Breyfogle (2003). Chowdhury (2001), Lucas (2002)}. Other well-known systematic improvement methodologies developed by Qual Pro Consulting of Knoxville and Joseph Juran (Goetsch, 2014) have different numbers of steps but are equally effective. The final goal of these methodologies builds toward finding break-through improvements using designed experiments that identify and optimize statistically significant factors that influence product quality in light of the many potential ideas that are available to investigate. Plackett-Burman designs (Tyssedal, 2008) are multivariate fractional factorial arrays that strive to identify statistically significant main effects while hinting of possible interactions. The designs also offer the advantage of great reductions in the sample sizes needed to identify significant factors. These multifactor design of experiments provide far greater analytical ability than traditional one factor at a time testing. This paper will demonstrate the usefulness of the multifactor design principles as compared to one factor at a time testing. The approach will be illustrated by the successful application of the principles using a case example in the carbon electrode manufacturing environment. The introduction of systematic quality improvement methodologies such as six-sigma greatly enhanced the logic and organization of statistical improvements in quality.
Building Trust and Agreement in Negotiations
Dr. David A Robinson, RMIT Asia Graduate School, Vietnam
Dr. Kleanthes Yannakou, RMIT Graduate School of Business and Law, Australia
This article expands the theme of ‘meta-modelling’ to embrace an aspect of negotiation theory that never seems to date. To skilfully craft solutions that not only give negotiating parties a short-term ‘win’ but also build a foundation for long-term mutual benefit must surely be the quintessential prize sought by organizations and governments engaged in diplomatic relations and negotiations. But why is it so seldom achievable in one-on-one negotiations between individuals or small groups, whether business, community, or personal relationships? This question has been pondered by many and remains one of the most important aspects of leadership and management. This paper seeks to answer it by integrating negotiation styles theory and traditional wisdom about how to negotiate with allies and adversaries within the values journey meta-model. It examines how ultimate collaborative (win-win) solutions can be brought to fruition when trust and agreement are forged in equal measures within a context of high-level shared values represented by the third paradigm of the values journey model. Negotiation was addressed as one of the themes in the meta-model series (Robinson, Morgan and Nguyen, 2016) and negotiation styles have previously been re-positioned within a values framework (Robinson and Nguyen, 2016), thereby providing a framework by which to predict an individual’s negotiating position in an effort to pre-empt their propensity and ability to seek collaborative outcomes. It was concluded that individuals living higher-level values will be best-placed to win in any negotiation. That being the case, it presents the axiom that when both parties enter into negotiation from a high-values base there is a high propensity for both parties to win.
The Impact on Firm Value of LIFO Adoptions Revisited
Dr. John R. Wingender, Jr., Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
Dr. Thomas A. Shimerda, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
Dr. Thomas J. Purcell, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
In this paper the impact of the corporate decision to switch their GAAP inventory valuation to the LIFO (Last In, First Out) method. Research from 30 to 40 years finds significant positive abnormal returns from the adoption of LIFO. However, economic conditions were very different then with the high inflation rates in the 1970s than in the 21st Century. We replicate these studies with data starting in 2000. In our sample we find a significant positive impact on firm value from LIFO adoptions which is surprising given the low inflation environment of this sample. Traditional work on the impact of firm value from managerial decisions to change GAAP postulates that accounting changes do not change firms’ cash flow, thus should have no impact on firm value. As the Literature Review section recounts, most all tests of accounting changes with event methodology indicate no statistically significant change in firm value as measured by the average abnormal return on the event date of the change in the accounting method. The exception to the rule has been switches from FIFO (First In, Last Out) method to LIFO (Last In, First Out) method. There are many reasons for this finding. The main reason is that switching to LIFO in high inflation times leads to immediate costing to increase, with no change in actual cash outflow or change in cash value of inventory. An increase in accounting expenses leads to lower earnings before taxes. This leads to lower taxes, which is a lower cash outflow. This results in higher after-tax cash flow today. Thus there is a direct impact on cash flow without any change in overall risk which should lead to increased firm value today. Although the accounting changes washout over time, the impact on the time value of money from getting cash sooner rather than later is significantly positive.
Evaluation of Questionnaire for Transfer Pricing Issue of SMEs in Europe
Dr. Veronika Solilova, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic
Dr. Danuse Nerudova, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic
Although SMEs present more than 99 % of enterprises acting in the non-financial business sector in EU and contribute significantly to national and global economic growth, they are facing a lot of obstacles resulting into the higher compliance costs of taxation and lower participation on the international markets. Our research focused on the transfer pricing of SMEs and its compliance costs, which present one of the obstacles which SMEs are facing. The current approach of transfer pricing for SMEs and its related costs were evaluated based on the results of the questionnaire performed in Europe. Based on the results we can concluded that SMEs would appreciate the introduction of specific measurements for transfer pricing which would decrease their increased compliance costs of transfer pricing. Their costs for managing of general transfer pricing requirements were estimated up to EUR 2,000 per year, however, in case of documentation up to EUR 6,000 per year. The European Commission (2003) defines the Small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter SMEs) according to the number of employees, turnover or balance sheet total as enterprises which employ less than 250 employees and have an annual turnover of less than EUR 50 million, and / or their balance sheet total is less than EUR 43 million. The European Commission (2015) states that SMEs present 99.9 % (i.e. 22.3 million) of all enterprises acting in the non-financial business sector in 2014. Although SMEs contribute significantly to national and global economic growth (i.e. 28 % of GDP in EU28), they are facing a lot of obstacles such as increased level of regulation, reduced availability of skilled staff, 27 different tax and accounting systems and others.
Teaching Economics, In-class versus Online Effectiveness
Dr. Doina Vlad, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
This research paper looks into the advantages and disadvantages of switching from traditional in-class teaching of economics, to online teaching. The research data comes from student evaluations and surveys. Some advantages from the online class delivery format noted by students are: time saved not having to travel to and from school, especially during the wintertime and for night classes; the advantage of having recordings available for them, so they can listen to them as many times as needed until they feel confident in mastering the material; students enjoyed learning more about the technology and new software, which are transferable skills to the modern workplace; increase student self-confidence and the ability to work independently in an online environment. For future research I want to include student assessment measures and compare the learning achieved in the regular face-to-face classes to results achieved by students in the online courses. Let’s take a walk on one of the big universities campuses and look around; what we’ll probably see are buildings, parks, a Student Center, sports arena, and many buildings and places meant to make students feel comfortable and "live the true life of a student." That happened to me as well while in Graduate School. I remember one of my "take a break from studying" routine during a cold day was to "get lost" in the Student Center lounge, many times with a cup of coffee in front of a TV watching something that wasn't really interesting, but relaxed me; or during a sunny day, walking around the lake and sitting on the benches and looking at the water, that relaxed me as well. Fast-forward 15 years later; how do students relax, interact, and what do they expect from the "college experience" today?
Monitoring and Accelerating Structural Change via Exports: A Capability Based Approach for Turkey
Dr. Hayrettin Kaplan, Marmara University, Istanbul
Development is shifting resources from low productive activities to high productive ones. So development should be understood as a dynamic endless process. The process should be responsive to the development of the capabilities that a country has. In this regard we try to determine the activities that a developing country should focus when the already developed capabilities are taken into account. We monitor the development of export performance and the structural change Turkey has experienced between 1995 and 2013. We evaluated the existing industry structure and determined the potential sectors that are more productive and suitable with the capability stock of Turkey. These sectors are proposed to be the potential accelerators of the ongoing structural change. Development is a process of structural change towards sectors which have higher productivity. Since sectors are differentiated among their productive capacity and demand elasticity, heading towards more efficient sectors increases the overall productivity in the economy (Prebisch, 1950; Kuznets, 1966, Paus, 2012). During the process of structural change, developing countries first tends to shift resources from agriculture to industry in the sense of Lewis (1954) by importing foreign technology and capital to increase productivity. As the country develops, increasing productivity via importing capital and technology tends to reach its limits in conjunction with the diminishing inactive labor force supply in the agriculture sector (Eichengreen et. al. 2011). But as development in the sense of structural change towards more productive sectors is an endless process; countries should focus on and shift resources towards more productive sectors within the industry (Hausmann, Hwang ve Rodrik, 2005; McMillan ve Rodrik, 2011; Rodrik, 2011). There raises two issues: (i) which sectors would increase the productivity of the country most, (ii) has the country own enough capabilities to have production in those sectors efficiently?
An Iterated Variable Neighborhood Search Algorithm for a Single-Machine Scheduling
Problem with Periodic Maintenance and Sequence-Dependent Setup Times
Dr. Chun-Lung Chen, Takming University of Science and Technology, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
We consider the scheduling problems in a single machine with periodic maintenance and sequence-dependent setup times. The objective is to minimize the total weighted tardiness of the problem. The problem considered in the paper is a NP-hard in a strong sense. It requires much computation time to find the optimal solution; therefore, heuristics are an acceptable practice for finding good solutions. In this paper, an iterated variable neighborhood search algorithm is proposed to solve the problems. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, several algorithms are examined on a set of 320 instances. The results show the proposed algorithm performs effective. In this research, an iterated variable neighborhood search algorithm is proposed to solve the problem of single machine scheduling with periodic maintenance and sequence-dependent setup times. The objective is to minimize the total weighted tardiness of the problem. For convenience, we refer to the proposed algorithm as IVNS. The single machine scheduling problem does not necessarily involve a single machine; issues in a complicated machine environment, such as a single bottleneck (Gagne et al., 2002; Liao & Juan, 2007) or other complex scheduling issues, can also be fully reduced to single machine scheduling; for instance, a group of machines may be treated as a single machine (Al-Turki et al., 2001; Ying et al., 2009). In order to simplify the scheduling problems, the researchers in the past assumed that all the machines were available all the time in their studies, but it is not the case in real situation. This unavailability is due to certain causes that result in the machine halt. For example, routine maintenance or repair would limit the availability of the machine. In addition, companies nowadays emphasize the need for problem prevention and maintenance, so the machine are usually scheduled for periodical maintenance to make sure that the machines won’t fail and thus result in greater loss of production capacity.
Analyzing Financial Time Series Using Monte Carlo Bayesian Approach
Dr. Jae J. Lee, State University of New York, New Paltz, NY
This paper explains how to analyze financial time series data using Bayesian inference with Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) algorithm. Many business and economic time series are parsimoniously modeled by Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. Bayesian inference provides a systematic way to incorporate researcher’s prior knowledge in the analysis of data and provides a sequential way to update analysis given new data. Rather than repeated sampling paradigm, its paradigm is to treat the unknown entities as a random vector and to derive a posterior probability density for the random vector. Summary of the random vector is usually based on random draws of the posterior probability density. MCMC algorithm helps generate random draws of the posterior probability density that doesn’t have an analytical form from which random draws are easily obtained. In this paper, several ARIMA models are modeled using simulated data. Prior density and posterior density of parameters of each ARIMA model are obtained by Bayesian inference. A random walk Metropolis and Hastings algorithm is used to generate random draws of posterior density. Random draws are used to summarize characteristics of parameters of ARIMA models. Some convergence diagnostics of MCMC approach are discussed. A business and economics time series is a stationary if the joint distribution of a time series is not affected by a change of time origin. If a time series shows a stationary pattern, autoregressive (AR), moving average (MA) or mixed (ARMA) model is very useful to model a stochastic structure that generates the series. However, many business and economics time series do not show the stationary pattern. A particular nonstationary pattern is a homogeneous nonstationary that is homogeneous except in level and/or slope. Such behavior can be modeled using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA).
Development of Marketing Capabilities Along the Life Cycle of the Firm
Katharina Buttenberg, University of Latvia
Marketing capabilities have gained a lot of interest in resource-based theory literature in the last decade. Customer- and Brand-oriented marketing capabilities have been identified as one of the key capabilities for business performance. Therefore, these capabilities have to be acquired and developed at a very early stage in the firm. The purpose of this paper is to identify the specific challenges firms have to face in the development of capabilities during their life cycle, specifically marketing capabilities. The approach is a literature review. For the analysis, the author draws on the literature of the resource-based theory for marketing capabilities and life cycle theory. Key findings are that young firms have to specifically establish marketing capabilities to be successful in terms of business performance and later on they have to further develop these capabilities. Since the development of capabilities in young firms very often is an unstructured process, practical implications of this paper prompt that a structured process for the development of marketing capabilities should be established to ensure successful future development. This is a theoretical paper and includes the findings of the literature analysis of the resource-based theory on marketing capabilities in connection to business performance and the life cycle theory on capability-development, as well as findings and suggestions for future steps in empirical research. The resource-based theory (RBT) is based on the theoretical approach that a firm can gain competitive advantage by acquiring a unique set of resources (Barney, 1991). Amit and Schoemaker evolved the concept of resources by introducing capabilities, which are firm-specific processes, developed over time. (Amit & Schoemaker, 1993, p. 35) To develop these capabilities and benefit from their full potential, firms and their managers must carefully pick, manage, monitor and sometimes shed them. (Sirmon & Hitt, 2003, pp. 344–348)
How Idol Admiration Affects Audience's Willingness to Watch Broadcasts of Japanese
Professional Baseball Games: A Case Study of Taiwanese Baseball Players in Japan
Dr. Yu-Chih Lo, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taiwan
Dr. Tu-Kuang Ho, Taiwan Hospitality & Tourism University, Taiwan
Professional baseball has been very popular in Taiwan. As more Taiwanese baseball players are scouted and signed by overseas professional baseball organizations, these overseas professional baseball leagues with Taiwanese players have attracted more audience in Taiwan. The study aimed at exploring Taiwanese baseball audience’s willingness toward broadcasted Japanese professional baseball games (NPB), subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and idol admiration, these factors’ effects on behavior intent. For the study, the researchers utilized purposive sampling and administered 310 questionnaires in total. After filtering 10 invalid questionnaires, the study collected 300 valid questionnaires, yielding a 96.8 percent survey response rate. In terms of data analysis, the researchers first processed demographic variables with descriptive statistics in SPSS 20.0, followed by multivariate analysis and model rationality validation, which were further analyzed as measurement model and structure model, in AMOS 20.0. The results found that firstly, audience’s willingness toward broadcasted NPB games, perceived behavior control, and idol admiration, have significant influence on behavior intent. Whereas, for the audience’s subjective norms toward broadcasted NPB games, the study found no significant impact on behavior intent. In conclusion, based on the findings, the researchers then made recommendations for future studies on idol admiration and spectator behavior in sports. In recent years, sports activities have increasingly become professionalized. Famous baseball players from Taiwan have been recognized and valued by baseball teams in Japan.
Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Organic Growth within Vertical Software Firms
James Simak, Jacksonville University, Florida
Steven T. Kelley, Jacksonville University, Florida
Dr. Vikas Agrawal, Jacksonville University, Florida
Growth in competitive industries is often pursued through mergers, acquisitions and consolidations, frequently with less than desirable, lasting results as the outcome. However, a larger balance sheet or increased revenues are initially certain, providing organizations with confidence that the growth objectives will be met. In contrast, organic growth is abstract and uncertain, historically pursued by development of strategic competitive advantage through superior marketing efforts refining or redefining product, place, price and promotion to gain market share. As an alternative, a growing number of theories and models have been developed around the importance of risk taking through entrepreneurship and innovation as the principal method of achieving long term, sustainable growth. This study investigates factors identified by senior managers as contributory to entrepreneurship and innovation within diversified, established vertical software firms and tests hypotheses related to such factors for growth and success of the firm. Further, this study attempts to determine if sustained organic growth of the firm must include innovation and entrepreneurship as fundamental competencies. Interviews were conducted with senior leaders responsible for overall business unit results including sales and marketing, operations, product development and competitive strategy in niche software vertical markets. Confirmatory empirical data and research findings are presented that test hypotheses of underlying relationships of key factors as drivers or barriers to innovation and related organic growth within the firm. Drucker (1954) declared that business has only two basic functions, marketing and innovation. This perspective of innovation as a critical business function has endured more than sixty years and suggests entrepreneurship and innovation provide competitive advantage for growing and sustaining business (Crossan & Apaydin, 2010).
Effect of Deferred Tax Reporting – Case of Publicly Traded Companies in Czech Republic
Dr. Hana Bohusova, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic
Dr. Patrik Svoboda, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic
The reporting of deferred tax is an instrument for distributable profit or loss regulation in a form of an accrual or a deferral. The research aimed at deferred tax in European companies is very limited. The majority of studies carried out in this issue concerns firms incorporated in the USA and covers period beginning in 1994. The contribution to the current research in this issue is that the research is concerned to non US companies reporting according to IFRS. The structure of deferred tax category of publicly traded joint-stock companies in the Czech Republic and its impact on financial analysis ratios are subjects of the research. According to information of Prague Stock Exchange (2016), there were 24 publicly traded companies trading their stocks on Prague Stock Exchange in researched period in total. The financial institutions (5) were excluded from the research. Additional 5 companies were excluded due to incompletely information provided. The research is built on results of the authors´ previous research. The processed data were obtained from annual report of the companies. The materiality of deferred tax category within our sample was examined and details on the most significant components of temporary differences were presented. The relation between deferred tax expense and the total corporate income tax expense in the period and the relation between deferred tax changes and EBIT and EAT were tested. According to CreditRiskMonitor (2016), there are 73.458 parent entities traded on regulated capital markets over the world.
Mitigating Risk from Railcar Bearing Failures: A Predictive Model for Identifying Failures
Dr. Vikas Agrawal, Jacksonville University, FL
Kimberly Bynum, Jacksonville University, FL
John Jinkner, Jacksonville University, FL
Frank Lombardo, Jacksonville University, FL
Previous research on accident rates for trains has shown that, when trains are traveling above 25 miles per hour, the main cause of accidents is equipment failure that, to a high degree, includes bearing failure. Using data collected from acoustic wayside defect detectors along railroad tracks, statistical analyses were conducted to build a model that will predict the percent probability of bearing failures. This information may be useful to better detect defective bearings before a failure, and to create maintenance schedules using predicted failure rates to maximize railroad safety and minimize maintenance costs. Railroad companies use wayside detectors and automated analyzers to identify railcars and associated equipment that exhibit operating parameters which warrant repair or replacement. Three United States railroads (CSX, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern) have partnered to develop the Joint Wayside Diagnostic System (JWDS). Although each railroad operates its own separate portion of the JWDS system, all data is fed into a single database, and this database is available for information exchange between the railroads. Equipment failure and/or car downtime prove expensive for railroad companies. Real-time condition monitoring and reporting provided by JWDS mitigates downtime and accidents, and therefore costs. The system identifies and prioritizes rail car conditions allowing inspectors to move from finders to fixers by proactively flagging real-time readings rather than waiting until after an equipment failure or derailment occurs. Data mining the JWDS database allows trends and patterns to be discovered early which may reduce equipment down time, and in extreme cases, may even save lives.
Market Reactions to the PricewaterhouseCoopers Merger
Chiawen Liu, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Taychang Wang, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Wan-Ting (Alexandra) Wu, University of Massachusetts Boston, MA
This paper examines the market reactions to the merger of Coopers & Lybrand (CL) and Price Waterhouse (PW) in 1997. The results show that, when the merger plan was announced, there are no significant abnormal returns for CL clients, PW clients, or clients of both accounting firms. Further analyses show that the market reactions to the merger plan are indifferent between firms with varying monitoring demand. Although the monitoring hypothesis is rejected, we find evidence consistent with the insurance hypothesis: financially-distressed clients have more positive abnormal returns around the date of announcement than financially-healthy clients. Such results imply that investors of a financially-distressed client expect more benefits from the merger of its accounting firm which enhances auditors’ insurance role against a corporate failure. Merger and acquisition has been a corporate strategy to expand market share or improve company performance. Accounting profession is no exception. In 1989, Ernst & Young was formed by the merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young. In the same year, Deloitte, Haskins & Sells and Touche Ross merged and became Deloitte & Touche. In this merger wave, the Big 8 shrank to the Big 6. On September 18, 1997, Coopers & Lybrand (CL) and Price Waterhouse (PW), at the time the fifth- and the sixth-largest accounting firms in the U.S., announced to establish the world’s accounting giant, with combined annual fees of $11.8 billion in worldwide in 1996 and about 135,000 employees across the globe. The accomplishment of this merger created PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on July 1, 1998 and further reduced the Big 6 accounting firms to the Big 5.
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the journal. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any information (text; pictures; tables. etc..) from this web site or any other linked web pages is strictly prohibited. Request permission/Purchase this article: jaabc1@aol.com
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Home>TCJF>Turtle Island Quartet Brings “A Love Supreme” to the Dakota, January 23
Turtle Island Quartet Brings “A Love Supreme” to the Dakota, January 23
January 20, 2017 August 25, 2019 Andrea Canter2117
Turtle Island String Quartet © Andrea Canter
“A unified voice that truly breaks new ground – authentic and passionate – a reflection of some of the most creative music-making today.” –Yo Yo Ma
The Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet is more often heard in concert halls than small jazz clubs, yet their music seems equally at home in a jazz environment or a classical venue. Bringing improvisation and an amalgam of styles to a classical music foundation, TIQ is the ultimate cross-over ensemble, bringing as much innovation to Jimi Hendrix as to John Coltrane. Having appeared at the Dakota a few times in the past decade, notably with “Electric Ladyland” and in the entertaining company of Nellie McKay, the quartet returns with their interpretation of Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme,” Monday, January 23.
Turtle Island Quartet © Andrea Canter
Founded by violinist (and sole remaining original member) David Balakrishnan in 1985, the ensemble takes its name from Native American creation mythology and reflects Balakrishnan’s own eclectic background. “My father is from India, so I grew up hearing that music as a kid.” Already surrounded by the music of India, he also became a fan of Jimi Hendrix, then fusion, bebop, and David Grisman, ultimately founding TIQ as “the way that I found to connect the dots.” Those dots include everything from modern classical repertoire, jazz and American roots music to classic rock, Latin, East European and Middle Eastern folk traditions and beyond. The quartet has recorded a long list of albums for Windham Hill, Chandos, Koch and Telarc (winning the 2006 and 2008 Grammy Awards for Best Classical Crossover Album), soundtracks for major motion pictures, and boasts TV and radio credits (Today Show, All Things Considered, Prairie Home Companion, and Morning Edition) as well as feature articles in People and Newsweek magazines. Over the years, the TIQ has collaborated with such diverse stars as Paquito D’Rivera, Stefon Harris, Leo Kottke, the Assad brothers, Cyrus Chestnut, The Manhattan Transfer, Billy Taylor, Kenny Barron, Ramsey Lewis, the Ying Quartet, Tierney Sutton, Nellie McKay, and the Parsons Dance Company.
As much as they are forward-moving, the TIQ also has a revivalist spirit, reaching back over 200 years to the early traditions of improvisation and composition of chamber ensembles, and bringing to new life iconic works of legends like Coltrane and Hendrix. Their popularity has moved what was once termed “alternative chamber music” into the mainstream, into concert halls, festival stages, and jazz clubs worldwide.
David Balakrishnan © Andrea Canter
Founder David Balakrishnan (violin, baritone violin, composer) graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in music composition and violin and earned a masters degree in music composition at Antioch University West. He’s earned numerous commissions, grants, awards and Grammy nominations for composition and arranging, including his 2016 nomination for his composition “Confetti Man,” the title track of TIQ’s most recent release. His “Tree of Life,” recorded on Have You Ever Been… was commissioned by the Lied Center as a multi-media work involving theater, dance and music, as a response to controversies surrounding theories of evolution, and commemorating the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of the Species and 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. In 2015 he received Chamber Music America’s prestigious Classical Commissioning Program grant, supporting a full-length work commemorating the quartet’s 30th anniversary season.
Alex Hargreaves © Andrea Canter
Violinist Alex Hargreaves is an active performer whose credits include Austin City Limits, A Prairie Home Companion, Panama Jazz Festival, Bonnaroo, Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals, and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, as well as venues in Europe and South Korea. He joined mandolinist Mike Marshall’s Big Trio at age 17. For seven years, he toured with singer/mulit-instrumentalist Sarah Jarosz, and has also toured with Jerry Douglas, David Grisman, Bela Fleck, and Danilo Perez. At 15, he was the youngest-ever winner of the National Oldtime Fiddlers Context, and in 2010, was awarded the Jimmy Lyons Scholarship from the Monterey Jazz Festival, fully supporting his tuition at the Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, he was seleted fro the Berklee Global Jazz Institute directed by Danilo Perez; he toured with Perez’s trio and appears on Perez’ Panama 500.
Benjamin Von Gutzeit © Andrea Canter
A native of Bochum, Germany, Benjamin von Gutzeit was surrounded by musicians– his father a well-known educator, his mother a pianist, and two siblings classical string artists. He studied viola with his father from age 4-12, when he began studies with Emile Cantor of the Orpheus String Quartet. After winning the German Youth Competition Jugend Musiziert in 1992 and 1994, he toured Japan as a solo artist. At 15, Benjamin began playing electric bass as well as viola; from 2001-04, he studied at the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz, Austria with jazz violinist Andreas Schreiber, then moved on to jazz studies at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and became active on the Dutch jazz scene. In 2010 he moved to New York City and became the first violist to earn a Master’s Degree from the Jazz program of the Manhattan School of Music. Benni has performed and recorded with jazz violinist Mark Feldman, electronic music virtuoso Matthew Herbert, cellist Ernst Reijseger, and saxophonist Dave Liebman.
Malcom Parson © Andrea Canter
The most recent addition to TIQ, New Orleans native cellist Malcom Parson is a long-time member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. He attended the Berklee College of Music and participated in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program, performing as an orchestra soloist at age 14. After winning the orchestra’s Young Artist Competition, he performed at the National Black Arts Festival “Classics From the Next Generation” and at the 50th birthday celebration for Andre Watts. Malcom won a Golden Horn Award from the Louis Armstrong Foundation (a personal violin) and a cello from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science. Over his career, Parsons has performed with such artists as Del McCoury, Ron Carter, Paquito D’Rivera, Patrice Rushen, Terri Lynn Carrington, Dave Liebman, and Christian Howes, as well as collaborating with choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Julia Gleich, and dance company Brooklyn Ballet. He has also composed numerous compositions for solo cello, small ensembles and short films.
At the Dakota, the TIQ will give listeners an in-depth look at Coltrane’s landmark recording, A Love Supreme, in the greater context of the music that preceded and followed. Recorded four decades ago at a time when the country was deeply troubled by issues of race and war, Coltrane’s masterpiece was a personal statement of redemption and salvation that spoke to millions of listeners, becoming one of the most enduring jazz recordings of all time from the era many consider to be the last great evolutionary period of jazz. In exploring John Coltrane’s musical legacy, TIQ continues its own tradition of employing the string quartet form to shed new light on the timeless joy and beauty contained in the greatest music of the American jazz masters.
The Turtle Island Quartet performs two shows at the Dakota, located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, 7 and 9 pm. Tickets at 612-332-5299 or online at www.dakotacooks.com
“Looking North” With Bryan Nichols: Solo Concert, Jazz at Studio Z on January 21
Can You Believe It? JC Sanford and Quartet Celebrate CD Release at the Icehouse, January 23
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Protecting health care, protecting humanity
2016-03-30 By Rachel Irwin Lämna en kommentar
Photo: Rachel Irwin
ANALYSIS Armed conflict, particularly the intra-state kind, is often characterised by the lack of a functioning state, and at times by a state that is actively targeting its citizens. In these settings, the provision of humanitarian aid, including health care, is a practical demonstration of human security and the protection of health care in conflict is a fundamental gauge of our own humanity, writes Rachel Irwin, postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institute and an associate at Futureproof Ideas.
The principle of humanity dictates that aid address human suffering, protect individuals and promote dignity and respect during humanitarian crises. However, targeted violence against health care missions in armed conflict decreases the ability of health workers to carry out their fundamental tasks.
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Violent acts that directly affect the delivery of health care range from indiscriminate violence to direct attacks against health workers (murder, kidnapping, robbery and threats), obstruction (e.g. ambulances being stopped at checkpoints), discrimination and criminalisation (e.g. staff being pressured to treat one patient ahead of another – and even being prosecuted for not doing so) as well as damage to health facilities and vehicles. This is a global phenomenon: even in Norway, 70 per cent of ambulance personnel in the greater Oslo region have been subjected to violence, and Sweden’s Ambulance union has called for riot and protection gear for its staff.
However, most international attention has been given to attacks against health workers, and against humanitarian aid work more broadly, in armed conflict and other setting of violence. Every four years the International Committee of the Red Cross, the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and States Parties to the Geneva Conventions meet at the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. In December 2015 at the 32nd International Conference, where the issue featured on the agenda, delegates shared some of their daily experiences. For example, a representative from Syria described how ambulance staff do not fasten their seatbelts when driving in conflict areas, so that they can evacuate the vehicle quickly – and drivers park so that passengers are able to escape and hide behind the vehicle for protection in case of an ambush.
In armed conflict, the situation for health workers also includes large-scale attacks, such as airstrikes and bombings. While there is simply not enough data to definitely state that attacks are increasing globally, it is clear that certain types of attacks are increasing in some contexts within specific timescales. Currently, Syria and Yemen are two of the most insecure countries for health workers. Since the beginning of the conflict, 60 per cent of health facilities in Syria have been damaged or destroyed, many by Syrian or Russian forces. In Yemen, three Médecins Sans Frontières health facilities were bombed in airstrikes from the end of October 2015 to January 2016; the airstrikes were carried out by the Saudi-led coalition. A further example is Afghanistan, where attacks on health workers and facilities have increased by 50% over the past year. The most deadly attack globally in 2015 was that of the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Kunduz, which killed 42 people. On the morning of 3 October, the US-led airstrike on the facility continued for over an hour, even while Médecins Sans Frontières staff repeatedly contacted NATO and the OCHA Civil Military liaison via SMS and telephone to have the attack stopped.
Under International Humanitarian Law, as put forth in the Geneva Conventions and the additional protocols, and several other agreements, healthcare is clearly protected in armed conflict. Yet, why does violence continue to occur and, in some settings, become normalised? And why do countries that are parties to the Geneva Conventions attack health facilities, as has recently occurred in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen?
The answer is complicated, and the drivers of violence range from the geopolitical to the individual. In some settings, interpersonal disputes drive violence. For example, a patient’s family may be unsatisfied with the perceived quality of treatment. In some contexts kidnappings and lootings may have a financial motive, and may be committed by armed gangs that are not necessarily combatants, but have taken advantage of the chaos caused conflict to step up their activities.
In other situations, such as Syria, all sides of the conflict have targeted health facilities, including the government. Specifically, the health care system has been systematically targeted by government forces, including the persecution of health personnel who treat anyone perceived to oppose the government. Through this, government forces also aim to gain military advantage by depriving anti-Government armed groups and their perceived supporters of medical care. Finally, situations such as the hospital bombing in Kunduz point to larger geopolitical factors, and it has been suggested that governments are neglecting their commitments to International Humanitarian Law in the pursuit of the global war on terror.
The multifactorial causes of violence require continued commitment at political, diplomatic, and operational levels. At the 32nd International Conference, the delegated passed the resolution Health Care in Danger: Continuing to protect the delivery of health care together, which strengthened the Movement’s commitment to tackling violence against health care. Delegates also reaffirmed their commitment to International Humanitarian Law. However, a proposal for a new compliance mechanism proposals was rejected. Instead delegates opted for a four-year inter-governmental process to find ways to enhance compliance with International Humanitarian Law, the findings of which will be presented at the next conference in four years time. The issue will also be on the agenda at the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016 and will likely continue to be discussed in other fora, such as the United Nation General Assembly and Security Council.
While this increased global attention is welcome, it does not always translate into quick action on the ground. To address violence at the operational level, agencies and individuals are continuously adapting their security measures in response to attacks. For many, the active promotion of humanitarian principles – humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence – is the lynchpin of security management. By working with the local community and demonstrating a commitment to treating all, regardless of religion, ethnic or political affiliations, agencies are often able to negotiate access. Beyond this, there are practical adaptations – these include changing routes when driving to avoid ambushes or requiring visitors to check their weapons outside the hospital gates. There are other examples in which agencies have switched from expensive sport utility vehicles to rusty old cars to deter thefts. Gender also plays a role: in some settings, women community health workers are seen as more trustworthy than men and have had more success in negotiating access. Finally, there architectural responses, such as coating windows with plastic adhesive to prevent shattering or building clinics with basements to withstand aerial bombardment.
The humanitarian movement, in the broadest definition, exists to limit the devastating impact of conflict on communities and individuals and, in this sense, safeguard human security. The protection of health care in conflict is both a global and local responsibility, and is a fundamental gauge of our own humanity.
Rachel Irwin
Postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institute, an associate at Futureproof Ideas and a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). She has a PhD in social anthropology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Do you want to comment or discuss this post? Please contact the responsible editor.
Responsible editor: Linn Hultqvist, editor Gender equality
Arkiverad under: Afrika, Analys, Asien, Bistånd och utveckling, English, Europa, Inrikespolitik, Kina, Kvinnor, fred och säkerhet, Latinamerika, Mellanöstern, Ryssland, USA och nordamerika, Utrikespolitik Taggad som: armed conflict, health care, health workers, human security, humanitarian aid, humanity, Syria, violence, Yemen
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2011-02-03: Into The Morning Light
Summary: Connor, Hooligan, Rashmi and Travis talk about the previous night and work on getting past it.
Log Title: Into The Morning Light
Africa - Rundown Village
The lush green trees of the rainforest hide the small village, with only one road that leads out. The road clearly doesn't get much use, high grass growing up the center. It's nestled next to a beautiful river, flowing with the clean source of water. Still, it is a good walk down a slippery slope to get there.
The village here is poor, but hardly unpopulated. There is one solid building standing at the middle of town, and that's the church, though even that is a roug stucco building. It also seems to double as a clinic. There is no steeple, it is a simple block building, but a cross stands high over the main entrance of the buildling. There are no white people who live here, a dark shade of black on the skin tones of each inhabitant. Though it is small, there are people who live and play. Children run amidst dogs, the women wash clothes and cook while men bring in the food. Some traces of civilization can be found, playing cards and checkers seems to bethe popular activities among the elderly, and they can be found in the shade of any of dozens of trees or around the large fire kept burning at the center.
The rest of the buildings in town are all the same. They are grass huts, and offer little privacy. None of the inhabitants seem to mind, content with their community life. This might offend some of the sensibilities of Americans, but they don't seem bothered by such things.
Everything from leaving Nero's camp to now is a bit of a blur to Travis. He got a bit of sleep last night but it didn't leave him feeling rested. His wounds have been rebandage and there are cuts and bruises on his body. He's lost a bit of weight in the last two weeks but he's finally gotten to get cleaned up and a clean pair of clothes. He's sitting on the river bank looking across the water just trying to process the last week and a half, which feels like it was much longer. Two of his arms rest on the back of his head while the other four are wrapped around his knees, he's just very unsure of things right now.
Maxwell hasn't slept since coming to Africa, jetlag and the strain of the fight are taking it's toll on the vigilante. His armor damaged in several places with bulletholes and shrapnel revealing the dented and cracked steel plating under the kevlar and leather, but it seems to have held up. The Hooligan has paced the camp since the fight ended, keeping watch for remmnant of Nero's forces and helping out where he can. Though how he got from new York to Nero's camp is still a mystery, and he's wondering if he can beg a ride off the mutants to get back. He sways a bit on his feet but remains steady as the heat of the african morning beats down, refusing to even remove his mask.
"Hey, mister," comes a quiet voice from the doorway of the village chapel. "Sit down a while, okay? You're making me nervous." Leaning against the doorway, a glass of water in her hands, is one of the captives from the camp, the dark-skinned girl with the bad haircut. "I mean, thanks for… um… helping… but that mask doesn't do a whole lot to tell me we're *out* of that place, you know?" Blinking, the redhead tilts her head, brow furrowing. "…Who *are* you, anyway? I thought I knew everyone on this trip."
Travis hears Rashmi's voice from where he is on the river bank and isn't quite sure how to approach her. It isn't until he hears he asking who Maxwell is that he turns and looks. He just figured he was another one of the folks at Xavier's. He slowly pushes himself up so he's standing and looks over at Maxwell. "You mean, you're not part of the whole Xavier's crew?" He asks as he bends down to pick up the canteen of water he's been drinking. He starts walking towards Rashmi and leans against the wall of the chapel next to where she stands in the doorway. "How you feeling?"
Maxwell looks over as Rashmi speaks and nods "Yeah well I'm still a bit on edge.. the intel I gathered on Nero's forces indicated that he had reinforcements on the way to his compound that night, hard to tell wether the forces stationed there were comprised of those troops or wether they're still out there. As for the mask.. well they call it a secret identity for a reason. You can just call me Hooligan." He walks towards the chapel, absently turning the studded baseball-bat he carries in his hands. Looking to Travis as he walks over. "Nope, this whole thing was kinda of a spur of the moment thing. Long story really."
Rashmi nods slowly. "That makes sense… sort of… anyway," she says, leaning against Travis' shoulder and closing her eyes, "thanks. We um… probably weren't going to survive much longer, if you all hadn't shown up when you did."
Travis moves one of his arms around Rashmi's shoulders and nods. "Yeah, thanks. We weren't gonna get out there on our own." He doesn't like admiting it but there wasn't a way out without help in his opinion. "If you got hurt at all last night, let me know. I can heal you." Then he looks down at Rashmi and gives her a faint smile. "Same goes for you too."
Maxwell shakes his head "Naw I'm good, armor held up pretty good all things considered. Frankly if the attack hadn't happened when it did I wasn't sure what I was really gonna do. So I suppose the whole fight was just a matter of all the elements coming together at the right time."
"Practically a miracle, is what is was," Rashmi murmurs, crossing her arms over her stomach and shivering, leaning into Travis' arm. "So um… how did you even *get* here, Mr. Hooligan?"
"It's just you have prefect timing, what was it that got your attention with Nero." Travis asks as he shudders ever so slightly when he says the name. "Also I want to know what that explosion was." He comments as things were very chaotic last night but at least it's all over.
Maxwell gives a stretch for a moment, a few audible pops heard under that armor. "Nnngh.. damn." He looks back to Rashmi "Nero had been pumping drugs into New york faster than anything I'd ever seen, I'd been smashing Nigerian drug dens and taking out his street dealers for the last 3 weeks or so practically non-stop. Stomp one down and two more slithered out of the alley to replace them. Finally I managed to 'persuade' one of his dealers to reveal the location of the main supply house. When I raided the warehouse I caught one of his Lieutenants talking to an amercian genetic scientist about working for Nero and using some sort of drug given to him by an alien to make a mutant army. After smacking them both around and ransacking the place I found the information packet the Lieutenant was going to give the scientist.. private plane ticket, city contact, the whole nine yards. So I packed up my gear, passed myself off as the scientist and they brought me to the compound." He nods to Travis "Very good timing really, well I'm not sure what the first explosion was, I thought it was somthing the Mutants were doing. The second explosion was me getting a rocket launcher from the Armory and blasting the generator building into scrap.
"…Which is what got us our powers back," Rashmi finishes, shaking her head and managing something like a laugh. "I guess Sugar Man made him a dampening field. He turned that on, he didn't need the collars. Every mutant in the camp didn't have their powers anyway. So, yeah… thanks very much for blowing up the generator, Mr. Hooligan."
Of the group present, only Rashmi would be used to the sight of a portal opening in mid-air close to where the camp was set up for the visiting Americans to the small village. A six foot wide swirling blue-green disc of power floating in the air like a pool of water… complete with rippling surface. Through that steps Connor, carrying a few things with him in the form of a pair of plastic totes… one marked with a red cross, the other marked with the IGLOO logo. It's a foot drop from the edge of the field, but he makes it easily enough. Dressed back down into civvies, about the only sign of the black-clad warrior from before is the combat knife on his belt. There's a curt nod of greeting to the small group as he makes his way into the supply tent for the moment, before saying loud enough to be heard, "Rash? Can you and your friend come here for a minute?"
"Thanks again Hooligan. I am really grateful that you did that. Came, when you did. It was a godsend." Travis says. "And it's nice to have my powers back, the arms just feel weird without them. And I didn't realize he was spread out so far." When the portal first appears Travis tenses a bit, he's jumpier than he thought he'd be. It's not until Connor steps out that he relaxes. He gives a wave with one hand to Connor and nods. "Sure."
Maxwell begins to answer Travis when the portal opens, spinning around to face the opening and immediatly dropping into a fighting stance and whirling the studded bat a moment out of sheer reflex. It's fairly obvious this is a man who has seen a great deal of combat to move that fast even as fatigued as he is. He relaxs after seeing neither of the other two are reacting like this is a threat and lowers the weapon. "Now that's a neat trick, a little unnerving but a neat trick." He returns the bat to it's scabbard on his back and walks over to help out if needed.
Rashmi lifts her hand in greeting, as Connor drops to the ground, lips twitching up slightly at Maxwell's reaction. "That would be Connor, Mr. Hooligan," she says, pushing off the doorway. "And if you think it's unnerving now, wait until you go back to the City. He's probably going to be our ride home." Falling into step next to the older man, she approaches the tent, chewing on her lower lip for a moment before pulling the flap aside. "What, um… What's up, Connor?"
Connor is removing some vials of milky-looking fluid from the first aid crate as the group walks in, and then gives a smile, giving a nod to the pair, and then a slightly wary look to the Hooligan, "Staff back at the academy say hi… and wanted to get some preliminary work done before you're all back for a full medical exam." One vial is handed to Rashmi, the other to Travis, "Broad-spectrum antibiotics. The bottles have their own dermal injection systems. Just put it to your arm, the sensor on the cap detects the vein, and it does the work for you. It'll sting." Then out comes a second set, these with a small set of pills in them, "Specialized vitamins. Take one every morning while you're recovering and still here." Once those are passed out, he then opens the second box, and takes out two bags from a Hindi food market close to where Rashmi's family lives, "Comfort food. Butter Chicken, Curry, Jasmine Rice, some Biryani, and plenty of Naan to go around."
Travis sits down in the tent and takes one of the vials and looks at Connor. "Thanks, I can heal people but not myself. Which, if you need anything fixed up, let me know." He says as he looks at the vial before using it as instructed. "And the name's Travis if you forgot." He says to Connor since they met briefly before the whole fiasco. He takes the pills but when the food comes out, Travis turns a bit greenish.
Maxwell chuckles under the mask and gives a nod to Connor's wary gaze "And hello to you too." He looks around and sighs "I could have rigged up power for this place if Magneto hadn't reduced the entire motorpool to metal sludge, nothing left at the compound to salvage. So I don't suppose you can conjour up one of those portals to Hell's Kitchen? My ride here was regretably one-way and airport security gets really bitchy when I try to get this stuff through customs." He's about ready to drop over, telling jokes is the only defense mechanism he's got left.
Rashmi quietly takes the antibiotic and pills, arranging them on her lap, and as the food comes out, the redhead pauses, beginning to tear up. After a moment, she leans over the boxes, wrapping her arms around Connor's neck and squeezing tightly, before settling back and resting a hand on one of Travis'. "It's okay," she murmurs. "This is for surviving. Nothing else. Share with me, please…? I… didn't get all that much to eat, I'm not sure how much I can keep down." Looking over her shoulder up at Hooligan, the redhead smiles gently, nodding. "Mami and Papi live near Hell's Kitchen, sir… If I'm in the neighborhood and there's anything you need… let me know, okay?"
Looking to Hooligan, Connor replies, "Sorry… it's nothing personal… but yeah, I can give you a lift. If you think you can handle the trip. Otherwise, they're still having Kisha look back over the Bla… our aircraft to see if anyone left any surprises." Rashmi's hug is returned with one just as fierce, and he reaches in to take out a couple aluminum-wrapped flat items, handing one to Travis, "Naan… it's just plain flatbread. Your stomach should be able to handle it." Nodding once to him before offering a slight smile as he looks around again, "Hooligan, right? Thanks… and Magneto was my fault. When Rashmi was taken, I made a decision, and contacted the Genoshan Embassy. He wasn't here for Nero… he was here for The Sugar Man. I've also taken a laptop and a couple hard drives, along with a bunch of files I swiped to a few interested parties. Nero might be beaten, but his organization is still there. But with everything I have, we might just break the back of the beast. What we did
"…What we did could have repurcussions for years in the region. But good ones for a change. People will have to act now."
Travis takes Rashmi's hand and squeezes it. "It's not that, I want to eat, trust me, it's just ever since…the fight. I barely got anything to eat there and then on top of that, I just feel sick at the idea of food. Water is okay but…" He does reach out and take the offered bread from Connor before he lets out a sigh and looks down at the ground. "I didn't want to do it Rashmi, and that's not me. I don't even know if I did the right thing, why should he have died for me to live. I don't ever want to do that again, I'm not a killer but…what I did, does that make me one?" He doesn't mean to be a downer but it just kind of all comes out as it's been the focus of most his thoughts. What Connor says is given a nod but he doesn't really want to think about all that right now.
Maxwell nods "Hey no problem, trust me dressing like this I've gotten worse reactions but it gets the job done. I think I can handle a bit of Stargate jumping if you're up for it." He nods to Rashmi "Well we may run into each other again, stranger things have happened." He looks to Connor again "Eh you did what you felt you had to, trust me I can relate with that." Finally he looks to Travis "You do what you gotta do to survive sometimes, I know advise from a guy dressed up like the hell's angels meets Jason Vorhees won't be much comfort. But it's not just the decisions you make in life that define who you are. It's what you do in the aftermath of those decisions and how you choose to act int eh future that really counts. We are everyone we've ever been, Soldier, killer, Brother, Husband.. all of it. It's how you meld all those aspects of yourself into a single whole that says who and what you really are." He looks to Connor "Ok ready when you are before I really start getting sappy. If you ever need my help again, I'm not too hard to find if you try hard enough."
Rashmi starts to open her foil-wrapped naan, tears springing to her eyes as the steam drifts up to her nose. "What you did doesn't make you anything, Travis," she murmurs, leaning against the six-armed mutant's shoulder. "Neither of you deserved to die… neither of you was given any other choice. You chose to survive, Travis, that's all there is to it. It was a horrible, horrible thing you had to do… but that doesn't make you any more of a monster than I am," she says, eyes haunted as she looks down at the flatbread. Tearing a small piece off, she tucks it into her mouth, chewing slowly. "…Oh. Did the girl get back okay? He'd… told them to give her some food and send her back here."
There's a moment of pause from Connor, before he takes a breath, "Everyone's back in the village… everyone that we could find. Those that were Mutates or mutants Magneto had me ferry back to the Embassy so he could contact the proper authorities and have them taken home… he's supposed to call me to help get them where they need to be. As for the ones who the Sugar Man altered… apparently, he's dealt with this before, so hopefully they'll be able to be turned back from what they were turned into." There's a long sign as he finishes, and flops down, looking back and forth, "Travis… don't think about it right now. You're still in shock over what happened. It was the same way with me during the Mutant Town attack. Just… give it time to click together in your head. And when you're ready to talk to someone, you pick who you want to talk to, and about what."
Travis puts two arms around Rashmi as he unwrapps his own naan bread and goes to chew on a small piece. Hooligan's words do bring Travis some comfort and he smiles at him before he leaves. "Thanks again, for everything." He says as he eats slowly. "That's good, I just hope those that were in the cell with me can find a way to go back to normal. And what girl?" He asks as he finds the bread a bit easier to handle than he thought. "Were….our parents notified what happened…do you know that?"
"I told him I wouldn't be his wife," Rashmi says, softly, quietly, staring down at her bread. "When I woke up, after…" Closing her eyes, she ducks her head, pressing against Travis' side. "He said if I was going to be a solider… I had to prove I would be worth it… So he brought in these people. … …Told me to pick which one was going to die…"
Any sense of discomfort is hidden at the thin line that forms where Connor's mouth is, and when Rashmi begins to speak, he just remains silent. The usually verbose young man does go to where the water is stored, and fills a fresh water bottle for Rashmi and Travis, coming over and settling it down next to them. After that, comes a handkerchief from his back pocket that he hands to his friend. No reassuring looks are exchanged. Almost like a cat watching something it doesn't understand, his head tilts slightly as he listens.
Travis nods as Rashmi talks his eyes starting to tear up a bit as well. "What gives that asshole the right to fuck with people like that." He says barely above a whisper he takes the water from Connor and nods his thanks. "That man…" He says just clenching his jaw and squeezing Rashmi's shoulder lightly.
Rashmi reaches out, taking the handkerchief with a small nod. "I couldn't… I couldn't choose. So… He killed them both. Just… shot them in the head, right in front of me… and brought two more in. Told me to choose… choose who was going to die." Drawing in a deep, shuddery breath, she presses the cloth to her mouth, her voice starting to waver. "I told him to kill me instead… and he just laughed. Said I… wasn't one of the options. Killed them. Right there."
Connor opens and closes his mouth a couple times, as if trying to find some words, but then stops and shakes his head… mostly to himself.
Travis wraps four arms around Rashmi and pulls her into a hug. "It's not your fault Rashmi, it's his." He says. "He killed a boy infront of me cause I told him I wouldn't kill for him. I also told him to kill me and he wouldn't, instead he shot the kid. I..I hate that I couldn't do anything for but, I had to remember it was his fault not mine. He's using people like they're pawns. The worst part was watching that poor kid die…"
Rashmi burrows into Travis' arms, tears falling freely now. "…So he… brought in two more. From the village. An older man, and… and a little girl. One of the girls who played with my hair, she called my name… I… The older one, he looked at me, and he knew… he knew what had to happen… so… I did it. I pointed at him and he died. They shot him in the throat… he fell face first on the other ones, bleeding… Oh God, he was bleeding so much…" Pulling in a shaky breath, she looks to Connor, then up at Travis. "You're not a monster, Travis, you're not… You're *not.* Because if you are… I am too."
Connor finally murmurs out, "Neither of you are monsters." His glowing eyes looking back and forth between the two, "I know what a real monster is… if it would surprise you. I've seen the things I'm capable of if the right choices or circumstances come… but even when they come, you still have to accept them before they have meaning." There's a pause as he takes a piece of naan and some yogurt dip for himself, and has a bite of the cooling bread, "Monsters wouldn't be talking about what happened like this… they'd be eating and chatting about the weather, or talking about their next step. Monsters don't think of people as people. Don't let the names and lives affect them, because the only one that is important is their own. What you both have to remember is that he did not break you. In the end, you won."
Travis runs a hand through Rashmi's shortened hair before bringing it forward to lift her chin up to look at him. He's crying a bit himself but not bothering to wipe away the tears. "You could never be a monster Rashmi. And I don't think of myself as a monster just…I feel guilty. Like I let my Dad down. Though I will say this, I am never taking another life again. I am not a killer." He's saying that more for himself. "I…I just..I don't want to be like the guys that killed my Dad. And then they were hurting you for stuff I did Rashmi…and they told me they'd kill you too if I didn't win and, and, I couldn't lose someone I care about again. I can't go through that again."
Rashmi sighs heavily, resting her head against Travis' chest. After a moment, she cracks open an eye, looking to Connor. "…Him and his Mom and in Witness Protection," she supplies. "So… yeah. They were going to hurt me no matter what, Travis… You just gave them an excuse… and an idea. They ended up holding some other girl hostage to my good behavior too… But Connor's right. He couldn't break us. It was the only way I could fight him, not letting him win like that… So… I don't mind that I got beaten… I… don't mind that he… cut off my hair…" And here she trails off, throat tightening around another round of sobs.
There's a nod of reply as Connor takes another deep breath and stands up, "I've told both schools about what happened… wrote up a whole report for them, including what I could about your conditions. But they'll still want to interview you about the events that occurred. Since you're both over the age of consent, no parent signatures were required for the trip… so I think they'll leave it to you to inform your parents about this. I'm not sure, to be honest."
Travis winces slightly as Rashmi leans on his chest but he doesn't move her. He's still got that stitched knife wound across his chest. He nods in agreement about the Witness Protection program. As the hair is brought up, Travis brushes his hand through it. "You're allowed to mind about the hair Rashmi. I know it may seem stupid but it's okay to mind now that it's over." He looks at Connor and nods. "Connor, really, thanks for coming. I don't know what we would have done without you guys."
Rashmi pulls away, nodding quietly, and gets to her feet. Turning, she crosses the space between her and Connor, wrapping her arms around the teen and squeezing in what would be a bone-crushing hug, were she much stronger. "Thank you *so much,* Connor… Thank you…"
Connor shakes his head, but then the hug hits, and his hands come up to wrap around Rashmi's waist that he accepts the hug once more, "If I hadn't done it, I would have made sure someone else came. It's why I called Magneto in… we needed someone that Nero couldn't play his games against. Someone that if we failed, could make sure the job got done. Truth be told… I was so scared… I almost turned into something you wouldn't have liked. This was a bit of a test for all of us… and we might not have come back the same, but we came back as something we can live with, I think."
Travis stands up and offers Connor a hand in thanks. "Yeah..Magneto…he's pretty intense. So is that woman, Hilde?" He met her on the way over. "I wouldn't want to get on her bad side." There's a slight smile that shows on Travis' face as Connor says he was scared. "I think we all were. I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to get out of there, but I couldn't kill him. I didn't want to because that would have proved him right, that he did make me a killer. I just hope taking away the use of his hands makes it so he can't kill anyone again."
Rashmi squeezes Connor once more, stepping back to allow Travis to offer one of his hands. Leaving an arm around Connor's waist, she reaches out to take hold of one of the five other hands Travis isn't using at the moment. "It's over," she says quietly. "That's all that matters to me right now… It's over, and we can go home. After that… I guess we'll just have to figure out what to do when we get there."
Connor shakes Travis' hand as Rashmi remains close, "Well… the dumb sonuva-…" Stopping himself before swearing, "This all did kind of interrupt any birthday plans I'd tried to make." As he turns his arm and draws away from Travis, the long red mark on his arm can finally and plainly be seen, looking like a recently healed cut, but also like something dug a furrow in his skin, "And there's the dance coming up… so there's plenty to focus on that's not here." But then there's a sigh before he adds, "I don't expect we're going to talk much about this place, no matter what good things everyone tried to do."
Travis takes Rashmi's hand and closes his eyes and nods. "Watch the superbowl." Is his comment to Rashmi's figuring out what to do when they get home. He can't help but smile and chuckle at that, it's so small but it's something that makes things seem…normal and relaxing. "Oh man, I forgot about the dance, I'm going to have to get a suit." He says with a smile at Rashmi before he notices Connor's arm. "Dude, do you want me to heal that?" He says of the mark on his skin.
"Probably not," Rashmi agrees quietly. "Not for awhile anyway… not until it doesn't hurt so much." Squeezing Travis' hand, she blinks cheeks paling at the mention of the dance. "…Actually I, um… think I know where to get a suit. I… need a replacement uniform anyway, and 20s stuff should be fun for him. But y'know what? A dance actually sounds really, *really* nice. I hope the others handled the rest of the arrangements."
Looking down at his arm a moment, Connor replies, "No, it'll go away in about a week. Kinetic bleed. My gravity shields can block physical objects, but the energy and inertia still carries through to a degree. Right now every time I look at it, I'm reminded that you're all safe again." The more casual talk does make him smile, and he goes to unwrap another piece of naan, tearing it in two and giving each half of it, "I forgot to tell you… I'm taking Heather to the dance." A small smile then comes, "And before people start pointing out we're becoming a couple… I did it because no one else would understand her if she needed to leave early, or put in headphones because of uncomfortable sounds. I did it because she wants to go, and well… we get along. I don't think we'd ever BE a couple in that way… but we're good friends, and we understand each other. Which is more than I can say for some."
Travis looks at Rashmi again and smiles down at her, brushing a strand of hair aside. "You know, you might be able to get a really cute short twenties style hair cut." He says as he looks at Connor and shrugs. "You don't need to explain yourself to me. I don't know this girl but take who you're gonna have fun with." He puts an arm around Rashmi and smiles a bit, seeming a bit better emotionally. "Though, I want to tell you something, after what we went through I want you to know who I really am. It just, can't leave this tent, please."
Rashmi manages a small smile. "Honestly, Connor? That's more than I can say for some *couples.* So… don't worry so much, all right? You care enough to make sure she has a good time. That's good. Anything else?" She shrugs, then blinks as Travis pulls a strand of hair away, brow furrowing a bit as she looks up at the six-armed teen, nodding. "No problem… I know how much it means that no one else knows…"
With that being said, Connor stands up and then starts walking out of the tent, "I also brought an MP3 player and some speakers with the food… if you want to cover the conversation, turn it on and up. People will think you're starting a party." Not waiting for a thank you, he steps outside of the tent, and moves to a spot to indicate the people inside are looking for privacy.
Travis wasn't expecting Connor to leave but there is a look of releif on his face before he tells her. "Don't laugh but my real name is Aloysius." Travis states as he lets out a deep breath. "Aloysius Joseph Gardner, but everyone used to call me AJ. I had to tell you, not having your name and not being able to use it, it's like always wearing a mask. I know Aloysius is a horrible name but it's my name and feels the most comfortable. But at least Travis Smith is better than Liam Otter."
"Lia…" Trailing off, she simply coughs away whatever else she was going to say, nodding slowly. "All right… AJ. Um… it's, um… okay if I snicker at Liam *Otter* though, right…? Because, seriously, who *thought* that one up?"
For no apparent reason, Connor begins whistling 'Swing on a Star' outside of the tent, his hands his his pockets as he bounces himself to the beat while walking back and forth.
Travis nods. "Oh yeah, Otter was horrible. And that's what was on the back of my uniform when I played Baseball. I was called Otter a lot in High School. Anyway..so that's who I really am. When we get back home…do you want to go on a date? Like, a real date. I'll take you out to dinner and we can go out and do something." He asks Rashmi as he glaces back where Connor is and frowns a bit. "I kinda feel bad about your friend feeling like he might have been kicked out.."
Rashmi smiles gently, nodding. "Y'know… I think I'd like that a lot." Leaning against Travis, she glances toward the door, raising an eyebrow. "What, Connor? Actually that's kind of surprising, in a good way. I mean… he was really socially awkward when he first came to the school. Back then he'd be trying to keep talking himself into the conversation, y'know? No no, this is good… at least in that he did it without looking like someone kicked a puppy at him."
"Aaaand you might just swing on a star… carry moonbeams home in a jar… 'cause you're better off as your aaaaaare… or would you rather be a fish." The song continues as Connor belts the chorus softly, and goes back to whistling the tune as he forgets the words. His tenor is no Sinatra, but it's passable at least.
Travis nods to Rashmi. "Okay, well, he seems like a great friend to have. And seems like he has a good heart. And if he doesn't mind well, then I don't feel as bad about doing one more thing." He says before leaning in to give her a kiss.
Rashmi smiles gently, leaning up to press her lips to Travis for a moment, lowering herself back onto her feet and snuggling back into the boy's chest. "…Just one thing that's going to be a little awkward," she murmurs. "…That blond guy who was with you when you all came in? That's my ex-boyfriend."
africaconnormaxwellkrashmitravis
The Wanderers' Library
Fiction from another world.
Lobotomy Corporation
FACE THE FEAR,BUILD THE FUTURE
Intro to Psychology (PSYC 101)
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GOP candidates in Pennsylvania Senate race could include Dr. Oz and former Bush official
Rich Constable, whose background includes administration stints in both Bush administrations, as well as high-paying consulting gig for drug manufacturer, among others
A Republican businessman, a doctor and a former Bush administration official with Washington ties are taking part in a crowded, springtime primary race to succeed the late Senator John Heinz in Pennsylvania.
The race, which could cost $50m, reflects the extent to which social and political issues are increasingly being fought over on the cable news airwaves and in social media, particularly by the presumptive presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
And, in an election when most Republicans have lined up behind the party’s presumptive nominee, it showcases a new and populist tinge to the party’s increasingly mainline conservatives.
The race in Pennsylvania is among the most closely watched in the country. The winner will face Democrat Katie McGinty, the former head of the environment agency.
The Pennsylvania primary is in April 2019.
Among the candidates who have entered the race to succeed Heinz are:
Constable is a Pittsburgh-area businessman who has long been involved in politics, having run for Congress in 2010 and unsuccessfully challenged Trump in last year’s Republican primary. Constable, 71, had been managing the Heinz campaign until June when he announced he was quitting. He has been affiliated with the Centre County Republican party for four decades.
Colbert, a physician, was the primary physician of the late Republican Senator Don Nickles, the longest-serving Republican congressman in Oklahoma history.
Scranton surgeon and former CIA spy Shahram Hadian is another leading candidate in the race. A graduate of Cornell University, Hadian worked for several intelligence agencies in both the cold war and the second Iraq war. After leaving the CIA in 2007, he became a key confidant and advisor to the late slain CIA agent Jim Chapman.
Heinz, the state’s longest-serving US senator, died on 21 February of complications from pneumonia.
Seven other candidates have announced so far to vie for the Republican nomination.
Among them are:
Constable is in his third term as chairman of the Centre County Republican party. He helped engineer its takeover of the old county party, helping win the backing of conservative activists and campaigning for them to lead the party. As chairman, he’s been involved in the GOP primary campaigns of former presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Rick Perry.
Colbert is a physician specializing in diabetes, a chronic disease, in addition to being a physician in private practice. He has remained active with Physicians for a National Health Program, which seeks universal health care. The group has been involved in resisting medical malpractice lawsuits.
Hadian is a native of Tehran and began working in the CIA after Saddam Hussein’s forces invaded Iran in 1980. He served at the Washington-based CIA’s Af-Pak regional group, which has an office in Lohariya, Pakistan. He was stationed there for 10 years, beginning in 1990, and worked on the development of the Afghan resistance to the Soviet occupation. He worked for several years in Kabul before moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. After briefly serving there as a special operations advisor, he joined the special forces and soon went to Afghanistan to take charge of the Defense Intelligence Agency mission. He subsequently became the deputy director of operations for the Special Forces. He moved on to Pakistan in 1999.
Don Turner is an English major from Clarion University and founder of the Keystone Freedom Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote self-government throughout Pennsylvania.
Marie Dorison, a retired teacher, has received support from the labor union Pennsylvania State Education Association and the AFL-CIO.
Robert Wagner, a chemical engineer, has touted his experience in the petroleum industry, and has had a long association with the Republican establishment.
Francis Rooney is the only member of Congress from Pennsylvania, having been first elected in 1998. Rooney, 37, is the son of the late Senator Alfonse D’Amato and started his career at ExxonMobil after graduating from the Naval Academy. He is an airline pilot for Textron, and was a bankruptcy lawyer.
Tim Edson, a former legislator from Susquehanna County, has been one of the loudest critics of the oil and gas industry in the state, criticizing its impact on air quality and the local economy.
Categories national Tags chemistry, coronavirus (2019-ncov), television
Federal Reserve, which is under fire for low inflation, raises interest rates
Manchester United 0-0 Valencia: Sergio Romero fails to keep out Rodrigo strike
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Czech Republic's Sedlec Ossuary, aka 'Church of Bones,' to ban selfies
Lilit Marcus, CNN • Updated 16th October 2019
(CNN) — The Sedlec Ossuary chapel in the Czech Republic town of Kutná Hora has become the latest travel attraction to clamp down on photography.
The chapel, located beneath the Church of All Saints about 45 miles outside of Prague, is known as the "Church of Bones" because of its unusual decor.
The bones from the nearly 60,000 skeletons discovered on the site have been used to create decorative elements, most famously a large chandelier.
California 'Daffodil Hill' closing because of overtourism
The underground chapel's nontraditional interior design has brought tourists from around the world to this otherwise sleepy town in the Czech countryside, but the visitor influx has become a double-edged sword in the age of Instagram.
Radka Krejčí, director of the Sedlec parish, told reporters in a Czech Republic media briefing that photography will be severely restricted in the Sedlec Ossuary as of 2020.
"We believe that our visitors will respect this decision and at the same time understand the reasons that led us to this step," she said.
According to Krejčí, half a million people passed through the Ossuary in 2017, a number that is expected to keep rising.
The Church of All Saints dates from the 14th century.
Courtesy Sedlec Ossuary
This isn't an outright photography ban. Instead, visitors who wish to take snapshots will need to get permission from the parish three days ahead of time.
A major issue for the ossuary -- which is currently undergoing renovations that will help manage the flow of visitors to the site -- is the epidemic of inappropriate selfies.
Despite signs in many languages asking guests to be polite and remember that the skeletons are still dead bodies, many tourists have removed bones from the walls, attempted to touch or kiss skeletons, put hats or sunglasses on skulls for photo purposes or committed other disrespectful acts.
In addition, preservation is crucial, since Kutná Hora's historic town center is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Bali resort bans smartphone use by the pool
The nearby Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, both managed by the Sedlec parish and part of the UNESCO designation, will also be subject to the new photography guidelines.
It's as yet unclear what the new restrictions will entail beyond the three-day rule.
Some popular sites around the world, like Mexico City's Casa Azul, the home of artist Frida Kahlo, charge an additional fee for visitors who want to take pictures.
Others only ban selfie sticks or limit photography to certain less-busy times.
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Fifth Circuit Vacates 40 Percent Valuation Penalty Reviewed by Momizat on Aug 20 . What This Means for Appraisers In a new twist involving litigation that impacts valuation analysts, on June 11, 2014, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld What This Means for Appraisers In a new twist involving litigation that impacts valuation analysts, on June 11, 2014, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Rating: 0
You Are Here: Home » Case Law » Fifth Circuit Vacates 40 Percent Valuation Penalty
Fifth Circuit Vacates 40 Percent Valuation Penalty
Posted date: August 20, 2014 In: Case Law, QuickRead Featured, Valuation/Appraisal
What This Means for Appraisers
In a new twist involving litigation that impacts valuation analysts, on June 11, 2014, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Tax Court’s valuation of a historic preservation façade conservation easement, but vacated the Tax Court’s imposition of a gross undervaluation penalty. The latest ruling, as Joe Brophy explains, raises a host of new issues.
On June 11, 2014 the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion in the case of Whitehouse Hotel Limited Partnership v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (Case No 13-60131) (Whitehouse hereinafter) on an important issue impacting appraisers in the Fifth Circuit.
The Whitehouse partnership was formed in 1995 to buy an existing property in New Orleans known as the Maison Blanche and the Kress building, adjacent to Maison Blanche, to convert the same into a Ritz Carlton hotel.
In 1997, Whitehouse conveyed a conservation easement to the Preservation Alliance of New Orleans (a non-profit) dedicated to historical preservation, which the partnership valued at $7.445 million dollars.
In 2003, the IRS issued notice to Whitehouse allowing a $1.15 million dollar charitable contribution and assessed a “gross undervaluation penalty of 40% of the portion of the underpayment of tax that year. See USC 6662(h)(2).”
The Tax Court agreed with IRS in Whitehouse Hotel Ltd P‘shp v. Comm’r, 131T.C. 112 (2008), and placed the value at $1.15 million, agreeing in substance with the IRS on both the value and the penalty assessment. The Tax Court ultimately did not accept either the IRS valuation nor the taxpayer’s opinion, but arrived at its own “blended analysis.” The IRS expert actually concluded the easement had no value.
The Fifth Circuit went on to summarize the Tax Court valuation decision:
“First, the tax court concluded there was no difference in the highest and best use before and after the conveyance of the easement because the easement and a post-easement value of $10.3 million. The value of the easement, then, was $1,792,301. That valuation meant that Whitehouse overstated its deduction by $5,652,699, the difference between $7,445,000 and $1,792,301. The overstated deduction meant that Whitehouse had claimed a deduction roughly 415% higher than its proper value ($7,445,000 / $1,792,301 = 4.15). Id. at 172. If a taxpayer misstates a deduction by 400% or more, a penalty of 40% of the underpayment may be charged as a penalty for a “gross valuation misstatement.” I.R.C. § 6662(h)(2)(A)(i). A taxpayer may be relieved of this penalty if the taxpayer shows the misstatement falls into the “reasonable cause exception.” I.R.C. § 6664(c)(1). To qualify for this exception, the taxpayer must show the claimed value was based on a qualified appraisal by a qualified appraiser and that the taxpayer made a good faith investigation of the value of the property. I.R.C. § 6664(c)(3).”
“ Valuation of assets is a difficult task, even with the advice and counsel of accountants, consultants, and tax attorneys. It is even more complicated when, as here, the valuation is divorced from a negotiated transaction between buyer and seller.”
The Fifth Circuit’s recent decision (a second look at issues after a prior remand to the Tax Court for reconsideration) affirmed the $1.15 million dollar value in their June 11, 2014, decision, but the Court of Appeals vacated the 40 percent penalty.
One big question for appraisers was partially answered by the Fifth Circuit, which is will the assessment of a 40 percent valuation penalty for overstating values be sufficient cause to assess the 40 percent penalty? Or does the use of qualified appraisers still give rise to a taxpayer defense in the Fifth Circuit?
Both Whitehouse and the IRS provided testimony from “qualified appraisers” who vastly differed on the value of the easement and on the property to be valued. They disagreed on the “highest and best use” of the Maison Blanche building and the Kress building. One appraiser indicated that only the Maison Blanche had value while Whitehouse included a value for the adjacent Kress building, which was bought a day later by the partnership.
The Fifth Circuit concluded the I.R.C. also provided for relief under 6664 (c )(1) for reasonable cause. To meet this requirement, the taxpayer had to prove the claimed value was based on a “good faith” investigation into the value in a qualified appraisal by a qualified appraiser under 6664 (c ) (3):
“Valuation of assets is a difficult task, even with the advice and counsel of accountants, consultants, and tax attorneys. It is even more complicated when, as here, the valuation is divorced from a negotiated transaction between buyer and seller. In most transactions, presumably, the final sale price is forged from competing interests. That dynamic makes the sale price a good indicator of the fair market value of a given property. Even then, that price may be altered up or down by idiosyncratic characteristics of the parties. This is not the case here. This easement was a gratuitous transfer; the PRC did not haggle over price and did not pay a final sale price.
We are particularly persuaded by Whitehouse’s argument that the Commissioner, the Commissioner’s expert, and the tax court all reached different conclusions. The Commissioner originally permitted only $1.15 million as a deduction. Argote valued the easement as worthless. We share the tax court’s and the Commissioner’s skepticism of the dramatic appreciation of value between the roughly $8,000,000 purchase price of the Maison Blanche shell and the Cohen appraisal’s $96,000,000 valuation. What the taxpayer reasonably considered, though, even if not sustained by the tax court, is that its contract to transform the building into a Ritz-Carlton hotel had value. As we were in our 2010 opinion, we are skeptical of the tax court’s conclusion that following the advice of accountants and tax professionals was insufficient to meet the requirements of the good faith defense, especially in regard to such a complex task that involves so many uncertainties.
As we did in Montgomery Capital for the general reasonable cause exception, we review the ‘totality of the facts and circumstances.’ 659 F.3d at 493. Whitehouse obtained a second appraisal as a “check” against the first one. Drawbridge testified and presented the 1997 Form 1065 indicating it had been prepared by Whitehouse’s financial auditors. Obtaining a qualified appraisal, analyzing that appraisal, commissioning another appraisal, and submitting a professionally-prepared tax return is sufficient to show a good faith investigation as required by law. See I.R.C. § 6664(c)(3)(B). The tax court’s enforcement of the gross undervaluation penalty was clearly erroneous.”
To appraisers, the important issue raised is whether the court concluded that merely over or under stating value is not sufficient for the IRS to assess the substantial understatement penalty if the taxpayer used a “qualified appraiser” and there were significant underlying issues that might lead a qualified appraiser to arrive at a significantly different value.
Valuation is an art not a science, so it is best not practiced by the timid; a legitimate difference on appropriate, but accepted methods should not be enough on its own to trigger the gross undervaluation 40 percent penalty per the Fifth Circuit. But then again, does this opinion open the door to private parties pushing the proverbial envelope when “qualified appraisers” are retained to submit reports? This author expects this issue to be fought again as the IRS and the Tax Court in other circuits will undoubtedly revisit this argument.
Joseph D. Brophy, MBA, CPA/ABV, CVA, ABAR, CM&AA is a former member of the AICPA IRS Practice and Procedures Committee and former chair of the Texas Society of CPAs Relations with IRS Committee. He is frequent writer for tax and valuation publications. He can be reached by e-mail at jdbrophy@jdbrophycpa.com or by phone at (214) 522-3722.
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8:40 PM PT9:40 PM MT10:40 PM CT11:40 PM ET4:40 PM GMT12:40 PM 北京时间9:40 PM MST11:40 PM EST, Nov 25, 2022
Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland, Oregon Attendance: 8,090
Zach Edey scores 23, No. 24 Purdue tops No. 6 Gonzaga 84-66
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Zach Edey and his Purdue teammates were admittedly too excited early on for the chance to compared themselves to one of the top teams in the country.
Once the 24th-ranked Boilermakers calmed down, they showed they are worthy of their own consideration as a top team after a thorough 84-66 thumping of No. 6 Gonzaga in the semifinals of the Phil Knight Legacy tournament on Friday night.
"I think everyone was really psyched up for this game and that kind of came up that first few minutes with those early game jitters," Edey said. "I thought as the game went on we did a really good job of sticking to our scouting report."
Edey scored 15 of his 23 points in the final 15 minutes, Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer each added 14, and Purdue surged into a championship game matchup against No. 8 Duke.
Edey, Purdue's 7-foot-4 center, was the catalyst for a big second half and took over for stretches. But he had a pretty good supporting cast. Caleb Furst added 10 points, and Purdue (5-0) shot 57 percent in the second half, made six of 11 3-point attempts and outrebounded the Bulldogs 46-31.
And Purdue had an answer for every run the Gonzaga tried to make.
"He's a moose. He just camps out down there. He's strong. He knows how to use his body. He knows how to get to his hook and it's kind of just like, you have to put your hands up and hope he misses it," Gonzaga forward Drew Timme said.
Purdue handed Gonzaga a second loss in the month of November for the first time since 2010. The Bulldogs (4-2) were 71-8 in November games since 2010 entering Friday.
Timme led Gonzaga with 22 points and nine rebounds in his highly anticipated matchup with Edey. Nolan Hickman added 15 but the rest of Gonzaga's role players were mostly absent at the offensive end. Julian Strawther had just four points. Malachi Smith, who had 23 points in the opening round win over Portland State, scored three.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few was frustrated with some shot decisions and felt the offensive struggles led to defensive breakdowns in the second half.
"I thought we took a couple, well more than a couple, five, six, seven pull-up jumpers that we didn't need to and that led to some frustration and carried over to the defensive end. We got torched on defense in the second half," Few said.
Both teams exchanged eight-point leads in the first half, and it was Purdue leading 33-28 at the break.
Gonzaga pulled to 36-35 in the opening moments of the second half thanks to two baskets from Timme and 3 by Rasir Bolton. But the Boilermakers answered with 13 of the next 18 points. Edey scored in the paint twice and Newman's 3-pointer coming off a screen pushed the Purdue lead to 49-40 and led Few to burn a timeout.
Purdue eventually pushed the lead to 12 as Furst scored eight straight points with a free throw, a pair of dunks and a 3-pointer that gave the Boilermakers a 57-45 lead with 8:36 remaining.
Purdue's lead eventually reached 20 in the final minute.
"Our guys are competitive. They're fun to coach. They get along," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "They're out there playing with purpose and that's what you have to have. Early in the season, very few teams play with the purpose collectively. I thought our guys played with a purpose today."
Purdue: The Boilermakers have won 12 straight games in November and 18 straight regular season non-conference games dating to the 2020 season.
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs last two-loss November in 2010 had setbacks against San Diego State and a neutral site loss to Kansas State.
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
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cc/2023-06/en_head_0059.json.gz/line51
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