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SportsPosted at: Jun 25 2019 11:21PM
Australia beat England, secures semis birth
London, Jun 25 (UNI) Defending champions Australia didn't have struggle much as their bowlers dished out a clinical performance to thrash England by 64 runs in the World Cup match here at Lord's cricket ground on Tuesday.
Mitchell Starc (4/43), Jason Behrendroff (5/44) ripped through England batting and didn't allow them to settle down on the crease except Ben Stokes who scored 89 off 155 balls with the help of 8 fours and 2 sixes.
With this win, Australia are the first team to secure semifinal birth.
While chasing 286 to win, the host got of to a disastrous start as the openers couldn't contribute much in the game. James Vince expected was the first one to walk towards the pavilion for duck as he was bowled by Behrendroff.
England suffered a second loss in the 3.3 over, when new batsman Joe Root (8) just opened his account was looking forward to stretch his innings but he was lbw by Starc. He left England on a score of 15/2.
Jonny Bairstow struggled during his stay on the crease, as he didn't the get the support from the other end. Eoin Morgan too walked to back to the hut after scoring 4 runs. Bairstow (27) fought hard under pressure but failed to contribute for his team and was dismissed by Behrendroff. Within, five over England had already lost their four wickets on a score of 53.
However, Jos Buttler and Stokes stitched a 71-runs-partnership for the fifth wicket and took the hosts from 53 to 124 runs but this partnership journey came to an end in 27.2 over when Buttler was caught by Usman Khawaja on Marcus Stoinis ball. He scored 25 off 27 balls.
Despite Stokes wasn't supported from the other end, still he managed to stay on the crease to chase the target and scored 89 off 115 balls before falling to Starc in 37th over. If he was supported well from the other end then the match scenario would have been different.
More UNI XC AKC 1051
GOC, Eastern Command Lt Gen RP Kalita to unveils details of Durand Cup with inaugural play on Aug 2 between Mohun Bagan and Md Sporting
Kolkata, Jul 17 (UNI) Army chief, Eastern Command, Lt Gen RP Kalita is scheduled to brief media about arrangements are being made to host India's oldest competitive football tourney - Durand Cup , which would return after a gap of 3 years as country's top clubs havealready made commitment
for participation with inaugural play between Moihun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting on August 2 at Yuba Bharati Krirangan at 3 pm.
PSG sign defender Diallo on five year contract
17 Jul 2019 | 7:30 AM
PARIS, Jul 17 (Xinhua) Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday announced the arrival of French defender Abdou Diallo from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract, linking him with the capital club until June 30, 2024.
Serbia Red Star eliminates Lithuanian Suduva in Champions League qualifications
BELGRADE, Jul 17 (Xinhua) Serbia Red Star (Crvena Zvezda) beat Lithuanian Suduva 2-1 in the second leg of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League here on Tuesday.
Ukraine needs to host Olympic Games, says President
KIEV, Jul 17 (Xinhua) Ukraine needs to develop a strategic plan to qualify for hosting the Olympic Games, said President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with Minister of Youth and Sports Ihor Zhdanov and National Olympic Committee president Serhiy Bubka on Tuesdays.
Shkendija loses 2-1 with Kalju in UEFA first qualifying round
SKOPJE, Jul 17 (Xinhua) The North Macedonian soccer team Shkendija was defeated 2-1 by Estonian team Nomme Kalju here on Tuesday at the second leg of the first qualifying round of UEFA Champions League.
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< Back to News Friday, February 9th, 2018
York Central Masterplanner opens 2018 York Design Awards
The 2018 York Design Awards have been launched with a thought-provoking lecture by architect Bob Allies OBE of Allies and Morrison, which is developing the masterplan for York Central.
‘York Design Awards launch night guest speaker Bob Allies pictured at York Theatre Royal where the event was held. Bob is pictured on stage with a picture of the Kings Cross development in London about which he spoke. Picture David Harrison/ York Design Awards.’
Sponsored by Hiscox, the awards are now in their 12th year and celebrate and promote good design across the city. Property developers, housebuilders, architects, building owners and homeowners can enter their projects at www.yorkdesignawards.org before the closing date of 21st March.
The launch event took place at the York Theatre Royal, winner of two York Design Awards last year, one in the restoration, refurbishment and conservation category, the other being The Press People’s Award, the only award voted for by the public.
The audience of more than 150 property professionals were inspired by Bob Allies of Allies and Morrison “Fabric of Place” lecture in which he shared the masterplanning guidelines and principles that the architectural practice creates for each project it undertakes. Mr Allies focused his lecture on the Kings Cross Central masterplan. He highlighted the need to maximise existing potential within a site, create public spaces first, develop a variety of mixed-uses and to remain flexible throughout the design process.
Janet Hopton, Chair of York Design Awards said: “Bob Allies has vast experience of creating hugely successful masterplans and, after listening to his lecture and hearing the approach his firm takes to projects, I’m confident that the York Central masterplan is in safe hands. We’re so pleased that he has helped us to launch the 2018 York Design Awards. We urge the local property and construction community to submit their projects completed in the last three years for independent scrutiny and receive the recognition and reward that good design deserves.”
Full details on the categories and how to enter the prestigious awards, are available at www.yorkdesignawards.org. Winners will be announced and presented with their awards at the presentation evening which takes place on Monday 25 June at the University of York’s Ron Cooke Hub.
Previous winners include The Chocolate Works new build phase 1, Little Knavesmire Sports Pavilion, The Rattle Owl, York Art Gallery, The Hiscox Building, York Racecourse, St. Everilda’s Church extension and the restoration of the Old Probate Office.
The awards programme operates with the generous support of a number of sponsors who have a strong association with the city. Hiscox are once again the main sponsor, with additional high-profile sponsors Arup, O’Neill Associates, City of York Council, Shepherd Group, York Science Park, The Partners Group, United By Design, Virgin Trains, Ravage Productions, The Grand Hotel, George F White, York Civic Trust, Crombie Wilkinson, Fulprint, Bedern Hall, York Conservation Trust and York Guild of Building.
Thank you to everyone who came to the launch event. Please click here to view photos from the night https://flic.kr/g/zbJw7.
View Previous
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The future is arriving (at last)
Researchers at Berkeley have developed a system that reads people’s minds while they watch a video and then roughly reconstructs what they were watching from thousands of hours of YouTube videos.
Nishimoto and two other research team members served as subjects for the experiment, because the procedure requires volunteers to remain still inside the MRI scanner for hours at a time.
They watched two separate sets of Hollywood movie trailers, while fMRI was used to measure blood flow through the visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes visual information. On the computer, the brain was divided into small, three-dimensional cubes known as volumetric pixels, or ‘voxels.’
‘We built a model for each voxel that describes how shape and motion information in the movie is mapped into brain activity,’ Nishimoto said.
The brain activity recorded while subjects viewed the first set of clips was fed into a computer program that learned, second by second, to associate visual patterns in the movie with the corresponding brain activity.
Brain activity evoked by the second set of clips was used to test the movie reconstruction algorithm. This was done by feeding 18 million seconds of random YouTube videos into the computer program so that it could predict the brain activity that each film clip would most likely evoke in each subject.
Finally, the 100 clips that the computer program decided were most similar to the clip that the subject had probably seen were merged to produce a blurry yet continuous reconstruction of the original movie.
(via kottke.org)
brain, future, science, video, wow
← FotoGrafia 2011. Photo Galleries
Interlude →
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Professional Help: Food for thought
Michael pond, Special To The Sun 01.19.2015
In holistic health circles, turmeric has been touted for centuries to cure all manner of human ills.
/ konok1a - Fotolia
Professional Help: Five steps for fighting better with your partner
Professional Help: Peace on earth, good will to wo-men
If you’re a big fan of curry, you may be protecting your brain from depression and the ravages of Alzheimer’s.
There’s been an explosion of research into circumin, the major “active” component in turmeric. It’s what gives turmeric its vibrant yellow colour. Turmeric is a member of the ginger family and is a popular spice in Indian cooking. In holistic health circles, turmeric has been touted for centuries to cure all manner of human ills. Now it’s being investigated as a possible treatment for neurological, and psychological diseases.
Curcumin crosses the blood-brain barrier, which makes it an ideal candidate for treating brain disorders.
The Department of Pharmacology of Government Medical College in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, conducted a randomized and controlled study comparing the effects of turmeric (curcumin) and Prozac (fluoxetine) and determined turmeric was as effective as Prozac in treating major depressive disorder. Turmeric treatment also did not have the dangerous side effects associated with Prozac.
But exactly how much circumin must one ingest to feel its anti-depressant effects? And what’s the best way to get the circumin into the brain?
The answer may lie in exciting Alzheimer’s research.
“Curcumin has demonstrated ability to enter the brain, bind and destroy the beta-amyloid plaques present in Alzheimer’s with reduced toxicity,” wrote Wellington Pham, PhD at Vanderbilt University and senior author of a study which appeared in the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease. Build up of beta-amyloid is what causes irreversible loss of neurons in Alzheimer’s disease.
Pham and Japanese partners have developed an atomizer, a circumin aerosol if you will, to deliver a molecule similar to curcumin more effectively to the brain.
“It can be tracked in the brain noninvasively using magnetic resonance imaging,” Pham said. “In this way the drug can be breathed in and delivered to the brain,” much like inhalers for asthma.
At the Mary S. Easton UCLA Alzheimer Translation Center, researchers are trying to figure out how best to make circumin ‘bio-available’ and the secret may in part lie in how Indian food is prepared. India has a low incidence of Alzheimer’s, and it’s estimated Indians ingest about 125 mg a day of circumin. Circumin dissolves and is often extracted into fat in cooking — which may increase it’s bio-availability, researchers surmise.
UCLA is now conducting a clinical trial on a capsule called Longvida, given to subjects at risk of Alzheimer’s. According to the UCLA Alzheimer Translation Centre, “Ohio State University found that the Longvida curcumin formulation reduced plasma levels of beta-amyloid as well as cholesterol and markers of inflammation in plasma of 40-60 year old subjects.”
So if you are thinking of adding circumin to your diet … when to take it?
Again, from UCLA, “Fasting improves free curcumin absorption (eg. minimum of three hours after a meal). Wait an hour before eating a meal. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that some people may have sleep disturbances if taken before bedtime.”
My suggestion is to eat Indian food. Lots of it. Buy Vikram Vij’s cookbook and master Indian cooking at home. Your brain will thank you.
Michael Pond is a Vancouver psychotherapist and a recovered alcoholic. See michaelpond.ca
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Crafty Vaporizer
| 6 Review(s) | Add Your Review
Storz & Bickel have been on the forefront of vaporization innovation for over 15 years. While best known for the Volcano, their flagship desktop unit, they certainly don’t disappoint with one of their newest portable handhelds, the Crafty. This compact, cutting edge creation utilizes full hot air convection combined with conduction heating to give the user a truly unique and ultra-satisfying vaporizing experience. Measuring in at just 4.3 x 2.2 x 1.3 inches, the Crafty is no bigger than your average smartphone, making this the perfect choice for on-the-go vape enthusiasts.
Haptic Feedback Temp Indicator
Super Light / Compact Design
Full Convection Hot Air
Precise Electronic Control
Lithium Ion Battery Power
High Efficiency Heat Exchanger
Super Precise TempControl
Wireless Bluetooth App
Automatic Switch-off
1 x Power Adapter
1 x Liquid Pad
3 x Screens
1 x Cleaning Brush
1 x Grinder
1 x Filling Aid
1 x Seal Rings
1 x Instruction Manual
Crafty Portable Vaporizer
Storz & Bickel have been #1 in the vaporization industry for over a decade. While best known for the Volcano, it's easy to see that the same careful engineering and innovation has gone into producing their newest portable vaporizer, the Crafty.
Durable Design
The Crafty truly lives up to it’s name. It’s so small and discreet, it can easily be concealed in the palm of your hand. Extremely quiet while in use and easily stashable if need be, it’s portability is outmatched only by its unparalleled functionality. Manufactured from a high grade plastic, Storz & Bickel has somehow managed to give the Crafty the feeling of a heavy duty, ultra durable unit while maintaining a tactical elegance in design. At first glance, it differs in aesthetics from any other portable offering on the market, setting the Crafty apart not just in functionality, but form as well. The mouthpiece utilizes the same high grade plastic, and the ‘swivel’ aspect allows it to swing flush into the unit when not in use, eliminating the fear of accidental breakage when in transit.
The Crafty's compact size is accompanied by a simple one-button control system that makes it very easy to operate, even if you’re brand new to vaporizing. A swift press of the button on the outside of the unit quickly turns the Crafty on and begins the 60-90 second heating process to either the basic heat setting (365F) or the ‘booster’ setting (383F). For advanced temperature control, Storz & Bickel have developed a unique remote app compatible with most smart phones and operating systems, giving the user the ultimate feeling of hi-tech heating mastery. The Crafty also utilizes a handy vibrate feature, that along with an LED light indicates the desired heat setting has been reached. The Crafty remote app can be downloaded from the iPhone App Store or the Google Play Store.
Exceptional Functionality
All Storz & Bickel products (Volcano, Plenty, Mighty) operate on the basis of full hot air convection heating combined with conduction. The Crafty is no different, providing immediate convection heating with continuous vaporization, and conduction ensuring that there is no shortage of vapor created from the very first inhalation. The commodious filling chamber, which is seamlessly integrated into the vaporizer itself, is easily filled when using the included filling tool. The Crafty is also equipped with a state of the art cooling unit which eliminates harsh hits and really brings out the true flavor and aromatics of material being vaporized.
The Crafty is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which can either be charged via USB or standard wall charger. With battery life lasting through approximately 1.5 hours of continuous use, you’ll never find yourself in the middle of a session all "dressed up with no place to go". Assisting with prolonged battery life, the unit has an auto shut off feature, which keeps you from unnecessarily draining your battery during the downtimes of your sessions. As the Crafty also implements a battery which operates independently of and is completely separate from the heating unit itself, battery longevity will not be compromised over time, leading to extended battery life and less hassle in the long run.
"Wow!"
Review by Jeffrey on March 17, 2015
"This is a great unit! Very discreet and great vapor production. The vapor is very smooth and not hot! The only thing is that the battery dies out pretty fast, so I need to keep an eye on it. But other than that, I'm really enjoying this product!!"
"The best portable vaporizer ever"
Review by Armando V. on June 2, 2015
"My Crafty is the best herbal portable vaporizer today. The only other vaporizer that is equally as great as this one is the Mighty also made Volcano. If you can afford this vaporizer you should get it and you won't regret it. "
"Excellent Draw, Compact, and Simple. "
Review by Vape Lord on July 3, 2015
"There are several key points to highlight with this unit though lets start with the most important, the vapor. It's smooth with the perfect temperature and extremely easy to get a great draw without any effort. Vaporizing with the Crafty is one of the easiest experiences I've had because they have designed a simple yet effective product. At 0.3 lbs, the item is discreet and light, it takes 60-90 seconds to heat up at a default temperature of 365°F, and when it's ready it the light turns green and vibrates. Additionally they have included a Bluetooth App which allows you to control the temperature on your phone. The Crafty is operated with a single button on the device so there's really no guess work after opening the box. Load up your herb in a container fitting about 3 pinches, push the button to start the heating process and lean back. The high ratings are a result of the simplicity, great draw, and discreet nature of the device. "
"Get it."
Review by Randy on July 3, 2015
"Honestly, the plastic mouthpiece kind of threw me off and I wasn't expecting the flavor to be as smooth and tasty as it was! The app was easy to navigate and the vapor was NICE! Totally worth it!! I'm saving up for the Mighty now!"
"Quality at an Expense"
Review by H.W. on July 21, 2015
"The Crafty unit can VAPORIZE!! But your wallet will be feeling just as faded as you! It take a little while to heat up though when it does reach temperature and vibrates, it's time to party. The vapor is thick as anything, clouds for sure. If you want a vaporizer that has no question about thick vape, then the Crafty is the way to go. If you can afford the hit your bank account will take or even if you need to take out a personal loan, go get yourself a Crafty today... you'll quickly forget about all of the cold hard cash you just spent."
"For The Professional Vaper"
Review by Bill on August 24, 2015
"The pictures make this vape look a little bigger than it really is but the Crafty is extremely compact and portable, it's not the most discreet looking but I feel it's a way more discreet than the Arizer Air and Solo which to me are way too big for portable vaping. The crafty works like a champ, it takes a minute to heat up but once it gets going it works hard. Plus I love the fact that the Crafty comes with an app that allows you to adjust heat temps from your phone. It hits real smooth and I can always count on good flavor when vaping with the Crafty, which to me is one of the major points of vaping. The downside is without surprise, the cost. But if you're willing to shell out $340 for an awesome vape, you definitely will not regret it. If you want to step up your vaping experience, check out the Crafty."
You're reviewing: Crafty Vaporizer
Arizer Air Vaporizer
Arizer Solo Vaporizer
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You are here: Home » Outside Tibet » Gov't & Leaders on Tibet » Spain amends law to abolish court’s universal justice power
Spain amends law to abolish court’s universal justice power
May 21, 2014 4:34 am0 commentsViews: 57
(TibetanReview.net, Mar14, 2014) – As in the lower house in Feb 2014, an amendment of the law to severely curtail the power of the judiciary to try crimes against humanity cases no matter where they are committed was passed by the Spanish Senate on Mar 12 with votes only of the ruling conservative Popular Party (PP) which sponsored it. Among its immediate effects would be the quashing of two cases against top retired leaders of China for their genocidal rights violations in occupied Tibet unless the amendment is annulled on appeal by the country’s constitution court.
The amendment also means that the only national court which has hitherto exercised its universal jurisdiction to act in cases involving crimes against humanity no matter where they are committed will no longer be able to do so.
Concerning perpetrators of such crimes, the amendment means that from now on, crimes committed outside Spanish territory may be prosecuted in Spain only if the alleged perpetrators are Spaniards or foreigners who acquired Spanish citizenship after the commission of the offense. This means that former Chinese President and party general secretary Jiang Zemin, his successor Hu Jintao, former Premier Li Peng and several others will no longer be investigated and tried for their genocidal crimes in occupied Tibet by the Spanish National Court.
During the Mar 12 debate in the Senate, the opposition reproached the ruling PP for “meddling” in judicial matters. The amendment was criticized by the opposition both for its essence, which they said “opens the door” to impunity, and for the way it was presented, namely via expedited procedure that limited legislative debate, reported globalpost.com Mar 13.
PP spokesman Alfonso Alonso declared it was necessary to eliminate universal jurisdiction because it “only brings conflict.”
Spain’s judiciary first invoked universal jurisdiction in 1998, when National Court Judge Baltasar Garzon indicted Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. He was later detained by police in London on an arrest warrant issued through the Interpol and held there for 17 month. The octogenarian was later released on health ground.
The opposition Socialist Party has already declared that it will appeal the amendment before the country’s constitutional court. If the amendment is upheld, it will mean the end to a dozen cases currently under investigation by the Spanish judiciary.
The idea behind universal jurisdiction is that a state may prosecute individuals who are not its citizens, who have committed serious crimes, including crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide and torture outside its territory or against its nationals. Spain integrated the doctrine into its national legislation in 1985, but later diluted it a bit in 2009 under diplomatic pressure from governments, including China, whose leaders were sought to be indicted for such crimes.
Spanish socialists to appeal constitutional validity of curtailing court’s universal justice power
On a goodwill visit, US First Lady urges China to respect universal rights
Advances made in the Spanish lawsuit on genocide and other crimes in Tibet
China jails man for seeking protest permit
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62 Percent of Consumers Think Local Businesses Need Better Online Presence
http://ift.tt/1TPIirC
Local businesses need better online presence and must improve local marketing campaigns in order to succeed in their communities, a new survey says.
Sixty-two percent of consumers say that small businesses aren’t doing enough to maintain their digital profiles — with prices and availability having been cited as the two most common reasons individuals shy away from supporting local businesses.
Survey Says: Local Businesses Need Better Online Presence
According to researchers at consumer insights company Toluna, 70 percent of consumers claim to be worried about the challenges that small businesses face whilst competing against large, multinational retailers. Approximately the same number of respondents said they believed the U.S. Government should do more in order to level that playing field.
Yet, despite this show of support, many of Toluna’s 770 survey participants admitted their buying habits weren’t necessarily compatible with the offerings of their own locally-run businesses.
Around one-third of respondents said they typically spent less than $25 per week at a small business, while 15 percent of those surveyed didn’t even know whether they could quantify their weekly local spend.
When consumers do choose to support small businesses in their area, researchers found the top reason cited was a desire to support local vendors. One in five surveyed added that convenience of location pushed them to shop local.
In terms of bolstering support, consumers said that small businesses should do more to cater to their local communities — with 40 percent of individuals suggesting that bespoke products designed specifically for area consumers would convince more shoppers to stay local.
Pressed on which remaining presidential candidate offered the best policies with which to help small businesses achieve these goals, consumers appeared to be evenly split.
Democratic opponents Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders tied at 22 percent, with presumed GOP nominee Donald Trump following closely at 21 percent.
Business owners appear to feel somewhat different than consumers where politics are concerned.
In a recent OnDeck survey of 531 small business owners, 37 percent of respondents argued that Trump would best represent the interests of small business. Sanders came in second with 28 percent, while Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton finished in third with just 16 percent.
Yet it’s worth pointing out that same study revealed over one-third of small business owners say they are unhappy with all three remaining candidates — and are looking for both parties to do more to address economic growth, tax policy and healthcare costs.
A similar poll conducted by the National Small Business Association (NSBA) found that 40 percent of business owners feel that conventional politicians don’t understand them or follow through on campaign promises.
Online Photo via Shutterstock
Comment ▼
Via Small Business Trends http://ift.tt/fSwfQf
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Porphyry's Commentary on the Harmonics of Claudius Ptolemy
The commentary (hypomnema) in which the Neoplatonic philosopher Porphyry explains Claudius Ptolemy’s “Harmonics’ is one of the most eminent documents of ancient music theory, because of two reasons: (1) Ptolemy’s work has always been seen as learned summit of the whole of theoretical thinking about music in antiquity; (2) Porphyry comments in great detail on Ptolemy’s views and provides us with precious information from sources, that are otherwise lost. After Ptolemy’s work has been translated (with annotations) into several modern languages recently (English: Jon Solomon 1999, Italian: Massimo Raffa 2002, Spanish: Pedro Redondo Reyes 2003), it seems now rewarding to go back to Porphyry and reconsider his own contribution to an adequate understanding of the Harmonics.
Our workshop brings together internationally recognized specialists as well as more junior scholars, discussing several aspects of Porphyry’s work which are usually treated in isolation and putting them into the broader context of late ancient Neoplatonic philosophy and music theory. More specifically, we shall address the following issues: (a) the relation between the Pythagorean and Aristoxenian approach to music and the status of the criterion of harmonics; (b) the nature of tonal space; (c) the interplay between music theory and cosmology – cosmological and metaphysical aspects of the commentary (as well as of Ptolemy’s Harmonics); (d) the place of Porphyry’s commentary in his philosophy as a whole; (e) Neoplatonic music theory after Porphyry (e.g. in Proclus).
Poster_Porphyry
Introduction to Porphyry's Philosophy
George Karamanolis
Music Theory and Theory of Knowledge in Porphyry's Commentary on Ptolemy's Harmonics (pp. 11-15 Düring)
Francesco Pelosi
Contributions of the ‚Aristoxenians" to Harmonics according to Ptolemy and Porphyry
Andrew Barker
Music as the Movement of the Soul: Theophrastus and Porphyry
Dorothea Prell
Placing Porphyry's Commentary to Ptolemy in its Cultural and Chronological Context: Background, Sources, Possible Readers
Massimo Raffa
The Harmony of Soul in Proclus' Timaeus Commentary
Stephen Gersh
4.11.2011 - 5.11.2011
Topoi Building Mitte
Hannoversche Straße 6
Christoph Helmig
helmigc@uni-koeln.de
(D) Theory and Science (Topoi 1)
(D-I-2) Anima Mundi (Topoi 1)
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Behind the scenes at Diptyque
April 26, 2018 / Amy Bradford
We go behind the scenes at Diptyque, famous for its elegant scented candles, as the French label celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first fragrance
BY AMY BRADFORD
In 2018, Diptyque celebrates the 50th anniversary of its debut fragrance, the ground-breaking 'L'Eau', launched in 1968. The first unisex scent, inspired by its heady revolutionary era, it drew on a Renaissance recipe of spices, clove and cinnamon. To mark the occasion, the French luxury label has launched two new perfumes: 'Fleur de Peau' (a seductive floral featuring iris, musk and ambrette seeds) and 'Tempo' (a woody mix of patchouli and violet leaf), nods both to the Sixties and that original feisty fragrance. What better time to go behind the scenes at this much-loved perfume and home fragrance brand, respected as much for its iconic designs as its artfully crafted scents?
Diptyque’s jumbo-sized scented candles, packaged in ceramic holders, are probably the most covetable of all its many products. An investment buy at €230 (or £200 in the UK), they weigh a hefty 1.5kg and burn for up to 150 hours. Recently, Diptyque has updated the colours of these candles to make them even more beautiful, with ‘Tubéreuse’ available in a glossy plum-coloured vessel and ‘Figuier’ in a vivid green. There’s also a new large version of the brand’s best-selling ‘34’ fragrance in matt and glossy white.
TOP: Diptyque's two new scents for 2018, 'Fleur de Peau' and 'Tempo', channelling the swinging Sixties; £115 for 75ml. ABOVE RIGHT: This year is the 50th anniversary of the brand's first fragrance, the genderless 'L'Eau', adorned with a signature illustrated label.
As with everything at Diptyque, the story behind the product is as interesting as the end result. We were lucky enough to travel to the South of France to see the ceramic candle vessels being made, at the factory of Virebent, a pottery that has been making porcelain and stoneware since 1924. Set in the picturesque Lot valley, on the outskirts of the historic town of Puy-l’Evêque, Virebent started off making industrial ceramics, but branched out into decorative pottery in the 1960s (it now makes porcelain lighting and tableware for cult French brand Tsé & Tsé Associées, among others; if you’re in Puy-l’Evêque, be sure to visit its excellent factory shop).
ABOVE: Diptyque recently updated the colours of its large scented candles, adding plum-hued 'Tubéreuse' and white '34 Boulevard Saint Germain' to the range. BELOW: Outsize scented candle 'Figuier' now comes in gorgeous green, or opt for investment buy 'Baies' in black. All are suitable for indoors or outside.
At the Virebent workshop, a small band of dedicated artisans lovingly craft the candle vessels by hand, pouring liquid stoneware into moulds and then leaving them to air dry once they have set (this process takes at least two days, even in warm, dry weather). After that, the vessels are spray-enamelled and taken off to the kiln to bake – any that don’t emerge with a perfectly rich, even depth of colour in their glaze are ground down and recycled as sand (Diptyque inspectors approve or reject every single one). As for the scented wax? That is poured at another factory altogether, which means each giant candle has been on its own long journey before it makes its way to the shop floor and, in turn, to you. If you buy one of these candles, you’re investing in not just one kind of French craftsmanship, but several. Why not splash out? Perhaps for your own special anniversary...
diptyqueparis.fr diptyqueparis.co.uk virebent.com tse-tse.com
BELOW: A video celebrating the 50th anniversary of the brand's first perfume. We also liked these Diptyque Facebook videos sharing the artwork behind 2018 scents 'Fleur de Peau' (illustrated by Dimitri Rybaltchenko) and 'Tempo' (illustrated by Safia Ouares); click fragrance names to see the films
April 26, 2018 / Amy Bradford/ Comment
Diptyque, French, fragrance, perfume, home fragrance, scented candles, candles, France, design, graphic design, packaging, 50th anniversary, L'Eau, unisex, Fleur de Peau, Tempo, Sixties, scent, ceramic, Tubéreuse, plum, Figuier, green, 34 fragrance, white, South of France, vessels, Virebent, pottery, porcelain, stoneware, Lot valley, Puy L'Eveque, ceramics, Tsé & Tsé Associées, factory shop, craft, handmade, artisanal, brand, spray-enamelled, kiln, glaze, Spotlight, Amy Bradford, iris, patchouli, colour, accessories, interiors, homes, gifts, black, Puy-l'Evêque, lighting, tableware, crafts, craftsmanship, video, film, Dimitri Rybaltchenko, Safia Ouares
Amy Bradford
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Recurring drives along border fail to stop drug smuggling
41,000 cases pending in 10 districts
UNB, Khulna
Drugs continue to move into the country from across the border despite recurring drives by law enforcement agencies as some 41,000 drug-related cases are pending with lower courts in 10 districts of the southwestern
region. Smuggling of phensidyl, hemp and liquor has been going on relentlessly through different border points of the 10 districts, leading to the piling up of drug-related cases, according to the Divisional Taskforce Committee. Sources at the committee said some 226 cases are disposed of on average each month.
They said 4,542 cases are pending with courts in Khulna district, 1,525 in Bagerhat, 3,067 in Satkhira, 11,288 in Jashore, 3,261 in Jhenaidah, 2,225 in Magura, 1,661 in Narail, 3,237 in Kushtia, 3,301 in Chuadanga and 1,039 in Meherpur district. All the cases were filed by police and Narcotics Control Department.
Besides, 5,576 cases filed by Khulna Metropolitan Police are also pending with different courts. At a recent meeting of the taskforce committee, Divisional Commissioner Lokman Hossain Mia urged all the officials concerned to remain alert to prevent the entry of drugs into the country through border and river routes.
The meeting was informed that the authorities concerned of Magura and Narail districts have already taken 16 measures to make the districts free from drugs. The steps include arranging awareness meetings, raising the number of mobile courts to conduct anti-narcotics drives and delivering speech against drug abuse during Khutba (sermons during Friday prayers) by Imams at local mosques.
Meanwhile, the district anti-narcotics department started a special drive in Khulna district to arrest 62 ‘drug kingpins’. Besides, anti-narcotics drives are being conducted in commuter trains coming from Benapole, the committee members said.
Drugs continue to move into the country from across the border despite recurring drives by law enforcement agencies as some 41,000 drug-related cases are pending with lower courts in 10 districts of the southwestern region. Smuggling of phensidyl, hemp and liquor has been going on relentlessly through different border points of the 10 districts, leading to the piling up of drug-related cases, according to the Divisional Taskforce Committee. Sources at the committee said some 226 cases are disposed of on average each month. They said 4,542 cases are pending with courts in Khulna district, 1,525 in Bagerhat, 3,067 in Satkhira, 11,288 in Jashore, 3,261 in Jhenaidah, 2,225 in Magura, 1,661 in Narail, 3,237 in Kushtia, 3,301 in Chuadanga and 1,039 in Meherpur district. All the cases were filed by police and Narcotics Control Department. Besides, 5,576 cases filed by Khulna Metropolitan Police are also pending with different courts. At a recent meeting of the taskforce committee, Divisional Commissioner Lokman Hossain Mia urged all the officials concerned to remain alert to prevent the entry of drugs into the country through border and river routes. The meeting was informed that the authorities concerned of Magura and Narail districts have already taken 16 measures to make the districts free from drugs. The steps include arranging awareness meetings, raising the number of mobile courts to conduct anti-narcotics drives and delivering speech against drug abuse during Khutba (sermons during Friday prayers) by Imams at local mosques. Meanwhile, the district anti-narcotics department started a special drive in Khulna district to arrest 62 drug kingpins. Besides, anti-narcotics drives are being conducted in commuter trains coming from Benapole, the committee members said.
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Number of Lives saved this year
The Communications and Public Service Lifeboat Fund (The Lifeboat Fund, for short) is commited to helping the Royal National Lifeboat Institution save lives at sea. The Fund is a public service charity, and proud to be the longest-serving supporter and one of the biggest single contributors to the RNLI. The Fund is registered with the official regulators as a charity which fundraises throughout the UK.
We are The Lifeboat Fund – we are a charity that exists for one purpose: to help the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) - the charity that saves lives at sea. Over many years we have done this by raising money to pay for new lifeboats, refurbishing lifeboat stations and boats, and buying crew kit, equipment & training for RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards.
Sir Peter Housden (Chair): “Drowning must be one of the greatest human fears. “It takes little imagination to understand why the RNLI is such a popular cause for so many people.” Volunteer lifeboat crews, stand ready to go on ‘shouts’ 24/7, often at night and in all weathers – to help people in distress. We want to help, and since The Fund began, its lifeboats in the RNLI fleet have saved over 4700 lives.
Who supports us?
The Lifeboat Fund is an official charity of the Civil Service. It also receives valuable support from employees of the Royal Mail and British Telecom.
It benefits from giving by current and retired staff members and from legacies.
Civil servants throughout the UK organise fundraising collections, run marathons and cake sales etc, and promote The Lifeboat Fund and its beneficiary, the RNLI.
Supporters also use payroll and pension giving to help this life-saving cause.
The name of our charity
A group of civil servants raised money from their colleagues to buy the first lifeboat back in 1866 and formed the Civil Service Lifeboat Fund. This later became the Civil Service, Post Office and British Telecommunications Lifeboat Fund (CISPOTEL).
The title of the charity changed in 1969 when the Post Office left the Civil Service, and again in 1983 when British Telecom did likewise.
In 2002 when the Post Office changed its name to Consignia, the Fund changed its title to the Communications and Public Service Lifeboat Fund, or The Lifeboat Fund for short. Consignia was renamed Royal Mail but we are proud to retain our name of The Lifeboat Fund.
The Lifeboat Fund is a charity that exists for one purpose: to help the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Friends of the Charity – CS affiliates
The Lifeboat website is sponsored by Invotra
The Lifeboat Fund © 2016 | Disclaimer | Cookies
The Communications and Public Service Lifeboat Fund registered charity numbers 248421 (England & Wales) and SC041904 (Scotland). Patron: HRH The Duke of Kent
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UNDP, QBO, PDRF, and DTI Launch Disaster Resilience and Recovery ASEAN Startup Competition with $10,000 Top Prize!
QBO Innovation Hub (QBO), the Philippines’ public-private initiative for startups, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Philippine
UNDP, QBO, PDRF, and DTI Launch
Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced STARTUPS TO THE RESQUE, an ASEAN-wide startup competition to develop the best innovation solutions related to disaster resilience and recovery to be held during DTI’s annual Slingshot event on October 20, 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
This challenge empowers startups from across the region to come up with ways to use their existing products, services, and business models to form creative solutions to pressing global issues, including environmental disasters, outbreaks/pandemics, or violence and conflict. The Slingshot ASEAN event also provides a platform for startups to network, build regional market access, and gain international exposure.
The first prize winner will receive $10,000; second prize winner will receive $4,000; and third prize winner will receive $2,000. Scores are based on both the innovativeness and feasibility of a startup’s idea, and those with the most promising solutions will have the opportunity to work with the UNDP and deploy their solutions with PDRF, one of the world’s leading private sector disaster resilience consortia comprised of the Philippines’ top corporations.
“We want to create more success stories for startups,” says Rene “Butch” Meily, President of both QBO and IdeaSpace. “By creating a platform for startups to pitch and potentially activate their ideas, we’re giving them the opportunity to grow, deliver meaningful impact to relevant communities, and make the world a better place.”
More than just a competition, STARTUPS TO THE RESQUE promotes awareness on the different crises faced by ASEAN countries – like the devastating typhoon Haiyan that ravaged Tacloban or the current armed conflict happening in Marawi – and inspires startups to play a more proactive role in preventing and mitigating these disasters. Together, the startup ecosystems across ASEAN can innovate and collaborate with each other with the shared goal of promoting preparedness and resilient recovery.
• Must be an existing startup with an existing model
• Startup may apply from any ASEAN country
• Startup can be of any funding stage or vertical (not necessarily disaster-focused)
• Startup must integrate their model with the theme of disaster preparedness or resilient recovery
• Disaster preparedness and resilient recovery integration/ solution can be just an idea
To apply, startups need to:
• Submit their application to: https://bit.do/RESQUE
• Fill out the form and complete the necessary information
• Upload their startup deck, which must include their existing model and its integration to the theme of ‘disaster preparedness’ or 'resilient recovery'. The solution can just be an idea! No MVP required
From the applications, 20 startups will be selected to participate and showcase their ideas at the SLINGSHOT ASEAN event, from which the top 6 finalists will be invited to pitch on stage. The top 3 startups with the best pitches will be selected as winners.
Deadline of submissions is on Sept. 30, 2017. 09/28/2017 (The Lifestyle Portal)
About QBO
QBO (‘ku-bo’) is an innovation hub, or a platform for the startup community to collaborate, develop talent, and grow. It provide startups with support and resources through events and capacity building programs as well as focused interventions designed to improve access to markets, knowledge, capital, and talent. QBO is the country’s first public-private initiative for startups, created through a partnership between IdeaSpace, J.P. Morgan, DOST, and DTI. Spurred on by the vision of Filipinos startups changing the world, QBO’s mission is to create a globally competitive startup ecosystem in the Philippines.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. It helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.
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AdAge: Outsource news space
Why have a newspaper? To some degree it has been because of its abilities to pursue stories of greatest interest and to filter the massive file of information into a relevant package for its audience. There are plenty of other reasons, but that's a start.
In recent years more and more newspapers have bowed to more powerful brands in particular spaces. The Globe and Mail provides a page of Wall Street Journal content (we've just started a page of Financial Post content and a page of FP-branded data).
But AdAge's Rance Crain goes a step further in proposing that news holes be turned into aggregated pages of content powered by the strongest possible brands --- essentially that they be turned over to those brands.
"Aggregation is the key to success on the internet. Why shouldn't the same be true for print?"
Now, his argument misses the point about the need for a local piece, and a particular focus on the journalism that feels most germane to the market. And many news services aggregate strong brands in entertainment, business, life, and sports for general consumption. But the point he's making is that the distressed economics of newspapering, particularly in the U.S., calls for a transformational idea.
John Massa
Considering the reaction across Canada to Canwest's decision to force its newspapers to photocopy FP pages and stick them in their papers, I don't think more of the same is something people are clamoring for.
We already have aggregation of content in newspapers. They're called wire services. And people aren't particularly thrilled about them either.
Many organizations seem to discount the fact that newspapers should have their own brand. They shouldn't be seen as mere collection of content found elsewhere, especially if that content can be found for free online (and I can't think of any wire content that can't be found free online somewhere).
Besides, anyone interested in reading such content is probably already reading it from the original source. Like the FP pages, this only serves to produce duplication which will only annoy readers further.
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Art of Mindfulness
Know Your Specialist
Mental Health Series
Being Mental
SunKitchen
The Midweek Sun
Parastatals urged to appoint competent Board members
OLOPENG HEAPS PRAISE ON BSE FINANCE CHALLENGE
WE ARE NOT USING DIAMONDS TO KILL ELEPHANTS, THAT’S HOGWASH! – BOTSWANA MINISTER
COMPETITIVE TARIFFS TO LURE GOVERNMENT TO CMB POWER
StanChart ATMs dispenses US dollars
PUBLIC, PRIVATE SECTORS PARTNER FOR NEW ENTREPRENEURSHIP POLICY
Heelang, hands off journalists!
Abidal punches ticket to TS Galaxy
Bokomo powers Team White Star at 1000KM Desert Race
GLOBAL BOXING JUGGERNAUT ARRIVES
ZEBRAS ONE HOOF INTO THE FINALS
Sun Reporter
Botswana Accountancy Oversight Authority (BAOA) Chief Executive Officer, Duncan Majinda, says Board members who do not have the right skills and balance result in a poor Board that lacks experience to take parastatals to another level.
Majinda expressed this on Monday this week, when speaking at the Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) seminar, meant to foster the participation and collaboration between various stakeholders and promote Corporate Governance. He said parastatals should take the private sector route in order to be productive.
He worries that parastatals take an organisation with lots of ex-officio members, and do not consider whether people have the right skills to run the corporation. Majinda says the private sector have the nomination board that looks at the skills required and make decisions on the right people for the board, in contrast to parastatals, which do not have nomination boards because they are determined by the ministries.
“The other problem is advertising board positions which in most cases the relevant people do not apply, and from ministry the cabinet decides on the Board and this is where we miss it,” he says adding that compared with private sector there is a gap in parastatals. Majinda cited that Board fees are also a challenge with parastatals. “The Board fees for the private sector are huge.
They are paid about P10, 000 a meeting, but for parastatals the Board fees are so low. As a result good Board with skills would not want to go to parastatals unless they want to volunteer. They will go to the private sector which pays a lot,” says Majinda.
He says that parastatals also do not do well with Board evaluations, they are done because they are required to do them. They don’t use them for the purpose for which they are meant. “Evaluations for the board and to look at the individual member’s contributions and see how effective they are then decide whether their term should be renewed is crucial; but parastatals do not do that.
Billy outlines potential job creating sectors
BECI mulls selling credit information to public
Andrew Maramwidze
Minister Thapelo Olopeng
Botswana Stock Exchange’s annual finance and investment competition for secondary school students has been applauded by the Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Thapelo Olopeng.
The initiative, a capital market awareness tool that has been running for the past seven years, is increasing financial literacy and a culture of investment among young people. The initiative will see the country raise future billionaires through the stock markets. “It is a breath of fresh air to have tertiary students who are financially literate, who can manage their finances,” said the minister.
He urged students to invest even the smallest allowances they earn and have a hassle-free life after university. “Investing on the stock exchange is not only preserved for the rich, but for anyone with a bank account,” said Olopeng.
The minister said the secondary schools finance and investment competition is participation of the private sector in bridging the knowledge divide.Olopeng said the private sector participation augments his ministry’s efforts of providing and building knowledge and innovation through the development and implementation of the policy on tertiary education, research, science and technology to transform the economy from a resource based to a knowledge based.
“In this connection, we will continue to empower our students in order for them to lead better and successful lives which can propel them into the innovation ecosystem,” said Olopeng. BSE Chief Executive Officer, Thapelo Tsheole said the Senior Secondary Schools Finance and Investment Competition, first established in 2013 aims to sensitise and educate the student community about capital markets, with the strategic aim to increase financial literacy and promote a culture of investing at a young age.
The competition is open to all senior secondary schools across the country, including private and public senior secondary schools.
The MidweekSun Admin
Orapa Mine, part of Debswana
Botswana is not using diamonds to kill elephants as alleged by some conservationists after the southern African country announced plans to lift a ban on elephant hunting to address growing conflict between humans and wildlife, a government official has said.
Minister of mineral resources, Green technology and energy security Eric Molale told a mining conference in Gaborone on Monday that the activists were tarnishing the image of Botswana. “That’s hogwash because we as Botswana are [good] conservationists and it is us who worked hard to make sure these elephants [are] brought to the numbers that we do have now,” he said.
“When conflicts arise, it is through consultation, [that we] find out how we can best manage our resources. The people have spoken and we are going to be managing the elephants in the best way that we can.
“We are not culling, we have re-introduced the trophy hunting and if you take 400 elephants per annum for trophy hunting against the 3-5% annual growth rate of the elephant herd that we have…[we are] just barely scratching on the surface.”
Botswana has about 130 000 elephants, the world’s largest population.Molale said Botswana will remain focused on things that are beneficial to the country and will not be distracted by issues spread by people that are not even privy to how things are done in the country.
“We have, however, invited them to come and learn more about what we are doing so they can better understand those important aspects of flora and fauna…”The conflict between humans and elephants had gone up since the ban was introduced in 2014.
Tourism is the second source of foreign income in Botswana after diamonds and conservationists fear that the former will be affected is the government cull elephant.
[Rough and Polished]
I broke the law in good faith – Moswaane
BEWARE THE BPF
Kgoroba decries lack of democracy
“Send him to prison”
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Business Botswana media sectors calls for media levy
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Basarwa in Letlhakane say they are treated like nobodies
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A NATION IRRITATED!
TLHOMELANG BLASTS KHAMA
‘I didn’t register to vote because Khama retired’
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LIES AND DECEIT
Copyright © 2018 The Midweeksun
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Time spent with fathers is highly correlated with positive outcomes for children of broken marriages.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin has commissioned a report aimed at overhauling Canada’s family-law system. Its recommendations, which will be officially released later this month, reportedly include strategies for streamlining the legal process, encouraging mediation and reducing litigation.
The report will note that the number of self-representing litigants in family-law cases has climbed to above 70%, largely due to the exorbitant cost of lawyers. That statistic suggests the economic hardship that fractious breakups impose, but not the heartbreaking human costs imposed on parents — especially fathers, who often find the deck stacked against them in court.
Efficiency, reduced costs and diminished litigation are worthy goals in a system notorious for being out of control in all these areas. But a more fundamental reform also is needed: The establishment of equal shared parenting as the default in custody after marriage breakdown.
In most contested cases, mothers are awarded sole — or effectively sole — custody over children, with fathers relegated to the role of visitors, an unsatisfactory situation for them and for their children. Even unlitigated cases are settled “in the shadow of the law” — meaning that fathers often are advised by their lawyers to settle for whatever they can get, as they know the deck would be stacked against them in court.
An excellent article...
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"the theo is strong with this one"
eye-witness, a brainteaser!
theo likes to look at things from a different perspective. That's how to spark creativity and keep your outlook fresh. In their everyday work, designers, architects and artists are constantly in contact with the literal version of ‘perspective’ or ‘representing depth in a painting or drawing’. By drawing an object on paper in perspective, you can create an illusion of volume. theo interpreted a drawing of a pair of glasses quite literally, added a whiff of magic, and voilà, the latest eye-witness collection was born. An optical illusion like nothing you've ever seen before.
Eye-witness is theo's playground. For both designer and wearer. Anything goes, no rules, no preconceived notions. That's why they are not always the easiest frames to make, or to wear. It often starts with a long design process followed by an even longer production process. But that's the whole challenge: defining and pushing the boundaries. And that's exactly what the 5 new eye-witness models do.
3D in 2D
Our brains can be tricked to perceive a 2D drawing as a volume. We're doing the same thing in this eye-witness series. Instead of giving the frames a certain thickness, the volume is created by simply outlining the front and back of the frames in lines, without ‘colouring it in’. Just like in a perspective drawing.
The 2 contour lines are always in different colours. theo combines a basic colour with its shadow colour. This results in a usually subtle, but occasionally intense contrast. Each model is available in 8 colour combos.
‘Sight’ happens automatically, but ‘insight’ takes effort. Eye-witness should never be too straightforward. After all, eye-witness wearers don't exactly live their lives on automatic pilot.
Discover all models and colours
Mokushiroku 17.06.2019
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Award speech LOFTxTEF best technical frame 2019 03.04.2019
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The Godfather II 18.10.2018
The tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Everyone was staring at every...
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Big rally on the mall in Washington DC
Jotman was there live in Washington DC Saturday, blogging both the Al Sharpton march and the Glenn Beck "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial.
Protests in Chile to save Punta de Choros
Historiauv reports that Tuesday the Regional Environmental Commission (COREMA) of the Coquimbo Region approved Franco-Belgian Suez Energy's bid to build a coal-fired thermoelectric power plant at Chungungo cove near the town of La Higuera. It's to be built just south of the historic Punta de Choros, a region famous for marine ecological diversity.
Silvia Viñas blogs that the Chilean president Sebastián Piñera's had promised to, “oppose all thermoelectric plants that seriously undermine nature, communities and quality of life.”
The project is said to pose a threat to the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve, consisting of three islands located off Punta de Choros. The islands are also home to seabirds, a colony of bottlenose dolphins and migrating whales. There is a marine reserve around the archipelago.
Around noon 500 people demonstrated in the center of Coquimbo, a port city. In Santiago the environmental group Pescao Chao convened a protest today at the corner of Alameda and Ahumada. Gonzalo Rocker (6 twitpic) was there live at Ahumada in Santiago. He took photos of police using water cannons to disperse a large crowd of peaceful protesters. There were demonstrators in other other parts of the country, most notably in Valparaiso at the Plaza Sotomayor.
Other power plants are planned for the coast of Chile that threaten other spectacular natural spots, for example the Los Robles energy project to be developed on the coast of the Maule region, close to the sea lions of Loanco, wetlands, and the Reloca Frederick Albert National Reserve. (maulee!)
Astu Science has been following the controversy on his blog, and posts this video:
Twitter: #Termoeléctrica
Effects of Pakistan floods of 2010
In addition to the sources mentioned in the previous post, Dave has been live-blogging the impact of the floods.
Dave's Landslide Blog, Update on the disasters in China and Pakistan (11 Aug), Update on China and Pakistan (13 Aug), and Pakistan flood update (15 Aug)
Dave suggests that after the initial flooding, two further dangers threaten Pakistan:
1. A second wave of flooding.
The danger must be that the second flood wave starts to catch up with, and build upon, the stalled first wave. This would create the potential for an extremely damaging second phase of floods. It took six days for the first wave to pass from Taunsa to Guddu, and a further day to Sukkur. The hope must be that the water level starts to fall quickly at these two sites before the second wave arrives.
Unfortunately, it is clear that this slow motion disaster has several more weeks to go, even if there is no further heavy rain.
2. Coping with devastation
The sheer magnitude of the disaster in Pakistan is difficult to comprehend. Unfortunately the true horror of this event is probably remaining hidden; the real impact will come when the water levels in the south subside to leave polluted water wells, destroyed homes and wrecked crops. The legacy of this disaster will be long-lasting, and will have a profound impact on Pakistan and elsewhere.
Denver Post, Captured in flooded Pakistan - selected photojournalism
How to donate? Medicins Sans Frontiers is providing emergency medical care to flood victims in Pakistan via mobile clinics and health centers in all four provinces affected as well as sanitation equipment, water, drugs and medical material to displaced persons. You can donate online or by phone.
Location: Pakistan
Pakistan floods of 2010
Al Jazeera reports that More than a million people have been affected by massive flooding in Pakistan.
Kalsoom, Pakistan is drowning (July 30), Turning grief into action (Aug 4)
Salman Latif, Flood wrecks havoc in Pakistan
Robert Mackey, Eyewitness video to the floods
Weaver, Pakistan flood live updates
Fires burn across Russia
It's quite amazing that mainstream media in the west are failing to provide good stories with the Russia fire situation. Half of the country, most of its populated part, is on fire. Some pics and videos are quite apocalyptic in nature. For example,
Here's a scary video - just some folks trying to drive through the burning area.
This video shows a wildfire seen approaching the town of Vykza.
People are basically trying to organize themselves - bloggers seem to be of some help in coordinating that activity. For instance, i-cherski.
Another blogger, Vollove on 07.29 attempted to join some volunteers and help fight the fire near Vykza. Here is a short summary of his report which included pictures:
We arrive on the scene. Wait for 20-30. There's a lot of volunteers around. There is a fire engine, some trucks and buses. Our gear looks ridiculous.
Suddenly it gets absolutely dark, even though it's an afternoon. Suddenly there's a strong wind and all the air is gone - can't breathe. We see the flames over the tops of the trees. It's moving fast. We realize it's hopeless to attempt anything against this force. Firefighters yell "run!"
We run. It gets dark and hot, and no air. Some burning crap is flying around. Can't run. Finally reach the cars. Some folks are missing - can't wait. We try to drive. Can't see anything. One of the cars crashes - folks join us. Somehow manage to get out of there, but it still feels like hell all around.
At home, we start packing stuff, just in case.
See also this report which includes links to maps.
Report by JOTMAN.COM contributor Sanjuro.
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Eau de Mandarine Ambrée
Now this is fun. Eau de Mandarine Ambrée isn’t perhaps the most sophisticated perfume in the world, but it’s a jolly, cheering little scent, that smells sweet and zesty and pretty much exactly like mandarin juice when you first spray it on. It was launched in 2013, at the same time as Eau de Narcisse Bleu, and brings the number of Hermès colognes up to five (the other three being Eau d’Orange Verte, Eau de Gentiane Blanche and Eau de Pamplemousse Rose).
Like all the more recent Hermès perfumes it was created by Jean-Claude Ellena, whose celebrity status says much about how the industry has changed over the last decade or so – in the past no one would have known his name. His perfumes are nearly always interesting, if not always terrifically commercial, and Hermès seem to have given him licence (if you’ll forgive the pun) to follow his own nose and see where it takes him, especially with the colognes and it Hermessences range – see my review of Vétiver Tonka.
Ellena is very interested in food, and like quite a few of his perfumes, Eau de Mandarine Ambrée reminds me of cooking smells: nice cooking smells, that is. In this case it reminds me of the ugli-fruit marmalade that Roy made this year, which is very nice in its own way, but lacks the tartness of Seville-orange marmalade, and tastes a bit too sweet and jammy as a result.
Still, you could do far worse than start your day with Eau de Mandarine Ambrée. It’s light and refreshing and puts a smile on your face, yet it’s longer-lasting than most citrus-based colognes. This seems to be because Ellena has combined mandarin with a bit of passion-fruit extract and what’s known in the perfume trade as amber (thus Mandarine Ambrée).
‘Amber’ is one of those confusing terms that gives perfumery a bad name: it’s nothing to do with amber, the fossilised resin, or ambergris, the strange waxy lumps that whales occasionally cough up after swallowing too many cuttlefish (I kid you not), which develop a wonderful aroma only after bobbing around in the sea for a few years.
For perfumers, ‘amber’ refers to a careful blend of several ingredients, usually vanilla, benzoin and labdanum, which together give a sweet, slightly resinous and powdery smell. Ellena himself says that ‘I can think of no smell more joyful than mandarin, more mellow than amber,’ and I guess it’s the amber that helps Eau de Mandarine Ambrée last as long as it does.
Would I wear it a lot? Personally I prefer the sharper smells of colognes like Monsieur Balmain and Eau d’Orange Verte, but for anyone who likes something a bit sweeter and softer then Eau de Mandarine Ambrée would be a very happy choice.
Tags: "Jean-Claude Ellena", 2013, amber, Eau de Cologne, Eau de mandarine ambrée, Hermès, mandarin, passion fruit
One Response to “Eau de Mandarine Ambrée” Leave a Comment
Annie Harrison on 21 May, 2014 1:23 pm
Annie Harrison liked this on Facebook.
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From (Point) Zero to heroes
A Viclink spin-out company, Point Zero, has developed the world’s first customisable, interactive holographic experience that can be used to educate, tell stories, and customise products—simply through playing.
Formerly known as One Legged Crab, the Point Zero team—who started out as game developers at the Victoria Entrepreneur Bootcamp three years ago—shifted direction last year to focus on applying innovative digital technologies for organisations wanting to connect with their audiences in a fresh, new way.
“We started out using Virtual Reality (VR) headset technology to guide users through complex ideas,” says Chris Mather, who co-founded Point Zero with business partner Neville Rodda. “One of the highlights was working with Genulin to provide the Malaghan Institute with a VR solution to help patients visualise the cancer immunotherapy process on a cellular level. We soon wanted to take things to the next level, and bring images into real life so they could be seen without a headset—so we began experimenting with holograms.”
Chris says the possibilities for the technology are endless. “We created a hologram of a car for our launch in December, then allowed the invited media to ‘play’ with the car, using a touch screen to customise things like the wheels and the paint colour as the car was rotating in mid-air. We received a call from a major car company before the item on the news had even finished, and we’re currently pursuing opportunities in this area.”
In addition to the commercial potential of the technology, Chris says they also hope to use it in schools to help children learn, in hospitals to help doctors prepare for surgeries, and in museums to bring exhibits to life. “Te Papa has already expressed an interest in turning some of their exhibits—and potentially some historic figures—into holographic experiences; imagine a dinosaur that then runs away when you approach it,” says Chris.
Viclink, a 20 per cent shareholder in Point Zero, still provides business mentoring for the former Victoria University student and his business.
“With Viclink’s help and resources, we were able to dedicate our time to building a successful business straight out of University,” says Chris. “They also helped us to protect our Intellectual Property and keep us focused on the research and development we needed to keep building innovative products.”
Chris also credits the BizDojo for its support and networking opportunities, and the Wellington City Council’s Collider programme of activities that is aimed at ensuring Wellington’s high tech talent have the best chance of success.
To find out more about Point Zero and the world-class experiences they create for their clients, visit www.pointzero.nz
Momentum picks up for students
Viclink is recruiting!
Raising environmental awareness in Kiribati schools
When student becomes teacher
A gut feeling about success
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« Whitney Houston Was Supposed to Make a Comeback...Dead at 48. | Main | Yeah, We Could Talk About Red Tails, but Let's Talk About 64,000 Black Women Who Are Missing »
Terrance Howard: Black Women Are Antiquated, White Women Represent Progress:Your Red Tails Open Thread
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 4:00PM The Blogmother
Surprise! Sunday post. So you saw the movie, how was it? Red Tails is on pace to be #2 at the box office, with about 20 mil. Over at Shadow and Act, they are praising God that Red Tails saved Black Cinema. I guess we can expect three or four films next year produced by big studios with all-Black casts. *commence holding breath*
Miraculously or suspiciously, this interview of Terrance Howard and David Oyelowo talking about interracial relationships in Red Tails got buried in the lead up to the film. First, I'm pro marriage freedom. Marry who you like. But when you basically say that marrying or having sex with a White woman symbolizes "freedom" and progress what does that say about having relationships with Black women? Yeah, he said it. No, sadly, I'm not exaggerating.
All of this hullabaloo over "interracial relationships" is a cheap distraction. This issue isn't marriage and relationships, the issue is CASTING. Why did the Red Tails team GO. OUT. Of. THEIR WAY to avoid casting Black women? And for the Black women that were cast, why were they cut? This is an issue about employment opportunities and quite frankly discrimination by a team that were promoting a movie about the immorality of racial discrimination. If racial discrimination against Black pilots was immoral for the US military, why isn't it equally IMMORAL for the director and writers of Red Tails? Why isn't it equally IMMORAL for these two Black actors to justify the discrimination with a ridiculous answer. And to all of the women saying that there are not women in war movies...
Did you notice the women in the movie? The mother and the wife. And here's the trailer for Pearl Harbor: Did you notice the women in the movie? Mothers, wives, children. And here is the trailer for The Patriot.. notice anything?
Yeah, in other words in addition to being delusional, you're also liars.
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Reader Comments (108)
*slow hand clap*
January 22, 2012 | vonnie
I heard that Red Tails was supposed to be a 3 part movie. If that's true I hope they change the cast and who knows they may have actually eventually showed the families of the airman. The reviews are too mixed so I don't see the studio making sequels or prequels.
Blogmother comment:
Please stop selling the lies. THIS MOVIE had three Black actresses who shot footage and they cut them out. It took George Lucas 20 years to make this movie and now you want me to believe that Black women will be included in the next movie?Lie to yourself, but not the rest of us.
January 22, 2012 | blkchik
Having a relationship with a white women opens you eyes to a whole 'nother realm of possibility? Lord, I've heard it all now. You mean to tell that the men who treated as second class citizens and could see the white people treated as first class citizens WITHOUT EVER LEAVING THE SHORES OF AMERICA never considered any other realm of possibility? Black men of that era couldn't conceive of being free men and having equal rights until being embraced by white women, despite the fact that the vast majority of white women wouldn't even touch them?
Yeah, that commentary was a bit extreme...and delusional. And I'm being as nice as I can about that.
January 22, 2012 | Jamila
My Lord. That clip of those two "men" was unbelievable. I'm sorry Blogmother, but some black folk are truly SICK. Black folks can barely show each other love and acceptance, but these two were so focused on "other". May God help us because so many of us are too far gone.
January 22, 2012 | Kim
Blog Mother,
Thank you for speaking the truth about the BS lies getting spread about Red Tails. The creators of the film knew exactly what they were doing when they cut black women out. Once again the black community measures progress by how well Black men are doing and their interest. Black women continue to be ignored yet we are supposed to take our hard earned dollars and support films that deem us unworthy of attention. Ironically the reviews from the film are rather poor. Most are complaining about the poor acting and dialogue.
January 22, 2012 | The Moxie Sophic
If I have to wait for black women to be included in this film franchise, then they can similarly wait for my money.
January 22, 2012 | Zoopath
Thank you, Blog Mother for the heads up. It is so unfortuate that such a great subject- The Tuskegee Air Men was smeared by comments like howard's and that other nobody.
IMO, Terrance Howard's 15 minutes was up 10 years ago. Howard has such a huge ego. In the beginning of his career this #itch depended on bw's support. It didn't take long for howard to show his true colors as far as bw are concerned. He said his father is white. OK, so who is his black Mother? He is letting his light eyes go to his head.
Some bm do not realized it but, many of them still need bw's support. Catch back is a mother.
January 22, 2012 | lois
What is it going to take for black women to wake up about these things??? I actually spoke to a friend about this with a friend and she "is just glad that their story is being told." grrr!
January 22, 2012 | LorMarie
$20 million? Those are some weak numbers even for a #2 opening.
Not holding my breath for the $$ to come rolling in for black cinema.
The sad thing is, I've been reading about one of the Tuskegee Airmen's wives, Mildred Carter, who was an accomplished pilot who used to fly her own plane alongside her husband when they were dating.
That story with some awesome music from the jazz greats of the era would have brought in greater numbers at the box office, not a tepid little romance with some Italian woman (the gender breakdown shows that not enough
WHITE women showed up for all their efforts).
What do the movies Titanic and Avatar have in common besides the same director? They both featured a love story at the center of it's action.
When will Black men learn that they are nothing and can't get anywhere without us?
January 22, 2012 | Anxious Black Woman
I think interracial relationships are awesome and it does display a beautiful sense of freedom that I respect because since at a time it was dissallowed and individuals fought for all of us to have the right to embrace whomever we desire. BUT mature conscious people know that its not a freedom 'away from' something bad or 'ordinary' but a freedom 'to' get to know /date someone who may intimately ad positive things to our life regardless of their color. That statement also being true with individuals of same race, but different culture, background, or country of origin. That said, the story of black man and white female getting together and their issues (including the stereotypical angry jealous black woman who doesn't want them together because she can't have a good relationship with a black man) has been done many a time, so that isn't exactly unchartered territory, its been almost 40 years since 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner', 20 yrs since Jungle Fever. For me, I look for uniqueness in the plots of movies that I support, and certain patterns of American Cinema are trite to the extent that by 5 minutes into a movie I can tell what's going to happen with each character. I kind of foresee this one as that type of movie, and feel absolutely no press to see it. People are going to see it out of respect because its about the Tuskegee Airman, and they will be slow to say something bad about it. The best thing we can do is support independent films.
January 22, 2012 | nu
I don't have issues with interracial relationships either. In the end, you love who you love.
My thing is: it's not really propelling the story in any compelling way. Like I said, there's a better "romance" that could be told through one of the airmen's marriages. The Mildred Carter connection for example.
I don't even know if the relationship in Italy featured in the movie is based in fact or not, but what factual accounts they DO have sound more intriguing than what the writers came up with.
To me, that just spells a deep failure of the imagination. The reason why war stories feature romance at all isn't just to bring women to the theaters to drive up box office numbers. The romance is used to humanize the story.
Knowing how Hollywood has always failed to humanize us as a people, the idea that an interracial pairing is the only way the filmmakers could think of to "humanize" black men is already based in racist thinking (internalized or otherwise).
Apart from the conspiracy against black women, I don't put it past those in power to continue to conspire against the Obamas.
I for one have noticed how, in the Obama years, there has been an increased effort to attack black women's singleness and our physical beauty - at a time when we've got a black president and black first wife. At a time when - whatever you may think of them - the hip-hop community actually has an example of a black married "super couple" in Jay Z and Beyonce.
So, both in the mainstream and in the subculture, we actually have highly visible black marriages, the Tuskegee Airmen in real life had black wives, and the majority of black men and black women are still choosing each other as partners.
Even if Red Tails was only marketing to black folks (which it WAS through the race-baiting tactics), the majority of the audience they marketed to still choose each other as romantic partners, so the interracial romance angle is pointless. I do not know one white woman who was eager to see this film! So, it doesn't even make fiscal sense to include it since George Lucas's white fanboys I doubt would have cared one way or another.
It's a wasted storyline unless, as the actors in the film reveal, they are trying to preach to young black men: leave black women behind and find a white woman.
And seriously, what makes these brothers think their shining example has more weight than our own president or even Jay Z?
I love surprises and it's great to hear from you on a Sunday. I must admit that reading this made me nauseous...smdh. What does it profit a man to gain the world, but lose his soul? T Howard and his sidekick are blazing fools. The only thing antiquated is their way of thinking. I'm not at all impressed. Oh and btw the only movie I own with him in it, is The Best Man and it's going in the trash tonight.
Please tell me why George Lucas is still being obtuse? He was just on some morning show last week speaking about how the American government has been bought out by the rich. Uh you think George? If you can acknowledge that truth great, now acknowledge the fact that you purposely left black actresses out of this Red Tails production and all the reasons why. Inquiring minds want to know!
January 22, 2012 | Cheri
Everything you said, Anxious Black Woman - everything! Thank you!
January 23, 2012 | AJ
Colonised minds on display. How pitiful and sad. On the one hand, it's quite ironic that these two fools are talking about "freedom" and "opening eyes" whilst spewing forth evidence of their own mental slavery. On the other hand, they are also pathetically funny; using a bunch of words that clearly don't fit together in a failed effort to sound intelligent. I LOL'ed at their tomfoolery; esp. Howard at the end. A proper pair of idiots, these two!
January 23, 2012 | an observer
I woke up early to get some writing done, and was pleasantly surprised by this post. Frankly, the anger that some BW felt for other BW bringing this up is yet another barometer for me to judge who I need to further distance myself from.
The women who are so mad that this is being pointed out are the ones who ACTUALLY realize how precarious their own standing is with certain men. They're just not ready to admit it yet, even to themselves. If George Lucas is so quick to fund a project where you're erased, then that is tactile admission that in the future, you won't put up a fuss when you're cut again. You don't think these women haven't noticed by now the SILENCE in the black community? That no one is saying that they should have been featured? Oh they're hip alright. They're just hoping against hope that now that there's a movie about good black men, that those good black men will certainly start paying them attention. That ain't gonna happen.
To the silent conflicted reading audience, currently, I haven't seen a pushback from ANY black male group about how we were cut out of the film. All I've seen online is praise that the airmen were depicted as good fighters, and that the Italian girl is hot. I haven't heard comments about how they should have at least shown that black men had families waiting for them, that they weren't just fighting for white america, but for their OWN communities too. No problems with no families or businesses, or homes that they maintained, not being shown. They were completely selfish and non-apologetic with saying, "I don't even care about that, it doesn't matter as long as black men look good". WHY CAN'T MOST OF YA'LL ARGUING NOT WANT TO TAKE A SINGLE MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT THAT?
To the other women mad that some of us are choosing to not spend money on a film project if we don't want to, why can't you see that perhaps selfishness or self-awareness about the portrayal of one's image is a good thing? GLADD is constantly on people about making sure that gays are portrayed in a positive light, and from what I understand, GLEE now has all of these positive gay story lines. I don't watch the show because the only black woman character is overweight and I refuse to support programming where the only black female character is overweight or single. But if anything that is the point. On a "progressive" show with multiple gay story lines, the lone black girl is overweight and single. It's not just about Red Tails.
As for Red Tails, as you can see, when it comes to promoting HIS interests, Terrance Howard is not at all concerned about how this sounds or looks as long as it can be spun to help HIM out. Frankly, the pushback on even asking a question isn't coming from black women who truly believe that this isn't important. They don't want anyone questioning ANYTHING because to do so would mean having to examine their own positions, so to maintain that, EVERYONE needs to go see this movie so they can be excused from critical thinking.
"Obama years, there has been an increased effort to attack black women's singleness and our physical beauty - at a time when we've got a black president and black first wife. " - This right here is why the effort is being ramped up, but the erasure of black women and the degradation of us that is put on display has been going on for decades.
January 23, 2012 | DailyLattes
There's all kinds of offensiveness in that interview. Mostly, I'm reminded of mra's (mens rights activists) advertising for foreign brides... Black women here are apparently too upidity and white women -- though subservient enough -- are still too racist.
Anyway, been following your most excellent comments on FB, good on ya for seeing through their propaganda.
January 23, 2012 | m Andrea
Wait, this is coming from the man who JUST accused his non black spouse of being a racist and using racial slurs against HIM and saying she did not want to be the mother of HIS BLACK CHILDREN?
That was stated by Terrance not me.http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45763491/ns/today-entertainment/t/terrence-howard-says-his-estranged-wife-racist/#.Tx2MFIEghKk
When will these people learn that even the kkk got it on and still get it on with people,as in men and women,not of the white race? Interracial relationships are just that.They say nothing about the character of the individual and these relationships say absolutely NOTHING about worlds progress except people finally have the right to do it in America LEGALLY after they had been doing it aaaalllll along. People being allowed to marry/date/screw/ people of a different races does NOT mean they are more ADVANCED than any one who does not.
Leave it to a MAN to sexualize progress and advancement.
January 23, 2012 | Truth P.
YES @ ALL OF THIS> "All of this hullabaloo over "interracial relationships" is a cheap distraction. This issue isn't marriage and relationships, the issue is CASTING. Why did the Red Tails team GO. OUT. Of. THEIR WAY to avoid casting Black women? And for the Black women that were cast, why were they cut? This is an issue about employment opportunities and quite frankly discrimination by a team that were promoting a movie about the immorality of racial discrimination. If racial discrimination against Black pilots was immoral for the US military, why isn't it equally IMMORAL for the director and writers of Red Tails? Why isn't it equally IMMORAL for these two Black actors to justify the discrimination with a ridiculous answer. And to all of the women saying that there are not women in war movies... "
Let me make myself LOUD AND CLEAR to ALL the black male idiots AND their silly MULES who suggest that I am sensitive about who they screw.
I.D.G.A.F! ABOUT A BLACK MAN AND HIS BELOVED WHITE WOMAN appearing in a movie together.
I CARE ABOUT OPPORTUNITY BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM BLACK WOMEN.
In fact I actually think that the white lady could have still been in the movie,because we KNOW that there WERE some black men overseas in very white and Asian countries having sex with any and everything,but there were also black women that were factually apart of this story that you hypocritical racist hating a** mofo's don't think there is any problem with not being featured in the film.
May you all CONTINUE to get back all of the racism and hatred that you put out there FOREVER.
Anxious Black Woman wrote
Actually, Hollywood was surprised Red Tails did that well at the box office as explained by the movie industry site, Deadline:
Hollywood studios were stunned by how well this George Lucas banner film Red Tails did in matinees Friday. Until they discovered that the Lucasfilm/Twentieth Century Fox marketing inside the African-American community resulted in busloads of midday filmgoers for the Tuskegee Airmen’s true story. Despite fears that this pic appeared frontloaded, it went up a whopping +40% from Friday to Saturday. It boasted an ’A’ CinemaScore from audiences even if historians and critics chide this film as a whitewash.
http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/first-box-office-red-tails-flying-underworld-4-strong-extremely-loud-solid/
The surprised look on Hollywood's face is due to many "Black films" opening under $10 million. Examples include Great Debaters:
http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=greatdebaters.htm
Or the Civil War film Glory:
http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=glory.htm
So, Red Tails definitely beat predictions.
Another industry site Box Office Mojo adds that Red Tails exceeded expectations when ias a fighter pilot film:
Red Tails cruised in to second place with a very respectable $19.1 million. That's above comparable fighter pilot movies Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow ($15.6 million), Stealth ($13.3 million), and Flyboys ($6 million), though it was about even with Sky Captain in estimated attendance. The audience breakdown was 51 percent male and 66 percent 25 years and older. The movie received an "A" CinemaScore, which improved to a fantastic "A+" score for those below 18 and above 50. Also of note: Red Tails marks distributor 20th Century Fox's best opening for a non-franchise title since last April's Rio.
http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3352&p=.htm
So, expect the George Lucas as well as the Red Tails cast to be doing cartwheels this morning.
January 23, 2012 | Fred
Don't mind ol' BabyWipes - nothing that comes out of that man's mouth has ever made sense; he is a joke.
But more importantly, DailyLattes said:
"If George Lucas is so quick to fund a project where you're erased, then that is tactile admission that in the future, you won't put up a fuss when you're cut again. "
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. The Black women coming out in droves to support RedTails really need to digest and understand this.
January 23, 2012 | Nia
I knew it would only be a matter of time before Fred showed up to raise the roof about RedTails. Dude, let it go. I wish you would stop commenting here. If there was some way to block my having to read your posts I would have ages ago.
On topic, the thing that kills me the most about Terrance Howard is that he hates Black people so much, but always wants to portray the worst Negro ever! Like dregs of the earth type shit. I guess this is more of his propaganda to smear us all. Redtails is an unusual departure from his usual pimp and lowlife roles.
Also, he cant even act, this is why he was booted from the Iron Man sequels, in addition to thinking that his non acting ass deserved more $$ than they were willing to pay, and why that Law & Order LA failed. This dude is unbelievable in anything he plays in.
We Black women are not ready to lay down, we aint ready to make nice. And we aint begging you for nada either.
January 23, 2012 | Mikey Tandino
Wait stop. This fool said Mental Quagmire. Umm really? As illustrated below, that doesnt even make sense. Also world accepting type film…? Yeah, youre a sharp one, Mr Grinch.
men•tal
1. of or pertaining to the mind: mental powers; mental suffering.
2. of, pertaining to, or affected by a disorder of the mind: a mental patient; mental illness.
3. providing care for persons with disordered minds, emotions, etc.: a mental hospital.
4. performed by or existing in the mind: mental arithmetic; a mental note.
5. pertaining to intellectuals or intellectual activity.
6. Informal . slightly daft; out of one's mind; crazy: He's mental.
quag•mire
1. an area of miry or boggy ground whose surface yields under the tread; a bog.
2. a situation from which extrication is very difficult: a quagmire of financial indebtedness.
3. anything soft or flabby
great post I agree 100%, it is discrimination and that interview says it all...
January 23, 2012 | pumpkin
"It's a wasted storyline unless, as the actors in the film reveal, they are trying to preach to young black men: leave black women behind and find a white woman."
THIS right here. This is the main reason these movies, TV shows, and commercials, and all other ads are being made and promoted the way they are. It's not about getting white people into theaters. It's about converting young Black male minds into hatred against Black women and girls. And about causing young Black girls to develop a sense of self-loathing and low worth and to have Black women doubt themselves.
Someone else said it right when she pointed out that we should all take heed of the fact that not a single Black man has spoken out against the propaganda being pushed, and the damage to Black women and the Black community as a whole.
Black women need to recognize that a new GENDER-BASED RACISM has crept into the Black community, initiated by the white power structure, meekly accepted by Black women to afraid to lose the little they have, and promoted by Black men, promoted by Black men, promoted by Black men (needs to be said more than once).
And yes, I used a blanket statement of "Black men, instead of some Black men, because the lack of outcry among them, their silence about the onslaught against Black women, is tantamount to acceptance of it.
It shows that Howard is mentally sick, because while he is talking about the wonders and joy of white women over Black women, his own marriage to a white woman fell apart spectacularly, with him claiming to every news outlet that she was a racist who absolutely hated Black people. LOL.
Of course, we all know that Terrance Howard is a jerk, a woman-beater, and a liar. And he's mot mixed - he has some white ancestry, but not directly through either his mother or father, just like most Black people in America. He's a wannabe, and his diabolic viewpoint to convert young Black boys against their own race is dangerous and yes, a very colonized mindset).
If you actually love someone that's fine. But this intentional effort to push Black women to a lower status, in order for Black men to feel as if they can rule over Black women, is evil, IMO, especially when they want us to play 2nd class citizen to, in all honesty, women that we had to fight so hard against for centuries to gain our basic human rights.
Real talk, sorry, but the truth is that white women were just as involved in the subjugation of Black people in America as white men, and it's horrible that too many of our men, in collusion with Big Media, now want to end all of the hard fought gains we made, and relegate us to less than them.
As someone said at another blog after detailing how Aaron McGruder's uses extremely racist terms towards Black women in the Boondocks, "I’m not one who feels any obligation to help the ascension of racists simply because they are Black.""
"Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt". I guess these two have never heard this old proverb.
January 23, 2012 | LMH
It's really funny, because in England, Black women are the most desired. I see them as the female leads in movies and on the telly all the time. White guys love them, find them the most exotic and exciting. It's not a 'racial' thing at all, it's just a cultural thing. We need to fix the cultures in order to integrate more fully.
January 23, 2012 | Felicianomiko
Ummm really...I have yet to see white people put this much energy into downplaying a white movie as WE DO...we sit and watch and do nothing and then criticize someone else for having the guts to do it...this movie is about the Tuskegee Airmen...how the hell are we allowing so much distraction from THAT to talk about the never ending issue of interracial marriage/relationship/dating/etc...who cares...and who the hell is still listening to Terrence Howard...really? see the movie or dont...this gets too sickening...
On another note...I've heard good reviews about the movie...so have a moment and go do something besides clog up the internet with this buffoonery right here...
January 23, 2012 | T Mac
I just watched the clip and all I can say is WTF ? I vote with my wallet. & will not support this dreck. What an insult to the true Tuskegee Airmen. I thank God my patient, who was a TA isn't alive to see this crap. Wake up ladies. . .quid pro quo. Support those who support you. I'm happy for Melody, but she & Georgie won't get $$ from me when I'm left on the cutting room floor. Oh & btw, if I was George's chick he would have had hell to pay if he cut women who looked like me out of his film. Luc Besson wrote Colombiana & who was the star? A woman who looks like his wife. . .a black woman. 'Nuff said.
January 23, 2012 | Sisterlocgirl
Just saw this wonderful article on CNN about the Tuskegee "First Couple"
Herbert Carter, Mildred Hemmons courted during his Tuskegee cadet training
She was the first female black pilot in Alabama
He was among original 33 Tuskegee pilots, eventually rose to lieutenant colonel
Married nearly 70 years, the two were known as Tuskegee's "first couple"
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/22/us/tuskegee-airmen-first-couple/index.html
You mean they couldnt have portrayed this relationship in Red Tails? The 'first couple' of the Tuskegee Airmen instead? I have no words. I'm done. Me done! Me done! Me done! (Voice of little Jamaican Girl from the youtube video)
January 23, 2012 | QueenSafira
Well, looks like this is a "black" movie that black people won't be seeing. Would rather watch a Tyler Perry movie TWICE. I don't even like Tyler Perry movies, but that man loves black people and I don't mind giving my money to him.
January 23, 2012 | Ree
I had a whole to say but felt , it wouldn't have mattered, Support Red Tails, It's about actual heroes of war at their time at the war when their white counterparts deemed them inferior. Great movie.
January 23, 2012 | Trevor
My brother forwarded that CNN story to me earlier, that really would be something to see on the big or small screen!!!
Of course it would probably star Morris Chesnut and Gabrielle Union :-)
January 23, 2012 | tusk91
I am so glad that i did'n't join the crowd and spend money on this movie! Knowing that Terrance was in it was enough to keep me away. This is the same man that lamented the fact that even though he has so many other ethnic backgrounds, he relegated to playing Black characters.. Besides, unlike others, I know my Black history
I don't have a problem with interracial relationships, I've dated outside of my race. The problem is when many Black men (not all) do it, they feel the need to put down their Black sisters. White and Asian men do not do this.
January 23, 2012 | Ms Anon
That interview was so incoherent, I didn't understand what either man was trying to convey, especially Terrance.
Anyway, maybe I've just been oblivious to the Internet boycotts and such, but I hardly think choosing NOT to spend your money to see a film is a "battle" or "boycott" or whatever terms people are using to passively guilt-trip women who choose not to pay to see the movie. Boycotts, as I understand them, have little to nothing to do with individuals deciding how to spend their money. Now if people tried to prevent getting the film produced or distributed...okay, I can see that being a boycott. Because then, there is a concerted effort to keep others from exercising their options. But choosing not to see it? Hell, by that logic, I've boycotted and fought battles in all manner of ways. Today, I boycotted Target by choosing not to buy strawberries. I've boycotted any major film studio when I opted not to see a released movie. Who knew?
I know people who went to see it, and I respect their decision. The end. I find the reaction to women expressing their option NOT to see this, particularly by other black women, very interesting indeed. And not in a good way.
January 23, 2012 | Daphne
Blogmother, the dude at Shadow and Act is being sarcastic. I thought he was down with it until his latest post.
January 23, 2012 | rocknrollsista
i think these quotes fit well with this clip:
“Every time I embrace a black woman I’m embracing slavery, and when I put my arms around a white woman, well, I’m hugging freedom. The white man forbade me to have the white woman on pain of death…. I will not be free until the day I can have a white woman in my bed. ” – eldridge cleaver
@pumpkin, please tell me this quote is a joke. and isn't eldridge cleaver the same man who said he raped black women for domination, and raped white women for practice? I think he also later went and joined the republican party - LOL. Go figure
Mildred Carter was the name I thought. Is Mildred Hemmons her other name? And yes, yes, yes! That would have been the movie to make.
Of course, as a writer and director, you'd have to first WANT a black woman in the story.
@ AJ unfortunately it's not a joke, you can read more about Cleaver's delusions of grandeur in his book Soul on Ice
Mikey Tandino wrote:
I knew it would only be a matter of time before Fred showed up to raise the roof about RedTails. Dude, let it go.
I was responding to Anxious Black Woman's comment that Red Tails' opening was "weak." Just because she isn't interested in the film doesn't negate that it did well went compared to Black films or fighter pilot films.
As for the clip, the actors are correct that the Tuskegee Airmen being embraced by Whites overseas made them SERIOUSLY question the Jim Crow status quo in America. Other Black Americans who engaged in the war effort in Europe like Josephine Baker had similar experiences.
Unfortunately, the actors in the clip especially Terrence Howard go off the rails by saying Black airmen being able to date White women was a step up. There is a world of difference between dating someone because you are in love and dating someone only based on appearance, including skin color. Howard falls in the latter category, which isn't wise at all.
I've been talking to several friends on my FB wall for an hour and a half and I'm amazed only a small few see it as a problem that there are no African women in Red Tails. One particular male friend got quiet when I mentioned several times the film had no African women in it. Gee, he's a happily married father of three daughters under 10, so I wonder why? When I mentioned the sister Mildred, he just stayed quiet. :(
January 24, 2012 | Revmamaafrika
I saw the movie and liked it. That being said, war movies are best when there's no love story at all. That's why Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorites. No sappy love interest to drag things down.
January 24, 2012 | DJ Sniper
I was radio channel-surfing on my way to work yesterday (Monday) and heard Tom Joyner and his sidekicks talking about Red Tails and how it had done at the box office. Tom then mentioned that there was actually a movement afoot among certain black women to boycott the movie because there were no black women in it (this was said incredulously). Tom's female sidekick stated she had a problem with there being no black women in the movie, but his male sidekick (I think he's the comedian Jay Anthony Brown) expressed his disdain that anyone could be concerned about the lack of black women in the movie, and actually said that black men had their movie moment in Red Tails and black women already had their movie moment in The Help! Yes, he actually said this, even though The Help had black men in the movie. He actually equated a movie presenting AA men as heroes to a movie presenting AA women as the help.
And while I'm glad that Viola Davis has been nominated for an Oscar for her role in The Help (and I hope she does win), it's just a tad ironic that if she wins, it would be for playing the same role as Hattie McDaniels did when she won her Oscar (i.e., a maid). The more things change, the more they stay the same.
January 24, 2012 | Sandra77
I can't stand Terrence Howard so I'm not surprised. He puts his foot in his mouth every time, and this is just another example. He hasn't given a black woman the time of the day so therefore, I would regard everything he says with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, this posting is making me think twice about seeing "Red Tails."
January 24, 2012 | Piper
Sandra77,
wow...The Help really...pathetic that people see such a big issue with putting in a simple scene with a Black woman? This is beyond incredible to me.I don't think anyone was asking for a huge part of the movie to be about Black women, but for some reason a Black woman asking for some respect and simple representation within her own racial/cultural group equates to some huge boycott, anti-black man conspiracy. That's disturbing to me.
@Sandra77, your last paragraph really, really said it all! :(
Wow. Pumpkin that Cleaver quote said it all. When will black men learn that just because you can get a white woman doesn't make you white and it doesn't put you in control of anything.
The larger power structure learned aroung the late '60s and early '70s that if you throw us a few crumbs we will back down. Apparently the only thing white men had to do was toss a few of the extra lower-class, working-class and middle-class white women from their stash to a few black men and those brothers thought they had arrived.
Meanwhile white men still control industry, politics, finance and the very image black people are allowed to project of themselves. If you notice the white families with the largest fortunes and power still marry white. They may experiment with other races but white powerful money still marries white powerful money and when it looks like they may stray, even to a minority with money,...well all I can say is Princess Di and the tunnel in France. (That may be a little conspiracy theory for some but just think if her son, the future white king of England, the dark-skinned, Muslim man she was dating as a step-father.)
However we don't have to stray into speculation to make this point. Look at our own country. Yes a black man is in the white house but even he had to have a predominantly white family upbringing and influence to be acceptable. And now that he is in he even can't come out openly support programs aimed directly at uplifing black people for fear of upsetting his white backers. Who is really in control?
January 25, 2012 | Bee
I think the bigger issue is that we are now seeing an obvious trend of Black male racists working in collusion with the established racists in Hollywood to basically "eliminate" BW from history and public perception. To me, that's dangerous propaganda that BW are being asked to swallow. I think the time is now to organize and fight this, or I predict worse things to come only a few years down the line.
January 25, 2012 | Hey There!
As far as trends go the very same thing was said long ago about black woman when "The Color Purple" came out followed up by the tv mini series "The Woman of Brewster's place. I remember a lot of brothers complaining about how Oprah was working with the white Hollywood power structure to label and perpetuate a stereotype of Black men. I also remember how Oprah added a more positive brother based on that criticism for the tv series that got canceled for "Brewster's Place".
Of course now a days the same is said about movies like "Precious" and "For Colored Girls"...
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Amazing pictures showcase Indigenous, Maori, Native American and Mongol archery competition
Indigenous Games Prove Archery’s Roots are Amazing! Brazil hosted the inaugural World Indigenous Games to celebrate native cultures and people from around the world. And barebow archery was a prominent event. Felicia Chischilly, a Navajo from New Mexico, described the Games as “a powwow in the true sense of the word — a gathering of nations.”
More than 2,000 athletes represented 23 countries in the Games, which consisted of modern and traditional, and competitive and noncompetitive sporting events, including archery, football, canoeing, spear tossing and tug of war, to name a few.
“Most events were led by the indigenous peoples themselves,” according to the New Delhi Times. “And together it created a festival that brought together the diversity represented in the Games from indigenous cultures (around) the world.”
Nineteen Native Americans represented the United States. Overall, the Games were a celebration of cultures and the sport we know and love.
Photo Credit: Eraldo Peres
indigenous, Native Americans
Responses to "Amazing pictures showcase Indigenous, Maori, Native American and Mongol archery competition"
Thanks for sharing - photographs are beautiful -
RhondaB says:
Where did this event take place? Pics. are beautiful
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Browse: WORLD RELIGIONS
Seeing His Face through the Veil
Article from the November 2007 WEA Connections Magazine.
by Tabea Mateo
The Ethics of Da‘wa and Evangelism: Respecting the Other and Freedom of Religion
A Talk given at the World Bank during “A Christian and Muslim Dialogue on Creation Care” Sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals and the Embassy of Morocco in Washington, D.C. June 18-20, 2008
The Missing Peace of Evangelical Missiology: Peacemaking and Respectful Witness
Christian-Muslim relations comprise one of the momentous challenges of the 21st century. 1 The relationship between Christians and Muslims is supercharged by the “war on terror,” and exacerbated by the fact that western countries are perceived as “Christian” by many Muslims. On top of this, both Christianity and Islam are missionary religions, committed to sharing their faith with all peoples. How then can followers of Christ be agents of peace and respectfully bear witness to their faith in a polarized and globalized world?
Religion in Conflict
We live in a world of unimaginable horrors: nuclear weaponry, religious prejudice, and ideological hatred. With such horrors comes a sense of urgency and a moral imperative for us to raise the question, what is the purpose of religious language? Because religious statements are considered truthful by a people; they allow their lives to be shaped by them and project a world they would like to inhabit. At times societies employ religious language to gain moral sanction for the acts of violence. However the Church in its transformational mission is duty bound to encourage and employ the biblical metaphors of reconciliation and blessing. Religious language is meant to do something. This brings us to the question of power, which undeniably shapes our individual and social behaviour. The purpose of religious language is to use all available intellectual and intuitional means to interpret the nature of ultimate reality and to invite the human race to share in the privileges of a personal relationship with God. But religious language has also been used to justify violence.
by Richard Howell
Turkey: Where Christians are seen as a Threat
The most contradictory social movements imaginable are touching off deadly tensions in the land of Turkey. We see the European oriented, “enlightened” elite, often educated in government schools, in which women enjoy the freedom to make decisions and set the direction of their lives; we also see the vast numbers of followers of traditional Islam with its conservative separation of men and women into prescribed roles; and we see a combination of radical nationalism with religious extremism which repeatedly responds to a perceived threat from the “Christian” West with violence. This last group perceives in the mere existence of Christians on Turkish soil an immediate assault which threatens to undermine the unity and character of the Turkish nation, and this threat becomes unbearable when Christians proclaim their faith.
by Christine Schirrmacher
Are We Ready for Tomorrow’s Kingdom?
A Jewish rabbi in Los Angeles has thrown down the gauntlet to wayward Westernized Jews. He claims that his own Orthodoxy is the only genuine form of the Jewish faith. He feels Conservative and Reformed Jewish congregations have gone the way of “Christianity”! The idea is that the true faith can only be contained in a certain, specific true culture, the original culture.
by Ralph D. Winter
2011, April 1 Bonner Querschnitte Bonn Profiles – Press Reports
Christian-Muslim relationships - Steve Bell, Part 2
Steve Bell speaks about the relationship between Christians and Muslims and how to engage Muslims. Steve Bell is a Christian and expert on Islam. He is the national director of Interserve, as well as the author of Friendship First and Grace for Muslims.
by Steve Bell
Islam - An Introduction
In the age of globalization, people of different nations, cultures and religions are living closer together than ever before. Muslims in the West are a substantial minority claiming equal political rights. In other parts of the world, Islam has got foothold by establishing student organizations, granting scholarships or building large mosques alerting a wider public to our multireligious reality. Christine Schirrmacher’s short introduction presents a well-written outline of the basic teachings of Islam, its sources, its culture and political aims.
Islam and Society
This book from a renowned scholar of Islamic studies deals with the Islamic view on Christian teachings of Jesus Christ, such as sin, faith, and forgiveness, in a very detailed fashion, and is particularly suitable for missionaries who are actively involved in the Islamic world.
The Islamic View of Major Christian Teachings
2011, January 12 Bonner Querschnitte Bonn Profiles – Press Reports
2010, November 3 Bonner Querschnitte
2008, Nr. 2 - Islam und Christlicher Glaube
Zeitschrift des Instituts für Islamfragen (IfI)
by Byeong Hei Jun, Carsten Polanz, Eberhard Troeger
by Christine Schirrmacher, Eberhard Troeger, Daniel Hecker
by Hans-Martin Killguss, Carsten Polanz, Christine Schirrmacher, Daniel Hecker
by Eberhard Troeger, Christine Schirrmacher, Daniel Hecker
by Eberhard Troeger, Petra Uphoff, Daniel Hecker
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Anchorage's Classic Rock Station
100.5 The Fox - Anchorage's Classic Rock Station
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Green Day Deny Rumors Of New Music Coming Next Week
Representatives for Green Day are refuting a rumor that claimed the band has a new single coming on July 19.
A Kerrang! Radio listener reportedly Tweeted at the station on Tuesday that the legendary pop-punk band was poised to drop some new music. The buzz spread through the evening until Green Day's management responded Wednesday with a short statement.
There is "definitely no Green Day single any time soon," reps told Kerrang!.
Of course the band's reps wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, but it's unlikely that they would outright lie — not that fans would hold it against them if they wind up with some new Green Day tunes by August.
Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong confirmed in December that he was working on songs for the follow-up to the band's last album, Revoluion Radio, which was released in 2016. He did not provide a timeframe for when the band would get into the studio.
While Green Day hasn't been doing much since wrapping up the tour in support of that album — except release a greatest hits album called God's Favorite Band — the band members have played a handful of shows as The Cover Ups.
Armstrong also did an album with his side project The Longshot, which he later supported with some tour dates. He appeared to commit so much energy to The Longshot that he later felt the need to deny rumors that Green Day was breaking up.
KBFX Public Inspection File
KBFX Political File
Advertise with 100.5 The Fox, Get Results
100.5 The Fox is The Classic Rock Station featuring Rock Classic radio live from Anchorage, Ak at 1005thefox.com. Home of the Woody & Wilcox morning show.
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Tag Archives: Vonetta McGee
Directed by John Guillermin
Written by Stirling Silliphant
Starring Richard Roundtree
Frank Finlay
Neda Arnerić
Vonetta McGee
Frank McRae
Distributed by MGM
Release date June 14, 1973
Running time 112 min.
Shaft In Africa is the third instalment in the Shaft trilogy of blaxploitation movies from the 1970s. This film focuses on private detective John Shaft after he has been enlisted by an African nation to bust up a slavery ring in Ethiopia and France.
This is a very 70s movie, with lots of slang from the era, much of which would have been hilarious even then. While the music is great it does not feature the iconic Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes which is featured in the first Shaft film. Unlike the other movies John Shaft is more like a black James Bond than what we expect.
Shaft In Africa was the least successful of the Shaft films and was panned by critics. I guess that the reason for this is because Shaft has been taken out of his regular NYC environment, with the film makers obviously trying to make this not just another blaxploitation movie. Personally I enjoyed the picture quite a bit and thought it was rather exciting. Richard Roundtree is as charismatic as ever as John Shaft, whilst one of his love (or should that be lust) interests, Aleme, played by the late Vonetta McGee, looks a lot like Beyonce in this film.
I must also make a slight mention of the cars in the film. Usually in blaxploitation movies you expect to see big, late 60s – early 70s, American V8 muscle cars that have been pimped out to the extreme, but not in Shaft In Africa. At the start of the film Shaft is seen driving and Alfa Romeo GTA, whilst the French villain Amafi drives a Citroen DS. At the end there are also a number of Renault 8s.
Vonetta McGee: Actress who made her name in the ‘blaxploitation’ genre (independent.co.uk)
Vonetta McGee (guardian.co.uk)
Lives Remembered (telegraph.co.uk)
The world isn’t ready for Mega-Shark vs. Crocosaurus [This Is Meh] (io9.com)
This week’s new film events (guardian.co.uk)
Five Winners! Roger Corman’s…Best of the B’s Collection 3: Escape from Prison! (screenhead.com)
“People have been seeing too many Blaxploitation movies and kind of enjoyed Shaft…” (althouse.blogspot.com)
The Graveyard Shaft (punjapit.wordpress.com)
Your Culturally Insensitive Weekend World Cup Goal Roundup, June 19-20 [World Cuppage] (deadspin.com)
Fincher, Nolan Nab Directors Guild Of America Award Nominations; Coen Bros. Get The Shaft (moviesblog.mtv.com)
Leave a comment | tags: Alfa Romeo GTA, Isaac Hayes, John Guillermin, John Shaft, Movies, Richard Roundtree, Shaft in Africa, Vonetta McGee | posted in 1970s, Action, Blaxploitation, Crime
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a16z Podcast: Cybersecurity in the Boardroom vs. the Situation Room
with Sonal Chokshi, David Damato, Herb Lin, and Matt Spence
“We’re always fighting the last war” — that’s a phrase historians like to use because policymakers and others tend to be so focused on the threats they already know, and our mindsets and organizational structures are oriented to respond that way as well. And in the “situation room” of nation states (including the intelligence briefing war rooms in the White House), much of the security conversation is necessarily focused on the worst possible scenarios, broader context, and attribution as well. Companies, however, unlike nation states, do not have to worry so much about attribution (who did this? why) or even as much about the sexy, headline-grabbing threats. In fact, they may be better off focusing on security hygiene and basic metrics for assessing risk in the boardroom — much like they review financials regularly — argue the guests in this hallway-style conversation episode of the a16z Podcast.
Herb Lin, who is Senior Research Scholar for Cyber Policy and Security at the Center for International Security and Cooperation and is also at the Hoover Institution, both at Stanford University; David Damato, Chief Security Officer at Tanium; and a16z policy team partner Matt Spence (who among other things previously spent time at the White House working with the National Security Council) begin by sharing their views on the term “cybersecurity” …and end up with practical advice for a security boardroom 101. No matter what, security should have a seat at the table.
a16z Podcast: Changing the Way We Talk about Cybersecurity
with Martin Casado, Nathaniel Gleicher, Matthew Olsen, and Matt Spence
a16z in DC roadshow
a16z Podcast on-the-road
Policy Summits a16z
Tech Policy Summit 2017
a16z Podcast: Taking the ‘Cyber’ Out of Cybersecurity
with Martin Casado
a16z Bytes
Software Secures the World
by Martin Casado
our Summit events
technical talent
hallway conversations
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Home Industrial Relations Management 990 UT, Capital bank workers face uncertainty
990 UT, Capital bank workers face uncertainty
The fate of the 990 workers of the defunct UT and Capital banks remains uncertain as some of the staff are likely to go home a month after the Bank of Ghana (BoG) revoked the licenses of these two institutions.
The GCB Bank, after the takeover, indicated it was going to undertake a re-organisation exercise which could maintain some workers from the two banks and also do away with the services of those they may not require.
Following this, there has been an issuance of termination letters to the workers by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Receiver of GCB Bank, which took over the assets and liabilities of the two banks.
According to the Receiver, a process to issue new appointment letters to some of the workers for them to be maintained by the new management, is also underway.
Checks by ADR Daily indicate that the issuance of these termination letters to some workers already on Tuesday has increased the uncertainty amongother workers.
According to a reliable source, management of GCB would pay salary arrears, wages, leave pay, severance pay, and other entitlement due them per the provisions of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) and the Banks and Specialized Deposit Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930).
Some of the workers would be re-employed, but on a six months’ probation pending the completion of their contract review, our source disclosed.
After the six month probation, some of the workers would be maintained, while others would be asked to go home.
A statement from the Central bank said, “The Bank of Ghana has approved a purchase and assumption transaction with GCB Bank Limited which transfers all deposits and selected assets of UT Bank Limited and Capital Bank Limited to GCB Bank Limited.
In addition, “The remaining assets and liabilities will be realised and settled respectively through a receivership process to be undertaken by Messer’sVishAshiagbor and Eric Nana Nipah of PricewaterhouseCoopers.”
By Francis Tandoh/adrdaily.com
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Syrian Opposition says Peace talks in danger
Strike action looms at Sunyani Tech. University
Singapore Int’l Commercial Court to have jurisdiction over litigation
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Home America A Sino-Russian military front against a US military action?
A Sino-Russian military front against a US military action?
Hours after news reports that “militiamen are preparing to carry out terrorist attacks on Venezuelan territory and while the country, still in need of electricity, faces an attack with electromagnetic bombs, China has decided to send its troops to Venezuela where they should participate alongside the 100 Russian military advisers in preparations for war supposed to counter acts of sabotage, or even military destabilization maneuvers, of the United States. S-300 missiles are deployed south of Caracas and Russia claims to have opened a training centre for Venezuelan pilots.
It is in this context that a group of 120 soldiers of the Chinese People’s Army landed on Margarita Island off Venezuela. Officially, the Chinese military is responsible for distributing humanitarian aid and providing technical assistance to the population, but informed sources say that Chinese military personnel also include cyberwar specialists in their ranks.
The Chinese army has rarely been mobilized for extra-border missions, especially in Latin America. This is an extremely strong step in China’s new military policy that no longer rules out a possible military confrontation with “the enemy” when a friendly, allied country is in danger.
Earlier, Russia sent an An-124 military transport aircraft, an IL-62M jetliner and more than 100 men to Venezuela on Saturday (March 27th), amid rising tensions between Caracas and Washington. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Colonel-General Vasily Tonkoshkurov, Chief of the Land Staff, accompanied the Russian military.
The experts note above all the synergy and coordination that exists between Beijing and Moscow in Venezuela where very large oil interests are at stake.
What message does the Sino-Russian mission convey?
The military deployment of the Venezuelan state’s allies does not only refer to energy concerns. It also sends a firm and clear message to the White House which is now to threaten in addition to Venezuela, its Russian and Chinese allies: Moscow and Beijing will not leave the Venezuelan state alone in the face of US machinations.
While it is true that such an anti-imperialist synergy has been a great success in Syria by committing Iran and Russia alongside Damascus, it is also true that in Venezuela, China has just made its first baptism. fire in the matter.
Even in Syria, where Beijing has so far only been providing humanitarian assistance to the population, the time has come for more military activities for the Chinese. In October, Beijing applied to take part in the fighting in Idlib as Qaeda terrorists of Chinese origin are fully active in Idlib.
In Venezuela, China has just taken a first step which gives us an idea of ??what could be a US anti-imperialist front with a strong military commitment in the years to come, said Amir Abolfath, Iranian expert on international issues, who notes: “For the time being, we do not know what the Chinese warships that have just landed on Margarita Island are carrying, but they are well aware that Russian fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear missiles are already in Caracas. . ”
According to another dispatch from Caracas, the Venezuelan army is now equipped with the S-300 missile system that allows it to defend the important facilities of the country including airports.
anti-imperialist
Venezuelan army
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US-led airstrike kills 15 civilians in Syria
Iran commitment reduction no significant JCPOA noncompliance- EU chief Mogherini
Ethiopia’s power, security and democracy dilemma
Israel is within range of Hezbollah’s missiles – Hasan Nasrullah
Turkey Pursuing Arrest of Former Top CIA Spy over Failed Coup
Ramadan is the month of creating and changing: the perfect time...
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That’s a Wrap! A President’s Reflections on AIA Pennsylvania’s Accomplishments in 2018
2018 has been a tremendous year for AIA Pennsylvania and I couldn’t be happier with our many achievements. On the legislative front, AIA Pennsylvania and the Government Affairs Committee headed by Marc Mondor advocated for the passage or four key issues that became laws. On the sustainability front, we worked with coalitions to pass a law that closed the PMJ boarders allowing the revenue from renewable credits to stay in Pennsylvania and help build our renewable energy future. Likewise, we helped pass C-PACE legislation, the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy bill that allows municipalities to provide financing for sustainability improvements to new and existing structures, to be tied to the property’s tax base.
Our Building Codes Subcommittee was pivotal in the passage of the 2015 Building Codes statewide and the 2018 Building Codes in Philadelphia. Passing the law was the first step, and the subcommittee continued their work through the adoption process and then conducted two-day codes training in Manheim and Pittsburgh to help train our members.
The Education/School Construction Subcommittee continued their work in support of the legislature’s PlanCon Advisory Committee and our member’s testimony on school design, funding methodologies, and building lifecycles featured prominently in the final report. The report will become the underpinnings of future legislation.
Building on the subcommittee’s expertise, we pressed for best-practices in the School Safety discourse and in May, Michael Kelly and I co-authorized an Op-Ed letter that was featured in 5 newspapers across the state including the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Allentown Morning Call. This article was carried by our peers at AIA Georgia, AIA South Carolina, AIA Texas, and AIA Arizona to be part of their discussions on school safety with their legislators. And as Pennsylvania began embracing action on school safety, we supported a bill that became law creating a School Safety and Security Committee which includes language for a specific appointment of a member architect recommended by AIA Pennsylvania, and Michael Kelly received that appointment from the Governor to the newly formed committee.
The Legal Reform Subcommittee worked to bring a bill to the senate floor to reduce the statute of repose from its current 12 years to 6 years, thereby reducing the liability architects shoulder on completed projects. Sen. Scott Wagner ran with the bill until he opted to run for governor, and his departure from the senate put our bill on hold. The good news is it is now part of the discussion on practice related legislation going into the new legislative session.
And to round out our advocacy efforts, we held another successful Architects Action Day in Harrisburg in the spring and began a tradition of District Days where members took the time to meet their representatives in their home districts. This is a great way to connect with your legislators and remind them of all the great things architects do and the ways the legislators can support you as small business owners, employers, and community builders.
AIA Pennsylvania continues to provide training to architects, engineers, and building contractors with our codes training sessions, AEC Leadership training, and a number of practice insurance and legislative webinars.
As AIA Pennsylvania is focused on member services, and we took some time and resources in 2018 to better understand what our members’ truly want and need from AIA Pennsylvania. We engaged Merit, a marketing and branding consultant, to conduct focus groups throughout the state for architects, associates, and non-members. Those findings will help our Communications and Membership Committees focus their efforts in future years. And lastly, we issued out Legislative Survey to hear what issues you feel are important for the Government Affairs Committees to pursue.
The annual Design Awards continue to impress, and the webcasted awards presentation and the many Pop-Up parties continue to draw members in throughout the state. Highlights this year included the juror’s comments, the award-winning short feature filmed in Philadelphia, and the ALCOA Building/Mellon Plaza expose by CMU’s Steve Lee.
After over a year of planning, we kicked off our newly-formed Strategic Council with a project for New Cumberland, just across the river from Harrisburg. One of the roles of the Strategic Council will be to act as our community outreach arm, looking to engage civic groups in community development studies, while broadening the leadership of AIA Pennsylvania and its impact statewide.
I would be remiss if I didn’t give a nod to Pittsburgh’s own Bill Bates, FAIA, who was recently inaugurated as the 2019 National AIA President in a black-tie event in Washington, DC, attended by his many friends throughout the institute. Kudos to Bill! And, we are also proud to announce that Swarthmore Borough Mayor and local member architect Tim Kearney, AIA ran a successful campaign to become State Senator Tim Kearney! Tim was one of four architects seeking state office nationwide and the only one be elected. A big congratulations to Tim!
None of these successes happen without the tireless dedication of AIA Pennsylvania’s incredible staff. Olivia Perry is outstanding as our Manager of Communications, keeping the information and ideas flowing from concept to website. Amal Mahrouki, our phenomenal Director of Legislative Affairs has become a well-respected lobbyist within the halls of the Capitol Building and continues to lead our incredible legislative machine (the envy of state components nationwide). Recently, Meghan Baird, our Membership Coordinator left us to follow her passion in fashion, and we wish her all the best. And Lastly, Stephen Swarney holds it all together as our Executive Director, working to make AIA Pennsylvania the voice of the construction industry.
Lastly, I need to thank the dozens of volunteers that give of their time to participate in the many committees and initiatives that make AIA Pennsylvania so successful. Within the Government Affairs Committee’s universe are the subcommittees and task forces that focus on specific issues and inform AIA Pennsylvania’s staff on the details and talking points of issues that matter to the profession of architecture. The awesome groups include the Building Codes Subcommittee, the Education/School Construction Subcommittee, the Committee on the Environment (COTE), the DGS & Procurement Working Group, the Interior Design Task Force, the Legal Reform Task Force, the Licensure Task Force, the P3 Task Force, the newly-formed Historic Preservation Task Force, and our PLAN grassroots network.
And me, I’ll be sticking around to help Incoming Chair Jeff Pastva on the Government Affairs Committee, while kicking off the Historic Preservation Task Force and working with the PAC. At National, I will Chair the Corporate Architects Facility Mangers (CAFM) Advisor Group in 2019 and continuing to work with the States Government Network (SGN) and the AIA National School Safety Task Force.
As always, I thank our many members for their support and trust and hope you join me in welcoming Chip Desmone as our incoming 2019 President.
Allied Member Feature
Architectural Excellence in Focus
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Pennsylvania’s Architects Series
Legislative Victories For and By Pennsylvania’s Architects Create Better Commonwealth Communities
Call for Submissions & Nominations! 2019 Architectural Excellence Design Awards & Special Awards
Meet Pennsylvania’s Newest Architects
New Member Welcome | April 2019
District Days Establish Architects As Trusted Resource for PA Legislators & Communities
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Today's Best Apps: Sky Tourist, Riptide GP2, Djay 2 And More
BillGuard - Track Spending, Save Money by BillGuard, Inc. (Free, 22.6 MB): With its innovative utilization of email client features and streamlined UI, this finance tracking app will become your essential tool for credit card monitoring. Once linked to your charge accounts, new transaction messages are placed into the Recent and Priority folders, which can be thought of as inboxes, for quick and easy review. While looking through the activity lists, just swipe right on transactions to confirm the charge or payment, otherwise, swipe left to follow-up, including the possibility of filing a dispute. As a bonus, the system learns from your and other users' behavior and input to signal possibly harmful transactions, recurring charges, and those of priority. If you need more details, simply tap on a transaction rather than swipe. Of course, these features are in addition to a complete list of transactions, account balance, current month spending total, and even Passbook integration. For security, the app requires you to set a four-digit pin, doesn't show entire account numbers, encrypts communication, doesn't store private information, and has read-only access. More details are available by clicking or tapping here.Two cards can be linked for free and up to 10 after upgrading to the Premium version for $9.99.
djay 2 for iPhone by algoriddim ($0.99, 21.2 MB): One of the App Store's most acclaimed disc jockey rigs just got a whole lot better. At the forefront of the new design is a partially revamped user interface that has both a sleeker appearance and more functionality. Alongside the scratch deck, you now have access to a large waveform display with high-definition color-coded readout, which automatically identifies vocals and other components based on frequency spectrum, plus a sound sampler and drum pads. Beyond addition, there are a two major enhancements, the first being a redesigned and enhanced music library manager whereas the second is single deck mode. Available in portrait orientation, the single deck configuration creates a far more efficient workspace if you're willing to concentrate on a single track. Regarding the remaining feature set, here are some of the tools you may continue to utilize: mixer, audio effects, equalizer, looping, cue points, recording, auto-gain, pitch-bend, as well as iCloud, AirPlay, iTunes Store integration.
Universal:
Delta-V Racing by SPACEHOPPER STUDIOS LTD ($1.99, 43.4 MB): If you're a fan of games such as Lunar Racer, then this action-arcade racer is right up your alley. Very similar to the aforementioned title, Delta-V pits you against a small group of other racers who battle it out in both maneuvering and weaponized assaults. While zipping through the close encounter courses at a default similar speed, choose to take advantage of boosts or go for those weapon boxes, which randomly activate the cannon, laser, drop mines, missiles, force field, boost, or phase shift. The game features 2.5-D graphics, techno soundtrack with retro synthesized voice, 36-event campaign spanning four difficulty level-based tournaments, multiplayer-style challenges via "ghost" replays, eight variously capable vessels, Game Center leaderboards and achievements, as well as seven event types: Race, Elimination, Collector, Time Trial, and more.
Riptide GP2 by Vector Unit ($2.99, 45.9 MB): Get that adrenaline pumping because it's time to jump into even more exciting wave riding action. On the surface, this sequel features a refreshing user interface with streamline head-up display, which now includes a mini-map, and control setup. Looking deeper, you'll notice that the visual enhancements are joined by a straightforward career mode, an always welcomed multiplayer mode, upgrade workshop, plus new courses, PWCs, and a greatly expanded trick list. Overall, the game features similarly beautiful 3-D graphics, improved physics, nine jet-powered watercraft, three control schemes, four race types, 25 total stuns, in-app currency, star rating system, as well as Game Center and iCloud integration.
Sky Tourist by Alexander Lading ($0.99, 106.3 MB): Help the adventurous young Petey Pendant travel the cosmos in this adorable and challenging vertically scrolling physics-based puzzler. To reach the edges of the universe, Pete came up with an idea, a spacesuit powered using two rockets attached by a rope. Unfortunately, the three component construction is a bit difficult to pilot and somewhat fragile, specifically, excessive pressure on the tether will cause it to snap. Even so, the journey must move forward, and don't forget to gather all of the cubelets for souvenirs. The game features cartoony 3-D graphics, 75 stages spanning three worlds plus five bonus levels, 15 tourist sites to visit and snapshot, in-app photo book, dual-thumb control, star rating system as well as Game Center leaderboards and achievements.
djay 2 by algoriddim ($4.99, 42.5 MB): One of the App Store's most acclaimed disc jockey rigs just got a whole lot better. At the forefront of the new design is a partially revamped user interface that has both a sleeker appearance and more functionality. Alongside the scratch deck, you now have access to a large waveform display with high-definition color-coded readout, which automatically identifies vocals and other components based on frequency spectrum, plus a sound sampler and drum pads. Beyond addition, there are a two major enhancements, the first being a redesigned and enhanced music library manager whereas the second is single deck mode. Available in portrait orientation, the single deck configuration creates a far more efficient workspace if you're willing to concentrate on a single track. Regarding the remaining feature set, here are some of the tools you may continue to utilize: mixer, audio effects, equalizer, looping, cue points, recording, auto-gain, pitch-bend, as well as iCloud, AirPlay, iTunes Store integration.
BillGuard - Personal Finance
BillGuard, Inc.
Sky Tourist
Alexander Lading
Delta-V Racing
SPACEHOPPER STUDIOS LTD
Vector Unit
djay 2 for iPhone
algoriddim
Today's Best Apps: FIFA Official App And Nowsfeed
Today's Best Apps: Darklings, Burn The Rope 3D, Icycle: On Thin Ice And Skateboard Slam
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Tag Archive for: Medieval Hunting
You are here: Home / Blog / Medieval Hunting
Medieval Hounds
June 28, 2012 /in 2012 Abbey Medieval Festival, Medieval Animals /by admin
This is the final of our guest-blogger Sir Justyn’s series – ‘The Horses, The Hawks and The Hounds.’ Enjoy.
The Noble Medieval Hound
The third most important animal to nobles of the Middle Ages was the humble hound. So common today are dogs that we can come to neglect their prestige and importance among the lords and ladies of yore. Hounds were considered most noble of beasts based upon his loyalty, kindness and other qualities of great nobleness. As you may have already surmised nobles kept and used hounds primarily for hunting.
There were in total six types of hounds you might encounter in medieval times:
running hounds,
greyhounds,
alaunts,
mastiffs,
lap hounds.
Of these breeds five were used for robust purposes such as the hunting, guarding and fighting spoken of earlier and were well praised by noble men.
The poor little lap hound was considered a ladies hound. They were used for both companionship and to keep fleas off the lady who kept the hound, as written by medieval authors Gaston de Foix and Edward of Norwich! They were somewhat considered the lesser hound, especially among the men. It seems not to be until a few centuries later that men became fond of these small dogs.
This medieval illustration is from Gaston Phoebus’ Livre de Chasse
A hound in a medieval noble’s house was very well kept in almost the same way we might keep our dogs today with sufficient bedding, shelter, warmth, good food, clean water and plenty of room to exercise. Gaston Phoebus, the Count of Foix wrote in his famous book” Livre de Chasse” in the 14thC of a medieval dog pen; “there are two gates to the enclosure; one opened only for the hunt, the other that leads to a sunny outdoor enclosure. The hound house is divided into three sections; one for the hounds, one for the handlers and a third with six sticks with gutters for the hounds to urinate on, the gutters taking their business to an outside area.” He goes on to write that servants must sleep with the hounds and that the kennels are to be kept warm with a fireplace and chimney. Accompanying illustrations in Livre de Chasse show a kennel that looks more expensive than a serf’s cottage. Edward of Norwich, writing his book The Master of Game in the early 15thC, which was largely a copy of Livre de Chasse but with some English flavour and relevant regional changes, suggests instead stones for the hounds to urinate upon and just one child to sleep in the kennels if the kennels are small. He also, like Pheobus, suggests that a chimney and fireplace be set in the kennel for the comfort of the hounds when they are cold or have swam and need to dry out.
So what of these hounds not suited for the lap of a lady?
Running hounds were used more for boar hunting (though some proved also to be good at hunting deer) and needed to be strong, bold, and fast over short distances. Primarily they used to press a boar and to fight him at close quarters. They were not good at sustaining a chase and gave up the chase relatively quickly. They were not called running hounds for their ability to run but rather to set upon or “run” their quarry into the ground, though it is also hinted that they may be called this because a man can keep pace with them while running.
Greyhounds were prized for their ability to chase quarry over a long distance at great speed and without losing sight of the prey or giving up. They were perhaps the most valued of all hounds and their nature as today was kind, not too fierce, playful and joyous. Curiously the greyhound is the only hound mentioned specifically by name of its breed in the Middle Ages, perhaps a testament to their esteemed position among hounds. These hounds were well suited to pursuing quarry over long distances, overtaking it and bringing it to the ground usually with a mounted posse of men right behind to assist.
Aluants were hounds that were said to be the strongest and best shaped of all hounds and they required more detail to training than other hounds to ensure it was manageable at all times. In fact it was written by Edward of Norwich that an alaunt could be either most gentle of nature or most vicious and indeed men were wounded and at times killed by their own alaunts. Not only are the alaunts the most strong but he writes they are also the most hare brained. The alaunt was able to run as fast as a greyhound over a short distance and any beast he could seize with his powerful jaws he could bring down with little effort and hold and not leave it. These hounds were used for bear and bull baiting in blood sports and also called great butchers’ hounds because they were kept by urban butchers to guard and to clean up the mess that went with the trade. They also served as protectors of their master’s home.
Mastiffs were primarily hounds used to guard their medieval master’s beasts, home and goods. They were considered ugly and churlish in shape and nature and loved for it. Occasionally mastiffs were bred for hunting wild boar or for retrieving prey taken by hawks. Of all the hounds the mastiff is the least described in the medieval books on hunting, suggesting that they were indeed more of a footnote if you will than a prized hound for the hunt.
Spaniels were small hounds used for retrieving prey that was hot at a distance or taken by birds thus giving them a second name; birds of the hawk.
Loyal hounds, they were described as:
always following their master
never becoming lost from him even in a crowd
constantly wagging it’s tail
flushing out game chasing fowl and wild beast with much excitement and noise
and excelling in hunting quail and partridge.
These hounds were also encouraged to swim and burrow for prey during the hunt but they were also considered a detriment among greyhounds for they would often chase whatever they found regardless of their masters wishes and lead the greyhounds into a chaotic dithering chase.
Guest Blogger: Sir Justyn
{ Sir Justyn is a professional medieval educator, performer and fight instructor who attends events, schools and clubs, Australia-wide and internationally, bringing history to life wherever he goes. You can see Sir Justyn’s Birds of Prey from the Full Flight Conservation Centre in the encampment of Eslite d’ Corps, the 14thC Living History group and household of Sir Justyn at the Abbey Medieval Festival. Sir Justyn, Eslite d’ Corps (EdC) and Full Flight Conservation Centre can also be found on Facebook. For more information on falconry and hawking visit EdC Medieval Falconry.}
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Noninferiority hypotheses and choice of noninferiority margin
Tie‐Hua Ng
Statistics in Medicine SCI(E) SCOPUS
Volume 31, Issue 11-12
Volume 29, Issue 7‐8
Volume 29, Issue 7-8
Volume 20, Issue 9‐10
Volume 20, Issue 17‐18
Wiley in 2008
10.1002/sim.3367
서울대학교 대전대학교 인하대학교 settings
Natural Sciences > Statistics , Medicine > General Medicine
active control, noninferiority margin, binary, odds ratio, mean ratio, hazard ratio
Abstract 10.1002/sim.3367.abs Ng (Drug Inf. J. 1993; 27:705–719; Drug Inf. J. 2001; 35:1517–1527) proposed that the noninferiority (NI) margin should be a small fraction of the therapeutic effect of the active control as compared with placebo in the setting of testing the NI hypothesis of the mean difference with a continuous outcome. For testing the NI hypothesis of the mean ratio with a continuous outcome, a similar NI margin on a log scale is proposed. This approach may also be applied in the setting of testing the NI hypotheses for survival data based on hazard ratios. Some pitfalls of testing the NI hypotheses with binary endpoints based on the difference or the ratio of proportions will be discussed. Testing the NI hypothesis with binary endpoints based on the odds ratio is proposed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Specification of Treatment Difference in the Design of Clinical Trials with Active Controls
(1993) Ng, T.-H. Drug Information Journal
Pharmacy cited 3 times
Choice of Delta in Equivalence Testing
Pharmacy cited 18 times
Points to consider on the choice of non‐inferiority margin (Draft).
Comments regarding CPMP/EWP/2158/99 draft: points to consider on the choice of non‐inferiority margin.
(2004) J Seldrup
EMEA/CPMP/EWP/2158/99.
Proceedings of the Biopharmaceutical Section. pp. 220-223
(1999) G Gupta et al.
Statistical issues on objective, design, and analysis of noninferiority active-controlled clinical trial.
(2003) Yi Tsong et al. Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics
Pharmacology cited 16 times
A regulatory perspective on choice of margin and statistical inference issue in non‐inferiority trials. Biometrical Journal. Vol. 47. pp. 28-36
(2005) H‐MJ Hung et al.
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Location: Henry County AL
Alabama Mortality Census Records
The 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1885 censuses included inquiries about persons who had died in the twelve months immediately preceding the enumeration. The 1850, 1960, 1870, and 1880 mortality census for Alabama all survived. Mortality schedules list deaths from 1 June through 31 May of 1849–50, 1859–60, 1869–70, 1879–80, and 1884–85. They provide nationwide, state-by-state death registers that predate the recording of vital statistics in most states. While deaths are under-reported, the mortality schedules remain an invaluable source of information.
Henry County Alabama Biographies
These 59 people who once resided in Henry County, Alabama, have had biographical details published online or in book form. Please click on their names to view the biographies available for each of them. Aycock, William B. Baker, Joseph Beach, Henry M. Bradley, William E. Capps, William Jefferson Crawford, A. C. Crawford, James R. Crawford, James W. Darby, John Isaac Dawsey, John F. Dawsey, Thomas J. Drewry, John W. Espy, John Jolly Espy, Joseph S. Espy, Thomas M. Forrester, B. A. Foster, John Webb Fowler, J. L., Dr. Gordon, Alexander C. Helton, James Herring, Bright W. Holley, Francis M. Irwin,
North America Indian Names of Places in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana
The Indians all over this continent had names, traditions, religions, ceremonies, feasts, prayers, songs, dances all, more or less, with symbolism and allegory, adapted to circumstances, just as all other races of mankind. But the world has become so familiar with the continued and ridiculous publications in regard to everything touching upon that race of people that a universal doubt has long since been created and established as to the possibility of refinement of thought and nobleness of action ever having existed among the North American Indian race, ancient or modern; and so little of truth has also been learned
Hitchiti Indians
Hitchiti Tribe. Perhaps from Atcik-hata, a term formerly applied to all of the Indians who spoke the Hitchiti language, and is said to refer to the heap of white ashes piled up close to the ceremonial ground. Also called: At-pasha-shliha, Koasati name, meaning “mean people.” Hitchiti Connections. The Hitchiti belonged to the Muskhogean linguistic family and were considered the mother town of the Atcik-hata group. (See Apalachicola) Hitchiti Location. The Hitchiti are oftenest associated with a location in the present Chattahoochee County, Georgia, but at an earlier period were on the lower course of the Ocmulgee River. (See also Florida
Native American History of Henry County, Alabama
Henry County is located in the southeast corner of Alabama, immediately west of the Chattahoochee River and the State of Georgia. It is named after the Governor of Virginia during the American Revolution, Patrick Henry. The county seat is Abbeville. To the north is Barbour County, AL. On the northeast boundary is Clay County, GA and to the Southeast is Early County, GA. Henry County adjoins Houston County, AL to the south and Dale County, AL to the west. Geology and Hydrology The entire county is in Alabama’s Gulf Coastal Plain. The county’s terrain is characterized by low rolling clay
Henry County, Alabama Census Records
1830 Henry County, Alabama Census Free 1830 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1830 Henry County, Census (images and index) $ 1810-1890 Accelerated Indexing Systems $ Hosted at Tracking Your Roots 1830 Henry County, AL Census (pdf) Hosted at Clark’s Deep South Genealogy 1830 Census Images Hosted at Census Guide 1830 U.S. Census Guide 1840 Henry County, Alabama Census Free 1840 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1840 Henry County, Census (images and index) $ 1810-1890 Accelerated Indexing Systems $ Hosted at Census Guide 1840 U.S. Census
Henry County, Alabama Cemetery Records
Most of these cemetery listings are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Hosted at USGenWeb Archives: Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, Henry, Alabama Union Grove Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery, Henry, Alabama Hosted at Henry County ALGenWeb Abbeville City Cemetery The Armstrong Cemetery (see Old Union) Balkum Baptist Cemetery Balkum Baptist Cemetery (AA) Bethlehem Cemetery Blackwoods Cemetery Old Blackwoods Cemetery Camp Springs Cemetery Center Cemetery Old Center Cemetery Chester Chapel Cemetery Concord Baptist Cemetery County Line Cemetery Culp-Kirkland Cemetery Culpepper Cemetery Cummings Family Cemetery (AA) Danzey
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Surname: McGuire
1921 Farmers’ Directory of Melville Township
Abbreviations: Sec., section; ac., acres; Wf., wife; ch., children; ( ), years in county; O., owner; H., renter. Anderson, L. A. Wf. Mathilda; ch.Emmert and Lucile. P. O. Audubon, R. 3. O. 160 ac., sec. 36. (18.) Breeder of Poland China Hogs. Andresen, Christ. Wf. Hansena; ch. Mary, Nina, Emil, Estra, Hu1ga and Hannah. P. O. Audubon,R. 3. R. 240 ac., sec. 26. (22.) Owner, H. M. McClanahan. Andrews, James. Wf. Allie; ch. Lois and Harvey. P. O. Audubon, R. 3. O. 160 ac., sec. 28. (37.) Breeder of Poland China Hogs and Holstein Cattle. Arts, John N. Wf.
War With The Modoc – Indian Wars
Early April 16th, the Modoc had a big fire in their camp. Major Thomas dropped a shell directly into it, provoking a frantic war whoop, and causing the sudden extinguishing of the fire. Another shell was dropped in the same locality, and was followed by yells of pain and dismay. The Modoc then appeared and challenged the soldiers to come out and fight. Another shell was the answer, and they were driven back. At 4 o’clock A. M. , after another fight, the Modoc gave up the attempt to break through the line and retired. Scattering shots were fired on the men
Rough Riders
Compiled military service records for 1,235 Rough Riders, including Teddy Roosevelt have been digitized. The records include individual jackets which give the name, organization, and rank of each soldier. They contain cards on which information from original records relating to the military service of the individual has been copied. Included in the main jacket are carded medical records, other documents which give personal information, and the description of the record from which the information was obtained.
Biography of Francis McGuire
FRANCIS McGUIRE. – Under the wheeling shadows of Lone Fir, where green vines clamber over the gently swelling mounds, where beautiful funeral flowers, at each glorious resurrection of the year, breathe sweet memorial incense, and gleaming marble guards the last bivouac of the loved and lost, lie the remains of Francis McGuire. Standing by his grave we have no need to invoke the tender Latin maxim, – De mortuis nil nisi bonum; for when his weary head drooped at last it was by the chosen path of duty. He left no stain on the bright escutcheon of his manhood, –
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The Case of the Disappearing Accent: THE COMEDIANS (1967)
One thing I love about Elizabeth Taylor is how she can both coast and transcend her craft in a single scene. I've been watching the "other" films that come in the Taylor/Burton boxed set (the ones that aren't Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) and, man, what a generally tepid lot they are. Liz and Dick seem to saving their sparks for offscreen, if they had any left at the time. Sometimes there are still blazing brilliant flashes of the Liz we all love from Woolf, Suddenly Last Summer, and Giant. Sometimes she just seems zonked halfway to Hell. And Burton fares even worse: there's just sputtering fumes. Was he saving his energy for Doctor Faustus (also '67), his big directorial debut (and directorial swan song)? If so he coasted there too, acting-wise, though that film is nicely lurid and atmospheric, and colorful like a Bava AIP horror film.
Hell, it's not just for Faust and hangovers anymore. Heaven neither - I've seen Woolf a zillion times and--along with their version of Taming of the Shrew--have come to see it as the "true life" story of Dick and Liz, the snapshot from the drunken heights of that dynamic duo of titanic love. Taming isn't in the set, and with the exception of The Sandpiper, all the others, Comedians and VIPS, are the bleary morning-after versions from Woolf's wild drunken glorious night. They're the blearily hung-over Dick and Liz who collapsed the bloated studio system with their initial bloated collaboration, Cleopatra (1963) and were now rampaging through Europe. Europe doesn't know what hit them. That's some bloating power.
What was left, after all that? In The VIPS (also 1963), aka Grand Hotel while waiting for delayed flights in at the VIP lounge at Heathrow International Airport, not a lot. In fact it seems like the film hasn't even happened. It seems like the screenwriter snuck off to look for a different career and forgot to tell the actors. Alone or in pairs they wander through the actual air terminal and cavernous sets in search of love, directorial cues, and highballs... What they find is themselves, and obsequious airport receptionists.
A couple as openly debauched as Dick and Liz could probably not exist in films of our age anyway. The power-suit and baseball cap-wearing "industry" people would probably have a hard time getting either actor to agree to product positioning and/or not smoking. Plus, these days it's tough getting insurance for any film starring notorious drunks, and audiences are far less indulgent, and have quit smoking and drinking and telling lewd stories or at any rate laughing at them and enjoying feel dominant. Liz and Dick made apparently dozens of Giglis and Shanghai Surprises but people dutifully came (anything, maybe, to get away from the kids for a few hours). The equivalent to the Dick and Liz pair bond today would probably be Courtney Love and Nick Nolte if they were a couple, and maybe they should be. Can you imagine it? And to have them in not just one disastrous film but dozens, with maybe one or two hits amongst the dross? That would be so great.
Alas, poor Nick and Courtney wouldn't have a Chinaman's chance finding roles together in our less enlightened times. The 'bond' wouldn't go through. Recall that Courtney had to give daily urine tests to the insurance company stooges to play Woody Harrelson's junky wife in People Vs. Larry Flynt. Which yes, makes no sense. Here the author sighed heavily, as some PC thug immediately called him to task for saying Chinaman.
I've seen two of the films in this set in a row this week, The VIPS and 'love in the time of Haitian Revolution' romantic potboiler, The Comedians (1967), and I've grown unfathomably weary. In their romantic scenes together in Comedians--which apparently are the "meat of things" as far as box office allure--Dick and Liz have all the burning chemistry of two gin-soaked carpets (a low enough proof they are not flammable). Burton usually sways or stands still and glowers under baggy Welshman's eyes; Liz angles her good side, emotes, sucks it in, flashes her cleavage and its all very adult, in the way that made adult synonymous with boring. One waits, in vain, for some of the fierce gutsy braying and brawling that makes Woolf and Shrew so endlessly rewarding. Instead it feels like Dick and Liz are right there with you, too, standing in line in front of you as you wait to go into the 9 PM show, bickering and making up and keeping you entertained while you wait to be seated. But it's not the show itself, and after an hour of waiting and hearing Dick and Liz bicker in front of you, you grow so suffused with world-weary ennui you give up and just go home, too jaded and bummed to even ask for a refund at the box office. Hey, that's okay with them. The Haitians are only too happy to escort you to the airport, and Liz and Dick can't wait to creep off to their air-conditioned hotel where, there's a working ice machine and stocked bar.
But, I almost forgot: what IS rare and precious in The Comedians is that Liz is working a German accent! It sounds more French than German, but Liz... with an accent! My ears perked up when I first realized she wasn't just doing a "character doing an accent" like the mannered way Martha might say "What a dump!" in Woolf. It's subtle, and legit, and it's unmistakable. The first scene with Dick, meeting after he gets off the flight to Haiti-- her accent is sensational, mein Herr! Later, it falls off a bit. She forgets she's doing one, then she picks it up where it left off, like a good book. But by then it's long been apparent that whatever fun Dick and Liz are having has moved off-screen, and the accent went with them. Did Burton forget he was allowed to smile? He cloaks his hangover in a smoke-yellowed veil of adult gravitas, like any 60s dad who's given up trying to be a good husband and parent and resigned himself to his easy chair, his Larks, and his highballs, like me dear old dad... once he realized the 80s wasn't going away.
Ah, but 1967 - year of my own birth and this film's release, that was a time. Easy Rider hadn't yet wiped the frozen martini smirk off Hollywood's stupid face. The last breath out of the pre-Easy star-studio system was still on inhale. Never knowing it's air was limited.
Films like Comedians weren't a gasp at all, as it turns out, but a long drunken smoker's wheeze. And for all that, Liz and Dick still got more class than all of New Hollywood put together. Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Those industry dorks in their baseball caps and crew jackets, that's who, or they ought to be. If Burton were alive today, there'd be some "Get the Guests" games playing, and no mistake.
Alas, he's not, and the best part of the Comedians turns out to be Lililan Gish, who has a few great scenes going ballistic on the sunglassed thugs of Papa Doc. God bless little children. They abide. And they are not hung
(over).
Labels: Comedians, Elizabeth Taylor, Lillian Gish, Richard Burton
MovieMan0283 05 December, 2008
Also, Erich, Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please.
Erich Kuersten 05 December, 2008
Also to what? I used it deliberately to make a point. MAD MEN-style. Is that so wrong? Is that so... wrong?
The proper response was, "MovieMan, this isn't a guy who built the railroads here. This is a guy who...he peed on my rug!"
And then we wait patiently for someone to come along and play Donny.
Now bleed for me...
A Kuersten Family Xmas Cinema Diary 2008
A Plan 9X-Mas
Born to be Childless
Snap, went the dragon! THE SANDPIPER (1965)
The Case of the Disappearing Accent: THE COMEDIANS...
Blocked by the Belle
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Inmate Population Information Search
How to Search the Inmate Population Information
Insert data into at least one of the boxes to return search results. To narrow a search, fill in or select as many search fields as possible. See below for descriptions and examples of the search fields.
< Inmate Population Information Search
ADC Number This is an identification number assigned by the department and is the primary means by which the department identifies offenders. If you know this number, no other search fields are necessary to complete. Example: John Doe's ADC Number is 123456
Last/First Name In the Last/First Name fields, the search will return all matches whose names begin with the letters you type. For example, you may enter "will" and the search will return will, wills, williams, willis and so forth. This makes searching by name easier if you don't the correct spelling.
Gender You may select Male or Female if you want to narrow the search by gender. If you do not know an inmate's gender, choose Both or leave blank to return both genders.
Race You may search by a specific race if desired. The default is All.
County You may search by a specific county if desired. The default is All.
Facility You may search by a specific facility if desired. The default is All.
Photographs You may search for only inmates who have photos available by checking the "Show Inmates with Photos Only" box. For faster results, you may also choose to search without photos by checking the "No Photos for Faster Search" box.
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About ADC Information
The Arkansas Department of Correction updates this information regularly to ensure that it is complete and accurate. Please keep in mind, however, that the information can change quickly and this site may not reflect the true current location, status, release date, or other information regarding an inmate.
This information is made available to the public and law enforcement in the interest of public safety. Any unauthorized use of this information is forbidden and subject to criminal prosecution.
Contact ADC
For questions and comments, you may contact the Arkansas Department of Correction at 870-267-6999 or via e-mail at adc.inmate.info@arkansas.gov.
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Category: Natural chemicals
Methionine is an essential amino acid and together with cysteine, is one of only two sulphur-containing amino acids.
An essential amino acid cannot be synthesised in the body, as such it has to be ingested and is thus the starting point for many subsequent transformations. The following paragraphs describe some of the functions, although the interactions and function dependencies are such that it is impossible to list them all.
Toxin control
Methionine levels affect the amount of sulphur-containing compounds, such as glutathione, in the liver. Glutathione and other sulphur-containing peptides (small proteins) play a critical role in defending against toxic compounds.
When higher levels of toxic compounds are present, more methionine is needed. This is why you see expressions such as Methionine is “Glutathionigenic” [Martindale’s 29th], or an “Antidote (Acetaminophen) - Dosage: 10 g/16hr/man/orl “[also Martindale’s 29th], or an “Antidote (Paracetamol) - Dosage: 10 g/16hr/man/orl “ [again Martindale’s 29th] or is an “Antioxidant” [Dr J Duke].
Choline assists detoxification reactions in the liver. But if inadequate supplies of choline are being obtained from the nutrients in food, choline can be synthesized from methionine or serine.
Sulphur is, in its own right, an exceptionally important mineral and has a part to play in healing problems like acne; dandruff; in seborrheic dermatitis, the skin problems caused by cosmetics, and in problems related to keratin, a major component of the skin, thus functionally we would expect that Methionine via its sulphur has similar activity – and it does. Simply put it is one key to skin health. But methionine appears to play a part in the formation of certain types of components used to form healthy skin. In the following experiment the researchers overdosed the rats used to see what would happen:
Although excess methionine intake …. did not alter the collagen content of their skin, it caused an increase in the content of type III collagen and a decrease in crosslinked collagen. In addition, newly synthesized collagen in the neutral salt extract increased in the excess methionine group, indicating that crosslinked collagen decreases as excess methionine was intubated. PMID: 3566975
What the research highlights is the link between methionine and cross linked and type III collagen. From other research there appear to be indications that the production of keratin is dependent on Methionine.
It also appears to be key to the health of the hair. “Loss of methionine has been linked to senile greying of hair. Its lack leads to a buildup of hydrogen peroxide in hair follicles, a reduction in tyrosinase effectiveness, and a gradual loss of hair color”.
There are activities that show that eye health is also dependent on Methionine. The eye is made up of similar connective tissue to the skin and the cornea in particular has abundant tissue dependent on Methionine. Without adequate Methionine in the diet we can get cataracts.[source Pizzorno, J.E. and Murray, M.T. 1985. A Textbook of Natural Medicine.]
Methionine is Lipotropic. Lipotropic compounds are those that help catalyse the breakdown of fat during metabolism in the body. This is why you sometimes see sentences like “Methionine is hepatoprotective” – protective of the liver, or that Methionine has “a fat-dissolving effect and reduces the depositing of fat in the liver”.
A lipotropic nutrient promotes or encourages the export of fat from the liver. Lipotropics are necessary for maintenance of a healthy liver, and for burning the exported fat for additional energy.
Methionine is not the only lipotropic.
Without lipotropics, such as choline and inositol, fats and bile can become trapped in the liver, causing severe problems such as cirrhosis and blocking fat metabolism. Choline is essential for fat metabolism. Choline functions as a methyl donor and it is required for proper liver function. Like inositol, choline is a lipotropic. Inositol exerts lipotropic effects as well.
But Methionine is a major lipotropic compound in humans too. Again we also see sentences that say Methionine is ‘antihepatotic’ meaning protective against Hepatitis, a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells.
Sex hormone balance
One fascinating aspect about how much Methionine we need is that it is connected to the reproductive system!
Progesterone is made from cholesterol. The progestogens are then the precursors of all other endogenous steroids, - the androgens, estrogens, and other steroids such as the glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and neurosteroids.
When progesterone/estrogen levels are high, the body requires more methionine. It essentially restores balance. As the production of progesterone/estrogens needs cholesterol, the process has the effect of reducing bile flow through the liver and increasing bile cholesterol levels. Methionine acts in opposition to this process restoring balance and ensuring progesterone and estrogen levels do not become too high – deficiency and overdose both being undesirable.
The lipotropics flush away the excess cholesterol and fats and thus since the raw material from which all the sex hormones is made has been reduced, the levels of sex hormones go down too.
Folate balance
Overdosing on methionine has a very serious effect on folate levels, meaning that methionine is key to keeping the balance of folate correct, folate is key to the reproductive cycle of women
Oral methionine supplements (8.0 g daily for 4 days) were given to five normal volunteers who continued to eat their usual diet. This treatment resulted in a significant fall in serum folate concentration. Three days after the end of treatment concentrations had not completely returned to control values. PMID: 97644
Parasympathetic nervous system
Acetylcholine is the endogenous ligand that controls the parasympathetic nervous system – the system for relaxation. Acetylcholine is made from Choline and acetyl coenzyme A, thus in general Methionine has no effect on this system. But, if inadequate supplies of choline are being obtained from the nutrients in food, choline can be synthesized from methionine in the body.
When we stand back and look at these functions, there does appear to be yet again a link to the reproductive cycle as a whole. Methionine through the effects it has on the sex hormones regulates ageing. But it is via the hormones, as ageing is reproductive system dependent.
In effect, the primary mechanism involved in ageing are progesterone, estrogen and the androgens which are themselves dependent on cholesterol. But cholesterol levels are also regulated by the lipotropics, one of which is Methionine – a key one. Thus if Methionine gets out of balance, then so will the cholesterol levels and the hormone levels.
This is why hair goes grey if methionine levels fall. It is not a direct association but an indirect one: – low methionine – low cholesterol – low hormones – grey hair
And why skin ages:
Low methionine – low cholesterol – low hormones – ageing skin
And why eyes deteriorate:
Low methionine – low cholesterol – low hormones – failing eyesight
An observation from Dr Duke's database provides the plant sources for Methionine, the following provides some example other food sources.
Food sources of Methionine USDA Nutrients database
Egg, white
Egg, whole
Cheese, Parmesan
Chicken, broilers or fryers
Fish, tuna, light, canned
Beef, cured, dried eg Bresaola
Beef, minced
Pork, minced
Dr Duke's list of chemicals and activity for the Shallot 017969
Dr Duke’s list of Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Cucurbita pepo L. (Cucurbitaceae) -- Zucchini 027494
REVERSIBLE MYELONEUROPATHY IN A YOUNG WOMAN 027601
Danielou, Alain – On drugs you are possessed by the spirit being of the drug 022582
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Tag Archives: en attendant l’or
The New Wave of French Urban Fiction
Posted on September 12, 2008 by agallix
This appeared in Guardian Books on 12 September 2008:
Between mid-August and late October, the French publishing industry goes into overdrive. The current rentrée littéraire (named after la rentrée scolaire — the beginning of the school year) has seen fewer novels hitting the shelves but their subject matter is as Gallicly grim as ever — not that much of it is likely to find favour in Britain anyway. It’s not all gloom and doom, though. Besides the fact that local authors are increasingly young and female, urban fiction seems to be finally breaking out of its generic ghetto.
This new trend first hit the headlines at the Gauloise-end of the nineties when Rachid Djaïdani — a small-time actor and Thai-boxing enthusiast from the deprived banlieues — published his debut novel (Boumkeur) to rave reviews. The second milestone was the runaway success, in 2004, of Faïza Guène‘s Just Like Tomorrow, which earned her the “Françoise Sagan of the estates” sobriquet. In spite of their critical and commercial success, both books were often regarded as mere novelty hits by the snooty Left Bank literati. Djaïdani explains, for instance, that the big publisher to whom he had sent his first manuscript just could not believe he had written it by himself: after all, he came from the wrong side of town and was the offspring of immigrants. No wonder the leafless Paris suburbs erupted in 2005, just in time to commemorate the tenth anniversary of La Haine. (Incidentally, Djaïdani was part of the security team on the set of Kassovitz’s film and claims, half-jokingly, that the actors probably owe their lives to him.) Since then, many other writers from similar backgrounds have made it into print, including Hamid Jemaï, Skander Kali, Karim Madani, Mohamed Razane, Thomté Ryam, Insa Sané and Livres Hebdo points out that “More and more young authors don’t want to be published by the big houses so are self-publishing via the internet”. Antoine Dole has been instrumental in bringing them together and fostering a sense of community. In November 2006, this young writer produced the first issue of a home-made fanzine which showcased some of the “word activists” — rappers, slammers, bloggers — who were using blogs or social networking sites to bypass mainstream publishing. En attendant l’or soon became a word-of-mouth success via MySpace and a focal point for Les Décalés, a burgeoning literary movement which coalesced around Dole and Elsa Delachair. Most of the members of the Décalés group have now been published in a collection called eXprim’, launched a couple of years ago by 28-year-old Tibo Bérard. The collection addresses itself specifically to teenagers and young adults, which has proved rather controversial in recent months. Antoine Dole’s first novel, Je Reviens de mourir (“I Have Died Again”), was banned by some bookshops and libraries following accusations that it glamourised suicide.
So what is this “littérature urbaine” lark really about, then? Above all, it reflects the advent of a new generation; a changing of the guard: Faïza Guène was only 13 when Georgia de Chamberet edited her anthology of fresh French fiction back in 1999. Giving voice to the vernacular of the banlieues — with its backslang (“verlan”) and borrowings from Arabic — may not seem a big deal in post-Trainspotting Britain, but it is truly novel, and perhaps even revolutionary, given the conservative nature of the French literary establishment. Antoine Dole believes that this movement actually represents a long-awaited “democratisation of writing,” which is why some (like the Qui Fait la France? collective or guerilla micro-publishers Impact Verbal) see it as inherently political. The conception of what a writer should be is also evolving: urban fiction authors often see books as just one means of expression; many of them are also musicians, actors, painters or film directors. Their works are saturated with references to pop rather than high culture — yet another trait which brings them closer to their Anglo-American counterparts.
Although urban fiction is a reaction against the very kind of navel-gazing autofiction that puts off so many British readers, a literary entente cordiale still seems a long way away. The pervasive influence of hip hop and slam poetry on many of these young French writers leads to a stylistic inventiveness which seldom goes down well on this side of the Channel. Another major obstacle is that literary movements — especially when they have a socio-political dimension — are usually met with derision over here. Let the scoffing begin.
Posted in Non-fiction / Tagged andrew gallix, antoine dole, deprived banlieues, elsa delachair, en attendant l'or, exprim', faïza guène, french urban fiction, georgia de chamberet, hamid jemaï, impact verbal, insa sané, karim madani, les décalés, mohamed razane, new writing, offbeats, qui fait la france?, rachid djaïdani, rentrée littéraire, sarbacane, skander kali, thomté ryam, tibo bérard / Leave a comment
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A Modified Method for Whole Exome Resequencing from Minimal Amounts of Starting DNA
Iwanka Kozarewa, Juan Manuel Rosa Rosa, Christopher P. Wardell, Brian A. Walker, et al
http://www.mendeley.com/research/modified-method-whole-exome-resequencing-minimal-amounts-starting-dna
Is supplemented by
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ORCID 201 Apr 15:00 UTC
ORCID | Further Information
CrossRef 1616 Jul 12:17 UTC
http://doi.org/10.1089/dna.2017.3731
http://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2014.59.1503
http://doi.org/10.3233/BLC-150007
http://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2012-12-471888
http://doi.org/10.1111/cyt.12161
http://doi.org/10.4161/onci.20730
http://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2014.322
http://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12246
http://doi.org/10.1002/gcc.22077
http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7997
DataCite18 May 17:30 UTC
Europe PMC Citations 1107 Apr 12:59 UTC
Europe PMC Database Citations17 May 20:38 UTC
Scopus 2118 Jun 16:12 UTC
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Article Coverage18 May 18:40 UTC
Nature21 May 17:18 UTC
Reddit02 Jan 12:08 UTC
Research Blogging07 May 13:09 UTC
ScienceSeeker20 Jul 23:22 UTC
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Figshare 3902 Apr 20:18 UTC
{"files"=>["https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/672386"], "description"=>"<p>The efficiency is shown as median depth of coverage of probe regions with different GC percentage. The GC percentage range of the probes is shown on the x axis. The median depth of coverage for the probes in the HapMap sample, either SA or MSA-Cap libraries, is represented on the left y axis. The percentage of probes in each GC content is shown on the right y axis.</p>", "links"=>[], "tags"=>["probes", "gc-content", "gc", "bases", "sa", "msa-cap", "hapmap"], "article_id"=>342860, "categories"=>["Cancer", "Biological Sciences", "Genetics", "Hematology"], "users"=>["Iwanka Kozarewa", "Juan Manuel Rosa-Rosa", "Christopher P. Wardell", "Brian A. Walker", "Kerry Fenwick", "Ioannis Assiotis", "Costas Mitsopoulos", "Marketa Zvelebil", "Gareth J. Morgan", "Alan Ashworth", "Christopher J."], "doi"=>"https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.g002", "stats"=>{"downloads"=>1, "page_views"=>5, "likes"=>0}, "figshare_url"=>"https://figshare.com/articles/_Capture_efficiency_of_probes_with_different_GC_content_percentage_of_GC_bases_from_the_total_bases_for_SA_and_MSA_Cap_HapMap_NA12813_libraries_/342860", "title"=>"Capture efficiency of probes with different GC-content (percentage of GC bases from the total bases) for SA and MSA-Cap HapMap (NA12813) libraries.", "pos_in_sequence"=>0, "defined_type"=>1, "published_date"=>"2012-03-05 00:47:40"}
{"files"=>["https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/344233", "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/344348", "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/344392", "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/344558"], "description"=>"<div><p>Next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized the pace at which whole genome and exome sequences can be generated. However, despite these advances, many of the methods for targeted resequencing, such as the generation of high-depth exome sequences, are somewhat limited by the relatively large amounts of starting DNA that are normally required. In the case of tumour analysis this is particularly pertinent as many tumour biopsies often return submicrogram quantities of DNA, especially when tumours are microdissected prior to analysis. Here, we present a method for exome capture and resequencing using as little as 50 ng of starting DNA. The sequencing libraries generated by this minimal starting amount (MSA-Cap) method generate datasets that are comparable to standard amount (SA) whole exome libraries that use three micrograms of starting DNA. This method, which can be performed in most laboratories using commonly available reagents, has the potential to enhance large scale profiling efforts such as the resequencing of tumour exomes.</p> </div>", "links"=>[], "tags"=>["modified", "exome", "resequencing", "amounts", "dna"], "article_id"=>128040, "categories"=>["Cancer", "Biological Sciences", "Genetics", "Hematology"], "users"=>["Iwanka Kozarewa", "Juan Manuel Rosa-Rosa", "Christopher P. Wardell", "Brian A. Walker", "Kerry Fenwick", "Ioannis Assiotis", "Costas Mitsopoulos", "Marketa Zvelebil", "Gareth J. Morgan", "Alan Ashworth", "Christopher J."], "doi"=>["https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.s001", "https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.s002", "https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.s003", "https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.s004"], "stats"=>{"downloads"=>10, "page_views"=>12, "likes"=>0}, "figshare_url"=>"https://figshare.com/articles/A_Modified_Method_for_Whole_Exome_Resequencing_from_Minimal_Amounts_of_Starting_DNA/128040", "title"=>"A Modified Method for Whole Exome Resequencing from Minimal Amounts of Starting DNA", "pos_in_sequence"=>0, "defined_type"=>4, "published_date"=>"2012-03-05 02:14:00"}
{"files"=>["https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/672707"], "description"=>"<p>For the PCL-tumour sample, the variants called by deep sequencing were compared to data from Affymetrix SNP 6.0 DNA array while for the HapMap sample published data were used for the comparison.</p>", "links"=>[], "tags"=>["concordance", "snp", "calls", "pcl-tumour", "hapmap"], "article_id"=>343188, "categories"=>["Cancer", "Biological Sciences", "Genetics", "Hematology"], "users"=>["Iwanka Kozarewa", "Juan Manuel Rosa-Rosa", "Christopher P. Wardell", "Brian A. Walker", "Kerry Fenwick", "Ioannis Assiotis", "Costas Mitsopoulos", "Marketa Zvelebil", "Gareth J. Morgan", "Alan Ashworth", "Christopher J."], "doi"=>"https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.t002", "stats"=>{"downloads"=>0, "page_views"=>0, "likes"=>0}, "figshare_url"=>"https://figshare.com/articles/_Genotype_concordance_for_SNP_calls_in_a_PCL_tumour_sample_and_a_HapMap_NA12813_sample_/343188", "title"=>"Genotype concordance for SNP calls in a PCL-tumour sample and a HapMap (NA12813) sample.", "pos_in_sequence"=>0, "defined_type"=>3, "published_date"=>"2012-03-05 00:53:08"}
{"files"=>["https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/672588"], "description"=>"<p>Chromosomes 1 to 22 plus X and Y are shown on the x axis. The log<sub>2</sub> ratio of the normalized by the normal depth values for the PCL-tumour libraries is represented on the y axis. Arrows point towards the detected by deep sequencing and previously identified by SNP6 array copy number changes: gain (6p), del (6q), del (12p), del (13q) and del (17p).</p>", "links"=>[], "tags"=>["profiles", "sequencing", "pcl-tumour", "prepared", "sa-", "msa-cap"], "article_id"=>343056, "categories"=>["Cancer", "Biological Sciences", "Genetics", "Hematology"], "users"=>["Iwanka Kozarewa", "Juan Manuel Rosa-Rosa", "Christopher P. Wardell", "Brian A. Walker", "Kerry Fenwick", "Ioannis Assiotis", "Costas Mitsopoulos", "Marketa Zvelebil", "Gareth J. Morgan", "Alan Ashworth", "Christopher J."], "doi"=>"https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.g004", "stats"=>{"downloads"=>0, "page_views"=>3, "likes"=>0}, "figshare_url"=>"https://figshare.com/articles/_Copy_number_profiles_estimated_by_deep_sequencing_of_PCL_tumour_samples_prepared_using_the_SA_or_MSA_Cap_methods_/343056", "title"=>"Copy number profiles estimated by deep sequencing of PCL-tumour samples, prepared using the SA- or MSA-Cap methods.", "pos_in_sequence"=>0, "defined_type"=>1, "published_date"=>"2012-03-05 00:50:56"}
{"files"=>["https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/672477"], "description"=>"<p>Non-filtered variants were identified in each sample using Broad Institute Best Practice pipeline version 1.0.5273 upon comparison to human hg19 reference sequence and categorized according to putative gene effect. The cumulative number of variants for each library type is shown on the x axis and the sample and library type on the y axis. Variant categories, as assigned by the Ensembl database, are on the right side of the figure.</p>", "links"=>[], "tags"=>["sa", "msa-cap", "prepared", "pcl-tumour", "pcl-buccal", "swab"], "article_id"=>342952, "categories"=>["Cancer", "Biological Sciences", "Genetics", "Hematology"], "users"=>["Iwanka Kozarewa", "Juan Manuel Rosa-Rosa", "Christopher P. Wardell", "Brian A. Walker", "Kerry Fenwick", "Ioannis Assiotis", "Costas Mitsopoulos", "Marketa Zvelebil", "Gareth J. Morgan", "Alan Ashworth", "Christopher J."], "doi"=>"https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.g003", "stats"=>{"downloads"=>1, "page_views"=>6, "likes"=>0}, "figshare_url"=>"https://figshare.com/articles/_Mutational_spectrum_from_SA_and_MSA_Cap_libraries_prepared_from_PCL_tumour_or_PCL_buccal_swab_samples_/342952", "title"=>"Mutational spectrum from SA and MSA-Cap libraries, prepared from PCL-tumour or PCL-buccal swab samples.", "pos_in_sequence"=>0, "defined_type"=>1, "published_date"=>"2012-03-05 00:49:12"}
{"files"=>["https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/672289"], "description"=>"<p>Flow chart comparing the standard Agilent Whole Exome Target Enrichment protocol (SA protocol, v. 2.0.1), and the Minimal Starting Amount Capture (MSA-Cap) protocol.</p>", "links"=>[], "tags"=>["comparing", "agilent", "exome", "enrichment"], "article_id"=>342762, "categories"=>["Cancer", "Biological Sciences", "Genetics", "Hematology"], "users"=>["Iwanka Kozarewa", "Juan Manuel Rosa-Rosa", "Christopher P. Wardell", "Brian A. Walker", "Kerry Fenwick", "Ioannis Assiotis", "Costas Mitsopoulos", "Marketa Zvelebil", "Gareth J. Morgan", "Alan Ashworth", "Christopher J."], "doi"=>"https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.g001", "stats"=>{"downloads"=>0, "page_views"=>1, "likes"=>0}, "figshare_url"=>"https://figshare.com/articles/_Flow_chart_comparing_the_standard_Agilent_Whole_Exome_Target_Enrichment_protocol_SA_protocol_v_2_0_1_and_the_Minimal_Starting_Amount_Capture_MSA_Cap_protocol_/342762", "title"=>"Flow chart comparing the standard Agilent Whole Exome Target Enrichment protocol (SA protocol, v. 2.0.1), and the Minimal Starting Amount Capture (MSA-Cap) protocol.", "pos_in_sequence"=>0, "defined_type"=>1, "published_date"=>"2012-03-05 00:46:02"}
{"files"=>["https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/672662"], "description"=>"<p>Target enrichment and sequencing quality metrics.</p>", "links"=>[], "tags"=>["enrichment", "sequencing"], "article_id"=>343141, "categories"=>["Cancer", "Biological Sciences", "Genetics", "Hematology"], "users"=>["Iwanka Kozarewa", "Juan Manuel Rosa-Rosa", "Christopher P. Wardell", "Brian A. Walker", "Kerry Fenwick", "Ioannis Assiotis", "Costas Mitsopoulos", "Marketa Zvelebil", "Gareth J. Morgan", "Alan Ashworth", "Christopher J."], "doi"=>"https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032617.t001", "stats"=>{"downloads"=>0, "page_views"=>0, "likes"=>0}, "figshare_url"=>"https://figshare.com/articles/_Target_enrichment_and_sequencing_quality_metrics_/343141", "title"=>"Target enrichment and sequencing quality metrics.", "pos_in_sequence"=>0, "defined_type"=>3, "published_date"=>"2012-03-05 00:52:21"}
PMC Usage Stats 229217 Jun 15:12 UTC
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Relative Metric 11636012 Apr 20:15 UTC
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Refreshing or Revolting: 2019 BMW Z4
0 0 Sunday, August 26, 2018 Edit this post
2019 BMW Z4 1
[post_ads]Take a look at BMW's Z series, which stretches all the way back to 1989 with the Z1, and you'll see a few common design themes across the entire lineup. But you'll see a more obvious design lineage when you look at just the Z3 and last two Z4s. The 2019 BMW Z4 diverges slightly from that lineage, as it ushers in a new design language that's distinct from its predecessors and even other modern BMWs. But is the brand's roadster on the right track with this new look? Read on and decide for yourself.
2019-BMW-Z4-04.jpg
When the production 2019 BMW Z4 debuted in Monterey this week, we only got to see it in M40i First Edition spec. We won't see the lower 30i trim until closer to its spring 2019 debut, but we don't imagine too much will change styling-wise. The new Z4 stays pretty true to the concept that debuted at Pebble Beach last year, continuing to sport a stacked headlight arrangement instead of the side-by-side layout seen on virtually every other BMW. The brand's signature dual kidney grilles remain, but instead of vertical slats they get a 3-D mesh pattern finished in black. Several on staff have compared the look to the Kia Stinger's "tiger nose" grille.
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2019-BMW-Z4-8.jpg
Looking at both cars from the side with the top up, you'll notice one big difference: the Z4 has abandoned the power retractable hardtop of the previous model and gone back to a soft top. As such, the look is very different. For a soft top, the new Z4's cloth roof does a reasonably good job of mimicking a coupe roofline. But it just can't compete with the sensuous curves of the last-gen Z4's folding hardtop. The last-gen car also benefits from a longer dash-to-axle, which gives it more cab-rearward proportions. And sadly, likely due to pedestrian crash safety standards, the 2019 Z4 gets a blunted front end instead of the shark nose that made the concept so good-looking. The pendulum starts to swing slightly in the new Z4's favor when you look at the details, however. A large fender vent can be seen behind the front wheels, where character lines begin and sweep across the doors. Both cars have trunk lids with molded ducktail spoilers, but the one on the 2019 is more pronounced.
There's no mistaking which car is the new model when looking at them from behind. The 2019 Z4 gets slim taillights that slant inward as they stretch across the trunk lid, but they also appear to slope off of the car's rear end. In contrast, the outgoing roadster has rounder taillights that aren't nearly as wide. Both cars feature heavily sculpted rear ends, but the new Z4's is more dramatic. Time will tell if the look still holds up a decade or so down the road.
2019-BMW-Z4-10-1.jpg
The 2019 BMW Z4's interior is pretty standard fare as modern BMWs come, but there's a new digital gauge cluster and wide touchscreen display to up the roadster's tech game. Meanwhile, the old Z4's cabin looks its age, with a last-gen infotainment screen and a radio display with red graphics, a trait that used to be a BMW trademark. But the outgoing Z4 was unique in how it laid out its HVAC controls. In the center of the dash are four circles, with the outer ones being dials for dual-zone climate control and the inner ones being clusters of buttons for fan speed, vent selection, recirculate, and window/mirror defrosters.
Autos - U.S. Daily News: Refreshing or Revolting: 2019 BMW Z4
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlE1bwwjqQo/W4Jc_GCkq-I/AAAAAAAAakc/PUI1vE8nNhAEpeg0xZR3yRnjRDXLa8r9gCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlE1bwwjqQo/W4Jc_GCkq-I/AAAAAAAAakc/PUI1vE8nNhAEpeg0xZR3yRnjRDXLa8r9gCLcBGAs/s72-c/1.jpg
https://autos.dailynews.us.com/2018/08/refreshing-or-revolting-2019-bmw-z4.html
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As party vote inches closer, Abe seeks to turn page on scandal
By Linda Sieg
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government sought on Monday to put behind it the worst of a suspected cronyism scandal that has clouded Abe’s chances for re-election, as his finance minister said he’d give back a year’s salary but would not quit.
Abe’s ratings have been on a roller coaster since last year, when the public learned of the heavily discounted sale of state-owned land to a school operator with ties to his wife. Questions also arose over government approval for a new veterinary school by another educational body run by a friend of Abe.
The prime minister has denied any wrongdoing by himself or his wife, Akie.
Finance Minister Taro Aso, a close Abe ally, told reporters on Monday he would voluntarily return his salary and apologised for his ministry’s handling of documents related to the land sale to school operator Moritomo Gakuen. But he said he planned to stay in his job.
Opposition leaders were not impressed.
“This has confirmed that Prime Minister Abe bears grave responsibility,” Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki was quoted by Kyodo news agency as telling a news conference.
Abe’s allies, however, hope he can now draw a line under the controversies that have weighed on his aspirations and agenda.
Ruling party members support him for stability’s sake, business leaders like his “Abenomics” policies, and rivals have so far failed to catch the imagination of the public.
That may allow Abe to win a Liberal Democratic Party leadership race planned for September, despite persistent voter doubts about the scandals, analysts and several political sources said.
“The view that Abe and his wife have lied has spread quite a bit,” said one governing coalition source, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But if one thinks about replacing Abe, there is the question, who else could run a stable government?”
Just what Abe will achieve if he wins another term remains unclear, including whether he can change Japan’s post-war, pacifist constitution.
“His true goal is to revise the constitution, but his coalition partner is not keen and with local and upper house elections next year, it will be difficult,” the coalition source said. “He’ll focus on the economy and foreign policy.”
Allies are betting that Abe’s ratings have bottomed out.
In the most recent Nikkei business daily survey, published last Monday, 42 percent of respondents supported Abe. The Mainichi newspaper put Abe’s support rate at 31 percent.
Both ratings were about the same as a month earlier, though both also showed a hefty majority of voters had doubts over the scandals. For now, his backing inside his party matters most.
“Almost all the stakeholders in the Abe administration want him to stay. It’s up to the LDP, not the public,” said Tomowaki Iwai, a political science professor at Nihon University. “If his ratings fell to 20 percent or lower, then there could be moves but for now, his support inside the LDP is high.”
Abe’s challengers have so far failed to benefit from his lacklustre public support.
Lawmaker Shinjiro Koizumi – who at 37 most view as too young to run – topped general voters’ list of politicians favored to be the next premier with 28 percent versus Abe’s 24 percent in the Nikkei survey, but Abe came in first among LDP supporters with 45 percent versus 21 percent for rival Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister.
Abe and ally Aso cleared a key hurdle when prosecutors decided last week not to charge former finance ministry official Nobuhisa Sagawa with breach of trust. He was in charge of the ministry division that altered documents involving the land sale to Moritomo Gakuen. A civil group plans to appeal that decision.
Sagawa resigned as head of the National Tax Agency in March. Opposition parties are still calling for the resignation of Aso, whose support Abe needs to win another term. However, the 77-year-old Aso, who also is deputy prime minister, is unlikely to bow to pressure, analysts and political sources said.
On Monday, the finance ministry said it would reduce Sagawa’s retirement pay and punished other officials involved.
Some analysts, however, said the scandals would keep dogging the government.
“It’s like a slow death,” said Sophia University professor Koichi Nakano. “Turning a new page, hitting bottom – I’m not so sure.”
Source : Japan Today
Esse post foi publicado em notícias internacionais e marcado Japan. Guardar link permanente.
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Vitaminas C: Abasta apoio exímio glândulas suprarrenais, órgãos essenciais para metabolismo bem como controlação do sacarose no casta. http://soyramie5.affiliatblogger.com/14958053/a-princ-pio-manter-se-menos-candid-ase-funciona
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Elizabeth Massie
Elizabeth Massie - book author
Elizabeth (Beth) Massie is a 2-time Bram Stoker Award and Scribe Award-winning author of horror/suspense, historical fiction, media tie-ins, nonfiction, and short fiction for adults. She also writes novels for teens and middle grade readers. She lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband, illustrator Cortney Skinner.
Elizabeth Massie is the author of books: Power of Persuasion (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 3, #12), Sineater, King Takes Queen (The Tudors, #2), The Great Chicago Fire, 1871, Thy Will Be Done (The Tudors, #3), Versailles - Le Rêve d'un Roi, Wire Mesh Mothers, Homeplace, Shadow Dreams, Hell Gate
Power of Persuasion (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 3, #12)
When the female population of Sunnydale starts strutting its girl power, the push for gender equality seems like a normal expression of '90s feminism. After all, a girl trying out for the football team isn't usually a sign of imminent danger. But when the guys start acting like powerless pawns and a few even turn up dead, Buffy Summers notices that the local womyn's movement has reached a feverish -- and probably unnatural -- pitch.The Slayer is the only one who can see straight during the ultimate battle of the sexes. Her friends -- including Giles -- are spellbound by the malignant muses permeating the school. Even the local vampires are acting strange. Alone in her search for answers, Buffy must figure out who's behind the sinister sisterhood...and close the gender gap before the feminist revolution goes too far.
Sineater
According to legend, the sineater is a dark and mysterious figure of the night, condemned to live alone in the woods, who devours food from the chests of the dead to allow them to ascend to heaven. To look upon the sineater is to see the face of all the evil he has eaten, and to become insane with the overwhelming presence of sin. But now the order has been broken, the tradition violated; the sineater has a family of his own, although even his wife and children must avert their gazes on the rare occasions he visits them. When Joel, the youngest child, tries to lead a normal life, strange occurrences affect the community. Before long, no one is safe from the dark forces set loose, and Joel must discover if the havoc emanates from the sineater, the community itself, or some other mysterious force....
King Takes Queen (The Tudors, #2)
Dissent rises in the kingdom of King Henry VIII of England. The king's ongoing dispute with the papacy over a desire for annulment is about to incite the Reformation, and his next step is to appoint a new archbishop in order to obtain his long-awaited marriage to Anne Boleyn.
All crests that once bore the initials "H & K" are promptly replaced with an intertwining "H & A," the first of many significant changes to come. The birth of the new royal couple's first child, Princess Elizabeth, is followed by the death of Katherine of Aragon. New legislation decrees that any who dare commit an act against the king - or the kingdom's newfound beliefs - will face extreme consequences. With her husband growing increasingly impatient, it becomes apparent that the only crime Anne could commit against her king would be to deny him a male heir.
As pressures rise in the kingdom, those who once found themselves in the king's good graces foresee a somber end to their reign. This rich novelization of season two of The Tudors follows the complicated relationship between Henry and Anne through to its historically significant and dramatic conclusion.
The Great Chicago Fire, 1871
She lost her family in the Civil War and fled from Georgia to Chicago disguised as a boy. Here 18-year-old Katina Monroe finds work as "William," acting in a small theater, as she dreams of writing a brilliant drama and gaining wealth and fame as a woman in her own name. But life takes an unexpected twist when she meets crusading young minister Russell Cosgrove on a street corner and he persuades "William" to help him create a shelter for the destitute. Katina can't tell Russell the truth, even as they work side-by-side, until the day love and jealousy drive her to reveal her true self at last. Together they build a dream of new lives and a new city -- until a sudden fire rages through the streets. Now they are racing for their lives as Chicago burns in their wake....
Thy Will Be Done (The Tudors, #3)
LONG LIVE THE KING.
Anne Boleyn is dead and a Catholic rebellion is rising in the north. The king's army makes a bloody example of the traitors, and Henry VIII will not be satisfied until the defiant leaders pay with their heads. The virtuous and beautiful new queen of England, Jane Seymour, has convinced him to reconcile with his daughters, little Elizabeth and pious Mary, who the insurgents hope will one day restore the Church to power. Mary must wait her turn, however, when Jane blesses Henry with the one thing his other wives could not -- a son -- only she doesn't survive his birth. Devastated, the king locks himself in seclusion. A new leader is waiting for Henry's power to weaken, a jousting wound threatens his life, and disloyalty is brewing within the court. Fearful of England's waning alliances, the king's advisers convince him to marry homely Anne of Cleves, a political union in which he finds little comfort...until he meets a young, coquettish new mistress named Katherine.
In the seductive and gripping third season of The Tudors, the king finally gets everything he ever wanted. But unrest is brewing, and he will stop at nothing -- and spare no one -- to hold on to the throne.
Versailles - Le Rêve d'un Roi
1667, Louis XIV a vingt-huit ans. Le décès de sa mère Anne d'Autriche lui laisse enfin les mains libres pour gouverner. Traumatisé par le souvenir de la Fronde, le jeune monarque veut à tout prix garder les nobles sous contrôle. L'extraordinaire palais qu'il va imaginer à la place d'un modeste pavillon de chasse de Versailles sera leur prison dorée.
Tandis que de nouveaux murs s'élèvent, que des canaux sont creusés, des arbres plantés, Louis aime, trompe, manœuvre et manipule. Mais à qui faire confiance quand on est un grand roi ? À ses plus proches ministres ? Au valet ou à l'ami le plus fidèle ? Au frère complexé, aux maîtresses blessées et courtisanes énamourées ?
Inspiré de la série éponyme diffusée sur Canal +, ce roman historique nous entraîne dans les dédales sulfureux d'un château destiné àservir les ambitions vertigineuses du Roi-Soleil.
Wire Mesh Mothers
Elementary school teacher Kate McDolen spirits eight-year-old student Mistie away from her abusive parents. While driving to a new life for both of them, Kate and Mistie are carjacked by Tony, a dangerous girl who doesn't admire anything except violence and cruelty. The cross-country trip that follows will turn into a one-way journey to fear, desperation, and madness.
Homeplace
The isolated ancestral home of a beautiful young artist hides a terrifying secret.
Shadow Dreams
This collection of short stories offers a glimpse into the myriad worlds of Elizabeth Massie’s characters. These folks are normal, everyday people, living mostly in small towns, growing up or growing old and handling life’s problems like you and me. Except for one thing — these people are about to be touched by the cold shadow of fear, enveloped by a dark nightmare laced with dread. Winner of the Bram Stoker Award twice, Massie gives us a chilling collection of some of her best stories from the past ten years. In these stories we can see the terror lurking in the familiar, and the darkness waiting in our dreams.
Hell Gate
Beth's horror novel, Hell Gate, is a wild ride into the dark world of Coney Island in the early 1900s.
It has been called, ""A Thrill Ride Of Historic Proportions...Like Stephen King, Massie proves regularly—and here once again—that horror doesn't rely on vampires or zombies, and that it doesn't need to rely on the completely inexplicable or unscientific; rather, all horror requires is the thoughts and behaviors of human beings." —Marakay Rogers, BWW Reviews.
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This Week: Nicki Minaj's Magic Boobs, Kurt Cobain's Ghost, and Marilyn Manson's Black Eye
Posted By Rae Alexandra on Fri, Apr 10, 2015 at 9:17 AM
The overriding theme of this week's music happenings is quite clearly the supernatural — what with the ghost of Kurt Cobain living on in his daughter's face, murdered legend Selena being resurrected via hologram, Nicki Minaj curing the sick with only the power of her mighty chesticles, and Anne Hathaway channeling Miley Cyrus just for fun. Plus Madonna just survived the annihilation of mankind — in her own mind and video, at least. (We also can't help but notice Madge channeling a little of Miley on "Ghosttown" too — or is it just us that hears shades of "Wrecking Ball" on that chorus?)
Anyways, here's the music quotes of the week.
Frances Bean Cobain / Twitter
“Dave [Grohl], Krist [Novoselic] and Pat [Smear] came over to a house where I was living. It was the first time [the ex-Nirvana members] had been together in a long time. And they had what I call the "K. C. Jeebies," which is when they see me, they see Kurt. They look at me, and you can see they're looking at a ghost. They were all getting the K. C. Jeebies hardcore.”
Frances Bean Cobain is very aware of her striking resemblance to her father. (Rolling Stone)
“He’s so fine. Those big-ass white teeth and ears hanging off his head. I'm like, 'Oh my god, I want to fuck the president'.”
Good luck with that, Azalea Banks. (Billboard)
"Look at how he stopped crying when he laid his head on dem thangz. They have real power beaming out of them that can cure the sick.”
Nicki Minaj comforted a crying 12-year-old boy fan with a maternal hug. He started grinning the second his head hit her ample bosom. (Instagram)
“Manson never got a chance to sit down. He was being friendly with everyone, anyone who wanted a picture, he would give them a picture, anyone who wanted an autograph he would give them an autograph. They were just talking and the guy just punched him right in the face without any provocation."
A witness describes the moment that Marilyn Manson became the first ever visitor to Canada to receive a hostile welcome. (NME)
We can’t believe this show is a real thing… but we’re still blatantly gonna watch it:
“By no means is this something that’s creepy or weird. We think it’s something amazing. A lot of the new fans that did not get to experience what Selena was about hopefully will be able to get a sense of her with this new technology that’s going to be coming out.”
The family of Selena Quintanilla are turning the iconic Tejano pop star into a hologram, with the help of tech company, Acrovirt LLC. (Billboard)
“Transgender women in male prisons have an equal right to protection from violence and abuse in prison, yet they continue to face horrific injustices… Transgender inmates are 13 times more likely to be sexually assaulted while incarcerated. This is outrageous, and the message it sends is horrific: that violence against and discrimination of trans people is not only allowed, but sanctioned.”
Elton John and Michael Stipe have released a statement condemning the treatment of trans inmates in American prisons. (NME)
"For Christmas this year, I asked my mom that one of her gifts to me be her going to the doctor to get screened for any health issues, just to ease some worries of mine. She agreed, and went in to get checked. The results came in, and I’m saddened to tell you that my mom has been diagnosed with cancer… I hope and pray that you never get news like this.”
Taylor Swift just shared some very bad news. (Tumblr)
“Who’s feeling these new bullshit laws that they’re trying to pass around here? I said fuck that shit. I wanna hear you say fuck that shit… Cause we’re just living our motherfuckin’ lives.”
Rihanna performing in Indianapolis last weekend objecting to Indiana’s homophobic “Religious Freedom Restoration Act”. (Jezebel)
Remember that old joke, where Jimmy James said “After a nuclear holocaust, all that will be left are cockroaches and Cher…” Well, Madonna’s new video suggests he might have picked the wrong lady singer:
Also, we most definitely prefer this:
Tags: Anne Hathaway, Lip Sync Battle, LL Cool J, Madonna, Kurt Cobain, Frances Bean Cobain, Azalea Banks, Nicki Minaj, Barack Obama, Marilyn Manson, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear, Nirvana, Miley Cyrus, Wrecking Ball, Selena Quintanilla, Michael Stipe, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Madonna, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Indiana, LGBTQ, Image
Rae Alexandra
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Best of San Francisco Sports & Recreation
Best Gym to Make Your Booty Bigger
TRX Training Center
For a full-body workout that will also help lift and tone your glutes, a mere 55-minute TRX class a few times a week will do the job.
News The Snitch Sports
By Max DeNike
News The Snitch Only in SF
News The Snitch Tech
Millennial Problems: Most Pokemon-Obsessed City Is NOT S.F.
News The Snitch Housing, Tech
S.F. Renters Partying Like It’s 2009
News The Snitch Yesterday's Crimes
Yesterday's Crimes: Rolling Stones, Hells Angels and Busted Heads at Altamont
By Bob Calhoun
News The Snitch Crime
S.F. Residents Beware: Razor Scooter Thug Is Roaming Streets
News The Snitch Celebrities, Law & Order, Sports
Woman Who Attended Beyoncé, Jay Z Concert at AT&T Park Sues Over Collision
News The Snitch Controversy
SF Police Union Just Won’t Stop
Local News Awesome Kid Raises $30K From Lemonade Stand, Uses Money to Fight Human Trafficking
Posted By Erin Sherbert @spitnews on Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 8:35 AM
Screenshot from KGO
Vivienne Harr, lemonade aficionado and future president
While you all have been lazily basking in the sun this summer, this 8-year-old girl has been working her tail off to change the world, one lemon at a time.
In the Northern California city of Fairfax, Vivienne Harr has spent the last 57 days of her summer vacation turning lemons into lemonade -- literally. She's been selling the sweet, refreshing beverage with plans to use all her proceeds to fight human trafficking across the world.
As of Saturday afternoon, the young entrepreneur had already earned more than $30,000 at her makeshift business, which she appropriately dubbed Make-A-Stand! Lemonade: The Sweet Taste of Freedom.
She's plans to keep selling lemonade until she raises $150,000, using only fair-trade lemons, of course.
"And it's really hard to find fair-trade things. I
mean, we're buying fair-trade things because, I mean, you can't be
freeing slaves and having them to work harder for the cause that you're
trying to do to help them be free," Harr told reporters.
Initially, she was charging $2 per cup of lemonade (raspberries optional), but as business boomed, she decided to leave it up to her customers to pay whatever they wanted to in exchange for a delightful glass of lemonade.
"We're betting on the goodness of people, and we found that the average price went up $18 when we made it free," her dad said. "We said, 'Pay what's in your heart.'"
Every dime is going to the Half Moon Bay-based nonprofit called Not For Sale, whose mission is to fight human trafficking and modern-day slavery around the world.
If you can't make your way up to Fairfax to buy a cup of lemonade, feel free to kick in for Vivienne's cause at www.makeastandlemonade.com.
Here, you can also read about Vivienne's experience in her own words. Here's a few excepts:
Follow us on Twitter at @SFWeekly and @TheSnitchSF
Follow @sfweekly
Tags: human trafficking, Make-A-Stand! Lemonade: The Sweet Taste of Freedom, Not For Sale, Vivienne Harr, Image
Erin Sherbert
facebook.com/sfsnitch?ref=hl
@spitnews
Erin Sherbert was the Online News Editor for SF Weekly from 2010 to 2015. She's a Texas native and has a closet full of cowboy boots to prove it.
News The Snitch
Max DeNike @ 11:45 AM On Fri, August 12
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Tag Archives: alistair-cross
*Top Reads of 2017*
Well I’ve done it! I’ve finally put together a list of my top reads of 2017. I read some fantastic books last year and it was certainly no easy task selecting my top reads. I intended to stick to a ‘Top Ten’ but it was just far too difficult! Here’s the list (16 in total), in no particular order. It contains a mix of genres: romantic suspense (sometimes dark); erotica; thrillers, historical romance; erotic romance; sci-fi; post-apocalyptic; drama; black comedy;horror and humour. What they all have in common is a compulsive plot with characters whose story I became totally invested in.
The Found: A Crow City Novel, by Cole McCade ~ Dark and Deliciously Twisted… the contract killer Priest and Willow his captive, a tale which examines dark and disturbing themes including non consent, violence and sexual assault. …one of the darkest novels that I have read … Both the hero and the heroine are broken before they meet and their coming together is pyschologically intense and explosive… Priest is a dark and tortured anti-hero and throughout the read I was unsure if he could ever redeem himself as he is so damaged. Willow’s fate certainly hung in the balance and the read kept me guessing until the finale.
Dirty Ugly Toy, by K Webster ~ A Down and Dirty Dark Read. Brax, a wealthy billionaire, has a twisted side – taking girls from the street and transforming them into his ‘toy’ for 6 months before disposing of them… his modus operandi … it is brutal. … when Brax ‘rescues’ Jessica … it soon becomes apparent that she is like no other. She is not just the dirty, drug addicted whore she first appears to be… she also stands up to her tormentor, playing Brax at his own game. I was glued to my Kindle to see if Brax would break his addiction to his ‘toys’ or if Jessica would meet the same fate as the others…
A Different Kind of Cosplay, by Lucy Felthouse ~ Role Playing Smutfest with a Superhero Twist! … If you have ever wondered what it would be like to get up close and personal with your fave superheroes then here’s your chance to find out in this fast and furious erotic read! Reese is certainly one lucky girl when Zach her estate agent partner, who is not usually an Avengers fan, takes her and her libido completely by surprise, when he proceeds to ravish her in a series of deliciously kinky and lust filled role playing scenes, the likes neither of them has ever encountered before…
Payback: Viking Bastards MC #2, by Christina Phillips ~ Revenge is sweet… I just love novels with revenge as a theme, especially when combined with a sizzling plot. To Amelia it sounds easy – get a job working the bar in Odin’s, gain the owner Gage’s trust, find evidence of the illegal activities the Viking Bastards MC are involved in and then ensure the authorities know. She can then walk away knowing that payback is hers. Landing the job was easy but once she meets Gage, the owner, all bets are off with the rest of the plan. Not only is he smokin’ hot, but he will not take no for an answer and will break all his rules to have her… The truth is a major deal for them both and it will take a strong relationship to survive. I enjoyed both their verbal and physical sparring and the scorching lovemaking scenes are down and very dirty.
Reckless: Planet Alpha #15, by Lily Harlem ~ Sizzling Sci-Fi Ménage! … standalone erotic sci-fi romance… Aurora Zenitha… fleeing Earth to save her life and two hot blooded Alphans who are hell bent on making her theirs, even if she is an illegal alien…scorching scenes of ménage, voyeurism, self-pleasure and more… stowing away on an alien ship bound for Planet Alpha is not a safe option, especially when she is travelling with false papers and she has already attracted the attention of the ship’s captain… The stakes are high and the sex is off the Richter scale… Aurora is the lucky recipient of some alien loving from Captain Ciro and Luc! Be sure to have plenty of iced drinks on hand as the read hits the spot again and again.
The Passage of Desire: French Summer Prequel, by Laurette Long ~ Compelling and Flawlessly written…Juliet, Alexandra’s childhood friend invites her and her daughter Caroline to stay with her in her family home… Alexandra, whose husband is away on business, is going through a low point in her life but soon begins to bloom again and … begins to heal herself. The setting for the story, the wild and untamed Yorkshire moors, where emotions become freed and passions can often come to a head, is a metaphor for the tale itself… It touches on all which makes us human; the different stages of life; family dynamics; intimate relationships and unexpected desire. The book is … written, with insight and sensitivity as the events, which will have life-changing repercussions for some, unfold.
Zenka, by Alison Brodie ~ Sheer brilliance … and a guarenteed pick me up… I just loved the pairing of the mild mannered and gentle nurse Nicholas and the fiery and unpredictable Zenka, the Hungarian pole dancer and friend of the gangster Jack. The novel contains madcap and side-splitting antics galore, contrasting starkly with a host of gory and violent scenes. The plot explores the very worst of the human condition – greed, deceit, violence and the abuse of trust, and also the very best – love , friendship , honour and loyalty. This dichotomy plays out in a deliciously devilish exposé that sweeps the reader and characters along into a vortex of black comedy and emotionally charged scenes.
The Silver Wolf: A James Ryler Thriller, by Rob Sinclair ~ … high octane revenge thriller… revenge is the name of the game in this rip-roaring spy thriller… Ryker, a man tormented by his wife Lisa’s disappearance…his determination to make those who hurt her pay the ultimate price. Ryker’s quest for vengeance takes him from Mexico, to London and beyond as he becomes embroiled in a tangled web of illicit criminal activity and the covert work of government operatives, including his old colleagues at the Joint Intelligence Agency… all roads lead to the elusive Silver Wolf who appears to have not only played a pivotal role in Ryker’s recent past but the JIA’s current problems…There are scenes of blood and gore aplenty and a number of plot twists, including one major one which I did not see coming…
Blair: Dark Romance, by Anita Grey ~Totally Amazing Dark Psychological Read…. an original plot line and in Blaire and Charlie the author has created a truly awesome couple – their relationship is complex and intense and the scenes between them range from deliciously dark to sweet. Blaire is one of the most kick-ass and lethal females I have come across of late yet she is so vulnerable. I wept for her as the plot unfolded and little by little we leared about her history… I ADORED Charlie – just what is his game? What hold does he have over Maskim? Can Charlie protect Blaire or is he just exploiting her too? Will Blaire overcome Maskim’s conditioning or is it too ingrained in her psyche? … I was fascinated with the psychology of the relationships in his book…
A Scarlet Woman (The Fitzgeralds of Dublin #1), by Lorna Peel ~ Bewitching Victorian Romance… the lives of a fallen woman and an idealistic young doctor become unexpectedly intertwined after they meet in the most inauspicious of settings, a brothel. Their ensuing relationship challenges both their own future and society’s mores… I became totally immersed in Isobel and Will’s lives. Although at times it brought a tear to my eye, the book also contains some humorous scenes. A predominently sweet romance, it has some frank sex scenes (and) explores the double standards between men and women… (and) the differences between the lives of domestic servants and those ‘above stairs.’ I enjoyed how the author explored these themes and also how she delved into the underbelly of Dublin and the sexual preledictions common amongst all classes.
Commodity, by Shay Savage ~ Brutal and love affirming romantic suspense set in a post-apocalyptic world… only a few women have survived and as such have become little more than a commodity used in the worst possible way by those who covet power and influence. Prior to the apocalypse Hannah… was en route to give evidence in a major people trafficking trial… She had been assigned her own protector, Falk, a bodyguard… even though circumstances have changed and the world is no longer what it was, he is going to protect this woman come hell or high water… how far he will go to protect her and why becomes evident as the story unfolds… Their romance is far from instantaneous. Both characters have complex back stories … there are some horrific scenes of violence in the book (some of it sexual) and a number of twists in the tale, including one huge curveball – Shay Savage style!
Death and Beauty, by Samantha McLeod ~ Seductive and Spellbinding…beautifully written erotic novella which presents the reader with a highly original twist on one of my favourite tropes – Beauty and the Beast, this time delving deep into Norse mythology. Baldr the Beautiful awakes to find himself in the realm of the dead and is desperate to return to his life… He sets out to petition the terrifying half-skeletal Queen Hel with this in mind. However, the queen is not so easily persuaded and sets him the task of teaching her something new about the living word before she will grant him his wish… I loved the verbal sparing and the growing sexual tension between them as Baldr strives to meet Queen Hel’s task… he has no knowledge to impart that she cannot already know about he embarks on the one thing that may just work – the seduction of Hel, which has unforeseen consequences for them both…
Disenchanted, by Heide Goody and Iain Grant ~Magic and mayhem collide in riotous fairy tale romp. The premise of the novel – where the heroine very definitely does not want a HEA, despite the meddling of a host of formidable magical creatures … appealed to my sense of the perverse… I found the read to be a real tonic… Magical creatures really exist, although Ella the heroine would much rather they were not quite so fixated on controlling her life… Her efforts to resist the fate her fairy godmother and her associates have planned for her drive the plot forward and the conflict makes for some hilarious scenes as the authors expertly turned the usual HEA fairy tale tropes on their head… Ella veers from one adventure to another in her quest to avoid her prospective suitors at all costs and at the same time unravel issues from her family’s past. ..with an indomitable heroine and a series of larger than life characters, it’s a fast-paced, laugh-a-minute, feel good read, with some excellent one-liners.
The Angel Alejandro, by Alistair Cross ~ A battle between good and evil in another modern Gothic masterpiece…blurs the lines between paranormal romance, urban fantasy and horror… When a handsome and mysterious stranger saves Madison O’Riley from a fatal fall, little does she realise that her life and that of the inhabitants of the town of Prominence will soon descend into the depths of the Twilight Zone… Madison and others start to realise that the amnesiac who calls himself Alejandro, has powers which defy comprehension… When the strange and compelling Gremory Jones and his associates arrive in town the book gets increasingly darker as Gremory’s intent becomes clear as he begins to ensnare the townspeople in his machinations. Add to the mix a psychic, a local priest, and the new chief of police, who is a recovering alcoholic, and the scene is set for a series of dastardly, dark and depraved scenes…chaos and carnage, with its inhabitants merely collateral damage in a battle between good and evil… the read also contains plenty of scenes of humour and romance giving relief from the ensuing horror.
Alaska Wild, by Helena Newbury ~ Sexy Romantic Suspense with a whole lot of sass. I LOVED this read…which pairs Kate, a dedicated FBI agent and Mason, a wanted criminal, an ex-Navy SEAL. When their paths literally collide and the plane they are in crashes in the wilderness, Kate finds that her survival depends on this man whose military record has been tainted and who is due to be court marshalled. Can she trust him to return her to the safety of civilization when his return there will lead to his capture and incarceration in prison? Is he innocent or guilty? The attraction between them sizzles off the page…Kate and Mason soon find that they are involved in a desperate fight to survive in the wilderness. Will they survive? Can Kate trust Mason?… the true danger comes from those that are hunting them, men who would prefer that they had not survived the plane crash.There are many superb and thrilling action scenes and vivid descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness. I was totally transported there by the power of the author’s writing.
Dark Horse (Class 5 #1, by Michelle Diener ~ Superb…works as a standalone read… an original and suspenseful premise and plot… with strong characterisations and world building….Rose has been abducted… and has been held on an alien ship where she has been treated abominably by her over inquisitive alien captors, the Tecran… Sazo, an artificial intelligence has taken steps to prevent it happening again … most of the Tecran crew on her vessel are dead and Rose must escape the ship to survive…but is then taken by the Grih, headed by Captain Dav Jallan….Dav would like to trust this human called Rose but fears that she is not being entirely truthful about her part in the Tecran’s demise…(and risks)…putting the fate of his people and the other races in the alliance in danger? (Rose’s) safety could well be compromised if and when she is compelled to reveal what she knows. The fate of Sazo, the AI is closely linked to the couple’s future and the story develops in an unexpected way. An original read and highly recommended.
Tagged Alison Brodie, alistair-cross, anita-gre, christina-phillips, cole-mccade, heide-goody, helena-newbury, Iain-grant, K. Webster, Laurette Long, lily-harlem, Lorna Peel, lucy-felthouse, michelle-diener, rob-sinclair, samantha-macleod, shay-savage
March 18, 2017 by Tina Williams
*REVIEW* – The Angel Alejandro, by Alistair Cross
#urbanfantasy #paranormal #horror #romance
Adult Read
A Man without a Past
After a near-fatal accident, Madison O’Riley is faced with an astonishing problem: What to do with the man who saved her life. Naive and heart-stoppingly handsome, he calls himself Alejandro … and he has no memory of his past. As they set out to recover his lost identity, Madison realizes he harbors deep – and otherworldly – secrets that will shatter her understanding of reality … secrets that may put her in grave danger.
The Devil in the Details
And now, there’s another stranger in town. Gremory Jones has something for everyone, and for a small price, he’s willing to make a deal. By day, he walks the streets of Prominence in top hat and trench coat, tempting the citizens with nefarious wares from his shiny black briefcase. By night, he and his legion of insatiable acolytes corrupt the locals at Club Mephistopheles, a den of unholy delights housed in an abandoned church.
The Battle has Begun …
The townspeople are changing in outrageous and appalling ways and it’s up to Madison – with the help of a psychic, a local priest, and the new chief of police – to help Alejandro unlock his forgotten powers before an unspeakable evil tears apart the fabric of existence … and costs them their very souls …
My Review ~ A battle between good and evil in another modern Gothic masterpiece ~5 Stars *TOP READ*
Alistair Cross once again excels himself with another of his modern Gothic masterpieces, this time set in the seemingly sleepy town of Prominence in California. I am a real sucker for books pitting angels against demons, as I just love tales of good versus evil. I therefore jumped at the chance to review the author’s latest novel The Angel Alejandro, which blurs the lines between paranormal romance, urban fantasy and horror and is an absolute delight for fans of these genres. Once more, as someone who is familiar with the author’s work, having read The Ghosts of Ravenscrest and Mother, which he co-wrote with Tamara Thorne and his novel The Crimson Corset I just knew I was in for a real treat!
When a handsome and mysterious stranger saves Madison O’Riley from a fatal fall, little does she realise that her life and that of the inhabitants of the town of Prominence will soon descend into the depths of the Twilight Zone. It is not long before Madison and others start to realise that the amnesiac who calls himself Alejandro, has powers which defy comprehension…
When the strange and compelling Gremory Jones and his associates arrive in town the book gets increasingly darker as Gremory’s intent becomes clear as he begins to ensnare the townspeople in his machinations. Add to the mix a psychic, a local priest, and the new chief of police, who is a recovering alcoholic, and the scene is set for a series of dastardly, dark and depraved scenes. The town succumbs to chaos and carnage, with its inhabitants merely collateral damage in a battle between good and evil. Rest assured though the read also contains plenty of scenes of humour and romance giving relief from the ensuing horror!
I just LOVED this thoroughly gripping and entertaining read and I was on pins waiting to discover if Alejandro would remember his true nature and protect himself, the town and the woman he is growing to love before it is too late.
The author’s characterisations are brutally honest, insightful and full of dark humour as he explores the human condition, lifting the lid on the private desires and personal hang-ups of the characters. The romance between Madison and Alejandro is a sweet one and due to Alejando’s innocent disposition there are plenty of scenes where the author exploits this for comedic value. The new Police Chief Nick Grayson, who has come to Prominence to make a new start and to clean up his act, certainly has his work cut out with the temptations and increasing body count that the town throws at him from day one of his arrival! I enjoyed the pivotal part he plays in the emerging plot.
If you are already familiar with his author and/or you enjoy the work of Steven King and the cinematic genius of David Lynch you will savour this read as much as I did. Highly recommended!
Please note that a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair ad honest review.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33951905-the-angel-alejandro
https://twitter.com/CrossAlistair
https://www.facebook.com/crossalistair
Posted in Horror, Paranormal, Review, REVIEWS (ALL) - Reverse Chronological Order, Romance
Tagged alistair-cross, amnesia, angels, demons, erotica, horror, paranormal, romance, the-angel-alejandro, urban-fantasy
May 20, 2016 by Tina Williams
**Author Interviews** ~ Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross
Regular readers of this blog know that Caroline, my BFF and co-blogger, and I love to read a variety of genres. Both of us have a penchant for dark and psychological reads. Since reading The Ghosts of Ravencrest (an erotic Gothic horror par excellence), by Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross I have become a HUGE fan of their work.
Either writing alone or in partnership their work includes the paranormal, horror and dark, psychological thrillers such as their current collaboration Mother. Their writing, which can be downright S-C-A-R-Y, is often shocking and infused with dark humour, but is always a rollicking good read and I love the devilish plot twists these authors inflict on their readers!
I was delighted at the chance of interviewing this writing duo and I hope that you find their candid responses to my questions as fascinating as I did. Tina ❤
1. Can you share with our readers a little about yourselves and your writing careers?
Tamara and Alistair both began writing around age eight – both loved ghost stories most of all – and both wanted to be writers when they grew up. Tamara has been in print since 1991 and Alistair since 2012.
2. I understand that you have been collaborating since 2012, and have written, amongst other works, The Cliffhouse Haunting and The Ghosts of Ravencrest, the first book in The Ravenscrest Saga. How did you begin working together and what special elements do you each think the other brings to the partnership that distinguishes the works of Thorne and Cross?
Alistair became a fan of Tamara’s work in the 90s, and when social media sites like Facebook came along and made it easy to connect to others, he looked her up. Having just been published for the first time, Alistair was doing author interviews on his blog as a way of meeting other writers. Tamara was one of the first people he asked. We became fast friends and were brainstorming ideas for new books before we’d even conceived of the idea to officially write together. It flowed very naturally – it was simply meant to be. We soon found that our writing style – as well as our personal and professional ethics – was so remarkably similar that continuing on the path together was simply the instinctual thing to do. Alistair brings an intense work ethic to our virtual office while Tamara brings jolly good fun. We need each other for balance. And hard work. And fun
3. Why do you think there is such an appetite for horror and psychological thrillers amongst readers? What is it within the human psyche that craves such stories?
People crave (safe) danger. Danger fascinates us, but things like scary movies, horror novels, and roller coasters are a way of facing our fears without risking our lives. These things force us to explore those uncharted parts of ourselves which can teach us proper response in the face of real danger. It’s a survival mechanism. Avoidance of fear is fatal, and the human psyche understands this. Thus, it draws us toward the things that frighten us. Plus, scary books are just awesome.
4. The flipside of this – why do you both enjoy writing in these genres?
Horror is a release from the everyday. Neither of us watches the news – real horror is too depressing. But fictional horror and suspense provides a rush akin to amusement park thrill rides. Fiction, by its very nature is escapist and, to us, there’s nothing better than a toe-curler to escape reality for a little while. We are especially partial to suspense and supernatural horror because ghosts, vampires, and assorted elementals are literary equivalents to a carnival where we can find lots of thrills and chills. In Mother, our heroine, Claire, starts with a turn on the merry-go-round, then soon ends up on a scary roller coaster and finally enters the dark ride, which is too frightening to be fun for her.
5. You must have both been asked this question in many forms before – but do you base any elements of your characters on anyone you know or are they purely fuelled by your imaginations?
Every character is imaginary; it would be no fun for us to plunk down living people in our books! That said, we are the products of our lives and experiences. Everything around us, from sights, sounds, and tastes, to hoarders, psychopaths and ghosts are inspired by lifetimes of observation and experience.
6. Would you both like to tell us something about your latest release, Mother?
Mother is a psychological thriller in the vein of Psycho and Misery, with a pinch of Peyton Place and a dash of Gaslight. It concerns a young, expectant couple, Claire and Jason Holbrook, who’ve fallen on hard times, forcing them to move in with Claire’s estranged mother. Claire vowed to have no contact with the overbearing woman ever again, but Mother is thrilled at the prospect of a grandchild. At Mother’s, Claire and Jason begin experiencing things that make them determined to leave immediately … but when a cruel twist of fate makes leaving impossible, Claire becomes obsessed with her mother’s motives. Fantasy and fact blur together as her compulsion consumes her, and Jason wonders who the villain really is. When a cache of macabre family secrets is uncovered, Claire and Jason find the answers they’re looking for – answers that will change them forever … assuming anyone can get out of Mother’s house alive.
7. Did you have to carry out any research into the issues explored in Mother, before writing the novel?
All books require research. Mother’s research was relatively easy compared to other books. It consisted primarily of a brush-up on sociopathic and narcissistic behaviors. We also researched topics like hoarding, epilepsy, flight schools, Catholic funerals, and ugly furniture from the 1970s and 80s. When we write books that include science or a good deal real history that must be woven into our fictional characters’ lives, as in our Ravencrest novels, the research is far more intensive. All fiction must have its roots in reality to keep it believable.
8. I am delighted to learn that you host a horror themed internet radio show, Thorne and Cross Haunted Nights LIVE! What have been some of your favourite moments on the show to date?
There have been many great moments. We loved hearing The Walking Dead author Jay Bonansinga tell us his thoughts on why zombies are so popular, and Charlaine Harris’ stories about about being recognized in public were hilarious. We were laughing out loud when Christopher Rice told us what it was like for him to read his mom’s (Anne Rice) Sleeping Beauty series. Chet Williamson’s reading from his novel Psycho: Sanitarium gave us chills. Chatting about twisted family dynamics with Andrew Neiderman, who also authors the V.C. Andrews book series, was fascinating, and talking with Laurell K. Hamilton about vampires was a lot of fun. Those are just a few of our favorite moments.
9. Are there any collaborative projects in the pipeline that you are able to share?
As always, we’re working on the continuing Ravencrest Saga and have just released the second serialized installment titled, Dead of the Night. We are also working on a sequel to Tamara’s vampire novel, Candle Bay, which also serves as a continuation of Alistair’s The Crimson Corset. The Darling family of Candle Bay made appearances in Corset and that set the course for Candle Bay II – we decided we had to get our vamps together in a serious way. As soon as Candle Bay’s sequel is complete, we will begin work on the second book in our Trilogy of Terror. Mother was the first. The second is unrelated to Mother as far as characters are concerned, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see Father Andy show up, assuming we set the next book in Snapdragon, where Mother takes place. The Trilogy of Terror is made up of three psychological suspense novels that are more about human monsters than supernatural ones. On the side, we’re also both knee-deep in a pair of solo novels.
10. Have you a message to readers, or to writers who are thinking of branching out into penning horror/psychological thrillers?
We always say that the most important thing is to write what you love. If you love what you’ve written, others will too. Also, writing requires dedication and discipline. It’s easy to tell yourself you don’t have time to write, but if you want to be a serious writer, you have to create time.
Posted in Author Interview, Author Spotlight, Dark Read, Horror, Paranormal, Psychological, Thriller
Tagged alistair-cross, author-interview, erotica, horror, paranormal, psychological thriller, tamara-thorne, thriller
January 30, 2016 by Caroline Barker
*Review Round-Up* Nov & Dec 2015
Hi readers, it has been a while since our last Review Round-Up, and so I do hope that you are all well and had a fantastic Christmas Holiday!
Although I have been reading a great deal, with a house move to the coast over the Christmas period, and having a short time without Wi-Fi it has taken me a little longer to write and publish blog posts. I have, however, been enjoying Scarborough (UK) life with walks along the coast, up the cliffs and around the castle remains, as well as visiting author Anne Brontes grave! Meanwhile, Tina has held up the fort like a true warrior with the amount of reviews she has posted, as well as assisting a local Lit Fest! Thanks, Tina ❤
We have quite a mix of genres from the end of 2015 to share with you, from dystopian sci-fi fantasies, to erotic paranormal romances, historical romances and a mystery chick-lit! Amongst them is also a gritty, Scottish crime thriller, Blue Wicked by Alan Jones, which we are currently running a giveaway on. (For more info on this, please click the title.)
As always, please click on the titles to view our full reviews and more!
Although a little later than usual we wish you all a Happy New Year x
Caroline & Tina 🙂
The Man Who Missed the Boat by Peter Wells, contemporary drama (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: It should have been an ordinary Saturday morning. A short walk down his street to give a piano lesson at the home of a family he knew well. As it turned out, he knew them rather better than was good for him. How much trouble can a well-intentioned piano teacher land in? Simon Baxter discovers that being “well-meaning” is sometimes not enough to protect you from the chaos in other people’s lives. Even an excessive sense of “good manners” can be disastrous in the wrong circumstances. Under pressure the unorganised desires kept strictly deep inside us can surface and bring chaos to the lives of ourselves and anyone near us. Will our untrained hero make it safely across the river of life or, like so many of us, get swept up by the current of events towards an unplanned adventure? In the sudden change from “Not being loved enough” to “Being loved too much, and by more than one women,” Simon finds out more about himself than he would like. Can he choose wisely, and live with the consequences? In this, his second novel, Peter Wells continues to cast his gentle but penetrating light on those foibles and weaknesses which lie beneath the exterior of the apparently most ordered lives. Those hidden character traits which can, in the right circumstances, surface and toss their owner, and anyone around him or her, most unpleasantly.
The Point of Evil, Point Vamp: Book Four by Victoria Bliss, erotic paranormal romance (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: Blood and sex were all he ever wanted until love gave him something worth living an eternity for.
Steve—who had been a womanizer in life and was even more so in death—prowls the Point using his vampiric wiles to get the blood and sex he craves. He’s always looking for his next meal and when he sees a tall, curvy beauty with a red scarf around her neck, he thinks he’s found it.
Eloise is different—she’s shy and needs encouragement, and Steve just can’t get her out of his mind. He has to take his time, get to know her and slowly seduce her. When she disappears, leaving only a note begging him not to pursue her further, he can’t help himself and ends up in the service of George Aquino, a vampire crime boss with a penchant for twisted and cruel torture and a dungeon full of prisoners.
A daring rescue, a difficult choice and love against the odds. Do you dare visit the point of evil?
The Point Vamp series
What is The Point? It is the hottest club in town for both Vampires and humans alike. It has a large dance floor and a bar like any other club but once you disappear behind the VIP only door you find out what makes The Point so unique. Sex, blood and lust all behind closed doors and only accessed by the chosen ones.
Now, you become a chosen one and get to see the sexy world behind that door.
Welcome to The Point.
30 Days by JA Heron, erotic thriller (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: Dariana Walsh is the daughter of a ruthless gangster and heir to his empire. Not only does she feel trapped, but she has many questions about numerous incidents that have happened in her life so far. Particularly, what happened to her mother? Her father sees her as his little girl, but she longs to be treated like an adult. He wants to shape her, to become more like him, but she resists, the only way she knows how…
One of Wilson Walsh’s men – Chas – is not who he seems. He was sent to infiltrate, earn trust and walk away with Wilson’s most treasured possession, his daughter. He has a plan to take down the most unrelenting man to walk the streets of East London.
Over the next thirty days, blood is shed, friendships are formed and amongst all of the pain and suffering, surprisingly, love blossoms.
In a sea of betrayal and violence… time and love know no bounds.
***Contains strong sexual and violent scenes ~ over 18’s only. There are strong, dark scenes in this book if you do not wish to read about violence, sexual violence or child abuse, then please do not buy this book***
Traegar’s Redemption (Woodland Creek) by Isobelle Cate, sci-fi paranormal time-travel romance (reviewed by Caroline)
Blurb: Marcus Theodoric Treagar is a sabretooth with a curse that has him traveling through time, leaving a trail of dead bodies. Not only that, but as soon as he falls in love, he is wrenched away from that period and returned to 16th century Venice. To save the last remaining piece of his heart, he refuses to become involved again.
Until Paisley Halleran.
As the daughter of the shifter chronicler, Paisley Halleran knows that magick and the paranormal abound in Woodland Creek. With her adopted brother, Virgil Rowtag, they fight for every shifter’s rights in the area. When Paisley comes face to face with Marcus, who has been arrested for a murder he does not remember committing, she believes he is innocent. Marcus, on the other hand, knows he has finally found the woman truly meant for him.
However, not everything is cut and dried. Paisley unearths tragic secrets and lies that link her to Marcus. Not only will it show her whether Marcus is truly innocent or guilty of the murders in Woodland Creek, it will also spell the difference between staying with Marcus because she wants to, or letting him go because she has no choice.
Shield of Winter (Psy-Changeling #13) by Nalini Singh, sci-fi fantasy paranormal romance (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch – if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life.
For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake . . .
Having rebuilt her life after medical ‘treatment’ that violated her mind and sought to stifle her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she’ll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption.
But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness . . .
The Ghosts of Ravencrest (The Ravencrest Saga #1) by Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross, modern gothic, erotic horror, paranormal (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: Darkness Never Dies …
Ravencrest Manor has always been part of the family. The ancestral home of the Mannings, Ravencrest’s walls have been witness to generations of unimaginable scandal, horror, and depravity. Imported stone by stone from England to northern California in the early 1800s, the manor now houses widower Eric Manning, his children, and his staff. Ravencrest stands alone, holding its memories and ghosts close to its dark heart, casting long, black shadows across its grand lawns, through the surrounding forests, and over the picturesque town of Devilswood, below.
Dare to Cross the Threshold …
Ravencrest Manor is the most beautiful thing new governess, Belinda Moorland, has ever seen, but as she learns more about its tangled past of romance and terror, she realizes that beauty has a dark side. Ravencrest is built on secrets, and its inhabitants seem to be keeping plenty of their own – from the handsome English butler, Grant Phister, to the power-mad administrator, Mrs. Heller, to Eric Manning himself, who watches her with dark, fathomless eyes. But Belinda soon realizes that the living who dwell in Ravencrest have nothing on the other inhabitants – the ones who walk the darkened halls by night … the ones who enter her dreams … the ones who are watching … and waiting …
Welcome to Ravencrest …
Who is the man digging in the garden beyond Belinda’s bedroom window? Who – or what – is watching her from the vents? From ghostly screams and the clutching bony fingers of death in the indoor pool, to the trio of gliding nuns in the east wing who come at Belinda with black blazing eyes, to the beckoning little girl in the red dress who died more than two centuries ago, Belinda is thrust into a world of waking nightmares where there is no distinction between the living and the dead, and there are no limits to the horrors that await. Witchcraft is afoot at Ravencrest and as unspeakable terrors begin to unfold, Belinda realizes that her beautiful new home is a keeper of tragedy, a collector of souls. And it wants to add her to its collection …
Windward Secrets by K.A. Davis, paranormal horror suspense, mystery, chick-lit (reviewed by Caroline)
Blurb: At just over 67,700 words Windward Secrets is a fast paced mystery laced with humour, suspense, and a touch of the paranormal that will make the reader gasp at times, and soften their hearts at other times.
When Claire McPherson booked Windward Cottage, for the annual reunion with three college friends, her biggest concern was whether they would like the weather-beaten, old Victorian on Cape Cod. Claire, Diane, Jill, and Caroline are in for more than a little Right and R. Windward Cottage has its own special powers of seduction. After 35 years of friendship they thought they knew everything about each other, but the old house draws confessions out of each and leads them unwillingly into a 50yearold mystery.
What was planned to be a vacation filled with fun, food, and reminiscing turns into one that will change their lives forever. Who or what is trying to frighten them? Only one woman’s stubborn determination keeps them at Windward Cottage when common sense tells them to leave. Fear, danger, and unexplained events connect the four women to each other and to Windward Cottage. Three of the women find their futures, and one finds her past.
Readers will recognize someone they know in every character as Windward Secrets heightens their awareness of the heinous crime of human trafficking.
Dream Alchemy (Life and Shadow Series) by Nicholas Boyd Crutchley, dystopian sci-fi fantasy (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: A warrior battles hydra.
The Blood Plague liquefies eyes.
A rapper rails against Earth’s ecological ruin.
From the pitch Abyss, Chaos corrupts our dreams.
On stealing the dreams of an old warrior and priestess, Chaos discovers them to be essential ingredients for his dream alchemy. With their souls the dark god can control Sol, Dragonland’s angelic ruler, and release his wanton daughter, Babalon, from Hell. If the devil queen returns and swallows the angel’s soul, the veil separating reality from the pitch Abyss will tear, and Chaos will pour forth and warp reality. Can Sol defeat Chaos? Or will Babalon’s poison kiss seduce him?
Through the psiqnet, a network of human minds and quantum artificial intelligences (QAIs), consumers shop Earth towards ecological ruin. The preachers of Gaia, ecoterrorists woven within the system, seek to bring economic and ecological harmony through Gaia QAI. Yet as Gaia begins to infect other QAIs with compassion, the Blood Plague rises, intent on exterminating humankind.
What force connects Dragonland and Earth?
The Life & Shadow Series explores how genetic engineering, synthetic biology and nanotechnology will impact humankind and Earth’s ecology. More specifically, themes include the outcome of human minds interfacing with artificial intelligences, the long-term effect of humankind on natural ecosystems, and compassion in society.
Goddess by Kelee Morris, contemporary, erotic romance (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: Wife, mother, PTA president… Sex Goddess?
For Julia Nelson, it was only a faded tattoo, almost forgotten, like the sex-charged dreams that inspired it some 20 years ago.
For renowned, rugged-sexy archaeologist Dr. Ashland Stewart, it was his greatest discovery, the sacred emblem of an ancient goddess culture.
Two symbols, eons apart, yet exact duplicates. It must be a coincidence. But when Julia and Ashland meet, their connection is instantaneous, powerful, erotic.
Julia’s suburban life is safe and comfortable. She has everything to lose.
Ashland’s world is remote archaeological digs and flings with younger women. He’s sexually free but emotionally guarded.
Ashland awakens Julia’s long buried inner goddess with breath-taking passion and insatiable desire.
But their sexual adventure becomes increasingly perilous as their emotional barriers crumble. Will Julia risk falling in love and soaring to new heights, or will she return to her earthbound responsibility to her family?
Blue Wicked by Alan Jones, crime thriller, drama (reviewed by Caroline)
Blurb: ‘Blue Wicked’ is a gritty thriller set in the south side of Glasgow. Eddie Henderson finds himself as the unlikely investigator with information that there’s a serial killer targeting the substance dependent underclass who inhabit the notorious Glasgow housing estates. The police force ignore his warnings but one young detective believes him and she helps him search for the truth, despite putting her own career at risk. Their desperate search for the truth on their own proves Eddie right and sparks off a massive manhunt, with Eddie and Catherine, the young detective, at the forefront of the investigation. The book contains a fair bit of strong language and Glasgow dialect, and has some very violent passages.
A Discreet Gentleman of Discovery (The Discreet Gentleman Series #1) by Kris Tualla, historical romance (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: Brander Hansen lost his hearing at age seven, his inheritance at twenty-three. Furious at his father’s betrayal, Brander leaves home to make his way as Lord Olsen, a ‘discreet gentleman of discovery’ in 1721 Christiania, Norway. He intends to gain his own estate and begins buying the debt markers on Kildahlshus.
Baroness Regin Kildahl’s husband has gambled away her estate and sunk to more dangerous habits. She writes to Lord Olsen soliciting his help saving both her husband and her home. When her husband dies, Regin offers herself and her title to anyone who will redeem his gambling debts, unaware of Brander’s plan and circumventing his efforts.
The Hansen heir accepts her offer and hires Lord Olsen to deliver his bride. Brander’s choices are clear: give the widow and her estate to his younger brother, or claim them both as his own. But who would accept a deaf husband?
Discovered (Forsaken Blood #1) by Em Taylor, sci-fi romance (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: Lachlan Ethelred Mackenzie looks like an ordinary sexy university professor, but for over a millennium, he’s been one of a number of his kind trying to steer humanity towards the heavens. But humans are slow and stubborn.
It’s been a long slow journey since the spaceship from Vampyras experienced technical difficulty near Earth in 1006 and the Vampyrs had to abandon ship, and learn to survive on a planet filled with primitive beings.
It’s now 2061, and humanity is heading to Mars – perhaps now the Vampyrs can research space folding technology away from prying human eyes.
Psychologist, Doctor Kate Maxwell is excited about going to Mars—except for one thing – she’s terrified of the journey. A space accident when she was twelve has left her with PTSD and a fear of space travel. But when the handsome Professor, Lachlan Mackenzie becomes her cabin mate she finds herself falling for him all too easily. But why is he so reticent? He’s cute, single and seems altogether perfect.
Things are getting complicated for Lachlan. He’s falling for the sexy red-headed psychologist, his long-lost daughter is on board the spaceship to Mars and she has no clue what or who he is and it seems that the leader of the Vampyr council is plotting something. Lachlan has too many secrets and too many problems. And Kate is the only thing he wants. Can he keep his hands and his fangs away from her? Does he want to? And what will happen if she discovers his secret?
All hell is about to break loose.
This book contains scenes of an adult nature.
Sex, Snow and Mistletoe (short story) by Laura Barnard, contemporary, festive holiday romance (reviewed by Caroline)
Blurb: Melinda is already having a crappy Christmas. Forced to attend some snotty bitch’s wedding is not the way to start out the holidays. But when a car crash pushes her into the path of a handsome stranger she’s glad to follow his snowy, sexy and seductive path. But is he too good to be true? And will she make it to the wedding before her best friend loses her mind with worry?
Please note this is a short story of 10k words.
Miranda’s Dilemma (Fashionably Impure #1) by Natasha Blackthorne, erotic, regency, historical romance (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: Poised to become Mayfair’s most expensive and exclusive courtesan, Miss Miranda Jones finds her rise inexplicably blocked by a socially powerful nobleman. Scorned by her ducal father and determined to attain everything that life has denied her due to an accident of birth, she’s not about to let this arrogant earl stop her.
Adrian Sutherland, the Earl of Danvers, saw his father destroyed by a heartless, predatory courtesan. He has no time or patience for such exotic, expensive ladybirds. He’s far too busy restoring his family’s wealth and reputation whilst doing what he can to protect his friends from the clutches of all the scheming courtesans of London.
Then a moment of compassion turns intense dislike to breathless passion, and these two strong-willed, fiercely proud people are compelled to indulge in a brief affair. Each is convinced that they can satisfy their craving for the other without emotional risk.
But neither realizes that a little dalliance can be a dangerous thing.
Reader Advisory: This is an erotic historical romance and it contains frank sexual language and period appropriate sexual slang, frequent sexual scenes and descriptions and general bedchamber naughtiness. The characters discuss abuse issues from their backstories during the course of their developing relationship. For Adults 18 & Over Only.
The Men of the Border Lands Collection, Volume 1 (Ménage Everlasting) by Marla Monroe, erotic, futuristic ménage à trois romance (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: (This collection includes three books from the Men of the Border Lands series, nearly 110k words total). MFM, erotic romance.
In Belonging to Them, while escaping slavery in the Border Lands, Heather hides in a trailer belonging to brothers Brandon and Bolton. They take her to their farm and prove they won’t harm her. Bolton quickly falls in love, but Brandon pulls away. After a wolf attack almost takes her from them, Brandon must realize he could lose the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
In A Home with Them, fed up with the reluctant men who have cared for her for five years, Jessie takes matters into her own hands. Wyatt and Kent worry that their kind of love isn’t what Jessie needs, but a tough life out in the Border Lands and a kidnapping show the men that Jessie belongs with them.
In Their Border Lands Temptress, after the year of catastrophes, Ronnie jumps at an offer of protection from a lifelong friend. When the safety becomes abuse, she runs. Brice and Garrett know she needs a man to protect her, and they are hell-bent to help her. When danger shows up at their door, Ronnie must decide if she’s ready for them to be more than lovers or if she’s too scared to let them into her heart.
The Border Lands are a dangerous place, but love and passion are often the keys to surviving.
** A Siren Erotic Romance
Hold Me Until Forever (Grayson Brothers #3) by Christina Phillips, erotic contemporary romance (reviewed by Tina)
Blurb: She’s the only one he wants…and the one he can never have
Ella Clark has been in love with Alex Grayson forever. She’s tired of being invisible—or worse, being treated like his kid sister. If she can just get him to drop his iron-fisted control for two seconds, she’ll prove she knows exactly how to blow his mind.
Alex has been fighting his attraction to Ella since her should-have-been-innocent sweet sixteen kiss burned down his world. He’s damaged, and there’s no way he’ll ever drag her into his screwed up life. Until she offers him something he’s always craved—steamy, no-strings sex inside his exclusive BDSM club. Where she’ll be safe from the darkness that haunts him.
Except there’s nothing safe about being with Ella, and the more she gives, the harder it is to let her go. If he stays, he risks everything, but how can he walk away from the only woman he’s ever needed?
Posted in Chick-Lit, Competition, Crime, Drama, Dystopian, Erotic Romance, Erotica, Fantasy, Futuristic, Historical, Mystery, Paranormal, Post - Apocalyptic, Review, REVIEWS (ALL) - Reverse Chronological Order, Romance, Sci- fi Romance, Sci-fi, Thriller, Updates
Tagged Alan Jones, alistair-cross, apocalyptic, book reviews, chick-lit, christina-phillips, contemporary-romance, crime thriller, drama, ebook reviews, em-taylor, erotic romance, festive romance, gothic, historical-romance, holiday romance, horror, Isobelle Cate, j-a-heron, K.A. Davis, kelee-morris, kris-tualla, Laura Barnard, Marla Monroe, mystery, nalini-singh, natasha-blackthorne, nicholas-boyd-crutchley, paranormal, peter-wells, review round up, sci-fi, short stort, suspense, tamara-thorne, thriller, update, victoria-blisse
November 21, 2015 by Tina Williams
**REVIEW** ~ The Ghosts of Ravencrest (The Ravencrest Saga Book 1), by Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross
Modern Gothic
#Erotica #Horror #Paranormal
This is another lust filled and downright scary read from the pens of these two very talented authors! Prepare to be titillated and spooked as Ravencrest’s new governess finds that she is at the centre of a battle between good and evil which has been going on for centuries. Tina 🙂
Darkness Never Dies …
My Review 5 Stars!
Modern Gothic Erotica par excellence!
In The Ghosts of Ravencrest, the first book in The Ravencrest saga, Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross have once agian excelled themselves with a super modern take on the gothic novel. The read combines toe-curling scenes of erotica with a ghostly goings on in a plot with an increasing sense of terror and mayhem, sprinkled with some irreverent humour. At the centre of the tale is the unsuspecting ingenue Belinda, the new governess at the mysterious Ravencrest Manor, who risks losing her innocence and her sanity as she unwittingly attracts the interest of the manor’s occupants, the living and the dead, with what threatens to be devastating consequences……
Ravencrest is no ordinary residence: the very fabric of the building was transported piece by piece from England, along with the many secrets and memories from its bloody history, that still resonate today. The ghosts and spirits of the past not only reach out to Belinda in erotic dreams and terrifying nightmares but also as she goes about her duties working for the handsome and enigmatic widower Eric Manning. It seems that Belinda is a VERY special young woman, a fact that has enraged the evil adversary in the form of the uber controlling bitch that is Miss Heller, the manor’s administator and dominatrix!
I was totally absorbed by the depth and breadth of the plot and the characerisations of the manor’s current and former occupants – Miss Heller and Grant Phister, in particular. One minute I was titillated by the erotic scenes experienced by Belinda and others (cue medical play and BDSM) and the next I was on the edge of my seat reading about witchcraft, hauntings and horror, before being entertained by scenes of romance and humour. The character of Belinda grows in strength as the novel progresses and her importance in the interplay between good and evil becomes clearer as the secrets of the manor and its occupants begin to reveal themselves.
The novel, book 1 in The Ravencrest saga, builds up to a terrifying crescendo and reaches a conclusion which satifies one of the issues at play, working well as a standalone. However, there are still many unresolved questions to answer about Belinda and the occupants of the manor, which I am looking forward to reading about in future instalments.
To sum up: a superb modern gothic which will delight readers of the genre. Indeed, the novels that these two authors are writing individually and together about the dark side of sunny California are truly inpired and I encourage you to find out more!
Please note, a copy of this book was given to me for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
If you would like to read my review of Alistair Cross’ The Crimson Corset, (the Vampires of Crimson Cove), which I read earlier this year, click on the title.
Posted in Erotica, Historical, Horror, Paranormal, Review, REVIEWS (ALL) - Reverse Chronological Order, Romance
Tagged alistair-cross, BDSM, erotica, gothic, horror, medical-play, paranormal. hauntings, romance, tamara-thorne, terror, the ghosts of ravencrest, the ravencrest saga, witchcraft
September 26, 2015 by Tina Williams
**REVIEW** ~ The Crimson Corset: The Vampires of Crimson Cove, by Alistair Cross
Modern Gothic Horror/Paranormal
Bloody AMAZING!
Do yourself a HUGE favour – if you only read ONE horror/vampire themed book this year then make sure that it is this one! I first read Alistair Cross when I reviewed. Darker Shadows: The Ghosts of Ravencrest book 1, his collaborative work with Tamara Thorne, a Gothic erotica which let me salivating for more. In The Crimson Corset Alistair has excelled himself with a tale that not only has a lot of bite but also plays with the readers’ emotions, in one scary, bloody and lust filled ride! Scroll down to read the book blurb and my review in full. Tina ❤
Welcome to Crimson Cove
Sheltered by ancient redwoods overlooking the California coast, the cozy village of Crimson Cove has it all: sophisticated retreats, fine dining, and a notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset. It seems like a perfect place to relax and get close to nature. But not everything in Crimson Cove is natural.
When Cade Colter moves to town, he expects it to be peaceful to the point of boredom. But he quickly learns that after the sun sets and the fog rolls in, the little tourist town takes on a whole new kind of life – and death.
Darkness at the Edge of Town
Renowned for its wild parties and history of debauchery, The Crimson Corset looms on the edge of town, inviting patrons to sate their most depraved desires and slake their darkest thirsts. Proprietor Gretchen VanTreese has waited centuries to annihilate the Old World vampires on the other side of town and create a new race – a race that she alone will rule. When she realizes Cade Colter has the key that will unlock her plan, she begins laying an elaborate trap that will put everyone around him in mortal danger.
Blood Wars
The streets are running red with blood, and as violence and murder ravage the night, Cade must face the darkest forces inside himself, and perhaps even abandon his own humanity, in order to protect what he loves.
“Put Bram Stoker in a giant cocktail shaker, add a pinch of Laurell K. Hamilton, a shot of John Carpenter, and a healthy jigger of absinthe, and you’ll end up with Alistair Cross’s modern Gothic chiller, “The Crimson Corset” – a deliciously terrifying tale that will sink its teeth into you from page one.”
– Jay Bonansinga, New York Times Bestselling author of THE WALKING DEAD: INVASION and LUCID
“This drop-deadly tale of seduction and terror will leave you begging to be fanged … ”
– Tamara Thorne, international bestselling author of HAUNTED and MOONFALL
“I couldn’t put this book down. It’s got more hooks than a day boat out of San Pedro Harbor!”
– QL Pearce, bestselling author of SCARY STORIES FOR SLEEP-OVERS
Bloody AMAZING! FIVE FANGS! *****
Do yourself a HUGE favour – if you only read ONE horror/vampire themed book this year then be sure to make it The Crimson Corset by Alistair Cross. Horror lovers will adore its unashamed gore and graveyard humour and it has plenty of romance to satisfy paranormal romance fans who fancy a darker, Gothic inspired read!I first read Mr Cross when I reviewed. Darker Shadows: The Ghosts of Ravencrest book 1, his collaborative work with Tamara Thorne, a Gothic erotic which left me salivating for more. In The Crimson Corset Alistair has excelled himself with a tale that not only has a lot of bite but also plays with the readers’ emotions, in one scary, bloody and lust filled ride!
The novel is full of memorable, quirky characters who populate the West Coast tourist town of Crimson Cove. Yet unknown to most, evil exists among them and one powerful vampire temptress, Gretchen VanTresse, has her sights on Cade, who has something she craves very badly indeed…… She will stop at nothing to get her hands on him, regardless of collateral damage, her sights set on ruling her kind and subjugating the human race. Gretchen is a formidable adversary: beautiful, deadly and remorseless in her quest for power. Yet, despite her undeniable evil which borders on madness, I could not help but have a sneaking respect and fascination for her as she is such a great kick-ass character!
Yet Gretchen does not bank on the bonds of brotherly love and friendship which exist between Cade, his big brother Brooks and Ethan the town’s sheriff. These three seriously hot men have each other’s back and when the chips are down they risk life and limb and their own humanity to annihilate her and her cohorts. Add a hefty dose of romance, some intriguing vamps from the other side of town (they are not all evil) to the bloody mix of terror and seduction and you have a read that will remain in your conscious and unconscious mind long into the darkness of the night and beyond……. To reveal more of the plot would spoil the adventure that I urge you embark on by reading this book!
Once more Alistair Cross’ writing and characterisations are truly sublime. The lush, often gothic like descriptions of Crimson Cove after dark contrast well with the seemingly mundane details of everyday life in the small town. The read had me quaking in my boots one minute to smiling at the wry humour and quirky exploits of its characters.
I sincerely hope that Mr Cross has the next book in this series lined up soon as I am itching to learn more about the many characters, humans and vampires, that he introduced. Highly recommended to fans of horror and the paranormal alike.
Please note, a copy of this novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Tagged alistair-cross, horror-romance, paranormal horror, the-crimson-corset, the-vampires-of-crimson-cove, vampires
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Perhaps his death will be a comfort to some. But it’s hard not to see it as a final cruel sidestep of justice and accountability. In that way, his demise is a fitting summation of his violent, defiant legacy.
BBC profile
BBC obituary
National Security Archive documents relating to Pinochet and CIA complicity in his ascent to power in Chile
update 12/11: superlative commentary from journalist Marc Cooper, who served as translator for late Chilean President Salvador Allende, the man Pinochet brutally ousted from power. Christopher Hitchens and Randy Paul also weigh in.
update 2: via nadezhda (in comments @ American Footprints) – Tony Karon on Pinochet:
Back in the 80s, as I was coming of age politically in South Africa, the example of Chile immediately explained why it was that the Reagan Administration backed the apartheid regime — because Chile showed that the U.S. cared nothing about democracy abroad, and would actively support vicious tyrants who declared themselves anti-communist. Even the deranged kleptocrat and mass murderer Mobutu Sese Seko, for example, was an honored guest in Reagan’s White House. As the Clash (who also memorialized Victor Jara on ‘Sandinista’) sang on a different track, “If Adolf Hitler, were here today, they’d send a limousine anyway…”
Back then, I believed that Pinochet deserved to die, to avenge all those whose lives he destroyed for no reason other than that their views were deemed unacceptable to his own, a blend of Prussian Military authoritarianism, Catholic crypto-fascism and the economics of free enterprise fundamentalist Milton Friedman.
But we all grow up.
The South African experience taught me that once the leaders of a violent authoritarian regime are stripped of their power, they are forced to confront their own criminality in the eyes of a society that has moved on, repudiating them — and more importantly, simply moving on to build a better society that, in itself, shows the moral bankruptcy of those that unleashed violence on the people in the name of progress and security.
In its humane handling of Pinochet, in fact, the government of his victims proved its superiority. Sure, his victims would have liked to see him face a judge and answer to each and every charge — Pinochet, while still ruling as the head of the military, created for himself a bogus amnesty. They pursued him to his death, but only via the law. It is Pinochet’s victims who will be memorialized with honor as the old man’s bones are interred. And all Chileans know, whether or not they admit it, that they have created a better society by getting rid of him. Pinochet will have sensed it, too
December 10, 2006 December 13, 2006 matttbastard
← [Insert Pete Townshend quote here]
Johnny and Junior at the End of Days →
One thought on “Augusto Pinochet”
www.publiclibraries.com says:
Neat many thanks for posting! btw are there feeds to your blog?
I’d like to add them to my reader.
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Lovullo: Zack Godley could start again Saturday for D-backs
Danny Shapiro
The Arizona Diamondbacks have not announced a starter for Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants, but it could very well again be Zack Godley.
Bullpen, hitting woes again cost D-backs in third straight loss to Braves
Jon Duplantier had his worst outing as a major leaguer and the D-backs finished 1-9 with runners in scoring position, leaving 11 men on base.
Zack Godley to rejoin D-backs rotation for series finale against Atlanta
Zack Godley on Sunday will have a chance to redeem himself and earn back his spot in the Arizona Diamondbacks' starting rotation.
Wilmer Flores as Chewbacca is the highlight of D-backs Star Wars Night
Fans who attended Saturday's Arizona Diamondbacks game against the Atlanta Braves were treated to the full Star Wars experience.
D-backs reinstate C Avila from IL, option INF Vargas to Triple-A Reno
The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated catcher Alex Avila and have option infielder Ildemaro Vargas to Triple-A Reno. Avila has been on the IL since April 5.
The El Paso Chihuahuas have baseball’s best Cinco de Mayo jerseys
The Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres, made some holiday-themed changes to their jersey and team name on Sunday.
New QB Powell shines as Rattlers top Nebraska to remain unbeaten
Powell accounted for five scores as the Arizona Rattlers (9-0) overcame a late rally and outlast the Nebraska Danger (5-5) Saturday night, 56-46.
Cardinals specialty license plate most popular among Valley sports teams
Specialty license plates are a good way to show support for a local team and there's one Arizona team that's dominating the market -- the Arizona Cardinals.
D-backs reliever Taylor Clarke makes history in MLB debut
It seems as if the Arizona Diamondbacks relievers are trying to one-up each other in their MLB debuts this season. It was Taylor Clarke's turn on Saturday.
Green: D-backs’ Holland should have been ejected for throwing at Mejia
Is there bad blood brewing between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres? It's certainly possible after a ninth-inning incident Sunday.
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Sci-fi thriller Tears in Rain takes replicants to a new level
Author Rosa Montero talks to Ars about her new future-noir thriller.
Cesar Torres - Nov 11, 2012 8:22 pm UTC
The year is 2109, and cloned humans—also known as replicants (or "reps")—are used for various jobs in The United States of Earth. Replicants look identical to humans except for their feline irises. Reps’ lives are short. They awake at age 25 and live for ten years, at which time disease strikes them down. Bruna Husky, a striking rep with close-cropped hair, incredible agility and strength, and tattoos to mark her status as a military replicant, discovers that other replicants have begun to attack. Bruna sets out to investigate the nature of these attacks and finds that the memories implanted in replicants' brains have been corrupted, causing the violent outbursts. In this oppressive environment, the ideas people build around their own memories are always in question.
Author Rosa Montero is a Spanish journalist who has written more than 26 books. Most of her works are not available in English, and Tears in Rain will be the first introduction for many readers. Montero talked to Ars from her home in Spain about the novel and its parallels to the real world as our biotechnologies and artificial intelligence efforts continue to progress.
"Phillip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner film form part of the substrate of my novel," Montero said. "I read the book twenty years ago but the story in Tears of Rain is all its own. I explore the issues regarding replicants and artificial intelligence, both of which are luminous concepts.”
Indeed, it’s misguided to think about Tears in Rain as belonging to the previous book and film. It’s probably more accurate to say that Rosa Montero’s novel places a mirror in front of the ideas of Phillip K. Dick and Ridley Scott—it develops new ideas and questions about identity and memory, and it further explores the ways in which the reps are discriminated against. Montero accomplishes this by creating a charismatic heroine in Bruna, who sets out to investigate the film-noir environment of her futuristic society. Unlike the replicants and androids from many other works of fiction, Bruna is full of drive and passion. She’s a woman of action. Bruna also provides a much-needed female perspective to the book's ideas about what it would mean to be a cloned human with memories that aren’t real.
A technological war of the future
Tears in Rain and Amazon Crossing
This is the rich and detailed world in the new science fiction thriller Tears in Rain by award-winning author Rosa Montero. Tears in Rain has become available in the United States for the first time thanks to Amazon Crossing, a publishing imprint (and data tool) from Amazon that takes customer data, reviews, and feedback to identify books that merit translation for wider global audiences. The novel releases on November 27. The book and the audio version, read by Mary Robinette Kowal, are now available for pre-order.
Author Rosa Montero
One of the most engrossing elements of Tears in Rain is the detailed history of the world. Every few chapters, Montero treats the reader to passages of historical information that provide satisfying detail about how a world full of replicant servants came to be. Midway through the 21st century, the exploration of Mars and Saturn led to the development of androids who could be forced to mine colonies. Replicants used in this way became a success and were eventually repurposed for jobs on Earth, such as deep-sea-fish farming. Over time, some of the reps rose against their owners and started what became the Rep War. Montero fills the book with details of the treaties, laws, and wars that have shaped the world. We also learn many of the ways in which the biology of the replicants has been manipulated. At the center of these events are the totalitarian corporations and governments that put a stranglehold on citizens.
"My novel denounces totalitarianism," Montero told Ars. "Corruption is inherent to human life, but it doesn’t mean it has to be accepted by people."
The malleability of memory fuels the ways in which corrupt governments oppress their citizens. Bruna’s own memories may not be what she thinks they are. "Memory is truly an imaginary construct when you think about it," Montero said. "Even the way you and I remember earlier events, like birthdays and love affairs—they change over a lifetime. We are editing them all the time. [In the book] authoritarian and totalitarian regimes control when they manipulate this archive of information, when they take hold of the narrative... as they do with the reps’ memories."
Despite creating a bleak outlook on the misuse of information and technology, Montero says she appreciates the ways in which technology connects people around the globe. "Social media and technology are part of the Internet, and the Internet is a wonderful tool. At the same time, the problems we see with aggressive discourse, bullying, and mob mentality are awful. But the Internet is in its infancy, and things will change. And just like any other tool or technology, the Internet’s potential for good or bad depends on how it’s utilized."
Montero, who has spent a lifetime as a journalist and author, has an insatiable energy and curiosity for life. In some ways, she sees her android heroine as a manifestation of herself. "Bruna just appeared to me one day. I had no control over who she was. She’s a favorite of mine, and she has such a fierce [desire] to live. I feel so close to her. Sure, she may drink more than I do, but in many ways, we are similar."
Montero says she will be writing a sequel to Tears in Rain soon.
ciorgaSmack-Fu Master, in traininget Subscriptor
In regard to the people complaining that the setting is not original: How is this relevant to the quality of the book? In my opinion literature is(should be) judged according to how well it is implemented, not how clever the idea is.
The exception being crap genre fiction where the quality and style are the same boiler plate and so the only reason to read it is the world-building part. Personally I find wiki-articles to be more riveting than most genre fiction, though(hell, I'd rather read the WH40K wiki than any of the novels in that universe).
A Good Book(tm) generally has a totally bland and uninteresting setting and places in it an amazing story with amazing characters. It's not like The Road, or Moby Dick, or 100 Years of Solitude were great novels because of the world-building.
Would you refuse to read a non-SF, non-Fantasy, novel because "They totally copied their idea from reality?"
8 posts | registered Feb 14, 2012
Cesar Torres Cesar is the Social Editor at Ars Technica. His areas of expertise are in online communities, human-computer interaction, usability, and e-reader technology. Cesar lives in New York City.
Email cesar.torres@arstechnica.com // Twitter @Urraca
shellac Ars Scholae Palatinae
Good to see someone finally denounce totalitarianism. Modern authors have been far too soft on it.
Last edited by shellac on Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:39 pm
krimhorn Ars Legatus Legionis et Subscriptor
Sounds intriguing. Mary Robinette Kowal is an excellent reader as well. I don't usually like audiobooks, but I'll consider this to trial out the Kindle/Audible cross-sync capabilities.
28679 posts | registered Feb 4, 2002
shellac wrote:
Good to see someone finally denounce totalitarianism. We've been far too soft on it.
You are sarcastic, but I think that for a Spanish person of Ms. Montero's age the denunciation of totalitarianism is not mere lip service.
Fun Fact: Rutger Hauer's 'like tears in rain' speech was something he made up on the spot because he thought the script was too bland.
Maxipad Ars Tribunus Militum
Yes, true! I think he said he'd been thinking about it a bit and told Ridley Scott he had an idea and could he try it out? One of the best bits of dialogue in the movie and gave the scene a lot more poignancy.
Jedakiah Ars Centurion
I believe there is a typo in your link to the Kindle store. "Tears of Rain" should be "Tears in Rain".
scooby509 Ars Scholae Palatinae
If it's more than "corporations are teh evilz and enslave teh sheeples" kind of drivel, I'll be very surprised. Where are the heirs of Asimov and Heinlein?
tombmaker Seniorius Lurkius
This sounds similar in it's summary to Heinlein's novel Friday. The protagonist was a female synthetic human.
6 posts | registered May 27, 2011
Bigdog101 Wise, Aged Ars Veteran
scooby509 wrote:
Wow, thanks for the Robert A. Heinlein flashback! I grew up on Heinlein 30 years ago and loved the provocative novels. The novel posted here may be of some value in the histories included therein and worth a read for opinions' sake.
Opethbass Seniorius Lurkius
After two paragraphs, the new Battle Star Galactica series came to my mind, especially the spin-off Caprica. Exchange "Replicants" with "Cylons" and you have the same basic setting. It's what made BSG so fascinating, not only the dogfights, but the existentialism questions the Cylons and especially Zoey were confronted with.
With that in mind to compare against, Tears in Rain sounds intriguing! Because the underlying topics are prevailing and in information technology they are increasingly relevant and visible.
also look up Star Trek TNG, 2x09 "The measure of a man"
ExtraBitterStoat@gmail.com Seniorius Lurkius
I bet it turns out that Dr. Wily is behind it all.
1 post | registered Nov 11, 2012
tycheung Ars Scholae Palatinae
is the book in spanish, and if so, is anything lost in translation?
jakers_ugly_brother Seniorius Lurkius
dantesan wrote:
This is heresy. It borrows WAY to heavily on P.K. Dick's work. This is the kind of novel a lot of people have always had in their head but didn't dare write out of respect for the author's original work.
Without reading the actual book, it is hard to say. But it does sound suspiciously like Blade Runner fan fiction. Presumably the original publisher's and Amazon's lawyers did their due diligence and decided it was OK to print.
joehonkie Ars Scholae Palatinae
Works on artificial or enhanced humans and racial conflict date back to at least A E Van Vogt's Slan. Was Dick copying him?
(Sarcasm aside, Dick was a big fan and defender of Van Vogt.)
Last edited by joehonkie on Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:36 pm
Ostracus Ars Legatus Legionis
Making 'light' of a habit.
For the paranoid, one small step towards behavior modification wielded by a future state.
Amazon only? Or will we see this in iBooks same day?
joehonkie wrote:
I think the real legal issues would be with the movie Blade Runner, not PKD's story. Using the term "replicant" with the same meaning as was coined in the original film seems to be pushing fair use a bit, particularly for a commercial work. It's equivalent to writing a story based in a holodeck on a Federation starship. Warner Brothers might have a problem with an author making use of their Blade Runner intellectual property that way.
I read the book twenty years ago but the story in Tears of Rain is all its own. I explore the issues regarding replicants and artificial intelligence, both of which are luminous concepts.
sounds, well, lawyer-ish, carefully chosen, coached. Particularly in the way it refers to the original story rather than the more problematic film.
abundance Ars Scholae Palatinae
To be fair^H^H^H^H nitpicker, Francoist Spain is generally considered "just" an authoritarian dictatorship, not a totalitarianism.
ppayne Ars Praetorian
Woah, mind fuck. Your last post on the Nexus had me wondering if Google ever paid up for "inspiration" of Android/Nexus from the Phillip K Dick series and Blade Runner, and then you post this.
Alan H. Ars Tribunus Militum
I read this line as "Republicans look identical to humans, except for their feline irises". Dyslexia is amusing at times.
musterion Smack-Fu Master, in training
abundance wrote:
And for all the nastiness of the Franco regime, he kept Spain out of WW2, he kept it from going communist, and handed it back to the Spanish Royal family who reformed it as a parlimentary democracy.
lastpawn Wise, Aged Ars Veteran
I notice Ursula Le Guin recommends this work. Frankly that's all the recommendation I need to pick it up.
AngelZero Ars Legatus Legionis
Sounds less like "a nod" to Blade Runner and more "almost exactly the story from" Blade Runner. :\
AngelZero wrote:
Minus the Unicorn.
SockPuppetGovernment Ars Scholae Palatinae
Except it asks: "what if blade runners were replicants?" Woah dude, did I just ba-lowe your mind? pschew!
dantesan Ars Praefectus
That was my problem yes. I could have wrote a book that borrowed heavily from Blade Runner but this is almost outright theft. The legal issue wasn't even relevant. It's still a sacred cow from a cultural perspective. It's the kind of thing I would expect Dick fans would pirate just on principle. (Not paying for someone to steal from Dick, Scott or Fincher)
And then there's that. Let's take all the suspense out and just tell you "Deck is a rep." Wow. (mind totally blown)
Sounds like she just took the original work and removed all nuance and subtlety. Voila... and the book is done.
iayork Seniorius Lurkius
Incredibly, that sounds like an incredibly incredible book that you are incredibly enthusiastic about, incredibly enough.
2 posts | registered Nov 11, 2012
Calreth Smack-Fu Master, in training
"All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain".
Even the title seems like it came right off Blade Runner. But I don't mind. Being able to expand on and develop on a previous author's work is great and an extension of the creative process. We would have had many works like these if not for excessive copyright laws.
musterion wrote:
hey i was just trying to be boring, not implying that it wasn't such a bad thing after all =D
FrankM Ars Tribunus Militum
Calreth wrote:
This is why we have many versions of War of the Worlds (including Independence Day), but almost no alternative tellings for anything since.
A lot of authors have looked at artificial people (azi, In Vitroes, etc.), but this does seem really close to Blade Runner. Since she explicitly mentions Blade Runner, she must be convinced she's legally in the clear... at least by EU law.
Edit: Obviously haven't read the new book... maybe the "real" Bruna took inspiration from the fictional Roy Batty. Copyright issues aside, the title would make perfect sense.
HackOfAllTrades Wise, Aged Ars Veteran
Science Fiction? It's actually a thinly disguised metaphor for all the ditto heads and Faux News watchers who woke up last Tuesday to the realization that their entire world-view was a deception.
The majority response: "Put me back in the Matrix. I don't wanna remember *any* of this."
I wouldn't refer to mass graves, still being found today, as 'nastiness'. Let's not get all misty eyed about a largely ignored and dark page of fairly recent European history.
Franco shouldn't be celebrated. He's just another evil bastard who was helped by the fact he wasn't a 'commie'. See also: US foreign policy to Latin America, 20th century.
I'm not pro-communism, nor am I anti-US. I am against blind ignorance. It might seem touchy to take issue with a flippant remark posted in comments, but to many musterion's comments are like making light of the holocaust.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_War
Nostromo21 Wise, Aged Ars Veteran
Agreed. Nirvana from 1997 with Lambert is another cyberpunk movie in the same vein, which though decidedly average, I would recommend to fans of the genre.
The full quote from BR:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tears_in_rain_soliloquy
Madlyb Ars Scholae Palatinae
Here's an idea for all of you critiquing this book just based on the article...go read it and then come back.
Interactive Civilian Ars Praefectus et Subscriptor
I, for one, say thanks for this article. The book sounds interesting. And, I can't say no to $6.99 for the Kindle version (Asia/Pacific Region; YMMV).
Pre-ordered.
Urraca Social Editor et Subscriptor
I disagree. As I wrote, this novel uses Dick and Scott's works as a reference point, but the world it builds is all its own. It's a novel with a lot of heart.
Interactive Civilian wrote:
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I liked the translation, and I found it a very thrilling read.
tmoldovan Wise, Aged Ars Veteran
I just had an idea for a book... Replicants with limited life spans are acting up due to corruption in their implanted memories. In a nod to the Blade Runner movie, I will call my book Edge Runner. (To be honest, if anyone from Asylum Pictures is interested, I'm selling the script for cheap.)
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Like a really complicated version of OpenTable —
Google Duplex arrives on iPhones, most Android devices
Book restaurants with the Google Assistant's human-like voice AI.
Ron Amadeo - Apr 3, 2019 2:50 pm UTC
54 with 43 posters participating
Google Duplex—the Google Assistant's restaurant-booking phone call bot—is finally getting a wider rollout. The tool was previously only available on Google's Pixel phones, but now you can send out a robocall from most smartphones. An updated Duplex support page (which was first spotted by XDA Developers) now shows support for "iPhones with the Google Assistant installed" and "Android devices running version 5.0 or newer."
Google Duplex is one of the more impressive products Google has shown off in recent years. Just ask the Google Assistant to make a restaurant reservation at a certain time, and it will do it. By "do it," I mean it will make a phone call to a business, speak to the business on your behalf with one of the most human-sounding computer-generated voices ever made, negotiate a reservation time, and get back to you.
Google's video is a good representation of how it works:
Duplex in action.
Talking to Google Duplex: Google’s human-like phone AI feels revolutionary
Last summer I was able to take restaurant reservations from Duplex—Google had a few journalists pack into a New York City Thai restaurant and field phone calls from its voice AI. Over the low-quality codec of a voice call, Google's voice technology sounds almost indistinguishable from a human, complete with emulated human flaws like pauses in speech and disfluencies like "um" and "uh" in the middle of a sentence.
There isn't just one Duplex voice, either. Google's voice technology was able to generate voices from a range of artificial people, with different personalities and styles of speech. Duplex also does an incredible job of understanding the real human on the other line, and it almost seems like a full generation ahead of the voice technology currently in the Google Assistant or Siri. If something does go wrong, though, Google has a call center of actual humans standing by.
Using what is probably the best voice AI on Earth to book restaurants, which you can already do over the Internet without speaking to anyone at all, seems like a waste, but Google is being very conservative with its new voice technology. For now, it's trained to book reservations and that's it. But even simply using Duplex up until now has been difficult. You needed the right phone—a Google Pixel—and you needed to be in the right location—at first four cities, now 47 states. With the wider device and location roll out, Duplex should soon be usable by most people in the US.
Listing image by Google
Ron Amadeo Ron is the Reviews Editor at Ars Technica, where he specializes in Android OS and Google products. He is always on the hunt for a new gadget and loves to rip things apart to see how they work.
Email ron@arstechnica.com // Twitter @RonAmadeo
Faeton Smack-Fu Master, in training
reply Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:53 am
So, ~5 years till it's cut?
Shanrak Ars Scholae Palatinae et Subscriptor
Faeton wrote:
That's pretty optimistic of you
I'd put the over/under at 3.5
Bender B Rodriguez Seniorius Lurkius
in view of the main article about Google's habit of killing things, how long will this last? I am not sure I want to try it. Whats the point if it will not be around in two months, as cool as it sounds?
terry1978 Smack-Fu Master, in training
I enjoy Google's hardware and their applications, I really do. But they're like that kid that plays with his Legos and builds all this complex shit and two minutes later is like, I'm bored and knocks it all down.
UnnDunn Ars Praefectus
As impressive as this technology is, I'd like to see it deployed by a company whose main business isn't advertising.
PhoenixPath Ars Praetorian
Looking forward to being able to take reservations from someone I can understand, isn't rude, and can give me the information I need without a lot of unnecessary BS.
Taking someone's reservation should be a quick task; sadly, many people barely seem to know their own names most days.
trimeta Ars Tribunus Militum et Subscriptor
This isn't actually one of those services where you get invested and then have the rug pulled from under you. You ask the Google Assistant to book you a restaurant or other appointment, and so long as Duplex is operational, it'll do that. If/when Duplex is cut, you'll just get a "Sorry, I can't do that" message, and can call the restaurant yourself. It's not like you're investing a lot of time or money into the service.
SenorDante Seniorius Lurkius
reply Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:01 am
I was going to try this out but then I remembered how Reader and Inbox stabbed me in the back.
Zorro Ars Tribunus Militum
I have never need or asked for this capability.
The numbers are in the Phone.
"Carnitas Burrito with Everything. Ready in 15 Minutes? Inbound"
And I'm done!
jimlangrunner Ars Centurion
yeah - Maybe.
Already, I automatically hang up on machines, and when I'm asked if the call may be recorded, I respond with "no."
How will Duplex handle that sort of thing? Or even just the "you may not record the call" response?
Yes, I'm finicky. I wonder how it will handle that.
On the other hand, if Duplex could TAKE calls, routing the call to wherever it needs to go when I say "I need help fixing the certificate on my website", that would be awesome. I never know if I need "hosting" or "Tech support" or some other thing on the voice menu, and I get lost. Almost invariably, the poor tech who gets the call has to listen to my problem, then reroute the call to the right place. And even they get it wrong sometimes.
Can it solve THAT problem?
"...calling restaurants to make a reservation..."
That's very 2010...
Since the vast majority are now made via Open Table, Tock, Resy and the like. We switched one of our restaurants to an online platform and eliminated 90% of the phone reservations.
Only a matter of time when the AI om you phone can handle dealing with the AI of an online reservation platform I suppose.
Sixclaws Ars Praefectus
Shanrak wrote:
I'll give it six months of post-launch security patches, then a new reskin for the next pastry version of Android, and then left to rot but not retired until a near identical product with the same features replaces it.
Lather.
Rinse.
Repeat.
thebonafortuna Ars Tribunus Militum et Subscriptor
What Google has built here is an astounding achievement in AI, and they’re showing unusual restraint in rolling it out. No doubt they’ve learned from the hard lessons other AI vendors have experienced from overselling capabilities.
And yet almost every comment in here so far is about how Google will eventually give up and piss off a lot of users. That says a whole lot.
Something I’d like to see explored more on Ars is more depth given to how companies like Google benefit from users of these systems. Less policy, more hard science. The policy angle is great and well worth covering, but there should be more awareness as to how USING these systems is in itself benefitting the algorithms.
co-lee Ars Scholae Palatinae et Subscriptor
while an impressive tech demo, this use case just seems weird ...
I kinda like to look at the list of available times in Resy or OpenTable and pick. And it seems like a lot of work to tell my AI the consideration that would lead to picking an alternate time if my preferred time weren't available.
So, cool demo ...
Using what is probably the best voice AI on Earth to book restaurants, which you can already do over the Internet without speaking to anyone at all, seems like a waste, but Google is being very conservative with its new voice technology.
Once they teach this AI to do tech support over the phone..
graylshaped Ars Legatus Legionis et Subscriptor
Google is in the business of auctioning off advertisers' access to you. How long until Duplex is being used to robocall you based on your online behavior and/or real-life location?
No, thank you. I'm not going to help Google improve this technology. I'll stick with OpenTable.
Something else many commenters seem to miss: if you ask the Google Assistant to tell you the store's hours or book an appointment, and there's an automated way to do that (the store already told Google its hours, they use OpenTable or equivalent to manage bookings, etc.), the Assistant will just use those tools. It only goes to Duplex if there's no other way. So from a user perspective, you shouldn't even be aware of whether Duplex got activated.
andit Smack-Fu Master, in training
I appreciate the degree of computer science that has gone into this, but when I consider the enormous amount of computing power expended to solve the "problem" of booking a table at a restaurant without having to personally interact with a human being, I'm left feeling somewhat dejected.
Perhaps this is a first step towards a greater vision that does have value. I'm pessimistic Google are the guys to do that though. Its all about the ad revenue baby.
And I read this just yesterday too: http://inessential.com/2019/04/02/efficient_software
Just not sure what to think about this at all.
madmax559 Ars Tribunus Militum et Subscriptor
Depending on how they trained this, and I'm thinking of Microsoft's chatbot here that went awry.
If they decided to "personalize" it to individual tastes & if the assistant got skewed......
.... you aka the user might unintentionally manage to piss off quite a few of their favorite restaurants
or leak private info based on their website browsing or calendar schedules
G: "Hi this is Deuplex ...I'm calling on behalf of Mr. Anderson".....
H: um Hi. how may we help you ?
G: I'd like to make a reservation for dinner .....for 2 .....or maybe 1.....if he get's stood up.
He did say he liked the food, but the salad was crap.......pause...... HA HA HA....(attempt at laughter)
Anyways go easy on the spices because of his hemorrhoid problem....
CLICK....
bratkitty Wise, Aged Ars Veteran et Subscriptor
Hort wrote:
How much do these services charge the restaurants?
ikjadoon Ars Centurion
trimeta wrote:
That's what it offers now. Google will expand Duplex into a service: "Cancel your phone service. Pay $14.99/month to use Google Assistant for all calls!" And then 18 months later, "Due to a shift in priorities, Duplex will no longer function for outgoing calls. Thanks so much for trying it out with us!"
jimlangrunner wrote:
Absolutely a key concern: Duplex is just an incredibly sophisticated robocaller. How long until consumers refuse *all* phone calls from robocall PTSD and/or robocalling firms start imitating Google's basic voice personality, poisoning Google's well?
ikjadoon wrote:
So, you're complaining that Google will fail to support a service which doesn't exist and which they haven't announced or even remotely suggested they're interested in developing? I know that everyone has PTSD from past Google cancellations, but you may be going a bit overboard.
bratkitty wrote:
https://www.quora.com/How-much-does-Ope ... he-service
Do we sincerely think Google will stop at restaurant reservations? Are we considering Google's multi-billion dollar ambition in AI and voice recognition?
This current stage is absolutely intended for all parties to get acclimated, both the callers and the receivers, towards using an AI personality go-between for calls.
There's no harm now, but I think it's fair to have a wider discussion on whether users should support Duplex's innocent beginnings from a company who's biggest interest in AI is not necessarily to offer long-term stability for its users, but instead primarily collect as much advertising data as legally possible for as long as expedient.
The only thing I enjoy that Google Assistant does regarding calls is screen the ones you don't want to hear and the caller is forced to deal with a robotic voice like you would.
fenncruz Ars Centurion et Subscriptor
co-lee wrote:
My guess is its still a fairly limited set of interactions (possible questions how many?, when?) so is being used to help train the system for more complex problems coming soon (depending whether google has already cancelled it or not)
Anna Moose Ars Praetorian
SenorDante wrote:
The thing is, those products were super-innovative. If you just didn't use them for the years they were out, you would have just been using gmail or some copy cat of gmail. And for reader, there was really nothing else like it, the whole product category may have never been invented (although its death seems to have destroyed many RSS feeds, and I still haven't found a replacement as good as Reader was, and for Inbox, they did incorporate the best features into Gmail, I still miss Inbox, but why use something worse?).
This is just another case where there isn't really a better alternative. The assistant does use OpenTable and other reservation services if they're available instead of calling, but it makes sure when you ask your assistant to make a reservation, it almost always works, no matter how small and unsophisticated the restaurant. And with this service, there really is almost no investmnent. It gets discontinued, I go back to doing it the way you're doing it. I benefited for the time they had it... yeah, it sucks, I think Google makes a huge mistake by doing that, but it was still a net benefit for me.
The real fear I have from Google is on the services that require actual time or money investments from me. I am a bit afraid to use their APIs and App Engine now, because if I invest money into that platform and put all those hours into designing it around their infrastructure, even if its better then everyone else, it just seems too risky to deal with that devastating blow.
Where do you live (country, state/province)? I've never heard the type of prompt you mention. Here (US, MD) it's always "This call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes..." with no choice given.
I'm also not sure why you'd care if an automated voice whose only remit is making a reservation for you is recorded. Said conversation can only contain information from your side that you determine in advance, and all that information would be entered into a reservation system that already exists on the restaurant side even if you call the restaurant yourself. I can see not wanting to use Duplex since it would mean Google would have even more information about you, but that would happen even if the conversation isn't recorded.
SinclairZX81 Ars Tribunus Militum
Bender B Rodriguez wrote:
Came here to say the same thing. Even in the AI space, Google's history has been awful. Google Now was arguably _far_ more effective for the end-user than Assistant, with features like "Leave Now" and suchlike that actually did you some good. All gone, and those without even the polite eff-you messages we got about Reader, Hangouts, Spaces, and Inbox.
It's come to the point that I'm not trying any of Google's new toys, because I _know_ I can count on them being shut down in a very foreseeable future.
ZippyPeanut Ars Scholae Palatinae
"Google Duplex arrives on iPhones...."
Apparently Apple's proprietary voice AI isn't proceeding very well.
cogwheel wrote:
I'm being (a little) facetious when I say "asked". If it's a person, I attempt to head that kind of thing off. When I hear this: "This call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes..." my response is: "You may not record the call." In PA, they must either stop recording or stop the call. Kind-of ticks the callers off because I (1) take them off their stride and (2) They cannot complete the call they are paid to place.
I don't like robocalls, and I despise people that want to gather data on me for marketing purposes.
Iron Clad Burrito Ars Legatus Legionis
More or less. The time it takes to kill a google service is usually inversely proportional to how much I love/use it.
[edit] Spot Google's PR team!
Last edited by Iron Clad Burrito on Wed Apr 03, 2019 3:24 pm
12962 posts | registered Sep 10, 2000
barich Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
I absolutely loathe talking to people on the phone (in person is fine). If you run a restaurant, and you won't take reservations online (because Google Assistant tries that first) and also hang up on Duplex, I will find another place to eat. And if you don't run a business, why would Duplex be calling you anyway?
IntergalacticWalrus Ars Tribunus Militum
thebonafortuna wrote:
Well that editorial about Google constantly killing everything is still fresh in peoples' minds. Give it a month and most of them will have already forgotten about it, hence how Google stays in business.
Seraphiel Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
At least this doesn't require any particular long-term commitment. It's not like you're (intentionally) storing data in it that you need to retrieve in the distant future. Every interaction you would have with it is disposable.
Sixclaws wrote:
You're optimistic.
What they'll do is give it an Indian accent and teach it to call people "from Windows" about the "virus" on their computer.
mpetty423 Ars Praetorian et Subscriptor
My understanding from trying to read through the lines in presentations is that Google built this for internal use.
They've tried for *years* to get businesses to give them opening / closing hours, holiday schedules, etc. They've asked users that went to those businesses to help give them that info, and they've even quasi-employed people to gather this data for popular places that they didn't have comprehensive data on.
In the end, all of that still wasn't enough, so they built a system that would call these places and get that info for them, automagically. Apparently it worked pretty well, and so they've been expanding capabilities, and one step past asking for hours of operation is making a reservation.
So basically, they have a project that's benefiting them immensely internally with the quality of their data, and are trying to roll it out as both a way to differentiate their capabilities, and expand it's functionality so that they eventually can make it do more things so they can automate more of their and other workflows. Wit ha touch more capability, this will start to be a cloud offering that you can purchase / integrate into your GCloud products. Like someone mentioned above, once offered in the cloud, someone could write an app that could navigate a call tree via texting kind of like call screening on Pixel phones does now (you type your responses, like pressing "3") and stay on hold, then ring your phone once you get an actual agent.
MichaelLC Seniorius Lurkius
reply Wed Apr 03, 2019 12:17 pm
For those wondering why they started with restaurant reservations, is likey because there's only a certain number of variables; date/time and number in party. Maybe if it's a special occasion.
Good for testing how regular meatbags interact with a computer; do they notice? do they break the script?
It's a great low-stakes test to get tons of data on human & robot interactions so in 10 years your new Boston Dynamics Handle boss can ask if you watched that latest sportsball tournament last night. Haha! They own your watch history so it already knows.
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Open source, open beta —
Steam for Linux beta now open to the public
List of Linux-supported games slowly expanding.
Kyle Orland - Dec 20, 2012 5:30 pm UTC
Good news for those who didn't score an invite to the first round of Valve's closed beta of Steam for Linux. The service is now available to anyone running Linux the latest build of Ubuntu (still no word on when the service is coming to other distros) (seems it runs on multiple different Linux builds now. Apologies).
The new, wider release comes with a handy installer package, but those who are already in the closed beta can just upgrade to the latest version within Steam. Valve has also opened up a new Github repository to organize bug tracking for beta testers. <humor>That's what you Linux people like to do, right? Find and catalog bugs?</humor>
Since the closed beta launch in early November, Steam has expanded its selection of available Linux games from 24 to 39, a list still dominated by indie games. However, THQ president Jason Rubin recently tweeted that the struggling publisher was "evaluating cost/benefit" of Linux development, based on fan feedback in the wake of the company's successful Humble Bundle experiment.
Kyle Orland Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area.
Email kyle.orland@arstechnica.com // Twitter @KyleOrl
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A stay in a private concession in the greater Serengeti allows you the opportunity to explore the wilderness on foot. As well as seeing some of the details often missed from a game-drive vehicle, a Serengeti walking safari gives you a chance to appreciate the scale, and experience the freedom of the savannah.
Planning our safari trip taught us a great deal, including the benefits of staying at Tanzanian safari lodges in private concessions. As only a limited number of guests can stay in these exclusive establishments, more activities are possible, including sensitive off-road driving, night drives and walking safaris.
We’d heard that the difference between a game drive and a walking safari is rather like the difference between watching the movie, and reading the book. On foot, you can really appreciate the vast scale of the Serengeti landscape. It was a great privilege to be able to enjoy an activity that so few other people get to do – we felt as though we had the Serengeti to ourselves.
The name ‘Serengeti’ derives from a Maasai word meaning ‘endless plains’ and as we strode across a small portion of them, we felt as though we could see – and walk – forever. The fresh air, gentle breeze and connection with the earth was incredibly invigorating – plus we weren’t sorry to be able to burn off some of the fabulous food we’d been enjoying!
Our guide Jackson joked with us that it’s impossible to tell the front and the back of a Serengeti map apart, as there are so few features. He was exaggerating, of course – standing on one spot, and slowly turning around, we could see that the plains were punctuated by flat-topped acacia trees. Our eyes were also drawn to a nearby kopje – one of the distinctive small rocky outcrops that appear like islands in this sea of grass.
We’d read that these are the preferred haunts of leopards, and Jackson told us that many other species find shelter (and water) in their caves and crevices. We resolved to walk towards the kopje and climb it to enjoy the view – as long as the leopard wasn’t at home, of course!
Glancing down, we tried to interpret the jumbled maze of tracks in the earth. This was what Jackson called his ‘morning newspaper’, but it seemed that the previous night had been a quiet one, and there were no dramatic headlines.
Strolling towards the kopje on our Serengeti walking safari, our spotter Colin demonstrated his amazing vision once more, by pointing out the tiny dot of a vulture high up in the sky. They soar on thermals to conserve energy, using their own superb eyesight to look for possible meals before wheeling down to contest the remains of kills with hyena and jackal.
Jackson led the way up the kopje. It was a relatively easy climb – we only had to scramble in a few places. The view from the summit was astonishing – rolling plains stretching away in every direction. We spotted a herd of elephant pushing through the grass, and further away, a thin skein of smoke rising from a Maasai manyata.
Although the morning was still relatively cool, we sat down under a gnarled fig tree to enjoy the coffee and chocolate-chip cookies (baked fresh that morning in the lodge’s kitchen) that Colin miraculously produced from his backpack. It was one of those perfect safari moments that Africa seems to deliver so effortlessly, and that we knew would last long in our memories.
Yours won’t be the only footprints in the Serengeti; here is that of a lion.
You might see some baby baboon while on walking safaris in the Serengeti. © Anton Musgrave
There are lots of raptors in the Serengeti, like this vulture. © Anton Musgrave
Have coffee and a walk in the savannah during your morning game drives in the Serengeti. © &Beyond
The whole family will enjoy walking safaris in the Serengeti. © &Beyond
Walking safaris in the Serengeti are only permitted in concessions. © &Beyond
You’ll appreciate the height of giraffe when you see them from the ground during Serengeti walking safaris. © &Beyond
You’ll be perfectly safe during your guided Serengeti walking safari. © Legendary Expeditions
Enjoy refreshments with a view during your Serengeti walking safari. © Nomad Tanzania
A walking safari lets you get into the thick of things in the Serengeti. © Nomad Tanzania
For your safety, listen to your guide when on walking safaris in the Serengeti. © Singita
Your guide will teach your kids all sorts of interesting things during walking safaris in the Serengeti. © Nomad Tanzania
More memorable things to see and do in Northern Tanzania
Slowing Down Between Tarangire And Manyara
This area of northern Tanzania is the birthplace of the slow safari – when you take a breather from frantically trying to spot game and simply be present in Africa. Take an unhurried walking safari, relax with sundowners in the bush or simply appreciate the facilities of your safari lodge.…
Going On Safari At Lake Manyara
Before our luxury safari in Tanzania, we thought that leopard were the only cats that climbed trees. On our Lake Manyara safari, we soon learned that lion also do. Perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised – after all, this was the home of ballerina-like flamingos and hundreds of other species,…
Meeting Chimpanzees At Greystoke Mahale
During your visit to the beautiful Greystoke Mahale camp, on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, you’ll have the chance to meet Tanzania’s chimpanzees in the wild. To spend a morning with one of these troops is sure to be a joyous, emotional and perhaps even life-changing experience. We arrived…
Taking A Safari Into The Ngorongoro Crater
An essential, bucket-list experience on any visit to Tanzania is a Ngorongoro Crater safari. Descend into this 20km-wide and 600m-deep volcanic caldera for a safari experience like no other, packed with Big Five sightings, giant elephant bulls and thousands of pink flamingos. As dawn began to stain the morning sky, a…
Exploring The Lovely Tarangire
If you’d like to see a rare white giraffe, go on a Tarangire safari in northern Tanzania – Omo lives nearby. If you go in the dry season, you’ll see plenty of elephant too, as during this time the pachyderms are drawn to the Tarangire River as water sources outside…
Dancing With Flamingos In Tanzania
Tanzania’s Rift Valley Lakes provide the incredible spectacle of immense flocks of flamingos gathering to feed and breed on these otherwise inhospitable stretches of sodic water. The juxtaposition of their delicate pink plumage and the almost lunar landscapes is a photographer’s dream, and makes for an unforgettable flamingo safari. Our…
Luxury Safari ideas that include this experience
Luxury lodges that offer this experience
Mkombe's House | Family Safari | Serengeti National Park
Mkombe’s House, a private Tanzania safari house in Serengeti National Park, is the perfect place for families to reconnect with each other, and with nature. The clever layout of the adult and children’s rooms and the complete flexibility over mealtimes and activities make it ideal for multi-generational travel.
SAVE YOUR SAFARI INSPIRATION ♡
Create a personalised storyboard for your African safari.
When you see something you love, simply click on its ♡ icon and it will be added to your MY CANVAS page.
Access your shortlist at any time by clicking on MY CANVAS in the menu bar at the top of the page.
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ASGN 2008 back main
Muriel Anderson 1
Anita Camarella & Davide Facchini 1
Three Ring Circle 1
Don Alder 1
Will Ray 1
Ladd Smith 1
Little Kids Rock 1
Richard Gilewitz 1
Rick Vito 1
Thom Bresh 1
Tim May 1
Victor Wooten 1
Channel: ASGN 2008
Video: Rick Vito 2 P-TAB | CHART | JAM
ith an incredible world tour.
Work tapes of Rick's songs had found their way to ATLANTIC RECORDS president, Doug Morris through bandmate Stevie Nicks, and as a result, Rick was signed to his first solo recording deal. In 1992 his CD, ""KING OF HEARTS"" was praised in GUITAR PLAYER magazine for it's ""...dazzling collection of fiery, slide guitar-driven songs..."", and featured the single, ""DESIREE"", a smoldering duet with Stevie Nicks.
In 1994 Rick accompanied Stevie on her ""STREET ANGEL"" tour, and during this time, made a decision to relocate from Los Angeles to the Nashville area.
""I'd been wanting to live somewhere green again. When we visited Nashville, I realized that not only was it a music town, but it was also some of the prettiest country I'd seen, so eventually I found some land, moved the family, and we built our own house. It turned out to be a dream come true in many ways.""
Rick devoted much of 1995-96 to family interests, but in 1997 he began recording his second solo CD, this time one firmly rooted in a Blues vein. Recorded both in LA and Nashville, the CD, entitled ""PINK AND BLACK"", features nine Vito original songs plus solid treatments of others by OTIS RUSH, EDDIE CLEARWATER, and PETER GREEN. ""PINK AND BLACK"" is both a reference to Rick's personally designed Art Deco guitar, and also to a style of an era in music where Blues and Rock& Roll made a passionate connection. Originally released in Summer 1998 on the STREAMLINER RECORDS label, ""PINK AND BLACK"" was soon picked up by the LA based WILDCAT RECORDS, receiving worldwide distribution in 1999.
During 1998 and 1999, Rick also participated in a highly visible world tour with singer/guitarist BONNIE RAITT in support of her CD, ""FUNDAMENTAL"". During this time he appeared on ""OPRAH"", ""DAVID LETTERMAN"", ""THE TONIGHT SHOW"", ""ROSIE O'DONNEL"", ""CONAN O'BRIEN"", VHI STORYTELLERS, as well as the LILLITH FAIR TOUR and the ERIC CLAPTON EUROPEAN TOUR. Rick was featured both in duet with Bonnie and also performing songs from ""PINK AND BLACK"".
In 2001 Rick's CD, ""LUCKY DEVILS"" was released in Europe on the German-based HYPERTENSION MUSIC label. Containing eleven original cuts, ""Lucky Devils"" picked up where his previous CDs left off. Reviewers found it it to be ""an exciting and innovative continuation of Rick's devotion to his blues dominated stylings"" (Hamburg Music Review). ""Lucky Devils"" (also the name of his new band) then kicked off with a critically acclaimed solo tour of Germany and Switzerland where he also appeared on the much heralded ""OHNE FILTER"" TV concert series. Rick managed to squeeze in yet another tour during 2001 with rock icon, John Fogerty, appearing on TINA TURNER's epic Farewell Tour.
2002 saw Rick in the producer's chair, this time for 'rockabilly filly', ROSIE FLORES. The result was the much heralded ""SPEED OF SOUND"" on Eminent Records. Also released in 2002 were several cds featuring Rick's guitar work including ""FAST GIRL"" by the TRACTORS, and DELBERT MCCLINTON bluesy ""NOTHING PERSONAL,""
A new DREAMWORKS film, ""THE LAST CASTLE"", starring ROBERT REDFORD featured Rick as a captain of a commando team leading a mission to capture a U.S. Army general. Rick also was the recipient of the W.C. HANDY award for ""BLUES SONG OF THE YEAR 2001"" for his composition, ""IT’S 2 A.M."", as performed by the incredible blues shouter, SHEMEKIA COPELAND.
Rick’s next cd, ""CRAZY COOL"", was released in September 2002 in Europe, again on Hypertension Music. Including a reworking of ""LOVE IS DANGEROUS,"" (cowritten with Stevie Nicks) and a tribute to JOHN LEE HOOKER (""MR. LUCKY""), Crazy Cool showcased Rick's slide guitar work and songs with a fresh excitement, with perhaps just a little more emphasis on rocking out.
Rick’s fifth solo CD, “BAND BOX BOOGIE,” marked a turning point in style for him. Accompanied this time by a small saxophone section, Band Box Boogie mixed together elements of Swing, Latin, and Jump-Blues with Rock & Roll to create what some refer to as Rick’s crowning recording achievment to date. Former Mac bandmate MICK FLEETWOOD, who lists this CD among his all-time favorites, has said of it, “...absolutely incredible, soulful, and impeccable. I love this album!”
In the Fall of 2003 a new DVD featuring Rick’s performance on the aforementioned Ohne Filter TV concert series appeared as, “RICK VITO IN CONCERT.” Featuring twelve cuts, this DVD captures much of the energy and excitement of Rick’s live shows and showcases especially well his talent and versatility on the guitar. A second DVD, “GUITAR HEROES IN CONCERT,” features one cut from Rick’s DVD along with performances by many of his personal heroes such as ALBERT COLLINS, GATEMOUTH BROWN, and CURTIS MAYFIELD.
Rick recently teamed up in 2005 with JOE NAYLOR from REVEREND GUITARS to co-produce the new REVEREND “RICK VITO SIGNATURE SLINGSHOT” electric guitar. The guitar features sandblasted images from Rick’s designs from the coat he wore on the cover of his “LUCKY DEVILS” CD, and is modified to his own specs with high-output P-90 style pickups, and many other great Reverend appointments.
You can also see this guitar on the cover of Rick’s 2006 CD release, “RATTLESNAKE SHAKE!” Besides the Peter Green penned title track, RS contains eight new Vito original songs plus a masterful slide guitar instrumental arrangement on SAM COOKE’S, “A CHANGE IS GONNA COME” that is not to be missed! This recording is currently available through Rick’s website. Another European solo CD on Hypertension Music followed in 2007, ""TALK THAT TALK,"" essentially a blues recording with a bit more of an accent on acoustic guitar and strong lyrics. Highlights include the title track, and the reflective ""TOWN THAT TIME FORGOT,"" and ""EASY DOES IT.""
In 2007 and 2008 Rick began forging new ground with old friend and bandmate MICK FLEETWOOD. The two have partnered in two ensembles, the ISLAND RUMOURS BAND, and the MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND. IRB focuses primarily in Hawaii and is an exciting blend of music from Fleetwood Mac, Rick Vito, and contemporary and traditional Hawaiian music featuring also the talents of Raiatea Helm, Willie K, Lopaka Colon and others (see the IRB's exciting promo video HERE). The powerful MFBB celebrates the original music of Fleetwood Mac's blues years, blending classic tunes like ""Black Magic Woman"" and ""Shake Your Moneymaker"" with great new Vito originals. A new 2-disc ""live and studio"" CD from the band, ""BLUE AGAIN,"" ( featuring Lenny Castellanos on bass, and Mark Johnstone on keys) showcases the vitality and timelessness of this music as performed flawlessly by seasoned veterans on the genre.
2009 has seen the release of two incredible new CD's. First is ""LUCKY IN LOVE: THE BEST OF RICK VITO,"" a fantastic 19-song retrospective of Rick's seven solo CD releases. Also is ""BLUE AGAIN"" from the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, This incredible LIVE CD both recaptures the fire of the original blues music of the early Fleetwood Mac, and also forges ahead with brand new Vito compositions. MFBB recently returned from a sellout European tour, headlining Norway’s Nottoden Blues Festival and scoring legions of new fans everywhere.
JOHN MAYALL has said of Rick, “...a master of the instrument, at last getting the attention he deserves as bandleader/bluesman that is long overdue.”
BONNIE RAITT has been quoted saying: “Rick Vito's guitar playing just slays me! His style is as cool and sharp as a '59 Cadillac tailfin.”
KEB MO' perhaps says it best: “Soulful singer, brilliant guitar player, you got to check out Rick Vito, for sure!”
• Mimi Fox
• Don Alder
• Thom Bresh
• Big 80's
• Monte Montgomery 3
• Steve Adelson
• Ben Lacy
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"Rhinoceros" is not Eugene Ionesco's best work, but it is his most-performed. Ionesco himself notes wryly:
"When Rhinoceros was produced in Germany, it had fifty curtain calls. The next day the papers wrote, "Ionesco shows us how we became Nazis." But in Moscow, they wanted me to rewrite it and make sure that it dealt with Nazism and not with their kind of totalitarianism. In Buenos Aires, the military government thought it was an attack on Peronism. And in England they accused me of being a petit bourgeois."
We do seem unable to swallow its message whole. Modern commentary fastens on the idea that it is an indictment of "conformity." In San Francisco the conformists, instead of being rhinos, drive SUV's, and Berenger, the lead male character who is the last holdout against the change, is redone as an African-American lesbian. But of course. Nazis, straight society driving SUV's, same thing.
But the art theater world seems unable to just drop the thing, though they have to water it down. Though Ionesco is perhaps the purest exponent of Theater of the Absurd, it is the non-absurdist elements which continue to grip us.
"The Chairs" and "The Lesson" are better written. They are sustained examples of Ionesco's belief that life is meaningless, and his technique of illustrating meaninglessness through word-manipulation. Throughout his work, he uses nonsense syllables, grammar-book sentences, repetition, and punning to show the pointlessness of communication, and thus of existence.
But in "Rhinoceros," the mask falls. The word games are all there (Ionesco is great fun to listen to) -- the Logician patiently expounds with syllogisms, and his conversation with the Old Gentleman intertwines with the dialogue of the other characters onstage, draining meaning from them by imitation. But Ionesco clearly does care what is happening to the village. Rhinoceri are appearing, with brute destruction. Worse, they are not coming from outside the village -- the citizens are turning into rhinos, one by one. In the movie, BTW, Zero Mostel's transformation from human to rhinoceros is magnificent acting.
Ionesco's father was sympathetic to the Iron Guard, a nazi-inspired group in Romania which briefly gained power during WWII. Because of the increasing fascism in Romania in the 30's, Eugene returned to Paris, where he had grown up. Yet in Paris he found the same phenomenon, decent shopkeepers, educated professors, social-climbing housewives, and men of affairs were becoming nazis. Several close friends became enthusiastic fascists, and he moved to Marseilles until the end of the war.
The quintessential absurdist playwright does not find this absurd. Though he retreated after into his agonies of spirit as to whether life has meaning, whether God exists, whether he himself had existence, the reality of his experience breaks through his intellectual maunderings. Ionesco cannot sustain the premise that this change was meaningless. The somewhat autobiographical character of Berenger is someone we root for, and we are clearly meant to. He is not at all like the cutout figures Ionesco populates his other plays with. The playwright may not be able to identify for us exactly what meaning, humanity, and culture are, but he is quite clear that these changes are somehow evil and barbaric.
Some things really are evil, though we wish not to admit it. Some things really are true, though we deny it.
In similar vein, Picasso drew his children realistically and beautifully. He may have insisted on disjointed, cartoonish figures to represent the rest of us -- including himself -- but the truth of real meaning and real beauty forced out the theories.
People Of The Lie/ The Great Divorce
Faux Logic
Two Demonstrations
An Opposite Is Often True
The Whimsical Media and the Pompous Media
What War Is That Again?
The Reduced Shakespeare Company
Reverse The Question
I'm Not That Prescient
Why Polls Deceive
The Odd Phenomenon of Waking Times
How British Leftism Works (Plus Wombats)
George Shultz Nails It --21 Years Ago
The Bearded Pig and His Rights
IQ Enhancement
Best Light-Saber Video Ever
Lottery Winners, Paraplegics
Short Stories Aloud
Local Elections -- Why So Boring?
Democracy Is Different In NH
Minimum Sanity
Blogosphere: The League of Extraordinary Gentle…pe...
Transylvania Roundup
High School Teacher Rant
Living In Tune With Nature
Going Over That Bias Thing Again
For Those Still Unclear On The Concept...
When Christian and Nutritional Myths Coincide
Our Lady Of The Cedars
Politics Made Simple
Justice, Legality, Wisdom
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All posts tagged Rocinante
Monsignor Quixote by Graham Greene (1982)
‘Your glass, monsignor.’
‘I have asked you not to call me monsignor.’
‘Then why not call me comrade – I prefer it to Sancho.’
‘In recent history, Sancho, too many comrades have been killed by comrades. I don’t mind calling you friend. Friends are less apt to kill each other.’
‘Isn’t friend going a little bit far between a Catholic priest and a Marxist?’
‘You said a few hours back that we must have something in common.’
‘Perhaps what we have in common is this manchegan wine, friend.’
They both had a sense of growing comfort as the dark deepened and they teased each other. (p.51)
Father Quixote is a good-natured Catholic priest in the sleepy town of El Toboso in the sleepy province of La Mancha in south-central Spain, jokily aware of his fictional predecessor, the great Don Quixote, who was supposed to have lived in the same area 400 years earlier.
One day he helps out an Italian bishop whose car has broken down on the main road to Madrid, giving him lunch and wine before sending him on his way. A few weeks later he is astonished to receive a letter declaring that the same bishop (back in Rome) has recommended Quixote be promoted to monsignor. His own Spanish bishop (who has never liked him much) is taking advantage of this surprise development to suggest the new monsignor Quixote is despatched to preach to a wider congregation (ie to get rid of him).
Around the same time the communist mayor of El Toboso is voted out of office and rendered unemployed. Though named Enrique Zancas, Father Quixote jokingly calls him Sancho. Over a drink or two they commiserate being ejected from their respective cosy jobs and hit on the idea of taking a prolonged holiday and going touring in Quixote’s battered old Seat 600 which he jokingly refers to as ‘Rocinante’ (after the fictional Don Quixote’s donkey).
Thus this unlikely pair find themselves motoring around rural Spain, bickering about Catholicism and communism (‘What about Stalin?’ ‘What about the Inquisition?’) and quite closely echoing the adventures of their famous fictional forebears.
Spain as land of archetypes
Greene wasn’t the first or last writer to come from a complex, industrialised, north European country and fall in love with the ‘simplicity’ of arid, backward Spain. The novel was published seven years after General Franco – the Fascist dictator who devoted his life to preserving Spain’s peasant Catholic culture – had died and little had changed. The ideological opposites of communism and Catholicism still had the kind of primeval power they enjoyed during the Civil War (1936-39) and Greene’s novel is appropriately simplistic, pitching the two mid-century ideologies against each other in a terrain denuded of most other people (apart from monks and religious processions) and almost every indication of messy, mundane 20th century life – reminiscent sometimes of the stripped-back landscapes of a Samuel Beckett play.
The impact of the modern world with its package holidays, tourist buses, industrial estates, roaring 747s, flashy sports cars, with its schools and offices and newspapers – none of that is in evidence here. Instead Sancho and Quixote drive around a Spain of the mind, visiting shrines, sleeping in the fields or cheap hotels or monasteries, all the time carrying out a kind of fifth form debate about the rights and wrongs of communism and Catholicism:
Is it better to live with faith or doubt? Is honest disbelief better than shallow faith – or vice versa? Was Torquemada worse than Stalin? Is Das Kapital a better guide to living than The Dark Night of The Soul? Is it better to read Lenin or Marx? Was it insulting of Our Lord to refer to his human flock as ‘sheep’? Was Marx a prophet like Isaiah? And, because it’s a novel about Catholicism, there are, inevitably, some rather sordid conversations about Catholic teaching on birth control (coitus interruptus versus the Rhythm Method… God these Catholics and their genitals, what a lifelong obsession: who knew there were so many activities which come under the category of ‘onanism’?) And so, charmingly, ramblingly, on…
‘Oh, you can’t beat those moral theologians. They get the better of you every time with their quibbles.’ -Enrique ‘Sancho’ Zancas (p.84)
‘Among the reflections and resolutions it is good to make use of colloquies, and speak sometimes to our Lord, sometimes to the Angels, to the Saints and to oneself, to one’s own heart, to sinners, and even to inanimate creatures…’ -St Francis de Sale, as read by Monsignor Quixote just before he goes to sleep. (p.106)
‘How happy you must be with your complete belief. There’s only one thing you will ever lack – the dignity of despair.’ -Quixote (p.112)
‘”There is a muffled voice, a voice of uncertainty which whispers in the ears of the believer. Who knows? Without this uncertainty how could we live?”‘ -Sancho, quoting Unamuno (p.112)
Occasionally Quixote in particular is prey to the kind of religiose self-pity which Greene made his own throughout his career:
‘I don’t pity him. I never pity the dead. I envy them.’ -Quixote (p.120)
Sometimes he envied the certitude of those who were able to lay down clear rules – [the theologian] Father Heribert Jone, his bishop, even the Pope. Himself he lived in a mist, unable to see a path, stumbling… (p.134) -Quixote
How can I pray to resist evil when I am not even tempted? There is no virtue in such a prayer… O God, make me human, let me feel temptation. Save me from my indifference. (p.141) -Quixote
He felt as though he had been touched by the wing-tip of the worst sin of all, despair. (p.182)
I believe what I told her… I believe it, of course, but how is it that when I speak of belief, I become aware always of a shadow, the shadow of disbelief haunting my belief? (p.197) -Quixote
The true voice of the most depressive of English writers, the poet laureate of failed suicides, ruminating on his imperfect faith at interminable length.
Sancho and Quixote’s peregrinations are modelled on those of their fictional forebears. The book is in two parts: in part one, after being introduced to the couple, we motor off with them towards Madrid, then visit:
General Franco’s extraordinary tomb at Valle de los Caídos
the city of Valladolid
the city of Salamanca and the tomb of Unamuno
But as they do so a snowball of trouble grows around them. They are parked by the roadside enjoying cheese and wine and, for a joke, Quixote passes Sancho his clerical collar to try on at the precise moment some officious Guardia approach and note that the monsignor is lending a communist his Clothes. Later, at a loss while they wait for old Rocinante to be fixed at a garage, Sancho takes the innocent Quixote to the cinema for the first time. Quixote chooses to see The Maiden’s Dream, neither of them realising it is a porn film. As they emerge Sancho cracks a joke and Quixote is seen laughing and joking emerging from a porn cinema. Lastly and by far the worst, the pair are stopped again by a Guardia who warns them about a robber who’s just done a bank robbery with a gun and is in the neighbourhood. Quixote is oddly shifty and when the Guardia is gone, shows Sancho that he had encountered the robber five minutes earlier who assured him it was all a mistake. Now the robber does in fact pull a gun, makes Quixote give him his shoes and forces them to drive him to the nearby town where he disappears into the crowd. Sancho takes Quixote to a shoe shop to buy new shoes where the shop assistant notices his clerical garb and, it turns out, informs the police. By this time they have captured the robber who tells them he was helped to get away by Quixote. Late that night, after they have drunk a lot of wine and fallen asleep under the stars after their usual bicker about Stalin or Torquemada, or Faith versus Doubt, Sancho wakes up to find Quixote gone.
Quixote wakes up back in his priest’s house in El Tobaso. He has been kidnapped by the town doctor, acting under the instructions of his officious young replacement Father Herrera, himself acting under orders from Quixote’s bishop. All of them are trying to contain the scandal of a priest seen coming out of a porn cinema then helping a bank robber. Quixote is so indignant at being kidnapped then held prisoner he gets angry and insulting which confirms the priest and doctor’s belief he has gone mad. They lock him in his room. Soon Sancho turns up and with the help of Quixote’s outraged housekeeper liberate him, they clamber into Rocinante and set off on part two of their adventures.
The highlight of this is coming to a region in Galicia inhabited by lots of natives who emigrated to Mexico, made a lot of money, and have come back to dominate the countryside. Quixote is outraged at the money-grabbing corruption they have introduced to the region and interrupts a Catholic procession where the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been covered in dollar, franc and peseta bills, pulling it crashing to the ground. Sancho drags him away, bundles him into Rocinante and they drive full pelt for the Trappist monastery of Osera.
Just as they arrive some Guardias ambush them, pulling guns and shooting the tyres of Rocinante so she skids and crashes into the monastery wall. Sancho is mildly injured but Quixote is concussed. He is carried to bed by the outraged monks and treated by a local doctor who turn on the poor Guardias who were only obeying orders to stop the now-thought-to-be-deranged escaped priest, bank robber-protector, and religious processions attacker.
In the final scene Quixote rises from his bed in a dream, sleepwalks to the altar of the cathedral and carries out a sleepwalking Mass, witnessed by a devout monk, a sceptical visiting American academic, and Sancho, torn between love and respect for his old friend and his ancient disbelief.
Quixote places a dream Host on Sancho’s tongue, followed by dream wine, then collapses and dies. The last words describe Sancho, left haunted by his experience and (Greene the Catholic makes sure) oppressed by the dawning of the True, Deep and Terrible idea of Faith.
Why is it that the hate of man – even of a man like Franco – dies with his death, and yet love, the love which he had begun to feel for Father Quixote, seemed now to live and grow in spite of the final separation and the final silence – for how long, he wondered with a kind of fear, was it possible for that love of his to continue? And to what end? (p.256)
None of this rings true for me. Greene’s popularity seems to come out of the murk of the late 1930s, then the film noir 1940s and on into the Cold War of the 1950s, and his stricken landscape of flawed men aspiring to nobility and religious faith, only to be clawed down by their own weakness or the fickle hand of fate, seem very much part of the black-and-white existentialist 1940s and 50s. He is from the world of Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre and André Malraux, an intensely serious world which can’t take a joke. To his fans he was one of the great writers of the 20th century who described the angst of the human condition in a world threatened with annihilation.
In fact the agonising over the stereotypical alternatives of Doubt or Faith which take centre stage in almost every Greene novel make me think of him as the Last Victorian, carrying the earnestness of his father, the headmaster’s, sermons forward from his Edwardian childhood into the twentieth century. ‘Doubt’ is the great Victorian theme, the core, for example, of that age’s poet laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson. Greene is his sex-obsessed, adulterous, despairing heir.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union and all the Eastern bloc countries 25 years ago, almost everything written about Marx, Lenin and their great achievements became irrelevant overnight. Bang goes Sancho’s part of the couple’s numerous discussions… And almost all the Catholic side of the conversations boils down to one question, repeated in a thousand variations: Is it alright to be a bit of a doubting Catholic? Seen from 2015, both ‘sides’ of this 250-page long debate seem dustily irrelevant.
In fact, looking back from 2015 – with the planet threatened by global warming, Europe racked by what might become a permanent refugee crisis, the Middle East collapsing into chaos and spawning an endless threat of terrorist atrocities, worried by the end of the 20-year-long China boom, anxious about the fragility of the global banking system, and uneasy that everything we say, write and do is being recorded on vast, secret databanks, while the seas are poisoned, the coral reefs die out and infectious diseases develop immunity to antibiotics – these undemanding chats about two almost vanished value systems seem as remote as a pamphlet about repealing the Corn Laws. A charming memento of a lost age.
It is an odd, distinctively Greene affect that he has to put a stab or sting into even his most charming novels (as he did, unnecessarily with the equally entertaining Travels With My Aunt) as if aware of his Time magazine status as ‘writer of the century’, as if afraid of providing simple entertainment, as if conscious his fans expect some ‘deep’, ‘religious’, ‘philosophical’ message. It mars all his books. Now that the Victorian earnestness of that whole existentialist world has disappeared, it is like having a gang rape at the end of an episode of Dad’s Army. It seems wilful and inappropriate.
Greene collaborated on turning the novel into a TV movie, directed by Rodney Bennett, starring Sir Alec Guinness and Leo McKern and broadcast in 1985. This clip, from YouTube, appears to be from a VHS copy of a version dubbed into gutteral Spanish.
Monsignor Quixote on Amazon
Monsignor Quixote Wikipedia article
Greene’s books
The Man Within (1929) One of the worst books I’ve ever read, a wretchedly immature farrago set in a vaguely described 18th century about a cowardly smuggler who betrays his fellows to the Excise men then flees to the cottage of a pure and innocent young woman who he falls in love with before his pathetic inaction leads to her death. Drivel.
The Name of Action (1930) (repudiated by author, never republished)
Rumour at Nightfall (1931) (repudiated by author, never republished)
Stamboul Train (1932) A motley cast of characters find out each others’ secrets and exploit each other on the famous Orient Express rattling across Europe, climaxing in the execution of one of the passengers, a political exile, in an obscure rail junction, and all wound up with a cynical business deal in Istanbul.
It’s a Battlefield (1934) London: a working class man awaits his death sentence for murder while a cast of seedy characters, including a lecherous HG Wells figure, betray each other and agonise about their pointless lives.
England Made Me (1935) Stockholm: financier and industrialist Krogh hires a pretty Englishwoman Kate Farrant to be his PA/lover. She gets him to employ her shiftless brother Anthony who, after only a few days, starts spilling secrets to the seedy journalist Minty, and so is bumped off by Krogh’s henchman, Hall.
A Gun for Sale (1936) England: After assassinating a European politician and sparking mobilisation for war, hitman Raven pursues the lecherous middle man who paid him with hot money to a Midlands town, where he gets embroiled with copper’s girl, Anne, before killing the middle man and the wicked arms merchant who was behind the whole deal, and being shot dead himself.
Brighton Rock (1938) After Kite is murdered, 17 year-old Pinkie Brown takes over leadership of one of Brighton’s gangs, a razor-happy psychopath who is also an unthinking Catholic tormented by frustrated sexuality. He marries a 16 year-old waitress (who he secretly despises) to stop her squealing on the gang, before being harried to a grisly death.
The Confidential Agent (1939) D. the agent for a foreign power embroiled in a civil war, tries and fails to secure a contract for British coal to be sent to his side. He flees the police and unfounded accusations of murder, has an excursion to a Midlands mining district where he fails to persuade the miners to go on strike out of solidarity for his (presumably communist) side, is caught by the police, put on trial, then helped to escape across country to a waiting ship, accompanied by the woman half his age who has fallen in love with him.
The Lawless Roads (1939) Greene travels round Mexico and hates it, hates its people and its culture, the poverty, the food, the violence and despair, just about managing to admire the idealised Catholicism which is largely a product of his own insistent mind, and a few heroic priests-on-the-run from the revolutionary authorities.
The Power and the Glory (1940) Mexico: An unnamed whisky priest, the only survivor of the revolutionary communists’ pogrom against the Catholic hierarchy, blunders from village to village feeling very sorry for himself and jeopardising lots of innocent peasants while bringing them hardly any help until he is caught and shot.
The Ministry of Fear (1943) Hallucinatory psychological fantasia masquerading as an absurdist thriller set in London during the Blitz when a man still reeling from mercy-killing his terminally ill wife gets caught up with a wildly improbable Nazi spy ring.
The Heart of The Matter (1948) Through a series of unfortunate events, Henry Scobie, the ageing colonial Assistant Commissioner of Police in Freetown, Sierra Leone, finds himself torn between love of his wife and of his mistress, spied on by colleagues and slowly corrupted by a local Syrian merchant, until life becomes intolerable and – as a devout Catholic – he knowingly damns himself for eternity by committing suicide. Whether you agree with its Catholic premises or not, this feels like a genuinely ‘great’ novel for the completeness of its conception and the thoroughness of its execution.
The Third Man (1949) The novella which formed the basis for the screenplay of the famous film starring Orson Welles. Given its purely preparatory nature, this is a gripping and wonderfully-written tale, strong on atmosphere and intrigue and mercifully light on Greene’s Catholic preachiness.
The End of The Affair (1951) Snobbish writer Maurice Bendrix has an affair with Sarah, the wife of his neighbour on Clapham Common, the dull civil servant, Henry Miles. After a V1 bomb lands on the house where they are illicitly meeting, half burying Bendrix, Sarah breaks off the affair and refuses to see him. Only after setting a detective on her, does Bendrix discover Sarah thought he had been killed in the bombing and prayed to God, promising to end their affair and be ‘good’ if only he was allowed to live – only to see him stumbling in through the wrecked doorway, from which point she feels duty bound to God to keep her word. She sickens and dies of pneumonia like many a 19th century heroine, but not before the evidence begins to mount up that she was, in fact, a genuine saint. Preposterous for most of its length, it becomes genuinely spooky at the end.
Twenty-One Stories (1954) Generally very short stories, uneven in quality and mostly focused on wringing as much despair about the human condition as possible using thin characters who come to implausibly violent endings – except for three short funny tales.
The Unquiet American (1955) Set in Vietnam as the French are losing their grip on the country, jaded English foreign correspondent, Thomas Fowler, reacts very badly to fresh-faced, all-American agent Alden Pyle, who both steals his Vietnamese girlfriend and is naively helping a rebel general and his private army in the vain hope they can form a non-communist post-colonial government. So Fowler arranges for Pyle to be assassinated. The adultery and anti-Americanism are tiresome, but the descriptions of his visits to the front line are gripping.
Loser Takes All (1955) Charming comic novella recounting the mishaps of accountant Bertram who is encouraged to get married at a swanky hotel in Monte Carlo by his wealthy boss who then doesn’t arrive to pick up the bill, as he’d promised to – forcing Bertram to dabble in gambling at the famous Casino and becoming so obsessed with winning that he almost loses his wife before the marriage has even begun.
Our Man In Havana (1958) Comedy about an unassuming vacuum cleaner salesman, Jim Wormold, living in Havana, who is improbably recruited for British intelligence and, when he starts to be paid, feels compelled to manufacture ‘information’ from made-up ‘agents’. All very farcical until the local security services and then ‘the other side’ start taking an interest, bugging his phone, burgling his flat and then trying to bump him off.
A Burnt-Out Case (1960) Tragedy. Famous architect Querry travels to the depths of the Congo, running away from his European fame and mistress, and begins to find peace working with the local priests and leprosy doctor, when the unhappy young wife of a local factory owner accuses him of seducing her and fathering her child, prompting her husband to shoot Querry dead.
The Comedians (1966) Tragedy. Brown returns to run his hotel in Port-au-Prince, in a Haiti writhing under the brutal regime of Papa Doc Duvalier, and to resume his affair with the ambassador’s wife, Martha. A minister commits suicide in the hotel pool; Brown is beaten up by the Tontons Macoute; he tries to help a sweet old American couple convert the country to vegetarianism. In the final, absurd sequence he persuades the obvious con-man ‘major’ Jones to join the pathetic ‘resistance’ (12 men with three rusty guns), motivated solely by the jealous (and false) conviction that Jones is having an affair with his mistress. They are caught, escape, and Brown is forced to flee to the neighbouring Dominican Republic where the kindly Americans get him a job as assistant to the funeral director he had first met on the ferry to Haiti.
Travels With My Aunt (1969) Comedy. Unmarried, middle-aged, retired bank manager Henry Pullman meets his aunt Augusta at the funeral of his mother, and is rapidly drawn into her unconventional world, accompanying her on the Orient Express to Istanbul and then on a fateful trip to south America, caught up in her colourful stories of foreign adventures and exotic lovers till he finds himself right in the middle of an uncomfortably dangerous situation.
The Honorary Consul (1973) Tragedy. Dr Eduardo Plarr accidentally assists in the kidnapping of his friend, the alcoholic, bumbling ‘honorary consul’ to a remote city on the border of Argentina, Charley Fortnum, with whose ex-prostitute wife he happens to be having an affair. When he is asked to go and treat Fortnum, who’s been injured, Plarr finds himself also taken prisoner by the rebels and dragged into lengthy Greeneish discussions about love and religion and sin and redemption etc, while they wait for the authorities to either pay the ransom the rebels have demanded or storm their hideout. It doesn’t end well.
The Human Factor (1978) Maurice Castle lives a quiet, suburban life with his African wife, Sarah, commuting daily to his dull office job in a branch of British Security except that, we learn half way through the book, he is a double agent passing secrets to the Russians. Official checks on a leak from his sector lead to the improbable ‘liquidation’ of an entirely innocent colleague which prompts Castle to make a panic-stricken plea to his Soviet controllers to be spirited out of the country. And so he is, arriving safely in Moscow. But to the permanent separation with the only person he holds dear in the world and who he was, all along, working on behalf of – his beloved Sarah. Bleak and heart-breaking.
Monsignor Quixote (1982) Father Quixote is unwillingly promoted monsignor and kicked out of his cosy parish, taking to the roads of Spain with communist ex-mayor friend, Enrique ‘Sancho’ Zancas, in an old jalopy they jokingly nickname Rocinante, to experience numerous adventures loosely based on his fictional forebear, Don Quixote, all the while debating Greene’s great Victorian theme, the possibility of a doubting – an almost despairing – Catholic faith.
The Captain and The Enemy (1988) 12-year-old Victor Baxter is taken out of his boarding school by a ‘friend’ of his father’s, the so-called Captain, who carries him off to London to live with his girlfriend, Liza. Many years later Victor, a grown man, comes across his youthful account of life in this strange household when Liza dies in a road accident, and he sets off on an adult pilgrimage to find the Captain in Central America, a quest which – when he tells him of Liza’s death – prompts the old man to one last – futile and uncharacteristic – suicidal gesture.
Posted in Comedy, Novel
Tagged 1982, Catholicism, Christianity, communism, Don Quixote, Enrique Zancas, General Franco, Graham Greene, Lenin, Marx, Monsignor Quixote, Rocinante, Sancho, Spain
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2015/09/22/monsignor-quixote-graham-greene/
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Colombians say alleged N.S. killer was a drug cartel kingpin
Steven Douglas Skinner is shown after being arrested in Playa El Yaque, on Margarita Island in Venezuela, in police handout photo posted on Twitter by Cuerpo de Investigaciones Cientificas, Penales y Criminalisticas (CICPC) director Douglas Rico. Officials in South America say a Nova Scotia man accused of murder was allegedly one of the kingpins of a Colombian drug cartel before he was arrested on a Venezuela beach and extradited back to Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - CICPC)
Published Friday, September 28, 2018 4:31PM ADT
Last Updated Friday, September 28, 2018 6:09PM ADT
A Halifax-area man accused of murder was allegedly one of the kingpins of a Colombian drug cartel before he was arrested on a Venezuelan beach and extradited back to Canada, officials in South America say.
The Office of the Attorney General of Colombia said in a press release Wednesday that Steven Douglas Skinner, a former MMA fighter awaiting trial on second-degree murder, organized a drug trafficking network called Morfhox with Daniel "El Loco" Barrera.
The attorney general said along with his accomplice -- who he allegedly later killed before fleeing to neighbouring Venezuela -- Skinner recruited drug mules to smuggle cocaine to Canada, the United States and Europe
The alleged narcos targeted seniors, mothers and Venezuelans to illegally transport drugs by swallowing latex capsules filled with liquid cocaine.
They bought the drug mules passports, airline tickets and clothing as well as paid for expenses abroad, promising a bonus payment when they returned to Colombia, the attorney general said.
Skinner was arrested by Venezuelan law enforcement on Margarita Island in 2016, and was extradited to Canada the following year to face second-degree murder charges in the death of Stacey Adams in Nova Scotia.
A photo released by Venezuelan authorities after his arrest showed the one-time fugitive in colourful swim trunks, with tattoos on both arms and his bare chest covered in sand.
Skinner, who fought as a light-heavyweight at 205 pounds, had a 3-2 professional record, according to mixed martial arts website Sherdog.com.
Police had issued an international warrant for Skinner's arrest shortly after Adams was found dead in Lake Echo in April 2011.
The RCMP worked with Venezuelan authorities for more than a year before Skinner was arrested.
Colombian officials said the four-year investigation into the liquid cocaine smuggling cartel led to 27 arrests, including eight people responsible for the cartel's logistics, and the confiscation of 46 properties, 12 vehicles and four commercial establishments.
The bust also yielded cash, firearms, ammunition and several emeralds, the prosecutor's office said.
RCMP identify Lake Echo, N.S. murder victim
Appeal court upholds acquittal of N.S. woman in 'Mr. Big' sting
Police release photo of man wanted in Stacey Adams death
Suspect wanted for N.S. man's 2011 murder arrested in Venezuela
'I want him to see me': Mother confronts man accused of murdering son
N.S. man charged with murder extradited from Venezuela
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Category Archives: Democrats
#WheresKyrsten on confirming Judge Kavanaugh?
Posted on October 4, 2018 by America Today under Arizona, Big Abortion, Big Government, Border Invasion, Congress, Constitution, Culture, Democrats, Elections, Faith & Freedom, Guns, Illegal Aliens, Judges, Judicial activism, Lawelssness, McSally, Media, National Defense, Planned Parenthood, Sanctuary cities, Socialism, Socialism, Taxpayers, The Left
Socialist and U.S. Senate candidate Kyrsten Sinema is riding the rails trying to fool the public. She won answer questions on whether or not she would vote to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the Supreme Court. She’s trying to tiptoe on the fence and fool voters into thinking she’s a reasonable moderate candidate. She is anything but! If voters make the mistake of electing her, she’ll be another Schumer, another Sanders. Radical and far left to the bone; that’s what she is and what she doesn’t want you to know. Beware the bait and switch from this pre-election chameleon!
When Sinema’s been in front of press this week she hasn’t answered the question on whether she’d vote to confirm the judge. When providing statements to the press, she buttons her lips and plays it safe. She’s really playing the voters.
When asked on Tuesday during a Fox 10 Phoenix interview, Republican Martha McSally was asked whether she’d voted to confirm Judge Kavanaugh. She answered the question.
When asked on Wednesday during an interview with the AP, McSally was asked whether she’d vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh. She answered the question.
When asked on Wednesday during an interview with Mac and Gaydos, McSally was asked whether she’d vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh. She answered the question.
When asked on Wednesday during an interview with ABC 15, McSally was asked whether she’d vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh. She answered the question.
Why won’t Kyrsten Sinema be honest with Arizonans and let them know where she stands? Why is she trying to tiptoe through the tulips and deceive the voters? When there’s no way in heck she will ever vote to confirm a constitutionalist judicial candidate? She prefers judicial activists who will circumvent the legislative process and write radical, new laws from the bench — taking away your freedom.
“Kyrsten is running to be the next Senator from Arizona, and confirming judges is one of the greatest responsibilities given to members of the Senate,” said McSally Spokeswoman Torunn Sinclair. “Arizonans deserve to know where Kyrsten Sinema stands on confirming Judge Kavanaugh. Why won’t Kyrsten answer the question? Because she’s a liberal extremist trying to fool Arizona voters into thinking she’s a moderate.”
LBJ: Racist Supreme
Posted on May 16, 2018 by America Today under America, Culture, Democrats, Depravity, Elections, Hillary Clinton, Left-Stream Media, Obama, The Left
Tipirneni is Big Abortion Advocate
Posted on April 20, 2018 by America Today under America, Arizona, Big Abortion, Big Government, Border Invasion, Congress, Constitution, Corruption, Culture, Democrats, Depravity, Economy, Education, Elections, Faith & Freedom, Families, Friend of the Taxpayer, Guns, Health Insurance, Hillary Clinton, Illegal Aliens, Immorality, Life, Media, National Defense, Obama, Planned Parenthood, Religious Freedom, Second Amendment, Socialism, Taxpayers, The Left
If you support Big Abortion then former doctor Hiral Tipirnini is your vote for Tuesday’s special election in Arizona’s Eighth Congressional District. Here’s her view on Big Abortion:
I fervently believe our elected representatives should support policies reflecting clearly established women’s reproductive health rights. In short, abortions should stay safe, legal, and rare. And, for the record, no one is “pro-abortion” – one is essentially either pro-choice or anti-choice.
Tipirnini is a firm supporter of Planned Parenthood, even though that corrupt organization has been:
Sued in 10 states for refusing to report the rapes of underage girls and protecting their abusers;
Found to have defrauded the government and you the taxpayer by unethical billing in more than half the states;
Illegally profited off the sale of dead baby body parts;
Lying about performing mammograms.
The former doctor’s TV commercials show her joyfully consulting with patients in a hospital, but this is a dishonest portrayal. She admitted to Channel 15 News that she has NOT treated a patient since 2007. Still the commercial is airing on TV, deceiving the voters.
She settled in a malpractice lawsuit brought against her leaving her medical practice.
The malpractice lawsuit was filed by a Phoenix woman, Belen Carrillo, before her death. Carrillo claimed that Tipirneni and a physicians employee group failed to give her a medically necessary tetanus immunization while treating her for a leg wound in 2001. According to the plaintiff’s lawyer and son, Carrillo, then 72, contracted tetanus, ended up in a coma for weeks, and suffered kidney failure. The lawsuit says Carrillo sustained “permanent injury and disability.”
During a debate, Tipirneni announced her agenda to push Medicare for All – a program that will bankrupt Social Security, leaving one in six Arizonans without benefits. As a former ER doctor, she should know better. Hiral Tipirneni’s disingenuous commitment to healthcare simply to win an election will end up harming thousands of Arizonans.
RNC Spokesperson Renae Eze said:
“Hiral Tipirneni has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the well-being of Arizonans, first hiding her malpractice lawsuits and now prioritizing Medicare for All to the detriment of Social Security. Medicare for All will completely bankrupt the Social Security program, and as a former ER doctor she should know that. You would think an ER doctor would fight to protect people’s benefits, but Tipirneni seems only concerned with winning an election.”The Democratic candidate for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, Dr. Hiral Tipirneni, claimed to “not be about party lines,” but then said “the real fight is with the GOP agenda.”
Tipirneni showed she was anti-border security when she called the idea of a border wall “not appropriate” and said she did not support spending “even a fraction” of the estimated costs associated with building it.
Tipirneni called The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act “absolutely wrong” and claimed money “would not trickle down to anyone.”
Yet, contrary to the doctor’s diagnosis, many Arizonans have received bonuses and other benefits thanks to the tax cuts, and at least one business in the 8th District has already given their employees a wage increase because of the tax cuts.
Despite Obamacare premium increases of 116 percent statewide, Dr. Tipirneni said Obamacare has “helped” and she supports “strengthening and stabilizing [Obamacare].”
Dr. Tipirneni has taken liberal, out-of-touch positions on abortion and gun control, among other issues.
This Big Government Democrat socialist supports free education for illegal aliens and opposes strong border protections and the wall.
This candidate is a fraud and her campaign is a complete charade portraying her as someone she is not. But now you who she really is.
It’s clear that Debbie Lesko is the deserving candidate for Congress.
The Reign of America’s Most Corrupt President Comes to an End
Posted on January 15, 2017 by America Today under America, Big Government, Constitution, Corruption, Culture, Democrats, Depravity, Economy, Education, Elections, Faith & Freedom, Families, Family, Forward, Homosexual Agenda, Illegal Aliens, Immorality, Life, Marriage, Obama, Planned Parenthood, Sheriff Arpaio, Socialism, Taxpayers, The Left
A list of Obama’s Scandals
Abuse of power — using the IRS to punish political opponents
Abuse of power — using the Department of Justice to protect wrongdoing by his administration
Fiscal malfeasance — adding $8 trillion to the national debt
Performance malfeasance — playing golf on average every nine days, exorbitant mis-use of public funds by exceeding vacation allowance all eight years in office
Clunker presidency — he used your tax dollars to attempt to take old inefficient cars off the roads, but the term “clunker presidency” describes his incompetence in eight years as president
Dishonesty — lying and deceit are the hallmarks of his failed presidency
Obamacare — you could not keep your doctor, your premiums rose substantially, your premiums did not guarantee that you actually received medical treatment
Enemy of the people — the Obama State Department was an enemy of the people at the United Nations, where it opposed the sanctity of human life, marriage and religious freedom
Campaign finance violations — Obama, like Clinton before him, accepted illegal foreign contributions for his election campaigns
Billions of taxpayer dollars gambled on “green” companies like Solyndra, NextEra, Ener1, Solar Trust and many others — all of which went bankrupt.
An intentional refusal to enforce federal immigration laws.
Destruction of the economy — bad business policies discouraged 14 million Americans from participating in the work force; the number of Americans out of the work force under Obama increased an astounding 17.5 percent, to 94 million; Obama threatened to close down businesses and private charities for refusing to provide health insurance coverage of abortion-inducing drugs
Stimulus — Obama gave billions of your tax dollars to union friends who in turned gave it back to him in the form of campaign contributions
Food stamp America — 15 percent of Americans are now on food stamps, an unprecedented figure
Weakened the U.S. military and damaged morale by threatening dishonorable discharges for chaplains and service personnel who wanted to exercise their First Amendment religious freedom
Weakened the military by interjecting the radical homosexual agenda onto the armed forces
Operation Fast and Furious — supplied guns to Mexican drug cartels who in turn used these weapons to kill an American border patrolman
Drugs — Obama’s open border allowed illegal drugs into the United States, damaging the lives of Americans and perpetuating drug addictions
Endangering Americans by flying foreign children with communicable diseases into the U.S.
Intervened our military in Libya without consent of Congress
Changed laws through executive order, circumventing the separation of powers
Ran weapons illegally out of Bengazi and left four Americans to die during a terrorist attack and then lied to their families about the actual cause of the attack
Wasted millions of your tax dollars on Solyndra and other failed companies.
Fined oil companies for causing the death of eagles and hawks, but refused to fine wind turbine companies for causing the deaths of many times more raptors
Gave away $800 billion in tax dollars to “shovel-ready” jobs that did not exist
Gave away millions of tax dollars for stimulus jobs in non-existent congressional districts, such as the non-existent 15th Congressional District in Arizona
America’s credit rating was downgraded due to his incompetence
Appointed numerous czars to positions without any oversight or accountability to government agencies, including the communist Van Jones
Appointed Kevin Jennings, a radical leftist who supported pedophilia, to be “safe schools czar”
Sued states and law enforcement officials for attempting to uphold federal immigration laws
Befriended Islamic terrorists
Endorsed Planned Parenthood, an organization under investigation for defrauding the government of millions of taxpayer dollars, refusing to report the sexual offenders of underage girls and illegally selling baby body parts
Damaged relations with long-standing American allies
Interfered with elections in Israel and obsessed on pressuring Israel to make concessions to Islamic terrorists
Appointed Tim Geithner, who had evaded paying taxes, secretary of the treasury
Fired government investigator Gerald Walpin for uncovering scandals by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a friend of and donor of Obama
Compiled from staff and news reports, including The Investment Watch blog
Soros Plan for Killing America
Posted on November 4, 2016 by America Today under Culture, Democrats, Depravity, Faith & Freedom, Hillary Clinton, Lawelssness, Left-Stream Media, Lenin, Marxists, Media, Obama, Planned Parenthood, Radical Environmentalism, Religious Liberty, Socialism, Socialism, Taxpayers, The Arizona Conservative University, The Left, Unions
Phoenix Mayor Blinded by Dust Storm; Progressivism is Business Killer
Posted on September 27, 2016 by America Today under America, Arizona, Big Government, Border Invasion, Children, Conservatism, Culture, Democrats, Economy, Elections, Families, Friend of the Taxpayer, Hillary Clinton, Illegal Aliens, Marxists, Obama, Planned Parenthood, Sanctuary cities, Socialism, Socialism, Spiking, Taxpayers, The Left, Unions
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton claims progressivism is the better plan for business. That’s what he actually told the Phoenix Business Journal.
It seems that ever since the last time a haboob passed through Phoenix area, the mayor’s vision and ability to reason have been severely clouded!
Obviously, the mayor has not been able to see the moving trucks coming in from California and heading for Texas. They’ve left the socialist state for a state that welcomes businesses and doesn’t overburden them with excessive taxation and regulation.
It is evident the mayor doesn’t know that where the minimum wage has been raised — to the lofty heights of $15 an hour in some locations — some have lost their jobs. Many small businesses cannot afford that exorbitant rate, which also means fewer part-time jobs are available.
Stanton also fails to acknowledge that America’s Socialist In Chief, B.H. Obama, has threatened to put out of business those who refuse to provide abortion coverage in their health insurance plans. Through his Obama abortion mandate, the prez would rather harm the business community and the economy, putting families out of work, raising money for Planned Parenthood. He’d rather stand in the way of small businesses, religious colleges and faith-based organizations than allow the economy and the business market to thrive. That’s astounding, mayor.
Progressives have long been strangling businesses in red tape, over-regulation and interference with their ability to survive. This is why we hear about American workers forced to train foreigners to take their jobs and why we lose business to other nations. Think Government Motors moving auto plants to Mexico — where Mexicans gain employment and Americans lose employment.
Progressivism is socialism, which means Big Government, small citizen, small private business.
Obama actually once told businesses, “Now is not the time for profits.” But that’s not surprising for a socialist progressive who prefers that government keep its all-powerful thumb on business.
And that leads us right to unions. Progressives reap huge campaign contributions from unions because they are downright anti-business.
Progressives are also bullish on illegal aliens — future Democratic voters and underminers of the American worker.
Furthermore, progressivism has damaged our public education system for decades, eroding America’s ability to train the workers we need for an efficient business climate and economy. Foreign nationals are getting engineering and doctor’s jobs here because the schools are not preparing enough Americans for those high-paying jobs.
So, bottom line, Mayor Stanton: stop dreaming and stop lying. Clear out your vision and admit the truth. Progressivism is a detriment to business. Conservatism, capitalism create the optimal business climate and represent the best interests of the American worker and the families they feed.
Remember this as election time nears and as you vote. Vote smart. Vote against progressivism, which is the perfect recipe for economic and business failure. Remember also: it was progressive socialists who forced the housing market fiasco that cost many a good American his/her retirement.
The Courage of Supt. Douglas is Worthy of Emulation and Respect
Posted on October 30, 2015 by America Today under America, Arizona, Children, Culture, Democrats, Education, The Left
We elected Republicans to go to Washington and fight Obama’s abuses and an out-of-control, unaccountable government. In 2014, we put Republicans in complete control of Congress to do that.
Senate President Mitch McConnell and former House Speaker John Boehner refused to follow the will of the people and do that. They acted like the Scottish nobleman who rode away from the battlefield when William Wallace and the patriots wanted to fight against England for their freedom.
People are tired of being betrayed by political candidates who promise the sky and then refuse to deliver.
Diane Douglas told us that, if elected state superintendent of Public Instruction, she would fight to get rid of Common Core education standards. She bears the scars of the battles she’s encountered in living up to her word. The radical Left wants to recall her.
But on Monday the state board of education voted 6-2 to formally sever ties with the copyright that accompanies Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards — formerly known as Common Core. Now Arizona can alter its 2010 adoption of Common Core-based standards. Children and the state will be the better for it.
Many people are not paying attention and do not know what all the fuss is about. In fact, the Christian Science Monitor asks, “Why is Arizona trying to repeal Common Core?”
The group Arizonans against Common Core helps break down the problems with Common Core:
The standards are of mediocre quality;
They violate federal statutes;
Our state will pay a heavy price to implement them;
These standards intrude on student and family privacy; and
These standards further federalize education and usurp power from the state, eroding state sovereignty.
As long as public education in America is based on a secular humanist worldview, our nation is selling itself and our children short and will not fully prosper. But the example of Superintendent Douglas’s courage and persistence — in the face of overwhelming leftist and union opposition — is worthy of emulation and respect. Oh that we would have this in Congress.
This is a good start in the revival of Arizona’s K-12 system. Now it is up to you, mothers and fathers and taxpayers to lend your voice and insist on better education for our children. Education that will not perpetuate lies and myths while undermining the values of good and honest parents.
New Book Exposes Left-Stream Media’s Folly over HB1062
Posted on October 21, 2015 by America Today under America, American Culture, Arizona, Climate, Democrats, Depravity, Faith & Freedom, Families, Freedom, Governor, Homosexal Agenda, Immorality, Left-Stream Media, Marriage, Mcain, Media, Religious Freedom, Religious Liberty, Taxpayers, The Left
Less than two years ago, extremists on the far Left fringe and their media lemmings in Arizona and around the nation successfully waged a campaign of fear, deceit and distortion against a state religious freedom bill, HB 1062. They stampeded Gov. Jan Brewer into fearfully vetoing this harmless, but helpful, bill. Virtually every television station in Arizona bought the lies of homosexual activists … hook, line and sinker, and engaged in yellow journalism. Even a Phoenix sportscaster, Mike Jurecki, foolishly shot off his mouth about what the bill would not do, further spreading the Big Lie, the Big Narrative of the Left. We saw again how gullible, how ignorant and misinformed and how horribly misguided the left-stream media really is. And just how easily the left-stream media could be led by extreme leftists, without pretending to be fair or factual.
Outside of The Arizona Conservative, there were few in this state who really stood up to speak the truth to this manufactured “crisis.”
Now Ryan Anderson of The Heritage Foundation has addressed what happened here — in his book “Truth Overruled: The Future of Marriage and Religious Freedom.” He writes the following in Chapter 5: Religious Freedom: A Basic Human Right. We think this is well worth your read:
In February 2014, the State of Arizona considered a minor legislative clarification to its state RFRA, attracting incendiary media coverage. The New York Times editorialized that the Arizona legislation had passed “noxious measures to give businesses and individuals the broad right to deny services to same-sex couples in the name of protecting religious liberty.”
The Times got it wrong. The Arizona bill, an amendment to the stat’s 1999 RFRA protections, never even mentioned same-sex couples. In provided that the RFRA protections would extend to any “state action” and would apply to “any individual, association, partnership, corporation, church, religious assembly or institution or other business organization. In other words, the bill would have protected all citizens and the associations they form from undue burdens by the government on their religious liberty and from private lawsuits that would have the same effect.
Kirsten Powers jumped into the fray with a USA Today column misleadingly titled “Arizona Latest to Attack Gay Rights.” She warned that the law “would result in nothing less than chaos,” even though the federal government has operated under the same rules for twenty years and Arizona had had similar protections since 1999. A bipartisan group of law professors set the record straight in a letter to Governor Jan Brewer:
The bill has been egregiously misrepresented by many of its critics …
We should not punish people for practicing their religion unless we have a very good reason. Arizona has had a RFRA for nearly fifteen years now; the federal government has had one since 1993; and RFRA’s standard was the constitutional standard for the entire country from 1963 to 1990 …
[The proposed law] would amend the Arizona RFRA to address two ambiguities that have been the subject of litigation under other RFRA’s. It would provide that people are covered when state or local government requires them to violate their religion in the conduct of their businesses, and it would provide that people are covered when sued by a private citizen invoking state or local law to demand that they violate their religion.
The rhetoric about giving bigots a license not to serve gays and lesbians was simply nonsensical. Indeed, religious liberty claims in connection with same-sex marriage have never been about turning away certain persons or groups, but about not endorsing certain actions or ceremonies.
But the lies worked, and Governor Brewer, a Republican, vetoed the bill. Among those applying pressure were Arizona’s two Republican senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, as well as Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney [and State Senator Bob Worsley], showing that both political parties are susceptible to abandoning principle once the media dial up the heat. Or big business. National Football League officials expressed concern about holding the Super Bowl in Arizona, as scheduled, should the religious liberty bill be enacted.
The scholar’s letter flew right over the head of the frightened governor, who vetoed the bill and got the rabid radicals off her back.
Senate Bill would Block Sanctuary Cities Laws
Posted on October 16, 2015 by America Today under America, Arizona, Border Invasion, Borders, Congress, Conservatism, Constitution, Corruption, Democrats
The Center for Immigration Studies has published an analysis of Senate Bill 2146, the “Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect American Act” introduced by Senator David Vitter. This sanctuary legislation is designed to block state or local governments from enacting or continuing sanctuary laws or policies that protect aliens from the reach of federal immigration authorities, most especially with regard to aliens arrested and convicted for criminal offenses.
Recent data reveals an estimated 1,000 criminal aliens a month are being released due to sanctuary policies, making congressional action imperative. The bill seeks to incentivize state and local governments to cooperate with federal authorities by continuing existing grants to those which exchange information and comply with detainers; cutting federal funding to sanctuary governments which refuse to cooperate, that is then distributed to jurisdictions that do cooperate; and by providing immunity to officers when engaging in cooperative efforts, including complying with detainers or providing information.
View the entire report here.
“The Obama Administration refuses to deal with the sanctuary problem, which has led to crimes such as the murder of Kate Steinle by a five-times-deported illegal-alien felon,” said Dan Cadman, a Center fellow and author of the report. “This bill addresses the sanctuary policies which result in thousands of criminal aliens being released into our communities to reoffend. Unfortunately, it is not as comprehensive as the Davis-Oliver Act, which would deal with the sanctuary policies and the administration’s deliberate suppression of enforcement.”
DEMOCRATS VS. AMERICA
Posted on September 27, 2015 by America Today under America, Arizona, Big Abortion, Big Government, Constitution, Corruption, Culture, Democrats, Depravity, Freedom, Homosexual Agenda, Illegal Aliens, Judges, Judicial activism, Lawelssness, Life, Marriage, Marxists, Media, National Defense, Obama, Planned Parenthood, Radical Environmentalism, Religious Liberty, Sanctuary cities, Socialism, Taxpayers, The Arizona Conservative University, The Left
Democrats …
Want to control as much of your life as they possibly can
Want to take away your freedom
Want to regulate your speech
Accept blood money from Planned Parenthood to get elected
Take your money and give it to Planned Parenthood
Say your child belong to the state
Want to keep your children in failing schools
Want to indoctrinate your children in secular humanism and encourage them to abandon your faith
Punish you for your beliefs and thoughts
Allow religious liberty for everyone but Christians
Raise your taxes
View all money as theirs to keep or to allow you to have some
Punish successful businesses
Tax your church
Remove accreditation from Christian colleges
Take away your right to defend yourself — leaving you defenseless against criminals
Release more prisoners from jail
Want Planned Parenthood to avoid punishment for allowing child rapists to go unreported
Want to re-write the Constitution so they can make up new “rights”
Want to weaken our national defense
Want to open the borders for drug smugglers and new Democratic voters
Ignore the rule of law
Are creating chaos so you will give up your liberty to have order
Are destroying America’s culture
Are practicing situational ethics to justify unethical behavior
Confiscate your money and give it to the poor, then taking credit for “helping the poor”
Are making you pay for the abortion slaughter of 1.2 million Americans each year
Are making you pay for other people’s health insurance
Made you pay for free golf carts for others
Want you to pay for other people’s college education
Are giving your tax dollars to America’s enemies
Control the media
Steal elections and disenfranchise you
Encourage activist judges to over-rule your vote
Are dictating your vocabulary
Are demonizing and marginalizing anyone who does not agree with them
Despise the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution
Are fiscally reckless and irresponsible, weakening the economy
Jeopardizing your social security
Are controlling the law schools and training godless generations of lawyers to carry out their policies
Are championing moral depravity
Are poisoning people against law enforcement
Are socialists
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Limits of Modi’s personalised diplomacy
Posted on July 16, 2016 by Bharat Karnad
THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC of Narendra Modi’s tenure as Prime Minister are the foreign trips he has racked up—16 in his first year, followed by another 10 in his second year in office. It seems he likes nothing better than jaw-jawing in foreign climes.
For all the media hoo-ha, Modi’s tours are fetching diminishing returns, with each new foreign tour appearing less fresh, less substantive, but more wearisome. Consider Modi’s interactions with the US President: He has met Barack Obama seven times in all, four times in America, and twice on visits to Washington. But a few days before the supposed honour done Modi with the invitation to address the US Congress, the US Senate rejected recognising India as America’s ‘global strategic and defence partner’ and the White House did not pitch India’s case to Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Brazil and Turkey, for admission to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), unlike in 2008 when the then President George W Bush burned the wires—including with China—to get India its NSG waiver. And, notwithstanding Modi’s charm offensive and personal pleading on state visits to Mexico and Switzerland, neither Mexico City nor Berne relented in opposing India’s NSG membership.
So, what’s going wrong with Modi’s forays in the external realm, which made such a splash early on, transfixing the country and at least the expat part of the Western world, replete with crazed crowds in Madison Garden, New York, Wembley Stadium, London, and the Allphones Arena, Sydney? Well, they hit the limits of personalised diplomacy.
What makes personalised diplomacy tick? Mainly, its rarity and the manner in which it is conducted and for what purpose. It is a double-edged sword, though. A helmsman putting his prestige and status on the line, and doing the slog-work—the domain of professional diplomats—of stumping for support from foreign countries, endows the venture he is involved in with significance beyond anything the foreign country may accord it. But there have been more failures than payoffs. This is due to the hyperbolic media build-up and raising of expectations that have provided clever adversary states the opportunity to show India in bad light, pull Modi down a peg or two, and magnify his failure. Thus, Chinese President Xi Jinping ignored Modi’s entreaties for “a fair and objective assessment” of India’s case for NSG membership in their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tashkent on 23 June, resulting in egg on the latter’s face and a hit to India’s reputation.
Modi’s calling card—his tight embraces, bear hugs and hand- holding—unique to his personalised diplomacy, which he believes makes for instant warmth and cordiality, hasn’t worked either. Nawaz Sharif responded happily to such gestures, and Obama, who roomed with a Pakistani during his days at Columbia University, reciprocated. But it has left most other leaders, such as French President François Hollande, in a state of embarrassed discomfort.
At its core, the trouble is that the Prime Minister has made too many foreign trips and converted too many foreign policy issues into occasions for grandstanding, and his interventions have now palled, eroding his credibility and raising doubts about his ability to distinguish between the truly significant national interest that needs pursuing with his direct involvement and relatively less important concerns that can be productively handled by diplomats.
It underlines just how precious a head of government’s personal political capital is in international relations and why it should be carefully husbanded, doled out in very small doses, and his presence deployed only in rare situations to obtain decisive results on large issues of war and peace, or to garner huge economic gains. In the field of foreign policy, ‘out of the box’ thinking and actions that Modi extols do not require that he always lead the charge. Since squandered personal capital cannot easily be restocked, the Indian Prime Minister may soon discover he has exhausted this resource when he most needs it in the future, rendering him less effective as a statesman.
There is also the danger that every passing failure will lead him to engage his ego more deeply in failing causes and to ‘lose face’. The great Chinese strategist Sun Tzu had warned that losing face has costs. But Modi indicated in his interview to Times TV that his Government will bull ahead regardless on the NSG front. Or as MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup put it: “Today, Indian diplomacy doesn’t fear failure. If we don’t get desired results, we [will] redouble our efforts.” But doggedness is not always a diplomatic virtue; it can result in the country digging itself into a bigger hole, nor is backing off to mount an offensive on another axis a show of weakness.
Modi’s personalised diplomacy is affected by other factors as well. It is clear the Prime Minister has his own foreign policy agenda and plan of action, has strong views on everything, and welcomes only policy ideas conforming to his own notions, summarily rejecting contrary advice from any quarter. Convinced of his power to persuade Xi, Modi, for example, shrugged off the MEA’s apprehensions about China’s unwavering opposition to India’s NSG entry. Modi’s style of working reveals tremendous confidence, and massive ego, pride, and vanity to match—natural for a person who has traversed the distance from the lowest rungs of society to the highest position in the country.
In this set-up, his National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar are mere functionaries doing Modi’s bidding. It has simplified the policymaking process. Jaishankar, for instance, has dispensed with the ‘collegium’ system followed by his predecessors of consulting other secretaries in the Ministry because such collective counsel is deemed extraneous to his brief and the Prime Minister’s needs. The MEA, including its Minister Sushma Swaraj, are thus marginalised.
Doval and Jaishankar have only to take care not to question Modi’s outlook and approach, or to contradict his views, and to deliver on cue. Then again, they have the same orientation the Prime Minister does of seeing the West as the source of solutions for India’s problems. Apparently, they have had a harder time adjusting to Modi’s peculiarly Gujarati conceit (representative of the trader community of that province) central to his diplomacy that because his negotiating wiles cannot easily be countered, he can cut beneficial deals all by himself with anybody. With Modi, in effect, both writing the diplomatic music and directing the orchestra, the PMO and MEA are reduced to keeping the musicians and their instruments in order.
With long experience of dealing with egotistical Third World leaders, Western governments long ago finessed the ministering to their vanity as means of advancing national interests into a fine art. Western capitals quickly learned, for instance, that gargantuan returns can be raked in by making the right noises, seconding Modi’s perspective, and waxing emphatic about his ‘Make in India’ programme. Fawned on and feted by Hollande in Paris, Modi suddenly announced the buy of 36 Rafale fighter planes that torpedoed the underway medium multi-role combat aircraft procurement process and undermined Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s more economical and effective option of buying twice as many Indian-assembled Su-30MKIs for the same amount as the Rafale, that would have left money over for producing the locally-designed Tejas light combat aircraft.
Likewise, in tilting towards the US, Modi has been unmindful of the huge economic and geopolitical costs involved in terms of loss of strategic autonomy and alienating Russia, an indispensable strategic partner. Unlike the US, Moscow has been relaxed about transferring frontline military equipment (such as the Akula-II nuclear attack submarine) in contrast to Washington flogging 1970s vintage F-16 and F-18 aircraft, and in assisting in the design and production of the Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile-firing submarines. Compare this technology level to the US promise of help in producing short-range tactical drones and battery packs.
Modi has seemingly bought into Washington’s transactional policy requiring New Delhi to make endless buys of inordinately expensive technology and military hardware just so the US grows to trust India. Except, US punitive policies created the trust deficit in the first place, which Modi doesn’t think matters.
He has thus agreed to purchase six Westinghouse AP 1000 light water reactors that will divert scarce funds from Indian projects to develop breeder reactors and follow-on thorium reactors. The US offer of the electro-magnetic aircraft launch system will make the Indian-built carriers cost-prohibitive, at $10 billion per vessel. And importing the 155 mm M-777 howitzer from the US instead of procuring the Bharat Forge-designed and produced lightweight, air transportable utility gun, will dampen private sector initiatives and mock Modi’s defence indigenisation policy. The total bill will be in tens of billions of dollars.
There’s no one to tell Modi he is on the wrong track. A liability in diplomacy, vanity won’t permit him to acknowledge his mistakes. Worse, it has made him susceptible ‘to be turned’, as a senior diplomat put it, ‘for small cash’.
Published as ‘Open Essay’ under the title “As Modi Embraces the World: Limits of personalised diplomacy” in Open magazine, July 15, 2016 at http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/essays/as-modi-embraces-the-world
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27 Responses to Limits of Modi’s personalised diplomacy
Punjabi Sardar says:
He doesn’t realize we don’t have the economic weight & the soft power that comes with it, to behave like this.
Xi or Putin acting like this would be seen as slightly shameless, let alone leader of a 2nd rate regional power like India. It was necessary though, after a long hiatus of no diplomacy.
Best that Modi focus on the countryside. That’s where the poor and the the votes are.
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ।।
josemanimalapala says:
As Karnad sir repeatedly point out Modi is no Vajpayee, Rajiv or Indira. He falls into a deadly failure – insult – failure cycle.
Veerpartap Singh Chohan says:
Modi is the only Indian leader ever since independence who has not taken a bribe in defence deals.MODI IS THE GREATEST INDIAN LEADER EVER UNTILL NOW!!!!!
Re: corruption, absolutely no doubt — he is as clean as clean can be.
@Veerpratap Singh Chohan
One knows there’s hot blood coursing through the veins, but there’s no need to bring out the sword at every turn in the story. One can get one’s point across in a milder way ,even if it doesn’t match Bharats viewpoint.
One likes to be here because one knows it’s many steps above run of the mill blogs that are a dime a dozen on the net,here we are interacting with a true intellectual (although he wants to reach for his pistol whenever he hears this word)so let’s not abuse this privilege by being militant in our outlook,we can differ with his opinion without rancour. That’s saying a lot.
&^%$#@! says:
One currently does not know if he is corrupt. Corruption is not the sole factor that ruined India. It’s the combination of incompetence + corruption that is one of the primary causes. It’s OK to be reasonably corrupt if one is competent. There’s plenty of corruption in China and the US. But the powers-that-be are not incompetent as compared to their Indian counterparts. Judging by his record till date, and assuming he is not corrupt, he is either grossly incompetent and/or appears to harbor an agenda that is detrimental to Indian strategic interests. The virtual freezing of the Agni program and his embrace of the foundation agreements (not signing them till now only because of possible domestic ramifications) are two examples to support this claim. .
As an addendum, another example of Modi’s incompetence is his reliance on sloganeering and cheap gimmicks as a substitute for sound governance is his much touted :Make in India” initiative. Till date, I have still to come across a cogent document that formally describes the scope and ambit of this initiative. It’s like the so-called “Gujarat model” which he used for effect in getting elected. Till date, I have yet to come across a document that describes the fundamentals of this alleged socio-economic model in depth.
A narrative worth pondering over.
I guess PM Modi has never heard about delegation of authority and wants to do everything himself.Nothing wrong with multitasking but it’s almost impossible for one individual to do so much unless he’s Superman.
The PM would be well advised to concentrate on providing an over arching vision to MEA and let the career diplomats look after the nitty gritties of day to day affairs.No need for him to visit foreign capitals cap in hand, begging them to endorse India’s entry into world groupings like NSG or the UNSC.
Also it’s embarrassing for an average Indian citizen to see serial hugging by the PM when meeting other world leaders as also business heads,maybe he should refrain from this act or at least curb his instincts to do so.If he had serial hugged the opposition leaders in India the GST bill,land acquisition act as well as the labour reforms would probably have been passed in Parliament by now and much needed impetus would have been provided to the economy.
His fetish for America can probably be traced back to his sojurns there when he was a nobody from a small provincial town and travelled coast to coast in that country.
One thing admirable about the man is if he fails it’s not due to lack of effort. Can question his methods but probably not his motives.
~!@#$%^&*()_+ ????
Happens to the best of us.Main thing is our heart is in the right place vis a vis India’s national interest just like Bharat Karnad.
To be fair, Modi inherited weak Sonia, Manmohan and Antony throne.
Remember one decade ago he was a criminal to USA and UK. Now he is their guest of honor!
There are limits to our soft, hard and economic power. We should play Russia, America and China cards ruthlessly in the new great game. Geopolitics is a poker game. France and Israel play Pakistan, Iran and Saudi cards for their gain.
Reproducing a forwarded email response from a former FOC-in-C to an ex-CNS:
Txns .I entirely agree with Bharat.History has shown that most autocratic rulers have had dramatic or violent ends. This person [Modi] too has limited choices. A Nation like ours needs mature and consensual approach, more so now since we have many regional entities and aspirations.Challenges within the country need better focus as the youth is getting alienated and agitated. Cosying up to Americans can give limited short term benefits and obsolescence technologies(F 16/18s and not JSF/Standard LRSAMs!), so let us not fall into a trap! Let the professionals stand up and be counted so that predigested inputs are put up for sound national level decisions and international/global interactions.We are nowhere close to any ‘high table’ in international affairs.A pity since despite our considerable national strength, we are yet to define our strategic vision and hence are content with mostly knee-jerk reactions!I wonder if Westinghouse has in recent years erected any modern technology nuclear power plants?
Reproduced here an email response to above piece by Col. Gautam Das (retd), ex-Gorkha Rifles and presently senior researcher at the United Service Institution of India:
Loved your recent piece on the subject.
My personal belief, which has been growing for some time, is that Modi is digging himself into a Nehruvian foreign-policy hole; the same ego-driven one man policy-making and deciding that led to the 1962 debacle vis-a-vis China. This may sooner or later push us into a major difficulty, as China will find an opportunity to seriously embarrass us. We are being stupid.
MS says:
Ha ha ha. Can you write more such columns that are fun than reading some defence matter with serious face. Is life any fun if we can’t dine beneath the glittery chandeliers when the long camera lenses are flashing all around! But is that really a symbol of power? You rightly said that the western countries are massaging our ego and selling us the billion dollar stuff. They must be must be kicking themselves in glee every time they praise us and then get contracts.
Modi is still the most capable person in politics – acumen and also the ability to see the breadth of issues-wise. I do not know others who could grapple with issues. Do we see a leader who could play on a wider canvass because our problems are more and only getting bigger? But we are not solving them. Indian expats are fine but the action is here in India.
Thanks for mentioning the cost of that emals tech. Are big nuclear aircraft carriers really required when we do not have even a dozen stealthy submarines in the water?
Thank God, the defence minister has put the missiles from Israel on hold because of cost. Could you write a note on what strategic choices on weapons we should make sometime. Should we spend on putting 15 stealthy powerful submarines in the water, have a few hundred SU-30 in the air, and hone in the best tech for our long range missiles OR go for these mindless things like nuclear aircraft carriers.
You have written very very nicely and well, woven the concern on splurging on obsolete or onerous purchases into the scene that is playing out. I enjoyed it.
On the “strategic choices” of armaments — this is a running concern you will find addressed in numerous posts on this blog and in my writings, including my last book — Why India is Not a Great Power (Yet). It is a subject that will be tackled in greater depth with the future force structure in mind in my next book, which’s in the works. May I, therefore, counsel a bit of patience! Thanks. But until then, do please peruse previous posts. And specifically re: EMALS, may I direct you to my op/ed piece “US Defence bait is potent but impractical symbolism” in the New Indian Express published May 29, 2015 accessible at http://www.newindianexpress.com/columns/US-Defence-Bait-is-Potent-But-Impractical-Symbolism/2015/05/29/article2837552.ece, or the post at https://bharatkarnad.com/2015/05/29/us-defence-bait-is-potent-but-impractical-symbolism/.
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Common sense and some interest in defence tells one that in today’s world a large country with its populace working hard(now in the private sector and earlier in the govt sectors) has to have 15(or 20?) stealthy submarines with lethal long range missiles, hundrerd of fighter planes and military with guns.
Some expert may say- oh no, we would need much more diverse platforms.
I did read your piece in Indian express when it was published and then went to the bottom to see who has written it. It appealed to me that someone was calling for restraint in spending amidst the chaotic big demands, That is how I got to know you.
While I am interested, I suggested you write a column on the strategic choices ‘for everybody to read’ and repeatedly so that decision making could be influenced. That is the motive-not knowledge but influencing the decision on purchases.
I get it.
sanman says:
I agree with Mr Karnad’s comments, although not necessarily with some of the commenters who like to hurl the most churlish insults at Modi. Fine, he is a man of humble origins and upbringing, and this obviously reflects in his personal demeanor, which contrasts with the likes of Manmohan Singh. This is why I feel the stately Mr Jaitley with his dignified manner and world-class oratorial skills would have been better in the Foreign Minister post than in Finance. His eloquence is wasted as Finance Minister, and he would have much better served the country by representing it on the world stage. This would have allowed Modi to spend more time on domestic diplomacy in cutting more deals with other parties to get around Congress obstructionism. Maybe Suresh Prabhu could have been made Finance Minister to handle the entire budget, instead of just the Railway budget. And Sushma Swaraj could have been given the HRD role instead of the combative Smriti Irani.
Reproducing a personal email response to the piece by a former CNS:
Thank you Bharat for focusing on the fundamentals
SANKET says:
If you say that Modi has made our PMO and MEA irrelevant then why has he not been able to take quick decisions on issues such as delivery of missiles to Vietnam and setting up of overseas Indian bases?
The delay, and it is not just vis a vis the Brahmos to Vietnam is, perhaps, because he is looking over his shoulders to gauge possible US reaction, I reckon.
In 1962 China attacked India and proved to the Soviets China will attack any Soviet ally with Impunity.
In 2016 they proved to the USA they won’t blink and will attack all US allies in Asia. In the NSG fiasco five so called Indian friends turned Brutus.
In the coming imminent, inevitable Chinese Invasion of India, Summer 2018, we can count only on Russia, France, Israel and Vietnam.
So much for the Schelling doctrine. The less powerful competitor (in this case China) will back down first from escalation dominance. Sorry, Armchair Generals.
Karnad Sir, will you cover lost 1969 and 1979 chances in your next book?
India was not a Soviet ally in 1962.
~!@#$%^&*()_+ says:
@andy, we are two different people :):
~!@#$%^&*()_+ and &^%$#@!.
I was not commenting on this write up. But Modi ji does overdo a lot of his social/diplomatic overtures. I have stopped IDing myself as a supporter in public. Who goes to US 4 times in 2 years, unless its a punter going to Vegas?
But for me at the moment, his prompt followups on defence matters and his drive are a saving grace. The Indian defence production is up and has hope for the future. Only cause for concern are the bloody foundational agreements. Elements of armed forces leadership were already compromised well before he came in. So nothing much can done about that currently.
There are many more strategic blunders of Modi that can be cited but there is a TINA political factor that has set in.
The way to compare Modi in an honest manner is to compare him with the ABV admin. One will immediately see the differences in style, approach and capabilities. It is difficult to stomach the hard truth, strategic policy blunders do not have ANY impact on political fortunes. Modi understands this and is acting accordingly. Only the “thinking” class has any inkling of the opportunities lost. To translate these to political costs is not a straight forward translation.
I am glad that there are a few places where such policy can be discussed without partisan politics.
OMG!Haven’t noticed the difference as I wasn’t looking out for them, the captions seem so similar if one skims over them!
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Standigm raises $11.5M in Series B Round
02 April 2019 | News
Standigm will use the funds to scale the AI technology platforms and advance its drug discovery pipelines toward license-out
Standigm, a company using artificial intelligence (AI) technology for drug discovery and development, announced it has raised $11.5 million in a Series B funding round led by Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Mirae Asset Capital.
Standigm will use the funds to scale the AI technology platforms and advance its drug discovery pipelines toward license-out. The new round brings Standigm’s total financing to $15 million.
The round included participation from Kakao Ventures, Atinum Investment, DSC Investment, LB Investment, Wonik Investment Partners, as well as Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Mirae Asset Capital. Kakao Ventures, one of the leading early-stage VCs in Asia, continued to invest Standigm since its seed round.
Kijun Kim, Vice President in Kakao Ventures said, “We have been very impressed with the progress Standigm has made over the past years in global drug discovery market. The feasibility of Standigm AI is already acknowledged among the leading pharmaceutical companies. We are pleased to continue our support. This will allow standigm to broaden its own pipelines.”
Jinhan Kim, CEO and Co-founder in Standigm said, “We demonstrated in vitro and in vivo data of our repurposing drug candidates. This latest round from top investors and innovators in AI and biotechnology fields represents their confidence in our technology to innovate drug discovery process in the pharmaceutical industry. We will create partnerships with leading healthcare organizations to accelerate this mission and bolster our pipelines.”
Standigm has developed preclinical pipelines in four different disease areas: NASH, Parkinson’s disease, Autism, and Mitochondrial diseases.
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Crash Course: Conflict in Yemen
By Blaise Misztal
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As fragility and extremism continue to wrack the gulf country of Yemen, BPC has compiled a quick overview on recent events, Yemen’s troubled history and the main actors in the current conflict.
Yemen’s divided history
Historically divided between north and south, the unified country of Yemen has only existed since 1990. With their different histories, sectarian identities, levels of economic development and legacy of internal conflict, Yemen’s troubled past is reflected in the country’s uncertain and fragile present: ineffective central government, strong tribalism, an insurgency in the country’s north, secessionism in the south and the growth of al-Qaeda.
In the most recent escalation of violence in Yemen, Houthi rebels, based in the northern Governorate of Sa’dah, seized the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in September 2014, ultimately forcing the Yemeni government to resign in January 2015. Since then, fighting has crept southward. On March 19, fighting moved to the southern port city of Aden, where Houthi fighters fired missiles at a palace hosting ousted President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Additionally, forces loyal to former President Saleh and allied with the Houthis clashed with Hadi’s forces for control of Aden’s airport. The Islamic State (ISIS) has also become active in Yemen. A previously unknown ISIS affiliate calling itself Sanaa Province took credit for suicide bombings at two Houthi mosques in Sanaa that left over 100 dead, calling the attacks “a tip of an iceberg.” On March 22, Houthi fighters seized control of Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, including the international airport there.
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Continued Unrest in Yemen Should Force U.S. to Reevaluate Strategy
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Mattituck Lions Club Celebrates 65th Strawberry Festival with Ideal Weather & Record Midway
Reithoffer Shows midway up 25% over last year
By: Timothy Herrick
For most workers, 65 is the traditional age of retirement. For the Mattituck Lions Club Annual Strawberry Festival the 65th annual event shows no signs of calling it quits. The Father’s Day weekend fair features a pre-opening day. Known as Hulling Night, this soft opening featuring thousands of community volunteers who turnout to help hull approximately 100,000 of the festival’s titular fruit used to make the shortcake and strawberry smoothies AKA alcohol- free daiquiris. The carnival and food court are also open on Hulling Night, with special Preview Pricing discounts.
But Hulling night turned out to be a damp affair. “Opening day was rain,” said Rick Reithoffer of Reithoffer Shows Inc. “We got the night in, but basically lost the whole day. People didn’t plan to come out when they saw the rain.”
Record Midway
But hope springs eternal and as spring drew to a close, the monsoon like conditions that plagued the Northeast finally faded away. The sun came out and ideal temperatures prevailed. “Friday and Saturday and Sunday were record-breaking days,” said Reithoffer. “We were up considerably, about 25 percent higher than last year. It was the biggest year we ever had.”
Reithoffer Shows have been providing the midway for this Long Island, New York event for 13 years. The midway featured 25 rides and about 25 food stands – Reithoffer is the only non-strawberry food vendor at the event. The most high profile attraction at this year’s midway was the return of the Zipper, which had been on hiatus for a comprehensive refurbishment – the ride was completely rebuilt then outfitted with a new Denny’s Electronics Light Package, the latest in LED lighting technology. “It is a really fun ride and people loved it,” said Reithoffer.
Other rides that returned to help make for the record breaking year for Reithoffer Shows included the Giant Wheel, Skyflyer and Music Express. “We a few other different rides,” he said. “We had a different ride lineup this year.”
The company’s main promotion were a pay-one price discount and a Father’s Day special – all father’s ride for free. “That’s a lot of fun, with the fathers riding with their kids.” The fair itself sweetens the enticement for dad spending a day with family at the celebration of everything strawberry by offering free admission to all fathers on Father’s Day, the concluding Sunday of the fair.
This veteran carnival professional continues to be impressed with this particular northeastern fair. “It’s the biggest event on Eastern Long Island and when you are out here, you can’t believe you’re in New York, it’s very beautiful country.”
Long Island Outreach
The fair is located in what is known as the North Shore of Long Island. As opposed to the South Shore, home to the Hamptons, a summer resort town of the rich and famous, the North shore still has a thriving farming community as well as being an area of population growth of young families. “The area is growing, the economy is good,” said Reithoffer. “It’s supported by the community and this is the biggest community event in the area. The North Shore really turns out for the fair.”
“We were very pleased with the crowds,” said Rob Nine, spokesman, Mattictuck Lion’s Club Strawberry Festival. “Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the Summer, and out here the summer economy is stronger. Most of the local people who come to the fair come early on Thursday and Friday. They come on Saturday and Sunday too, but that’s when people from all over Long Island and Queens come to the fair. We’ve been around for a while, a lot of publications list us as a top thing to do in Long Island.”
With its agricultural theme and an old time, country fair feel, the strawberry festival has an earned a growing reputation as a regional, cultural event. Nine said that Long Island bloggers, online influencers and other news sources, such as PATH and Bulletin Boards as well as older media, such as newspapers and magazines covering Long Island consistently write about the event, including the festival on the top things to do in Long Island lists. Ironically, the alcohol-free strawberry festival was included on a list made by a wine magazine. “The vineyards are on the south shore, but we got tagged in the article,” said Nine. “It helped to draw people to the fair. People who were just coming to the wineries, now were coming to the strawberry festival.”
In addition to being featured on the influential lists, television and radio stations also covered the festival. Being a nonprofit organizations, the advertising and marketing budget is constrained to say the least. Aside from digital, one of the largest expenditures is on a print product, the Fun Book which is a product produced Newsday, the renowned, award-winning, Long Island daily newspaper.
A reinvigorated emphasis was placed on social media marketing for the 2019 Mattictuck Lion’s Club Strawberry Festival. “It was important to set up an event page, not just a page for the festival,” said Nine. “With the event page, it was easier for people to add their friends, more than 7,000 responded during the course of the four days.”
Last year, the fair hire a film crew to make professional quality videos spotlighting the various attractions of this small town Americana country fair taking place on suburban Long Islands – the crowning of the Strawberry Festival Queen, daily fireworks display, regional music starts, strawberry shortcake eating competition, etc. – and the clips were used throughout the social media platforms, with special attention paid to which platform reaches whom. “We use Facebook the most, but now it seems to be for Facebook you are reaching an older audience,” said Nine. “With Facebook you are reaching the parents of the kids on Instagram and with Instagram you reach the kids who are in their teens and they’re not coming to the festival with their moms and dads.”
The Lions Club boasts 1.7 million members worldwide, with clubs in more than 190 countries. It is considered one of the largest charitable organizations, with a focus on service to the community.
In addition to supporting the Lion’s International mission of helping the blind, the Mattituck Lions support a wide array of community and non-profit organizations including; Peconic Bay Medical Center; Mattituck Rescue Squad; Lions Eye Bank; St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital; Guide Dog Foundation; and the North Fork Animal Welfare League.
The Mattituck Lions Club Annual Strawberry Festival is not only the major fundraiser for world famous service organization, but it’s the major economic engine for dozens of charitable organizations throughout the region. “All our proceeds go to charity,” said Nine. “We had one rainy day this year, we had a great weekend, with a steady stream of people coming from all over. It was an ideal festival.”
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In Retaliation for NSA Espionage ...
After Husband and 3 Children ...
In Retaliation for NSA Espionage Brazil Hackers Hit NASA by Mistake
by Newsroom September 18, 2013
Brazilian hackers have hit back in retaliation for US cyber-spying on Brazil but mistook the US space agency NASA for the National Security Agency (NSA).
“Some activists decided to protest this US practice but it seems that they picked the wrong target,” a specialized blog of the Brazilian news portal UOL said.
“They hacked NASA’s web page and left the message: Stop spying on us,” it said.
The hackers’ message also called on the United States not to attack Syria.
A NASA spokesman confirmed that a Brazilian hacker group last week posted a political message on a number of NASA websites.
“At no point were any of the agency’s primary websites, missions or classified systems compromised,” said NASA spokesman Allard Beutel.
“We are diligently taking action to investigate and reconstitute the websites impacted during web defacement incident,” he said.
The attack followed recent disclosures that the NSA spied on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s email communications and on the state-run energy giant Petrobras. The disclosures were based on documents obtained by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff postponed a state visit to Washington over those allegations. She announced the decision after discussing the spying row with US President Barack Obama Monday in a telephone call.
“The two presidents decided to postpone the state visit since the outcome of this visit should not be conditioned on an issue which for Brazil has not been satisfactorily resolved,” a statement from Rousseff’s office said.
Originally scheduled for October, the visit will take place as soon as possible after the U.S. government explains allegations that it spied on Rousseff and Brazilian companies, Brazil’s presidential press office added in a statement posted on its website.
Obama regrets concerns generated by the allegations and will work to improve relations with Brazil, White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.
The decision to cancel came less than a day after Obama personally called his Brazilian counterpart. It is the latest fallout from revelations about U.S. interception of Internet and telephone traffic that was expanded after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
Rousseff is demanding a full explanation for allegations that the US National Security Agency monitored her communications with top aides. The charges were disclosed by TV Globo on Sept. 1 and based on secret documents from former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. On Sept. 8, TV Globo reported the NSA also spied on state oil company Petróleo Brasileiro SA.
The spying would be a breach of sovereignty and individual privacy, the Brazilian president’s office said today.
Obama is committed to working with Rousseff “to move beyond this issue as a source of tension in our bilateral relationship,” Carney said in the statement posted on the White House website.
The postponement, discussed by the two leaders in their telephone conversation Monday night, was a “decision they made together,” Carney said at a briefing at the White House.
Opportunities that could stall include the opening of both countries’ beef markets, a bid by Chicago-based Boeing Co. (BA) to sell jet fighters, as well as technology cooperation, and nascent discussions to launch industry-specific trade negotiations, said Liz Trebat, a former executive director of the Brazil-U.S. Business Council.
Growing congressional cooperation to advance negotiations on a bilateral tax treaty probably would also stall. “The sense of urgency is going to be gone,” she said.
While calling off the trip, the first Brazil state visit to Washington since 1995, further sours bilateral ties, much of the damage had already been done by the breakdown of trust caused by the spying scandal, said Luiz Augusto de Castro Neves, head of Cebri, a Rio de Janeiro-based foreign relations research institute.
“Without a doubt canceling the trip carries a cost,” Castro Neves said from Rio de Janeiro on Monday. “More assertive reassurances from the U.S. would have been in order.”
The alleged spying on Petrobras and Rousseff had nothing to do with anti-terrorist intelligence and required a more accommodating stance by Washington, said Castro Neves.
However the political decision will have an economic impact since the US is one of Brazil’s two main trade partners and the deficit widened 161% in the first half of the year to 6 billion dollars from a year earlier, compared with a surplus of 5.4 billion with China. Brazil also wants to attract U.S. investment for infrastructure and oil and gas projects.
After Husband and 3 Children Are Killed Brazil Female Chief Leads Re-occupation of Land
They Don’t Speak Spanish in Brazil (Excerpts)
Lloyd Cata
….constant state of ‘being’ when you were born where I was born, and survived what I survived, so each breath is a blessing and a miracle. As I sit here with my brother; the one who also survived the jungle warfare(Agent Orange – Parkinsons/Cardiac w/implant), we are indeed having one for our lost comrades, which we are grateful to have survived. One thing we agree upon wholeheartedly is that the early paranoia of the Bronx barrio is what trained us in the skills to survive war; both in the streets and on the battlefield. There is no bogey-man, and if there were he is no match for the power of Faith.
Perhaps I have been here too long, but recently(today) I commented on the TopStory concerning the US Hack, when I get the “administrative approval” message(….?) This is certainly a new development, but if you say it did not come from ‘your server’ then it was subject to censor by my end(?…) No matter, what I said concerning that stands…(!)
This rain appears to be a good thing, sending people indoors where they are not reserved to just look, but enjoy the other aspects of human physiology 😉 In fact, me and the brother were wondering about what to buy for our ladies and I was reading about the Brazil fashion, so I will put in a well-deserved plug for my favorite female boutique; MinxouriVintage(etsy).
Perhaps the half of the household who is of higher birthright than us peasants, who would like nothing better than to get on the tractor after a good rain(highly recommended), would appreciate the site, …and yes, there are also wares for the bootilicious patrons of Asp’s cabana, as well as attire for the professional “class-A” personages :D:D Enjoy, and cheers right back atcha[quote][/quote]:-)8)
wavettore
Some monkey business
Obama should not be the one to be blamed. When each and everyone is monitored by NSA and many other secret State agencies those info were not requested by the US Government but from a parallel government who has the will and definitely the ability to collect enough data from everyone.
“An Anglo-Judaic group of Zionists, like a hidden parallel government, with George Bush still today at the head of secret services in the US, UK and Israel, is the destabilizing force behind most terror events and with classified information at disposal and a private army is plotting what now would seem unthinkable to many…like a War of Religion and chaos everywhere so that desperate people will soon invoke a New World Order without even knowing what that is.”
But who are these Zionists? How are they different from you? One thing is sure: Trust is not in their vocabulary. One day they could be winking at each other for having killed maybe a billion people, like Bush winked before going Live on TV after 9/11. His brother Neil Bush, instead, had fun with the system when he was convicted to pay only $50,000 in the Savings and Loan scandal that was the largest robbery in all history at the time before Enron.
Only he who is born and grown in the home of a CIA director has the possibility to know “Evil” at an early age and witness the tortures entertained in the interrogation rooms. Some sort of parallel could be made with the Roman emperor Tiberius and Caligula who grew as a child living close to his cruel mentor. Such experience brings to have one awareness possibly different than yours and that is why you may find difficult to believe these words.
The events will anyway remind you that the Beast is still at large.
http://www.wavevolution.org
First US-Brazil Civil Society Forum to Discuss in Washington Immigration Reform
Later this month presidents Dilma Rousseff of Brazil and Barack Obama of the United ...
Newsroom March 8, 2011
Fishing for Letters, a Brazilian Program to Teach Fishermen How to Read
A mutual cooperation agreement signed today by Brazil’s Minister of Education, Fernando Haddad, and ...
Brazil Guarantees Minimum Price to Coffee Growers
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva participated today in the launching of the ...
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Brazil's worst air accident ever, on September 29, 2006, when an executive Legacy jet ...
Kelly Oliveira February 19, 2007
22 comments 0 Shares
Brazil’s Globo: a Soap Opera Global Empire
With every episode, another country falls in the web of appreciators of Brazilian audiovisual ...
Dayanne Mikevis January 24, 2005
Either Rio Stops Crime or Crime Will Stop Rio
According to the latest Latin America edition of U.S. weekly magazine Newsweek, Rio de ...
Francesco Neves April 17, 2005
Brazil’s Itaú Gets in the Business of Tracking Stolen Cars
Cell-Loc Location Technologies Inc. a developer of network-based wireless location technology, announced on November ...
JetBlue Founder, a Brazilian, Starts Brazil Airline
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer, has signed an agreement to sell 36 Embraer 195 jets ...
Newsroom March 31, 2008
Happy Days of Grapes and Wine at Brazil’s Sí£o Francisco Valley
The São Francisco River Valley, in the Northeast region of Brazil, is considered one ...
Marco Bahé August 30, 2005
The Show of the Year
Casa dos Artistas became a fever, with 20 million people watching it daily. The ...
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Discuss The Soaps
Soap Opera Network
SON Community
Characters That Never Got A Proper Send-off
By Scrapple, June 18, 2017 in Discuss The Soaps
Lifetimer
On 6/18/2017 at 10:22 AM, safe said:
Dr. Pat Ryan (1979)- Okay, so it was Pat #3 (Robert Finoccoli) He was an original character and he was a RYAN! We heard Maeve say her youngest son Pat had left town in the middle of the night to go to Texas after Nancy Feldman. Not any on-screen good-byes to his family, his friends, or his former loves.
Why they ever fired Pat #2 Ill never understand
This may sound strange, since she wasn't a major player in Oakdale, but...Vienna Hyatt. I know she was just brought on as a limited-run Paris Hilton, but she ended up having a fun storyline with Henry Coleman, and was the only scene partner who could make Henry seem straight. I get that they wanted to pair Henry with Barbara, but they could have given Henry and Vienna some final scenes where they have a true break-up. Vienna's last scenes were with Chris Hughes in some laundry room, as I recall.
~~ATWT's Money Couple~~
On Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 8:44 PM, Quent said:
This may sound strange, since she wasn't a major player in Oakdale, but...Vienna Hyatt. .... I get that they wanted to pair Henry with Barbara, but they could have given Henry and Vienna some final scenes where they have a true break-up.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but she and Henry did have a big breakup. She pretended to be pregnant to get Henry back, and was screwing Casey on the side. Katie realized it and agreed to keep her mouth shut because she hated Barbara, but narc'd Vienna out shortly before she and Henry got married.
Maybe her last scene was with Chris, but there'd been a fair amount of drama with Henry and Babs, as I recall. (I know Babs was making her wedding dress, a trope ATWT seemed to love to repeat with Carly.)
j swift
The Queen of the topic has got to be Kelly Capwell of Santa Barbara and her seven disappearing lovers. After the tragic deaths of both Joe Perkins and Peter Flint, Kelly's boyfriends tended to fade out of the picture rather than face saying goodbye to her.
First, there's Dr. Justin Moore (1), he followed Kelly to the asylum, after Joe and Peter's death, and was never heard from again. While in the asylum she met Pearl Bradford (2), who might have been a figment of her imagination, but he started a private detective agency with Cruz before he stopped showing up for work and most people forgot about him. Then, there was Nick Hartley (3) who silently snuck out of town after his brother fell out of a window trying to assault Kelly. Then, her shared lover with her mother, TJ Daniels (4) skedaddled out of sight after trying to poison her at the behest of her second husband Jeffrey. Ric Castillo (5) seemed like the type not to vanish, given that his family lived in town, but he left without a word after a year. Craig Hunt and Stephen Slade (6 & 7) both tried to distract her from Robert Barr and his secret twin Quinn, only to move away without forwarding addresses nor exit scenes.
My suggestion is that Kelly was a secret serial killer all along, (which is why she kept changing her appearance), but her wealth and position kept her from prosecution. However, the long-lost Lockridge heir Cassie also never got a goodbye scene, so maybe it was just a trend on that soap.
Edited May 18 by j swift
amybrickwallace
Greta Powers
Posted Monday at 04:23 PM (edited)
@j swift, your post and theory are absolutely genius. You should repost it on the SB board. 👏👏👏👏👏
Just ETA that Dylan Hartley, Nick's brother, had a one-night stand with Kelly in his plane. That's why he went out of his mind (and also because the writers didn't seem to know what else to do with him).
Edited Monday at 04:27 PM by amybrickwallace
© 2001-2019, Soap Opera Network Powered by Invision Community
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Home Actress Drunk Malaika Arora ask Sonam Kapoor to back off at Manish Malhotra’s...
Malaika Arora Khan
Drunk Malaika Arora ask Sonam Kapoor to back off at Manish Malhotra’s birthday party?
Filmmaker Karan Johar threw a bash to celebrate the 50th birthday of his close friend Manish Malhotra on Monday, December 5. And in true KJo style, the party was easily one of the grandest dos of the year.
Staying true to the ‘Gold and glamorous’ theme of the night, all from Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Katrina Kaif brought their A-game.
Salman Khan’s sister-in-law Malaika Arora, who is recently separated from Arbaaz Khan is enjoying her newfound single status to the hilt. The Munni Badnaam girl, who recently made heads turn at designer Manish’s 50th birthday bash in a silver high-slit gown, seems to be letting herself go a bit much.
Reportedly, Malaika had one too many drinks at the party and got into high spirits. Sonam Kapoor, who was also present at the bash, tried to offer a helping hand. The report quotes a source as saying, “Sonam tried to hold Malaika, but Malaika told her in no uncertain terms to back off.”
Poor Sonam had no choice but to step away. The source adds, “Malaika was in mood to listen to anybody. She told Sonam that she will manage her own self. At this point, Karan Johar (who had hosted the party) and Manish came forward and took Malaika inside.”
Previous articleDeepika Padukone wins Asia’s sexiest woman against four times winner Priyanka Chopra
Next articleAnushka Sharma Forces Virat Kohli To Pose For Media At Manish Malhotra’s Birthday Party
Farah Khan gets slammed by neitizens for hanging out with #MeToo accused Vikas Bahl
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ये है बॉलिवुड की 5 खूबसूरत महिला सिंगर्स के पतियों से,...
हुबहू तैमूर की तरह दिखता है सनी लियॉन का बेटा, तस्वीर...
ये है बॉलीवुड के सबसे कंजूस सितारे, जिन्होंने अपनी शादी नहीं...
बॉलीवुड का इस अभिनेता की न जवानी जाती है और न...
Kareena Kapoor visited Gauri Khan’s store in Mumbai, see pics
See pics: Shilpa Shetty & hubby Raj Kundra celebrates son Viaan...
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House Non-Compete Bill Seeks Middle Ground
Posted by Brad MacDougall on Jun 28, 2016 1:20:25 PM
The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted 149-0 Thursday to approve compromise legislation governing the use of non-compete agreements.
Associated Industries of Massachusetts has opposed efforts to ban or limit the use of non-competes, but has also engaged in productive discussions with House Speaker Robert DeLeo on the issue.
“AIM recognizes and appreciates the approach that Speaker DeLeo has taken in the debate over non-compete agreements,” said John Regan, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs at AIM.
“The speaker recognizes the need to protect business interests at a time when non-competes are a vital part of protecting investments and ideas created by employers of all sizes and from all industries. As the speaker has noted in the past, Massachusetts cannot be an ‘invented here and manufactured elsewhere’ commonwealth.”
The House proposal makes three positive changes from legislation originally advanced by the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Labor & Workforce Development. The changes address some of the major concerns expressed by AIM and other members of the business community in a June 20 meeting with Speaker DeLeo:
Garden Leave: A provision that would have required employers to pay workers half their salary during the restricted period of a non-compete agreement has been modified to recognize “other mutually-agreed upon consideration between the employer and the employee.” That means companies that compensate employees at the time they sign non-competes would not have to pay them again during the restricted period. While AIM would prefer to eliminate the “garden leave” provision entirely, the revision provides some flexibility to employers.
Amending contracts: The compromise legislation would allow courts to reform or alter non-compete contracts to ensure that both parties are treated fairly. Previous language would have forced a court to invalidate a contract in full.
Effective date: The legislation would provide time for businesses to update contracts by moving the effective date from July 1 to October 1, 2016. As previously proposed, the law would not apply retroactively to contracts signed as of October 1, 2016.
AIM has expressed support for several provisions of the revised bill that clearly define the conditions under which non-competes may be used:
Non-compete agreements could be only one year in duration.
Those subject to non-compete agreements would have to be given prior notice of the need to sign the agreement, as well as the opportunity to consult with legal counsel.
The non-compete would extend to a second year should an employee unlawfully take property belonging to the employer.
Amid these improvements, concerns remain. AIM urges the House of Representative to consider several changes:
Stock options: Make stock-option offerings exempt from being directly tied to non-compete agreements since such grants are used for attracting and retaining talent.
Exemptions: Change the criteria under which workers would be exempt from non-competes from the Fair Labor Standards Act to a standard that relies on the minimum wage.
Garden Leave: Make technical changes to underscore the fact that non-compete agreements are often part of broader standardized national or international compensation plans.
Choice of Law Provision: Strike language that sets arbitrary rules for selecting the court where a claim may be brought.
Garden Leave exemption: Create language to allow a non-compete to remain enforceable when an employee receives a severance payment or other long-term compensation.
Independent Contractors: Strike language that defines employee to include independent contractors within the definition of full-time employee.
Damages: Strike language that would preclude an employer from recouping damages or costs associated with a stolen “sales list” if an employee were to leave voluntarily.
AIM continues to maintain that there is no evidence that the use of non-compete agreements harms Massachusetts’ position as as a globally recognized leader in innovation. In fact, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings indicate that the well-heeled venture capitalists pushing to limit non-competes use such agreements themselves.
Employers believe selective use of non-competes protects the significant investments that allow their companies to be global leaders in their industries and to create jobs in the commonwealth. The compromise legislation begins to recognize that Massachusetts employers need flexibility and legal options to protect intellectual property.
AIM looks forward to working with members of the Legislature to address the changes that remain to be made.
Employers seeking to learn more about the non-compete issue may contact me at bmacdougall@aimnet.org.
Topics: Speaker Robert DeLeo, Employment Law, Massachusetts House of Representatives, Non-Compete Agreements
Video Blog | Speaker DeLeo Talks Energy, Economic Development
Posted by Christopher Geehern on May 23, 2016 7:30:00 AM
House Speaker Robert DeLeo touched on energy costs, work force training and economic development during his keynote address to the AIM annual meeting on May 13. DeLeo said that the House of Representatives shares with AIM a commitment to ensure that the economic growth buoying the Boston area spreads through the commonwealth.
Here is a video of the speaker's full address:
Topics: Speaker Robert DeLeo, AIM Annual Meeting, Massachusetts House of Representatives
Employers Encouraged as DeLeo Narrows Revenue Debate
Posted by Rick Lord on Mar 7, 2013 9:25:00 AM
House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo today proposed an encouraging and well-considered framework for modernizing the state’s transportation system without massive increases to income and business taxes.
In a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, DeLeo said he is committed to finding new revenue to support transportation needs, but will call for a revenue package “of a significantly smaller size” than the proposal offered by Gov. Deval Patrick. He said that the House will develop a new source of transportation revenue “that is commensurate with job creation, job retention and economic growth.”
“I'm worried that the administration’s proposal places too heavy a burden on working families and businesses struggling to survive. We want to minimize the pressure on Massachusetts citizens as we find ways to meet our goals. If we are to pass a new revenue package, I believe it should be far more narrow in scope and of a significantly smaller size,” DeLeo said.
The speaker stressed that the transportation system must continue to cut costs and improve efficiency. He praised the reforms that have taken place as the result of merging several agencies into the current Department of Transportation in 2009, but noted that the department still borrows money to pay salaries and other operational expenses.
Associated Industries of Massachusetts views DeLeo’s approach as a formula for success. AIM will of course wait to review the House’s actual transportation proposal before making a final judgment, but the association believes the speaker has framed the issue in a manner that can generate widespread support.
DeLeo’s comments came two months after Governor Patrick proposed a complex $1.9 billion-per-year tax plan that would increase individual income tax rates from 5.25 to 6.25 percent, double the personal exemption, lower the sales tax rate from 6.25 to 4.5 percent, eliminate 44 personal income tax deductions and boost corporate taxes by $500 million. The governor’s plan, intended to increase funding for both transportation and education, has met with a lukewarm response among legislators.
AIM and its 5,000 members understand that the commonwealth must improve the condition of its roads, bridges and public transportation system to pave the way for future job growth. The best way to accomplish the goal is for the state to “finish the job” on uncompleted efficiency reforms and identify the revenue it needs to meet its current operational needs.
“Employers look forward to working with lawmakers to understand the current operational issues facing the transportation system, to institute meaningful reform and to identify appropriate sources of revenue to fund the system we have in place now,” said John Regan, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs at AIM.
“Only after we return the system to financial stability can we reasonably review some of the longer-term capital spending plans proposed by the administration.”
DeLeo also used his speech this morning to unveil a proposal to enhance the ability of community colleges to provide the science, technology, engineering and math skills increasingly demanded by employers. AIM commends the speaker for proposing the STEM STARTER ACADEMY and again looks forward to reviewing the details.
Topics: Speaker Robert DeLeo, Issues, Taxes
Speaker Backs Unemployment Rate Freeze, Reforms
Posted by John Regan on Jan 2, 2013 2:15:00 PM
Massachusetts House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo today called for freezing Unemployment Insurance rates for 2013 and examining structural changes to one of the most expensive UI systems in the nation.
Unemployment Insurance rates in Massachusetts rose automatically by 25 percent on January 1, boosting the cost paid by employers from $745 per employee to $929 per employee. Legislators may still freeze rates at the current schedule E before first-quarter UI bills go to employers, a step that lawmakers have taken in each of the past three years.
AIM believes that the current trust fund balance of approximately $400 million in the fund used to pay jobless benefits is enough to justify another freeze.
“I continue to hear from the business community about increasing unemployment insurance rates. The schedule can lead to sudden and additional burdens on employers and cost jobs. Sensitive to these concerns, I will ask that the House once again freeze the UI increase,” DeLeo said after winning election to a third term as speaker.
“Because this appears to have become a semi-permanent condition, I will ask the appropriate committees to study ways in which we can reform our UI system to deal with our long-term liabilities while mitigating the burden on employers.”
AIM supports long-term structural reforms that would bring Massachusetts into line with Unemployment Insurance practices in a majority of other states by limiting the duration of benefits to 26 weeks, increasing work and wage requirements for benefit eligibility, and updating rate tables to create equity in employer UI payments. Massachusetts currently has some of the highest Unemployment Insurance rates in the nation.
DeLeo pledged to focus on economic development and job creation. He noted that Massachusetts has already begun to cultivate the type of environment conducive to economic growth and innovation, proving to be an attractive place for new businesses, such as Japanese stem cell company ReproCELL that has just announced a decision to open an office in Boston.
Both DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray used their inaugural speeches to address transportation issues in advance of a long-term transportation financing plan expected from Governor Deval Patrick next week. The two legislative leaders emphasized the need to create efficiency through reform as lawmakers grapple with operational deficits at the MBTA and long-term highway and bridge construction needs.
“In 2009, we completely overhauled the state’s transportation system, dissolving the Turnpike Authority and consolidating multiple agencies into a unified, independent agency. We recognized that we were dealing with a broken system, and we insisted on reform before revenue,” Murray said in remarks to the Senate.
“In the upcoming session, we will continue to look for opportunities to help the Department (of Transportation) continuously improve its services, redouble its commitment to reform, and come closer to fulfilling its new potential.”
Topics: Speaker Robert DeLeo, Unemployment insurance, Issues, Senate President Therese Murray
AIM Members: Urge Legislators to Fix Treble Damage Law
Posted by John Regan on Apr 21, 2011 9:37:00 AM
Next week, members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives will debate and vote on the Fiscal Year 2012 budget which includes language limiting the current punitive treble-damages law to “willful” violations of the wage and hour statute only. This change has been sought by AIM since the original law passed in 2008.
AIM urges you to contact House members asking them to support this language and to oppose any amendment preventing the fixing of the treble damages law.
The current law penalizes companies that have done nothing outrageous, have not acted with an evil motive, and have not acted with reckless indifference to employees' rights. The same would be true in the case of a good-faith dispute over whether an employer owes commissions.
This House proposal mirrors Governor Deval Patrick’s language to fix a 2008 law that imposed punitive treble damages even in cases where an inexperienced employee of a Massachusetts business makes a clerical or other honest error.
Massachusetts is rated poorly by the US Chamber of Commerce because of this onerous law that mandates treble damages for any Wage Act violation. The House Ways and Means Committee proposal would bring fairness and equity to a law which is now unduly punitive.
AIM thanks Speaker Robert DeLeo and House Ways and Means Chairman Brian Dempsey for a fiscally sound House budget which benefits the Massachusetts Economy. AIM also recognizes the work of Ways and Means Committee Vice Chair Steven Kulik and Assistant Vice Chair Martha Walz on the proposed House budget and for addressing the treble damages issue.
Click here to contact your elected officials and urge them to fix the treble damage law.
Topics: Speaker Robert DeLeo, AIM, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Legislative Scorecard, Treble Damages Law, Govenor Patrick
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Tag Archives: first descents
The Shield’s Michael Chiklis Interviewed on BlogTalkRadio: Nov. 8, 2010
Michael Chiklis, The Shield star talks about his return to serial TV, in ABC’s No Ordinary Family, which tells the story an American clan who gain supernatural powers after a plane crash in Brazil. Chatting with host Bob Andelman, Michael delineates his particular abilities.
Micky Dolenz: In 1991, the pop icon recalled auditioning for NBC’s The Monkees. “I don’t consider myself a drummer, but I do consider myself a guitar player,” he told host Robin Milling. “I had to quickly learn to play drums—and certainly played adequately for what I had to do for the band’s light pop rhythms.”
Cynthia Bailey, the newest castmember of The Real Housewives of Atlanta—a former model who has also done guest turns on New York Undercover and The Cosby Show—fills Film Festival Radio host Janice Malone in on how her romance with beau Peter Thomas is unfolding.
Ryan Sutter, Trista Rehn’s pick on ABC’s The Bachelorette—whom she wed in 2003—joins The Stupid Cancer Show’s Matthew Zachary to discuss his work as a young-adult cancer advocate. Plus: First Descents founder Brad Ludden and the Outdoor Program’s Lisa Goldstein.
Delfeayo Marsalis, the jazz trombonist, who has also produced Grammy-winning works for such A-listers as Harry Connick Jr. and Spike Lee—as well as for brothers Wynton and Branford Marsalis—drops in to chat with Jazzin Em Up host Cres O’Neal about his upcoming CD, Sweet Thunder.
This entry was posted in Programming Highlights and tagged ABC, blog talk radio, BlogTalkRadio, Bob Andelman, brad ludden, branford marsalis, BTR, cres o neal, cynthia bailey, daily features, Daily Highlights, delfeayo marsalis, featured, featured shows, Film Festival Radio, first descents, harry connick jr, Janice Malone, jazzin em up, lisa godstein, Matthew Zachary, michael chiklis, Micky Dolenz, NBC, new york undercover, no ordinary family, outdoor program, peter thomas, Programming Highlights, Robin Milling, Ryan Sutter, spike lee, sweet thunder, The Bachelorette, The Cosby Show, The Monkees, the real housewives of atlanta, the sheild, the stupid cancer show, Trista Rehn, wynton marsalis on November 8, 2010 by .
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NextMapping the octopus: road tripping south of Toliara
AmbanjaBlue Forests
When the going gets tough? The tough keep surveying: exploring the mangrove forests of NW Madagascar
Blue Ventures on Mar 6, 2012
by Dr. Trevor Jones, Remote Sensing Scientist, Madagascar
The Blue Forests and Coastal Communities (BFCC) team is currently in transit on the long (>2500km!) road trip back to Toliara after a month long reconnaissance mission in northern Madagascar.
We’ve been surveying various mangrove-adjacent communities in the Ambaro bay region, at the opposite end of the country to our office base in Toliara. The days were long and mostly incredibly hot, with temperatures reaching 39 Celsius/101 Fahrenheit. The going was tough and slow, through mud which reached the depth of one’s waist; through jungle gym arrays of buttress roots often sporting near razor sharp shells; through dense scrub forest which was home to dangling wasp nests who made it quite clear with their stings that our presence was not welcome. The sunburn, rashes and stings were cooled and soothed at times by torrential rains associated with a series of cyclones and tropical storms; however, the rain, a welcome break from the heat, was so heavy at times that all work ground to a halt.
The BFCC team hard at work
Despite the slow going, we successfully and thoroughly inventoried over 20 hectares of mangroves, establishing over 100 field plots to capture the variability in mangrove ecosystem types based on aspects of species dominance, canopy cover, tree density, frequency of tidal inundation and various other ecological attributes. In addition, we documented observed levels of degradation and deforestation.
A preliminary summary of the status of these mangrove ecosystems based on our observations and interviews leads us to believe that degradation and in places wholesale deforestation is prevalent. The stories are different but similar, and the primary reason for over-exploitation is charcoal production. Enormous, near industrial-scale charcoal production operations were witnessed in numerous locations. Our initial interviews indicate that much of the extraction and charcoal production is carried out by migrants taking the forest products back to towns around the island of Nosy Be, which, due to the limited extent of its own mangroves and upland forests, lacks the resources necessary to derive this currently essential forest product. However in some communities, it is the residents themselves who have turned to over-exploitation for a variety of reasons, such as around a former sapphire mining boom town, where residents and now unemployed former miners now have no other option to make a living.
These forests are being cleared for charocal
Our presence was overall welcomed, except in migrant charcoal production camps where it was feared (of course wrongly) that we were there to shut down operations.
Locals have a variety of concerns, including deforestation reaching a level where the current mangrove buffers are no longer intact and tidal waters will inundate communities, and observable rapid declines in crab populations.
While the level of exploitation is certainly not welcome news and we have only scratched the surface of what is going in the region, it is clear that the situation warrants further investigation by the BFCC team. In April, after having used the data we collected on this reconnaissance mission to make a map of the different mangrove types and surrounding land-cover types from satellite imagery. Also after having targeted particularly vulnerable communities, the BFCC team will return to the region to implement a biomass inventory, socio-economic research and social impact assessment. Through these activities, we can quantify the carbon stocks in these forests and model their dynamics, and reach a more concrete understanding of the agents, drivers and underlying causes of degradation and deforestation. In addition, we can begin to thoroughly understand the role that mangroves play in the lives of these coastal communities, and how alterations to this role might impact stakeholders, including migrants.
A cleared mangrove forest – what a sorry sight
This is of course no small feat, but our current team of three full time staff will be growing later this month (and for our next campaign) by a full time socio-economic researcher, a full time remote sensing scientist, a visiting graduate student working on social impact assessment and a mangrove expert from Kenya! In tandem with the local expertise offered through our community hosts who have lived their entire lives in and around these ecosystems, the BFCC team is poised to bring back a wealth of information from their next field mission, all of which works towards assessing the feasibility of payments for ecosystem services (PES) and carbon financing mechanisms.
In the meantime, we will work our way back towards Toliara, let our wounds heal and prepare for the next phase…
If you want to know more about our work with mangrove forests and blue carbon in Madagascar please use this link: http://blueventures.org/conservation/blue-carbon.html
We have just received a Darwin Initiative grant to further our work with Blue Carbon and mangroves – to read the press released please click here
For the latest factsheet about our Blue Carbon work click here
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Posted in:Ambanja, Blue Forests
Tagged in:mangrove, marine research, redd+
Posted by Blue Ventures
Blue Ventures is an award winning marine conservation charity. We rebuild tropical fisheries with coastal communities. On our Beyond Conservation blog you can hear voices from the front line of marine conservation written by our staff and volunteers.
Mapping the octopus: road tripping south of Toliara
BV Scholar Paubert is ‘cruising’ on a wave of success
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Anthony Watts fails fossil fuel arithmetic test posed by Xiaochun Zhang and Ken Caldeira
A new paper in GRL by Xiaochun Zhang and Ken Caldeira works out how long it takes for the greenhouse forcing by CO2 to exceed the combustion warming by fossil fuels. The heat from burning fossil fuels is soon outpaced by the heat retained from putting the CO2 into the atmosphere, released when those fossil fuels were burnt.
Update: See below
The abstract sums up the findings:
The Earth warms both when fossil fuel carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide and when greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide inhibits longwave radiation from escaping to space. Various important time scales and ratios comparing these two climate forcings have not previously been quantified. For example, the global and time-integrated radiative forcing from burning a fossil fuel exceeds the heat released upon combustion within 2 months.
Over the long lifetime of CO2 in the atmosphere, the cumulative CO2-radiative forcing exceeds the amount of energy released upon combustion by a factor >100,000. For a new power plant, the radiative forcing from the accumulation of released CO2 exceeds the direct thermal emissions in less than half a year. Furthermore, we show that the energy released from the combustion of fossil fuels is now about 1.71% of the radiative forcing from CO2 that has accumulated in the atmosphere as a consequence of historical fossil fuel combustion.
If we want to curb global warming we need to shift to energy sources that don't release greenhouse gases.
The paper looks at three aspects:
Instantaneous Pulse Emissions From Fossil Fuel Combustion
Steady Continuous Combustion of Fossil Fuels
Historical Emissions of Heat and Carbon Dioxide From Fossil Fuel Combustion
From the press release at ScienceDaily.com:
They found that the carbon dioxide-caused warming exceeds the amount of heat released by a lump of coal in just 34 days. The same phenomenon is observed in 45 days for an isolated incident of oil combustion, and in 59 days for a single instance of burning natural gas.
“Ultimately, the warming induced by carbon dioxide over the many thousands of years it remains in the atmosphere would exceed the warming from combustion by a factor of 100,000 or more,” Caldeira said.
For a power plant that is continuously burning, the warming caused by atmospheric carbon dioxide exceeded the heat released into the atmosphere by combustion in less than half a year–just three months for coal plants. With this kind of steady continuous combustion, it takes 95 days using coal, 124 days using oil, and 161 days using natural gas.
Caldeira explained: “If a power plant is burning continuously, within 3 to 5 months, depending on the type of power plant, the CO2 from the power plant is doing more to heat the Earth than the fires in its boiler. As time goes on, the rate of burning in the power plant stays the same, but the CO2 accumulates, so by the end of the year, the greenhouse gases will be heating the Earth much more than the direct emissions from the power plant.”
The second case, looking at steady continuous emissions is shown in Figure 2 below. The chart compares the thermal forcing from CO2 with that from combustion of the fossil fuels from which that CO2 came - showing the instantaneous forcing from continuous emissions (top panel) and the time-integrated forcing from continuous emissions (bottom panel).
Figure 2 | Results for constant continuous emissions from burning coal, oil, and gas. Ratios of (a) instantaneous CO2 radiative forcing to instantaneous thermal forcing (ΔFCO2 /ΔFthermal), and (b) time-integrated CO2 radiative forcing to time-integrated thermal forcing (IntFCO2 /IntFthermal). The inset in Figure 2a shows that it takes 0.26 years, 0.34 years, and 0.44 years for coal, oil, and gas, respectively, for the instantaneous forcing from accumulated CO2 to exceed the instantaneous thermal forcing from combustion. The inset in Figure 2b shows that it takes 0.52 years, 0.67 years, and 0.88 years for coal, oil, and gas, respectively, for the time-integrated radiative forcing from the CO2 released to exceed the cumulative thermal emissions from combustion. Source: Zhang & Caldeira 2015
Anthony Watts fails logic and arithmetic
I don't know why Anthony Watts can't understand this when he claims to accept that CO2 is a greenhouse gas. What he wrote (archived here), with his usual "claim" headline, was:
Claim: Greenhouse gas-caused warming felt in just months
Anthony Watts / 7 hours ago June 2, 2015
Caldeira It seems in the desperation to erase “the pause” in time for Paris, Ken Caldeira has jumped the shark with this claim. Basically he’s claiming that the heat from fossil fuel combustion is a factor, not just the posited slowing of infrared from Earth’s surface to the top of the atmosphere by increased CO2 concentration.
This headline “Greenhouse gas-caused warming felt in just months” is in contrast to what Caldeira previously said in this Institute of Physics publication saying:
…we find the median time between an emission and maximum warming is 10.1 years, with a 90% probability range of 6.6–30.7 years.
Just why Anthony thinks one finding contradicts the other is a puzzle. If he was driving a car and passed a pedestrian in two seconds, but didn't get to maximum speed for two minutes, does it mean he couldn't have passed the pedestrian in two seconds? In Anthony's topsy turvy world you'd have to say - yes. (Anthony isn't good with numbers - he's shown that on numerous occasions in the past. The simplest arithmetic is beyond his capability. One can rightly argue he is innumerate.)
(Strange that Anthony argues that burning coal, gas and oil doesn't produce heat. He's out on a limb with that one. Very few deniers would dispute the fact. Burning wood produces heat too. If anyone in Chico, California has a gas stove or oil heater or a barbecue, perhaps they can invite Anthony around and give him a demonstration.)
It was pointed out to me that Anthony Watts has in the past decided that "Waste heat [has] a bigger climate effect than once thought". And that reminded me of the time he decided that global warming was caused by steam pipes in the backblocks of Russia. It must be dreadfully taxing on the brain being a denier and believing (or not believing) so many contradictory things all at the same time.
Sou 8:23 pm 3 June 2015
Anthony has plenty of bad company. The "thoughts" of his commenters were equally vacuous.
Bruce Cobb
They are making it up as they go along.
Kevin Kane can't understand science, but he does like quote-mining emails
Would be interesting if there was another release of emails just before Paris.
Paul Westhaver doesn't understand science either. It's all 'technobabble' to him.
But… the earth ain’t warming no mo.
Obfuscation and techno babble to conceal the fact that I am still burning oil to heat my house in bloody June.
It is frigging cold.
Bob Tisdale is another greenhouse effect denying quack who thinks scientists are loons.
Do alarmists get loonier around the full moon?
Someone needs to perform a study about the effects of the phases of the moon on the bizarreness of the claims by the CO2 obsessed.
Double on Tundra is the first one to get close to understanding part of the paper, though he's not quite sure:
When I turn on the heater in my car, it warms me almost immediately. This is what he means, right? He can’t mean that because I drive my car, I don’t need a heater.
Mark and two Cats thinks that the earth cannot radiate any heat. Even if he rejects greenhouse warming, I wonder where he thinks that all that solar energy hitting earth ends up?
“The release of CO2 into the atmosphere contributes to the trapping of heat that would otherwise be emitted into outer space.
Heat cannot be emitted into outer space.
Latitude writes more nonsense. Did he bother to read the press release Anthony copied and pasted? It was all about burning fossil fuels to keep "everything above freezing all winter" and more.
warming caused by the carbon dioxide……No one knows
So he figured all the heat from heaters in the winter, air conditioneers in the summer…
I don’t suppose keeping everything above freezing all winter counts
The Ghost Of Big Jim Cooley might not understand any climate science but he can't resist posting his "thoughts" at WUWT. This is why WUWT exists. It's a steam valve for deniers:
These people are just pissing on their own chips.
DaveH lives in a cold climate, I'd say. And he thinks that excessive heat waves, flash floods, worse droughts, famine, severe storms and rapidly rising seas are worth it if it means that the plants that survive will grow a bit more:
If you can believe this, it sounds like good news to me. Warm is better than cold and CO2 benefits the planet through the plants so it’s a win-win-win we get the energy from the lump of coal, then we get a warmer planet and finally we get more CO2 for the planet. I’m a bit skeptical that burning a lump of coal really has a meaningful long term impact on warming the planet but this article sounds like coal is a miracle substance.
Admad mistakenly thinks that CO2 is different depending on the source.
So. There are at least three different kinds of human-generated carbon dioxide with different properties, from combustion of coal, oil and methane. This is a major breakthrough in chemistry which should earn them a Nobel.
Oddly for WUWT, someone takes the time to correct him. JohnB replied:
No. Same CO2, but less of it from methane per unit of heat generated by combustion.
anthonyvioli spouts more WUWT-style nonsense and asks what denier would ever believe any science:
And as everyday goes by, not only does it refuse to warm but alarmists become more stupid.
Who actually believes this stuff?
On a side note, don’t worry about measuring temperatures, just follow water vapour.
Its decreasing, for a good reason.
dbstealey, like Anthony, fails simple logic and writes:
If warming from CO2 is that quick, it seems to be contradicted by the IPCC’s own claim of long residence times for CO2.
He also misses the point. The reason that there is such a long warming effect from burning lumps of coal is because CO2 stays in the atmosphere for so long, not despite that.
dbstealey tries to recover, and explains that he made that mistake because he can't read a temperature chart:
I understand that, John. Maybe you didn’t get my point. If not, sorry about that.
If, as the IPCC claims, the CO2 residency time is a century, then with all the CO2 emitted over the past 50 – 60 or more years, we certainly should have seen some fast-accelerating global warming by now.
But there isn’t any accelerating global warming — there isn’t even any global warming at all! For many years now, global warming has been stopped.
I think whoever said it upthread was right: at this point, they will SAY ANYTHING. Facts and evidence have nothing to do with it. This is all political spin; pablum for the masses.
This is for Smokey (dbstealey) and all the deniers out there who mistakenly think that earth hasn't been getting a lot hotter.
Data source: GISS NASA
Xiaochun Zhang and Ken Caldeira. "Time scales and ratios of climate forcing due to thermal versus carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels". Geophysical Research Letters, May 2015 DOI:10.1002/2015GL063514 (Open access - early release is here)
Greenhouse gas-caused warming felt in just months - press release from ScienceDaily.com
Denier weirdness: Russian steam pipes are causing global warming, sez Anthony Watts @wattsupwiththat
Labels: carbon budget, CO2, Ken Caldeira, Xiaochun Zhang
PG June 3, 2015 at 3:03 PM
dbstealey.
Closet human being displays humility when his competence is questioned. In other news Sepp Blatter resigns.
Furthermore, we show that the energy released from the combustion of fossil fuels is now about 1.71% of the radiative forcing from CO2 that has accumulated in the atmosphere as a consequence of historical fossil fuel combustion.
I see where this comes from, but even this is an underestimate. Energy generation is around 18TW which is the same as a forcing of 0.035W/m^2. The best estimate for the change in anthropogenic forcing is 2.3W/m^2, so the waste heat forcing is about 1.5% of the net anthropogenic forcing.
However, is you consider that we've warmed by about 0.85K and there is still a 0.7W/m^2 raidative imbalance, that suggests a net radiative perturbation of 3.5W/m^2, so the waste heat forcing is more like 1% of the net radiative effect.
If we continue to emit, then this fraction will continue to get smaller, given that GHGs accumulate in the atmosphere, while waste heat does not.
palindrom June 4, 2015 at 1:08 AM
Watts characterizes the paper as: " Basically he’s claiming that the heat from fossil fuel combustion is a factor, not just the posited slowing of infrared from Earth’s surface to the top of the atmosphere by increased CO2 concentration."
In reality, the paper is saying that the direct heating from fossil fuels is completely insignificant -- the exact opposite of how Watts appears to have read it.
This is just plain weird.
"In reality, the paper is saying that the direct heating from fossil fuels is completely insignificant..."
...a fact that has been non-controversial for a long time, so one must wonder why the paper — correct though it may be — was accepted for publication. Does it tell us anything new?
Adam R.
Sou June 4, 2015 at 2:22 AM
I could see it would be useful for a cost benefit analysis comparing different power sources. As the authors say ""It's important to note that heat emissions from combustion are not negligible, particularly in urban areas," Zhang added. "But carbon dioxide-caused warming is just that much greater. Our results drive home the urgency of cutting emissions immediately."
It's another way of quantifying the enormity of the price we're paying for a short-lived benefit when we could get that same benefit without the GHGs.
KR June 4, 2015 at 3:19 AM
There's a Skeptical Science thread from 2010 on this subject, based on Flanner 2009. The estimate there is that the global forcing of anthropogenic thermal energy releases was ~0.028 W/m^2, although regionally higher values were seen (0.39 W/m^2 over the US, 0.68 W/m^2 over western Europe).
But globally, thermal forcing is only on the order of 1 to 1.5% of the GHG forcing. And WUWT continues to be confused.
jmorpuss June 4, 2015 at 10:04 AM
How much CO2 is converted (rained out) to H2CO3 (Acid raid)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KbEV85rJhs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KbEV85rJhs
Bert from Eltham June 4, 2015 at 12:36 PM
jmpuss this is just basic science. What is your question. If you mean how much CO2 ends up in the worlds oceans that we emit by burning fossil fuels. It is about half of what we emit. Not for much longer as the oceans are close to saturating and are warming and thus will absorb less and then start to emit CO2. Bert
How much CO2 is produced from steel manufacturing ? They add Coke (carbon) to the process to extract oxygen bubbles and create CO2 .
palindrom June 4, 2015 at 11:30 AM
I don't know, but I was surprised to learn that the manufacture of portland cement is a very sizeable CO2 contributer.
jmorpuss June 4, 2015 at 12:29 PM
The cement industry releases about 10% of the worlds atmospheric mercury as well http://www.unep.org/chemicalsandwaste/Mercury/GlobalMercuryPartnership/MercuryreleasesfromtheCementIndustry/tabid/106181/Default.aspx
Bernard J. June 4, 2015 at 11:25 AM
New Scientst discussed the impact of direct heat release on at least one occasion:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026845.200-heat-we-emit-could-warm-the-earth.html
and Do the Math also discusses the issue from an extrapolation perspective:
http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/
which is interesting from the 2.3% annual growth perspective as this is the paradigm on which our economies are predicated.
Bert from Eltham June 4, 2015 at 11:35 AM
Back in the seventies one of my Physics lecturers had worked out that a Nuclear powered Electricity Generator only produced twenty times the amount of fossil fuel energy needed to build it. He considered that if you take the unsolved nuclear waste problems into account that these dangerous installations could not pass any sort of cost benefit analysis. Bert
This lecturer used to set us problems to calculate the total heat produced by various methods of electricity generation. The waste heat from coal fired power stations was about twice the useful electricity that was generated. Nuclear generators had a limited lifetime due to inevitable structural failures due to neutron absorption weakening the metal in the reactor.
This very smart lecturer then said that the excess CO2 did far more harm than the short term heat release.
This is also a problem in so called Fusion reactors. The high energy neutron flux damages the structural integrity of the magnetic containment vessel made of exotic metals. These containment vessels are too dangerous to even dismantle if fusion ever gets up and running. This is the fine print in the fusion dream.
If we really want to get it correct we should look at nature and how it harvests the Suns energy in a sustainable way.
The bacteria did the experiments for about three billion years by mere trial and error. Without these random experiments we would not exist.
Pierre-Normand June 4, 2015 at 4:53 PM
dbstealey also confuses the residence time (mean residence time, or MRT), which is actually quite short -- about 5 years -- with the much longer adjustment time (or response time). The former represents the average time that a molecule spends in a reservoir. The latter represents the rate of decay of a temporary spike that brings concentration in the atmosphere out of equilibrium with the oceans and biosphere. Since most CO2 molecules that move from the atmosphere to the ocean merely trade place with molecules that move in the other direction, a short MRT is consistent with a long adjustment time. The latter depends not on the absolute magnitude of the flows but rather on their average difference. The more generic word "lifetime" also often has been used to refer to either of the two concepts described above, and so ought probably to be dispensed with to avoid confusion.
Treesong June 5, 2015 at 1:28 AM
One thing I don't see in this discussion--maybe I'm just missing it--is the fact that in the long run the net heating from fossil fuel combusion, ignoring CO2 production, is zero. In the absence of other forcings, if it heats the earth above equilibrium temperature, then radiated heat will increase until equilibrium is reached again. How long does that take?
Pierre-Normand June 5, 2015 at 11:00 AM
Treesong, direct anthropogenic heating from energy production (nuclear or fossil fuel) is just like any other forcing. Conceptually, it makes little difference if an extra 0.05W/m^2 comes from combustion or from a small increase in solar irradiance. It just happens to be very small compared to other forcings. There still are three more small differences that I can think of.
First, the direct antropogenic heating tends to be localized and since the upwelling longwave power is a fourth power of temperature then a similar total amount of antropogenic surface warming (i.e. increase in average surface temperature) will radiate heat away to space more effectively than the more homogeneous forcing from the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Second, the direct 'forcing' can be instantaneously reduced or suppressed as soon as we cease burning so much stuff up -- quite unlike the much more resilient forcing from the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Lastly, the heat produced from renewable sources such as wind or hydro (though not solar, since this reduces surface albedo) don't generate any extra 'forcing' since all the useful energy that we produce in this way would have ended up as waste heat anyway, through dissipation in the climate system. This is why I restricted the sources of direct anthopogenic waste 'forcing' to combustion and nuclear energy generation.
Treesong, regarding your last question -- How long does that take? -- It would seem to be nearly instantaneous since most energy consumption takes place over land and the surface temperature increase is produced at the very same time as the heat is being generated. Before it gets fully radiated away, there is some time delay over which the extra heat is allowed to disperse and become more uniform, but this time delay promotes rather than it hinders energy dissipation to space since the radiating power is a fourth power of the temperature.
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Suppressing the Cognitive Dissonance of a Bogus Recovery
by Charles Hugh Smith
Despite a 24/7 campaign of carefully managed "good news," 76% of Americans do not believe the U.S. "recovery." Hmm, I wonder why?
A massive outbreak of economic cognitive dissonance is being suppressed with wave after wave of manufactured "good news." Every visibly negative bit of data is run through a media and Central State assembly line to refashion it as "good news" and "evidence" that the "nascent recovery is taking hold." Whatever cannot be rejiggered is simply buried or suppressed.
The fact that five corporations control the the vast majority of the U.S. mainstream media certainly aids that manufacturing process.
Let's run through a few of the most blatant examples of suppressed dissonance:
1. If the economy is recovering so strongly ( +3% GDP growth in the first quarter!) then why are tax revenues down? Federal budget deficit hits April record: The April deficit soared to $82.7 billion. Total revenues for April were down 7.9 percent from a year ago. In the seven months of this year, corporate tax receipts are up 8.9% to $77.1 billion. The same cannot be said of individual income tax revenue, which is down 11.6% in the first seven months to $500.8 billion.
Through the first seven months of the current budget year, which began on Oct. 1, the deficit totals nearly $800 billion. That is down only slightly from last year's deficit during the same period of $802 billion. Revenues total $1.2 trillion in those seven months, down 4.5 percent from the same period last year.
How can tax revenues be falling when the economy is "growing strongly"? As for those corporate profits: corporate profits register biggest year-over-year gain in 25 years.
As this chart from the Federal Reserve shows, non-financial corporate profits were almost 14% of GDP before the global meltdown. In a $13 trillion economy, that's $1.8 trillion.
But much of the "good news" in Corporate America is not quite as rosy as presented.
2. Rising corporate profits mask falling sales. Consider Walmart's last report, which caused the financial media to quiver in ecstasy because the retailer logged a 10% increase in profits. But behind the hype, (profits rose $0.3 billion on $99 billion in sales, whoopie), Walmart same-store sales drop; gross margins decline.
You have to read to the very last line to get to the sobering reality: same-store sales dropped in the U.S. and gross margins declined. Both are bad news, yet you'd never know it from the lead paragraphs and talking heads.
3. Corporate profits are boosted with special charges and other accounting trickery. It takes a forensic accounting analysis of corporate filings to discern what's real and what's been juiced to boost quarterly "earnings."
Meanwhile, corporations are loading up on debt again: Junk bonds-- essentially risky bets on future corporate earnings--made up the biggest share of corporate debt sales on record last year. That hardly suggests prudence on the part of the companies loading up on tens of billions of dollars of high-interest debt. Load the company with debt, goose profits, cash out the big bonuses and then let the balance sheet implode.
4. Much of global corporate America's earnings resulted from the weak dollar. Now that boost to the bottom line has largely vanished in the collapse of the euro.
Many of America's premiere global companies earn most of their revenue overseas. Equipment maker Eaton, for instance, gets 55% of its sales from outside the U.S. Global companies such as Coca-Cola not only reap most of their sales overseas-- they also depend on international growth to boost their profits.
As the U.S. dollar has risen 25% against the euro, the U.S. multinationals' plump profits (in dollars) will take a huge hit. Indeed, American multinationals such as Caterpiller have already seen their stocks pummeled as traders realize the dollar's rise will slice their profits.
Here's how the weak dollar boosted U.S. corporate profits. In mid-2008, when a U.S. company booked 100 euros in profit made overseas, that translated into $160 in profits when calculated in U.S. dollars. Now that same 100 euros in profit translates into $122—a huge reduction.
If that wasn't bad enough, our major trading partners are heading into epic slowdowns. As the wheels fall off the credit/housing bubble in China--the global engine for commodities and manufacturing--and the credit storm takes down Europe--the world's largest trading bloc--U.S. corporate sales and profits will suffer.
5. Income inequality has risen to 1929 levels. If times are indeed good, they're only good for the top 5% of households. The bottom 80% have seen their net worth and incomes decline. So much for "trickle-down" prosperity.
6. U.S. households remain mired in debt. U.S. households took on too much debt and the consequences are still unfolding: 14% of mortgages delinquent or in foreclosure. This is only the above-water part of the iceberg; banks are holding tens of thousands of loans out of foreclosure lest their insolvency become too obvious. Tens of thousands of homes are being hidden in the "shadow inventory" of homes which are in default but which are not listed for sale.
Resetting the mortgage payments down a few dollars will do nothing to change the massive over-indebtedness: Home-Loan Aid Proves Little Help For Those With Other Big Bills to Pay.
7. Another wave of mortgage resets has yet to hit--housing's bogus "recovery" will dissolve like a sand castle in a tsunami.
8. The U.S. banking system is still rotten to the core. The list of ills in the U.S. banking industry is long indeed, but perhaps one fact reveals how little has been changed in the past few years of turmoil: U.S. commercial banks (not investment banks) generated a record $22.6 billion in derivatives trading revenues in 2009--the same year that the Federal Reserve spent trillions of dollars to prop up the U.S. mortgage market and the banking sector.
While massive Federal intervention staved off systemic insolvency last year, many U.S. banks remain effectively insolvent.
9. The U.S. trade imbalance is growing again. Though imports fell in the recession, imports rose 18% from the second quarter of 2009 to the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, the trade deficit adds to the nation's indebtedness. Though the trade deficit has dropped from the 2006 peak at $800 billion, it is still on track to reach $500 billion in 2010.
10. Economic "intelligence" is essentially propaganda.Despite the daily flood of financial and economic data, pundits, government agencies and forecasters were caught off-guard by the subprime mortgage crisis, the resulting banking crisis and now once again by the European banking storm and sovereign debt crisis.
Many official economic-intelligence reports are of questionable forecasting value. As I reported previously, Federal budget projections are consistently overly rosy and the nation's GDP was recently "adjusted" down 37% in one fell swoop.
This is a recurring pattern: "good news numbers" are released with much "nascent recovery" fanfare, and then quietly revised down to statistical noise a few weeks later.
Earlier this year, the Labor Department revised the nation's employment for December 2009 down by a staggering 1.39 million, bringing the total number of jobs lost since the start of the recession to 8.4 million. The culprit was the department's "birth-death model," which creates phantom jobs every month based on the idea that thousands of small businesses are being "born" and hiring workers, despite little to no evidence for this hiring in the real world.
With "economic intelligence" like this, no wonder 76 percent of Americans believe that the US economy remains in recession.
That must be sobering for the Central State propaganda complex and the mainstream corporate media: all their efforts to persuade the average American that they are doing better financially have failed to suppress the evidence for economic decay which is so abundant in the real world.
If you haven't visited the forum, here's a place to start. Click on the link below and then select "new posts." You'll get to see what other oftwominds.com readers and contributors are discussing/sharing.
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Uber unveils 'realtime ID check' in India for rider safety
The feature is being launched in five cities in India -- Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata and more locations will follow, Uber said in a blog post.
‘Google is committed to supporting Goan MSMEs’
Google said that it was deeply committed to partnering with Goa’s micro, small and medium enterprise sectors
Internet users to cross 450 million by June 2017: IAMAI
The .com and .net TLDs had a combined total of approximately 142.2 million domain name registrations in the domain name base in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Indian IoT market value to touch $9 bn by 2020
A rapidly growing hub for IoT solutions, the country's IoT market size in this area is expected to increase about 7 times -- from USD 1.3 billion last year to USD 9 billion by 2020, said consultancy firm Deloitte in its TMT Predictions 2017.
Internet to be available in all gram panchayats by next year: Govt
One lakh gram panchayats are to be connected by underground Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) by March this year under the first phase of BharatNet project
consumer-tech
To promote digital payments, give Rs 1,000 subsidy to buy smartphones, chief ministers' panel urges PM Modi
The chief ministers' panel report, which was submitted to PM Modi by committee representative CM of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu, has also made a case of lower/zero merchant discount rate (MDR) for all digital payments to govt entities and cap on cash in all type of big ticket transactions.
Snapdeal owner Jasper's loss more than doubles to Rs 2,960 crore
With Flipkart posting a loss of Rs 5,223 crore and Amazon another Rs 3,571crore, the big three of India's online retail space had a combined loss of Rs 11,754 crore in the last fiscal year.
Cybercrimes show an alarming increase in Rajasthan
Internet is turning out to be the new nemesis for the state police. The crime figures released by the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) for the year 2015 has set alarm bells ringing with the state recorded an increase of 33.06% in online crimes.
Two-day mela on digital transactions to be conducted by Niti Aayog in Hyderabad
As past of a plan to promote digital transactions across the country, the Niti Aayog will be holding a 'Digi dhan' mela in the city from January 18 to 19.
government-policy
Digital payment infrastructure and service is rising industry: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Terming the digital payment infrastructure and service as rising industry, Union minister of electronics and information technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad said Haryana has lot of potential and possibilities for innovation in the field of digital payment, internet, artificial intelligence, digital education and cyber security.
Need plan to curb cyberattacks: Assocham-PwC
“It is imperative for law enforcement agencies to have a system which will have a collaborative framework for receiving video feeds on a need basis from closed-circuit television surveillance systems and subsystems,” said the study.
Haryana's DigiDhan Mela promotes cashless transactions
As a part of the nationwide 100-day special campaign to promote digital and cashless transactions, the second 'DigiDhan Mela' was organised in Gurugram, Haryana.
200 more railway stations to have Wi-Fi in 2017: Prabhu
Dedicating six Wi-Fi facilities to rail users at Kannur, Ernakulam and Kollam at a function here, he said 100 stations had been fitted with Wi-Fi this year and the target was to double this number in 2017.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Jaipur on personal visit
Google chief executive officer (CEO) Sundar Pichai along with his family landed in Jaipur on Sunday afternoon.
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You are here: Home » COACH PORTFOLIOS » Power Tools » Power Tool: Comfort vs. Self-Trust
Power Tool: Comfort vs. Self-Trust
A Coaching Power Tool Created by Agatha Hughes
(Life & Wellness Coach, UNITED STATES)
One of the definitions of the word comfort from dictionary.com is this: a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety.
A perspective of comfort is the belief that buffering yourself from change or disruption will preserve stability and happiness it is the maintenance of freedom from pain or anxiety,as the definition explains. By having this perspective, the structures one employs support stagnation and standstill with the assumption that any adjustment to lifestyle will cause instability, imbalance, and chaos. Once a routine is established, deviation even in a positive direction evokes fear. There may even be an idea that if a situation is recognized as less than ideal, external factors will eventually accommodate a better situation without personal action. A state of comfort is often just the opposite, as it usually leads to feeling trapped, anxious, and unhappy.
Example of comfort perspective:
A newly married woman who is living with her husband allows her sister with her children to live rent-free at her old residence due to the sister’s marital and financial struggles. The woman can no longer afford to keep this old residence with her new bills, but continues to make ends meet because the sister is unreceptive to encouragement to find her own place. The woman also knows that taking back this offer would put pressure on her parents to support the sister and kids. This situation is now causing financial and marital strain on the woman, but she does not change it for fear of family drama and expresses hope that with the birth of her new son, the sister will change her mind and move out on her own.
Self-trust:
One of the definitions of trust from dictionary.com is this: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence. The word that strikes me in their definition is surety.
A perspective of self-trust is the belief that living in alignment with your values will always lead you to the top, even in unclear situations. A strong foundation and understanding of your beliefs supports and directs you in making decisions and allows for the discovery of positive solutions to seemingly negative disruptions. This state supports confidence and a feeling of calmness or peace.
The woman in the above scenario considers her values. She values her family, independence, responsibility, and respect towards all. She brainstorms possible courses of action that would resolve the situation, including having a family meeting and setting financial requirements or boundaries for her sister. She knows that providing her sister shelter at her own expense, when she believes her sister is capable of supporting her family and is taking advantage by making unnecessary purchases, is not offering realistic help and is not aligned with her respect for herself and husband. By having a family meeting, she is respecting all involved by giving an opportunity to participate in the decision, and by setting boundaries she is exercising her values of responsibility. She believes that abiding by her values will produce the best outcome.
The origin:
I drew this tool from a client’s experience, though I can apply it to my own experiences as well as another person’s circumstance that I’ve observed.
Client Example:
My client preserved a long-term relationship with her significant other who had a drug habit, was dishonest, and in legal trouble. She was committed to the belief that through rehabilitation and love, he would change, though he repeatedly let her down. She was anxious, worried, and arguing, but kept an unchanged lifestyle that made her comfortable- she still had a relationship and someone to live with. However, she was struggling with staying in the relationship. I asked what it would take for her to know that circumstances were improving, what the ideal life together look like. She had difficulty explaining because of the possibility of a jail time sentence. The knowledge of this outcome would provide her the turning point she needed to decide which action to take, and so I asked her what she would do if he did or did not go to jail. She explained that either way, she would initially stay and observe his course of action afterwards, and outlined what actions would indicate improvement on his part. If he did not change, she would have established reasons to leave him. Highlighting her neglected values of health and self-respect allowed her to define actions that would align with her priorities. Once she created an action plan for possible behaviors of his that would upset her comfort state again, she felt confident navigating their relationship no matter what.
Personal Example:
I remained committed to my chosen career path with the idea that venturing away from it could wreak havoc on my life.
What about all of the money I’ve spent on school?
How could I afford learning something else?
Could anything else support my budget?
How much time would changing careers take away from my new marriage and ideas of a new family?
How could I explain this irresponsibility to my family?
All of these fears questioned my comfort, my stable career and routine, but left me unhappy and helpless.
Eventually, I let it slip that I was in the wrong profession. Instead of burying that thought, I let it surface and stay there. I became familiar with it. I realized that the existence of this disruptive thought caused me no chaos. It was a tiny sparkle in the distance that actually gave me hope. I shifted. I picked up the inkling that I can reflect on my strengths. I don’t truly like being a nurse day in and day out, and that itself makes me less than the best one out there! So my strengths and interests must support something else. I read and researched and took personality quizzes. I indirectly discovered my values, which led me to coaching. Trusting that my belief in fulfillment and pursuing a meaningful career would lead me somewhere better, I was able to find my calling and be comfortable leaving my fears behind, replacing them with solutions that worked.
Now consider this scenario. This is actually a real situation I’m observing, but am only hypothetically coaching it using this tool.
A wife is feeling that communication in her marriage is lacking. She and her husband are remodeling their primary residence, inside and out, and she feels her husband is too quickly pushing her to create plans for these changes. He is also making phone calls to contractors and making purchases without consulting her. Her husband contributes the primary income of the household. They also own a second summer residence, where her husband would like to permanently move after retirement, with which she disagrees.
Right now she is in a state of comfort, though she is unhappy, stressed, and overwhelmed. Her solutions to these barriers are of a passive-aggressive nature.
Well, that man can come speak with us in two weeks about the room, but my husband’s going to look like an idiot when I don’t have anything to say.
Or she questions her husband’s plans, but makes no objection when he provides an answer. Something like,
Well I thought we were going to do the foyer and kitchen first because our customers see those with no solid refusal or invitation to discuss further when he states he’d rather do the bedroom. She then begins the silent treatment. She believes that speaking up will not result in any change, and has exhibited these behaviors for many years. It is not unusual for her to voice her complaints to others, but it is unusual for her to attempt to illicit real change. However, her lifestyle is consistent and her conversations and disputes are predictable, and she knows how to (ineffectively) cope.
Invite her to consider how she currently views the remodeling of her home, along with how she would ideally experience it. Is it a positive or negative experience right now? What about it is negative? How would she like to remember it?
Do a vision exercise: if she were to imagine this project in the future, what would it look like? How would the plans be made and where? Give her the opportunity to envision a positive experience; perhaps discussing plans, phone numbers, timelines, and ideas with her husband over dinners and before bed, being excited together and bouncing ideas. What is their communication like? How does she feel when it’s all finally completed?
Ask how her husband is entirely responsible for this situation and then how she is entirely responsible, and ask her to reflect which perspective allows her more options. She may have explained earlier that in order for the situation to be better, her husband would have to be, change, or do X, Y, and Z, which she might now realize has left her powerless.
Ask her how important is it for this experience to be a positive one. What would it take for her to bring her vision to reality? What coping mechanisms or behaviors (structures) does she have that have prevented this from happening before? What adjustments can she make to support better communication?
Encourage her to consider how these solutions could improve other areas of her relationship or life. Where, when, and how (specifically) can she take a small step towards this goal and start making the adjustment?
How does she feel about the idea of remodeling their home together make her feel now?
Consider a time when you preserved a situation or lifestyle that didn’t serve you. What compelled you to stay? What was the moment that prompted a change? How did it make you feel?
Has a past experience of self-trust in your foundation catalyzed additional changes in the future? Were you able to recall the sense of empowerment you felt once you shifted away from comfort?
What are other ways you can help a client shift from a perspective of comfort to one of self-trust?
Research Paper: Case Study: Redefining Spirituality and Religion in Identifying Life Purpose
Coaching Model: PORT
Power Tool: Acceptance vs. Sabotage
Power Tool: Mindfulness vs. Habit
Power Tool: Circumstance vs. Identity
Power Tool: Presence and Calm vs. Scattered and Anxious
Filed Under: Power Tools Tagged With: Agatha Hughes, life coach, United States Coach, wellness coach
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New Gene Sequencing Test to Speed Donor Matching, Research
Mar 17 2014
Division of Genomic Diagnostics
OKGenetics experts at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have developed a unique test to characterize the genes that encode HLA molecules. Relying on gene sequencing to type human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) — complex proteins that are essential to immune function — the new test has the potential to improve transplantation outcomes through refined donor compatibility assessments, and will expedite the donor selection process from bone marrow registries.
“This new test addresses a sixty-year-old problem,” said Dimitri Monos, PhD, director of the Immunogenetics Laboratory in the Division of Genomic Diagnostics. “Since the discovery of HLAs in the early 1950s, it has been a challenge to accurately and thoroughly characterize HLA gene sequences. We have now used next-generation sequencing tools to significantly advance HLA typing.”
The test also provides an advanced tool for research in immunological diseases, infectious diseases, and pharmacogenomics — the field that studies the influence of genetic variations on drug efficacy and toxicity. Children’s Hospital is the first hospital to offer this new comprehensive HLA typing test.
“This is a new, disruptive technology, with the potential to transform research and clinical practice, in transplantation and other fields,” said Robert Doms, MD, PhD, CHOP’s pathologist-in-chief.
HLA genes are the most complex gene family known in the entire human genome, and their sequences are highly variable, to a degree not adequately captured by conventional typing tests. Current tests often provide ambiguous and limited results, by sequencing only segments of HLA genes and failing to distinguish among different alleles suggested by a given sequence. In addition, preliminary testing often must be followed by a second level testing, adding expense and time to the HLA typing process.
The new test, says Dr. Monos, is a single test that provides the highest resolution possible by covering the full HLA genomic region. It can currently distinguish among 10,500 different alleles of all known HLA types and can fully characterize new alleles yet to be discovered. The researchers validated the test by comparing its results against previously sequenced data from a collection of over 300 samples characterized at five different genes.
CHOP will be offering the HLA typing test for patient testing as a service to medical and academic centers. The test is faster, more precise, and costs less than existing testing procedures. The new test’s most significant short-range impact may be in typing donors in bone marrow/stem cell registries.
“This faster, more thorough technology allows us to better account for subtle genetic differences between individuals,” said Dr. Monos. “We expect this knowledge to yield clinical benefits, by facilitating more precise matches between transplant donors and recipients, and assessing the significance of mismatches in genomic regions of the HLAs that were previously uncharacterized.”
To learn more about Children’s Hospital’s genetic testing services, see the Division of Genomic Diagnostics. For more information about the HLA typing test, see the full press release.
gene sequencing, HLA typing, test, transplantation
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Tag-Archive for » Contest «
It was ‘Layla-Majnun’ and not ‘Laila-Majnu’!
We all have known, heard and talked about these epic love stories forever, but have we really bothered to find out where they all came from and who from?
Read here 5 Epic Love Stories with their origins, writers ,plots and their world famous adaptations!
#1. Layla & Majnun
Origin- It’s an Arabic folklore – a love story from the Middle East.
Writer- Nizami Ganjavii (1141 to 1209)
Nezāmi is considered the greatest romantic epic poet in Persian literature who brought a colloquial and realistic style to the Persian epic.
Layla was a beautiful girl born in a rich family. Being no less than a princess, she was expected to marry a wealthy boy and live in grandeur and splendor. But Layla fell in love with Qays (Majnun) and he too loved her dearly. Qays was a poet and belonged to the same tribe as Layla. He composed splendid love poems and dedicated them to his lady-love, telling in them his love for her and mentioning her name often. Qays’ friends knew about his affair with Layla and they often teased and made fun of his love. But such taunts had no effect on Qays. He was deeply in love with Layla and it was her thoughts alone that possessed his mind for all time.
But Qays was a poor lad. And when he asked for Layla’s hand in marriage, her father promptly refused him as he didn’t want her daughter to marry below her status. It would mean a scandal for Layla according to Arab traditions.
As fate would have it, the two lovers were banished from seeing each other. Soon after, Layla’s parents married her off to a wealthy man and she went on to live in a big mansion.
When Qays heard of her marriage he was heartbroken. He fled the tribe camp and wandered in the surrounding desert. His family eventually gave up on his return and left food for him in the wilderrness. He could sometimes be seen reciting poetry to himself or writing Layla’s name in the sand with a stick. Day and night, he pined for her.
Layla was no better. Separated from Qays, she was shattered in mind, body and spirit. Not long afterwards, in 688 AD, she moved to Iraq with her husband, where she fell ill and died eventually.
When Qays’ friends came to know about Layla’s death, they went looking for him all over to give him the news. But they could not find him.
Not much later, their search for him came to an end. Qays was found dead in the wilderness near Layla’s grave. On a rock near the grave, he had carved three verses of poetry, which are the last three verses ascribed to him.
“I pass by these walls, the walls of Layla
And I kiss this wall and that wall
It’s not Love of the houses that has taken my heart
But of the One who dwells in those houses”
Qays went mad for his love; for this reason he came to be called “Majnu”, or “Majnun Layla”
Famous adaptation- In Indian hindi movie “Laila Majnu” (1976) directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and starring Rishi Kapoor and Ranjeeta.
#2. Heer & Ranjha
Origins- It’s one of the four most popular tragic romances of the Punjab.(India)
Writer- Waris Shah
Waris was a Punjabi Sufi poet, renowned for his contribution to Punjabi literature and is also called Shakespeare of the Punjabi language because of his great poetic love story
Heer was an extremely beautiful woman, born into a wealthy Jat family of the Sayyal clan in Jhang, Punjab. Ranjha (first name Dheedo; Ranjha is the surname), also a Jat of the Ranjha clan, was the youngest of four brothers and lived in the village ‘Takht Hazara‘ by the river Chenab. Being his father’s favorite son, unlike his brothers who had to toil in the lands, he led a life of ease playing the flute . After a quarrel with his brothers over land, Ranjha left home and eventually arrived in Heer’s village and fell in love with her. Heer offered Ranjha a job as caretaker of her father’s cattle. She became mesmerized by the way Ranjha played his flute and eventually fell in love with him. They met each other secretly for many years until they were caught by Heer’s jealous uncle, Kaido, and her parents Chuchak and Malki. Heer was then forced by her family and the local priest or ‘mullah‘ to marry another man called Saida Khera.
Ranjha wass heartbroken. He wandered the countryside alone, until eventually he met a ‘jogi’ (ascetic). After meeting Baba Gorakhnath, Ranjha became a jogi himself, piercing his ears and renouncing the material world. Reciting the name of the Lord, “Alakh Niranjan“, he wandered all over the Punjab, and eventually found the village where Heer now lived.
The two return to Heer’s village, where Heer’s parents agreed to their marriage. However, on the wedding day, Heer’s jealous uncle Kaido poisoned her food so that the wedding doesn’t takes place. Hearing this news, Ranjha rushed to aid Heer, but he was too late, as she already ate the poison and died. Brokenhearted once again, Ranjha took the poisoned Laddu (sweet) which Heer ate and dies by her side.
Famous adaptation: In Indian hindi movie “Heer Ranjha” (1970) directed by Chetan Anand starring Raaj Kumar and Priya Rajvansh.
#3. Romeo & Juliet
Origins- Its plot is based on an Italian tale, translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Origins- Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562
Writer- William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families.
The Montague (Romeo’s Family) and Capulet(Juliette’s family) families were feuding.
The Count of Paris approached Lord Capulet about marrying his daughter, Juliet, but he was wary of the request because she was only thirteen. Capulet asked the Count of Paris to wait another two years and invited him to attend a ball. Lady Capulet and Juliet’s nurse urged Juliet to accept Paris’ courtship.
During the ball, Benvolio (a cousin of Romeo) discovered Romeo’s one-sided infatuation for the fair Juliette.
After the ball, Romeo sneaked into the Capulet courtyard and overheard Juliet on her balcony vowing her love to him in spite of her family’s hatred for his family. Romeo made himself known to her and they agreed to be marry each other.
With the help of a friar, who hoped to reconcile the two families through their children’s union, they get secretly married the next day.
Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, annoyed that Romeo had crashed the Capulet ball, challenged him to a duel. Romeo, now considering Tybalt his kinsman, refused to fight. Romeo’s friend, Mercutio was offended by Tybalt’s insolence, as well as Romeo’s “vile submission” and accepted the duel on Romeo’s behalf. Mercutio was fatally wounded when Romeo attempted to break up the fight. Grief-stricken and wracked with guilt, Romeo confronted and killed Tybalt.
The Prince exiled Romeo from Verona and declared that if Romeo returns, he will be executed. Romeo secretly spends the night in Juliet’s chamber, where they made love for the first and last time, consummating their marriage. In the morning, he prepared to leave and kissed her one last time.
Lord Capulet, misinterpreted Juliet’s grief, agreed to marry her to Count Paris and threatened to disown her if she refuses. Juliette pleaded for the marriage to be delayed, but her mother rejected her.
Juliet visited Friar Laurence for help, and he offered her a drug that will put her into a death-like coma for forty-two hours. The Friar promised to send a messenger to inform Romeo of the plan, so that he can rejoin her when she awakens. On the night before her wedding to the Count, Juliet takes the drug and, when discovered apparently dead, she is laid in the family crypt.
The messenger, however, failed to reach Romeo and, instead, he learned of Juliet’s apparent demise from his servant. Heartbroken, Romeo bought poison from an apothecary and drank it.
Juliet then awakened only to find her beloved Romeo dead. Unwilling to live without him, she stabbed herself with his dagger.
The feuding families and the Prince met at the tomb to find all three dead. The Friar recounted their story. The families were reconciled by their children’s deaths and agreed to end their violent feud.
Famous adaptation: Romeo + Juliet (1966) starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes
#4. Pyramus and Thisbē
Origins- These are two characters of Roman mythology
Writer- Ovid
Ovid was a Roman poet who is best known as the author of the three major collections of poetry, the Heroides, Amores and Ars Amatoria, and of the Metamorphoses. His poetry greatly influenced European art and literature and remains as one of the most important sources of classical mythology.
Pyramus and Thisbe was the story of two lovers in the city of Babylon who occupied connected houses/walls.
Pyramus was the most handsome man and was childhood friend of Thisbe, the fairest maiden in Babylonia. They both lived in neighboring homes and fell in love with each other as they grew up together. However, their parents were against them marrying each other.
Through a crack in one of the walls, they whispered their love for each other. One night while everyone was asleep, they decided to slip out of their homes and meet in the nearby fields near a mulberry tree. Thisbe reached there first. As she waited under the tree, she saw a lion coming near the spring close by to quench its thirst. Its jaws were bloody. When Thisbe saw this horrifying sight, she panicked and ran to hide in some
hollow rocks nearby. As she was running, she dropped her veil. The lion came near and picked up the veil in his bloody jaws. At that moment, Pyramus reached near the mulberry tree and saw Thisbe’s veil in the jaws of the lion. He was completely devastated. Shattered, he pierced his chest with his own sword. Unknown to what just happened; Thisbe was still hiding in the rocks due to the fear of the lion. When she came out after sometime, she saw what her lover did to himself. She was totally shattered when she saw the sword piercing right through her lover’s chest. She also took the sword and killed herself.
In the end, the gods listened to Thisbe’s lament, and forever changed the color of the mulberry fruits into the stained color to honor the forbidden love.
Famous Adaptation : In a “mock opera” by the German-born composer John Frederick Lampe (1745)
#5. Orpheus & Eurydice
Origins- It is a tale from Greek mythology.
Writer- There is no single author for this story- it’s been told and passed for generations!
Orpheus fell deeply in love with and married Eurydice, a beautiful fairy. They were very much in love and very happy together. Aristaeus, a Greek god of the land and agriculture, became quite fond of Eurydice, and actively pursued her.
While fleeing from Aristaeus, Eurydice ran into a nest of snakes which bit her fatally on her legs. Distraught, Orpheus played such sad songs and sang so mournfully that all the nymphs and gods wept. On their advice, Orpheus traveled to the underworld and by his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone (he was the only person ever to do so), who agreed to allow Eurydice to return with him to earth on one condition: he should walk in front of her and not look back until they both had reached the upper world. In his anxiety he forgot that both needed to be in the upper world, and he turned to look at her, and she vanished for the second time, but now forever.
Famous adaptation : In a Brazilian film Black Orpheus (1959) by French director Marcel Camus
Category: Art History Tags: black orpheus, Contest, famous love stories, folklores, heer ranjha, historic love stories, laila majnu, layla and majnun, love stories, origins, Orpheus & Eurydice, plots, Pyramus and Thisbē, romeo juliet, shakespeare, shortstory writing, tragic love stories, waris shah, writers, Writing Leave a Comment
Dreams That Came True!
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. “- Walt Disney
Every one of us a dreamer, the difference is only that some of us remember them when we wake up and some of us let go the flow of thoughts. The dreams may vary as per night or day but the core ambitions travel along with every vision that comes to the dreamer’s mind.
An artist also dreams. He dreams to transform all his dreams into reality one day. And what if someday, somebody actually holds his hands and guides him through? A bunch of dreamers experienced something like this! They got a chance to cherish their dream: being a filmmaker, a scriptwriter, an actor.
Tumbhi came up with a scriptwriting contest back in May 2011 called “Paanch”. The prize was only a promise to transform the words into reality i.e. the winning entries would be converted to actual short films under the mentorship of none other than Anurag Kashyap.
Six Short films were made by Tumbhi. Shor and Sujata were part of those six films. Come November’2011, the film Shor goes to Abu Dhabi Film Festival (U.A.E) 2011-12, gets discovered by the right eyes for filmmaking, receives rave reviews from many critics and wins the Best Narrative Short: Grand Jury Prize.
But Shor was made only to shout out loud what it actually was! It grabs another Best Narrative Short: Grand Jury Prize at South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF). Neeraj Ghayawan, Scriptwriter and director of Shor , could actually see now his dreams flying high right there in the clouds above. Making much more ‘Shor’ than its name, Shor won another Grand Jury Prize at 10th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.
But Shor was not alone here for the accolades. Huma Qureshi, the lead actress of the other short film “Sujata” gets a special mention by the grand jury at IFFLA. Sujata, a dream-child of the scriptwriter Annie Zaidi and director Shlok Sharma, becomes just another route of bliss for its conceivers.
To Tumbhi.com, it was all about giving feathers to the dreams of artists! Looking forward to even more feathers getting added to their caps, Tumbhi takes pride in translating at least a few dreams to reality because as Dr. Abdul Kalam said, “you have to dream before your dreams can come true.”
Category: Tumbhi Success Stories Tags: Anurag Kashyap, artists, bollywood, Contest, Films, Short Film Making, Short Films, tumbhi Leave a Comment
Closing the chapters: “Somewhere Sometime”
he Short Story Writing Contest
Stories happen all the time in our lives, it’s just that only some of us make the efforts to actually pen them down and thus shelf them forever.
Tumbhi organized a Short Story writing contest with the motive of taking out those diaries of confessions and expressions from people’s lives, get them framed, have them exposed and thus being appreciated. The only condition posed before the writers was the inclusion of “Twist in the tale”, I.e. the stories invited had to have a sudden turn or element of surprise in them!
As very much expected from the ‘writer’s breed’ all across the world, the stories came in all the ways they could, with all the tangs of life, love, relationships, thriller, emotions, tragedy and what not.
The quality of the entries was worth exploring and enjoying by the jury which included names like Javed Siddiqui (Urdu and Hindi screenwriter, dialogue writer and playwright from India, written over 50 story lines, screenplays and dialogues), Pankaj Shukla (A Film Critic, a Senior Journalist , a Book Reviewer, a Writer and a Director) and Kiran Khalap (Author, brand consultant and founder of Chlorophyll brand & communications consultancy).
After days of reading, the jury finally managed to take out the top 25 among the so many few!
Tumbhi team takes pride to congratulate all 25 writers and their stories, who made it to the shortlists plus a huge applause for the writers who ‘even tried’ because Success is not always counted by the result but by the effort!
Here are the Super 25 Shortlists of ‘Sometime Somewhere’ Contest:
Artist Name Story Title
Abhishek Saurabh The Message
Aditya Singh The Servants
Afshan Shaik Rendezvous at Insync
Amogha Reddappa A step forward
Amogha Reddappa The unseen rendezvous
Arpa Mukherjee Adnama
Assad Khan Blind
Banu Dai Love untold
Chandan Kumar The deadly prank
Chandru Bhojwani Saya
Deepti Mittal Reet par khichi lakeer
Ekta Patel Silent Witness
Harrosh Manoharan The note
Jerremy Spurgin The great mysterious
Jesse Raine Getting out there
Kanhaiya Bairwa Somewhere sometime
Majid Bazmi Akela
Mayuresh Kanvinde The strange case
Nikhil Srivastava Vada story
Renuka Vishwanathan The lone wolf
Sanjay Verma Durghatna
Sriparna Saha End of an affair
Vandana Kumari Jena If the truth be told
Vandana Kumari Jena Judge not
Vibha Batra The survivor
Many more pages are yet to be turned; the course of time will bring newer horizons!!
Once again Congratulations everybody!!
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Life after the British: If India can develop a thriving railway sector, why can’t Pakistan?
By Zaka Ud Din Ahmad Gondal Published: November 8, 2018
Train carriages parked near the railway station in Lahore on December 3, 2011. PHOTO: AFP
As a frequent traveller, whenever I visit another country my first preference is to take the train, and I have many reasons for doing so. Being an environmentalist, I am a conscious traveller, and railways have a smaller carbon footprint than other means of transportation.
As a bonus, they also offer an enchanting and panoramic view of the countryside, which you are likely to never forget. Trains are also comfortable – you can book a private cabin and walk, stretch and even sleep in a real bed during your travel. If you’re traveling overnight, you don’t have to pay for a hotel room, and what can get better than a fine meal prepared on board by a professional chef? Nothing, if you take my word for it.
But when was the last time you travelled on a train in Pakistan? I honestly don’t remember my experience, because it was a very long time ago and I was too naive to realise at the time that the memory would be a rarity in the future. I do remember bits and pieces, but unfortunately I’m sure most of the youth of today will never have set foot on a train, for the railway has emerged as one of the weakest ministries in the country.
However, this was not always the case. Between 1955 and 1960 when it was at its peak, the ministry was generating revenue due to its strong footing, due credit for which goes to the British. It was the predominant mode of transport then, handling 73% of the freight traffic, which reduced to less than 4% by 2011.
After the 70s, our priority shifted and more focus was directed towards developing roads. Political interference and corruption are obvious factors for the decline, but a lesser known factor is the support to the National Logistic Cell (NLC), which ultimately eats away at revenue that could have been generated by the railway. Fresh money was also not invested in this sector by the government; between 2005 and 2010, while the government spent Rs155 billion on highways, it only spent Rs45.5 billion on railways. Slowly, both freight and passengers started to decline, and the length of the track was decreased by 11%.
Due to this we eventually entered a dark age, marked with poor services, subpar trains, emergence of a transport mafia, tickets sold in black markets, late arrival and delays, strikes by unions, and cheap oil to run trains. Salaries and pensions are constantly delayed, and at times money was frequently collected from passengers to buy fuel to reach the destination.
The Indian Railways also shared the same infrastructure and facilities as Pakistan after British rule came to an end. Then why has their ministry not seen the same setbacks as ours? During the tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Indian Railways saw unprecedented success as he strived to cut financial losses and modernise the ministry. Tickets became cheaper, the capacity of trains expanded, more seat categories were introduced, traffic increased, and so did earnings. Decentralisation and lowering unit costs gave the Indian Railways more commercial freedom and the public better services for a lower cost of travel. Despite India having a much larger railway ministry and a much bigger population, they still managed to turn a struggling ministry around with good policies and a proper plan in place.
Pakistan too retains the same potential to develop a successful railway sector, particularly due to its rapidly increasing population. The former government under Saad Rafique took some initiatives such as re-launching online booking of tickets, acquiring new locomotives, along with initiating train projects through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including one from Kashgar to the Gwadar Port. CPEC really has the potential to be a game changer for the future of our railways. The necessary steps on our part will require upgrading 1,872 kilometres of railway track as well as doubling the track from Shahdara to Peshawar. Turkey has also agreed to start a railway to connect states belonging to the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), making it possible to travel from Islamabad to Istanbul in 15 days.
The current setup in the federal government sees Sheikh Rasheed as the minister of railways, and there is optimism regarding faster upgrade of the current track, improvement of infrastructure and reduction of debts in this declining ministry. Rasheed has promised a check on railways even if he has to disguise himself and conduct raids, has stressed on reducing expenses and erasing the deficit, and emphasised on zero tolerance for corruption. The path ahead is a tough one, especially as the media and the populace remain vigilant when it comes to ensuring the current government follows through with its promises. This is how it should have been throughout, as there needs to be a strict check on government officials, particularly on those belonging to regressing ministries. The people need to stay aware of who is not fulfilling the tall claims made during election season, so they can be called out and held accountable.
We should by now have a policy that outlines the railway ministry’s road map for the next 10 years. The most important – and most difficult – factor will be the endeavour to develop a mechanism and keep it corruption free, with transparent guidelines for tenders, lease and partnership. We must learn from the Indian Railways and apply its good points to our system.
Ultimately, the ministry will have to push through and improve itself drastically in order to win back the trust of the nation. Yes, the past few years have seen an improvement from the mess the ministry was in earlier, and Pakistan Railways is not far from the track of progress and modernisation, but it must choose its next steps skilfully and tackle them with strong footing. One good initiative taken recently by President Arif Alvi and Rasheed is the inauguration of the Dhabeji Express, which makes it possible to travel 65 kilometres for fares as low as Rs25. Another pledge by the government has been to revive the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), which will not only benefit intercity connectivity but will also improve intracity traffic.
Lastly, both freight services and passenger trains have equal importance and significance of their own; one cannot be undermined in favour of the other. Pakistan Railways has the right to a partnership for freight movement, and maximum revenue can be generated via the movement of products, if only the railway is made strong enough to handle the challenge. As with most things in Pakistan, the railway sector has a lot of potential for business, trade and recreation, and if given the chance, it will open up our doors to the rest of the world as well.
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Zaka Ud Din Ahmad Gondal
The author is an environmentalist based in Dubai, a sustainability critic, a freelance speaker, traveler, football enthusiast, toastmaster and an entrepreneur. He tweets @zaka_ah (twitter.com/zaka_ah)
Pakistan, a champion of making footballs, but not the game itself
https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/YXNpZADpBWEVWUHhPT01iLTBEMDQzS1pacGJxcW10YU9CMVRUelNBb2MxOHpTc1dpYXVoLUUwWm1nWWhfV3pfdHV4Q2R0OWNYODlaU3pBbE9sNDJUcHpDVFRLX01ILThMNXFDXzNPRmhDVlR0VUpHVQZDZD/ Ahsan
nothing will be done to railways. they have no interest in freight and even the nation of pakistan has not any interest in freight. such a sad situtation for my country and railwaysRecommend
Associating Lalu Prasad with Indian Railways just signifies ignorance. Indian Railways has survived as an institution and freight sector is always profitable. Lalu Prasad has zero contribution towards Indian Railways.Recommend
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40 is the New High School. Scene 1
Scene 1 of 40 is the New High School introduces the audience to the main character, Chaow. He's 40 and works as a janitor. Tensions immediately rise up as Klahan, who also works as a janitor showed strong interest on Chaow by defending him from the rude office workers. He also invited Chaow to hang out with him at this new bar. Chaow said no, and use an excuse that he has a second job to go to, which is actually a lie, Chaow is in a relationship with a successful executive, Hendrik who works on the same place as him, the only thing is nobody knows this except just him and Hendrik. Remember to follow the next launch scenes just use the Search icon found at the bottom of the site, and type in the title of the BL series, 40 is the New High School.
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Thy Father's Chair
Orthodox Jewish Twins Confront Their Past
Abraham and Shraga are aging Orthodox Jewish twins who live a secluded existence in their inherited Brooklyn home. Since the death of their parents, they have begun hosting stray cats and accumulating all sorts of stuff. Enraged by the situation, the upstairs tenant threatens to stop paying them rent unless they proceed with a radical cleaning of their apartment.
By painfully separating from most of their belongings, Abraham and Shraga are pushed to find new solutions to many unanswered questions: how free are you within the boundaries of your heritage? How do you begin to let go the past go and live your life in the present? How do you confront the loss of your parents and become responsible for yourself?
Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at DOC NYC. Nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.
"Quiet and quietly moving. " - Glenn Kenny, The New York Times
Àlex Lora, Antonio Tibaldi
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Pima County Public Library•4 months ago
I watched this with an interest in the twin dynamic but it focused primarily on one person, the other was rarely in the film.
Palos Verdes Library District•1 year ago
as a documentary, this film is a major let down because after 35 minutes of watching it you still have no idea what the main guy's name is , or how he turned out to live the way he does or anything. All you get to see is people cleaning is filthy house. There's almost no other ...Read more
as a documentary, this film is a major let down because after 35 minutes of watching it you still have no idea what the main guy's name is , or how he turned out to live the way he does or anything. All you get to see is people cleaning is filthy house. There's almost no other information, and nothing else to see.
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Validation of de-identified record linkage to ascertain hospital admissions in a cohort study
Alison Beauchamp1Email author,
Andrew M Tonkin1,
Helen Kelsall1,
Vijaya Sundararajan2, 3,
Dallas R English4, 5,
Lalitha Sundaresan2,
Rory Wolfe1,
Gavin Turrell6,
Graham G Giles1, 4, 5 and
Anna Peeters1
© Beauchamp et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011
Received: 3 November 2010
Accepted: 8 April 2011
Cohort studies can provide valuable evidence of cause and effect relationships but are subject to loss of participants over time, limiting the validity of findings. Computerised record linkage offers a passive and ongoing method of obtaining health outcomes from existing routinely collected data sources. However, the quality of record linkage is reliant upon the availability and accuracy of common identifying variables. We sought to develop and validate a method for linking a cohort study to a state-wide hospital admissions dataset with limited availability of unique identifying variables.
A sample of 2000 participants from a cohort study (n = 41 514) was linked to a state-wide hospitalisations dataset in Victoria, Australia using the national health insurance (Medicare) number and demographic data as identifying variables. Availability of the health insurance number was limited in both datasets; therefore linkage was undertaken both with and without use of this number and agreement tested between both algorithms. Sensitivity was calculated for a sub-sample of 101 participants with a hospital admission confirmed by medical record review.
Of the 2000 study participants, 85% were found to have a record in the hospitalisations dataset when the national health insurance number and sex were used as linkage variables and 92% when demographic details only were used. When agreement between the two methods was tested the disagreement fraction was 9%, mainly due to "false positive" links when demographic details only were used. A final algorithm that used multiple combinations of identifying variables resulted in a match proportion of 87%. Sensitivity of this final linkage was 95%.
High quality record linkage of cohort data with a hospitalisations dataset that has limited identifiers can be achieved using combinations of a national health insurance number and demographic data as identifying variables.
Record Linkage
Demographic Detail
Linkage Variable
Administrative Dataset
Data Entry Error
Cohort studies are a valuable source of information for epidemiological research, primarily because information about potential risk factors is collected before the outcomes of interest occur [1]. For example, the long-standing Framingham cohort study was critical in demonstrating the relationship between certain risk factors and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events during follow-up [2–4].
The quality of evidence from cohort studies relies on complete and accurate ascertainment of outcomes such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Information about these and other health outcomes can be collected in a variety of ways, including medical record review and self-report from participants. While the former is considered the "gold standard" [5, 6], it is particularly resource intensive for large cohorts. In addition, over longer periods of time, medical records may be difficult to locate or may be destroyed according to legislative requirements. Self-report from participants has been shown to have varying accuracy [5–10], and is subject to "loss to follow-up", an inherent problem and source of bias in cohort studies. Specific groups at risk of loss to follow-up include those of lower socioeconomic status and those with poorer health, often the groups of major interest to epidemiological research.
An alternative method of obtaining health outcome data for cohort studies is computerised record linkage [11, 12]. This is the process of using common identifiers to link the cohort data with health services administrative or other datasets, for example to identify whether study participants have been admitted to hospital, and for which medical conditions [9, 13]. Record linkage enables the optimal use of data from cohort studies because it permits "passive" follow-up, so that even if participants have been lost to follow-up from the study, information on specific health outcomes can still be obtained [11].
There are two main methods for computerised record linkage, probabilistic and deterministic. Probabilistic record linkage links records based on the statistical probability that common identifiers belong to the same person [11]. Deterministic linkage links two records based on complete agreement between the common identifiers [12]. Deterministic linkage is particularly suited to linkage of individual level data where accuracy is important and where data quality within the various datasets is high [14, 15].
Linkage of cohort data with health services administrative datasets has been routine in several countries including the United Kingdom [13, 16], Canada [17, 18], and Sweden [19] for many years. It is important to note that for many of these studies, particularly those that use deterministic methods, linkage is based on unique identifiers such as social security number or health record number that are used by individuals throughout a lifetime and across the spectrum of health and social services [11, 20, 21]. However, it is not always possible to use unique identifiers, either because they are not fully available within the datasets, or because legislation requires that anonymity of records is maintained. In these situations, combinations of non-unique identifiers must be used such as date of birth, sex, and postal code. A key issue for researchers then becomes one of accuracy; that is, whether the combination of identifying variables used is sufficiently precise to identify the correct person, but not so broad as to incorrectly match to another person who has the same demographic data. In addition, it is essential to make allowance for mistakes in data entry particularly when using deterministic methods of linkage in which records are linked only if they match exactly [22]. Therefore, when developing a method for linking two or more datasets with limited identifying information, validation of the linkage is vital.
We planned to link a cohort study with a state-wide hospital admissions dataset in order to obtain data on incident CVD events occurring in the cohort during 19 years of follow-up. The hospitalisations dataset did not contain names and addresses, and there was limited availability of unique identifiers in either dataset. In this study, we therefore sought to determine, in a subgroup of the cohort, the most accurate combinations of identifying variables with and without use of the national health insurance number, with the overall aim of establishing a stepwise deterministic algorithm for linking the two datasets. We also aimed to test the sensitivity of the linkage for correctly identifying that a true hospital admission event had occurred.
The Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) is held by the Victorian Department of Health (DH), and includes information on all private and public hospital admissions in Victoria. While full names and addresses are not included in the dataset, approximately 81% of records in the VAED include Medicare card number, the national health insurance number allocated to all Australians. Medicare card numbers are unique to a family only and individual family members are identified by the Medicare suffix, comprising the first three letters of their given (first) name. The VAED is episode of care based, and the DH has linked these episodes using identifiers such as hospital record number (if episodes occurred in the same hospital) and the first 8 digits of Medicare card number, as well as identifiers such as date of birth, gender, postal code, country of birth and the first three digits of first or middle name (if episodes occurred in different hospitals). The methods for this internal linkage have been described elsewhere [23]. Data between 31 July 1996 and 31 December 2008 from this "internally linked VAED" were used for the current study. The VAED has previously been linked to a number of different datasets and registries including a transport accident dataset [22], a cardiac rehabilitation dataset [24], and a cardiothoracic elective surgery information system [25].
The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS) is a prospective study of 41 514 subjects aged 27 to 80 years, recruited between 1990 and 1994. Details of the design, recruitment, and study procedures have been published elsewhere [26]. In brief, subjects were volunteers from metropolitan Melbourne, recruited using electoral rolls, community centres and churches. Between 2003 and 2008, attempts were made to re-interview all surviving participants; 28 240 participants were re-interviewed. At this interview, participants were asked to provide their Medicare card number and details on hospitalisations for cardiovascular and other diseases. This linkage study was undertaken on a random sample of 2000 participants who had been re-interviewed. The entire sample had Medicare details available. In addition, the sample was stratified to include 67% with a self-reported hospital admission for a cardiovascular event at re-interview to ensure at least this number of participants with a record in the VAED. CVD was chosen as the event of interest to allow us to test the sensitivity of linkage using a clearly defined outcome.
The pilot sample of 2000 used in this study included 101 participants with a confirmed hospital admission for myocardial infarction (AMI) or stroke between 1 July 1996 and the time of their re-interview. These 101 participants were used to test the sensitivity of linkage, with hospitalisation and diagnosis confirmed as follows: At re-interview all participants were asked "Has a doctor or nurse ever told you that you had a heart attack or myocardial infarction or stroke?" Hospital name and year of admission were also asked. From those who responded in the affirmative and had not reported a prior history of CVD at study baseline, a random sample of 400 participants was selected. We excluded 193 of these for the following reasons: hospital name not given or no medical records identified for that participant (n = 84), hospital medical records destroyed (n = 67), interstate hospitalisation (n = 21), and no CVD event identified in the medical record (n = 21). Data considered to relate to the self-reported CVD event was obtained from the medical records for 207 participants and coded by expert panels of neurologists and cardiologists. From the original sample of 400, we identified 124 participants with a confirmed admission for AMI or stroke occurring between baseline and the time of their re-interview. We excluded a further 23 of these with an event prior to 1 July 1996 (the commencement of the VAED), leaving a total of 101 participants with a confirmed AMI or stroke. These 101 were included in the pilot sample of 2000, flagged as "confirmed admission.'
The study protocol was approved by Human Research Ethics Committees at Monash University, The Cancer Council Victoria and the Victorian Department of Health. All subjects provided written informed consent, including for linkage to the VAED.
Identifying variables used for linkage
Identifiers common to both the study sample and the VAED were the national health insurance (Medicare) card number and suffix (i.e., a given or middle name abbreviated to first 3 letters), date of birth, postcode, sex and country of birth. For linkage purposes, the first 8 numbers of the Medicare card number only were used (Medicare8). The above identifiers were joined to create a single linkage variable which was then encrypted.
Linkage Method
Medicare card number is not fully available in either the VAED or the MCCS. We therefore undertook linkage using two algorithms in order to assess the effect of missing Medicare numbers. The first algorithm used combinations of Medicare and demographic details as linkage variables, and the second used demographic details only. For each algorithm, identifiers from each dataset were grouped into several combinations and matched in a stepwise deterministic strategy, using multiple iterations. Matches in each iteration were accepted only if the identifiers were identical between the two datasets. Records that matched in each iteration were removed from the source datasets for subsequent iterations.
Agreement between linkage with and without Medicare number
Agreement between the two linkage algorithms (i.e. Medicare card number plus demographic details versus demographic details only) was assessed based on the assumption that if the two algorithms worked equally well, then each would link MCCS participants to the same record in the VAED.
Sensitivity of linkage - Participants with confirmed admissions for AMI or stroke
The sensitivity of the linkage process was assessed using the 101 MCCS participants with a 'confirmed admission' for AMI or stroke. Information was extracted from the VAED relating to any hospital admissions they may have had between 1 July 1996 and 31 December 2008. If a participant's confirmed hospitalisation matched a record from the VAED by hospital name, dates of admission and discharge (within ten days), then the episode was considered to have been correctly identified by the linkage.
Sensitivity was calculated as the number of confirmed admissions that were correctly identified in the VAED divided by the total number of confirmed admissions.
Availability of identifying variables
Medicare details were available for 100% of the study sample, and 80% of the VAED records. There was 100% availability of demographic variables from both datasets.
Tables 1 and 2 describe the combinations of linkage variables used and the number of study participants matched during each iteration, both with and without use of Medicare card number. When the Medicare number was used, 1865 of the 2000 (93%) records were matched to a record in the VAED (Table 1). The first 4 iterations of this algorithm used various combinations of Medicare number, suffix and sex only, and resulted in 1702 (85%) matches between the study sample and the VAED. When the Medicare number was not used, combinations of date of birth, sex, country of birth and postcode yielded matches for 1843 records (92%) (Table 2).
Linkage using Medicare number and suffix (V1)
Linkage Variables used in V1
Medicare81 + Medsuf12
Medicare8+first and second letters of Medsuf1+Sex
Medicare8+ second and third letters of Medsuf1+Sex
Medicare8+first and third letters of Medsuf1+Sex
Medicare8+Yearbirth+Sex
Medsuf1+Yearbirth+Monthbirth+Daybirth+Sex+Country of Birth+Postcode1
Yearbirth+Monthbirth+Daybirth+Sex+Country of Birth+Postcode1
Total Matched
1 First 8 digits of the Medicare number; 2 First 3 letters of the first name
Linkage not using Medicare number and suffix (V2)
The two linkage methods matched 1651 MCCS records to records with the same VAED linkage ID (the computer generated number given to groups of hospitalisations thought to belong to the same individual as a result of the linkage process) (Figure 1). Another 170 MCCS participants were matched to different VAED IDs, implying that the two linkage methods had matched these participants to different records in the VAED dataset. This represents an 8.5% disagreement fraction. When the Medicare card number was not used (demographic variables only), all 170 records in each dataset matched exactly for every linkage variable. When the Medicare number and demographic details were used, 128 of the 170 matched exactly for every linkage variable. Assuming that these 128 matches were correct (as they had matched completely on the most distinctive combination of variables available), it is likely that at least 128 of the 170 from the linkage without Medicare numbers were 'false positive' matches, due to there being more than one person with a VAED record from the same postcode, born on the same date, and of the same sex and country of birth. Of the 42 remaining records identified, all matched on Medicare number and suffix. Most differences were seen in date of birth, which varied between 2-10 days and up to 40 years, suggesting possible errors in data entry or that the MCCS participant had been matched to another family member whose given name began with the same three letters.
Agreement between linkage with and without Medicare number.
There were 44 MCCS participants who were matched only in V1 (Figure 1). All of these matched completely on Medicare details, but all had at least one demographic variable that was unmatched; the most likely explanation for not being matched in V2. There were 22 MCCS participants who were matched only in V2. This was possibly because their Medicare card number had either been entered into the VAED or MCCS datasets incorrectly, or they did not have a Medicare card number in the VAED.
Linkage without Medicare - decreasing the number of 'mismatches'
We sought to decrease the 8.5% disagreement fraction between linkage with and without Medicare details by adding the Medicare suffix to the linkage algorithm containing demographic variables only. This field is available for approximately 80% of records in the VAED and all MCCS participants. Applying this algorithm, 1633 out of 2000 (82%) records were matched. When compared with the linkage involving Medicare card number and demographic variables, there were 1620 participants who had the same VAED ID. Only 13 records, compared with 170 shown in Figure 1, had different VAED IDs on the two linkages. There were fewer matches than for the linkage based on demographic variables only (1633 compared to 1843), suggesting that adding the first three letters of the given name reduced the number of "false positives".
Final algorithm
Based on the above findings, we developed a final algorithm that will be used to link the entire study cohort of 41 514 participants (Table 3). The algorithm is grouped into three stages. The first stage (Medicare card number and Medicare suffix) uses combinations of the national health insurance card number and first 3 letters of the first name plus all demographic details. The first iteration in this stage is assumed to provide the most correct match possible. Subsequent iterations of this first stage use variations of the Medicare suffix and also drop one variable at a time to allow for errors in data entry, with a maximum of variation in two variables allowed at one time. The second stage (Medicare card number) is used for matching records with variations in first names, for example where nicknames or middle names have been used. The final stage (Medicare suffix only) aims to match those records that do not have Medicare card number available in one or more dataset. Again, this group allows for variation in no more than two variables at a time. Running this algorithm resulted in 1740 (87%) of 2000 records linked.
Suggested linkage cycles/iterations
Linkage Variables
Medicare8 1 + Medsuf1 2 group
Medicare8+Medsuf1+Yearbirth+Monthbirth+Daybirth+Sex+COB+ Postcodes1-4
Repeat steps 1-4 using 3 different variations of Medsuf1
Repeat step 1 dropping postcode
Repeat steps 1-4 dropping COB
Repeat steps 1-4 dropping sex
Repeat steps 1-4 dropping day of birth
Repeat steps 1-4 dropping month of birth
Repeat steps 1-4 dropping year of birth
Repeat steps 5-16, dropping 1 variable
Repeat steps 1-4 dropping two demographic variables
Medicare8 group
Medicare8+Yearbirth+Monthbirth+Daybirth+Sex+COB+ Postcodes 1-4
Repeat steps 142-145 dropping 1 variable
Medsuf1 Group
Medsuf1+Yearbirth+Monthbirth+Daybirth+Sex+COB+ Postcodes 1-4
Total records linked = 1740/2000 = 87%
Testing sensitivity - MCCS participants with 'confirmed admission'
We tested sensitivity using the sample of 101 participants with a confirmed hospital admission for AMI or stroke. In linkage undertaken using the final algorithm, 98 of these 101 (97%) participants were linked to a record in the VAED (Table 4). Of the 98 who were linked, the data we had obtained from the hospital medical record did not match the VAED data for admission and discharge dates and hospital name in 4 cases. Overall, this represents a sensitivity of 93% (94/101; 95% confidence interval 86% to 97%) for the VAED to correctly identify that a hospital admission for AMI or stroke has occurred when linkage was undertaken using the final algorithm.
Number of VAED matches to MCCS participants with confirmed CVD event
Linkage using Medicare details (V1)
Number of true CVD events (medical record review)
Number of admissions identified by VAED using NEWID
Number of CVD events correctly identified by VAED using NEWID
94/101 = 93%
Number of incorrect matches in VAED
Non-matched rate
4/101 = 4%
Overall findings
This study aimed to develop the most appropriate method for linking a large cohort study to a state-wide hospital admissions dataset, with limited availability of unique identifying variables in either dataset. We found that linkage using demographic variables only had the potential to create "false positive" links, which were reduced by adding the first three letters of the given (first) name to the linkage variables. The number of records linked was highest when using combinations of the national health insurance number, the first three letters of the first name, date of birth, sex, country of birth and postcode. Accordingly, we have developed a stepwise algorithm using combinations of identifying variables that will provide the greatest accuracy in deterministic linkage of cohorts such as the MCCS to administrative health datasets. Sensitivity of this linkage algorithm to correctly identify that a hospital admission had occurred was 93%.
Limited identifying variables and advantages of Unique Personal Health Identifiers
This study addresses an important aspect of record linkage, that is how to link without using names and addresses or unique health identifiers. Our findings are relevant for custodians of existing research or administrative datasets who seek to increase their value through record linkage but do not have access to such identifying information. In the future, it is likely that record linkage with hospital and health administration datasets will be much enhanced by use of a Unique Personal Health Identifier (UPHI). These electronic numbers will be used to uniquely identify healthcare providers and individuals, and aim to both improve communication between health care providers and support the delivery of health services thus enhancing the quality of patient care [27–29]. UPHI's have also been advocated as a way of accurately linking records in a privacy preserving way [30]. While not currently used in Australia, legislation was recently passed authorising the issue of individual identifier numbers. However, it will be some time before uptake of the UPHI is widespread enough to allow for its use in linkage of health records, and for some existing datasets, this will never be possible. As such, for those datasets with limited identifying variables, our study demonstrates that record linkage to other datasets is achievable, further increasing their importance as a valuable source of health-related data.
Effect of errors in data entry
While use of a UPHI or other unique identifier in combination with demographic details is likely to provide the most accurate linkage for health-related datasets, they may be subject to data entry errors. We found for example, that errors for day of birth ranged from between 2 to 10 days. We were unable to quantify the impact of data entry error in our study. However, others have found that such errors can be significant [20, 31]. One study that linked the New York State AIDS registry and a hospital discharge file using date of birth, sex, admission dates and hospital record number found 82-85% accuracy, assessed by medical record review and manual verification [31]. In that study, errors in data entry accounted for most of the missed links. A study conducted in Indiana linking hospital admissions registries with a death registry using social security number (SSN) also found that errors in SSN were significant [20]. It may be possible for researchers using administrative or data sources to reduce the impact of data entry error by varying the combinations of variables used, as shown in our final algorithm. In addition, errors could be minimised by performing regular audits of data quality.
Effect of missing linkage data
Both when UPHIs, names and addresses or when only demographic details are used as linkage variables, the degree of missing data must first be quantified and its impact reduced by creating linkage algorithms that allow for missing data. Our final linkage algorithm allows for missing health insurance numbers in either dataset by including abbreviated first name in addition to demographic variables. However, for current or ongoing data collections, researchers and data custodians will benefit from ensuring practices and protocols are in place to minimise the risk of missing data.
This study did not assess specificity, which is the ability of linkage to show that participants with no hospitalisations are correctly identified as such, or that participants are not linked to the wrong record. We were also unable to assess the validity of the 'linked VAED'. This dataset had previously been internally linked using Medicare card numbers, hospital record numbers or demographic data. Of the 101 'confirmed admissions', 3 did not link to a record in the VAED, indicating either errors in data entry or errors in the 'linked VAED'. However, the 'linked VAED' has previously been shown to be accurate [23], and sensitivity of linkage to correctly identify a hospital admission was relatively high at 96%, indicating that it is accurate for at least hospital name and dates of admission. A further limitation is that the Medicare card number may alter with change in family circumstances, such as divorce or marriage. The number of participants in the sample in whom this occurred is unknown, although is likely to be small given the high number of matches using Medicare number.
We found that performing linkage in which the national health insurance card number and abbreviated given name were "missing" from the study data increased the probability of matching to the wrong record in the hospital administrative dataset. This may lead to misclassification of health outcomes, likely to be non-differential in nature as the reason for misclassification will generally be independent of the exposure. While this non-differential disease misclassification may have implications for subsequent analyses using health outcomes data obtained from linkage, it is most likely to bias associations between exposures and outcomes towards the null [32].
This pilot study has significantly increased the potential of a cohort study to determine health outcomes related to hospitalisation, even with limited availability of unique identifiers. The methods described may therefore be applicable to other settings in which linkage is undertaken using limited identifiers.
Our findings suggest that record linkage with a hospital admissions dataset that has limited identifiers offers an opportunity to identify long-term health outcomes in an established cohort study, significantly increasing the value of the study. There are specific issues which affect the quality of linkage, and may have implications for use of data obtained from linkage. In the future, including Unique Personal Health Identifiers in administrative datasets used for record linkage would significantly improve the quality of such a valuable research tool.
This study was made possible by the contribution of many people, including the original MCCS investigators and the team who recruited the participants. We would like to express our gratitude to the many thousands of Melbourne residents who continue to participate in the MCCS.
This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (ID No. 209057, 334032, 396414). Further infrastructure support was provided by The Cancer Council Victoria and Monash University. AB is a PhD scholar funded by the NHMRC (ID No. 465352) GT is a Senior Research Fellow funded by the NHMRC (ID No. 390109). AP is funded by a VicHealth Fellowship. HK was funded by a NHMRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (ID 384354). Cohort recruitment was funded by VicHealth and The Cancer Council Victoria.
12874_2010_555_MOESM1_ESM.bmp Authors’ original file for figure 1
AB drafted the manuscript, participated in the study design, manually reviewed outcomes of linkage, undertook medical record review, and performed statistical analysis. AT participated in the study design and critically reviewed the manuscript. HK participated in the study design, assisted with interpretation of results and helped to draft the manuscript. VS assisted with the development of the linkage protocol, assisted with interpretation of results and helped to draft the manuscript. DE is an original investigator on the MCCS, participated in the study design and critically reviewed the manuscript. LS assisted with the development of the linkage protocol and undertook the linkage. RW assisted with statistical analysis and critically reviewed the manuscript. GT participated in the study design and critically reviewed the manuscript. GG DE is an original investigator on the MCCS and critically reviewed the manuscript. AP participated in the study design, assisted with interpretation of results and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Department of Health, Victorian Data Linkages, Melbourne, Australia
Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Cancer Epidemiology Centre, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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Friday, July 13 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm
CBLDF: The History of Comics Censorship
Learn the shocking history of comics censorship and how even today comics and the people who make, sell, and read them are threatened. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein tells the sordid tale, from the public book burnings and Senate hearings that led to the Comics Code Authority in the 1950s through the attacks on Underground comix in the 1970s and retailer busts in the 1980s up to modern attacks on readers and artists. This program includes the latest research on comics censorship, including new cases developing this year. Come learn about your rights and how the CBLDF works to protect them.
http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_search_results.php?strShow=33&strRec=4241
Friday July 13, 2012 12:00pm - 1:00pm
1: Programs, CBLDF Events, Comics, Comics Law School
Tags CBLDF Events, Comics, Comics Law School
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TheAmazingSpider-manVideoGame
Link Ink: First ‘Power Rangers Megaforce’ Trailer, ‘Prison Pit’ Papercraft And EVA Hello K…
TV: The first trailer for Nickelodeon's Power Rangers Megaforce is now online for your streaming pleasure.
Papercraft: If the vinyl Prison Pit figures are a little too rich for your blood at the moment, Paperfoldables' papercraft figures may tickle your fancy...
Stan Lee Swings, Cracks Wise In New ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Video Game Trailer [Video]
For those who thought that the idea of Activision and Beenox's upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man video game featuring a playable Stan Lee (for those who preorder the game through Amazon) was some kind of belated April Fool's joke, we now have dizzying proof otherwise: A video showing the 89-year old c…
Graeme McMillan
‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Game Features Playable Stan Lee as Pre-Order Bonus
It's probably not that uncommon for some comic book fans to fantasize about being Stan Lee, considering he co-created much of the Marvel Universe and had the honor of working with such comic book legends as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and John Buscema (amongst many, many others) in the process...
An Iguana Strikes in New ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Game Trailer [Video]
Initial teasers for The Amazing Spider-Man videogame were heavy on crazy robots. Wonderful as that may be, a new promo vid at IGN indicates the movie tie-in will have plenty of more organic foes to face as well. Dubbed "The Amazing Spider-Man's Iguana," the main monster Spidey faces in thi…
‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Game Gets a Rhino Reveal [Video]
Since the release of the first Spider-Man movie videogame by Activision in 2002, it's been tradition for the Webslinger's tie-in titles (and most other superhero movie games for that matter) to import not-necessarily-in-continuity characters...
‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Movie Game Reveals First In-Game Screen Shot
Fans have gotten to see Spidey swing around and punch on a few bug-lookin' robots in Activision and Beenox's short trailers and concept art from this summer's The Amazing Spider-Man movie videogame, but today's reveal of the first in-game screen shot of the game gives a little mo…
Link Ink: ‘Groo vs. Conan’ Coming in April, a TARDIS Purse and Early ‘Robot Chicken’
Upcoming: The first issue of the long-awaited Groo vs. Conan miniseries will arrive in comic shops in April from Mark Evanier, Sergio Aragonés, Thomas Yeates and Tom Luth.
Animation: I had no idea that animated specials based on The Far Side existed, and it shames me to admit it. The A...
Spidey Smashes Robots in New ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Game Trailer [Video]
Straight from tonight's Spike TV's Video Game Awards comes the full trailer for this summer's videogame tie-in to The Amazing Spider-Man movie. An open-world game set in, above and below New York City, Activision and Beenox's game will tell the story of what happens after Andrew …
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Is The Dispossessed Proto Solarpunk?
May 31, 2018 by Fraser Simons in proto solarpunk
“You cannot buy the revolution. You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.”
The anarchist collective on the planet Anarres migrated from the propertarian, capitalist planet of Urras when a previous revolution occurred. Rather than continue to contend with them, they have gifted this planet. Then, using the teachings of Odo, the center point of this revolution and who ostensibly is also responsible for structuring this anarcho-syndicalist society experiment, they establish this new way of living; retreating into themselves for generations.
“For we each of us deserve everything, every luxury that was ever piled in the tombs of the dead kings, and we each of us deserve nothing, not a mouthful of bread in hunger. Have we not eaten while another starved? Will you punish us for that? Will you reward us for the virtue of starving while others ate? No man earns punishment, no man earns reward. Free your mind of the idea of deserving, the idea of earning, and you will begin to be able to think.”
When Shavek, considered a brilliant and unparalleled physicist on both planets, decides to make the journey to Urras in order to finish his work, he must first figure out his place in a new society at odds with his way of life and way of thinking.
“You can’t crush ideas by suppressing them. You can only crush them by ignoring them. By refusing to think, refusing to change.”
The narrative is very clever, alternating between him negotiating this new space and how this society works and is perceived by an outsider, while also flashing back to his life back in Anarres, slowly exposing the ways in which life oppress and alter the citizens on both planets. There are many astute ways in which the author uses Shavek's own life events to communicate complex ideas and offers the merits of each society while presenting a condemnation of each.
The book is extremely well written and filled with a unique form of prose. The book was a pleasure to read and consume. But part of why I chose this book was to examine it in order to see if this was a proto solarpunk book. There are clear throughlines to cyberpunk, there has, in some ways, never been more of a punk protagonist. An actual anarchist! It's also subversive of typical cyberpunk protagonists generally in it for themselves but punk in that they are against establishment, authoritarianism, and capitalism. In this novel, Shavek is deeply wounded by society. It gets its hooks in him. Twisting his way of thinking and seducing him, attempting to commodify his work and ideas.
One definition of Solarpunk is: a movement focused on a positive, ecological vision for a future where technology is used for human-centric and ecocentric purposes.
So the punk part is pretty clearly covered. Where the solar part comes in is somewhat more questionable for me, initially. Sure the anarcho-syndicalist society is kind of covering that aspect. We could take a lot of those principles and integrate it into an extrapolated version of our own society and get results for a much more sustainable future. However... it's not really technology that's doing this, right? There is little talk of technology at all throughout most of it, in either planets' culture and infrastructure even, beyond trains anyways. Written in 1974, it makes perfect sense that the book certainly wouldn't place any particular significance on these things beyond the physics that Shavek dedicates his life to. But what they are after from Shavek is faster-than-light travel; specifically in their ships, which was given to them by an alien race.
Where this gets somewhat more clear is when another species or aliens are revealed: Terrans. They are Earth decedents which specifically state their planet is all but destroyed. An ambassador situated on Urras is the vehicle for the qualities of most solarpunk stories. A dystopic planet that seeks to get new technologies and cooperations from other forms of life to make their planet better.
“My world, my Earth is a ruin. A planet spoiled by the human species. We multiplied and fought and gobbled until there was nothing left, and then we died. We controlled neither appetite nor violence; we did not adapt. We destroyed ourselves. But we destroyed the world first.”
It is certainly atypical of the emerging genre. But when a lot of the sort-of meta-narrative of all these groups of people and species of humans, and their subsequent societies, are driving at getting this new technology for their own respective reasons. Some to conquer and establish superiority; others to forge a better life, and still, others to never allow for it to exist at all. There ends up being much more of a focus on technology than previously thought.
“Change is freedom, change is life.
It's always easier not to think for oneself. Find a nice safe hierarchy and settle in. Don't make changes, don't risk disapproval, don't upset your syndics. It's always easiest to let yourself be governed.
There's a point, around age twenty, when you have to choose whether to be like everybody else the rest of your life, or to make a virtue of your peculiarities.
Those who build walls are their own prisoners. I'm going to go fulfil my proper function in the social organism. I'm going to go unbuild walls.”
Furthermore, as such a seminal work of fiction, it seems to claim that solarpunk having roots here is highly plausible. It won many awards and was a major contribution to the genre. Before cyberpunk even existed. After it was established, to have a different sub-genre emerge which used this as a foundation instead of other seminal works credited to cyberpunk seems only natural.
It could not be more punk. And it shows optimism in the face of the fear of technology, doing a very good job at exploring the issue more thoroughly than some other cyberpunk works by having whole societies project their uses and desires onto an emerging, game-changing technology only one man, Shavek, can provide; a punk no less, wanting to start a revolution within an anarchist state built from the ground up from it's own revolution.
“It is our suffering that brings us together. It is not love. Love does not obey the mind, and turns to hate when forced. The bond that binds us is beyond choice. We are brothers. We are brothers in what we share. In pain, which each of us must suffer alone, in hunger, in poverty, in hope, we know our brotherhood. We know it, because we have had to learn it. We know that there is no help for us but from one another, that no hand will save us if we do not reach out our hand. And the hand that you reach out is empty, as mine is. You have nothing. You possess nothing. You own nothing. You are free. All you have is what you are, and what you give.”
You can also listen to the General Intellect Unit podcast episode that features a more comprehensive breakdown and discussion of the book (and features me as a guest!) here.
cli-fi, eco fiction, speculative fiction, solarpunk, The Dispossessed, Ursula K. Le Guin, anarchism, proto-solarpunk
proto solarpunk
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Kiwi Group Three Winner for Mastercraftsman
Saint Emilion (5g Mastercraftsman x Roeario, by Pentire) was allowed a free rein at Ellerslie and his opposition paid the price with the gallant grey son taking the major prize in Tuesday’s feature.
A habitual winner, the hard as nails frontrunner was never headed on his way to victory in the Group III OMF Stakes.
“He got it all his own way and we thought that might happen,” said Andrew Forsman, who trains the gelding at Cambridge with Murray Baker.
“He’s a tough horse and they can take him on, but they do that at their peril. He just goes forward and he can kick.”
Under Matt Cameron, that’s exactly what Saint Emilion did and he revelled in his work at the head of the field. He held a strong gallop down the straight to record the 11th win of his 24 start career.
“He’s pretty much weighted out of handicaps so he’s effectively a weight-for-age horse now,” Forsman said.
Saint Emilion is the 34th stakes-winner for Mastercraftsman and is from Pentire mare Roseario, a half-sister to stakes-winner Raw Instinct.
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The Cooper Lab at NEOMED
Cooper Bone Lab at NEOMED
Cooper Lab
Ryan Stapin presented his work at the NEOMED Bio-Science Academy
May 2019 – Ryan Stapin gave a presentation as part of his Senior Apex Project with the Bio-Med Science Academy. This marks the end of Ryan’s internship in the Cooper and Vinyard Labs. In the Fall he will begin coursework as an undergrad at the University of Akron to become a chemical engineer. Best of luck, Ryan!
Bat Workshops at Walls Elementary School!
May 2019 – The Cooper Lab hosted bat workshops at Walls Elementary School for kindergarten through 5th graders. About 450 kids were able to learn all about bat mechanobiology, echolocation, natural history and conservation! Volunteers helping run hands-on workstations were Lia Gavazzi (NEOMED), Molly Simonis (Wright State University), Ryan Stapin (intern, NEOMED’s Biomed Science Academy high school), and Tobin Hieronymus (NEOMED). Thank you Walls!
Seminar and visit with the Department of Biological Sciences at Wright State University
April 2019 – Dr. Lynn Hartzler and graduate student Molly Simonis hosted Lisa for a seminar. Fantastic organismal biology!
Seminar and visit with the Biology Department of the University of Akron
November 2018 – Henry Astley’s lab hosted Lisa as a seminar speaker. Great science and people!
Lisa gave a talk at NASBR in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
October 2018 — Lisa attended the North American Society of Bat Research conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She gave a talk on integrative skeletobiology. Co-authors were Hope Ball, Fayez Safadi, and Chris Vinyard.
See you next year at Kalamazoo, MI!
High school intern Ryan Stapin joins the lab!
September 2018 – Ryan joined the lab as part of a high school internship while enrolled in NEOMED’s Bio-Med Science Academy. He is working on a collaborative project with the Cooper Lab and the biomechanics lab of Dr. Chris Vinyard to compare the bending mechanics of the bones of bats and terrestrial mammals.
Feature article on Lilly Cook and Hope Ball
August 2018 – High school intern Lilly Cook (left) was featured in an article highlighting her internship in the lab. Lilly worked with Hope Ball (right) to collect molecular data and designed this website.
Aspin Makadia presented his research as part of NEOMED’s Summer Research Fellowship Program.
August 2018 – Aspin completed a comparative study of cartilage biology in bats and presented his findings at NEOMED’s poster session for summer fellows. Congratulations Aspin!
Hope Ball accepted a postdoctoral fellowship with the Haqqi Lab at NEOMED!
July 2018 – Hope accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Tariq Haqqi at NEOMED. Hope was a shared postdoctoral fellow in the Cooper, Vinyard and Safadi labs as part of a National Science Foundation grant focusing on the mechanobiology of bone. Her new position in the Haqqi Lab will focus on expanding her research into the molecular underpinnings of cartilage health in humans. Good luck!
Lisa Cooper presented on signaling of bone cells in bats at the Novel Aspects in Bone Biology Conference
June 2018 – Lisa Cooper presented the lab’s work on gene expression associated with the bone extracellular matrix at the 2018 Keystone Conference, Novel Aspects of Bone Biology in Snowbird, Utah. Other authors on the talk include postdoctoral fellow Hope C. Ball and collaborator Fayez Safadi.
Aspin Makadia joined the lab as a Summer Research Fellow.
June to August 2018 – Aspin will research the cartilage biology of bats as part of an 8-week summer fellowship.
Hope all published a new article on how metabolites within the feces of long-lived bats change with age
May 2018 – Postdoctoral fellow Hope Ball, Lisa Cooper, and Michel Aliani published a study of fecal metabolites from young and elderly big brown bats. The analysis revealed these long-lived bats may modify Tryptophan metabolism to increase immune surveillance and delay senescence with age.
The lab hosted bat workshops at McDowell Elementary School.
April 2018 – The Cooper Lab ran 7 workshops for about 250 third-graders at McDowell Elementary School in Hudson, Ohio. The workshops focused on the mechanobiology and conservation of bats, as well as using the scientific method. Participants included Dr. Tobin Hieronymus, postdoctoral fellow Dr. Hope Ball, collaborator and science educator Dr. Bridget Mulvey, and PI Lisa Cooper.
The Cooper Lab published a new article with Dr. Christine Crish establishing a link between bone and brain tissues in Alzheimer’s disease.
April 2018 – Collaborator Christine Crish worked with postdoc Hope Ball and PI Cooper to establish that molecular dysregulation of gene expression in the limb bones appears before brain pathologies in laboratory mice with Alzheimer’s Disease. The article entitled “Evidence of Wnt/β-catenin alterations in brain and bone of a tauopathy mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease” was published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging. Li Lin and Kimberly Novak are also authors.
Lia Gavazzi joins the Cooper and Thewissen labs as a Ph.D. student.
March 2018 – Lia Gavazzi, M.S. completed her master’s degree in Anthropology at Penn State and will join the Cooper and Thewissen labs in the Fall of 2018 as a doctoral student.
Lisa Cooper received NEOMED’s Junior Faculty Award.
March 2018 – Lisa Cooper received the Junior Faculty Award for exemplary performance and contributions to NEOMED. Also pictured is the recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Research Award Recipient, Dr. Rebecca German, and Postdoctoral Fellow Hope Ball.
Lisa Cooper presented at the Team-Based Learning Collaborative Conference, in San Diego, CA.
March 2018 – Lisa Cooper gave a presentation at the TBLC Conference on the efficacy of using TBL methods in the histology labs of medical students. Other authors included Dana Peterson, Fayez Safadi, and Chris Vinyard.
Dr. Tobin Hieronymus presented evidence of torsion resistance in the wing bones of bats and birds at the national SICB Conference
January 2018 – Tobin Hieronymus presented a talk at the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference (link). Our work quantified the orientation of the collagen fibers in bat and bird wing bones. By understanding the shape of the bone, as well as the pattern of collagen within the matrix, we can better understand how the bones of birds and bats resist torsion. To establish these data, Drs. Hieronymus and David Waugh created a new method to visualize and quantify the birefringence of the matrix of bone as a means of identifying collagen orientation. Other authors included Drs. Lisa Cooper, Hope Ball, and David Waugh.
Lisa Cooper published two articles in the 3rd edition of the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals.
November, 2017 – Lisa Cooper published two articles in the newest edition of the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (link). One article focused on the forelimb anatomy of marine mammals, and the other was a collaborative paper on the Histology of Bones and Teeth co-authored by Mary Maas.
The Cooper Lab hosted bat workshops at Evamere Elementary School, Hudson, Ohio.
November, 2017 – The Cooper lab (Dr. Lisa Cooper, Dr. Hope Ball, and Lilly Cook) and Dr. Tobin Hieronymus hosted hands-on workshops about bat mechanobiology, natural history, and conservation at Evamere Elementary School. Over 1300 students attended the Cooper Lab’s workshops in 2017!
Chris Dijanic presented a poster at AAA Conference on the material properties of bat wing bones.
November 2017 – Summer research fellow and medical student Chris Dijanic presented his research on tissue-level mechanical properties of the bones of bats and mice at the American Association of Anatomists meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (link). Other authors included Drs. Hope Ball, Chris Vinyard, and Lisa Cooper, as well as Andrew Skrinyer, and Matthew Mullins.
Lisa Cooper’s new article on the evo-devo of dolphin flippers was published!
November 2017 – Lisa Cooper published an article limb development in dolphins. Results, published the journal Genesis, showed bats and dolphins independently evolved similar molecular pathways to modify the mammalian limb into wings and flippers. Other authors include Karen E. Sears, Brooke A. Armfield, Bhavneet Kala, Merla Hubler, and J.G.M. Thewissen. Bhavneet Kala collected data on limb development of mice as part of his senior thesis as an undergraduate at Hiram College.
Lisa Cooper gave talks at three conferences regarding new findings on age-determination in bats based on fecal metabolomics.
October 2017 – Lisa Cooper presented the lab’s research on methods to determine the age of bats at the Ohio Physiological Society Conference at NEOMED (link), the Midwest Regional Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology at the University of Akron (link), and the North American Society of Bat Research (link). Other authors include Drs. Hope Ball and Michel Aliani.
Lisa Cooper presented at the North American Society for Bat Research.
October 2017 – Lisa presented the lab’s research on the material properties of bat and mouse forelimb bones throughout their lifespan. Other authors included Drs. Hope Ball & Chris Vinyard, and Andrew Skrinyer, Chris Dijanic, and Matthew Mullins.
Urmil Patel presented a poster at NEOMED’s Summer Research Fellowship’s Annual Poster Day
August 2017 – Summer Research Fellow and medical student Urmil Patel presented a poster on some of his findings on unusual patterns of gene expression in the bones of long-lived bowhead whales. Other authors included Hope Ball, J.G.M. Thewissen, Fayez Safadi, and Lisa Cooper.
Lisa Cooper and collaborator Alex Galazyuk were featured on WKSU’s Exploradio.
This female big brown bat is 12 years-old, well into middle-age, but she isn’t showing her age. Researchers are studying bats to discover their secrets for avoiding age-related declines. CREDIT LISA NOELLE COOPER / NEOMED
July 2017 – Radio spot on the lab’s aging research was part of the Exploradio Series by WKSU’s Jeff St. Clair. Hear Lisa Cooper discuss the implications of the lab’s aging research. NEOMED Researchers Seek the Fountain of Youth by Studying Bats. Radio Spot.
The Cooper Lab published an article on the care and husbandry of small bats.
Seba’s short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata). Photo credit, Dr. Chris Vinyard.
June 2017 – Research Assistant Andrew Skrinyer published an article for animal care professionals on the care and husbandry of small-bodied bats with an emphasis on big brown (Eptesicus fuscus) and short-tailed (Carollia perspicillata) bats. Other authors included Drs. Paul Faure, Stan Dannemiller, Hope Ball, K.H. Delaney, Rena Orman, and Mark Stewart. This is Andrew’s first publication.
Postdoctoral Fellow Hope Ball presents at an NIH conference on Chronic Kidney Disease
March 2017 – Postdoc Hope Ball attended the conference FGF-23: An Interdisciplinary Dialog for Chronic Kidney Disease on the National Institutes of Health Campus in Bethesda, MD and presented her work on the bone-kidney axis in bats. She showed how genes that are known to function in aging in bones and kidneys sustain unique levels of expression compared to mice. Other authors included Drs. Lisa Cooper, Michel Aliani, and Fayez Safadi.
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Sitting Practice
Longlisted for CBC Radio's Canada Reads 2016,
Three and a half weeks after his wedding, Ross Alexander is driving home from a tennis game with his new bride when a wayward tennis ball rolls under his feet. As his wife Iliana removes her seatbelt to retrieve the ball, a truck slams into the car, and she ends up paralyzed and in a coma.
So begins this extraordinary portrait of a fated marriage. Ross struggles with the guilt over the consequences of his wife's paralysis and for the imagined life that is now forever lost. He turns to an exploration of Buddhist principles to ease his pain. He must also contend with his codependent twin sister, Bonnie, mother of his adored nephew, who is jealous of the other woman in her brother's life.
Iliana must deal with her new existence as a wheelchair-bound wife, her husband's feelings of alienation, and their aching and growing lack of intimacy. In this stunning new novel, acclaimed writer Caroline Adderson shows how lives can change forever because of one fateful moment.
With characters that are achingly real, Adderson demonstrates why she is one of Canada's most talented and significant writers.
Publisher: Toronto : Thomas Allen Publishers, 2003.
Read more reviews of Sitting Practice at iDreamBooks.com
janetkayak Mar 04, 2017
A lovely surprise! Set in neighbourhoods, culture and religions somewhat unique to BC. Author writes comfortably about intimacy and sensuality from a womans point of view and I feel does it well. This family faces many everyday challenges with themselves, parents, spouses and friends. They are forced to question their internal thoughts and personal story and to find another angle that allows solutions.
WVMLStaffPicks Jan 12, 2015
One of Canada’s emerging and promising women writers, Caroline Adderson, has written a complex portrait of a newly married couple fatefully wounded in a car accident. Ross, madly in love with his bride, is emotionally defeated by guilt when Iliana is paralysed from the waist down. Iliana seems able to deal with being wheelchair bound but her grief stems from Ross turning away from her, leaving her celibate and unhappy. Adderson shows us how two people, deeply in love, can misunderstand one another so profoundly, yet finally turn towards each other for redemption.
Chifox92 Nov 04, 2011
Great beginning, but got really rambling and depressing after the first 5 or so chapters.
Domestic Fiction.
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Spotlight on Eliza Shaddad
Josh Hinton November 3, 2018 FeaturedMusicSpotlight Q&A
Photos © Mel Tjeong
Ahead of the launch of new album Future, we caught up with songwriter Eliza Shaddad to discuss solitude, Fender amps and the state of the music business. If you like powerful, atmospheric grunge-folk (it’s hard to put a label on this music!), you’ll want to get to know Eliza…
Culturefly: How would you characterise your music, for people who haven’t heard you before?
Eliza Shaddad: It’s a mix between dark folk-style storytelling and wall-of-noise grunge.
What’s been your path to making your debut album? How did you end up at this point in your career?
It’s been a pretty long and roundabout journey really; I’ve released three EPs, one every two years since 2012. I studied jazz at the Guildhall and before that philosophy to MPhil. I’ve collaborated with other bands, including the likes of Clean Bandit and Tom Speight, and I’ve played hundreds of my own shows. I guess finally all of those influences and experiences have come together in a big body of work I’m ready to put out.
Your music is quite confessional – is that something you think is important? Should good songs be a chance for the songwriter to get things off their chest?
It is important for me. More because the songs don’t tend to ring true to me unless they’re coming from pretty deep within. I think a lot of songwriters find writing and performing somewhat cathartic and that’s definitely true of me, but it’s more about finding truth than airing dirty laundry.
What does your songwriting process look like? You’ve spoken on social media about getting away from people at times – do you like to be alone when you’re writing or recording?
I’m a big fan of solitude generally, but I especially need to be alone when I write. And ideally for days at a time. I think it’s the disengagement from normal life that allows me to feel free enough to get stuck in. Recording-wise I tend to demo stuff alone at home – which is good for the experimental phase of arranging the song – and then after that I bring it to other musicians and it becomes a bigger thing.
I first discovered your music through Flying Vinyl – what do you think about the current state of the music industry, in terms of how new acts make themselves known? Is there more appreciation (and market) for music that doesn’t have major label backing?
Yes, Flying Vinyl are brilliant. I think there’s such a healthy indie scene growing at the moment, with bands doing amazing tours and getting into the charts and so on. That’s a reflection of how the industry is changing for the better and fairer, though I do think the majors still have a great deal of power.
Can you explain a bit about Girls Girls Girls and the PRS Foundation? How have they impacted your career and your music?
Girls Girls Girls is a female-led collective working to support women within the arts and the anti-female genital mutilation charity Orchid Project. We put on events in stunning spaces around the UK which showcase female-led projects in music, poetry, film, comedy, and art. Fellow musician Samantha Lindo and I set it up seven years ago in response to the experiences we were having in London as we started our careers here. It’s been a fantastic way to forge links with other artists, and we’re turning a corner at the moment – our next event in January 2019 will be bringing in aspects of science, tech, and entrepreneurship which is exciting!
And the PRS Foundation are a wonderful funding body who have helped us make this album via funding from the Women Make Music fund, and the Momentum Fund. There’s a wide range of styles on offer on Future – do you set out to write, say, a pop song or a grungier track, or do they just come out how they come out?
Haha – yes, it’s varied isn’t it? I never have a plan in mind for a song, but it normally starts from a riff, and I think you can probably imagine it all just from the sound of that first bit of guitar.
Who are the new acts that you rate the most? Who would you put on your ‘you might also like…’ list?
Childcare are a brilliant band, Bella Spinks has an utterly beautiful new album out and Ola Szmidt’s music is divine.
Tell us about your rig. Your guitar is core to your sound – what are you playing through? Do you use a different set-up in the studio to on tour?
Live, I play a Gordon Smith GS2 guitar via a DS-1, a Small Clone, and a Line 6 DL4, all through a Fender Blues Junior amp. In the studio I tend to change amp. For this album I used a JC 120 for a lot of the tracks and I’m completely in love.
What are your plans for the next year?
Europe, America, a Girls Girls Girls tour, and once the dust has settled on this album, new music!
eliza shaddad
Eliza Shaddad – Future Review
Josh Hinton November 2, 2018
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Notes for Online Publishers and License
Global Politics in the Digital Age
Why the world is how it is; what has changed; what is the same as it ever was.
Written by David Benson 2019-03-04 2019-03-04
What Does “Hack” Mean?
The word “hack” has taken on multiple, conflicting meanings, that contribute to confusion over global political events.
Once upon a time, everyone knew what hack meant: it was closely related to chopping, but somewhat less delicate. Then computers came along, and people started using “hack” metaphorically, to mean ”illicitly accessing a computer system, usually by using a tool in an unintended way.” Finally, as computer culture spread into popular society “hack” started to mean “do something in a way not originally intended (but not necessarily inappropriate or illegal) to acheive a desired outcome.” This final usage has led to the rise of “hackerspaces” where nary a computer can be seen.
While it is somewhat easy to see how “hack” has migrated its meaning over the past few decades, that migration has confused a lot of discussions, especially since computers are ubiquitous. To many people, computers are generally black magic wizardy, beyond comprehension. Many people even forget that their smart phone, and indeed every phone, is essentially a computer.1 If someone uses “hack” to mean “creating a desirable outcome by using a tool in an unintended way,” without understanding how computers were designed to be used, nearly anything can become a hack.
On the other hand, within computer security, hacking has a very specific meaning and loosely claiming that something was “hacked” can give false impressions. For example, most people were unaware the degree to which social media collects information on them, and the ways different groups could use tools to exploit that information. Groups like Cambridge Analytica used information in exactly the way Facebook intended it to be used, and nevertheless, the incident was initially treated as a data leak in many media outlets.
Misunderstanding the different uses of hacking causes tremendous confusion regarding information leakage online. While most people do not read the “Terms of Use” for websites, and may not be aware of the permissions they give to their information, information you put on a social media site are fair game for the the social media site to use, within limits.
Obviously, online companies could not turn around and use your information to do something otherwise illegal, in itself, but they can use information you provide in ways you might not think about. If someone at Instagram was using information users provided to reset bank account passwords and transfer money to themselves or the company, that action would still be inherently illegal, even though you wittingly provided the information. Many jurisdictions have limitations on the kind of information companies can disclose, requiring reasonable anonymization for the information. Nonetheless, a major revenue stream for many online media remains selling users’ information, which the buyers can use for whatever purchase they choose, and selling targeted ads is essentially selling information and ads at the same time.
The difference between a computer hack and “hacking” as used in other contexts becomes vital when understanding global politics, especially in democratic societies. In common parlance, one could think of the Jacksonian party system, FDR’s direct appeals to the public using radio fireside chats, or direct mail campaigns as “hacks,” but none of those things were illicit, nor involved computers. Boss Tweed’s Tammany Hall or Klan terrorism are also “hacks” to the political system, but are illegal and not part of a healthy democratic process. Similarly, targeted political ads, innovative messaging informed by data analytics and new uses for mailing lists could fall within the popular, non-computer meaning of “hack,” and would be part of democracy so long as they were legal in other contexts.
“Hack’s” divergent meanings create chaos when casually employed in public conversation. One neither needs to imply nor assume nefarious intent when public figures speak of Russia “hacking” an election to realize that different listeners could understand such a statement differently depending on how they understand the work “hack.” The problem becomes further compounded by the fact that, at least in the 2016 Presidential election, the two uses overlapped: Russia used illicit cybersecurity exploits (hacks) to conduct information operations that would (hack) affect the American electorate in a way Russia would like. Russia “hacked” DNC computers in the computer science sense, but their involvement in the election itself was functionally more akin to the Tammany Hall.
Understanding the different underlying issues is essential to appropriately explain effects and prescribe potetial policy solutions. Improved technology can solve a technological electoral problem a computer “hack” implies. However, the most reliable voting system in the world would be powerless to stop problems from “hacks” like Tammany Hall or the Klan.
No one is perfect, but I always try to use specific verbiage to remain clear. I do not commonly refer to kludges, novel techniques or other innovations as “hacks” and I will resist starting the practice. I will also try to always refer to “cybersecurity attacks,” “data leaks” or “security violations” to be as accurate as possible, and I encourage others to do the same. Unclear information is hardly information at all, and we should treat unclarity when discussing information as a mortal sin.
1 I am actually writing this on a phone, now.
Posted in Domestic-Politics, Information-Security, Uncategorized.Tagged cybersecurity, definitions, hacking, taxonomy.
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Chapter Five Hundred and Seventy-seven : Tunnels and trick (part one)
CHAPTER FIVE HUNDRED and SEVENTY-SEVEN
(part one)
There wasn’t space for Alex to turn over or around. Instead, she started the even slower journey back twenty feet to where she thought she’d see something that might be an off switch.
“Sir, it’s Margaret.”
“Yes?” Alex, Vince, and Seth said in unison.
“Um … okay,” Margaret said. “I was referring to the Fey.”
“Roger that,” Vince and Seth said in near unison.
“But actually, if you’re listening,” Margaret said, “which of course you would be … um …”
“Peaches?” Vince asked.
“Yes, sir,” Margaret said. “That’s not the release. The one the Fey is climbing back toward.”
“Oh?” Alex said. Her head dropped to her hands to take a few deep breaths.
“I don’t think so,” Margaret said. “The catch appears to be next to Mr. O’Malley’s left foot.”
Seth turned to look.
“I see it,” Seth said. “Vince?”
“Yes, sir, I’m backing up,” Vince said.
After a few moments, Seth was able to belly crawl backward toward the object Margaret was talking about.
“Do we have gas masks?” Seth asked.
“In your backpack, sir,” Matthew said.
“We assess that gas is not what this chamber is about,” Margaret said. “I cannot send you an image but there are wood spikes that come out of the walls. It will hearten you to know that there is more than one Nazi body stuck there.”
“Tunnels of death,” Seth said under his breath.
“This appears to be correct,” Pierre said. “I realized that I have heard of this place. It is an replica on the ‘Subtarreaneis Mortis’ in Rome.”
“Really?” Seth asked.
“Does that mean something to you?” Leena asked. “Sorry. He’s been saying that for a while.”
“Yes, in fact, it does,” Seth said.
He pushed down the lever in the wall and crawled to the chamber opening. Without hesitation, he turned so his feet dangled into the chamber before dropping down.
“We’re safe here,” Seth said. “If this tunnel is a replica of the ‘Subtarreanis Mortis’, we have three more chambers to go.”
“Any news from up top?” Vince asked.
“You won’t believe me if I told you,” Matthew said.
“Try us,” Alex ordered.
“Trece and White Boy are here,” Matthew said. “We were about to open the tunnel to talk to them when Pershing and his entire team arrived by chopper. To review this as some kind of a heritage site.”
“Oh great,” Raz said from the root cellar. “I wondered if that might come through.”
“Our little Polish government official is furious, but there’s little he can do,” Matthew said with a chuckle.
“Good to have friends,” Alex said.
“Good to have lawyers,” Royce said.
“They were Nadia’s,” Alex said. “Her company has an entire departments of world class lawyers on staff. They took it on. With Sandy’s permission, of course.”
“Friends with brilliant timing,” Ben said.
Alex dropped into the chamber. The wall on her right was embedded with at least twenty of what looked like lodge pole pine trees sharpened to deadly points. The last foot of tree and the horrible points stuck out of the wall. There were four human remains on the points.
Seth knelt next the remains while Vince stood next to him.
“German soldiers,” Seth said. “Can you take photos?”
Denver Cereal continues tomorrow…
Next: Chapter Five Hundred and Seventy-seven : Tunnels and trick (part two)
Previous: Chapter Five Hundred and Seventy-six : The root cellar (part six)
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Stay up to date with all your favorite sports news while you enjoy your morning coffee!
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in Detroit Lions News, General Topic
Ryan’s Lions Betting Preview-Week 5 Edition
by Ryan Dickey October 7, 2018, 10:49 am 1.3k Views
A light edition of Ryan’s Lion’s Betting Preview this week. I finally got off the schneid–correctly picking the Lions to cover the spread against the Cowboys. Unfortunately, the cover came at the expense of losing the total, as the Lions touchdown with 2:17 left in the fourth quarter pushed the game total over 44.
So, one quarter through the Lion’s schedule, it’s not looking so good–hitting 25% of both the game side and total. The only saving grace is that my “other games” in the NFL are 6-2 (75%) on the year meaning that if you’ve wagered every play with the same amount of money, we’re only down the “juice” (or vig).
This week, the Lions host the Packers. While the Lions have had some success against Green Bay of late, today might not be the day this continues.
The Packers opened as a short one-point favorite on the road. The favorite in this matchup is 19-7 in the last 26 Lions/Packers games. Detroit has won two games in a row, and the Packers come in to Ford Field with revenge.
Green Bay should be able to run the ball a little better against the Lions than they have against their first three opponents this season. That is important because they rely on the run to set up the pass, so we could have a Packers offense firing on all cylinders today (automotive term).
The Lions have won the last two regular season matchups against the Packers. Will they make it three in a row? I’m betting no.
Although the Lions defense has performed well at times, and not-so-well at times, this doesn’t bode well for them today. Look for Aaron Rodgers to have a big day, and Green Bay to score points in bunches.
A late line move has made this game a “pick ‘em”, (no point spread) but going from -1 to pick doesn’t change the bet.
Bet the Packers (pick) at Detroit.
On the other side of the ball, Detroit has proven that their offense CAN move the ball in spurts, and even though they had a jump start (another automotive term) to their running game two weeks ago, it didn’t continue into the Dallas game.
The Lions are averaging 6.8 yards per pass attempt, and if they find themselves down early, could be passing, and passing a lot.
Six of the last seven Lions/Packers games have gone over the total. The over is 21-6 in the last 27 Packers games. Lions games against NFC opponents have gone over eight times in the last ten games. The over is 8-3 in the last eleven home games.
The total of this game is 51, and should go way over in an old-fashioned shootout.
Bet Green Bay vs Detroit OVER 51 points
The other two NFL wagers that I like this week are:
Bet the San Francisco 49ers -3 over the Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco was picked by many to be a solid team in the NFC West this season, but those expectations have been tempered by the loss of starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Last week, in their first game without Jimmy G., they lost 29-27 at the Chargers. Granted, one of their touchdowns was a pick-six of Philip Rivers, but they still scored 27 points.
The Cardinals have scored 6,0,14, and 17 points in their four games this season. They may score a season-high against San Fran today, but that could be as little as 18 points.
C.J. Beathard held his own against the Chargers, and comes into the Cardinals game with another full week of first-team reps in practice. This is a key factor in the game. He was 23-for-37 for 298 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. If he learned anything from those turnovers and apply it to his work this week, the 49ers should roll over a bad Cardinals team.
Arizona is 2-7 ATS in their last nine road games. That won’t improve today.
Bet the Washington Redskins +6 at New Orleans
There will be a lot of talk about Drew Brees and his quest to become the NFL’s all-time leading passer by yardage. He needs 201 yards to surpass Peyton Manning atop the list.
There will be little talk that the Redskins have had two weeks to prepare for this game, nor will there be talk about the return of Mark Ingram and how getting him touches in the Saints offense may upset their rhythm.
The Saints are a just-better-than-mediocre team, and are favored by a touchdown (without the extra point!).The Redskins definitely a better-than-mediocre team, and will have figured out how to exploit the Saints inconsistent defense. Look for Brees to get the job done, but in a losing effort.
The Redskins win straight up.
RYAN’S RECORD:
LIONS side: 1-3
LIONS total: 1-3
OTHER wagers: 6-2
Total: 8-8
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in MSU News, U of M News
BREAKING: Michigan drops, Michigan State remains steady in latest AP College Basketball Top 25 poll
Michigan and Michigan State both ranked highly in latest AP College Basketball Top 25 poll
BREAKING: Michigan and Michigan State both climb in Week 8 AP Top 25 Poll
in College Sports, MSU News, U of M News
BREAKING: Michigan moves up, Michigan State drops in latest AP Top 25 poll
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Watch Rob Kodama's video on How to help teens develop good judgment...
How to help teens develop good judgment | Kids in the House
Home » TEEN » Parenting Teens » Consequences and Discipline
How to help teens develop good judgment
Good judgment comes with brain development. The difficulty is their brains aren’t really fully developed at this point. So, what you have to do is instead of hoping that it’s going to happen is continually remind them of the consequences. Even though you think it would make more sense than anything else that they would know, “Hey! If I jump from the wall, I might break my leg.” You better tell them. You might break your leg if you jump from the wall. It sounds silly but it really is the reality of it even when they drive and they do everything else, says they go to the lodge, you have to remind them because they look like adults, their brains are not fully developed and so they're definitely not an adult. So, be sure to kind of remind them of the consequences, not necessarily being a broken record but just reminding them. Not saying don’t do this, don’t do that because obviously when you say don’t jump from the wall, they're going to jump from the wall. However, if you say, “If you jump from that wall, you could very well shatter your leg and you can no longer play tomorrow” then they may very well think twice about jumping from the wall. So, I think the approach on how you look at judgment is really important and always giving them those consequences that are still going to happen.
Video Categories: TEEN, Health and Development, Teen Brain Development, Parenting Teens, Consequences and Discipline
Most common mistakes made by teenage boys Rob Kodama
When kids are caught stealing Michael Riera, PhD
Fleeting moments of clarity with teens Michael Dennis, PhD
Becoming a man Rob Kodama
How to separately engage the male and female brain Kelley King
Teen decision making vs. adult decision making Cara Natterson, MD
Can a child or teen be sentenced to life in prison? Philip Kent Cohen, Esq.
Preparing teenage boys for their role in society Rob Kodama
Younger child vs. older child discipline Robert Brooks, PhD
Disciplining children with respect Douglas Green, MFT
Meet Rob Kodama
Common signs of drug or alcohol use
Communicating with teenage boys
Most common mistakes made by teenage boys
Participating on a sports team
Preparing teenage boys for their role in society
Pros and cons of sports travel teams
Quitting a sport
Teen boys and hormone control
Teenage boys and their anger
Teens going to boarding school
Tips for picking a school
Touring a new school
Rob Kodama
Director of Admissions & Marketing, Crespi Carmelite High School
Mr. Kodama has been a Certified Gurian Trainer since 2007. He is the Director of Admissions, Marketing, and Public Relations at Crespi Carmelite High School. He is also the head soccer coach and the Director of K-sports Soccer Camps. He has been involved in the educational field since 1991. In his role as the Director of Admissions he has increased enrollment at Crespi Carmelite High School nearly 20% within his first five years. He has taught a revolutionary course called ”Becoming a Man” to seniors at Crespi Carmelite High School for the past eight years. In this innovative class, he challenges his students to look at what it truly means to become a man in our society. He explores what their roles are as sons, brothers, fathers, husbands, and mentors. He has presented this class at the Gurian Institute in Colorado Springs. He has served as the social studies department chair, and taught World Cultural Geography, US History, AP Macroeconomics, Micro Economics, and World History.
As a certified trainer and teacher, Mr. Kodama brings a wide variety of experience working with children, parents, students, and athletes. He has been training parents and schools about how boys and girls learn differently and how to help them succeed in school since 2007. He was recently the Keynote Speaker at Pierce College in Woodland Hills for the Early Childhood Development program. He has presented numerous times at The Gurian Summer Institute in Colorado Springs, and has worked with the following schools: Berkeley School, Crossroads Christian, Serra High School, Encino Presbyterian Children’s Center, St. Mel’s School, Kirk of the Valley School, Laurel Hall, Weekday Preschool, Young Oak Kim Academy, Our Lady of Malibu, Palma High School, and Army Navy Academy.
As a coach, he has worked with both boys and girls as young as four, through college. He has been running soccer camps, clinics, and coaching for over 20 years throughout the Los Angeles area. Many of his players have gone on to play at advanced levels of soccer.
He grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He is the youngest of five siblings, and is married and has a seven year-old son and six year-old daughter.
Parenting expert on: Substance Abuse Prevention, Teen Pregnancy, Puberty and Body Changes, Types of Schools
More Parenting Videos from Rob Kodama >
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Tonight I made a Thanksgiving wreath at the senior center. We started with fresh balsam speckled with blue berries. Ferry bells. I didn’t know the name of anything. A woman whose face was stretched like cling wrap over a plate told me to use the lotus pods as my focal point. Once I saw lotus flowers floating in a pond in Shanghai. A man there drew a poem on the ground with water and a calligraphy brush. He wrote Can you coax your mind from its wandering. Then the words disappeared. All around us, people danced. They’d hung their purses and their groceries on the branches of trees. Someone brought a boom box. Women danced with women, women danced with men. At the senior center, women wearing twinsets and pearls manipulated their Thanksgiving wreaths. They poked wires through the lotus pods. The instructor cautioned against using fruit as it would rot. Everyone picked out dried flowers instead.
Kelly Fordon’s poetry chapbook, On The Street Where We Live, won the 2011 Standing Rock Chapbook Contest and her second poetry chapbook, Tell Me When it Starts to Hurt, was published by Kattywompus Press in 2013. Her collection of linked stories, Garden for the Blind, was published by Wayne State University Press in April 2015. She lives in the Detroit area with her husband and children. You can visit her online at: www.kellyfordon.com.
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Dux Kenneth Slessor Texts and Human Experiences Study Guide
Kenneth Slessor , selected Poems: Texts and Human experieriences
1 Kenneth Slessor , selected Poems: Texts and Human experieriences
3 Wild Grapes
4 Gulliver
5 Out of Time
6 Beach Burial
7 Vesper-Song of the Reverend Samuel Marsden
8 William Street
Kenneth Slessor’s suite of poetry delves into the complexities of the human experience; focusing on our insecurities, the anguishes associated with living, the questions which remain, but also how the viscerality of feeling pain and doubt reminds us that we are human. His images are vivid and immediate, leaping off the page in a confrontational way to transport us into various settings through various explicit and anonymous personas in order to invite us to challenge presumptions and engage in a process of introspection – what does it mean to be human and to experience emotions that may be unsettling?
His poetry represents individual and collective human experiences by tapping into universal feelings that we all share as well as zeroing in on specific personal subjectivities. He captures the passing of time, a sense of discomfort and the reduction of humanity to its vulnerabilities while also revealing our perseverance and grit. He urges us to see the world differently by not retreating from the ugly, the sordid and the unpleasant but rather to acknowledge that it exists. His poetry sheds light on human motivation and behaviour as a way of highlighting the paradoxes and anomalies present within the experience of living.
Wild Grapes
“Wild Grapes” embodies a tone of decrepit abandonment, evoking images of overgrowing unkempt vines sprawling and reaching out through a now unattended orchard. While it visually conveys the image of despondence, it articulates the idea of passing time; creating a haunting memory of lost potential and the unsettling human experience of lingering regret.
We are immediately confronted with a setting that is not supposed to be pleasant. The orchard is old and “full of smoking air.” Here Slessor creates a visceral taste of bitterness; a hazy obscurity that metaphorically and physically settles upon the orchard. The “sour marsh” and “broken boughs” adds to decrepit surroundings now infertile and unsuited for growing fruit. Slessor transports us into the wet, murky undergrowth in order to accentuate a lack of hope – the grounds are unsalvageable having already fallen into obscurity. He points towards the idea that the orchard was once well tended to and pruned by families long gone. These families themselves have been buried deep down under the swampy marsh – “drowned,” evoking a feeling of suffocation that has replaced the flourishing sense of life that had once characterised the orchard. The fruit is bitter, it is both literally and figuratively hard to swallow; symbolic of the inherent human experience of regret and despair. However, the gentle rhyme of air/ there/ care lends a musicality to the first stanza and softens the harshness of the content.
The first two lines in Stanza Two brings us into the past where the orchard once held bourgeoning life of cherries and apples, full of hope and promise – bright and almost incandescent. Time has passed as now, not a single apple or a cherry remains. The semi colon pushes us into the present, the use of terse literal language is blunt and abrupt, shaking us out of the pleasant imagery established in the first two lines of the stanza. The wild Isabella grapes are characterised as almost deadly, like small bullets, black and pointed.
The imagery turns darker, untamed and cannibalistic – the grapes are described with animalistic characteristics; furry and rather threatening. They burst with acid and the shock of the taste almost stings but is however, compounded by its gipsy-sweetness. The poet is referring to the girl too, the memory of Isabella herself lingers and lurks alongside the Isabella grapes. Her memory leaves the same aftertaste as the fruit, it remains “defiantly” while she is dead. The word “defiant” gives a sense of determination and tenacity. The grapes also remain long after people have moved on and gone away – nature continues to dominate. Here we are left with an image of emptiness with the orchard being a place that even swallows have abandoned. This articulates an unsettling stillness and an all too unnatural quietness. Swallows, migratory birds which ordinarily return to their nests annually and mate for life do not “stir” in the old orchard. The stagnancy of the orchard is unnerving and almost nightmarish, reinforcing the potent human experience of hopelessness and dread.
The grapes are described as being misplaced, like the girl herself, existing in the peripheral of society; shunned and outlawed. There is a paradox in the “harsh sweetness” of the grapes, accentuating a gentleness that is simultaneously grating.The synecdoche of “dark hair swinging and silver pins” gives an abstract depiction of the girl. It provides a snatch and glimpse of her that is incomplete and perhaps not very accurate. Thus, an ambiguity characterises the poem, lending it a sort of murkiness and ambivalence. The girl is “half-fierce, half-melting” her image strengthening, becoming vivid and also receding; slinking away. The poet questions her fate – whether she was kissed or killed there, he does not know. Either way, such an image is charged with passion but is completely contradictory – “kiss” connotes affection and love while “kill” suggests sinister intent. Here memory is questioned – how could something so different become so blurred; almost melting into the same thing? Here lies the inconsistency of human experience, the uncertainty that surroundings us and the unreliability of truth.
“Gulliver” is written in a dramatic monologue form, and uses an allusion and extended metaphor of the narrator as the protagonist of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and imagery of imprisonment to dwell on the pain and discomfort of human experience.
Slessor compares being human to being incarcerated – using paradoxical imagery of prisons to give insight into the pains of human existence. He says that even if a person is free, they are trapped by the very materials that constitute the body – the visceral imagery of “sinews” and “nerve” and “bone” introduces this idea.
The idea of human experience being inherently a prison is further evoked through the imagery of incarceration. The symbols of “walls”, “dungeon”, “tyranny”, “dock” and “manacles” represents things that restrict physical movement and personal autonomy. The word “tyranny” is used in the phrase “tyranny of sinews” and “rope” is used with the phrase “hundred ropes of nerve and bone” – a reference to Gulliver being tied down by the tiny Lilliputian people in the book Gulliver’s Travels. Which is perhaps a clever way of saying that we are prisoners to the tiny versions of ourselves in our minds that make us obsess over our insecurities and frailties.
The uncommon connection between the figurative meaning evoked by imagery of the body and imagery of incarceration is an effective way of Slessor to push his point that no one, individually or collectively, is free from the mind-forged manacles of our psychology and physiology.
The dramatic monologue – shown using the word “I” and the focus on the persona’s subjective experience – is a way for Slessor to put the reader into the perspective of the narrator, making the feelings of pain and visceral imagery of “I’ll kick your walls to bits, I’ll die scratching a tunnel” more immediate.
The changing emphasis and irregularity of the rhyme throughout the poem creates a sense of urgency, giving the dramatic monologue the quality of an unhinged rant, which parallels the imagery of idea of the chaos and fear and pain of embodied human experience
The repetition of “too” in “stuff too cheap, and strings too many” emphasizes the disdain and the frustration of the persona who seems overcome by the physical and psychic pain of existing as a human.
The many prisons of human experience are highlighted explicitly through the use of cumulation in “Love, hunger, drunkenness, neuralgia, debt, Cold weather, hot weather, sleep and age” – as he begins to try to encapsulate the many, varied things that Slessor claims causes pain.
The rhetorical question of “but what can you do with the hairs?” is then indirectly answered by the jarring, paradoxical statement of “for God’s sake, call the hangman” suggesting that the only freedom from the many pains of human existence is death.
Slessor represents the human experience of time in “Out of Time” on several levels, weaving from abstract metaphors to natural imagery. He attempts to capture the subjective human experience of a time passing rushing our consciousness to oblivion, and the paradoxical feeling of eternity and immorality in the moment.
This paradox challenges our assumptions about time being experienced by humans as a constant – and is primarily shown through the personification of “Time” and the “Moment” as forces in conflict. This personification is suggested by the capitalization. Time is depicted as unrelenting, violent and destructive through the imagery of “the bony knife” and “takes me”, “drills me”, and “drives through blood and vein” and the repetition of “me” highlights the subjective and negative experience of time, emphasizes Slessor’s idea that time is what wears our physical bodies down.
The Moment is then presented by Slessor as an opposing force to time. The persona of the poem finds comfort with the Moment in the personified “I and the moment laugh,” and “leaning against his golden undertow”. The violent imagery associated with Time is contrasted to the positive and warm imagery of golden and the imagery of “sweet meniscus”. The imagery used for the Moment evokes growth and life, providing the reader with a tonal difference and respite from the unrelenting symbolism of death at the start of the stanza in the haunting imagery of “pale and faceless host” and “funeral, to be ghost”.
The repetition of the rhythm and rhyme in “dark and light”, “Nows and Heres”, “mistress might”, “million years” – creates a chanting, meditative quality, suspending the feeling of the poem rushing forward, providing the reader a brief respite and making them feel a seeming Moment of eternity.
The repetition of “-less” and the resonance of the repeated ‘e’ sounds in “fleshless and ageless, changeless and made free” links the words and their underlying concepts, which Slessor uses to suggest the ability for the Moment to liberate the persona from Time, and grant the persona, the reader and consequently humanity – a fleeting but true sense of immortality.
The personification and symbol of the heart, crying “Fool, would you leave this country?” is a way for Slessor to explore the desires of humans who want to be free from the ravages of time and mortality.
However, the repetition of the line “And Time flows past them like a hundred yachts” that is introduced at the start of the poem brings the reader back to the harsh truth, that time is unrelenting and while moments may offer brief respite, it seems that as always “the body dies and rots”, striking at an anxiety at the core of human experience – the impending doom that time brings us closer to death.
Beach Burial
Out of all the poems presented in this unit, Beach Burial most belies Slessor’s experiences as a war correspondent – explicitly exploring the human experience of war through a depiction of an aftermath of conflict.
The repetition of the ‘wa’ and ‘der’ sound in ‘sway and wander in the waters far under’ evokes the sense of the tides lapping the beach, immersing the responder in the sense of space. By using this imagery of melancholy and stillness he creates a setting for the reader to reflect on the human experiences of loss of life and the collective experiences of the futility of war.
This melancholic tone is further highlighted by the personification of ‘sob and clubbing’ of the gunfire. It is the only mention of violence in the whole poem, before the focus of the poem shifts to the unknown figure who is burying the bodies on the beach. The use of indirect, gentle language evinced in the verbs of ‘pluck them from the shallows’ and ‘tread the sand upon their nakedness’ instead of using the words ‘drag’ or ‘dig’ reflects Slessor’s larger intention of writing about spaces between and after conflict – paradoxical for a war poem, suggesting that the loss and destruction is more keenly felt after, rather than during, the conflict.
The symbols of ‘blue’ and ‘purple’ further stir a strong sense of loss both in an objective level, but emotionally. Blue represents sadness and purple, used in the Catholic church during Lent, represents holiness and reverence for the dead. By using this highly emotive language and symbolism, Slessor uses sadness to challenge our understanding of conflict. In doing so he brings us a strong, evocative subjective experience of war that can allow us to consider the futility of conflict that costs human life.
The shift in language and rhythm – and the use of a blunt expository style and varying line lengths – in the last stanza, challenges the reader. The responder, like Slessor, snaps out of the lapping, gentle quality of the previous stanzas, and is faced with a direct commentary on the futility of war. Without the push and pull of syllables in the previous stanzas, the sentences become more speech-like, Consider “dead seamen, gone in search of the same landfall’ and the brusque and clipped rhythm of ‘Enlisted on the other front’. The narrative has changed voice drastically, depriving it of music, giving it more authority – and we are faced with a direct comment on humanity’s futile and terrible relationship to war.
Vesper-Song of the Reverend Samuel Marsden
The title of this piece the “Vesper song of the Reverend Samuel Marsden” is another example of Slessor using dramatic monologue from the perspective of a troubled persona. Meaning is layered through the use of highly disturbing and connotative language – and presents through irony the human experience of the abuse of power and the potential for sadistic behaviour.
The word “vesper” is an old word for evening or the evening prayer, creating a sense of irony, because the persona of Samuel Marsden is using the vehicle of prayer to express a sadistic pleasure in inflicting punishment of sinners. In the poem Marsden is appealing to his god, asking to flog those who have wronged him.
The jarring use of song-like lyric in the regular rhythms of the poem, highlights the disturbing nature of the persona’s desires. By claiming in the title that it is a prayer-song and giving the poetry a melodic, sing-song quality, the responders expectations are challenged and unsettled when confronted with imagery of whipping and damnation.
The insertion or religious connotative language in “sacramental”, “Paradise” and the play on the words in “Have graved another Testament” and the farcical, disturbing image of “A scarlet Grace for holy meat” illuminates the persona’s twisted and sadistic idea of religious righteousness.
The rhetorical questions in the symbolism of the priest as a cobbler, saving the souls, and metaphorically the soles of those who “wear the boots of Hell” claiming “shall I not welt a soul as well”. The multiple meanings of welt – as in fix – can also refer to the welts that emerge from a beating.
The visceral imagery of “jewelled blood repeat” is jarring when it is next to highly loaded, religious language – and again Slessor uses contrast to highlight this disconnect between the intentions of Samuel Marsden and the grace and compassion that we usually expect of holy figures.
By presenting this dramatic monologue – Slessor challenges our idea about the motivations of people in power and those who are saying they are acting on God’s behalf. The paradox of a member of the clergy who would prefer to whip the damned but still uses the words of the Good Book and God is an indictment to the human experiences of abuses of institutional power.
“William Street” is Slessor’s way of representing human experiences of urban living especially in the chaos of the 30s. He challenges our assumptions about city life and invites us to reflect personally on images that we may previously have negative associations with. He does this through a clever presentation of his rich experiences and subjective perspective of William Street on Kings Cross. The constant refrain of “you find this ugly, I find it lovely” and the structure of juxtaposing positive and negative, urban and pastoral assist him in doing so.
Slessor uses elemental imagery to draw links and attempt to destroy the demarcations between the human-made and “artificial” features of a city, and natural objects. The “red globe of light” and the “liquor green” is a multifaceted symbol of lights and energy and action – suggesting the vices of drinking and consuming sex work- are actually a beating heart and flowing energy of a city spilt on “stones” and that go “deeper than a stream”.
The confronting phantom of death conjured by the imagery and simile of “Ghosts’ trousers, like the dangle of hungmen” is then followed by the strong assertion that “none inside to suffer or condemn;” saying to the responder that there is nothing to fear.
By confronting the readers with death imagery and dismissing the power of it, and revealing a certain peace in non-existence, Slessor furthers his jarring idea of the beauty to be found in what many consider the “ugliness” of city living.
The lively evocations in the rhyme and repetition of “rich and rasping” paired with the constant and comforting rhythm of “smoke and fat and fish” and then finished with “puffs of paraffin” gives life to the mundane and often unpleasant physical sensations that the persona encounters on William Street. The religious connotation of the word “blesses” before the repeated refrain of “You find this ugly, I find it lovely” challenges our assumptions about the sights, smells and sounds of city life.
In the final stanza, he explores the human characters and agents of the city in the “dips” (pickpockets) and “molls” (sex workers) in Kings Cross. While the connotations of death and hunger in “death at their elbows, hunger at their heels” are striking, Slessor uses pastoral imagery through the words “ranging” and “pasturage” in a jarring and wry way to challenge the reader – suggesting that these people are just the natural inhabitants of William Street and they must do these things to survive, like livestock grazing in a pasture – and challenges the reader, again in the refrain, to find beauty in the urban and justify the morality of activities in the city. Australian readers with experiences of the bush poetry that preceded the modernist poets like Slessor may find this jarring use of pastoral imagery particularly effective and humorous – the challenging of human experiences of aesthetic on a meta-textual level.
Slessor’s personal experiences with the city life are used to challenge the reader’s personal experience – inviting them to have another perspective on the human experience of city life as an individual and also collectively.
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Imax And CGV Holdings Set Pact To Build 40 New Theaters Across China
Kevin Hart’s HartBeat Taps John Cheng As President Of Film
Mike Fleming Jr
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Film
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EXCLUSIVE: John Cheng, most recently Head of Development at RatPac Entertainment, has moved to become President of Film at Kevin Hart’s HartBeat Productions. He also will also help spearhead the TV aspirations at HartBeat, which just inked a first-look production deal at Universal.
In addition to Cheng, HartBeat has brought aboard Carli Haney as Creative Executive for Film/TV. She was Cheng’s creative assistant at RatPac and before that worked at Jennifer Lopez’s JLE.
“John Cheng is one of the most talented and well respected executives in Hollywood and I’m thrilled that he’s joining the team,” Hart said. “With his extraordinary reputation for his creative instincts, impeccable taste and fantastic relationships, there is no limit on what we can accomplish at HartBeat.”
Universal Pre-Empts 'My Own Worst Enemy' Package For Kevin Hart, Tim Story Re-Team; Studio Also Pacts Hartbeat Deal
Said Cheng: “I couldn’t be more excited to partner up with Kevin and the HartBeat team. Aside from being a comedic genius, Kevin’s ambition, work ethic and creative instincts as a producer are unparalleled in this industry. Our objective is for HartBeat is to be a global brand name in generating commercial and critically acclaimed content in all genres from culturally diverse storytellers. We’ll be looking for projects for Kevin to star in, but also aim to be the first stop for top talent to bring their A-list projects to HartBeat to use our experience and resources to see their projects to fruition.”
In his five years at RatPac, Cheng oversaw the company’s full slate of film and TV shows in development and production, as well as the producer-financier’s financial relationship with Warner Bros and Plan B’s first-look deal with the New Regency-RatPac tie-up. Among the movies under his purview were Fox’s The Revenant, which earned Leonardo DiCaprio an Oscar; Assassin’s Creed; and Sony Classics’ Truth starring Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett.
Cheng was a co-producer on Warners’ Horrible Bosses, producer on A24’s Barely Lethal and Saban Entertainment’s True Crimes, and and exec producer on Horrible Bosses 2 and Relativity’s Mirror Mirror. Most recently he was a producer on Christoph Waltz’s directorial debut Georgetown. He also set up the Black List script Blond Ambition at Uni with Mike De Luca Productions, Unfit at Amazon with Dakota Johnson attached, and The Fix at New Line with Seth Gordon directing and Robert Carlock writing.
Before RatPac, Cheng was Head of Development at Rat Entertainment, where he worked on the Rush Hour franchise for New Line, and Tower Heist and The Family Man at Universal. He got his start working as an assistant at Pearson All American Television, run by David Gerber.
Hartbeat Productions
RatPac Entertainment
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May 8, 2019 Education News
DeVos swipes at public school educators as she defends privatization agenda to media
By Amanda Litvinov
In her remarks at the 72nd Education Writers Association Conference in Baltimore on Monday, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos took pot shots at educators while she talked up her anti-public education agenda.
In the past, DeVos turned down the invitation to speak at the event.
This year, she used the occasion to justify her efforts to undermine public education. She also managed to avoid answering the toughest questions, including some about her decision to rescind policies meant to protect students’ civil rights.
Here are four telling moments from the event:
1. DeVos claimed that tax credit programs such as her $5 billion “Education Freedom Scholarship” proposal are not voucher plans.
It’s a favorite tactic of the privatization movement: attempting to re-brand a voucher plan using a new name and a slightly different mechanism for accessing taxpayer money. But whether they’re called “Education Saving Accounts,” “Tuition Tax Credits” or “Freedom Scholarships,” the result is always the same: All of these schemes direct taxpayer dollars to private schools, leaving less money for public schools.
Under such a plan, individuals and companies earn tax credits by donating money to nonprofit scholarship funds. Students then can use the funds to attend private schools, including religious schools.
DeVos’ tax credit proposal is worse than similar ones already on the books in 17 states. That’s because it gives a dollar-for-dollar credit, meaning that every dollar given takes a dollar off the donor’s tax bill.
DeVos defended it again during her on-stage interview with New York Times reporter Erica L. Green, who noted that even some Republicans have voiced their reservations. DeVos claimed her proposal “is not going to take anything away from anyone or anywhere.”
That is simply false. Tax credit vouchers will drain public funding from public schools. Under these plans, potential taxes are never paid, which in turn decreases the overall amount in the coffers. This makes less money available for public schools, where 90 percent of students go.
2. DeVos said “there is no such thing as public money.”
There’s a reason that DeVos and her supporters would like to eradicate the term “public money.” That’s shorthand for the tax dollars that the government collects to pay for schools and roads and hospitals—the things that should benefit everyone.
DeVos said there is no public money, only money earned by individuals. That’s an attempt to suppress the idea that we all kick in to pay for a system that promotes the common good. The idea is, “Hey, that’s my money, I should get to decide where it goes.”
It’s all part of the attempt by those who want to privatize education to justify a system where individuals can direct taxpayer money to private schools that are entirely unaccountable to the public, including religious schools.
3. DeVos avoided answering questions about her decision to roll back guidance on school discipline.
It took some serious bobbing and weaving, but Betsy DeVos avoided answering questions about how rolling back guidelines designed to make school discipline policies more fair for students of color would in any way make schools safer.
The backstory: In December 2018, President Trump appointed DeVos to head up the Federal Commission on School Safety following the horrific school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on February 14, 2018. The following December, the Trump administration released the report from the Federal Commission on School Safety to address gun violence in schools.
The report recommends stripping protections that seek to prevent racial disparities in student discipline. These guidelines were put into place to address the wide racial gap in school suspensions and expulsions.
Green asked repeatedly for DeVos to explain the connection between what happened in Parkland and the discipline guidance several times. Here is part of DeVos said:
“Well, I think it’s important to remember that the commission was established to study school safety. It was in the aftermath of the Parkland tragedy, but it wasn’t a focus on Parkland. It was really to talk about ways that educators and community should and may consider how to make sure that students are safe when they go to school, that teachers are safe when they go to school, and how to prevent these things in the future. Not to always be in the place of reacting to them.”
Finally, DeVos claimed that tying the report and the rollback together was inaccurate, that they had been separate efforts all along.
4. DeVos accused educators of “hurting kids” when they marched for investments to improve schools
Over the past year-and-a-half, educators have walked out, rallied, gone on strike, and protested under the #RedForEd banner to demand that state and local policymakers address their pleas for more investment in their schools and fair pay for educators. DeVos claimed educators are “hurting kids in the process” by being out of the classroom. She admonished educators, saying they should have “adult disagreements on adult time.”
This theme would come up again later at the conference, at a panel discussion on the teacher walkouts.
During that session, Shavar Jeffries of Democrats for Education Reform, which supports more charter schools, said that unions would have the public believe that walking out is the only lever they have to pull. Jeffries said educators should exhaust every lever before leaving the school or classroom to protest.
Dov Rosenberg, a veteran educator and union activist from Durham, N.C., responded that political action isn’t harming students when the whole point of a walkout is to improve students learning.
“It is the last lever,” said Rosenberg. “We tried phone banks, letters to representatives, and supporting legislation that would increase funding, and it didn’t work. We have to use what power we have, and the most power we have is our labor. We are furious that our students are forced to learn in the miserable conditions we are required to work.”
Access a video and a transcript of DeVos’ appearance at the Education Writers Association Conference on Education Week’s Policy K-12 blog.
15 responses to “DeVos swipes at public school educators as she defends privatization agenda to media”
Devos does not realize that public education is for all,,,not just the rich.
Marianne Davis says:
DeVos, like those in this administration has no skill for functioning in the job that she agreed to do. She is a threat to America’s children AND TO THE FUTURE OF OUR REPUBLIC!
I challenge Betsy Devon to spend one whole day (8:00-3:30) with me, in our school, in my classroom, with my kindergarteners. Then I want her to explain to me exactly how I am hurting those kids! I want her to explain to me why they do not deserve a well funded education! As a kindergarten teacher I spend hundreds of dollars of my own money so they can have the education they deserve.
Louis Mendoza says:
True! DeVos never spent a day as a classroom teacher.
Mary Brewer says:
She needs to go! She has no idea what public education is to those in the workforce. She has no idea what we do. This is seperating the rich from the poor. Charter schools do not want our kids, and when they get them they come back to our schools. I have an idea if you want to save our schools do like other countries go K-10 then in 10th if kids want to go on the college track they stay for two more years. If they dont they go to a trade school owned by companies, that will save you 7.1 billion… Another idea. Set up academy model nation wide and gear Math, English, Science, and Social Studies, around the academy models. Where students earn certifications and are ready for the workforce…
One of the programs that need serious funding is parent education. Many parents are clueless about how much home life affects student performance.
Susan Kalis, retired teacher says:
Betsy DeVos is the largest atrocity in the government next to the orange president! She cares nothing about public schools or education because she knows nothing about it! Her idea is nothing but robbery for her own agenda. Her ideas are great for getting rid of Trump though because he is too dumb to stop it!
Actually, it is not her own agenda. She is just one of the right wing conservatives who, in concert, are assaulting our democracy.
Howard Prince says:
You need to ask the question if you would send your children to public school in its current status, staffing and funding available for improvement?
The policies promoted by Betsy DeVos clearly do not support fair access to all children for equal opportunities and the right to public education for the good of us all.
Anna Laughlin says:
Interesting that rolling back policies on discipline is an act that will only result in removing minority students for the most part. This was meant to be a task force on school safety because of school shootings. Minority kids don’t come to school and commit mass murder, White kids do!
Perhaps Devos needs a lesson in Civics and one in economics to learn about “public goods and services” and their role in a free market economy. Obviously she doesn’t understand. I would hate to think she acts this way because she is evil.
Dennis Kelly says:
She is not fit to run the department of education. She bought her position and has no idea of the negative impact she has. Since she knows nothing about public education and the advancement s that have been made. Her agenda is to continue to support private cyber schools since she owns many and she continues to make money on the backs of public education. She is a billionaire who knows nothing about public education and so far her agenda has put many disabled student funding at sever rusk. She needs to be fired or impeached from her position. RSA and vocational rehabilitation federal funding has been severely cut because of Betsy Devos.
Linda Williams-Sieg says:
The woman must be stopped!
Trump needs to examine the internal agenda and qualifications of Betsy DeVos.
The United States deserves better! Her leadership decisions are NOT good for children or professional educators. Terrible cabinet choice!
Betsy Devos HAS to GO. She’s not good for education – in fact an enemy of Public School. Instead of working to improve it, she wants to sink tons of Taxpayer funds into vouchers.
Education Insider for July 14, 2019
The “Ultimate Civics” lesson: Teaching students to advocate for their futures
Media response to NEA forum reflects prominence of education in Election 2020
Educators energized by presidential candidates’ forum at NEA Representative Assembly
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Home › News › On Tommy Robinson For Gavin Ashenden’s Edification
On Tommy Robinson For Gavin Ashenden’s Edification
By yahyasnowblog • May 27, 2018
A potentially misleading social media post from Gavin Ashenden
He was arrested whilst filming, that does not mean he was arrested for filming. There’s a big difference here. If Rev Peter Bell had been arrested for grooming offences whilst playing golf it does not mean he was arrested for playing golf.
Gavin Ashenden needs to word his FB statements better for greater clarity in the future, he would be advised to also research the information he’s putting out before posting it. This is the responsible thing to do.
Gavin Ashenden encouraging lobbying for a criminal’s release – sinful for a Bible believing Christian?
IF (keyword for emphasis, IF) Tommy Robinson was sentenced for contempt of court* and has potentially put a grooming trial to the subject of a mistrial appeal there’s a real issue here. Even if Gavin is posting out of ignorance it’s a big issue. And to encourage supporters to sign a petition to help free somebody possibly found guilty of this crime is just mind-boggling.
Romans 13 comes into mind here:
All of you must obey the government rulers. Everyone who rules was given the power to rule by God. And all those who rule now were given that power by God. 2 So anyone who is against the government is really against something God has commanded. Those who are against the government bring punishment on themselves. 3 People who do right don’t have to fear the rulers. But those who do wrong must fear them. Do you want to be free from fearing them? Then do only what is right, and they will praise you.
4 Rulers are God’s servants to help you. But if you do wrong, you have reason to be afraid. They have the power to punish, and they will use it. They are God’s servants to punish those who do wrong. 5 So you must obey the government, not just because you might be punished, but because you know it is the right thing to do.
Again, Gavin Ashenden needs to think about what he’s putting out there for public consumption to his, what I’d imagine to be, largely Christian audience.
The same applies, if not more vociferously, to the “ministry” linked to at least one member of CJ Davis’ St Nicholas Church (Tooting).
I assume neither Rev Dr Gavin Ashenden nor Lizzie Schofield (or whoever was tweeting for DCCI) watched Tommy Robinson’s FB livestream (who claimed to have had over around 10,000 viewers at one stage during his livestream) from outside the Leeds court. I did flick through it and I can tell you there were instances where I believe some people could possibly construe as prejudicing the trial verdict [I’m not saying the trial has been prejudiced, I’m just saying it could potentially be seen as having the ability to influence jury decision making – that of course will be at the discretion of the judge]. Sensitive trials are subject to reporting restrictions (this even applies to gonzo journalists like Tommy Robinson). The alleged grooming gang (which contains people with Sikh names also) that Tommy was trying to “report” on as a gonzo journalist is a very sensitive case and thus it’s extremely important people in and around the court follow rules to avoid prejudicing the proceedings and getting themselves into legal bother.
Note: Far Right Watch meant Tuesday not Monday.
To help understand how the serious ramifications of somebody breaking reporting protocol in and around trials have a read
Gavin Ashenden’s Problemtaic Retweets
I would urge Gavin to stop retweeting conspiracy theories. The reason why Tommy’s case cannot be reported has been outlined by the court notice. Gavin would know this if he spent time seeking it out rather than retweeting conspiracies from people like UKIP’s Gerard Batten
For Gavin’s information, Tommy has not disappeared for reporting on “Muslim” grooming gangs (the grooming gang contained folks with Sikh names iinm too – (I guess Gavin believes church groomers working together in their child sex abuses/cover ups Christian grooming gangs).
There’s a reporting ban on reporting the details of his sentence because it may prejudice the trials of the alleged groomers who are yet to receive their verdicts, the court seems to have thought putting a reporting ban on Tommy’s sentence until the remaining trials of the alleged groomers are concluded will help the administration of justice in those verdicts. This is not difficult to understand and his whereabouts are actually reported in newspapers and the same applies over his arrest (for perfectly understandable court restrictions his sentencing and details of such have not been reported).His whereabouts have been passed on via social media accounts with links to Tommy (Stephen Yaxley Lennon) Robinson. So much for the conspiratorial tweets about him disappearing, his location being unknown and whathaveyou yet you’re retweeting this stuff TODAY, Gavin? Come on, Gavin is meant to be an academic (he is!) but this is what he’s been reduced to after leaving the CofE and his job working with the royal family. Poorly thought retweets of conspiracy meat which the Far Right lap up in their echo chambers. Come on Gavin, you’re better than this! If this is the level of the conservative wing of the Anglican community then there is little surprise why they come across as impotent in society and why many Christian folks prefer to follow the likes of Michael Curry, Justin Welby and, let me troll a little, Joel Osteen! 🙂
Co-opting the battles of the Far Right and less right-wing nationalist movements is not going to make the conservative wing of the Anglicans appear robust and muscular. It’s going to deflate your credibility amongst the rest of the Anglicans and the rest of normal society. It could have the very likely effect of dividing the Anglican community further on racial and cultural lines.
You’re a grown man of some accomplishments and standing in your community. This is truly embarrassing for the Anglican community. Slaps wrist (metaphorically).
I’ve got to ask, CJ Davis, do you or St Nicholas Church support the freeing of Tommy Robinson? I would also ask you to be alert to the fact there is a purported screenshot of an old tweet from Tommy Robinson joking that all Pakistanis smell and he’s on record saying he wants to stop Polish immigration. Those are two large immigrant populations in London. Just be alert to the fact you and your church, if you do decide to come out and publicly support him, could be offending these two immigrant groups and others. I would strongly recommend you look into the way Tommy, essentially, demonises anybody who follows Islam as a potential grooming gang criminal (we’ve demonstrated to you and your flock or associates of your flock that grooming gangs have nothing to do with Islam – this has also been explained to Gavin Ashenden recently in an effort to get him more up to speed on Islam rather than falling in the pit of “Christian” anti-Islam mud slinging) if you are thinking of supporting Tommy Robinson (somebody found guilty of criminality) publicly – do you really think Jesus (even the Trinitarian church version of Jesus which I your church has traditionally believed strange things about Jesus such as he allowed the severe beating of female slaves and allowed the torture of women suspected of being unfaithful via the bitter water test) would want you to do that?
*Tommy is *speculated* (J) to have repeat-offended seen as he was previously spared jail for contempt of court (in Canterbury, Kent), and thus, had a suspended sentence over his head when he was arrested again outside a court (this time in Leeds, Yorkshire) for what was either breach of peace or another contempt of court charge (the footage shows the policeman saying breach of peace at the time of the arrest to take him into custody, stop his live feed and remove him away from the court – but that does not mean he was not sentenced for another contempt of court charge given his livefeed and his hounding of folks he believed to be defendants going in to the court). He was summarily given an immediate sentence (speculated to be 13 months – probably meaning he will serve about 6 and be put on parole for the rest if he behaves in prison). Very silly, Tommy! To risk something like that whilst having a suspended sentence hanging over you is just plain stupid. Tommy has a number of properties on rent and is well paid for his media and book sales. He will be OK financially. His followers, who aren’t as well off as him despite contributing to his donation drives, should certainly stop putting themselves in danger of being arrested. Hopefully Tommy can spend time self-reflecting in prison and come out as a more balanced person. Muslims should pray for Tommy Robinson, he needs love. For Tommy’s previous case and conviction (suspended) please see here
One last thing here for consideration for Christians is the cult of personality around Far Right and Islamophobic leaders. Hatred and antagonism to minority communities who are subject to malicious propaganda and portrayed as a fifth columns in Europe can grow cult like followings. A liberal (not the person behind the comment below) at CJ Davis’ church may even think Tommy is more moral than the church version of Jesus.
The Right Wing are a weird bunch at the best of times but if more Christians began jumping into that bed of unpleasantness I think we could see a stranger concoction develop than the current bunch of misfits in the Right Wing.
Muslims Condemning Grooming Gangs in Britain
Tommy Robinson on Islam and Muslims
Essential Reading for St Nicholas Church, Lizzie Schofield and Hatun Tash
Tagged as: anglicans, anti muslim propaganda, church of england, cj davis, Far-right, gavin ashenden, immigration, Islam, Islamophobia, Jesus, jusin welby, prison, st nicholas church tooting, thom stark, tommy robinson, tommy robinson hull hmp, UKIP
« The First Martyrs Of Islam: Sumayya Bint Khubat And Yasir
Ammar Ibn Yasir Persecution And Torture By The Quraysh Polytheists »
Christopher Groschupff
May 28, 2018 • 10:48 am
Religious people demaning a criminal be freed? I could have sworn there was something like this in the actuall bible. Around the passion of Jesus Christ?
November 26, 2018 • 9:01 pm
Excellent point. Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean we are to be a doormat. The very fact of being a Christian means we are to resist injustice. It was lawful for the money changers to be in the temple too. That didn’t seem to be a factor for Jesus. To my knowledge, Tommy R was simply reporting the fact that a trial of a group of degenerate immigrants was taking place; a trial that the Globalist British Government didn’t want the citizenry to become aware of because it had the potential to awaken minds and to create resistance to their New World Order agenda.
Abu Dharr al-Ghifari’s Persecution In The Hands Of Quraysh February 16, 2018
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04. Sim Heung-taek Report (March 29, 1906)
Sim Heung-taek Report
Sim Heung-taek Report (March 29, 1906)
Sim Heung-taek, the county magistrate of Uldo-gun (Uldo county) reported to me, (the acting governor of Gangwon Province), as follows:
Dokdo, which is under the jurisdiction of this county, is some 100li (old Korean unit of measurement) (39km) out at sea. A steamship docked at Dodong-po (Dodong Dock) in Uldo-gun approximately at the 5th hour (7-9 am) on the 4th day of this month (March 28). A group of Japanese government officials came to the county office and said, “We have come to inspect the islands as Dokdo has now become Japanese territory.”
The group included Oki Island Magistrate Bunsuke Higashi of Shimane Prefecture; Secretary Yoshitaro Jinzai; Tax Office Superintendent Heigo Yoshida; Police Substation Captain Iwahachiro Kageyama; a policeman; a council member; a physician; an engineer; and some 10 others. They first inquired about the number of households, size of the population, land area, and yields and then asked about the size of the staff and budget. They recorded the information as though they were undertaking a general survey (of the islands) and then left.
I report this matter for your consideration as it was brought to my attention.
April 29, 10th year of Gwangmu (1906)
Lee Myeong-rae, Acting Gangwon Province Governor & Chuncheon County Magistrate
To His Excellency, State Council Deputy Prime Minister
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Government of the ...
SA2 Agriculture Water Use ...
Dataset extent
SA2 Agriculture Water Use - Businesses Involved 2015-2016
This dataset presents final estimates of the number of businesses included in the water usage statistics in Australia by Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) from the 2015-16 Agricultural Census. Categories included are statistics on water use, water sources, irrigation expenditure and irrigation methods. Data is aggregated to 2011 ASGS SA2 boundaries.
The Agricultural Census is conducted once every five years. The scope of the 2015-16 Agricultural Census was all businesses undertaking agricultural activity recorded on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Business Register (ABSBR) above a minimum threshold applied to the estimated value of their agricultural operations. The threshold for the 2015-16 Agricultural Census was all agricultural businesses with an Estimated Value of Agricultural Operations (EVAO) of $40,000 or greater. This is a change from previous ABS Rural Environment and Agricultural Collections, where a EVAO threshold of $5,000 or greater was used. As a result of the change in scope, the estimates from the 2015-16 Agricultural Census will not be directly comparable to previously published Agricultural Censuses or annual Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodity Survey outputs. The 2015-16 Census final estimates are based on the achieved target response rate of 85% from an in-scope population of approximately 103,400 agricultural businesses.
The estimates in this dataset are based on information obtained from agricultural businesses that responded to the 2015-16 Agricultural Census. However, since not all of the businesses that were selected provided data, the estimates are subject to sampling variability; that is, they may differ from the figures that would have been produced if information had been collected from all businesses. Most published estimates have relative standard errors (RSEs) less than 10%. For some states and territories with limited production of certain commodities, RSEs are greater than 10%. Estimates with an RSE greater than 50% are considered too unreliable for general use and hence have been removed from the data.
This data is ABS data (catalogue number: 4618.0) used with permission from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
For more information on the dataset please visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4618.0Explanatory%20Notes12015-16?OpenDocument.
Please note: * Estimates with an RSE value greater than 50% and are considered too unreliable for general use and have been removed from the data * Where data was not published or not applicable the records have been set to null
AURIN PortalHTML
Access to this dataset is via the AURIN Portal. Anyone with an .edu.au email...
https://portal.aurin.org.au
July 3, 2019, 04:49 (UTC)
April 22, 2018, 22:54 (UTC)
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia (CC BY 2.5 AU)
AURIN Open API ID
aurin:datasource-AU_Govt_ABS-UoM_AURIN_DB_3_agri_water_use_businesses_sa2_2015_16
Aggregation Level
Area of holding (ha), Cotton - Area watered (ha), Cotton - Total area (ha), Cotton - Volume applied (ML), Fruit trees, nut trees, plantation or berry fruits - Area watered (ha), Fruit trees, nut trees, plantation or berry fruits - Total area (ha), Fruit trees, nut trees, plantation or berry fruits - Volume applied (ML), Geometry Field, Grapevines - Area watered (ha), Grapevines - Total area (ha), Grapevines - Volume applied (ML), Groundwater (e.g. bores, springs, wells) - Total volume used (ML), Irrigation expenditure - Annual irrigation water volumetric/usage charges - Total cost ($), Irrigation expenditure - Purchases of extra water on a permanent basis - Total cost ($), Irrigation expenditure - Purchases of extra water on a permanent basis - Total volume purchased (ML), Irrigation expenditure - Purchases of extra water on a temporary basis - Total cost ($), Irrigation expenditure - Purchases of extra water on a temporary basis - Total volume purchased (ML), Number of agricultural businesses (no.), Number of agricultural businesses irrigating (no.), Nurseries, cut flowers and cultivated turf - Area watered (ha), Nurseries, cut flowers and cultivated turf - Total area (ha), Nurseries, cut flowers and cultivated turf - Volume applied (ML), Other agricultural water use - Volume used (ML) , Other broadacre crops - Area watered (ha), Other broadacre crops - Total area (ha), Other broadacre crops - Volume applied (ML), Other cereals for grain or seed (e.g. wheat, oats, maize) - Area watered (ha), Other cereals for grain or seed (e.g. wheat, oats, maize) - Total area (ha), Other cereals for grain or seed (e.g. wheat, oats, maize) - Volume applied (ML), Other crops n.e.c. - Area watered (ha), Other crops n.e.c. - Volume applied (ML), Other sources of water (excluding rainfall) - Total volume used (ML), Pastures (including lucerne) and cereal crops cut for hay - Area watered (ha) , Pastures (including lucerne) and cereal crops cut for hay - Volume applied (ML) , Pastures (including lucerne) and cereal crops cut for silage - Area watered (ha) , Pastures (including lucerne) and cereal crops cut for silage - Volume applied (ML) , Pastures (including lucerne) and cereal crops used for grazing or fed off - Area watered (ha), Pastures (including lucerne) and cereal crops used for grazing or fed off - Total area (ha), Pastures (including lucerne) and cereal crops used for grazing or fed off - Volume applied (ML), Pastures (including lucerne) cereal and other crops cut for hay - Total area (ha), Pastures (including lucerne) cereal and other crops cut for silage - Total area (ha), Recycled/re-used water from off-farm sources (e.g. re-use schemes, mines) - Total volume used (ML), Rice - Area watered (ha), Rice - Total area (ha), Rice - Volume applied (ML), SA2 Code, SA2 Name, Sugar cane - Area watered (ha), Sugar cane - Total area (ha), Sugar cane - Volume applied (ML), Total area watered (ha), Total volume applied (ML), Total volume applied/used (including other agricultural water) (ML), Total volume of water from all sources (ML), Town or reticulated mains supply - Total volume used (ML), Vegetables for human consumption - Area watered (ha), Vegetables for human consumption - Total area (ha), Vegetables for human consumption - Volume applied (ML), Water taken from irrigation channels or irrigation pipelines - Total volume used (ML), Water taken from on-farm dams or tanks - Total volume used (ML), Water taken from rivers, creeks, lakes, etc. - Total volume used (ML), Water taken from rivers, creeks, lakes, etc. - Where a volumetric/usage charge occurs - Total volume used (ML), Water taken from rivers, creeks, lakes, etc. - Where there is no volumetric/usage charge - Total volume used (ML)
Government of the Commonwealth of Australia - Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2016): SA2 Agriculture Water Use - Businesses Involved 2015-2016; accessed from AURIN on [date of access].
Coordinate Ref. System
EPSG:4283 (GDA_1994)
© Government of the Commonwealth of Australia - Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017
Geometry Field
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Government of the Commonwealth of Australia - Australian Bureau of Statistics
There is no description for this organisation
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Zhonka: Entrepreneurs create local ISP in The Olympian
March 21, 2003 daveo Leave a comment
Entrepreneurs create local ISP in The Olympian (PDF) 3/21/03 – The Olympian
Article by Alex Goff for the Olympian about Zhonka’s plans. Features picture of Zhonka co-founders, Jay Stewart and Dave Olson, enjoying wireless Internet access at the Clubside Cafe with proprietor Kenny Trobman.
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
ALEX GOFF FOR THE OLYMPIAN
A second chance can be a golden opportunity, or so Jay Stewart and Dave Olson hope.
Former managing partners of South Sound Internet service provider OlyWa.net, Stewart and Olson sold that business to California-based Advanced TelCom Group, or ATG, in 2000.
Stewart and Olson stepped away from the business altogether. And ATG has since filed for bankruptcy, and most of its assets have been purchased by General Electric.
Now, Olson and Stewart are back and have moved into the old OlyWa.net offices and set up Zhonka Broadband — an Internet service provider offering digital subscriber line (DSL) services to subscribers in Western Washington.
## SIDEBAR ##
Zhonka Broadband
Internet service provider with monthly rates from $15 to $40.
– Owners: Jay Stewart and Dave Olson – Location: 1430 Evergreen Park Lane,
– Telephone: 360-701-6958 – Web site: www.zhonka.com
“We’ve sort of come full circle,” Stewart said. “But we’ve learned a great deal in the meantime. We spent the better part of the last six months working on our business plan and looking for investors. The lessons we’ve learned have allowed us to cut our costs considerably.”
Zhonka sees itself as a competitor to providers such as MSN, which has similar monthly rates. Zhonka offers no content, but plenty of bandwidth and service.
“It’s just a big, fast pipe,” Olson said. “We’re the friendly local guys who support the community with all the perks of some of the larger ISPs.”
Zhonka manages its own network, monitors outages and handles questions. Stewart said other ISPs depend on the phone company to do much of that.
By using techniques such as e-billing and concentrating on the type of faster connection most customers seem to want, Stewart said operating costs will be about a tenth of what OlyWa’s were. The pair has about a dozen subscribers since launching two weeks ago, and expects to break even at about 500.
That number is certainly attainable — OlyWa had 1,500 — Olson said, because “there’s a big demand for a local ISP.”
“We see a clear need in the market,” Stewart said. “Consumers are faced with a choice between impersonal, out-of-state providers and well-meaning, but often underpowered, local firms. We’ve designed Zhonka to fill this void by offering cutting-edge services coupled with responsive customer support.”
Which begs the question: Why did Olson and Stewart sell to ATG?
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20030321/business/25727.shtml
“It seemed like a good marriage,” Olson said. “And there were some cost savings involved. But ATG’s model turned out not to be our model of doing things.”
A big part of the Zhonka model is being part of the community — whether that is providing services and Web page space for nonprofits or setting up complimentary wireless Internet access points in various downtown locations.
Zhonka’s laptop and palmtop users can access the net at cafes wirelessly. The zones already have been set up at The Other Guys’ Internet cafe and the Clubside Cafe, both on Fourth Avenue in downtown Olympia. Zhonka is in discussions with Olympia Farmers Market for a hookup there also.
“It’s certainly an emerging technology, and it’s also something that gives us a presence in downtown,” Olson said. “I was down at the Clubside Cafe the other day and listening to the Vancouver Canucks game on Web radio.”
“The key part of it is to make sure there are no interruptions,” Stewart said. “When we got everything connected, I would log on to a radio site like National Public Radio and keep it on for 24 hours to ensure it’s a smooth connection. People are willing to pay more for good and fast connections. They don’t want interruptions.”
Stewart and Olson moved back into their old offices because of the fiber optic line already installed there, but it’s been a strange reunion.
“There’s a little bit of deja vu involved, that’s for sure,” Olson said. “But we’ve seen a lot with the bottom dropping out of the Internet economy and new technologies coming through. We’ve learned a lot about making the Internet efficient.”
Dave + Jay Talk Zhonka in The Olympian: Libraries join Wi-Fi trend
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Internet publishing, business and mayhem – #1
Cosmo imparts knowledge in Business Examiner article about ISP crime
Olympia, Seattle ranked tops for Net customers: Zhonka in The Olympian
Dave in “Fresh Cup” “Why Wi-fi? Pros and cons of a wireless cafe”
Zhonka Media Roundup
Greenwich Village Rooftop NYC Diesel Smokedown ~ Choogle On! #40
dave olsonjay stewartmediaOlympiaolywazhonka
Previous PostHigh Times Names Evergreen Top 10 Cannabis College 2002 – featuring Dave ONext PostWords are for revolutions: Backgrounder tidbits
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Philip Campbell on Science Facts and Frictions
Filed under: publishing — Duncan Hull @ 6:28 am
Tags: Cambridge, Climategate, Emmanuel College, Gates Scholar, Lindsay Chura, MMR, Nature Publishing Group, Philip Campbell, science fact, science friction, scifoo, stem cells
As part of the Gates Distinguished Lecture Series editor Philip Campbell is giving a public lecture at 6.30pm tonight titled Science – facts and frictions at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. The abstract and text below is reproduced from talks.cam.ac.uk:
‘Climategate’, MMR vaccine, GM crops, stem cells – these are examples of public debates in which science and scientists have come under attack. And yet the processes of science were no different in kind from those in calmer territories, such as cancer research, where the public not only trusts researchers but directly donates half a billion pounds every year in their support. Why are there such contrasts? And what can scientists and others do in response to such attacks? The talk will offer some suggestions.
As Editor-in-Chief of Nature, Philip Campbell heads a team of about 90 editorial staff around the world. Dr. Campbell takes direct editorial responsibility for the content of Nature editorials, writing some of them. He is the seventh [1] Editor-in-Chief since the journal was launched in 1869.
Dr. Campbell’s role as Editor-in-Chief of Nature publications (of which there are many editorially independent journals and several websites) is to ensure that the quality and integrity appropriate to the Nature name are maintained, and that appropriate individuals are appointed as chief editors. He sits on the executive board of Nature’s parent company, Nature Publishing Group.
According to the accompanying press release from the University, Campbell:
“is particularly interested in groups of scientists who regularly produce blogs in order to help the public and journalists gain access to their perspectives on scientific developments and controversies.”
So, if you’re in or near Cambridge tonight, this talk is open the public and looks like it will be enlightening.
[Update, some interesting things mentioned in this talk in no particular order:
The Science Media Centre is a pioneering project to help journalists and the public understand the process of Science
Advice for a young climate blogger, gives general hints on how science bloggers should engage with their audience
A paper [2] by Daniel Sarewitz “How science makes environmental controversies worse” discusses some of the frictions between science, scientists and the public. See podcast page and audio below ]
http://downloads.sms.cam.ac.uk/762033/762038.mp3
Refererences
Philip Campbell (1995). Postscript from a new hand Nature, 378 (6558), 649-649 DOI: 10.1038/378649b0
Daniel Sarewitz (2004). How science makes environmental controversies worse Environmental Science & Policy, 7 (5), 385-403 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2004.06.001
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Hi & thank you for visiting CHILD WORLD.ROCKS !
In case you don’t know what Child World is, check out the Child World Wiki
Child World was founded by Sidney Shneider in the early 1960s.
I worked at Child World #75, in Danvers, MA, from 1986 until the time they went out of business in 1992.
Prior to the store opening in Danvers, MA, I vaguely remember going to the Child World in Swampscott, MA in the early/mid 1970’s (which was very small, and was eventually replaced by Danvers).
It was located in the same plaza as Marshall’s – and I think it was right next door to it.
Many of the Child World stores had red interior walls, very high shelving, and mercury lighting.
The store I worked at did have the high ceilings, but its walls were painted white, with a green & blue horizonal line that spanned the entire perimeter. It was one of the more profitable stores, and was beginning to get run down.
There were talks of renovations for years. By the time the company had committed to renovating our store, the company had introduced its Prototype store in Framingham, MA, seen below.
You can see part of phase 1 of the Danvers Child World remodel – as well as the ultimate goal – on the Employee Videos page.
Please help to contribute to the store locations, videos & news archive
*** Please note: Google is changing their MAP policy effective June 11, 2018. Please contact us if there is a map that doesn’t load properly.
More content coming soon…
30 thoughts on “Welcome to CHILDWORLD.ROCKS !”
October 2, 2015 @ 11:56 am at 11:56 am
This is the company that proudly opened a store in Los Angeles just so we could say we had stores coast to coast. Our nearest distribution center was in Kansas City – it took 24 hours to deliver a truck load of merchandise.
In Ohio I remember one time calling to find out why we didn’t have any Flexible Flyer sleds in the winter, then I met a manager from a New Orleans, LA store who said he had a couple hundred Flexible Flyer sleds in his backroom and didn’t know what to do with them.
And don’t forget our Pet Department – the genius idea from Vice President Bruce Fosson. We never had enough payroll to staff our registers, but we had enough to spend 30 hours a week maintaining the pet department. My store’s pet department never exceeded $100 a week in sales.
November 7, 2015 @ 4:21 pm at 4:21 pm
Our store’s pet department was fairly successful. But there were times when a parakeet would fly out of the cage & be in the rafters or shelves for a day or so.
Our store also had a cockatoo, which some people were trying to teach offensive language to…
And our guinea pigs used to reproduce like rabbits – there were a few occasions where the mom would eat one of more of the offspring…
Huy Tran says:
Dear Child World Toy Company,
I want to bring back in business Child World Toy Store includes
with Cartoon Characters Peter Panda and I want 500 Location
of the largest-cities and states in everywhere around the
world includes China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan,
United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Brazil,
Australia, New Zealand and Canada for the part of the name
Kids Toy Store biggest on sale some expensive Exclusive label
all toys action figures pack, toys action vehicle pack, doll figure
pack, video games includes with toy figurines, the new arcade
games and fun prizes, bikes, skateboards, scooter, baby
diapers, baby bottles, baby food, cartoon characters lunch box,
cartoon characters T-shirts for little kids and no selling
electronics like grown ups instrumental music bands and only
selling little fun electronics instrumental music bands for
little children’s stuff and the year bring it back Child World
America’s largest Toy Store in early 2018 please I want bring
back Child World in every largest-cities and largest state in all
different relocation in the United States of America every-
where compare similar to Toys “R” Us in the future.
Please I want to bring back in the future to re-grand opening
to re-launched Child World Toy Store in the locations include
Northern California, Southern California, Nevada, Arizona,
New Mexico, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas,
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, State of New York,
New Jersey, Massachusetts, Iowa, Ohio, Alaska, Hawaii,
Oregon, State of Washington, Idaho and Montana and I am a
big huge fans in the 80’s & early 90’s childhood at Child World
Toy Store and please bring it back to saving money to compare
to similar from Toys “R” US for next year in early 2017.
Howard Cohen says:
August 24, 2016 @ 5:17 pm at 5:17 pm
I am a retired toy executive who did a ton of business with child world. What a same they are no longer with us. It should be noted that one of the BEST TOY CHAIN executives AT CHILD WORLD was one pf the founders of SPORTS AUTHORITY. (also defunct)
It wasn’t his fault. It was the new owners who labored on antiquated store design,systems and prosecutes.
August 25, 2016 @ 10:37 am at 10:37 am
I am an IT professional, who worked throughout my high school & college years at a Child World store. Had the chain not gone under, I’m convinced that I would have ended up working in the MIS/IT department in Avon upon graduating from college.
Huy Uu Tran says:
Dear Child World Toy Store,
I am a huge fans of Child World Super Toy Store and I was a kid
from New Orleans, Louisiana and I like Child World Super Toy
Store and I like to play Arcade Games inside Child World Super
Toy Store and I want to bring it back in business early 2017
and I want it bring it back in business Child World Super Toy
Store in the location of Southern California and Northern
California please I want to bring it back in business
Headquarters Company in Massachusetts.
Appreciate Ya!
Want Many Places
Huy Uu Tran
September 25, 2016 @ 9:11 pm at 9:11 pm
I really like Child World Super Toy Store to bring it out in
every California City to build a new location of Child World
Super Toy Store in Los Angeles County, San Diego County,
Santa Clara County, Sacramento County, Alameda County,
San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County and Fresno County
and I really like Child World Super Toy Store compared to
Toys “R”Us and please to build location of Child World
Super Toy Store for next year in early 2017.
October 30, 2016 @ 7:03 pm at 7:03 pm
Your site it wrong. Child World was founded by Joseph Arnesano. Check the MA SOS filings. Sidney Schneider was brought on as a partner and given 50% interest. Please update
October 31, 2016 @ 11:58 am at 11:58 am
Thank you for notifying me of the potential error on the site.
Could you please provide me a direct link to the MA SOS filings, which shows that Child World was founded by Joseph Arnesano? When I perform the search for Child World, Inc, or on Joseph Arnesano, I cannot find any connection to the two.
There were many sites that stated Sidney Schneider was the founder,including his obituary.
I will gladly update the information on this website once I have the direct links to the MA SOS filing that proves that the site is incorrect.
RICH VITAGLIANO says:
December 22, 2017 @ 10:39 am at 10:39 am
nancy is just a little off on this. joe and sid worked for a company call smith and mercy in boston and left to start their owe company which they called child world. most of the early employees also followed them from the former employeer. I worked in Medford starting fall 1966. rich vitagliano
May 22, 2017 @ 9:27 pm at 9:27 pm
I found a cup from Child World in my attic and I wonder if it has any value? I don’t even think it was mine, might have been my older siblings’. I’m 25 and was less than 1 yr old throughout most of 1992 LOL.
Not sure of the cup’s value – is it ceramic, plastic, or glass?
If you are able to provide a picture of it, I can post it on the site.
Eric M. Lima says:
Ah,Child World! Those were the days! I remember Child World when I first saw it at the North Dartmouth Mall and I bought my He-Man Masters Of The Universe figures there and then when it moved to the Ann & Hope Plaza across from the mall,I bought my first Nintendo Entertainment System there!
September 19, 2017 @ 11:39 pm at 11:39 pm
Dear Child World,
I remember those days about Child World Toy Store and I want
to bring back our memory in good business headquarter
company in every location in the United States.
Garrett H. says:
Used to love it when my mom would take my brothers and me to the Children’s Palace in Bridgeville, PA, and then to the Chuck E. Cheese’s that was down the hill.
I didn’t know the company went under when I was 11, that explains why we stopped going there at a certain point even when we were going to Chuck E. Cheese’s.
We lived right down from the new headquarters in Avon.
Before they built the building it was a great place to play. There were these sand pits. Pretty fun as an 8 or 9 year old.
When they opened they were looking for local people to work for them. My mother and her friend walked down and applied, they were hired. My mom joined as a bookkeeper in the accounting department, I was in 3rd grade.
My mom worked hard and it was noticed. They sent her to accounting school over at Stonehill College.
I forget her title, but she had managed several of the accounting departments before she finally left in the late 80’s.
She left because they hired a young college guy for the position she wanted. She moved on to Johnson and Johnson and the guy didn’t last a year.
Fond memories of Child World corporate headquarters and the stores. Many of the young women in town ended up working for my mom. She seemed well liked.
I worked for the store at the Brockton Mall and at corporate briefly in the IT department (printing and delivering reports when in college).
Sue Fanelli says:
December 18, 2017 @ 8:24 pm at 8:24 pm
I worked in the Bay Shore, Long Island, NY store from 1980 to 1988. It was a great store and we had the best crew ever. Hubby and our daughter where in a commercial that Child World produced way back when. Sorry that this once great toy store is no longer around.
Frank Adamo says:
March 19, 2018 @ 5:05 pm at 5:05 pm
I worked on Long Island from 86 to 92. I managed Levittown and then BayShore. Bill Wright was the DM. Best boss ever. I left just before remodels started. I remember the World of Nintendo pet department many late nights but a great time
Jim Colicino says:
March 21, 2018 @ 12:02 am at 12:02 am
Christmas!!!!! Christmas!!!!! Christmas!!!!! Heres another one Christmas!!!!Bill was the best!!
June 13, 2018 @ 6:49 pm at 6:49 pm
Hey frank. I remember you. You were a great boss. It’s kevin Kenefick worked there 88 thru 91 in Levittown. Fun times.
Brian Kokoszka says:
This was my favorite toy store growing up. I remember in East haven CT off of I-95. I tell everyone I know how great we had it as kids. We had a Childworld across the street from a Toys r’ us and a Bradlees. Bradlees was another great store. If one store didn’t have the gi joe
You wanted just go across the street to one of the other giant we’ll stocked toy stores. Childworld was the best! Congrats to everyone involved in that store.
I just want everyone to be aware that some people who worked during the time cole national owned the company you might be entitled to a pension. I have filed for mine and can take monthly payments or a lump sum one time payout. I think I am going with the payout and I will be getting over 68 k . the best part is we did not pay one cent into this. you can contact me for info at vig842@aol.com . rich vitagliano store # 02 and #14
I remember…Oh, God, I remember.
I think I’ve been to about three of the locations: Ford City; Chicago Ridge Annex; and the one in Orland Park. I can tell you for a fact that the Chicago Ridge location housed an Office Depot after CW closed down; now that Office Depot is gone, it’s going to be a Ross. The funny thing is, the battlements and arches from the Child World are the only constants shared by the three tenants.
The Chicago Ridge one is the one I visited the most, because it was on the way to Moraine Valley, where my mom was going to radiology school at the time (I was 5 or so).
That location was THE source of all my “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” merchandise…I think two Playsets and almost all the figurines.
Even twenty-five years later I still remember the sunset, and the crane pulling down the turrets and the signage.
I worked on Long Island from 1986 to 1992 in the Levittown and Bay Shore locations I worked for Bill Wright a great mentor I left just as the remodels were starting ( world of Barbie etc) Great times
Lynnster says:
For no particular reason, my brain is obsessed at finding out just what the huge toy store was where I shopped for my daughter in the 1980’s. When I saw interior photos of warehouse-looking, stacked shelving, I knew it had to be Child World. Now I need a reminder as to where mine was located in CT! I drove north from Greenwich on I95, I think to Norwalk. Maybe a bit past. I’d love to know where it was located! I guess I didn’t shop there enough to plant it in my memory but I remember absolutely loving it. I can almost still picture the doll aisle & I still have all the FP play food sets I know I bought there!
I didn’t realize I was on a dedicated Child World site when I wrote the above comments! My store was in Westport!! Tks so much for this fabulous site! I’m now looking at commercials and already see a couple of toys I bought there. 2XL in 1980 was one of them & I can’t believe I could afford $49.95 on my meager wages back then. But it was all about the kids, wasn’t it! Thanks for the thrills. I shared the commercials with my oldest who was 9 when he got his 2XL that we are soon bringing out of the attic for his 7 & 9 yr olds, my grandsons! Fingers crossed he still works!
Kevin kenefick says:
June 14, 2018 @ 3:37 am at 3:37 am
I worked at the levittown store from 88 to 91 while I was in high school. Looking back, it was the best job I had while coming of age. I still can name what was in what aisles. During my time the action figures where hot like the ninja turtles and ghosts buster figures. The store had a huge scary basement. Half of the basemet would fill with layaway items. I remember doing customer pick ups tying swing sets on people cars. There wasn’t a lot of people that worked there so it was like a small family. We even went bowling on sundays and had a ski trip. Who remembers the sku book and model # book. There were no scanner
yet in the store.
Hi I was the Child World artist from 81-87 and have drawn Peter Panda a million times. Great memories.
Hershel says:
March 2, 2019 @ 1:08 am at 1:08 am
I can’t count the number of moments that people get countered these principles,
and compensated the purchase price for it.
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A JOOMLA51 TEMPLATE
Karate-Do Chintokan
IAI-DO
Kenbukan Iai-do
IAI-DO History
USA Jodo Federation
Jodo History
Forms / Katas
So Shihan
Authorized Dojo
Jacksonville Classes
Delaware Classes
Samurai Kids Club
Elite Private Instruction
For our "New Students"
Chintokan Karate-do
World Headquarters
4219 Sunbeam Rd.
Hanshi M. Sakimukai,10 Dan
Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu - Menkyo
Y. Sakimukai
Beikoku Shudokai So Shihan
JODO ...
Have you heard of this martial art?
Jodo is typically known only by those who are directly involved with it, or who are involved in martial art such as Kendo, Iaido, Naginatado or like. They may have more exposure to Jodo because of their related samurai tradition.
Judo, Kendo, and Karate-Do are well known forms of martial art, but not Jodo. This is not "Jo" in Aikido. This is Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo. (aka Shinto Muso Ryu)
神道夢想流杖術
Beikoku Shudokai
Jodo, way of the Jo, is a form of Japanese Budo that uses "Jo" to defend against primarily long sword, Tachi, (and short sword) attacks.
Today's Jo is a straight cane or staff made of white oak in old Japanese measurement of (4-Shaku 2-Sun 1-Bu) that is about 128 cm or 4' 2 1/2" in length, and (8-Bu) about 2.4 cm or 1" in diameter.
USA Jodo Federation - Beikoku Shudokai
Jacksonville, FL (July 10, 2015)
At the USA Jodo Federation - Beikoku Shudokai, first the twelve "Kihon" (12 basic) Jo strikes from the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Seitei Jodo are introduced. Subsequently, 11 "Kata" also from Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei are introduced. (We introduce ZNKR Seitei Jodo #12 Ran Ai after Chudan Set)
Jodo, as it is written and handed down from generation to generation for over four centuries, describes that "Jo" (staff) turns into a spear when you thrust it, a halberd when you sweep it and a long sword when you strike it. By repeating these combined forms of thrusting, sweeping and striking, the art of Jodo aims to strengthen oneself physically, mentally and spiritually as well as learn to respond quickly against ever changing situations. Though Jodo is designed to develop well-rounded person in mind, body and spirit, just by repeating the kata without having to apply these techniques in other scenarios it may not naturally develop self-protection skills.
SHU - HA - RI (守 破 理）
Shu, Ha, and Ri represent the three stages in the progression of a student of Budo (other pursuit as well). In the first stage, Shu 守 (which translates as “protect” or “obey” in Japanese), the focus of the student is on acquiring the fundamental skills of the art in the specific tradition of the particular ryu in which they are training. The focus of the instructor is on transmitting the tradition of the ryu as exactly as possible to the student, the goal being laying the foundation of the journey and the preservation of that tradition. If summed up in a single word (from the student’s perspective), this stage might be represented by “accepting.”
The second stage of the Budo student’s journey, Ha 破 (translates as “break” or “tear” in Japanese), involves developing not only greater skill in, but also a deeper understanding of, the techniques and methods learned during the Shu stage. Having internalized the fundamentals of the style in the Shu stage, the student now begins to experiment with them, taking the pieces apart and putting them back together in different combinations, so to speak. Also, to look at it from another angle. At this stage, the Budo student must depend not only on his or her instructors, but on insights generated from within themselves, and investigations beyond the boundaries of the style in which they have been instructed. A reasonable single word representation of this stage might be “questioning,”
By the time the final stage of the Budo path, Ri 理 (translates as “logic” or "reason" in Japanese), has been reached (if it is), the student has now fully understand mentally, physically, and spiritually not only the how, but also the logic and the reason of the ryu. They have internalized their art, and mastered it and made it their own, and may now be able to make their own contributions to it.
There is a subtle, but critical, difference between mastering an art and becoming a master of that art, this being the ability to transmit the art to others and guide them along their own Budo path.
When considering this progression in term of Budo, one must not go to the next stages prematurely; for example, don't even bother going to the HA stage until at least 10,000 hours of training time was invested at the SHU stage. Subsequently, equal or greater effort must be applied at the HA and RI stages.
A Jojutsu Master "Hirano Jiro Kuniomi" (1828-1864)
The spirit of Jodo may be best explained in the words of "Hirano Jiro Kuniomi" when he said; "In Jodo, you could instruct a person without killing or injuring even in a fight against the swords." Such kind of spirit is uncommon in the "martial art world" as its natural intention usually is to kill. The core principle of Jodo in his approach was, however, "not to kill" or "let live" as carried out by the six virtues of Jojutsu; love, justice, gratitude, intelligence, faith and courage.
Hirano Jiro Kuniomi was a patriot samurai and at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate era composed a poem expressing his feeling about the fallen samurai era in Meiji Restoration. "Wagamuneno Moyuruomoini Kurabureba Kemuriwa usushi Sakurajima Yama." It closely states, "compare to my blazing passion, smoke from the Sakura Jima Volcano is very thin." He was a master of Jodo, and his father was a legendary Shinto Muso Ryu Jojutsu master, Hirano Yoshihide.
Shihan George E. Nail (SEPTEMBER 10, 1947 ~ MAY 11, 2018)
Our Budo brother, inspiration, Jodo partner and a best friend lived fiercely as a warrior.
Jodo is typically just known by those who are directly involved with it, or who are involved in martial art such as Kendo, Iaido, Naginatado or like. They may have more exposure to Jodo because of their related samurai tradition.
Judo, Kendo, and Karate-Do are well known forms of martial art, but not Jodo. This is not "Jo" in Aikido. This is Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo.
Menkyo in Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu, Hanshi and 10 Dan, Soke Sakimukai
& So-Shihan Sakimukai
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