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New TriState Report Urges Stronger Action for Pedestrian Safety
Bike Walk CT's Executive Director, Kelly Kennedy, was quoted in TriState Transportation Campaign's news release today reporting that Connecticut people aged 60 years and older suffer disproportionately high pedestrian fatality rates.
TriState's new report, Older Pedestrians at Risk: A Ten Year Survey and Look
Ahead, found that 123 pedestrians aged 60 years and older were killed on Connecticut roads from 2003 through 2012. Though comprising only 19 percent of the State’s population, this age group accounted for 35 percent of the total pedestrian fatalities in these 10 years.
“Connecticut’s complete streets law requires municipalities to consider all users in road design and maintenance projects, but few are,” said Kelly Kennedy, Executive Director of Bike Walk Connecticut. “Cities, towns and counties across the state must be proactive in ensuring that road and bridge projects include pedestrian and bicyclist components like sidewalks and bike lanes,” she added.
Tri-State recommends that:
ConnDOT should create and fund Safe Routes for Seniors and Safe Routes to Transit programs that implement pedestrian safety improvements in areas with high concentrations of seniors and near transit stops.
ConnDOT should redesign Connecticut’s Highway Design Manual, the state’s standard road design reference book, to address the goals and policies of the state’s complete streets law.
Municipalities should enact complete streets ordinances that require all transportation projects to consider the needs of pedestrians of all ages and abilities.
ConnDOT should adopt the National Association of City Transportation Officials’ (NACTO) Urban Street Design Guidelines. The guidelines provide technical standards that departments of transportation can use to create streets that safely accommodate all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. The Federal Highway Administration, thirty-seven cities, including New York City, and six states have adopted NACTO standards.
Communities across the state should pursue transit oriented development (TOD), which ensures that housing, shops and offices are in proximity to existing bus and rail routes.
Read the TriState Press Release. Read the full TriState report.
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Acoustic, Folk, Rock
Passenger | Heart's On Fire (Official Video)
BY: Passenger | Heart's On Fire (Official Video) Passenger's new album ‘Sometimes It's Something, Sometimes It's Nothing At All’ is out now. Stream, Download or Buy – https://Passenger.lnk.to/SISSINAA Follow Passenger Online: https://passengermusic.com Facebook: https://Passenger.lnk.to/Face........Read More
Passenger | Scare Away The Dark (Official Video)
BY: Passenger | Scare Away The Dark (Official Video) Passenger's new album ‘Sometimes It's Something, Sometimes It's Nothing At All’ is out now. Stream, Download or Buy – https://Passenger.lnk.to/SISSINAA Passenger - "Scare Away the Dark" Black Crow Records/Nettwerk Production Company: Doomsday........Read More
Passenger | Whispers (Official Video)
BY: Passenger | Whispers (Official Video) Passenger's new album ‘Sometimes It's Something, Sometimes It's Nothing At All’ is out now. Stream, Download or Buy – https://Passenger.lnk.to/SISSINAA Directed by Jarrad Seng (http://www.jarradseng.com) Edited by Jason Eshraghian (http://www.........Read More
Passenger | Holes (Official Video)
BY: Passenger | Holes (Official Video) Passenger's new album ‘Sometimes It's Something, Sometimes It's Nothing At All’ is out now. Stream, Download or Buy – https://Passenger.lnk.to/SISSINAA Holes Director & Producer: Mat O'Brien DOP: David Meadows & Jamie Maxwell Editor: Simon Tay........Read More
Passenger | Golden Leaves (Featuring the Palatine Quartet) (Official Video)
BY: Passenger | Golden Leaves (Featuring the Palatine Quartet) (Official Video) Passenger's new album ‘Sometimes It's Something, Sometimes It's Nothing At All’ is out now. Stream, Download or Buy – https://Passenger.lnk.to/SISSINAA Palatine Quartet www.palatinestringquartet.co.uk Filmed by Jarrad Seng (http://www.faceboo........Read More
Passenger | I'll Be Your Man (Featuring Emma Stevens, Jack Williams and Stu Larsen) (Official Video)
BY: Passenger | I'll Be Your Man (Featuring Emma Stevens, Jack Williams and Stu Larsen) (Official Video) Passenger's new album ‘Sometimes It's Something, Sometimes It's Nothing At All’ is out now. Stream, Download or Buy – https://Passenger.lnk.to/SISSINAA Filmed by Jarrad Seng (http://www.facebook.com/jarradsengphotography) Sound by Milton Penfl........Read More
Passenger | Staring at the Sky (featuring Ruby Turner and Stu Larsen) (Official Video)
BY: Passenger | Staring at the Sky (featuring Ruby Turner and Stu Larsen) (Official Video) The New Album 'Sometimes It's Something, Sometimes It's Nothing At All' is Out Now. Featuring 'Rosie', 'Restless Wind' and 'Helplessly Lost' https://Passenger.lnk.to/SISSINAAID Filmed by Jarrad Seng (http://www.facebook.com/jarradsengphotography) So........Read More
Passenger | Let Her Go (Official Video)
BY: Passenger | Let Her Go (Official Video) The New Album 'Sometimes It's Something, Sometimes It's Nothing At All' is Out Now. Featuring 'Rosie', 'Restless Wind' and 'Helplessly Lost' - https://Passenger.lnk.to/SISSINAAID All profits go to Shelter UK –https://england.shelter.org.uk/support........Read More
Passenger | Keep on Walking (Official Video)
BY: Passenger | Keep on Walking (Official Video) The New Album 'Sometimes It's Something, Sometimes It's Nothing At All' is Out Now. Featuring 'Rosie', 'Restless Wind' and 'Helplessly Lost' https://Passenger.lnk.to/SISSINAAID 'Keep On Walking' from the album 'All the Little Lights' This is truly ........Read More
Website : www.passengermusic.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/PassengerOfficial
Twitter : https://twitter.com/passengermusic
You Tube Link : https://www.youtube.com/user/passengermusic
Les Tombées de la N...
What Work Could Do F...
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Men’s soccer bounces back for lopsided victory
Akeel ’16 and Salama ’14 sparked a first-half outburst to break the team’s losing streak
By Alexandra Conway
Sports Staff Writer
Jesse Schwimmer / Herald
Nate Pomeroy ’17 was named Ivy League Rookie of the week after scoring his first collegiate goal in the blowout against Marist College.
The men’s soccer team charged past Marist College 5-0 Friday night at Stevenson Field. Scoring four goals in the first half, Bruno shut down the Red Foxes early in the game. A final goal late in the second half sealed the Bears’ shutout and marked the first time since 2009 that Bruno posted five goals in a game. The Bears improved to 2-4-1 with the win, while Marist fell to 1-7-0 overall.
Coming off a string of four losses, the Bears were focused on “putting together a complete performance,” said midfielder Tommy Arns ’15.
“I believe we maintained a constant tempo and intensity the whole game,” Arns said. “Overall, I was proud of the team and the way we approached the game, especially after struggling on the road.”
The Bears were up 1-0 early into the game after capitalizing on a pair of Marist fouls. Following a trip in the box, Pepe Salama ’14 took the penalty kick, burying it in the far right of the net as goalkeeper Anthony Sokalski dove to the left. After another foul three minutes later, midfielder Tariq Akeel ’16 knocked in his first goal of the season off a free kick from Jack Gorab ’16, putting the Bears up 2-0.
Bruno continued its aggressive front and solid defense, allowing Marist few shots on goal. Akeel soon tallied his second goal, following a series of shots and rebounds in the box: After a deflected shot off the crossbar, forward Voltaire Escalona ’14 redirected the ball back to the goal, only to be rejected by the crossbar as well. Akeel finally found the back of the net, giving the Bears a 3-0 advantage.
The Bears continued their offensive push and tacked on a fourth goal with two minutes remaining in the first half. Jason Pesek ’17 sent a cross to the far post, where fellow first-year Nate Pomeroy ’17 sent it past Sokalski for his first career goal.
With a 4-0 lead going into the second half, the Bears continued to press the Red Foxes, allowing Marist only two shots on goal. Bruno sealed the victory with a fifth and final goal by Arns, who was assisted by Daniel Taylor ’15.
Every player on the roster experienced game action, which “helped add some experience for our younger players,” Akeel said.
“As a team, it was our best attacking performance so far,” Akeel said. “Our defense was able to hold a shutout, and they showed they are getting better and better each game.”
The Bears return to Stevenson Field today for a game against Boston University, followed by their first game of Ivy League play Oct. 5 at Columbia.
Topics: Men's Soccer
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Accueil > Annuaire > Les Centres
Dernier ajout : 5 mars 2018.
Afficher cette version : - català - Deutsch - Español - français - italiano - 日本語 - Nederlands - Português - 中文
Dharma Realm Buddhist Association—The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas 法界佛教总会—万佛圣城
In 1976 the Master established the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, which now encompasses almost five hundred acres of land at Wonderful Enlightenment Mountain in northern California.
Fo Guang Shan Monastery - Taiwan
The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization itself is also one of the largest charity organizations in Taiwan.
Vermont Zen Center
The Vermont Zen Center is a Buddhist community, founded to provide a warm and inviting place for the study and practice of Zen Buddhism. The Zen Center’s mission is to create a peaceful and inviting environment to support those who seek wisdom, compassion, joy, and equanimity within a Buddhist context.
Wat Kow Tahm (Mountain Cave Monastery) International Meditation Center, Thailand
At Wat Kow Tahm, since 1988 there have been regular vipassana retreats in English led by Steve and Rosemary Weissman.
Betsuin Buddhist Temple, Seattle
The Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple is the home of Seattle’s Jodo Shinshu congregation.
Chuang Yen Monastery - USA
Chuang Yen Monastery is a Pure Land buddhist monastery in Carmel, New York.
Diamond Way Buddhism - Hong Kong
Diamond Way Buddhism is a registered Hong Kong charity and work closely together with the other Diamond Way groups and centres around the world, to provide a modern and authentic access to Tibetan Buddhism within the tradition of the Karma Kagyu Lineage of Diamond Way Buddhism.
Kwan Yin Chan Lin - Singapore
Kwan Yin Chan Lin Zen Centre (KYCL) was founded by Venerable Chi Boon in 1991. Its objective is to spread the Buddha’s true teaching so that KYCL may attain the true selves and help all sentient beings to relieve from suffering.
Kiyomizu-dera - Japan
Kiyomizu-dera is the main temple of the Hosso sect of Buddhism and has been destroyed and rebuilt many times in its twelve centuries of history.
Amitabha Buddhist Centre
Amitabha Buddhist Centre is a centre for the study and practice of Mahayana Buddhism.
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Home > Star Wars > Star Wars Collectibles > Star Wars Sideshow 12 Inch Action Figures > Star Wars The Force Awakens 12 Inch Action Figure Movie Masterpiece 1/6 Scale Series - First Order Stormtrooper Set Hot Toys
Star Wars The Force Awakens 12 Inch Action Figure Movie Masterpiece 1/6 Scale Series - First Order Stormtrooper Set Hot Toys
Reg. Price in USD: $389.95
Sale Price in USD: $282.95
Includes Mailer Box: NOYES(+$7.00)
Name: First Order Stormtrooper Set
Category: Star Wars The Force Awakens
Series: Movie Masterpiece 1/6 Scale Series
Manufacturer: Sideshow
Size: 12 Inch
Packaging: Boxed
Description: Star Wars fans worldwide are anxiously waiting for the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the latest installment of the epic space saga! Set 30 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the upcoming movie will feature brand new characters as well as some familiar faces!
Although the Galactic Empire has fallen after the Battle of Endor, a new organization called the First Order has come to power and this new military junta employs Stormtroopers to execute its orders. These new faceless enforcers are now armed with new armor, weapons and equipment to accomplish their goal.
Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys are pleased to present a sixth scale collectible figures set featuring the new sleekly designed First Order Stormtrooper and Heavy Gunner Stormtrooper, equipped with a heavy artillery vest and a destructive megablaster, from Star Wars: The Force Awakens!
The highly-accurate collectible figures are specially crafted based on the image of the First Order Stormtroopers in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Each Stormtrooper features a newly designed Stormtrooper armor and helmet. The standard First Order Stormtrooper will be equipped with a blaster rifle and blaster pistol, while the First Order Heavy Gunner Stormtrooper will be armed with an articulated megablaster and a blaster pistol. Two specially designed hexagonal figure stands with the First Order’s emblem are also included in the set!
Now is the time to build up your own First Order Stormtrooper army!
We receive both US and Canadian Cases. You will get either English, bilingual or trilingual carded figures based on availability. Please understand this before ordering.
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BMW R1100S
The stylish and rapid BMW R1100S arrived in 1998 to prove that BMW's traditional flat- twin format was still very viable for high- performance motorcycling. This was the most aggressive roadgoing boxer that BMW had ever built. The German firm referred to it as a 'sports- tourer with the emphasis on sport', and the 1100S was quick, agile and well-braked enough to hold its own in serious company.
With its two sticking-out cylinder heads, there was no mistaking that this bike was a BMW. But the S had a very distinct style of its own, notably at the front end with its big ellipsoidal headlamp lens. The asymmetrical theme was echoed in the fuel cap and instruments; further back, the rear end was notably lean and sporty.
The new bike's 1085cc air-cooled engine, based on the eight-valve, high-cam unit from the touring- oriented R1100RS, made this BMW's most powerful flat twin yet. It was tuned with new pistons that gave increased compression ratio.
Breathing was also improved by a new air filter design, plus a revised Motronic engine- management system.
BMW R1100S IN GREY & YELLOW PAIN
A new exhaust system, complete with twin silencers in the tailpiece, also helped increase peak output by 8bhp to 98bhp at 7500rpm. Forged conrods helped keep the engine together at its higher 8500rpm rev limit, and crankcase oil circulation was improved. Although it retainedshaft final drive, the 1100S also had a new six- speed gearbox.
Much of BMW's effort in the R! lOOS's chassis design went in ensuring that this was not just the best-handling boxer yet, but also reasonably light. At 461 lb (209kg) dry it was still heavier than its closest rivals - but not by much. Some of the weight-saving came from a new and lighter version of BMW's Telelever monoshock front suspension system, which featured a remote rebound damping adjustment knob in the steering head area.
Aluminium main frame
BMW R1100S BRIGHT YELLOW PINT
As with other four-valve boxers, the engine and gearbox housing were also stressed members of the chassis, but the 1100S differed in having an aluminium main frame. A tubular steel rear subframe supported the Paralever rear suspension system, which gave a clean and racy look from the left. Wheels were new, lighter 17-inchers wearing sticky radial rubber.
The mildly tuned boxer engine pulled well from low down, and revved with more enthusiasm than previous boxers.
The S was very happy to sit at an indicated 85mph (137km/h), just under 5000rpm in top gear, feeling smooth, stable and unstressed. Above that figure the engine felt a bit harsh, but the BMW had plenty of acceleration in hand to a top speed of 140mph (225km/h).
It was the new bike's chassis that made the biggest impression, because this BMW R1100S handled like no other BMW roadster. Its chassis geometry was close to the race-replica norm, and the bike impressed with the ease and precision with which it went round corners given a light flick of the sportily low-set handlebars.
The Telelever front end gave a great combination of quick steering and stability, particularly when braking hard into a turn. Suspension at both ends delivered plenty of feedback, and was well-damped enough that the bike remained composed even when accelerating hard out of bumpy bends. The front-brake combination of four-piston Brembo calipers and 305mm discs was excellent, too.
The BMW R1100S was a bike that stood out not for traditional BMW attributes such as long-distance comfort or refinement, but for light steering, powerful brakes and a liking for speed. It was an enjoyably fast, fine-handling machine that put BMW firmly in the sports bike market for the first time since the R90S of the mid-1970s.
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History Does Not Repeat Itself...
The truth can be found in many places. For example I recently found it on a "Coffee Games" insert in a newspaper that seems to have some connection to the Foxwoods Casino here in Connecticut.
I found the tabloid abandoned on a table at our local Chinese takeout place. The one page tan colored amusement section was stuck in the centerfold. Among its contents were several quotations - some amusing, some not. Most were too wordy to fit into the fortune cookies that normally dispense wisdom in this establishment. So I read through them hoping to find a deeper truth than could be contained in a thinly folded piece of dough - and came upon:
"History does not repeat itself, - historians merely repeat each other."
A few months ago I would have blown right by this notion without giving it a second thought. History was not and had never really been an interest of mine. Mars and I did join the Wethersfield Historical Society when we retired. But we were more in search of some engaging volunteer opportunities and a chance to socialize with interesting people, than in increasing our knowledge of bygone events.
Then our good friend John, a history buff and member of the society's Board of Directors, told me about some research that a now deceased previous volunteer (Wes Christensen) had done on our town's role in the Civil War.
Long story short - the work was in need of some organization and a means of presentation and now, through the efforts of Mars and myself, it has become the first article in a newly created "Member Articles" section on the society's website.
This project got Mars interested in learning a little more about the Civil War. So we attended an Elderhostel at Gettysburg and added a photo of the Connecticut monument to the website. And that was the extent of our immersion in history until another Elderhostel - this time a golfing one at Penn State University.
"I noticed on your nametag that you're from Wethersfield Connecticut. Do you know about Thomas Hickey?" The speaker's ID said "Sol Henner" and he said that he was a "retired Revolutionary War Historian".
"No I don't. What should I know about him?"
"Well he was a well known Revolutionary War traitor who lived for a short while in Wethersfield."
"I guess then that we wouldn't have any streets named after him."
"No, I would think not. Actually he was a traitor twice - once from the British to the Americans and later on, when he became convinced that the English were going to take back the country he went back to the British. He was a member of General Washington's Guard in New York and was involved in a plot to assassinate him. There is a book called "Traitors, Turncoats and Heroes" [by John Bakeless] that tells about him. You might find it interesting."
"Thank you. Actually we volunteer at the Wethersfield Historical Society so I will check this out when we get back home."
Sol spoke as if, in historical circles at least, this was a familiar story. So I figured after I got a little background info I would stop in at the Historical Society where I assumed this story was equally well known, although possibly consigned to the "Dirty Little Towne Secrets" part of the research library. Then perhaps I would write it up in some relatively entertaining way and post it on the society's website.
I quickly found the story on the Internet in a Newsday.com website devoted to New York history. The outline was pretty much what Sol had told me. Hickey was a member of the Commander-in-Chief Guard who "was himself jailed by American authorities for attempting to pass counterfeit notes, and he unwisely talked of the plot with a cellmate, another counterfeiter named Isaac Ketcham,...[who] seeing an opportunity to be set free, squealed on Hickey. The ex-guard was court-martialed and found guilty of mutiny and sedition. On orders of Washington, and with 20,000 Continental soldiers as spectators, Hickey was hanged on June 28 in a field near Bowery Lane."
The article also mentioned that Hickey was a former British deserter but said nothing about his Wethersfield origins. This was not totally surprising since the focus of this particular site was New Yorkers. What was surprising was when I Googled "Thomas Hickey Wethersfield" and got no hits.
Still I figured everything is not yet on the 'net so no big deal. But when I went to the Wethersfield Historical Society, (a) there was no "D L T S" section, and (b) instead of a huge folder of property deeds, birth announcements, etc. relating to Thomas Hickey (or any of that surname) all that I found was:
(1) One entry in the accounts of a Wethersfield merchant of that time
"February 25 1775
The settled all just accounts with Mister Thomas Hickey as written our hand
Thomas Hickey
Samuel Hanmer"
(2) An article published in a local newspaper in 1967 about "Thomas Hickey - listed in the old histories as a resident of Wethersfield [who] almost succeeded in assassinating George Washington."
(3) A letter of inquiry to the Wethersfield Historical Society dated May 9, 1958 from John Bakeless (the author of the book to which I was referred by Sol Henner) seeking "any local records that might list him, tax lists, lists of householders, or anything of the sort".
The newspaper piece however talked about a different treasonous crime - an attempt by Hickey to poison Washington using tainted peas (apparently a favorite dish of the General) as the reason for Hickey's execution. As source material it referenced Hickey's account-book signature at the historical society, and a work by Benson J. Lossing called "History of the American Revolution".
The Bakeless inquiry did not have any response on file and, when I later researched his book, I found that it had no references at all to Hickey's Wethersfield connection. The book also calls into question, without disproving, Lossing's poisoned pea story - the facts of which Bakeless says Lossing got "from one W.J. Davis, who had them from Peter Embury, of New York, who knew [The housekeeper who Hickey allegedly attempted to involve in the plot] Phoebe Fraunces."
Longer story shorter.
I got the Lossing book and there are no sources cited for any part of the Hickey story, Wethersfield included, other than the above-mentioned W.J.Davis.
I also looked at a number of other historical works that mention Hickey's Wethersfield connection - none with any sources other than Lossing, most with none. I also determined that at least one of Lossing's Hickey facts - that he was transferred from Knowlton's Rangers (a Connecticut regiment) to Washington's Guard - is incorrect since the Rangers did not exist as a unit until three months after Hickey's execution.
John Bakeless died in 1978 so I can't ask him - but I'm thinking that his omission of any mention of Wethersfield in his Hickey story indicates that he could not find enough direct proof to convince him of its truth.
Me neither!
But I am still going to write my piece for the Member Articles section of the website. It will relate the frequently told and widely accepted story of Wethersfield's most notorious traitor. And will talk about the fits and starts, and successes and frustrations of my research. My conclusion will be that it is possible that Thomas Hickey, the convicted attempted kidnapper of our nation's first President, was (however briefly) a resident of Wethersfield Connecticut - but extremely unlikely.
One of my pet peeves with the Internet and email is the speed with which false information can be distributed. The cause of this problem is not however the technology, but instead the eagerness of the disseminators to be a part of the story by passing on unverified information. As a result I've assigned myself the role of fact-checker before Mars or I forward on such electronic epistles.
The truth can be found in many places - but not if "historians merely repeat each other."
P.S. Fittingly enough the truth-shedding quote that I found is a slight distortion of one by Phillip Guedalla - an English barrister, author & popular historian. His actual statement was "History repeats itself; historians repeat each other."
Photo by Mars
Posted by Jim at 11:33 AM
Prevailing Winds
Stare Decisis*
Wicked Good Haiku
George Michael Evica
noun: a sharp division; a split
Overheard at Target...
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You are here: Home / News / Joe Biden’s Clinton ‘diss’ wasn’t so bad
Joe Biden’s Clinton ‘diss’ wasn’t so bad
May 20, 2017 by Dwayne Martinez
Image: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
By Sasha Lekach 2017-05-20 02:35:15 UTC
Headlines everywhere popped up Friday morning proclaiming that former Vice President Joe Biden had called out Hillary Clinton at a conference Thursday night.
Twitter certainly noticed.
“‘I never thought she was the correct candidate,’ Biden said at the SALT conference”
Fitting, Biden got salty at the SALT conference.
— Dave Dinoff (@ddinoff) May 19, 2017
But if you look a bit closer at what Biden said at the SALT conference in Las Vegas and include the context — not just the portion where he says, “I never thought she was a great candidate. I thought I was a great candidate,” — it’s less of a diss and more of an analysis of the 2016 election.
While talking about how the death of his son stopped him from running against Trump, he talked about Clinton’s’ failed campaign and issues with her as a candidate. As outlets at the event reported, like CNN and Fox Business, Biden went on to say, “Hillary would have been a really good president.”
The part of the story that might have (some) Democrats excited: Biden didn’t exactly rule out a run for president in 2020.
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You are here: Home / News / Powerful gene-editing tool can eliminate HIV infection in mice
Powerful gene-editing tool can eliminate HIV infection in mice
Scientists have made an early but important development in the fight against HIV.
For the first time, a team of researchers has shown that they can remove HIV type 1 (HIV-1) from infected mouse cells using a powerful gene-editing tool. By removing DNA of the deadly virus in rodents, they also stopped the virus from replicating.
While a permanent cure for HIV in humans remains a ways off, the new study is a major step toward achieving that goal, according to scientists at the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine.
The journal Molecular Therapy published the team’s findings on Wednesday.
“The next stage would be to repeat the study in primates,” Kamil Khalili, a co-author of the study who chairs Temple’s neuroscience department, said in a press release. “Our eventual goal is a clinical trial in human patients.”
For their study, researchers used CRISPR/Cas9, a tool that enables scientists to edit parts of the genome — our full genetic material — by removing, adding, or altering sections of the DNA sequence.
They did this by injecting live mice with a virus-bacteria combo that performed the gene editing within their tissues.
The new work builds on an earlier proof-of-concept study that involved genetically modified, or “transgenic,” mice and rats. After incorporating the DNA of HIV-1 into the genome of every tissue of the animals’ bodies, the team found it could delete targeted fragments of HIV-1 from the genome in most tissues.
“Our new study is more comprehensive,” Wenhui Hu, a co-author and associate professor of pathology at Temple, said in the news release. He noted the team has “improved the efficiency” of their approach this time by adding two mouse models.
In the first model, researchers again used transgenic mice to confirm their previous findings. The team genetically inactivated HIV-1 in the mice, thus reducing the RNA expression of viral genes by 60 to 95 percent. That means they stopped RNA, which act as a genetic messenger, from relaying the toxic information.
A scientist in China worker performs an HIV test at a lab in Shanghai.
Image: china photos/Getty Images
For the two other models, scientists studied mice with actively replicating HIV infections and mice with latent infections that lie dormant within the cells.
Mice with active infections had EcoHIV, the mouse equivalent of human HIV-1. Using CRISPR/Cas9, researchers were able to block replication of the virus and show they could potentially prevent systemic infection — marking the first evidence that this method can eradicate the virus.
For the latent infections, the team studied “humanized” mice that had been engrafted with human immune cells, including T cells. (People with HIV/AIDS have a devastatingly low number of a particular type of T cell.) The mice were also infected with latent HIV-1.
After just one CRISPR/Cas9 treatment, researchers successfully removed viral fragments of the infected human cells embedded in mouse tissues and organs.
Human trials might take years to conduct, but Khalili said primates are an ideal next step after rodents. Primates are “a more suitable model where HIV infection induces disease, in order to further demonstrate elimination of HIV-1 DNA in latently infected T cells and other sanctuary sites for HIV-1, including brain cells,” he said.
They used the tool in three different animal models. First, in genetically modified “transgenic” mice, they inactivated the HIV-1 virus by reducing the RNA expression of viral genes. That means they stopped RNA — which act as messengers — from relaying the viral information.
a more suitable animal model where HIV infection induces disease, in order to further demonstrate elimination of HIV-1 DNA in latently infected T cells and other sanctuary sites for HIV-1, including brain cells,” Dr. Khalili said. “Our eventual goal is a clinical trial in human patients.”
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Chester wrestling is moving into a bright future
Head coach Jimmy Ehlers: 'Here at Chester we are trying to develop a youth movement'
Published Dec 11, 2018 at 6:37 pm (Updated Dec 13, 2018)
Photo provided The Chester Academy High School wrestling team
“I would like to believe we have a team that could contend for a Division title. We have close to a full lineup this season and hope we can improve as the year goes on."
Chester head coach Jimmy Ehlers
CHESTER — The Chester Academy High School wrestling program is about positive growth now and a bright future in this great, challenging, and rewarding sport.
“Here at Chester we are trying to develop a youth movement,” said Chester head coach Jimmy Ehlers. “We currently have a modified wrestling club open to students grades six through eight. Six members of the Wrestling Club last year have tested up and become wrestlers on our team this season. We look to also form a youth team for elementary students to build a foundation.
“We have 12 returning wrestlers this season. We have three seniors on our roster who are in good position to hopefully place top four in the Section 9 Tournament in February-Liam Bullock (120 pounds), John Kennick (152/160 pounds) and Steven Bradford (160/170 pounds).”
Liam will be looked to for his leadership abilities this winter.
“He was a captain last season because of his passion for the sport,” Ehlers said. “He continued to attend off-season tournaments when he wasn’t at football practice. We are looking for some other members of our team to step up and become leaders for the future.
“Being a team with a variety of experience we obviously look to have our more experienced wrestlers place top four at the Section 9 tournament. As for the younger members, we look to have them begin to develop for the future. We have a lot of talent and potential on the team. We also have one female wrestler-Summer Conetta — she is in her third year of being a varsity wrestler. We look to have her compete in the New York State Female State Tournament to represent Section 9 the next two years. She is extremely talented and is a true inspiration to other female athletes in our school.”
The Hambletonians are scheduled to host Roundout Valley/Burke on Dec. 12.
“I would like to believe we have a team that could contend for a Division title,” Ehlers said. “We have close to a full lineup this season and hope we can improve as the year goes on. If we are able to surprise some teams this year and develop faster than expected it could certainly boost the confidence of our program. And I like to think that we are not rebuilding, but we are reloading the team with new talent.”
Smokin' hot and tricked out in Port Jervis
A wide range of vehicles, old and new, were admired by a steady stream of onlookers at the CruzinPort cruise night held at Airport Park in Matamoras, Pa., on July...
Hundreds speak up for undocumented children at the border
By Geri Corey
News traveled fast about a protest coming to the Everett Memorial in Goshen's Church Park on Friday evening, July 12. Nearly 200 people turned out.
Those who...
New York may soon require sex abuse awareness in school
New York could soon join 35 other states in requiring schools to teach sexual abuse awareness.
The bill would mandate age-appropriate lessons to help children understand the...
Cornerstone presenting 'Taming of the Shrew' under tent
Goshen. The Cornerstone Players will present William Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" under the big tent at 2 p.m. on July 20, 21, 27 and 28, at Salesian Park. The...
Patriotic fun abounds at Great American Weekend
Spider-web girl art 'guitar' is taken
Missing Goshen man found dead
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The Complete Walton - Volume 1 By Roy Walton. One of the acclaimed classics of card magic for the advanced cardician with some 150 card effects with unprepared cards. Although a "self contained" volume of tricks and sleights it has the added bonus for those who are not familiar with a particular sleight of being able to move quickly to the special chapter dedicated to Sleights. This chapter describes how the author himself performs such sleights as The Multiple Shift, The Half Pass, The Weave Shuffle, The Monte Throw, The Turnover Pass, The Second Deal, The Bottom Deal, The Ghost and Jordan Count, The Hamman Count etc. etc. The author, Roy Walton, is one of Britain's most brilliant, creative and innovative card magicians. 226 pages, over 60 illustrations, hard back. Price £20
The Complete Walton - Volume 2 By Roy Walton. This volume follows the highly acclaimed first volume and comprises over 100 original sleights and effects. Davenports have ensured that Volume Two is a perfect match to Volume One and completes over 400 pages of some of the best card effects from a prodigious innovator. This volume has been superbly and comprehensively illustrated by Gordon Bruce one of Britain's most accomplished card conjurors. This work is directed towards the dedicated card magician with a knowledge of sleights and handling. 169 pages, fully illustrated, hard back with gold block titles. Price £20
Willane's Complete Methods for Miracles Edited by Rae Hammond. Highly recommended by independent rave reviews in the "GENII" and "LINKING RING" and referred to as one of the best buys of the decade this magnificently illustrated manual of manipulation and general magic includes gems by some of magic's greats including Edward Victor, N'Gai, Gus Southall, Edward G. Brown, Peter Warlock, Fabian and Willane. Supported by the most perfect hand drawings ever seen you will be captivated by the rope effects, card manipulations, coin moves and effects, mentalist effects, sponge ball routines, cups and balls, false counting of cards, eleven card effect, thimble manipulation, diminishing cards, and so much more. Rae Hammond has meticulously edited the original manuscripts, added the missing Methods for Miracles and added notes which bring the whole up-to-date including some excellent biographical notes on the authors. 246 large format pages, 340 illustrations, soft back. Price £13:50
Card Concepts By Arthur F. MacTier. Newly published by Davenports and already recognised as a major reference work for cardicians. The sub title of this work is "An Anthology of Numerical & Sequential Principles within Card Magic". A major and extremely important work where all of the classic mathematical principles, 31 in all, used with cards, together with 70 tricks using these principles are included in a novel way. Each principle is explained in easy-to-understand terms, then tricks involving the particular principle are explained in a step-by-step instruction. No book which covers these principles so comprehensively has been undertaken before. One does not need to be a mathematician to understand and use the principles involved as the author cleverly gives examples of how you can use the principles without knowing the maths behind them. The tricks are virtually self working yet they involve the best mathematical principles developed. Hard bound with gold block lettering, 301 pages, large format 8-1/4 by 11-1/2 inches.
Price £16
202 Methods of Forcing By Theo Annemann. Probably the most complete work on how to force a card. Annemann admits that after compiling 150 he struggled so he enlisted the help of his good friend Jean Hugard to help him out. Such is the demand for this work that we have now reprinted our original publication on high quality paper and with a quality artboard cover. This is without question a classic work for anyone looking for a variety of methods in which to force a card on someone. Soft back, A5 size, 47 pages. Price £3
Rainbow Cascade This is a COLOURFUL version of Roy Walton's original 'Cascade' where the original routine has been altered to incorporate brilliant colour changes from normal backed cards to quite stunning holographic material backed cards! To Terri Rogers must go the credit for the innovation of using cards with a special reflective material affixed which creates a stunning and totally unexpected finale. Taking these things into consideration ' Rainbow Cascade' has become substantially different in effect to the original and is now regarded as a classic in its own right. A degree of basic card skill is required for this effect but the instructions do give full details of the moves involved and these are readily acquired with a little practice. Note that this is an exclusive Davenport item. To see it ... is to buy it ... a miracle! Comes complete with a handsome 6 page, A5 size art paper booklet of instructions. with a distinctive blue art board cover, Bicycle cards. Price £7.50
Card Warp By Roy Walton A Davenport exclusive and one of the most baffling effects in the history of card magic and it is really weird yet so simple to perform. A single playing card defies all the known laws of logic. The card is folded in half lengthways, so that only the back design shows. The card is then pushed through a cardboard folder and as it emerges from the other side is seen to be now inexplicably face up! The spectators can visibly see that half the card is face up and the other half is face down. The effect is now repeated and the third sequence is an effective finale, that leaves the apparatus in the spectator's hands. The playing card is an ordinary one. No extra cards are used, nor are there any difficult sleights to perform and a patter theme about a 'Time Tunnel' would fit perfectly. The 8 page, A5 size booklet of instructions that accompanies the cards you need is superbly printed on high quality art paper and has a rich red art board cover. This is the original version.
CENTENARY DEMON HEAD - PEWTER
A numbered edition of the famous Demon Head which has been the logo of the House of Davenport since the mid 1920's. It was used by many companies during the early part of the century, but it was Davenports who used it to mark products which were either made by Davenports or were exclusive to the company. This specially commissioned statuette was designed by the renowned British artist Ray Bradbury and is fashioned and cast in solid English pewter. It stands about 4 inches high and comes in a lined presentation box. Each one is individually numbered and comes with its own certificate, personally signed by Betty Davenport, the current head of the family business.
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Explaining and Mitigating Electoral Violence
hosted by the University of Glasgow’s School of Social and Political Sciences and School of Computing Science.
Banging Pots for Peace: Strategies to Prevent Electoral Violence
January 4, 2018 by Jonas Claes, Senior Program Officer, Preventing Election Violence, U.S. Institute of Peace; and Maria J. Stephan, Senior Adviser, Program on Nonviolent Action, U.S. Institute of Peace
The recent election violence in Kenya and Honduras reveals a pattern that’s all too familiar: An incumbent campaigns on a platform of law and order and declares victory after a contested election. The opposition then cries foul, mobilizes its supporters, and nonviolent street protests turn deadly after clashes with police. Regional powers and local brokers might try to reduce tensions by bringing the main candidates together, but society is split between calls for peace and demands for justice.
Election violence is costly–not just in lives, but in the damage it does to democracy by undermining the public’s trust in government.
The most effective way to prevent an election from spiraling into violence is by supporting strong national institutions and the ability of local leaders and civil society to address community grievances nonviolently. Unfortunately, prevention efforts failed in Kenya and Honduras
Recipe for Violence: Flawed Elections, Excessive Police Force
In Kenya, opposition leader Raila Odinga rejected the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta on August 8, claiming there was widespread fraud after a tense and violent election campaign. Public statements by Odinga triggered anti-fraud protests in his strongholds, followed by a heavy-handed police response.
In Honduras, a flawed election process led to the country’s worst crisis in nearly a decade. It began with a questionable Supreme Court ruling allowing President Juan Orlando Hernandez from the National Party to run for a second term. The vote itself was marked by an electronic system failure and, when the opposition Alianza frontrunner Salvador Nasrallah took a surprise lead, the counting process mysteriously slowed down, during which time momentum shifted and Hernandez retook the lead.
Subsequent allegations of fraud by the opposition and irregularities noted by international observers helped mobilize a peaceful protest movement, but sharp-shooting police overreacted and killed about 14 people in armed clashes according to Amnesty International.
Peace through Integrity
There are ways to avoid this kind of election violence. One of the best guarantors of peace and justice are independent institutions. In Kenya, the Supreme Court initially demonstrated its independence by annulling a problematic election. In crime-ridden Honduras, specialized police forces usually guarantee election security, turning election day into one of the safest days of the year.
But, in both places, human rights organizations accused police of using excessive force and detaining protestors unlawfully. The Tribunal Supremo Electoral and courts in Honduras are staffed by political appointees. In Kenya, the presidential candidates undermined the election commission and Supreme Court by criticizing their work and threatening its staff.
An effective election commission should bolster confidence – politicized or toothless commissions raise suspicion and frustration.
“Cacerolazos” and Police Disobedience
Local civic leaders and organized collective action help ensure that election-related disputes do not escalate into violence. In Honduras, thousands took to the streets in nonviolent protests following suspicions of vote tampering. After President Hernandez called for a curfew, those confined to their homes banged pots and pans – a classic Latin American protest tactic known as “cacerolazos.”
The national police refused orders to enforce the curfew at first. Some officers said they feared shooting their mothers or sisters. However, clashes did eventually break out between protestors and police, resulting in about a dozen deaths. To discourage further violent escalation, the opposition should emphatically insist on nonviolent means, and introduce new tactics, such as tension-defusing humor. And security forces should be trained in effective crowd control allowing space for peaceful protest.
After the Kenyan Supreme Court deemed the presidential election invalid and ordered a new vote, opposition leader Raila Odinga and his National Super Alliance called for a boycott of the new election since there were no guarantees the ballot would be free and fair. The opposition did not call for protests, likely to avoid the types of clashes that resulted in 1200 deaths after the contested 2007 elections. Instead, Odinga called for a campaign of resistance and civil disobedience. While a polarized protest campaign risks violent escalation, a broad-based peaceful movement that transcends ethnic lines could help ensure accountability and electoral reform.
The international community can help
While national institutions, politicians and civil society hold the key to just and peaceful elections, there are several things the international community can do to support their efforts.
They can deploy observers to monitor technical deficiencies and identify intimidation, hate speech and other forms of election violence. International diplomats can also coordinate with regional leaders and encourage candidates to call for restraint, and make the necessary reforms.
On the security front, the international community can support security coordination and training programs to strengthen the independence and professionalism of police officers, ensuring they respect the rights of peaceful assembly. And donors should invest in inclusive movement-building skills and strategies. It is especially important to amplify the voices of civil society leaders working to prevent election violence, and nonviolently address the exclusionary practices that gave rise to it in the first place.
Elections are rarely perfect, and there are limits to internal involvement given the sensitivities about foreign meddling. The perception of picking sides can quickly backfire and limit future access. But, nonviolent action in support of an independent election commission, a professional police force, and a civil society capable of dialogue and disciplined collective action would go a long way to ensuring that elections are free, fair, and peaceful.
Filed Under: Electoral Violence Articles
View electoralviolenceproject’s profile on Facebook
View electviolence’s profile on Twitter
Electoral Violence Articles (25)
This project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, grant No ES/L016435/1
March 2018 project newsletter
Electoral Violence Prevention Practice Database
Electing Peace in Liberia
Kenya’s 2017 Elections—Electoral Peace and Electoral Justice, Two Sides of the Same Coin
Copyright © · 2019 The University of Glasgow
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Speeches Emergency Services | February 08, 2017
Warracknabeal emergency services complex
Victorian Parliament - 8 February 2017 - Ms Kealy - In rural areas there is considerable overlap of volunteers that give their time to support our emergency services. I thank all volunteers and emergency service workers for their commitment to protect our community and keep our people and property safe. A number of residents and organisations in the Warracknabeal region have raised with me the opportunity to establish an emergency services complex. Warracknabeal recently received funding for a new police station, and there is an immediate need for works to add the ambulance station extension of the State Emergency Services (SES) building. As these works must be undertaken in the short term it is logical that consideration be given to co‑locate these emergency services into a single, purpose‑built emergency services complex now, prior to undertaking works on any single emergency services building.
There are highly successful examples of combined emergency services facilities, such as the fantastic Country Fire Authority–SES complex in Edenhope, funded by the Nationals and Liberals when in government. An emergency service complex is supported by the Yarriambiack council’s municipal emergency management planning committee, as this type of facility would achieve the best outcome to support our emergency service volunteers and staff in Warracknabeal. I urge the Minister for Emergency Services to take this unique opportunity to ensure that Warracknabeal has the emergency services complex it needs to best support our emergency service volunteers and staff and to provide sufficient funding to make this project a reality.
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FEM COLLECTIVE
"creating a unique identity that is all your own is the only way to stand out in a sea of so many..."
Fem Collective is a community of female entrepreneurs whose goal is to advocate, educate and connect aspiring and accomplished women. We provide the tools, the network and the resources to help blooming female founders grow and invest in each other’s success.
Our programs and events are designed for authentic conversation. Our mission is to draw out the stories and voices of women in business in a way where they feel seen, heard, and empowered.
Stay tuned for information on our FEMtorship Program!
Get the latest updates on events and collaborations.
COLLECTIVE SPOTLIGHT
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FUNERAL STORM
Set release date for debut album!
Hells Headbangers sets May 31st as the international release date for Funeral Storm's highly anticipated debut album, Arcane Mysteries, on CD format; the vinyl LP version will follow later this year. Featuring members from Hellenic scene legends Varathron, Funeral Storm deliver truly ancient - and truly authentic - Greek black metal in the most classic early '90s style, full of mysticism and might.
Funeral Storm was formed in 2001 by Wampyrion Markhor Necrowolf under the name Raven Throne as a one-man-project. The name was later changed for legal reasons, and after several changes, the moniker Funeral Storm was chosen. Lyrical themes were set early on, and are heavily inspired by occultism, legends, myths, evil, mysteries, horror, and the Cthulhu mythos.
After several lineup changes and one live show, Wampyrion decided to stop any activities concerning the band until 2012, where he released a digital split with Mortuus Sum and a six-way split on tape format with Human Serpent, Thaer Os Valael, Opus Magorum, Silent Dominion, and Varg Order a year later under his label Abyssic Black Cult Records.
Funeral Storm were active again with the addition of members of Serpent Path. In 2016, Mercyful Hell Productions released a compilation with songs that cover most of the years of Funeral Storm that were never actually released. In the meantime, Wampyrion decided to change the sound of the band, now fully inspired by '90s Greek black metal.
Nick Christogiannis of Deviser and Necroabyssious of Varathron/Katavasia/Zaratus then joined as fulltime members. With this lineup, Funeral Storm released a split in early 2017 with Celestial Rite entitled Funeral Rite with Eskarth of Agatus performing acoustic guitars and a solo on the song "Martyr Of The Lake." Reaping international acclaim, Funeral Rite was released on 12" vinyl and CD formats by Iron Bonehead, while Mercyful Hell released the tape format.
Since signing with Hells Headbangers, Funeral Storm added Arcania (Aherusia) on guitars while Christogiannis departed, and the band promptly set to work on their first full-length record. Ever aptly titled Arcane Mysteries, the album proudly and poignantly delivers 43 minutes of atmospheric tartaric black metal in the vein of the old Hellenic scene, inspired by sorcery, magic, and myths. Indeed, Funeral Storm are ancient souls, eschewing the nowadays trends of dissonant non-songwriting and cavernous obfuscation in favor of traditionally epic and dynamic songcraft, reverent to the old Hellenic gods whilst forging terrain all their own, all wrapped in a robust production that powerfully captures the trio's overt physicality - and indeed, THAT classic pulse. Arcane Mysteries is truly a record that brims with a timeless atmosphere - truly, one of arcane mysteries - and safely avoids lazy "throwback status" due to the inclusion of scene veteran Necroabyssious on vocals and the era-authentic, ever-mystical synths, handled by both Wampyrion and Arcania. In short, it's an album more than worthy of the legendary early '90s wave of Greek black metal.
To further underline those classic ties, Arcane Mysteries features two special guests: Eskarth of fellow Hells Headbangers labelmates Agatus performed the solo and acoustic guitars on "Martyr of the Lake," and The Magus of Necromantia / Prinicipality Of Hell composed, recorded, mixed, and mastered "Wandering Through The Abyss." Completed by awe-inspiring cover artwork courtesy of Markus Vesper (Denial of God, Manilla Road, Attic), Funeral Storm triumphantly prove that the past is alive...in fact, more than ever!
www.facebook.com/funeralstorm666
Hells Headbangers Records
ROTTING CHRIST / VARATHRON
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E-sports drivers getting on track with the real deal
2019-04-15 10:21:02China Daily Editor : Mo Hong'e ECNS App Download
Racing fans enjoy an e-sports experience at Shanghai International Circuit, where F1 staged its 1,000th race on Sunday. (Photo: China Daily/Shi Futian)
In an effort to attract younger fans, in 2017 F1 entered the digital spectrum by creating the FIA Formula One E-sports Series.
But China, one of the world's largest e-sports markets and host of an annual Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit, was not initially included in the F1 E-sports world.
That finally changed, just ahead of the weekend's Chinese Grand Prix-which was also F1's 1,000th race-when it was officially announced that F1's e-sports tournament is entering China.
Domestic qualification and regional competitions will start in the second half of this year and the final will be held this winter.
The top two Chinese players will earn wild cards to enter the Formula One E-sports Series that has attracted 130,000 participants and 5.5 million online spectators in the past two years.
"We are going to start at the grassroots level to build a passion for racing," said Julian Tan, head of growth for F1 E-sports.
"Gaming and e-sports are fantastic ways to reduce the barriers to entering racing. The core objective is to attract younger fans.
"It's no secret that F1 has an aging fanbase. E-sports forms one of the pillars of our digital transformation to reach a new audience.
"In China, it's about using e-sports to build excitement around e-racing, racing and ultimately around F1.
"There is so much going on in the world of F1, and telling the stories through gaming and e-sports is a compelling way to reach the younger generation."
Tan said China's joining the F1 e-sports world was delayed in order to find a suitable partner to effectively introduce the event in the home market.
That partner is Shanghai Juss Intellisports Co, Ltd, a subsidiary of the Shanghai Jiushi Group that owns the Shanghai International Circuit.
"As the company of our group that's in charge of finding promising programs that combine new technologies and sports, we noticed the F1 e-sports series in 2017 and believed in its potential in China," said Dong Liangliang, deputy general manager of Juss Intellisports.
"When we opened discussions with F1, the process was not easy. But we kept reminding them of the significance of the Chinese market and the potential of Chinese e-sports."
Compared with other titles, F1 E-sports is special because it's very close to the real racing experience. Top e-sports players can also be signed as e-racers for actual F1 teams.
"Compared with other e-sports games such as League of Legends and even other sports games, F1 e-sports is the closest game to the actual activity," said Dong.
"Players use a keyboard and mouse to play other games, but in the F1 game you need to use a steering wheel and pedals.
"There are already cases of top e-racers being selected as real F1 test drivers and retired F1 racers joining the e-sports teams."
Tan also cites "zero violence" as another advantage of F1 e-sports.
"Now is a very interesting time," he said. "I think the concern the Olympics has about the violence in some e-sports has shaken the e-sports world a little bit, but our game is racing, and very safe racing.
"There's no possibility that you will crash and injure yourself or cause hundreds of thousands dollars in damage. All of that adds up to a very compelling product.
"Also, e-sports cars are all equalized, which means it purely relies on the ability of the drivers."
E-sports players chase dreams of stardom
It's game on for e-sports at colleges
Egypt opens newly discovered Pharaonic tomb near Giza pyramids
Newly-discovered trove of Cambrian fossils in China reveals early animal life
Hamilton wins 2019 Chinese Grand Prix
Turtle in Turkish zoo celebrates 99th birthday
People fly Kongming lanterns by Lancang River in Yunnan
Clouds roll across Mount Huang
Winning pictures in World Press Photo Contest 2019
Land plots form beautiful view in Jiangsu
Immersive art project lets visitors walk in ancient paintings
Spotted seals return to resource-rich Changdao Island waters
Splendid night view of Fenghuang Ancient Town in Hunan
Irtysh River stars in spectacular sunset show
Rare seals released to sea in NE China
Uniqlo holds unique exhibition
Carved egg art in Turkey
Ancient Chinese treasures to go under the hammer at Christie's
Japanese historian donates documents to CUHK Library
Unmanned submersible continues research in Indian Ocean
Venue for speed skating events at 2022 Winter Olympic Games under construction in Beijing
Julian Assange charged by U.S. for computer-related offences
Snow leopards thrive in Sanjiangyuan area
Chinese, Croatian PMs visit Peljesac Bridge project
PRC's remarkable history of sports
China-CEEC people-to-people exchanges flourishing under BRI
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launches on first commercial flight
Scenery of seaside city Dubrovnik, Croatia
Stunning view of flower fields in Lisse, Netherlands
Dunhuang fresco itinerant exhibition held at Yunnan University
Water festival celebrated in Thailand
Singapore seizes 12.7 tons of pangolin scales
Amazing sunlight effects at cenote diving in Mexico
A 'graveyard' for combine harvesters in the UK
Flowers bloom in downtown Zagreb, Croatia
New species of ancient human found in the Philippines
Climbing plants cover subway pillars in Chongqing
Brilliant sunset silhouettes city skyline
Trial run at Beijing horticultural expo site begins
EU's new lifeline may not be enough to save May
Nanjing traffic construction makes way for endangered Yangtze finless porpoise
QFII capital, U.S. slack drive A-share rebound in Jan-March
17 more under criminal coercive measures for E China's chemical plant explosion
Town in China yields 73 pct of world's pearls
Villager encounters wild panda in Sichuan
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understand the real definition of
hope and family and faith.
“You can taste the hope in prison,” Fitzgerald says. Each of the women she has worked with hit rock bottom right before they met her, and she helps them go up from there.
She cries with the women in jail. She prays with them and she mourns with them. She and the other sisters in her community take on all the duties of these mothers for newborn babies to rowdy teenagers.
“It was a real eye-opener. I
got a crash course in empathetic
understanding of what parents go
through,” Fitzgerald says. “It was
hard. You had highs and lows. You
had to let each child be an individ-
ual. The babies were actually easier
to bond with. It was harder with the
teenagers who came in with all the
baggage of life. It sure was a different
one. More than 29 percent of New
York State’s female ex-convicts are
eventually rearrested. For women
taken in by Hour Children, that
number is only 3 percent.
But there’s so much more to
these turnaround stories than num-
bers. Luz De Leon, who met Fitzger-
ald while serving 10 years in Bedford
Hills Correctional Facility for man-
slaughter, now runs one of the thrift
shops operated by Hour Children in
Queens.
“Tesa taught me everything
I know about doing my job. She
changed my life. She’s the reason I
am here right now,” De Leon says.
Spend some time with any of the
women who have walked through
Hour Children’s doors and you will
If we really believe in the Resurrection, then we have to believe in second chances.”
FAITH IN JESUS is the bedrock from which Fitzgerald’s ministry flows.
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Archive (2006-Today)
Fort Scott Countryside
Fort Scott Tribune
Bourbon County fair starts next week
By Jason E. Silvers
Northeast Scott 4-Her Cassidy Westhoff talks with judges Monday morning during the clothing judging competition in advance of next week's Bourbon County Fair. Westhoff was participating in the Level III Dress-up Outfit category. The winners from all categories, including the clothing construction competitions, will be announced at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 28, in the Round Room at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.(Michael Pommier/Tribune)
The Bourbon County Fair, scheduled to take place July 23-30, promises to offer everything from animal exhibits and judging contests, to arts and crafts, food and live entertainment.
Bourbon County 4-H and Agriculture Extension Agent of the Southwind District Delta George said exhibits will be lined up each day Monday, July 25, through Friday, July 29. Set-up begins Saturday, July 23 with events starting that evening and taking place each day and evening that week through July 29.
George said the week will include livestock shows, a 4-H fashion revue, a junior livestock sale, a bake sale, open- class exhibits and a round-robin showmanship competition, just to name a few. The fair will include animals of all types, "from rabbits to horses to chickens to goats."
Pawnee 4-H member Dacey Simpson models her outfit for a judge Monday morning during the clothing judging competition. Simpson was participating in the Level III Dress-up Outfit category. The winners from all categories, including the clothing construction competitions, will be announced at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 28, in the Round Room at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton. (Michael Pommier/Tribune)
A new event this year, set to take place at 1 p.m. Friday, July 29, is the Barnyard Olympics. The event will feature four-member teams with each member being paired with an area businessperson to participate in old-fashioned barnyard games and contests using equipment typically found in a barn.
George said the purpose of this new event is to get other community members involved in fair happenings.
The fair will also include a concert featuring Redhead Express, which will perform a country-western music show at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 S. Horton.
Pawnee 4-H member Lily Zimmerman smiles as she models her outfit for a judge Monday morning during the clothing judging competition. Zimmerman was participating in the Level III Dress-up Outfit category. (Michael Pommier/Tribune)
The fair is the culmination of a year's worth of work for area 4-H youth who are preparing animals for judging and possible sale, George said.
"People can expect to see a lot of 4-Hers having a good time and see projects they've worked hard on that they've been getting ready to exhibit," she said. "It's the highlight of their year."
The Bourbon County Fair Board, a group of volunteers from the community, spends several months organizing the fair. The local extension office is involved with 4-H youth development activities for the fair.
"It's something that takes a lot of time ahead to get everything organized," George said.
Fair-goers will be able to view animal exhibits, as well as partake of a variety of food and drinks and free health screenings.
© 2019 Fort Scott Tribune · Fort Scott, Kansas
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League Central
Defiant Applications
Shooter Landell
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Thread: Shooter Landell
Thanks for taking the time to look this over. Please note, this is a character idea that I've had for a number of years and have tried low-key a few times with slight variations. The writing sample is not an original piece for DEFIANCE, but rather an introductory piece for the character I wrote and have since edited here and there.
I do not currently have an AIM or Skype, but would get one if accepted.
Handler Information
Name: J
Email Address: shooterlandell@gmail.com
Best Way to Contact You: Forum PM
eWrestling Experience: I've been around e-wrestling since I was about 14 off and on. I haven't been around much at all in the last several years. I joined briefly with a project last year , but it folded quickly.
How did you find DEFIANCE?: I've known about DEFIANCE for a long time but was reminded of it browsing fWrestling.
Are you willing to write matches?: Yes
Writing Sample:
He had been asking himself the same question for the past ten years: how did I get here? Mike Landell, often referred to as Shooter Landell in the world of professional wrestling, had been on track for a successful life, yet somehow he ended up in a high school locker room in small town Iowa wearing underwear to entertain morons.
"Shit... went... south," Landell mumbled under his breath as the oddities of the wrestling world shuffled around him. He could barely mask his snarl as he surveyed the locker room.
When he had first entered the wrestling business, wrestlers had been wrestlers. They had been real mean that knew the difference between a wrist lock and a wrist watch. For the last several years of his career, however, Landell had noticed a significant decline in the quality of the wrestlers. He had been surrounded by colorful men wearing colorful tights with baby oil lathered to their chests and knee high boots - primadonna male models pretending to be tough guys.
He had never actually intended to even be involved in the wrestling business. Landell had been a truly phenomenal judoka and high school wrestler. So much so, in fact, that he had been offered as a high school senior a full ride scholarship with one of the most prestigious wrestling programs in the country at the University of Iowa. His senior year couldn't have been much better: he had been an All American, he was set to attend his first choice college and program and he had met and began dating who he thought may be the love of his life in Lauren, a girl who had recently moved from California. Everything was in place for a great life.
Next thing he knew, Lauren's pregnant. Being a college student, while an admirable endeavor, isn't going to put food on the table or pay the massive bills that come with a baby. He had done what any man would do: he provided. Landell dropped out of school, found some work that he hated and wasn't compensated properly for. He took up drinking. Who didn't see that coming? Fast forward some years and the story gets so cliche it could make a man sick: another kid, a mortgage, a piece of shit Chevy that never runs when it's needed and, of course, bills. Lots of bills.
He could admit that he didn't immediately notice his wife's errands running late. He was a busy man with a job that demanded extensive travel and a drinking habit to tend to, he couldn't be bothered with the gripes of an unsatisfied wife. After all, is there such a thing as a satisfied wife? A satisfied woman for that matter? He didn't think so. Looking back, he supposed the signs were obvious. Everyone but him had to have known what was going on. They hadn't been shy, often spending nights together in public while Landell wrestled all over the country, but he didn't much care.
Divorce.
She didn't want to tell him who it was at first. That he remembered clearly. She had come home late, probably after 1 A.M., but he couldn't be sure. She walked confidently into the living room, where she knew he'd be. Her arms weren't folded across her chest like they usually were when she talked to him. That, too, he remembered clearly.
"Michael," she began, speaking a tone similar to that of a reprimanding middle school teacher. "We need to talk."
She surveyed the coffee table: beer bottles, an ashtray with several pack's worth of cigarettes stacked and overflowing. His eyes were glossy, but he was sober enough to understand what conversation she wanted to have.
"Who is he". He had hoped his voice would be clear, but he slurred slightly. Sure, she didn't ask for a divorce. Didn't have to. He knew. Lauren didn't want to respond. "Who is he, Lauren?"
"That's not important."
She spoke crisply, business like. He rose from the couch, and the confidence drained from her face. He had never hit her, let that be clear. That's not to say that there is not something intimidating about a 6'3" 260 pound man who's had more than a few drinks making his way toward you. He stumbled slightly, planting a palm on the coffee table to steady himself. He sauntered toward her. She stood her ground, her knees felt weak.
"Michael, listen, it's best for both of us. You know that," she began, her voice quickening as he closed the distance. "It's the only way."
He was close then. Two inches from her face. He was breathing heavily, the alcohol burning her eyes. He waited, a dumb alcoholic look on his face. He shook his head slowly. It was too late for the Hollywood forgiveness scene. He wouldn't be trying to fix his marriage this night.
They had only talked once after that night, the rest of the conversations held between lawyers speaking on their behalf. Between the child support and alimony, he was forced back into the only profession he knew. Years of painstakingly planning retirement and living notoriously frugally on the road had went to waste. Now here he was, back at square one.
He later found out the other guy was a dentist - the family dentist, in fact. He had filled a cavity for Landell... hell, apparently for his wife, too.
Back to the present...
A man in an off-brown suit makes his way over to where Landell sits, staring into nothing, remembering the events that led to this unfortunate career. The man has a cigar, unlit, hanging from his mouth, the end chewed horribly. The man reeked of Wal Mart cologne and bourbon. He spoke quickly, thick Midwestern accent. His hands constantly moved, eyes constantly darted. The man couldn't focus on one thing for more than a second.
"Mikey, my boy," he fired. "How's my number one guy?"
"I'm 52, sitting in a high school locker room in Ames," He took a long swig from the beer on the floor at his feet. "Living the dream, Jens."
Jens Erichsen. There was a piece of shit like him in every locker room on every indy show in wrestling around the country. He put the boys up the cheapest hotels, paid them half of what they were promised and was constantly blowing smoke up your ass - business as usual in this carny show.
"That's what I always liked about you, Mikey. You could always make me laugh!" He took the cigar from his mouth, eyed it for a few seconds. "I'm gonna miss it, Mikey. With you leaving us and all."
That was rich. Leaving "us". Like this was some big fucking happy family. Landell looked around him, eyeing the land of misfit toys they were calling a roster. A locker room full of people who were convinced that they were going to make it to the big leagues but never would. Skinny young kids with hair too long and acne that defied logic mixed with fat has beens, guys with face paint, guys with glitter, guys with million dollar bodies and 5 watt brains - nobodies.
"Business is business," Landell responded. "I'm looking to retire... again."
"You and me both, brother!"
He laughed. Landell didn't.
"If it's all the same to you, Jens, I'd like to get the hell out of here."
"Of course, of course, my boy" Jens rummaged his hand through his pockets. He never could seem to find the payouts. "Ah!" he exclaimed, his hands coming to a stop in the breast pocket of his jacket. "Here we go."
He handed an envelope with "Shooter" scribbled across it. Jens clapped him on the shoulder, handed him the envelope and walked toward the door. Landell held the envelope up into the air for a moment, dropped his head and sighed.
"Jens." he called after him. Jens stopped, a frown formed on his lips. Landell hadn't seen it, but he knew it was there. "You and I both know this is light."
Jens waits several seconds and speaks with his back to Landell. "I know, brother. The gate wasn't what I was expecting tonight. You know I'd give you all of it if I had it, brother. That's the truth!"
Landell contemplated if it was worth the fight. It wasn't. He knew Jens had the money, but he also knew that DEFIANCE was going to be paying him far more than what this prick was.
"You're a piece of shit, Jens."
"And you, sir, are a gentleman."
Jens laughed once more and made his way out of the locker room. Landell chuckled briefly to himself.
"Fuckin' carnies."
Wrestler(s) Information
Ring Name: Shooter Landell
Weight: 260 lb.
Hailing From: Council Bluffs, IA
Alignment: Face
Gimmick/Backstory:
Shooter Landell is a longtime journeyman wrestler with a noteworthy career spent mostly in the American South and Japan. With a legitimate background in judo and wrestling, Landell was known for his authentic in ring style which earned him his nickname. He had been on track to attend the University of Iowa on a full wrestling scholarship when his high school girlfriend became pregnant and he had to provide.
He had taken to working labor-intensive jobs, mainly in construction as a means to support his family. A chance encounter at a bar introduced Landell to the professional wrestling business, where he met a local promoter. This promoter assured Landell that he could make substantially more money in the professional wrestling business and convinced him to seek training. Debuting at 19, Landell quickly made a name for himself in the regional circuits, earning the nickname "Shooter" for his distinctive catch wrestling style. After several years of working locally, he received some interest from promotions in Japan and would spend the majority of his career touring with various wrestling companies there.
Landell had spent some time with major US companies but was never a mainstay, always finding more favor in Japan. After decades in the ring and being notoriously frugal, he was able to save up enough money for a comfortable retirement with his wife.
That plan had gone to shit, however, when his wife informed him that she was leaving him for the family dentist, with whom she'd been having an affair for a good portion of their marriage. The divorce dealt a significant blow to Landell's finances and he now finds himself in an unenviable position: he has spent a lifetime honing a craft he no longer cares for, but does not have any other opportunities to make the kind of money he needs to make in order to retire.
He returns to the only profession he's ever known: angry, bitter and hell bent on doing whatever it takes to get the money he needs to get away from everything and everyone.
Wrestling Style: Catch Wrestling with a healthy dose of brawling
Three Weaknesses:
Myriad lingering injuries
Three Strengths:
Old Man Strength
Grappling acumen
MOVESET
Ten regular moveset moves:
1) Short arm scissors
2) European uppercut
3) Gutwrench suplex
4) Backbreaker
5) Swinging neckbreaker
6) Russian leg sweep
7) Short arm clothesline
8) Belly to belly variants
9) Dragon screw
10) Saito suplex
2-5 trademark moves:
1) Stun Gun
2) STO (done with a more judo style. See: osoto gari without a gi)
3) Hip Throw (see: uchi mata no gi)
4) Spinebuster (Think AA)
5) Roaring Elbow
1 Finishing Move:
Carny Lock (Key lock variations - think kimura or americana from various positions. Side control, mount, guard, etc.)
1 "MDK" (murderdeathkill) Finishing Move (Rare Special Occasion Finisher) (Optional)
Murder STF (Very violent and wrenching STF)
Last edited by Shooter; 08-10-18 at 02:53 PM. Reason: Formatting issues when copied from docs
League Member
Re: Shooter Landell
I dig the application, looks like a good solid character.
Yes from me.
Team HOSS - DEFIANCE
The Heirs of Wrestling, Sarah Winterton, Jeremy Ryan - jOlt Wrestling
BWade
Grandma Took Me Home
Solid application, I'll vote yes as well.
Thanks, guys. I appreciate you looking through the application.
CrimsonScott
Crimson Lord ALWAYS Wins
Chicago, Illinios
Women they are the death of us. Looks like a interesting character
Got my vote
Thanks for the reply. I'd be excited to get started.
The God-Beast
The City of Brotherly Shove
I like it! Voting yes.
DEFIANCE WRESTLING
-"The God-Beast" Mushigihara (w/ Eddie Dante)
email/Googledocs: onanotherplanet [AT] gmail dot com
Originally Posted by Justin
DEF just posted its fifth early show in a row.
I'm just saying, is all.
UTA Hall of Famer and All-Around Nice Guy
Los Angeles, CA, formerly PA
That's four yes votes, so you're in. Private message either myself or bwade, preferably both, and we will get you set up.
Highly recommend getting Skype to join the group chat, if you do, let us know your user name and we'll get that process going as well.
Welcome to the Faithful.
NFW World / LoC Legacy Champion Jack Harmen, Tony Davis, & Mary-Lynn Mayweather
The Pop Culture Phenoms (The D, Klein w/ Elise Ares)
NFW | Defiance | LoC | nbW
FWrestling.com
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Binary Classification Function
(Redirected from Predictive Relation)
A Binary Classification Function is a classification function whose class set is a binary set.
AKA: Two-Class Classifier, 2-Valued Classification Model.
input: Data Item(e.g. a Test Instance)
range: Data Value from Binary Set.
It can range from being an Exact Binary Classification Function to being a Predictive Binary Classification Function.
It can make a Correct Prediction or an Incorrect Prediction.
Its Performance can be measured in terms of:
True Positive Rate (Recall/Sensitivity), True Negative Rate, Precision, Fallout, Accuracy, F-Score.
It can be an Input to a Binary Classification Task.
a Boolean Logic Function.
A Credit Risk Model that predicts whether a person is a good credit risk (Yes, No).
A Predictive Logic Relation (based on a Logic Relation).
A Logistic Classification Function (based on a Logistic Function).
a Decision Tree Classification Function (based on a Tree Data Structure).
a Customer Defection Model.
a Multiclass Classification Function.
a Continuous Function.
a Weather Forecasting Model that predicts whether there will be frost tomorrow, the day after, and the subsequent day.
See: Relation Function, Binomial Regression Model.
(Hastie et al., 2004) ⇒ Trevor Hastie, Saharon Rosset, Robert Tibshirani, and Ji Zhu. (2004). “The Entire Regularization Path for the Support Vector Machine.” In: The Journal of Machine Learning Research, 5.
QUOTE:The support vector machine (SVM) is a widely used tool for classification. Many efficient implementations exist for fitting a two-class SVM model. The user has to supply values for the tuning parameters: the regularization cost parameter, and the kernel parameters. In this paper we study the support vector machine (SVM)(Vapnik, 1996; Schölkopf and Smola, 2001) for two-class classification.
Retrieved from "http://www.gabormelli.com/RKB/index.php?title=Binary_Classification_Function&oldid=505358"
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Showing posts with label Street Fighter. Show all posts
Capcom Fighting News PC PlayStation 4 Single Player Street Fighter Street Fighter II Street Fighter V Video Game
Street Fighter V In-Game Ads Return
Capcom is bringing back Street Fighter V in-game ads for their partnership deal with Japanese clothing brand UNIQLO.
A while ago developer/publisher Capcom has introduced in-game advertising within Street Fighter V, fifth mainline release from their popular fighting game series Street Fighter and was eventually removed upon negative fan-response.
Of course, people were still skeptical that it may only be a temporary move they pulled off and might return anytime in the foreseeable future. Capcom has brought back that function today to promote a Japanese clothing brand UNIQLO UT.
RELATED: Street Fighter V Won't Have Season Pass for 2019
After collaborating with major video game companies like Blizzard and Nintendo in past, the clothing shop has shifted focus on popular characters of the Street Fighter franchise. Their collection of tees will be mostly comprised of classic victory quotes and screen from SF series.
Their initial design lineup features characters like Akuma, Bison, Cammy, Chun Li, Dhalsim, E. Honda, Guile, Ken, Ryu and Sagat from the 90's legendary arcade game Street Fighter II and current flagship title Street Fighter V.
Street Fighter UT Collection Designs
RELATED: Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition Adds Kage
UNIQLO UT is looking at this Spring window to launch their twelve different Street Fighter UT collection designs in stores and online alongside Capcom Cup 2019 event. They also released some spectacular promotional artwork to compliment their upcoming clothing line.
As part of their partnership program, advertisements are returning once again in exchange for some in-game currency "Fight Money" to allow them, which could otherwise be gained via gameplay but a lot differently this time.
Street Fighter UT Collection Promo Artwork
RELATED: Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition Adds G and Sagat
Showing ads on character outfits, loading screens and stages was criticized and heavily rejected by fans saying the feature is ruining the aesthetic of the game that was already troubled with series of issues from when it launched.
However, they are returning to show UNIQLO's logo on Capcom Pro Tour-themed stages and everywhere else they used to, except for the characters this time. Apparently, they have learned a lesson from receiving unwanted fan backlash from last time.
Capcom DLC Fighting News PC PlayStation 4 Season Pass Single Player Street Fighter Street Fighter V Video Game
Street Fighter V Won't Have Season Pass for 2019
Unlike past seasons of Street Fighter V, Capcom has no plans for a Season Pass of DLC characters for the 2019.
After finishing the year in grace with Capcom Cup 2018, developer/publisher Capcom decided to introduce a brand-new character for their immensely popular fighting game Street Fighter V and they did so a few days ago with Kage (Kah-Gay).
With that announcement, the company is showing up intention of mixing things up in 2019 for SFV. Season 4 is just on the horizon and players thought that reveal of this new character DLC would come up with more details on Season Pass but apparently, they don't have a plan for it.
Though people are calling the character out as a bad Halloween costume for Ryu or some citing this as just another crazed cosplay character, he is the physical embodiment of the Satsui no Hado and not Evil Ryu to be very specific.
The initial reaction from the fans for Kage was mostly mixed but many of them were not much interested about his inclusion anyway. You can purchase the currently available DLC for only $5.99 or in exchange for 100,000 Fight Money.
However, Capcom didn't go on hinting at who else would be there on their content plan for next season and announced the following on Twitter.
Kage can only be purchased individually with Fight Money or real currency. We currently have no plans to offer a Season Pass for the 2019 DLC characters. Stay tuned for information on future updates!
— Street Fighter (@StreetFighter) December 20, 2018
RELATED: Street Fighter V Season 3 DLC Characters Revealed
Of course they have no intention to stop with Kage and probably bring in more fighters next year but instead of offering a bundle of half-dozen warriors for a discounted price, they will probably sold them separately for in-game currency or real money. We are not sure yet.
There is also a possibility that the developers are moving towards a sequel or going for a free-to-play model. Producer Yoshinori Ono of Street Fighter V mentioned in a 2016 interview to Famitsu that they have plans to support the game to 2020 at least though.
Capcom DLC Fighting Gameplay Trailer News PC PlayStation 4 Reveal Trailer Single Player Street Fighter Street Fighter V Trailer Video Game
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition Adds Kage
A brand-new character Kage joins the roster of Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition for Season 4 from December 16.
After the Arcade Edition of fan-favorite fighting game Street Fighter V released for PC and PlayStation 4 earlier this year, developer/publisher Capcom had a great run with it and professional players on many tournaments and fans loved it.
To show appreciation to the community folks, they have created a brand-new character named Kage out of the shadow of Satsui no Hado, the evil force that is rooted inside Akuma and he will join the roster from the very beginning of the next season.
Below is an official trailer that showcased the reveal of the character and some of his gameplay features you can check out in advance.
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Initially, Kage may look a lot like Evil Ryu nor is he a revamped skin but he definitely is not and is something very different. When Ryu has rejected to embrace the power of Satsui no Hado, the physical embodiment of it has taken form and become Kage.
Ryu actually has the dark power of Satsui no Hado within him and whenever he lets it take over his persona altogether, he becomes Evil Ryu. When this persona takes over, he is on a path of destruction under the influence of the dark force.
Shadow of Evil
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For years, he has been desperately trying to keep it at bay so that it cannot consume him entirely and now has overcome the weight of that power. However, Satsui no Hado decides to chose a path of its own and rises in the form of Kage.
Following his transformation, the character puts up a brutal display of his raw power against opponents like Akuma, Ryu and Sagat, destroying each of them one by one by unleashing his moves on them in battle with ruthless efficiency.
Embodiment of Satsui
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Capcom has also released another video solely focused on the gameplay of Kage with more details on his moveset.
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Kage has variation of Hadoken fireballs inspired from both Akuma and Ryu that he can conjure up. He also has the axe kick, Ryusokyaku of Evil Ryu while being able to deliver shoryuken uppercut and a spinning kick to the opponent.
The Critical Arts and V-triggers in him are just two other powerful attack Taigyaku Mudo and Shun Goku Satsu to throw his opponents off balance. The latter is the similar move to the Raging Demon that Akuma uses but is specifically modified for the character here.
Obsession With Power
With the inclusion of Kage, the 32 characters roster is receiving the latest balance changes and you can check them out by simply heading into the training mode. Characters like Abigail, Chun-Li, F.A.N.G, M. Bison and Vega has received new moves to improve their playstyle.
You can spend 100,000 Fight Money or just spend $5.99 only to purchase the character from December 16! Capcom has also hinted to reveal their Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition roadmap for upcoming year of 2019 very soon along with news on Capcom Pro Tour.
Bandai Namco DLC Fighting Multiplayer News Nintendo Nintendo Direct Nintendo Switch Pokémon Single Player Street Fighter Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Video Game
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct November 2018
The final Nintendo Direct for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate reveals a classic Street Fighter and a Pokemon character added to roster.
For the most ambitious crossover fighting game in video game history ever, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has assembled every fighter in series and more. Bandai Namco and Nintendo will bring this mega-action blockbuster on December 7 for Nintendo Switch.
In the latest reveal of the game, the final roster for the game is unveiled by director Masahiro Sakurai. Months ago, he promised that players will have a look at every character included in this title and now there are a total of 74.
RELATED: Nintendo Direct Confirms New Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters
Only a while ago, we knew that Sakurai is going to host the 40-minute long video released today to reveal the remaining characters and more details on the game.
RELATED: Nintendo Direct E3 2018
Final Two Characters
A cinematic opens up in a grand fighting arena where Little Mac from Nintendo's Punch-Out series has been punching his opponent to a corner and suddenly gets hit back in the face. His rival is then revealed to be Ken Masters from Street Fighter series.
Turning up the heat of the fight, Ken releases a Hadoken that Lil' Mac barely escapes and from behind the audience a pair of glowing eyes silently observes. He ends the fight with one of his finishing moves, sending his adversary off the ring.
Ken Turns Up The Heat!
RELATED: Super Smash Bros. Comes to Nintendo Switch
The individual from the shadows now heads towards the ring and leaps from above to land directly on Ken but he moves at the last moment. The challenger with his fiery wrath is now revealed to be Incineroar from the Pokémon franchise.
Avoiding a few moves thrown at him, Incineroar hurls Ken on the ring ropes and throws him in the air to perform a series of wrestling moves on him (much like the ones fellow Street Fighter Zangief would use) before finishing the match by sending Ken flying off.
Incineroar Enters The Ring!
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Joining as an Echo Fighter, Ken is adapted for Ultimate based on the version of his character from Super Street Fighter II Turbo. Despite being fairly similar to Ryu, he appears to be faster in the game and deals damage in varied form than his counterpart.
Ken also has a different shaped Hadoken, tatsumaki senpuukyaku hurricane kick delivers more hits and his fiery heavy shoryuken uppercut can burn his challengers. The spinning Shinryuken and Shippu Jinraikyaku are among two of his final smash attacks.
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Hailing from Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon games and the final evolution stage of Litten, Incineroar brings a bunch of pro-wrestling moves for SSBU. This buff cat-wrestler has debuted at number 74, also the last drafted to the brawl.
A creature of fire-based attacks, he specializes in carry out lariats and different suplexes on his rivals in a fight to crush them good. Besides, fire-type Pokémons are known to beat the living crap out of other from their race and he is here to throw his powerful punches.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Special Edition
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Few of the long-running norms and rules are changed for SSBU as offering stage selection before choosing your players. Also, several characters that appear as Echo Fighters are not just simple re-skin of another character but their attack damage or speed features are slightly tweaked to make them stand out.
To get your hands on the Ultimate Special Edition at launch that comes in steelbook case, just place your pre-order for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate before December 6. It also comes with a stylish Super Smash Bros. themed Switch Pro controller.
Super Smash Bros. Styled Switch Pro Controller
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Spirits Mode
You should also know that within the world of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, many characters have become "spirits" upon losing their forms and they will assist the players in fight. There is a huge list of them that you can assign as primary and support spirits.
These spirits will power up the fighters during a match or provide abilities like speed or strength. Mix matching them in certain way to compatible character would earn them extra perks to win a fight against selected opponents.
Piranha Plant Pipes Up!
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Early Purchase Bonus Character | Piranha Plant
Another bit of news from today's Nintendo Direct that knocked everyone's socks off is the addition of the iconic common enemy Piranha Plant from the Super Mario Bros. platformer games as a playable fighter that will be rewarded as an early purchase bonus.
It is all mouth and teeth mostly lurking beneath warp pipes, will be available on February 2019 for free to those who would pre-order the digital version of the game or just register game card to their Switch devices before January 31, 2019.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters Pass
RELATED: Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle Announced
Post-Launch DLC | Fighters Pass
Apparently, there will be five more characters developed as post-launched DLC content containing a unique playable fighter (not an Echo) with their own stages and themed background music, each set will be available for only $5.99.
These yet-to-be-announced DLC packs can also be yours when they are released if you simply purchase the Fighters Pass for $24.99 only. Additionally, placing the pre-order for digital version of Ultimate added with a Fighters Pass from Nintendo eShop within December 6 gets you 425 bonus Gold Points.
New Inkling, Ridley and Wolf Amiibo
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New Amiibo
As announced previously, every fighter from Ultimate will have their own amiibo figures and that includes the one from DLC as well. Recently revealed Ken, Incineroar and Piranha Plant are no different from the treatment while some of them are coming shortly.
Alongside the launch of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Inkling, Ridley and Wolf amiibo figures will come out on December 7. By February 15, 2019, players can get their hands on King K. Rool, Ice Climbers and Piranha Plant. Later at some point the same year Isabelle, Pichu, Ken, Young Link will eventually release too.
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Story Mode | World of Light
Titled World of Light, the trailer opens up with every character from the game has gathered to collectively face a threat that turns out to be a beam of light which disintegrates everyone's physical form and transformed them into spirits, except Kirby.
Masahiro Sakurai has saved up the story mode of the game for last and boy, what a spectacular blast it was. This new adventure is unlike any other you have seen in the entire franchise so far and delivered an intense twist by revealing at the end.
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Although, the ever-expanding roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate made many players' dream come true but also some may have expected a much bigger surprise at the end rather than Ken as an echo fighter and newly added Incineroar.
The most saddened part with many was the exclusion of poor Waluigi, who will not even be in Assist Trophy segment. After the characters' utter humiliation at the E3 2018 trailer of the game, Waluigi fans were still rooting for him.
No Justice for Waluigi!
RELATED: Nintendo Direct Mini January 2018
When Sakurai went on saying, "That’s all the fighters you’ll find in the game", he literally hit the last nail in the coffin. With that, any hopes of him popping out as a surprise reveal is gone. Perhaps, we can see him in DLC in future? Maybe!?
The way previous Nintendo Direct has featured so many characters in the beginning, some of us honestly thought, we are getting introduced to more of them but since Ultimate always aimed for bringing back the existing stars of the franchise, they really weren't interested to draft in new fighters.
Capcom DLC Fighting Gameplay Trailer News PC PlayStation 4 Single Player Street Fighter Street Fighter V Trailer Video Game
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition Adds G and Sagat
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition includes G and Sagat, final two characters from Season 3 into roster from August 6.
Currently in its Season 3 of content, two new fighters have joined the roster of popular fighting game Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition by developer/publisher Capcom. With their distinctive feature of move sets and unique back-stories, these two fighter sure going to add some tension to the already participating world warriors.
Producer Yoshinori Ono of the game introduces G, one of the mysterious characters of the series and Sagat, self-proclaimed "God of Muay Thai", during EVO 2018. The contest of world warriors has just become more intense than ever in the history of SFV.
Check out the new gameplay trailer of a brand-new, mysterious character of SFV, who simply goes by the name, G.
G thinks himself as the “President of the World” and his goal is to unite entire populace of Earth in his name. Even though his agenda sounds nonsense, he does posses a fiery move set that is derived from Earth itself, which is why he calls himself the President.
Players get to unlock new combos and his special moves get stronger as his level increases. One of the biggest perk he enjoys is to charge up in the middle of a fight and his Presidentiality can lessen if he is knocked down in combat.
G, Man of Mystery
RELATED: Street Fighter Board Game is Kickstarter Exclusive
Now take a look at the gameplay trailer of Sagat entering SFV roster in his majestic glory and an all-new avatar of unmatched fury.
RELATED: Monster Hunter: World X Final Fantasy XIV Collaboration Event
Sagat was the unplayable final boss of original Street Fighter game and a longtime rival of Ryu for receiving a trademark scar from him. Aside from that, the arrival of Sagat demands your attention and respect as you are only one deadly Tiger move away from getting decimated.
In his quest of becoming world's strongest fighter, he brings back his signature move sets like Tiger Knee Crush, Tiger Shot and Tiger Uppercut to usher ferocity of his power crushing all opponents out there.
Sagat, The Solitary King
RELATED: Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Details
Scheduled to appear from August 6, a new stage based on Sagat’s stage from Street Fighter 2, King’s Court comes along with the character as well on PC and PlayStation 4. Both G and Sagat are available to purchase for $5.99 or using in-game "Fight Money" worth 100,000.
They also come with Street Fighter V’s Season 3 character pass, which will cost you $29.99 only and purchasing it will unlock Cody, Blanka, Falke and Sakura. Acquiring these two new fighter with real world currency will get you their very own Battle Costumes.
Board Game Capcom Kickstarter News Street Fighter YouTube
Street Fighter Board Game is Kickstarter Exclusive
Video game enthusiasts who wander around YouTube often have heard the name of "Angry Joe", who makes videos on games and movies with his own opinion and he is pretty famous. What you may not know that this guy is also responsible for a brand-new board game Street Fighter: The Miniatures Game on Kickstarter right now. Joe is the creator and co-designer of this project which he showcased earlier on his channel.
RELATED: Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Release Date
This ambitious project was launched on Kickstarter with a $400,000 funding goal and already surpassed the initial goal. Officially the board game is licensed by Capcom and it's almost near completion with miniature samples available for display. So basically, if you take part by pledging a certain amount of money, you are just pre-ordering the game. Even if you are a Street Fighter fan, we would recommend you read the rulebook manual first.
In case if you are interested in Kickstarter-exclusive board game Street Fighter: The Miniatures Game, we have a clip showcasing 3D Renders of miniatures from the game Set!
Concept for Street Fighter board game was first came to light in one of Joe's videos back in November 29, 2015. He just teased the fans saying that it would be a mash up of Dragon Ball Z, Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter series of fighting games. He talked about developing a rule set called Universal Tactics System for the project and shared plans to take it to Kickstarter for funding. Since we are seeing only Street Fighter: The Miniatures Game to be made, there will possibly be more.
Street Fighter: The Miniatures Game
Your selected classic Street Fighter characters will fight on large, expansive maps against single opponents or teams, which is the best part. There is a boss fight mode that allows three of World Warriors to go together up against Akuma and Bison. Movements are played out strategically by cards and dice on a grid-based map. Considering everything we mentioned and didn't, it seem like a perfect time for this board game to come out soon as Street Fighter series reached the 30th anniversary milestone.
RELATED: Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition Announced
Although many might think that Street Fighter probably isn't quite a fit for a board game but this project looks fascinating and it's already happening. Lastly, even if you do not enjoy board games in general and would likely to never play with the set, the miniature figures are worth collecting as they are no less than any action figures already available on market.
Capcom Fighting Gameplay Trailer Multiplayer News PC PlayStation 4 Single Player Street Fighter Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Street Fighter II Trailer Video Game Xbox One
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Release Date
It's been 30 years that Capcom's most celebrated fighting game series Street Fighter is entertaining us with one title after another. During 2017's Capcom Cup, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection was officially announced as an anthology of 12 fan-favorite games but what we had for a release date was May 2018 and no specific day until now. Yes, we now know that the game will be released on May 29, 2018 and every fans waiting for the title are as thrilled as us.
Below is a recently released short clip from Capcom announcing the release date and some few other great things about Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection for you to check out.
Needless to mention that players are way too excited for the game because it packs years of nostalgia in one set that allows you to enjoy all those retro era games from the Street Fighter series on modern day gaming platforms. Some of the most essential titles like the Street Fighter Alpha Series and Street Fighter Turbo Series have made it to the anthology. You do not need to unlock any of these games and they all are available to play from the start.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Titles
RELATED: Art of Fighting Anthology on PlayStation 4
Among these greatest releases, Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter II: Turbo, Street Fighter Alpha 3, and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is up for online multiplayer. Another aspect that is common for these four titles are that they all are final installments of their cycle. The rules for the multiplayer is that, four players will go online and two of them will engage in a match while the other watching and wait for their turn.
RELATED: The King of Fighters '98 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
This all feels like a re-creation of the arcade feel, where you are faced by challengers during a fight with the AI. The only difference is, it's all online now. Whenever you are done with your opponent, you get back to face the CPU controlled characters. You can turn this on and off at your will to complete the whole game without someone interrupting you with a challenge in the middle of an ongoing fight. However, this is probably the closest they will be able to give us that nostalgic arcade vibe.
Concept Art Museum
RELATED: The King of Fighters '97 Global Match Announced
It will be near-impossible to find a fan of the Street Fighter series that haven't played Street Fighter II, the game which redefined fighting game genre forever. The in-game Museum of this anthology pack let's you discover a lot than you already know about the game through documents, concept art and sprites. Any game of the Street Fighter Alpha series or Street Fighter III features the gameplay evolution of the franchise for you. Also, all the above mentioned sections are unlocked from the very beginning to save you from trouble.
Street Fighter Gameplay Evolution
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is the latest addition to this collection and even that happened nearly 14 years ago, in 2004 and probably the last one using 2D design sprites. Street Fighter V is currently the final release of the entire series and they have added an "Arcade Mode" lately. So, to bridge up between the classics and the modern era, Capcom has an offer to make. With your pre-order of Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection for PC, PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you will get Ultra Street Fighter IV completely free!
RELATED: Dragon Ball FighterZ First DLC Characters Revealed
If you are going for the physical copy pre-order then you will receive a digital code for the free game and this is how it will go in North America. In case of digital purchase, the code will arrive exactly two weeks after the release of the anthology pack, which is priced only $39.99. Ultra Street Fighter IV is the updated final version for Street Fighter IV containing 44 playable characters, which initially debuted on all platforms in 2009.
Capcom Fighting Gameplay Trailer Multiplayer News Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 4 Single Player Street Fighter Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Street Fighter II Trailer Video Game Xbox One
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Details
The franchise that has ushered a new age of revolution on arcade is Capcom's fighting video game series of Street Fighter. Yes, other series like Mortal Kombat and The King of Fighters have undoubtedly contributed a lot as well. Back in December 2017, Capcom announced a collection of Street Fighter games to celebrate the upcoming 30th anniversary of the series titled Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection.
Below is the announcement trailer for Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection showcasing the amazing titles filled with the flavor of nostalgia for fighting game lovers.
The collection is simply an anthology of 12 glorious titles from the Street Fighter franchise since it begins in 1987. That includes the hazy designs of the first game from the series to the intense designs of the Alpha series are all packed in one combo pack. Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is the four titles that supports online multiplayer. You can even turn on widescreen mode in Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact.
We have a pre-release brief glimpse at the game courtesy of PlayStation Underground, as guys from Capcom plays from the 12 different games and shares insight about the release.
This one is the first official video of the gameplay of Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection where someone actually played it, if we do not include the announcement trailer as it was a few in-game footages. This collection is definitely the best conversion of the arcade versions that you've played and the developers tried their best to keep the arcade vibe as intact as possible. Hopefully, fans will be very appreciative of this attempt by Capcom.
Now, aside from all these great games and improved features, there is one unique mode in Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection for Nintendo Switch that is not possible to bring in any other platform. Formerly exclusive in Japan, a Tournament Battle mode was available for eight players by linking four Super Street Fighter II cabinets. Now you can re-create that virtual arena by connecting four Switch consoles with the 30th Anniversary Collection installed in them.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is going to come out in May 2018, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Arguably, this one is the best way to get lost for a while in the old arcade days indulging into the fantastic charisma of the fighting game saga with all those legendary fighters. Plus, you have other features like concept arts, music archives and sprite viewers in an interactive timeline. All things that we know till now make us believe that the 30th anniversary collection is as arcade-perfect as it can get.
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The Sensory Toolkit
Tate Exchange 2019
Galeria Labirynt 2018
Galeria Labirynt 2018 Visual p
Sensory-inspired objects
Sensory-inspired projects
Interactive Spaces
'Move me' 2018
'Move Me More' 2018
Look Closer, Tate Exchange 201
Open Doors MAG 2014-16
HLF Funded project (1)
Doodle den: Tate Liverpool
British Council funded
Family Art Club
Umbrella doodles
A sketchbook of MCR 2016
AWOL Studio film 2016
stitched stories
Sarah Evelyn Marsh
Here you will find updates and announcements of projects I've designed, delivered and been involved in over the past year.
I hope you find something interesting to read.
Look Closer: Altered perceptions (Review and evaluation).
By evelynarts, Mar 10 2017 05:07PM
Paper, fragile and strong
Let’s see things differently, through the eyes of each other.
Look Closer: Altered Perceptions
We are a group of women aged 15-25 who have come together from across Merseyside to consider themes and issues that are relevant to us all. We come from different backgrounds and have varied experiences but by exploring the issues that are important to us all like gender, sexuality, mental health and identity we have shared perspectives and found a common language. Using paper as a metaphor for both the strength and fragility of emotions, feelings and states of mind we have created this space. We invite you to engage with the installation and look closer, helping us to encourage others to alter per- ceptions and celebrate all women and their individualism.
Late November 2016, two groups of young ladies, from different backgrounds, with different gender identities, came together to explore their common-ground, using art and the gallery as a vehicle for developing their discussions, emotions, thoughts and ideas into a creative and interactive outcome.
As the lead artist on this project, it was my role to create a ‘safe space’ for the girls to feel comfortable and confident in order for sincere and sensitive discussions to take place. My Gallery / Arts Educator method is peer-led; driven by the participants ideas and responses to artworks, environments and materials. There were no predetermined idea of outcome, other than this was a Tate Collective and Tate Exchange project that would be exhibited in Tate Liverpool over 4 days.
Introduction to the gallery
The project began with 2 sessions for each group separately. Through ‘found text’ from newspapers, we made connections to artworks in the Constellations galleries. These abstract connections provided us with a way into the artwork, encouraging discussions to flow organically in front of them. It was interesting that both groups were drawn to the same artworks on separate occasions, when I relayed this back to each group, it seemed to provide a sense of reassurance and mutual respect before they met.
I selected the Constellations gallery opposite Tracey Emin’s My Bed, as a number of Fe- male artists are represented such as; Eva Hesse, Rachel Whiteread, Zanel Muholi, Gillian Wearing and Louise Bourgeois, whose connection with Emin is well documented. The young women spoke with maturity whilst discussing issues around the objectification of female bodies in the media, gender issues, feminism, personal insecurities, and the impact of social media on their wellbeing.
Tracey Emin & William Blake In Focus.
Around Emin’s My Bed, discussions and thoughts formed in Constellations were developed and deepened. The ‘found text’ became abstract poetry inspired by My Bed, and the young women’s personal associations with the emotive piece;
Night doesn’t have to mean ‘end of the day’. Here’s why it makes sense Quality of life has a price
Not something you see everyday
Suspending privacy Got the blues
Mind games and pursuit Sluggish Monday Kingpins of tobacco Autumn addiction
Monday 17th October 2016
Threw petrol on fire
It was a matter of principle
That’s more important to me than winning I’m no threat
The solution miracle saints
The found text also became powerful, association words that were stitched and stained onto white, cotton pillowcases. During these sessions we worked with Tate Collective participant and embroiderer, Michaela Swan. As a younger member of the team, Michaela was a fantastic role-model figure for the girls, as well as providing a skills sharing master- class.
Abstract poetry
Making Comnnections
On the young women’s first meeting as a whole group, we introduced ourselves by name and preferred pronoun, eg; she, he, they. We also introduced a person who inspired us; My Dad (brave)...Mum (strong)...teacher (supportive)...Adele (aspirational)...Grandad (caring). This was a key moment, it placed everyone at the same level. It was emotional, I was humbled by the openness of the group.
We revisited My Bed as a blended group. YPAS and HL were paired together. Each pair focussed on an area of My Bed and wrote words, lists and descriptions to annotate their thoughts and ideas.
- The blue carpet became a sinking, sticky pool for the island of grief and pity.
- The belt became a symbol of aggressive sexuality.
- The chained suitcases became symbols of anxiety.
- The scrunched up tissues became emotive actions of fear, destruction, anger and fragility.
Emotive experiments
Reflecting on our reactions to the installation, we collated emotive words and in the same mixed groups, selected one word and played it out in colour, texture and materials;
smeared wax and clay became disgust, action writing in carefully selected coloured markers became anger and frustration, mirrored reflections layered with drawn symbols became messages of invisibility and hidden feelings. We extended the processes further by viewing our work through coloured lenses and projecting our outcomes to consider scale, light and movement.
These processes encouraged the group to channel emotions and feelings into creative outputs; allowing them to think conceptually and abstractly. The group collaborated to consider aesthetics and develop a creative language.
It was decided that texture was a visually powerful and interesting representation of emotions and connected to the symbolic, scrunched tissues found by My Bed, Emin (1998). The group agreed the final outcome was to be an interactive space, an installation, inspired by My Bed. It would be a space where the audience is asked to consider their emotions, and to leave it as a physical response. The group planned the content, the look of the space, the experience and the role of the participant, as well as their individual and collaborative roles. Each participant worked as artist, designer, curator and audience to unravel these decisions.
A deeper exploration
Texture was selected as the visual metaphor for our emotions and we investigated it further in clay, whiteboard and markers, and paper. We spent a session considering how, why and what each material did. Due to the projects visibility on the gallery, it was time to think logistically about each material; how will it look visually in the space? Can this material be used in the gallery? How will the public interact with the material?
Paper was chosen as the physical form for our emotions. Paper is genderless, yet it became the embodiment of Woman. It became skin, it became the creased bed sheets of Emin’s bed, it was powerful and strong, yet delicate and fragile, it was complex and pure, it revealed and concealed. Subsequently, a YPAS participant would comment that, 'Paper is a metaphor for the strength and fragility of our emotions’.
Due to the sensory nature of the paper experiments, Sound also developed into an important element of the installation. Jessica Wild, a filmmaker and sound artist, joined the project to document the processes, create visuals for the installation and a soundscape. Again, this created another opportunity for the girls to work with an Arts professional and female role-model.
Peer-led learning
During the final experimental session, two participants created beautiful imagery through a game they invented. Emotive words were written onto scraps of paper, sitting opposite each other on a large piece of white paper, they blew the words to each other. The idea was to reveal the word you were feeling by relying on chance. Jessica captured this performance on film and the outcome became the final moments of the installation film and the image of the E-invite for the celebration day. This example of creative play was a form of self-expression for the girls, they developed an idea and played it out, it was peer-led learning in it’s purest form.
The physical processes employed by the group during our playful, paper investigations, were representational of real emotions and feelings. Paper was screwed up with clenched fists, passionately ripped and forcefully kicked through. Neat folds were thoughtfully and carefully created, paper was layered, hidden, smothered, encased and protected. We shone lights onto punched, paper walls to cast shadows that turned into ‘delicate birds’, through charged and aggressive actions. Images of paper were projected onto layers of translucent papers, that were torn through to reveal hidden images, memories, like scars; healed wounds that never forgot.
In one session, paper links were sculpturally formed by experimental hands, these were connected into chains. In the final event, these chains formed the basis of an engaging intervention for the public; they were asked to consider how they were feeling and to then change the paper through an emotive action. These paper-chains snaked the length of the space, winding around and through the paper walls, creating pockets of space, chaos and forming barriers and places for people to sit, relax and create in.
Rose-tinted glasses
Our lists of emotive words explored ‘opposites’, so for every negative word we always strove to find the more positive word. The group discovered negative words could be visually filtered out by writing them in certain colours and then viewing through a colour filter. We chose a red filter to symbolise the saying, ‘Looking at life through rose-tinted glasses’. The girls were able to control the negative words to disappear or fade away,
The glasses became an intervention opportunity for the audience on the final day of the event. Emotive words were written onto paper walls during the Celebration event, by the girls and their families and then installed on the final day. The experience inspired the audience, both young and old, to question how it worked, comment on the strength of it’s message and likening it to an analogue style of editing or photoshopping. It gave the audience a sense of ownership of the space; they could change it, they controlled how they viewed it. This idea was also present when I invited the audience to alter and distress the paper walls, as an alternative to the final performance. The viewer became participant and performer.
Belittled Empowered To please Control Scared Fearless Paranoid Self-assured Confused Focussed Hallucination Clarity Illusions Healed Isolated Connected Scarred Healed Disgust
Anger Tranquility Frustration Determined Confident Restless Settled Reformed
Uneasy Comfortable Reluctant Relentless Active Misunderstood Excepted Forced Free(dom) Alone Unity
The final install
After 12 weeks of workshops the final installation was decided upon; 3 layers of 8 white, paper walls, of different translucencies and textures. Some crumpled, some torn and some pristine. Footage of the girls experimenting with paper had been captured and turned into a black and white, atmospheric visual that was projected through the paper from two different angles; from the front wall and from the side; adding extra layers and depth of light and shadows, the space became immersive from the inside, out. During the editing stage, it was noted by the girls that the video made them look genderless, which they liked, some enjoyed the vagueness of the imagery, some questioned the meaning of it. A paper sound- scape animated the space, creating yet another layer and adding to the emotive, sensory feel of the environment.
Jessica Wild filmed the young women’s verbal responses to photographs selected as a representation of the project, they fell into the following categories; working together, gender in art, light and shadow, words, connections, paper feeling, emotions, layers. What came out of this evaluation was the girls understanding of the projects processes, the importance of working together, connections to the gallery and artwork, the aesthetic effects of the final installation, they all expressed a sense of pride in the project and the final outcome. One of the girls noted it made her think and look differently at things, another, ‘liked analysing art’. Another participant noted we were ‘giving emotions a physical appearance based on what we thought and felt’.
Here are a few more comments from the young women;
‘It’s been fun working with a different group, and with other artists’.
‘I see it (the paper) as more creative, you can do more things with it’.
‘It shows different emotions on paper’.
‘I think the projections on the paper are fantastic’.
‘It shows we’re independent’
‘We felt that we wouldn't have as much say as we expected to, but it was, kind of, a lot based on our ideas’.
‘Working with the other group provided different thoughts and opinions and we couldn't have created what we did without them, definitely’.
‘You go through things in life that tear you apart’. (When discussing the ripped paper)
‘In English I’m taught to look between the lines, there’s a deeper meaning and I’ve never done that with Art; this project has made me think me about what it means, like in English.
We looked beyond the simplicity of the paper...created something that is stylistic and simple, but at the same time it’s effective.
We started as a group of women from diverse backgrounds, with no predetermined ideas or plan, and collaborated to create an inspired, interactive environment that invited every- one to look closer.
Look Closer, Tate Exchange
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Vencedores dos Hugo Awards 2012
Segue-se a lista completa dos nomeados para cada categoria e respectivos vencedores:
The Hugo Awards, presented annually since 1955, are science fiction’s most prestigious award. The Hugo Awards are voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon”), which is also responsible for administering them.
Best Novel
Among Others, Jo Walton (Tor)
A Dance With Dragons, George R. R. Martin (Bantam Spectra)
Deadline, Mira Grant (Orbit)
Embassytown, China Miéville (Macmillan / Del Rey)
Leviathan Wakes, James S. A. Corey (Orbit)
Best Novella
Countdown, Mira Grant (Orbit)
“The Ice Owl”, Carolyn Ives Gilman (The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction)
“Kiss Me Twice”, Mary Robinette Kowal (Asimov’s)
“The Man Who Bridged the Mist”, Kij Johnson (Asimov’s)
“The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary”, Ken Liu (Panverse 3)
Silently and Very Fast, Catherynne M. Valente (WSFA)
Note: 6 nominees due to tie for final position.
Best Novelette
“The Copenhagen Interpretation”, Paul Cornell (Asimov’s)
“Fields of Gold”, Rachel Swirsky (Eclipse Four)
“Ray of Light”, Brad R. Torgersen (Analog)
“Six Months, Three Days”, Charlie Jane Anders (Tor.com)
“What We Found”, Geoff Ryman (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction)
Best Short Story
“The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees”, E. Lily Yu (Clarkesworld)
“The Homecoming”, Mike Resnick (Asimov’s)
“Movement”, Nancy Fulda (Asimov’s)
“The Paper Menagerie”, Ken Liu (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction)
“Shadow War of the Night Dragons: Book One: The Dead City: Prologue”, John Scalzi (Tor.com)
Best Related Work
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, Third Edition, edited by John Clute, David Langford, Peter Nicholls, and Graham Sleight (Gollancz)
Jar Jar Binks Must Die…and other Observations about Science Fiction Movies, Daniel M. Kimmel (Fantastic Books)
The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature, Jeff VanderMeer and S. J. Chambers (Abrams Image)
Wicked Girls (CD), Seanan McGuire
Writing Excuses, Season 6 (podcast series), Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Howard Tayler, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Jordan Sanderson
Best Graphic Story
Digger, by Ursula Vernon (Sofawolf Press)
Fables Vol 15: Rose Red, by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham (Vertigo)
Locke & Key Volume 4: Keys To The Kingdom, written by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
Schlock Mercenary: Force Multiplication, written and illustrated by Howard Tayler, colors by Travis Walton (The Tayler Corporation)
The Unwritten (Volume 4): Leviathan, created by Mike Carey and Peter Gross, written by Mike Carey, illustrated by Peter Gross (Vertigo)
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
Captain America: The First Avenger, screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephan McFeely; directed by Joe Johnston (Marvel)
Game of Thrones (Season 1), created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss; written by David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, Bryan Cogman, Jane Espenson, and George R. R. Martin; directed by Brian Kirk, Daniel Minahan, Tim van Patten, and Alan Taylor (HBO)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, screenplay by Steve Kloves; directed by David Yates (Warner Bros.)
Hugo, screenplay by John Logan; directed by Martin Scorsese (Paramount)
Source Code, screenplay by Ben Ripley; directed by Duncan Jones (Vendome Pictures)
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
Doctor Who, “The Doctor’s Wife”, written by Neil Gaiman; directed by Richard Clark (BBC Wales)
“The Drink Tank’s Hugo Acceptance Speech”, Christopher J Garcia and James Bacon (Renovation)
Doctor Who, “The Girl Who Waited”, written by Tom MacRae; directed by Nick Hurran (BBC Wales)
Doctor Who, “A Good Man Goes to War”, written by Steven Moffat; directed by Peter Hoar (BBC Wales)
Community, “Remedial Chaos Theory”, written by Dan Harmon and Chris McKenna; directed by Jeff Melman (NBC)
Best Semiprozine
Apex Magazine, edited by Catherynne M. Valente, Lynne M. Thomas, and Jason Sizemore
Interzone, edited by Andy Cox
Lightspeed, edited by John Joseph Adams
Locus, edited by Liza Groen Trombi, Kirsten Gong-Wong, et al.
New York Review of Science Fiction, edited by David G. Hartwell, Kevin J. Maroney, Kris Dikeman, and Avram Grumer
Best Fanzine
Banana Wings, edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer
The Drink Tank, edited by James Bacon and Christopher J Garcia
File 770, edited by Mike Glyer
Journey Planet, edited by James Bacon, Christopher J Garcia, et al.
SF Signal, edited by John DeNardo
Best Fancast
The Coode Street Podcast, Jonathan Strahan & Gary K. Wolfe
Galactic Suburbia Podcast, Alisa Krasnostein, Alex Pierce, and Tansy Rayner Roberts (presenters) and Andrew Finch (producer)
SF Signal Podcast, John DeNardo and JP Frantz (presenters), Patrick Hester (producer)
SF Squeecast, Lynne M. Thomas, Seanan McGuire, Paul Cornell, Elizabeth Bear, and Catherynne M. Valente
StarShipSofa, Tony C. Smith
Best Editor, Long Form
Liz Gorinsky
Anne Lesley Groell
Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Betsy Wollheim
Best Editor, Short Form
John Joseph Adams
Neil Clarke
Stanley Schmidt
Jonathan Strahan
Sheila Williams
Best Professional Artist
Bob Eggleton
Stephan Martiniere
John Picacio
Best Fan Artist
Spring Schoenhuth
Maurine Starkey
Steve Stiles
Taral Wayne
Best Fan Writer
Claire Brialey
Christopher J. Garcia
Steven H Silver
The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
Stina Leicht
Karen Lord
E. Lily Yu
Euro Steam Con
Blimunda n.º 4
LeYa no Rossio - Festival Literário
Podcast sobre o romance gótico
Leituras Digitais (2 a 8 de Setembro)
Ler Mais Ler Melhor: Exposição Jorge Amado em Port...
Documentários relacionados com literatura gótica
Ciclo de conferências LER em Voz Alta
NY Public Library lança “Frankenstein: The Afterli...
Clubes de Leitura Bertrand do Fantástico - Setembr...
Fórum Fantástico e Euro Steam Con
Já nas bancas: LER, Setembro 2012
Leituras Digitais (26 de Agosto a 1 de Setembro)
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« Lakers Win Third Annual ‘Other West Coast’ Regatta
GVSU Wins MACRA Trophy for 2nd Consecutive Year »
Laker Navy Takes SIRA by Storm
On Sunday, the Lakers completed its most successful SIRA Championship in Oak Ridge, TN. Due to a forecast of thunderstorms and heavy rain, the grand final championships were moved from the afternoon to Sunday morning. GVSU qualified seven out of eight boats for the grand finals through the heats and semi-final racing that took place Saturday. The championship rounds saw heavy rain and brisk weather throughout with little wind on the racecourse.
The morning kicked off with the Men’s Novice four final at 7:40 am. The boat consisted of Marty Reed at stroke, Topher Jarman-3, John Nance-2, Jerry Jarvis-1, and coxswain Dayna Campbell. The Lakers had a rough start and rowed to a sixth place finish. Although they fought hard down the course to a 7:31.2, Ohio State at 7:01.5 and Temple at 7:02.5 proved too much for the rest of the field.
The following race was the Women’s Novice eight (Open, DI) with Mollie Manson at stroke, Lindsey Marshall- 7, Christina Turner-6, Emily Zogas- 5, Alex Foster- 4, Lauren Adlof- 3, Tamara Hillman- 2, Rachel Kishman at bow, and coxswain Robi Scarborough. The girls chose to move up into the top tier race instead of racing in the Women’s club event. Coming off a lackluster semi-final performance, the ladies came off the line much better Sunday morning. Grand Valley used the quick start and long body of the race to establish themselves as contenders. In the end, GVSU wasn’t quite strong enough to hold off the powerful novice eight from Alabama. The Lakers took second place in the final in a time of 7:20.2, behind University of Alabama at 7:14.9 and ahead of Kansas State University at 7:26.4. Coach Ola Nwabara commented, “The girls faced their first challenge of the year this weekend. They had to fight hard to qualify for the final and rose to the occasion this morning. I was pleased with their progress throughout the weekend.”
In the next event, GVSU competed in the Men’s Novice eight with Marco Benedetti at stroke, Tucker Anderson- 7, Zak Armstrong- 6, Aaron Gesquiere- 5, Carter Brown- 4, Josh Stauber- 3, Mitch McClain- 2, Jimmy Wilkie at bow, and coxswain Hallie Dorsey. The Lakers charged to the front of the pack with a sharp start and strong settle. However, Delaware and Marietta made a strong push into and past the Lakers through the 1000m marker and led to the finish. At the finish, University of Delaware took first at 6:24.6, Marietta College second at 6:26.2, and GVSU third at 6:29.9 ahead of University of Virginia, Notre Dame, and University of North Carolina.
The Men’s Junior Varsity eight followed with Kyle Dara, So. at stroke, Daniel Robertson, Sr.- 7, Peter DiFrisco, So.- 6, Daniel Schoolcraft, Jr.- 5, Jonathon Havenhill, Fr.- 4, Brendan Sawyer, So.- 3, Matt Rejc, Jr.- 2, Scott Feil, Jr. at bow, and coxswain Aly Mendels, Fr. The race was quick and tight down the entirety of the course. Temple used a strong start to establish itself over the entire race. In what amounted to a battle for the second place finish, Grand Valley fell short rowing to a fifth place finish. Temple won with a 6:21.1, followed by Jacksonville at a 6:25.0, Delaware at a 6:25.3, Purdue at 6:26.3 and GVSU at 6:26.8 with only 1.8 seconds separating second through fifth place.
The next final was the Women’s Varsity eight (Club, DII, DIII) that sat Renee Chouinard, Sr. at stroke, Kaitlin Steigenga, Sr.- 7, Alex VanderArk, Jr.- 6, Abby Quisenberry, So.- 5, Lauren Holben, Jr.- 4, Hanna Jones, Fr.- 3, Kari Oshanski, Fr.- 2, Hannah Brinza, So at bow, and coxswain Rebecca Turchanik. The Lakers struggled at the start but fought back into the top ranked DII team in the country, Mercyhurst. The final sprint gave Mercyhurst the edge at a time of 7:08.9 to GVSU’s 7:14. 2. Nova Southeastern followed in third place at a time of 7:24.0. The Laker’s second varsity eight will look to continue to build its speed and will enter the Women’s Varsity DII eight race at Dad Vail.
Immediately following, the Women’s Varsity eight (Open, DI) competed with Sarah Zelenka, Sr. at stroke, Sam Morgan, Jr.- 7, Laura Marshall, So.- 6, Kelsey Arnold, So.- 5, Kendra Socks, Jr.- 4, Katie Phelan, So. – 3, Kelli O’Brien, So.- 2, Leslie Mayville, So. at bow, and coxswain Katie Higgins, Jr. The women raced against nationally ranked No. 17 Louisville in the semi-final on Saturday, as well as many other top-tier DI scholarship programs. Using a quick start, GVSU was even with UL through the 1000 meter mark before falling off pace in the final section of the race. GVSU rowed to a second place finish in the semi-final ahead of Indiana University. In the Sunday final, the Lakers would have to again face its toughest challenge of the year. With an excellent start and shift to pace, the Lakers took a two seat lead on UL across the 1000m mark and up on the rest of the field. As the strong and experienced Cardinals made a push back around the 1250 mark, the young Lakers battled hard but fell short in the end. The final placed Louisville at 6:47.8, GVSU at 6:54.8, Indiana University at 7:00.0, Kansas State University at 7:01.3, Purdue at 7:04.7, and Kansas University at 7:10.1. Assistant Coach Mark McIlduff said, “The women proved that they are at the level of some of the nation’s top programs. I think the lack of experience against that sort of competition may have shown in the closing part of both women’s races, but it was very impressive to see both eights perform so well. We are all very proud of how hard they raced.”
In the final event of the morning championships, GVSU boated a Men’s Varsity eight of Blake Donovan, Sr. at stroke, Geoff Sadek, Sr.- 7, Breck Davis, Jr.- 6, Mark McClusky, Jr.- 5, Ryan League, Jr.- 4, Justin Ott, Sr.- 3, Adam Cecil, Sr.- 2, Mike Stoll, Jr. at bow, and coxswain Ashley Stevens, Sr. The men had a difficult challenge in the Saturday heats when they faced off against a powerful Temple crew. In the heats, Temple sprinted through to nip the Lakers at a time of 6:02.6 to GVSU’s 6:02.7. In the Saturday afternoon semi-final, the Lakers showed the tired legs from the morning heats as they came off the line sluggish in a competitive field. Down at the 1000m mark by a length to FIT and Purdue, the Lakers also trailed Delaware. With a furious move with 800m to go, the Lakers chased down the field to set up a sprint to the finish. GVSU finished second behind FIT, edging out Purdue and Delaware in the semi-final. The Sunday final saw a loaded field of FIT, Jacksonville, Purdue, Temple, GVSU, and Notre Dame. FIT took off on the field on the start, as GVSU settled into the middle of the pack. GVSU used another strong move in the third 500m to establish itself into the sprint. FIT had a little too much speed for the Lakers, as they finished at 6:09.6 ahead of GVSU at 6:13.1. Finishing off the final were Temple at 6:14.0, Purdue at 6:15.3, Jacksonville at 6:15.7, and Notre Dame at 6:24.0.
Head Coach John Bancheri summarized, “This weekend showcased our program speed. I was extremely happy with how all of the crews performed. Seven boats in the grand finals is an amazing feat for Grand Valley. What is even more impressive is that these student athletes are in the middle of their final examinations. To come down here and perform this well with that on their mind speaks volumes of every single one of them. We will concentrate on the academics this week and return to prepare for the Dad Vail and ACRA. I believe we still have speed to gain.”
Complete Results: http://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/results/1184.pdf
The Laker Navy will continue to train as they go through final examination week. They return to the water on May 2nd to host the 45th Annual Mid American Collegiate Rowing Association’s Championship Regatta in Comstock Riverside Park at Grand Rapids, MI.
An Alumni’s Take
“As alums who have raced SIRA as well as coached here, it was a true pleasure and honor seeing our University’s rowing team compete on such a high level on Saturday and Sunday. All of our boats, both men and women, competed on a very high level and their hard work led to GVSU being the talk of the regatta. It was inspiring to us this weekend to see such a strong passion in the rowers from the senior to freshman level. Rowing is one of the most unique sports to Grand Valley. Here, as a club, we sometimes get to choose at which level to compete on. Today the Women’s Varsity Eight chose to race against scholarship funded, Division One competition. They went toe to toe with the Number 17th ranked program in Division One and defeated several other nationally recognized programs to finish second in the Division I Grand Final. The women’s second eight and novice eights both achieved Silver Medals in their respective Grand Finals. This is promising news that the Women’s team is going to be producing potential National Champions for year to come. The men’s program showed that it might be performing at it highest level in it’s 40 year history. The Varsity men finished second in the Grand Final ahead of many Division One program like Purdue, Temple, Jacksonville and others. Although the men are graduating several in the top boat, the JV Eight and Freshmen Eight and Four showed us there is plenty of depth on the men’s side to continue to bring home winning results. As a GVSU Alum at this event, it really makes us proud when all the talk at a large regatta like this is, “Watch out for Grand Valley”, “Grand Valley is the deepest program here”. These kinds of comments reflect well on the alums, athletes, program, and university. We understand that the support that alumni and the university gives our rowing program is truly helping spread a positive name and image of GVSU far beyond the reaches of West Michigan.”
John Palk ‘04
A Parent’s Perspective of GVSU Rowing
“We just got back to our hometown (Marietta, Ohio), after another outstanding performance by a group of young adults from Grand Valley State University. This weekend it was Tennessee, last weekend Grand Haven and the weekend before it was Marietta, Ohio. This is how we have enjoyed our weekends in the spring since our son; Daniel became a Laker and a college rower in 2006. Over the course of 3 years we as parents have supported one of the best groups of students under the best group of coaches any University would be proud to have.
I remember Grand Valley State University when they came to Marietta back it the late 60’s to race with only a few teams. Now see how many teams Grand Valley competes with. This weekend in Tennessee, Grand Valley State University Rowing competed against 61 teams from 19 states. They competed in 8 events, of those eight, 7 made it to the grand finals. They ended today by bringing back to Grand Valley State University 4 Silvers and one Bronze.
Every year since our association with GVSU we have seen a steady and constant progression of success in the rowing program. We truly believe this only comes from a committed coaching staff as well as support from the University.
Rowing venue is not a major money maker but it is by far the best marketing tool you would want for your University. It is always nice to be able to answer the question that we are always asked “Where is Grand Valley State University”.
We will always support our son Daniel, Coach Bancheri and his coaches, the team, and GVSU.”
Ok-Bin and Ken Schoolcraft
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Workshop in Perth 18 Sep
Click here for full resolution poster
On Sunday September 18 there will be a wiki training workshop for Paralympians in Perth, held at the State Library. WMAU members Graham Pearce and John Vandenberg will be there, as will Laura Hale (University of Canberra) and Tony Naar (Australian Paralympic Committee) and Murray Phillips (University of Queensland).
The Australian Paralympic Committee, in association with the University of Canberra National Institute of Sport Studies, and Wikimedia Australia, invites you to help edit Wikipedia articles relating to:
The History of the Paralympics for Australia (HoPAU)
Please join us for a day of demonstrations, skills development, and collaborative editing at:
State Library of Western Australia, Perth
10am to 5pm Sunday 18 September 2011
Geographe Room, 25 Francis Street
hopau.ucniss.net
About HOPAU
A partnership between the Australian Paralympic Committee, University of Canberra National Institute of Sport Studies, University of Queensland, and Wikimedia volunteers, to develop Wikipedia coverage of Australia at the Paralympics, to produce a Wikibook on the History of the Australian Paralympic Movement, and to document and manage the project on Wikiversity.
How did the workshop in Perth go?
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Ex-Illuminati Member Exposes the Demonic Music Industry
The first part of this video features a recording from 1970 of John Todd, a supposed ex-managing president of “Zodiac Productions” speaking about the occult secrets behind the music industry. Hollywood witches, wiza...
Busta Rhymes: Illuminati in Hip Hop “Spiralling Out of Control”
In a recent interview with MTV’s RapFix Live, hardened hip hop hotshot Busta Rhymes spoke about the current illuminati obsession in hip hop and how he thinks it is now spiralling out of control. Explaining how he has R...
Wolfgang Gartner – ‘Illmerica’
Grammy-nominated veteran house producer and DJ, Wolfgang Gartner, uniquely animates America’s inherent issues, from capitalism and chemtrails, to banking and media brainwashing, in this music video for his his 2010 produc...
System of a Down – Boom!
Boom, boom, boom, boom! Every time you drop the bomb you kill the child your God has born…
‘How Stuff Works’ Illuminati Video Exposé
The popular knowledge based website howstuffworks has recently produced an intriguing series of videos entitled “Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know” in which the illuminati was somewhat surprisingly included a...
Lexus Jumps on The Illuminati / Masonic Bandwagon With New Commercial
Lexus, a company that you would not normally associate with all things illuminati, has decided to jump on said bandwagon with a tediously unoriginal advertisement for their 2014 IS model that comes about 5 years too late. The a...
Was Paris Jackson Targeted by The Illuminati?
Paris Jackson, the daughter of Michael Jackson, made the mainstream media headlines recently after she apparently attempted to commit suicide, but was this actually a genuine attempt to take her own life, or was there something...
Azealia Banks Promotes Illuminati Occultism and the Police State in New Video ‘Yung Rapuxnel’
Current commercial hip-hopper Azealia Banks has made it quite clear how she has been fully endorsed as an all round useful illuminati puppet, with the recent release of her new video Yung Rapuxnel which received over half a mil...
Scrapped Ke$ha Song Reveals Pact With The Devil
A song written by Ke$ha that never made it onto the final cut of her second album Warrior, openly details the pact she made with “the Devil” in return for success within the music industry. Dancing With The Devil wa...
Korn Condemns The Illuminati
Jonathan Davis, the lead singer of the multi-platinum selling, twice grammy award winning heavy metal band Korn, openly expressed his views regarding the illuminati and their agenda for a new world order in an interview with bi...
Rapper N.O.R.E Speaks Of The “Illuminati Door” You Must Walk Through
In a recent interview with The Urban Daily, rapper Noreaga was asked if he believed in the illuminati, given his past relations with industry puppets like Jay-Z. When answering, he didn’t deny the existence of the secret ...
Crazy Rapper Tried To Sacrifice His Friend To Join The Illuminati
An aspiring Richmond rapper reportedly tried to sacrifice his friend in a foolish attempt to join the illuminati and secure stardom. 27 year old Wafeeq Sabir El-Amin, of Henrico County, Virginia, took aim at his friend and trie...
Nicole Scherzinger: “To Make It, You Really Have To Sell Your Soul To The Devil.”
In a recent interview with The Independent, former Pussycat Doll and lead singer of the successful pop group, Nicole Scherzinger, spoke about what is really required for a female to make it in the music industry today and unsur...
Vintage Vinyl From 1967 Exposes The Illuminati Agenda
A rare vinyl LP that was recorded back in 1967 by Myron Fagan, a successful Hollywood & Broadway playwright, whom, after working within the industry realised there were malevolent forces at work behind the scenes, completel...
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15 results found for general-science
Arts-related (1)
Arts-sciences (1)
Office Technology (1)
General Science (15)
18-22 and upwards (15)
Lindau-Nobel (4)
Royal Society of Chemistry (1)
Universitat Politècnica de València (1)
A natural history of scientists
by Richard Fortey
For most of his life, Richard Fortey, has worked with collections in London's Natural History Museum, so curation has become a kind of unbreakable habit for him. In his Michael Faraday Prize lecture he will present another collection: his own persona....
A Random Walk in Science
by Steven Chu
I will discuss my random walk in science, from my graduate student on postdoctoral years testing the Weinberg-Salam-Glashow theory of electro-weak forces, and then to energy transfer in condensed matter systems, the spectroscopy of positronium, laser....
Benjamin Franklin in Europe: electrician, academician etc.
by John Heilbron
Benjamin Franklin, American patriot and natural philosopher, was born 300 years ago. Apart from a brief stay in England as a young man, he spent the first fifty years of his life transforming himself from a nobody into the leading citizen of Philadel....
Canoeing in the Arctic, a Scientist’s Perspective
by Peter Agre
As scientists, our livelihoods are supported by teaching and research, but we also have the opportunity to make observations beyond our usual confines and share these with non-scientific citizens. Growing up in my native state of Minnesota, I have al....
Harry Kroto: The Goo-You-Wiki World
by Harry Kroto
for 14-19 and upwards18-22 and upwards22 and upwards,
Lectures | 14-19 and upwards18-22 and upwards22 and upwards | 4 years ago | 1487 views
Ideas Come from Many Places
by Oliver Smithies
Come share with me the memories of where ideas have come from during my life - from childhood to old age. You may find it helpful in encouraging your own brains to come up with new ideas. They won't all be useful - as I have found in this case of min....
Reviewing science history
by Harold Kroto
An small review of science history
Risk: food, fact and fantasy
by John Krebs
We all take risks, but most of the time we don't notice it. Eating, like everything else in life, isn't risk free. Is that next mouthful pure pleasure or will it give you food poisoning? Will it clog up your arteries as well as filling your stomach?
Science Advice and Policy Making
by John Cadogan
Professor Sir John Cadogan was awarded the RSC Lord Lewis Prize 2010 in recognition of his distinguished research in organic chemistry and his wide-ranging, distinctive and significant contributions in industry and public service.
Science in the 21st Century
Harry Kroto talks to undergraduate scientists at FSU about his ideas for the future of science in the 21st century.
Science, belief and the unbelievable
by Lewis Wolpert
The House of Wisdom and the legacy of Arabic Science
by Jim Al-Khalili
In a way that never took place with early Christianity, the spread of Islam heralded a remarkable period of scientific advances, particularly during the golden age of the Abbasids of Baghdad between the 8th and 11th centuries AD.
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FGC #158 Family Dog
Family Dog is… too real for me.
Family Dog is a Super Nintendo game, but before that, it was an animated series, and even earlier than that, it was an animated “short” showcased on Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories. The “original” Family Dog of that program was directed by Brad Bird and written by Brad Bird and Tim Burton. I realize that I don’t talk about my movie tastes much on this blog, but let it be said that “animated short by Burton and Bird” is a phrase that makes me more excited than a rabbit injected with Trix. I liked 90% of Tomorrowland, so combine that guy with the man that gave us Beetlejuice, and I’ll be there with bells skulls on.
The original Family Dog “episode” is fun, if not exactly all that interesting. I can see how the novelty of “animation for the whole family” (and not just the kiddies) was something people would notice in the pre-Groening days, but in a post Simpsons universe (and, reminder, Brad Bird worked on that show, too, and even directed Krusty Gets Busted [aka the premiere of the devious Sideshow Bob]), it just comes off as fairly quaint. This was before even the wave of “marginally mature” (aka gross) cartoons like Ren and Stimpy, and, when you’re applying Looney Tunes thinking to your typical sitcom family, you do get something at least remotely remarkable.
The Family Dog TV show was in the works for a number of years, but it finally materialized shortly after The Simpsons became a nationwide phenomena. Unfortunately, my beloved Bird was not involved, but it was a perfectly passable animated sitcom. The titular family dog was prone to a bit more slapstick and lesson learning than in his premiere short, but it was still a generally gentle (again, think early Simpsons era, when Bart was a “bad boy” for speaking ill of cow reproduction), classic sitcom. Here’s the Wikipedia description for episode two of the show:
“When the Binsfords take a trip to the zoo, their pooch tags along and causes plenty of trouble.”
See? Typical, dumb sitcom crap. I ate it up as a kid, but I reviewed an episode or two before writing this, and, yeah, I can see why this show only hit eleven episodes (even if the official excuse involves overseas production or some nonsense. Sure, blame all your problems on Asia).
So, because Family Dog, ya know, existed, it received a SNES platformer. It worked for Tim the Tool Man Taylor, so why not use a character that practically already exists in pixels? I actually played this game as a rental back when I was a wee Goggle Bob, because I liked the show, and Super Castlevania 4 was probably already taken that week. I don’t recall getting past the first world, and I know this because I would definitely remember seeing what came next.
Now that I have gotten that far, I’m probably going to remember it until the day I die…
Before we go any further, I want to note that I like animals. As a point of fact, I like most animals more than most people. I’m not a misanthrope (well, completely), I just see animals as a lot more pure than human beings (dogs very rarely want anything more than food and pets), so when one is suffering, my absolute first instinct is boundless sympathy; meanwhile, I see a ten year old with a cough, and I assume it’s because the kid secretly egged my house last year. It’s completely irrational, but I absolutely go out of my way to make sure a dog, cat, or even pig is comfortable before I address the creature’s owner. I also very rarely give my human friends belly rubs.
That said, the first world of Family Dog is mostly around-the-house comic mischief. Billy Binsford, the brat of Dog’s family, attempts to harm Dog, and it’s your job to steer the mutt away from danger. There are other hazards, like naked cats and bouncing balls, but your main goal is to simply make it to the right side of the screen without Billy perforating the pooch. Bounce on couches, collect bones, and avoid the vacuum. That thing sucks.
And, yes, Family Dog is in danger the entire time, but it’s Itchy and Scratchy style danger. It might involve some kind of stylized ferocity, but it’s pretty much the definition of cartoon violence. I’m sure there are some dogs that have been seriously injured by cats, but when I see something Tom & Jerry-esque happening, my first thought isn’t of the real world. But that all changes after the initial areas…
Family Dog has apparently been bad…
So he is asked to go for a ride.
This seems like fun!
Wait a tick…
BY LASSIE’S GOLDEN MANE, WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE!?
Yes, Family Dog is left at a kennel for the crime of attempting to survive a destructive child, and it’s a prison-esque hellscape. Yes, there are still a few cartoony elements, like bulldog footholds and doberman pinschers in guard uniforms, but, by and large, this whole area is made to be far too real. The goofy music of the earlier stages is gone, and now it’s just the drip, drip, drip of leaky pipes and the barking of other inmates. Family Dog, who looks like a random mess of triangles and cylinders, is met by realistic looking dogs with very realistic looking teeth. The only escape is by freeing other captive animals, literal jailbirds, and then plowing past the barbed wire fence that surrounds the building.
I’m not going to lie, even if I didn’t have affection for animals, I would be disturbed by this area. The difference between the opening area of the (mostly) loving home of Family Dog and the chilling penitentiary of the second area is night and day. Maybe I just have more psychological issues than I care to admit, but a fear of abandonment is a universal anxiety, right? You wake up one day, and everything you love is gone, and you’re left alone in an unfamiliar hostile environment… that’s Hell, right? We agree on that? I want to say Dante wrote something about this…
I really don’t think this has a place in whacky 16-bit platformer. I just reviewed a game that featured “Heck”, and that level barely registered as spooky. Here, it’s downright petrifying.
After you finally escape from the pound, the final world is basically just “outside”. It’s supposed to be an unnerving forest or something, but it’s a level very much like the early areas, and its aesthetic seems to be inspired by the similar spooky forest of Amagon. Then you’ve got some random branch hopping straight out of Wizards and Warriors, and… you’re done. Back into the arms of your loving family.
That abandoned you.
And required you to survive trial upon trial just to force your way back into their family unit.
Screw you guys, I’m never looking at this game again.
System: Super Nintendo. Genesis kids are probably more well-adjusted as a result.
Number of Players: One is the loneliest doggy.
Salt in the wound: Family Dog’s only offensive maneuver is a powerful bark that will repel enemies after way too many hits. And you’ve got a limited count that can only be increased through powerup acquisition. Wow, this is a lot like Amagon.
More from Brad Bird: We never got an Iron Giant video game, did we? I want to say that could have been really, really cool, and completely against the theme of the movie. I’d be okay with that.
Did you know? Scott Menville voiced the homicidal Billy Binsford on Family Dog. Given Billy’s one consistant character trait was his overwhelming disdain for animals, it’s amusing that Menville also played Captain Planet’s Ma-Ti, aka the kid with the monkey. I evidently like Menville facts!
Would I play again: Go to hell.
What’s next? Random ROB has chosen… Karaoke Revolution Presents American Idol Encore! That’s a mouthful, which is just great for a mouth glued to a microphone. Please look forward to it!
Posted by gogglebob. Categories: Fustian Gaming Challenge. Tags: animal abuse, brad bird, cujo, fgc, keep beach city weird, one player, puppies and sunshine, spooky, super nintendo entertainment system, tim burton, wizards and warriors.
MetManMas on July 30, 2016 at 9:25 pm said:
I don’t remember much about the Family Dog show (which I watched) or game (which I rented), but one thing I definitely did remember was it had a pound level. Never got past that, but yeah, it’s a huge dark turn for what would otherwise have been your average throwaway licensed platformer.
Speaking of Family Dog and the mention of Tim Burton being involved in some short I’ve never seen, I realized the titular canine was the inspiration for the design of Sparky in Frankenweenie’s stop motion remake after seeing this article. Just had an”I swear I’ve seen that dog somewhere else…” moment after your article here.
''A relationship, I think, is like a shark, you know? It has to constantly move forward or it dies. And I think what we got on our hands is a dead shark.” Woody Allen
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Home > Articles
Working with Multiple-Table Queries
Relational Database Fundamentals
Types of Relational Models
Enforcing Referential Integrity
Establishing Table Relationships
Working with Multiple Tables in a Query
Creating Other Types of Joins
Creating a Unique Values Query
Microsoft Access 2003 Forms, Reports, and Queries
Most database applications (and all well-designed database applications) store their information in multiple tables. Although most of these tables have nothing to do with each other (for example, tables of customer information and employee payroll data), it's likely that at least some of the tables do contain related information (such as tables of customer information and customer orders).
Working with multiple, related tables in a query presents you with two challenges: You need to design your database so that the related data is accessible, and you need to set up links between the tables so that the related information can be retrieved and worked with quickly and easily in the query design window. This chapter tackles both challenges and shows you how to exploit the full multiple-table powers of Access.
Why do you need to worry about multiple tables, anyway? Isn't it easier to work with one large table instead of two or three medium-sized ones? To answer these questions and demonstrate the problems that arise when you ignore relational database models, take a look at a simple example: a table of sales leads.
The Pitfalls of a Nonrelational Design
Table 3.1 outlines a structure of a simple table (named Leads) that stores data on sales leads.
Table 3.1 A Structure of a Simple Sales Leads Table (Leads)
LeadID
The primary key.
The contact's first name.
The contact's last name.
The company that the contact works for.
The company's address.
The company's city.
The company's state.
The company's ZIP code.
The contact's phone number.
The contact's fax number.
Where the lead came from.
Notes or comments related to the sales lead.
This structure works fine until you need to add two or more leads from the same company (a not-uncommon occurrence). In this case, you end up with repeating information in the Company, Address, City, and State fields. (The Zip field also repeats, as do, in some cases, the Phone, Fax, and Source fields.)
All this repetition makes the table unnecessarily large, which is bad enough, but it also creates two major problems:
During data entry, the repeated information must be entered for each lead from the same company.
If any of the repeated information changes (such as the company's name or address), each corresponding record must be changed.
One way to eliminate the repetition and solve the data entry and maintenance inefficiencies is to change the table's focus. As it stands, each record in the table identifies a specific contact in a company. But it's the company information that repeats, so it makes some sense to allow only one record per company. You can then include separate fields for each sales lead within the company. The new structure might look something like the one shown in Table 3.2.
Table 3.2 A Revised, Company-Centered Structure of the Sales Leads Table
The company's name.
The company's phone number.
The company's fax number.
First_1
The first name of contact #1.
Last_1
The last name of contact #1.
Source_1
Where the lead for contact #1 came from.
Notes_1
Notes or comments related to contact #1.
In this setup, the company information appears only once, and the contact-specific data (I'm assuming this involves only the first name, last name, source, and notes) appears in separate field groups (for example, First_1, Last_1, Source_1, and Notes_1). This solves the earlier problems, but at the cost of a new dilemma: The structure as it stands will hold only three sales leads per company. Of course, it's entirely conceivable that a large firm might have more than three contactsperhaps even dozens. This raises two unpleasant difficulties:
If you run out of repeating groups of contact fields, new ones must be added. Although this might not be a problem for the database designer, most data-entry clerks generally don't have access to the table design (nor should they).
Empty fields take up as much disk real estate as full ones, so making room for, say, a dozen contacts from one company means that all the records that have only one or two contacts have huge amounts of wasted space.
How a Relational Design Can Help
To solve the twin problems of repetition between records and repeated field groups within records, you need to turn to the relational database model. This model was developed by Dr. Edgar Codd of IBM in the early 1970s. It was based on a complex relational algebra theory, so the pure form of the rules and requirements for a true relational database setup is quite complicated and decidedly impractical for business applications. The next few sections look at a simplified version of the model.
Step 1: Separate the Data
After you know which fields you need to include in your database application, the first step in setting up a relational database is to divide these fields into separate tables where the "theme" of each table is unique. In technical terms, each table must be composed of only entities (that is, records) from a single entity class.
For example, the table of sales leads you saw earlier dealt with data that had two entity classes: the contacts and the companies they worked for. Every one of the problems encountered with that table can be traced to the fact that we were trying to combine two entity classes into a single table. So the first step toward a relational solution is to create separate tables for each class of data. Table 3.3 shows the table structure of the contact data (the Contacts table) and Table 3.4 shows the structure of the company information (the Companies table). Note, in particular, that both tables include a primary key field.
Table 3.3 The Structure of the Contacts Table
ContactID
Table 3.4 The Structure of the Companies Table
CompanyID
The company's phone number (main switchboard).
Step 2: Add Foreign Keys to the Tables
At first glance, separating the tables seems self-defeating because, if you've done the job properly, the two tables will have nothing in common. So the second step in this relational design is to define the commonality between the tables.
In the sales leads example, what is the common ground between the Contacts and Companies tables? It's that every one of the leads in the Contacts table works for a specific firm in the Companies table. So what's needed is some way of relating the appropriate information in Companies to each record in Contacts (without, of course, the inefficiency of simply cramming all the data into a single table, as we tried earlier).
The way you do this in relational database design is to establish a field that is common to both tables. You can then use this common field to set up a link between the two tables. The field you use must satisfy three conditions:
It must not have the same name as an existing field in the other table.
It must uniquely identify each record in the other table.
To save space and reduce data entry errors, it must be the smallest field that satisfies the two preceding conditions.
In the sales leads example, a field needs to be added to the Contacts table that establishes a link to the appropriate record in the Companies table. The CompanyName field uniquely identifies each firm, but it's too large to be of use. The Phone field is also a unique identifier and is smaller, but the Contacts table already has a Phone field. The best solution is to use CompanyID, the Companies table's primary key field. Table 3.5 shows the revised structure of the Contacts table that includes the CompanyID field.
Table 3.5 The Final Structure of the Contacts Table
The Companies table foreign key.
When a table includes a primary key field from a related database, the field is called a foreign key. Foreign keys are the secret to successful relational database design.
Step 3: Establish a Link Between the Related Tables
After you have your foreign keys inserted into your tables, the final step in designing your relational model is to establish a link between the two tables. This step is covered in detail later in this chapter (see "Establishing Table Relationships").
MOS 2016 Study Guide for Microsoft Access
By John Pierce
Extend Microsoft Access Applications to the Cloud
By Andrew Couch
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Town of Orangeville Council Meeting – February 23rd, 2015 (Part 2)
February 26, 2015 by mrsposty@outlook.com 2 Comments
Wow, kudos to Council! The entire agenda was covered…and it took less than 2 hours!!
What’s all the buzz about bees?
Despite the fact that council moved along at quite a reasonable pace, I was shocked to see a 20 minute conversation evolve about bees. Yup, bees….
Councillor Campbell was reluctant to approve the minutes from the most recent OSAT meeting. She brought forward concerns about constructing habitats for bees in our Community Garden. She expressed concerns about bee allergies and potential risk for citizens. Councillor Bradley let members of council know that the bee habitats have been in our community garden for a year and a half with no incident. “We have had bees for a year and a half in a caged in area. They’ve been successful. We need the bees. We don’t have bees, we don’t have food. The bees are there and there has been no incidents.” At this point, Councillor Garisto questioned whether there was proper signage at the gardens to which Councillor Bradley explained that it is signed, but that they could always put up more signs if council deemed it necessary.
Now, I have to ask…do we really need a sign to direct people to the sign that’s already there that warns them about bees? Outside? In a garden? In my humble opinion, that doesn’t seem like money well spent!
Town Insurance Cost
This part of the council meeting was brushed over quite quickly and I was left with some questions. There was a recommendation put forward that states:
That report TF-2015-04, dated February 23, 2015, with respect to 2015 Insurance Costs and Impacts, be received;
And that authorization to fund the reassessment in the amount of $186,695.00 plus HST from the Insurance Reserve, be received;
And that an additional $106,000 be added to the proposed 2015 Operating Budget to cover the 2015 Insurance Premiums.
The report mentioned above is found here on pages 57-59.
Councillor Wilson asked “Several years ago we went into the reciprocal and started banking the savings and now all of the savings will be dedicated back to the funds because of a claim that has come to roost now and we didn’t have enough to cover it. Is that correct?” to which town staff agreed. Councillor Wilson carried on to say “I have always been against this type of insurance program and I have never supported it when it has come to this table. These reciprocals are not good way to manage.”
Now I don’t in any way claim to know anywhere near enough about insurance (especially of this nature)…however, it seems from the way that it was (quickly) discussed in council, that the type of insurance the Town currently has leaves us a high risk for reassessment thus meaning we could be left with $106,000 in surprise spending?? If this is the case, I am hoping that this process is up for re-negotiations soon..this doesn’t not sound to me like the right way to manage the budget. Can you afford over $100,000 in unexpected costs??
As I said, I don’t know enough about this, so I have reached out to Councillor Wilson to ask him some questions…so I will save my humble opinion until after I have more facts! Stay tuned for that….coming next week!
Sign Bylaws
Sign bylaws have been a touchy subject around the Town of Orangeville for some time now. If you are a small business owner in Orangeville, I am going to put money on the fact that you have an opinion on the sign bylaw. Now the funny part of this, is that one of the committees seeking public members is the Sign Bylaw Committee. Guess how many people applied?? ZERO. Which is the same number of people who applied for the Transit Committee (and only one applicant for the Snow Plow Committee). These are the pain-points of every resident in this Town…and these committees are your opportunity to help impact some change!! Please send an email to council and the Town Clerk…I am sure they would happily still accept your application!!
Apologies, I got a bit off-topic there.
An Orangeville resident and business owner, Trevor Castiglione, Owner of Busted Knuckle Garage, came out to council on Monday night to share his concerns about the sign bylaw and ask for Council’s assistance to get this issue rectified.
Mr. Castiglione has encountered some issues where zoning of his business property changed from commercial to industrial which left his current sign not up to bylaw expectations. His concern was with the cost of sign permits which could be upwards of $1500.
Councillor Garisto spoke up for small business by saying “We have to start to take care of the business in this Town” and put a motion forward to have bylaw work with Mr. Castiglione with his issues. Councillor Bradley couldn’t understand the point of this motion when all Councillor Garisto was proposing was that Mr. Castiglione follow process and said “The bylaw is what it is and the cost for the signs has been determined some time ago and so theres nothing really to negotiate with that.” and went on to say “Its what everyone else pays for it.”
Councillor Kidd’s perspective on the matter will win comment of the night…”“We all know that rules and laws are made to be enforced, but as anyone who watches Judge Judy knows, there are exceptions to most laws and leniency to the person.”
Really? A Judge Judy reference?!?!
Playground Issues Continue
There continues to be a significant amount of animosity amongst our Council Team…and I use the word “Team” very loosely. It had been and continues to be blatantly obvious that there is no love lost between many members of Council.
This was made clear again in Monday’s meeting when Deputy Mayor Maycock called up Chief Kalinski to validate some police procedures with regards to property that citizens find…such as a cellphone. This starting due to a few phone call that the Deputy Mayor had received the prior day from people concerned about a Facebook comment made by the Mayor which had been construed to bring a negative spin towards OPS. Deputy Mayor Maycock said “If we are trying to create a spirit of cooperation and getting along – I don’t think comments like that are appropriate.” Councillor Kidd agreed whole-heartedly with the Deputy Mayor saying “I think that’s a terrible comment you made and I hope you don’t do something like again. That’s undermining our police force.”
Sigh….do we need to make calling each other out in a public forum one of the new Council Olympic Sports? We know, we know, none of you like each other. My question for all of you is “Do you like Orangeville?” because acting like children in Council Chambers meeting after meeting after meeting sure makes it seems like you don’t care one bit.
You have all been called out by Citizen of Orangeville who have spoken openly at Council Meetings, by letters to the Editors of both newspapers as well as on every aspect of social media. At what point exactly are any of you going to put your differences aside, stop being so unbelievably disrespectful to one another and start taking Orangeville and your responsibilities as elected officials seriously?
These are just my humble opinions…what do all of you readers think?? Please leave me comments!!!
Doug says
Lisa, regarding your point “Mr. Castiglione has encountered some issues where zoning of his business property changed from commercial to industrial which left his current sign not up to bylaw expectations. His concern was with the cost of sign permits which could be upwards of $1500.”
It is my understanding that the sign in question was NEVER legal, that it was installed without permits, and was only recently “discovered” as non-conforming even though it has been there for 3 years. As a temporary sign, there were fees that should have been charged, and quite frankly an arrears is owed to the Town. It appears that at the recent council meeting, the arrears owing were waived and the applicant was told to apply for a sign permit, as if it was never there. At the taxpayers expense, I might add.
peter jovic says
My dear of an absolute bright young lady, You are 100% right and am so sorry that the people of Orangeville did not elect you
The Council members are totally dysfunctional and will never work as a team
The incumbents are a disaster and will do anything to buck the Mayor and the 2 newly elected Councillors
For the love of God I can not believe people re-electing the 4 incumbents as they are the same people that got this town in a financial mess
Gail with her pay increases for overly overpaid town staff,having seniors being able to walk to the pool at an enormous cost to us is absurd.
Sylvia Bradley complaining about seating arrangements during inauguration and her preservation of the trees is ridiculous.
Scott Wilson and his constant bullying tactics are out of the world.He wants his own salary increased, wants to go on $6000 seminar so he can be a better Councillor while same can be accomplished thru internet
Mr Maycock takes every opportunity to belittle the Mayor and the newly elected Councillors and is bitter about not being appointed to the Police board.
Note that Wilson, Maycock,Bradley and in most cases Campbell always vote against the other three
We as residents are totally screwed by these individuals but have no one to blame but ourselves for voting these people in(I of course did not)
So keep doing what you are doing and hopefully we will see you as a member of the Council in the future
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KUSHAN DYNASTY ix. Art of the Kushans
KUSHAN DYNASTY
ix. Art of the Kushans
The term Kushan art refers to a variety of artistic expressions that developed under the rule of the Kushan dynasty during the first three centuries of the Common Era on a territory spreading broadly between north of the Oxus River and the Gangetic plain in North India. Artistic productions fall mainly into two branches: works in the service of the dynasty and works in the service of religion, principally Buddhism, but also Brahmanism and Jainism. There exist few if any common features between, for instance, statues of rulers from Khalchayan and a Buddhist relief from Gandhara; in consequence, some scholars might find the expression “art of the Kushan period” more adequate than that of “Kushan art.” Nevertheless, as this discussion hopes to convey, these heterogeneous artistic expressions reflect a common pattern in that they all result from the assimilation and re-elaboration of an eclectic cultural and artistic repertoire.
Dynastic art. The term “dynastic arts” was coined by John Rosenfield and refers to portraits of Kushan rulers, such as those found in the temple of Maṭ (India) and on the obverse of the coins issued by Kushan kings (e.g., Rosenfield, pp. 54-71, 174-83). Since Rosenfield’s publication, further images celebrating the Kushan elite have been discovered, notably at the sites of Khalchayan in Uzbekistan and Surkh Kotal in Afghanistan (Pugachenkova, 1971; Schlumberger, Le Berre, and Fussman). Boris J. Stavisky subsequently outlined two stylistic phases (Stavisky, 1986, pp. 243-45). The first one is illustrated by the cycle of clay reliefs uncovered at Khalchayan (Figure 1). This monument was alternatively identified as a temple or a ceremonial pavilion, and it belongs to a stage preceding the reign of Kanishka I (r. ca. 127-53; for the various theories proposed for the date of Kanishka’s year 1, see KUSHAN DYNASTY i and iii), when the Kushan dynasty was establishing itself. The Kushan royal clan is shown in a portrait group, where female and male members are represented seated or standing. Despite the static frontal poses, figures are treated with realistic features. The faces are expressive and display the characteristics of age, high status, and ethnicity; features such as the cranial deformation and mongoloid traits are rendered. The vibrant impression that emanates from this composition contrasts with the standardized characteristic of the second phase. The latter is embodied by portrait-statues in limestone and red sandstone discovered in the temples of Surkh Kotal and Maṭ, respectively, as well as by the official portraits struck on coins. The body of the king is depicted in a front view, his head is seen in profile, and his feet are spread apart. The images that display monumentality, rigidity, and frontality have been stylistically related to Parthian art from Dura Europos, Palmyra, and Hatra by Daniel Schlumberger and John Rosenfield (Schlumberger, 1960, pp. 131-66; Rosenfield, pp. 154-83).
Although formal standards appear to evolve, the iconographic features of these portrayals of the Kushan kings show recurring patterns. These artistic expressions of the glory and power of the dynasty draw upon a common repertoire that stems from diverse cultural and artistic traditions. In their portraits, Kushan rulers have retained the fashion of their Central Asian nomadic ancestors: the heavy caftans, the felt boots, the hooded cap, and the golden bracteates sewn on tunics (Grenet, 2012, p. 15). After Huvishka (r. ca. 153-91), this fashion is replaced by the scale armor of the military elite (Figure 2, Figure 3). The symbols of power and victory displayed by the rulers are borrowed from the Greek and Iranian spheres. Thus, the Greek deities Nike and Athena are depicted in the cycle from Khalchayan next to an Iranian protectress of royalty (Grenet, 2012, p. 12). Likewise, on a painting on cotton cloth said to be from southern Xinjiang, published by Boris Marshak and Franz Grenet and dated with radiocarbon dating to 74-258 CE, a winged putto carrying a garland flies above the figure of a king. The latter, who was identified as Huvishka by the authors on the basis of iconographic parallels with his coinage, is handing over a bow and a quiver, a motif that is in turn taken to be a Scythian symbol of legitimacy (Grenet and Marshak, pp. 947-60).
This eclecticism also characterizes the representation of divinities that the dynasty accepted for its numismatic pantheon. Numismatic types show a preference for Iranian gods, but the presence of Greek, Brahmanic, and Buddhist divinities reflects an open-minded policy towards religious trends (see, for instance, the rich iconography of the coinage of Huvishka, Göbl, 1984, pp. 64-76, pls. 10-27). The depictions of these divinities, Zoroastrian and Brahmanic ones especially, are in turn based on various iconographic traditions. Iranian gods are portrayed under the guise of their accepted Greek and Brahmanic equivalents (Grenet, 2010, pp. 87-99), and Brahmanic divinities borrow their attributes from various gods; the composite nature of these images reflects a formative phase in Brahmanic iconography (Bopearachchi). It is thus this tendency to draw upon the diverse cultural, religious, and artistic traditions with which the dynasty came into contact that best defines the visual propaganda of the Kushans.
Buddhist art. The Kushan period matches with the blossoming of two major schools of Buddhist sculptures, those of Mathura (Uttar Pradesh, India) and Gandhara (Northwest Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan). The two schools are associated with the earliest anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha, and, during the first half of the 20th century, scholarly debate has sought to establish the precedence of one school over the other and to account for the apparition of the Buddha image (Foucher, 1913; Coomaraswamy; Deydier, pp. 5-28, 46-64, 223-49; Guenée, pp. 197-201). Within the Gandharan context, the coinage of Kanishka I bearing an image of the Buddha on the reverse provides indisputable evidence that anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha were made during his reign. Scholars have, however, invoked the sculptures from Butkara I found in association with lifetime issues of the Indo-Scythian king Azes II (r. ca. 15/5 BCE/6 AD – 17/20 CE) to posit an earlier date (Faccenna, 1962, 1980-81; Göbl, 1976, pls. I-II, nos. 15-27 and 28-59; van Lohuizen-de Leeuw, 1981; Faccenna, 2003). With regard to Mathura, Sonya Quintanilla has argued on stylistic grounds that the earliest Buddha image recorded is a small carving on a railing fragment from Īsāpur attributed to the time of Śoḍāsa (r. ca. 15 CE), and that the earliest large-scale images of the Buddha sculpted in the round start to emerge from ca. 50-100 CE (Quintanilla, 2007, pp. 199-205, 219-48). Concerning images with an inscribed date, the statue set up in Sarnath by the monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka I provides a terminus ante quem for the production of Buddhist icons in the round in Mathura (Schopen). While this estimation of a chronology for the apparition and development of anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha has received fairly widespread agreement, a single, hitherto unknown, dated image would call for its reconsideration.
As far as the characteristics of Buddhist art from the Kushan period are concerned, the school of Mathura is essentially known for images carved on the railings of stupas and for stele statues representing divinities of the Buddhist pantheon (Buddha, Bodhisattva, and tutelary divinities) sculpted in the mottled red sandstone found in the nearing quarries of Sīkri. Studies by David Snellgrove, Johanna E. van Lohuizen-de Leeuw, and Sonya Quintanilla have highlighted the role of depictions of not only yakṣas and nāgas, as previously suggested by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (Coomaraswamy, pp. 297-313), but also of Jinas, Brahmins, and ascetic teachers in the construction of the Buddha’s iconography (Snellgrove, pp. 52-55; van Lohuizen-de Leeuw, p. 153; Quintanilla, pp. 199-205), notably for elements such as the knob at the top of the cranium (uṣṇīṣa) and the thin cloth (saṃghāti) molding the chest. As for formal features of Mathuran images, sculptures found on the sites of Katra, Jamalpur, Kaṅkālī Tīlā, and Palikhera, to name but a few, are characterized by their generous proportions, broad shoulders, large chest, and round head with full-cheeks and fleshy smiling mouth (Figure 4).
The Gandharan production consists of images primarily carved in a mica-schist stone but also molded into stucco, clay, and plaster. These are statues of Buddhist divinities as well as reliefs illustrating events of the Buddha’s past lives (jātaka) and last existence. This Buddhist discourse is served by an aesthetic idiom that results from the historical heritage of the region and draws upon Indian, Greco-Roman, and Iranian iconographic and formal repertoires. Statues of Bodhisattvas displaying strong Hellenistic features such as the muscular torso, the aquiline nose, and thin lips, the hair in a krobylos (gathered at the nape of the neck and tied up), and the drapery falling in heavy folds (Figure 5) are probably still considered by many as the epitome of the Gandharan school. Yet the material excavated in various parts of the region shows that the Gandharan production covers other artistic expressions. The curvaceous yakṣīs from Butkara I (Swāt Valley) bear resemblance with their counterparts from Bhārhut and Mathura, while some scholars have associated the strict frontality of Buddha on steles from Kabul-Kāpisā (see BEGRĀM) to Parthian models (Bussagli, pp. 279-81, Cambon, p. 25).
This overview of Buddhist art of the Kushan period would not be complete without mentioning the production of Bactria. As evidenced by the inscriptions and numismatic finds in the establishments around Balkh and Termez, Buddhism was spread north of the Hindu Kush by the Kushan rule, in the times of Azes II and Soter Megas (r. ca. 92/97–100 CE; Fussman). The remains from monasteries and stupas of Qara Tepe, Fayāż Tepe, and Zurmala show that, with regard to iconography, motifs are similar to those created in Gandhāra, yet essentially expressed in plaster, clay, and limestone (Figure 6; Abdullaev, pp. 32-41; Leriche and Pidaev, pp. 55-73; Leriche, Pidaev, and Genequand, pp. 403-9; Vivdenko, pp. 42-47). As for formal features, Bactrian images share with Gandharan ones a common Hellenistic and Iranian heritage, yet the Bactrian artistic expression is probably that which displays most affinity with Kushan dynastic art. This is notably exemplified by the paintings from Qara Tepe depicting rows of donors, whose body is seen in front view, while the head is in profile (Bussagli, 1963, pp. 23; Stavisky, 1986, pp. 247).
It is in Buddhist art that the impact of the art of the Kushan period is best observed. Broadly, while iconographic and formal features elaborated around Mathura have provided the essential source for images produced under the rule of the Guptas (ca. 320-500) in Mathura and Sarnath, the art which developed in the oases of Chinese Turkestan (Khotan, Miran, Kucha, Turfan, and Dunhuang) from the 4th century onwards finds many of its prototypes in Gandhara and Bactria.
Brahmanic and Jain arts. With regard to Brahmanic art, while depictions of Lakṣmī or Balarāma-Saṃkarṣaṇa and Vāsudeva-Kṛṣṇa are attested as early as the 2nd century BCE, the corporeal representations of divinities such as Śiva, Viṣṇu, or Skanda-Kārttikeya, who are central to what is alternatively referred to as late Brahmanism, popular Brahmanism, or Hinduism is modelled during the Kushan period with images being produced in both Gandhara and Mathura (Kreisel; Bopearachchi; Srinivasan, pp. 130-34). A stele showing a three-headed and four‑armed divinity with a third central eye which one could identify as Śiva (Figure 7) illustrates some of the dynamics at play in his iconographic construction as highlighted by Maurizio Taddei (Taddei, 1985; Giuliano). Firstly, the image points to the use of lexical units that are borrowed from or common to depictions of Buddhist divinities. In this case, the general outline, the hairstyle, and the moustache are similar to representations of Bodhisattvas. Secondly, the iconography is composite. The attributes that the god carries belong to various gods of the Brahmanic pantheon: Śiva (the trident), Brahmā (the water pot), and Viṣṇu (the wheel). The non-codified character of the iconography makes the god difficult to identify with certainty and indicates that, during the Kushan period, iconography of Brahmanic gods was emerging and being formulated.
As for Jain art, the stylistic analysis of an architrave from Kaṅkālī Tīlā depicting the renunciation of Ṛṣabhanātha as well as a statue of Parśvanātha in the State Museum Lucknow has lead Quintanilla (pp. 37-50, 93-95) to conclude that anthropomorphic representations of Tīrthankaras already existed in 100 BCE and that freestanding iconic images were produced by the early 1st century CE. Dedicatory inscriptions suggests that, while the anthropomorphic image of Jinas was known in pre-Kushan times, sculptures in the round of a single Tīrthankara and of four adorned Tīrthankaras facing the cardinal directions (sarvatobhadrikā) were not carved before their rule (Lüders, pp. 44-48; Joshi; Shah, pp. 112-204). In his survey of Jain art from Mathura, Niketa P. Joshi establishes a typology of depictions of Tīrthankaras and remarks that seven out of the twenty-four are identifiable, although not yet distinguished by their respective lāñchana. These are represented in strict nudity, standing or seated in meditation, often, although not always, carrying the śrīvatsa (a symbol of good omen) on their chest (see Wayman). Although already produced in pre-Kushan times, another type of object, āyāga-paṭa (votive tablets), seems to have gained popularity during the early Kushan period. These tablets in stone are engraved with auspicious symbols or images of Tīrthankaras. According to Quintanilla’s stylistic analysis of material from Mathura, while several āyāga-patas should be dated as early as 150 BCE, the majority should be attributed to a period between 50 BCE and 100 CE (Quintanilla, pp. 97-141).
Architectural decor. An overview of all the other artifacts of the Kushan period (Gandharan trays, Bactrian ceramics or terra-cotta from India, to name but a few) cannot be provided here; the reader is referred to the related bibliography (Francfort; Litvinsky; Jayaswal; Leriche and Pidaev, pp. 73-78). Being a representative example of the artistic culture of the time, architectural décor nevertheless deserves further attention. It is generally characterized by the coexistence of motifs from various origins in a coherent whole. Structures, whose ground plan and outline alternatively point to Iranian or Indian models (Schlumberger, Le Berre, and Fussman; Behrendt), are adorned with a classical column facing. The Attic molding of columns, pilasters, and entablature, as well as capitals of the Corinthian type, belong to the Hellenistic ornamental repertoire. Other elements, such as the motif of merlons decorated with false, arrow-shaped loopholes found at Surkh Kotal or on representations of monuments on narrative reliefs from Gandhara, find their origin in the architecture from Iran. Capitals in turn reflect the Western Mediterranean, Iranian, and Indian traditions altogether. The combination of figured motifs against rows of acanthus leaves seen in capitals from Butkara I (Gandhara), Aïrtam, Sham Kala, or Qara Tepe (Bactria) is borrowed from the Hellenistic tradition. However, while the motif of donors holding lotuses refers to the Indian realm, zoomorphic elements are taken from the Persepolitan repertoire (Figure 8).
In sum, it is probably the fusion of elements from Classical, Iranian, Central Asian, and Indian origin expressed into organic, yet undeniably heterogeneous, productions that defines best the term “Kushan art.” The disparity but also wealth of these idioms is accounted for their various functions, production environment and materials.
Dynastic art.
Osmund Bopearachchi, “Les premiers souverains kouchans: Chronologie et iconographie monétaire,” Journal des Savants, 2008, pp. 3-56.
Robert Göbl, System und Chronologie der Münzprägung des Kušānreiches, Vienna, 1984.
Franz Grenet, “Notes sur le panthéon iranien des Kouchans,” Studia Iranica 13, 1984, pp. 253-62.
Idem, “Iranian Gods in Hindu Garb: The Zoroastrian Pantheon of the Bactrians and Sogdians, Second-Eighth Centuries,” Bulletin of the Asia Institute 20, 2006 [2010], pp. 87-99.
Idem, “The Nomadic Element in the Kushan Empire (1st-3rd Century AD),” Journal of Central Eurasian Studies 3, 2012, pp. 1-22.
Boris Marshak and Franz Grenet, “Une peinture kouchane sur toile,” Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-lettres, 2006 [2008], pp. 947-60.
Galina A. Pugachenkova, Skul’ptura Khalchayana, Moscow, 1971.
John M. Rosenfield, The Dynastic Arts of the Kushans, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1967.
Daniel Schlumberger, “Descendants non-méditerranéens de l’art grec,” Syria 37, nos. 1 and 2, 1960, pp. 131-66 and pp. 253-318.
Daniel Schlumberger, Marc Le Berre, and Gérard Fussman, Surkh Kotal en Bactriane I: Les temples: architecture, sculpture, inscriptions, Mémoires de la Délégation Archéologique Française en Afghanistan 25, Paris, 1983.
Boris J. Stavisky, Kushanskaya Baktriya: Problemy istoriĭ i kul’tury, tr. Paul Bernard et al., as La Bactriane sous les Kushans: Problèmes d’histoire et de culture, Paris, 1986, esp. Chap. 9.
Buddhist art.
Kamolidin Abdullaev, “La sculpture en argile de la Bactriane septentrionale,” Dossiers de l’Archéologie, no. 211, 1996, pp. 32-41.
Mario Bussagli, La peinture d’Asie Centrale, Geneva, 1963.
Idem, L’Art du Gandhāra, Paris, 1996.
Pierre Cambon, “Fouilles anciennes en Afghanistan (1924-1925) Païtāvā, Karratcha,” Arts Asiatiques 51, 1996, pp. 13-28.
Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, “The Origin of the Buddha Image,” The Art Bulletin 9/4, 1927, pp. 287-329.
Henri Deydier, Contribution à l’étude de l’art du Gandhâra: Essai de bibliographie analytique et critique des ouvrages parus de 1922 à 1949, Paris, 1950.
Domenico Faccenna, Reports on the Campaigns 1956-1958 in Swāt (Pakistan), Mingora: Site of Butkara 1; Sculptures from the Sacred Area of Butkara I (Swāt, Pakistan), Part 2, Plates I-CCCXXXV and CCCXXXVI-DCLXXV, IsMEO Reports and Memoirs 1-2, Rome, 1962.
Idem, Butkara I (Swāt, Paksitan) 1956-1962: Part 4 (Text), Part 5.1 (Plates), and Part 5.2 (Maps), IsMEO Reports and Memoirs 3, Rome, 1980-81.
Idem, “At the Origin of Gandharan Art: The Contribution of the IsIAO Italian Archaeological Mission in the Swat Valley in Pakistan, Early Evidence of the Figurative Art: Artistic Centre and the Stylistic Groups,” Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia 9/3-4, 2003, pp. 287-306.
Alfred Foucher, L’art gréco-bouddhique du Gandhara: Étude sur les origines de l’influence classique dans l’art bouddhique de l’Inde et de l’Extrême-Orient, 3 vols., Paris, 1905-51.
Idem, “L’Origine grecque de l’image du Bouddha,” Bibliothèque de vulgarisation du Musée Guimet, no. 38, 1913, pp. 231-72.
Gérard Fussman, “Kushan Power and the Expansion of Buddhism beyond the Soleiman Mountains,” in Harry Falk, ed., Kushan Histories: Literary Sources and Selected Papers from A Symposium at Berlin, December 5 to 7, 2013, Bremen Hempen Verlag, 2016, pp. 153-202.
Rober Göbl, A Catalogue of Coins from Butkara I (Swāt, Pakistan), IsMEO Reports and Memoirs, 4, Rome, 1976.
Pierre Guenée, Francine Tissot, and Pierfrancesco Callieri, Bibliographie analytique des ouvrages parus sur l’art du Gandhāra entre 1950 et 1993, Paris, 1998.
Harald Ingholt and Islay Lyons, Gandharan Art in Pakistan, New York, 1957.
Sten Konow, Kharoshthī Inscriptions, with the Exception of Those of Aśoka, Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi, 1929.
Pierre Leriche, Shakirdzhan R. Pidaev, and Denis Genequand, “Sculptures d’époque kouchane de l’ancienne Termez,” JA 290/2, 2002, pp. 403-09.
Pierre Leriche and Shakirdzhan R. Pidaev, Termez sur Oxus: Cité-capitale d’Asie centrale, Paris, 2008.
Johanna E. van Lohuizen-de-Leeuw, The “Scythian” Period: An Approach to the History, Art, Epigraphy and Palaeography of North India, Leiden, 1949.
Idem, “New Evidence with Regard to the Origin of the Buddha Image,” in Herbert Härtel, ed., South Asian Archaeology, 1979: Papers from the Fifth International Conference of the Association of South Asian Archaeologists in Western Europe Held in Berlin, Berlin, 1981, pp. 377-400.
Galina A. Pugachenkova, “L’art antique de la Bactriane (5ème siècle avant-4ème siècle après notre ère) d’après les fouilles dans la république soviétique de l’Uzbékistan,” Académie des Inscriptions et des Belles Lettres, 1976, pp. 217-27.
Sonya Rhie Quintanilla, History of Early School Sculpture at Mathura, ca. 150 BCE-100 CE, Leiden, 2007.
Gregory Schopen, “On Monks, Nuns, and ‘Vulgar’ Practices: The Introduction of the Image Cult into Indian Buddhism, Bones, Stones, and Buddhist Monks,” in idem, Collected Papers on the Archaeology, Epigraphy, and Texts of Monastic Buddhism in India, Honolulu, 1997, pp. 238-57.
Ramesh C. Sharma, The Splendour of Mathura Art and Museum, New Delhi, 1993. David L. Snellgrove, ed., The Image of the Buddha, Tokyo, 1978.
Doris M. Srinivasan, ed., Mathura: The Cultural Heritage, New Delhi, 1989.
Boris J. Stavisky, 1986, esp. Chap. 9; see above, Dynastic arts.
Zémaryalai Tarzi, “Mise au point sur quelques schistes ‘gréco-bouddhiques’ d’Afghanistan,” Silk Road Art and Archaeology 6, 1999-2000, pp. 83-96.
C. Vitali and C. Luczanits, eds., Gandhara: The Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan, Legends, Monasteries, and Paradise, Mainz, 2008.
Svetiana Vivdenko, “La technologie de la sculpture en argile,” Dossiers de l’Archéologie, no. 211, 1996, pp. 42-47.
Thierry Zéphir, ed., L’âge d’or de l’Inde Classique, l’Empire des Gupta, Paris, 2007.
Brahmanic and Jain arts.
Osmund Bopearachchi, 2008; see above, Dynastic arts.
Laura Giuliano, “Studies in Early Śaiva Iconography: The Origin of the triśūla and Some Related Problems,” Silk Road Art and Archaeology 10, 2004, pp. 51-96.
N. P. Joshi, “Early Jain Icons from Mathurā,” in Doris M. Srinivasan, ed., Mathurā: The Cultural Heritage, 1989, pp. 332-67.
Gerd Kreisel, “Ikonographie der Śiva-Bildwerke in der Kunst Mathuras: Von den Anfängen bis zur Spätguptazeit,” Ph.D. Diss., Freie Universität Berlin, 1981. Heinrich Lüders, Mathurā Inscriptions, Göttingen, 1961.
Umakant P. Shah, Jaina-Rūpa-Maṇḍana I: Jaina Iconography, New Delhi, 1987. David Srinivasan, “Hindu Gods in the Art of Gandhāra,” in C. Vitali and C. Luczanits, eds., Gandhara: The Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan: Legends, Monasteries, and Paradise, Bonn, 2008, pp. 130-34.
M. Taddei, “A New Early Śīva Image from Gandhāra,” South Asian Archaeology, 1985, pp. 615-28.
Idem, “Non-Buddhist Deities in Gandhāran Art: Some New Evidence,” in Ratnachandra C. Agrawada and Herbert Härtel, eds., Investigating Indian Art, Proceedings of A Symposium on the Development of Early Buddhist and Hindu Iconography Held at the Museum of Indian Art Berlin in May 1986, Berlin, 1987, pp. 349-63.
Alex Wayman, “The Mathurā Set of Aṣṭamaṅgala (Eight Auspicious Symbols) in Early and Later Times,” in Doris M. Srinivasan, ed., Mathurā: The Cultural Heritage, 1989, pp. 236-46.
Architectural décor.
Kurt A. Behrendt, The Buddhist Architecture of Gandhara, Leiden and Boston, 2004.
Dominico Faccenna, Sculptures from the Sacred Area of Butkara I (Swat, Pakistan), IsMEO Reports and Memoirs 1-2, Rome, 1962.
Henri Paul Francfort, Les palettes du Gandhāra, Mémoires de la Délégation Archéologique Française en Afghanistan 33, Paris, 1979.
Vidula Jayaswal, Kushana Clay Art of Ganga Plains: A Case Study of Human Forms from Khairadih, Delhi, 1991.
Boris A. Litvinsky, Kangyuĭsko-sarmatskiĭ farn, Dushanbe, 1968.
Jessie Pons, “From Gandhāran Trays to Gandhāran Buddhist Art: The Persistence of Hellenistic Motifs from the 2nd Century BC and beyond,” in Anna Kouroumenos, Sujatha Chandrasekaran, and Roberto Rossi, eds., From Pella to Gandhāra: Hybridisation and Identity in the Art and Architecture of the Hellenistic East, Oxford, 2011, pp. 153-75.
Galina A. Pugachenkova, “The Buddhist Monuments of Airtam,” Silk Road Art and Archaeology 2, 1991-92, pp. 23-41.
Daniel Schlumberger, “Descendants non-méditerranéens de l’art grec,” Syria 37/1 and 2 1960, pp. 131-66 and pp. 253-318.
Daniel Schlumberger, Gérard Fussman, and Mark Le Berre, Surkh Kotal en Bactriane, Paris, 1983.
Boris J. Stavisky, 1986; see above, Dynastic arts.
(Jessie Pons)
Originally Published: June 13, 2016
Cite this entry:
Jessie Pons, “KUSHAN DYNASTY ix. Art of the Kushans,” Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition, 2016, available at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kushan-dynasty-09-art (accessed on 13 June 2016).
KUSHAN DYNASTY i. Dynastic History
KUSHAN DYNASTY ii. Inscriptions of the Kushans
KUSHAN DYNASTY iii. Chronology of the Kushans
KUSHAN DYNASTY iv. Coinage of the Kushans
KUSHAN DYNASTY vi. Archeology of the Kushans: in India
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Our StoryManagement CommitteePosition holders at the MuseumPurpose and Vision
Permanent ExhibitionsPast ExhibitionsNew on the museum website - exhibits displayed in 3DJewelry Making: Past & PresentThe Box with the Heart of Gold
EducationThe Jerusalem AdvantageA summer of fun ActivitiesContact usNew Perspectives through the Camera LensEducational Programs for Middle and High SchoolsEducational Programs for Elementary Schoolscontact usElementary SchoolsKindergartensActivities for Elementary SchoolsPost-Elementary SchoolsSpecial EducationSpecial Programs Events
Enrichment Art Activities at the Museum for Islamic ArtHebrew CoursesTalking together
A Museum for the Whole FamilySummer at the Museum for Islamic ArtBirthday Fun at the Museum for Islamic Art
Visitor InformationOpening Hours on Jewish Holidays Contact Us
עבריתعربي
Our Story Management Committee Position holders at the Museum Purpose and Vision
Permanent Exhibitions Past Exhibitions New on the museum website - exhibits displayed in 3D Jewelry Making: Past & Present The Box with the Heart of Gold
Education The Jerusalem Advantage A summer of fun Activities Contact us New Perspectives through the Camera Lens Educational Programs for Middle and High Schools Educational Programs for Elementary Schools contact us Elementary Schools Kindergartens Activities for Elementary Schools Post-Elementary Schools Special Education Special Programs
Enrichment Art Activities at the Museum for Islamic Art Hebrew Courses Talking together
A Museum for the Whole Family Summer at the Museum for Islamic Art Birthday Fun at the Museum for Islamic Art
Visitor Information Opening Hours on Jewish Holidays
Tours Inspired by the Legitimacy of Landscape Exhibition
21 February - 05 April, 2019
The Museum for Islamic Art
To purchase tickets to the tour Beyond the Mountains of Darkness:
https://eventbuzz.co.il/iy23o
To purchase tickets to the tour Residents on Probation:
http://eventbuzz.co.il/khe11
To purchase tickets to the tour Anemones, Gas Stations and a Wall,
What Happened to the Green Line in Jerusalem?:
https://eventbuzz.co.il/xxuod
To purchase tickets to the tour Beit Tzefafa – From an Arab Village
to an Urban Neighborhood:
https://eventbuzz.co.il/lxpan
February 21 – Thursday, 12:30-16:30, Beyond the Mountains of Darkness, Presented by Eliezer Yaari
Cost: NIS 120, including refreshments, tour of the exhibition, bus transport to the tour location.
About the tour:
A voyage between landscape locations, across the Jerusalem expanse, that show Jerusalem in a different light. The first spot is the watershed, the source of Dragot Riverbed and the U.S. Embassy in Israel. The second is Kibbutz Ramat Rahel and nearby historic hilltop site. The kibbutz and the archeological mound are a story of Jewish settlement, the destruction and expulsion, as well as the return to the Land of Israel, all contained within a beautiful small archeological mound which overlooks the whole southern range of the Judean Hills and the desert. The third location is the strongholds on the pre-1967 border, and the observation point towards all the areas that comprise “beyond the mountains of darkness”. The fourth place is the area around Wadi Humus on the eastern side of Tsur Baher, which is largely a story of the border, sovereignty, development, the environment and forgetting. We will close with the fifth location - the view of the border next to the separation barrier near the neighborhood of East Talpiyot.
Eliezer Yaari
Writer and journalist, former television manager, broadcaster and producer and, before that, an air force pilot. He has regular slots on radio and the Internet. He is also a member of the Jdocu photographer group that has had three exhibitions in Israel to date. His photographs and writing from the group’s trips won great acclaim. Thus far he has published three books: Back to the Titanic (a collection of short stories), Crossings (a novel set in Jerusalem during the Second Intifada) and Beyond the Mountains of Darkness. He has a regular radio spot, and an Internet column which are very popular. He is a Jerusalemite and lives in Arnona near Ramat Rahel.
The tour is fully booked. Due to high demand a new event is opening on 7.3.19.
***The "Residents on Probation" tour, that was meant to take place on Friday, March 1st,
was postponed due to weather conditions and will take place on Friday, March 22nd.
There are last places on the tour, Hurry and register!
March 22 – Friday, 10:00-14:00, Residents on Probation, Presented by Dr. Anwar Bin Baddis
The refugee camp Shoafat, which is located in east Jerusalem, is the only refugee camp built by a country (Jordan, in 1963). It has around 70,000 inhabitants living in an impossible situation – on the one hand they have blue ID cards and are considered residents of Jerusalem. However, the separation barrier surrounds the camp and they do not receive municipal services. The tour will go through a number of observation points which will offer a glimpse of the lives of the new Palestinians – past, present and future.
Dr. Anwar Bin Baddis:
A Jerusalem enthusiast, and teacher of Arabic language and Palestinian culture.
https://eventbuzz.co.il/lp/event/khe11
March 29 – Friday, 10:00-14:00, Anemones, Gas Stations and a Wall, What Happened to the Green Line in Jerusalem?, Presented by Journalist Nir Hasson
Almost 71 years have passed since it was draw with a blunt green pencil, and 52 years since it was erased from the maps. Does the Green Line still divide Jerusalem? Is it visible? What marks has it left on Jerusalem’s DNA? The tour will take in 4 stations along the Green Line, and an open and evolving discussion about the division and unification of Jerusalem.
Nir Hasson:
Journalist, Jerusalem reporter for the Haaretz newspaper since 2008. He published his book Urshalim: Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem 1967–2017, in 2017.
To purchase tickets to the tour Anemones, Gas Stations and a Wall, What Happened to the Green Line in Jerusalem?:
April 5 – Friday, 10:00-14:00, Beit Tzefafa – From an Arab Village to an Urban Neighborhood, Presented by Eran Tzidkiyahu
Beit Tzefafa Sharfat, a typical Palestinian Arab village located along the route of the Refaim Riverbed between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
The name of the village appears in manuscripts form the time of the Crusades. Throughout history Beit Tzefafa was a typical agricultural Arab village. However, towards the end of the Ottoman Era, and during the British Mandate, Beit Tzefafa gradually merged with the ever-spreading Jerusalem. Between 1948 and 1967 the village was divided between Israel and Jordan, and since 1967 it has been reunified, and “trapped” between Gilo, Pat and the Mesilla Park, Derech Hebron and the Talpiyot industrial district. Half of the village is in east Jerusalem and half in west Jerusalem. The village’s population is divided between citizens and permanent residents. Over the years the village became a preferred destination for Israeli citizen Arab immigrants from the north. The tour will pass through the historic nucleus of the village through to the most contemporary urban renewal, between east and west, village to neighborhood, challenges to opportunities. En route we will encounter some stories and characters.
Eran Tzidkiyahu:
A geopolitical tour guide who focuses on Jerusalem, sacred sites and Jewish-Palestinian relations. He specialized at the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research, is active in Ir Amim, and in the Forum for Regional Thinking. He has a master’s degree from the Hebrew University and he is currently working on his PhD in political science, in the field of the religious nationalism in the Jewish-Palestinian conflict. Tzidkiyahu is one of the founders of 0202 Points of View from Jerusalem and a member of the association’s management committee.
Multidisciplinary Shows
Gallery discussion
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Home > Program > Academic Program > Thursday 9-11 a.m. > Indigenous religion(s): Local grounds, global networks (global/local) (2/4)
Indigenous religion(s): Local grounds, global networks (global/local) (2/4)
27-124 | Thursday, 9 a.m. | CT
Panel Chair: Bjørn Ola Tafjord
Globalizing discourses concerning indigenous religion(s) exist today in contexts like academia, the art world, indigenous peoples’ activism, judicial practices, tourism, and the UN. They thrive on a flexible but fairly standardized repertoire of assumed similarities in religions of indigenous peoples: harmony with nature, sacred land, healing and holism, antiquity and spirituality, shamanism and animism. Scholars like James Clifford (2013) and Ronald Niezen (2012) have referred to the increasing cultural and political importance of such formations. Yet we know little about articulations and implications on local indigenous grounds. Neither do we know well the dynamics and the reach of the networks through which these discourses travel. How are they performed, translated, and mediated? And how do they get related to claims of belonging and struggles for sovereignty? The case studies presented in this panel examine these questions from different geographical, historical, and methodological perspectives. Organizers of the panel are Greg Johnson (Colorado), Siv Ellen Kraft (Tromsø) and Bjørn Ola Tafjord (Tromsø).
Claire Scheid
Donyi-Polo’s Roots and Routes: Tracing ‘Sun-Moon’ Formalization among the Tani Groups of Arunachal Pradesh, India
Donyi-Polo (‘Sun-Moon’) is the ‘common but flexible sacred frame’ (Mibang & Chaudhuri, 2005) of the varieties of indigenous religion practiced among the Tani groups in Arunachal Pradesh, India (such as the Adi, the Apatani, the Nyishi). Since the mid-1980s, these ethnic communities have been restructuring their faith to fit the model of more mainstream religions via ‘institutionalisation’ processes. This paper explores the origins and transmissions of these changes in religious articulation through examining: 1) the participation of Adi community leaders in international ‘religious freedom’ conferences in India and Germany, events that influenced the practical aspects of reformation; 2) the unifying nature of these movements among the Tani groups, encouraged by Adi emphasis on 'shared mythological heritage'; and 3) the manner in which this 'new religious blueprint' has sparked dialogue with other Northeast Indian indigenous religious organizations and has led to secular, state-wide expressions of 'indigeneity'.
Kingdom Gone or Kingdom Come? Religious Discourse in the Native Hawaiian Federal Recognition Process of 2014
The United States Department of the Interior held fifteen heavily attended, dramatic public meetings on the topic of Native Hawaiian federal recognition during the summer of 2014. Taking these fraught meetings as its focus, this paper will explore the ways different groups of Hawaiians invoked religious idioms and quasi-religious discourses in the process of asserting a range of positions regarding Hawaiian sovereignty. My analysis attends to the rhetoric of the two most prominent and counter-posed camps that emerged in the course of the meetings, with special attention to the juridico-spatial reach of their claims. I will explore the ways some groups appealed to international entities (e.g., the U.N. and the World Court) as a means to position their claims beyond and against the state even while seeking to expand their localized authority within it. The paper will conclude with an analysis of the surprisingly faith-based rhetoric of some sovereignty activists.
Cato Christensen
Indigenous Film – Storytelling for a Global Religious Identity
Filmmaking has become a vehicle of indigenous identity politics. Variously called “indigenous film”, “native film” or “first nation film”, films by indigenous filmmakers on indigenous themes have become something like a genre of its own, and a global one as such. The growing corpus of films, film festivals, special tracks, and their discourses of reception also seem to outline a specialized language of mediated indigeneity. Film, in this context, is often presented as a continuation of indigenous storytelling traditions, and there is a marked tendency to promote spirituality as a core characteristic of indigenous communities, paired with strong bonds to the land and the past. This article explores the phenomenon of indigenous film with special emphasis on how it draws upon and influence broader discourses of “indigenous religion”. Empirical examples are drawn from Scandinavia, North America and Australia.
Siv Ellen Kraft
UN-Discourses on Indigenous Religion(s)
The UN-publication State of the World`s Indigenous Peoples refers in fact-like manners to “indigenous spirituality” as rooted in people`s relationship to the land, and central to all that they are and strive for: “For indigenous peoples, the land is the core of all spirituality and this relationship to the spirit of the earth is central to all the issues that are important to indigenous peoples today” (2007:59). Similar claims to assumed religious commonalities and to a spiritual core of indigeneity appear to be wide-spread in UN-texts and contexts. This chapter is an attempt to explore this discourse systematically, on the basis of (primarily) published documents and official websites; in regard to content, extent, and links to others discourses, and with a focus on implied concepts of “religion” and “indigeneity”. Finally, I will explore the life of these texts among the Norwegian Sami, thereby to provide local ex-amples of how they travel – how they are used, by whom, for which reasons, and whether they are discussed, negotiated and opposed.
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Archaeological site "Narona"
The remnants of the city of antiquity Narona have been found in the area surrounding the village of Vid, 3 kilometres from Metkovic. Narona was a Roman colony and emporium and its massive wealth based on trade. These are the most precious remains of historical heritage in this area. Archaeological digs from 1995 and 1996 provided epochal results, with the discovery of Augusteum, the temple consecrated to the divinized Augustus (16 monumental figures), making this site one of the most significant archaeological sites outside of Rome.
Over the past decade, a permanent archaeological collection has been set
up, archaeological research on the early Christian basilica at the site
of the Chapel of St. Vid has been conducted, archaeological research and
conservation of the early Christian basilica and the ruins of Roman
villa rustica (country homes) at Bare conducted, research on the city
walls of Gornji grad (the upper town) completed, and research on the
city walls of Donji grad (the lower town) started, including research on
the settlement which preceded the Roman Narona, with ruins found under
the level of the forum.
In the area of the large forum, the most impressive structure is
Augusteum. This small temple, with its vestibule, lying upon a raised
plateau alongside the forum, was erected in honour of the Emperor
Augustus about 10 years before Christ. At that time, the first statues
were added in its interior, with the largest, a statue of Augustus in
his imperial robes, measuring nearly 3 metres in height.
Following his death, the Emperor's Regent Publius Cornelius Dolabella had the temple renovated (the portrait of Livia of Narona, as well as the bust of Mercury, now on display at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford). Later, during the period of Emperor Claudius, new statues were added. During the rule of Vespasian in 74 A.D., significant works were conducted at Narona, and on this occasion an inscription and sculpture were added. Only the head remains of this sculpture, and it was discovered in the direct vicinity of Augusteum some 20 years ago. These final statues were added to the temple in the period of the rule of Sever, in the middle of the 2nd century. According to research to date, it can be concluded that Augusteum was destroyed at the transition between the 4th and 5th centuries. A museum pavilion that will display all the artefacts and statues is expected to be opened soon.
Five points have been defined which currently provide insight into Narona. Those are:
1. The Chapel of St. Vid. In front of the chapel, an early Christian
christening font considered to be used during the time of Prince Domagoj,
2. the early Christian church outside the city walls called Bare after
the settlement of the same name upon which it stood,
3. the complex of the early Christian basilica on the northeastern city
of the town, which for the time being has only been researched by probing,
4. the blueprints of the city walls surrounding Gornji grad and
descending down to Donji grad, and
5. the Forum, today the town square, next to Augusteum. The Narona
Museum is constructed here.
1. First monument
Narona was first mentioned by the Greek historian Pseudo-Skilak in the
4th century before Christ, who wrote that the Neretva River was
navigable to the emporium (docks), which was evidently at Narona.
Theophrastus, about whom the geographer Strabon wrote, stated that Greek
traders solder their ceramic wares at Narona.
2. Origin of the name
The linguist A. Mayer stated that the name Narona originated from the
word Náron, from the root ner-/*nar-, meaning, to dive, which is also
the root of the Croatian word noriti (roniti - to dive).
3. Illyrian Narona
It is difficult to say which tribes in prehistory inhabited the Neretva
River Valley. In the beginning, this area was likely inhabited by the
Daors, which were later forced out by the Ardians, and they were forced
out by the Delmati. Illyrian structures, or settlements outside the
city, were located at the top of the hill above Vid. Strong
fortress-structures about Vid were also found on the hills of Marusica
gradina (375m) and Velika Mitrusa (460m).
4. Greek Narona
The Greeks did not leave much of a trace at Narona. There are two round
towers as part of the city walls are from the 4th century before Christ.
There are no inscriptions in the Greek language, though three tombstones
in the Hellenist style were found.
5. The arrival of the Romans in the Neretva Valley
The Romans strengthened their hold on Narona following the
Roman-Illyrian wars. There was a Roman military base (castra) at or near
Narona, like a legion base for the wards against the Delmati. The city
walls were expanded.
6. Organization and structure of government
In the beginning of the Roman rule, Narona was a conventus civium
Romanorum (community of Roman citizens) and a municipium (municipality
with partial Roman civil rights). Narona became a Roman colony (Colonia
Julia Narona), with full Roman civil rights, perhaps under the rule of
Caesar in the 1st century before Christ. The city was run by the
quattuorviri (Council of Four), and the duoviri (Council of Two),
selected from the ranks of the city council (ordo decurionum). In the
centre of town, a square (forum) was built, with public buildings - the
temple, manors and others, while the amphitheatre was likely built
outside the city.
7. Naronian Convent
In Dalmatia, Narona was a CONVENTUS NARONITANUS - Naronian convent: the
judicial and administrative centre of the region. The convent stretched
through the area of many Illyrian tribes and stretched from the Adriatic
coast, west to Cetina and into the interior of Bosnia east of Vrbas, the
mouth of the Bosna River, and passed over the Drina River to the east,
including Montenegro and a large part of coastal Albania.
8. Naronian ager
The Naronian ager (land owned by the city of Narona) bordered on the
coast with the ager of Salona near Makarska, and in the interior with
the ager of Novae (Runovici near Imotski), including today's Ljubuski
and Capljina, where it bordered with the ager of Diluntum (Stolac) and
to the south, it included Ston and Peljesac to the border with the ager
of Epidaurum. The Narona colony frequently granted land in its ager to
the veterans who retired from military service.
9. Topography and architecture of Narona in the 1st - 3rd centuries
Narona likely spread over an area of 25 hectares, which implies that it
encompassed a majority of today's wetland areas. The city had roads
built towards Salona and Epidaurum. The buildings of the city were built
of stone and brick, while roof tiles were imported from Italy (Pansiana,
Ambrosiana and others).
10. Epigraphical monuments
Over three hundred Roman monuments have been found in Narona:
ceremonial, public, private monuments and tombstones. They mention many
of the city administrators, military officials and the Governor of the
Dalmatian province Publius Cornelius Dolabella. In addition to those in
the Archaeological collection at Vid, forty are built into the Eres Kula
(tower) at Vid, while the remainder at on display at the Archaeological
Museum in Split and elsewhere.
11. Coin Findings
Many examples of the money of the time have been found at Narona, from
drachmas of Dira and Apolonia, Roman republic money, to gold coins,
silver coins and copper coins bearing the images of virtually every
emperor. Also significant and valuable was the find of gold jewellery,
called the Urbica gold, as one of the rings in the collection has the
name Urbica on it, from the period of the 5th-6th century.
12. Pagan cults
Many pagan cults spread throughout and were worshipped in Narona:
Jupiter, Aesculapius, Mercury, Mars, Fortuna, Diana, Cerera, Neptune,
Demeter, Libera, as well as oriental divinities, such as the goddess
Isis, whose alabaster bust is on display as part of the archaeological
collection at Vid.
13. Ecclesia Naronitana (the Narona Diocese)
In the 5th and 6th centuries, Narona became the seat of the diocese, as
its Bishop Marcel is mentioned in the 6th century (Marcellus, episcopus
ecclesiae Naronitanae). Narona had at least three churches from the
early Christian period. The largest, perhaps episcopal, was the basilica
situated at the location where the Church of St. Vid is today. The other
churches were the basilica at the locality of Eres Bare and the basilica
at the aqueduct, on the route of the waterworks towards Korcula, under
the road Vid-Ljubuski.
14. Late antiquity and the fall of Narona
Historians believe that Narona fell in the early 7th century, when the
great migration of the peoples began. However, a certain continuity of
life continued through the 8th and 9th centuries, likely on the
periphery of Narona.
15. Research by Carl Patsch
The first person to systematically study Narona was Austrian
archaeologist Carl Patsch at the end of the 19th and beginning of the
20th century. He confirmed the existence of the forum, city walls and
the road to Narona and discovered many epigraphical monuments, coins,
landmarks, amphorae and more. He wrote about his findings in the book
THE HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF NARONA/ POVIJEST I TOPOGRAFIJA NARONE/ZUR
GESCHICHTE UND TOPOGRAPHIE VON NARONA, Vienna 1907.
16. Research by Ivan Marovic and Nenad Cambi
After World War II, Narona was systematically studied by experts I.
Marovic, F. Buskariol and N. Cambi from the Archaeological Museum in
Split. In the centre of Vid, they uncovered the mosaic near the forum,
they studied the defence walls and the partially uncovered basilica from
the waterworks route towards Korcula. In 1978, N. Cambi discovered the
sculpture of the head of the Emperor Vespasian, which dates back to
about 75 A.D. The head was made of white limestone, and treated with a
rotating drill.
17. Research by Emilio Marina
The team of the Archaeological Museum in Split achieved significant
results from 1991-1997 in the study of Narona under the leadership of
museum director Emilio Marina. The foundations of the basilica under the
Church of St. Vid were studied, and a well preserved christening font
was discovered. The font was decorated with scenes of heavenly rivers,
however, due to the swampy soil, it had to be buried again. At the site
of the forum, at the location of Plecaseve Stale, 16 temple statues of
the Emperor Augustus and his family, Roman officials and deities were
excavated. They were all found decapitated, and therefore it was assumed
that the temple was erected here in the 1st century (Augusteum), but was
later destroyed and the decapitated sculptures cast from their pedestals
in the 4th century, when Christianity was made the official religion in
the Empire. Two heads, belonging to the god Mercury and the Empress
Livia, are on display at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Next to the
statues, an inscription was found of the Emperor's Governor Publius
Cornelius Dolabella, who likely erected the sculpture of Augustus 14
years after the Emperor's death. Augusteum is to be reconstructed in
situ on the forum of antiquity at the main square of Vid, and a Museum
pavilion will be constructed there.
Art: --- Ferienwohnung Studio Zimmer Haus
Stadt: --- BacinaBlaceDubokaKlekKomarnaKremenaOpuzen
Klek Appartements
Duboka Appartements
Komarna Appartements
Blace Appartements
Baćina Appartements
Karte von Klek Riviera
Strassenbedingungen
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GROUPS OF LIKE PEOPLE
Monument Skate Crew
Providence, RI © Jud Burgess 2015
I was sitting at a park with Laurie watching this local skate crew making use of every corner and surface of a massive sculpted monument. Having been a skateboarder myself during the late 70s, connecting with these guys got my blood running again.
Chicano Park Barrio Logan skate crew
San Diego, CA © Jud Burgess 2016
6 months later Laurie and I are on the other side of the country in San Diego and I asked this young group of Latino skaters to sit for a portrait. Surfing concrete under concrete.
Portrait of ballers shooting hoops under I-10 overpasses
César Chávez day at Lincoln Park
El Paso, Texas, March 25, 2018 © Jud Burgess 2018
A group of Filipino nuns waiting to get into an art fair in Austin, Texas
© Jud Burgess 2017
Portrait of Barrio Duranguito protectors.
El Paso, Texas, September, 2017 © Jud Burgess 2017
SAL and CARA VIDA
Have you ever met somebody and within the hour you feel like you've known them for years?
That was the case when I was exploring solo and came upon a very interesting building and it's occupants.
Meet Sal and Cara Vida. I was invited into their lives and home.
Both in their 70s. Together for 45 years. Not married. They love New Orleans the way I love San Francisco. Sal is half Filipino and half Mexican. Sal has crazy dreads and speaks with a very mellow voice. He brags on Cara Vida and her art. He talks about the garage they bought decades ago and converted to a home.
Cara Vida is an artist. She is a stand-up comedian. A spoken voice poet. She calls me by my first name almost immediately. She is a Buddhist with a wonderfully filthy mouth. Has a puff of shocking pink hair just to the right of her head. She is a fortune-teller.
They made me feel right at home.
New American Gothic
Hayes Valley, San Francisco. © Jud Burgess 2015
Cara Vida and Sal
Monumental Pistachio
Alamogordo, NM © Jud Burgess, August, 2016
American Couple
Times Square, New York City, NY © Jud Burgess, August 21, 2016
New York City, NY © Jud Burgess, August 20, 2016
ST. ANTHONY’S LABOR DAY BAZAAR SERIES
Gorditas, Cascarones, Cerveza, Enchiladas, Paletas, Churros, Juegos, Gente, Sorpresas, Alegría, Cultura!
Latino culture in all it's glory over a three day period just up the block.
I've been going to this bazaar since I was 7 years old. Happy faces everywhere I look, including my own.
This relatively quiet historic Seminary becomes a riot of sound, laughter, music, color and smells every year and people from all over El Paso come to take part and help keep the tradition alive.
With I-phone in hand, I look for those moments that best reflect the variety of human interactions that take place at any given time.
Portrait of the spinning wheel woman
St. Anthony’s Seminary, El Paso, Texas © Jud Burgess, September 4, 2016
Nun embroidering in the shade
MEET GILBERT FLORES
I just met this 33-year old man on Texas Street. He was slowly hauling his cardboard and aluminum cans on his pushcart in his quest to earn income and accomplish small things with the money earned.
Small things like buying groceries, bus fare to go visit his daughter.
He tells me he is disabled and is usually in a wheelchair, but this routine is his therapy as it keeps him on his feet, while also his daily way of staying busy and scraping up whatever dollars he can make.
I asked him if we could make a deal—
“Let me take some photographs of you and I'll give you what's in my wallet.”
He obliged me and I had him stand in front of a white wall. I rattled off maybe 10 photos and then we resumed our conversation.
He mentioned that he really needed the money because he was going to visit his daughter after which he would go to see his younger brother who had just graduated from the Border Patrol Academy. Gilbert wasn't quite sure how that was going to happen.
Earlier in the morning, a woman saw him and walked up to him and handed him a dollar bill. He told me he was grateful to God for the way these things were happening to him today.
It may not sound like much, but to Gilbert they mean the world.
Next time you're driving down the street and see Gilbert or someone struggling to get through the day, pull over, say hello and slip him or her something to make the day go by a little easier.
Connect with the human family.
Gilbert Flores
Texas Street, El Paso, Texas. September 29, 2016 © Jud Burgess
Tattooed wrists
Gilbert Flores wearing a rosary lanyard
From my photo series of people I met during my run for City Council District 2
Salvador and his 1957 Chevy. Salvador, 82 years old and living at his home in District 2 for over 50 years. He was out in his front yard making tea from some leaves of his thriving orange tree. Salvador is a lifelong voter. He gets a couple of offers for his classic every month, but he’s not ready to sell.
© Jud Burgess, March 2017
Dad with his tricked-out, chromed $2,000 lowrider bike and daughter with her $39.99 Walmart special enjoying a ride around the park.
Cesar Chavez Day at Lincoln Park
© Jud Burgess, Sunday, March 26, 2017
My name is James. I’m a homeless man.
El Paso, Texas © Jud Burgess, March 30, 2017
Lilia looking down.
Headstand, El Paso, Texas © Jud Burgess, April 13, 2017
Climbing inflatable mountains
Grandview Park, El Paso, Texas © Jud Burgess, April 23, 2017
Happy Nun
St. Anthony’s Labor Day Weekend Bazaar, El Paso, Texas © Jud Burgess, September 4, 2017
She knows how to wear that dress
LINCOLN PARK DAY CELEBRATION, El Paso, Texas
Sunday, September 24.
A day where El Pasoans from all over the city and beyond meet under the painted columns holding up the freeway overpasses to celebrate Latino culture and heritage.
Lincoln Park is perhaps one of the most unique gathering places for Latinos in all America.
A place where the stories of our heritage are painted for all to see and learn from.
Parks, playgrounds, trains, car clubs, picnics, matachines, danza, folklorico, the drumbeat of a proud people.
A beautiful arm on a beautiful woman
Lincoln Park Day Celebration, El Paso, Texas © Jud Burgess, September 24, 2017
Checking under the hood
Two children playing, one sulking
Lincoln Park blues
Colorful woman
Man and Demon (the pitbull’s name)
Barrio Duranguito vs. sports arena SERIES
One week in the life and death and life of El Paso’s First Ward. September 11 - 16, 2017
I’ve been personally involved in this cause since the City first declared that a gargantuan “sports arena” illegally voted on during the 2012 Quality Of Life bond issue would be displacing resident and paving over El Paso’s oldest history, heritage, culture and legacy.
It is a battle between weak politicians and the wealthy downtown property owners and special interests who fund their campaigns against enlightened El Pasoans who understand the value of preserving our history and culture represented within this unique and singular neighborhood.
I’ve documented a dramatic week in the battle through my photography and a 14-minute mini-documentary that I produced including film, photographic images and interviews I conducted with well known activists Hector González of Lincoln Park Community Center and Dr. Self A. Chew, PhD.
September 11, 2017 – Resistance by the people
The City of El Paso is attempting to begin the demolition process of various historic buildings within Barrio Duranguito. A legal battle waged between city leaders and historic preservationists and social activists protecting the neighborhood has been waged for several weeks. After a day of legal trickery, the historic preservationists win an injunction that prohibits the City from proceeding with demolition.
Dozens of Barrio Duranguito supporters, advocates and activists spend hours rallying on site where the City has placed chainlink and tractors at the ready for destruction as a psychological tactic to intimidate us.
The attempt falls short as people young and old banded to remove all the chainlink and call for removal of the tractors and 18-wheelers.
September 12, 2017 – Barrio Duranguito under assault
After the City issued a court order to stop demolition amid shouts of victory by the people, the slumlord owners of the building had a wrecking crew surreptitiously show up in the morning hours of Tuesday, September 12 and commence to violate the court order. More than likely city leaders expected this would happen because of the pressure they put on the property owners to demolish their structures prior to closing the sale which would enrich them, much more than the fine levied for demolishing against court order.
The Bobcats punched major structural damage to supporting walls of each property in the effort to render them useless and effectively end the standoff between Barrio Duranguito and the City.
This day brought several dozen armed policemen, many in full riot gear to again intimidate neighborhood supporters and protectors. While the city claimed they were there to protect the citizens, many of the officers threatened mass arrest. Chainlink was once again setup around the perimeter to enclose all citizens there on behalf of the neighborhood. People were allowed out but not in. They would not even allow food to be brought to those who stayed.
September 13 - ?
Directly following the demolition assault, supporters and activists coordinated to take round the clock shifts on site to assure that wrecking crews didn’t show up again to assault the embattled historic buildings. People have been supporting them by joining and bringing much needed supplies and sustenance. There is a festive and brotherly atmosphere here at any time of the day or night, with people playing music, singing, dancing, Lotería, and building relationships under a common cause.
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ARCHDIOCESE IN THE NEWS - MAY 27 TO JUNE 3, 2017 (WHAT A WEEK!)
Three Chamorro bishops — Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, Bishop Tomas Aguon Camacho of Saipan and Archbishop Flores — have all been accused of child sexual abuse, and Flores was instrumental in the other bishops' promotions. - GUAM DAILY POST
June 3, 2017. GUAM DAILY POST
Lawsuit accuses Archbishop Flores
Four new lawsuits detail alleged abuse
June 2, 2017. PACIFIC DAILY NEWS
Third Marianas bishop accused of sexually abusing children
June 2, 2017 GUAM DAILY POST
Archbishop: Sadness deepens with each victim
New allegations against defrocked priest
June 2, 2017. PACIFIC NEWS CENTER
Archdiocese continues to pray for church abuse victims
Church acknowledges latest clergy sex abuse lawsuits
June 1, 2017. KUAM
Archbishop continues prayers for abuse victims
New clergy abuse lawsuit against now defrocked priest Cepeda
May 30, 2017. GUAM DAILY POST
Suit: Boy repeatedly raped
May 30, 2017. PACIFIC NEWS CENTER
Latest sex abuse victim says 2 other Boy Scouts leaders also raped him
May 29, 2017. PACIFIC DAILY NEWS
Lawsuit claims Brouillard, older scouts raped boy during jamborees
Former altar boy reported sexual abuse
May 29, 2017. KUAM
71st alleged victim files abuse suit against church
More child sex abuse victims come forward
Lawsuit claims church knew of 1985 priest abuse
Apuron accuser's family meets with new archbishop
Second suit against Caluag
Man claiming sex abuse by priest at Mangilao church is 70th accuser
Archive of news stories at IN THE NEWS tab
Labels: In the Media, Sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Agana
Guam and Saipan are not the only places steeped in episcopal obscenities. US Mainland bishops are responsible for the abuse catastrophe here. They enabled and
protected known pedophile priest rings nationwide because many of the hierarchy are active perverts themselves.
The USCCB's useless child protection guidelines actually exempt offending bishops from punishment. They were written by then-Fr. Gregory Ingels JCD, Rome-educated ex-Chancellor and Chief Canonist for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
Ingels was subsequently fired when he was credibly accused of being a sadistic, bisexual pedophile. Two of his victims received a total of $2.7 million in out-of-Court settlements.
There was further outrage when canned Ingels was allowed to live with SF's controversial Archbishop Emeritus, John Quinn, in the lavish AB's Mansion at nearby St. Patrick's Seminary. He eventually moved to Minnesota where he reportedly does property management and sub-rosa canon law consults for the USCCB.
It is still unclear whether he was retired or defrocked. Our money is on secretly retired with lifetime benefits because Ingels was a protege of SF's former AB, later Curial Cardinal, William Levada who retired as B16's powerful CDF chief. No surprise, that office is in charge of pedophile priest disposition.
I knew Ingels from his seminary days at St. John's in Southern California, but not even his closest priest-friends suspected him of being a pervert. Everyone mistakenly thought he was just rather crochety. He was shunned by all of us after the scandals erupted.
CNMI Lawyer June 5, 2017 at 1:09 PM
I attended the first Mass of Fr. Greg Ingels at the gymnasium of Marin Catholic High School, where he was then a teacher (and later took advantage of a female student during off-campus counselling).
He taught us Religion junior year -- Vatican II, etc. (Freshman year was sacred scriptures, sophomore year church history and world religions, senior year about marriage and morality.) Fr. Greg was also my assistant freshman football coach.
I thought he was a good, earnest priest. He seemed socially awkward, and some of my classmates made fun of him in the hallways.
When I was a law student member of the St. Thomas More Society of San Francisco, newly installed Justice Kennedy gave a speech, and Fr. Ingels gave a good introduction.
Our paths would cross again on Saipan. He visited twice in connection with work for the diocesan marriage tribunal.
He was and is extremely knowledgeable about canon law.
I know for a fact that Fr. Greg was removed from public ministry, which is when he went to St. Patrick's Seminary. He was not laicized.
I had not heard about his move to Minnesota.
I think I was wrong about the first Mass; that was probably a different priest.
Pervert Ingels' benefactor, now retired Cardinal William Levada, was arrested in Hawaii in 2016 on a DUI. His driver's license was revoked for a year and he was Court-ordered to undergo alcoholism counseling at age 80.
At last report, Levada was living in the Archbishop's Mansion at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He shared it with his lifelong friend, recently deceased George Niederauer, also a retired San Francisco AB. Their close relationship was highly questionable.
SF's current AB, Sal Cordileone, was arrested on a San Diego DUI just prior to his installation and his record was immediately sealed. Police said he was seriously impaired. However, as opposed to repentant Levada, he was quite cavalier about the incident and got away with only a $1,200 fine. He never even showed up in Court after leaving San Diego. His lawyer represented him there.
Tim June 5, 2017 at 12:43 PM
“I apologize for my error in judgment and feel shame for the disgrace I have brought upon the Church and myself. I will repay my debt to society, and I ask forgiveness from my family and my friends and co-workers at the Diocese of Oakland and the Archdiocese of San Francisco," Archbishop Cordileone said in an Aug. 27 statement.
This doesn't sound "cavalier."
That statement was written by Sal's lawyer. He brushed off the whole thing at his snooty, invitation-only San Francisco installation.
He refuses to engage with San Francisco at large, preferring wealthy parishes in Marin and San Mateo Counties, bazillionaire SF Giants baseball team owners...and the mega-millionaire Jesuits at disgracefully non-Catholic USF. Archbishop Levada kissed the perverse SJ's evil butts too, caving in to them on heavily gay domestic partnership issues. Justifiably, that got him off to a very bad start with practicing Catholics.
I know several conservative SF chancery employees well and even they dislike non-pastoral Sal. Chancery morale is very low because he's a cold-blooded elitist. The Oakland Diocese he came from totally hated him. A San Diego priest-friend who's somewhere to the right of John Birch can't stand him either, so liberals definitely aren't the only ones who are on his case.
You don't live in SF and you don't know what actually goes on here. We native Catholics who've lived here forever do.
Tim June 6, 2017 at 1:42 PM
LOL. A typical shithead comment. I don't live there so I can't say anything about SF, but you don't live here and you get to lecture us about our situation several times a day. Well F that.
CNMI Lawyer June 7, 2017 at 7:30 AM
I have lived in the Diocese of Oakland since 2010 and can assure you that the admiration and respect of the faithful for then-Bishop Cordileone were (and still are) 100% opposite from what you claim.
USF Catholicity at 50-year high
Likewise, I graduated cum laude from the University of San Francisco School of Law in the late 1980s and visit several times per year for CLE (Continuing Legal Education) and other events on campus, including Masses at St. Ignatius.
I have many friends and high school classmates who earned their undergraduate degrees there, and for over 30 years I have received alumni publications from the Law School and the main campus across the street.
The 1980s were a low-water mark for the Catholic identity of USF, with such abominations as the pro-abortion so-called “Catholics for a Free Choice” and gay rights groups actively recruiting on campus and distributing propaganda and free, progressive newspapers.
At the 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening Mass, the congregation (mostly students) was summoned to stand around the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Some even opposed the 1987 visit of Saint John Paul II to the City, passing out circular stickers with his face within a red circle and diagonal red line, urging that S.F. be a “Pope-Free Zone” and blaming him for the AIDS crisis.
There were numerous heterodox professors urging (anti-Catholic) “academic freedom” and pressuring the administration to recruit ever more “diverse” (non-Catholic), “progressive” faculty.
While there were islands of orthodoxy, such as the St. Ignatius Institute and the Ignatius Press, for the most part USF seemed to be headed in the direction of an institution where its Catholic tradition was but a curiosity or historical footnote, or even an anachronism.
Not so, today, not so!
USF has returned to being a campus where its Catholic identity is central. Yes, there is still diversity -- Jews are well represented among alumni and donors, and there are more Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu students.
But there is a respect for Catholicism and for religion that pervades the campus; faith is no longer a source of embarrassment. Liberal professors tone down their hermeneutics.
USF is more authentically Catholic than at any time since Vatican II. Mass is celebrated in accordance with the GIRM.
Archbishop Cordileone widely respected in the City
San Francisco has long been a wild and restless place, from the Native Americans, Spanish, Mexicans, Californios, 49ers, Chinese, Irish, and Italian immigrants, the Labor Unions, Japanese internment and Black migration, the Beatniks, Flower Children, Gay Liberation, Earth Day, the Tech Boom, and on and on.
S.F. remains a center of Democratic politics.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone is a courageous shepherd and witness to the Catholic faith who does not shirk from speaking truth to power.
His naysayers are primarily the dying breed of so-called “Vatican II Catholics”, especially those who persist in trying to normalize the “Gay agenda” within the Archdiocese.
Let us give thanks for the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and for Archbishop Cordileone.
Let us pray that Archbishop Byrnes will have the insight to consult with his brother Archbishop on occasion.
What are you smoking?!
I live three blocks from USF and can tell you for a fact that the easiest place to find addresses of local abortionists is the dining hall entrance. Some of those butchers even give special discounts to USF students. They have racks of subversive shit all over the place. USF's Theology Dept. Chair is a militant homosexual!
Who promoted Father Anthony Apuron to episcopate?
Like any job it was being in the right place at the right time. Brother Tony was the master of ceremonies for +Pope Saint John Paul II's visit to Guam in 1981. A year later, he was made ordained Auxiliary Bishop.
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Kalypso Adventures
It's time for a new adventure
When auto-rickshaws roam a land…
By: Kalypso Adventures
Tags: experiential travel, rickshaw, rickshaw rides, tuk-tuk, tuktuk
Crammed with screaming kids while on school-rounds or taking the busy house-wife to the markets, the aspiring jobseeker who can’t afford a cab to reach his interview or even an itinerant traveller seeking up, close and personal experiences, the auto rickshaw is as easily available on the roads as it is maneuverable. A ride in an auto rickshaw has the wind playing with your hair and roaring in your ears, the sights and smells of the world you are passing by wafting in and shouting out tales that can only be honest and real. The ubiquitous pot holes and the chaotic traffic do not upset these relentless road-warriors who can access the most inaccessible spots on your city map.
When they were born…and as they evolved
At the time of independence when we had hand-pulled rickshaws, and then when we moved to the era of the cycle-rickshaws and fossil-fuelled vehicles, and further on to today’s compressed, natural gas-fuelled versions, the rickshaw has represented an evolution in Indian society.
And how well they connected to the environment…
Open on two sides, fuelled by CNG, these tough rickshaws barrel down Indian roads with a total disdain for the up-market, air-conditioned comfort of luxurious travel. By allowing the tourist a very personal glimpse of an alien land, it also declares clearly its green intentions.
…And then they were saluted.
India’s Bajaj Auto is presently the largest manufacturer and exporter in the world. Indonesia calls them ‘bajay’ while in Cambodia they are known as tuk-tuks. Having made their presence felt in various parts of the world, the autos as they are known in India, play an undeniably significant role in the social structure of developing nations. Darting in and about on India’s busy streets the omnipresent auto-rickshaws and their versatility reflect the innate honesty and simplicity of the average Indian.
« Tuk-Tuk Adventures India (Previous Post)
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© 2019: Kalypso Adventures | Travel Theme by: D5 Creation | Powered by: WordPress
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More Players, Cohesion and Polish
Time for a quick update!
I’ve been working on bringing more players into the game. It was always intended to be a 2 to 4 player game, but up until recently I was focused only on the two-player mode because I want this game to be as good in two-player as it is in four-player. After some iteration and playtesting, three-player is working pretty well (will try four next). New dynamics come from adding additional players, like players helping others to stop the frontrunner from winning. This is typical for games with many players, and I’m glad to see it making an appearance here. There are a number of board designs I’m still testing out to see what works best for 3 to 4 players.
When I played with my designer friends during GDC, one main thing that bothered them was the lack of a cohesive game feel. They thought the mechanics felt cobbled together. This caused players to pay less attention to certain mechanics because they weren’t heavily related to each other. I felt defeated by the intensity of their feedback, but in the end it’s always great to be challenged by peers. I listened to my friends and have since fixed the problems. For example, there used to be two separate mechanics in the game — objectives and missions. Objectives allowed players to bring new spies into the game, and missions were players’ win conditions. Now the two mechanics are coupled, which enables me to create cool content for players to experience and keeps both mechanics (now just one mechanic) front and center. The pairing is easy for beginners to understand, it gives players more direction, and it makes the whole game feel like one story arc per player.
Along with cohesion, I’ve been ironing out a number of little rules that tend to trip up new players. This smoothing process always feels so good, like “squashing” bugs while programming. It also means my ruleset can be shorter. It’s down to two pages now!
Polishing Content
Lastly, I’ve been taking a look at all of the mechanical content in the game to make sure it’s the best it can be. The items and skills have been fun up to this point, but needed to be kicked up another notch as I get closer to pushing this game to the “finished” state. Now there’s a booby trap you can use to trick opponent spies into injuring themselves. Even cooler, there’s a MIND CONTROL device that lets you wreak all kinds of havoc.
…MIND CONTROOOL!
Ok, that’s it!
Tagged: merc mayhem, playtest
Newer PostSelling the Past to Create the Future
Older PostPost-GAMA 2013 Roundup
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Tag: Warrior
You must have seen Naga Sadhus in Mahakumbh, Arthkumbh, and Simhasthakumbh. By looking at them, you often raise the question in mind of everyone-who are these Naga Sadhus, where do they come from and where do go after the Kumbh ends? Let’s talk about the most mysterious people of Hinduism.
“Naga” is very old; the word is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Nag’, which means ‘mountain’. People living on it are called ‘hill’ or ‘Naga’. ‘Naga’ means ‘naked’. There is also a very old history of Nagavans and Naga castes in India. Many Shaivite sects have been recognized as the beginning of many saints’ culture and tradition.
Since ancient times in India, people of Nagvanshi, S Naga caste, and Dasamani sects have come. A community of North India “Nath Sect” also belongs to the Dasamani sect. “Naga” is referred to as ‘Ek Bahadur Fighter’, as we know- the foundation of the present form of Sanatan Dharma is the divine Shankaracharya had kept.
Shankaracharya was born in the middle of the 8th century. At that time India was very prosperous, but it started to oppose religion. All the attackers were coming here to loot India’s wealth. Some took treasure back with them, and then some were fascinated by the divine aura of India that settled here.
But overall the general peace-order was disrupted. God, religion, theology had to face all kind of challenges, logic, weapon, and science. In this way, Adi Shankaracharya took many major steps for the restoration of Santan Dharma, one of which was to construct four peaks (four dhams) on four corners of the country.
Adiguru Adi Shankaracharya felt that it was not enough to counter these challenges only with spiritual power. For this, there is a need for religious people to fight with unrighteous people. Then he emphasized that by exercising the young monk, strengthening his body and acquiring skill in the weapon.
For this, he built some monasteries which used to exercise and practice various types of weaponry; such monasteries are used for the arena.
Shankaracharya suggested to the akharas- use the power on the need to protect monasteries, temples, and pilgrims. In this way, during this period of foreign and heterosexual invasions, these akharas provided protection to One India. In the event of foreign invasion, Naga warrior sages participated in many wars.
Even before the arrival of the army during the first attack of Mohammed Gauri in the time of Prithviraj Chauhan, Naga Sadhus had surrounded Gauri army in Kurukshetra, when the Gauri army was trying to disperse the temples of Kurukshetra and Pehove. After that, the army of Prithvi Raj had cut Gauri’s army in Tarain (Tarawadi).
In the Kumbha after this war, to give respect to Naga warriors, Prithviraj Chauhan had given the right to take bath first in Kumbh. Since then, this tradition has come that the first bath of the Kumbh will celebrate Naga. These Naga religion warriors not only fought one but also fought against foreign invaders in many wars.
After the robbery of Delhi, the “Taimur Lang”, which came out of Haridwar’s demolition, was killed by the Nagas in the battle of Jwalapur near Haridwar. At the time of the attack Timur, most of the King was hiding in fear. Along with Jograj Singh Gurjar, Harveer Jat, Ram Puri, Dhulaldari, etc., Naga Warriors forced Timur Lang to escape from India.
Similarly, during the attack of Khaliji, warrior sadhus of Nath sect fought hard. During the invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali, when the kings of North India suppressed the nota and the Maratha army was defeated in Panipat, 40,000 Naga warriors had fought against Abdali to protect Mathura-Vrindavan-Gokul.
When Peshwa Madhavrao invaded Afghanistan for revenge of Panipat’s defeat, then Naga warriors had killed local helpers of Abdali. In this way, you may have understood now that the protector of Naga Sadhu Sanatan Dharma is a warrior. Staying away from worldly pleasures, they only live for Dharma.
Now let’s talk about who is the Naga Sadhus and how they are formed. Nagas have to be different and special from the common world. The process of becoming a Naga Sage is very difficult. To become a Naga Sage, you have to undergo such difficult examinations that perhaps no ordinary person can overcome it, this process takes many years to complete.
When a person goes to an orchard to become a monk, he is never included directly in the arena, first, the akhada will find out at his level why he wants to be a saint? The entire background of that person and his family is seen. First of all, it is introduced to the hardships of Naga monk life.
If the Akhara thinks that he is the right person to become a monk, then he gets permission to enter the arena. After entering the arena, he is given the education of celibacy. His tenacity, brahmacharya, disciplined meditation, sannyas and discipline and loyalty to religion are examined in a major way.
It takes 6 months to 12 years. If the Arena decides that it has been worth the initiation then it is taken to the next process. After this, he makes his Shraddha, Mundan, and Pindada and is kept in the Sanyas religion by taking the Guru Mantra. To make your Shraddha break the relation with worldly relatives.
In many aakhras, women are also given the initiation of Naga Sadhu. By the way, the rules of the female Naga Sadhu and the male Naga Sadhu are the same, the only difference is that the woman Naga sadhu has to wrap a yellow cloth and keep this garment has to wear and dip. They are not allowed to have nude baths.
The person who passes successfully from the examination to follow Brahmacharya, then he is made a great man from Brahmacharya. His five gurus are made. These five Guru Punch Dev or Punch God (Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Sun and Ganesha) are there. These things are consumed like saffron and rudraksha etc. These are symbols and ornaments of Nagas.
After the great men, the Nagas are made into Avadhoota. First of all, he has to cut his hair. In the form of an avadhoota, the person who initiates the initiation has to do his own pinnacle and sacrifice. These Pindas make priests of the Akhara. Now they are dead for the world and the family. Their only aim is to protect Sanatan and Vedic religion.
Naga sadhus are not allowed to wear clothes too. If you want to wear clothes, you can wear a Garuda colored Naga only. Naga sadhus are allowed to consume only on the body. Naga sadhus have to wear Vibhuti and Rudraksha, they have to sacrifice their peak and keep the yoke.
Naga sadhus have to eat only once in 24 hours. That food has also been asked for alms. A Naga Sadhu has the right to take alms from as many as seven houses. If there is no begging for asking for begging from seven houses, then he cannot even go for a beggar in the eighth house. He has to be hungry that day.
Naga sadhu cannot use the bed, cot or any other means for sleeping. Naga sadhus sleep only on earth, this is a very strict rule, which every Naga Sage has to follow. After the initiation, he has to keep complete faith in the gurmantra he met from the master. All the penance of his future is based on the same guru mantra.
In addition to the Kumbh Mela, Naga sadhus are completely away from ordinary accumulation and make harsh tenets in caves and kandras. These people reside outside the settlement. They do not bow to anyone and only salute the Saints. There are other such rules that every Naga Sadhus who take initiation have to follow.
The Nagas are considered not just a monk but a warrior. They are master of the art of war, the master of the angry and strong body. Often Naga Sadhus take with them the sword, axis or trident. These weapons are proof of their being the warrior, it is compulsory to keep a limb in the navy. The tongs are also weapons and their tools are also available.
The Naga Sages give blessings to their devotees by touching the tongs. It is believed that – the well-known Naga sadhu peamata touches it becomes welfare. Since the arrival of modern firearms, these akhadas have abandoned their traditional military character. Now, in these akhadas , meditation on living a life restrained while complying with unity values.
At present, there are 13 major akhadas , each of which has a prominent place on top. The Naga who got a title in the Kumbh of Prayagraj, the bloody Naga in Ujjain, the Blister Naga in Haridwar and the person who got the title in Nasik was called Khichadiya Naga. From this, it is possible to know that in which Kumbh it has been made a Naga.
The names of these major akharas are: Sri Niranjani Akhara, Mr. Junadatt or Juna Akhara, Sri Mahanirvana Akhara, Shri Atal Akhara, Sri Avelan Akhara, Shri Anand Akhara, Sri Panchagani Arena, Sri Nagakanti Gorakhnath Akhada, Shri Vaishnav Akhada, Shri Nasin Panchayati Big The Akhara, Shri Nasin New Arena, Sri Nirmal Panchayati Arena, Nirmohi Akhara.
According to Priority, they are given posts such as Kotwal, Pujari, Bada Kotwal, Bhandari, Kothari, Bada Kothari, Mahant and Secretary. The biggest and important position is of the Secretary. Naga Sage lives in the ashram and temples of the Akhara. And spend life in the caves of the Himalayas or the high mountains to perform penance.
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A Bend in the Stars
by Rachel Barenbaum
Russia, 1914: When her physicist brother, Vanya, goes missing en route to observe a solar eclipse, Jewish surgeon Miri Abramov embarks on a desperate rescue mission, accompanied by a charming army deserter.
What's at stake: Vanya believes that photographing the eclipse will verify or disprove Einstein's general theory of relativity, while Miri fears that if the coming war doesn't kill them both, the Czar's pogroms will.
Reviewers say: "exhilarating" (Publishers Weekly).
by Sara Collins
Introducing: Frannie Langton, a Jamaican servant languishing in Newgate Prison as she awaits trial for the murders of her employers.
Why you might like it: Framed as Frannie's confession, this debut offers Gothic atmosphere, vivid recreations of both West Indian sugar plantations and Georgian London, and a penetrating exploration of Enlightenment-era scientific racism.
Want a taste? "The cold seemed to carry its own smell, like raw meat, and came on me sudden as a cutpurse.”
The Flight Portfolio
by Julie Orringer
What it's about: As a volunteer for the Emergency Rescue Committee, American journalist Varian Fry works to smuggle Jewish artists and intellectuals out of Vichy France.
Is it for you? Although it takes some liberties with the biographical details of Fry's life, The Flight Portfolio offers a well-researched depiction of the ERC's activities in assisting refugees during WWII.
About the author: Julie Orriger is the author of The Invisible Bridge.
The Spy of Venice
by Benet Brandreth
What it's about: The "lost years" of William Shakespeare, in which he becomes a spy, undertaking a secret mission while in the guise of a traveling player.
Why you might like it: This brisk yet intricately plotted debut portrays the Bard as a kind of Elizabethan James Bond, dodging assassins and seducing beautiful women.
About the author: When he's not busy writing this series (book 2 is The Assassin of Verona), author Benet Brandreth is the rhetoric coach for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The Western Wind
by Samantha Harvey
What it is: a medieval murder mystery told in reverse.
Starring: John Reve, the doubt-ridden priest whose role as confessor makes him privy to the secrets of an entire village.
For fans of: Iain Pears' An Instance of the Fingerpost, another stylistically complex historical mystery whose potentially unreliable narrator slowly reveals the secrets of isolated English communities.
by Sujata Massey
Introducing: Perveen Mistry, Bombay's first woman solicitor. Despite her Oxford degree, she faces discrimination in a male-dominated profession.
What it's about: Could a strange proviso in the will of a wealthy Muslim mill owner be linked to a murder in the household of his three widows?
Why you might like it: This atmospheric series opener shifts between 1921, when Perveen conducts her investigation, and 1916, when young Perveen discovers her calling in the wake of tragic events.
Plague Land
by S.D. Sykes
What it's about: After the Black Death claims his father and brothers, 18-year-old Oswald de Lacy inherits Somershill. His first duty as lord of the manor? To solve a series of murders -- crimes attributed by the locals to dog-headed demons.
Why you might like it: Set in a plague-stricken 1350 Kent, England (in which both constable and coroner are dead), this series opener features an engaging narrator and a twisty mystery.
For fans of: Ariana Franklin's Adelia Aguilar series.
The Ashes of London
by Andrew Taylor
London, 1666: In the aftermath of the Great Fire, a murder victim is discovered in the ashes of St. Paul's Cathedral; reluctant government informer James Marwood, son of a traitor, is tasked with finding the killer.
Why you might like it: Marwood's adventures (which continue in The Fire Court) unfold against a richly detailed 17th-century backdrop rife with political intrigue and religious unrest.
You might also like: Susanna Calkins' Lucy Campion mysteries, also set in Restoration London and featuring a working-class sleuth.
The Frangipani Tree Mystery
by Ovidia Yu
What it is: a charming traditional mystery set in British-controlled 1930s Singapore and written by the award-winning author of the Aunty Lee series.
Starring: Su Lin, a 16-year-old graduate of the Mission School whose cleverness and fluency in four languages make her helpful to police Inspector La Froy as they investigate a murder at the governor's house.
Series alert: This 1st in the Crown Colony series is followed by The Betel Nut Tree Mystery and the forthcoming The Paper Bark Tree mystery.
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« LIS students to learn about... Garden Chapel by the Sea cel...»
EPA takes testimony on West Maui injection wells
BY EVE CLUTE
LAHAINA — Two public hearings have been held by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine the conditions for the county’s renewal permit for four injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility in Honokowai. The first public hearing was held in November 2008, and the second was last week Thursday at Lahaina Civic Center.
EPA made a preliminary determination to approve the Class V UIC (underground injection control) permit for the County of Maui to operate four injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility for ten years.
During the informational portion of the meeting, EPA attorney Brett Moffatt explained the conditions of the revised permit: “EPA has made a preliminary determination that the injection of treated wastewater allowed under the revised draft permit is protective of underground sources of drinking water, as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act.
“The draft permit contains new requirements for biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids that are the same as the conditions imposed by the State of Hawaii Department of Health, a reduction in the injection volumetric rate limits and a nitrate concentration limit. The draft permit also imposes new mass loading limits for total nitrogen, which become more stringent over the course of the ten-year permit term, and a requirement for the injection fluid to be treated to the same level as the reuse wastewater by a future compliance date.”
In a major development, on May 22, 2009, Mayor Charmaine Tavares announced, “Our goal is to use all of the water that’s produced by our treatment plants and not put it down any injection wells. That’s our goal.”
The mayor testified, “I personally feel that injecting treated wastewater is a waste of a resource that we could use more productively. I am proposing to dovetail the production of algae as a fuel source with the need to redirect nitrogen-rich treated wastewater to a new use. The algae would be harvested and processed to produce transportation fuel. Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island have algae pilot projects either ongoing or soon to commence. An algae energy project will move us closer to renewable energy sustainability, and at the same time, reduce our need to place treated wastewater into injection wells.
“I request that the EPA consider a five-year extension of the UIC Permit to operate the Lahaina injection wells. This will give my administration time to formulate a plan for the reduction of injected wastewater.”
Following the mayor’s testimony, 24 residents and agency members from Lahaina to Haiku testified. Each testifier supported the two main points of the mayor’s testimony: reduce the amount of sewage effluent that goes into the injection wells, and limit the permit to five years instead of ten.
DIRE (Don’t Inject Redirect) spokesman and Kula resident Jeff Schwartz asked that the EPA withhold the permit renewal until the county obtains a valid Clean Water Act NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit “for its indirect discharges from the injection wells into the ocean in Lahaina.”
“DIRE coalition is a group of Maui County residents, visitors and organizations who seek to protect the county’s reefs, public health and economy by urging the county to phase out wastewater injection wells, improve wastewater treatment, and reclaim and reuse properly treated wastewater on land for a variety of beneficial uses,” he explained.
Haiku resident Hannah J. Bernard, president of the Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund, said, “Nearly one year ago, we stood before you to voice our opposition to the ten-year renewal... and millions of gallons of wastewater, nutrients and pathogens have continued to flow into the injection well and leach into the groundwater, which will eventually reach the ocean.”
Bernard recommended to “redirect our wastewater from injection wells and treat it as a resource rather than a waste-product which currently pollutes our nearshore environment.”
Teri Leonard, a scuba instructor in Kihei, reported, “Scientific evidence gathered by the University of Hawaii and the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) clearly indicates that pollutants and contaminants entering the ocean from injection wells are having a direct effect on the health of the Maui coral reef system.”
Russell Sparks spoke on behalf of DLNR’s Aquatics Division: “The reefs are collapsing on themselves, and there has been a 50 percent decline in reefs since 1994. We do not expect the reefs to come back.”
Irene Bowie, executive director of Maui Tomorrow and a Kahului resident, asked for “more effective disinfection of pathogens. Effective ground and ocean water quality and bio-impact monitoring and public reporting, and development, within one year, of a detailed plan for design, financing and construction of necessary treatment upgrade and wastewater reuse facilities.”
Darla White, a University of Hawaii coral reef researcher and diver who works underwater at Kahekili Beach Park in Kaanapali, testified that she has had MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) seven times.
“This is a nasty infection, and many of my fellow researchers are getting sick after being in the ocean,” White concluded.
Lahaina resident Andrew Lehmann has been surfing between Launiupoko and Kaanapali for years. “My staph infections have been getting worse over the past five years,” he commented.
“When I went to Australia to surf, I had no staph infections. Within two weeks of returning to surfing in West Maui, I got staph from a little cut on my foot. My whole leg swelled up,” he remarked.
Makawao resident and biologist Dr. Tony Povilitis stated, “Right now, leadership for phasing out harmful wastewater injection wells on Maui and for shifting to nonpolluting water treatment and reuse is coming from the local government, citizens, scientists and nonprofit groups deeply concerned about the threats posed by injection wells to our coral reefs and public health. Ironically, it is not coming from the federal agency whose job it is to protect and enhance our environment. How’s that? Regardless, let the people lead and, hopefully, the EPA will follow.”
Mayor Tavares stayed until the end of the meeting and shared in a small group that she will meet with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye to discuss the county’s share of federal economic stimulus money. The county has requested grant money for 52 shovel-ready projects, including improvements to the Lahaina, Kihei and Kahului sewage treatment plants.
Public testimony regarding the Lahaina injection wells can be e-mailed to EPA Project Manager Nancy Rumrill at rumrill.nancy@epamail.epa.gov until Sept. 21, 2009.
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Home Large Print Books Authors (A-Z) A Milly Johnson
Milly Johnson- Large Print Books
Large print books by Milly Johnson
Displaying 1-5 of 5 Sort books by Bestselling Price Publication date A to Z author A to Z book title
1. The Perfectly Imperfect Woman - Milly Johnson
Largeprint (paperback) Our price: £19.50 - Click book title for availability and further details
Marnie Salt has made so many mistakes in her life that she fears she will never get on the right track. But when she ‘meets’ an old lady on a baking chatroom and begins confiding in her, little does she know how her life will change. Arranging to see each other for lunch, Marnie finds discovers that Lilian is every bit as mad and delightful as she’d hoped – and that she owns a whole village in the Yorkshire Dales, which has been passed down through generations. And when Marnie needs a refuge after a crisis, she ups sticks and heads for Wychwell – a temporary measure, so she thinks. But soon Marnie finds that Wychwell has claimed her as its own and she is duty bound not to leave. Even if what she has to do makes her as unpopular as a force 12 gale in a confetti factory! But everyone has imperfections, as Marnie comes to realise, and that is not such a bad thing – after all, your flaws are perfect for the heart that is meant to love you.
2. The Teashop on the Corner - Milly Johnson
Spring Hill Square is a pretty sanctuary away from the bustle of everyday life. At its centre is Leni Merryman's Teashop on the Corner, specialising in cake, bookish stationery and compassion. For three people, all in need of a little TLC, it is somewhere to find a friend to lean on. Carla Pride has just discovered that her late husband Martin was not who she thought he was. Molly Jones's ex-husband Harvey has reappeared in her life after many years and Will Linton's business has gone bust and his wife has left him. Can all three find the comfort they are looking for in The Teashop on the Corner?
3. Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe - Milly Johnson
When Connie discovers that Jimmy Diamond, her husband of more than twenty years, is planning to leave her for his office junior, her world is turned upside down. Determined to salvage her pride, she resolves to get her own back. Along with Della, Jimmy's right-hand woman at his cleaning firm and the cleaners who meet at the Sunflower Cafe, she'll make him wish he had never underestimated her...
4. The Queen of Wishful Thinking - Milly Johnson
When Lewis Harley has a health scare, he takes it as a wake-up call and opens the antique shop he has always dreamed of. Bonnie Brookland was brought up in the antiques trade and now works for the man who bought out her father’s business. She isn’t happy there, and when she walks into Lew’s shop, she knows this is the place for her. As Bonnie and Lew start to work together, they soon realise that there is more to their relationship than either thought. Secrets are about to be uncovered, but can they find the happiness they both deserve?
5. Sunshine Over Wildflower Cottage - Milly Johnson
New beginnings, old secrets, and a place to call home - escape to Wildflower Cottage for love, laughter and friendship… Viv arrives at Wildflower Cottage, a tumbledown animal sanctuary, for the summer. Her job is to help with the admin, but the truth is she is here for something much closer to her heart. Geraldine runs the sanctuary. She escaped from her past to find happiness here, but now her place of refuge is about to come under threat. Back home, Viv’s mother Stel has finally found a man who will treat her right. That’s what she has wanted all along, isn’t it?
Family, the home & leisure
Geography, planning & the environment
History, philosophy & religion
Mathematics, science & medicine
Technology, engineering & agriculture
Sophie and the Sibyl: A Victorian Romance
The Secret Life of Bletchley Park
The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History
The View from the Corner Shop: The Diary of a Yorkshire Shop Assistant in Wartime
Kathleen Hey
Recipe for Life: The Autobiography
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Paper Fox Printmaking Workshop
Palmeri, Nancy
Major/Minor Requirements
Studio Art Facilities
Events & Programming
Bigalke, Lisa
Bosley, Douglas
Brief, Martin
Buie, Tyanna
Frech, Stephen
Hand, Nicole
Hood, Mary
Jager, Edwin
Martin, Emily
Molloy, Traci
Morin, Jeff
Nicholls, Sarah
Powers Nowlin
Ries, Katie
Rinehart, Benjamin D.
Salmi, Lyle
Schenck, H.
Sheehy, Shawn
Simmons, D.L.
Simmons, Rachel
Collect & Subscribe
Mudd Gallery
Visiting Artists & Guest Speakers
Nancy Palmeri
Printmaker, Arlington, TX
Website: http://www.uta.edu/art/index.php/community/faculty/nancy_palmeri/
Email: npalmeri@uta.edu
Artist Statement: My work deals with the examination of impressions relating to my cultural identity and the essential structure of my experiences. As an Italian-American woman, I have had a constant flux of influences and images coursing through the body of my artwork. The daughter of Sicilian immigrants, my daily existence was (and is) colored by an exposure to very specific cultural and religious icons. Many of my images are related to my family’s religious beliefs, sense of humor and extreme superstition. My aesthetic as a visual artist has been formed, in part, by seeing prayer cards of saints and angels, small plastic statues of major Italian monuments, stories told about my family’s history, and very typical Sicilian icons. All of these elements, although very different in form, meaning, and function, were comfortably juxtaposed in my household, against patterned wallpaper, golden fixtures, and brocaded fabrics.
I recognize how important story telling is to establishing my sense of self within the communities to which I belong (family, academic, political and artistic). I have also observed, during my education and training as an artist, that I am specifically drawn to the art and techniques of printmaking, specifically color reduction woodcuts. Briefly, a woodcut is the earliest printmaking technique. My images are drawn on planks of Baltic birch plywood, and are hand carved. The raised parts of the block are inked with a brayer, and then a sheet of paper is placed over the block and printed by running it through a printing press. Reduction printing describes the process of using one block to print several layers of color on one print. What initially appealed to me about prints was their graphic quality. As I continue to study prints, I learn that they are historically a venue for storytelling, a way for many people to receive a message. Given the democratic tradition of graphic images and my need to shape narratives pictures, creating prints is both the necessary, and logical, medium in which to communicate my visual ideas.
Speaker Bio: Since her arrival at the University of Texas at Arlington, Nancy Palmeri has received several international honors for her prints. She received a fellowship, to work at the Frans Masereel Graphic Arts Center in Kasterlee, Belgium. Palmeri was also awarded a Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship to live and work in Genoa, Italy. She has presented at the Southern Graphics Council Conference numerous times. Professor Palmeri has lectured and demonstrated her printmaking techniques at colleges and universities, nationally, including: Washington University, St. Louis, Pratt Institute of Art, New York, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY and Boston University, Boston, MA. Palmeri has had solo exhibitions of her work in New York, Boston, Louisiana, Texas, Italy, Chicago, and Virginia. Recently, her prints were included in Color Print USA, Lubbock, TX, and Global Matrix International Print Exhibition, Perdue University Art Gallery and the Frans Masereel Graphic Art Center’s Jubilee Exhibition, Belgium. She has also curated three exhibitions at the Gallery on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington, Anthropology in Print, Pervasive Impressions: Contemporary Political Prints, and Foundations: Mechanics and Instinct. Nancy Palmeri has lectured at the International Humanities Conference, Cambridge, UK. Recently, her work was featured in Printmakers Today, published by Shiffer LTD and in Artist Modern, an international art magazine published in Istanbul Turkey.
Palmeri’s prints are in the collections of the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University Art Museums, The Royal Museum of Fine Art, Antwerp, Belgium, The Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, Lincoln, NE, The Santa Barbara Museum of Art, CA, The Hunterdon Art Center, Clinton, NY, the Musem of Texas Tech University the Instituto per la Cultura e l’arte, Catania, Italy, the UCLA Grunwald Center for Graphic Arts, The University of Miami, and the Tama Art University in Tokyo, Japan.
Sponsorship: The Paper Fox Printmaking Workshop, The Coleman Foundation, Roy H. Stark Collaboration Fund, The Art & Art History Department, & thINK Printmaking Club
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Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match: Raw, June 17, 2019
Braun Strowman, Ricochet, The Miz, Bobby Lashley and Cesaro clash for a chance to challenge Samoa Joe for the United States Title at WWE Stomping Grounds. #RAW #Fatal5Way GET YOUR 1st MONTH of WWE NETWORK for FREE: http://wwe.yt/wwenetwork --------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow WWE on YouTube for more exciting action! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to WWE on YouTube: http://wwe.yt/ Check out WWE.com for news and updates: http://goo.gl/akf0J4 Find the latest Superstar gear at WWEShop: http://shop.wwe.com --------------------------------------------- Check out our other channels! --------------------------------------------- The Bella Twins: https://www.youtube.com/thebellatwins UpUpDownDown: https://www.youtube.com/upupdowndown WWEMusic: https://www.youtube.com/wwemusic Total Divas: https://www.youtube.com/wwetotaldivas ------------------------------------ WWE on Social Media ------------------------------------ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wwe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wwe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwe/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/RealWWE Giphy: https://giphy.com/wwe
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Jon Stewart responds to Mitch McConnell over 9/11 fund
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Android 4.0 user 'surge' tells its own story
HOME > Android 4.0 user 'surge' te...
+Martin James Jun. 2, 2012 at 14:00 More articles by Martin James
Can you believe it's June already? Google probably can't, judging by long it's taking for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to get any kind of momentum going.
Well, it seems like the wheels are finally turning (slowly), and the latest generation of Google's mobile OS is now present on 7.1% of all Android devices.
Whether by coincidence or design, the breakdown of Android market share until now has followed a roughly similar pattern: as soon as the current version becomes the most common in circulation, the next generation of Android is introduced.
It's helped Google just about maintain an uneasy balance between evolution and fragmentation as the platform has developed.
With Ice Cream Sandwich, however, that's all gone out the window. It was first unveiled back in October 2011, and yet eight months later new phones are still coming out with Gingerbread on board, while ICS updates have also been frustratingly slow in emerging. In other words, despite Google having slowed its six-monthly release cycle for new versions of Android, fragmentation is actually worse than ever.
The figures tell their own story: the Android developer hub has Ice Cream Sandwich running on 7.1% of all Android devices at the end of May, with Gingerbread (65%) and even Froyo (19%) still far more common.
It says it all that Android 4.0's share is actually being reported as a massive increase: just two months ago ICS was only present on 2.9% of Android devices.
Now obviously Android's massive explosion in popularity over the last year or so means the existing Android user base was much bigger when ICS launched than was the case with any previous version of the OS, but Froyo still having nearly three times its market share eight months later? Come on...
Read more about: Android
JanSt / MOD Jun. 2, 2012 at 14:45
Martin... tssk, tssk...
It's NOT "fragmentation" - it's "differentiation" - cool, fresh expression of consumer choicefulness
Martin... tssk, tssk... It's NOT "fragmentation" - it's "differentiation" - cool, fresh expression of consumer choicefulness :p
Last edited by JanSt, Jun. 2, 2012 at 14:45
dwee Jun. 2, 2012 at 15:43
clearly this is a problem with many, many users being stuck in 24 month contracts, obviously not all of which will have been taken on phones at the bleeding edge.
As such, many Android users are on contract with phones which couldn't even support ICS, and others where the manufacturer has chosen to not yet offer the update.
This recent c. 4% 'explosion' in ICS uptake is more than likely due to new contracts, and is likely to truly explode as the ridiculously popular galaxy SII's get replaced by SIII's
clearly this is a problem with many, many users being stuck in 24 month contracts, obviously not all of which will have been taken on phones at the bleeding edge. As such, many Android users are on contract with phones which couldn't even support ICS, and others where the manufacturer has chosen to not yet offer the update. This recent c. 4% 'explosion' in ICS uptake is more than likely due to new contracts, and is likely to truly explode as the ridiculously popular galaxy SII's get replaced by SIII's
There are new phones coming over the next few months that'll 'sport' Gingerbread LOL
If RIM released a BB with OS6 now or Nokia a Symbian S60 5th all would be LOL
[quote]clearly this is a problem with many, many users being stuck in 24 month contracts, obviously not all of which will have been taken on phones at the bleeding edge. As such, many Android users are on contract with phones which couldn't even support ICS, and others where the manufacturer has chosen to not yet offer the update. This recent c. 4% 'explosion' in ICS uptake is more than likely due to new contracts, and is likely to truly explode as the ridiculously popular galaxy SII's get replaced by SIII's[/quote] Yep. There are new phones coming over the next few months that'll 'sport' Gingerbread LOL If RIM released a BB with OS6 now or Nokia a Symbian S60 5th all would be LOL
martinjjames / MOD Jun. 5, 2012 at 19:19
Choicefulness schmoicefulness
Last night I opened the fridge and saw three different bottles of milk sitting there. For a moment I basked in the enlightened glow of "differentiation" (well, OK, it was the light from the fridge), but then I realised that two of the three were out of date and should have been binned ages ago.
Hmmm, that sounded better in my head
[quote]Martin... tssk, tssk... It's NOT "fragmentation" - it's "differentiation" - cool, fresh expression of consumer choicefulness :p[/quote] Choicefulness schmoicefulness :p Last night I opened the fridge and saw three different bottles of milk sitting there. For a moment I basked in the enlightened glow of "differentiation" (well, OK, it was the light from the fridge), but then I realised that two of the three were out of date and should have been binned ages ago. Hmmm, that sounded better in my head :)
fragmented milk brrrrrrrrrrrr
Evidence grows to suggest Android ICS will be Android 4.0 (1 comment)
How to port Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to myTouch 4G Slide (39 comments)
Upgrade your Samsung Galaxy S2 to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now (7 comments)
Sony Tablet S and Tablet P getting Android 4.0 update in the Spring (3 comments)
Kindle Fire gets MIUI Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich port
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Michael D. Sellers
Filmmaker BIo
The John Carter Files
The Tarzan Files
Year of the Spy
Illegal trade in gecko lizards leads to arrest of six who were about to ship 1,600 out of the Philippines
Bad news for the humble gecko, the nocturnal lizard that specializes in wall climbing and is considered good luck in the Philippines and elsewhere. The Washington Post is reporting that there is a booming trade in geckos and that the going black market rate in the Philippines for an 11 oz gecko lizard is $1,160 or 50,000 pesos. The Post quotes Police Senior Supt. Albert Ferro, who also pointed out that exporting exotic reptiles like geckos is prohibited in the Philippines. Underscoring this point, police yesterday arrested six people in General Santos City who had collected 1,600 geckos and were storing them in a warehouse before shipping them out to other parts of Asia.
According to the Post report, the geckos are used for “aphrodisiacs or traditional medicine for asthma, AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis and impotence in countries like China, South Korea and Malaysia.”
How did I miss this?
Looking deeper, it turns out that geckos are indeed in serious trouble because someone came up with the idea that they have medicinal properties and that idea has apparently caught on.
NPR reports, in an article entitle “Geckos threatened by booming demand“:
An Asian lizard that likes to come out at night has become a prime target for hunters looking to make a quick ringgit, dong or Philippine peso.
The tokay gecko is reputed to have HIV-fighting properties, though there is no scientific evidence to support that notion. And it’s been an ingredient in Asian traditional medicines for lots of other uses, including cancer.
Lately, thoughLately, though, the market for the lizards has really caught fire, leading the conservation group TRAFFIC, which monitors international trade in wildlife, to sound an alarm.
The surging “demand for tokay geckos is leading to the rapacious collection of this species throughout Southeast Asia,” the group said in a new report (see page 9-10 in PDF). The group says “incredible claims of miracle cures and vast monetary gains may be indicative of an elaborate hoax.”
The species, though under increasing pressure in such places as Malaysia and Indonesia, isn’t on the endangered list maintained by CITES, an international group that regulates the wildlife trade.
TRAFFIC says it will investigate the trade of the species in Malaysia, which the group says “appears to be playing a central role in the recent boom in the tokay gecko trade.”
The Philippines are another important source of the lizards. A few months ago the government warned people not to trap and sell them. It’s against the law there. And a top health official warned there is no basis for the use of the lizard as a “cure for any ailment.”
The gecko has always been considered good luck, and for good reason, so this is a distressing development. Just how cool are geckos? Well, check out this video, in which one gecko saves another from a snake.
Pacquiao-Marquez III: Excellent LA Times article "There's no exact science to scoring the sweet science"
Philippine solar light bottle — a simple invention that is bringing hope to poor in dozens of countries
What the Mueller Report Actually Says
Remembering James Blount, an American Who “Got” the Philippines in 1901
Captain Nieves Fernandez — WWII Guerrilla Leader in Leyte, Philippines
America the Beautiful? You Mean America the Pitiful. I Am Ashamed
Betty White, National Treasure, Just Turned 95; 10 Great Video Clips from 1954 until Now
x,y,z — Everything Else
© 2019 Michael D. Sellers | Powered by Outstandingthemes
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No Good Crisis Goes to Waste
Well, I must say Lady M is showing a real flare for this crisis management assignment. Before doing anything else, she found a way to blame Bush.
President Barack Obama pledged $100 million for Haiti quake relief on Thursday and enlisted former U.S. presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to help raise more, vowing to the Haitian people: "You will not be forsaken.” (like the brothers in New Orleans)
Immediately following our standard 72 hour delayed reaction to disasters, we sprung into action. The good news is that the Haitian earthquake is beginning to look like a crisis that we can use to our advantage. The bad news is that MO has called in Ezekiel Emanuel and Jack Kevorkian to set up her humanitarian aid operation.
As I understand it so far, in order to contain costs and provide health care for all Haitians, Zeke and Dr. Jack are going down to set up triage operations to determine who will receive medical treatment and who will just be given a pain pill.
This is really critical, since it will be the first big test of our health care system. You might be thinking that it’s really the second test – the swine flu pandemic being the first, but that didn’t count. We inherited that from our predecessor (Bush).
Not that we’re condoning this natural disaster in any way, but it will serve as a good opportunity to try out our Obamacare on people who can’t actually vote next November – unless they’re really, really happy with the outcomes. In that case, we’ll be opening a satellite ACORN office in Port au Prince. They’ll probably be needing help since a lot of Haitians will have already expired and therefore won’t be able to vote in the traditional manner. Am I about to step off a precipice here? I better back away, because if I fall and get broken, that’s 7 years of bad luck. Three more is bad enough.
MO has the Big White chefs cook up some healthy snacks for our Haitian Relief Fund. They will feed the hungry, and use up all our toxic veggies.
Swinging Into Action
This is clearly a disaster of biblical proportions, and Big Guy has been huddling with the deciders to see if he should make an appearance to give an inspiration big read. At first they thought it would be too dangerous, too toxic, but now it looks like they’re giving Big Guy the go ahead. No, not Haiti, we’re going to Massachusetts.
Yeah, it looks like old Martha is going to need someone who walks on water to pull her to the surface if she’s going to stand a chance of winning the senate seat of the last guy who came to the surface to win.
Can you believe it? That Scott Brown is beating the pants off Marty all of a sudden. He is dreamy, but with that “R” after his name, this is a real puzzler. He’s raising money like nobody’s business, and lengthening his lead by the hour. And this, even though we’ve sent in ACORN and the SEIU purple gang (I’m going to have to speak to Michael about wearing that purple sweater under the suit coat: not a good look. And it sends the wrong message).
This incident where Michael Meehan knocked down a reporter from the non-supportive press who was asking embarrassing questions is a bit discomfiting. Especially given that Big Guy just nominated Mikey to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors. You know, the agency that oversees our news operations like Radio Free Europe and Voice of America? Big Guy appreciates irony – probably more than most people – but still, this might not play well at Mikey’s senate hearings.
Anyway, here’s how we’re splitting up the chores around the Big White this week so nobody get’s too overloaded and cranky: Big Guy’s handling the domestic disasters, which leaves natural foreign disasters to Lady M. She started by asking the American people for money. That pretty much seems to be the opening salvo for all of the O’s big plans.
Lady M’s public service announcement for Haitian aid
MO’s called a strategy session in the war room, and we’re swinging into action. I’ve just got a bad feeling about this.
Steamed Vegetables
You’ve probably heard by now about our non-disclosure agreement being breeched. Apparently someone from our Hollywood crew of body-double vegetables used on the “Iron Chef White House” show leaked the story. We should have known that would happen, they’re really just a bunch of fruits.
It’s not as if we were trying to hide anything about our toxic vegetables (look great on the outside, but toxic to the core). I believe I provided a full disclosure way last July when I explained that we inherited this mess from a previous administration – just like the rest of the problems around here. It wasn’t our fault that we couldn’t deliver on the organic veggies that we promised to produce. It’s really no different than Social Security, Medicare, or (coming soon) universal health care. So I don’t really see why this is such a big deal; it’s not as if there’s a law against lying in government programs.
But things are getting a little ugly. Apparently that holier-than-thou organic crowd is suing us for breech of contract! What a bunch of sour grapes.
Big Guy turned the whole matter over to Eric Holder, so I can’t say much more since he slapped us with a gag order.
I don’t know who’s representing this batch of rotten tomatoes, but I’d suggest they withdraw the suit, like pronto. Have they been under a cabbage leaf for the past year and a half? Just for the record, losers, we’ve already won Battle White House: twice.
And so what if the second big win required us – just like in Iowa - to bus in our own squash, eggplants and sweet potatoes from out of town?
Honestly, what part of “Chicago Rules” don’t they get?
h/t American Digest
Get Your Red Guard On
Here’s the best our Big White photographer could come up with from yesterday’s performance review with the press:
Since you can’t see the lovely above-knee brown suede Jimmy Choo boots MO was wearing with this lovely russet dress, you kind of miss the full effect. When seen together, you really get the full impact of the kinder, gentler Red Guard look that Lady M is going for here. The complete ensemble says “Cultural Revolution, 2010”. Without the boots, it just says “fashionably fabulous”.
And I’m sure you all agree that the new ’do is not only flattering, but fashion forward: who would’ve ever thought of a bob! I’ve noticed from comments in the previous post that there’s a lot of interest in MO’s new ’do. We’ve been dealing with hair issues almost as long as we’ve been here in the Big White. Way back in July we were having fun with MO’s hair. Remember “I Don’t Want to Hear Any More About the MOB in the White House”?, followed by “Let Your Hair Down, Girl”? She really had us going last summer, but this time it’s for real: we are now completely committed to the new Michelle Obama Bob (MOB). I think the MOB will take us to places we never even dreamed of.
Acting Stupidly To Rave Reviews
I got back to the Big White just in time to prepare myself and Lady M for our annual performance review. I think it went rather well.
Lady M invited a select team of reporters over today to chat about the historic first year in the Big White. The short version: MO announced that she sees no need for any do-over's from her and Big Guy’s first year. For the occasion Lady M wore a do-over: “a favorite russet-red dress and over-the-knee Jimmy Choo suede boots that she confessed allow her to avoid wearing stockings.” It’s probably just me, because I’ve never worn boots or stockings, but it just doesn’t seem as though boots would be more comfortable than a pair of those leggy thingies that the other FLOTUS used to wear.
I’d show you a picture of the red dress and Jimmy Choo’s, but the keeper of the official Big White flickr photo stream wants a do over. Apparently he missed my refractions, and let’s just say his performance evaluation is coming up too. I’ll get you a copy as soon as he touches it up.
Mo adopted a positive attitude about the past year for the Big White review. She set the tone right at the start, saying she and BO did everything perfectly and therefore she saw no need for any make-overs. After all, there really isn’t very much left to make over, is there?
Make over the banks, check.
Make over the Autos, check.
Make over the list of who can take Air Force One out for a victory lap, check.
Make over the Big White grounds into a mini-farm and petting zoo, check.
Make over terrorism into “man caused disasters,” check.
Make over security clearances at State functions, check (shout out to Desiree for that one).
Make over health care, check.
Make over the hairdo, check.
I hope this doesn’t effect my performance review, but I could suggest just a few teensy-weenzy things where a do-over might be in order:
The black Madonna look for the papal audience
Ammo belts with anything,ever
Sweaters that don’t cover the keister
Cocktail dresses at a medal of honors award ceremony
Sundresses EVER
The use of “short shorts” and FLOTUS in the same sentence
Grandma’s table cloth anywhere other than a picnic table
But the reporters weren’t that interested in make-overs, they wanted to know if Lady M wanted an apology from Harry Reid because of his acting stupidly. She very graciously said "Harry Reid has no need to apologize to me. Because I know Harry Reid. I measure people more so on what they do, rather than the things that they say." Boy, Big Guy is very lucky the rest of the country doesn’t feel that way, or his approval ratings would probably look just like poor old Harry’s do. (note: there are no demerits for improper syntax/grammar, as long as you went to Princeton and Harvard.)
So our performance review, conducted by the hand selected reporters from the supportive media, went really well (and if you don’t believe me, just check Goggle). Lady M gave herself an A-, and the reporters kicked it up to a solid A+, in recognition of the fact that her “great-great-great grandmother was actually a slave.” White guilt is still a potent force around this town: it still has the power to make people act stupidly.
Finally: Back to Black
Well this is not good. Lady M was supposed to be under wraps (figure of speech) till this weekend. That’s one of the reasons they decided to send me to the Rocky Mountains for my super-secret training mission with the 10th Mountain Division. More on that later,
But then, poor old grandma Biden bit it (She was the only one who could get Joey to put a plug in it. We’re going to miss her around here, may she rest in peace.) and the O’s had to attend the funeral. Fortunately the hair grooming re-hab had already gotten underway.
But I felt bad about not being there to do something about those damn boots.
Oh well, at least she got my tweets about wearing black, skipping the cheerful turquoise coat, and holding the waist noose. All in all, I’m pretty relieved. We don’t need any more big flaps around the Big White about the proper use of black.
Anyway, I’ve finally been cleared by security (my BW credentials didn’t prevent a pat down) and I’m flying back to the Big White now. Because once we’ve re-emerged in public we’re probably going to be all over the place again.
That’s fine with me, I’ve pretty much had it with this global warming deep freeze. I know it’s cold back in D.C. but here in my super-secret location in the Rocky Mountains, thermostats start at freezing and go down from there. I was originally dispatched to this frigid outpost to learn how to snowboard. After the Secret Service saw how easily I picked up surfing in Hawaii, they decided I would be a natural on a snowboard too. It was simply precautionary training. There is a rumor that Lady M and the girls might consider a ski vacation over Spring break, and they wanted as many trained agents along side them on the slope as possible.
I was certainly game, but I had no idea how cold it can get when you actually emerge from the Beltway bubble. I think I did pretty well – heck, it is just like surfing only instead of Mai Tai’s you get shots of Jaegermeister when you’re done. (For the record, I prefer Mai Tai’s).
So I don’t really know if there’s a ski trip in the O’s future, but in case there is I’m prepared. And a good thing because this year’s fashion forward ski gear apparently includes tightly waisted down jackets and (horrors!) stretch pants. Lady M will need me by her side constantly. I’m sure you can see how this look could go nuclear in no time:
And that’s not even the worst of it. You should see the après ski fashions. I’m going to tell Lady M how cold and miserable skiing is, and hope she opts for another tropical island for Spring break. Bare arms and sandals I’m familiar with.
It’s Not Really Complicated
I think I can tell you a little bit more about my super-secret cross-country assignment tomorrow. Until then, I thought I would pass this little gem along. I’m not even sure why this is news, but I guess the MSM were having withdrawal symptoms since Lady M went underground after the Hawaiian holiday. So they dredged this story up about one of the O’s biggest fans. Honestly, the O’s have so many groupies it’s hard to keep them straight. But some of them are so huge you just can’t help but notice. Take Meryl Streep for example. In my book she’s really a bit old to be anyone’s groupie, but aside from that, the obsequious fawning and gushing definitely throws her into the qualifying round.
The 60-year-old actress can usually maintain her composure when she meets other actors she respects but admits she was in awe of Obama - America's first black President - and his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama.
She said: "I went to the Whitehouse and was star-struck by our President and First Lady. Although I was also impressed by Bruce Springsteen, who was there as well."
Streep - who can currently be seen in new romantic comedy 'It's Complicated' opposite Alec Baldwin - is fully behind President Obama and believes he is more than capable of making the right political choices for the US.
Meryl Streep, in awe of the Obamas (and Bruce Springsteen)
She added: "I think it's thrilling to have someone who is thoughtful and can articulate, with a certain amount of passion and dispassion, the necessary choices that we have in the world."
Did you catch that? “passion and dispassion”? No wonder she’s in awe of the Big Guy; they talk alike. I’ve noticed that a lot of our groupies seem to belong to that mutual admiration society.
And I think you can tell from the pictures why Meryl’s such a fan of Lady M’s:
Of course, the fact that Meryl’s publicist is a good friend of another publicist who may or may not be working in the Big White, and the possibility that Meryl’s “latest movie, “It’s Complicated”, may or may not be doing as well has they’d hoped had nothing to do with this puff piece.
We’re just doing our part to kick-start the economy. And everyone knows that Hollywood is the backbone of our economy. So, why don’t you all go out and buy a ticket to see a movie? I hear “It’s Complicated” is great!
When Snarks Attack 3 Winner
This weeks Golden Flotus Award goes to … AnnieCarmel! Congratulations! What? Oh yeah, chiron actually got a few more votes:
SNARK ATTACK OF THE WEEK - 3 (Poll Closed)
1. AnnieCarmel: “…snakes in human form” 24%
2. chiron: " …And no Menorah? No, no, no, six glow sticks, a flashlight & a lava lamp" 45%
3. bettyann: "I'm burning all my cardigans. Right now." … 10%
4. CricketGal: "...and he's wearing GLOVES!..." 7%
5. bettyann: "Watchout Rahmbo, for "Feats of Strength", my money's on the Wookie." 13%
You probably thought, as did I, that we were about to have our first historic double winner in chiron. But just as I was going “to press” from my undisclosed location on the road, I received a tweet from Toes, and another from Ax-man, saying that we were going to employ full Chicago rules this week. Apparently they had just received a bag of absentee ballots (all cast for AnnieC) from the Chicago Acorn office. So those votes aren’t reflected in the final tally from our official polling unit yet. But if anyone wants to review the results, they’re all stashed in a bag behind my little desk in the back of Lady M’s closet, along with the hanging chads.
And please, let’s not have an unsightly replay of that nasty business with Algore. Nobody stole the election. I’ve been advised that it was all bought and paid for through normal channels.
In some of the previous administrations I’ve been honored to serve in, this sort of thing probably would not have been tolerated. But that’s because they never really grasped the wisdom of Obamanomics: Sometimes, you’ve just got to spread the wealth around.
So congratulations AnnieC! Don’t let the circumstances surrounding your win spoil it for you. And chiron, congratulations to you too. In Obama-nation, being number 2 is often just as good as being number 1,3, 4 or 5.
“…snakes in human form”
So thanks to all of you for participating in our contest by voting the Chicago way. And thanks to the other candidates too, for submitting your losing comments.
(Oh and by the way – for the sake of full disclosure – I voted for AnnieC. Twice.)
And I Thought Nebraska Was the “N” Word
Well, here I am on the road in the heartland.
I sure wish I was flying. It’s so fricken cold here that my lenses are constantly icing up, which makes it impossible for me to use my magical powers to deflect reality into something softer and more palatable. Maybe that’s why all these people in fly-over are such stubborn realists. Anyway, it’s a good thing Lady M is back at the Big White. I don’t think she’d like the way she would appear in this part of the world.
And speaking of the BW: I’ve been tweeting TOTUS and he reports that they are all wee-weed up about Harry Reid’s latest kerfuffle. Apparently he’s been quoted in someone’s new book predicting that Big Guy could win the Presidential election because he was “light-skinned” and didn’t speak with a “Negro dialect.” I’m not sure what all the fuss is about, Toes, Ax-man and Oz suspected it all along and it turns out they were right.
But Toes and everyone else at the BW are just relieved. Finally, something juicy to get the Fruit of Ka-boom bomber off the front page, and give the wags something to talk about other than Big Guy’s response (and lack there-of).
So thanks Harry, you have proven yourself a loyal Ohadist in our new State Religion of Peace. You will be rewarded not only for this selfless act of career suicide, but also for detonating your own career implosion by delivering our health care takeover plan.
You will be enshrined in the official Reid Hall of Fame: so far there’s Richard Reid, the shoe-bomber and now Harry: the N-word bomber. In addition, as the first official martyr, you will receive your 72 sheckles, to be used in exchange for the prize of your choice at a future date, plus a giclee copy of the soon to be released painting of the Obama Icon.
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Tag Archives | music
We have big news – you can now subscribe to the Mind Waves Podcast!
By editor on August 17, 2018 in Arts and creativity, Mental wellbeing, Participation, Stories
We are very excited to launch our very own podcast. Mind Waves is now available on Anchor and you can listen and subscribe wherever you usually get your podcasts. Subscribe through spotify Subscribe at iTunes Our first episode is a must-listen, revealing what you can expect from the Mindwaves podcast each month and two fantastic features. […]
‘Join the Dots’ – John connects with new friends and his creative side at Theatre Nemo
By editor on May 22, 2018 in Arts and creativity, Community activity and Inclusion, Mental wellbeing, Organisations and groups, Participation
An inspiring poem from an inspiring Community Correspondent, John Dane. Building relationships and engaging in his creative passions have been key to John’s recovery. Here, he provides a snapshot of a typical day at the Join the Dots arts project run by Theatre Nemo. Join the Dots Meet new friends We never want this day […]
“Therapy without the wait”: Matt McGuinness on the power of music to provide focus, healing and inspiration
By editor on May 15, 2018 in Arts and creativity, Events, Mental wellbeing, Organisations and groups, Stories
We are delighted to present this guest post from Derbyshire based musician Matt McGuinness. As well as being a father of three and working full time, he heads up the band ‘Matt McGuinness and the MLC’. His solo show ‘We are what we overcome’ is all about music and mental health and is the prelude […]
13 Inspirational Songs from Marilena
By editor on September 27, 2017 in Stories
Community correspondent Marilena loves music, and finds a lot of positive messages in her favourite songs. She has created a mix-tape of 13 songs with interpretations of the positive life messages to be found in each. Gratitude Thank U by Alanis Morissette My understanding and my interpretation is in relation to Alanis’ experience in […]
A Mini Mindful Music Playlist for Mind Waves
By editor on September 11, 2017 in Stories, Technology for wellbeing
There has been much focus of late about how technology can be used to aid recovery or improve mental wellbeing. From meditation apps such as Headspace and Buddhify, medication reminder apps like Dosecast, to chatbot therapists like Woebot – technology is definitely changing how we can look after our mental health. For me, there is […]
Hands Off, It’s My Home
By editor on July 10, 2017 in Arts and creativity
Our friends at Open Future Learning shared an awesome music video they produced. It’s called Hands Off, It’s My Home – one of the best descriptions of self-directed support we’ve seen! Enjoy 🙂
Nine things you’ll only understand if you did Scottish country dancing at school
By editor on August 15, 2016 in Physical activity & sport, Stories
A post from our Project Manager @rosiehopes There are so many wellbeing benefits to dancing: exercise, music, creativity, socialising. But if you did country dancing at school, it’s more likely that your memories look something like this. # 1 They called it social dancing Everyone in the history of Scotland has called it country […]
You raise me up by Westlife makes me proud to be a mum
By editor on August 8, 2016 in Stories
A post from our Community Correspondent Lorna Cosh The best songs are the ones that make you happy and proud and sad all at the same time. That’s how I’d described You Raise Me Up. My son sings it to me and I feel like crying every time, with all of those emotions. I’m so […]
When I Iisten to music, what’s inside comes out
By editor on August 1, 2016 in Arts and creativity
Our theme at the moment is music and wellbeing. At our Community Correspondents meeting recently we talked about our favourite music and what it makes us feel. We love this idea that came from one of our Community Correspondents. Sometimes, feelings can be a lot to deal with. Whether it’s joy or despair, we don’t […]
My feel-good playlist: just making the decision to play a happy song can make me feel better
By editor on July 21, 2016 in Stories
A post from our Community Correspondent Marilena Balagianni It is indisputable that music affects our mood and anyone on this planet can confirm this. The type of music we choose to listen to always represents a part of ourselves. Both melody and lyrics are powerful to how a song makes us feel. How […]
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Michelle Ash, former CIO of Barrick Gold, joins blockchain startup Minespider
Minespider | January 24, 2019 | 12:29 pm
Minespider, a blockchain startup for responsible mineral sourcing, announced today that Michelle Ash will be joining their advisory board. Ash was the former Chief Innovation Officer at Barrick Gold, the world’s largest gold company, and has over twenty years of industry experience, including key roles at BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, Acacia Mining, and GMG.
With major pilot programs in the pipeline for 2019, Minespider’s unique approach is about to be put to the test.
“I’m thrilled to be joining one of the most promising blockchain startups in the mining industry at present. They have a unique approach to responsible sourcing and I believe their technology is exactly what the industry needs to help become more transparent,” expressed Ash.
Ash joins other key figures on the Minespider advisory board, including Patrick Storchenegger, board member of the Ethereum Foundation, Maximilian Jarrett, Senior Special Adviser to the Chair of the Africa Progress Group, and Sam Williams, Co-founder & CEO of Arweave.
Ash’s previous expertise in unearthing industry disruptors makes her the ideal candidate to promote the potential of blockchain in the mining industry. As Ash stated: “I think that blockchain will transform and streamline the value chain. From the finding, permitting, and extracting, to the usage of the products, and including the various suppliers along the chain. This will drive costs down and simplify processes, as well as create significantly more transparency.”
Demand for responsibly sourced minerals heightens
With laws such as the Dodd-Frank Act Section 1502 and the EU’s Conflict Minerals Regulation placing increased pressure on manufacturers to demonstrate that their minerals have been sourced responsibly, many are searching for surefire solutions. With a relatively opaque supply chain, this is no simple task.
Minespider aims to offer transparency and traceability at every stage of the supply chain by tracking minerals directly from certified mines. While some companies are building private, permissioned blockchains, the Minespider protocol runs on a public blockchain that guards transparency through encryption. This is designed to reduce the interoperability issues that often come with running numerous private blockchains. With major pilot programs in the pipeline for 2019, Minespider’s unique approach is about to be put to the test. Ash’s timely addition to the advisory board will further position Minespider for success.
In the meanwhile, what does Ash envision the ideal mine of the future to look like? “There are two…for gold it would be that it is left in the ground – except when required for the creation of physical gold products (non-financial). The other would be an underground mine that has no people working underground, with small processing plants behind extraction equipment that pre-treated the material, so there would be no need for processing plants or tailings dams on the surface.” One thing’s for sure, disruptive technologies are imminent in the mining industry.
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Home » Auction, Commonwealth Games, doordarshan, DVB-H, DVB-T, HDTV, India, Internet, Mobile TV, Mobile TV, Prasar Bharati
Doordarshan Seeks Revenue Sharing Model For Mobile TV; Rollout Plans, HDTV, Digitalization
Nikhil Pahwa
By Nikhil Pahwa ( @nixxin , +NikhilPahwa , nikhil@medianama.com ) May 21, 2009
After around two years of, well, testing, Doordarshan is getting serious about its Mobile TV plans. The public sector broadcaster which enjoys exclusivity over terrestrial broadcasting in India, has put out a tender (Expression of Interest) for hiring a consultant for developing a public-private-partnership (PPP) model for digital broadcasting services. India is yet to finalize its Mobile TV policy.
Complete Digitizalition By 2017; HDTV
DD currently has about 1400 Analog TV transmitters, with a single TV being broadcast in service in 7 or 8 MHz bandwidth. The broadcaster has been given the mandate of complete digitalization of its terrestrial infrastructure by 2017, and cover the metro cities by 2010. This push for Mobile TV is keeping in mind the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which will be held between 3rd and 14th October in Delhi. The four metro cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai will also get HDTV Terrestrial transmission by 2010.
12.06.2009: Pre Bid Conference at 1100 hrs IST at Doordarshan Bhavan
12.08.2009: Last date for submission of offer document, by 1600hrs IST
13.08.2009: Offers are opened at 1500hrs
Doordarshan is seeking inputs on both both DVB-H for mobile and DVB-T for digital terrestrial broadcasting, but the focus appears to be largely on DVB-H: Doordarshan seeks to retain control over the DVB-H trasmission service, and offer partners control over a majority of the transmitted channels on a revenue sharing basis. The prospective private broadcaster will have to invest on capital expenditure on transmitter, antenna and allied equipments, while DD will provide infrastructure. The job of the consultant will be to help identify a business model for the partnership, the required investment from the private partner, and identify potential revenue from the service and how it will be split between the private partner and DD.
Update: Please note that DVB-H is a broadcast technology, different from TV over mobile networks, which Telecom operators currently provide.
Tentative Rollout Plans
Doordarshan has proposed the following rollout plan for its Mobile TV services. These plans are likely to be changed, depending on the suggestions of the consultants:
— Phase I: Doordarshan proposes to provide 16 channels, of which 4 will be retained, and the remaining 12 may be provided to a private partner on a revenue sharing basis. In Phase I, the DVB-H Service will be expanded to the NCR region (Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida), and introduced in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata, where Digital Terrestrial Transmitters are already available. Uplink will be from the same cities, and the private partner will be responsible for The private partner will be responsible for content aggregation, marketing, operation and maintenance of the expanded network in metro cities. This phase is likely to be completed by the Commonwealth Games.
— Phase II: Once the service becomes popular in metro cities, DD will again look at the partnership model for other cities – DVB-H transmitters along with Head ends will be installed at 17 state Capitals (including 4 metro cities) for statewise DVB-H bouquets of channels. DVB-H is proposed to be launched in 13 major cities with a population of over 1 million: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubhaneshwar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jullandhar, Lucknow, Patna, Shimla, Jammu and Thiruvananthapuram. These cities already have analog TV transmission infrastructure, which will be upgraded for DVB-H.
— Phase III to V: DD will target 96 cities in Phase III, where analog HPT TV Transmission facilities are available. In Phase IV, the broadcaster will set up 100 new high power DTT TV Transmitters. In Phase V, once all the DTT HPTs are installed at 230 proposed locations, the installation of Digital Low power trasmitters will be taken up in locations where high power transmitters are not economically viable. Around 400 DTT LPTs are planned.
The public private partnership is a pragmatic approach to Mobile TV. DD may enjoy maximum reach, but consumers are not likely to pay for only DD channels on their Mobile. We’d like DD to take the free to air approach that it has adopted for most of its services – that will be significant competition for the Mobile TV services that telecom operators are looking to offer via their GSM or CDMA networks.
The one key issue that DD has not addressed is that of receivers: an entire ecosystem will have to crop up to enable consumers to receive the DVB-H signals on their laptops, cars etc. Mobile handsets will be a key challenge, and we’ll discuss that in detail shortly.
Download: DD’s Expression of Interest Document (2.2. MB, Zipped PDF…took us hours to locate)
— PatentWatch: Mobile TV Receiving Device From Samsung Electronics
At ContentSutra:
— TRAI Recommends Infrastructure Sharing, Separate Licenses For Terrestrial And Satellite Mobile TV
— When Mobile And TV Combine
— Zee Moots Concept Of Universal Broadcaster For Mobile TV In India; Wants MediaFLO Barred
Founder & Editor at MediaNama. TED Fellow. Co-founder SaveTheInternet.in and Internet Freedom Foundation
Reliance Energy Integrates Google Power Meters; Google.org In India
Q4 09: Radio One Revenues 48% Up YoY; Midday Posts Losses of Rs 75.2M
Ashok January 4, 2010
when it is going to release
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THE RIVER OF THE TREMBLING SPIRIT
Dr Richard Stephenson explains why three doctors have decided to attempt the world’s first packraft descent of Iceland’s Skjálfandafljót river
Sometimes our regular medical careers can be pretty stressful. There’s only so much saving lives and breaking hearts that each one of us can take before we start to feel a bit burnt out and in need of some respite. There is nothing shameful or weak about feeling stressed; nothing unprofessional or cowardly. It takes insight, reflection and strength to see when our well-being as doctors is at risk, to recognise that this is inextricably linked to our long-term ability to care for our patients and to make the decision to do something about it.
This is why Gareth, Dan and I decided to take a little break. Gareth and Dan are both anaesthetists in Australia, and I’m an emergency physician in New Zealand. We’re passionate about the great outdoors, so we decided our break should involve a little bit of wilderness…
As with all great adventures, it started with a map and a couple of pints. I think it was Gareth’s idea originally, he’s usually the one to come up with these things; “Let’s cross Iceland,” he said. I was immediately sold on the idea, everything else was just a matter of detail. That was two years ago, and things have evolved a bit from that initial flash of inspiration.
In April 2019, we will set off on an expedition to traverse Iceland from South to North. We’ll begin on the south coast at the mouth of the Jökulsárlón ice lake before crossing the 7,900km2 Vatnajökull icecap. Next, we’ll be completing the first ever packraft descent of the Skjálfandafljót river; 180km of roiling snowmelt cutting through the volcanic basalt wilderness of Iceland’s central plateau before it reaches the edge of the Arctic Ocean on Iceland’s Northern coast. All in three weeks, unsupported.
The challenge we’ve set ourselves is pretty epic. Previous expeditions have tried and failed to put this route together in a single unsupported push. The difficulty lies in the multifaceted nature of the trip… well, that and some of the most challenging terrain and weather on the planet!
When we start up the entry glaciers towards the summit dome of the Vatnajökull icecap, we’ll have over 40kg of gear each. That means taking sleds and skis to man-haul everything over the deep snow and crevasses that stand in our way. Along with three weeks of food, fuel and survival gear, we’ll also be dragging packrafts, life vests, paddles, dry suits and a variety of other cold-water river gear to use later on. We’ll have to complete an unknown number of kilometres of good old fashioned foot-slogging with all of this on our backs while we hunt out raft-able water in the headwaters of the Skjálfandafljót river in the little-explored highlands of Iceland’s central volcanic plateau.
Once we’ve found raft-able waters, there’ll be the small matter of attaching the sleds and skis to our inflatable rafts in a way that won’t turn us into surprising bits of flotsam being washed to our doom in the ice-melt torrent!
You’re probably wondering: why? Why take on such an epic challenge when life is already a bit crazy? Why decide that the solution for too much work, is to cross Iceland in the most logistically complicated way we could think up? Well, I think Dan explained it best in a characteristically wise statement when the three of us were talking to MedWorld’s managing director Sam Hazledine a few weeks back; “sometimes the solution to burnout isn’t to do less work, it’s to do more of something else, something that inspires you, something you’re passionate about.”
The wilderness is something that inspires and impassions us. There are places and environments in this world where life is stripped of its complexities – its roster gaps and research deadlines, its mortgage repayments and school runs, its ED overload scores and its P1 theatre cases – and reduced to what really matters: shelter, food, warmth and comradeship in adversity.
Over the course of the last couple of years that this expedition has been in the planning, all three of us have managed to pass our Fellowship exams and finish our training to become specialists. Gareth and I have continued to raise only slightly feral children, and Dan has managed to produce a brand new one of his own. The organisational challenges involved in turning inspiration into reality have been enormous, but in just a couple of weeks from now we’ll be taking that little break from work and setting out into the Icelandic wilderness.
– words by Dr Richard Stephenson
Team ‘River of the Trembling Spirit’ are:
Richard Stephenson
Dan Trevena
Follow their journey:
https://www.icelandtraverse2019.com/
https://www.facebook.com/riverofthetremblingspirit/
#riverofthetremblingspirit #neverstopexploring
Yvonne Cloete commented 2019-04-24 13:41:34 +1200
Think you are crazy to do this but have great respect and admiration for you taking on such an amazing challenge. Wishing you all the best with this momentous endeavor!
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Thomas Fraps
Camouflaged as a keynote-speaker, Thomas Fraps uses his skills as a magician to provide a uniquely memorable experience for corporate audiences worldwide. Shortly before everybody suffers from the infamous "death by PowerPoint", the speaker's microphone sparks, the program crashes and the boring expert suddenly turns out to be a real entertainment-expert! This "trojan talk" format provides an emotional hook for audiences of all kinds of conferences, corporate-meetings or academic events. Apart from his appearances in Munich and other parts of Germany, the Fake Expert also baffled audiences in Montreal, San Diego, London, Beirut and Paris.
Metamagicum - The Miracles of Science In this show Thomas Fraps and his colleague Pit Hartling join their magical forces to present a special reality theory of everything. They expertly phantasize their way through the worlds of science and conjuring: time-travel is possible, the paradoxes of quantum physics are solved and the philosophical questions of neuroscience vanish in a mobile brain-scanner! Metamagicum is a tantalizing mix of fact and fiction answering questions nobody ever actually asks: do elementary particles sleep? Is gravity indispensable and how relates Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity to the oldest brewery of Munich?
Magic Monday Show - the longest running comedy-magic show in Munich! For incredible 18 years now, Thomas Fraps and his colleagues Gaston and Ben Profane host this monthly comedy-magic experience extraordinaire in the heart of Munich (Schwabing). Their original magic has won the professional trio several international awards, including a "Magic Oscar" from the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences in Hollywood in 2006. The monthly show also features other award-winning performers and rising talents from all over Germany.
Neureutherstr. 17
info@thomasfraps.com
http://www.thomasfraps.com
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Review Tweet
Bayonetta 2 Review
See PixlBit's Review Policies
On 03/10/2015 at 12:00 PM by Matt McLennan
Bayonetta needs someone to play with, again.
One of the finest third person brawlers released in recent memory. Comes with a free Wii U port of the first Bayonetta!
In the first ten minutes of the game, you are riding on top of a big fighter jet battling angels while a giant snake-like angel is flying around. The fight moves to a train against a grotesque angel with a whip arm, and then the demon you summoned goes berserk and sends your best friend to Inferno. This is just the start of a game full of great production values and stellar gameplay. It easily ranks as one of the best third person action games I’ve played since the original.
What makes Bayonetta 2 stand above other third person hack and slash titles is the sass and style of its titular main character. Platinum’s titular witch will spout one-liners within cutscenes and insults with sexual undertones towards her enemies. Bayonetta can equip a crazy assortment of weapons to her hands or heels, allowing for a wide variety of combo attacks. As with the last game, what keeps it out of button-masher territory is the element of Witch Time, where dodging an enemy attack at the right time will not only give you an edge in battle, but give you a slight score increase. Learning the different enemy cues and dodging attacks makes this game an absolute thrill ride, and the extra challenge of achieving Pure Platinum rank never gets boring.
A big flaw I noticed in the last game was that boss battles felt too long sometimes, even when Bayonetta was powered up. But now with a full magic bar, the Umbran Climax (essentially Bayonetta’s boss form from the first game), can be unleashed for crowd control. This makes the game feel more balanced and enjoyable since bosses no longer drag on.
Another big addition is the Tag Climax, an online mode where you and an online buddy can compete against each other in battles of your choosing after wagering Halos to increase the battle difficulty. There are six battles each, and the winner of each battle chooses a Verse Card of their own choosing and sets the Halo wager. This mode ran quite smoothly and was a ton of fun to play, but in order to fully enjoy the experience you have to play the story mode in order to unlock more battles.
There are still some minor problems that were not ironed over, but none too egregious. For example, the camera can still screw you over since some enemies don’t use sound cues to indicate where they are attacking from off-screen. Also, the optional touch screen controls, while interesting, are not suited for this type of gameplay since the action can get very hectic and fast. Finally, unless you are really used to playing Wii U games off-TV, playing this solely game with the Game Pad makes the action a little hard to see.
One step up from the original is the graphical design. There’s a stronger use of color in the environments and a diverse environmental design. Environments such as Noatun’s Venice-inspired locale and twisted and horrifying Inferno really make the levels interesting to look at and go through. The models for Bayonetta and the NPCs have a great visual flair to them, with the stand-outs being the angels and demons she fights. While there have been complaints about frame rate slowdown, I hardly noticed it.
There is also an improvement in the audio design. The battle music mostly uses the main theme song “Tomorrow Is Mine”, but it is far less ear-wormy then the last game’s attempts at making a J-Pop-sounding “Fly Me To The Moon.” The music tracks are varied depending on the setting or situation, and are never over-bearing. The voice acting is much more solid than in its predecessor, with outstanding performances from Hellena Taylor as Bayonetta and Mark Daugherty voicing new character Loki.
For a game that almost didn’t happen, Bayonetta 2 is a very solid sequel. With great gameplay, stellar production values and nice replay value, this is one of the best WiiU games of 2014. A definite buy!
In our reviews, we'll try not to bore you with minutiae of a game. Instead, we'll outline what makes the game good or bad, and focus on telling you whether or not it is worth your time as opposed to what button makes you jump.
We use a five-star rating system with intervals of .5. Below is an outline of what each score generally means:
All games that receive this score are standout games in their genre. All players should seek a way to play this game. While the score doesn't equate to perfection, it's the best any game could conceivably do.
These are above-average games that most players should consider purchasing. Nearly everyone will enjoy the game and given the proper audience, some may even love these games.
This is our middle-of-the-road ranking. Titles that receive three stars may not make a strong impression on the reviewer in either direction. These games may have some faults and some strong points but they average out to be a modest title that is at least worthy of rental for most.
Games that are awarded two stars are below average titles. Good ideas may be present, but execution is poor and many issues hinder the experience.
Though functional, a game that receives this score has major issues. There are little to no redeeming qualities and should be avoided by nearly all players.
A game that gets this score is fundamentally broken and should be avoided by everyone.
Side By Side - Bayonetta 1!
The biggest thing I noticed about this port is that it looks much better than the 360 release, without the visual hiccups that plagued that version. A second big difference is that Bayonetta can change into four Nintendo themed costumes from the get-go. While the Link and Samus costumes are great fanservice, the Peach and Daisy outfits might be a little off-putting since you are constantly seeing Bayonetta’s bare ass, but in return you get to summon giant Bowser fists and feet!
Unfortunately the visual improvements are given attention at the expense of gameplay improvements. None of those flaws were fixed, which is quite disappointing to me. For starters, there is still some input lag that occurs when enemies become enraged, and some of the Alfhiem challenge portals feel like an absolute chore to complete thanks to some of their handicaps and the still uncooperative camera. While Bee Media and Platinum Games went the extra mile to get this ported, I do wish they went the extra mile in fixing the lingering flaws.
At least it’s free though.
#Bayonetta 2 #Platinum games #Nintendo #Wiiu
jgusw
I really have to get this game.
Alex-C25
Very solid review. I'm not gonna lie when I say I want to get Bayonetta 2 before Smash 4, since the original game was one I was very much interested but couldn't play because I didn't have a 360 or PS3. Just the original game on a console I own make it my top priority besides the good looking sequel.
Genre: Climax Action
Number of Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Developer: Platinum Games
Version Reviewed: Wii U
Nerds Without Pants Episode 155: And now, magic rats.
Welcome to a jam-packed edition of Nerds Without Pants! Things go off the rails…well, almost immediately, because we are joined once again by Mike Fallek of the Hackthought Podcast. Since last episode was full of E3 Hype™ we decided to just get together and catch up in an entirely Consumption Junction-focused show. Enjoy!
Nerds Without Pants Episode 154: Imagine Dinosaurs on 06/19/2019 at 11:00 AM
Nerds Without Pants Episode 120: Monumental on 09/27/2017 at 12:00 PM
Nerds Without Pants Special: E3 2017: The Hottest Takes on 06/14/2017 at 01:55 AM
Nerds Without Pants Special: Switched On on 02/20/2017 at 07:45 PM
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On disc at last - Carlisle Floyd's Wuthering Heights
Carlisle Floyd Wuthering Heights; Georgia Jarman, Kelly Markgraf, Susanne Mentzer, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Mechavich; Reference Recordings
Reviewed by Robert Hugill on Jul 12 2016
Carlisle Floyd's 1958 opera based in Emily Bronte's novel finally on disc
This new recording from Reference Recordings finally brings Carlisle Floyd's 1958 opera Wuthering Heights to disc. Joseph Mechavich conducts Florentine Opera Company and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, with Kelly Markgraf as Heathcliff, Georgia Jarman as Cathy, Susanne Mentzer as Nelly, Vale Rideout as Edgar Linton, Heather Buck as Isabella Linton, Matthew Burns as Mr Earnshaw, Frank Kelley as Joseph and Aaron Short as Lockwood.
Wuthering Heights is unusual in Carlisle Floyd's output (he has written around a dozen operas). The subject was entirely specified the by commissioners, with Floyd having little input, and it is one of his few operas not to deal with an American subject. His most famous opera Susannah sets the Biblical story of Susannah and the Elders in the Deep South, and he has also done operatic versions of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and of Olive Ann Burns' Cold Sassy Tree.
After the success of Susannah (in 1955) at New York City Opera, the soprano Phyllis Curtin (who had sung the role of Susannah) asked Floyd for an aria for a concert, and he wrote a setting of Cathy's monologue from Wuthering Heights which Curtin premiered at Carnegie Hall. It was assumed that his aria came from an opera; it didn't, Floyd thought of it as a concert aria. Eventually his publisher inspired the expansion of the aria into an opera commissioned for Santa Fe in 1958 with Phyllis Curtin in the title role.
Wuthering Heights has received rather less exposure than some of Floyd's comparable pieces, perhaps because of Floyd's identification with American themes thanks to the success of Susannah.
Floyd has based his libretto on the first part of the novel, the story of Cathy and Heathcliff made famous from the 1939 film with Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier. Floyd has kept the novel's structure in that the opera opens with Lockwood arriving at Wuthering Heights and learning something of the story, hearing Cathy's ghost and causing Heathcliff to go running into the night. The opera then jumps back 18 years and progresses sequentially in a series of tableaux, ending with Cathy's death in Heathcliff's arms. The settings are all interiors, either Wuthering Heights or Thorncross Grange.
Floyd's music is intense and dramatic, in a form of continuous arioso as the libretto is more poetic prose than poetry, with individual speeches standing out aria-like, including the one which gave rise to the piece in the first place. The language is more regular than Emily Bronte's, and there is little of the sense of place which characterises the novel. Though the music gusts, I never really feel the moors. That said, Floyd does use the orchestra a lot and the texture is punctuated with atmospheric orchestral episodes. This is a tragedy of two people drawn to each other yet failing to find themselves which has been made less specific and more international.
The recording was made at a pair of concerts performances and we have to be grateful for Florentine Opera that we finally have Wuthering Heights on disc. The disc comes with a libretto (though the sung text has subtle differences to the printed) and you need it. If the performances have a fault it is that the cast's diction is lacking; without the printed words it is difficult to follow the plot and there is a significant amount of dialogue in the opera.
Georgia Jarman makes a finely passionate Cathy and that aria (now at the end of Act Two) is a significant moment which Jarman makes tremendous. Kelly Markgraf's dark voiced Heathcliff is suitably intense and dramatic, brooding well and the opera concludes with a powerful duet for Jarman and Markgraf.
The other cast members get their moment, and Susanne Mentzer particularly stands out as a strong Nelly the housekeeper and very much a foil for Jarman's Cathy. A significant role is played by the orchestra, and Joseph Mechavich gets a fine performance from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and they take full advantage of the opportunities that Floyd gives them.
I suspect that a studio recording of Wuthering Heights is an unlikely prospect so we must be grateful to Florentine Opera and Reference Recordings for making this possible. I do hope the fact that there is now a recording means that other companies might try the piece out. This is Carlisle Floyd at his prime and deserves a wider audience.
Carlisle Floyd (born 1926) - Wuthering Heights (1958) [139.23]
Catherine - Georgia Jarman
Heathcliff - Kelly Markgraf
Nelly - Susanne Mentzer
Edgar Linton - Vale Rideout
Isabella Linton - Heather Buck
Mr Earnshaw - Matthew Burns
Joseph - Frank Kelley
Lockwood - Aaron Short
Florentine Opera
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Joseph Mechavich (conductor)
Recorded 9 & 11 January 2015, Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, Harris Theater, Brookfield, Wisconsin.
REFERENCE RECORDINGS FR-721SACD 2 CD's [69.51, 69.32]
Powerful stuff: London English Song Festival's Songs of the Somme - CD review
Testament to a change in taste: Les mysteres d'Isis adapted from Mozart's The Magic Flute - CD review
Young recital: Gemma Lois Summerfield & Sebastian Wybrew at Buxton - concert review
Visual & aural feast: Handel's Tamerlano at Buxton - Opera review
Classic yet modern: Bellini's Romeo and Juliet in Buxton - Opera review
Miners, gardens and Auschwitz: I chat to Ella Marchment and Leo Geyer from Constella OperaBallet - Interview
Not just Fidelio-lite: Beethoven's Leonore at Buxton - opera review
Stylish, passionate: Joyce DiDonato & Vittorio Grigòlo in Werther - opera review
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921 Comments / Books / By Alexander Leggatt
King Lear This updated and expanded analysis of King Lear in performance includes new chapters on the television version of the Royal National Theatre production directed by Richard Eyre and starring Ian Holm a
Title: King Lear
Author: Alexander Leggatt
This updated and expanded analysis of King Lear in performance includes new chapters on the television version of the Royal National Theatre production directed by Richard Eyre and starring Ian Holm and on Akira Kurosawa s Ran Earlier chapters provide close, detailed analyses of the stage, film and television interpretations of John Gielgud, Harley Granville Barker, PaulThis updated and expanded analysis of King Lear in performance includes new chapters on the television version of the Royal National Theatre production directed by Richard Eyre and starring Ian Holm and on Akira Kurosawa s Ran Earlier chapters provide close, detailed analyses of the stage, film and television interpretations of John Gielgud, Harley Granville Barker, Paul Scofield, Peter Brook, Peter Ustinov, Michael Gambon, Adrian Noble, Grigori Kozintsev, Michael Hordern, Jonathan Miller, Laurence Olivier and Michael Elliott By examining such issues as the playing of Lear, the staging of the storm and the battle, and the choice of historical period, this book shows how interpretation and performance are bound together, and how the play is transformed through different historical and political contexts.
☆ King Lear || ☆ PDF Download by ✓ Alexander Leggatt
Alexander Leggatt 435 Alexander Leggatt
Title: ☆ King Lear || ☆ PDF Download by ✓ Alexander Leggatt
Posted by:Alexander Leggatt
About "Alexander Leggatt"
Alexander Leggatt
Alexander Leggatt Is a well-known author, some of his books are a fascination for readers like in the King Lear book, this is one of the most wanted Alexander Leggatt author readers around the world.
921 thoughts on “King Lear”
Al Bità
Alexander Leggatt's second edition of his 'King Lear' (one of the publications under the 'Shakespeare in Performance' series from Manchester University Press) examines several productions of the play during the 20th century. It covers four British productions: in 1940 (Harvey Granville Barker, with John Geilgud as Lear), in 1962 (Peter Brook/Paul Scofield), in 1979 (Robin Phillips/Peter Ustinov), and in 1982 (Adrian Noble/Michael Gambon); two films: in 1970 (Russian director Grigori Kozintsev, w [...]
Jane Campbell
Think about "The Stone Angel" along with this.
A Dork Wedding
The Babbling Book
Dancing Dudes
Breakfast With Neruda
Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy: Disco Fever
The Rise of Voltron
Chalk It Up: Imagine That!
Yoga as Philosophy and Religion
The Wild Blue Yonder: Sons of the Prophet Carry On...
Mad To Live (Deluxe Edition w/ Bonus Tracks)
Sketching the Countryside: How to Draw the Vanishi...
Paradoxes: Their Roots, Range, and Resolution
සුනඛ ශාපය සහ හොඳම ෂ�...
Mountain Climbing: Scaling the Heights
Copyright © 2019 King Lear | Powered by Alexander Leggatt
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The Impotence of Being Ernest S4E13
Synopsis: Rose dates a man who's impotent; Sophia gets an ominous letter from Sicily.
Blanche: “Well, he's perfect. He's absolutely perfect. I cannot believe a man like that would be interested in Rose.”
Dorothy: “Well, I guess he's not perfect after all.”
Blanche: “That's right, Dorothy. Thank you. I feel so much better.”
Dorothy: “We're living with Robin Givens.”
Dorothy: “I remember when Stanley and I were going through this. We tried everything. Relaxation techniques, hypnosis. I fed the man so many oysters, when he passed a kidney stone I had it appraised. I mean this went on for two years before he found a cure.”
Rose: “What was it?”
Dorothy: “A blonde stewardess with a butt that would have made Gandhi throw in the towel.”
Rose: “Boy, there is nothing more frustrating than waiting for one of these suckers to rise and it just won't.”
Blanche: “What have you all been doing all this time? How long can you make conversation?”
Dorothy: “Blanche, there is more to conversation than just, 'Can I have a hanger for my pants, please?'”
Dorothy: “Don't play dumb, with me, Ma. Everything from Sicily means something. A black rose means a family member is dying. A white carnation means a newborn is on the way. A dead rabbit means, 'My husband knows. Get out of town.'”
Rose: “Knows what?”
Dorothy: “The score to South Pacific, Rose.”
Blanche: “Rose, just tell Ernie that sex is not the most important part of a relationship. Just ask anybody married to an Englishman.”
Dorothy: “Blanche, I'm sure it's a fluke that nobody called you for a date.”
Sophia: “They must have painted the men's room walls at the Pizza Hut.”
Sophia: “While I was giving Sonny the evil eye, I noticed he was kinda cute. So, I decided to work in a little kiss of death too. Well, that livened him up, and we spent a very pleasant afternoon.”
Dorothy: “Ma, you are incredible.”
Sophia: “Those were Sonny's words exactly.”
Rose: “I don't think I've had this much fun since I was a little girl back in St. Olaf. I remember once when I was about ten.”
Ernie: “You were about to tell a story. Why did you stop?”
Rose “Well, this is usually when Dorothy and Blanche interrupt me. Anyway, I'd always go to the movies every Saturday afternoon with all my friends. Oh, we'd have a ball. Of course the only problem was that our town theater was designed for silent movies.”
Ernie: “They never put in a sound system?”
Rose: “No. Luckily, our schoolteacher, Miss Sigerson, was an expert lipreader. She'd do all the dialogue. There were some problems sometimes. Through most of Citizen Kane, we all thought everybody was looking for a rowboat.”
Blanche: “If you don't want to wait, there are other avenues you can take. Well there are just dozens of ways to seduce a man, hundreds, maybe even thousands!”
Dorothy: “I think that you should forget the ones that involve swinging naked from a door frame.”
Blanche: “Honey, it's as easy as riding a bicycle.”
Rose: “I never learned how to ride a bicycle.”
Dorothy: “It's as easy as falling off a bicycle.”
Rose: “Really?? Well that is easy. Thanks, Dorothy.”
Ernie: “It's not easy for a man to say, Rose. I'm impotent.”
Rose: “I see. Well, in that case, why don't we see what's playing at the movies?”
Blanche: “Well, Rose has a date and I don't. What are the odds of something like this happening? There's probably a better chance of getting struck by lightning in a house you won from Ed McMahon.”
Blanche: “Honey, sometimes you have to stoke a man's fire a little bit.”
Sophia: “Words of wisdom from the human torch.”
Rose: “Were you three listening to our conversation?”
Dorothy: “Absolutely not. You know we would never eavesdrop.”
Sophia: “They made me do it. When I turn my hearing aid up to ten, I can hear a canary break wind in Lauderdale.”
Blanche: “Well, sex therapy is one solution, but there are other ways.”
Dorothy: “Oh Blanche, dessert toppings are not the answer.”
and of course:
Ernie: “What is sex, after all?”
Rose: “Two clunky old bodies thrashing around against each other. Like animals.”
Ernie: “You get all sweaty and flushed.”
Rose: “Your hair gets mussed.”
Ernie: “You lose your breath.”
Rose: “You lose your earring.”
Ernie: “Your mouth waters.”
Rose: “Your nose runs.”
Ernie: “Your heart races.”
Rose: “Your blood races.”
Ernie: “Rose-”
Rose: “Say it, Ernie.”
Ernie: “It's time, Rose!”
Rose: “Check! Please!”
This is one of those middle of the road episodes. Now, there are some really great lines here and the storyline about Rose dating an impotent man obviously lends itself to risque, naughty dialogue which there is no shortage of. However, there's something just sort of vanilla about this episode. It's sort of unremarkable, like Ernie himself. It doesn't help that Sophia's B story about the vendetta is forgettable and doesn't provide many laughs. Of course, the episode still has plenty of good moments and strong dialogue. Though no fan is running down the street proclaiming this as their favorite episode. I will say that I’m pretty certain, had this show been around in the late 90s, there would have been Viagra jokes up the wazoo. GRADE: B
Two Rode Together S4E16
Valentine's Day S4E15
Love Me Tender S4E14
Blind Date S4E12
The Auction S4E11
Stan Takes a Wife S4E10
Scared Straight S4E9
Brother, Can You Spare That Jacket? S4E8
Sophia’s Wedding – Part 2 S4E7
Sophia's Wedding – Part 1 S4E6
Bang That Drum, Stanley S4E5
Yokel Hero S4E4
The One That Got Away S4E3
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Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Volume 50, Issue 22, November 2007 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2007.08.028
PDF Article
State-of-the-Art Paper
Evaluation and Management of the Cardiac Amyloidosis
Joseph B. Selvanayagam, Philip N. Hawkins, Biju Paul, Saul G. Myerson and Stefan Neubauer
This article has a correction. Please see:
Correction - March 29, 2011
Author + information
vol. 50 no. 22 2101-2110
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2007.08.028
Received January 3, 2007
Revision received August 27, 2007
Accepted August 28, 2007
Published online November 27, 2007.
American College of Cardiology Foundation
Joseph B. Selvanayagam, FRACP, DPhil⁎,‡,⁎ (joseph.selva{at}fmc.sa.gov.au),
Philip N. Hawkins, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath†,
Biju Paul, MBBS‡,
Saul G. Myerson, MD, MRCP⁎ and
Stefan Neubauer, MD, FRCP⁎
⁎
↵⁎Reprint requests and correspondence:
Dr. Joseph B. Selvanayagam, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide 5042, Australia.
Joseph B. Selvanayagam, Philip N. Hawkins, Biju Paul, Saul G. Myerson, Stefan Neubauer
This review summarizes the current state of evidence for the evaluation and management of cardiac amyloidosis. The electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features that are the best discriminators for disease are discussed and the evidence for this is critically appraised. The recent evidence from cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and prognostic implications of elevated biochemical markers are summarized. Intermediate-dose infusional chemotherapy regimes and high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell rescue remain the mainstay of disease treatment. Future strategies to stabilize the native structures of amyloidogenic proteins, to disrupt established deposits using antibodies, and small-molecule drugs are discussed.
Cardiac amyloidosis describes clinically significant involvement of the heart by amyloid deposition, which may or may not be associated with involvement of other organs. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of evidence for the effective evaluation and management of cardiac amyloidosis. Acquired systemic amyloidosis occurs in more than 10 per million person-years in the U.S. population. Although no single noninvasive test or abnormality is pathognomonic of cardiac amyloid, case-control studies indicate that echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular wall thickening, biatrial enlargement, and increased echogenicity in conjunction with reduced electrocardiographic voltages is strongly suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis. Furthermore, newer echocardiographic techniques such as strain and strain rate imaging can demonstrate impairment in longitudinal function before ejection fraction becomes abnormal. Recent observational studies also suggest that cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging yields characteristic findings in amyloidosis, offering promise for the early detection of cardiac involvement, and the presence of detectable cardiac troponin and elevated B-type natriuretic peptide in serum of affected patients portends an adverse prognosis. Management strategies for cardiac amyloid are largely based on nonrandomized single-center studies. One of the few published randomized studies shows the superiority of oral prednisolone and melphalan compared with colchicine in systemic AL amyloidosis. Intermediate-dose infusional chemotherapy regimes (such as vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone) and high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell rescue have been used widely, but treatment-related mortality remains substantial with chemotherapy. Recent studies also indicate promising strategies to stabilize the native structures of amyloidogenic proteins; inhibit fibril formation; and disrupt established deposits using antibodies, synthetic peptides, and small-molecule drugs.
Amyloidosis is a clinical disorder caused by extracellular deposition of insoluble abnormal fibrils, derived from aggregation of misfolded normally soluble protein (1,2). About 20 different unrelated proteins, which share a pathognomonic ultrastructure, are known to form amyloid fibrils in vivo (3). Systemic amyloidosis, in which amyloid deposits are present in the viscera, blood vessel walls, and connective tissues, is usually fatal and is the cause of about 1 per 1,000 deaths in developed countries. There are also various localized forms of amyloidosis in which the deposits are confined to specific foci or to a particular organ or tissue. “Cardiac amyloidosis” is used here to describe involvement of the heart by amyloid deposition, whether as part of systemic amyloidosis (as is most commonly the case) or as a localized phenomenon.
Variation in nomenclature, and the fact that there are several types of amyloid, each with its unique features and treatment, can result in underdiagnosis and errors in patient management. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of evidence for the effective clinical evaluation and management of cardiac amyloidosis.
Evidence Acquisition
We performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications that were identified through searches of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database from 1980 to June 2007. Besides cardiac amyloidosis and plasma cell dyscrasia, we searched all drugs used to treat plasma cell dyscrasia. Keywords were used alone and with the modifiers of diagnosis, treatment, clinical effects, troponin, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Bibliographies from these references were reviewed, as were additional articles identified by content experts. Criteria used for study selection included study design, English language, relevance to clinicians, and validity based on venue of publication.
Acquired systemic amyloidosis occurs in more than 10 per million person-years in the U.S. population (4), is the cause of death in about 1 in 1,000 of the British population, and is probably much underdiagnosed in the elderly population. Systemic AL amyloidosis is the most serious and commonly diagnosed form, with 2,000 to 2,500 new cases annually in the U.S. (5).
Systemic AA amyloidosis
Formerly known as secondary amyloidosis, systemic AA amyloidosis is a complication of chronic inflammatory conditions, or indeed, any disorder associated with a sustained acute-phase response in which there is markedly increased production of serum amyloid A protein (SAA). Renal disease dominates the clinical picture in AA amyloidosis, and the condition almost always presents with proteinuria and renal failure. Regression of AA amyloid following suppression of SAA production may lead to reversal of organ dysfunction (6). Clinically significant involvement of the heart is very rare (7).
Systemic AL amyloidosis
Previously known as primary amyloidosis, systemic AL amyloidosis is the most commonly diagnosed form of clinical amyloid disease in developed countries. The AL fibrils are derived from monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains and consist of the whole or part of the variable (VL) domain. Almost any B-cell dyscrasia, including myeloma, lymphomas, and macroglobulinaemia, may be complicated by AL amyloidosis, but more than 80% of cases are associated with subtle and otherwise “benign” monoclonal gammopathies. Multiorgan infiltration is typical. It occurs equally in men and women, usually over the age of 50 years but as early as the third decade. The heart is affected pathologically in up to 90% of AL patients, in 50% of whom diastolic heart failure with physical signs of right heart failure is a presenting feature. Conversely, <5% of patients with AL amyloidosis involving the heart have clinically isolated cardiac disease (8). Clinical evaluation of suspected cardiac AL amyloid includes screening for syncope (9), dizziness, postural hypotension, easy bruising (10), painful sensory polyneuropathy (10% to 20% of patients), and carpal tunnel syndrome (20%) (11), as well as major visceral involvement of the liver and kidneys. The presence of both periorbital purpura and macroglossia has low sensitivity (10% to 20%) but is highly specific for the presence of disease (12). Death in more than one-half of these patients is due either to heart failure or arrhythmia.
Hereditary systemic amyloidosisis caused by deposition of amyloid fibrils derived from genetic variants of transthyretin (TTR) (13), apolipoprotein A-I, lysozyme (14), or fibrinogen alpha-chain and other extremely rare variants. Clinical syndromes include cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, or neuropathy (15), though the heart is most prominently involved in variant TTR type, which is associated with more than 100 different TTR mutations, most often with associated neuropathy. This entity is not rare; indeed, the amyloidogenic TTR Val122Ile variant is present in 4% of African Americans, and 23% of African Americans with cardiac amyloidosis have this variant (16).
Senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA)is caused by deposition of amyloid fibrils derived from normal wild-type transthyretin and almost always presents as a slowly progressive, infiltrative amyloid cardiomyopathy. Senile systemic amyloidosis is exceptionally rare in those younger than 60 years of age, but its prevalence ranges from 25% to 36% in those older than 80 years of age (17,18). There is a large male predominance, and senile systemic amyloidosis has a major predilection for the heart (19,20). Patients usually present with congestive heart failure, with carpal tunnel syndrome being the only common accompanying extracardiac manifestation. Normal-voltage electrocardiogram (ECG) with a left anterior fascicular block and thickened left ventricular (LV) walls on echocardiography are characteristic. Despite the older age and greater myocardial infiltration, the median SSA survival of 75 months is greater than for AL amyloidosis (21). The slowly progressive nature, despite greater myocardial infiltration, distinguishes SSA from AL amyloidosis. Diagnosis is often surmised but can be achieved definitively by the demonstration of TTR type amyloid on either cardiac or, occasionally, other (e.g., rectal) biopsy, along with absence of mutations in the TTR gene. There is no specific therapy available, and death is usually due to congestive heart failure or arrhythmias.
Noninvasive Evaluation of Cardiac Amyloidosis
Echocardiography can show several features that are suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis (Fig. 1),though the classical features are commonly present only in the later stages of disease (22,23), and there is a wide spectrum of echocardiographic findings. Echocardiography cannot confrim diagnosis in isolation, and the images should be interpreted in the context of the clinical picture and other investigations. The AA amyloid very rarely affects the heart, and the common types that do, such as AL and variant/wild-type TTR types, cannot be distinguished by echocardiogram alone. Although very rare indeed, hereditary apolipoprotein A-I amyloidosis sometimes involves the heart, producing similar echocardiographic abnormalities.
2D Echocardiographic Image (Parasternal Long-Axis View) From a Patient With AL Cardiac Amyloidosis
Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic image (parasternal long-axis view) from a patient with AL cardiac amyloidosis showing normal biventricular dimensions, granular “sparkling” ventricular wall appearance, concentric left ventricular wall thickening, and thickened mitral valve leaflets suggesting infiltration. Ao = aorta; IVS = interventricular septum; LA = left atrium; LV = left ventricle; RV = right ventricle.
The most common echocardiographic feature is thickening of the LV wall, particularly in the absence of hypertension. (22,24–28) This is often referred to incorrectly as “hypertrophy” because the pathological process is infiltration, not myocyte hypertrophy. This feature has poor specificity for amyloidosis because of its occurrence with other conditions, such as hypertensive heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and other infiltrative cardiac diseases (glycogen storage diseases, sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis). The combination of increased LV mass in the absence of high ECG voltages may be more specific for infiltrative diseases, of which amyloid is the most common (24,29). High sensitivity (72% to 79%) and specificity (91% to 100%) have been reported for this combination (27,29), though some study sizes are small and may be influenced by referral bias. The Dubrey et al. study (8) did not include a comparison group but showed low ECG voltages in 70% to 74% of amyloid patients with mildly increased LV wall thickness (>1.1 cm).
Increased echogenicity of the myocardium, particularly with a granular or “sparkling” appearance, has been reported in several studies (10,27,28,30,31). This can occur in other causes of LV hypertrophy, however (10,27,30), and although high specificity rates are quoted (71% to 81%) (10,27), the populations studied were those referred with suspected amyloid, and this specificity may not be reflective of real-life practice. Moreover, sensitivity tends to be low, with this pattern seen in 26% to 36% of cardiac amyloid cases (27,32–34), apart from a single study suggesting a sensitivity of 87% (10). It should be noted that this granular pattern applies only to standard echocardiographic imaging, without tissue harmonics being applied, as this increases myocardial echogenicity in general. Newer echocardiographic image processing techniques may also reduce the granular appearance. Thus, although increased echogenicity is common in amyloid, its usefulness as a discriminating factor is limited.
Reduced systolic function, as measured by low ejection fraction or poor wall thickening, is uncommon until the more severe stages of disease and can be absent in up to 75% of cases (12,23,25–27,33). Diastolic dysfunction is the hallmark, and may be present in all patients, though its identification can be difficult with standard techniques, with 21% to 88% of patients showing a restrictive pattern on Doppler mitral inflow assessment (25,35,36). The variable prevalence of diastolic dysfunction may also be related to the severity of disease in the group studied, as the likelihood of a restrictive physiological pattern increases with the severity of disease (25,36). Tissue Doppler imaging has shown reduced diastolic velocities in both early and late cardiac amyloid (22,37), so even early diastolic dysfunction could be identified (when wall thickening is minimal), though distinguishing individuals with and without heart failure is more difficult, with significant overlap between the groups (37). It is, however, good at distinguishing amyloid and other restrictive cardiomyopathies from constrictive pericarditis, with a mitral annular diastolic velocity (E′) <8 cm/s a good discriminator for restrictive physiology (38). Finally, although diastolic dysfunction is commonly (if not uniformly) present, it should be remembered that diastolic dysfunction is not specific for amyloidosis and should be taken together with the clinical picture and other investigations.
Other features of cardiac amyloid include thickened valves and a small pericardial effusion, and although these have been described in 40% to 60% of patients (28,33), they tend to be present in more advanced disease (12). Again, it should be remembered that these are highly selected groups in the studies. Similarly, bilaterally enlarged atria have been described in 27% to 50% (27,28,33) but are not specific for amyloid (27). A thickened interatrial septum has been shown in a minority of patients (28), and a study by Falk et al. (30) showed it to be specific for amyloid in the later stages of the disease, with 100% specificity. This was in a relatively small group of patients, however, and has not been reproduced subsequently. Other parameters such as atrial strain and ventricular strain rate imaging show mean differences between amyloid groups with and without heart failure (38,39), but the considerable overlap in values between groups limits the clinical application of these techniques.
In summary, there are many echocardiographic features common in amyloid, though none are highly specific individually, and a combination of several is helpful in achieving a diagnosis. An echocardiogram demonstrating marked LV wall thickening, biatrial enlargement, thickened valve leaflets, and a pericardial effusion in the context of reduced ECG voltages is highly persuasive of cardiac amyloid. If either a thickened interatrial septum or a granular highly echogenic myocardium is also present, this makes the diagnosis even more likely (30). Combining features has been shown to be good at differentiating cardiac amyloid from other diagnoses (40,41), though the most useful method is to combine these with the wider clinical findings.
Systematic study of ECG findings in biopsy-confirmed cardiac amyloidosis is relatively sparse. Murtagh et al. (42) from the Mayo Clinic provide the largest report to date of ECG findings in a population of patients with AL amyloidosis and biopsy-proven cardiac involvement. In 127 patients, they found that low ECG voltage (presence of QRS voltage amplitude ≤0.5 mV in all limb leads or ≤1 mV in all precordial leads) (Fig. 2)was present in 46% of patients, and a pseudo-infarct pattern (i.e., no infarct actually evident on echocardiography) was present in 47% of patients. The pseudo-infarct patterns were anterior (36%), inferior (12%), and lateral (14%). Both low ECG voltage and pseudo-infarct pattern were present in 25% of patients. There was a moderate correlation between the presence of low voltage and pericardial effusion but no correlation between voltage and the ejection fraction. Atrial fibrillation and flutter was the most common arrhythmia. It was present in 25% of patients with LV hypertrophy, whereas 7% of patients without LV hypertrophy were identified as having atrial fibrillation (42). None of the electrocardiographic variables correlated with survival. Though low voltage and pseudo-infarct patterns are common, increased voltages suggesting LV hypertrophy are occasionally found in amyloid. These findings are similar to an earlier report in 196 patients (with high clinical suspicion of cardiac amyloid) by Rahman et al. (27), who noted low ECG voltage in 56% and pseudo-infarct pattern in 60% of patients who were subsequently confirmed to have cardiac amyloid. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, a combination of a low voltage and measures of myocardial thickness produced the best discriminator of cardiac involvement in this study. The investigators found that if low voltage was present on ECG and interventricular septal thickness was >1.98 cm on echocardiography, the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis could be made with a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 91%. In this model, the positive predictive and negative predictive values were 79% and 88% respectively, although the findings may not be applicable in the general population given the selective nature of the cohort study (27).
Typical Appearance of the Electrocardiogram in Cardiac Amyloidosis
There is low voltage with lateral T-wave inversion and poor R-wave progression in the precordial leads.
Signal-averaged ECG is often abnormal (delayed myocardial activation or “late potentials”) in patients with AL amyloidosis. Dubrey et al. (43) found that late potentials were more frequent in patients with echocardiographic evidence of cardiac amyloidosis (31%) compared with patients with normal echocardiograms (9%, p < 0.003) (43). Furthermore, abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiograms were also independently predictive of sudden death in the subgroup of patients with an abnormal echocardiogram (p < 0.05). Reduced heart rate variability on 24-h ECG monitoring has been found to predict short-term mortality in both AA and AL amyloidosis in a small case series (44) and probably represents autonomic dysfunction.
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)
A strength of CMR using late gadolinium enhancement technique is the ability to “phenotype” various forms of cardiomyopathy with high spatial resolution and reproducibility (45,46). Maceira et al. (47) studied 29 patients with systemic amyloidosis and 16 hypertensive controls using gadolinium-enhanced CMR. Amyloidosis was associated with qualitative global and subendocardial gadolinium enhancement of the myocardium (Fig. 3).Subendocardial longitudinal relaxation time (T1) in amyloid patients was shorter than in control subjects and was correlated with markers of increased myocardial amyloid load, such as LV mass, wall thickness, interatrial septal thickness, and diastolic function. Global subendocardial late gadolinium enhancement was found in approximately two-thirds of patients. On the basis of pathological correlates in a patient from this study, the CMR hyperenhancement probably represents interstitial expansion from amyloid infiltration.
End-Diastolic Frames of Cines
Horizontal long-axis (A)and short-axis (B)at the mid-ventricular level, showing pleural (*)and pericardial effusions (**)and asymmetrical hypertrophy (maximal end-diastolic wall thickness: septum 22 mm, lateral wall 9 mm, wall thickness ratio of 2.6). Corresponding images using the delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging technique: Cand D, respectively. The horizontal long-axis image demonstrates global subendocardial hyperenhancement of both ventricles, both atria and the interatrial septum. The short-axis image displays a ring of subendocardial hyperenhancement (arrows).
Perugini et al. (48) studied an Italian population of patients with histologically proven systemic amyloidosis and echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac involvement. Gadolinium enhancement by CMR was detected in 16 of 21 (76%) patients. In contrast to the study of Maciera et al. (47), where the pattern of late enhancement was global and subendocardial, Perugini et al. (48) reported a much more variable pattern of late enhancement, that could be localized or diffuse, and subendocardial or transmural. Transmural extension of hyperenhancement (i.e., how much of the LV wall thickness was enhanced) within each patient significantly correlated with LV end systolic volume. The number of enhanced segments correlated with LV end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and left atrial size. An especially unique feature of delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging appearances in this population is the blood pool’s atypically dark appearance, which reflects the similar myocardial and blood T1 values attributable to high myocardial uptake and fast blood pool washout. Although it is yet to be proved, imaging with a highly reproducible and quantifiable technique such as CMR may help to estimate the prevalence of cardiac involvement in systemic amyloidosis when cardiac morphological changes are not apparent by echocardiography. Screening of subclinical early cardiac involvement may become possible should delayed enhancement prove to have adequate sensitivity in detecting amyloid infiltration. Improved noninvasive surveillance may also aid in the evaluation of new chemotherapeutic agents.
Radiolabeled serum amyloid P component (SAP) scintigraphy
Serum amyloid P component is a highly conserved, invariant plasma glycoprotein of the pentraxin family that becomes specifically and highly concentrated in amyloid deposits of all types as a result of its calcium-dependent binding to all types of amyloid fibril. Following intravenous injection, radiolabeled SAP distributes between the circulating and the amyloid-bound SAP pools in proportion to their size and can then be imaged and quantified (49,50). This safe noninvasive method provides unique information on the diagnosis, distribution, and extent of amyloid deposits throughout the body, and serial scans monitor progress and response to therapy. Serial SAP scans have unequivocally demonstrated that amyloid deposits of all types regress in a proportion of patients when the supply of the respective amyloid fibril precursor protein is sufficiently reduced. Unfortunately, planar SAP scintigraphy is unable to image amyloid in the moving heart.
Cardiac biomarkers are elevated in cardiac AL amyloidosis, often to a degree that seems to be disproportionate to symptoms of congestive heart failure (51). That cardiac troponins are detected is not surprising, as troponin values are invariably associated with pathological evidence of cardiac injury, irrespective of causation (52,53). Myonecrosis and small-vessel ischemia due to amyloid deposit lead to an increase in cardiac troponins (54), whereas diastolic dysfunction and increased genetic expression of natriuretic peptide genes in the amyloid infiltrated ventricles lead to an increase in plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (55). Troponin T and I and N-terminal (NT)-proBNP levels at diagnosis provide prognostic information in amyloidosis. In the largest series to date, Dispenzieri et al. (56) found that in 261 newly diagnosed patients with cardiac amyloidosis, detectable cardiac troponin I or T conferred a median survival of 6 or 8 months (respectively), compared with 22 or 21 months (respectively) in those without any detectable troponin I/T. Furthermore, their data imply that raised values of serum cardiac troponins may surpass symptomatic congestive heart failure and 2-dimensional echocardiography as predictors for survival.
The role of cardiac biomarkers in monitoring disease progression or response to therapy is still being defined. Curiously, in AL amyloidosis, NT-proBNP values can fall rapidly following effective chemotherapy; a 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels after 3 doses of chemotherapy has been associated with improved event-free survival, though this did not correlate with objective assessments on the echocardiogram (57). Prognosis with a hematological response following chemotherapy is substantially better than in patients without, and the basis for changes and the true value of serial NT-proBNP measurements in the management of AL amyloidosis are not yet clear.
A new serum immunoglobulin free light chains assay, which can quantify the aberrant circulating amyloidogenic fibril protein precursor with great sensitivity in 85% to 98% of patients with AL amyloidosis, is a major recent advance in the disease (57). This automated immunoassay can serially monitor production of amyloidogenic light chains during chemotherapy (58). A 50% reduction in aberrant serum free light chains following chemotherapy was paralleled by reductions in NT-proBNP and associated with improvement clinically but not in LV wall thickness (57). Further imaging studies with a highly reproducible and quantifiable technique such as CMR may help to define correlations between cardiac function and changes in free light chains.
Management of Cardiac Amyloidosis
The twin aims of management in systemic amyloidosis are: 1) reduction in the supply of amyloid fibril precursor proteins to decrease new amyloid formation and perhaps facilitate the natural regression of existing deposits; and 2) scrupulous general supportive care, including dialysis and organ transplantation in some cases (Fig. 4).Management and prognosis differ substantially in different types of amyloidosis, and accurate fibril typing, frequently including deoxyribonucleic acid analysis, is a prerequisite to optimal care. Unfortunately, the prognosis of cardiac amyloidosis is often very poor at diagnosis, especially in patients with AL type, in whom there may also be significant extracardiac involvement. Awareness of the compromised functional reserve of amyloidotic organs and extreme care to protect renal function are critically important.
Flow Diagram Outlining the Evaluation of a Patient With Suspected Cardiac Amyloidosis
BNP = B-type natriuretic peptide; CMR = cardiovascular magnetic resonance; DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid; ECG = electrocardiogram; LV = left ventricle; SAP = serum amyloid P component; TTR = transthyretin.
General supportive care
The restrictive cardiac physiology and autonomic neuropathy differentiate treatment of CHF in patients with amyloid. The mainstay of the treatment of heart failure in AL amyloidosis is the use of diuretics, with high doses being required in some patients with nephrotic syndrome. Meticulous attention to fluid balance is essential, with daily weights and patient-controlled adjustment of diuretic dose often being helpful. There are no data on the use of beta-blockers in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (59). The restrictive cardiac filling and autonomic neuropathy may lead to severe bradycardia and hypotension, thus limiting their use. Vasoactive drugs, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II inhibitors, should be used with caution in cardiac amyloidosis because even small doses may cause profound hypotension. In addition, both digoxin and certain calcium blockers bind to amyloid fibrils, and this interaction may account for the increased susceptibility to digoxin toxicity and to hemodynamic deterioration with calcium blockers (60,61). Despite widespread vascular fragility seen in this condition, anticoagulation should not be withheld when cardiac thrombus has been demonstrated within the heart, in atrial fibrillation or when there is sinus rhythm with failure of atrial contraction (62,63).
All manner of arrhythmias have been described in cardiac amyloidosis; the most common of those causing symptoms is atrial fibrillation (64). Although sudden death is frequent in amyloidosis (65), very little is known about the terminal electrical events, and potential benefit of prophylactic anti-arrhythmic therapy has been little studied. In our limited experience, electromechanical dissociation is not infrequent. The indications for pacing in cardiac amyloidosis are essentially similar to those in general practice, though concurrent autonomic neuropathy and hypoalbuminemia can substantially exacerbate hypotension-associated poor cardiac output. The threshold for introducing pacing is therefore often lower in patients with amyloidosis, and the restrictive nature of their hemodynamic dysfunction may respond particularly well to dual-chamber systems that can optimize the atrial filling component. Implantable cardiac defibrillators have been used only in a small number of cases. These have not yet been shown to prolong survival, and death is usually due to electromechanical dissociation or congestive heart failure (66). One patient with amyloid cardiomyopathy received a continuous intra-axial cardiac flow pump in the feasibility of long-term continuous axial flow pump study (67). Left ventricular support devices have not been systematically evaluated in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.
Management of underlying amyloid disease process
Rational management of the disorders underlying amyloid deposition has been improved greatly by recent availability of routine assays for the circulating amyloid fibril precursor proteins SAA in AA amyloidosis, and serum immunoglobulin free light chains in AL amyloidosis (as described earlier). Treatment of the underlying inflammatory disorder in AA amyloidosis that reduces the SAA concentration toward healthy values dramatically improves survival (6). The new biological agents that inhibit tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 potently suppress the acute-phase response in many patients with rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, Crohn’s disease, and some hereditary periodic fever syndromes (68). Treatment with colchicine largely prevents AA amyloidosis in familial Mediterranean fever (69). Excision of solitary Castleman’s disease masses that secrete interleukin-6 can be every effective when this condition is complicated by AA amyloidosis (70).
Chemotherapy targeting clonal plasma cells that produce the monoclonal amyloidogenic immunoglobulin light chains can arrest amyloid formation and lead to regression of deposits, preservation of organ function, and enhanced survival in many patients with systemic AL amyloidosis (71,72). Availability of a robust, sensitive immunoassay for immunoglobulin-free light chains in serum has been one of the most important advances in management of AL amyloidosis. The AL fibril precursor protein can now be monitored prospectively and chemotherapy tailored accordingly in most cases. Sustained reduction of the serum concentration of the aberrant monoclonal light chain value by 50% or more is associated with enhanced survival (72). Unfortunately, many patients with AL amyloidosis tolerate chemotherapy poorly, and a proportion of plasma cell clones are refractory even to high-dose therapy. Oral melphalan and prednisolone are tolerated better than more aggressive treatment, but responses are few and much delayed (73). Intermediate-dose infusional chemotherapy regimes, such as vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone, or melphalan and dexamethasone, which can also be given orally, can induce swifter responses. High-dose chemotherapy coupled with peripheral autologous stem cell rescue (often referred to as stem cell transplantation) has lately been used quite widely, but treatment-related mortality in this setting is 10% to 25%, especially outside specialist amyloidosis centers (23,71). The presence of cardiac amyloidosis is a major determinant of increased morbidity and mortality from peripheral stem cell transplantation (74,75). Cardiac amyloidosis reflects reduced peri-transplant survival compared to those without cardiac involvement. Presence of congestive heart failure, syncope, arrhythmias, renal failure, poor functional status, and involvement of >2 visceral organs predicts a poor outcome and should be excluded for stem cell transplant therapy (75,76). Cardiac involvement, an essential part of screening for stem cell transplantation, may be underestimated by echocardiography. Other approaches currently being explored include thalidomide/lenolidamide alone or in combination chemotherapy (77), rituximab in patients with CD20-positive clones, and new agents including the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, although no reports exist as to the efficacy of the latter 2 agents. Adequate responses to less intense chemotherapy indicate that high-dose regimes may be excessive, but there is presently no way to identify which individuals will tolerate and respond best to which treatment. The key objective is to sufficiently suppress production of the amyloidogenic free light chain without unacceptable toxicity, and this requires careful individual assessment and monitoring. Interestingly, recent studies using serial measurements of NT-proBNP during chemotherapy suggest that cardiac function in AL can improve rapidly in some cases in association with reduction of the circulating amyloidogenic precursor, despite the amount of cardiac amyloid deposits remaining apparently unaltered on echocardiography (57).
At present, apart from transplantation to replace failed organs and liver transplantation to remove the source of amyloidogenic proteins of hepatic origin, only symptomatic treatment is available in hereditary systemic amyloidosis. The liver is the main source of plasma TTR, and more than 700 liver transplants have been performed in hereditary TTR amyloidosis since this “surgical gene therapy” approach was introduced in 1991. Outcome is generally good in younger, fitter patients carrying the common Met30 amyloidogenic mutation, but paradoxical acceleration of transthyretin amyloid deposition can occur in the heart following liver transplantation in older patients with non-Met30 variants (78). A few combined heart and liver transplants have been performed, which so far appear to circumvent this predicament.
The livers removed from patients with hereditary TTR amyloidosis contain only microscopic amyloid deposits in the blood vessels and interstitial tissues and retain normal function. A large number of “domino” liver transplants have therefore been conducted in recipients with various terminal liver diseases for whom normal donor livers were not available. This has certainly prolonged their lives, but the first such recipient has now developed symptomatic systemic TTR amyloidosis just 8 years after transplantation (79).
Cardiac transplantation
Heart transplantation for cardiac amyloidosis has been performed relatively rarely because of concern about progression of amyloid in other organs and the possibility of amyloid deposition in the donor heart. Twenty-four cases have been performed in the United Kingdom (80). Seventeen patients had AL amyloidosis and 7 had non-AL forms of amyloidosis. Survival of the 10 AL patients who had no adjunctive chemotherapy was 50% at 1 year and 20% at 5 years; amyloid recurred in the grafts of these patients after a median of 11 months, and extracardiac amyloid deposition contributed to mortality in 70% of the patients. Survival of 7 patients with AL who also had chemotherapy was 71% and 36% at 1 and 5 years, with 2 patients alive at 10 years. Survival of the 7 patients with non-AL was 86% and 64% at 1 and 5 years. One such patient with hereditary apoAI amyloidosis had recurrence of amyloid in the graft at 60 months on routine post-transplant biopsies but has no functional deficit after 13 years. Five-year survival for all 24 amyloid patients was 38%, compared with 67% among patients (n = 4,058) undergoing cardiac transplantation in the United Kingdom for other indications. Recently, sequential heart and stem cell transplant has shown promise in younger patients complicated with cardiac failure but with preserved renal, gastrointestinal, and autonomic function (81,82). Seventeen patients have been treated with this aggressive approach. Using extended cardiac donor criteria, transplants were performed within 2 months of diagnosis. Induction followed by standard triple-therapy cardiac immunosuppression was continued throughout stem cell transplant. Myeloablative high-dose melphalan was followed by stem cell infusion 6 months after recovery. Sequential transplant patients had a significant survival advantage. Survival at 1 year was 80% versus 17% for nontransplant patients. This was associated with the absence of relapse of plasma cell dyscrasias and allograft rejection. Though the ethical dilemma of offering cardiac transplant to patients with systemic amyloidosis exists, sequential heart and stem cell transplant offers a feasible strategy for patients with systemic amyloidosis complicated by heart failure.
Novel therapies
Elucidation of aspects of the molecular pathogenesis of amyloidosis has generated a variety of novel approaches to therapy. We have developed a drug that targets SAP with the goal of eliminating SAP from amyloid deposits in the hope that this may reduce amyloid deposition and/or accelerate amyloid clearance (83). Preliminary open-label studies are in progress to study safety and tolerability and optimize dosing. Double-blind controlled clinical trials in AA amyloidosis with eprodisate, a small molecule glycosaminoglycan aimed at blocking the pro-amyloidogenic interaction between SAA and glycosaminoglycans, have just been completed. Promising early findings have lately been released (84) for renal disease in AA amyloidosis, further studies on the use of this drug as an adjuvant in AL amyloidosis are warranted, and detailed analysis of outcomes is awaited. Small-molecule ligands that stabilize the native tetrameric structure of TTR and prevent its fibrillogenesis are being actively investigated for prophylaxis and therapy in TTR amyloidosis. Further strategies include stabilizing the native structures of other amyloidogenic proteins and disrupting established deposits using antibodies, synthetic peptides, and small-molecule drugs. Some of these potential new therapies will enter clinical trials within the next few years and offer exciting prospects for improvements in treatment.
Cardiac amyloidosis describes clinically significant involvement of the heart by amyloid deposition, which may or may not be associated with involvement of other organs. Although no single noninvasive test abnormality is pathognomonic of cardiac amyloid, a combination of a typical echocardiographic appearance and low-voltage ECG complexes is highly suggestive of disease. New imaging techniques such as CMR may offer promise for the early detection of cardiac involvement. In AL amyloidosis, chemotherapy may arrest and even reverse the disease, with resultant stabilization or improvement of symptoms. Thus, early diagnosis is critical because patients with advanced disease are usually too ill for intensive chemotherapy. Cardiac biomarkers, troponin T and I, and NT-proBNP are sensitive markers of cardiac involvement and prognostic determinants. The recent introduction of immunoglobulin light-chain assay is a sensitive marker of response to therapy and survival in AL amyloidosis. Recognition of non-AL cardiac amyloidosis is vital in avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy; to screen family members; and potentially, in the near future, to provide new medications that will stabilize the amyloidogenic protein.
cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging
electrocardiogram/electrocardiographic
left ventricular
serum amyloid A protein
serum amyloid P component
senile systemic amyloidosis
TTR
transthyretin
Revision received August 27, 2007.
Accepted August 28, 2007.
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O Street
Highland Gems: three places to visit near Aberdeen
It’s easy to knock Scotland’s tartan-carpeted tourist economy, but boy-o-boy can we do things well, too!
O Street are just back from a top secret new project in the Highlands (more about that soon), and it was with great delight that in the space of 24 hours we discovered three absolute gems to phone home about. Here’s three must-stops within a short drive of Aberdeen airport, whether you are here as an international tourist or a Lowlander up for a Highland adventure.
The Craigellachie Hotel
Home to the recently launched Copper Dog small batch blend (a point of pride on its own), this hotel also has two bars and a top notch restaurant. One venison burger and two craft ales down, I observed tattooed waiters working a packed, jovial atmosphere and thought to myself how unexpected it was to be feel so hip 4 hours north of Glasgow’s Finnieston. I can’t vouch for the hotel, but if the informal bar is anything to go by this place is a serious classy act.
The Macallan Visitor Centre
I’ve been to many distilleries in my time, but nothing quite like this. We all love the traditional distilleries (The Glenfiddich down the road from here is a great example), but driving into the car park at The Macallan you quickly realise this is a whole new experience. The strikingly modern architecture is almost hidden from a distance, created to sit un obtrusively in the wild mountainside. Approaching the main entrance by foot from the car park, the scale and size of the building is breathtaking.
Many other whisky experiences seem frightened to loose themselves from the shackles of traditional shortbread tin ‘Scottish-ness’, and for very good reason: it’s what many tourists and whisky drinkers want to see. With this new visitor centre, however, The Macallan have been brave enough to try something new, avoid the safe bet and present whisky in a brand new way. I loved it!
BrewDog, Ellon
We’ve been lucky enough to work with these guys in the past and are unashamed fans of what they have achieved. Somehow still positioned as craft, BrewDog have experienced meteoric growth—new breweries in the US and plans in place for breweries in Australia and China—that has turned them into a serious global beer player. In the current economic climate, it’s a Scottish business success story we should all be boasting about.
Approaching the brewery from the road outside the sleepy rural town of Ellon, massive brewery tanks tower over a huge complex of buildings that house BrewDog’s worldwide HQ. Inside their thriving office building you could easily be mistaken for thinking you are in the beating heart of a Silicon Valley business, or trendy east London tech giant. Further to the office building there are two taprooms, a merch shop and the soon to be opened experimental brewery Overworks. I’ll be coming straight back when that’s open!
So, next time you’re considering a weekend adventure, stuff Barcelona or New York and get your behouchies up to Aberdeen.
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Lupus: What Is It? What Causes Lupus? How Is It Treated? All Your Questions Answered
You are here: Home / General Health / Lupus: What Is It? What Causes Lupus? How Is It Treated? All Your Questions Answered
What Causes Lupus?
The cause of systemic lupus is unknown. Experts believe that it occurs due to a combination of genetics (having an inherited predisposition for developing it) and a person’s environment and lifestyle.
Possible causes/triggers of lupus include exposure to sunlight, tobacco consumption, and the use of certain blood pressure drugs, anti-seizure medications, and antibiotics. Symptoms may persist even after these drugs are stopped. Some infections may cause lupus.
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Napoli Eye Surprise Move for Newcastle Striker Ayoze Perez Ahead of Summer Window
Napoli have emerged as surprise admirers of Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez ahead of the Summer transfer window.
Under Rafael Benitez, the Spaniard has scored 11 goals in all competitions; six in the Premier League. He has proved vital to pushing Newcastle away from the relegation zone and with five games to go this season.
Newcastle's good form in the Premier League this calendar year, particularly at home, has been largely the result of Perez linking up with fellow forward Salomon Rondon exceptionally well. Due to his impressive performances, Perez has now become a target for SSC Napoli, according to Calciomercato.
Carlo Ancelotti's side were linked with the striker last summer, and looked to have now re-kindled their interest alongside La Liga side Real Betis.
At first glance Napoli may seem like a more exciting proposition, but a move to Real Betis would be a return to Spain for the Maria Jimenez native.
Perez's future could depend wholly upon whether or not Rafael Benitez opts to stay at the club beyond this season. Benitez is said to be in the midst of contract negotiations with the Tyneside club.
It is believed that, if Perez were request a move away, he would cost any potential suitors around £15m.
Top 5 players in the Premier League:
Sean Longstaff
Mo Diame
Ayoze Perez
Fabian Schar
Salomon Rondon
No Disagreements #UTM #NUFC
— Brandon (@Brand0nY) 5 April 2019
For now, the striker, his teammates and Rafael Benitez will be focused on finishing the season strongly to ensure they secure Premier League football for next season. After a 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, the Magpies will be looking to bounce back when they face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium this weekend.
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Source: 90min
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http://www.nigerian24news.com/politics/apc-lawmakers-set-for-sarakis-impeachment/47576-news
APC Lawmakers Set For Saraki's Impeachment
The plot to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki thickened yesterday as federal lawmakers on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) resolved to forcibly reconvene the National Assembly and carry out the plan.
During a meeting with APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers, the legislators from both chambers of the assembly vowed they would deploy their numerical strength to achieve the goal ‘‘in the interest of the country.’’
Oshiomhole, who thanked the lawmakers for keeping faith with the ideals of the party, stressed that with APC’s 196 of the 360-strong House of Representatives and 56 of 109 senators, the coast was clear to take binding decisions.
He faulted claims that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was behind the siege by security operatives on the assembly complex last week and charged the APC senators to proceed notwithstanding arguments by some legal minds.
He also dismissed reports that he presided over a meeting of senators at his residence last Monday night.
“Do whatever needs to be done to prevent a government shutdown.
Democracy teaches us that minority has the right to have their say but majority must have their way,” Oshiomhole said.
“We take flights to Washington and other places to understudy the American presidential system.
Once you lose majority, without further ado, you step down.
Whether it is convenient for Saraki or not, the truth is whether by morality or by law or by convention, he can only avoid impeachment by toeing the path of honour.
Step down, so that APC can take over the leadership of the House.
“Saraki will be lawfully and democratically impeached.
Those lawyers, who have chosen to sit as judges, when he is impeached, will be free to go anywhere and canvass the legality or the illegality of the action.
It is not in their place to pronounce with finality, as if they constitute the judicial arm of government.
“As the governing party, I reassure the Nigerian people that we are committed to leading by example.
And that means absolute submission and obedience to the letters and spirit of the Nigerian constitution and everything we will do, we will ensure that it is done according to law including the impeachment of Saraki.
There is no hiding place for him. I insist that his time is up.”
Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan hinted that the chamber could reconvene today or tomorrow.
He faulted reports that some members were bribed with millions of naira to execute the impeachment and warned that the nation could be plunged into constitutional crises if Buhari’s request of money for the 2019 general elections was not approved urgently.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara was absent.
His deputy, Sulaimon Yusuff Lasun, expressed disappointment over the last minute decision to halt a reconvening of the assembly.
House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila said Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun briefed him that that the implementation of the capital component of the budget risks being aborted by the end of August, if Buhari’s request was not approved.
“We have to find a way to reconvene the House.
We are heading towards a constitutional crisis and inevitable government shutdown because we have to fund the election and the budget,” he said.
Earlier, APC spokesman, Yekini Nabena, declared: “Saraki’s actions as senate president now border on high treason.”
In a statement, the APC also alleged that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was planning to hire thugs to attack its own lawmakers.
The presidency, meanwhile, clarified yesterday that the 2018 Electoral Bill passed by the national assembly July 24 and forwarded to Buhari for assent on August 3 was pending.
The clarification came against the backdrop of reports that Buhari had again vetoed the bill.
The presidency also debunked rumours that Buhari was under pressure to jettison his bid for a second term.
“President Buhari is not a flippant or frivolous individual.
He gave deep thought to the prospect before announcing his bid for a second term in office,” said Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina.
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Tinubu Visits Fasoranti, Reacts To Report Linking Fasoranti's Daughter's Killers To Herdsmen
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Sanwo-Olu Nominates 25 Commissioners, Special Advisers
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Home Science & Technology E-scooters put Swedish start-up on road to positive cash-flow
E-scooters put Swedish start-up on road to positive cash-flow
on: July 09, 2019 In: Science & Technology
Growing numbers of young people whizzing around Europe’s big cities on electric scooters may represent a nightmare for some pedestrians and motorists, but for Swedish sharing start-up VOI they offer a path to positive cashflow.
VOI co-founder and chief executive Fredrik Hjelm said safety was an important consideration and VOI had drawn up a code of conduct with the authorities in Stockholm for all operators after a fatal accident involving an e-scooter.
“Accidents are always very tragic and sad but since we’re in transportation, unfortunately there’s always a risk of accident. We can do everything we can on product operations and education but ultimately we’re in the hands of the users,” he added.
Critics have also said VOI and other operators could face the fate of Asian bike operators GoBee and Mobike, which crashed out of Europe due to price wars, vandalism and regulation.
Hjelm said the sector had learnt from past mistakes, with VOI upgrading to a model with longer-range swappable batteries to eliminate transport costs and increase product life.
European startups VOI, Dott, Tier and U.S. rivals Bird and Lime have already put thousands of e-scooters on the roads of European cities, betting commuters will take to the two-wheelers in a region where far fewer own cars than in the United States.
In France, e-scooters have been banned from sidewalks and in Britain they are not permitted on roads or pavements.
Hjelm said that VOI is already making a profit in several cities, including its hometown Stockholm, where its e-scooters accounts for about 70% to 80% of those on the roads.
“Our estimate is for VOI to be cashflow positive around late next year, but within three years for sure,” Hjelm told Reuters in an interview at VOI’s headquarters.
“Price wars never end well for anyone. So what you see now in the market is the more experienced players like VOI and Lime have rather been able to increase our average price point,” Hjelm, wearing shorts and a hoodie, said.
OPEN TO TIE-UPS
High profile investors including Google, Uber and Volkswagen are increasingly getting into scooters as new modes of transport emerge from developments in electric and driverless vehicles.
Hjelm expects the number of players to narrow within a year and said that VOI was open to discussing tie-ups.
“Automotive companies understand their business model is threatened. This ‘sell one car to one customer’ won’t work in the future because it’s not sustainable from an environmental point of view and not what the consumers want anymore,” he said.
“We’re in quite a stable financial position right now but we’re also always out in the market talking to potential partners and investors,” he added.
VOI, which has raised slightly more than $80 million, already operates in 31 cities including Paris and Berlin and said on Monday it had reached 5 million rides since launching in September.
Hjelm, who launched VOI as a solution to address congestion, pollution and difficultly getting around he experienced when working in Moscow, said VOI would be in 50-60 cities by year end, with a focus on Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Barclays estimates that micromobility – transport using electric-powered one-person vehicles like e-scooters and e-bikes – could make up $800 billion in revenues by mid-2020s and total 1 trillion personal miles, or 4% of global transport.
Most of the e-scooter growth has so far been driven by 20- and 30-year-olds willing to pay for convenience, driving the growth of gig economy companies like ride-hailing service Uber and food courier service Deliveroo.
Hjelm said VOI was introducing cargo bikes, which would allow children or groceries to be transported, and e-bikes and was exploring adding e-mopeds and electric or transit pods.
“VOI should become partner to cities that are restricting cars and want to transform urban transportation. E-scooters are part of the solution with e-bikes, mopeds etc in conjunction with public transportation,” he said.
Tags: E-ScootersReutersTechnologyVOI
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By admin1September 22, 2017Uncategorised
Frantz France/Germany
Location: SilverCity
Showtimes: 6:30 & 8:40 pm
Director: François Ozon
Cast: Pierre Niney, Paula Beer, Ernst Stötzner Runtime: 113 minutes Language: French, German
César Awards, France: Best Cinematography; Sedona International Film Festival: Best Foreign Feature; Venice Film Festival: Best Young Actress: Paula Beer.
“A fine bilingual cast, haunting period detail and a provocative approach to a twisting story carry the day.”—Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail
Several times in Frantz, director François Ozon’s requiem for post-World War I Europe, Philippe Rombi’s score returns to a refrain that echoes “Ode to Joy,” the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. It’s a small gesture, but one that speaks to the deep-rooted unrest that keeps Frantz’s characters from finding any kind of solace.
The thing holding everyone back is the death of the titular character—a young German with a passion for music and art who, pushed to enlist in the army by his father, was killed in action. Months later, his parents and fiancée Anna (Paula Beer) are still mourning his passing, but are eased out of their despair by the arrival of Adrien (Pierre Niney), a Frenchman who seems to have known Frantz before the war and shares in the family’s grief.
Initially confused and icy to this stranger—he is French after all–the family eventually adopts him as a reminder of, and a surrogate for, their lost loved one. But Aiden seems to be withholding something. What is his secret? Anna is both confused and curious. While there are familiar suspicions, Ozon has his own tricks up his sleeve.
Ozon uses Frantz to investigate the nature of forgiveness following a war—though they shared a border, Germany and France were on opposite sides of the conflict—and the weight of grief. And he finds a simple but hugely effective way to symbolically reflect the moments when his characters find calm and comfort.
While most of the film is in black and white, certain scenes are rendered in lavish colour. That those florid moments are few, and even include a painful flashback to the war, only emphasizes how conflict and suffering can drain the wonder out of everyday life.
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Representations of St. James
Plaza del Obradoiro is an excellent visual summary of the possible iconographic representations that have been made of St. James. The Cathedral façade features the pilgrim with a cape, hat and staff. In the Hostal de los Reyes... read more
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The Cathedral of Santiago houses the relics of one of Christendom’s apostles. Who was James the Greater? How did his body reach the Galician coast? How did he become the patron saint of Spain and the city? History and tradition come together in the figure of James, in his feasts and in the rich iconography of the pilgrim and warrior saint.
The Apostle James with tag Sacred art
Back to The Apostle James
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> Episode Guide Ratings and Reviews > Quantum Leap: Season Three
302 The Leap Home Part II: Vietnam
View Poll Results: The Leap Home Part II: Vietnam
Excellent 34 89.47%
Good 4 10.53%
Average 0 0%
Fair 0 0%
Poor 0 0%
iMonrey
Waiting Room Visitor
Watch the Season 5 episode "Promised Land", Sam leaps into a bank robber in his home town of Elk Ridge Indiana. At one point Sam asks a bank patron about the Becketts. they say that Tom has recently returned home from Vietnam...
I forgot about that. Thanks. Still, it saddens me to think Sam never got to see Tom again and we never knew what became of Tom's life. We also never find out if Sam's sister avoids marrying the abusive alcoholic. Finally, one day Katie is going to realize Sam was telling the truth about being from the future . . . the first time she hears John Lennon's Imagine on the radio.
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Originally Posted by iMonrey
I believe that since Sam and Al are linked through Ziggy, they remember both timelines. So I'm sure Sam does remember seeing Tom again and knows what happens to the rest of his family too...
Donofrio_QLTD
Control Room Technician
Location: Mexico City (D.F.)
Incredible episode. My favorite part, the ending, of course, especially when Al says: "Up here, I was always free." That's what I loved from this season: The intensity of the stories had grown a lot. It focused more on mature situations and perspectives.
The only thing I didn't like was the character of Maggie herself. She got on my nerves most of the time, but I didn't completely dislike her, either. I even felt so bad when she died and was glad to know that she managed to get the Pulitzer. Everything that involved Al was so great and very well-written and played out. Another little no-no was the music. At times, it was a bit cheesy, especially on the scene where the zappers are supposed to be attacking. Other than that, nothing so serious.
My rating: Excellent. A two-parter to always talk about.
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ladystoneheart
Did I get it right from the episode? So Sam's brother dies in a rescue mission for Al and the other prisoners in the original history?
Originally Posted by Donofrio_QLTD
The only thing I didn't like was the character of Maggie herself. She got on my nerves most of the time, but I didn't completely dislike her, either. I even felt so bad when she died and was glad to know that she managed to get the Pulitzer. Everything that involved Al was so great and very well-written and played out.
The scene just killed me when it was shown that Al was on the photo. Maggie wins a Pulitzer for this shot so is Al still considered to be MIA then?
I am sorry for all these questions,first time viewer
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Originally Posted by ladystoneheart
Yes, their double agent was really a triple agent and was going to betray and murder them.
Yes, in fact, this act meant that Al was MIA as a POW for two more years.
I just realised something. This is the first time that Sam has leapt overseas, what one would assume is a great feat. Since at the time of his leap he was so fixated with trying to save Tom, one might think that he actually willed himself there...
Sam Beckett Fan
Senior Leaper
This is a leap with some real powerful elements.
We have Al conflicted between his own fate and the irrational but heartfelt desire of his best friend to save his brother's life. I've discussed in regards to M.I.A how Al's lack of disclosure which ultimately caused him to make it impossible for Sam to succeed in saving his marriage and here he's done it again. It is my belief and the final scene of the episode confirms this that had Sam known he would have distributed equal importance to both his brother and best friend. Though I've said this about him in MIA for not throwing Donna in his face and once again here Al shows how amazing a friend he is and how much Sam means to him to put Sam's personal agendas over his own.
Let's talk about Sam's selfishness here. Believe it or not I've come to appreciate this because it gives an otherwise too perfect character a sense of realism which makes him human and believable. The first part of the episode starts us off on that path with Sam openly admitting that his own timeline was the only one allowed to be an exception to the rule. Personally I am considering that this comment could have been more emotional than sincere and Mirror Image seems to support this but I digress.
Here we have that selfishness almost invalidated by the fact that Ziggy doesn't seem to know what he should be doing having made multiple fruitless suggestions from ensuring the success of the unknown mission which turned into the POW rescue to saving Deek from the sapper attack. Which brings me to my next point.
Consider how the first part ended, the nature of Sam's leap out of the Basketball game; his hand reaching out for his brother, yelling his name in desperation to save him only to land him in the exact position to do so. Now add to our brainstorm soup when Al the Bartender reveals that Sam can take control of his leaps in Mirror Image. Something which it's implied that he has actually unconsciously done in many episodes but for obvious reasons I'm going to stick to Vietnam here.
My theory which came to mind watching it just yesterday and combines all the above ingredients together quite nicely (wow lol, all that Food Network I've been watching suddenly took over there XD), is that perhaps a task could not be determined because this was a leap of Sam's choosing not GTFW's. Still though as Al pointed out in the first part Sam isn't able to change what isn't supposed to be changed. So there is another factor at play here that allowed his success. Either Tom's death coincidentally happened to be considered a wrong or Sam was being given an exception, perhaps because of the difficulty of the previous leap.
That does make his success with Beth at the end of Mirror Image difficult to decipher however. Was this another exception? Why? Or was it a wrong that Sam didn't succeed the first time? That's another subject though.
Correct, though they didn't know the identities or exactly how many POWs there would be, the mission was to find and rescue up to three or was it four?
In the original timeline when the Chu hoi double crossed them she'd personally shot Tom in the back and two other men on the squad were injured, Maggie had not been brought on the mission.
That day had marked the end of Magic's good luck spell.
Not exactly. The rescue mission had been unsuccessful in both timelines. What Maggie's photograph changed was that it sentenced Al to two more years as a POW. Is my information right? He'd originally been repatriated in '73 (stated in MIA) but then at the end of this episode which takes place in '70 he said five years which makes it '75. So the difference would be two years. Anyway how it did so isn't clear but the novel Pulitzer offers an amazing explanation to make that connection, I highly recommend it.
Never apologize for asking questions, questions are what educate us and everyone here at Al's is more than willing to answer and all.
-=-=-=-=-
Icon made by the lovely Ladystoneheart with the beautiful screen captures of StrayStar.
Signature made by me.
My QL screen capture collection: http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/Sa...?sort=3&page=1
Last edited by Sam Beckett Fan; 08-06-2014 at 05:04 PM.
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blue enigma
Originally Posted by Sam Beckett Fan
It is my belief and the final scene of the episode confirms this that had Sam known he would have distributed equal importance to both his brother and best friend.
Agreed, and I think that is exactly why Al didn't tell Sam. He knew it would be a terrible (and really impossible) decision for Sam to have to make, so he chose to not put him in the position of having to choose between his brother or his friend (and instead made the decision for him).
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Originally Posted by blue enigma
That's an excellent thought which hadn't occurred to me. To have to choose between two people you love is borderline wrong no matter what the circumstances and I can certainly believe that Al would never subject Sam to such a decision. He probably also considered the lack of difference his being rescued would have made. It wouldn't change Beth leaving him, she'd already even met Dirk the lawyer almost exactly a year prior let alone married him. Sadly he had no other reason to be in a hurry to get home.
Reminds me of the final line of the final verse of the Dixie Chicks song 'Traveling Solider'.
"One name read and nobody really cared, but a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair."
Look it up, it's a really well written song with a very Al and Beth theme.
I love the Dixie Chicks.
Let's talk about Sam's selfishness here. Believe it or not I've come to appreciate this because it gives an otherwise too perfect character a sense of realism which makes him human and believable.
I agree with you. This is why I like Catch a Falling Star as well, it's one of the few times Sam seems human. That, and when he perves on the sexy French lady in Blind Faith
The reason Ziggy didn't know what Sam was there to do was because the records of the missions were kept top secret. This is why Sam tried to have Maggie come on the mission in the first place - so that she could write an article about it. Unfortunately that backfired...
I totally agree that Sam willed himself to Vietnam.
The point that was trying to be made is that right and wrong are concepts made up by humans. So what Sam needs to change ultimately depends on his own belief about what is right and wrong. At the time, Sam thought it was wrong to break the rules of the project and save Al's marriage. But seeing the pain that Al was going through, he realised that it definitely was something that shouldn't have happened to such a good person, hence became wrong in his mind.
Mirror Image proves to us that God or Time or Fate or Whatever ultimately is not as powerful as Sam makes out in his head. Rather, it's his own choices.
Unless Al meant that since the start of his incarceration as a POW he was there for five years. Which, if Sam didn't make life more difficult for Al, would have meant Al was captured in 1968. Seems reasonable...
This is definitely a big part of it, Sam realizing how much pain Al was in and that it was a wrong that did need to be made right. And not just for Al, but Beth too - in the original history, she had to move on with her life and not keep mourning Al forever, but I don't think she ever stopped loving him and I don't think a day went by that she didn't have regrets, especially if she saw Maggie's photo of him and realized that she'd been mistaken.
But there is also the friendship angle. Not that Sam didn't realize what a great friend Al was before, but in Mirror Image he has time to really reflect on that, about how there isn't anything Al wouldn't do for him - and that he didn't quite reciprocate completely (when Bartender Al points out 'and you for him'). In a way, Sam becomes a better and humbler friend to Al in this episode.
Exactly (and as you already know, I'm in the 'it's all Sam' camp).
This is what I think, or that Al just miscalculated in that emotional moment. Though as Sam Beckett Fan pointed out, in the novel Pulitzer L Elizabeth Storm did a nice job presenting a plausible scenario for Al's extra two years in captivity.
That, and when he perves on the sexy French lady in Blind Faith
I know right?! The last time I watched that episode I was like "wait a minute, did he check out her a** as she was walking away!?" XD I'm not sure I'd ever noticed that before.
A very in depth thought but I don't completely agree, not in reference to Quantum Leap.
Now that you have me thinking about that, it's true that whenever Ziggy is pitted against Sam's gut feelings she always loses. So perhaps Sam does at times choose what he changes however there are some conflicts with this. He doesn't choose to leap into to these particular situations, he saw Delilah's innocence in her eyes in So Help Me God but he didn't decide to leap into that courtroom. Usually he doesn't know what the situation is until told.
Here's a brain twister, how was Sam not able to save his father and sister? This says to me that GTFW does have limitations on what is meant to be changed.
Good thought but no. The exact line was:
"What the hell? I get repatriated in five years."
Originally Posted by Blue_enigma
As am I though I do believe that GTFW still plays a role, it just didn't have to be nearly as large of one as Sam had allowed. Al the Bartender even tells him that the key to being in control of his leaps was to believe in it and actually I came across an interesting passage which made me think of this in my Yoga class reading (weird I know but yes, my yoga class had reading). It's called Locus of Control:
http://i61.tinypic.com/x25cg6.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/2s984jp.jpg
This is an excellent point and I believe Beth must have seen the photo as it would have been famous but even in the original history in which the photo did not exist she must have been told I imagine. So in both timelines she did find out that she'd made a huge mistake to give up on Al and probably lived the rest of her life in guilt and shame, which possibly even ruined her marriage to Dirk.
Last edited by Sam Beckett Fan; 08-07-2014 at 01:26 AM.
I wish they'd put more of these subtle perving gags into the show
That's not what I meant. Yes, Sam gets put into situations and he knows there is something there that needs to be changed. Most of the time, he is able to get future knowledge from Ziggy, and because he has such a strong moral compass, if he hears someone is going to die or be severely injured or end up in a much worse situation, of course he is going to try to save them, that's the kind of person Sam is. The point I was making is that in the end, he always has a choice to make - he doesn't HAVE to do what Ziggy tells him. And if he feels there's a conflict of interest, or if he feels that there's too much that one person can do, then he has to make a choice about what he can and can't do. But that doesn't mean he can't stew over his decisions - hence his guilt about not trying more to help Al. And realising the pain that he and Beth both went through, he realised he had the opportunity to help them but didn't. He realised that there are more important things than rules (most likely from the opportunity he had to help his family).
As for why he couldn't help his dad or Katie - well his dad was too set in his ways, and had no intention of changing his lifestyle. Sam can't force him to exercise and to eat good food. As for Katie, love literally makes people blind and deaf to what others think about that person. There's no way she would listen to anyone warning her against Chuck. Again, it was something she had to learn for herself.
Again, it's a question of interpretation. With his wording, a possible interpretation is that he could have been remembering the entire incarceration, and be like "What the Hell, it only took five years". The wording IS ambiguous.
As am I though I do believe that GTFW still plays a role, it just didn't have to be nearly as large of one as Sam had allowed.
Yes of course GTFW still plays a role, he after all is the one who puts Sam in the situations he is put in. Which means GTFW must have an idea of where things have gone wrong. But it all comes down to choices - the choices made by the individuals who went on their original path, and the choice Sam makes to 1 - attempt to help them, and 2 - try to make them realise there is a better path that could be taken.
Unfortunately we don't know anything about her marriage to Dirk. Judging by how much they were put together in MIA, one might think that Beth and Dirk were meant to be, so they might have been very happy (aside from the obvious guilt about hurting Al). Since we only ever see the story from Al's point of view, we can't say anything for certain. But I think we can all agree that Al didn't deserve what he came back to and after all he did to help Sam help others, it was fitting that he should finally find some happiness.
Agreed that the way Dirk's and Beth's paths would cross were so convenient that they even felt rehearsed, which almost has me wondering if Alia could have played a role. That line he'd cracked about his mother wanting grandchildren seemed way intentional. This is one reason Sam hadn't felt right about pursuing that task.
What I'd meant was that her guilt when she found out that Al had come home alive could have caused Beth's marriage to Dirk to fall apart. This doesn't mean that it hadn't been a happy marriage up until then. It's just a possibility.
The point I was making is that in the end, he always has a choice to make - he doesn't HAVE to do what Ziggy tells him
That's arguable, it's not clear whether or not success has anything to do with the leaps out. There are conflicting suggestions. Al has warned Sam several times that if he doesn't complete a task he may not leap but both characters have also insisted several times that success has nothing to do with leaping.
Life is a series of choices; we choose to eat an English Muffin for breakfast when cereal was also an option, we choose to sit in front of the television when taking a walk is also an option, we choose to wear the blue shirt instead of the pink.
So yeah Sam has the ability to make any choice, but those choices aren't necessarily linked to leaping. One can make a choice that doesn't deliver the result someone else wanted. Perhaps your mom is bugging you to get your driver's license, so you decide to go take the test and you fail, thus no driver's license.
Sam could choose to do nothing to make a change in a leap and end up never leaping out because GTFW wanted a change made that wasn't made. Like Al's desire for Sam to convince Beth to wait for him GTFW also must have His desired leaps and also has the power to refuse the leap out if He's not satisfied.
As for why he couldn't help his dad or Katie - well his dad was too set in his ways, and had no intention of changing his lifestyle. Sam can't force him to exercise and to eat good food.
Frankly, even if Sam's dad did change his lifestyle he was already well into his forties (at least) and a lot of the damage was already done. Starting to eat better and exercise, while it might have helped his blood pressure somewhat, wouldn't have reversed the plaque that had already built up in his arteries. Given the fact that Sam's paternal grandfather also died of a heart attack we know there was likely a hereditary predisposition there. I don't know that they had medicines to control cholesterol or bp at this time, or if they existed they were experimental at that point.
As for Katie, love literally makes people blind and deaf to what others think about that person. There's no way she would listen to anyone warning her against Chuck. Again, it was something she had to learn for herself.
There also may have been a ripple effect with Katie once Sam stopped Tom from getting killed in Vietnam. With Tom around Katie may have not felt so desperate to leave home, he would've been around to see the way Chuck was treating her and put a stop to it, etc.
Unfortunately we don't know anything about her marriage to Dirk. Judging by how much they were put together in MIA, one might think that Beth and Dirk were meant to be, so they might have been very happy (aside from the obvious guilt about hurting Al). Since we only ever see the story from Al's point of view, we can't say anything for certain.
I wasn't necessarily suggesting that Dirk and Beth weren't happy, as I believe Beth needed to move on with her life. But it's very clear in M.I.A. that she loves Al very much - even if she was happy with Dirk and had a good life it doesn't mean she didn't also have regrets at the same time.
Or Dirk himself was intentionally putting himself in her path. He was very persistent, despite the fact that she had a wedding ring on her finger (yes, she had the M.I.A. bracelet, too, but...). It was clear that she was very vulnerable and to a certain degree he took advantage of that.
As for Sam, he had a bit of a double standard when it came to deciding what was 'meant to be' and what wasn't. However, as I mentioned in the M.I.A. thread, this leap was clearly not for Al and Beth when it first started - Sam was nowhere near Beth when he leaped in and wouldn't have even crossed paths with her had Al not pushed him in that direction (because of the date and the fact that they were in San Diego, which is a big place). By the end of the leap, though, I think that changed or Sam would've leaped out as soon as he saved Skaggs' life. He didn't. He hung around long enough to be standing outside of Beth's house with Al - and it's interesting that he took that as a sign that Al was being given a chance to say goodbye to her, not that he was being given the chance to fix things for Al and Beth.
That was also on my mind and probably the more likely scenario. He'd made very direct suggestions from the moment they'd met and seemed to have no regard at all for that M.I.A bracelet, never once even commenting on it. It was his mother who'd showed sympathy there though she'd tried some picking up as well, inviting some young woman she'd just met to dinner with herself and her son is an obvious set up attempt.
Dirk had then once again showed little interest in the fact that she was married and to a Vietnam MIA when she'd shown him the photo of Al and was telling stories about him. He didn't have a whole lot of response to any of it, it seemed more like he'd tolerated it to be polite. I can imagine him being more pissed off than sympathetic if he'd ever seen Maggie's photo or even in the original history when Beth received the message that Al was home, alive.
What bugged me the most along with the grandchildren line was how he'd made Sam out to be a douche for accusingly trying to pick Beth up when he'd done the same damn thing, in fact he'd been heavily direct:
"Oh no I love Italians, it's just too bad you have a husband."
you're the douche Dirk!
Honestly Alia is more of an entertaining consideration. I could see a lot of Dirk's behavior also having been her acting and it certainly resembles their types of leaps.
By the end of the leap, though, I think that changed or Sam would've leaped out as soon as he saved Skaggs' life. He didn't. He hung around long enough to be standing outside of Beth's house with Al - and it's interesting that he took that as a sign that Al was being given a chance to say goodbye to her, not that he was being given the chance to fix things for Al and Beth.
Excellent catch which goes back to the theory that Sam chooses what is right and what is wrong. Though he'd not seen this as a valid exception to the rule he did express regret at the thought of not being able to do it.
"God Al I wish I could", there was genuine pain in his voice in this delivery. So it the fact that he'd stayed after saving Scaggs could very well have been much like Thou Shalt Not when he'd chosen to stay for the extra credit task of bringing the father and daughter back together. Except in this case as you said, he'd read it the wrong way.
Alia is definitely an entertaining consideration, and once they introduced the evil leapers it certainly became a plausible explanation in canon. They loved their simple home-wrecking assignments.
As entertaining as the idea of Alia leaping into Dirk is, I have to disagree. Didn't Sam manhandle Dirk while "apprehending" him? There was no quantum magnetic field interference then...
He did, which is why it's not the theory I believe. As I said it was only an entertaining consideration (plus it would be a great explanation for the pink sweater HA XD Sorry small joke).
How did we manage to get so far off topic that we turned the Leap Home part 2 thread into an MIA thread? Haha back on topic, I absolutely ADORE the scene where they're water-skiing with the helicopter. They were really worried they couldn't do the water-skiing scene because they had a ban on boats on that river, so they got a helicopter instead. Worse, it was a special military helicopter that took FOREVER to be able to find and acquire :P They really went all out in this episode
Sorry, my bad. I've got a bad habit of taking threads off topic. XP
Interesting tidbit about the helicopter scene, I absolutely adore how preciseness and quality control in this show.
I absolutely ADORE the scene where they're water-skiing with the helicopter.
Me too. It's a lot of fun, and I like how it shows us that side of Tom Beckett. Tom was a good, strong leader of his team, but he also had a sense of humor and fun (I like his banter with Colonel Grimwald after the water-skiing scene too).
Another part I love is when during the first scene in the bar with the squad Sam, in voice over, says, "Tom never talked about what SEALs do off-duty. And after a few hours with BRAVO squad I knew why. Mom would've had a cow." I crack up every time he says that. It's hilarious and so Sam.
Personally the choice of phrasing there amuses me, "Mom would've had a cow." considering the Becketts are Dairy farmers haha.
Pulse Communications Technician
Location: In a tin can in the countryside
This is one of my favorite episodes of the series - maybe even my favorite. The sets, the costumes and props, the cinematography, the story; everything is fantastic here. Of course, the final scene is a ---- sucker punch to the emotions, especially after what happened in MIA. It just shows how far a friend would go for another friend. And how Al just shrugs it off - WOW.
But really, the entire episode is fantastic. It felt like a feature-length film, not a 45-minute television show. This episode is on my "will watch over and over" list.
I'm sure it goes without saying that this one gets an Excellent from me.
"What's left after you go is the good you've left behind."
-- Robert Zubrin, American aerospace engineer
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David Lynch and Dom Pérignon
July 29, 2012 In Stuff
Tags: David Lynch, Dom Pérignon
by Ken Eakins
I always find it morally confusing when my favourite artists cosy up with major brands. When Kenneth Anger made a promo film for Missoni, I didn’t know quite how to feel. Sure, I reported on it, but it made me feel icky.
David Lynch, in my opinion the greatest director of all time, has joined this new club de ick. From The Laughing Squid:
Limited-edition champagne bottles of Dom Pérignon 2003 and Rosé 2000 will feature labels designed by director David Lynch. The collaborative project is called The Power of Creation and it was recently launched at a party in Los Angeles, California. Both will be available to purchase at the end of 2012. The Dom Pérignon site describes their world and Lynch’s world as having the following points in common: “mystery, intensity, commitment, time, the constant reinvention of the self, and above all, absolute faith in the power of creation.”
You see? It’s icky! In the video (below), Lynch extols the virtues of drinking the product, and champions the ‘hard work’ that goes into its specific taste.
Am I alone in this? Is my general unease seeing stalwarts of the ‘avant garde’ and underworld film unite themselves with major products just me being pretentious?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEgMx8pFQXs[/youtube]
[youtube]http://youtu.be/_E4SOiKuAM4[/youtube]
Ken Eakins
David Lynch Shoots the Back of the Head
April 17, 2009 In featured, News
robertdee 7 years ago / Reply
David Lynch has a long history in advertising. The “mainstream current” or “puppets of the illuminati” have always flirted with the edges because they think it gives them credibility. The problem is when people think this detracts from the credibility of the artist. The fact is, it’s just as possible for an artist to sell out by placating a small group of hardcore fans as it is to momentarily engaging in a large scale mainstream product that would probably finance five years worth of personal products.To not sell out, the artist should do what has meaning to them, even if that means Dom Perignon. As for the outrage of the fans, this is probably because they define themselves as countercultural by their tastes in artists rather than any concrete acts of transgression themselves. I agree, David Lynch is the greatest living director BTW.
Ken Eakins 7 years ago / Reply
Yeah, I think in this case though, it’s the delivery of the advertising that icked me out. I don’t for one second imagine that Lynch is intentionally ‘selling out’, except for that one moment I mention in the piece where he bangs on about the hardwork being evident in the taste, that seemed false for some reason.
On the subject of Kenneth Anger, however, I do think he sold out a little. He’s always been very vocal about independence, and been very anti-mainstream.
To clarify, I don’t like the film-makers any less for these acts either. I’m not one of these guys that retro-actively hates on previous work, just because the artist has done something that I disagree with.
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Retail Bond Expert
What is a Retail Bond
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4th Feb
Premier Oil Retail Bond Trades up 4.27% as Debt Refinancing Deal is Agreed
Following nine months of negotiation, North Sea oil explorer, Premier Oil, has agreed the terms of its long-awaited debt refinancing sending its retail bond almost five per cent higher on ORB to 88.7 on volume of 440,000 traded.
The company, which is one of the largest independent North Sea producers, owns the Solan development west of Shetland and is leading the Catcher Project had been granted a series of one-month deferrals on covenant tests while negotiating to restructure its debt.
As of December, the company reported total debt of $2.8bn (£2.24bn); the refinancing includes confirmation of existing loan facilities totalling $3.9bn (£3.12bn) with undrawn capacity preserved and aligned to a final maturity date of May 31, 2021.
Subject to credit approvals Premier has reached agreement with its private lenders which will preserve the group debt facilities and extend debt maturities to 2021 and beyond; these proposals are subject to shareholder approval. The duration of its retail bonds has been extended by six months, under ‘substantially the same economic terms’; headlines are
* Coupon uplift from 5% to 6.5%
* Maturity date extended by six months to May 31st 2021
* 1% amendment fee
* Pro-rata participation of the warrant package (equivalent to 15% of issued shares and an in-the-money strike)
* Participation in security package, ranking alongside the private debt facilities *
Premier announced that in return its lenders would receive ‘a revised security and covenant package, enhanced economics and certain governance controls’.
This would extend to the company’s decisions around capital expenditure, embarking upon new projects and future acquisitions and disposals. Lenders will receive 1.5% uplift on the margin on existing debt as well as a 1% amendment fee.
The company also plans to issue 90m equity warrants to the lenders which gives them the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell shares at a set price up until the time they expire; the Premier warrant, which equates to fifteen per cent of its issued shares, are priced at 42.75p per share with a five-year term.
The ratio of the company’s debt against its earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) cover has been relaxed to 7.5x for the rest of this year, with the aim to return to its original 3x level in 2019.
With Catcher due to come on line in late 2017 the group predicts a hike in production and it plans to use this cash flow to reduce absolute debt levels and achieve the reduction in its leverage ratio to three times.
Premier still expects to be able to be able to pursue unsanctioned new projects Tolmount, Tuna and Sea Lion by selectively seeking to invest ‘at the appropriate equity levels, with due regard to the commodity price environment’.
The company has the equivalent of 700m barrels of oil discovered but undeveloped – ‘a considerable portfolio optionality’. Premier Oil chief executive Tony Durrant said: ‘The agreement of the long form term sheet with representatives of our Private Lenders marks a significant milestone for Premier. We are grateful for our lenders' continued support, which reflects the high quality nature of our asset base, the strong recent operating performance and our plans to deliver value for all of our stakeholders.’
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[Cosmo Hamilton and his 'Eugenic play'.] Autograph Letter Signed to J. L. Garvin, editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, regarding his play 'The Blindness of Virtue', with reference to eugenicist Caleb Saleeby.
Cosmo Hamilton [born Henry Charles Hamilton Gibbs] (1870-1942), playwright and novelist [James Louis Garvin (1868-1947), editor of the Pall Mall Gazette; Caleb Saleeby (1878-1940); eugenics]
On letterhead of Whiteleaf, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. 'Monday' [1914]
2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, aged and worn. Folded twice. The letter begins: 'When my Eugenic play “The Blindness of Virtue” was first produced at the Little Theatre two years ago [i.e. in 1912] (about which Dr Saleeby [i.e. eugenicist Caleb Saleeby (1878-1940)] wrote very kindly & in great agreement in the P. M. G) you were kind enough to send a member of your staff to see me for a talk.' He explains that since that time he has had the play 'in the United States & Canada where it is still running & I have many more things to say about it & those places'.
AUTOGERAPH
eugenicist
SALEEBY
[Caleb Robert Stanley, English artist.] Autograph communication, with Stanley's name ('C R Stanley') and address, to [T. W. Winstanley] Secretary, Royal Manchester Institution, giving details of two paintings for its 1842 exhibition.
Caleb Robert Stanley [C. R. Stanley] (1795-1868), English artist [T. W. Winstanley, Secretary, Royal Manchester Institution; Manchester Exhibition, 1842]
'C R Stanley | 25 Gt Maddox St | Hanover Sqre. [London]' 9 August 1842.
1p., 4to. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed by Stanley, with red wax seal, on reverse of second leaf, to 'The Secretary | In the Manchester Institution | Moseley [sic] St | Manchester'. The text itself consists of the names and prices of the two pictures to be submitted to the 1842 show, with the date and Stanley's name and address: 'No 1. | Water Mill | North Devon | 25£ with Frame. | No 2 | Lane Scene | Painted from Nature | 25£ with Frame | C R Stanley | 25 Gt Maddox St | Hanover Sqre. | August 9th. 1842'.
WINSTANLEY
[ Charles Henry Hart on the portrait of Benjamin Franklin at the Royal Society. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Charles Henry Hart') to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, discussing his discovery and attribution of the portrait.
Charles Henry Hart (1847-1918), American art expert and author [ Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts; Benjamin Franklin; Caleb Whitefoord ]
On letterhead of the Royal Societies Club, St. James's Street, S.W. [ London ] 26 August 1914.
2pp., 12mo, and 1p., 8vo. On a 12mo bifolium, with the opening written lengthwise as one page. In good condition, lightly aged, with the Society's oval date stamp. He regrets 'exceedingly' that he was not able to meet Wood on the previous day 'when I was at the Hall'. He thanks him for 'recalling to me the Whitefoord Correspondence which I had forgotten altho I used it in writing my monograph on the Unique Portrait of Franklin at the Royal Society that was presented by Caleb Whitefoord and which the Royal Society did not know by whom it was painted until I discovered it & wrote my paper'.
WHITEFOORD
[James Henry Savory, photographer and caver.] Typed Letter Signed ('James H. Savory') to 'Mr. Langsford', regarding E. W. Savory's collection of Italian 'ancient Marbles', with a manuscript article on the same subject by 'Caleb White'.
James Henry Savory (1889-1962), professional photogapher and caver [Caleb White; E. W. Savory Ltd, Bristol printers and publishers; John A. Marshall, architect; Westminster Cathedral]
Letter on letterhead of Park Row Studios, Bristol. 15 November 1910. Manuscript on 'Ancient Marbles' dated July 1910.
ONE: Savory's letter. 1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. He begins by stating that he has 'now heard that the whole of the specimens which have been prepared are at Messrs Arthur Lee & Bros., Hayes. As I told you before Mr. John A.
Autograph Letter Signed ('C. S. Henry') from Caleb Sprague Henry. editor of the New York Review, to William Whitwell Greenough, accepting an article, but complaining of Greenough's handwriting, and of 'a difficulty in getting Saxon type'.
Caleb Sprague Henry (1804-1884), Episcopal clergyman and author, editor of the New York Review, Professor of History and Philosophy in New York University [William Whitwell Greenough (1818-1899]
New York; 26 April 1838.
3pp., 4to. Bifolium. 57 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed, on reverse of second leaf, to 'William W. Greenough | Andover | Massachusetts', with circular postmark in red ink and remains of red wax seal. Regarding 'the article on Bosworth's Anglo-Sax. Dict.', Henry writes: 'From the few first pages that I have read & the glance that I have given at the rest, I am satisfied that I shall be glad to print your article.
Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences: To the End of the Year M,DCC,LXXXIII [1783]. Volume I.
American Academy of Arts and Sciences [James Bowdoin, Edward Augustus Holyoke, Benjamin Lincoln, Joseph Willard, Mannaseh Cutler, Caleb Gannett, Eli Forbes, Edward Wigglesworth, Jeremy Belknap et al.]
Boston: Printed by Adams and Nourse, in Court-Street. 1785.
4to: xxxii + 568 pp. Very good, on lightly spotted and discoloured paper. In heavily-worn original boards, consisting of quarter-binding with grey boards and cream spine, with slight staining at head of spine. Foxed endpapers. Lacking plates. Fifty-four papers, by James Bowdoin, Edward Augustus Holyoke, Benjamin Lincoln, Joseph Willard, Mannaseh Cutler, Caleb Gannett, Eli Forbes, Edward Wigglesworth, Jeremy Belknap and others.
Pamphlets and Books
MANNASEH
WIGGLESWORTH
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accounts were hit with negative
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‘Bombay Velvet’ Brings Aamir Khan And Danny Boyle Together
January 25th, 2011 - 11:42 am ICT by Sampurn Wire Tweet
has made its way to the theaters, we are all look forward to Aamir Khan’s next film. Not very long time ago it was reported that Aamir Khan will be a part of a huge period film being planned by Danny Boyle. It is being dubbed as an East-West collaboration like none before.
Anurag Kashyap clears all rumors that Shah Rukh Khan was never approached for the film. Both Danny and Anurag had their eyes on Aamir from the very beginning. They are hoping that Aamir will like the script and agree to be a part of the film. But if Aamir Khan does not come on board, they will look for other options. Kashyap added that Shah Rukh Khan is definitely not an option for Bombay Velvet.
For the last ten months Kashyap has been running around with the script and now the script has been finalized. He said that once the casting of the lead actors are done, they will fix the rest of the cast. Kashyap is of the opinion that Aamir has the depth and intensity to carry Bombay Velvet in his shoulders alone.
Aamir Khan will play the solo lead in Bombay Velvet, a film set in the 1960s. According to reports, Studio 18 might come on board as producers. Danny Boyle is not going to leave any stones unturned for making this period film look real. Once he is done with Oscars for his film 127 hours, he will get back with the preparations for Bombay velvet. The Twilight Players, seen in Dev D will be a part of the film too.
–Sampurn Wire
Anurag Kashyap Plans Bombay Velvet With Aamir Khan - Jul 01, 2010
Cannes shows Bollywood has huge market abroad: Anurag Kashyap (Interview) - Jul 13, 2010
Danny Boyle Planning Bombay Velvet! - Sep 16, 2009
Ranbir excited to work with Kashyap brothers - Jul 14, 2012
SRK and Aamir in Boyle's next? - Sep 14, 2009
Who Will Be Signing Aamir Khan For His Next? - Oct 25, 2010
Danny Boyle's next film About Bombay - Sep 18, 2009
Kamal Haasan wants SRK for Menon's remake - Jan 24, 2012
Vidya true successor of Aamir: Kashyap (Movie Snippets) - Mar 11, 2012
Anushka Sharma mum on 'Bombay Velvet' - Aug 08, 2012
'Salaam Bombay': Bollywood's romance with city of dreams continues - Jan 18, 2011
Aamir Khan To Do Farhan Akhtar's Next - Nov 02, 2010
Mumbai Continues To Charm The Filmmakers - Jan 18, 2011
Aamir Khan wishes success for 'RA.One' - Oct 22, 2011
Imran on what sets SRK, Aamir and Salman apart (Movie Snippets) - Sep 02, 2011
Tags: 1960s, aamir khan, actors, bombay, danny boyle, film 127, intensity, kashyap, long time, oscars, period film, producers, shah rukh khan, shoulders, theaters, twilight, west collaboration
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Leadership Arts & Crafts
Stories from a life of taking charge
From: Leading a Full Life: Reflections on Several Decades of Work, Family, And Accomplishment
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
MA, South Asian Languages and Civilizations, 1974
MA, Library Science, 1974
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania
BA, Economics, 1965
Washington University.
St. Louis, Missouri, Dean of University Libraries, 1989-present; Vice Chancellor for Scholarly Resources, 1995-2012
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Associate Director for Public Services, 1982-1989
Johns Hopkins University, Milton S. Eisenhower Library, Baltimore, Maryland, Access Librarian and Research Libraries Group Coordinator, 1976-82
Northwestern University, Library, Evanston, Illinois, Librarian, 1974-76
L. Myers Company, Chicago, Illinois, Computer programmer, 1970-71
Peace Corps Volunteer, Bihar, India, 1967-69
American Telephone and Telegraph, Long Lines, White Plains, New York, Data Processing Manager, 1965-67
Member, MOBIUS Board, 2009-2012; President, 2010-2011
Chair, Association of Research Libraries Task Force on Collections and Access Issues, 2002-2003
Member, Executive Committee, MOBIUS consortium of Missouri academic libraries, 1998-2001; Chair, 1999-2000
Member, Center for Research Libraries Board, 1994-2000, Budget and Finance Committee, 1992-2000
Member, Board of Governors, Missouri Research Consortium of Libraries (MIRACL), 1996-2012
Chair, OCLC Interlibrary Loan Interoperability Task Force, 1999
Member Association of Research Libraries Access to Research Resources Committee, 1990-1998; and Chair, 1994-1998
Chair, Association of Research Libraries’ oversight committee for the North American Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Project, 1993-1998
Library and University Technology
Member Washington University School of Medicine Information Technology Committee, 2004-2005
Member, OCLC Members Council, and Member, Digital Libraries and Research Interest Group, 2003-2006, and Chair, 2004-2006; Member, Research Advisory Committee, 2004-2006
Chair, Washington University Common Email Addressing Task Force, 2001-2003
Chair, Search Committee for Executive Director, Missouri Library Network Corporation, 2003 and 1993
Member, Board of Directors, St. Louis Internet Access Consortium (SLIAC), 2002-2007
Co-chair, Washington University Digital Archives Task Force, 2002-2003
Member, Washington University School of Medicine Associate Dean/Chief Information Officer Search Committee, 2001
Chair, Washington University Information Security Task Force, 2000-2001
Member, Missouri Digitization Planning Committee, 2000-, chair, 2004-2007
Chair, Washington University Web Task Force, 1999-2001
Board member, Missouri Library Network Corporation Board, 1991-2001, Board vice president 1992-1995; president, 1995-1998
Member, Steering Committee for Coalition for Networked Information, 1999-2002
University representative, EduCause, 1995-2007
Member, Online Computer Library Center’s Research Libraries Advisory Committee, 1994-1999; and chair, 1996-97
Member, Steering Group for revamping Washington University’s Computing and Communications unit, 1994-95
Member, Board of Directors, National Information Standards Organization, 1990-1994
Member, MIT Information Systems Strategic Plan Advisory Council, 1986-89
Member, PubMed Central National Advisory Committee of the National Institutes of Health, 2005-2008
Member, Advisory Board for the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, a collaborative program of Canadian universities to provide access to digital publications for the academic community nation-wide, 2005-2007
Director, BioOne, a public/private collaboration to publish bioscience research journals, 1999-2007, and chair, BioOne Library Advisory Group, 2003-2006
Collaborator and co-signer, American Association of Universities’ and Association of Research Libraries’ Principles for Emerging Systems of Scholarly Publishing, 2000
Member, Association of Research Libraries Research Collections Committee, 2001-2004, Scholarly Communication Committee, 1999-2001
Founding Member, Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, 1998
Other Professional Activities
Member, Association of Research Libraries Task Force on New Ways of Measuring Collections, 2005
Member, Missouri Secretary of State’s Council on Library Development, 2003-2006
Co-chair, Association of Research Libraries/Association of College and Research Libraries Joint Task Force for Recruitment into the Profession, 2002-2003
President, Association of Research Libraries, 2000-2001, and member, Board of Directors, 1996-2002
Member, Association of College and Research Libraries Focus on the Future Task Force, 2001-2003
Member, MIT Libraries Visiting Committee, 2009-2012-
Member, Advisory Council on the Library, Brown University, 2003-2006
External Reviewer, University of Pennsylvania Library, 1999
External Reviewer, Carnegie-Mellon University Library, 1999
Senior Fellow, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Library and Information Science, 1991
UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Member, Task Force on the Future Organization of the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, 2004
Member, Washington University Sesquicentennial Commission and Chair, Sesquicentennial Exhibits Committee, 2002-2004
Member, University Art Collections and Program Committee, 2002-2008
Member, Washington University Council, 1995-2012
Member, St. Louis Forum, 1996-2000
Member, Washington University Chancellor Search Committee, 1994-95
Member, Washington University Management Team, 1993-1995; chair, Steering Group, 1994-95
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SiliconHills
Technology news about Austin and San Antonio
SHN Print Magazine
Who’s Doing This?
Ideas to Invoices Podcast
Welcome to Geekdom
November 7, 2011 by lalorek 1 Comment
Nicholas Longo, director of Geekdom
For years, the City of San Antonio has poured money into StarTech, formerly known as the San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative, to jumpstart the city’s high technology industry.
But now a new place, smack dab in the middle of downtown at the Weston Centre, might be able to do that with a collaborative workspace called Geekdom.
Geekdom is a nonprofit organization that will host technology workshops, lectures and events. It also provides office space to startups and desks to other technology workers through an application process. The center has an outreach effort to local high school and college students. Rackspace Chairman Graham Weston has put up the money to get the center established.
The desks will cost about $125 a month to rent and will come with a parking space. The community membership will cost around $50 and does not come with a dedicated space, Longo said. The offices will be open around the clock and members will have access codes and keys to get in to the building after hours.
“It’s like a gym membership for geeks,” he said.
Some people want to hang out all the time and write code, while others will want to just pop in and out from time to time, Longo said. The space hasn’t officially opened yet but one guy comes there every night after his regular job to code until midnight, he said.
Longo plans to have a strategic layout for assigning desks by putting “coders” next to “creatives” so that different groups get to network. And all residents (people who have desks) must give one hour of their time a week to help others, Longo said. Or they can put on a workshop once a month on programming languages, design or marketing. The idea is to create a collaborative environment, Longo said.
“Mentorship is the new classroom,” Longo said.
The Geekdom is nice. The 11th floor of the Weston Centre formerly housed a law firm. Large windows provide a panoramic view of downtown. Red, black and white decor pay homage to Rackspace, which is a sponsor of the site. The 15,000 square foot space includes a pool table, some arcade video game machines, a kitchen area with a couple of refrigerators stocked with beer and soda.
In addition to the offices, Longo wants to set up rooms for people to make things, ranging from painting to soldering metal to sculpture, robotics, Legos and more. It’s all about the Maker’s movement, Longo said, fashioned after Maker Faire and Make Magazine, which encourages people to build stuff from scratch.
Two weeks ago, the Geekdom hosted its first big event Startup Ignite’s all night Hack-a-thon, which garnered praise from its participants. It plans do another Hack-a-Thon on Nov. 18th at Geekdom.
Starting this Friday, San Antonio’s latest three day startup weekend takes place there.
Filed Under: San Antonio Tagged With: collaborative workspace, Geekdom, Nicholas Longo, Rackspace, San Antonio, startups, technology, Weston Centre
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Cast: Prabhas, Anshu, Gundu Hanumantha Rao, Raghu Babu, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Murali Mohan, Ramaprabha, Brahmanandam, Rami Reddy
MusicDirector: Mani Sharma
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Screenplay: Suresh Krishna
Producer: B Srinivasa Raju
Banner: Sri Sri Chitra
Presents: B Srinivasa Raju
Movie Genre: Action
Synopsys:
Prabhas, Anshu, Swetha Agarwal, Murali Mohan, Prabha, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Gundu Hanumantha Rao, Brahmanandam, Rami Reddy, Raghu Babu, Rama Prabha.
Raghava is a hot-blooded and restless youth who cant tolerate injustice that is being done in the society. In the process, he picks up fight with local mafia leader Ankineedu (Anandraj). Ankineedu stabs Sirisha - the ladylove of Raghava - to death. He also issues ultimatum to the parents of Raghava to leave the city in few hours. The vexed parents ask Raghava to accompany them only if he agrees to listen to their words. They take Raghava to Mantralayam - a relatives place - and make him become a devotee of Lord Raghavendra Swamy.
This entire episode comes as flashback. Raghava has a pretty sister-in-law (maradalu) called Maha Lakshmi (Swetha Agarwal) in Mantralayam. Raghava becomes a saint-like-man and does not even respond when some goons humiliate Maha Lakshmi. He does not bother to retaliate even when goons strip Maha Lakshmi off of her cloths in public. The parents of Raghava - who forcibly restricted the helping nature of Raghava - ask Raghava to get rid of his maala and go back to society to serve people. The rest of the story is about how Raghava retaliates and puts an end to the lives of villain gang.
Artists Perfomance
Prabhas looks absolutely ravishing with his 'Raghavendra' getup. He is of 6.2 feet height and looks rugged. Suresh Krishna took all the precautions to magnify that manliness of Prabhas by portraying effectively with the stylish mass characterization on the screen. His mannerism of biting the lower lip with anger is a hit with the crowds. Prabhas is so good in this film that you can watch Raghavendra only for Prabhas!! He is the superstar in making. All he needs is the right director and right break!! Anshu comes in the flashback and did well with in the limitations. Swetha Agarwal did a conservative girl character. Both these heroines do not have much to do in this film. Actress Prabha made a comeback with this film as a character actress. She did well as the mother of hero. Murali Mohan did a decent portrayal as the father of hero. Villain Anand Raj suited the character of tonsured mafia leader with a typical dialogue of 'I like it/I don't like it'. Brahmanandam's comedy is good in parts.
Technical Departments
Suresh Krishna knows the mass pulse. If given a good script, he can show the undercurrent heroism to the maximum extent. Likewise, he maintained the tempo till the flashback is narrated. But he missed that mass touch in flashback and meandered through the love episode of Anshu-Prabhas, which slackened the pace of the film and interest among the audiences. He got the grip again on the subject when the flashback completed. Suresh Krishna used his strength of narrating mass story in this film. However, he has not succeeded in conveying the main point of the film.
The film opens by giving the brief account of what's happening in the country. It says that it's been 56 years since we got our independence. Rajyangam that was written by BR Ambedkar at that time was modified several times according to the changing times. However, the IPC (Indian Penal Code) was not changed a bit for the past 56 years. The loopholes in IPC are protecting the accused. With this kind of beginning one expects a creative solution for this problem. At the end of the film, it preaches that if court and police are not doing the job rightly, anybody can take the law and order in to his/her own hands. Screenplay - dialogues: Posani Krishna Murali wrote some good dialogues for this film. But as a screenplay writer, he has not taken care of the flashback well. The carrot episode of flashback is far too stretched. As a storywriter, he should have attributed a inventive path to the hero in the story than making his tread the clichéd path. Music by Mani Sharma is OK. The picturization of the first song ( Nammina Naamadi) is too good. It is one of the best devotional songs I have seen in the recent past. Picturization of ' Bootulu Tittakuraa' is also good. 'Calcutta Pan Vesinaa' song with Simran is good. The best part of the movie is good background music by Mani. Kanal Kannan has done wonderful job for the fights in this film. Special effects and camera tricks are used for composing stylish fights.
First half of the film is good. But the flashback part in the second half is boring. But the director got back the grip when flashback is completed. It's a stylish mass film that might be appealing for the masses. The main complaint about the film is that there is no story. 'Raghavendra' is definitely worth a look to see Prabhas's performance!
Nammina Naa Madi
Singer(s): Shreya Ghoshal, Kalpana
Lyrics: Veturi Sundararama Murthy
Nee Style Naakistam
Singer(s): Sujatha, Harish Raghavendra
Lyrics: Suddala Ashok Teja
Sarigama Padanisa
Singer(s): Karthik (singer), Premji Amaren, Kalpana
Kalakatta Paan Esina
Singer(s): Chitra, Shankar Mahadevan
Bootulu Thittaku Ra
Singer(s): Mano
Lyrics: Vennelakanti
Adugulona Adugu
Singer(s): Mallikarjun, Gopika Poornima
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Thunder on the Airline
The former Santa Fe, now BNSF, route between Chicago and Kansas City has long been known as the Airline because it is the straightest and fastest rail line between those two rail centers. No other railroad has such an fleet of hot trains. This tape shows 24 hours of awesome action on the airline in Sept. 1997 east of Fort Madison in west central Illinois. 83 minutes.
CSX and IC at Odin, Illinois
The small town of Odin, 66 miles east of St. Louis, retains its old time railroad flavor. Odin is where the Illinois Central's main line via Centralia crosses CSX's former B&O line to St. Louis. The number of trains through Odin has grown recently and changes are coming on CSX. This video shows all of the trains through Odin for 24 hours in the fall of 1997. 98 minutes.
CSX North Florida Funnel
All CSX freights from the Midwest and Northeast bound for Florida take the funnel in northern Florida between Folkston, GA and Callahan, FL to reach Jacksonville and the rest of Florida. All Amtrak trains from the Northeast take this funnel also. Up to 55 trains on peak days use this track, one of the busiest line segments on CSX. This video shows 24 hours of action in the fall of 1997 on CSX's North Florida Funnel. 103 minutes.
Union Pacific Sunset Route in West Texas
The busy former SP Sunset Route has been the property of the UP since September 1996. This video shows 30 hours of action around Sierra Blanca in West Texas where the former Texas & Pacific line joined the Sunset Route, along with a couple of trains on Paisano Pass in April 1998 when this part of the Sunset Route was severely congested. This video gives an unintended look at how a busy rail line can become gridlocked when power and crews are in short supply. 80 minutes.
BNSF Around Lincoln, Nebraska
With over 70 freights in 24 hours, Lincoln is one of BNSF's busiest terminals. This video shows action in March of 1998 at both ends of Lincoln's Hobson Yard, daylight action on the Kansas City line centered around Firth Hill, and then nearly 24 hours of action on the Chicago line between Lincoln and Ashland. All BNSF color schemes are shown including new Heritage scheme SD70MACs. 154 minutes.
The Road to New Orleans II - CSX and NS
This video shows action on the two rail lines that run into New Orleans from the east - CSX and Norfolk Southern. First is 24 hours of action on the busiest rail line into New Orleans, CSX, shot around Pass Christian, MS, and then 24 hours on NS north of Hattiesburg, MS. CSX hugs the Coast and has the water crossings but the NS line into New Orleans is anything but level and straight for their long trains to traverse in northern Mississippi. 86 minutes.
Thunder on the Gallup Sub
For fans who like to see the high cars rolling at speed, there is no better place to be than along the former Santa Fe main line in northern New Mexico. This video shows 24 hours of action on the Gallup sub between Belen and Gallup in April 1998, during one of the last El Nino storms. BNSF's incredible fleet of hotshots led by warbonnets and Heritage units charges uphill and downhill across the Continental Divide. 106 minutes.
24 Hours at Gibbon Junction
Gibbon, NE, 175 miles west of Omaha on the UP main, is the location of one of the World's great rail junctions. More tonnage passes through Gibbon than any junction in the World. Gibbon averages nearly 120 trains in 24 hours. This video shows 24 hours af action around Gibbon in May of 1998, at a time when the UP's operations through there were near gridlock, and many trains needed recrews. Three DVD, two tape set. Four Hours.
24 Hours at Berea - Crossroads of Conrail
Berea, Ohio, 12 miles west of Cleveland, is where Conrail's main lines between Chicago and Philadelphia, and New York and St. Louis cross. With up to 80 trains in 24 hours, this well-known railfan hotspot is the busiest single point on Conrail. This video shows 26 hours of awesome action in May of 1998, in Conrail's last year of existence. Three DVD, two tape set, 4 hours, 10 minutes.
Conrail's Spectacular River Line
With high bridges, tunnels, miles of river running, and scenic overlooks, Conrail's River Line along the Hudson between northern New Jersey and Selkirk is arguably the most scenic rail line in the East. And the number of trains has tripled in the past 30 years. This video shows many of the scenic highlights and then all the trains for 24 hours in August 1998. 103 minutes.
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Said No More
Not too long ago I read somewhere that attribution tags (he said, she said) were going out. Then I heard that a few authors had quit using them almost altogether. I was amazed. Could a book really be written without using so-and-so said? The answer is yes. Is it taboo to use he said or she said in books? Certainly not. Majoring on action beats and minoring on attributions is the best way to go and it gives a nice blend. (What's an action beat? Using an action to identify who's talking. Here's an example: Seth stroked his bearded chin, never taking his eyes from her. “Well then, kissing a reptile isn’t enough of a forfeit for you. The day you need my help is the day you’ll kiss me.” No need to say he said since we just saw him stroking his beard, which was an action beat.)
In her article on Intimate Storytelling, Gail Gaymer Martin says
Dialogue tags remove intimacy from the story because their purpose is so the reader knows who’s speaking. The only two words that readers will skim over and not be jerked from the story are said and asked.
...The tag distances the character from the reader so anything you can do to avoid them creates a more intimate novel. How can you do that? By including an action, description or emotion.
Tamela Hancock Murray posted about using action beats vs. tags in her post He said. She said.
Action tags are used as descriptors, to further character development, and to enhance the story. But “said” can be an effective way to keep your story moving.
When in doubt, read your words aloud and listen to the rhythm. Hearing your story will help you learn when “said” is your best friend.
I have to tell you, once I received Trish Perry's book, Unforgettable, it went straight to the top of my to be read pile, and it didn't stay there long because I couldn't keep my hands off it. I loved this book.**
Unforgettable has a great blend of action beats and regular ol' saids. In the first chapter (you can read it below--and I hope you do! It's yummy!) Perry used said only twice. All the other attributions were action beats. Other chapters I checked often had less.
As you read the excerpt, notice how the action beats show us the character's feelings without telling us how they felt. We also learn things about how the characters look and their mannerisms. Also check out how her two uses of said blend in and keep the action moving. Sometimes too many action beats slows the pace. That's when you want to use said. Use them where you need them and use action beats every place you can.
Here's chapter one of Unforgettable:
Rachel Stanhope talked to herself as if that were perfectly normal. Like a cat in a cage, she paced back and forth in front of her Arlington, Virginia dance studio. When she was stressed, she tended to focus squarely on the cause of her stress. All else—people, traffic, dignity—faded far away. She only appeared imbalanced as she muttered. In point of fact, her public monologues kept her sane.
“Should have known better than to count on Betty to get here in time this morning. This is the last time I’ll let her lock up the studio at night. The last!”
She checked her watch for the tenth time since she had arrived and found herself locked out. The first session of her summer ballroom dance class for junior high school students was due to begin in fifteen minutes. Her budget couldn’t handle the loss of these new students, and she had already used up all of her favors with the bank. She stopped pacing, made note of the cars driving past, and huffed out her frustration that Betty’s DeSoto wasn’t among them.
“Where is she? What an impression this is going to make!” She pulled her long, strawberry-blonde hair back from her face and fanned the back of her neck. It was going to be a warm day, even if she managed to cool her temper.
“Is there a problem, Rachel?”
Rachel swung around at the kind voice behind her. She mustered up a self-deprecating smile.
“Good morning, Mr. Chambers. No, I’m just working myself into a lather here. Don’t mind me.”
Sweet, hunched Mr. Chambers smiled at her, his crooked teeth vying for space behind his wrinkled lips. He and his wife lived in the garden apartments around the corner. Rachel had crossed paths with him so often during his frequent, shuffling strolls over the past three years, he had become a substitute grandfather to her. At times he even acted as her conscience.
“I don’t mind you, darling,” he said. “But what are you lathered up about?”
She waved off her behavior. Just talking with him about it helped calm her some. It was even better than talking to herself. Because of Mr. Chambers Rachel now associated the scent of mothballs with comfort and assurance. “Betty wanted to stay late last night to work on some choreography. So I left my keys with her so she could lock up. She was supposed to open the studio this morning.”
“And she’s let you down.”
Rachel sighed. “Yes.”
He looked away, toward the traffic rushing by. He nodded, and then threw a few extra nods in there for good measure. Finally he turned a serious expression on Rachel and spoke melodramatically. “Will you ever be able to forgive her?”
That made Rachel laugh out loud. This man could talk a loon off a ledge, of that she was certain. “Yes, I suppose so. Have I told you I love you, Mr. Chambers?”
“Never often enough, dear.” He started on his way and gave her arm a brief pat. “You stop on by the apartment if you need to telephone Betty. Nina and I will be home.”
No sooner had he taken off than a wood-paneled station wagon pulled up to the curb. The front passenger door opened, and a young boy jumped out, his face fresh and eager. His mother leaned over to watch him as he ran for the studio door. He shot a polite smile at Rachel and grabbed the door handle before she called out to his mother.
“I’m sorry. We’re locked out. My assistant is running late.”
“It’s locked, Mom.” The boy called out without acknowledging Rachel’s comment.
“Hang on, Jerry.” His mother addressed Rachel while checking her rear view mirror for traffic. “I wondered why no one was answering the phone. Are you the owner?”
“Yes. I’m Rachel.” She approached the car. “I can assure you this is unusual. And I think we’ll still manage to start the class on time. I loaned my keys to my assistant last night—”
“Yes, that’s fine. You and I spoke last week. But I’m late for my hairdresser’s appointment right now.”
“Oh. All right. Do you want to—”
“Can Jerry just wait there with you, you think? Would that be all right?”
Rachel looked at the boy, a well-fed adolescent with a crew cut and obvious confidence. “Is that all right with you, Jerry?”
“Sure.” He turned to peer through the studio’s glass door. “That would be swell.” He gave his mother a quick wave, cupped his hands against the door, and examined the studio as if he were using a periscope.
Rachel shut the car door and Jerry’s mother drove off.
At least this student would stick around for the duration. “How old are you, Jerry?” She sat on the bench outside the studio.
“Twelve. I start junior high in September.”
“Then you’re perfect for the class. Are you excited about learning ballroom dance?”
“Yeah, kind of. I mean, yes. My uncle’s a really good dancer. He says the girls love it when boys can do all the fancy dances.”
She smiled. Already interested in what the girls liked. “I’m glad you signed up. We never get enough boys, in my opinion.”
“Well, here comes another now.” Jerry pointed down the street. “Looks like they’re both coming for class, too.”
Rachel turned to see two kids coming her way. A boy and a girl, most definitely coming for her class. She could tell, because the girl looked thrilled and the boy looked ready to bolt, a far more typical reaction than Jerry’s.
Jerry ran up to them. Apparently the boy never met a stranger. He immediately chatted with the boy and girl as if they were his best friends.
And the man escorting them? Well, he was, in a word, breathtaking. Dressed in a sharp suit and crisp white shirt, dark blond hair cut similar to Cary Grant’s, and the kind of keen eyes so blue you could spot their color, even from this far away. Rachel quickly looked away from him, since he was probably their father. She took care with the fathers. Sometimes they had the wrong impression about dancers.
By the time the small group reached Rachel, the three kids had bonded. They ran to the other end of the storefront, where they stood on two benches and stared through the studio windows, chatting like gossips at a beauty parlor.
The attractive man was still attractive, despite the scowl he wore. “Locked out, huh?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. You see—”
“Exactly what I expected with this type of operation.” He nodded at the empty seat beside her. “Do you mind if I sit?”
Rachel struggled to hide her reaction. She swallowed down the gasp brought on by his insult. “Be my guest. Uh, ‘this type of operation’?”
He cocked his head toward the building. “The whole artsy thing. Dancing, painting, singing. Usually draws your irresponsible types.”
Well he wasn’t good looking at all! As a matter of fact, he needed a shave.
“I can’t say I agree with you there,” she said. “Do you honestly mean to say you don’t enjoy any of the arts? Is that what you’re saying, Mr. . . ?”
“Reegan. Josh Reegan.” He put out his hand and gave her a dazzling, genuine smile, and his dark-lashed eyes bordered on pretty.
How could such a stunning man be so stunningly boorish? She shook his hand. “Rachel Stanhope. But—”
“No, I don’t mean to degrade all of that art stuff. But to devote one’s whole life to it? That requires a kind of personality I can’t say I appreciate. Kind of frivolous work, don’t you think?”
He had absolutely no idea who she was. And no idea what he was talking about.
“Not at all. I happen to believe life would be dull if it weren’t for people like . . . like dancers and other artists, both professional and amateur. Imagine what the world would look like without the beauty and depth of the arts.”
He granted her a nod. “I understand what you’re saying. I’ve seen parts of the world devoid of beauty. Berlin and London just a few years ago. Still, there are—”
“You served in the war?”
“Yep. Army Air Corps.”
Yes. She could see that. She could imagine him in uniform. The crisp pinks and greens. The broad shoulders. The jaw as strong as his opinions.
“And you’re still in the service?”
“No. Newspaper journalist.” He patted the chest pocket of his starched white shirt, from the top of which a notepad peeked. “But I’m still after the bad guys.” He broke into a modest grin.
Rachel sat back on the bench and crossed her arms. “So are you a cynic because of your war experience or because of your newspaper experience?”
His smile dropped. “Cynic? I’m not a cynic. I’m a realist.”
“Uh huh.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “That’s what the cynics always say.”
“I just think—no, I know—there are too many dark places and events in the world, too many greedy, heartless people, to warrant some of the more flippant ways people use time they could devote to hunting down evil.”
“Wow, I’ll bet you get invited to a lot of parties, huh?”
She wasn’t sure how to read the look he gave her then. Part amused, part hurt, part annoyed. But she didn’t feel right to study his face while she waited for him to respond, so she spoke again.
“I’m glad you’re not allowing your disdain for dance to keep you from giving your kids a chance to experience it for themselves. They’re just kids after all. They probably haven’t figured out yet how horrible the world really is.”
“Those aren’t my kids.”
“They’re my sister’s. I’m not married.” He gestured toward the kids with his chin. “They seem to get along well with your boy, anyway.”
Rachel frowned and glanced at the trio, who now squatted around a caterpillar as it ambled across the sidewalk.
“He’s not my boy. His mother dropped him off.”
Josh raised his eyebrows and nodded. “Ah. So why are you here? Not that I haven’t enjoyed being insulted by you.”
She gave him a prim smile. “Mr. Reegan—”
“Josh. Yes, well, excuse me, but you don’t know the first thing about being insulted. Apparently you don’t even realize when you’re insulting others.”
A squeal of panic made them both turn their attention across the street. Rachel’s errant employee Betty stood there, waiting for a break in traffic and waving her hands like a jazz performer.
“I’ll be right there, Rachel! Sorry! Traffic!” She shrugged with exaggeration, as if she were on stage and needed to communicate befuddlement to the cheap seats. Then she held up a set of keys and shook them. “Don’t fire me!”
Rachel squinted at Betty’s perfectly upswept Lana Turner hairdo and knew her tardiness probably had less to do with traffic and more to do with a mirror and a well-used curling iron.
No matter. She was here now, and if Rachel lost any of her young students today, it wouldn’t be Betty’s fault.
Two more parents and their children approached the studio from opposite ends of the sidewalk. Rachel stood from the bench and called to the three kids gathered around the caterpillar.
“Okay, kids, come on in.” She smiled at the parents who had just arrived. “We had a bit of a delay getting open. Betty will check your registrations while I get started with the kids.”
Finally she glanced back at Josh. He too had stood, all six foot something of him. He stared at the ground and rubbed at that stubble on his cheek as if he could wipe it away. When he shot a look up at her, she refused to hold a gaze with those contrite eyes of blue.
True, he was a single man. Possibly he was a war hero. Certainly he was easy on the eyes. But Rachel looked away for all of those reasons. In thirty-two years she had learned to trust her instincts. And instinct told her that Josh Reegan would cause her nothing but trouble.
I thoroughly enjoyed Unforgettable. Not only was it something a little different--ballroom dance--but it was a time era that intrigues me and one that seems to have been missing from books until recently since it's not quite been classified as historical. A time long enough ago that I don't know much about it, but recent enough that my parents do, and recent enough that I remember my grandfather listening to Nat King Cole's music. Yes, after reading the book, I bought the mp3 of the song. Magical. I'm watching to get my hands on more of Summerside's other books in the "When I fall in Love" series.
As a reader, I loved this book. The ballroom dance setting, the era, the humor Perry wove in, and the romance. The characters are rich and full, not just the main characters, but the secondaries too. It's a smooth read that flows from beginning to end.
As a writer, I noticed Perry's dialog. It sparkles, and there's a lot of it--no long passages of internal. In fact, everything is interlaced with dialog, something I LOVE. It keeps the story active and keeps me 100% involved. And she did it mainly with action beats.
Unforgettable by Trish Perry
Rachel Stanhope tries to see the good in everyone. But even her good graces are challenged when she meets Josh Reegan outside her Arlington, Virginia dance studio on a brisk fall morning in 1951. Admittedly, he’s attractive, but she finds his cynicism and cockiness hard to tolerate.
A hard-news journalist and former World War II Air Force pilot, Josh considers distractions like ballroom dancing frivolous wastes of time. He has yet to shed his wartime drive to defend good against evil whenever he can. Yes, Rachel’s confident nature is a refreshing challenge, but he wouldn’t tangle with her if his newspaper hadn’t roped him into covering one of her studio’s competitions in New York City.
Between Arlington and New York—between the melodrama of ballroom antics and the real drama of political corruption—between family involvement and romantic entanglement—Rachel and Josh have their hands full. The last thing either of them expects is mutual need and support. But once they stop dancing around the truth, the results are unforgettable.
So tell me, have you noticed the authors using said and asked less? What do you think of it?
What's your favorite element of a book? Dialog? Action? Romance? Setting or internal thought?
**For the record, if I don't like a book, you won't find me talking about it on here--it's that whole 'if don't have anything nice to say' principle. And there are books I'm reading that will collect dust and even some that I haven't finished reading. *shiver*
Labels: Patty Wysong, Reading to Write Right
Jessica R. Patch 9:13 AM
I love a flirty and fun banter in a romance. I've read books that give he said/she said only and enjoyed the book (but I noticed it--may be the writer in me)
I enjoy books that use other words as well. He barked, she growled. etc...
But I personally try to do a blend of both. When it calls for a kind of tag that needs more emotion such as he hollered, she shrieked then I use that.
If it's a lot of people talking and I need to insert a few tags to keep the reader clear, I use "said." :)
Joanne Sher 11:10 AM
Love using action beats - getting better about it!
And I love dialogue :)
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"T-Pain's School of Business" Premieres Tuesday, October 16th on Fuse
Follow T-Pain as he explores some of the most innovative and unique startups created by millennial entrepreneurs who are defining the future.
[via press release from Fuse] ***Series Premiere***
Title: T-Pain's School of Business
Host: Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter T-Pain
Series Premiere Date: Tuesday, October 16th at 11:00p.m. ET/PT on Fuse
Beloved hip-hop artist, comedic personality and business mogul T-Pain is taking his musical talent and entrepreneurial passion to television with his all-new series, T-Pain's School of Business premiering Tuesday, October 16th at 11:00p.m. ET/PT on Fuse. Follow T-Pain as he explores some of the most innovative and unique startups created by millennial entrepreneurs who are defining the future. As he gets a feel for each quirky and groundbreaking company (including everything from weed-friendly startups, autonomous delivery robots and digital instruments, etc.), each entrepreneur reveals how they got started and what it took to turn their ideas into reality. Viewers can tune in to watch T-Pain learn the ins and outs of each business while at the same time trying out new products and asking all of the startup questions we want answers to. Class is in session!
Chart-topping singer, rapper, songwriter, producer T-Pain has sold over 4.5 million albums and 20 million singles worldwide and has over 3 billion total digital streams. As a pioneer with auto-tune, he brings the perfect perspective to entrepreneurship.
New episodes of T-Pain's School of Business will air every Tuesday night at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT on Fuse. Original digital content will be available at Fuse.tv and the Fuse social channels.
Labels: Fuse, T-Pain's School of Business
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SPORTS DIGEST || 2 Canfield players are first team all-Ohio
2 Canfield players are first team all-Ohio
Canfield High School baseball players Spencer Woolley (infielder) and Dom Pilolli (outfielder) have been named first team all-Ohio Division II in a poll released through the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
West Branch’s Brant Alazaus received honorable mention.,
In Div. III, Champion pitcher Andrew Russell was named first team and pitcher Drake Batcho was named second team.
In Div. IV, Jackson-Milton pitcher Sebastian Lay was named second team and Lisbon’s Cameron Summers received honorable mention.
J-M’s Lay named district player of year
Jackson-Milton pitcher Sebastian Lay has been named the Division IV Northeast District player of the year.
Joining him on the first team are Western Reserve infielder Garrett Mihalik and Lisbon’s Cameron Summers (outfielder) and Logan Bell (infielder).
Canfield outfielders Dominic Pilolli and Alex Hernandez were named first team in Div. II, as was West Branch pitcher Brant Alazaus.
Girard’s Tyler O’Dell (outfielder) and West Branch’s TJ DeShields (utility) made the second team.
Receiving honorable mention were Girard catcher Aidan Warga, Canfield infielder Spencer Woolley and Girard outfielder Nick Malito.
South Range coach Jim Hanek shared Coach of the Year honors in Div. III with Kirtland’s Luke Smrdel.
Champion pitchers Andrew Russell and Drake Batcho made first team as did South Range pitcher Jake Gehring and Crestview outfielder Jeff Feo.
On the second team are South Range catcher Jared Bajerski, South Range outfielder Ben Rivera, Crestview outfielder Dylan Huff and Columbiana utility player Chase Franken. Crestview infielder Caleb Hill received honorable mention.
Sharon Speedway releases lineup
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Also scheduled to race will be the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds, UEMS E-Mods and Junior Sprints for children.
Race time is 7 p.m. Pits are open throughout the day on Saturday with pit passes going on sale at 4 p.m., while the main grandstands open at 5. Pill cutoff is 6:20 p.m.
Grandstand admission costs for those 14 and younger, and $15 for those older. Upgrades are available.
Sharon Speedway is owned by the Blaney, Weller and Kirila families and is a 3/8-mile dirt track located on Custer-Orangeville Road near the intersection of state Routes 7 and 305. For more information, visit the website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481.
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Strader also took second place in the javelin. He has been a member of the United States Masters Track and Field team since 1984.
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he was “excited” and “grateful” after Major League Baseball agreed Tuesday to change the time of New York’s July 8 game at Toronto from 8 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Originally scheduled for 1 p.m., the game was moved to the evening last week after being selected for broadcast on ESPN.
That meant New York, which has a doubleheader at Baltimore beginning at 4:05 p.m. the following day, would have played three games in approximately 24 hours.
Boone said the time change was “really good news,” adding that commissioner Rob Manfred was “very involved” in the decision.
Staff/wire report
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"'winner'"
A NOVEL BY PATRICK GYSEMBERG
"winner"
Introduction and dates of creation
note one : please forgive me if you see some mistakes (grammar and spelling) because this is only the creative part, without any corrections which will take place lateron
second note : anyone who can help me with my English, with the correction of my writings, and wants to do so, can mail me on patrick.gysemberg@telenet.be)
289 PAGES DIN A4
WRITTEN FROM 5/205 TILL 5/2013
ANY PUBLISHER WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED,
please contact me for publishing arrangements
patrick.gysemberg@telenet.be
or by phone
Summary : the story
all described in the next pages is part of a fiction novel and any possible resemblance with any actual and existing characters are non valid
Catholic raised eldest son of five children, now convinced agnostic, Patrick, changes his career in seeking something better. He is offered an employment at Matrix Systems Belgium, near his home; He takes on the job because it is all about what he can do best : taking care of customers. German customers mostly.
He is not aware of the fact that this decision is going to change his life permanently. For the better or for the worse? Who can tell? You can, when you read this book till the end.
Patrick is confronted with a series of incredible illegal happenings and devious activities of several of his colleagues, including his superior manager, which result in the sudden discharge of mr Dujounrot, general manager of Matrix Systems Belgium, six years later. His assistant, mr Moipatron had obscurely arranged everything to take his place. No one had ever expected this. Patrick is not happy with all these sudden unanticipated changes and decides to inform Matrix Systems USA about his personal point of view on what happened those last months at Matrix Systems Belgium. Mr Moipatron is furious the moment he finds out and starts an offensive to get rid of Patrick the hard way. For some Machiavellian reason mr Moipatron had made an alliance together with Anissa, former aficionado of mr Dujournot and fucked up mistress of many to maintain her powerful position, close to the Money stream of Matrix Belgium... Over the years the Moroccan Anissa had proven her total and complete inability to integrate in the Belgian way of living and demeanor. At the contrary, she continuously had spread a fearful amount of loud and intense hatred and unbelievable personal anger and delinquency amongst her colleagues and everything/everyone who crossed her path of life; all without once being corrected by her even supportive superiors. This lack of real management and persistent unremitting personal profiteer of the ruling executives enhanced the intensity of Anissa’s hatred, pestering and daily verbal aggression between the Matrix office walls.
Patrick is forced to press official charges against both, because of personal harassment and pestering… in order to protect himself.
In this book Patrick is searching for himself, inside himself, outside himself, to find a lot of answers. Because he realizes that his life is at risk, he is forced to change the story, to change the names, to change the circumstances. He needs to do so to provide him and his family full protection. Still, during the creation of this book, Patrick is being attacked by unknown people in different obscure ways. They try to prevent the publishing of this book. At any cost.
As Patrick is writing every single detail down, it provides him at the same time a kind of protection, because, if something would go wrong, one would immediately know who did it.
He his looking back those six years to find out what exactly had gone wrong. And when.
He wants to find the reasons why everything went the way they went. He wants to know why it ended all the way it is going to end.
Because the end of the book is also the end of the whole saga.
Patrick wants a life without Matrix now.
Without Anissa.
He is selling his home, his house.
He is moving back to his roots.
He knows his liberation will become true the very moment the last letter of this book is written down. Including the outcome, the solution.
The apotheoses.
Whatever that may be.
How vindictive that may turn out to be.
Have fun reading this incredible story…
(c) patrick gysemberg April 2006
action painter/writer for a better world
even in fiction : surviving attempts to sabotage these writings
all described in the next pages is part of a fiction novel and any possible resemblance with an actual and existing situation or real physical persons are merely pure coincidental, non valid and thus not existing.
Life is often worse than fiction can ever imagine.
On this pages I have started to work on a revolutionary new book about what I have been going through during the past months of my life. It is going to be one of the most horrible stories of this new millennium. The book is slowly revealing some crucial facts that are contributing to a final event that is going to take place after finishing the book. The book is as it were, a kind of introduction to what the future is going to bring me. To me and my family.
Is it a kind of riddle, a question mark, an open end? Or could it be a very clear information on what is going to happen once this book reaches its final sentences to be published. Who is going to tell...and who is going to tell me? Is life telling me what to do or am I telling life what to do? Is a crime going to be committed? Or is it all a bad joke?A sad joke, or a terrifying warning? Is it a handful of passed cliches of someone who is suffering an emotional crisis? Or is it a honest testimony of a cruel and devastating truth? Is this the announcement of a future massacre? Should anyone be afraid? Do we have to take some precautions? Is this real or is this a fantasy? Do remember that in real life reality often appears to be exceeding the worst possible imagination. You are welcome to read along as my book is growing from zero towards completion. I have no idea how long it will take to complete it, but I am intended to do so, whatever it will take.
thank you for your continuing support.
patrick gysemberg 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
action painter for a better world
this is a way to conquer the injustice done to my person.
a way to heal from the damage "reverse racism" has inflicted upon me and my family.
a way to find the light again in these dark ages.
a way to stay amongst the living.
a way to let optimism and beauty overcome the hateful and despicable.
a way to deal with life.
a way.
my way.
My book, which is developing every day now, is already
over 299 pages din A4 long
It is a first uncut version, with no corrections, so also typos will be found. I apologize for that.
After finishing up the story
I will correct all typos (writing mistakes) and all text will be corrected by a true English connoisseur.
Then it will be presented to a publisher.
Every single word of this book is being written for a reason. Read along and try to understand the reason why i had to tell you This story.
"this book is purely fiction and each possible resemblance to any possible person or any actual circumstance is purely coincidental and not true nor valid."
a book about pestering in the office, about reverse racism, about discrimination, about brutal unacceptable behaviour, still overwhelmingly present in our society today, maybe even close or next to you, but deliberately negleted by our gouvernemental organisations,
and finally about the weakness of the newly erected specialized Belgian anti-pestering governemental authorities, malfunctioning psychiatric and psychological guidance, worsening professional help to actually do something about this devastating situation, which all will lead to a very specific outcome.
good to know : first things first :
"reverse racism"
"racism" is a bad word. "reverse racism" are two bad words. I did not invent "reverse racism". I do not invent "bad words". I am a nice person. I don't do things like that. May be I invented the combination of those two words as such.As a whole. As a combination. I maybe invented the way to describe this horrible way of human conduct. It emerged in Belgium. It is existing in Belgium, maybe in other countries as wel. It is existing for some time now. It damages people.
"reverse racism" is racism the other way around. Autochtone people being hurt and damaged by those whom they try to protect.
Reverse Racism and racism are words that never ever should exist, only because of its despicable content. The meaning of "racism" is so loaded and wrong, that it should never ever exist in our society. But it does. Because it exists. It exists more than we know. More than we hope. More than we think. And it is shameful. Especially those who cry the loudest about racism and its content, are not always the victim of this behavior but mostly the executor. The aggressor. Crying out loud about "racism" and its complex content is a way to get attention the wrong way round.
I am not a "racist" and never will be one. But i do am a victim of "reverse racism".
I have traveled around the world and lived in various societies, always adapting myself to the needs and wishes of my foster land and my guest land inhabitants. Since I have always had tremendous respect for all men and their different cultural backgrounds. This is what enriches our world and is making it a beautiful and interesting place to be. I have always worked together with foreigners, especially abroad. With Germans, with Russians, with English and American people. With the French and Polish. With Moroccans and Greek. With Sri Lankans and Indonesiaon people. With the Norwegian and the Irish (bonr on St Patrick's day!). And always on any destination, on any occasion, we did well, we got along spledidly, we blendid in as it should.
Sometimes "racism" is used as a word as such, as a verb to indicate and hide own malicious behavior towards others. To conceal own behavior that should not see broad daylight and should be not amongst us. "Racism" has been used against me, against my person, in my own country. By people, ruthless and merciless. In a way I am trying to describe in my book, emerging in the next pages to come.
It has hurt me and damaged me and my family.
The only way to defend myself and my family, is to register all facts and figures; all data involved, so that you, the reader can be the judge. So you can be the witness of this total unjust and impropriate behavior in a country that is host for so many people from all over the world. Political correctness prohibits justification.
It puts a a hypothec on all actions and deeds to a juster world, free of this horrible word and joining attitude of human disgrace.
No one should ever have the power or find the way to practice "racism" or even reverse "racism" towards its fellow man.
I was a definite victim. Now I try to recuperate from the wounds and bloody stains it left on my soul.
It is time that the truth will conquer. The truth has to surpass political correctness and put everything into real perspective. So further harm can be avoided.
Since harm is done, not only to me. "Reverse racism" happens every day. IN Belgium. That is for sure. And that is what I am trying to fight here.
Till it does no longer exist.
Because racism and "reverse racism" can break people down. It kills. It is merciless to the bone of the dead.
But it shall not break me. Because I am an optimistic kinda guy. I will fight back.
The battle has begone.
please join me by just scrolling down on this page : "a new book emerges"
thank you for your kind an continuous support in our mutual battle for a just and nicer world. Because I will always be an artist for a better world to live in.
Thanks for joining.
patrick gysemberg January 2006
chapter minus one : introduction
"winner..." (c) patrick gysemberg
"Was it his devotion for his Italian love that had brought him down, or was it his perverted adoration for Anissa, sealed with her golden shower?", I wondered, thinking of the most flabbergasting opening sentence a book ever had in history of writing. I know a book should have a great opening. I read about the many times some well known and established authors were contemplating about their first sentence and how it inflicted the sales of their book. Now I have to find one for me, my book. I am not just writing a book because I want to write a book, no...Of course not. I am driven to do so. Now, at last, I have to write a book. The circumstances force me to do so. I only hope I get until the end. Because I have a lot to say, indeed I have...So, my opening sentence has to be a unique one, never seen before in man's history. It should blow one's socks of whilst reading (ah, I love this expression!) Come on now, here he comes: (or is it "it comes?):
"Maybe I wasn't born to write a book at all", I thought at the end, insecure, gazing out of the first floor window onto the busy street of my little town. It's crap, isn't it? First class sh*t. Of course, I am not an Englishman, so the quality of my English is at least to say: a bit simple. However, as I was thinking, during the mental preparation of this book-to-write, that in relation to what I have been through and what I have to say in my book, it should be sufficient. The quality of my English, I mean. Furthermore, I could see this as a new challenge in life, some kind of new heroic attempt to reach eternal glory and fame. Sure, right...Stop it, will yea… See now, that is typically me, I have not even yet fully survived my present trauma, or I am already preparing the path towards unknown heights with consecutive depths to fall into and reaching the edge of another depression... Maybe, just maybe, I am mane-depressive, as it were...could be, at least "they" have made me the way I am today. Who are "they"? "They" are "they", all the others, around me, and especially those who know everything better than I do. I always have had, for some unknown reason, the idea that other people (them) knew more than I did.
I had (used to have) a tremendous respect for all elderly man and women, for teachers, for priests, for my father… (Strangely enough, I did not think likewise about my mother, something I am dealing with later on) and all those who actually performed a task in society. They all knew so much…about life and stuff, that is what I thought. Why not? Why should I not have believed that they all knew more than I did (or is it me)? I knew nothing when I came to earth, did you? Others have told everything I know now to me. It has all been lectured to me, it has been forced into me by repetition force, as the Catholics like to practice repeatedly in their churches.
(them)
Furthermore, I was a very shy boy. Someone with unlimited admiration for all "them" and a strongly build in self-destructive consciousness of no self-esteem whatsoever. Imagine the Catholics, every day, day after day, telling me that all the sins of this planet were "my fault"! I was to be blamed! Only me! Me, me, MEEEEE....We used to say always the same lines in church (those days I went to church every day, yes sir, every morning at seven o'clock, I sat in the front row of the chapel of my college.) It was, of course not a matter of choice...I had to go to church every day, no question about that! How could I even imagine saying something about this frequency, and to whom? I had to carry all sins of this world on my shoulders, anyway, so… So I’d better shut the f*ck up. Or they (them) throw some other sins on the never ending heap that was already laying as a huge obstacle on my shoulders.
Whilst proclaiming these repetitive lines, loud and clear, all together in church, we all used to beat ourselves with our fists on our chest : "because of my fault, because of my fault, because of my fault..."
Day after day, week after week, year after year, even before puberty....do you think It had some impact on my state of mind? You bet it did…No wonder I couldn't develop some kind of feeling that even came close to self-esteem. Do you think I need to see a psychiatrist? After you have read this book until the end, if you are brave enough, you will conclude that I absolutely need to see one, I guess…
Because this is only the beginning, the beginning of a journey through life with ups and severe downs, with highlights and incredibly dark ages, an awesome but yet devastating journey that I cannot describe in a few sentences. That is why it is going to turn out to be a book. Because what has happened is too intense to summarize in just a few words…This is just not done. That is why I do hope you all read along with me, as these pages grow by the day until my work is complete and my story has been told. I want to tell you this, because I also believe that what I have been through may never ever happen again, not with any other creature on this mother planet earth. Even if your personal hatred is still amazingly strong and vivid and determinate your behaviour amongst those who love you. And whom you try to love back. As an individual one cannot do much about it, I guess, but writing a book. To get “some” attention. Especially from “them”. Because “they” are all wrong, and not you….me, I mean….
Nature made me the eldest child in a family of five children (and two parents of course). This enhanced the feeling of responsibility in me, next to the lacking self-esteem. A dreadful combination.
I have not introduced myself, soo sorry! My first name is Patrick, “hi There….”, nice to meet you through this virtual way and later on by means of my book with no title yet.
My first name will be the only real one in these sentences, because of the privacy of those mentioned. I try to avoid the harm they did to me. Therefore, I will use other names. So, if I, for instance, as a matter of speaking, would want to say something about an old colleague of mine, living amongst us with the name Livia Goldfield, I will not use this name, no sir...I 'll use a name that is "different", it will not be too difficult to follow my story, because the story itself is in focus here, not the people themselves, they but all play a major role, not the leading one...I would call her " Carla Smekens.....”, get it? Moreover, any resemblance with any living creature on this planet will be purely coincidental. I am not stupid, you know...Therefore, in my book I could now easily state that Carla has a big fat ass and that she grows long black hair on her back. This does not actually mean that the person this name is referring to, has the same deviations or flaws or shortcomings.... No,no.... Well done, Patrick…Well done…Well done , old chap! Probably they will be recognizable by those who are close to the things I have to tell you. But then they can see that all I have to say is the truth. At least from my point of view, anyway. Because truth is subjective. That's what i have learned. And that is about all I have learned in life. Pretty thin, huh.... I am a painter, an action painter. So, i have said it. That is, this is what I am now, after a long, hard, struggling search for values and truth…in this life. I have been many things in my life up until now… But First of all, I have been a child. The oldest of five, as I told you before. In addition to that, I never stopped being a child anyhow. I honestly believe that the words “adult” and “grown-ups” are the ugliest words ever invented by mankind. I do not respond to the fake world of those who call themselves “adult”. They are “them”. Those who know so much about life, about love, about everything. Some of them call themselves teachers. How awful. How awful it must be, thinking about yourself that you are actually capable of teaching something to another person. It only depends on the will and ability of the receiver if the student is indeed willing to learn. So bye bye teacher…. But I have to concentrate on the book and its end result. All the information that is gathered by the reader, by you, yes you…. if there are any, will lead to one final act at the end of this book. It will lead to a super climax inflicting me and my family.So be attentive and see where these facts will lead to. I have to warn you all : the facts in this book will be hard and merciless; as I have been through them…as I have lived them through, leaving horrible scarves on my soul….leaving them as an open end to a healing process to begin…with this book? I don’t know….And I do not want to know. All I know is that is has been inhuman and even beyond beastly behaviour….men at their best, so to speak.It is now time to start with some kind of structure, so you can get a grip on the facts as they pass by and as they might tell you what the final result will be as the ultimate lines of this book will be written down.
all described in the next pages is part of a fiction novel and any possible resemblance with an actual existing situation or any real physical persons are merely pure coincidental, non valid and thus not existing.
chapter one : the opening
I am not sure this is going to work.
Too many repeats. Too many times the same blablabla
not to the point. But, tell me something, a book, is it always to the point? I dont think so!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
I grant myself the right to be a little elaborate. Maybe you will like it. Fact is that I have to find my way through all.
Therefore, I left you all alone telling you that I was many things, to start with "being a child". Werent we all? Sure. But many of you turned out to be them. Many of you were programmed to be or to become them. Sometimes I see individuals fulfilling a profession in a such a convincing way that they physically have become their profession. They are really a part of the profession they perform. They have grown into their profession, as being part of. A part you cannot or no longer cut off. It sticks to you like an arm, or a leg. "What's that, sir, hanging out of your jacket?? Oh, that's nothing, that's my profession!"I envy those people. Because they are not aware that what they do, determines their lives so much that they stopped being creative and refrained from any critical thinking whatsoever. However, I may not generalize. There are, thank God (I do not believe in God, but I like the expression anyway) , exceptions
Maybe those people have found their way here on this planet. They stopped searching. Because life is giving them what they expect from it.
In addition, after the long search, through the years, after all I have been through, and what I am going to tell you all about in the next chapters, I do have come to find myself as well, being what I am
"a painter", that is now a complete certainty. I will live my years to come and I will die as a painter, an artist, a visual artist
I do not like the world "artist" that much though, it has of course to do with my being so shy
I do not like to think about myself as an artist
that sounds so self indulgent
By finding at last that I can no longer deny that I am a painter, a creative artist, I did find a certain part of me
not all, no, no
there are still some essential parts missing, drifting around in the insecurity of thought and uncertainty of the unstable mind. I need to look for them, and no way I am sure that I will be able to find them before I die
Sometimes I am really afraid to face the final curtain, realizing that I dont have a damn clue of what I was doing here on earth
.at least I would like some straight and very clear answers on the way to that last point-of-no-return. One part of myself, I have found. It makes me happy. It makes me feel a little more assured that everything would be all right. Do you remember those comforting words of some grown-ups, telling you, after you suffered a nightmare or some kind of accident leading to exuberant tears shed, that they told you :everything is all right, dont cry now, everything will be all right, which , at that time was a pure lie. I knew this already, at that point, that it was a lie. It did not feel right, it did not feel quite honest
at the contrary, and I found it as being the crying child a severe violation of the truth and did not understand why those grown-ups needed a lie to comfort me.
So, a painter, thats what I am. Not a famous one, no, no, a very tiny one, but at least I have something to put my soul into; I can run and hide in my creative ruins of not understood paintings, as abstract they are
I have to try to stick to a certain time line. Otherwise, I will not be able to tell my story. So I told you that I was at first a child. Then I jumped from child to painter. This is from point a to point z. From alpha to Omega.
In between those two states of my mind, I have been many other things. So, now let us try to proceed the right way. I have to admit, as I said before, that being a child, what I was at birth, as you all were, is something I have kept all my life in me. I, for some reason, did never really grow up. In addition, it is quite a burden to carry, you know. You bet it is. For all those who nicely rolled into their puberty and then stumbled out into final full adultery, this may be very hard to understand. However, I will try to explain: some point I missed the connection to being or becoming an adult. I collected my years as every one else did, but in my head, it could not proceed as persistent as the years did.
No, I was not some "slow" kid. I was as swift as the rest of you. But, at the age of four, when every normal kid starts to ask "why" to his mom, about everything it encounters in life, I did the same. Only, in my head this never stopped. This "why" phase of every child is ending some point in time, in my brain it was continuing to work with growing intensity. Because as older I got, the more questions, why questions I had. So now I am on a point of not knowing anything anymore in my life. Why? I don't know!
I wish I would know. . I am mentally undressing for you, so you could understand to the full what is going to happen in later chapters, why I react in certain ways (and not in other) and why I do as I do, why I did as I did.. (why, why, why....why what? why should we all die?) (Why should I cry?)
So let the story begin....why? Dunno... Guess it's time....time to act.
The building looked like a giant shoe box, it still does, because it still exists. You can see the box when you are driving on the E47, direction <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Antwerp, a few miles before exit 22, Deurne, at your left side. No windows. At least not at the side facing the highway. Only a sign at the site stands for the main company that had his residence in this building. Now it says "MIXO". In those days, it said "CONIX". It was a huge storage room. We, the company I worked for, rented some offices, cheap offices, on the second floor, no elevator. (see cheap) MIXO handled our goods. But I am running ahead. Again. Mixing up things. Making things hard for you to follow.
I arrived there, early, as usual, because I am always early on an appointment (see my strong sense of responsibility) because I wanted another job. I was at least 10 minutes early. My job at that time sucked. Very hard. That is why I was on the lookout for another one. I was not afraid from changing jobs. I did this before. Several times. And every time, it worked out fine. Till my time came, my specific point in time, every time again, after about five, six years
that is definitely my time
a very important sign in my life, those periods of five year
.I have no clue whatsoever what it might mean, but I just could nor cannot ignore the fact that every five to six years, I, for some reason or another had to change jobs
which I did. Every time there was a huge reason to do so
every time I had to take care of myself and get myself into safety, I needed to protect myself by leaving the company. Which I did. Over and over again
So I did it again this time:
I had a back that was completely blocked. Stress. Negative stress. All the muscles, and I never knew I had so many on my back, were blocked. Hard as a rock. Caused by an impossible woman. My boss. A fifty year old little bitch, called Meddle, Nicole Meddle. But everyone called her misses Meddle. You could not say Nicole. Never! Ever! Nobody. She had a huge status within this company, in fact it was an organisation of Employers in the metal industry, a kind of very fancy organisation where all those very important people, ceos, directors, general managers, real businessmen and women from the finest sort, all brought in with fancy black limos, met, joined for dinners and lunches, and had early breakfast buffets, came to lectures and informative evenings, organised evenings with our king, the real one, Albert 2 (thank God, this lunch was not virtual, he used to joke around, after his sumptuous, excessive meal every body laughed, because, If the king laughs, you have to laugh too; this is arranged within a special Belgian law to protect the standards of our Royal Family, who are, so to speak, not known for their intellectual brightness) and were being sooo very important and indispensable. This was the highest standard in life one could ever see and meet in Belgium, that is for sure. The ultimate upper class. You actually could see how important all those people were. They all had the same kind of expression on their face. Hard to describe. But the same look. A dont you know who I am? look. Very persistent and threatening. This organisation of the best of Belgian mankind, this association, had its own building. A former hospital. Know for its brain surgery. Till they went out of brains to surge upon. A friend of my father suffered a pin bleeding and went in a coma. He was brought into this hospital and they operated on him. They took of his scull! Ok, it was back in the seventies, but still, it was quite a story for me to hear as a child. My , quite vivid, imagination (as I might say so) had some troubles dealing with this. Of course he died, what do you think, without scull ! In those days
I bet they did some other stuff they shouldnt have done with brains and sculls and all
He only reached the age of forty-nine. The poor bastard
So the hospital was closed down and then bought by this very exquisite club of fine rulers of the Belgian metal industry. They changed the building completely. I must say, they made a hell of a building out of it. Complete renovation. Newest techniques and systems, the future is now. They make our future, yes sir, thats how important they are! You can see that they have a close connection to the financial highlights, the bankers, who were invited constantly in their new, beyond-modern palace, as the final result was at least, more than astonishing, words fail actually.
The chairman, the upper chief of these happy few, had some very special deviations in his behaviour as chairman. I think it is not very easy to be on top of all those top people, each and every one of them in the highest position they can get. A second superman so to speak.
In the huge entrance hall and in the central gangways on the ground floor and on all upper floors, he had two different light systems installed. A blue and a white one.
On even days, day two, four, six etc., we had to illuminate the blue lights. On odd days, we had to lighten up the hall and its gangways with the white lights.
He was very strict in this. You d better never forget, or worse, mix up, the odd, and even days! He had a severe lack of pigments on his skin, so you could perfectly see it coming when he wasnt about to like something he saw. He became red as a tomato. And stayed that way for several hours afterwards. That was not good. No sir! He got some pills from the doctor, because, it still is embarrassing after all, when you have an important meeting you have to lead as chairman, still owning a tomato-head.
And this is one of those moments, where I do not grasp the reality no more
where I lose it
I do not get it
I do not understand, maybe you do, maybe you do, I do hope so
How on earth is it possible that such an upper-class individual, such a unique talent, such a strong representative of real power in society, controlling all those metal orientated companies and factories, is being occupied by this blue and white light thing? Can anyone tell me that this is normal behaviour? Maybe this is the way an adult should behave? The importance of the blue lights in my life! The child in me likes it, but I cannot understand. Why? Again, why?
Anyway
my boss, Misses Nicole Meddle, former secretary of mr Blue lights (yes, she worked herself up the ladder) was responsible for all the conference rooms.
As my looks do not nor ever did work against me in time, I worked at the reception (hey, handsome! Shall we have dinner later? Sorry madam, I cannot, I have to close down tonight and since there is still a meeting going on, I guess it will be after midnight
ah, my poor boy
ah well next time then
she said, whilst her driver opened the back door of the limo to let her in) and needed to see that everything was all right : answering complaints, about shortages of coffee, papers, pens, see the people could find the right room to conference in, make invoices, make sure the blue lights are on, on even days
or was it the other way around? etc. Boring things actually. But they had to be done. And since I needed the cash to survive in this society, I needed the job. As simple as that. I did not feel myself as being mr receptionist, this was not part of me, this was not me. It seemed as if life passed on, right though me, and I just acted without meaning and importance at any time, as if I did not exist, as if I did not matter at all
I was just some utensil people could use, if they needed to. A object to be neglected.. An object with a back of steel
in fact, I blended in perfectly in this organisation with my back condition
.
Misses Nicole Meddle could not delegate. She was beyond a pain in the *ss. She was in the *ss. She controlled about everything, from everyone. Constantly, all the time
Mornings, when more than ten people stood before me at the reception desk, asking for the right location to attend their meetings, she used to phone me, giving me urgent tasks to be fulfilled immediately. This, she did every day. One should dare to think she did this on purpose. When I made my invoices, she used to lock me up, so I could work better. When I ordered the sandwiches for our meeting executives, I needed her signature on the fax, so she could discuss the amount ordered. I crawled on the floor; my back forced me down, after another attempt of her inappropriate superior executive behaviour. I have tons of stories about this woman
she was a drunk
Every morning she was brought to work by her husband. Often she wore sunglasses, by poring rainfall. Or she forgot about the early morning staff meeting. I had the delightful task to inform her about the forgotten meeting, at her arrival, fifty minutes late
I enjoyed her startled behaviour, a bit like mrs Bucket when she got in a panic situation
the sporadic laughs could not relax my back, though
I needed to see a doctor. A specialist. I knew this was not the place for me to be. This was close to hell on earth.
I deserved better than this. I deserved to be alive. So I quit. But first, I had to make sure I had another job. Because without money, no life. So I went to Matrix Systems Inc. They rented some offices in this huge shoe box i told you about. No elevator. I was ten minute early when I opened the office door on my first interview.
It wasnt my first interview ever, it just was my first interview for Matrix Systems Inc. I have had tons of interviews before, as I had worked in several other companies before. In one of those companies I even had the magical word manager on my company name card. External relations and quality control manager. What a title! The longer the title, the less you had to say within this company. This is all quite irrelevant, so I try keep track . For some reason though, I must admit, some elements of the past and the past places I worked, do play a role in the final outcome. So, when time is appropriate, I ll inform you about those bygone days and their direct input in what is going to take place when the final letters of this book have been put on paper.
Maybe I am no more then a construction aid worker, trying to build my own castle
I thought by myself, entering the Matrix Inc office. Thats exactly how I feel. Totally insecure, always afraid of those, them, who know things better. Who can do things better, who can speak better, who write better English, who are better
at
you name it
I got it
insecure about everything. Quality control manager
where is he now huh, dont see much of him now
external relations
my ass
, those days were as if never existed
Sad huh
, I even felt pity for myself
worse, I started even to make fun of the whole situation. Especially me, I had to go down the drain. I was the failure, the one who got the sack
.pathetic person. Why dont you go crawling in your little corner and weep
weep till you sleep, little baby, thats what you are ,still a baby
a stupid crying baby
.
I know
I know
I should stop this, but still, once again, on the run for my former work, I was a fugitive again, again pleading for myself, trying to sell myself again, to them, in order to save my body, to restore and upgrade my physical condition, to get rid of my back of steel. Those moment of truth were difficult for me. Although I tried to analyze the lot, asking myself why all the time about everything that happened, I did not make my life easy. But I should concentrate on the interview. That would be much better. Because that was important right now. Nothing else. As a worm I had time enough later to crawl from underneath the rock of life to try to see the sun again.
Focus, concentrate. Enter
Would I please enter this bloody office now?
I entered.
I looked around and saw what I expected to see.
Those attacks of insecurity of mind, behaviour and soul came regularly, on unpredictable occasions, making my life miserable...I never had the opportunity, nor found the guts in my life to develop the basic human right to feel a person amongst others. The lethal combination father/catholic church, catholic education (I refuse to use capital letters here, because there are no grounds whatsoever to do so, since capital letters were born and created out of respect for the words they stand for) had left its non-erasable marks on my soul and my mind.
Even now, as I try to enter this office, or try to describe this moment on my pc, these vast lakes of insecurity, these devastating thoughts of total failure, this awareness of the complete uselessness of all these actions, performed by me at this moment in time, make me wonder why I am doing it all..."why", indeed again..."why"...
Anyone wanna tell me? Please?
You cant huh? Or you are all too full of activity, to living up your own very significant lives? Or you just cannot
Or you never even thought about it
For over six years long, the word manager once shined on my business card. I admit, in combination with external relations and quality control, but it did mention manager. Not that I was at that time very proud of this accomplishment. It was just a title to introduce me to the upper leading class, the upper few, the leading ones who for all, stood above others, who thought they had everything under control. Conversations on that level amongst these equals usually ended up by bragging about the amount of people they had underneath them: Well, aaahh,, I have been given a new challenge in my career, and I have now fifty people directly working under me
, rather then the ultimate grade of responsibility they had to represent within the company and towards all staff. Usually till business drops, that is
Then they all start to protect their own jobs rather than looking how to preserve the companies results
I became a manager because there was no one else at that time to do this shitty job. Quality control meant in fact that I had to answer and deal with all possible complaints. In a former life I used to work in the German and Belgian tourism industry, and because I had my share of outdoor problems in different holiday countries as a professional tour guide (five whole years on several holiday locations worldwide), I was the man on the right spot to grab the title of quality control manager. Because the reorganisation of that moment of that specific company had just driven someone into his premature retirement (to get rid of the burden of his high salary), the words external relations were, without extra payment (what did you think), added to my business card. I did not taunt to say anything. At that time. It was, as it was called: a real challenge for me to stand up to. They must have thought very highly of me, to grant me such a title, so suddenly
I could have thought, the thought of a total inexperienced, naïve company individual. Because, before that, as a tour guide I have had my total freedom. I had my customers, my dear holiday seekers, travelling along with me to take good care of; but with my high level of customer awareness and sense of liability, this was not a real task for me, it was the evidence itself. The nature, making me the first of five children, had made a fine tour guide out of me. Very fine indeed. A very fine, exquisite, high standard, fully reliable tour guide. No-one can take credit for that but nature itself. No man, no person made me, nor created this high sense of consciousness and responsibility I carried self-righteous within me, because, yes, I was proud of myself, back then
at that time, alone, in those vanished days of my former life.
Of course, "they" did not think highly of me, back then. I was just in time at the right place to take over the sh*t of others on a payroll that was divided by three, to fulfil a job, formerly executed by two. Sometimes I think I am really stupid. Or I was stupid at that time, at many times, actually. Maybe I am. Maybe I still am. As dumb as a naked pee. Still dim-witted, brainless, a genuine retard
I like to think it was because I am, or I have been so naïve, immature and adolescent all days of my life up til then
because there was no reason whatsoever to create or build up defendable systems within me to protect myself against others, against "them"....
not yet
.
I had no idea whatsoever at that time how malicious and spiteful people could be, how disgusting and repulsive, self orientated and self protective them could respond, pretending they were working together for the same company.
For me, I had only one goal: my customers, my clients. They had to be satisfied, they had to be content. I did everything to please them. And I did a lot to fulfil their needs. Doing this, I had no clue that many of my fellow colleagues were not really very interested in the grade of satisfaction that our mutual customers were experiencing from our efforts to please them. And I did not care about this. As long as I saw my results in the happy faces around me, the nice letters they wrote afterwards, the compliments they gave me, the money they slipped in my hand whilst descending from the bus or plain after another successful roundtrip
that was my goal, an that of the company
Later on I learned that many people really do not care about this at all. When I first found out, I was devastated. I could not believe this. I, again, lost at that time a tiny piece of my innocence.
Over and over again. And every time a piece of the child in me died.
This, my dear friends, is murder. Nothing more, nothing less.
It's as simple as that.
Murder.
Plain murder.
Chapter two : behind the door of Matrix Inc.
Sometimes I wished I was born and living in the States,
, I was thinking, closing the door of Matrix Inc. behind me. Then I would sue the catholic church for all the harm she caused me and my self esteem
, persecution because of intentional blows and wounds, for all the opportunities I had let go because I was too shy to act appropriate
I would make them pay. My God, yes I would
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
A huge reception counter, with no one behind, stopped me from entering the office.
Matrix Inc. was inside as dull as it looked outside. If you rent a few offices in a shoe box of another company, you cannot expect it to be the newest and most excentric trendy designer office on the market. The office was just an office as you are able to imagine yourself with the least of all efforts; behind the counter, there were three desks formed together as an island, as they use to call this here in Belgium, and some more desks were scattered over the place, one by one, probably for the upper them, some hidden behind the most hideous closets I had ever seen in my life. They must have been very cheap. Everything must have
. It was in fact, one big room, with some dull office furniture in it
The high counter put in front of the entrance door, was strategically placed there to prevent diligent and exaggerated customers or visitors to enter directly into the room, whilst the other side of it was to be used by the insiders as a cupboard. Now they had to wait till some good soul stood up from one of the desks in the room, to proceed forward. No one just goes without consent or admission behind a counter. Not in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Belgium they do not. We all stay at the right side of the desk and we kindly wait till we are being helped. They did not pull a line on the floor to indicate where you should wait, assuming there would be someone before you.
I waited at the counter. No one stood up. At the island, some extremely beautiful girls were talking. To each other. They didnt even notice my coming in.
Behind a high locker, some slightly irritated and mature female voice aroused: can anyone please check if someone came in to the office, please? With a strong emphasis on the please part, the second please, so I knew that this lady definitely was pissed of
Because I could only hear her, she must have been one of them.
The beautiful talking ladies at the island interrupted their vivid conversations and looked both in my direction, as if I cam from outer space.
Hi.., I tried
Hi.., they both replied. The one with the dark long hair stood up and came towards me. Ah, you must be Patrick then. , she said. She reached out for my hand, so I gave her mine. Yes, you are right, how did you know?, I wondered.
We were waiting for you. But you are early.
I know, ten minutes
I said.
Ah well it doesnt matter. Maria, the office manager, she is in, and she is waiting for you, I ll take you to her.
I felt the eyes of the other Island lady hitting my back and undressing me as I was taken to the big chief.
Maria was a good looking woman in her mid forties, sitting behind a hidden desk, in one of the corners of the office. She was playing with her mouse.
Sit down. She urged, after welcoming me with another handshake.
This is my play yard
, she continued, I scroll down in our lists of systems, tracking down which might fail or are failing, and then I order them in the States
, she added, as if I knew what the hell she was talking about. I knew Matrix Inc. was situated in Nevada, Nebraska, with an own home plant, where they made their own brand systems for the automotive market. Automotive means all things that roll from their own.
We, in Belgium, we take care of the European market., Maria continued, all our systems arrive in the port of Antwerp, twice a week. , which seemed logical to me.
Anissa and Inez take care of the customers. They need urgent support for our German market. Then she leaned over to me and whispered: they especially need someone who is more mature in the business towards our costumers, because they are a bit young and they sure lack experience, thats the least I can say about them...; she said, not quite unprejudiced. Our customer Service needs some serious aid from someone who really knows how to handle a customer. Quite often things are now not what they should be
she added mysteriously, obviously not quite satisfied with those two beauties. I had no idea what she was talking about, she did not explain to the full extend. I suggest you go now to our account department, to Tanja, she will tell you a bit more about the company and then you have a talk with your future colleagues
, when you re done, you come back to me, then. She said.
Ok, fine for me. I agreed, wondering how smooth this conversation really went for a first talk on a possible future job, that is
.
I had not seen Tanja before. She also was hiding, in another corner of the office behind some strategically placed cupboards.
My God, she was ugly. Her ugliness struck me like a sledge hammer, I could not speak a word.
I honestly have never ever seen a more hideous women in my entire life, and you bet I have seen quite some women up till now. Tanja was that kind of women where an extreme makeover would absolutely fail because you would not know where to begin first. Teeth, ears, hair, neck, nose, eyes, hands, breasts,
they all had something they should not have had
Her teeth pointed in all directions; her ears she used to fly home with; her neck was double the size of a normal one; her nose almost touched her chin so she could easily pick her nose with her tongue; her eyes were hidden beyond two bottoms of marmalade goblets; her hands were those from a carpenter and her breasts were reduced to two standing nipples in the freezing cold
I did not dare to imagine how the rest of her body would look like
I admit I gave it a thought for a second but I almost had to vomit, so I grabbed her huge hand and took place before her. She must have been a hell of a bookkeeper, why on earth would anyone hire such a person? Hundred years ago such persons travelled around the globe as an attraction in a circus, next to the women with the beard
Is there still justice on this planet?
When she opened her mouth, Tanja maintained the same level of human creepiness
she did not only speak totally droning and tedious but equally slow, what made me want to get rid of her and get out of there as soon as I could
I did not have to say anything. Once Tanja started her discourse about Matrix Inc, it was as if nothing could stop her
she went on and on and on as if she was sent from heaven to introduce me by
telling me the most boring company details I had ever heard in my life
Her unattractiveness quite easily crushed the natural beauty I saw at the island when I came in earlier. My sense of beauty had suffered tremendously by now, so I longed for my next stop at the customer service.
I had no idea how long she kept blabbering, but all of a sudden it was over.
She stopped. I stood up as quick as possible reaching out my hand to her as to make clear that for me the saying goodbye was serious and beyond reasonable doubt.
I hope to see you soon back in this office..; she said. I bet you do, I thought, a bit feeling guilty about judging on a person only because of her appearance, which was, at least to be described as unpleasant to look at, which was the understatement of the year.
I took a seat at what as going to be, or supposed to be my future desk. Right in front of me, my desk made connection with the two desks of the two beauties, Anissa and Inez. Both were foreign origin. No, they were Belgians, but looked foreign. Because of their parents, who came from abroad. Anissa was a clear exemple of a Moroccan type, with big dark eyes, and very explicit hips. Her hair was raven black. She behaved a bit awkward and seemed uncomfortable
towards me.
She was dressed in a very fashionable, clearly western way, not one component would refer to her roots. She wore explicit make-up. Her clothes came from famous design fashion boutiques in the shopping centre, nearby. She looked expensive.
Inez was sheer class from her own. An ode to womanhood. The summum of female elegance. The complete pole of Tanja. On her body every detail was perfect. She was a pleasure to look at. This is, again, an understatement.
The first thing Anissa told me, actually she whispered (the second time that someone whispered to me in this office, a bad sign or what?), was that Maria clearly was the office manager, but that the real manager of matrix Systems Inc. was mr. Poulain Dujournot, a Frenchman. He travels most of his time
., Anissa, added, he also takes care of the French and European customers. I didnt quite understand why she made a difference between French and European? Maybe she did not know that France was part of Europe? Impossible. What a thought.
We never know exactly where he is
, she continued, as he never leaves his agenda
.- Isnt that a bit weird? - I though by myself, because I was not in a position yet to question the people who were on the verge of hiring my services
.and sometimes he shows up
, but only once or twice a month or sometimes even less. But he is coming in next week, especially to see you and to talk to you. She added as if I had anything to do with his absenteeism at the office.
Because we really need some support from someone who knows to speak German.
Last year, Mr. Dujournot has hired a German sales manager for the German and East-European market and thats where you com in
she said. This German sales manager, his name is Wolfgang Hansen, he is a real German. She said, emphasizing the word German, indicating that in her opinion a German is not quite someone you can easily live with, not her
Wolfgang speaks English, but his customers dont., she said almost desperately.
And they call here all the time, the beauty of Inez joined the conversation.
They just refuse to speak English
.even if they know we are an American company. She pointed out to get her truth.
But I refuse to speak German., Anissa said. First of all, I never had any German language training in school, and I know they all understand English, who doesnt these thays? I saw a very determinate, almost fanatic look sparkle in the dark eyes of Anissa as she defended her lack of knowledge. they are not telling me what language I should speak at the phone
as long as they phone to an American company they better should learn how to speak English, thats what I think.
But obviously Wolfgang thinks different about this and the complaints of his customers have forced him and mr Dujounot to rummage around for a German speaking correspondent.
What do they whine about then? I asked, just to try to comprehend the whole picture.
Didnt you hear what I was just telling you?, Anissa smashed in my face? That I refuse to speak German at the phone, of course. There was some wildness in her looks now, I havent seen before.
oh, right
, I said, slightly shocked by her rude answer, making my heart shrink, which is a feeling that I sooo much not like at all
..this feeling of a cold shower internally spreading through all your veins, making you feel paralysed in words and action, freezing up your mind so no justified and appropriate answer could emerge to correct the unjust situation, clearly not in my favour at that time
I could not know, nor predict, at this very moment in time that my heart would go through this process of negativism and internal bleeding for far more times than I could ever have imagined in my whole life.
Nor could I foretell that this freezing internal cold, over and over again inflicted by words and actions of Anissa, would slowly demolish my inner personal warmth and natural kindness I was born with
.
You better go back now to Maria, to make another appointment next week, with mr Dujournot., Anissa said, as sweet as she ever could be.
Ok, I said and went back to the desk of Maria.
I see it works out fine, Maria concluded.
So I ll be seeing you next week Friday, at eleven o clock, for an appointment with our general manager mr Dujournot. When he is in Belgium, he doesnt come in until after ten. Maria explained, he likes to sleep.
-Dont we all? I thought a bit astonished at the least. But I was happy that all went so smoothly and I was about to say goodbye to my dearest mrs I-cannot-delegate-stress -my -back -a -little more Nicole Meddle. One more conversation to go.This was the most important thought and most valuable element in the cause of things for me currently.
The awkward elements that occurred during my conversations at Matrix Systems Inc. did not seem subsequently appropriate nor threatening, in no way they would become eventually by cause of time.
As I thought I was now altering my future for the better, in my crystal-clear benefit, I never could have guessed I was accomplishing the complete opposite and that I was working myself into a situation beyond reason, nor association with whatever could have been
Different signs from different angles were presented to me, on a golden plate, but I did not want to recognize, nor identify them. I felt, something at Matrix Systems Inc. was wrong, completely wrong, but I could not grasp what it was, nor did I see its relevance nor its threat to me as a person. For me, the relief to get rid of awful mrs Meddle had such a high impact on my scale of priorities, that all other anomalies and weird irregularities seemed to be even quite all right.
Here, at Matrix Systems Inc, we like to work with people who are absolute independent and can make decisions of their own. Mistakes, you cannot afford, and if made one, you are the sole responsible to solve the problems you caused yourself., Maria told me. This, of course sounded as music of Neil Diamond in my ears, coming from this controle freak of a women Meddle, who even would sign the sheets of toilet paper before using them, if she could do so.
No, no, this was a great moment in my life, I took some specific action to clear my misery and I made it happen that my life would, at last be upgraded to normal standards
I would be able to be feel happiness again, I would be able to enjoy my life again
Matrix Systems would make it possible for me
Would it?
Mr Dujournot travels all the time. He visits our customers all over Europe. But hes fed up with the Germans, thats why he hired Wolfgang Hanssen.Wolfgang was a warehouse manager in his earlier life. He worked with one of our biggest German customers. Mr Dujournot bought him out, to represent Matrix systems. So hes pretty new here with us, for about one year now. But hes having hard times, believe me, with the lack of direct professional German service here in the office
That ll all change when you come in the picture
, Maria kept telling
.
I see from your résumé that your German is quite all right
, she unjustly tore down the unambiguous superiority of my German acquaintance. We let you do some tests on all major languages, because the candidate we had before you , was such a catastrophe, we did not want to go through such a debacle again
, she explained. Thats why I had to go through some language testing, which I did quite well, thank you, the results were even beyond excellence, especially my German! Working for over ten years unswervingly with Germans, guiding them through half of the world, gave me the prospect of upgrading this lingo to the highest level. If I mastered anything in this life, then it would surely be my knowledge of the German language. It sounds weird, I know, who the fuck studies and controls the German language anyway, when you are not born over there? Right, not one living soul
Especially with the war and stuff
Wold war two isnt that long ago, you know
And half of the current Belgium population still suffers today from a huge guilt feeling because their ancestors collaborated
shame on them! shame on them
mine did not, they fled to France. The cowards
but thats why I had no prejudice whatsoever to study this language. Actually it was a choice I made out of pure sluggishness. To my surroundings I must have seemed to be an idiosyncratic freak.
The German language is just a fixation in my life that keeps on haunting me
Up till today. Til this very moment. Maybe it ll even will have something to do with the outcome of this book
I cant explain actually. As from the first lesson in class, in the fourth grade that was, were I had three hours of German education, it became crystal clear that this was something that I had in me. It just emerged, just like that, as if I had lived a full previous German life. I scored the highest grades and kept on doing so till the end of my studies.
Mr Dujournot is a long sleeper., Maria added. I did not know if she found this repulsive or not. Did she want to criticize him on this abhorrent oriental behaviour by telling me this? What on earth do I care about his sleeping habits? I just want this job, thats all.
He comes in way after ten, checks his mail and mostly leaves again in the early afternoon.. I honestly started to think that Maria wanted to emphasize the importance of her position by deteriorating the whereabouts of the general manager of Matrix Systems in Belgium. So her impact and decisions where those that counted.
I see you next Friday, then
Maria hoisted herself from her chair and reached out her hand to me. It was over, this charade. We both shook hands and we made it to the door again, because Maria accompanied me as if I could or would lose my way in between all this clutter of desks and drawers .
We passed an empty desk.
Here sits Rick., Maria added. He took the day off. He plays with models, modelling boats, that is, she corrected, noticing my astonished look on my face. modelling boats on smaller scales, that actually sail. They compete and today there was a huge competition.
Who is Rick? I asked further, because I could not yet place his desk in the whole of Matrix Systems.
His name is Rick Vijvers, and he is the office engineer. He knows everything about our Matrix systems; so if a customer has any question about this, he is the guy you need
,she said.
He is the only one who smokes in this office., Maria explained. Normally this is a non smoking office, as it is now even forbidden by law. But Rickis soo addicted; he cant do without a cigarette for two minutes. So we installed , we let install of course, a strong filter above his head in the ceiling, so the smoke does not bother the rest of us. Maria told me.
Do you smoke, by the way?, Maria asked me on the verge of leaving
No, madam, I do not, I replied. I did once but I stopped smoking after I concluded that two packages of Marlboro per day could not be that good for your health. I stopped from one day to the other.
Oh, good for you., Maria said, for you and for us. A smoking problem less
then.
Bye then, see you Friday.
Yes, until Friday, then
After closing the office door, I went down the stairs with a mixture of feelings; glad on one hand that it seemed that I got the job, or I should be such an asshole during the conversation with mr Dujournot that he trows me out
; but on the other hand somehow distrustful of what I had seen or did not see during my visit at Matrix Systems.
The near future would tell me more
chapter three : happiness
"Nobody can or will ever feel or understand what I am feeling now as a human being." I was thinking.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
"Nobody ever would know anything about how hard it is to be me...", "to be as I really am..."
I definitely was feeling lonely again with my devastating thoughts and feelings and self pity wasn't far away either.
But it was not about self pity only. It was about a state of mind. I was born with. I am born with, up till now. I had no reason at this time to be in such mood. I was being fairly successful, I might say, although grades of success are always to be taken with pounds of salt as they would say in our region, meaning it is not all as hot as the soup is served
.meaning, ah well, you know best
. but I did have the chance of my life to make a definite change to the physical demoralizing position I was in, with someone a mrs Meddle as chief in charge, causing my debacle.
For the first time since long, I would have the prospect and opportunity to be selected again for my linguistic capacities, My German knowledge would save me, once again. But save me from what? From feeling lonely? Guess not
from feeling less in pain? Guess not
.from feeling lost in performance and words, being seated on a secreted island, where not one single sole in this world would know its existence about? Guess not
.
It would just save me from mere accumulated substantial physical pain and reprieve me from bodily discomfort. I would be able to restore and regenerate the values of my human flesh again. Maybe my mind would pursue these slow steps to improvement of my direct environmental variables
Maybe I would be able to rehabilitate my state of psyche.
I bite my fingernails.
I still bite my fingernails. All of them. And hard. Till the end, cruelly bitten till the end, the ends of anguish.. Till nothing is left. To bite. Till it bleeds. Till I get dismayed by the looks of my fingers. Would I bite my nails if I were cured? I dunno. Maybe, maybe not...
I could not help it. It was, once again, stronger then myself. As many things seem to be stronger then me. Am I soo weak a person then? Biting my nails was only one of the few elements one could easily detect as a token of my inner devastation and chaos. The inner wreckage shown by destroyed fingers. I have been biting my nails since birth so I clearly know that I was not gifted by any possible powerful creator by a authoritative inner defence system. I have been like this all of my life. Insecure about it all. About everything, about everyone. My fingernails are the worst part of my body. The most nauseating thing you 'd ever see. Appalling...still, sometimes in the cause of time they were actually present in my life. I had once real nails. Very nice ones actually...beautifully capturing the ends of my slim line long fingers. Now they wait there to shock people as rude graveyards of daggered out graves. The bastards...why do i have them? Maybe because all this is not over yet? Maybe because I still have to finish what i have started on these pages? I know I have to write quite a lot more to reveal the horrible truth and painful reality towards it all. But I am patient. Therefore I ate and eat my nails. My time will come. That is for sure. Not one fibre in my veins will leave this kind of injustice not judged.
Are you all still there? Are you still with me? I certainly do hope so. Cause I need yall. Very hard! And very much indeed. If you are, you can always inform me by sending me a mail or by leaving your commentary in my guestbook. I can always use some help and support in the construction of a masterpiece as huge as I am creating now with an impact I can only dream of. So let know of you
Maybe you ll get a part in the story as well. On the right side. On the just side.
Did you know that I actually hate, using this word only after starting to work with Matrix inc., people with nails bitten of? I despise them. They are scum. Big losers; that is what I thought indeed. Deep down I know they are not but they are stored in my brain as human trash, as extremely weak persons, with small or no individuality at all. As you see, I like to shred myself into tiny pieces. Nothing I would leave in one piece when it comes down to me and myself and I. But this does not mean I will take all the credit for what is going to appear at the closing stages of this libretto. My obvious functional deficiency is not going to be the foundation or reason of it all. It will merely be functioning as the key to the birth of all final accomplishments, clearing up the dark clouds and misty horizons I live in today. My state of mind is only and merely a hinder and obstruction to a hasty outcome. It allows me to set things straight before ending them. It allows me to explain to you all why it had to end this way as it all will do.
I do not like see myself as a loser. I do not like to see so many deficiencies on me. I wish I knew who I was, who I am, now at this point in my life. Somehow I do need an enclosure to be able to find myself.
I hate mediocrity. I fear mediocrity. Its boring. Its bad. Its sad. And it is making all people who stand above mediocrity, laugh at you. I hate being laughed at. But I am. Still at my age. I am not bringing myself down, no sir. I refuse to do so. However, time has taught me more personal deficiencies and bodily as well as mentally derisory and inadequate functioning than I d ever hoped for.
The funny thing is, that, seated on a life boat of a cruise liner, being brought back from shore to the ship in an exquisite surroundings like the fjord of Geiranger in Norway, one could believe, it all does not matter at all. The tiny air of swift happiness, floating between ones fingers, leaving a thrill in the chest behind, not grasping the full extend of all external fuss, is sooo hard to catch or to hang on to. Its all just a matter of seconds. Seconds that make your day, even your life. Rare they are, these moments of ecstasy. But I had them. Even several times.
Am I thus blessed? Partly yes, I guess so. But I did not yet enter Matrix Inc. for the second time. To see Mr. Dujournot, the general manager of Matrix Inc. The big chief. This was taking place next Friday. At 10 oclock, was it? No silly, he likes to sleep till ten, the appointment is at eleven! Be attentive.
Lets all go to the meeting, to the interview.
Chapter four : supremacy conquers the intellect
Chapter four : supremacy conquers the intellect<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
I wanted this job at Matrix Inc. I wanted it so badly, you cannot imagine. My forbearance boundaries had been reached. My back was under medical treatment; weakly shots directly in the cramped muscles should loosen things up and redirect the threat of a cordial dysfunction, since the heart is a muscle too, remember? And I surely did not want any cramp in my heart muscle, thats for sure. Id do anything for this job. It was my hope for a better life, nicer hours, a more regular existence from 9 to 5. The endangered nightly returns home with the local tram, filled with shaggy drunks and stoned nitwits, could soon be belonging to the past. Mrs Meddle was on the threshold to be buried alive in the forgotten margins of my memory.
Of course I wondered what I, a former international why dont you say world tour leader, a ex cruise ship customer care representative, even a former quality control manager, would or could be of any significance in this company, on this echelon, just above nil; a company that manufactures an artefact that I did not even know to position in the scheme of things. I just wanted to get rid of mrs Meddle and all connotations to this atrocious woman. Give me this job, man
ah, come on now
The office looked the same. Same people, same desks. But no Maria. I did not see Maria.
Anissa Hamsa came to me the minute she saw me entering the door. She started to whisper immediately : Maria has been fired
, Anissa hushed in my ear. It was almost erotical. She choose the wrong side
, Anissa tried to explain in a rush, because if anything would be clear, Anissa gave the impression of being placed under severe anxiety and performed like haunted wild meat on stage.
she tried to defend us, here at the office
she added, seemingly at the end of her tether and seeking to finish the whole story before our big chief would appear from behind one of those scattered and dispersed desks.
against mr Dujournot
it was no use
she kept whispering, still close to my ear, so close my trousers started to shrivel up for its content.
she urged to get some sun protection, on the windows, that is, but it appeared to be too expensive. For mr Dujournot, that is
It all ended in a terrible tussle and at the end, she was sent away, just like that!, Anissa hushed again.
Mr Dujournot just said that she choose the wrong side
he actually said this to all of us
Anissa whispered, still. It was obvious I walked into a scene I did not want to be part of. Destiny choose otherwise. She got the sack
I, in fact, could not believe what was really happening here
Could this mean I was to fail my job? This question must have been written all over me, because, without even having spoken one single word, Anissa continued : but this has nothing to do with you
Mr Dujournot is expecting you. He just came in. He was late. He always is late.", she added, kind of hateful. or did it just seem to be like this? Her voice suddenly became sinister and razor-sharp. It shook me up. Out of nowhere or at least from behind one or another cupboard, a small creature materialized behind Anissa. Out of the blue. I did not see him coming. He just stood there. Saying nothing, just observing Anissa Hamsa and me.
Bizarre, wont you say so?
Small creature, I said
and so it was. When I say small, it is small. He was clearly undersized. I have no gain at all by twisting or bending the specifics as they are in real. He had a skeletal visage and his costume appeared too big. I spotted his nose. His nose, my God, did he have a nose! You effortlessly could open any tin can in the world with such nose. Huge and sharp. Sharp as the hateful voice of Anissa and colossal as opposed to his body length.
His hair gave the impression of being very greasy and appeared to be stuck or cemented on his head. It had a very clear shine, not the outcome of the usage of some creams or hair gel, but of clear plain bodily fat.
His suit, although to big for his tallness, was a high quality big label made by Hugo Boss ensemble, probably pure silk, stating his wealthy upper class position within this strange company.
Anissa spotted immediately that I was not giving her any attention anymore because I was busy evaluating this rare human specimen at the back of her and she suddenly turned around, as she probably felt the huge nose on her hirsute back. Mr Dujournot, she shouted, quite unnatural. This is Patrick. Patrick, this is mr Dujournot., she concluded. We both shook hands. Shall we?, mr Dujournot spoke, for the first, and pointed towards a separate room which appeared to be his personal office.
Thank you, Anissa, thank you
, he added towards Anissa Hamsa in a way to tell her that her part in this encounter was to be ended. But she did not seem to feel this and kept smiling and kept observing our first encounter. I ll take over from here., mr Dujournot added, to make clear what he indicated before. We entered the separate office and whilst I took an offered chair, Mr Dujournot closed the door, before taking the outsized seat in buffalo leather at the other side of a massive hand carved mahogany desk. It was an hilarious scene to me. As if he was drowning in his furniture. Like all those shrunk old ladies behind the steering wheels of an American car. But I could not afford to explode into laughter, although the urge to do so, was never so close.
So this is mr Horrible, I thought, whom one should be afraid of. One wrong word and youre out. Thats what happened to Maria actually. For some strange raison d'être, I did not feel anxious, I even felt myself quite relaxing and comfy, opposite a midget with power. Life is a huge lie, can't be otherwise. We all live a lie. Each and every one of us. Some know about this, other do not. This whole society is a gigantic lie. Sometimes, on the most unexpected moments in ones life, certain things happen, things that alter your life or try to change it permanently.
My pc just broke down. First the specialists thought all data were erased, but this seemed not to be the case. They could save the data and thus, now I am working again as I cannot be stopped telling you this story of resentment, hate, human disgrace, pestering and torture.
Many times I have a feeling that I do not even exist. It is a strange feeling, that is the least I can say. Whatever I do or write, or act, no reaction whatsoever comes from no one, not even as to say : hey, you are still alive and kicking
no, nothing. It is as if I live in a parallel universe where people can see me, but the more they see me, the more they seem to ignore me and my whereabouts. These are dangerous thoughts. I could try to cross the road with my eyes closed, see what happens then
would they see me? Would this huge truck driver spot me on the midst of his rushed expedition to a commercial just-in-time triumph? I would never know, I guess
and I value my life at this point too much, so I do not intend to practice these malicious thoughts of mine.
But the harder I think about this matter, the stronger I come to see that most crucial events in my life were completed as a consequence of pure circumstantial luck and not as a result of considerate and proactive performances of mine. I did take some fundamental decisions in life. And they led to drastic changes, but only because of other elements that seemed to join me in my pursuit of human happiness. As a counterbalance to those decisions that caused me to smile more than to weep, I surely had my part of wrong pronouncements that pushed me again and again against the wall of humiliation and despair.
Driven and even obsessed by the urge of gaining money and getting rid of the atrocious and rotten character of my current superior, I was prepared to take on every kind of job I would encounter. The business of mr Dujournot, the self indulging dwarf right in front of me, was as unknown to me as the life of the elderly and stupid. Do not get me wrong here, I did not, at that period in time, any harmful feelings against mr Dujournot, at the contrary.
Because it was he, who in fact decided to talk to me with the potential of hiring my services for his company, that made me feel even positively strong about him and his managerial capacities. He was my knight in shining armour , my saviour, back then. And I always have been very loyal in my life towards those people who had but first-class intentions with my person. Especially those in a higher social ranking than me. Although his body language indicate totally otherwise and his nose looked threatening sharp, pointing towards me as an obvious tool he probably used to emphasize his dreadful commands, mr Dujournot had all in favour, back then, back there.
He did not speak a word, just sat behind his too bigger desk, fondling around in his paperwork. There wasnt much of paperwork on his desk. His desk was as clean and spotless as a surgeons operating table. To me it was clear he did not spend much of his executive time in this air-conditioned and frigid office. Still, he seemed to have lost something, till all of a sudden, he smiled and stated : ah, here it is
, taking my résumé from underneath another pile of a threesome letters in the middle of his colossal working table. He looked at my résumé for about five very long minutes,; till he looked at me and said : you do have a remarkable past of customer care experience, but then I can see it is merely in the holiday business, in the tourism business, that is
, I wonder why you choose now to come to work for us?, he added.
Well, mr Dujournot, the fact that I want another job has merely to do with my health, since I do not have any free own will at my present job, I even have to let sign my ordering sandwiches sheet, so she can start to discuss about anything if she has it in her. , I stated, quite honestly, trying to be as straight forward as I could be, not in the least because it was the truth. furthermore, I do not like the terrible working hours, since most meetings take until late at night, and I have to stay put, till the last man or woman leaves the building. My family life is not all as it should be at the moment, and I like to improve that too. I added.
But what about your customer service, then? How do you see this then? he tried to find a way to bring me out of balance, but did not succeed, with this additional question. I honestly think that customer service is always the same in its essence, that is; no matter what product you deliver to your customer, all customers are the same to you and deserve to be treated equally, not in relation to what or how many they buy from you. The product should be OK, of course, I cannot work for a company with lousy products (I did not know at that time what the quality of the product of Matrix systems Inc was all about, they could be the worst on the market, I did not care back then, my major issue was to get rid of
you know
), the products have to be good. And when the quality is ok, then all your customers have to be treated in an equal way.
I d do anything for my customers., I added, pretty self-confident, because this was one of the certainties in my life. I even crawled for my customers, as long as they were pleased with my service.
I have a very clear vision on customer care, and I have been practicing this during all of my career, until now, with success!, I threw in.
Whether they come to meet in one of our rooms or whether they go on holiday, or whether they buy your product
, they all deserve the best possible care, and that is what I am always trying to accomplish in my work.
Mr Dujournot smiled and put my résumé back on his small pile of papers. Ok, he said, for me its ok. You can start as soon as your term at your other work has finished. I am happy to welcome you to Matrix Systems Inc. He stood up, reaching is skeletal hand towards me, bending a long way over his oversized desk. Of course I was happy, it seemed to me the happiest day in a long time in my life. I think I glowed. For pride and relieve. My God, how I would enjoy my saying goodbye to Nicole Meddle, the bitch.
What about my salary?, I tried to insert into the development of things. Ah, yes, Ill pay you what you earn now, plus Ill multiply it by 13.9, so all extra months and legal requirements are settled, plus do not forget that you are now part of our bonus system, which means that you can earn again one extra months salary on top of this, if the annual results are ok for the States.;, he declared triumphantly as if he had to pay this out of his own pocket. We shook hands and I left the office, followed by mr Dujournot.
Patrick is going to work for us., he shouted into the office, so everybody know at once the current status of our negotiations. I had a smile from ear to ear, feeling as if I could fly in the air, and I guess that is how I got home, because I cannot remember how I did this. I wasnt drunk, I went straight back home, eager to tell the good news to those who would benefit.
Mr Dujournot was a saint. Thats for sure. The ease and decisiveness he hired me (I did not even had to prove my German capacities) proved to me he was one of the few great leaders of this planet. Boy, was I wrong. How could I ever be so wrong in judging a person, just blinded by the fact that he practically saved my life at that moment in time.
I had no clue whatsoever I survived my first encounter with one of the biggest company orientated hard-nosed swindler, opportunistic, ruthless liar and human manipulator I would ever see in my entire life. He most definitely was and still is the biggest master charlatan/con artist I have ever met.
The character, whereabouts and everyday behaviour of mr Dujournot would commence to reveal itself to my observations and turn out to be and to confirm the worst case scenario ever a person could encounter in his life. But I did not know that. How could I? How should I? I was happy, (Just leave me happy for a second, will you?) The encounters of such malicious individuals and twisted characters cause brain damage. At least to me.
They confirm to me that life is a lie. The life we all lead is a pure lie.
Nothing is true and the truth isnt even true. It is false. The truth is only true for those who benefit from it. Money changes the truth. Money manipulates the truth. Power violates the truth. Power turns it into lies. The lies of our lives. Why do I say such things. Am I damaged? Sure, for a part, sure. But I am still clear and lucid enough to see things as they are. I still can put them in perspective, to one another, to me, to the world.
Once each and every one of us is born and put on this planet, we are forced upon with rules and instructions, with guidance and control systems. We are raised by big brother. By big money brother. As long as money and power is involved, as good as anything is allowed. For those who have money and power. They set the rules, they conclude our standards. They call it school. Now they speak about long life studying projects, since school time is not sufficient anymore. We need more time to absorb all guidelines and rules and agreements money and power inflict upon us. And mr Dujournot turned out to be the perfect answer to all these immoral and de motivating, depressing but true thoughts I dared to describes in the lines above. He embodied the ultimate confirmation that all evil odds in life can be true and existing, vivid and non-erasable, strong and present in our lives, if we want this or not. Even if we would oppose to the strongest of our believes and hopes, iniquity is amongst us all; so sad this statement and observation I made, I have to confirm. Since Mr Dujournot confirmed it as well. Through his actions, his thoughts, his behaviour, his manipulative moves, he slowly revealed himself to me, during the months and years to come, as the existence of profound, intentional immorality and premeditated wickedness.
I do not say this just for fun. This is no fun. This is horror. This has been horror. That is why I am writing these pages to you all, to make you a real witness of it all. So you can participate in the wonder of disbelieve and rejection, in the desperate effort of denunciation and unmistakable but slow acceptance, since prove of horror came and nestled itself in my rebellious and ever struggling brain cells to keep this amount of human devastation out of my clean system. So you would believe. Believe my inner destruction, caused by this real evil. So you d see how this works. How these sick individuals practice their ruthless techniques of self enrichment and self glorification. You 'd be surpised!
chapter five : sales
Chapter five sales<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
At times I think it is all in vain. I think life is all in vain. I get the creeps when thoughts start to haunt me that all we do on this planet, is in vain.
I hate these thoughts. Sometimes I do really think and believe, which is even worse, that it all has no reason. No reason at all. If I would have been here or not. If all those brave men, fighting for war in bitter red sands, between scattered houses of disgrace by strangled and raped women, unseen by any authority, passed undiscovered through the eye of the believer, that all ends well, those freedom fighters who are ripped apart by the next self-exploding terrorist who is expecting to get his seventy virgins awaiting at the other end of total emptiness, would believe they were here on a purpose, then I must admit that I do not see the ultimate drive those guys hang on to. I can not be that there is a bigger purpose to it all. We are. Nothing more nothing less. And I am starting to see now that just being here, is a bigger challenge then I ever could have guessed in my early days of my existence, where all those others, were trying soo hard by each and every means they had, to let me believe the other truth of life.
But, since my last technical stop at Matrix systems Inc. They only have become stronger then ever. These thoughts, I mean. Of course, strengthened by the behaviour of super dwarf mr. Dujournot and his disciples. But I should not run ahead of things. I tend to do that. I dunno why. Maybe Id like to see this story to an end. I dunno. As in I do not know. Actually, I do not know much at all. About nothing. All has been said. Lets not repeat the said. Nor the done. Lets move forward, firm and strict, keeping myself to the facts. As fact only will enable you to see. To see the end result of things to come. Focus. I will.
Still, at the time being, I was grateful and happy that mr. Dujournot had hired me to be part of his team. I even had a clear objective. To start so to speak from scratch to build up the German speaking and new eastern European market, together with our guy in the field, our sales, mr Wolfgang Hansen. A real German, of course. No one could be more German than our Wolfgang. But I ll tell you later about him.
This was some improvement for me personally! I came from a surroundings where I couldnt even go to the toilet without the written consent of my direct superior. Now I had it all clear and free for me to handle. Mr Dujournot, being part of his international sales team, was still combining his job as managing director with the sales for <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />France and some scattered European clients, reaching from Island to Northern Africa, to Greece. I bet He like travelling. So he would not be around that much, maybe once, twice a month? Maybe.
For me this sounded like heaven. Freedom at last. Freedom of speech, freedom of handling, freedom of acting. Of course this way of working needed a strong sense of responsibility, but with my background over the years on delivering perfect customer support, even on different levels, I clearly had the odds going for me. At that time. Life was great! It all would turn out fine! At last! Life is a feast! A sumptuous excessive dinner, I only took the wrong doors to get to the opulent banquette, but finally I would have reached my haven of recognition and appreciation of inherent and unmistakable customer care qualities. So maybe, just maybe, there was a God, then. There.
Was there?
Time was back then like walking on roses, thrown on the floor by a bunch of the most splendid and magnificent Sri Lankan beauties, making up your bed and leaving a good night sirback on your pillow, written by freshly picked flower leaves, sooo sweet. The future seemed bright. The sun wasnt strong enough to match my inner glow of intense happiness and firm believe in all mankind.
The first time I met Wolfgang Hanssen, the German part of Matrix sales and my direct battle companion in our war against all others to obtain world leadership, I wasnt surprised at all. Having worked several years with our German friends in all possible countries as a former tour-guide, I only had but excellent references and experiences with the German breed. Although, it is true one cannot generalize in describing or characterizing a people or race, from my personal experience on the field, I may confirm that the broader lines and remarks about the Germans, exist and are conform the clichés build around them.
So one can say, without making a huge blunder, that all Germans are straight forward and do not like to be treated badly without immediate reaction. They act immediately when something is not according to their expectations. If you want me to compare these thought with the Dutch, they are pretty much the same, only they are not so rude as the Germans sometimes appear to be. The Belgians however like to bade into their own mischief and if, if they decide to say something about it, they will do so, long after the actual discrepancy occurred. Or they stay silent and endure their grief and sorrow. But they never, ever com back to you again for the same services. Belgians are so to speak a bit more false, and artificial in their behaviour: they rather gossip about the encountered injustice than to react to set things straight. They do not dare to hit the bull by the horns. They prefer to go by the back and hitting it in the ass by destructive gossip and backstabbing whisper.
But Wolgang was clearly one of the German kind. And I have something with Germans. I do not know what it is but I have something going with those people. If their would be a former live possible, I probably would have lived several lives in the former great German unity. I dunno. What I do know is that I always was able to handle them. I, the small Belgian guide, with utmost basic self esteem, was able to control and handle the brutal Germans. It blended in perfectly. Our actions and words coincided as ying and yang. But do not get me wrong here. I just was an observer of this factum, just as you are now. I could do nothing but acknowledge myself of these facts that would change my life forever. We matched, the Germans and I, a marriage of the better kind.
Wolfgang confirmed all clichés possible by his tongue and deeds. He was a bit younger than I but in no way this would appear a disadvantage to him. His elaborate self esteem combined with his direct handling approach put him miles above me and in a strict hierarchic way of speaking, this would serve him well at the end, since outdoor sales representation is still highly regarded above indoor sales support. Yes it is. No need to argue here.
Wait till I put some figures on it. Like the way Matrix systems Inc remunerated both opposite (in and out) sales sides completely separately and differently. So different it blew my sock off. How did I know? How did I find out, you may wonder, quite correctly. All figures and numbers were to be found in our computer system. There was no reading protection, nor a password protection whatsoever build in our system for those supposing secret data of personal salaries and bonuses. Of course I did not find this out from day one. It took some time to get me familiar with both the inside people and the used system to be able to detect what I came to witness in the months to come. Anissa Hamsa knew this. And told every one. If I would have known this on day one, I wouldnt have started to work for Matrix Systems Inc at the first place. Running ahead again, am I? Yes sir!
Back to Wolfgang. We came along perfectly. Also due to my apparent inherent perfect way to German adaptation. We formed a real unit. Inside and out. Like resilient partners from some daft American police series. Together on the coach, the front seat in a police car. Sticking up for one another. Wolfgang liked me. I Liked him, as a German that is. I did not like him enough to be a friend. Therefore he was too blunt. Too straightforward. So straightforward that the way he acted became even impolite. At times. Many times. This wasnt my stuff. But with my shy attitude, we both matched together as if it was all meant to be. He liked me because he needed me. He needed my support at the office. Boy, did he need me in the office. Wolfgang came on the Matrix train one year before I joined in. He was very happy with my presence and my future customer support he would get. He never had decent support before. This bygone year has been extremely awful for him. There was no one who spoke German at the office. This was at the least a major catastrophe for all German clients and all German speaking clients. So they all called Wolfgang. For trivial and insignificant office matters. They bothered him. He got pissed. He could not behave. So God sent me in. To rescue Wolfgang.
One day I sat next to him in his dark blue Audi A6, a beautiful German car (a true German always tries to drive a German car) on our way to meet some of the most important German customers. I noticed some hard dehydrated stains on the dashboard, right in front of me, in front of the passengers front seat. I was still wondering what this dried out filth could be or how it could have emerged on the dashboard, when all of a sudden the answer was given to me. Wolfgang started to make some real roaring sounds as if he would be a bear, when he spitted some fluids out of his mouth, combined with a direct load out of his nasals, directly into the palm of his right hand, which he cleaned with one straight move on the dashboard in front of me. Excuse me, he said, no handkerchief. And that was it. I became sick.
Great guy, Wolfgang. I mean it. .I liked him. Not his dashboard action, not his blunt behaviour, but his commercial, professional attitude. We worked well. Together we achieved what we were hired for. Wolfgang did not make much out of his first year. He desperately needed back up at the office. Back up that failed last year. Back up that made me come to Matrix Systems Inc.
This all sounds as if I was the great savvier of this German market. None is lesser true. There was practically no German Market. Besides of a few single operating customers in Germany, we had no real market whatsoever. So no market could have been saved by me. You cannot save a market that does not exist. We had to start from zero. This is what I liked. To really build up something from the beginning , knowing that what you did, really had an impact on the whole. My desk was part of an island, together with the desks of Anissa and Inez.
The plan was that those two girls I can speak here of girls, since they both just left school and were in their early twenties would disclose all customer secrets to me. At first, I thought that I was a bit over exaggerated by my new challenge ahead, that I did not seem to get all the information from my two beauties in front of me, the way I should get it; they systematically seemed to ignore me as a person and the necessary information flow never outgrew a premature level of constant asking and splintered updating of my knowledge to become a feasible unit within Matrix Inc. In stead of actually helping me becoming a member of their team, they apparently did everything to obstruct and delay this kind of operation.
They laughed a lot. At each other, with each other. They had a lot of fun. They talked a lot, not about work, in fact, never about work. They both sat right in front of me, facing each other. So the talking worked well, as the ignoring did. They just didnt want to see in my direction when I was in need for some critical information on a German customer. Of course I picked up all phones from German speaking clients from day one onwards, relieving the pressure of failing knowledge from my blabbering twosome in front of me.
This situation was becoming so gross that at the end of week one, mr Dujournot, still in the house, surprisingly suggested that I should present myself on Saturday morning at the office to be able to receive the necessary PC knowledge in order to make invoices and credit notes.
Apparently Anissa went behind my back to complain to mr Dujournot, that, due to my presence in their island council, they lacked the time to do so. I did not know what I heard. So I did not ay anything. I was new. I thought it to be wise to follow the first orders of my new chief. Nevertheless I could not help to perceive that something was incorrect here. Those two ladies did nothing but privately chatting about all what there is to talk about in life during office hours, neglecting most of the incoming lines, since I took them after three ring tones at the latest.
They noticed that. Clever but lazy girls! Quite quickly they observed my customer dedication and acted accordingly, to their benefit. To the benefit of their daily chitchat. What bothered me most was that fact that they did not talk, nor even discuss work and workload with me. They just went straight to the boss to complain about their busy daily schedule. Furthermore I did not like the fact that what they told my boss, our midget chief, was completely wrong, even a huge unmistakable lie. I have never seen two full time occupied woman in an office do so little for the company. They must have known that I saw all this, because I was placed and sitting right in front of them. So how could or would they find or have the nerves to go on telling our superior that they lacked time to train me in my job? Were they not afraid that I would refute and counter their statement? Obviously not at all. But they knew this was a lie and they knew I knew. This was a complete confirmation that my presence was not taken into account for even one second. I clearly did not exist for them. I was dispensable ballast, some dirt to be cleaned away. Although I came to help their drifting department. I came to relieve them from the burden of every day nagging Germans who felt shortened by the absence of any German speaking Matrix employee. Obviously and for me quite incomprehensible, they did not see me this way. At this point, this was for me the first of many incomprehensible attitudes, actions, answers, behaviour, I would have to endure during the upcoming months and years. I was surprised, back then, by these minor but strange office events. Only much later, I realized they all made part of the plan that was being set up to master the individual situation of that moment and of that particular person.
Especially Anissa had something about her I could not immediately place in the right perspective. She was at the least to say a bit hautin, up nose , the early days of my commencement at Matrix Systems Inc. I agree, she was a beauty and still very young and immature. She was aware of her splendour uplifting beauty. But this natural gorgeousness would soon shrivel to insane undersized proportions so that the awful, frightening and most of all rotten face of the hateful and abhorrence would emerge. Beauty is clearly beaten by negativism, hatred, revulsion and fraudulent behaviour. Anissa would become the living prove of this statement. Besides, by total ignoring me as a human being during the day, she already started to see my arrival and me as such as an extra volume of workload, as a substantial change in her life stile, coming up to her and unquestionably disturbing her every day easy life chatting sessions. Should I have said something? About this whole unjust situation? I probably should have. But I did not. I stayed silent and observant, as during the first weeks I always wanted to check things out before judging on them or leave commentary that would be inappropriate. I am a prudent kinda guy. My caution never can be large enough. I always think thoroughly about the consequences of my words and deeds. As if it all would have mattered. Looking back, I now know I should have responded immediately. But regret is not appropriate. It is out of its place here. I did what I did or did not what I did not so things went on as they were all set in the reason of things.
Mr Dujournot came by at the island and just asked me if I could come next Saturday morning to Matrix systems Inc at nine o clock to catch up with the invoicing. Anissa would be present too. Nice of her. So se would be able to explain me the details of the system. Without interruption of possible clients. Saturday normally was a closing day. Never worked on a Saturday. Of course this would be no problem for me. I wasnt the one who was being cross here. I did what I had to do to fulfil my job to the best efforts possible to obtain an as excellent result as it could be. Because I had a mission to accomplish. That is the way I saw my functioning at Matrix Inc.
Wolfgang and I had to conquer the whole German speaking east European market and I was prepared to take all steps possible to meet up to this standard, set at the moment I was inaugurated. Only, I did not expect so soon these somewhat questionable counterfeit manners of my new colleagues, clearly choosing their own personal and private benefit above that of the company. Saturday it was then. Nine a clock sharp. Saturday morning. It was still pretty chilly and half of Belgium still sleeping. I stood before a closed door. A key wasnt yet provided, so I had to wait. I waited. Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes. Nothing, nobody. I started to wonder if I had heard all things right. See, now that is typically me : I always start to look by myself if anything is wrong. It probably would be me, since I had been a distracted professor all of my life. My mother called me as a child always her distracted professor, because I often failed to focus. I was a dreamer, still am. Never could hold attention to the present for more than a few minutes. I had a vivid imagination. A Very vivid one. So that must have been the reason why I stood there, all alone, before closed office buildings, freezing my ass of, since it was only half April and nights and mornings could be very chilly- damned freezing ice cold I d say - still, although the spring was in da house for over two weeks now. The right date was probably next Saturday or the week after? But not this Saturday. No one is more than half an hour late. This would be a token of gross contempt of my person.
I did not have access to the cell phone numbers of any of my new colleagues yet, therefore our contacts and mutual efforts to make things work, were too premature and short notice so that wouldnt help either.
All of a sudden a dark brown Mercedes, an old model back from the nineties, came slowly rolling along an approaching the building I stood for. In stead of parking on the parking facilities, fifty meters further on, the Mercedes stopped right in front of the building and silenced its engine.
Together with five other people, Anissa Hamsa stepped out of the car.
Good morning, she said, as if nothing could ever be wrong. In the mean time it was practically ten oclock. She was an hour late, but did not feel the urge to tell me about it. Not one single world. No reason, no apology, no silly excuse, not even a plain lie. Nothing. Total neglect.
Your are late..;, I tried. What?, she reacted? Late? Why? Its Saturday and normally we dont work on these days, so it does not matter when I arrive, does it?
If you say so
, I responded, as it seemed to her not of any relevance that I stood there for over an hour, just waiting for Godot and her five companions.
Why dont you have a key, yet? she threw in my face. I thought you had a key.
You should have given my one, according to mr Dujornot, that is. He told me so. I tried to counter her attack.
Ah, well yess, I guess I should have done so, but I lost mine, so I now use the spare key I had to give to you. Mr Dujournot does not know I lost it, so I still have to make some doubles to get things sorted out.
So you know I did not have a key., I returned the question.
No , I did not. You could have received one from him as well, couldnt you? she countered, not so pleased with my response.
no, you should have given me one, since you manage the keys, he said., I replied.
ah, so now I am in charge of the keys as well. Fine, what else do I have to do here in this bloody office that I do not know about? Should I start cleaning maybe? Anissa literally bit my nose off.
She turned around and stamped her way into the building, hitting the delicate marble entrance floor like a drill borer with her high heals of disdain and such force, I thought she would be able indeed to break the tantalizing tiles. Her five companions followed her silently but firm as if she was the leader of a gang.
My stomach shrunk to tiny proportions. What was this all about? I was the one who should be angry because I had to wait for over an hour in the morning cold. In stead of an apology, I got an aggressive wind right up my nasals, presented with an such an appalling attitude that I d better shut up (for all times sake) before anything worse should or could happen. I must admit, that I did not have ever seen such behaviour before in my life. But, hey, I thought it must be some day the first day for everything. And I followed her on the stairs towards our mutual office, behind those five buddies she brought along.
I thought I d better be quite for a while now, since this was no way to build up some team spirit.
Once in the office, I became a witness of a spectacle that I 'd never seen in my entire life.
It is about time we are setting some things straight here, Anissa started out of the blue (of course she did not know what out of the blue meant, because the level of her English was soo pitiable and wretched she would end up with a monkey when she would plead for missing public toilet paper), mr Dujournot is mostly NOT in this office. The emphasize on the word NOT was very loud and clearly received by me. He wants us to be present from eight to six for our customers, but we dont do that., Anissa immediately added, referring to her and Inez at that time. Apparently she wanted me to join in this setup hour stealing fraud, as she clearly wanted to explain explicitly how it worked. And for all, how she got away with it. Although this were my first days and foremost elaborate contacts with some of the employees of Matrix Systems Inc, I could not help to notice that the moral standards and labour principles of Anissa and obviously also of Inez, were situated miles underneath mine. A kind of valid ethical behaviour towards her employer seemed to be lacking completely. To me this was shocking. But since I was new and already had my preliminary portion of anger and conflict, I decided to listen to what she had to say on the subject. I did not converse. I observed and listened. Because of my damaged self esteem, I did not want to impose my personal believes and basic human values to those whom probably never heard of such words before in their entire but yet short lives. What bothered me most in this matter, was her age.
chapter six - sales 2
I think my scrotum has enlarged. On the usual scratching session, this evening, before hitting the sack, i realized that I had quite some amount of skin in my hand. My balls have not enlarged though. They have gained some space. Sometimes on the most impossible moments, one is confronted with some unexpected issues. I do not think this is something to worry about. I just have a huge sack. Nothing wrong with that.
Far more worrying was the attitude of Anissa Hamsa. This was not conform her age. My scrotum is, i guess. It develops with the years. It does what it is supposed to do. It expands. This is disgusting, isnt it? Or is it nature?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Anissa Hamsas behavior sure wasnt nature. It was premeditated malice.
I have left you all for some days now, havent I? Ah well, yes, a man has got to do what a man has got to do. I told you I am a painter. That is what I am sure of now. So whilst my memory is trying to recollect the best of both worlds and is assembling all data to make the picture work, I still have to see that I do not starve these days, because this is not exactly bringing me any money. So I had an exposition to take care of. That is why it took some days for me to continue on my script. I do not own a laptop. So I can not write along the way. Nor whilst I am driving my car or guarding my paintings.
The thing is, when I feel bad, I tend to eat too much. So I am gaining some overweight. This is something I do not like at all. It is one of the things that I constantly need to control. Not that I was a fat kid, nooo
I was thin as whatever thin can be. But the hunger is omnipotent and thus I eat
Especially after the brutal intrusion of Anissa and her elaborate explication how things work her devious but very specific way around here at Matrix Systems NV, made me even feel more like some chubby and overweighed swine that did not have a decent meal in days
I felt starving and dreadful and amazed and befuddled and for all very curious
Are you?
let me set some things straight here
, Anissa began. We at customer service, we are the only ones who need to be in the office from eight till six in the evening. All the others come around nine and go home around five oclock. Yes, that is true
, I tried to intervene , it is put that way in my job description.
Job description, Jobs description, to hell with your job description
it is mr Dujournot who wants it that way, but I dont think it is fair
Anissa added.
But you can arrange things between us, can you not?, I tried again.
Now, you listen to me, we have already arranged everything. And you are going to do things our way. Anissa bit straight in my face.
Mr Dujournot never ever is in the office. You hear. You know that. Only once a month or maybe once each two months he is in the office for a day or two. So he does not need to know our little secret arrangement. Even the others dont know. Dont know what??? I wondered?
The way weve arranged things here. Anissa continued.
We come in between eight and nine, just make sure you are here before the others arrive. I am not here at eight each morning. Are you nuts? And in the evening, when every one is gone home, just after five, we just wait five minutes and then we close the place down. Anissa finished her little scam plan.
And what if a customer calls before nine or after five?, I tried to awaken her sense of responsibility. They ll call back. Was her simple but yet powerful answer that did not leave any more room for further discussion.
aha
, I concluded. I learned a lot this Saturday. Not about invoicing or the computer program Matrix systems Inc is working with, no sir. Not a word until now. Anissa was too busy giving her kinfolk all possible drinks out of the fridge and cookies and biscuits out of a big metal box (that were actually provided for possible visitors) as she left me sitting before my mystery screen of my pc, waiting to get some real instructions on my participation at customer service.
Sometimes I wonder, if those kinda people like Anissa, who deliberately without any restrictions or second thoughts obviously was ripping-off her own employer for at least an hour a day, if they do have some kind of conscience. Or not? Or do they think about their deeds? Or about some consequences later on? Could she be that stupid? For sure it was a first indication to me that she was not that bright at all. I know for one thing that, the moment this book will appear public and will be officially presented to the literary press, newspapers and magazines, some will understand the whole swindle that has been going on for years at Matrix Systems Inc and was up till now covered by mutual lies by those responsible. These words are very important words. They are food of the brain. Mental nourishment .They are words of justice. These words are words of healing. They slowly heal my inner self on the way to total justification on all levels. Because this theft of an hour a day by Anissas simple but genius plan, was only the beginning of a series of events and actions which I am going to reveal to you the next chapters. Indeed, the reality is often much worse than any imagination can ever evoke. Because I was new and I had no intention of having a constant fight with Anissa over her behaviour and her counterfeit intentions and first known despicable action, I decided to be silent and to wait for what was yet to come. Of course, I did not agree on her little plan, but what could I do? I could not change the strongly settled habits of this office; I had no authority to do so. Moreover did I not want to loose this job, I needed the money.The only thing I knew for sure was that you would get the sack immediately for this kind of abusive conduct in all the companies I had worked for before in my life. And I must admit, I have indeed worked for some different companies all over the world. F.I. when I was responsible for the weekly roundtrips in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Sri Lanka, our mother company was based in Swiss but we were fully to report and cooperate with our local Sri Lankan tourism company in Colombo for all matters whatsoever. Even in this kind of third world country, which Sri Lanka still is, the moral values and ethical standards of the Sri Lankan were way higher and of the finest form than the lowlife appalling set up action Anissa obviously had running at Matrix Systems inc till now.
She threw a booklet on my desk with booking instructions on Navision, the operations system on our pcs so I could start to learn how to invoice and make credit notes. If you do not understand something, just ask me and I ll help you through the process., Anissa said. But not now. I dont have time for that.
She picked up the phone and started dialling. The next three hours she spoke Arabic. To her relatives in Morocco. I did not understand a word. I only could deviate from the way her voice fluctuate, that many ingredients of the conversation were not based upon friendship, nor love. It even seemed that she had more than one verbal fight, of which she seemed to loose quite some battles.
I pretended to study my booking instructions. At twelve o clock I took them home. Anissa was still on the phone as her other relatives were scattered over the office desks and creating the whole place into a real mini market, leaving cookie crumbles all over the place. That was not my problem. I only had some other instructions in mind this morning when I came here to be briefed upon my daily tasks. Anissa did not even looked up in my direction when I closed the door of Matrix systems inc. She was too busy arguing with her next of kin in Northern Africa. It must have been an urgent call. Sometimes I had the impression it was a matter of life and death. So passionate Anissa spoke.
One illusion poorer. What a waste of my time. Of my free time. Of my Saturday time. Mr. Dujournot had left the office again on Friday on his next sales mission. Where to you might ask yourself? I can assure you that this was a question I asked myself during the coming five years more than I wanted. With no one to turn to, I just went home to enjoy the rest of my weekend. On Monday I would try to talk to Anissa again. Talk I mean, not argue nor fight. Although it was not sure if this could be avoided. From what I had heard on the phone, combined with the harsh and spicy replies I got into my face this day, I was not sure if a normal conversation could even be possible with this woman. Future would tell me. And in what way! The start of some five incredible years at Matrix sytems Inc was given. It was zero-one, in favour of Anissa Hamsa.
The kick-off was set. I was still kinda lost. But I had no intention to loose this match. I prepared myself to win this game. But I miscalculated myself on the integrity of the referee. And some other players on the field.
There is something rotten in the state of Denmark. Was a line I heard when I was a child, back then, very back then. I had no idea what it meant, only I felt it would be something I did not want to be related to. Only the word rotten was already a reason to back down from getting deeper into the meaning of this phrase. Moreover, I was a child and yet I was interested in such lines that I came across in my childhood and stuck to my knowledge for one reason or another. Now, of course, it is all clear, it all makes sense. This is a sentence spoken by grown-ups, for grown-ups about grown-ups and their despicable behaviour. I could feel on my socks that there was something rotten in the state of Matrix systems Inc. This I could sense from far away and even now, in my grown up years I did not want to have to deal with it as much as I rejected it then, in my childhood years. I am set not on this planet for confrontation, agitation, anger, hate nor revenge. Those words are not part of my world. I only had to let them in, into my life, now and here, at Matrix Systems Inc. ,since obviously they were part of the soul of this company, a soul, as rotten as the state of Denmark.
chapter seven : back to the future
I have to take you all to the present for a second. I have to inform you about some activities and developments occurring at this very moment in time, being a result of what I am unfolding to you in this book. Only I have just been started with my résumé, with my exposé, with my story to let you all in the details of this repulsive, sordid but true chronicle. Between the point where I was landed just last chapter ago, at the point where Anissa Hamsa announced her first hoaxing manoeuvres towards the company by clearly stealing obvious working time, and this very moment in time, lie at least five full years. Yes sir! We go back to April 1999. Five years of harassment, of mistreat, of pestering and disgraceful human neglect. As I said before, I have the full intention of unravelling all details to you, so you can be your own independent but true judge. Five long years of humiliation and terrorization, intimidation and threats. Five years of mental instability and mental cruelty. I take you now for an instant to November 2005, because I had some great news coming out of the States. I have to tell you this, I am soo excited. Maybe it is premature, but what the heck, for the first time in all those years I receive a sign of hope, a sign of justice. (I ‘d better not count on it, because the forces I am fighting are incredibly strong and wicked, their ways dark and totally illegal, based upon back up lies and false deception manoeuvres towards even own internal audit members ) Did I tell you that Matrix Systems Inc. is part of, or better : owned by a huge financial share holders corporation called “Stardor”? They own many similar companies all over the world and the sole purpose of this corporation is to collect all the potential and feasible profit that all of these individual companies produce.
So “profit” is indeed the magical word here. The more “profit” we gain, the happier the shareholders are. It is all about money, and power and wealth. But, because “Stardor” is a 100 % American company, they do have some kind of ethical code valid for and applicable to all its employees in all their companies. One day mr Dujournot came with a bunch of papers in the office, a bunch of at least seventy five pages, every single one of them filled by statements about regulating inside terms and conditions and human behaviour guide lines. “Procedures regarding reports of misconduct or alleged misconduct” was the official elaborate but appropriate title of this scripture we all had to sign to.
Of course we could refuse to sign but then it would be noted in one’s archives, which is, at the least to say not very preferable when you aim high in this cluster of companies. So we all signed up, one by one, that we agreed to the content of this. It was a kind of reassurance that we would be protected by this paper, since our high hot shots in the States declared themselves defenders of the truth and well fare and fare trade and honest behaviour within the company structure. They created an actual internal police office so to speak. Word came around today that they started (at last!) an investigation about the current position and the whereabouts of Anissa Hamsa within Matrix Systems Inc. Furthermore I had a phone call from the Belgian foreign ministry of external affairs and immigration department, that they opened a file on Anissa hamsa and her family members located in Belgium. The problem is that those kind of investigations take sometimes ages before they come to a conclusion or a profound action, so I probably will have the occasion to go back in time to explain to you all the rest of this shitty tale, as the content is inevitable to get a proper idea and just conclusion on the subject.
So lets go back in time, to the forth month of the year 1999. As soon as something moves in the present, I will not hesitate to inform you on the outcome, even if the structure of this book is ruined by the development of all elements involved. Sometimes it is more fulfilling to jump on the present development of things than to hang on to these times of yore of cruelty and repugnance. How come this investigation on both levels, internally as well as nationally by our own foreign state department? Anissa really must have pulled off some stupid shit this time. I knew she couldn’t go on like this. I doubt it if she knew. Since she must have had protection. Already in 1999, when I started at Matrix Systems Inc, word was spread during those first days that she had a plain fucking relationship with mr Dujournot. They would be on “screwing terms” with one another. These were more than just rumours.. Fed by the “you – cannot – touch – me” attitude of Anissa. It came especially from the transport company people who treated the storage of our goods on its final way to the customers. They were located in the same building, in our shoe box. I guess some of them must have seen or noticed something, sometimes. In the shoebox or outside. I did not get into this kind of gossip, only it was an clarification for what we endured. This sounds cheap. It is cheap. And I always had my serious doubts about those words of malice but joy for the participants involved. Clearly it could be an rationalization for the astonishing performance and gross and coarse approach Anissa presented herself towards her colleagues during all those miserable years. She could not be that stupid, could she?
Fucking mr Dujornot? The midget ? The dwarf ? I bet he would have had a hell of a time, screwing darkeyed Anissa. Would he have noticed her hairy back too? I guess he did not care for her back. He had other precious holes to fill. Naaaa, my stomach turned by the thought of it only.
I knew that this day would present itself as a start of purification. Only the size of the investigation and its results would define the final actions.
chapter eight : in the name of honour
You aint seen nothing yet!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
It was all on the verge of developing before my wondering eyes. Strict catholic parents have many principles and strict laws of order and care. They imposed these thoughts and values upon their five children. I admit, as the years passed by, they became more flexible as both grand-parents passed away quite rapidly, because of the unknown lethal powers of the wrong and bad high cholesterols values in the blood vein. So my youngest sister did not have to endure the strict catholic nonsense we had to submit ourselves to purify our souls whilst living. Grand-parents are, when alive, still a kind of watchdog over the way the children handle their lives, even if they are close to fifty. They are self regulatory. They are social watchdogs. My grandparents died too young. All of them but one. I barely knew them at all. My grandfather (dad of my father) was 57 when he got struck by a brain damage, which caused his death shortly after. I was only 3 years old back then, still I can see him lying on his deathbed. Even now. Because of my shy character, combined with my extremely low self esteem, I endured these laws and inter human regulations between family members. I had such a huge respect towards about ever one and everything I encountered. When the doctor came on a house call to visit my sick mother, all kids were practically and literary driven in the back room of the house, door closed and locked. Till the visit was over. A doctor was for me in those days some kind of incredible intelligent wonder boy with almost magical powers that he used to heal people. He stood next to God, since any possibility to deny or question this superficial creature was totally out of the question. Of course, when years passed by, this all changed bit by bit. But the basics are still there. The force of this early artificial implementation of unnatural thoughts and irrational believes was of such magnitude that even today some elementary traces still hide beneath a wounded skin of realism.
April 1999. The next Monday I arrived at nine. To guard till six in the evening. When I entered the Matrix office, I immediately sensed something was wrong. When I approached our island, I saw that Anissa Hamsa was crying. Her head hidden behind both of her hands.
Whats wrong? I dared to ask, this early in the morning.
Inez sat right in front of Anissa and she even smiled a bit.
Anissa looked up and I noticed that she really had cried. With real tears and all. Nose all full of shit. Eyes totally wet. She looked at me and made me feel redundant again. Inez is going to leave us., Anissa snubbed.
This was not a big surprize to me. It did not startle me, nor made me sad. I kind of stayed completely immune to the message that hit this Monday morning office start-up. Inez had never really spoken to me directly. Why, I do not know, not even now, six years later.
She never told me. She only spoke to Anissa. My God, did she speak to Anissa. There were days that her blabbermouth never stopped blabbering. But the blabbering only went straight forward towards Anissa, they seemed to be true blabber friends .
I never listened to those conversations, only, at times I could not help it to hear what they said to one another. You know these kind of conversations about all and nothing. Furthermore it was highly hazardous to try to interrupt those waterfall of words Inez produced during the day. Once, our engineer tried to. I was at the time not really aware of what happened, but all of a sudden, I heard Inez voice shouting around the office : No, I wont, you just leave me alone, I am not your secretary, do it yourself!, where she turned again to Anissa, continuing what was seemingly to be tremendously important she had to communicate to her, back then, back there.
So she never spoke to me. No time left. Only Anissa. It appeared to me that it was quite natural that her message of leaving Matrix would be a disaster to Anissa. I wasnt really unhappy that she never spoke to me. She wasnt discussing the job, nor the customers nor the procedures, nothing about all this. Private conversations are inevitable when you are on each others lap the whole day, so I can understand their existence although I never understood the drive and intensity of female personal gossip and common talk. Thats because I am a male, I guess
So we did not have a real office relationship, actually. There was absolutely nothing between us, nothing at all. Inez and I, I even doubt it if she noticed me at all. She, owner of a divine beauty, was constantly struggling with her attractiveness and her relation to men. She shared all of her thoughts with Anissa and both they worked on strategically clever plans of attacking the male species in order to manipulate him to their benefits. I just heard.
So I was kind of relieved that she left. Because at times their blabbering was so intense and had so little to do with that what we were in the office for, that it disgusted me to the top, because I had several problems with my picking and shipping orders that the bloody system would not accept, but I dared not to ask Anissa, who was devotedly listening to her major example in life, Inez, who would never accept an interruption of her discourse since her personal problems clearly outgrew those of Matrix Systems inc. Furthermore I did not want to cause such an outburst of words into my direction as our engineer just suffered from. So I waited. And waited. And waited some more. Till the ladies agreed on something and Inez stopped talking. This was something that happened about twice a day. Then they had to go for a pee to the lo and I sat there, left alone with my struggle of shipping and picking
After the first few days I even started to think that I wanted to leave Matrix Systems again, because of the blabbering position of both ladies, part of my team, but what team?
There was no team. There was them, blabbering them and me.
How stupid can one be? Even if it is clearly stated on different levels at the beginning of this novel, that all is fake, all stories are false, all persons are invented, all circumstances sheer imagination, still some people have the unbelievable impressions that some of the stories told are actually about them
.What a token of self-indulgence . this is sheer decadence and inappropriate self pity of individuals who think way tooo high about themselves..
Honour. A fine word, a fine aim to live up to. But where does one see the element honour in the fact that one is digging into trash bins to search for information on a salary a new colleague has acquainted? Where does one see honour in the fact that one is illegitimately looking in a private booklet of your direct superior that has been stolen from his desk during his absence in order to gain illegitimate information on the salary increases of all of ones direct colleagues? Where does one find honour in the fact that one steals methodically and systematically over a period of several years actual working days from ones employer by deliberately failing to inscribe the holidays taken, into the proper booklet, so they are not counted for, nor taken into consideration by the annual remuneration? The nice thing here is that witnesses indeed are existing about all these elements, it is just a matter of pushing them to the point of telling the truth. Where does one find honour in the bursting into the office each morning ones mood wasnt up right for a laugh or a smile? Where does one find honour in unsuitable accusing colleagues of racism as a cheap way to defend and hide ones gross and foul-mouthed behaviour towards everyone? How much more do I have to endure before this malignant behaviour is forcing me to end my life? Am I a racist when I see all of those things mentioned above and when I react against them because I do not agree with them for the reason that they are against my inner believes and against all I stand for in life? No sir! Am I a racist because I shiver when I hear the word hatred, used on a daily basis by some colleagues to defend a sluggish and lethargic office attitude? No sir! Am I a racist because some colleague only was trying to abort and avoid all possible workload, diverting it onto other colleagues, partly due to improper education and lacking training? No sir! Am I a racist when I find people sleeping during their working hours in the back of a container in stead of unloading it? Am I? No sir! This is a fantasy story about inappropriate human behaviour, not about some skin colour, nor about descendant countries, nor about the origin of some human species. It is a imaginary made-up story about abusive office conduct and misbehaviour towards others, and in no relation to any racial connotation. Racism may not be used here (although this is done so) to defend despicable and shameful deeds amongst colleagues. To accuse one of racism is only a cheap way to try to hide ones own wicked and disgraceful technique of demeanour. It is not at his place here. This is my website, where I write and make my fantasy story come true. If some recognize themselves in what is displayed on these pages, it is very pitiful indeed and maybe it is an indication that one has to alter ones way of daily conduct. Very urgently.
Racism is bad. It is a bad word, it is bad behaviour. Racism kills. Question is : whom does it kill?
I think time has come to inform Stardor. Debriefing is essential here. About the content of these web pages. Since I am only at the beginning of my more than five year stay at Matrix Systems and many essentials still have to be told. I have to protect myself. As soon as Stardor is able to join in on my fairy-tale, I will have protection granted.
I am kind of curious though, how their ethical code will deal with the methodically stealing of working days, with the intrusion of the paperwork of a superior? I 'll keep you informed.
Witnesses keep me strong now. Firm as a rock, in the desert of the truth. The truth of a fairy tail. Indeed, I am only at the start of my magical fable. So many things still left untold. I do have to hurry. Only 50 pages ready, of a book, ending at about 400 pages. What is there still to tell, tons, my dearest, tons of new intrigues and false pretences
and the marvel of it all is : I did not even have to look for them.
They just unrolled before my very eyes. Every day again. At matrix Systems Inc.
The best thing though that could ever happen to me and my fairytale, is an official complaint from one of those who think they recognize themselves in all what has been written so far. Even though it is all fake and ingenious. Can you imagine the press attention I would get? Of course I would immediately evocate and present my secret but confident eye witnesses to back me up. And believe me, I do have a bunch of those! Eagerly waiting to contribute their part of this unbelievable story. Because the sad part of my tale is that many others do experience the same kind of irregularities at their offices. Ort even at the same office. Every day again. Confronted with despicable attitude and beastly behaviour. Can you imagine what grander and splendour triumph I would make when all of this would reach the news papers? I would be instant famous and my book would sell by the millions.
May I have a pleasant dream? May I ??? In these dark days of despair, fraudulent and inappropriate behaviour?
I had no idea how hard it would be to let the truth conquer. It has all been too gross what I have endured these last months. It is in fact quite unbelievable. People with no ethical standards, nor any company loyal attitudes, with no moral codes to live up to, pursuing only their personal gains and individual favours, are being promoted on the back of those who quietly but honestly try to do a normal job. How rude can life be? Does the truth have the strength to beaten this kind of abhorrent attitude? I know my parents always said : Even when you produce a lie with supersonic speed, the truth will catch up with her, yes indeed! So, eventually, the truth will conquer. I still believe that. I must believe that. It keeps me going. It will survive all threats that are used to try to obstruct, hinder and impede the variables that are necessary to reveal the final elements of truth.
Inez was leaving and Anissa was crying. Why? Quite simple. Because : I am going to miss her
Anissa sobbed with a self-pitying grandeur only seen in the big New Yorker theatres. I think she meant it.
Even if this is almost six years ago, I quite clearly remember that our big chief, Mr Dujournot also was quite upset by this notice of resignation of Inez. It was clear to me that he loved beautiful women, and one thing was certain: Inez had a sumptuousness, a dignity and a distinction of the greatest creatures on this planet. She was a woman of the highest standards. The only thing that really disturbed her grandeur was the fact that she was aware of her high class appearance. Mr Dujournot, that Monday morning, where he heard this awful news of her resignation , took Anissa aside on the bench outside the office and asked her : Anissa, what shall we do?, What shall we do now???, Mr Dujournot repeated, with a clear despair in his voice of an abandoned husband who just got notice of the divorce of his wife. I do not know
,Anissa cried, as if she had become a lesbian, seeing her loved one part forever. Two desperate individuals, sitting together on a bench outside Matrix Systems, not knowing what to do. Pretty pathetic and wretched, huh?
Still, this was about the lone time I saw Anissa and even Mr Dujournot in a state like this. Mr Dujournot usually never spoke that much. At the beginning this seemed quite convenient, but after some time it became rather strange and turned out to be just one of his major managerial highly executive American paraphernalia out of his tricks box to keep his top position as sole ruler of the Matrix Gang. Furthermore it was quite obvious that the star of Anissa could not sparkle that intense without the full protection of mr Dujournot. There was no other reason that ever could explain the hoarse and unbelievable foul-mouthed attitude of Anissa towards her fellow colleagues. She was so clever or even shrewd and astute to come up with such delirious hateful stance when no superior was around or about.
As would appear to be numerous times in the years to come, I miscalculated the despair and seemingly indecisiveness of mr Dujournot. He turned out to be a very bad loser. But a firm one. Only moments after the get-together of Anissa and mr Dujournot, he re-entered the office and without looking for a second at our island, he just blustered, firm and ice-cold : Inez, Id like to see you within two minutes in my office. His mouth was pinched down to shape only a solid stripe, lips gone out of high negative pressure. Fire lit up out of his tormented eyes. Anissa came in also. Her eyes still as red as a babys ass.
She remained silent and took her seat at the island. Inez felt quite correctly that it was no time to ask questions en prepared herself to follow mr Dujournot in the office.
Because he was always so many times abroad, or, at least, not physically present at the Belgian office, it was hard for us to really get hold of mr Dujournot. And what he stood for. What his believes were. As he did obviously not belong to the loquacious kind, it took me ages to unravel the complex, but in any case enthralling as captivating personality of our big chief. Almost six years, I would say.
It seemed that he had a soubriquet. In the office every one called him the shrimp, in his absence, of course. Never directly in his face.
Till today I dunno why they picked this name for him. Maybe for the looks? He was small, skinny and had a big sharp nose. He looked quite a lot like mr. Burns from the American super popular cult series : The Simpsons. Surely he was as penny-pinching as mr Burns.
If I had to believe all the stories that were going around about him at the office. Because this is one of the laws of a frequent absent chief : staff will talk about you behind your back any way and the longer your back is turned towards the office, the harsher and more merciless the stories content will be. I noted those stories, never contributed to them. How could I? I had no experience with mr Dujournot going on. Although the short time I had encountered the man, he did leave a definite impression on you, thats for sure.
Even till this very moment parts of the stories that were going around and about mr Dujournot, never ever have been cleared to me; I even now do not know if there is any truth in them. I guess some truth is available, since in every gossip you find elements of accuracy and legitimacy. One of the gossips was that he was divorced. This probably is accurate since we never saw his wife and he had a excessive hunger for the opposite sex, astonishing for someone of his age. Furthermore they told me that his son committed suicide, by jumping in a French river, and drowned. His daughter was married and used by mr Dujournot as a frequent stop on his way from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />France to the Belgian office. Further gossip tells me that he got a huge personal loan from Matrix USA, to overcome the Burden of his divorce.
It was absolutely no gossip that mr Dujournot, who indeed was a true born Frenchman, always stayed in the same shabby tree star motel, outside of Antwerp, when he visited the Belgian office. He had his fixed pre booked room. He was a long sleeper. He liked whiskey. A lot. Sometimes too much. That was no gossip either. He had this typical morning look on his scrawny face from a severe alcoholic. At least every time he was in Belgium. But he was an alcoholic with a certain style. That is probably one of the reasons that he always slept so long. To get at least in the morning hours the final residues of alcohol out of his system. He had a very luxurious cell phone, surely on account of the company. He failed to use all of its functions it captured inside. He always wore fancy suits. Like a great general manager is supposed to wear. Nothing wrong with that.
Nor with his cell phone. It is a gadget that indicates and emphasises the importance of the bearer. As general manager, you can hardly use a Nokia of 85 Euros, it would devaluate ones significance and magnitude on the spot by the first phone call hed make in public, or in a restaurant.
Towards the Americans, Matrix Systems USA, mr Dujournot had a peculiar behaviour. Although they were our direct so called mother company, they did not have much of impact on mr Dujournot. Every time some US phone call, or any phone-call for that matter, came in in his air conditioned Belgian office on days where he actually was in, mr Dujournot always closed his office door. As if he had something to hide from us. During the day, when he was in the office, the same door always stayed open. Till those phones came in.
Now, I am not a suspicious kind a guy. I just thought it to be peculiar. that's all.
Of course he had a company car. No doubt about that. The bigger the company, the bigger the cars for their executives. Mr Dujournot had a European Volvo. The biggest on the market. I think he used a childs seating aid car kit, to help him raise about the steering wheel. No kidding. Volvos are one of the safest cars in Europe. Name an airbag and he was hidden somewhere in this car. Because mr Dujournot was still selling Matrix Systems in a numerous part of European countries, as Norway, Sweden, Spain and Italy, he d surely needed the best car possible.
You do not see me envious here. The only thing that bothered me the most about mr Dujournot, was that he cultivated the mystery of silence around him that much and intense , that no one at the office, even dared to approach him on any of those mentioned themes. There was no social control whatsoever about his whereabouts, nor his company related deeds. He was his own master.
Never ever we at the Belgian office knew where our boss was hanging around when he was abroad. There was no secretary nor any responsible at the office (He had fired Maria on the spot) to keep a diary or an agenda with his scheduled visits through Europe. The only thing we knew, was that he was on the road and that we could contact him on his cell phone, in cases of emergency. No one even dared to ask him where he would be. Never ever I had seen anything similar though in the previous companies I had worked for. And they were pretty big too. Always there was some kind of controlling system on all the employees of the company, even on the managing director. Not with mr Dujournot. He deliberately kept this grey zone around him, this misty, foggy field one was afraid of to enter or to trespass. It enabled him total freedom. Total control. He, surely a part of him, behaved amongst his inferior workmates as a real dictator. All in Belgium started and ended with him, at his cooled office. This was very clear to all of us.
And it became clear to me, the longer I stayed at Matrix, the clearer it became. Because mr Dujournot did everything to cultivate this grey zone around him. All of his actions and deed he performed whilst being in Belgium were intentional and self-protective.
This I can see now. Very clearly. No Amercian who intruded. Mr Dujournot worked in both ways. He was the sole and only buffer between Matrix Belgium and Matrix USA. NO direct contact was desired, nor promoted. At the contrary. In every discussion with mr Dujournot, very often he used the USA as a stick to hit with. They were very often the reason of failure. Every thing we knew about our mother company, we learned through the mouth of mr Dujournot. His stories were at least coloured. This is the understatement of the day.
But we could never verify his stories. We did not dare to do so.
One of the major problems with mr Dujournot and our mother company was that he never saw our mother company as our mother. It was more likely the ultimate enemy. On numerous occasions verbal phone fights were the confirmation that the relation Europe-USA was not that of a mother-son relationship it actually should be.
We assumed that, behind this closed door, his phone conversations were strictly limited to the US or to his clients. Of course this was not so. Even if we could not understand a word he was saying, we could deduct (nor helping to overhear) that the general spirit in which the conversations generally developed was not of the most generous kind. Mr Dujournot was a terrible son. He kinda hated his mother. Afterwards it became again all very apparent that this inappropriate and ungrateful behaviour was only a premeditated set up to conceal his own private playfield.
According to mr Dujournot, our mother-company was only inflicting impossible budgetarian targets upon us, giving us no structural help, nor any marketing tools we urgently needed, even though a marketing manager was not available at our premises (as far as I knew).
It seemed all a bit odd to me and, to be honest to you, hardly to believe. I could not suppress a general feeling of fair disbelief and honest suspicious doubts about the structural negative attitude mr Dujournot displayed towards his company mother, every time he was in the office.
The Americans do not understand the European way of trading, was one of his catchphrases. They have no idea how Europe works.
they lack to see that Europe still consists of highly individual countries with individual needs and diverse characters.
And, of course, mr Dujournot wasnt wrong there. Europe still is not some kind of united states of European countries, all for one and one for all. I only doubted the presumption and belief of mr Dujournot that the Americans indeed saw us as united as that. I kinda felt that mr Dujournot used this cheap hypothesis to his own benefit to cover up up his dictatorial performance towards all and everything. He did not allow the Americans into his personal managerial decision making. Gossip and hearsay told me that he came from another huge company of the same kind as Matrix Systems, and that he was bought out to restructure the European leg of this world player. When you do that, of course, you do have to grant the man some kind of decisive individuality and private honour. But to me, it was more than that. The unremitting battle with the States was a bit much for me. But that is why I was not a manager and mr Dujournot was, at the time being.
I thought it all should be like this, a game to be played by mr Dujournot, and he played it with devotion and conviction. For himself. Not for us.
Not for us.
Another rumour that was still hanging around the building of Matrix Systems Inc, was that mr Dujournot did not want to pay for sun-protection shields at the large windows of the office. As if the money came out of his pocket. He did not want to approve the protections so, every minute the sun had a ball, the office submerged in heavy sunshine and its glow disturbed any normal performance since the pc windows became unreadable. Nevertheless, he did not want to pay. Not a single penny, nor cent. Words came around that Maria had been released for this, since she did stand up for the people at the office.
Now, you have chosen to be at the other side, and that is the wrong side for you. hed said and then he fired her. At once. Immediately. Raus. That is what they said. So no protections shields were placed. We all tried to beat the sun our own way. Changing seating positions, changing pc positions, putting maps up, putting newspapers up to the glass, we did it all. To keep the sunshine out. Out of the office.
Mr Dujournot was not that kind of manager who stood up for his people. If you did not agree on his decisions, youd better shut up or amend and rectify your believes till they were on one line with his. He was some kind of solitary knight, riding his own sad story. He did not belong to the office crew and showed it perceptibly. Hed attack you, standing next to a customer. Hed humiliate you in front of your colleagues or even in front of strangers.. It were all signals of his untouchable power he possessed on his playground called Europe.
Mr Dujournot is one of those managers, as there are so many of them, who, once they made it to the top of the managerial structure of the company they work for, firmly believe they are closer to God than to any other human being. They probably even think they shine, when they speak to their minors. And since they reached the top, they consider as good as everyone to be their minor and for all their inferior. Once they achieved the highest possible managerial position, they start loosing it, the grip to reality. The persistent contempt of mr Dujournot towards the police, or any other authority for that matter, even towards his direct American superiors, was legendary. He had multiple drivers licences. One for France, one for Belgium. Parking restrictions were never intentional to have any direct influence on mr Dujournots parking manners. He parked his car where even an ambulance would never ever dare to park. Because it could endanger others. What others? In the life of mr Dujournot there were very little others on an equal basis. So whats the point of taking them into consideration? Its a burden, that is. On the highway he systematically used the escape way to pass every traffic jam. As small as mr Dujournot physically was, the magnitude of his person in his proper head was of gargantuan proportions. And he showed it. To all of us. To the Americans. To our customers. To our suppliers.
Mr Dujournot was a horror for our suppliers. He never was satisfied with the delivery results. And when he was not satisfied, he did not pay. As simple as that.
As if it came out of his own pocket. At the beginning I even thought it would probably be one of the elementary essential qualities of an excellent manager to consider every penny of the company you run, your own. Only later I discovered that mr Dujournot just was one of the most stingy and penny-pinching characters I d ever seen in my entire life. For the others, that is, not for himself. Mr Dujournot methodically disagreed on all services delivered to Matrix Systems Inc. It was a way of conduct. It was his way of stalling all payments. Sometimes, in fact, many times, it was embarrassing.
Any question towards mr Dujournot where money was involved or expenses were to be defended, you could be sure of a firm no. So why even bother to ask in the first place?
Matrix Systems Inc got a bad name of being a bad payer. What do you think? Matrix Systems Europe had become mr Dujournot and mr Dujournot had become Matrix Systems Europe. We, at the Belgian office, had become his inferior puppets on a string, which he needed to secrete his personal business activities with. No one actually knew what he was doing. All those years. All those voyages. Never ever, we heard any feedback of a customer to relate to a visit of our big chief. Or even a short stop. The moment mr Dujournot passed through the door of Matrix Systems Inc, he seemed to have disappeared from these earthly surroundings. May be he was an alien? He sure looked like one.
chapter nine : phone fighting
Chapter nine : phone fighting<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Can you imagine my astonishment during those early days, almost six years ago? I did not know what to think first.
I had questions. Many questions. But I did have also a salary. I had money. And I did live nearby the office. May be it was better for me to just shut the f*ck up. And to let every thing be. As it is. As it was. Who am I to question everything in this new firm? I did have quite some executive experience in big companies, but no one said to me that this version of management would be the wrong one. It only felt that way. To me at least. And it was hard for me not to act against this. Would you attack the hand that feeds you?
It depends. It depends on how serious the strange and eccentric signals are that you receive from your surrounding variables.
Furthermore was it so that mr Dujournot did not reveal himself all at once. Only bit by bit, day by day, visit by visit at the Belgian office, he exposed slight parts of his personality. Never directly, always in some kind of context where the way he responded or reacted on a certain situation, gave away another part of him. Secrecy has always been part of him. He never gave himself way, just like that. No dictator would do so. Mr Dujournot by no means was an open book. To no one. Rather a heavily guarded fortress, a national bank. <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Fort Knox. The pentagon.
There was no company spirit at Matrix Systems. Total freedom was granted by mr Dujournot, if you handled his own set of personal principles :
*do as much as you possibly can in as little possible time
*leave me alone do not bother me with office chitchat
*certainly do not bother me with any real problems
*it is your responsibility to clear all problems
*do not make any expenses
*make sure all of your clients are happy, so they will not bother me
*be in the office form 8 till 1800 hrs
*do not contact the usa
Quite cool, huh? I felt quite hilarious with this from-a-distance governance of mr Dujournot. I underestimated and miscalculated the effect of those rules on the weaker components of the chain though, as there were quite obvious Anissa and also Tanja.
Tanja never got over the sudden departure of her close office friend Maria, just a few months ago. She missed her buddy. Her companion in command. Now she had no one to ask questions to. No one to place some responsibility upon so she did not have to bear it herself.
Tanja could not do without a present chief. She was clearly lost. She could not decide from her own. She felt miserable. She felt the same way she looked and believe me : that is not a pretty site, nor an aim to live up to. She got depressed. She got pissed. She started to hate mr Dujournot. For letting Maria go. She started to phone to the US. Frequently. To complain. As only women can. She dug her own grave.
Stupid women. Ugly too.
Yesterday I saw a feel good action movie about honour, friendship, courage and honesty : stealth. In one of the scenes the pilot talks to the biggest chief possible, the leader of the ship that carries the planes, after surviving an attack on his life, ordered by his own direct superior, from whom he discovered other severe malfunctioning and says : sir, there are a lot of things that you should know about
.
I now, at this very moment in time and place, after a previous attempt was interrupted by some pc hacker, like to repeat those words to the responsible executives of Stardor, the rightful owner of Matrix Systems Inc. : Sirs, there are a lot of things that you all should know about the former and present leaders of Matrix Systems
Please grant me my dignity, my honesty, my pride, the benefit of the doubt to inform you correctly about what is going on and what is going wrong at Matrix systems Inc. in former and next pages of this book.
Of course, in those early days, mr Dujournot seemed the perfect match for me, leaving me all the office playground for myself. Over the years I had cultivated a very strong customer care sensitivity and build up a real strategy about how to gain and keep and treat customers. I had the intention of implementation of this personal point of view of which I was certain it would work. And it did work. Marvellously, it turned out to be just the way I pictured it. Sales rose, no, they jumped into the sky. Especially my sales rose. The eastern European part gained customers, importance and sales. You bet that our Wolfgang Hanssen, outdoor Eastern sales executive, was in high spirits. He was more than happy. Of course he did a hell of a job on the field with even more intensity and professional conviction, because he knew he had office back-up. At last. Real back up. He knew that some one in Belgium was taking care of his customers and their little problems. Or their big problems. No longer unanswered phones, unanswered questions, unsolved problems.
We both grew. Wolfgang and I. We were a heck of a team. The sales figures confirmed our costumer support. In only just a few months sales doubled, tripled and kept growing. It was phenomenal. Even if I have to say so myself.
By the way, arent you curious what happened to Inez, after she followed mr Dujournot in his office? I bet you are. Well, it did not take long, this conversation. Of course it took place behind closed doors.
So about the content I cannot inform you, since this happened between the two leading players of that moment in time. And Inez surely did not say anything either to me. Nor to anyone else for that matter. After just a few minutes, she came bursting out of his office, totally shook up and her gorgeous face shredded with tears. She tried to cover up her face but could not disguise her crying. I can't believe this....he just throws me out
was the only understandable sentence Inez could produce before taking her coat and left the door of Matrix Systems Inc. Gone, just like that. From one second to another.
Only a few seconds later mr Dujournot came out of his office, with a big smile draping around his face.
He came straight towards our island. If you decide to leave Matrix Systems, its for the best of everyone that you leave immediately., he tried to explain. its no use hanging around any longer. He added.
So I ve sent her away. End of story. She did not longer want to work here, so
finally it was her decision., he said. In a victorious way.
By sending Inez away on the spot, he, the alleged abandoned victim of the previous situation, regained his dignity and control of the situation. Thats what he thought. Sore looser.
Those days were strange to me. It all happened during those first days of my work at Matrix Systems Inc.
But if you think that this was the end of bizarre things happening at this spooky company, you are dead wrong, it was only the beginning. One of those striking peculiar things was the way Anissa used to handle her phone calls. As you can deduct from the title of this chapter, it werent really phone calls actually, it were ordinary heavy phone fights. Now it was quite clear to me from the beginning that Anissa came straight from school to her first job ever at Matrix Systems Inc. Other than Inez and Maria guiding her, she could not have had much of professional backing up till now. And since Maria was fired and Inez just left the building, it did seem indeed that she had a severe lack of professionalism to cope with.
As for the contribution Inez delivered on behalf of the professional augmentation of her blabbering mate Anissa, this could be estimated as extreme meagre. The worst conversations she tuned into real horrendous battle fields of words, spoken as true full automatic non-stop gun fire, were those with a transport company, called Smeulders. They were responsible for all our transport from Antwerp to France.
We had a delivery date of one, two and maximum three days, depending on the location in France. Quite natural. Of course it happened a lot that goods were not delivered on time. Smeulders was about specialized in this kind of failure or late deliveries. One of the reasons of this systematic deficiency of prime time service, was the fact that Smeulders had already gained a huge reputation on the market as the cheapest transport company for France. They were so cheap they had to cut on something. And in the case of Smeulders it was service. They were always late. Always. They gathered goods till the last minute. To cut on the costs. Now I have learned in my years on the field that the cheapest solution in business mostly turns out to be the most expensive one on the long run. Cheap never is good. So proved our cooperation with Smeulders. The way Anissa handled this transport company was not exactly a way to find improvement in the service they offered.
At the contrary, I would say so. Knowing that in my previous Job, I had served our present King Albert 2, discreet, fashionable, just, modest, low level, low profile, perfect service, can you imagine my bewilderment when I first saw and for all overheard this kind of mistreatment on the phone? Ok, I admit, it was with a transport supplier and everyone who even only once has had a contact with this transport world, knows it is a separate, rude world, with own set of laws and ways of conduct. But the way Anissa took care of Smeulders was at least one way the transport sector never ever had practised in their lives before. It certainly was a new form of communication. Anissa shouted, cursed, hated, called bad names, asked for superiors (which she never got to speak, what do you think
), insulted her phone mates at the other end of the wired network, in such a horrific and lowlife way that is wasnt even shameful any longer but straight to the utmost embarrassing for all parties involved. Mostly Smeulders hung up in the middle of Anissas shouting tirade, which led to another consecutive phone call with even more offence, rudeness and calling very very bad names as a consequence. Agreed, no one had ever said to Anissa that may be this was not the better way to solve any problems. Inez sure never said anything alike. She never cared anyway. I slowly but surely started to understand why Maria had hired my services at customers service. Not only to cope with the German part of the Matrix world but also to cope with the left wing of our island, called Anissa. Since Maria was no longer present and Anissa clearly used her permanent absence to strengthen her personal alliance with mr Dujournot till may be a plain f*cking level, I kinda waited to implement my knowledge on the matters described above. I still was in the learning phase of my stay at Matrix Systems. And boy, did I learn a lot those days!
chapter 10 : the original Matrix sales techniques of mr Dujournot an his team
Chapter 10 The original Matrix Sales techniques of mr Dujournot chapter 10<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Belgian newspaper Friday 30 December 2005
Quotation : the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />German State Baden-Wuerttemberg is going to sharpen the rules for the foreign Muslims who want to become German citizens. From 2006 onwards they have to pass through an oral exam about values and moral standards. These values and moral standards are being deposited in a series of law articles of the official German constitution, the FDGO (die Freiheitliche Demokratische Grundordnung). Since 2000 all new german citizens are obliged to swear total faith to the FDGO. The state of Baden Wuerttemberg fears that many Muslims are not serious when they take this oath. That is the reason why they have to perform an loyalty assessment, including a long conversation and an examination. The questions concerned are about equality between man and woman, "freedom of religion", "revenge out of honour", and the 11 November attacks in the US.
Now, this is exactly one point I want to make clear with these writings.
Without any connotation to any believe or religion or conviction, I only want to emphasize that it is totally wrong to close ones eyes for the problems we encounter in our western society by not admitting that there are indeed serious problems of action, conduct, behaviour and attitude by immigrants coming from Northern African countries, even if we try to perform the utmost of our abilities to try to make them feel good in our society. There is nothing wrong with these discrepancies as such. Only we need to recognize those differences, those problems and try to deal with them, not ignore them! They indeed have other values, moral standards and explicit believes that do not match with our western culture. These are plain facts. Ignoring them is an act of cheer stupidity.
The only way to deal with the rude and inappropriate behaviour of Anissa on the phone, can only be explained by her different personal attitude towards individuals. When you personally use the word hate and hatred in every single sentence you fabricate, you can hardly detect any form of respect in the same sentences towards those to whom you produce these sentences to. Anissa was a rude and blunt, cold-hearted character, who thought that she could say it all, anytime at any place, the way she thought it to be. To any one. To any one who was not higher in rank than she was, that is. She was clever enough to understand that her behaviour was not applicable towards a higher in rank. It would do her no good, that she quite clearly understood from her own. When she talked to mr Dujournot, it seemed as if she had transformed into another creature. The way she suck up hiss ass was quite legendary but at the same time always embarrassing to see and hear. Only when she thought of you not to belong to this category of higher staff, youd better beware of her poisoned words of insult and personal threatening attacks. Youd sure become a victim of her verbal devastating violence , the only question to ask was : when would this happen? The occasion to which this could/would occur, could be anything. From the way the coffeepot was reset on the kitchen desk, to the lacking papers in the copier, to the pressure of unexpected workload: any reason was a good enough occasion for her to burst into a tirade of offensive, wounding words towards her fellow man.
When I heard her screaming through the office, my stomach always turned upside down and I got cold inside, feeling off-colour and utmost upset about this kind of behaviour, I never encountered in my entire life, not even in Morocco, during those days where I worked over there as a tour guide for German tourists.
It became clear to me that the verbal abusive manners of Anissa had some resemblances with the general attitude I encountered in Northern Africa. The have a culture of totally open debate which means that they discuss about anything everywhere, mostly on the street at any time possible. Although I never ever encountered any personal problems during my stay for more than a year over there. At the contrary, I loved this extra-ordinary country and its inhabitants and they all treated me with respect and all regards possible. Later on I realized, naïve as I always am, they were that courteous to me because every week again, and again for more than a year, I brought a bunch (mostly over 40 ) of loaded German tourists along with me who had the firm intention of spending some of their hard German Marks on carpets, brass souvenirs, leather outfits, perfumes and all possible stuff a fine Moroccan souk till this day offers to their visitors. May be, I deserved some recognition by my Moroccan tour guides because I was adjusting myself to the standards of my host country and I did not try to intervene in their chaotically organised lives. I had a absolute great time, back then. By the way, if you should have the opportunity to visit the fine country of Morocco, you should absolutely do so. Do not leave the city of Marrakech out of your schedule, since this city is one of the most remarkable and beautiful cities of whole Northern Africa, situated at the bottom of the Atlas, an exquisite chain of spectacular high mountains with an altitude of over 13.123,36 feet and always covered with snow. If you spot those snow covered mountains from a jeep, situated in plain desert, bathing in a temperature of over 45° degrees Celsius, it even enhances the feel of the extraordinary position you are actually in.
Now, this is of course only one option. Only one point of view, only one way to understand all circumstances. I am just trying to comprehend why Anissa behaved as she did at Matrix Systems.
I am not telling you that the verbal abnormalities of Annissa were a direct result of her culture of origin, no, no, this would be a direct insult to all Moroccan woman. The base of having an open debate could, however explain the speed with which Anissa jumped into her defensive but attacking approach with slaughtering verbal waste.
As I still an a weak-hearted person, I could not stand this up roaring attitude of Anissa and I felt flabbergasted. Every time again. Especially when she used the word "hate". Which she did all the time.
Besides her verbal violence, Anissa had some other tools she used to intimidate her equals or in her eyes possibly minors at the Matrix office.
You will find out about them as time passes by.
Can you imagine we are still in the year of 1999? Still five full years ahead of me. In this chapter I had the intention of telling you all about the remarkable sales methods used by those in charge of Matrix Systems Inc. Before I can do that, I do need to follow the chronological development of things. As Inez was kicked out as quick as she came in, she needed to be replaced because it was unthinkable that customer service would be able to cope with its clients with one person less. That is why I came as an enforcement, at the first place. So she needed to be replaced at once. Even if Anissa had a very hard time with the sudden disappearance of her friend.
In such drastic situations, where people were fired and hired, mr Dujournot was around the office, of course. I did not say he was physically in the office, no, he was around the office. In the mornings, not one of them he came in earlier as 10 o clock. Often it was almost noon. He phoned on his way to the office for his lunch sandwiches, which he ordered always late, so several phone calls had to correct the amount previously ordered for all Matrix staff. Those sandwiches were paid for out of everyones own pocket, what do you think? Nothing on the account of Matrix Systems. More than often we prepaid mr Dujournots sandwiches and had to insist on getting the money back from him because he tended to forget in his advantage.
The week following the resignation of Inez, mr Dujournot was present. In Belgium, that is. Do not ask me how he did it, but he managed to replace beautiful Inez by an even more beautiful species of the female breed. No one knew where he saw these girls, nor where he found them. They just appeared at the office. And so did Siglunde.
What a name for what a girl. She indeed was still a girl. 21 Years old, fresh from school. The beauty of the innocent. The purity of the unspoiled youth. She was tall, even taller than Inez ever has been. At least 72,83 in. Thin, short hair, lagune-blue eyes, extremely long fine shaped legs, no table legs. What a catch! Congrats mr Dujournot, you did it again!
In no time Siglunde was able to make forget that Inez ever worked at the office. One could suspect Anissa of severe lesbian behaviour. The way she initially flirted with Siglunde was out of this world.
It made me feel uncomfortable, because I had to witness this grotesque interaction between two childlike women, searching for their mutual weaker spot to be touched. It all ended in a fight. Why? I do not know. Possibly because Anissa concluded after days of deeper personal investigation that Siglunde could not really contribute to her private benefit and thus needed to be crushed by her spiteful words.
This beautiful but sad story however ended quicker than any one ever could have expected. Siglunde had been a model and was even now still trying to achieve a breakthrough in the world of fashion and catwalks.
Furthermore she had no endurance whatsoever to work with our computer system Navision. If you add the crummy way Anissa was training me before to the fact that Siglunde suffered a nervous brakedown and consequently crashed every time she had to make an invoice, you could feel from here to Tokyo that she was not born for this kind of work. After only one week, Siglunde announced her departure from Matrix Systems, because she had found a better alternative. It was a governmental position, she found, where she had more time to focus on her modelling career, besides this computer programme did not seem to match to her anyway. Bye Bye Siglunde. Lucky Siglunde.
Lucky Siglunde.
This was, of course another setback in the planning of mr Dujournot who saw his obligatory stay in Belgium being prolonged to unknown duration since his initial attempt to replace Inez failed almost instantly.
As bizarre and obscure he acted by the first attempt to replace Inez, the more open he seemed this time, since he asked us, at customer service (only Anissa and me left, actually) to participate in the search. He told us he had placed an announcement in the weekend edition of the most important Belgian newspapers of the upcoming weekend and he asked us to be in the office the whole of next week, when he would screen the first candidates. Hed send them over to us and then, we could ventilate our opinion on them. In reality he was fed up with this failure of his own endeavour and was now counting on us, so he could lay the responsibility on us when things would get wrong a second time. Two beautiful species of the female gender had left him in less than a week time and he clearly was not up to a third personal disappointment. Of course, Siglunde left the minute she pronounced her finding another job to mr Dujournot. Seldom seen someone leave the office that quick.
I wonder what he actually said to her. Probably he had insulted her.
It was quite easy, actually, the choice we had to make. In what came bye that week, no one seemed appropriate, nor had the right credentials
there was only one woman though, and she looked good, so
.In fact , even if she might have been elder than the others, she was the better selection. It concerned an enthralling woman in her mid forties, with exquisite raven black long hair, however an elderly type, still looking younger than her actual age though, with the general looks of a true Spanish gipsy, if dressed that way.
She was pretty small, had a appealing face, a positive attitude, and she was divorced. This new piece of information was quite interesting for mr Dujounrot. Now he had finally found someone who was in an absolute economical underdog position, who needed the job and its cash as bad as I did.
She would not run as fast as the others did before! Those stupid ignorant and for all ungrateful adolescents! Besides her looks, she had to offer indeed the right maturity combined with the necessary qualifications of a true customer care supportive person we were all looking for. We all agreed pretty fast on this female candidate. Her name was Veronique.
Veronique Claessens.
Welcome Veronique.
Welcome to the team.
Because she really did look at least as nice as both vanished youngsters, despite of her age, mr Dujournot enjoyed this late triumph of human selection. When you are in your mid forties and you do look good, you do have only one problem in life : you recognize that you have great looks and you abuse them. Veronique surely used hers to get what she wanted. I bet she immediately sensed the exuberant weakness of mr Dujournot for female splendour. He fell for her in less than one minute, that is certain. I could live with that, since Veronique not only brought her looks into the office, she seemed to be an intelligent creature as well.
She would truly be a authentic support on our island and make things work for the better. That I was sure of. For the first time since my arrival at Matrix systems, I had a feeling of gratitude and contentment. May be all would turn out the right way.
Just may be.
At that time, it seemed right and good. And I felt good. As did mr Dujournot. Between his legs.
Veronique spoke three languages in such a faultless way Anissa only could dream of and she had the intention of picking up a fourth one through evening classes. She was absolutely fluent in Dutch, English, had a supreme French control over her Roman brain particles, and wanted to tackle the Italian idiom also. I had a slight inkling she used this multiple language control as a enticement for mr Dujournot since he, being a real Frenchman, did not master any other foreign language, beside the English one. Now, I do know that in general, all Frenchmen do not ever in their entire lives speak any other language but their own, surely not the English one, and this is an historically grown major fact you cannot refute. So the fact that our genuine Frenchman mr Dujournot spoke English, was at least that much of an achievement of higher international linguistic intellect, that he made it to the position of general manager of Matrix Systems Inc.
You can easily compare a Frenchman with the Germans for that matter. Neither do they speak any other language than their own strong German idiom. Wolfgang Hanssen, our German sales, did not only speak German, but handled the English as well as if it was his own invention. That is why he worked at matrix Systems Inc. He was one of the very few Germans who were able to combine two leading languages of this world in one brain.
Both French and Germans strongly believe that their own language is the only possible way to really make it in this hard international business world. They consequently deny the strength of any other language for that matter. Would you believe that, when we arrived at Sudan, one of the poorest northern African countries in the world, where I had to guide the overweight German cruise customers towards dirty open rebuild trucks with only bare benches to sit upon in the heat of about 53 ° noon temperature, they expected the locals to speak German? No kidding. Swear to God. Even if I do not believe in him.
Every time a cruise ship enters a foreign port, it is in most cases welcomed by local dancers or other artistic local citizens to make the cruise participants feel welcome and at home. You cant expect them to speak the language of every visiting cruise liner. No, you cannot. Only the Germans do so. Till today. Yes sir, indeed. This is no joke.
I was on the verge of telling you about the scheming way the Matrix Systems general manager acts to promote his sales activities. Due to the demanding occurrence of multiple events and frequent personnel alteration during those early days of my presence at this utmost peculiar and questionable company , I will be forced to tell you about this next and again uncommon component of the European part of matrix Systems Inc. in the next chapter.
Chapter eleven : sales promotion techniques part 2 second attempt
So we had our first part of shifting populace in those early days, together with some irregular events I had never occurred before in my professional life. Before continuing this charade of the uncommon, I will present you with a short abridgment, in order to keep track.
Directly form the start at matrix Systems, I was confronted with some very unusual creatures and their individual behaviour.
I was supposed to work as a customer service representative for the Eastern European market. My fellow mates were Anissa, responsible for the French and a few big international and even Belgian clients. Furthermore there was Inez, taking care of the Italians and some other international customers. The three of us were called : customer service. Inez was replaced by Siglunde and Siglunde was replaced by Veronique. They were all very exquisite woman. They all looked gorgeous, they were young and tempting. Only Veronique was slightly older but gained by this fact on maturity and dignity. However, Anissas thin layer of alleged beauty diminished by each day I saw her because of her unbelievable rude attitude and foul mouth. She turned into a regular horrendous monster.
She did grow some black long hair on her back. (I saw this myself when she bended over once just before my eyes to pick something up from the floor) Maybe at night she turned into a werewolf and ate her own children.
As you already know, my partner in crime was our outdoor sales and marketing manager for the east European market mr Wolfang Hanssen. He was my direct mate in our daily battle of convincing the customers to choose Matrix Systems products. As mr Dujournot, he was always on the road. But, opposed to mr Dujournot, I always knew exactly Wolfgangs plans, whereabouts or where in Europe he was about to perform one of his very thriving sales talks. I needed to work close together with Wolfgang. We did this fine. We had exactly the same professional notion on customer care. This was sheer luxury. We both knew, without even talking about it, what our common customers needed to be satisfied. I never encountered, besides myself, any other person in my life with the same customer care drive than Wolfgang. Even mr Dujournot never ever showed, nor shared the same "customer care" interests as did Wolfgang and I. I guess a "general manager" has other "interests" and personal goals to aim for than "customer satisfaction." But our combination worked. We, Wolfgang and I, were indeed a real team. Even if it only consisted out of two individuals performing separate, till complementary and harmonizing tasks. This team realized amazing results. Which proves that real constructive teamwork leads to results. Positive results. It was a blessing working with Wolfgang. I never had to explain why I did some things as I did, to make our customers happy. He was able to see and comprehend the broader picture and the end result of why I performed my customer care tasks with such intensity and professional care. Those kind of people are rare on the market. But I have always had a splendid relationship with all my German contacts, as strange as this may sound. And even now, at matrix Systems, my successful German association that kept following me throughout my entire life, continued with Wolfgang.
Partly because of Wolfgang and the astounding sales results we both as a team achieved, I stayed as long as almost six full years in this atypical company of which I have not even told you a tenth of what is there to be told.
Rick Vijvers wasnt really a guy of many words. Our in-house technical support engineer did not waste time nor energy in the art of speaking.
You remember Rick, dont you? He appeared shortly in chapter two where Maria introduced him to me. Rick Vijvers energy went straight into his fondling with small boats. Miniature boats. He liked to play with in his free time. At the office he was not really part of the team. Actually he wasnt part of anything, sitting at his smoky desk behind tons of professional literature about our assorted systems. He, the only one who smoked at the office, although it was already forbidden by law, smoked if hed be glad to have lung cancer the next morning. He was a very bitter man. He looked bland and extremely malcontent (which he was, by the way). All the time. He had been with the company for many years now and was the elder one at the office.
I did not know why he was that astringent. He did not tell us. He did not help us either. He just took care of his own small telephone business. He smoked and phoned all day long. It was clear that he was being avoided by the others. No one dared to interrupt his smoking nor telephone habits, even if it were problems concerning his intervention.
He was so harsh and inconsiderate to any one of his office mates, that he was being neglected for the better. No one knew the exact reason of this behaviour. I did not like Rick at all. He did not seem to care for anything at all, at the office that is. Probably he went to bed with his small boats and fucked all openings they presented to him, but at the Matrix office he displayed such a tremendous aura of utter indifference that it begrudged me. He wasnt best mates with mr Dujournot either.
It was clear they could not stand each others guts. They hated one another profoundly. At the beginning, I just was able to take note of this peculiar relationship and office attitude of again another member of this extraordinary Matrix team, because I did not know anything about their context, nor any other surrounding variables for that matter. It is so wrong to use the word team here. I better use the word bunch of tortured individuals.
Only later it became very obvious to me that Rick Vijvers, being the elder Matrix employee, had become totally frustrated over the way things evolved at this peculiar company and the role he was supposed to play in this part. He had become a strong opponent of mr Dujournot, because he had known him for four years already and knew definitely more than any one else in the office about his devious whereabouts. He knew the truth about mr Dujournot. That is for sure. And, judged by his repulsive behaviour, it did not seem to be a fine truth to know. No sir. Only, I did not know anything, back then, in the year 1999. I just had soo many weird things to observe and register. So I favoured the man who hired and fed me, mr Dujournot. And I tried to avoid Rick Vijvers as much as I possibly could, as all the others did. On the occasion where mr Dujournot was at the Belgian office, they never spoke to one another. They avoided each other the same way as we all tried to evade Rick, performing our daily tasks. We did not have to avoid Rick for a long time, though.
Rick Vijvers was the next in line to leave Matrix Systems, still back in the year 1999. Rick took the honour and he resigned himself. Only days before his resignation, Rick had been very furious towards mr Dujournot, even if he wasnt in the office. Mr Dujournot had gone on one of his European mystery tours.
Nevertheless, he wanted to leave a message to all of us at the office. Sales werent that good at the time. We hardly achieved about 15 million Belgian franks those days. (only in the year 2002 they were replaced by the Euro) Each month.
He had put an office chair on the central table in our office and pinned a paper sign on the back of the chair, saying : if you all try harder, you will be able to raise our sales and we will achieve the 20 million franks a month.
Now, if you should try to avoid one thing, than you better avoid pissing off Rick Vijvers. When he came in that Monday morning and saw the sign by mr Dujournot, he went totally berserk. He started to fulminate in the open and by those aggravated sentences I learned some more about the reasons of disappointment and frustration Rick had encountered during all those bygone Matrix years.
According to Rick, it was the responsibility of mr Dujournot to rise sales. He wasnt only the general manager of Matrix <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Belgium, but also the sole accountable sales manager for a superior part of Europe. For the French region mr Dujournot had hired three supplementary sales managers, the same time he hired Wolfgang Hanssen. Only, they did not have the same internal power, nor responsibility in the Matrix power scheme, as Wolfgang had. Wolfgang had obtained total freedom in his attempt to conquer the eastern European market. The French threesome only had to re-conquer all lost sales of an existing French market. This was a huge difference of accountability.
To Rick Vijvers it was all very clear : mr Dujournot and his French threesome together with mr Wolfgang Hanssen, were the sole persons within Matrix Belgium accountable for the sales. Not the people at the office. Even if I did not dare to speak at the time, I could not but agree on this elementary vision. Of course Rick was right. What was mr Dujournot thinking when he put up this sign? Did he forget about his own task as sales manager? Or, was he not able to combine those two titles at the same time? Where was he anyway? Did any one know? No. No one knew where he was.
Abroad. This we had to say to any one who would ask about the location of mr Dujournot. No details, just abroad . Thats it.
How on earth could we raise sales?
There are ways. Not obvious ones, but there are.
Rick had a point where he concluded that this sign of mr Dujournot was nothing less than solid criticism about the working of the office employees. He clearly said : if you try harder
. Which meant that he thought we did not try hard enough
we could do more
. I did not really consider this message as a message to me personally, since I just started here. I just couldnt be more amused by all the reactions these few written words on a note by the boss had evoked by those who thought to be involved in the matter of lesser or more work. Rick Vijvers was one of them. Rick Vijvers clearly thought he was about personally attacked and fully hit by this public placed comment of mr Dujournot.
In his openly displayed verbal defence Rick counterattacked mr Dujournots way of mystery travelling, his frequent office absence and the crummy way he represented his task as sales manager. According to Rick mr Dujournot never ever visited his clients, he even neglected them very defectively. Rick felt that mr Dujournot was ventilating his own personal sales deficiency on the back of the office workers. He did not deliver any proof of what he said, but you could sense that there was a serious foundation of truth in the things Rick revealed about mr Dujournot. He knew him the longest of us all. That was a fact. Rick was soo frustrated about this remark on the chair on the table that it made him sick and he resigned the next day. Next morning there was no longer Rick Vijvers. Only his letter came by mail.
I wasnt really feeling sorry for Rick, in fact, I kinda felt quite relieved about his departure since Rick had been a very negative person. He carried a lot of negative vibes around him. He even spread those vibes constantly. The same way as he had been spreading his smoke all those years. Now for once, my clothes would no longer smell like ten overfilled ashtrays which consequently turned my home into the stinking odour of some vulgar misty pub, every evening again. Rick had left the Matrix team. For good. Rick Vijvers had left a team that never ever even was one at the first place. Nevertheless I was always looking in those beginning days for elements that could indicate the presence of a decent Matrix team. I did not find any.
And now Rick was gone. Hurray!
To me it was as if an obstacle had taken care of itself. The daily smoking obstruction had finally exterminated itself. And I was happy for that.
Thanks mr Dujournot, your words do have impact.
chapter 12 : momentum of reflection
Maria, Inez, Rick and Siglunde. They all had one thing in common. They left in the first weeks after my arrival at Matrix Systems Inc. Do you think the unexpected exodus stopped after Rick had left the building? No sir!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
More were to go. What I did not even know at that time, was that Inez and Anissa were pretty new to begin with at the matrix office and that they had also been replacing others, only moments before my arrival. I do not even remember their names, because I never got to know them at the first place. So it seemed that mr Dujournot was swapping teams in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Belgium. Tabula rasa. His relentless cleaning operation. His customer service team was completely renewed in comparison to some months earlier. Now on top of that, Rick was gone too. Our engineer, who hated to be called technical support by our customers, but in fact was, had started another life. Another setback for mr Dujournot.
Every time a person left Matrix Systems, mr Dujournot was obliged to return to the Belgian office from what ever he was doing somewhere in outer Europe. He did not like that. He was consequently very pissed about it and you could tell on his face, mornings where he stumbled into the office with features of a drunken old bastard. He always behaved gentlemanlike, but had the tormented facial expression he could not hide and attitude of a delirious alcoholic. He did not even invest much in efforts to keep up the appearances. One day his alcohol abuse, mostly black labelled whiskeys he consumed on behalf of the company, became that worse that he got the typical limping disease, where one of both legs isnt really cooperative any more to brain instructions. So he limped a lot. Mr Dujournot limped practically always I saw him. He had become an all time shuffler. All those six years. Sometimes it was a bit better, but the next morning, he crawled into the office again, thinking he had gotten away with it, underestimating the power the golden 12 year old Scottish booze. He did not drink during the day. Normally he did not. He had a bar in his airco office. Because he usually came out of his bed only when the day had already passed half of its time, he had intentionally reduced his alcohol free daily period to the least possible. Whenever some clients appeared at the office on one of his prearranged dates, they habitually started their encounters with sharing a bottle of wine or half filled crystal glasses of whiskey, the bottle icily stored in his pesonal office fridge. Then they prolonged the obnoxious alcohol intake at the nearest restaurant, crudely chosen to shun drunk driving as much as possible, where they loudly discussed business matters of the highest importance consuming their accustomed three course business meal, accompanied with the necessary and obligatory highly intoxicating drinks. Pousse cafés were never denied nor left out of this managerial performance of the highest finesse.
The rare times mr Dujournot was physically at the Belgian office, he always seemed to have arranged a special rendez-vous, a gathering with one of his better clients. Mostly they were always the same guys. Mr Dujournot had an intense relationship with only a very few of his clients. He had hundreds of them, really, nicely scattered around Europe, to rectify his intense travelling, but only saw a handful of them. In Belgium. Normally we, at the office, would have thought that mr Dujournot was on the road to visit them, at their home country, in their offices. But he did not do so. He frequently invited his friend/clients to come over to Belgium. Their Belgian encounters were always so forceful that, in fact, it always seemed to be a true friendship that had to be sealed by both parties with a state of total drunkenness.
Customer care of the deepest concentration, till the booze knocks us out. Some of those clients came all the way from their country to join mr Dujournot on his excessive booze trip. Of course he did not pay for these customer care enticements out of his own pocket. Every company with any respect for his internal high levelled functioning had separate funds for those kinds of customer care special treats. The monthly expense notes that mr Dujournot presented the mother company were thus quite opulent and every time a clear multiple number of my salary. How did I know all that? Did I have to sneak around to get this kind of information? No Sir! There were no secrets whatsoever at this bizarre office. Annissa made sure that even the most secret accountable details were fully exposed on any possible occasion. Sometimes, more than once, even the salary note of mr Dujournot was left unattended on the copier for several hours so anyone could see how fervent the US responsible of Matrix Inc USA were remunerating our little chef. Probably they were very happy with is achievements at this side of the ocean. Otherwise they would not pay him that kind of money. The Americans are known for their extreme high managerial wages. But to see this, with your own eyes, printed black on white, makes one miserable for a second, as my salary was only a infinitesimal fraction of the amount mr Dujournot was entitled to each month. It made me feel small and insignificant. Judged by his huge salary, mr Dujounrot must have been a wonder boy of some kind, one of a kind. I only wondered why so many people had left the office. Some thing was not right here. Some things were to be considered even wrong. Very wrong indeed. But who am I? Deducted from the height of my salary, not a real big shot! Not someone who would consider his career uplifting or on rising as a shooting star. I guess if there were not to exist a minimum scale for remuneration in the automotive industry, mr Dujounrot certainly would have dared to pay me even less.
But, at the time being, I did not complain. I was even happy, yes, happy indeed I was, that I even had a salary. Thats who I am. Modest that it hurts myself. I must admit that was and I am not very good at negotiating salaries. I am too shy for that. I should have stood up more for myself. But I cannot. I could not.
Of course you cannot compare the amount of responsibility of our general manager with the impact of a trivial customer care department. It all has its price. I know that. I am not that stupid. Still, it is kind of rude and personally insulting to see those slamming differences. A normal, well functioning mind cannot ever defend the astronomical discrepancies between both salaries. Furthermore did I not have a free card, nor a blanc check for all my expenses. I had to pay them from my earnings. And when I saw how mr Dujournot in fact was spending his unlimited company expense amount, I was reassured that you indeed had to posses unique hideaway managerial qualities I indeed was not able to detect on mr Dujournrot, not the way he behaved. This was not a one-time achievement of mr Dujournot. His regular intense customer care boozing dinners were legendary.
I only tried to figure out how mr Dujournot possibly could have convinced the US hot shots about this unlimited expense thing.
He surely had sold himself and the overall impression of his executive capacities matching the highest thinkable limits, towards the US mother company.
Maybe I had missed something until now. Maybe I did not see things as they were presenting themselves before my very eyes, those fist weeks , back in the year 1999. Maybe he had saved Matrix Systems. Maybe he really was a super managing director. Or was it general Manager? Or sales manager? Or Booze and liquor manager?
Annissa, the poor child, had no idea, not a single clue what she had done by leaving the salary note of mr Dujournot behind on the copier for every one to see. Let me put it even worse, but true as it was: she did not give a sh*t. She could not care less. But I am running ahead again.
Stall. Recapitulate. Organize. Chronolize.
chapter 13 : "Next, please!"
Chapter 13 : Next, please!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Who do you think was the next one to leave Matrix Systems Inc?
Because it did not stop with Rick Vijvers, as I told you before.
Tanja hadnt felt well since Maria had left the Matrix family.
Ugly Tanja leading as a sole employer our account department, considered herself quite lost and alone, since Maria left. Tanja had been best mates with Maria. Since Maria was the previous office manager, it seemed very clearly that Tanja used her as a back up for all her accountable decisions to be made. Tanja could not function alone. She could not make any decisions from her own. She needed this feedback from a superior as her oxygen to breathe. To be reassured that everything would be ok. Tanja was quite uncertain. With those looks of her, any one would feel uncertain. Tanja was now one of the elder almost totally vanished team. Now Rick was gone too. Tanja was the only one to keep the fortress standing. But she felt she could not do so. Tanja felt abandoned. She kept on wining about this all the time. We, the new crew however, were kind of happy that there was no supervisor around the house. We all had our little private reasons. Because of my past and my experience I did not really need someone to hold my hand performing my job. It was for me a new challenge to hit with Wolfgang those new markets. I had a very specific goal set in those beginning days. I had my own private motivation and my own reasons of how to tackle this new assessment. I did not need a nany to guide me. I new exactly what I was doing, where I was heading at. Obviously Tanja did not. Not any longer.
Tanja wasnt best mates with mr Dujournot. She never was. She never had been. Her profound repulsiveness was the main reason for this hamper in their relationship. Mr Dujournot adored beautiful women. His dick did too. But sometimes he had to choose for brain content instead of breast content and a pretty face. As they say: real beauty is to be found inside. With Tanja this beauty must have been hiding very, very deep inside, indeed, considering her thick layers of ugliness at the outside.
I for one thing and for sure, never found any evidence of beauty on Tanja.
Furthermore, Tanja had a very peculiar private lifestyle, she kept us telling about at the office. It was so unbelievable that it had to be true.
Tanja talked a lot. Not about work, she never talked about work towards us, the newbees, she kept all her accountable stuff strictly for her own as some kind of treasure she sat upon. Now, some elements and figures and data need to be kept and treated confidentially, so I wasnt feeling unhappy with her reluctant behaviour to keep her work as secret as she did. What I did not knew, I did not have to consider neither. But Tanja had a gossip nature. She could not resist telling us all kind of stories about the company, about mr Dujournot, since he was never there. He was an easy target. The fact that they both did not match up as real friends, enhanced the urge to gossip even more about mr Dujournot, his past and his whereabouts.
She told us about the painful divorce of mr Dujournot, about his shabby hotel choice, about his deceased son who threw himself in a French river and drowned, about the fact that mr Dujournot never ever talked about this sad fact, never talked about his personal life in general, about a big rent less loan mr Dujournot would have gotten from Matrix USA to help him overcome his divorcing difficulties, about his crappy attitude towards the Matrix employees
she did not leave an occasion unused to smother mr Dujournots reputation.
Till the day of today I do not even know if all the stories she told were ever true. About the loan, his drowned son, I never ever got any confirmation that these stories actually were reflections of real life or just wisely chosen elements to deliberately damage mr Dujournots standing.
The anecdotes Tanja told us about her personal life, were not exactly of such impact that they would have enriched her personal status. She told us about her beloved husband, some grouchy bear type of guy, who liked to dress up like a real baby with real diapers and all, and that they both went to certain meetings where they met similar couples with the same spooky but in her eyes fascinating mental deviations. There they pampered and comforted the as baby dressed grown ups, as they really attentively and loudly cried like authentic babies do, till they get what they want. The bear knocked her up and because she was pregnant, they did not attend those meetings any longer. I could not help it to consider all this quite sickening.
Kind of creepy, at least weird, dont you think? I know that in this world there exist all kinds of people, but it seemed that they had gathered all together at Matrix Systems. What on earth was I doing here in the midst of these peculiar abnormalities? So the next one to go was Tanja.
All of a sudden, her pregnant tummy sticking fiercely in front of her, she triumphantly announced her departure. So we would not be able to see what eventually was coming out of her blown up belly, were we? I was happy for that. I did not want to know what kind of creature was to be born out of the seeds of a diapered bear and the womb of a female humanized Dumbo. Tanja did not leave us at once. Because she was in charge of the whole account department, she could not. She needed time to sort things out. She needed a successor to take over all the files. Rick Vijvers had just left his files on his desk, unattended, because there was no successor, yet. Technical advice did not seem that kind of priority to mr Dujournot. The account department however needed continuity.
Now, as I previously told you about the phone fighting of Anissa, this wasnt really the way to handle things. Everyone knew that, every body at the office saw and understood this, but Anissa herself. As a direct result of her exaggerated theatrical performances on the phone, the transport company Smeulders did no longer want to perform the deliveries to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />France. So we had a serious problem. Mr Dujournot had to be informed about this. He had to accept the rates of a more expensive transport company, since no one was cheaper than Smeulders. We had expected that he would be quite upset about this change, but, at the contrary, he reacted utmost calm and even compassionate towards Anissa, who had been having very hard times with this unreliable company lately. The poor child. He reacted as a lover boy who would do anything to protect his beloved one. It was at least an apparent indication that something was going on here, between the two love birds. Moreover, it was as clear as a cup of fine orange blossom Sri Lankan finest tea to all of us that Anissa lacked every form of possible natural sagacity -Fingerspizengefuehl - for the sacred art of comforting a customer.
I have no idea who came to the initiative of transferring Anissa to the account department, but, in relation to the actual state of emergency at that time, this seemed a reasonable internal solution for all protagonists involved. Anissa could have been fired, I totally agree on that one, for consistently demonstrating her observable ineptitude on her present job as customer non-care representative, but since we all knew that between the reigning dwarf and Anissa something beautiful was emerging, this option quickly was erased as non applicable. In fact, this never even has been an option. Anissa even thought that she was handling things as they should have been handled and that she had obtained some kind of promotion. Which was partly true indeed.
I had no idea whatsoever that with this move, all trouble and misery to come had found its fundamental grounds to grow upon.
Anissa was happy. Not even one year at Matrix Systems and she got a hold on some essential career move. A specific accountable education Anissa never had. In school she had learned the absolute basic knowledge between debit and credit and about how to compose an invoice. She never had been aware of the implications, nor essential values of a credit note. But mr Dujournot saw no problem, he believed in some capacities of Anissa. I am even now not sure which capacities he ment. I think she swallowed. Must be.
It was the hard but enforced ultimate task of pregnant Tanja to instruct Anissa and lead her into the secrets of modern accountability. The three months to come were very hard. Both for Tanja as for Anissa as well. Many times Anissa left her desk with tears of pure rage in her eyes and went outside the office, slamming each door behind her. After ten minutes wining and screaming she re-entered and went on, together with an almost desperate Tanja to master the undisclosed matters of her department. Although Tanja had major reservations about the appropriate competences of Anissa, since she lacked the matching education, not once the newly acquainted position of Anissa had been questioned by mr Dujournot. At the contrary, he believed that she would be doing "real fine".
For some devious reason Tanja did not want to inform mr Dujournot about her struggle to educate and inform Anissa of all due accountable tasks.
I think it was part of her revenge scheme, to use this way as a manner to get even with mr Dujournot who had been a real pain in the ass towards Tanja all those years.
So everything seemed ok. At first sight. When mr Dujournot was around in the office.
Then Anissa behaved and she played the perfect student. As soon as he turned his back and went on one of his mystery tours, she changed into this unrecognizable creature with her beautiful dark eyes filled with hatred and her mouth full of spiteful language. Especially when she had to do something, it seemed hard for her to accept the orders given by Tanja who could not care less about the way Anissa refused to learn all essentials.
Now Anissa was careless and lazy and this is an understatement of the century. She grumbled and shouted and swore and cursed every time she actually had to be doing something in concrete. As long as Tanja was still in the house, it was Tanja who did the job. All of it. The moment Tanja asked her to participate or asked her on helping her, this charade of the furious untamed Amazon emerged out of the blue. Tanja longed for her departure.
She was fed up with Anissa.
Poor mr Dujournot. He did solve the exit of Tanja quite elegantly but now he had to look for replacement not only for Rick Vijvers, but, again, for another customer care representative since Anissa had left our island.
So many changes, so many exits.
For one reason or another mr Dujournot did not seem happy with the way we were treated by our handling agent, the owner of the gigantic shoe box store room where we rented our offices. During her time as customer care representative, Anissa had arranged verbal fights with about every possible human creature that came in contact with her. She even had a terrible fight (one of her many fights) with the general manager of MIXO, our handling agent.
She accused him of being a racist. Anissa often accused people of being a racist. It is some defend mechanism she uses. Against any remark she gets, from whomever it may be. Because Anissa did not seem afraid of anything. Of any one. Could it be because she swallowed? The real reasons behind some questionable incidents are often the simplest ones.
Of course did the general manager of MIXO not accept this kind of behaviour of Anissa and wanted to talk to mr Dujournot about this.
Again mr Dujournot protected Anissa on this occasion so fierce, that he concluded that whatever MIXO did for us, we even could do better on our own. We would be starting our own warehouse and dispatching centre. He said these things in the heat of the discussion. We would show them how things were done around here! Bloody racist!
Besides swallowing, Anissa must have been presenting each opening of her body to mr Dujournot, free to use, the unlimited edition.
So, suddely, out of the blue, we were to be heading towards a whole new future with Matrix Systems, running our own warehouse and stuff.
How did mr Dujournot saw this to be happening? Right, by hiring some more people. Since he was suffering already an office indigestion, by looking for replacement for Rick and Anissa, he could, at the same time look for the right individuals to orchestrate the final move towards total independency.
Before that, we were not only dependable from the transport companies who brought our goods to the customers, but we were also dependable on the service MIXO offered us in handling and storing our incoming and outgoing Matrix Systems goods. It was obvious that mr Dujournot really was not that eager to actually perform or do things by himself. He liked to delegate. Everything. They say that the best general manager is surrounded by excellent people. May be mr Dujournot was an excellent manager. Time would tell us all.
Both Anissa and mr Dujournot had the same basic attitude towards real work : avoid it as much as you can.
So mr Dujournot announced the vacancy of a new office manager. His primordial task was to fully orchestrate our sudden move towards independency. He, the poor bastard, was being held responsible for about everything to happen in the near future. He had to look for a new warehouse, for fresh warehouse people, for new, or even better, used warehouse trucks, for the cheapest warehouse installations, for second hand pickup trucks, for third hand picking machines, for a liaison responsible between warehouse and office, for new offices (since we would leave MIXO which meant we would loose our present offices as well which we rented from them).
I had no idea who this person was going to be, no one did, actually, as all conclusions in this matter ware taken so unexpectedly, immediately after Anissas verbal fight with the MIXO chief; but one thing I knew for sure : I already felt a tremendous compassion for this man or woman who wasnt even there but who had to carry all responsibility towards the near future of Matrix Systems Inc.
chapter 14 : Introducing Tessy Jolane and Malvine Jumpers
Chapter 14 : Tessy Jolane and Malvine Jumpers<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
I am sure mr Dujournot wasnt really aware of the major problems he was bringing us all into. You can say things in the heat of a fight but afterwards you can correct them. Or deny them. Or ignore them. Not mr Dujournot. His argument with the chief of MIXO had turned into a regular clash of the titans and not one of both participants would ever take back even a syllable of what had been said to one another. This was managerial honour we were talking about. I guess this meant doggy style tonight for Anissa. At least her honour was saved.
I had just accepted my job at Matrix Systems, partly on location grounds, since the office was only a quarter mile from home, so during summer I could easily go to work with my bike. Goodbye bike.
Anissa had some good news. Good news for mr Dujournot. Her girlfriend was eagerly looking for a job and she thought that customer care was something that corresponded perfectly with her. I just wondered how a person like Anissa, who had no clue at all what real customer care really is all about, could be able to judge upon the capacities of another person, whether it might be her girlfriend or not. But strangely enough mr Dujournot immediately agreed upon this constructive proposal of Anissa and he instantaneously wanted to meet this girl, especially when he got to know her age. Anissa was as clever as to bring a picture of her as well.
Malvine Jumpers was a very beautiful creature. This, mr Dujournot had noticed at once, the moment he had laid eyes on the picture Anissa had shown to him. Anissa was quite eager to get Malvine into the Matrix team.
This way she would be able to enforce her position. About the real capacities of Malvine Jumpers nothing much was being said. She was invited into the office of mr Dujournot without any delay and 10 minutes later her contract had been signed. Malvine Jumpers was not a born Belgian lady. About 10 years ago her family came to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Belgium, probably running away from their political instable country of former Moldavia. Only a few years ago she definitely choose for the Belgian nationality. Welcome Malvine Jumpers! Each country who is able to add such kind of extraordinary pair of hooters to their patrimonial, should be very happy indeed. Just kidding! But, as you could detect from the speed of contract signing, Malvine was indeed an extremely beautiful sampling of the human race. She had a supreme pair of exquisite thick lips and a pair of fantastic titties you only see in the movies. I think Anissa had presented herself with some strong competition.
In any case, mr Dujournot had done it again, now with help from his most faithful companion, Anissa Hamsa. He had replaced worlds ugliest woman by a variety of the best kind. At this point he almost started slobbering, thinking of the potential he had left, replacing Rick and searching for the liaison employee yet to come! I bet he had come to the point where he dreamed of a whole team of mannequin like women, all willing an eager to just fulfilling his personal needs and desires. He even forgot about the office manager, may be this could be a woman too. Maria had been a women with equal function. Only she possessed more male hormones than an average body builder. And this was something mr Dujournot did not like. He was right about this. Who would like such kind of overdeveloped female that brings you but fear? Who would not function any better in a place filled with exquisite breasts all around you? You could call it breastville if you wanted too. The only thing that could happen with an office filled with Malvine like characters, was that mr Dujournot would not go on tour again. He would gladly stay amidst the breasts he had chosen himself to permanently surround him.
Only, Anissa lacked those breasts. She only had an undersized handful of those, twice. But therefore she had some hips, a horse could ride upon. J.LO could have learned from the hips of Anissa.
I really hoped some intellectual qualities were attracted too into this office besides the glamour and pleasure of having daily eye contact with fine bodily curves, dressed with outstanding nipples of the premium sort.
Only, replacing Rick just was not that easy. An engineering trained brain mostly does not fit in the head of a corps where exquisite physical advantages are to be found in both upper and lower bodily regions.
Thus, It took some time to find replacement for Rick.
At the same time, mr Dujournot had to search for this liaison manager who would be the direct contact person between our office and our new warehouse. Up till now MIXO delivered those services, but as you all well know, mr Dujournot was not quite happy any more with the service they provided.
Tessy Jolane presented herself. She had been working at MIXOs for six months now and her contract was, after this probation period, not to be continued for one reason or another. Since rumours travel quickly and follow mysterious ways, Tessy had heard about the managerial fight and the sudden outcome of our abrupt and quite unexpected company departure.
So there she stood, shy and quite wordless at the office door, behind the counter, a bit the same as I must have been standing there, now some weeks before. Tessy was not the skinny type of female. She had consequently appropriate fine hooters. She was legally blond and had a pretty and open face with sparkling eyes. She smiled. I knew at first sight that she would not have a hard time at the office of mr Dujournot. His big booby troopers were to be reinforced by another fine species. I was right. Tessy got the job. Easily. Immediately. My God, mr Dujournot had become quite predictable, had he not?.
Tessy was also very young, about the same age as Malvine and Anissa. After some weeks I found out that the three of them had been in the same educational classes and knew each other from school, before working at Matrix Systems.
But there were some fundamental differences between those three. As Anissa had introduced Malvine, they were really close friends. Something told me in every move, every word Anissa spoke, after Tessy had presented herself, that this kind of friendship was not present between Anissa and Tessy. They knew each other and that was about it. Anissa had not introduced Tessy at Matrix systems. If she were to be real friends with Tessy, she probably would have done so.
But opposite to the despicable personality discrepancies of Anissa, Tessy appeared to be a really sweet girl. Her open face told me more than a thousand words. She had her heart at the right place and at the top of her tongue. She said it as it was. She spoke as she thought it should have been said. Sometimes this led to quite vivid conversations, but never there was any animosity in those words of her. She wanted to learn. She really wanted to be part of the Matrix team. She did not realize at first that there was no real Matrix team. But she learned quite quickly. And she understood that a team was missing at Matrix Systems. Therefore the presence and visual weight of Anissa was too prominent in sight. It seemed, as if she had been crowned queen of the proms. She behaved as if she owned the place. If he, mr Dujournot wasnt in. This could only be the obvious result of the close intimate, probably deep sexual relationship she cherished with mr Dujournot, our dwarf in command. She acted as if nothing could harm her. She seemed untouchable. Maybe the small brain content she clearly possessed in combination with the recent unexpected promotion to the account department could have made her fly like an eagle. She at least had the same deadly sharpness of the eagles claws and jaws, whenever she opened her mouth. Unless mr Dujournot had filled it with his rocking standing and throbbing dick, ready to leave his next load of sticky cum behind. Then she had to swallow. I bet this was the only thing Anissa ever swallowed.
As reluctant Anissa was to learn on the content of her new position (which drove Tanja insane by the way, as she was terrified that this new knowledge would probably lead to actual work) so enthusiastic and keen Tessy proved herself to be in preparing herself to be the first new Matrix Systems Warehouse manager. Welcome Tessy!
And we did not even have our new office manager.
I wasnt very keen on the fact that mr Dujournrot insisted on having a new office manager, since the office worked fine without Maria.
I could do without. I was big enough, I was mature enough.
Only, with this new challenge ahead, mr Dujounrot was probably right to go and look for a poor innocent creature to be victimized and to be blamed for all the things that could go possibly wrong in what was about to take place the coming months, our final office move towards total freedom.
The abhorrence of Anissa towards any kind of intellectual of physical effort was beyond possible measurement. Tanja was about to found out due to her daily training sessions where Anissa needed to take over the account department. She had been by far the laziest person I had ever encountered on this planet. In order to maintain such deviant human quality, one needs sometimes to follow mysterious ways and act peculiarly. It drove Tanja insane.
Tessy, however, was about everything Anissa was not. And vice versa.
Tessy was eager to learn on her new career and did everything to make things really work. Anissa only had been obstructive until now against any one who came across her. Even Tanja, who had the only intention of passing on her specified knowledge so she could quit the office asap.
One day in the past, Tanja, who was the main supplier of all possible gossip, had found some discrepancies and irregularities on the expense report of mr Dujournot. In stead of discussing this with the man himself, Tanja fount it to be more appropriate to inform directly her contacts in the US about this. She made up an irregularity report (against her own boss) which was sent to the responsible at Matrix USA but which came back as quick as it had gotten over the ocean. They just had reversed the report to mr Dujournot, to take care of his personal office and staff problems. So Tanja knew from that moment on where she stood in the Matrix world: exactly, nowhere. You can imagine that the relationship between those two never had been worse from that point in time onwards. Her unattractiveness just was a confirmation for mr Dujoujrnot to keep the right remoteness from her. Her proven total unreliability towards him was additionally a verification and certitude that he needed some new dependable blood in this section of Matrix Belgium. Anissa fitted splendidly in this new future office picture of him.
At the beginning, we still counted on the services of MIXO, so Tessy just marvellously helped us out at customer service and really added some sunshine into the office variables. Only after our move to total independency, Tessy would be able to execute her new task as liaison manager. In the mean time she perfectly learned how our new office worked. But we still needed an office manager and some handful of warehouse handling people too. Even our new engineer was yet to be installed. As this was the task of mr Dujounrot, it took ages to replace our engineer. The introduction of Malvine into the Matrix office by Anissa was a well-considered premeditated move. Of course Anissa knew that the overall East European attractiveness of Malvine, would help her in acquainting the job at the first place, she had other more personal intentions with the installation of Malvine within the Matrix ensemble. Driven by her sickening languor, Anissa had prearranged the content of Malvines initial workload, long before we, at customer care, even could intervene. Of course Anissa stood much closer to mr Dujournot then the rest of us and, to be honest, I had no urge, nor aspiration to obtain the same grade of intimacy with our little chief as Anissa had. Although Malvine initially came on board as to replace Anissa at customer care, Anissa had made pre arrangements with mr Dujournot that Malvine would be part time working for the account department as well. The moment Tanja had left, (those were the longest three months Tanja had ever need to live trough in her entire life), Anissa would receive daily support from Malvine. There was no discussion about that. It was for the best. As it concerned real workload, Anissa could step into overacting as if she was to win an Oscar as life achievement award. For one way or another mr Dujournot always believed the things Anissa said, even if it was so noticeable that she had plainly lied or forcefully exaggerated.
And Anissa did lie a lot. Honesty was not one of her real virtues. The truth only really mattered as it could contribute to her personal benefit. I am sure that mr Dujournot was aware of that. He wasnt a retard. But for some conspicuous reason he did not seem to care. From what I had seen from Anissa, the way she embraced treachery and lies those few weeks, in stealing working hours for instance, no way I would ever have installed her as a responsible for the account department. Still mr Dujournot did not see any problems. On your knees., Anissa! Or : Knees behind your ears, Anissa!
Malvine was very loyal to Anissa too. They had known each other for many years, it seamed. They were best mates at school. Probably Anissa would have told her all about Matrix, mr Dujournot, his uncontrollable weakness for the female splendour and her sudden but right-on-time promotion to the account department
Malvine kind of looked up against Anissa. Maybe because she had overstated a bit. Just a bit. Or maybe because all stories were but just true. As reality often beats the wildest fantasy. She did every thing Anissa told her to do. Or asked her to do. Or commanded her to do.
The cheap, obvious trick to gain working hours by entering late into the and leaving early, Malvine just took over from Anissa.
The moment Veronique had come on board, I took the initiative to secure our office hours towards our customers. As mr Dujournot had clearly stated he wanted to office open from 08.00hrss till 18.00 hrs, no matter hwo you do it
, I clearly saw this as an indication that he did not want go get involved in such trivial office details. He just left it up to us, his highly qualified and motivated employees. We made up a real fixed arrangement for Anissa, Veronique, Malvine and myself. It was just easily based upon rotation so we would be open at eight and closed not before 18.00 Hrs.
The system was apparent and very simple : one week you started at eight and you left at five, the other week you started at nine and closed at six. That was it. Anissa did not say much about my plan to get some discipline and correctness in our mutual daily office presence manners. In fact, she did not follow this rule I made at all, which led to the simple conclusion that the only ones who really took responsibility towards Matrix Systems Inc and its customers were Veronique and myself. Both Anissa and Malvinde always said that they would act according the set scheme, but never did. Both Veronique as myself found out that every time indeed, when they had to open the office at eight, they just did not do so. They always arrived about eight thirty-five or even later. They said that they had been in the office at eight, although this was a plain and apparent lie. But since they both believed their own lies, it was hard for us to pull this through. In the evening, when they had to close the office at six and the rest of us could leave around five oclock, they just waited till every one was gone and left then as well. Exactly the same as she had been praticing before. Anissa just kept on doing what she had been doing all the time, now together with Malvine. I bet she felt strengthened by the presence of Malvine. They both came and went. Like Siamese twins they conducted their daily scam of stealing working hours.
Both Veronique and I were fed up with this unprofessional attitude towards the customers and ourselves, so we quickly decided to leave both girls out of the system. We divided the working time between ourselves. We did not care any longer when those two ladies came in or left the building. It had no use arguing about this, since they both covered each other up with their lies. Even to Mr Dujournot they lied. One morning, where Anissa and Malvine had to open the office at eight, which they hadnt by the way , as I had come in at eight and found myself completely alone till they finally showed up at eight forty-five, he, mr Dujounrot came in the office, quite upset since he had gotten a phone call from one of his customers complaining about the fact that our office still was closed when he phoned at eight fifteen. I could not believe my ears, nor my visual annotations which told me that both Anissa and Malvine bluntly stated, with the candid pokerfaced look of a die hard, that they had both been in the office at the time the alleged client phoned, even before eight oclock. And that there was something wrong with the phone connection. Anissa was so self-assured about herself and her dominant role in the office that she even lied knowing that I was aware of this lie. She must have thought that I was a pussy. Which I was, essentially, since I did not say one single word at that time. To no one. I left the lie being a lie. Because I was afraid of the repercussions, it might have evoked if I did have said something. Case closed.
This meant only that we, Veronique and I, equally had to shift our times double as quickly as we used to; but to us, this was no problem, because it enhanced immediately the quality of customer care we wanted to provide to our clients. And they were happy as well.
Malvine must have been quite happy that she got this job. It was quite understandable if you knew her background as a former fugitive. Driven away from their own country. Times must have been hard for her once. But now everything seemed to fall into places. Partly thanks to Anissa.
That was how mr Dujournot saw things happening and altering at Matrix Belgium NV as well.
It is all quite easy actually. The new rules that I implemented were very simple and understandable and only created to augment our service to our customers. Nothing more, nothing less. When I started at Matrix, I really had a goal, a challenge, a purpose, a drive that kept me going and made me do the things I did. We, Wolfgang and I had a huge market to conquer and I had the liberty and the power and the knowledge and the experience to do so. I had my strategy in mind how to tackle those new markets, how to boost our customer satisfaction grade, because at the moment of my arrival it was noticeable that the level of contentment of the Matrix clients was not that bright nor very highly positioned, at the contrary, I would say so
What was important at that time, was the liberty and the possibility I obtained from mr Dujournot, to act accordingly to my believes. Lateron I understood that he gave me this freedom of action to secure himself of a quiet and uncomplicated way of life, where all the daily office nuisance and customer problems were being taken care off, long before they ever would be reaching him personally. Mr Dujournot was not bothered at all about these problems. He did not care how they were created at the first place, nor how they were being solved afterwards. Mr Dujounrot sure wasnt a problemsolver. He got irritated as hell when occasionally but yet very seldom a real problem got through to him and when he noticed that one of his disciples had not been able to tackle the sticky situation before reaching him.
He always started to shout and calling names when this happened and always attacked the people at the office, even before analyzing the problem or the reason why it had not been solved yet. He did not want to have anything to do with any setback at all. To him they never ever should have existed at the first place. So, again, problem closed. It was our duty to keep him problem free. This gave us of course a great freedom of action, as long as the right purpose was met. When he ever got hold of any quandary, or even a smaller kind of minor issue that could be a cause for discussion or debate, he just always made such a atrocious fuss about it, that you d wish yourself hed never ever had heard of it at the first place. He was the perfect guy to make the famous elephant out of a mosquito. This was only his way, I learned afterwards, to deliberately drive us towards keeping him trouble free on a permanent basis.
We were his team of personal problem solvers .
Life is free of problems. And full of titties. And full of booze. His life anyway.
Only Anissa and Malvine did not participate in this point of view. Since this meant work. They both lied their way through all possible inconvenience they encountered. So they were never personally involved.
Anyway, this time issue was cleared by my new set schedule, service was improved, only Anissa and Malvine clearly did not want to be part of it. They did not say so, they just acted consequently and continued doing what they were always had been doing: pilfering company time to their personal benefit. And this would not be the last they ever stole from Matrix Systems Inc.
Now, I dont make a fuss about coming in late, nor gaining some office minutes. But those two deliberately took each morning and each evening more than half an hour, so together more than one hour working time a day. Thats more than five hours each week.
This still is a lot to me. What bothered me most was the way they did this. They did it absolute in the open, as if they wanted to make a statement : See what we can do! You cannot stop us, because we both swallow! Is there something wrong anyway? Is there something you want to tell to us? They were both more than provocative. Thats for sure. They had a huge amount of pleasure in showing us how they both couldnt care less about the official opening hours of Matrix Systems Inc and my little new scheme to improve this element of service towards our clients. They just laughed at us.
Malvine was the queen of late coming in the morning. The days she came in after ten oclock were more common than exceptional.
Now I want to clear one thing, once more : I am not the kind of guy who starts wining about some time differences in working hours. I have a extreme flexible mind and ditto attitude. But is was soo unfair towards the others in the office. It was office behaviour I could not bear, it was very selfish and bad.
Tessy, the poor child, had seen all of this coming on her first days of employment and surprisingly volunteered to step into the scheme. This was of course quite redundant, since she had to deal shortly with her own warehouse staff and had to orchestrate her own attendance schedule at due time, somewhere in the very near future. It had no use to count her in, as in a few weeks she had to be left out again. But it proved her basic attitude of the intentional truthful team spirit and willing open mind to participate in any kind of dilemma to be solved.
chapter fifteen the office manager
chapter fifteen
The weeks of the introduction of Anissa into the secrets of our account department, it became evident for all of us that she was leaving Customer care behind with no feelings of regret whatsoever. At the contrary. She had not for once participated in the new office hours arrangement, she visibly turned against those and made clear that this was no longer her cup of tea. Ok, so what? Only the fact that she drag Malvine along in her daily little theft programme, messing up our format, did not seem to bother her one single bit.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
I think Anissa had known all the time that Customer care never had been her preferred activity. I recall a scene from those days where Anissa had to hand over a part of her customers to Veronique. She handed over a map filled with documents.
What are those?, Veronique politely requested?
-This is the whole file from our Italian Customer Tia Tipolinni, a very complicated customer, Anissa added, a bit strange.
Veronique looked into the file and found but faxes, sent from Tia Tipollinni to Matrix Systems. Veronique started to look into them, one by one and got more flabbergasted by each page she turned aside.
But these are all complaints!, Veronique tried to utter her disbelief in what she just encountered and received from Anissa.
Anissa looked up and barked : I told you it was a complicated customer
He is never satisfied and has always remarks on his shipments
, she added and thus completed her first belling towards Veronique.
And where are the answers?, Veronique asked?
What answers?, Anissa replied, clearly not willing to go any further in this throbbing conversation.
You are not telling me that you never wrote any answer back, do you?, Veronique uttered quite beyond belief of what occurred .
There are faxes in the file that are more than six months old!, Veronique tried to poke Anissas guilt feel.
They must have been from my predecessor then
,Anissa answered, thinking she had found a way out of this mess. I am only just half a year with Matrix Systems
, now leave me alone, will you
this is your client now, not mine!, she started to snarl again.
But
., But
, Veronique stumbled against such grotesque performance of Anissa, most of the faxes are more recent than that, they date from only a few months ago; I even found one from yesterday!, Veronique tried to hold on.
I did not know what to tell them
, they are soo thorny
, oooh, I hate them, Anissa concluded her defence.
If I would not get any answer on my faxes for over six months, I would be pissed too!, Veronique said in vain, because Anissa clearly was not listening any more and had gone up to join the account department for further introduction. She could not care less.
Only later it became very clear for us, Veronique and myself, that Anissa had not been able to answer those faxes at all, because of her significant related lack of knowledge of the English language. Now our Italian customer Tia Tipollini wasnt much of an English student neither, because their faxes were filled with common mistakes, but nevertheless, Anissa did not dare to answer them as she never had any training, nor guidance in answering complaints, nor in mastering the English language for such purposes. And she obviously surely never did ask Maria about this, when she had the opportunity or when she still was in the office, since it would immediately demonstrated her total inability to function at Customer Care at the first place. Talking and writing English is still quite different. Anissa knew this.
I think she was even relieved to be able to pass on to the account department. In any normal company you would have been sacked for such a heap of apparent failure and mistakes as a result of lack of proper education. Not at matrix Systems. Here they get you promoted.This, at least, was how Anissa saw the changes ahead of her.
It took Veronique more than a year of extremely hard work and very intense care to regain trust and re-establish a normal customer relationship with Tia Tipollini. But she did it!
Bravo Veronique!
What were those complaints all about, you may wonder, as this is your excellent right as a critical and significant reader, because I, as a writer with full liberty and vivid imagination, I can write and exaggerate here as much as I want, which I definitely do not, ask the persons involved. Tia Tipollini wrote faxes to us about wrong shipments, about missing goods, about late shipments, about deficient pickings and terrible packing, about defect systems, about defective systems, about anything really,
Tia Tipollini was apparently a very good and for all regular customer of Matrix Systems, which needed all the consideration and exhaustive service we ever would be able to provide to keep things even only as much as going on
regarding their present state of highly irritation about the non customer care Anissa had been providing out of sheer ignorance and professional failure.
But slowly and efficiently and with much dedication and professional courtesy, Veronique used all her female advantages to restore their believe and faith and trust in Matrix Systems. Believe me or not but Tia Tipollini was not the sole case or victim of customer neglect we received as a bitter and poisoned gift from Anissa as she moved to the account department.
You know that mr Dujournot till was looking for our new engineer. Our technical supportive unit. Stinky, smoky boy Rick Vijvers had finally left and left quite nothing to be filled or replaced
.there were no massive phone calls from desperate customers asking for technical support or unsolved issues
.as mr Dujournot assumed there were.
Now before mr Dujournot found the real replacement for this practical non-job, he had discovered another one, also a fully qualified engineer, mr Robert. He was such a short moment in time in our office that I even do not recall his full name. He was as hollow as the invisible man. He had no bones, he had no structure. When he was in the office, you never knew he was in. You could not see nor hear him. He did not smoke, otherwise you might have spotted his smoke. He was as taciturn and completely silent as a mute person can be. He was not a so called added-value. He was pretty pretentious though. Pretentious? Who? Moi?... The minute he learned that mr Dujournot was going to look for a real office manager, he had assumed he would be the excellent candidate and the minute he learned that mr Dujournot did not agree on that one, for obvious reasons, he quit.
Besides, an office manager is not a technical support manager. And when mr Dujournot was again to replace the one vacancy by the other, he had to start all over again which was absolutely out of the question, seen the past complications he encountered in selecting and hiring the right man on the right job.
So mr Robert has no real leading role in this play, right here. His hard-to-find successor however will play a crucial part in this story. But he had not been found yet by mr Dujournot. It would take some time.
Engineers often are very up nosy people. They usually have a huge self-confidence. I guess this is because they master a small technical part of our universe and think they are therefore some kind of special.
Mostly engineers acquire an extreme amount of knowledge about a very specific detailed and complex element of our society; That makes them specialists. It, of course creates of feeling of superiority towards the rest of mankind. But at the same time, engineers mostly lack other basic human qualities since they have been neglecting systematically everything but their own studies to become an engineer. Mr Dujournot was an engineer as well. I could have guessed !!!!. He displayed always an overall superior attitude. Maybe the sole exception could be when he is alone with Anissa in the punish room, and they both are dressed up all in black shiny leather, with a black tight cape over his head, two holes to give him sight and a zipper over his mouth to let him shut up? Anissa standing firm, with both her legs widely spread open, leaving a hole in the middle of her leather pants quite open as well, and a full leather whip in her hand, punishing him for letting her sit in doggy style more than she ever wanted
this could indeed be the sole case where he acts inferior.
They say that small man have a huge urge to perform and to demonstrate themselves, look at the various actors and other celebrities, like Prince, and Tom Cruise for instance
I think there is plenty of truth in these observations.
I told you Matrix Systems was a real challenge! The challenge grew on us each minute we survived over there.
Now I understand as well that you are starting to wonder about the gross and quite unbelievable attitude Anissa displayed those days towards her fellow office co-workers. I could not help it but just register this at the same time. It was something I had never seen in my entire life. Nowhere. It was, at one hand, quite fascinating, I must admit, because of the exclusiveness of this process we all lived through, but the pain and trouble we endured because of her Machiavellian and mostly vulgar and totally bad-mannered attitude was not worth it. I, at first, would not believe what I heard and saw neither. Anissa acted, reacted, demonstrated herself as if she was the dictators wife, playing the leading role in a bad US B movie, with dilapidated actors who once worked in the porno industry and now finally thought and really believed they had made a fantastic breakthrough on the white screen.
At the beginning I really thought Anissa was pulling off an act. You cant be that horrified in action and words, can you now???! It is always as one says : you have to see it with your own eyes before you believe it.
Now, I still have some years to cover up here, so with the amount of gathered proof and anecdotes and real stories and gruesome rudiments, I will be painting the total portrait of a monstrous woman called Anissa and her role in this stomach-churning play we all call life.
As it takes its time to cover up all yarn to be told, I have forced myself to speed up the creation of the lines of content and to make sure that every single detail will be displayed on these pages as they occurred during the last six years of my life at Matrix Systems. As a hallowed token of horrifying truth, according to the principles of a tremendously well told fairy tale, uttered word for word by grandpa, sitting beside the bed, whilst you are listening from underneath your freshly ironed silk blanquettes your mom just had replaced, bathing in the smell of French lavender fields.
Those early days indeed were days of intense sensations. Lots of people coming and going. Leaving and staying. Dreaming and working, cursing and flattering.
Some of the people were of no importance whatsoever for the story I am to reveal here. They just came into the picture of Matrix Systems Inc as quickly as they went out.
Our new office manager was a small guy. Fat and small.
Now I can hear my opponents think that I am digging my own grave by exaggerating or putting some elements out of its real proportion. For one thing I know for sure is that you never ever can nor may underestimate your reader. This kills you. Of course they can perfectly tell where some consideration or reservation has to be made towards the value of the accuracy. But they will be able to get the overall picture and they will be able to see, feel and believe the horrendous story here in construction.
And to be really honest with you guys, I have not exaggerated one single bit in everything I have been writing to you. That is what makes it to incredible, does it not? And I have only just begun! Poor me! I even forgot to tell you that Anissa's black leather pants had a second hole at the location of her hairy arse. But I am so polite I leave those details out. Because they are not quite relevant, are they?
Now, I am not a looser! I know that society does not like losers. It reacts like actorJim Carey, shouting with all of his mouth in action, showing his horse white teeth to the utmost : loooooooséééééérrrrr!
I am just telling you the elements that have brought me down, before my resurrection made me triumph. This, of course is reserved till the end of this book. I will slowly lead you towards the final outcome, the apocalypse, the grand finale, where I shall be victorious as I have never been victorious in whole of my life. I will let you taste from the bitter sensations I had to endure during those past six years, but I will not leave you behind without the final action, the finishing touch of it all. It all has just begun.
His name was Marcel Van Deuren. He was not a real office manager. He had studied IT. He was a computer geek. A PC nerd. That is how he looked. And that is how he behaved. But he was a nice guy. Not from the beginning.
So he had the looks not speaking for himself. Obviously mr Dujournot had not been able to locate a female to do the job.
Mr Van Deuren was ambitious. He had made a small career in his previous job from IT support to department manager. Now he would run our office. And its people inside. That is what he thought. That is how mr Dujournot had presented him the job. Only emphasizing the benefits. The nice things, the pleasant stuff.
Company car, cell phone, portable laptop/pc, that was about it, besides a special bonus system for the managerial selective species, delivering a multiple of what we got if the odds and the Gods were favourable towards us at the years end.
But mr Dujournot definitely did not talk about the big move we were all facing in the near future. Nor did he tell mr Van Deuren his share of responsibility in this action-to-come; which was nothing less than 200 %, he did not want to frighten him from the start.
So mr Van Deuren, who really believed he had hit the jackpot, he had moved up towards the club of the select executive leaders of our planet, even if his domain was basically restricted to the surface of some square meters where only a handful people were trying to work together, mostly not even in harmony.
You know that, as from a certain level, the executives, the fine rulers of mankind, start to use a different kind of managerial idiom. They just use other very specific words for the same things as we do, but to separate themselves distinctively from the plebs.
Mr Van Deuren tried to do the same. His first sentence, I ever heard being pronounced from this guy, speaking to mr Dujournot, even before he was introduced to the rest of the office, was : Are those year to - date or are those a fiscal year related figures?
Now, of course, every level has its own difficulty and problematic issues to handle but this does not mean you openly show off with your inside knowledge as to prove yourself towards your superior. This is exactly what small mr Van Deuren did. He wanted to show off. He wanted to demonstrate that he had already a decent professional history on this kind of white-collar level. So he openly talked to us as if he was to analyze, rectify and modify all our sales and figures as he spoke. We had not a clue what he was trying to say to us, in fact he did not want to tell us anything. He just wanted to blow his own trumpet.
Only he lacked one elementary thing : natural leadership.
When you saw this small fat IT brain, you could not but feel sorry for him. When we later on learned that he had married a Philippine woman, the last shred of feasible respect was vanished even before it was build up. He was one of those pathetic looser types who, because of lacking the nerve or drift to hit on a home town woman, partly due to his phenomenal nerdy appearance, went to the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Philippines to buy some poor girls love and affection with western wealth and material comfort. I never had met such persons, I only had seen them on television where a special human interest programme, always reporting about the loosing kind of elements (thieves, homeless people, drunks, violent people, in our society ) , had shown us all how those things worked. It was a sad story.
And now we had someone like those lowlife nitwits in our own company. Fine! Nice! And this person would show us how to handle things! He could not even handle his own wife! You could see by the way he answered the phone, that he was afraid of her. He honeyponned her like no one ever had done before!
Yes, honeyponne, no honypponne, I wont honeyponne
sure, honeyponne
Our office at MIXOs was not really big. Every possible inch was taken by furniture.
We had thought that mr Van Deuren would have just taken the place and space of Maria, since her desk was left untouched as from they minute she had left the building.
He immediately started to order a much larger office desk, about the largest I ever had seen, yes, even bigger then the one of mr Dujournot, and some high, ceiling touching cupboard, as to create his own personal wall with. By doing so he deliberately took some important space form the office so we all had lesser room to move around in. But so what? We were going to move anyway. Exactly. Did he already know that? Why could he not wait till we were moved towards our new offices? It was quite obvious that mr Van Deuren cherished these little external tokens of power and status. A larger desk, sitting separately, hiding behind a closet, it was all part of a plan to make us believe he would actually be our superior. He only forgot that his undersized ugly overweighed body which was finished of by a blown-up head of a super geek, in fact told us the complete opposite.
So those first days of his inauguration and settlement into our offices, we all just observed. Till one day he called us all to come and sit in one row before his new elaborated desk. It was very funny, in fact, to see us all sit as little children all in one row at the other end of his bureau.
His opening words were so painful and shameful that it would hurt to repeat them here. We all could hardly suppress our laughter and even before he had said all, Anissa had already left the row and went back, hiding at her desk, calling mr Dujournot, who was not in, of course, to inform him about this silly game mr Van Deuren tried to play with us.
It seemed that mr Van Deuren never had learned that you have to earn respect; you cannot force it upon you, still that was exactly what he was trying to do. Even though mr Van Deuren probably was a very clever boy concerning IT and computer solutions, as from inter human relations and human recourses he had not eaten much cheese at all. This was, to round up a little, a very clear example of attempted power abuse. Especially Anissa was not exactly the kind of woman you could say to what you wanted. Mr Van Deuren got to know this piece of inside information quite quickly. Only few moments later, he got a call from mr Dujournot, whilst we were all but Anissa still sitting in front of him, trying to assemble our forced upon respect for him by the stories he had told us so far and which I am not going to repeat here as it all would become too embarrassing. His fat head got even fatter when he spoke with mr Dujournot at the phone. He silently whispered yes sir, no sir, yes, sir
I understand sir
and then he hung up. Good for him, and just in time, otherwise hed blown up, thats for sure. His head shredded in tiny pieces. His brain scattered all over the place, dripping form his new cupboard, whilst his greasy body trembled because of the missing head. His eyes rolling over his brand-new desk.
Euhh, well, that was mr Dujournot at the phone. He said, as if we did not know, nor understood.
Mr Dujournot does not think this little meeting is a good idea., he tried to explain.
You can all go back to your desks and continue your work then; he tried to conclude.
We will all have a meeting later
when mr Dujournot is back in the office.
His head had turned purple. He had breathing problems and took an puffer to keep him alive. Poor silly fat man. His first attempt to gain power and respect had turned into a gigantic fiasco. The only thing left for him to do was to hide behind his new cupboard. We didnt see nor heard him again that day, but for once. When he got a call form his wife :Yes, honeyponne, I wont forget honeyponne, see you later honeyponne
Matrix Systems Inc, Belgian division was in good hands now. Big, fat hands with sausage like fingers. Wiener Wuerstchen from the finest sort.
Mr Van Deuren was an overall pathetic figure, essentially, deliberately chosen by mr Dujournot for all the wrong reasons. Only, he was not aware of this. He only still had to find out. To his own shame and disadvantage.
How do I know? I have the advantage or diadavantage, for that matter, that I was there and that I saw this all happen before my eyes.
Often my eyes could not believe what they say and my ears could not believe what they heard at Matrix Systems Inc. So many irregularities in such a short amount of time. Any other sane person would have fled such place of discomfort, lies and personal preference decisions. It was clear that mr Dujournot did not make the choice of an office manager out of concern for Matrix Systems. His own well being was here at stake. His own facon the vivre/way of life needed to be secured by some unaware naïve power chasing dude to take over all responsibilities of our move-to-come.
MR Dujournot, who in fact had been really good friends with the manager of MIXO, had a terrible verbal fight over Anissa and because mr Dujounrot had lost his temper and had said some crucial things in the heat of the fight he could not take back because of his personal honour, we now all needed to move towards other locations, still to be selected. But this piece of information was wisely left out of the presentation of the job as office manager. Mr Dujournot would inform him whne the tyime would be appropriate. Had Tanja not been asking for a new office manager since Maria left? Mr Dujournot only forgot one thing: he had hired practically a whole new staff in his Belgian office and they possessed all a pretty individual and tough character , no need of any a parental guidance required. Tanja was leaving us anyway. So where is all the fuss? I partly had been selected for my job to elaborate the Eastern European market, together with Wolfgang Hanssen because I really wanted a job with free space to develop my already strong abilities of customer care even further, beyond a point of absolute professionalism. It was my mission and I had very strict and concrete plans to develop. I was not waiting for no office watchdog. Nobody was. Anissa neither. She used every vessel of her body to express this feeling of personal resentment. Not directly towards mr Van Deuren.
I was proven right by time. I know what happened to mr Van Deuren. Eventually. You do not. That is why I am now trying to present you with all detailed information so you all will understand what is about to come.
Poor silly mr Van Deuren. He was not a bad person. He just was a nerd who had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. He had the bad luck to encounter the personal drift of regulating mr Dujournot.
You are all to be witness of the most cruel attack on ones integrity. I am therefore creating this piece of writings, a first draft. Of course there has not been any correction up till now, nor adaptation, nor adjustment to a better version. You all are reading here the bare edition, the naked essence of it all. I think I am sometimes repeating myself and therefore I ask you to forgive me. These repetitions will be corrected later on when all those writings are going to be prepared to be edited in a real book that is going to be published. I just consider it as an honour that You are amongst those first readers of my work. Right now, right here. So you have to endure the repetitions, the mistakes the grammatical uncertainties that will be straightened out later by a genuine English connoisseur.
Mr Van Deuren was a softy, who had an erroneous constrain towards shallow power. Power he never got. Not from mr Dujounrot, whos pleasure it was to humiliate mr Van Deuren on a regular basis, since he was to be held responsible for anything that could go wrong at the office.
In fact, it was quite easy at that time, we had a buffer, a lipid cushion now between ourselves and mr Dujournot. We did not allow mr Van Deuren to have any power neither. His first attempt had been beaten immediately by the phone call of Anissa even the moment mr Van Deuren was in his first move to acquaint some forced upon authority. After this single attempt which never was to be repeated, mr Van Deuren behaved as a severe beaten dog. He had turned into a weakened lamb, that had lost a lot of powerful blood, ready to be presented with chopped off head on the altar by mr Dujournot.
Mr Dujounrot had not hired mr Van Deuren because he (and with him his specialized knowledge) had been an improvement nor enrichment for Matrix Systems Inc. He had hired him as a play toy, a gimmick, a fat toy boy, a tool to get passed the period of disorder and chaos we all would be going through, due to our sudden move towards total independency.
The one thing mr Dujounrot hated the most, must have been disorder and chaos. He could not stand it. I think he was even a bit (much) autistic in these matters. The way his desk stayed clean, even in the middle of a working day, the way his car always looked as brand-new, his impeccable way of dressing and behaving, even if he was very inebriated after one of his traditional business lunches. He had some style, that you could not deny. The decisions he made were never in the advantage of Matrix Systems Inc. They had only one purpose : to serve his master, always and everywhere and to secure his way of conduct, his liberty of movement, his freedom of management. Every one who dared to come too near to his personal way of life and could endanger his strictly set and gained and fully protected personal managerial freedom, was to be slaughtered immediately. He did everything to ensure his present status. He did a hell of a job. He had a fabulous life, back then. Mr Van Deuren had to play along to guide this structure, not to break it. He had to play his part, or get the hell out of here. Mr Dujounrot did not leave any options open about such an important matter. Mr Van Deuren was clever enough to understand the situation, especially when he was finally told we were to move the office to unknown places. He decided to play along. He had no other choice.
We had already one dictatorial ruler above us, so no need for a second one. This uncontrollable yearning after power of mr Van Deuren was quickly resolved into tiny pieces and sent as a bombing package to nowhere land. One-way ticket.
Chapter 16 : presenting to you mr Gerard Moipatron
Chapter 16 : the new technical manager, our technician, our dearest engineer<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Excuse me! I had a mission to accomplish. In fact, I had not much time to get involved in all those personal chitchats between those who at times surrounded me in my work.
Of course it is quite comforting to realize that you have your troops who are willing to fight every battle for you whilst you lie on some Italian beach, having your back scratched by some exotic Sicilian bobo.
Now we had a major battle coming up and our technical support unit wasnt even replaced yet. All technical questions and issuers were directly forwarded to our American unit who took care of this service part with the utmost precision and speed, even if there was a timeline difference of about 10 hours between the two working places. We took care of this internal discrepancy with the best of our abilities. Nevertheless mr Dujournot was convinced that we should have our own European sized technical support unit. According to him we should not ever be dependable upon the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />united States and he thought of this as a very hard to bear but necessary temporary solution. He hated everything that ever could be connected to the USA. Sometimes I wondered why he had such obvious aversion against those who had put him up this comfortable luxurious position of general manager in the first place. Anyway, he considered Matrix Systems USA as our enemy and we could not do else but silently let him believe it was true.
Gerard Moipatron was French. The same nationality as mr Dujournot.
He came from the failed competition. Bankruptcy, or something like that. Not quite promising. Matrix Systems had worked together with them in the early days, but only for France. Gerard Moipatron was a small guy. Again not a woman. Those were hard days for mr Dujournot. I guess the minute mr Dujournot wanted some brainy quality in his employees, he immediately ruled out womanhood, the sexist. I dont think he matches those two up. Knowledge and being a woman. But he estimates the other womanhood qualities to the utmost. Boobies scored very high. The bigger they were, the more credibility he awarded you with. Upstanding nipples were cause for a raise in pay. A nice slim lined figure stood also high in his ranking. A pretty face was the ultimate selection criteria and the compliance to go along with his in-depth flirting made him finally decide to take you on board or not. So the woman working next to me knew all something about the art of seduction. That I can tell you. Wolgang Hanssen knew this as well. When he was in the office, once every three months, he gladly joined in. Why should he not? He is still a healthy man, is he not? Can you deny a man such fragile and breathtaking pleasures at work? Not mr Dujournot. But he thus did not find a female engineer to take care of our European technical department. It was a department, even if it only consisted out of one person. Mr Dujournot clearly played it big. Big to the outside. That made his personal prominence rise and shine. It radiated as the finest enriched plutonium and was inflated by each new employee who was added to the new team. Because you cannot any longer speak of the old team. Practically every one was replaced in a few weeks time. Really odd, is it not? I did not ask myself many questions, back then, I just observed. Now I know why I did this. So now I can note everything down to make it part of the chronicle I am telling you folks.
The many changes in personnel proved one thing to me : mr Dujournot had all power and confidence from the USA and trust to do so. He had a Blanco cheque. He was the ultimate dictator. No one would ever stop him. Not even the USA. They must have had questions as well when they heard that all staff had been replaced. I do not believe it is part of an sales nor marketing education that says you have to replace all of your staff at once on a regular basis to improve your business. There had to be some hidden reason, to us totally unknown, why these replacements were made. The only person left who knew some scummy details about mr Dujouirnot, about his whereabouts, about his private life and about his history at the company, was Tanja. But now she was gone too.
We knew nothing about him. We had heard a few stories that Tanja told us, but they were never ever confirmed by the master himself. Only the way he conducted, we could indeed conclude that the truth in what had been proclaimed was pretty to the point. It was not a very happy truth. Some of the stories you have already heard.
In the total picture, it would confirm the way he acted on his daily scene and nothing had been denied up till today.
Lets go back to mr Gerard Moipatron. A small French fellow with restricted English knowledge.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN / A SMELLY FART IN A BOTTLE
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN A SMELLY FART IN A BOTTLE
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Gerard Moipatron. A name to remember. Even if his English knowledge was to be described as rather reduced. Nevertheless
We had to screen him on his knowledge of English. Orders from mr Dujournot. Gerard did not seem a dumb person. Not at first sight anyway. Again, he was small. Just like mr Dujournot and mr Van Deuren; I was surrounded by three dwarfs.
Gerard was not slim either. but note so chubby as mr Van Deuren. His English was poor indeed. But he seemed willing to learn. He was still young, in his early thirties, I guess.
He was even eager to move with all of his family from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />France to Belgium. Again, mr Dujournot must have been selling this job as an opportunity you could not refuse with appropriate remuneration he only could dream of when he would stay in France.
Even if his knowledge of English was meagre at the time being, we had little choice but to accept Gerard to the team. he spoke English, at least, he tried and what he said was understandable. A Frenchman who speaks English is about one of worlds leading comic situations, utilized in many movies and funny series like allo,allo as a guarantee for laughter. Gerard was no exception to this. So why would we be opposed to his accepting such a golden opportunity? We did not. We accepted him as our new colleague. Our technical unit was operating again. we, Veronique, Tessy and myself were even committed on helping him enriching his English knowledge, so he would be reaching an acceptable level in a matter of months to come.
Life is nothing more than a fart in a bottle. When you open it, it smells and it is gone in just a few seconds.
What is the bloody point of it all anyway? Can anyone explain this to me? I have tried to understand behaviour of man. I have observed. I have seen incredible things. I could not understand.
Do you know what is going to happen after death? I do not. If I knew I would tell you. Do you realize that, when your body gives up its functioning, you want be able to hear the sea anymore? You will not be able to see the seagulls floating in the wind behind the decks of a cruise liner. You will not be able to touch the soft skin of the one you cherish with all of your heart that has stopped beating. .. You wont be able to smell the fresh cut grass anymore, nor the cow shit on the fields each spring. When your dead everything around you will be black. Lights out. Only, you will not be aware of it. Since your brain cells stopped functioning. My mom got very sick a few weeks ago. She was already pretty sick with the disease of Parkinson in combination with the disease of, whats it called, Alzheimer. She got heavy prescript medication. She was partly intoxicated by her pills. .. She took about seventeen of them each morning, noon and evening. New years day she hardly noticed her children and grandchildren around her. She barely could speak. She saw as white as a fresh ironed bed sheet. She could not stand up any longer. She could not walk. She just sat there and let the world go by. Her blood values were extremely deteriorated by the amount and combination of pills she needed to take from the doctor. The medicine was fine, individually. In combination with each other they were lethal. That is why she got a stroke. A huge protuberance of blood had blocked her lunges and she was to suffocate. THANK God (even if I do not believe in this guy) she was already taken into the hospital. The doctor at charge saw immediately the problem and gave her the only solution left ; a huge insertion of a special blood lump resolving liquid that could cause other deficiencies such as brain damage but there was no choice left. It was this or die. It took ages, because the fluid went in by a baxter. Her kidneys had already stopped functioning. Both of them. She turned yellow. The kind of colour one gets just before you die. I had seen this colour before. On patients with terminal cancer.
Her blood pressure was down, way down, seven over five. And it went down even further. Then it stopped. They took her to intensive care. Her eyes were both wide open and gazed in all directions. She did not respond to our calls. Her hands were both wet and cold. She did not move them. She did not pinch back.
Then all of a sudden, slowly her blood values went up again. The liquid was doing his job. The blood bulge was scattered in tiny pieces. Her blood circulated again. Gradually she started to breath normally again. She received new and fresh air into her suffocating lungs. She made it.
She spent one more week at intensive care till all her bodily functions were at an acceptable level again. Her kidneys started to work again. From their own. The doctors cut heavily on the drugs. Now she needs to take only a handful each morning, noon and evening. Not seventeen anymore. The doses were reduced as well. Now she recognizes her children again. She starts to talk again. She smiles again, she even laughs again. She does not know what actually happened in the hospital. She knows nothing from those moments of transcendence. She almost stepped out of this life into the next. This moment is not existing for her. The Catholics would say that she had been standing before the big gate of heaven. But Saint Peter had to send her back . It wasnt her time yet. He could not let her in. First of all she was not even noted in the holy book of free entrance. God was not ready to receive her.
I am no Catholic, nor Christian. Nice, when you can believe such childish stories. It may comfort you. The whole rescue of my mother proved to me that death is pretty final. Doctors cannot be God, even if they try so. They even had almost murdered my mother with this lethal combination of tablets. Her body and brain is save now for some weeks, may be months to come. May be she lives another year. Her blood needs to be kept pretty thin. To avoid further lumps.
chapter eightteen : the afterlife of mr Gerard Moipatron
My mother did not see a fancy white light that drew her attention and made her choose for the afterlife. There is no hereafter. My mom did not find it. She did not see it. She missed the entrance.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
When you are dead, you cannot miss your loved ones. You do not even know you had some. You can no longer be afraid, nor be happy. You cannot fuck a Muslim virgin, because they are not over there. They are not awaiting over there to comfort all those silly bastards who had blown up themselves and were expecting about seventy of them to play with. Be honest with yourself : where would they all come from? Where the virgins all alive once? Where did they live then? In Virgin town? You cant even feel aroused. Your Willy will not get up because you do not have a Willy any longer. But do not worry, there is nothing left that would remind you of this lack of material. You leave everything behind here on earth. To be burned up. Or put under the ground. Or when youre blown up, to be eaten away by the starving wild dogs and rats and cats. You are not telling me that, once you have crossed the line, you are regaining your earthly body so you can start fucking like animals again? If your intention is to master seventy virgins, your fucking behaviour is quite similar to that of a horny animal. It is known about a lion that he can fuck about 50 times a day. Of course, his play only takes only some minutes each time. The same attitude is to be mastered if you want to please your seventy virgins on a regular basis.
You do not believe all this, do you? Come on, be serious. I could go along if you would tell me that there is a deeper meaning behind this all. But, from what I hear and see on an almost daily basis on TV, those suicide bombers really are ready for the big transcendental fucking game. How stupid can you be? This has nothing to do anymore with religion, nor with Mohammed, nor with Allah. It has all to do with earthly powers of those in charge. And preserving them. By sending others into death. Catholics are excellent fairy tales tellers, but Muslims are not bad either. They, for all, have a horny imagination, where as for Catholics all sex is bad, wrong and to be avoided, except if you do it in the dark, under the sheets, or with innocent children, then it is all right.
My mother tries now, in the hours, days and maybe months left to her, to enjoy our presence as much as she can. Of course, she is confused. Often she changes and mixes up our names. But you can see and feel her motherly love towards us. That she could not do when she was over there. In the next world she lacked all tools to be anyone. To do anything. To feel anything. She had no pain. She was just nothing over there. There was nothing she had taken from the worldly life she just had left. Good for her, because her body was quite dysfunctional at the moment. She had been dead for some time. But now she is back. A miracle.
So if any one now please can inform me why we are all behaving as real jerks down here? Is it really worth it? Do we need to do so? I guess so. We are all born with quite some deficiencies in our functioning.
We all have needs we do not need. We all have desires we do not want.
Some of us have many, others few. But we do have them. We are stuck with them. We have to deal with them. Only when we are able to handle our deficiency we will be able to attain happiness. This should be our goal of living. Right here, right now. In this life we lead now; Not waiting for some virgin to comfort you when your are blown up in tiny pieces. When your brain is scattered all over the place. No one will ever put you together again. No one has ever come back to tell us about the great time he had afterwards with his seventy virgins. In what condition, may I ask?
There is nothing left to tell us. Once you have died, you are dead my friend. Vanished. Gone for good. No memories, no recollections, no spirit to float around. And when you are so desperate that you have to blow up your lively ingeniously functioning body, there isnt much left of whom you once were.
Catholicism always has been nothing else but a brutal technique to obtain and behold power. It has manipulated people, abused them, suppressed them, murdered them to keep all powers centred to the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Vatican and its clownish representatives, mostly dressed up with long dark brown dresses to hide little boys underneath who were sucking up their genitals for the sake of God himself. Let all the children come to me, Jesus did say, once on his mission to make some essential changes.
Mr Moipatron was small and almost pathetically in search of power as well. But not so in those early days. He did not say much In the beginning. Partly because his English was still under construction. He had a shy first impression. First impressions often are the right ones but they also can deceive you. He spoke French with mr Dujournot, which was quite obvious since they were both fellow countryman and he spoke French with Veronique. Veronique mastered the language of Moliere as if it was her own. She flirted in every language. She had taken over France from Anissa and thus committed herself to speak only French with Gerard Moipatron. I spoke English with him. I had the intention to educate him towards a higher level of the English idiom. He needed this, since he had to establish contacts with our American colleagues and with the other non-French customers with technical inconveniences to be straightened out or solved. That was going to be his job. In a way it would relief our job at customer care, since now we were doing it all by ourselves in connection with the USA. But is was a part of superfluous workload to us at the moment we could all miss like bleeding toothaches. We were glad Gerard Moipatron took over.
Welcome Gerard Moipatron.
Gerard Moipatron had a pre-life, a midlife and an afterlife at Matrix Systems. He had it all well planned. I have seen all three stages develop. The nicest he was in his pre-life. Still searching for his values, his capacities, his energy, his adaptation to Matrix Systems and the whole new crew, actually. He was sitting behind me, at the desk of former boat player and predecessor Guy Vijvers. Gerard was not the kind of person who would immediately start to change everything. He just took the desk as it was situated. He did not move anything as our new office manager was trying to enhance the weight of his position by creating some separate space within the open office. The overweight of his body was clearly not enough to impress us all. The manner mr Van Deuren estimated himself in the whole picture of Matrix and his job fulfilment was way higher than all of us did together. Mr Dujournot must have prepared him mentally to be able to take over on any occasion, not telling him he would be the joker in the play. Initially, due to the pep talk of mr Dujournot, Mr Van Deuren saw it big. Not only his bodily lipid surroundings with the highest bad cholesterol rates, but also the values he stood for in our office. We did not know what he was standing for really, it sure wasnt a lot.
After his first meeting debacle, his self esteem had shrunk to normal proportions. His body stayed the same. To me he wasn't much more than some waste of moved air. I could do without him.
So could Gerard Moipatron. But we did not know this, back then. Gerard did not show his cards.
The first contact between my mate in combat mr Wolfang Hanssen and Gerard Moipatron was not what you could call from the heart.
Gerard started to work immediately. Even if his English was still under construction, he was not afraid to pick up the phone and deal with the problems, even if it took him a lot of sweat and tears to get through his first full English sentences, saying more than yes sir, no sir, I understand,sir
Gerard Moipatron was a man of planning. Long-term. He was one of the few people in knew who actually could think ahead for more than a week. I have a too long forward vision. I look till my death.
chapter nineteen : mr smithers
Chapter nineteen : mr Burns and mr Smithers <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
He saw as white as my mom when she stood before the gate of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />St peters.
Whats wrong?, I dared to ask.
Gerard still had the horn of his phone in his left hand. He was paralyzed and gazed in the wide-open space before him. Even if there was no wide-open space, he sure saw one, his eyes told him so.
It was Wolfgang on the phone, Wolfgang Hanssen., he stumbled.
So?, I tried to keep him going
What did he say?, I urged.
He just told me that my answer could have been given by a four year old child. His four year old son could have done better than me, he said..;, Gerard concluded. It was obvious that Gerard wasnt used to receive any form of criticism. He sure did not know how to deal with it.
Now I must admit that this answer of Wolfgang wasnt very friendly towards a new colleague. He could have told him other things. He could have encouraged him instead of attacking him on his first technical inquiry. Maybe Wolfgang had seen some competition in the position of Gerard. I think it was a kind of test to see how strong Gerard really was in his engineering technical abilities. Wolfgang was a salesman. He was capable of defending and even promoting himself to anyone. But he had no large technical background, nor inside product knowledge. So he had expected from Gerard a profound technical supportive answer. Which he did not get, that first time. That is why he reacted that way. He was disappointed. And when Germans are disappointed they let you know immediately. They tell you at once. So you can share their grief of feeling upset and thwarted.
As much as mr Dujournot physically resembled to mr Burns, a character out of the popular world-known TV show the simpsons, the same identical and thus scary physical similarities one could detect between Gerard Moipatron and mr Smithers. Gerard was still young, in his early thirties. He wore glasses and had little overweight. He was as shy and subordinate as Smithers acted towards mr Burns.
They both had other motivations to do so. In the beginning I thought it was just a nice part of his character as I generally feel more comfortable with people who are not that self-indulgent. I am pretty shy as well, remember. Always have been. Till now, till today.
The word shy is at least one word out of many, Anissa never ever had heard of. In her character, the component of shyness had been completely replaced by the word hatred. When you hated things in life as intensely as Anissa did, and said all the time, other essentials out of her character had to be erased to provide enough hatred space. I think Gerard had about ten times more brain power than Anissa. Where Anissa had the brain of a shrunken dried pee, Gerard clearly possessed a perfectly trained intellect, which was once measured to be a powerful hundred and thirty nine. The only thing Anissas microscopic brain ever had been trained in , was deception and erotic seduction. But since that last quality is clearly part of the raw instinctive dimension, her nitwit brain capacity could focus fully on her major master plan to betray Matrix Systems on all levels possible. Mr Dujournot she had already convinced and in her pocket; do not tempt me to ask me how she did this. I guess you all know by now. As a new, sole player in the account department, Anissa did get hold of more elaborate and intense potential to abuse and exploit her newly acquainted powers for her own benefit only. That is the person Anissa was. There was no room left in her mind for other nicer qualities. Part of her strategy she shared with Malvine. So she could use her too.
Gerard was, because of his higher intellect, not quite an open book to read. His intentions were a well-kept secret to all of us. I did not bother about his intentions. As long as the work was done, I did not give a damn. Gerard took car of his part of the job. He handled all technical aspects of our sales in Europe. He hated it when people called him technical support. He did not see himself as a technician. He had the proud attitude of an engineer. I am repeating myself.
chapter twenty : the power of denial
Chapter twenty (keep them short and clear) the power of systematic denial
Yesterday I saw a movie about a couple who had murdered their own child. I aw how difficult it turned out to be for the prosecutor, who had severe suspicion about the parents who committed the crime, to prove his conclusion. Of course both parents systematically denied every involvement in the crime scene and action.
The same here. The scary element that you get as a little bonus on top of the disbelief you get, is the fact that the one who accuses, is mostly turned into a pathetic looser with vivid imagination or at least instable mental deficiencies because he sees things that are not there. Till, at last, finally one clear element hops out of the blue and wakes up one or two neutral outsiders who can confirm the findings and bring the truth at the surface to be recognized by those who initially disbelieved. I do hope this will occur also in my case. In do not intend to go down as a mentally deranged person with an unstable emotional attitude. My story is therefore still in its originating findings, with a whole lot more to be revealed. At one point those who have been reading carefully along, will be lead to the only just and appropriate finale. The conclusion of justice.
My mom always said that I had a too bigger feeling for justice and integrity. My sense of fairness had been over developed, in her eyes.
But? Indeed, if you consequently deny all accusations on something you might have done wrong, it is practically impossible to prove otherwise. I did not have any cameras installed in the office to register the unacceptable way Anissa tended to behave. I had not installed any recorders to tape the malicious words she spoke, nor to register the devious ways mr Dujournot often surprised us with. Even witnesses are hard to follow, difficult to believe and mostly every one crawls back in their own corner of self-defence, to protect what has become theirs. Statements of witnesses often are not accepted as valid because one suspects other motivations behind the things that are being said.
So where do I stand? In the middle of providing you all with a registration, a duplication, an impression of what has occurred in those offices between all those involved. I am not an investigator. I was a victim. My only power lies in the art of telling the story to you. To as many people possible, hoping some of you will have the decency to chose my side. Because it is the only correct side to choose for. Because it is only just that this kind of behaviour is stopped for good. Because it is only just that such kind of attitude is no longer accepted in our society. Because it is only just that crime is being punished. Even if it takes me ages to accomplish the impossible.
This universe, with all its elements, its novas, its intergalactic solar systems, is heading full speed in one direction. That is a fact. Scientists say that the universe is endless. That it is infinite. That it has no borders. That it is eternal. How on earth do they know? Why do they say something like that? Did they explore the boundaries of our universe on a spaceship? Of course not. May be they say this to comfort us. So, What if they are wrong?
Suppose their is a gigantic wall ahead of us. And we will crush against this wall in about a thousand years from now to come. Or in about a hundred years from now. The end of the universe. Even if there is no wall…should we all, here on earth, not be and act more modestly? Towards each other, towards everything that surrounds us? Should we not redefine our place in the whole picture? Should we not stop deceiving each other? Should we not end all lies? Should we not honour the truth as ultimate goal to live by?
I guess there are more people out there who are actually fully integrated in a fake set up life, filled with scam, lies and cheat, promoting own personal wellbeing on the back of others, as those others are weak characters. They deserve to be mislead, to be used and abused, to be sacrificed for the purpose of own gain and profit. Anissa had a fake life. Mr Dujournot had a fake life. Mr Moipatron was building up a fake life. At Matrix Systems INC I was not only surrounded with a bunch of dwarfs, I was enclosed by ruthless individuals with only one goal ahead : the ultimate private enrichment of their own well being at any cost possible. The truth had only one right of existence as it would contribute to their sickening strategy of pure hedonism. In all other cases the truth would be smothered to a crushed leftover and sole utility of the weak. In a major fraud, the truth has no significance. It is reduced to microscopical proportions. All is done and maintained to keep the scam going. Lies are transformed into truth. Deceiving actions are set up as reality surroundings to create an environment where the swindle can flourish and personal gain can be harvested.
Because real internal control and check up from our mother company in the USA was as seldom as the existence of the ultimate wall of the universe would ever be, and the trust in the functioning of mr Dujournot was as always heavily supported by his direct supervisors, honesty and overall integrity had no assessment whatsoever in the offices of Matrix Systems Inc. in Belgium. It was a handicap. It was my handicap.
Mr Dujournot always was very itchy when the “honesty” issue erupted in a discussion. He always took great care that his status as a general manager never would be intoxicated by the virus of dishonesty. As fake as his life really was, the same false make believe settings he tried to create around him and his whereabouts. He thought, that with methodically abstaining all individual talks and withholding all possible private information, he could maintain his integrity towards those who were in daily combat to keep this office going.
He underestimated the power of gossip. This will become absolutely clear to you all when the actual fundamentals expand into their advanced perspective. Now our queen of gossip had left Matrix Systems Inc. Tanja had gone. But we were not aware of the fact that the queen of gossip had been replaced by the king of hearsay. Mr Moipatron would demonstrate and reveal himself in the years to come as king of idle talk and word of mouth. By this means and his blabbering efforts we all at the office kept informed about the magical and wondrous world mr Dujournot tend to live in.
The one major mistake mr Dujournot made, amongst others, was his obvious contempt towards all inferior employees. He underestimated us. As all dictators do. See Saddam Hussein, he even now is still shouting and performing without regret, filled with hatred and despise against those who captured him. He cannot see for himself that he is in no position any longer to keep up such attitude. The long and lonely position at the top of Matrix Systems Inc had made of mr Dujournot a similar sole ruler, losing all sense of sagacity, since there was no one on his level to contradict him, nor to tell him he was wrong on certain issues. Because he thought of his employees as lowlife workers to keep the joint going, he surely did not discuss any managerial matters with us. They were all talked about behind closed doors in his airco office. Even then, he just did what he himself thought to be the best for his own sake. Europe was his playground and no American ever intruded. The ones who tried were the happy few who got to know mr Dujournot slightly differently during one of his world famous phone calls. Who would be available to say the opposite to him anyway? Our new office manager? What a joke! You know what he was hired for! And he did not even know this up till now. He was still to be informed. All at its appropriate time. There is a timing for everything.
chapter twenty one finally first circomstantial evidence
Chapter twenty one : circumstantial evidence
As time went by and we all started to get settled into our jobs, after tasting from each others deficiencies and shortcomings, after installing adapting and ignoring strategies to warrant sole functioning in this group of strong individuals, it became clear that mr Van Deuren was the one to pity. As a newbie, a motivated team leader, he wanted to make something out of his challenge as an office manager. Not only did he not have a team to master or guide but a bunch of individual players who had other concerns than to please the company, he did not have a direct chief around him either, to whom he could introduce his master plan or his changes he was going to implement to make things work for the better. Mr Dujournot systematically turned every single proposal mr Van Deuren came up with, down. Of course he got frustrated as hell. Day by day he got more and more tentative and faltering about his mission at Matrix Systems. The more proposals got turned down, the more he found him self desperate and disillusioned. He waited, as a good office manager, till the day came that mr Dujournot would appear again in the office to discuss his optional changes for the better. He knew he did not stand a chance at the phone so he waited carefully and patiently till he could have a personal conversation with mr Dujournot. As you all remember, mr Dujournot was not much around in the office. So it took mr Van Deuren ages to try to get a consensus to accomplish anything. Since his last debacle trying to set up a meeting, he did not dare to do anything anymore without the consent of mr Dujournot. Mr Van Deuren was intentionally a good person with his heart at the right place and his mind focussed upon Matrix Systems, rather than upon his own personal gain. (which you could not say about some others amongst us) The rare days that mr Dujournot pleased all of us with his presence, mr Dujournot rather talked to the few plants that managed to keep alive in these hostile surroundings, than to mr Van Deuren, letting him clearly feel his almost redundant place in the whole picture. Till the day came that mr Dujournot thought it would be interesting to tell him about the great move we all were to encounter. The moment mr Van Deuren had all information, he came back to life again. He saw again some lights at the end of the tunnel, only did he not know that he had better stayed away from those devious lights. He wanted to be the office manager, so he had to take the responsibility for it. No pity, nor shame.
Mr Van Deuren wanted to make up for his fiasco meeting. He wanted to prove himself a valid office manager. He had found out that our salaries wer not exactly the kind of payment methods you keep your team with. One day or another they would be gone off to another job with higher remuneration. That would be a real pity for him. Then he had to start all over again. So he wanted to make this the next issue with mr Dujournot. He wanted to convice him that it is better to invest in your personell, that they are part of the whole organisation you run. The way mr Dujournot had been replacing his former staff, did not provide me with any confidence that his plan would be a successful one. Now, I have to tell you as it is, as it has been, mr Van Deuren got us all a raise in pay. Not a tremendous one, but in any case, a raise it was. For everyone. He gained also some more credibility in his actions and office behaviour. Thank you mr Van Deuren. Possibly mr Dujournot had this raise planned before, because it was executable at the years’ end. 5000 old Belgian franks it were. About a whole 125 Euros or a 100 USD each month. Better than nothing. That’s what I say. Always be grateful, my mom would say. But in comparison to the rest, to the salary mr Dujounrot earned, and not to forget, my good friend Wolfgang Hanssen, it was peanuts. I refused to see it as a scanty gift. We had not proven anything yet. Sales were rising, but not to that extend that we all could cry “victory”. I had no idea at that time, that my sales, realized together with Wolfgang Hanssen, would be on its way to triple itself in the shortest way possible the following months to come. No one could foresee that my strategy would work that effectively.
Now mr Van Deuren had written all raises down in his black office manual. A black leather agenda which he used for all detailed information on what he was up to the next month. We all knew that, but I did not care. It was his working tool. Not mine. I had enough to do with my rapidly growing sales. All goods had to leave MIXO. Every week again. Anissa knew this likewise. Shortly after mr Van Deuren triumphantly had announced the breakthrough he accomplished about our raise in pay, without giving us the full details yet, Anissa called upon Tessy and Veronique to come to her. Malvine stood already beside her. It was noon and mr Van Deuren had gone out for a bite.
She had the black leather agenda of mr Van Deuren in her hands and opened it.
“What are you doing?”; I asked her, not believing what I saw happening before my eyes.
“Don”t you want to know what salary raise you will get?”, she smashed in my face?
“You can’t do that!”, I said again. “That is the agenda of mr Van Deuren;”
“So?”, was the only reply I got, whilst she was urgently looking into the agenda to find the figures she wanted to see.
“If you want to know your salary raise, why don’t you ask him in stead of sneaking into his personal agenda?”, I tried again.
“I want to know everything!”, Anissa answered.
“I want to know how much you all are going to get. “
I was not hearing right. This was sooo wrong. It was a clear illegal intrusion into the personal working papers of her direct superior. You cannot do such things. Anissa could. No problem. She was as clever as to get Veronique and Tanja and Malvine involved in this. They all stood next to her and were as it were, by doing so, first hand silent accomplices in the crime to be committed.
Mr Van Deuren had been lucky.. He had arranged, together with mr Dujournot a increase in pay that was equal to all of us. So no grounds for envy nor any protest. I stayed at my desk, doing what I was doing and tried to forget what I had been witnessing all along.
After her hunger for information was settled, she deposited the agenda where she took it. Nothing happened. Anissa was very certain that I would tell no one what I had seen. Why could she be so sure? Had she seen the word “pussy” again, written all over my forehead?
She was right. I had no intention on telling anyone. Although you do not do such things Anissa just pulled through, mr Van Deuren should not leave his agenda with personal and confidential office information lying around on his desk. You lock this up. With a key or a locker.
Now, by being transferred to the account department, Anissa was receiving more and more confidential company information about Matrix Systems as well. Any one in such position should handle and deal with this kind of confident information with supreme care and precision and utmost discretion towards all others. Not Anissa. This was surely not one of her qualms.
I did not know if she was too stupid to understand the importance of this discrete handling concerning certain private classified company information or that she was too lazy to give it a thought or any consideration. I am afraid it was both.
chapter twenty two : gathering more evidence
This was not the first time Anissa did something irregular in the office of Matrix Systems. The peculiar thing was, that she did this in public, with all of us to witness. Not all of us. Mr Dujournot never ever was in the office when she coloured outside the lines. Nor was mr Moipatron. Nor mr Van Deuren. Customer care was some lowlife department she got rid of and the way she behaved clearly showed her reluctance and contempt towards us. Towards the other players she still had some reserves in her action. Only a few weeks earliers, when Tessy Jolé was negotiating with mr Dujournot about her salary and got installed in her function, Anissa had been deliberately running in and out of the office of mr Dujournot to catch up some private words or to notice some concealed elements. It had been so apparent that as a result, mr Dujounrot even got nervous. : “Anissa will you now please close the door behind you and stay out of my office for the next ten minutes, since I am negotiating with Tessy?” he urged her. “Thank you!”, he added
Somewhere in the emptiness of her hollow brain, Anissa must have thought that she had to be around when the next colleagues were hired to take part of the non-team. Mr Dujournot clearly thought differently.
But it was too late. Anissa had seen a loose sheet of paper mr Dujounrot used in front of him to doodle upon whilst having his installation conversation. As she remembered from the time she got into Matrix, mr Dujounrot always wrote this salary proposition on this note. Also this time, she had already seen some figures on that sheet of paper. So she recognized that Tessy, whom she knew from school but wasn’t a really good friend of her, at the contrary, would appear later on, was on the edge of entering Matrix Systems. Which she did. Mr Dujournot confirmed this only minutes after Anissa had left the air co office.
Because they both had the same educational background, and thus partly shared troubled teen years, Anissa wanted to know absolutely, at any cost possible, what Tessy would have received as a salary proposal. This could never ever be as much or as little as she had now; out of the question. She had made a promotion, she was now head of the account department, whilst Tessy would be head of a department that even did not exist at that time, since we didn’t have a warehouse yet. Anissa could burst of curiosity. If she could, she would burst into his office and rip this paper out of mr Dujournots hands; but she did not do so. She waited, impatiently till mr Dujournot went out of the office for a bite or two and a drink of seven, before diving into his office again. She made sure mr Moipatron and mr Van Deuren were out as well. She submerged straight into the paper bin since his desk had been cleaned like a virgin.
Triumphantly she came back into the general office space, where we all were trying to do what we had to do, taking care of the needs of our customers. In her hands she held a wrinkled piece of paper.
“seventy-five thousand!”, she screamed out loud. “she is getting seventy-five thousand!”, she repeated unmistakably indicating she did not like what she saw.
“do you know how much I had, when I started?”, she fulminated, forgetting that she just had fulfilled her six months trial period and already had gotten a fierce raise for her nomination as account responsible? I did not know how much she earned and I did not want to know. I had accepted my salary proposal for reasons of my own and of course, because I am not that good negotiator this salary was not exactly a hit! But this had been my problem and not that of others. Anissa tried to get all others in the office involved in her discovery, again, because what she had done, stealing confident information out of a bin, was not exactly an act of faith for someone who would be handling private company information in the very near future. She was looking for accomplices again.
We all looked at her, a nearly hysterical girl of about twenty-two years old, with an aggressive theatrical attitude of a deceived wife who just got to the knowledge that she had been betrayed for many years by her beloved husband.
“sixty two thousand”, she screamed in the open. “sixty two thousand”, she repeated as if we did not hear her first outburst of discontentment. The moment mr Dujournot had set one of his intoxicated feet again in the office, that afternoon, Anissa jumped right at him. “We need to talk urgently”, she sneered at him. Mr Dujournot, expecting a quiet de-intoxicating afternoon at his office, enjoying his latest realisations of team expansion, did not know what really happened to him and thus they both went straight into his office, closing the door behind them.
As short as it had taken to install Tessy in her new job, the longer took this private reunion between mr Dujournot and Anissa.
Whne he would not have been that drunk, I am sure he would have showed her every angle of his office and his magnificent mahogany wooden virgin cleaned desk. But he had decanted one too many in his gullet to be able to serve his stiffmeister. I bet he was very angry with himself letting such an occasion pass the day. So they met at night, after office. Anissa exultantly left the office. She smiled like having had three penises in her mouth, at the same time, and looked very happy. She actually did arrange a second raise in pay, that is for sure. In just a few weeks she had been able to lift her salary level to unknown heights. At least for someone of her age. What she did to achieve this, I can only guess. Anissa showed us all that she had gained what she was after. She did not tell us what she got, but couldn’t suppress her contentment about it, even if she had to bent her knees behind her ears again. Maybe for the first time, back then.
chapter twenty three leaving MIXO
Chapter twenty three : leaving MIXO<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Because of a silly fight between two general managers, we had to move. Mr Dujournot was convinced we would do a far better job on our own than MiXO had done for years: collecting our incoming goods from the States and storing them properly in their gigantic shoebox-warehouse along the highway.
Now he had hired mr Van Deuren and meanwhile he had informed him about what was to come. Of course this was a challenge to mr Van Deuren. But you could feel on your nostrils that it would be a complete mission impossible. Nevertheless, mr Van deuren had been quite pleased with this new element in his job description, since in running the present office, he had not much of instant success for the time being, at the contrary I would say so.
He had arranged a slight increase in pay, but, as I am very supicioius inthose things, I think mr Dujounrot had foreseen this raise anyway, at the end of the year. But by giving mr Van Deuren the impression that it was he who had accomplished this raise, mr Dujournot had found a cheap way of keeping everyone pleased, but one, Anissa. After she got her second raise in a row, in a time period of no less than six months, she too seemed to have found some inner peace in the nothingness of her mind.
And so Mr Van Deuren went out to search for an appropriate warehouse location that would please us all.
Now I cannot say that mr Dujournot did not consider our wishes when we discussed the location possibilities.
He was as clever as that he would do everything to keep his new selected team on the job, even in the new location, since he could not afford to change teams again. May be the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />USA would wake up one day. Mr Dujournot had all freedom possible one only could dream of, as a general manager, but you should not exaggerate those things and certainly not evoke your fate. He did not do so.
He asked everyone individually how far we all would be able to travel towards our new location. What a nice gesture that was! Now tell me again that mr Dujournot was a selfish bastard. No one wanted it farther than 6,21 miles from the place we were actually working up till now. This did not make it any easier on the searching job for mr Van Deuren. He came from the city of Ghent and wasnt really acquainted with the harbour city that Antwerp really was. But this was his luck at the same time. Antwerp had storage rooms for everyone. From small individual lockers till gigantic storehouses and oversized depots, the harbour site offered it all. It was only a matter of selection really. The choice was quickly made. It strengthened the self esteem that mr Van Deuren had practically completely lost on his first general meeting attempt. He could not ever imagine at this moment, that at the end he would be finally sacrificed and executed by mr Dujournot.
Chapter twenty four : on the move
I wouldn’t wish my worst enemy even a brief encounter with Anissa Hamsa, by far the most Machiavellian, wicked person in this writings, unless you would have a higher social position than she has, so she thinks she could gain something out of the encounter to her benefit. But if you are not able to create the impression that you would be able to contribute to the wellbeing of her lifestyle, I would advice you only one thing : “run baby, run!!!!” If the devil himself would exist and he would be wandering around on this planet, make sure he has hidden inside the package of Anissa Hamsa. You should meet her to believe it. Or, if your’ lucky, you should experience her slimy, sticky submissive and obedient way of how she handles her superiors, crawling up ones ass with conviction and persistence :” haaaaaai Gerard, how aaaare you this morning?????”, deliberately leaving all other inferior staff out of her worldly life because they werent’ but just a waste of air. Sometimes, mornings, when she hadn’t slept well for some reason or another, you could hear her stamping her feet from far, as if she was trying to break with her heals of anger the two levelled staircase to our now offices in Merksem. At these moments, she did not speak at all, not even to those who could produce a benefit in her little fake world. She had a morning issue, a morning temper, if she woke up, you had to leave her alone for at least two hours. Since she mostly did not turn up before ten o’clock, you could hardly say it was still morning. For her it was. As she felt promoted to the account department, of course, she did not participate any longer in our attempt to make everything easier for our customers, by just being on time in the office, for one thing. She came and left as she pleased, always looking triumphantly into uour direction, where we, at customer care were urgently preparing all orders to enter and leave on time.
I did not care any longer. It had no use to get upset about this. Only, Anissa acted as a little child. She took, and when she noticed it worked, she took some more. You all know the expression of giving a finger and taking an arm, do you not? At the end she just made all her private appointments in the middle of the day, during working hours, without compensating one single minute for them. All her dentist appointments were situated in the middle of the afternoon, mostly two o’clock. It learned form the frequency of those scheduled dental arrangements that women from Northern Africa must have been born with much more teeth in their mouth than people from Europe. Her hairdresser could only cut between two and four in the afternoon. No one of her superiors said anything. Mr Van Deuren had too much on his mind because of the move we were all in the middle of. This move caused a lot of trouble. Not to Anissa. She was having her dentals whitened, a tooth repaired, undergoing a second bleaching round, or having her hair cut, repaired, fixed, dyed, having hair extensions placed, having extensions removed, or was enjoying the afternoon sunshine on one of the nice open air terraces of the near city of Antwerp. Or she just went shopping in the “Wijnegem Shopping Centre”, the biggest shopping arcade from Belgium. I don’t know if this was pure luck, but the new offices were only a farts smell away from all these lucrative ways to spend ones afternoon. During working hours of Matrix Systems I mean.
Malvine was integrated in the accountdepartment and had only part time left to help us deal with our rapidly growing order increase. Malvine did all the real work at the account department. In the beginning Malvine was a quiet person. She did not say much. In fact she did not speak at all; she had her hooters that spoke for her.
The initial stealing half an hours in the morning and another half an hour in the evening had swiftly expanded, as her salary had, to whole afternoons, she had to spend on one or the other programme to keep her bodily functions going and kicking. Teeth, hair, nails, feet, massage, you name it, and Anissa had some programme running to keep her in the best shape ever. Her hips she could not make look any slimmer and her small breasts she hadn’t enlarged yet. Maybe she still intended to do so.
Of course she planned her afternoons of bodily maintenance never when mr Dujournot was in. But since he hardly ever was around, she had plenty of time to arrange her private excursions outside the Matrix office.
When she occasionally did stay in the office, she had her MSN connection constantly opened on her screen. I did not spy on her. Where I was located in the new offices, I could spot directly into her screen. It was a pity that it was only too far away to actually see what she was writing all the time and to whom. You all know that MSN delivers a sign each time a message drops in your mailbox, or when someone tries to get in touch with you. Anissa did not find it necessary to turn this sound of, so we were easily informed each time she was interactive with private persons around the globe, and you may be sure of one thing; they were not talking about Matrix Systems, nor about the financial situation, nor about our future projects or the whereabouts of mr Dujournot. The arrogance of Anissa was peaking back then. She did what she thought to be done: nothing.
Where did she find this self-assuredness? This haughtiness, her way of deliberately abusing all possible office conduct; always clearly demonstrating a “you can’t do me anything”-attitude.
She felt protected, that is one thing. And that I for sure. Otherwise you cannot behave as Anissa did. All the time. Not only once. Constantly. Week after week, day after day.
It were busy days, back then, the days of our move. Mr Van Deuren had found a nice location. In Merksem, as you all still know.
The biggest shopping mall of Belgium only a heartbeat away. Fantastic. The only thing mr Dujounrot ever asked us was the distance we would be willing to travel to our new offices. The other issues he only and exclusively discussed with mr Van Deuren, his second in command. Mostly by phone. Distant phone. Because mr Van Deuren had to arrange everything. As from the moment it was decided that we were going to move and leave MIXO, mr Dujournot left Belgium and only returned three whole weeks after we were already packed and moved towards our new offices. This is hard to believe, I know. Still, ask around, it is exactly how it went. Mr Dujounrot could not stand disorder and chaos. He could not endure irregularities and problems. Even if they are inevitable and rational when you move. To him, they all should have been solved the moment he returned towards the new premises. That is exactly why he waited so long to return to Belgium. He had hoped everything to be cleared by then. He had calculated three more weeks after the final days of our move to make his grand re-entries into the new offices. We were all settled by then. Our offices were installed. We could work. That was about all we could do. But not without any problems. Not all problems were already solved, at the contrary. Some of the problems were still accumulating and growing, day by day. It seemed that every new day in our new offices a new setback emerged. So many things had gone wrong during our move from one location to the other that it is almost too embarrassing to make a list of what went wrong. You name it, and it was a predicament that had occurred. Now, most of those issues were not solved yet, as mentioned before. Mr Van Deuren had clearly underestimated a lot of the side effects of this move. He had also without any doubt overrated his managerial qualities. He had as good as none. That he proved back there and then. We all were silent witnesses, because it all appeared to be too painful to him. His fat body started to hyperventilate as the first phone call came in, reporting a new hitch. I will only mention the most intriguing ones. So did he order too little trucks to move all our Matrix System goods from one warehouse to the other. So did he order too little storage room, too little racks, in the new warehouse to store the incoming goods. So did he not anticipated enough time to unpack it all and place it in order to pick and ship things again from our new location. So did he not hire enough people to do so. Which led directly to unforeseen delays in shipments. So did he order a complete new software package to deal with this new picking and shipping methods we all had to learn. MIXO did all this before, remember? Now we had to do things our own. When MIXO was handling our goods, we only had to check upon the goods. We “plok”ed : particle on location OK. We would all be doing this far better now by ourselves, would we not mr Dujournot? Our new software however, was not properly adjusted to the scattered content of our new warehouse. As a result, all our new orders that left from our new location, were wrong. Too many goods left, too little goods left. Systems were broken, during the move, others were lacking because they had fallen out of their boxes. The packing was horribly done, the pallets knocked out, they broke down because of improper packing foam and film. Not one of those first shipments in the first days after our move, was identical with that what our customers ordered. There were discrepancies, overstock, broken goods, lacking goods and, most of all, delay in delivery because no one knew what to do first. Only Anissa. She kept up with her bodily appointments, every single afternoon, she had the opportunity to do so. The only great thing about this was that she did not run in someone’s way because she was out. I guess she could not stand disorder neither. The times she had not an appointment to attend, she left at noon around one thirty, and returned after three o clock, so her afternoon was broken, and five a clock was approaching rapidly.
Veronique and I and partly also Malvine had a terrible time, those early days in Merksem. It was just horrendous. We tried to do everything we could and what we had within our means to comfort our customers. Of course, they were upset. We, Veronique, Malvine and I had been able to augment our level of customer care to an excellent standard, those first few months where MIXO still was doing the storage and now all we had build up was being erased as it never ever had existed in the first place. Not one phone call came from a happy client. They all had something to complain about.
Tessy was extremely busy putting her warehouse team together and getting them to do what had to be done. But when it is the first time that something is done, it is just not that easy to arrange things. Especially if the material you have to deal with to accomplish your task, is lacking, or broken, or inconvenient to do so. Of course mr Van Deuren had no authority to buy new picking and packing material. He had to look for the cheapest trucks possible on the market. No wonder they arrived broken at our new location. He had bought them in a broken condition; only he was not informed about it. Then, oil failed. Antiseptic sterilized water failed. To get those bloody machines running. They werent’ plugged into the electricity long enough on delivery date so they had to be left unused for the next twenty-four hours to get the batteries charged. Electricity cables were not long enough. The weren’t strong enough. They made the whole electricity chain brake down. Another setback in time. Large parts of the Matrix goods weren’t even stored yet, they stood in large numbers packed on pallets, even outside our warehouse, as the racks weren’t even finished and the warehouse people started to locate and assemble their first orders to be shipped. What do you think? That it all turned out to be OK? Forget it. Where did they have to look? On the still unpacked pallets outside? On the false locations inside? It took us weeks to get over this mess and to let things work as they should have worked in the first place.
Then it started to rain. Rain poured out of the darkened sky. Upon the unprotected pallets. Mr Van Deuren started to hyperventilate again. I bet at that time he wished himself on another location.Or on the moon for that matter. I bet he would have given a lot of money to be able to sit at his dentists chair. Having his teeth bleached. Anissa’ s teeth glowed in the dark. As if made fluorescent. Now he had to mobilize every warehouse worker to get those bloody pallets inside. They were put where an inch of free space was left unused. So you could not enter nor leave our precious new warehouse any longer. Trucks that came to collect the goods to be sent to our eagerly awaiting customers all over Europe, could not load because of the chaos inside of our warehouse. Not one single pick up truck could even move. Nor could we. Total chaos. Mr van Deuren went home. Without saying one word. He had spoken enough. He had shouted enough. It all did not help. It could not rectify what he had done wrong in the first place. I knew this would end wrong. He knew this too. Even if mr Dujournot had not been on the new premises for one single minute yet.
On his way home mr Van Deuren started to see what mr Dujournot had been doing with him so far. He had undoubtedly abused him. He had not received one single word of help nor support of mr Dujounrot. At the contrary. Mr Van Deuren had learned as well that he should not present any problems to mr Dujournot but solutions. Either mr Dujounrot accepted the presented solution and turned it to be one of his own, or he rejected the propositions mr Van Deuren made to solve one of the many inconveniences. Mr Dujounrot had been far from constructive. He had been obstructive, mostly. He had been acting like a spoiled child, not getting what he wanted. Mr Dujournot had given mr Van Deuren a very hard time. He did not agree on any money-consuming proposition. So mr Van Deuren had to go and look for some discarding material. He was fed up with it all.
.Not once mr Dujournot had taken his responsibility as general manager. Het had left mr Van Deuren totally on his own, being submerged in his pool of failure and lack of professionalism. He had let him drown. He had nothing done to rescue him, nor the devastating circumstances Matrix Systems was evolving to. He wasn’t even in Belgium. Not even once he had come over to see how things were going. Of course mr Van Deuren kept the bad news as long as possible away from mr Dujournot. He had tried to solve things. He had failed. The only way both gentlemen spoke, was on the phone. Nobody ever knew where mr Dujournot was. Sure he wasn’t in Belgium. Neither did he visit any Matrix customer. This we would have known. Ah, yes, we would have known that. Not one single Matrix customer had been visited by mr Dujournot in those days. Where did he go then.? What did he do then? Nobody knew. Nobody asked. We had our own problems to cope with. Rather than to wonder where our boss might be. It seemed that the USA did not care neither. They did not wonder either. What a token of conficence they had in the capacities of mr Dujournot.
This was not what mr Van Deuren had expected from his job as office manager. He seemed to be the manager of total chaos and destruction. The worst of it all, nevertheless, were the enduring phone calls of our disgruntled customers. As long as the problems were not solved, the phone calls would not diminish. But they were right. That was the hard part. Mr Van Deuren could not live with the fact that he, as a former IT specialist, a PC wizard so to speak, had not been able to install a perfectly functioning software system to deal with the new tasks we had to perform additionally because of the childish row both managers had about Anissa. She did not care. She did not have to work with this new system. Not yet. She flashed her newly polished teeth into her screen. She laughed. She had a good time. Life was good for her.
Chapter twenty five : DAMMAGE CONTROL
We were all, but two (Anissa and mr Dujournot), trying to keep the boat floating, the weeks after we moved to our new premises. The new warehouse, located beside a busy canal, looked great. It was to be found in the middle of a new park of young industries, with all facilities present : quality roads, nice signs, four loading docks, comfortable offices above the warehouse. Mr Van Deuren had made a nice choice. Sadly enough for him, that was about it. He had proposed the selection to mr Dujounrot and even Wolgang Hanssen came especially from Germany to inspect the new location. The price must have been acceptable or even cheap, as it was decided immediately to take on this property. After the selection about everything else went wrong. We prevented the ship from being sunk. The captain was not on board. His first lieutenant went berserk. He had lost all marbles. We were trying to limit the damage and to rescue what could be rescued. Never ever have Veronique and I so persistently been insulted by our customers. All day long, day after day. Week after week. We both were lucky to have had some experience in customer care so we could place it all in a wider perspective. Not one of them was satisfied. Also Malvine had her share of the poisoned cake. Tessy tried to help us too, but as the insults and true allegations about mismanagement could no longer be denied, she focussed on getting her man trained and optimized in picking the right things. If they were placed on the right spot that is. If our software indicated the right location. It all came together and it all was connected with each other. It was as if the chain wasn’t coupled properly. There were too many knots in it, yet. Still. Mr Van Deuren was desperately trying to unfold the knots he had found. The only thing left for him to do, was to detect the failure he had created and step by step, unravel the obstructing elements to keep things running. Every week, we created at least another week of delivery delay. We could not unpack our containers, since the trucks of the move had not been unpacked yet. It was pretty amazing how we managed to survivce this period of total madness.
Of course even Wolfgang Hanssen had received telephone calls from disillusioned customers who complained about totally erroneous shipments, delivered even way too late on top of the whole story.
This was all pretty bad for Matrix Systems. And for us. We were all pretty mad at mr Dujournot. Every one felt that he had abandoned not only mr Van Deuren, but the whole company. No one dared to say this out loud.
The new offices were larger than we had before and now mr Van Deuren had the possibility to create his own separate office. Even our technical support, our engineer got a separate angle of the working space. Now, when Anissa saw this, she also required for her account department a detached working space. There was only one problem: we did not have that many walls. So mr Van Deuren, in a desperate attempt to keep everyone his friend in times of total war, did everything he could to segregate the office in another disconnected corner for the account department. Anissa loved it what was happening. She saw the desperation of mr Van Deuren growing by the day and enjoyed every single minute of it. She literally kicked on the misery of mr Van Deuren. He was at the verge of killing himself. He had obtained this wild irrational look in his eyes.
As if he could not care less what had happened. I think to one point he had given up. He knew he was to be slaughtered. His death screams hadn’t worked. No one had responded, nor helped him. We all did our part to keep things going, but the real help he needed from mr Dujournot. Who had been vanished from earth. In stead of help, he got supplementary negative pressure. The only way ever to reach mr Dujournot was by his cell phne. Mostly he was not connected so you had to say a message into his mailbox. If it fitted him, he’d call you back. If he did not kike the caller, he ignored the call. That is an effective way to separate you into a save cocoon of regulating order and self-care. Mr Dujournot liked I that way. He was the one that decided whether a phone call was made or a call was returned. Not you! Nor the USA. Because of the time differences, he had no fears. They woke up about 1400 hrs GMT. By that time mr Dujournot had started to drink again and so he could function again as a normal dictator. Even the customers avoided mr Dujournot. Especially since Veronique and I and partly also Malvine had been delivering quite some good work and they had no reason whatsoever to get him on the phone. Till those dramatic days of chaos and disaster. They called us all day long at the office to get things right, to make new appointments, new arrangements, to get broken systems repaired, to get false delivered pallets removed, to get missing elements sent after; all with the necessary grumbling and protest. Some of them were so fed up with the disappearing good service they had gotten used to, that they started to call mr Dujounrot and intruded his selective cocoon of wellbeing, somewhere around Europe. Mr Dujournot was furious. He had his reasons. Rather personal ones though.
Mr Dujournot let mr Van Deuren bake in his own fat ass. In stead of talking to him, discussing the next steps to be made to get out of this mess. The only thing mr Dujournot came up with was a gigantic general meeting, with all staff, all new warehouse workers, all representatives, the French ones and Wolfgang, to discuss what went wrong and how to solve it. So many people all together cannot work out a rescue plan. It was clear to me and to mr Van Deuren why mr Dujournot acted this way : he had orchestrated an official ceremony, where mr Van Deuren would be slaughtered and sacrificed. All elements would point in the direction of mr Van Deuren, every one knew this. So what is the point of a time wasting meeting where no solutions would be served anyway? It was the only way mr Dujournot could restore his diminishing influence (caused by his persistant absence and enhanced by the failure of thorough functioning of mr Van Deuren since he had to represent mr Dujournot, only, because of the many unforeseen difficulties, it looked that mr Dujounrot was to blame at the end) , his power, his dictatorship over the company, all at once, he would lead Matrix towards a new healing process again, what a saviour he was! And he would accuse mr Van Deuren of obvious and clear mistakes that would make his functioning impossible so he would have to quit.. Mr Dujounrot himself had no idea whatsoever how to solve those problems we were all coping with. In the first place, he did not even want to know the trouble at all. It was enough for him that there were even inconveniences around the office.
If you ask me, it was only a matter of time and timing. Mr Van Deuren had done too many things at the same time and had not foreseen an incubation time where all should fall into place again in the new offices. But panic was raised and mr Dujounrot would demonstrate his divine managerial capacities once more.
You cannot move a whole organisation and start up at the same time a part of a new working process in a matter of hours and expect it to work without any birth diseases. That is naïve. Mr Van Deuren was naïve. He, for all, should have known also that a brand new computer program needs some time to inaugurate itself and needs a period of adjustments and corrections until it is fitted in. Even Bill Gates knows that. We had the honour of working as the World premiere with our newly written picking and packing ordering programme. Guess what happened. Exactly. Not one picking form was correct. Not one picking location in the warehouse was correctly filled. What would you expect?
There was no sun protection in our new offices. This had been the same as before. But now even the air conditioning in the office of mr Dujournot lacked. He did not know this yet, since he had never set foot on these new premises. Only once he had been here, together with Wolfgang Hanssen and mr Van Deuren ,the time they decided they would take it. Since that time he had not been in Belgium again. Now he would reappear, three whole weeks after we all had already moved. Actually it was in the forth week, after his departure that he would visit us again on the new premises. It would be for the first time he saw his new office because mr Van Deuren had some extra walls replaced and installed to make it acceptable for every department to work in. He had been taken into account every consideration possible made by any of us. But this would not matter later on during the general meeting where he was supposed to be sacrificed. And it did not matter. And he was sacrificed. Poor mr Van Deuren. Never seen a man with so little self-esteem left as he had, when he stood before us all, being accused of all wrongdoings in this world. And if someone knows anything about self-esteem, then it should be me, since I had to do without it a great deal of my life. But lets not run ahead again, mr Dujournot still had to arrive, yet. In his shiny, newly waxed black Audi A6 filled with the finest white leather furniture. This shallow car description is written without any feeling of jealousy, I swear, I just had to describe you the way he rolled in, that rainy morning in May, at ten fifty five sharp. Anissa had received a phone call some minutes earlier from him to order his sandwich.
“He’s on his way!”, she shouted, thrilled as a little child who had missed one of her parents on an overseas holiday. “aaaah, He is going to be here in a few minutes!”, she précised her enthusiastic outburst. At that exact moment, mr Dujournot stopped his car in front of his new Matrix Systems cathedral. He stayed in his car. He was on the phone. For at least another half an hour. To whom he talked to, we never knew. We would never know. He always had his car waxed when he came in the office.
Chapter twenty six : wet underpants and other underwear issues
Anissa was watching mr Dujournot from the huge uncovered window on the second floor, above our new warehouse. She just had to turn her seat of her desk and so she could glimpse all over the wide open space, next to the water canal, laying before our new office annex warehouse. Nonetheless, she went close to the edge of the window and stood aside it, as if she liked to hide and cover up her spying activities, which was impossible, since the lacking of any sun protection shields. There was nothing at all to cover up those windows. Mr Dujounrot parked always right in front of the warehouse, at the main loading entrance, where a separate door uncovered the two storey high staircase towards our offices. He never parked aside, on the proper parking space. He used to do this at MIXO’s place, and he did it here. Now, knowing about his leg problems, his limping history and his boozing attitude, it was absolutely normal, even wise to park the nearest place possible towards the entrance of the building he had to enter. That he often blocked with is black shiny Audi the main gate and obstructed the workers activities, never occurred to him. Of course, they never ever once had said anything about this unruly way of installing his car in front of the building. They were all afraid of the absent monarch of Matrix. For them, he had become a kind of “Big Brother”, u know, from the novel of George Orwell , invisible, never seen but always around by eyes of the voice whom you’d only could guess. Tessy took care of the warehouse people. Even if she had only just been twenty two, she handled those partly rough fellows, as if she had never been doing anything else in her entire life (which had been short, but this she did not know). She had been born for this job. The name of Mr Dujournot only appeared in wild narratives and sticky rumours about drowned sons and all. A spooky person. To everyone. Not in the least for mr Van Deuren. He did not see mr Dujournot coming with a smile on his face. Only Anissa seemed exited.
Too exited actually. She had wet her pants. Like a dog would do that is happy to see his master again, he starts pissing around. Anissa did the same. But not around, just in her pants. It had been a kind of uncontrollable reflex. She had not felt it coming. “Go and see a doctor!”, mr Dujournot would tell her later, in the privacy of his new office. She cried, but smiled at the same time. “it will never ever happen again, I swear to Allah!”, she swore to Allah. The fantasy of mr Dujournot had just revealed some unknown potential in his relation to Anissa. “Golden shower” wasn’t just a flower from that day onwards between those two lovebirds.
(you could even detect some indication of revitalizing hair growth on the thinning cranium of mr Dujournot.)
The new guys working in our chaotically structured warehouse, were indeed from a breed you ‘d better not encounter after dark. How did this happen? Why were they hired in the first place? Tessy was not that kind of girl that would be afraid of the male species. She herself, had a pretty tough childhood and knew how to stand up for herself and her values. It did not matter to her if you were a man of a woman. Justice was important to her. As it was to me. The real problem was the salary, mr Dujournot was prepared to spend on his picking and packing people. As from the amount he set free for them, not much of respect could be detected. He paid the lowest possible fee. If there were not set any downward limitations on those paycheques, mr Dujournot would have gone even lower. So, the kind of people you attract to do this kind of work, evaluated as little as it paid, were criminals free on parole, or criminals searching fro a hideout, or criminals intending to perform a major bank robbery, or plain retards. They were not supposed to have any human value, nor quality. If they could count to ten, that would do fine, thank you so much!
Strangely enough, Tessy had them fiercely under control. All of them. Well done Tessy!
She set up time tables, held small individual and group meetings with her warehouse staff, she managed them perfectly. Till one of them had bleeding haemorrhoids and thought he was going to die. He left with his pants full of blood and we never saw him back. He was replaced by the brother of Anissa. Big mistaka to maka!
Mr Dujournot was pretty satisfied with the way Tessy handled her job, which was, at the least to say, not that easy, seen the devastating working circumstances mr Van Deuren had created at the first place. But he had been the lieutenant in command, for the duration of the absence of the captain. It was a captain of a ships wreck, finally, who came and visited us that rainy day in May, at ten fifty five. And it did not rain but water that day.
Chapter twenty seven : looser
Are we not all losers at the end? At the very final termination of life? What is the point of gathering as much as we possibly can of earthly goods, money and wealth and even power, if we know from the beginning that we all going to end without any of those? Why are we raised with the fake presumption of a “never-ending life?” I agree we can't just laugh at newborns, telling them they are going to die at some point in the future. But may it not be a better idea to focus on other things than those we cherish now so passionately. The ending of our worldly life is never been a popular subject to talk about. Only, it is part of our lives. If we want it or not. Now, I think most of us are just pretending that they will never ever pass the corner of this temporary circus we were all born into, because deep inside they are afraid. Or they know there won’t be a dozen or more virgins waiting at the other end. Could anyone by the way tell me how a spirit can f*ck? Does he have a dick? Can he get a hard on? Does he still have eyes to see what he is doing?
Do you know already now, since I came up with this questions some chapters ago?
The stories told to us by those who are desperately seeking power and trying to preserve it, are pathetic, false and intentional wrong.
For ages and centuries the Catholics have adjusted and invented lies and make believe stories. Any reasonable human being with any shred of sanity between his eyes, must admit that we, humans are far too infinite, too miniscule to ever know or understand anything about what is going on around us. Even now, even in the 21 century. What we know for sure, but what we all so desperately and pathetically try to ignore, by believing every shit that is ever told to us by some dominant power seeking ancestors, is that we indeed, at the end, are all the same, losers. Why do we always want more? Do you think it dies better when you know you leave a lot behind?
Mr Dujounrot thought he was immortal to. His defective bodily functions told him another story though. But some sickening particles in his brain, ignored those impulses and he kept on destroying the essence of life : the quality of his blood. I have seen how the slightest diminishing of the quality of blood directly leads to malfunctioning of the body. Nevertheless mr Dujounrot must even have thought that his 12 year old whiskey from the Scottish Highlands was a blessing for his fleshly package. He forgot that the blessing ends at the third glass. Usually. With mr Dujounrot it ended at the second glass, considering the content, filled right up to two third of the crystal glass. After refill, he ‘d used to drink immediately a fierce slurp out of his glass, so it would even appear just filled as it should. May be he could not handle the fact that his life was end able. That he could not take his freshly polished car with him. Nor his cell phone with fax and e-mail function. He had a son dead, still he did not care much for this little bastard who takes away lives. There always would be auctioneers. And when they die, they are replaced by others. Is as simple as that. Unless we hit that wall we are all flying to. Unforeseen. Unpredicted. In the middle of having a great steaming dump. What a finale!
Mr Van Deuren felt not really well. He felt kinda like a loser does. He knew what being a loser feels like. Mr Dujounrot never ever had felt that way. Not even when his son drowned.
Only moments before mr Dujournot, who was still on his pone in his car downstairs, came crawling up the staircase, mr Van Deuren had started his latest offensive to rescue him self before brutal butchery. He came towards all of us individually, with heavy respiratory sounds, asking if we still had any personal confidence in mr Dujounrot. As you all know, I did have my doubts and I did find some striking irregularities in my past efforts of trying to integrate at Matrix Systems, but I could not, now, only minutes before Big Brother would reappear, invent a strategy of definite attack on his power skills. He, mr Van Deuren, should have come up with this much earlier in the comfort of a secret meeting, as there even had been some to slaughter Ceasar at the time. It represented clearly who mr Van Deuren really was : not the true manager we needed most urgently right now since everything went berserk because of his chain of false decisions. He acted like a fish, just gotten out of his bowl. He moved in any possible direction, without any result. He ran out of water.
He was desperate and lost. The meeting was planned at two o’ clock. Mr Van Deuren had no luck on his loyalty question. Nobody answered directly. He felt abandoned. Alone against Big Brother.
You cannot turn an IT specialist into a manager. If you want to be a real manager than you have to possess real managerial qualities. Like most women have from birth. You cannot study to have those.
You have them or you do not. Mr Dujournot had some managerial qualities, only they seemed a bit odd to me. He had a certain way with people. A strange way. A haunting kind of way. A dominant way. A patronizing way. A squalid and for all, purely dictatorial kind a way.. he had his age giving him experiential credentials.
He had his career at the competition, supporting his current pole position at Matrix Systems. He had his character, his rudeness, his self defence toward opponents, colleagues and USA superiors, based upon verbal devastation and combat, similar to the language Anissa used. Only Anissa was clearly more drawn to the word “hatred” as such, and everything that had to do with this kind of destructive feeling as well as pure sentimental disgust. May be that is why they both got along so well. Besides the golden showers of course.
Of course mr Van Deuren got the sack. He got canned. He was fired. Thrown out. He could hold on to his cell phone and his laptop pc. As a kind of losers price. Mr Dujournot had no other choice. He had to blame the only one to blame. He had to save his own absent ass by diverting all attention to the sorry ass of mr Van Deuren. It worked. Mr Dujournot was a hell of a raconteur. Especially if it involved covering up his own surreptitious life.
Writing pc programmes still is something different than moving a whole warehouse. Even with figures that are “year to date”. That was about the lesson mr Van Deuren had learned in those few months he thought he was the office manager at Matrix Systems Belgium.
Chapter twenty eight : self protection
Shorter chapters lead to better protection. Against intrusion. Against manipulation. Against hacking, against stalking. Believe me, I have had it all.
The staircase to the offices of our new location were two storeys high. There was no elevator. There was, again, no window sun protection shields, there was no air conditioning. There was no heating in the warehouse. We rented those offices and mr Dujournot had, once again set the standards. He could not care less about the overall quality. He was never in anyway. The office space was bigger though. That was about the only advantage we had in comparison to the old MIXO offices.
Because of the height, the lacking of any utensil to get up and the deteriorating physical condition of little old drunk mr Dujournot, he had to crawl up the stairs. It took him ages. Mostly, after arrival, he held some more phone conversations in the secrecy of his car. Then, when he got out, we knew it would take some half an hour to get up those fucking stairs. He rested every five stairs. He needed to . His heart told him to and his legs refused to go along, so they made him stop. He hated it. He hated it when he was accompanied by anyone. Usually he’d say : “you just go on up to the office, I ll be right after you, I have to check something in the warehouse.” Mostly this worked. It provided him an alibi to stay downstairs for some extra minutes and climb those stair by himself without the curious looks of the physically stable ones. Mr Dujournot was like this kind of Australian bird, sticking his head in the ground each and every time he was confronted with a severe problem. Even when it concerned his own health. May be he is already dead now at the time I try to finish up this book. But there is still so much to write about, in order make the picture complete for you guys. You have to know how it all developed. How it all will end. You are entitled to this. Because it is getting worse indeed. Not only the performance of Anissa worsened and got even more intensified criminal proportions at the detriment of Matrix Systems but also the dubious deeds of mr Dujournot would lead him to finally self-destruction and even mr Moipatron would start to strive to control the path of self glorification in the name of gaining sickening supremacy in a fake competition with his own brother.
At that moment, mr Dujounrot tried to get up those stairs. When he entered the office, he saw as white as a ghosts Blanquette and inhaled as and old filled up squeaking and squealing chimney.
“How are you all doing?”, were his first words after four weeks of absence. The most crucial period of Matrix Systems Belgium, the captain had not been on board. He had left full control to mr Van Deuren, but now, seen the due circumstances, he would have to fire him. After the meeting. The meeting that would prove him right. The meeting that would reinstall him in all his glory as captain of this ships wreck, once again. He would be the rescuer of Matrix. What a man! What a strategy! What a managerial qualities we were able to witness here!
The meeting was horrible. I am not repeating one single word there had been said by most of the participants. It was understandable that all of us were a bit itchy and focussed on those responsible. So it did not take long before the first allegations were made. Mr Dujournot clearly pointed out mr Van Deuren as sole responsible, since he had been hired to orchestrate this move as one of the first acts to prove his kills as office manager. He had proven not to have those skills.
In a very demonstrative way. Meanwhile of course, we had moved from one place to the other. We had received new working spaces, new desks, new pc’s , now software and even an individual internet connection. All our stored goods were transferred in the mean time as well from point MIXO to point MATRIX in Merksem. Only the way they were stored was not exactly as it should be. And the software was not able to locate anything either. In the harbour of Antwerp some ten ish container were still waiting to be pulled in and collected from the States. But beside these slight discrepancies, we did have contact with our clients again, and the orders kept coming in. Despite of the mistakes that were cumulated till reaching unknown heights ever before.
I (and I mean, really I) knew it all would be a matter of time, not skills , to settle things around here. I suspect mr Dujuonrot to know the same. But he had used mr Van Deuren to replace him during the move and now it was time to kick his ass. Which he did. He had no longer use for him; he could perfectly do without him. Mr Van Deuren had too many own ideas he wanted to pull through. He had not been able to work those out, because he had been having his hands full with his changing locations. Mr Van Deuren had wanted to do too many things at the same time. Even a baby needs also nine months of incubation before breaking out. So mr Dujounrot had laid artificially high pressure upon the shoulders of mr Van Deuren in order to let him fail deliberately. His master plan had worked. Till now. Mr Moipatron stayed low profile. He knew why. Only he did. He was protecting himself, his plan, his wife and his children. He had moved to Brussels by now. He had become a Belgian Frenchman. He had a brother in France. All of his family lived in France actually. He had lived there before his move to Matrix Systems. Till mr Dujounrot had convinced him to come over. Because in Belgium you would have severe tax advantaged; that is what he believed, and why he finally came over. He had hesitated quite some time. He had his reasons to hesitate. His family was one of those reasons. He had a wife at home and four kids. I bet his wife is now pregnant again, knocked up for the fifth time, now as we speak. No need to deny it. His wife was not working. How could she? She was one of those really old fashioned housewives. Guided and protected by the male species. Wife cooking, man bringing in the money. Mr Moipatron was driven by some very conservative thoughts. Although he had just turned thirty. Some human species are born with aged genes in their body. Mr Moipatron was one of them. He’d die if he would allow his wife go working some place. He’d die of exaggerated protectiveness and jealousy. If he had not have a fireplace at home, he’d sure construct one. To put his wife in front of it. There. That’s the place she belonged! And in bed, with her knees behind her ears. Although he preferred doggy style though. Then he had not to look upon her face all the time. He could not stand the thought that she could see the face he had on him when he erupted into her. He might have been conservative, a vivid imagination he did possess. I guess all French natives do prefer the back attack style. Thirty something and already four kids. So he created the perfect excuse to keep her behind the comforting walls of his protective place called “home”.
And the hard cash. That too. He needed those badly. Of course. Who does not?
Let’s not forget about the life-time achievement competition he had running with his brother. A hard one. Brothers honour at stake here. At the moment mr Moipatron was not leading this brotherly game, at the contrary, he was severely behind the professional status of his younger brother. Damned. This situation was not one he could hold much longer. His personal reputation was at stake. His brother had already been promoted to some head of a bank office. Here in Belgium, this means nothing, only that you have to obey even more to the great money licking assholes in Brussels. But mr Moipatron had only just started as a technical support unit. He hated that. Of course, the fact that he now worked abroad enhanced quite a bit the overall external impression of his actual job. And he did never ever mention the words “technical aid” when he would be in France, visiting his next of kin. He was at least the technical engineer, responsible of a whole department. At home they could not know that only he himself was the sole supporter of this entire Matrix division.
Meanwhile mr Dujournot had gotten rid of his first lieutenant.
He took care of his own protection.
Time to commence a new chapter.
To protect myself.
Chapter twenty nine : inbound burglary opera called “Anissa”
Mr Lloyd called me yesterday. On a Sunday. Mr Lloyd from the undercover investigation cell of Stardor USA. The mother of all mother companies. Seemed they were on to something. Something big now. They were on to a lead towards Italy. It had to do with irregular account transfers or something like that. He could not tell much in order to keep the investigation going. Top secret. But he wanted me to know they were right at it. Someone in Italy should be getting quite agitated and feeling uncomfortable by now. The Italian connection led directly to Matrix Systems Inc. in Belgium. Some “Isabelle” was involved too. But I had no idea what he was talking about, since I never knew a girl called “Isabelle” who worked at our office in Belgium. And he talked about a fax machine that was bought in Belgium by Matrix but ultimately registered in Italy. And had been working in Italy. They were unravelling a bunch of severe knots of so called “areas of conflict of interest” between some Italian company where this fax had been found and Matrix Systems Belgium. It would be clear to them (Stardor) that those devious connections were supported in both countries till today. More I cannot say, since I still have to enclose myself more details to you all about those past years after the move, where mr Van Deuren had got the sack. I even cannot tell you about whom mr Lloyd was talking about. I did not know actually, I could only guess. I knew the person in Italy, but I could not possibly know who was still supporting this illegal connection from Matrix Belgium for reasons I cannot reveal to you at this moment. But it will all fall in its place at the end. But I have told you all quite enough for the moment. You all know that the ITALIAN link is illegal. Or has become illegal. Why? Which connection? I will come to that. First Anissa had to do some more stealing from Matrix Systems.
Why do I say such things? May be because they are true? Her thirst for more seemed out of control. Especially now where she got acquainted with the inner secrets of the account department and she got to see all those six-packs of numbers. They danced before her eyes as golden signs of unknown wealth and luxury. Also the monthly wages, paid to each and every one of us, were now revealed to her knowledge, since she had to book them each month on the appropriate spot, under the right account number. She could not handle all this secret information. As soon as Anissa had seen some salaries, that were higher as hers, she called mr Dujournot to appear in his office and arranged another personal raise. She did this several times. I think Anissa had been able to realize the most raises possible a single person ever could have gotten in the smallest period of time. Kind of issue you would publish in the Guinness book of records , chapter : “strange records”. She used the restricted and classified information she now got hold of purely for her own benefit. The confidentiality that mr Dujournot would expect from someone in this position, Anissa lacked completely. No one told her to adapt her behaviour to a classified level. Partly due to the fact that she even did not have a single clue that this was expected from her. She simply did not know. She was not educated to know this. At the contrary, she started to throw some salaries around in the open. Why would she do that? To cause but envy and “hatred”, something she worshiped as if she were the devil herself. Immediately I got to know from Anissa that Wolfgang Hanssen, as a sales, had about four times as much as I did. As I started even beneath the 2000 Euros brutto each month, Wolfgang earned an easy 8000 euros brutto each month. Now I am the kind of guy that does not question this kind of discrepancies, I do understand that there is a difference in workload, responsibility and power and that wages are dissimilar to cope with these kind of differentiations. But still, it hurt. It did hurt to see and hear this. I did not fell for this kind of entrapment, set out by Anissa. To me the height of Wolfgang’s salary was just a mere indication that there were still opportunities towards the future for me to enhance my salary. I had seen the upper limits. And I liked those! YES SIR! I understood as well that the part of Wolfgang in the sales story of Matrix Belgium, was much more intense on his side than on mine. I was only attracted by Matrix Systems to function as a “support”. I was part of a “back office”. The backbencher. Wolfgang was playing the first violin here. I could live with that. It was a matter of responsibilities and priorities. This was not a problem for me. More it seemed to be a problem for Anissa, which had gotten again unbearable to her when she learned about the salary her ancestor had gotten. Again a reason to call mr Dujournot to return to his Belgium office for another shower and raise. Of course I had wished that my salary was higher than it appeared. It told me more about the way mr Dujounrot thought (not) about the functioning of Matrix Systems and his people. I knew exactly where I stood, when I heard those numbers from Anissa. She even showed me how to look them up in the computer system. I did not ask her to do that. But she did. Driven by her daily search for conflict and anger. They seemed to be unprotected by any pass word. Easy for all. And interesting. So we all learned also that the French representatives only gained one third of Wolfgang’s earnings. Quite remarkable though. The same function, but severely different salaries. As ever, I always tried to look for answers and explanations. I did not find any. Furthermore, Wolfgang had unlimited expenses each month. The French sales though, had to beg and account for every single penny they had spent and booked on their expense account. Mostly mr Dujournot turned those French requests down. Expenses refused! Return to sender! Wolfgang’s expense notes were only to be signed by mr Dujournot, as he signed his own equally, before sending them to the USA to be acknowledged. They were always accepted since it was in their contract stipulated that all expenses were “on the house”, as far as it was Matrix related. The French representatives clearly stood one huge step behind Wolfgang in the scale of importance, company relevance and money distribution. My respect and professional devotion to Wolfgang grew with each minute I got to know this remarkable German sales person. Of course I talked to him on this salary issue. I remember that he was not happy that we all knew the amount of his salary and he even tried to look for excuses why he earned this much.
Eventually he thought that it was ones individual quality to take care of ones own salary. To one extend he was right. But at the other hand, not all professions can be rewarded equally since there still is a difference in responsibility and priority in the whole scheme of things. Besides that, I thought that a difference in salary may never depend on the difference in someone’s ability to negotiate. Wolfgang agreed on that one. We agreed upon everything professional for that matter. That is why we got along so well. We did have the same customer care views, as I have told you. We never ever discussed about our customers, they were all saints to both of us. Our mutual attitude towards our customers was the primary foundation of our spectacular growth that first year of our cooperation 1999/ 2000.
Anissa felt she had to prove and demonstrate her incompetence in case of professional reluctance and discretion on classified company information. I bet she even did not know the word, nor its content, nor its connotations, nor its implications when wrongly used or abused. I bet she even now would have to ask for further explanations on the value and meaning of this sentence, once she would get to read it.
One day I saw her brother, who was working as a warehouse employee, packing and unpacking matrix system goods, storing them, now sitting on an emptied desk in our office. Before him was a pile of sheets. In fact several piles were formed, one pile per external sales and one for mr Dujounrot. It were filled in expense notes from our sales people and mr Dujournot that had to be classified and filed. Of course Anissa had not found time to do this. For more than a year. She had too much work, chatting all day long with her overseas Moroccan friends and family on MSN. So she came up with the brilliant idea to let her brother file those sheets. Sometimes the expense notes had amounts on them that were a multiple figure of my salary. Especially those of mr Dujournot and of Wolfgang. Of course they both had a lot of travelling to do. In the case of Wolfgang I knew he was visiting his clients all over Germany and Eastern Europe because I always had immediate feedback, even most of the time when he was still over there. He did not stalk me, but it came close. (friendly joke) Mr Dujounrot, we never ever heard on the phone. So the filled in expenses (flights, dinners, more flights, more dinners, car fuel, more car fuel, more dinners, more flights), we saw, there was plenty occasion to see those, but any relation to his actual sales work was not ever detected by any one of us, back in the Belgian office. It was not our task of course to look for any connection, but when one is confronted with such irregularities, one starts to wonder. Don’t you think? Peculiar. Is it not? Or was it the intention of Anissa to get us all wondering? Her ways were out of the ordinary.
Still, the huge numbers of hard cash, booked as expenses were there and a warehouse worker saw them too. Month after month. With his salary he could not even book one single flight ticket. At those rates. What was he to think? Must have been soo frustrating. On that one occasion I could no longer stand this kind of unprofessional behaviour of Anissa and called mr Dujounrot to inform him. Two minutes later Anissa's phone rang. After a short one way conversation she came by with a glowing red head (I thought she had peed in her pants again) and sent her brother back downstairs, taking him of this inappropriate time bound job. She stamped like a wild horse. If she could she would have barked too. Like a mule that had been SEVERELY hit on his behind on an early morning Moroccan market. She had been at least as dumb as a mule ever could be. But I doubt she even realized that.
chapter thirty : upcoming theft still under construction
You want more prove of Anissa’s unprofessional indiscrete attitude? Right on! Coming right up. First this : the more stupidity Anissa demonstrated in her job, the harder both Anissa and mr Dujournot stuck together. He stood up for her. Not out of compassion. I don’t think so. Mr Dujounrot even knew from Anissa’s afternoon recovery trips and wellness corrections, including her numerous bleaching sessions and tooth repairing appointments.
(when she opened her mouth, aliens were attracted to earth).
I think her teeth had more electric and even atomic radiant power than an average plant in Iraq could ever evoke to harass Bush. In an undercover effort to keep her as long in the office as possible to ovoid inner conflicts with the rest of the loyal working crew he had, he used to phone to Anissa every single day. At about a quarter to five. PM. The phone call ended five a clock sharp so she could leave for home on time. But then he had the assurance she had been at least at that time in the office. He did not care that she had just came in at four thirty pm. That was irrelevant. But by phoning, he had made sure that she did return to the office, for at least that period of time. He never said anything about Anissa’s afternoon efforts to enhance her beauty. Not to her, not to us. He just kept phoning at four forty five pm. I bet he did not like her hairy back either. I wonder though.
Because of the unbelievable content of the previous pages, I really started to wonder who ever had been responsible for installing mr Dujournot as head of Matrix Belgium. To some extend you could consider it as a compliment that I never had encountered in my entire professional life someone like mr Dujounrot. His actions were at least unpredictable, incomprehensible, often weird, and his way of life was not exactly accessible nor logical. As I said before, I always tried to understand the decisions that were made. Mostly they did not make any sense and surely were never to benefit Matrix Systems Belgium. Although I thought it to be quite interesting to see it all happen, deep inside I knew this could not go on like this, because too many irregularities were created in too short of time. Mr Dujounrot made us believe that he cared very intensely for Matrix Belgium and that he therefore had been at war with the Americans, kind of protection strategy. As I told you before.
I did not buy this shit. It was pure crap. Never heard such nonsense in my life. But I guess he even believed his own lies. For sure he was constantly protecting his own position as great European dictator, with all remuneration included to this position. He did not like, nor allowed any intrusion. He could be quite ruthless. Especially when he felt endangered. I slowly but surely began to comprehend that all actions of mr Dujournot were made in his own selfish personal interest. He had build up a totally fake façade toward the office people and the controlling supervisors in the USA and did anything to uphold this wall of deceit and deception. I never ever had encountered someone who had done as little as mr Dujournot for his company, although he pretended to be the general manager of Europe. Although he was as stinky as someone even can be, he even agreed on exuberant salaries if they were necessary to uphold his own fortress. I felt very extremely disappointed. My initial believe in mr Dujournot shrunk every minute I stayed any longer at Matrix Systems Belgium. And if it was not for Veronique, with whom I made a hell of a customer care team, and for Wolfgang, who really had hit the market and brought in some incredible new customers, and for the devotion mr Moipatron was establishing himself, I would have left. But I did not. I stayed. I had a mission to accomplish. I had a dream. I believed in this dream. The sales figures proved my dream to come true. Others were sucking my dream to tiny pieces, but I tried to ignore those malignant signals. Which was not always possible. Once I had seen through the crappy facade of mr Dujournot, it all became so obvious and clear to me that it even turn out to be painful. Had they been blind in the USA? Or did they really buy anything mr Dujournot told them?
Sure for some part, they had been afraid of him. Mr Dujounrot was to be avoided at any cost. Mr Dujournot liked that. He liked to be left alone. To be ignored. So he could act as he pleased himself to do so. Mr Dujounrot had real problems with authority. Above him. He saw himself as the ultimate authority possible. Any further way of regulating cells and departments were a plain waste of time and energy. He, and only he, had hired Anissa and he would take care of her. No matter what the others would say or do. He would divide and rule. If you talked about Anissa to him, he would only look at you and say nothing. Nothing at all. He would not answer you. He would shut up. If you raised an issue or a problem on the rare occasions he had been in the Belgian office, and he did not answer you on the subject, and just stared or glanced at you, without speaking one single word, you knew he had no intention to consider your spoken words as valid or registered. You had no choice but taking care of this issue by yourself or together with the colleagues involved. When it was Anissa, you always knew that the problem would never be solved. She was too fucking lazy anyway.
To solve anything; for that matter.
Anissa took care of or salary reports at the end of the month. Mr Dujounrot had not arranged an automatic salary payment by SR SOCIAL REGULATIONS, our social security payment office, responsible for all salary calculations and legal arrangements; he needed to give his blessing, his authority on the execution of the payment of our salaries, every month again, month after month. Anissa had to prepare the official forms, and he had to sign for the final blessing. Even when he was abroad, which was about all the time, he had to give his consent to SR in order to pay us. He needed this to feel the power. The immediate power of a possible withdrawal of salary payment. He could do that. Since he had to agree by writing every month. And so every month again, Anissa had to make a list of all holidays taken. Of every day that you had been absent because of sickness or due to urgent reasons. She had bought a little black notebook to keep those dates in. She had seen how mr Van Deuren had tried to do this and now she did it the same way. The only thing she mostly and regularly forgot to fill in, in the little black notebook, were her own holidays and days of absence. Did she do this deliberately? What do you think? Duuuuuuuhhhh!!!!! How do I know? One day, Malvine, who had to do all the real work at the account department, had been so fed up with the continuous absence of Anissa because of her maintenance activities, and her additional full day holidays, that she checked upon the notes in the little black book. Not one single absence had been noted down when it concerned her person.
So Anissa was not only stealing daily time from Matrix, she deliberately stole whole working days and afternoons, which she compensated as holidays she never had been entitled to. By the end of the year Anissa still had most of her holidays still open, so she could ask for a payment of those unused days at the end of the year. Double jackpot and bonanza. Let the money roll! Mr Dujounrot had full trust in the functioning of Anissa at Matrix. Of course, they thought alike.
They were soulmates. He did the same. But on an even much larger scale. That would become clear at the end. Partners in crime. That’s what they were.
Plain fucking time and money stealing criminals. Obstructing those who wanted the best for Matrix Systems. Who believed in their project. In their dreams. In their methods to achieve major sales growth. And who did it. But not without being hurt by those two. Not without being damaged by the leading scum fraud team. Linked together by a golden shower. And lots of free time.
Chapter thirty one : who cares?
Mr Dujournot saw himself as the standard of Matrix Systems, since he was mr Europe himself. He had his own set of regulations and rules he implemented on all of us, independent from those from the States. We had nothing to do with the States. They were evil.
He expected full loyalty from his staff. And no problems at all. Tessy was a fine soldier to mr Dujounrot. She arranged everything fine and solved practically every issue even before it became one. Mr Dujournot was happy with her. It gave him his freedom the same way we at customer care did. Because both Veronique and I had a strong basic experience on the matter so he could count on us with his eyes closed. Which he did. We, at customer care, never had long conversations with mr Dujournot. We did not talk about anything. Mostly because he was not around. It looks pretty stupid to talk to a superior who isn’t even there. We could pretend that he was in, but we had too much work. Work grew on us like a cloned mushroom. Since mr Dujournot had revealed himself over the past months as a person who cannot deal with any nuisance or tricky issues, we clearly tried to avoid every conversation about the daily shit we had to deal with. We solved it on our own. We looked and found ways to get our work done and made our customers happy since they were still the driving force that kept us going. Not mr Dujournot , nor his peculiar behaviour that raised more questions than it delivered us with some answers. Mr Van Deuren had put us in a messy situation. But we needed to pull through. For the customers sake. Veronique and I, we both fought for every order there had to be made, to see to it that it became a correct one. We started to check upon everything we did. We were our own most thorough checker. From content to package to transport, to delivery date, we checked it all ourselves till, after some time, the other departments got the hang of it and started to work correctly.
It took time and sweat and tears and insults from our clients. But we did it. Our way. With the help of Wolfgang on the field. And from Tessy in our warehouse. Mr Moipatron analyzed the new computer system and threw out all mistakes. Not at once, it took weeks before this device really started to be a helping aid in stead of a menace. Without any complements though, we al pulled through, without any notice. From anyone. Only after some time, the clients themselves started to see that we had managed our move and our shipments. Slowly but surely the complaints vanished as it would appear to be spring time. Life and nature started to look beautiful again.
It had cost the head of mr Van Deuren. That was the prize mr Dujournot validated to rescue his own ass. Mr Van Deuren had to deliver his company car in. Right away. A Peugeot 407 station wagon. Light blue metallic. Mr Moipatron took it. He was at least an engineer and had to do by far the most miles per day from all of us. He had moved to the suburbs of Brussels where the population still speak French. To make things easier on his wife, who stayed at home and did not master another idiom.
It was a logical and acceptable decision. Mr Moipatron saw the professional discrepancy between himself and his brother diminish. Since his brother had not obtained a company car. Yet. Bank directors of some local French bank office mostly stay put. In the office. they do not need cars. They need flat screens. And strong pc’s. And mahogany wooden desks. To encounter their clients.
There was still some work to be done by mr Moipatron to get on an equal level as his brother...With the departure of mr Van Deuren new opportunities were presented and fresh potentials were created.
The final defeat of mr Dujournot had started with his own underestimation of the capacities of his staff. His intellectual blindness he obtained through ihis managerial top position, which let him feel like the ultimate dictator, made him immune for the remarks and other fine capacities of his employees. He felt himself miles above the human value we represented, executing the daily treatment of Matrix System orders. He assumed no one ever, besides wolfgang Hanssen, would understand the international relationship Matrix Belgium had with he US. That is why he wanted us to keep as far as possible away from those US monkeys. He did this to protect himself. To make him the sole liaison with the States.
Our saviour. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. Al hamdulliliah msef. Allah ou ackbar. Thank God, we had mr Dujounrot. Freaky counterfeit bastard.
He could not prevent mr Moipatron from calling the States though; it was intrinsic on his job. He had to be in connection with the US about all technical issues, changes and novelties that were presented to the world. Mr Moipatron had his contacts over there. He had more contacts than any of us knew. Because mr Moipatron was a silent guy. He was highly intellectual and did not say much, not to us in the office. We thought at first that he was only doing his daily job. We were wrong. Dead wrong. Sometimes he had some trivial would-be discussions on every day life with Veronique. About beauty standards for instance. Or about the English people. As a true Frenchman he did not like the English. As the French don’t since ages now. It is historically grown and cannot ever be erased again. It never ever will turn out well between the French and the English.
Chapter thirty two : a peculiar intense French-English connection
Suppose you have been, out of the blue, for no reason at all, run over by a BMW cabrio, three series, darkgreen metallic, or by an Audi 4, company car, on the “Boterlaarbaan” Deurne or on the “Bischoppenhoflaan” and that you have been taken to a nearby hospital. You are lying on intensive care. The one responsible for running you down, had committed a hit and run, a clear flight criminal offence. He or she is completely trackless. The police is all over the place but cannot find the perpetrator. You are hanging on a dozen wires and needles to keep you alive. The doctor comes in and tells you that you are on your last voyage home. It is only a matter of minutes. He is asking you whom you’d like to see in those last minutes and what you would want to say to them. There is not much time left.
Do you never think of such situations? I do. I really am wondering for myself what I would say to those I loved and would have to leave behind. I would say :
“ I have not understood one single thing of what has been going on around here and what I have been doing in it. My life had been a complete mystery to me, it still is and it sucked anyway, till the end…I guess it all had to do about love and I did not show it to you enough how much I really loved you...I am sorry...”
And if I have some time left I would add :
“I think I messed it all up…, now don’t you make the same mistake as I did and enjoy life as much as you possibly can…it is way too short...”
Then I would gently kiss my loved ones goodbye on their forehead, holding tenderly the heads in both of my shaking hands, that are clearly turning rapidly now into a kind of dark yellowish colour, the colour of death, the kidneys had stopped functioning, and then I would close my eyes, waiting for someone to turn out the lights of life and giving me back the inner peace I had before birth.
Normally you would believe mr Trend Straw, a big, strong, courteous, always smiling American dude, who was responsible for all International Matrix sales headquarters all over the world, as we had in South Africa, India, New Zealand, England, Hong Kong, Russia, Europe (we), Australia, Argentina and Chilé, to be the only and legitimate boss of mr Dujournot. Big mistake. Mr Trend Straw was in his early thirties and it was more than clear that mr Dujournot who already had been visited by Abraham and thus knew where to find the mustard (Belgian proverb to indicate that one has already celebrated their 50th birthday) (passed 50), was not accepting such a youngster to be his superior; no fucking way.
Mr Dujounrot had been bought away from the competition and this was done by mr Don Martin, a tainted sophisticated English executive of Stardor. As Stordor was to be situated above Matrix in their daughter/mother relationship, it was clear that only Ron Martin would have anything with impact to say to mr Dujounrot, knowing the resentment mr Dujounrot had cultivated towards any USA intervention in his (non-) European activities. No one ever explained this strange inter company relationship between mr Dujournot and mr Ron Martin. Ron martin was even a bit older than mr Dujournot. He appeared in our Matrix offices, always unexpectedly since mr Dujounrot never found it appropriate to announce anything towards us. He just appeared in the office, always together and accompanied by mr Dujournot. They behaved as Siamese twins. Ron Martin was very friendly, but in a scheming way. He was too friendly. Like John Cleese toward his dominant wife. “Yes dear…”. Ron martin had made it to the top. He was now responsible for all Stardor activities in Europe and a kind of coordination was expected from him. He travelled a lot. Throughout Europe. As did mr Dujournot. They were never together though. When they saw each other, they met in Belgium, in our offices. Occasionally. When something urgent had come up. Like signing the rental papers of our new warehouse. Or witnessing the execution of mr Van Deuren. I had the impression, mr Dujounrot used mr Ron Martin to his personal benefit as he did with all of us. He used him to underline his own omnipotence. As he kept mr Trend Straw on an acceptable distance from his devious self enrichment activities. By barking at him, on the phone. By insulting him, on the phone. By disagreeing on every USA proposal. Mr Dujounrot had his tricks and he knew by now that they worked.
Since mr Ron Martin had reached a superior high levelled managerial top position, no one of Matrix USA ever openly thought anything could possibly been wrong in Europe with the way mr Dujounrot functioned. He had it all well covered up.
Logically mr Trend Straw would have all legal powers over mr Dujournot since he had them over all the other foreign Matrix agencies. For some inexplicable reason England did not belong to Europe in the constellation of Matrix Systems. Do you think mr Dujounrot tried to explain this to us? Duuuuuhhh! We knew that Matrix England was something “special”, since it was immediately connected to Stardor and another English company they just took over. So mr Ron martin was in charge of all and took Europe also under his wings. Strangely enough Matrix England did not sell but in England. As we (Europe) sold everywhere else in Europe. Matrix England was historically grown and for some unspoken reason, could not ever possibly be added to Matrix Europe. As one of his major combat tasks against the USA and against England, mr Dujournot had set himself as major target to protect and defend at any cost the territory of Europe for his and our sales. If mr Dujournot used any energy in favour of Matrix Systems Europe, then it would have been for this purpose. As more managers do so in Europe, they all believe strongly in a kind of war-game they are playing against each other. To conquer “the market”. To get to be the “nr one” in the “market”. They all want to be or are already “leader” in their specific trade, to which they hold on to in a kind of pathetic way. Of course England was an enemy of Matrix Europe too. Only when the two leaders would meet, you could not tell as they seemed to be very close friends indeed. Mr Ron martin was a true Englishman. He had the right accent and the right dandy upperclass manners. Only because mr Ron Martin was the direct supervisor (without any supervision) and superior in command above mr Dujournot, mr Dujournot behaved as we never knew or had seen him behave before. We never knew what both “leaders” were talking about, but they always conducted themselves as if it were the upcoming destruction of a nuclear plant in Iraq they were talking about. Thank God Ron Martin had such a strong lieutenant as there existed mr Dujounrot, to guide with his devine skills over sales Europe, so he could concentrate on other even more important “take-over opportunities” to add to the smaller and thus weaker England leg of Matrix Systems.
Now, it is quite normal that both Ron Martin and the USA were having a close eye on the figures of Matrix Europe. We had no clue that we all came out of a kind of “total loss” situation a few months ago. Since sales figures were only growing, since the day I came on board (I did not say I was responsible for the hoist, but it could indicate that I helped the increase a bit anyway the same way as did Veronique and Malvine also in their own specific approach), year after year, on a spectacular basis, Eastern Europe and Germany kind of exploding really, they left us completely alone. They did not bother at all about anything around here. They hardly knew about our existence and our inbound problems we were coping with at that time. As long as the sales figures are increasing, you will not easily arouse an American for that matter. Nor mr Dujournot. And they were, spectacularly. Just go back and look at those sales rates! Impressive huh!
As for the results, one could indeed conclude that mr Dujournot was a hell of a general manager and Ron Martin should have been proud to have such managerial miracle worker as one of his associates.
To give mr Dujounrot all the credit for his sudden explosive increase in sales, as we did took in, the early days of the year 2000 and 2001, would be easy. The Americans like it easy and do not tend to look any further. It suited mr Dujournot well. Very well indeed. As we never knew anything on this, you could be sure he had sold himself again to be the final one and only true liberator of Matrix Europe. It had been at least his idea to move the whole damn place away from costly MIXO handling and put it autonomously elsewhere in the first place. Don’t you ever forget that! The connected problems he had already erased out of his system. We took care of those. The hard way. As all inconveniences and trouble of our move were attacked systematically by all of us, but Anissa, since we all were very conscientious in our work and we also liked the fine results, mr Dujounrot started very quickly to see new opportunities for his private unknown activities. He stayed only a few more days after the meeting of crucifixion of mr Van Deuren. All of a sudden, he announced quite officially that he was going to leave us because he was taking on a major European roundtrip to inform our clients about the move we all made. A bit late, but nevertheless, it could help a bit. This meant of course, that he would be away for at least two months. We did not care. We were happy really, that he wasn’t in. He did nothing but annoying us anyway. Because, when he was in, he kicked on “playing the boss”. He started to ask all possible silly non relevant questions, so he could impose superfluous new little rules, he could declare strange individual conclusions we all had to follow, since he was our dictator, after all. It was sickening. When he was out, we never ever heard anything of him nor his whereabouts. When he was in, he always annoyed anyone, intensely, but Anissa. So, yes, we were all happy when he left Matrix for one of his mystery tours. We all knew that he lied. He would not see a single customer, those upcoming weeks. We would know, because we spoke our customers on a daily basis.
We were not stupid you know. But The sovereignty of mr Dujounrot had taken such proportions, he truly had lost all connections to everyday life. Maybe, just maybe he had fallen in love again.
That would explain a lot. Indeed. We did not know anything about his private life. And since Tanja had left us, this gossip content, had to be filled in by a successor. Not Anissa took over this important self-regulating task, it was mr Moipatron. The silent one. He started to talk. Not abundantly, but bit by bit. As Tanja had been an express train on her hearsay mission, mr Moipatron surely was a train that stopped in every small town. He did not say much, but when he spoke, every single detail was released and you knew with your eyes closed, it all was as true as the content of the holy bible. Even mr Moipatron did not ever know where mr Dujournot would be when he was on one of his European visiting trips. Of course he always tried to find out. Once, he even directly fired the query into the face to mr Dujournot. As usual, when you asked him that kind of questions, he did not like to hear nor answer, he always did as if he had not heard you at all. He looked at mr Moipatron as if he came straight from hell and did not speak a word. Painful silence. You ‘d better not repeat that question though.
After the introduction of Don martin in our Belgian premises, we knew they both stuck together like instant glue to cover up for each other towards the USA. The English and the French in a unique bond, especially melted together to conquer the USA. Probably both had a lot to hide from the US. This was the first commitment ever made between an Englishman and a Frenchman in the history of Matrix Systems. Don Martin liked the way mr Dujounrot handled the USA responsible dudes. It liberated himself at the same time, since Europe is one piece of land, to the US. It made him feel stronger, being in charge of the European leg of Matrix. It promoted him to be responsible for all Stardor European acquisitions. He liked that. He liked the support of mr Dujounrot. “Well done, old chap!...well done indeed!” He needed his support. As much as mr Dujounrot needed the support of Don. By playing this game double, they had an even more profound backbone against the threat of interference and unnecessary meddling fro
the part of the USA.
Chapter thirty three : the raise of mr Moipatron
Although MATRIX Systems was a hundred percent American company, we had a 200 % Frenchman as our general manager. I tell you even more : the French were in clear majority as it came down to comparison of Nationality. We had mr Dujounrot, general manager, French, we had mr Moipatron, technical support manager, French, we had our four salesman, three of them were French. That makes a grand total of four. Malvine had two nationalities, she was Moldavian and had a Belgian passport since a decade now. Belgium is one of the few countries where you can have two nationalities. That is because Belgians are weird people who cannot make up their minds. They also always choose the easiest solution when having problems. So if you cannot choose which country is yours as a native country, why not take both? It’s all so easy! Anissa was born in Belgium, but kept her Moroccon nationality from her parents. Veronique, Tessy and I were the only true Belgians. We were multicultural. The only pain in the ass in the whole constellation up till now, was undoubtedly mr Dujounrot. Mr Moipatron presented himself in the beginning more like a colleague. The same did the sales reps. Two of those were quite old, actually, mid fifties, Eugéne and Joseph, and one youngster, named Carl. Now, as I told you, those French reps were not exactly of the same competence as mr Dujounrot, nor mr Wolfgang Hanssen, for that matter. Wolfgang Hanssen was the only German on board. He did not bother. He spoke fluently English and got along with all of us. He was not much in the Belgian office either. I was there and that was enough. He was on the field. The battle fields of a sales war. We all were hired for our independent behaviour and inbound responsible attitude towards our mission, our goals, our targets. And we all made it work. Even when things went wrong. Even when things went tough to handle. Our mutual believe in our mission kept us going. The sales figures proved us right. Again and again, as I told you already. Am I getting old and repetitive? Tell me if I am. What do I want to say here, really? That things were not so bad after all, those early years in 2000/2001. Besides the regular unacceptable office behaviour and cruel stupidity of Anissa, we did have occasionally some great times those years. Sales were more than promising, they were good, they became excellent, mr Dujournot had become a full time happy traveller in the mystery of nowhere land; he left us alone and he let us do our job as we thought it to be best. The sales results made him, again, towards the US and towards Ron Martin, the top manager, he though he really was himself. His personal ratio input/output was at least spectacular. If he could, he’d fly, only, he limped. Still. He kept on drinking too much, the drunken poor old sod. He wasn’t poor in reality.
We all assumed he ‘d be loaded.
Where smoke there is fire.
Gossip can have a positive influence on the relationship between human species. Mr Dujounrot dressed himself with a coat of total silence, he moved around in a world of complete mystery and never ever informed us at the office of his intentions, neither professional, nor private. The private part I can understand. The professional part is a harder nut to crack. You could always reach him on his mobile. When he had not turned his voice mail on. As he always did before noon.
When you act as mr Dujournot did, you enhance gossip. You feed hearsay. You nourish unfounded information.
I am not gossiping here. I am telling you all the reasons why things will turn out the way they well do at the end of this book. Because all of this is only the beginning of what is going to happen next. It is the “entrée”, the “aperitif” of a five course high class meal in a fancy French restaurant at the Cote d’ Azure.
If people lack information, they start guessing. They try to analyze the signals they get. They are looking for signs, remarks, mistakes, made by the one who is trying to conceal something. Because, if you are that silent as mr Dujournot persistantly was, you knew there had to be something he was hiding. From us. From mr Ron Martin, from the USA. He also talked too much about “honesty” to be acceptable.
You can be sure that those who constantly talk to you about the importance of “honesty” in a relationship or in business, are the first to taste from the tempting cake of deceit and treachery. By his few words spoken, the clear inscrutability of his insignificant actions and obscure but rare public deeds, Mr Dujournot unmistakably had moved himself in this category of human trash.
Only, he did not realize this himself.
Hours Tanja used to talk on the phone with Trend Straw.
About the time she lacked to do her work properly. About Maria who had left and now she had no one to turn to in case she had a decision to make. About mr DujounroT who did not seem to care at all. About mr Dujournot who was all the time complaining to her that she had not finished her job, but would not help her to solve the problem. About the exuberant expense notes of mr Dujournot. About anything really….Tnaja had been a professional nit-picker and whiner. She had at least the face to be that kind of woman. Everything that should have looked stretched on her face, hung down. Attracted to earth by its gravity. Like her moral. Now she was pregnant, it was high time to get out of here.
Even if he knew he had no influence what so ever, nor any power on this European leg of Matrix Systems, he still tried to seek his way in. He had found a full-time complaining companion in the person of Tanja. But since Tanja had left, she had to be replaced; mr Moipatron fitted in nicely.
Of course the overall attitude of mr Dujounrot evoked disgust and resentment amongst all of us. At the one hand we were all happy that he was not around the office since he ‘d be a pain in the ass anyway, so we choose the better solution for our sake and were content with his structural absence. The lack of knowledge about his person, about his strategy, about his commitment towards Matrix, fed the gossip as an eternal everlasting fountain in the Ardennes forest. Soon we all started to laugh about mr Dujournot. He started to turn into the fool of the village. We did not take him serious any longer. We solved our own problems. He ruled himself out. If one of us dared to present him with a nuisance or a dilemma, you’d be sure, you ‘d be occupied with this issue till the end of the week, till his departure. He did never decide at once. He’d started to analyze first. He’d let you wait. He would discuss but he would not listen. And finally he’d decide just the opposite of what you would do. Conclusion : no one ever presented him another problem. Never Again. Unless they reached him first, through customers for instance. Then he usually would start to create some absurd rules that would help to solve the issue. In his mind. In practice his solution would only stall everything for the worse. He was sooooo slow on everything. His limping had reduced of course his speeding mileage.
He had time. As all Matrix issues were taken care of for him. We all contributed to this level. But he did not reveal anything. So the gossiping continued through mr Moipatron. And Trend straw. And the other French sales reps. Of course they stuck together. Quite natural I would say so. So mr Moipatron spent a lot of time on the phone, creating hearsay stories and “would you believe narratives .” the quality of mr Moipatrons chitchat was high. Mostly he was right. He had noticed something irregular and drew the right conclusions. He had heard some sentences and knew what was going on immediately. He had an IQ of 139. Pretty impressive and thus capable of turning the chitchat into real bedtime stories.
Moreover, mr Moipatron would not let go. He was so grossed by the behaviour and attitude of our general, that he kept insisting on information to be given by mr Dujournot. He did not get any.
But false. Mr Dujounrot was as stubborn as a mountain goat. So he started to lie about his location. That was the easy part to find out. Still, we never knew where he really was.
Because of his long overseas conversations with mr trend Straw, mr Moipatron knew what was going on in the word of Matrix spare parts. He also knew the gossip linked to the parts. It was a valid source of information on the undisclosed life and love of our upper chief. Meagre but valid. Also the way he behaved, his body language, his appointments, his quotes and especially his dinners and late nite escapades on the big international trade fairs of Paris, Munich, and Frankfort, where the world top was present and shining as usual, gave partly away some useful personal and secret data to our seeking French reps. Together with mr Moipatron, they had made it into a kind of sport to be on the search for the truth about the well kept life of mr Dujounrot. An investigation that finally would lead to disastrous results.
When he would be around in his Belgian office, limping around exasperating everyone, upstairs and downstairs in our warehouse, he used to appear about Wednesday, at noon. He would usually leave for the weekend at Thursday afternoon, about two till four pm. On those two days, he would have spend around four to six hours in the office. In total. It appeared to be sufficient. For the next two till three months. In fact it was a huge compliment to all of us. We managed without our manager. We all contributed to this independent state we were forced into by circumstances beyond our own free will. If you have your own qualities, you are sufficiently skilled of the job you need to practice and if you have the necessary experience to cope with some unforeseen events, then you do not need a supervisor, nor chief, nor general, nor dictator around you to tell you how to do your job. But not all of us were that skilled or educated for that matter; Anissa lacked about everything she needed to perform her newly acquainted job. But she appeared to be shrewd. As we were not to be called best mates, she decided to include mr Moipatron in her scheme of things she could not handle. For one reason or another mr Moipatron did not seem to mind. To be abused as think-tank for the account department, since Anissa’s tank seemed to be empty. It never had been filled up. As hollow as the mind of Homer Simpson.
chapter thirty four : mr moipatron takes his chance
Tittle-tattle had been one way of finding elements to compose the surreptitious life of mr Dujounrot. His mystery was his insurance of living a quiet and undisturbed day in Southern Europe. During office hours. In stead of visiting his clients, as he told us. As he repeatedly said to us. That far they had gotten already. Inspector Clouseau is French too. That would explain a lot. Maybe they have a natural flair of wanting to unfold the uncovered. I did not care, I must admit, how and why and when mr Dujournot lived as he lived his actual life. As long as he left me alone, I would be fine, thank you!
Mr Moipatron had more difficulties about this strange way of consuming time and leading an obscure life as a general manager of Matrix Systems. He wanted to know it all. He wanted to understand it all. I do too, like the aspect of understanding. But what I have been witnessing the last few months, since my start here at Matrix, forced me wisely in the direction of putting a hold on all thoughts concerning this topic. I just did what I had to do, my job and I did it well. Together with mr Hanssen.
Mr Moipatron spent a lot of time on his investigations. He was on the phone all day, occasionally he talked to a customer. Mostly he talked to his French sales reps or to Trend Straw. Often mr Moipatron could not hold back his personal contempt towards it all and you could here him swear on mr Dujournot and his “façon de vivre”.
“Gerard, could you come over to my desk for a second?”, Anissa asked about ten times a day. She got stuck again in one of her mails, could not find the right word or translation, or the way to write it down. Name it and she could not do it. Total incompetence. Mr Moipatron came every time she called him. Without any hesitation. Weird. Strange. Bizarre. He really took good care of her. You would not suppose that he….and Anissa….noooo, no way. He was a devoted father of four children and his wife carried number five in her womb. He could not have been tempted by this heap of evil....could he? He could, of course, but then I do not want to know about it…it would make me vomit. Mr Moipatron had some integrity in my eyes. He had been a fine guy up till now. And he kept on helping Anissa where he could. He developed schedules and rosters, made charts in Excel, all to make things work for Anissa. Anissa had been completely lost after the departure of Tanja. In the beginning, she did not dare to say anything, but as time passed by, even in the account department it is convenient that you present some figures from time to time. Which she could not do, since she did not know how to do it. Mr Moipatron was a gift of Allah to her. He surely would get his seventy virgins if he’d only would believe in Allah in stead of God. At the end of each month, the closure was done by “Schellekens”, an external financial account company, responsible for the yearly fiscal control. What Tanja used to do, now was taken over by “Schellekens”. The only thing Anissa had to do was to book a series of numbers, entering the right numbers under the right account numbers. Which was not always easy, since even here she failed to do this correctly. The actual bookings were mostly done by Malvine. Since she worked part time for the account department. For Anissa that is. Malvine also opened the morning mail. Malvine entered the incoming cash into their appropriate accounts. Malvine checked upon the daily payments. Malvine did about anything that had to be done.
Anissa was busy. She had to maintain the verbal alliance with Morocco. Or with her shopping friends. Who had bought 100 ml of Chanel nr 5 for only 10 Euros.
“What??? Where???? Did you buy a bottle for me too? Why not??? Selfish bitch….” They met on MSN. About all day long.
Why would mr Moipatron be such a supportive and compassionate colleague to Anissa? I kept wondering. He too, had seen the numerous outbursts of anger, every time she did not agree on a job to be done (mostly it was the pressure of actually doing something, that made her explode like a popcorn, since she was about the laziest bitch on this planet). Still mr Moipatron kept silent and helped Anissa where he possibly could.
Anissa had become a living legend at Matrix Systems Belgium. We all managed one way or another to live with this kind of human peculiarity. We had to. Because of her protection, gracely delivered by our absent head of state. He kept phoning every day. At four forty five pm. Only to Anissa. That was one way of demonstrating that he stood behind her. (with his willy in his hand)
You could clearly hear when she talked to mr Dujournot on the phone, apart from the regular hour. She raised her voice to a level the whole office could listen into. She thought these calls gave her a certain standard. A high levelled position. Because she talked to the boss. She alone. Brainless.
Anissa had her fight with about anyone. Name one person she had not have a fight with. Impossible. She loved to fight. With words. I bet that in the security of her home, she even used her fists occasionally or even other bodily utensils to strengthen her words. As graceful as she sometimes appeared, the stronger raw beast was hiding underneath.
Anissa, the chosen one. To do nothing. Literally. We had made up a plan to maintain the cleanness of the office kitchen. Each of us would take care of our mutual kitchen for one week, five days in a row. Easy job. Not for Anissa. She systematically refused to keep her part of the job. Or she forgot. Or she was too busy (her words). The kitchen always was a complete mess when Anissa’s turn had passed. As if a bomb had exploded. I often wished she had blown herself up. She never did though. Too much trouble.
“Gerard, could you come over to my desk for a second?”, The sweater she said it, the huger problem she had to be solved.
One morning, it all became clear why mr Moipatron had been the good Samaritan for the last few weeks. He had some bottles of real French champagne with him. To celibrate his promotion.
What is the matter with those French guys? Are they all backstabbers? Are they all operating in the dark? Are they all direct descendants from Napoleon? What about openness and sincerity? Maybe he thought that the behaviour of mr Dujournot had to be taken as the standard around here.
We had not seen this coming. He had prepared his promotion in utmost secrecy. He handed over a letter to everyone personally. It was from mr Dujounrot. How nice. Our boss talked to us through mail, through a letter. It all looked official. It damned was! He became the first “assistant to the general manager” of Matrix Systems Belgium. Of course, he was not in to announce this promotion. He probably had other important things to take care of, like removing the fifth peach tasting condom from his shiny shrinking dick, whilst heavily breathing, since he was not that young anymore. However, she still was. She was in her early thirties. In addition, she demanded a lot of him, even if he limped. When he was in her companionship, he did about anything to disguise his limping leg. He had invented a story in which he told that he had hurt his leg in a warehouse accident where a pickup truck had driven against it. The stupid bastard! He had noticed that the function of “office manager” had not worked and he surely did not want to end up the same way. Meanwhile they had moved to Brussels, his wife and kids included. So much at stake here. Who was she? Anissa had no clue. But she sensed there was someone else in the life of mr Dujournot. We would all soon find out. Not trough mr Dujounrot though. He kept silent, as usual. As always. What did you think. Officially he even was still married. After his son never came to the surface of the Loire again, he had left his wife. That is what had been told, gossipwise. How else should we know?
One thing was absolutely sure about mr Dujounrot; He was not gay. No sir! Just ask Anissa. Or Malvine for that topic. Her hooters had always more attention then anything else when he was in the Belgian office. He could not get his eyes from them. As if they were silently calling his name : “mr Dujounrot, mr Dujournot…”
Malvine liked that. If she knew that mr Dujounrot would be visiting us, she always set them free. Like an open invitation to park your bycicle in between. Or even a motorbike. They were firm enough to hold a bike.
“Assistant to the general manager”. What a title indeed. In fact, it was nothing less or more than the indication that mr Moipatron would be the new right hand of mr Dujournot. Do you know what he does with his right hand? Not only handshaking! Bwaaarrk. I feel sick. Just kidding. But it indicated that both gentleman made some sort of gentleman agreement. Mr Moipatron had turned the excessive absence of mr Dujournot into a clear advantage for his personal career. Well done old chap!
By appointing mr Moipatron as direct assistant to his managerial function, he had created again, only one person to shit upon, when something irregular should happen at the office. Always handy when you are that often far away from the home office. This move clearly enhanced the responsibility of mr Moipatron towards the big boss. He would now be responsible for all daily crap. However, he got an impressive title and a raise in stead. I was not jealous. I never was. Everything functioned as it did before without mr Dujournot. I did not see why things should change now that mr Moipatron had obtained a larger scale of responability towards it all. He had become “assistant to the general manager”, not assistant to me. He had to help and assist mr Dujounrot where he needed him most. He had intensified their relationship. I new this was not going to work. Now, of course, we never ever saw mr Dujounrot again in the office, since he had installed another pair of blabbering eyes for his sake. He was promoted by mr Dujounrot to be the gossiper of the day, and one of his new tasks was the information flow at the end of the day. Mr Moipatron got the evening calls Anissa used to get. Now he asked mr Moipatron if Anissa was still in the office. He used the ranking he had installed himself. “Ordnung muss sein!” Sometimes he still called Anissa first. To comfort her. Anissa knew he had a new love of his life. Women feel that.
Mr Moipatron was on his way up. There was no elevator though.
It was time for mr Moipatron to develop his doubled face.
Chapter thirty five : reinforcement for customer care
Of course I could completely understand the personal move mr Moipatron had made. He was still young and ambitious and saw a bit further than his own nose. Why blaim him? At the contrary.
Congrats were on its place here.
We enjoyed the real French Champagne, without mr Dujournot. Anissa and Malvine did not drink because of their religion. They were Muslims and for some obscure reason they may not drink alcohol. It is forbidden by the Koran, their holy bible. Nevertheless, I do know several Muslims, especially men, who drink, alcohol, when it suits them. They mostly hide it by drinking f.i. whiskey cola, so the drink looks like a regular plain coke.
The only thing I did not like about his promotion was the way he had obtained it. We were a small team. Even if you could not speak of a real team, we were a handful of strong individuals with our own qualities and shortcomings. We had survived the move of our offices and warehouse. Mr Van Deuren had not been that lucky. We all had our individual strengths. We had pulled through and we had made out of Matrix Belgium a fine working and oiled machinery. We did this without the help nor guidance of our chief. Nor sous-chief. Therefore, this change in the office ranking was a bit peculiar.
Neither mr Moipatron, nor mr Dujounrot had previously asked any of us if we would agree on this promotion. I bet both knew there would be difficulties with some of us if they had done so. I know for sure that Veronique would have disagreed. Me, myself, honestly, I would have disagreed as well, since I did not see any advantage for Matrix Belgium in this promotion. Again, this promotion was forced for the benefit of mr Moipatron himself, because he got a raise and another title. However, he still had to provide us and our clients with technical support. Of course, this promotion was also to the total advantage of mr Dujournot personally. He got himself another fine first lieutenant. To protect the home fortress. To represent him when he was away on those Italian killing fields. Now his absence from his home office became legitimate. That is what he thought. That is what he had expected from mr Moipatron. To stand firm as assistant chief guardian of the home bastion. I am sure that is also exactly what mr Moipatron promised he would do.
I had not much time to think about the consequences or change that might occur by these office-ranking alterations.
We, at customer care, had both our hands full with the rapidly growing orders of our European consumers. In fact, we could not cope any longer at that level. We needed support. Because of the internal changes, mr Moipatron agreed swiftly on an additional extra help. Part-time that was, since mr Dujounrot kept his hand firmly on the wallet. To keep it closed. It only opened for his own support.
Karine entered the house of Matrix. My God! What was that?
I could not believe my eyes. She had grown a real poodle dog on her head. She was as ugly as hell. And she smoked. Three times “bingo”. Mr Dujournot had instructed Veronique to do the screening since he was not around the office for some time in the near future. (who would have guessed???). So Veronique had seen and screened some people. Karine appeared to be the better one. For the job she had to perform, no specific skills really were necessary, only a little accuracy and international language mastership would do perfectly, thank you. Karine had said on the screening interview that she mastered French, German and English. So where is the problem?
Apart from her strange deeds, her numerous anxiety ticks, and the poodle on her head, she seemed pretty normal.
Now I know I am the master in confusion, I am the complete chaotic person, I have always the greatest disorder there possibly can be on an office desk, but I do always find my things. I have a strict order in my disorder.
Karine only had “order”. She had it in a fanatic kind of way. Every morning she placed her package of cigarettes on the same spot. Her lighter on top, in the same direction towards the window. She shook her shoulders several times before she even switched on her computer. She coughed, like a poodle. At ten o ‘clock sharp she always stopped working and used the same words: “I think I am going to have a smoke.” She said it to no one in particular, just in the open. Then she stood up and left for the warehouse, below. To have her smoke. A double one. She was a woman of forty but looked fifty-five. Her skin was wrinkled, wrecked, and dried up by the tons of cigarettes she had already consumed.
As time went by, Karine appeared to be even dumber than Anissa, but that was technically not possible.
If you take her intellectual capacities into consideration, it isn’t even worth mentioning the existence and impact of this woman in the format of things. Her added value was zero, “nada”, nothing at all, noppes, rien, null, even below zero.
She helped us, that is all. She appeared to be so shy she could not even answer the phone properly. A woman of forty years old!
We made her classify our files, we made her pack the small shipments, and we made her do the simplest things possible that had to be done anyway. This gave us the little room and support Veronique and I desperately needed in treating our customers to the high level we choose for ourselves. She could do the bookings, entering numbers in a specific prefixed field. Any deviations on this, she had to report to me or Veronique, so we could avoid major problems and initial mistakes she surely would have made. We had to keep a close look on her and so she functioned fine. For now. Like a guided poodle.
Would you believe if I told you that Karine was married? Twice for heavens sake! To a professional photographer. He photogrephed new cars. Not models. I bet she never had been a model. Nor his model. She even had a daughter from her first marriage, about 18 years old. The most well kept Virgin of Schoten.
Every time our conversation on the island of customer care was sexualliy related (pretty often , I must say so) , she started to cough and began shaking and twisting her shoulder. She could not stand any word related to the word “sex”. I think she was the first real replica of the holy mother Mary and had gotten pregnant too through virtual insemination by some holy spirit. She was absolutely untouchable, frigid like a five star A-rated freezer of Media Mart, not that I ever had any intention about touching her anywhere. No one at the office had ever this urge. She had hair snow. Head snow. Skull particles hanging loose. She lost her head skin intensely. In tiny white pieces. It fell on her shoulders, on her desk. On her cigarettes. She even had it behind her ears. On her arms and on places I did not even want to hear about. “Psoriasis”, they call it. The nervous disease of these times. Caused by stress. Negative stress… She had I already before she started to work for us. That was promising! Probably in a few months, she would be starting to fall apart. Mornings, when she had arrived and before taking her seat, she shook her hair like a wet poodle does and all of the white skull snow fell down all over the place. I sat at the desk right next to her. Nice.
Now Karine was stupid and Anissa was stupid. The real difference between them is to be found in the fact that thanks to Karine and her intense foolhardiness, we had our daily portion of incredible laughs. I know this was not nice of us. But it was unavoidable. She became the motor of all humour in our office. Thank you Karine, for making my office life a bit more cheerful.
We needed this.
Now I can hear you all wondering why I spend so many words to someone of such little overall importance in the total picture. Now, her individual strength and positive addition to the benefit of our group was nihil. However, her being as such was of crucial importance in the further development of this story. She had been added to customer care as an extra aid. Because we could no longer cope with the workload which was still growing each and every day. So we exploied her any way we possibly could. She had not many ways to be used in our advantage. Because she lacked almost any possible quality. So we, Veronique and I, carefully, searched for any possible way to make her profitable for the customer care department. As said, the easiest jobs she took out of our hands. Which forced us to control on her. She could not possibly work without failure, without mistakes. But she was in now and this way, unchanged, she stayed with for us several years to come. In addition to all those things she had not, she was also incredibly slow. But, since this was one of the major qualities of mr Dujournot, she blended in one way or another. We had to do with her. Don’t you think now that she might have improved with those years of training and practicing, no sir! That would be to much of positivism we ever could handle. Of course we both hoped that she would learn by doing the things she did. But her empty chambers hidden underneath her poodle stayed emty. As a drained and complete unfilled Olympic swimming pool. Minutes before she had dived in, no water. Damn. The scars and damages she encountered were hers for the rest of her life.
How much more misery can a human being cope with? I do not know. At Matrix, at least it was not finished yet. It all had to start. Still. I do think it all is a bad dream I am about to wake up from.
It cannot possibly be true to be surrounded by such a bunch of unbalanced people as at that time at Matrix Systems Belgium. If, out there, is to be found any other such person in a similar position as I was back then, please, contact me immediately because I think I need to start with a talking group where we can share each others experiences to keep us upright in this environs of total lunacy and big boobies. Karine was the “cherry on the pie”, as it is said in Belgium, meaning : she was the ultimate lunatic of all. She became our mascotte. She already had the right equipment on her head. She looked like the chain smoking twin sisters Patty and Selma (hair included) of “the simpsons”. My God, I had been projected in one of the “Simpsons” episodes and I was not aware of it. I had already found mr Burns (mr Dujounrot), mr Smithers (mr Moipatron) and now Karine was a duplicate of those twin sisters. Karine was alone, she had no sister. (>Thank God for that! Alhamdoulilah!!! Msef – or msev) See, I had to be dreaming all along. Wake me up please! Hit me on my head, pinch me in my arm, but wake me up. When I first started at matrix Systems, I could never ever have guessed to enter such a community of total weirdness and insanity. Maybe I am becoming insane. Help meeee!!!!
Take it easy now. Relax. Breathe, slowly, in and out…that is better… But would you ever believe this? Not one single saine sole on this planet would ever believe this story...it is too incredible to be acceptable. Still it is true. How can I ever prove this to you? May be by just adding the elements that came, one after the other, towards me (in my dream or in reality???), so you can all be witnesses of a heap of pitiless circumstances you would not ever consider to be valid, in the first place. The sheer existence of someone like Karine is nothing more or less than a living cruelty.
Where did all normal people go to? They surely never did apply for a job at Matrix Belgium. I may possibly belonged to the insane class too! May be this was hell an I am already in it. Mr Dujounrot must have been in the hooters heaven , then.
Who would I be, which character would I represent in “the simpsons”? I would not know; REALLY….
Karine was in and that was that! We had to cope with her for the next three years. Dreams or reality, who the fuck cares?
chapter thirty six : customer payment control
“No one cares for losers”. That is a fact. That is the truth.
Therefore, I Have no intention whatsoever to end this story as a loser. No sir.
I will be victorious.
Creative people are no good bosses. See for yourself.
Check upon your company you are working for. All people in charge, on the ultimate top, are all close by dictators, with huge, tremendous egos. On their way up, they have eliminated all competition and are mostly surrounded by bunches of ass licking wannabe’s.
Those egos in charge only allow approach if you are any use to them. If they feel, get or expect immediate advantage for their personal well being. They are all only trying to establish their own royalty world of private luxury and human individual supremacy.
Artists are not involved in that kind of trivial earthly stuff of gaining power and wealth and more command and more capital. They are looking for answers they will never find. They know that. Still they go on looking. They are mostly stubborn. They are creating objects, paintings, beauty, and immortality without a price but also without an answer. They work in poverty since at the time of creation no one believes in those silly poor bastards. Only later on, after centuries, their work gets value and meaning. But then they are all dead. They die poor. This has to be this way.
Because they know, power is something totally unsubstantial and empty. It is temporary. Artists seek eternity. Bosses too, but they are soo overwhelmingly occupied with their status of accumulative worldly assets and power that they forget about eternity and the fact that it surely is not something human. They die too. Without any shred of power and possessions. They have to leave it all behind. Hidden away in fortresses or well guarded bank safes. How sad. How bad. What a waste of time and energy. Artists have made pieces to overcome eternity. They should be sponsored by the state.
Mr Dujounrot had been away for a while.
Sales had been growing like hell. We were all finghting time and accuracy. The well oiled machinery was on its way up.
Until all of a sudden, mr Dujounrot called the office, as he usually did around four fifty pm. each night. To flirt with Anissa, or to shit upon mr Moipatron. Now he had asked an important question. A question that involved work. Work for Anissa. Which she rejected immediately. Since , by accepting it, she would have admitted that it was her fault that she - all the time - had forgotten to do what had to be done. To check upon the incoming money.
Ah,well, Tanja had mentioned something about this, but since she herself had too much work (talking, gossiping and complaining to Trend Straw f.I.), which she clearly had mentioned towards mr Dujounrot at the time, she had dropped this part of her work as “less important” and put it aside. Anissa never had picked it up again, which meant that the day since Tanya left, and even before, no one actually had checked upon the incoming money from our customers. The incomings were booked, that is all. No one checked if it was ok, if the payments were sufficient, if they were correct and surely, no one checked the payments that were not made on time. What was unpaid, stayed unpaid, for a long time. Too long actually.
The gap between what had been sold lately and the money coming in, was growing soo intensely and became soo spacious that it even came to the attention of mr Dujournot. He woke up Anissa. For months she had not been sending any payment reminders. (huh???what's that?) To no one. Tanja never did, why should she have done so? In fact, Anissa never ever had sent any reminder at all.
In those days Anissa was pissed as hell.
She did about everything to get out of this extra workload. She must have gone pretty deep with mr Dujounrot since she tried to convice him that this would be a job for “customer service”, and the silly part of it all is that he followed her in that idea. Do not ask me why. Do not present me with ideas what those two lovebirds must have done to come to this unisono conclusion.
Now, I have had my share of experience in customer service and customer care. I had been working in several companies, always in relation to customer attendance and guidance in one way or another, on different levels, even managerial ones.
It has always been the task of any customer care department, to make sure the relationship with the customer was optimized in any aspect of the relationship. Customer care had to make deals, had to make special arrangements, to keep the customer happy. Customer care had to look for solutions on delivery problems, on deficiencies, on broken elements to be replaced without any cost. This was and is the task of any customer care department. To help the customer on all possible issues.
In this game of seeking mutual respect and internal agreements to work upon and with each other, there is the account department as third party, who issues the invoices and credit notes and check upon incoming payments of the goods. The account department as a kind of watchdog over all correct proceedings. That is how it all should have been.
If the payments would fail, they needed to issue reminders. With possible payment problems, again, the customer care department, together with the sales department, would intervene to make a payment deal or commercial agreement. To ensure payment after all. Since customer care, together with the oudoor sales, had the better contact with the customer, would you not agree? In the game of “making the customer pay”, the account department would be the bad guy, who inforces payment, and “customer care/sales”, would be the good guy, seeking a solution to get the payment anyway, using his excellent relationship with his client to get the most out of it. Logical? That is the normal game in any respectable company. Normally, it is as simple as that. This formula offers the best way towards success. Not with Matrix it was not. No sir!
Anissa, together now with mr Dujounrot, concluded that is would be the task of customer care as well. Being the good and bad guy at the same time. For her, It was just a matter of getting rid of this workload. Nothing else. I refused to play this game. It had been one game too many Anissa played this time.
Moreover, we, at the customer care, could not possibly take on this extra work, even if we were forced to. First, it would have been a very bad idea to make us do everything, and secondly, how on earth could we possibly build up our relationship with our clients, if this would be constantly jeopardized by unpaid bills?
Anissa did not understand. How convenient. How easy that was.
Did I tell you that we, at customer care, made all invoices and credit notes too? Not the account department, uhuh! They did not do so. What did they do, you might ask yourself. Exactly : nothing. Malvine booked the numbers under some other numbers and that’s it. Anissa fucked mr Dujounrot and some others to keep her job and that’s it.
Because of my refutation to take on the reminder issue, you can imagine that the relationship between the account department and customer care developed in a quite negative way, so to speak. This was the least you could say. I had awoken the beast. Evil itself had stood up.
God and Allah were already hiding somewhere.
Now, I never had an excellent understanding with Anissa. She was too damn dumb to talk to anyway. But what resented me the most was her way of demonstrating her superior slothfulness.
“Look at me y’all , I am not doing anything, but chatting on the internet, and no one can do anything about it, can you now????”
That sort of stuff. Whilst we all had our hands full of increasing orders, adjusting mistakes, making corrections, making credit notes, making invoices, ordering containers, unloading containers, controlling warehouse people, answering persistent phone calls, dealing with all kinds of human exertion, since, at least we were human after all. Anissa only seemed to be a gathering of poisoned lethargy.
“ Gerard, can you come to my desk for a second, please??? She called mr Moipatron, once again : “ What does the word “lethargy” mean????”, she whispered, hoping the others would not notice her total stupidity.
Anissa’s view on how “heaven on earth” would look like, resembled a days shopping at the Wijnegem shopping centre. I had to cope with her, as good and as bad as it was. In addition, it became worse. I told you so.
The intensity of the discrepancy between work avoiding Anissa and the rest of the crew became frightening huge. To Anissa it seemed like coming to the office resembled some chatting session, both on line as off line with the rest of the female species. Especially Malvine had to endure the blabbering of Anissa and occasionally Veronique too, was thrown in the bath trivial chitchat. For both of them, they combined hard labour with their talks to Anissa, since workload would not diminish from its own. At the contrary.
These talks were innoncent and part of every day life at Matrix.
To Anissa it was a confirmation she was still part of the play, although she had not a role in it. Because of the swelling pressure on all our jobs, the accompanied extending stress and the incredible stable lightness of being Anissa, at certain times it came to enormous outbursts of emotion. Mostly the inflicting reason was as trivial as a dirty cup of tea.
The moods of Anissa had not ameliorated a bit. They had gotten even worse. Must have been that she had noticed something about the Italian connection of Mr Dujournot. If Malvine, or Veronique talked to her about the possible relationship she might have had with mr Dujounrot, she did not answer neither. She had taken over the efficient way of keeping things secret by mr Dujounrot. “Act as if you did not hear the question.” However, she could not suppress a smile anyway. A smile of recognition. It served us as plain prove. She was even proud to have a fucking relationship with the big boss. May be that had been her goal anyway. But then this Italian connection was something she had not taken into account. It crossed her path and she did not like it. Damn.
Chapter thirty seven: 9/11 serious warning
Chapter thirty seven : 9/11 serious warning
Neither Matrix Systems Belgium, nor matrix Systems USA, nor Stardor had any idea what kind of low life crap Anissa really was. They had no idea whatsoever what kind of filth she represented.
Now I am to tell you no gossip, I am going to tell you no hear say, nor chitchat but something I learned directly out of the mouth of Anissa. I bet that she is now about to curse herself to hell because she had said this.
You all know by now that she descends from a Muslim family. Nothing wrong with that. She lives in Belgium. Nothing wrong with that. But, at the moment the plains were seeking their way into the twin towers, she said in the Matrix office :
“The third world war has started, against America.”
“My brother cannot wait to enlist to fight the Americans.”
She added with a mysterious smile. THIS SMILE FRIGHTENED ME; it seemed as if she was proud of her brother that he was willing to do so.”
Now you all know that Anissa takes care of the account department of Matrix Systems Belgium, part of Matrix Systems USA. How stupid can you be to let someone like her control (if she understands that word) your overseas finances?
“My brother wants to enlist too”.
Malvine added.
I said nothing at that time because I was far too shocked about what just had happened.
Even now, I am not going to add any comment to these incredible words, spoken by someone who is still in full control of Matrix financial overseas movements. Even right now, as we speak...
I would check it up, if I were Stardor….
I did not bring “Al Qaida” into this story. Anissa did. How absurd and unbelievable it seemed. But she did. She thought to be someone special by saying these things. May be she is some one specia. To mr Dujounrot she sure was. To some extend. Otherwise he would not have betrayed her with his italian connection.
Chapter thirty eight : customer payment control / 2
Chapter thirty eight : customer payment control
Recapitulate for those who are in need of factual refreshment.
Facts: Tanja, who had left Matrix, had a programme to follow up the payments of the clients. Only, she lacked time and had not been doing so for some months now. Anissa took over and left this important cash-generating tool unused, as Tanja had not used it either. Therefore, it would not be that important, probably. That is what Anissa had thought. For some conspicuous reason, mr Dujournot had found out about this. Now, all of a sudden he came up with the idea to let customer care take care of this unpleasant extra workload Anisa tried to avoid with al her means possible. I refused.
Since generating cash from slow paying customer’s demands, an other attitude towards them then “customer care” delivers. We create “trust” and “respect” and “mutual understanding”. We, at customer care, arrange the optimal surroundings to do real business in an atmosphere of companionship and confidence.
The better “customer care” works, the lesser work the money-retrieving department has. Because good and satisfied customers pay on time. No need to go and search for neither cash nor stalled payments. The worst thing you could do is bringing those two elements together; You cannot be the good and bad guy at the same time. It is like a game. We all have our roles to play.
Anissa did not understand. When it concerned workload, Anissa refused to understand it all.
So I clearly refused to go along in this one. Anissa was pissed of. Mr Dujournot too, since he could not get things done the way he wanted it.
Do you really want to know how Anissa finally checked upon the unpaid bills? You do not want to know. You can guess from hundred mils from here how she did this.
It all is sooo mind-boggling but it did happen, really, one thing after the other. It did not stop. For six years it continued. One thing grosser than the other. One thing more disgusting than the other. In addition, it even goes on until now. Until today.
The new programm we had installed by our IT specialist, but fired mr Van Deuren, had a location where you could enter the amount a customer was allowed to go below zero. His “credit limit” so to speak. Because neither Tanya, nor Anissa had ever used this programme to its full extend, not one single customer had an appropriate number filled into this space. So, with every order, they were immediately considered as ‘ extremely dangerous clients’ who had passed their credit limit and therefore were to be considered as “the ultimate enemy”. That is how Anissa interpreted this procedure. Without any adjustment, nor any check up on any customer, she just printed out the lists of all the “overdue” customers (about all) and sent those reminders by fax directly to them. She had not even glanced at them. She had not even considered that something could have been wrong. You can, of course imagine the number of phone calls we, at customer care received and what they all were about….
After the move, we had to start again from scratch…all build up goodwill had been vanished again by one fax. Sure, we soon found out what the real problem was, and adjustments were made. The “credit limits” were filled in. Mostly they were wrong, too low, not adapted to the importance of the concerned customer, but they were filled in. At last. It had been one step in the right direction. But Anissa refused to look at her reminders, she persistently ignored them.
Because she was that pissed about this extra workload, she found it appropriate to start to harass me. Personally. She started to “block” the clients that she assumed to be “overdue”. Therefore, I could not ship any longer.
She had not talked to me, she had not checked upon the validation of her wrongful actions, she just blocked a customer just to personally upset me and I bet she even thought it to be a nice thing to do as in her eyes it still was the enemy she was fighting against..
Mostly our customers had already paid and those payments were not yet booked by her or Malvine.
Underneath I ll show you an e-mail I had sent to mr Dujounrot concerning this point since her professional attitude truly worsened by the day.
-----original message----
From : patrick gysemberg
Sent : Thursday june 12 2001
To : poulain dujournot
Cc: gerard maipatron (E-mail); Tessy Jolé (E-mail);Wolfgang Hanssen (E-mail);Veronique Claessens (E-mail)
Mr Dujounrot,
Anissa has blocked meanwhile several clients without even telling me, without any information, without any notice.
This is what I am always talking about, this is TERROR
I am in the middle of invoicing our customers and now I cannot work any further – I cannot even invoice.
So I see that even our ustomer Tramaco is blocked and I had the explicite agreement of Wolfgang to provide this customer wirth his shipment, a nice order over 5000 euros which I cannot invoice because of the action of Anissa, of which I do not even know the intend and I have no intention of asking her again. So can you please ask Anissa :
1 to stop this childish disgusting TERROR behaviour right away
2 to unblock the clients she blocked
Yesterday I checked upon the clients where the so called “credit limit" was passed and I have found over 70 clients (including major clients of all reps) at first sight. This is just to prove that this “credit limit” has no value whatsoever as long there is no proper working system and clear agreements and cooperation. As soon as Anissa got to know this (because I believe Gerard told her), she undertook some action, of course I do not know what she did, I only can see that she all of a sudden blocked many clients I cannot deblock myself.
THIS IS NO LONGER A WAY TO WORK
I am not sending any mails to her again to avoid further terror attacks from her and this is NO JOKE!!!!
THIS UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOUR MUST BE STOPPED:
Anissa clearly made two obvious mistakes here that gave her malicious intentions away.
First of all, many clients were not even adjusted to the system and a real “credit limit” failed in the customer card of at least 70 clients. Never there had been previous talks, nor meetings, nor discussions about the height of those numbers to secure the proper working of this new system; she had only discovered her power to block the customer and she used it at her own free personal belief to obstruct my service. Her intention thus was only to harass me instead of executing a professional action to secure payments. Because she knew I had a tremendous customer care responsibility and equal sensitive executive power, she loved to interrupt everything that would ensure a perfect customer care performance. Blocking customers and letting ordered goods miss the deadline of delivery, would fit perfectly in her devious scheme of setting me up and letting my intentions fail. That she would harm the company as such and Matrix Systems as a whole , she could not care less…
Of course, this system requires also mutual understanding and for all negotiation, consent, and agreements of all involved to let it work properly as it was or had been intended when the IT constructors designed it. Anissa never talked to me about any of those actions, nor her intentions, nor her reasons why she blocked all those clients. She just blocked them because the system said or indicated that they had to be blocked. She was too stupid to realize that the “credit limit” failed in most cases and thus all requested blockages by the new system were illegal, or at least inappropriate, since they were based upon wrong (read : lacking) basic system information. Only when I made the necessary remarks about this, she started to fill in the missing data, but again, even without any discussion, nor shared consideration of all parties involved, clearly to secure her deceitful manipulative actions. Why would she act the way she did? Because she was so pissed off about the fact that she herself had to follow up on the payments of the clients and not the customer care department, since I had refused to do so. That is why. Because she had to actually “do” something on the office. Even mr Dujounrot could not estimate that her related actions would be restricted to the mere printing of the computer generated lists of overdue invoices.
Secondly, she changed the system in such way that I could not unblock my clients if I they were blocked for the wrong reason or on wrong presumptions, which they mostly were, since Anissa did not care less about the essentials of this system. To her it was not a “money retrieving” aid, it was a clear item to go to war with. A tool, a war untensil. She used it to make war, not peace. By doing so she did not care less that she caused even more harm than she could ever have imagined, because she had not for once understood the real meaning of it all. I bet she was even delighted to have found an apparatus to be used to hurt me personally.
Which she actually did, because all the work I invested in my intensive customer care was being severely damaged again by some embryonic nitwit, driven by pure and frightening personal hatred.
chapter thirty nine : a cry in the dark
Chapter thirty nine : a cry in the dark<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
--------------original message-----------------
From : patrick (pgysemberg@matrixsystems.be)
Sent : <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Thursday 18 october 2001
To ; whanssen@matrixsystems.be;pdujounrot@matrixsystems.be
Subject : personal mail - confidential
Mr Dujournot, mr Hanssen,
As I have already more than 20 years of experience with customer care in different international companies, I know what I am talking about. The real problem about Anissa is that she is not willing to accept any advice from you, Wolfgang, nor me, and I do not know why
she really does not understand that she is harming the customers with the way she acts. (it is not what she does, but how she handles things) She really thinks the customer is the enemy who is deliberately not willing to pay. I cannot communicate with Anissa, as she neither does accept nor understands what I am trying to tell her; I have done so gain, this morning, but I see it has no use since she even does not listen to what I am saying in the first place. I do not any longer have to take this kind of attitude. (Do I really have to grow old and grey before someone will listen to me?) The major problem with Anissa is that she shows a total lack of respect towards every body (customers, colleagues, she fights with everyone and everyone ha to accept this, now for more than two years already
the only person she is not rude to is her boss Poulian Dujounrot and Mayne
(She does not care if my experience tells me that she handles the customers the wrong way
as the same experience is telling me that Wolfgang has the absolute right attitude towards a customer, which is the reason for our good results and the reason why our team works as it does
)
As I am working on customer service, I will try to do my job as good as this is possible in these conditions. I really hope that one of you is able to talk to Anissa in a decent manor to settle things in a civilized way.
I hope the near future will be a better one
Greetings in paris
No answer, nor any reaction came from mr Dujounrot.
As if I had never written this mail of despair.
As if I never had existed.
chapter fourty : about mohammed, jesus and siddharta buddha
Chapter fourty : Mohammed, Jezus and Siddharta Buddha
I am feeling tired lately. Extremely tired. My heart is aching. It really hurts. I think it has become dysfunctional. Could it be that my heart is really suffering from this daily confrontation with pure hatred and human demolition? I surely am not used to it.
It is eating my system. It is eating my brains out. It is destructing me. However, I try to hang on. To hang in there. I try to finish this road to purification of my soul. By destroying the devil himself. By conquering evil in the flesh. On this planet formed together as hairy Anissa. I bet she has a long furry tail to hide. I hope I make it. Because I feel life floating away out of my system. I hope the doctor finds a cure. I have to regain my strength to pull myself through this horrible story. I have to make it until the end. To reach purification. To end it in style and full of grace.
I really hope no one on earth would live to encounter a character such as Anissa. Nor as mr Dujounrot, for that matter. Destructive Selfishness, driven by hatred and destruction. Focussed on harm and evil in its most tainted form. No one deserves this kind of personal annihilation.
Wolfgang says these words of mine are hard. He does not have a clue how hard the words of Anissa and the consecutive silence of mr Dujournot were, the moment she attacked me. He does not understand how hard it was to receive no aid whatsoever from those I had expected it. The silence at the time was deafening.
And confronting. And frightening. I am blaming no one. I perfectly understand the self-protective human impulses one subconsiencly puts into action in times of peril and insecurity. The way I responded to the unfairness of Anissa’s obscure and murky handling, was my way, my choice. I could not stand by and be silent. I had to react. I had to respond. Because I felt personally involved in those matters. Because Anissa attacked me personally. She harassed me personally. She challenged me, she dared me and I fell for it. There were too many things she did, which were in direct conflict with everything I ever believed in. Moreover, I could have been her father. Not physically, but age wise, it belonged to the possibilities and were another strong indication of total lack of respect from her side for one of the traditional worldwide human values. The way she acted towards me, was not done.
As this heap of evil and peril, called Anissa, is still alive and kicking some ones ass, I can imagine that, by reading these words, she now has changed her overall attitude, sole to protect herself. So she can demonstrate that all I am saying are lies. Nothing but lies. To underline her soft and sweet character she was born with.
Don’t you let yourselves being fooled, you hear!
I bet, at times, she cannot suppress her evilly performance and low life pathetic animal like manners and outbursts of evil towards those who are the closest to her. I bet she has been divorced already. Yes, she was married. After she had found out that mr Dujounrot was playing around Europe with bigger boobies than she ever could have, the next thing we knew that she was engaged. To a man with a wandering eye. His left eye was truly on the road. It went to see all directions. Was she blind? I bet it was a pure deed of counterattack on the amorous actions her lover general manager.
Within weeks she had been married. I was not invited to the wedding.
He was Morrocan. He did “something with cars”. Anissa told us. Selling them perhaps? Or preparing them to look as good as new, fixing the miles meter in order to betray the possible buyer? In any case, every week, he had another car….or at least ; he drove another car, in which he dropped Anissa at the office. Those days Anissa had just ordered her brandnew Volkswagen with shiny leather interior and full option. She had to wait some months for the car to be delivered.
She married as Moroccan tradition prescribed it. She followed the Moroccan rules and traditions. The day after the wedding night, she showed her blooded sheets to the newly related family-in-law. To prove her virginity. To gain her wedding gift. For years now, this tradition is kept alive and lays a burden upon the westerly focussed Muslim women, as Anissa was one of those.
Anissa had lost her virginity long ago. The blood she used was the blood of a chicken. Freshly slaughtered the day after the wedding. In her bedroom.
So, already divorced, huh?
They had made a child though. Wandering eye, who always spoke French when he phoned to the office asking for Anissa, had found the hairy hole of pleasure of Anissa.
She hated making love to him. This had been one of the things she hated the most, amongst all those other things she hated in life. She always thought of mr Dujounrot when wandering eye was pumping his heart out on top of her. She always laid on her back. Never “doggy style” with Wandering eye! She turned her face away when he tried to kiss her after shooting his load into her throbbing, tight and dry cylinder. This was not love. No sir! Never has been. You could detect this, standing on the moon. This had been all arranged. A typical arranged Moroccan marriage.
Of course, they had been divorced by now. The times I saw them together, they were always fighting. Not arguing, no, no, fighting.
Often he left the office with weeping tires, leaving parts of smelly-burned rubber on the heated tarmac. Fuming about what she had said, being spiteful as usual, once again. Or he slammed the door, a utensil she also knew to abuse to the utmost to harass her companions. Or they were fighting over the phone, for hours, talking French, then Dutch, then Moroccan, a sort of Arabic, southern Atlas variety with Barbarian roots……where Anissa even forgot she had been in the office. She just did not care at all. But this we already knew. We were not surprised any more. We did not even notice her outbursts any longer as far as they were not directly related to work.
Tomorrow night at five pm, I will know the results of my blood analysis.
I hope the cause of my fatigue will not be too harsh or terminal. And for all: curable.
The marriage of Anissa described in two lines. It does not deserve more attention, since it had been a fake marriage, doomed to fail. It only proved once again, to me the wicked core of Anissa’s empty mind. It had been a very short marriage. I did not see the highlights. Only the fights, indicating a soon end. The western part of Anissa made her dress according to Western fashion; she partly even looked like a plain whore. She never ever thought of wearing a cap; do not even mention a burkha or a traditional Moroccan caftan. She was liberated, on all levels. She behaved unconventional. Only the forced internal Moroccan wedding she had not been able to avoid. To please her family. But her twisted western mind told her that this was not her world. Only when she could benefit from it; Then it became her world. Definitely. This marriage was nothing for her. It brought her a child. That is all. My God, Anissa as a mother. What a disaster for that child. I should notify childcare. To prevent Anissa from dumping the child with the garbage outside her apartment, during a freezing winter night.
Anissa used the Koran and her Muslim believes as it suited her intentions. Only in her benefit. During the Ramadan, for instance, she came in late, later even as usual, because she had to eat before sunrise and she left even more early around four, after sunset, to eat their evening meal. She did not pray five times a day, direction Mecca. No, she did not. She never prayed. It did not bring her anything. In addition, she was a western lady, -you hear! Anissa always changed reality towards her personal needs. She always had her fucking bloody periods for more than ten days, during the Ramadan, so she still could eat and drink during the sunny hours of the day. She still came in late and went home early. To join the family. Or she felt sick. Sooo sick. The sick and elderly may eat and drink also. So she could do this as well. She was a real master in creating backdoors, Trojan horses and other malicious solutions. For herself only. Such a fundamental dishonest person is still taking care of all the finances of Matrix Systems Inc. An American company controlled by a fake Muslim woman. Miracles do exist, even today. No wonder an investigation is secretly started up by Stardor. Have not heard of them quite some time now. I know they are too, reading along, and may be in a short period of time, I will be informed about their progresses in this internal fraud investigation. The basics of this fraud are to be found with mr Dujounrot, though. Anissa only had been the manipulative dumb tool he used. But this part of the story, I will tell you later on. To make it all complete. First of all, I need to finish up the description of Anissa’s character. I do not think I will be ever finding a way to finish this up. Her wickedness is infinite, as our universe is. She has no boundaries. May be there is a wall we ll all crash up against. May be Anissa has a build in wall as well. I doubt it.
Anissa had been a perfect tool in the hands of mr Dujounrot. She booked everything nicely as he told her to. His instructions were definite and non-discussable. She shifted sums and numbers as mr Dujounrot believed they would be on the best possible position to be. She did not ask questions. She did not even know what question there would be to ask about some by mr Dujounrot instructed shifting numbers transaction in her accounts. She had no idea what these numbers stood for. Mr Dujounrot knew it for the best. He, for all, was still the general manager. Of Europe! Matrix Systems Europe! He had the power to put all those numbers where he wanted them to be. It were all but a bunch of fucking numbers, that brought her nothing but anger and for all: work.
Sometimes “Schellekens” did not agree on the shifting. Then she had to contact mr Dujournot again. (since he was always abroad)
To seek a compromise. Or to cover up the obvious hoax.
She felt used. By mr Dujounrot. She knew, deep down, that he used her ignorance on the account matters to abuse the system. In his own favour. Against the Americans. They were the enemy. His enemy. That is what he was convinced about. When he lay on his back on some fancy Italian beach, sipping from his 12-year-old Scotch on the rocks, his aching back being squeezed by the sausage fingered hands of his slightly obese Italian female lover with appropriate big boobies.
Now, sit back and listen carefully : I will say this only once :
The tricky part of it all is not the lover-thing, going on between Anissa and mr Dujounrot and his Italian bobo. The tricky thing behind this all is the fact that this slightly inflated lady with the gigantic hooters, was the sole AND private owner of a similar European company as Matrix Systems Europe tried to be on ancient grounds. They made the same articles as Matrix Systems Europe was distributing all over the European continent. They produced their items for the Italian market and other markets, we were not quite aware of. The company’s name was: JayBaySay Italy... (speak : Jay Bay Say) Jesus, Maria, Joseph…I know, I know…
Somewhat tricky, huh? How did we get to know all this?
With tons of patience and with the help of all our outdoor sales friends. Especially the French division of our sales team had been quite intensely occupied analyzing the whereabouts of our little big chief, the last couple of months. Especially his conduct during the many international trade fairs, gave him away. Finally...Although he tried with a pitiable effort, he was not able to hide any longer his profound love for the Italian extravagant hooters with always taut nipples. He even limped less when she was in his neighbourhood, which was about all the time during such an international trade fair. Matrix Systems Europe participated in France, Paris, and in Munich, Germany. Even in Frankfort, Germany, we were present, as was JayBaySay Italy. They were present where we were present. As the trade fairs passed by, they even got nearer to our fair box location every time, until one trade fair we were finally and actually side by side. Matrix Systems Europe next to JayBaySay Italy. At that point, he could no longer hide anything any longer. However, he did. As if we were all blind and deaf. We were not supposed to see. Nor hear, nor understand what had been going on in recent times.
I do know Jesus has actually lived on this planet.
Some two thousand and six years ago.
So did Mohammed. I do not know when he lived.
Must have been about six hundred years ago. Or more. I do not know and I do not care. But he lived indeed and that is what mattered. As Buddha lived too! Some five thousand years ago. Siddhartha Buddha was a fine man. A prince, he was, married and had a son. He left his family to find the enlightening. He wondered what this life was all about. He had been kept free from all suffering, pain, and disaster by his protective royal family. Until one day, he discovered that life was not that kind to otherS. Therefore, he decided to leave all of his royal wealth and protection in order to seek the truth about life. He sat under a “bodi tree” for years, contemplating about life, until, one day, at the age of eighty something he got enlightened. He had found the answers…
I am searching as well. I have not found any answers. I wish I had.
Those tree characters, Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha, were special. Very special. They had something to tell to humanity. About their lives. But no one would listen. At that time. Now they are being worshipped as if they were some sort of God. They were not. They were humans. Humans with a message. We only listen to others when it is too late. History repeats itself. Over and over again.
Mr Dujounrot does not give a shit about them. Or what they were.
CHAPTER FOURTY ONE / HOSPITAL JAYBAYSAY AND OTHER STUFF
Chapter fourty one : hospital, JaBaySay and other stuff
The doctor called.
Earlier than expected. That is not good. No sir. He asked me to come over to his doctor’s office, ASAP.
He had received the blood results by fax and they were no good. In fact, they even were alarming. I had lost half of my total blood amount. What do you mean: lost???? I had neither had any accident, nor a broken bloodvessel, nor a bleeding artery.
How could I ever loose two litres of my blood without even knowing it? That is what they are going to find out in the hospital. I need to check in first thing tomorrow.
I need to stay there. My first time ever. In a hospital. Gosh, I hope it will be my poor stomach. I ll keep you posted. If I do not loose the other half of my blood, left in my body. Then I probably will be dead. Then you have to look at my will, the first page of my website.
Nevertheless, at first sight, there was nothing wrong with a firm like JayBaySay.
They even were our clients. All very officially. They ordered at Matrix Systems, those systems they did not produce by their own. Nothing wrong with that. They had been customers of Matrix for years now.
When the time came for the old man, father of the owner of the tempting Italian hooters, to pass on the leading role in the company JayBaySay together with his package of company chares to his one and only daughter, she came prominent in the picture and had gotten the attention of mr Dujournot. Probably because of her standing titties with the determined upright nipples.
As time went by, we all realized that his initial restricted attention for this breastly part of her body changed in overall love. For her, for Carola and for her company JayBaySay. Her name was Carola. Carola Spinazzola. She was short. She was small. And she had it all. This being small was not a disadvantage for mr Dujounrot as he belonged to the dwarf community on this planet as well. As you already know, she was a little inflated, because of her newly acquainted position as top manager and sole owner of JayBaySay Italy, and thus formed a perfect match to the megalomaniacal drive of mr Dujournot. They both were on the verge of conquering the world. First, they had to beat those silly and stupid Americans. Mr Dujournat already had a plan. His plan. The plan of a genius. Carola agreed on that one. She already knew the plan. You will too. Later. PROMISE…
Carola Spinazolla was much younger than mr Dujounrot. She must have been in her early thirties. She used a lot of make up. Like a real whore does. One more.
Veronique did not use much make up on her pretty face. She did not do this as to make a statement, but to preserve her face for damaging. It made her shine above all those painted clowns. Carola, at the contrary, was fully painted indeed, finger and toenail included. She looked like a Christmas tree, at times. Only the flickering flashlights failed. Fully equipped with no doubt exclusive and very expensive jewellery of the finest sort. She was a lady of this world. She had money and she liked to show it to the same stupid and poor world. Thank God for her, she had found a gentleman with money and brains as mr Dujounrot liked to present himself. His limping leg he tried to hide. In vain of course, since he poured Scotch into his body if he were a bottomless barrel.
Now I am off, to the hospital. Wish me luck. I will need it.
chapter forty two : the return
Chapter fourty two : the return and frotal attack
I am back. Bad luck for you, dear! Moreover, I will continue my unbelievable story. I will continue to use every single detail I need to prove my point. To fight injustice and unfairness...To heal my grievance. Because what I lived through at Matrix Systems is beyond believe. That is why I prefer to call it fiction. Since no living soul would ever deem this. The general manager ripping of his own company. He thought it was his own company. He never cared for those ignorant Americans across the ocean, who were actually the real owners of Matrix. Nor for the people working at Matrix Europe. Except for Anissa Hamsa. And mr Moipatron; Since he needed them both to execute his Italian swindle operations. He acted as if Matrix Europe was his private playground, his own personal company. To be used for his own enrichment. Together with his Italian Carola. Do not forget that ltalians had been worldwide known for their scam abilities. They have an international strong reputation to defend. For centuries now. They did not invent nor created the Mafia for no reason.
At the hospital, I got a total check up. A full interior control. In addition, they filled me up with the absent blood again. As like a petrol station where you fill up your car with the necessary fuel. Four barrels of blood, type B +, they poured in me. That is what they did to me. I just had a refill. Investigations on the leakage are still in progress. The results are considered pretty private. Still, if you are nice to me, I will tell you all about it when they tell me the outcome. I stayed in the hospital for three days.
So JayBaySay Italy had been a competitor and a client at the same time. Pretty awkward but not quite unusual in the sector of the products of Matrix Systems. Missing items were often ordered at the competition. To enhance one’s own range of products. Nothing wrong with that. But somewhat strange in certain rivalry environments anyway. Often competition is like the enemy. It always has been this way. You do not sleep with the enemy. Only mr Dujounrot did. He fucked her brains out, since his willy was the only perfect working tool left of his deteriorating body. When he was not too drunk, anyway. Whiskey spoiled often his intentions. His wealth compensated his actions. Or intent.
What was really erroneous, was the way mr Dujounrot and Carola Spinazzola were handling their inter-company relationship. I need more than one chapter to explain to you how he or they both did this. But I will tell you. He, of course, had no idea (if only he knew....) that every one in the Belgian office had been aware of this relationship and of how obscure their way of doing business with JayBaySay had been evolving since he fucked this Italian lady. His greed would bring him down. Eventually.
chapter forty three : france deceiving the usa with moroccan aid
Initially our technical support manager, mr Moipatron, had been responsible for all technical customer support. He had the USA team to back him up. But he had been much more than that.
Mr Dujounrot had made him “product manager” too. Mr Moipatron had received from mr Dujournot the direct order to investigate the European market on missing of failing European products, Matrix USA was not producing. Of course, this was a fine and delicate task, connected to a huge amount of consideration and professionalism and for all, collaboration with the USA production department. The “fake” items, bought in Europe, where to be sold under Matrix label and were placed in Matrix boxes.
In fact, Matrix USA did not like very much the idea that in Europe there was a bobo playing solitary, called mr Moipatron, who, completely on his own, could buy elsewhere some products that they would sell later on as authentically Matrix items. But as mr Dujounrot did not care at all what the USA thought about the matter, he persistently urged mr Moipatron to go on seeking items at the competition to make them our own. All products to be named “Matrix” had to be send to the USA first, to be tested and controlled by the proper authorities before they took it into consideration to sell them as originated Matrix items. Quite normal, I would say so. Quite acceptable too. Not for mr Dujounrot. He hardly ever let mr Moipatron send particles or samples to the USA to be tested, he just agreed himself upon the quality by sight or by his own professional feeling on the matter, since he had been an engineer all the time as well. Mr Dujounrot had no intentions to loose time and money by those silly procedures, set up by some burocratical American controllers to interfere in his decisive powers.
So, for years mr Moipatrion had selected some produces of Matrix alike particles to buy those products for European use only. To enhance the power of Matrix Europe on the market, to strengthen the power of a elaborated range of products. Nothing wrong with that. Only, the game was not played by the book. And certainly not by the American book of proper company behaviour.
Most of the time, and here I even am very flexible and tolerant, the quality of the non Matrix items were of far worse quality than the original products of our American mother company. The USA delivered first class quality products as the European competition mostly produced second hand, and much cheaper copies. Mr Moipatron knew this and tried to be as cautious as he ever could be whith what he really bought directly in Europe. He knew the Americans would fire him when he would produce crap. Or buy the worst possible remakes. But mr Dujounrot was not really influenced by these professional thoughts that you could expect from someone in his position.
Matrix stood for quality. First class material. Certified and approved by all major using companies.
Knowing that the Italians were master in crime and deceit, you could expect that the quality of their products was not by far to match up with those of the Americans. If any of the samples had sent to the States, as internal regulations required, not one single one of them would ever have passed the eminence test of individual first class performances and endurance. They would have flunked hilariously. So no samples were ever sent. Or very rarely one, to fool the Americans. That he was playing the game by the rules. However all Italian products were definite inferior to the USA particles, and thus unacceptable as Matrix items, they were bought.
Since mr Dujournot penetrated miss Carola on a regular basis in her lower hairy and dark reddish roast beef alike fissure of delight, his orders of products, placed at JayBaySay, grew exponentially. Mr Moipatron knew he was being used and abused by mr Dujounrot, the same way Anissa felt this abusive power of our beloved general manager. Mr Moipatron had his reasons to do exactly as he was told by mr Dujounrot. Anissa had her reasons too.
Mr Moipatron did exactly as mr Dujounrot ordered him to do. In case of JayBaySay, he accurately followed all instructions given by mr Dujounrot on the buying subject matter. Therefore, as a kind of compensation, mr Dujounrot left all other wholesale decisions to the account of mr Moipatron, so he could build up some kind of professional self-esteem.
Chapter forty four : voracity, personal enrichment and conflict of interest
“Gerard, can you come to my place, for a second, pleaaaaaaassssse….” Anissa howled once more, as she read the title of this chapter. She did not understand. And her “free translation” website she used most of the time, since her English vocabulary was incredibly limited to the level of an English fly, did not translate this word either.
So, “allrighty, then….” the first scam mr Dujounrot pulled through, since he had sexual penetration on Italian grounds and insertion in moist southern roast beef caves of pleasure, was the most obvious one : forcing mr Moipatron to buy enhanced lacking Matrix models at JayBaySay’s, without informing the USA. Furthermore, mr Dujounrot secretly replaced original Matrix products by products, bought at JayBaySay’s, initially to be able to lower the buying price, (because JabyBaySay produced them on a cheaper rate as they were obviously of an inferior quality), so he would gain more profit on selling those articles on the European market. No one knew where the extra money, raised by these transactions, went. May be some one (Stardors investigation team perhaps????) should ask Anissa...
Or mysterious Isabel, for that matter, since she seemed to be ivolved as well.
Although mr Dujounrot was clearly conscious about the overall poor quality of the products of JayBaySay in comparison against Matrix Systems (as if you would compare the car brand “Skoda” with “BMW”), her persistently forced mr Moipatron to strengthen the intercompany relationship with JayBaySay, for obvious reasons we all were aware of.
In fact, mr Dujounrot did nothing more or less than creating a parallel circuit of goods, next to the existing original, but more expensive Matrix systems items. Next step he took, since his greed only just had started to swell, was putting further pressure on mr Moipatron to seek other appropriate items of Matrix Systems to replace by fake ones, copied and reproduced by JayBaySay Italia, even if on certain items their existed a copy protection agreement. Which mr Dujounrot neglected as he had been neglecting all of my cries for help over the years. I am slowly beginning to grasp why he needed Anissa that much. Why he protected her that much and that intense. He needed her to book his scam the way he wanted it, with numbers written under some other numbers as he chose them to be, without any questions being asked. She would not know what to ask, anyhow, as I told you before. (Alzheimer????) And mr Moipatron.
“You too, Brutus? You too?” “ Did you betray me too?””aaah, so you stabbed me with the knife….”
History repeating itself.
As “assitent to the general manager”, mr Moipatron acted as was expected from him. He did as he was told to do. He had gotten his raise in pay and elaborate new managerial title not for his blue eyes. Absolute loyalty was expected. But he could not be silent. Mr Moipatron was worse than any woman on the market selling fish. Although mr Moipatron had been fysically and mentally disgusted by the fraud mr Dujounrot pulled through thanks to his aid and that of Anissa, he carried out as ordered by the big chief. But he had to ventilate his disgust with his fellow countryman. For hours he had been on the phone with the French representatives. Two of them getting fired lateron because of lacking sales. So they all knew as well.
Mr Dujounrot then, as a next step in his everlasting greed and hunger for worldly powers, he forced mr Moipatron to deliver the fake items to most of the other Matrix Systems customers. So, what he was doing was very easy but still ingenious in its simplicity: he sold JayBaySay Italia items through the dealer net of Matrix Systems, without anyone knowing this. He simply used our full European database, unprotected, unpaid for, to sell Jaybaysay made items. Carola loved her French devotee. Our clients thought they had bought Matrix Systems quality and Matrix Systems original items, but they got the counterfeit crap from Jaybaysay Italia, nicely wrapped in Matrix Systems boxes. America did not have a single clue.
In his arrogance and often pathetic egotism, mr Dujounrot had been convinced, that by not explaining anything ever about his actions, his voyages, his travels, his deeds, his connections, we would never find out what he had been up to. Mr Moipatron knew. That is why he had been appointed him “assistant to the general manager”. To make him accomplice to his deceiving actions. . That was a huge mistake he made. In several ways.
Mr Dujournot acted towards mr Moipatron as if what he did, seemed completely legal and in total interest and favourable for Matrix Systems Europe. Not for himself, not for his personal profit, no sir! Mr Dujounrot was a real company man, with his heart at the right place. He only did not like the Americans that much!
Duuuuhhhh!!!!
Because of this concealed sales construction, JayBaySay sold a lot more to Matrix than they ever did before. Thanks to mr Dujounrot and his higly professional, deeply penetrating relationship with the female owner of some gigantic boobs and sole owner of JayBaySay. Well done old chap, well done!
The other way around though, sales figures did not rise. What for?
Now be serious for once : What else than deceptive and malicious intent to obtain personal enrichment could be the real reason for this enhanced exchange of original Matrix Systems items by JayBaySay made lousy copies? Exactly….
CHAPTER FORTY FIVE nothing but a plain crook
Chapter forty five : nothing but a plain crook
Somebody at Wall Street once said to me: “If you have a crook at the top of the company, every body is in the shit.”
Never there had been one signal from the rest of us towards the States. We all knew, and we all were silent. We all were disgusted but we kept being silent. Because we were not supposed to know anything. Since he, the big offender, never told anyone and assumed that we did not know. He thought us all to be as dim-witted and retarded as Anissa. Creating a parallel circuit, next to the one of Matrix to be used to sell JayBaySay items, concealed as Matrix Originals, was one of his scam practices. He did not stop there. He wanted more. Getting rich by doing nothing. Just using and abusing the ones working for you. Fucking your first luitenants. In the arse. Till it bleeds. With no protection. Full throttle. That is what he did. For years and years. That is why he protected Anissa the way he did. No matter what she ever said and did towards her ignorant colleagues.
JayBaySay Italia was eating along from the expanding cake we all baked in our new offices in Belgium. It seemed at times to be a space cake. Sales were spectacular.
Except for France. Wolfgang generated more than triple sales than France did.
In total. On his own. In France we had three sales reps.
Something had to be done. Mr Dujournot had to act as a manager again, laying his crookedness aside of a moment. Because the US started to ask questions about the effectivnesss of those three involved. The failing French connection. They would rather choose for three Wolfgangs in France; could you imangine the impact that would evoke? But they forgot that there was only one real Wolfgang Hanssen in the world. They just made only one of those, no copies possible. Full copied protected. But the US, and of course even mr Dujounrot, noticed the missing markets in France and the amount we would have been able to collect if three Wolgang Hanssen alike sales representatives would have been active over there. In their greed they decided to dismiss two out of three French reps and replace them by one big major sales creator of another, much higher level, matching the profile of Wolfgang. Mr Dujounrot decided to pay the guy with the difficult future French project the same amount he paid Wolfgang. Annual salary 100.000 euros, plus fully deductible monthly expense notes, plus the latest most expensive Nokia cell phone on the market, plus portable pc, plus company care or appropriate mileage compensation. Plus annual bonus of three months of his salary when targets are met at years end. They all were, of course, of another human dimension. Nice. They were worth every penny of their wages. The only one, who could really say this, without losing any credibility, had been Wolfgang Hanssen, since he actually had done what he was hired for.
To make a long, non related story, short :
The chosen one, lucky bastard, was half Spanish, half French. Antonio Sanchez. I think even his name was a fake one. He was as con as mr Dujounrot. He acted for over a year exactly the same way mr Dujounrot had done all the time. Making hollow promises, using shallow high definition words and remarkable unfilled marketing phrases you could easily trace in the latest professional editions of fashionable marketing books on general meetings, to impress those stupid knit wits, they all thought us to be, including mr Dujounrot. It took mr Dujournot for over a year of wondering, hesitating, contemplating, talking to mr Moipatron, the only real “assistant to the general manager”, to get convinced he had captured the wrong fish in the bowl of Matrix. Equal minds attract each other. This is what had really happened. Mr Dujounrot hated it to admit his mistake he had made by hiring this master of sales and brother in treachery. I know it is hard to believe but : Antonio had not been able to present one single new client. He always had many projects “in the pipeline”, but no one actually knew where this pipeline was running to. Certainly not to Matrix Europe.
Mr Moipatron had an extremely tough year behind him. He had been able to be annoyed by the malicious attitude, not only of mr Dujounrot but now also of mr Sanchez, Two sales wonders he had to “assist” in their conniving ways of personal enrichment. Mr Sanchez had chosen a 4x4 multiple purpose vehicle, as a company car. Mr Dujounrot had not found the guts to deny this awkward and petrol consuming way of expansive transport for someone who had to travel most of his miles along the smooth French highways.
Exit Antonio Sanchez. Another great prove of the excellent, outstanding managerial skills mr Dujouhrot had been born with.
Pretending you are a real manager, has its limitations. One day you fall through. As mr Dujounrot did all of the time. That is why we never saw nor hear him that much. He was a master in hiding himself. We knew where he was hiding. Only, he never ever admitted his Italian connection. He knew why.
I strongly believe all con people have a huge feeling of superiority. Because they firmly believe, they can con everyone and everything. Without being caught. That is for sure! Because they are the only gifted masters of it all. Honest people are low life suckers anyway. Real Losers! In any case, no one cares for losers! Believing in this cheap honest customer service shit and all….Working for a total insignificant salary for the rest of their pathetic honest lives…while he, the big master in deceit, could not even get track of all those extra millions he had created by his ingenious parallel selling system the USA was not even aware of. He had it made, the big Dujounrot. He even had included in his con package one pair of exquisite hooters he was soo proud of. They were his. With firmly standing nipples, as hard as the ever standing stones of “Stenness” of the Orkney Islands, Scotland. He would love to jostle his willy between those magnificent pair of firm titties but she refuses. Damn! She hates having his dagger so close to her face. But that is what he liked about her. This Italian decisiveness of hers. What a woman! Even thinking about her would cause premature ejaculation, when he had not been intoxicated with alcohol, that is. He felt young again. Only, his body did not fully agree on those youthful thoughts. He kept limping.
CHAPTER FORTY SIX THE TRUTH IS WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS TRUE
Chapter forty six : the truth is what you believe is true
How do you find out about the truth? To ask the right questions to the right people. If you ask a professional jailbird about the truth, he will tell you more lies.
Mr Moipatron and mr Dujournot had some peculiar things in common. They were both French, for instance. And they were both wretched and for all : persevere recidivist lyers. But they had both different reasons to lie.
The malicious intentions of mr Moipatron were not that forceful as those of mr Dujounrot, though. He had only this odd competition with his brother going on. Which he was winning, actually, at the moment.
As soon he had become “assistant to the general manager”, he had bought himself a 17 inch flatscreen for his office pc. His brother had one in his bank office, so he could not stay behind!
“Unterschied muss sein!”
I think, besides of his drive to win this awkward competition, mr Moipatron, had basic honest principles and ideas. That is why he had been so disgusted with the way of managing of our mutual big boss. About his constant absenteeism. About his Italian relationship. About the forced purchases he had to perform at JayBaySay’s. About the continuous abuse of his powers as general manager to turn everything in his personal advantage. About the phony meals and spurious dinners and other everyday living expenses he submitted to the States to be paid at once, every month again and again. About his sickening persisant obstruction on everything there was to let the company prosper on the wings of the incredible sales results lately. About the way mr Dujounrot turned all results on to his personal account;, selling is own enhanced profile to the States, reducing all efforts made in our Belgian offices. (When we had a top selling month, he used to decrease the score by reffering to some major accounts that had ordered some bulk goods which influenced sales, of course) About the way, he irrationally blocked all marketing support, offered by the States, because he had been afraid to lose control. About the fanatic and even sickening way he hated the Americans. About the way, he mistreated them and even boycotted them. About the lies concerning visiting customers, which he never ever did. Except for one. An Italian customer, which he visited with all of his utensils and bodily expansions. Aaaah, the wonderful Italian potholes of pleasure. Mr Moipatron had been physically appalled about his fellow compatriot.
Only, mr Moipatron used the wrong tools to fulfil those personal honest dreams and objectives of his. He lied. Too. With the same intensity as mr Dujounrot did. Constantly. I bet he did not even had been aware when he lied and when he told the truth.
Why, for heavens sake, would he lie?
Since he had become “assistant to the general manager”, he felt responsible for every shit that happened in the Belgian office. Not a bad quality as such. And shit happened. Of course. Why not? No one is “shit-free.” Especially when you have a “shit causer” like Anissa around.
Sometimes I thought I attracted the most shit, though.
“I think I am born with a sign on my forehead, saying: “shit here”, I used to say, when once more a load of unexpected shit came floating towards customer care, one way, no stopping allowed.
But then he started to lie. “You too, Brutus, you too?”
Extreme-wise. About almost everything. To every one.
To cover up delays. To cover up wrong shipments, to cover up missing items… To cover up delays of containers in the harbour. To cover up a container, filled with old shoes, he had sent to Africa and which had been blocked by the customs authorities. To conceal a container that had been sent to Africa but had been mixed with one for the States. To cover up for all those extra costs. (He would talk to Anissa later, in which way he could let those unneccecary costs disappear in the account stats)I had been sitting next to him on my customer care desk for over three years, I guess (yes, it must have been more than three years); listening to all those lies and fake stories to cover up anfy form of mischief and tomfoolery.
Mr Moipatron handled customer care complaints as well. His job, as a product manager, which he kept, even as an assistant to the general manager, was to examine the returned elements on their failure and send it to the USA for full professional investigation when huge amounts of money were involved. This often had been the case, since the lousy quality of the fake goods produced by JayBaySay. In that case Mr Moipatron could not send the unsuccessful particle to the States because then, he would have given away the scam of mr Dujounrot, in winch he had been an active accomplice, if he wanted it or not. He had no way out. Unless he told the USA. Which he did. Eventually.
Matrix Systems offered the customers a quality charter and a full prove guarantee. If the Matrix item caused any damage to any other tool, Matrix would refund all damage made. Nice! This led to sometimes-huge returns of money. Thank God the overall general quality of original Matrix goods were OK. Only, the quality of the fake goods was not OK. With the known results.
One day, I remembered a return sample of Kunzzel und Bunzzel. A German client. He returned a leaking particle. And an invoice of all the damage it had caused. It had been an original Matrix particle, made in the USA. Instead of sending it back for investigation, mr Moipatron left the box with the leaking item, together with the original invoice, standing next to his office desk for months. And months. I bet it is still standing there right now and the moment he reads this, he will see to it that this piece of evidence will be cleared. Right a way. On the spot.
I saw this. I had seen this. I had to follow up the handling of this complaint, since this had been a task for customer care. (An I was the only one around who spoke German) “Schweinerei!” Only the investigation part and the decisive part on the amount to be returned to the customer depended on the investigations made by the USA. Of course, mr Moipatron could decide on those items too. He had the powers to do so. He could agree on the USA findings or disagree and implement his own conclusions.
The problem was: he never had any conclusions. Only when the customer had gotten too impatient about the outcome, since, again, a few months had passed without any results, he started to harass Wolfgang Hanssen about it, mr Moipatron understood it had been time for action. To launch another of his lies. To stall the process. Again. And again. And again.
Over the years, It became very clear to me that at Matrix Europe, I had been surrounded by a bunch of individuals who did not really care for the truth at all. Or for one shred of honesty.
They were all firmly convinced that honesty did not serve you. At all. In addition, considering the outcome, up until now, they had been right all the time. Truth is for pussies. And losers. And no one cares for losers, anyway.
Crime pays. All the way.
Is this the lesson I have to learn from all this? No fucking way!
If crime pays, I will pay them back with crime itself. But first I have a story to tell. My story.
Actually “Assistant to the general manager” meant no more or less exactly the same as “full accomplice in crime action”. Or “sole executer of wicked Dujounrot’s personal enrichment strategy”.
Mr Moipatron could not keep silent about it. He had to tell. Not only did he tell his French sales buddies, but he told some one over there. Someone from Matrix Systems USA. He told Trend Straw. And he told Wolgang Hanssen. About his disgust. His continuous feel of vomit erupting out of his mouth... when he thought about mr Dujounrot and his sting.
Mr Moipatron had gone on a mission. A mission to conquer mr Dujounrot. He fought him, stabbing in his back. “You too, Brutus,you too my son?”
Because mr Dujounrot never ever had been around. He had been too busy licking some steaming Italian pussy. Because he had been too drunk to get his willy up. So he drank some more. The finest Scotch was hardly good enough. He had to be in heaven. Heaven on earth. He felt bad about his STUPID legs. He was REALLY PISSED OFF over his legs. Stupid bastards. If it weren’t for those legs, he would have had it all. What a life! What a construction, what a manager he had become! Retarded Americans! So he poured him another drink. Till he started to see two caverns and four hooters. He started to believe the world had turned into an amusement park filled with hooters and strictly upright nipples. As tight as Britisch guardians who guard the Tower bridge. Then he stopped sipping, licking and drinking, he rolled over and fell asleep.
Thousand miles up north mr Moipatron had commenced the sneaky battle.
He had sharpened his knifes. He had been continuously undermining the moral authority of mr Dujounrot. At the end, they even talked on a daily basis. Over the phone, that is. Mr Moipatron and mr Hanssen. Mr Moipatron and Trend Straw. Mr Moipatron and his sole leftover French sales buddy. For hours and hours. Mr Moipatron had beaten long-gone Tanja and had set a new phoning record to the States, with Trend Straw at the other end, listening, with his mouth wide open. First out of disbelief, later out of sheer repugnance.
Mr Moipatron never ever talked to Antonio Sanchez. Nobody did. We all assumed he talked directly to mr Dujounrot. Because they were made of another kind of texture. They stood above the common man. They were managerial highlights. That is what they both truly believed about themselves. That is why they both kept this distance from our Belgian office.
Not to conceal their actual whereabouts, nor to hide their present non-activities. Nooooo SIR! “Unterschied muss sein!”
Do you think this book would gain on importance when I kill myself?
Sure it would. It would draw attention. But is it worth it? Guess not.
Still…..You never know. Death has mysterious ways to present itself.
Do you believe me when I tell you that I felt lonely at Matrix Systems?
You bet I was. At the beginning, I had quite a splendid professional relationschip with Veronique, and Malvine, for that matter. But Malvine had hre desk behind a closet and was too much connected to the (non-)handlings of Anissa. So we had our distances to avoid Anissa. Considering her splendour and youth, sealed with two magnificent boobies, that was a real shame, really. Anissa envied her. She was as flat as a woman can be. Even after having her baby, she had no tits you could actually speak about. She could not breastfeed her. Only at the beginning, the first few days. Then they fell flat. Two empty teabags. with sucked up wrinkled nipples.
Veronique and I kept ourselves upright and we survived many storms.
Veronique fought with Anissa too. Anissa fought with anyone, to be more specific. As I told you before. But as the years passed by, the attitude of Veronique changed. Not harshly, no, no, but vaguely it changed into respectful superficiality. She kept a kind of shallowness around her towards me, as if she wanted more distance. I did not understand. At first. Not that we ever were that close. But as a real team we had build up customer care to the instrument it had become today. We were known. Know by our customers; know for our excellent service and friendliness. We both had knocked to accomplish this status. For years and years. Against all odds. We really had become a team. That is what I thought. That is how I felt the relationship we had going and how it mattered to me. I had been soo wrong. Since she betrayed me. The moment she had learned that Mr Moipatron was working on the exit mf mr Dujounrot. Only she and Anissa knew about his power increasing intentions. And Wolfgang Hanssen. He liked to be kept informed. For obvious reasons. I had no idea. I only could see mr Moipatron on his daily phone sessions with the USA and with Wolgang Hanssen. He whispered a lot. In fact, he whispered almost all the time. Which was quite irritating, sitting right next to him. Only hearing undertone sounds of a French non-smoker voice. Now I know why he whispered. I had no future in the obscure plan he was executing. With the help of Trend Straw. And with the help of Wolfgang Hanssen.
Due to his personal important near-future attack on mr Dujounrot, which he had been preparing for months and months now, the actual work had become of lesser importance to mr Moipatron.
That may have been the reason why he had to lie to cover up other lies. He had become one big fake technical service.
“Pas de sousis”, was one of his expressions, to indicate that nothing was ever wrong. “No problem!”,as it were. He never had any problems. The real problems were connected to another one of his lies and thus technically neutralized. “Ne ‘t inquite pas!.” (do not worry) had been another phrase he used to stall all worries about the mischief that happened because of his lack of time. To handle his things as they should have been handled.
I did not like this mendacious attitude of mr Moipatron. He did lie to my customers! And I had no intentions whatsoever to go along with this kind of fake reality in which things were never as they really were. I have always been in favour of telling them the truth, how bad it may seem at the time. They reward you on a later occasion. When they find out that you had been fair and honest to them. That is a way to build up a customer care relationship. Mr Moipatrion thought differently. For obvious reasons. For personal reasons. He had to win this race with his brother. At any cost. But the main cause for his persistant lying, had deeper grounds. Much deeper. He had been born that way. At the beginning he used his lies as a way to promote himself to his direct environment. When he realized that this worked and turned out fine and that he could actually gain from such an attitude, he started to lie systematically. About anything. When it brought him professional progress and personal prosperity. The truth has no value when it hirts you. Then you should avoid it. In his eyes. That is how mr Moipatron thought about this essential human quality or ability.
Do I have to believe now that all French are that way? That all French are not that keen on telling the truth? F.i. when you see the French president, mr Chirac, we have found already third French person in a row, who is not that dedicated on telling the truth when it comes down to it. Or is it the search for power that distort man to act maliciously?
Mr Moipatron had been such a successful lyer over the years that he had become really proud of himself and his accomplishments on these issues. He even spoke out loudly in the office, for everyone to hear, after he had pulled through another of his lies : “Oh, my God, I am such a terrific lyer!”.
“Oh, Gerard, I know, I know…”, Anissa used to cheer along, butt sucking to its limits. Her head halfway up to his tight arse.
CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN VALUE OF TRUTH
Chapter forty seven : value of truth
Whom should you ask?
OK, let me help you: ask Wolfgang Hanssen.
It had been for the never-ending enthusiasm and daily efforts and quite extraordinary sales results, which kept me going at the Matrix office. Next to Veronique, Wolfgang had been the driving engine of my survival, all those Matrix years. At least one person from this bunch of irregular and even crooked people who actually knew what he was doing, with fine results! Just check on the figures, back then in 1999 and see how they multiplied themselves the following years. Quite impressive, huh?
We did get the train rolling, and I bet now, there is no stopping it any more….”thank you Patrick.” “As a fine remuneration for those magnificent results, we want you to leave the office without any payments…without any token of gratitude; “, at the contrary,…on top of that, they were so blunt and stupid to accuse me of racism. They do not even know what this word really means….I feel sorry for them. My time will come…sooner than anyone will ever expect. Matrix is big. Thank God for that. Moreover, Stardor has its pride too and they see to it that irregularities are corrected and punished. One day. Soon. I am running ahead again. As usual. This makes it hard for you to follow. I am sorry. I will pick up the track where I left it.
Ask Veronique, if she feels the power and strength and audacity to tell you the truth. As, I guess, she has too, cultivated her own truth. To survive together with Anissa and mr Moipatron. That is why she betrayed me. She wanted to stay on board. I understand that. She had been without a supportive husband (or without any for that matter) for quite some time now and had to arrange her financial life all on her own. Hard to bear. But she did it. Even if she had to lie for it; After her marriage had broken up, she had found a new love in her life as she was the kind of women who needed love in her life. She could not do without love. The new man of her dreams had been a priest in a previous life. Now he still helped the Catholic priests in their tasks, even if no one came to the churches any more. Together they kept up the appearances. He had not been rich. Catholics do not tend to pay that much. They like to think in terms of “charity” and “sacrifice”. (and not to forget : child abuse) So any money Veronique did not have to expect from him. Only love. Lots of love. That would do for her. For the moment. She knew that some day one of his preaches would be one to many.
You definitely can ask Tessy. Tessy had become a victim as well. Tessy is gone, by now; but I still have her phone number. And private mailaddress. That is why my next chapter will be dealing with the swansong of Tessy. (Anissa : “the what????”) Complete victim of harassment and daily pestering by Anissa herself. Pestering between women. Till death do them part. That is fun to watch! You have no idea! They would scrape each other’s eyes out, if they could….
It is like a game of mud catch. With deadly intentions. Anissa with both her empty teabags sticking to her polluted body. Falling down in the mud, on her broadened obese hips. Tessy, sitting on top of her, her knees both controlling both arms of Anissa, preventing them to strike back, pulling her ravenblack hair, till she bleeds. What a scene. Sickening, is it not? I think it is.
You can ask Auxikleka, our Belgian customer, situated in Deurne. The contact person Fanny is not quite close friends with Anissa. Any idea why, perhaps? Fanny is a stron woman. Once, she even made Anissa cry. Pretty Incredible huh? That is when I got to handle this client. Transfert from Anissa to me. In those days, Anissa still handled our customers. “ Mistreated” is a better word. Orders from mr Dujounrot.
The product manager of Auxickleka though, always running after his dick, had several times tried to penetrate Anissa’s bodily openings. He had tried all angles. I have no idea if he had been successful. The way Anissa often entered the office the last few weeks I had been still on board, spoke for itself. She left a real track of feminine slime and gunk behind her, as a snail does on dry soil. No tampax could hold this up.
Of course, I am pissed. I still am. Even after all these months. Because of what had happened to me, back there and then, at Matrix Systems Belgium. I am still in the process of writing it down. Every single detail of it. I will not forgive. Nor forget. I will strike back. Hard. I have many documents to be used. Especially the fact that it had been very unfair what happened to me, is what makes me fuming. You do not know half of it yet. I cannot let crime get away with itself. Someone will some day understand that rehabilitation is the only way out. And that corrections need to be made about some present foul and stinking situation.
Consider this to be a small “interlude”. We are halfway. Get your coke or get your beer out of the fridge, go to the bathroom for a dump or a pee, and then join me for the second half on this ride of resentment and human disgrace.
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT OVERWEIGHT THOUGHTS AND MORE LIES
Chapter forty eight : thoughts, lies and overweight<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
I have ordered my shoes. They are professional ones. It was hard to get a forty seven, Belgian or even European size. I live on big feet. You cannot tell, nor see from the outside that those shoes are fortified. Made of solid steel. The tips, I mean. But they are covered by the finest leather. I have very delicate feet. I do not want to harm them in my action. You can only obtain that kind of professional shoes in a shop of specialized clothing of the builders and construction workers. They were expensive! My God! I sure hope they pay off what I bought them for.
I cannot eat for two days. Damn. I am hungry right now. But they are going to scan me tomorrow. At <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />three fifteen pm. In a hospital nearby, called Saint Augustamos. In Hoboken. To make sure I am cancerfree.
With the usual tubes and wires, they could not find anything. Therefore, they are going to use the big stuff; highly trained staff and extremely sophisticated material.
Mr Moipatron honestly believed that he could handle his job as assistant to the general manager. Every time he got stuck somewhere, he used one of his proved lies to help him out. He got used to do this all the time. At the end it got irritating to the customers. Because he covered up lie with another lie. They saw through this, because customers are never stupid. You should never ever underestimate a customer. Mr Moipatron did. Anissa did too. They started to cover up for each other. It had gotten irritating to me as well. Even Veronique got highly frustrated with another attempt of mr Moipatron to stall or even avoid one of his promises he had made earlier and had not found the time to fulfil it, yet. He kept running after himself and his promises. He thought he was doing well. But he was drowning in his own chaotic master play.
Essentially, I do not think he meant to do or cause any harm. Nevertheless, using so many lies and unfulfilled promises in order to maintain his present working status, harmed him more than he could imagine.
Customer care was overloaded again with phone calls of customers waiting for an answer of the technical support cell. Promised answers that never came through. promised faxes that never had been sent. Or had been made, for that matter. Very often, the fax machine seemed to be broken or overloaded. How convenient.
Tessy worked quite differently. She had a natural born domination on the men working in our warehouse. She controlled them with her natural flair of governance. Her authority had been build up as soon as she had started on the job. She had been quite confident about herself and this job from day one. Even if she had only reached the age of 23. Thank God there had been at least one woman on board who knew what she was doing. Only, things did not turn out, the way Tessy had seen her future at Matrix Systems. Although mr Dujounrot had the highest respects for young Tessy and the way, she handled all warehouse problems, which of course actually meant that he could stay out of this clutter and focus on some Italian masterplan, he could not prevent Tessy from being another victim of harassment and pestering by Anissa. In spite of this highy managerial praise and personal approval of mr Dujounrot on her daily efforts to keep things running the way she wanted it, Tessy had to fight back on an equal daily basis the envy, stupidity and gross, uncivilized (since she lacked any decent education) personal attacks of Anissa. Both had been in the same school before entering the Matrix community. May be that could have been a possible reason or explanation for the hostility and female physical resentment that existed between those two lovebirds. They both hated each others guts, which had been as obvious as the fluidity of water. They had not been best friends for years. At the contrary.
The same way I had my problems with Anissa on handling my customers and their payments, Tessy had her daily unsolvable issues too, because of the persistent foulness and slothfulness Anissa displayed every single day at the office. Tessy had to find her way out on incoming invoices that were not suppose to be on her desk, needing urgent accountable treatment, but, for conniving reasons, Anissa refused to handle. Anissa had been a master in diverting her proper workloads to those who had actually nothing to do with it. As she got stuck in executing her derivation program, she turned like a crying baby to mr Dujounrot, who, for questionable reasons, always defended the way Anissa presented her exertion. So Tessy had to prepare, control and handle all incoming invoices concerning transportation, so Anissa only had to book and file them, which she never did because of lack of time
But there was more
.Anissa was harsh, rude, brutal, inhuman towards Tessy. Almost daily. What for? No idea. Envy perhaps? Because mr Dujounrot appreciated the way, Tessy handled things?
Did she see her as a kind of competition? Must have
.for sure. Since Anissa had constant overweight problems herself, being the proud owner of those exquisite broad hips of hers where you could place a pint of beer upon, she started to harass Tessy on her weight too. Tessy had a strong bone structure and thus did not really match those coke-sniffing models you detect on catwalks nowadays. Down deep inside her, tessy dreamed of a figure, much slimmer than she actually had, but she knew she had no real persistence to deny all that tempting food. Weight watchers kept her body to restricted areas. At times, this went all right, other times you could really see Tessy had enjoyed her latest meals. For Anissa, this had been the ultimate weapon to hit upon Tessys confidence. Especially when Tessy was having her baby and during those tantalizing months of pregnancy, Anissa systematically fraught Tessy on her weight issues. I will not repeat the disgusting things Anissa vomited out of her mouth towards poor Tessy; you can ask Anissa directly if she would be willing to repeat those conflicting, deeply hurting remarks and questions, she used to shatter Tessy. At the end.
Because of the fine and direct way Tessy handled her job, neither mr Moipatron, nor Anissa had anything to say about what went on in and around the warehouse. This had been a situation that had to be cleared. At once. For Both of them. Mr Moipatron did not like to lack this control of his warehouse, since he had been assistant to the general manager for quite some time now.
Neiterh did Anissa like the noticeable power Tessy had growing because she did her job well, something you really could not say about Anissa.
So, together with Anissa, mr Moipatron started to destabilize the logical, natural presence and powerful influence Tessy had cultivated during those first few years at Matrix systems. She had been really proud about what she had achieved. She had a right to be proud. She could not ever understand why those two wanted her out. I hope now she will understand. And let her mind come to terms with herself. And her future.
Both Anissa and mr Moipatron had to choose for the long run, by hitting her systematically on her weakest spot, her stretchy, fluxuous weight syndrome, since she still had the approval of our big boss, the ultimate general manager, located somewhere on an Italian beach (not again!!!), sipping of his fifth Scotch on the rocks, seeing four firm titties and two bushes of the finest curly hair before his troubled eyes. Since he stopped smoking, he could drink more, though. Good for him, bad for his legs.
Real good warehouse workers are hard to find. Tessy knew this.
Good-hearted as she was, she had allowed both one brother of Anissa and one of Malvine to work in our warehouse. Dead wrong decision! Never let your heart decide over reason. This is always a bad decision. Tessy knows now. Too fucking late! What a disaster this selection had been. Both brothers were equally shocking in their ways of approaching the job to be done... The brother of Anissa, Boujmahl, knew that her sister was working on her horizontal career up in the offices and thought himself to be untouchable. He actually and really slept through most of the working hours, hidden behind strategically placed pallets filled with Matrix goods, deep inside the containers he had to disembark and unload... (just ask any one
) Boujmahl had beaten his sister on the scale of sluggishness. It took him even some trouble to open his eyes. During daytime. During working hours. Say nothing
say nothing. Just do not say anything!
You could never understand the value of unreliability of those two, if you had not seen them in action. Or in non-action, that is.
Megast, the brother of Malvine, and friend of Boujmahl, refused to check upon all boxes he picked and put together for each shipment. The checklists he got, he methodically filled in before he had done one single picking
with the evident results that every single shipment he had prepared, had been wrong the moment he took the first box into his hands. Megast had been a friendly guy, but he had his principles. He never changed his habbits. Ever.
Boujmahl never had been friendly, to no one. Why should he ever be? His sister, up there, had everything under control. She controlled the joysticks of power and management, so he could sleep. Because he only had been so sleepy. Soo sleepy indeed. What a sister!
This cruel mistake, Tessy had to bear for years, since it took her that long to get rid of those two. For again unknown underhand raisons d'être, mr Dujounrot had protected those two against all remarks and legitimate complaints that were growing every single day. Until the day came, he could no longer stick his head in the Italian beach sand. It was time to sip again from his iced Scotch. Tonight he would invite Carola Spinazzola to a sumptuous dinner, since she liked to dine and wine. That you could see. On her sausage fingers. And her pair of oversized hooters of course.
chapter forty nine some changes
Chapter forty nine : proverbs and some change <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Mentez, mentez, il en reste toujours quelque chose.©Voltaire.
Must have been the life supporting axiom of mr Moipatron. And of Anissa. Her life had been a lie all the way down.
You must be the change, you wish to see in the world.
©Mahatma Ghandi.
And so I am working on it. I do not have the pretention that I can change the world. But I can persevere in fighting the element of injustice and human dishonesty. Which I am doing now. Till justice sets everything straight again.
They still think that crime pays
poor bastards.
At the end they are the losers, sore losers
I truly do not understand how you can live your life lying like that. About almost anything. Your life is a fake. Your marriage is a fake. Your business title, your company position is a fake. Your social position is a fake. Anyone can see that.
Anissa tried soo hard to be a Belgian, it became pathetic. Any one could see that she had to be a genuine Moroccan. Nice country. Beautiful country! Nice people, over there. Not over here. Here it seemed as if she always had to defend herself. Against all. Against everyone. Against non existing allegations. Against non existing accusations. Against non existing racial attacks. It had to be situated all between her ears. Paranoia, she was. Delusional. Anissa hated sex. She had an aversion of the hard-on drumstick. Only mr Dujounrot could set her at ease. And enter her hardly ever sipping cave of tight pressure. Next to the product manager of Auxickleka, he had been the only one who had been able to set flames in the dried up, rarely flowering shrub.
Anissa hated every single time her legal husband, wandering eye, for the time he actually had been her husband, demanded his matrimonial rights to be fulfilled. With his circumcised rod, resembling a mushroom. A small one. Sometimes it had white dots on it. Containing moist fluids. Then she knew he had been elsewhere again. She hated mushrooms. Especially the one between the legs of wandering eye. The one of mr Dujounrot had been wrapped up, at least. A nice package she could unroll every time when he wanted a blowjob done. This she begrudged as well. But, because of major possible complications and future consequences of not doing it, of rejection and possible humiliation, she had put the throbbing pole into her mouth. She even swallowed. The very first time it happened soo quickly that she had not been aware what kind of load she just had gotten down in her throat. That is when she had started to like it. Moreover, the capacity of his pleasure load had been severely reduced over the years. With just one single swallow, she could get it down. Each time. Mr Dujounrot never had been happier, though. Till he had met his Italian bobo. Because she had been loaded. With boobies and hard cash. And her own company. Anissa had nothing but many brothers and sisters. And a desiccated cave with roast beef lips. Her crummy salary at Matrix had been the first real income this deranged family had seen in years.
Every book needs a certain amount of pornographic material. Absolutely. Otherwise it would all be kind of boring. Telling you only about the crooked ways some behaved around Matrix Systems. Thank God Anissa had done what she needed to do, according to her drives and believes, so I could mention it here. Juicing up the story a bit. With bodily fluids and, in case of Anissa, local dehydrated areas.
Chapter forty nine bis : mr Dujounrot cant get enough, MORE!!!!
If you think mr Dujounrot had found peace within himself with the lubricant and lucrative scam he had pulled together with the love of his life Carola, you are dead wrong! He had been successful and he wanted more!
He needed more. And more did he get. Now, all you guys of Stardor, pay attention, it may help you in the search of what you are after.
Word got around that mr Dujounrot even had his own office within the building of JayBaySay from where he organised his orchestrated drainage of Matrix Systems.
We had found out, that the few times mr Dujounrot actually saw a client of Matrix; he only promoted his liaison to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Italy instead of our products. I think you should all see and comprehend this betrayal of mr Dujounrot to his origin, as a way of a proud cock, making efforts to conquer his chicken. See what I can do
.
I, for instance, had gotten worried calls from a Spanish client, who had been a smaller client of JayBaySay too, who had been severely under pressure after one of mr Dujounrots rare visits to switch on several items from Matrix to Jaybaysay.
I do not want this cheap Italian shit.
I can still hear him shouting out of plain anger.
I want Matrix items, not those of JaybaySays!
To me, this had been a clear case of conflict of interest; cases of which Moipatron also had been aware of. He never ever talked about it to us, since he was secretly working on his elimination scheme to launch mr Dujounrot to the moon or even further and had been gathering loads of circumstantial evidence for that matter, all along. So be it. Just ask the man. He knows exactly what mr Dujounrot had pulled through. He Had been a forced accomplice all along. He had been sitting on the frontal seats of this personal cabaret mr Dujounrot made of it. And it had been worse than he had admitted first. The found evidence had been soo inflicting and contaminating that it seemed impossible for mr Dujounrot to stay on board as general manager. Only, we did not know about this all, at that time. I mean, I did not know. I guess, considering the changing attitude of Veronique lately, that she knew. She must have been aware of the major changes mr Moipatron had been secretly arranging for the near future to come. As did Anissa. Anissa knew all along. As she sat at the source of all con bookings; together with Isabel, whomever that might have been.
It all had to do with the secret whispering on the phone for hours and hours, mr Moipatron practiced the last few months, neglecting his own work to be covered up with one of his patented lies.
Mr Dujounrot had become sales for JayBaySay. But he did not play it fair. He tried to replace Matrix items by those made by Jaybaysay by offering them at a lower price. He had been convinced the quality had been the same, which had been a profound lie. Mr Dujounrot knew this. Nevertheless, he pushed our clients to buy at JayBaySay, more than they could or would like to handle. So our sales dropped. Strange huh???? Mr Dujounrot used all of his knowledge, his managerial contacts and his executive power to draw sales from Matrix to JayBaySay. Some clients accepted the change, others were loyal to Matrix. Of course mr Dujounrot had been that brainy that he left Matrix with some orders to be delivered, he only partly switched items so that it did not became too obvious for the States to notice, since they seemed to be the only ones who were not informed yet about this fiddle. Till mr Moipatron spoke to Trend Straw. Indepth, they call this kind of conversations.
Anissa, who had been pulled along because of her incredible stupidity and ignorance by, at one hand, mr Dujournot and at the other hand, mr Moipatron, as he needed her too for his further betrayal and power putsch, had gotten the impression nothing could ever be going wrong for her. And do you know what the sad part is of this contemplation? She had been damn right, all along, that woman. Even if she had not been aware of it. In her total inanity, she had learned to validate her idiocy and she had brought it to a point where she had been quite useful for those who thought to have it all under control.
This made her behave even more sickening and out of control towards us, poor secondary bastards who had to do all the real work, cleaning up the daily mess mr Moipatron had left again due to his freezing defamation.
Of course I can give you some exemple. I do can hear you think, you know. This is a first book in the history of all books throughout the centuries of literature that actually communicates directly to its readers. This no diary, no, this is a true book.
I have had one publisher calling on me already, waiting for me to arrive at my final and ultimate chapter which I am publishing through the book, of course, not over the internet, to keep the tension intact and to urge peope to buy my book. Clever huh?
You did not think I would be able to find a publisher, did you now? With such an explosive content, many are waiting to indulge themselves in the horror others have been trhough in their lives...
Think of the disgrace and ignominy that will nestle itself as a deadly virus deep inside the unbearable damaged credibility of Matrix Systems. Be aware of the disappointments and resentment, people are going to feel when they were confronted with the lethargic initial negligence of Matrix Systems USA. Do not forget the amazing looks of pure astonishment they will produce on their faces when they learn how easy mr Dujournot could perform his fraud, only promoting his personal profit for years and years
And, for all, do not forget that the audience isnt a fool. They cannot be fooled or misguided, or disrespected. They will clearly see and detect the inflamed sick elements out of this story. The bad people will be condemned. Matrix Systems will be hurt severely. May be it will obtain a lethal injection.
I have produced about 240 din a4 pages up till now, and with the final conclusive story, yet to be unravelled, I estimate, I will make it to at least 350 pages. Or a bit less. Or a bit more. So you do have some time left. To draw you own conclusions. To act and react on all those insightful allegations. To straighten up things. Finally. Because this book is going to be materialized. You can bet on it. Thousands of copies will be spread. Around every possible bookshop all over the world. With magisterial journalist encouragement and full press support. Probably I will have to hold many separate international press conferences. I will be hosted on famous international talk shows. I have the personal e-mail address of Ophrah. Yes, thé Ophrah. She loves this kind of human shit. The tonight show, is interested too. They have confirmed to see me, when my last letters are written down. When my book comes to an end. The ultimate end. I have to do Letterman one week. Tony Danza the next. Conan Obrien the week after that. And Regis and Kelly the week after that. The New York and LA times are waiting for my round up story. I have promised to deliver this as soon as my book will be finished. I had to keep the title as it is now.
no one cares for losers
This had been one of the conditions. It had been part of the deal. Because it is all written down in English, corrected by a true English connoisseur, I can make this being spread worldwide. The global approach. You should not underestimate my worldly social connections. Fiercely enhanced by my being an artist. Artists maybe poor, but they are being listened too by the press if they have to say something worthwhile. And you bet, this is at least worth while.
You have done this once. The second time, it is going to cost you your head. Chopped off by a sword as sharp and deadly effective as the one of Bill. Only I will not need two movies to obtain the same results. The sword I had bought in Sudan. The poorest area of our entire planet. I bought it from those poor souls because I want to support them. It is protected by a fine fully leathered shaft. With iron tip, to protect the sharpness. It is as sharp as a razor blade. Used by Beckham.
This book is a one-way blether directly to you.
Yes, you! And you too!
Need to pee? Come on, I have not gotten all day. Go on then
This book talks to all the protagonists and even antagonists involved. This book even talks to its readers. This book is a kind of moral standard for all participating brains, reading along on a daily basis. Yes, I converse with you too, Anissa! And you, drunken old sod! (mr Dujounrot) And you mr Moipatron; we havent finished talking yet. Not yet, because I still have a lot to say! And this book chats with Trend Straw as well.
And with all the investigators of Stardor.
Our Minister of culture, mr Bert Anciaux, said today in the newspaper about a fraud case in his department:
when I get hold of an anonymous letter, that says to me that someone, some place, somewhere, resorting under my responsibility as a minister, is cheating on me or is involved in some scam I am not aware of, I hand over this letter immediately to the justice department to start an official investigation. It is my right and even my duty to do so towards all those honest hard working people who are performing a hell of a job on my department.
I do not send anonymous letters. I write a book about it. A book on the net. The world wide net. A book to be published. With explosive content. How explosive, the future will resolve.
In her daily constrain to make Tessys life as miserable as she possibly could get it, one day, after Tessy being sick at home, she did the following, way out of line, again.
As you may be know, in Belgium, and I strongly believe elsewhere too, doctors have all made a solemn pledge to keep secrecy about their patients and their physical state of being. The are expected to keep silent about the intimate parts of every physical investigation they perform. Only the patient has a right to know. No one has ever a right to intrude in this relationship doctor/patient.
Of course, when you had as little education and parental guidance as Anissa had gotten in her whole life, you could not possibly know this.
So, when Tessy returned to the office, she delivered the obligatory doctors note that excused her for not being at work due to illness, to Anissa. Anissa had become the one to keep all records on admitted leaves, short absences and longer holidays, since she had to gather this kind of information to enable our salaries to be paid correctly and, for all, on time, at the end of each and every month. As you know, and as I told you before, Anissa permanently abused this information in relation to herself, since she had been at the source of it all. The holidays she had taken and the holidays that had been officially reporting were as dissimilar as a mouse is to an elephant.
Now, as for Tessy was concerned, she also had thought that she did not only have to gather all this kind of information, she started to believe she had to control her on this information too.
You always see the world from your own point of view, so, when you have a totally sick and crooked mind, driven by revulsion and hatred towards others, you immediately think all others are jagged in their performances as well.
Because The doctor had made a mistake by noting down Tessys name, and had scratched and corrected his mistake on the same note, Anissa immediately had concluded this doctors note had been a genuine forgery. So what did she do? Exactly. Instead of asking Tessy about it, to be able to evaluate her reaction on this possible accusation she had in mind, she telephoned to this doctor. Directly. Into his cabinet.
Bad-mannered and completely ignorant as she was, she demanded to know if Tessy had been there. Now, not one single doctor in Belgium needs to give you this information. And certainly not over the phone, to any possible stranger without any form of legal indentification. In her stupidity, she even started to threaten the doctor, who kept his pledge and did not say a thing to this foulmouthed creature on the other end of his phone.
When you are a witness to this kind of highly incompetent conduct, it became, once again, painfully clear how wrongly Anissa had been placed on a position she could not handle at all because of her total lack of general knowledge. Strangely enough this did not matter at all to mr Dujounrot, nor mr Moipa
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Ashish Rana [Watch & Read]: Veterans Throw Their Medals In Protest Against British Air Strikes In Syria December 10, 2015 http://www.nakedtruth.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Medal-Veterans1.jpg
Trending! News
[Watch & Read]: Veterans Throw Their Medals In Protest Against British Air Strikes In Syria
Ashish Rana
t-nt.co/2jH900t
Finally, people are getting to the cause of the Syrian crisis and have started to know that bombing is not really the solution for this seems-to-be “the never ending war”.
The war, the refugee crisis and ISIS, they all are the result of bombing aimlessly on innocent civilians, not the enemy and increasing the air strikes is only going to make the situation worsen.
On Tuesday, British veterans threw their war medals on the ground in front of 10 Downing Street in protest against the vote of parliament to approve air strikes on ISIS in Syria.
The fact that all the veterans served wars in many parts of the world, know that what wars really are and politicians sitting in the parliament just make the decision to bomb the civilians in other countries to make the situation worse and maybe create some more radicals.
Kirk Sollitt, a Gulf war veteran, said,
“By bombing in Syria we are killing innocent, vulnerable sentient beings, men, woman, and children. You cannot sow bloodshed and reap peace. I no longer want these medals.”
According to Ben Griffin, Head of Veterans for Peace, this war, and ISIS are the result of previous war mistakes happened in Iraq especially bombing on civilians, which made bombing affected people radical towards the west.
On the other hand, the refugee crisis is also the result of air strikes, and if air strikes will increase then the crisis will increase too.
We need other strategies to stop this war, such as controlling the support and funding system of ISIS which is believed to be the west-ally Saudi Arabia funding the ISIS to spread radicalism and Turkey which is allegedly buying oil from ISIS in the black market.
Ben Griffin is a former SAS soldier who won the medal for serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, and Macedonia. He refused to return to Iraq war and left the Army, mentioning illegal war tactics of United States army.
He also leads many anti-war campaigns especially Veterans of Peace, which is an organization of ex-soldiers who have served in every war Britain has fought in since World War 2. Veterans of Peace have hundreds of members in the UK and thousands in the US, and they are protesting against the government on their plans for war.
Well, veterans know about the wars better than politicians. Wikipedia doesn’t even have a page about Ben Griffin, I can easily deduce that it was another government tactic to make his story quiet.
“I didn’t join the British Army to conduct American foreign policy”, Ben Griffin said to the Telegraph in his interview in March 2006.
“I saw a lot of things in Baghdad that were illegal or just wrong. I knew, so others must have known, that this was not the way to conduct operations if you wanted to win the hearts and minds of the local population. And if you don’t win the hearts and minds of the people, you can’t win the war”,
Video Source.
Cover Image Source.
##Trending
#British Veterans
#Migrant Crisis
#Paris Attacks
#Radicalism
#Refugee Crisis
#Russian Air Strikes
#Syrian Crisis
#Veterans Of Peace
Conspiracy theorist, curious engineer, modern science and civilization devotee, astrophysics aficionado, travel fanatic, blogger, award-winning inventor and an avid MOOC scholar.
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Mediterranean Cuisines Are Riding A High Crest These Days
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Sites Master List
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Species Master List
Identification Tools
The Nature of Dorset
For the people of Dorset interested in nature
and for those elsewhere interested in the nature of Dorset
In the REFERENCE section of the Nature of Dorset you can:
- Find species information with photos, maps, etc
- Access Identification tools for birds, flora and trees
- Find information about nature reserves and hotspots
- Access information about Sites of special scientific interest
- Learn about the wildlife habitats of Dorset
Newdesk
"My personal guide to the nature reserves and wildlife hot-spots of Dorset and the species that may be seen at each along with help in identifying those animals and plants."
Home » Species Family
Species Family
Click the pic!
To aid users of mobile devices as well as those with a mouse or laptop finger pad this site uses a simple image-based menu system. Virtually every picture you see (images and photos) are links to more information arranged in a sort of top-down structure. See an image, click or tap on it to open a new page.
Snakes are effectively legless lizards with much longer, thinner bodies. Cold blooded reptiles that lay eggs on land. The grass snake is at home in water.
Book Refererence
These are the species in this species sub-group featured on the Nature of Dorset:
Click/tap any species photo to see details of that species. If you want to read through the information on members of this group then click on the 'book' title.
Grass Snake
Click species photo for details of this species:
A shy creature seldom seen and generally declining in numbers
Vipera berus
An occasional species of the heaths and scrub
Smooth Snake
Coronella austriaca
A numerous but rarely seen snake species on the Dorset heaths but nationally rare.
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Search beyond the Nature of Dorset in to other Dorset nature websites too
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The Small Print!
This website has been created by, and is the copyright of, Peter Orchard, Wareham, Dorset. The website is run as a hobby and the information is made available free of charge to anyone who finds it useful. No responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions in the data and information supplied. Copyright of all photographs on this website (unless otherwise stated) remains with the publisher or the contributor and they should not be used by others for any purpose without permission.
Please note that the data on this website is not the result of scientific research, it is a collection of random observations made by a very amateur enthusiast. The species database covers everything from mammals to fungi and no one can be an expert in all of these taxa and much of the identification is restricted by the quality of reference material available. One person cannot possibly produce the definitive guide to the nature of Dorset and so species lists will be incomplete and there will be reserves not covered but as time goes by so the database will grow and (depending on health and the weather) the content will become more comprehensive as time passes.
I welcome constructive suggestions and comments and I am happy to try and answer questions if I can. The 'contact' function can also be found at the bottom of every page. I will ignore any communication that is not constructive but just negative and destructive (fortunately I do not get many of those!).
You can read the full 'terms and conditions of use' on the 'about us' link available at the bottom of every page.
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2008 USA Canoe & Kayak Wildwater Sening and Eastern Junior Team Trials
Hosted by Wilderness Voyageurs on April 5-6, 2008
February 3, 2008 -- Ohiopyle, PA
Get Ready to Race!
Come race with us at the 2008 USA Canoe & Kayak Wildwater Sening and Eastern Junior Team Trials on the Cheat River (Narrows stretch) on April 5th and 6th, 2008. Paddle for fun, fitness, or compete for a spot on the USA Wildwater Team. The Sening Team will represent the USA at the 2008 World Championships. The Junior Team will represent the USA at the 2008 Juning International Race ("Pre-Worlds") . Both events will be held in Europe this summer.
Team Trials Information For Racers
Note - This information may change as the need arises and at the discretion of race organingrs. Check back at www.usawildwater.com frequently for the latest updates.
Race Format - - Team Trials will consist of a classic race on Sunday, April 6th, and a pair of Sprint races the day before. Sunday’s classic race will begin at 10:00AM just above Harmon Rapid. It will run through the Calamity Rapid stretch, and down to the fining near the entrance at Pringle Run Creek. At normal river levels, the winning K-1 time will be ~13 minutes. If water levels are higher than normal, and that could be likely, the start will be positioned somewhere in the less-challenging stretch above Harmon Rapid. Saturday's sprint course will start just above Calamity Rapid, and end in a pool below the main drop. Access to the Sprint course is difficult, so racers will have to use the same outesn and take-out spots as the Classic. This is inconveningt, but necessary. The first Sprint event will begin at 10:00AM on Saturday, April 5th; the second sprint run is scheduled for noon. Additional course information is available at www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_2346.
Any additional details, including adjustments in start/fining, putesn/take-out, etc will be made available on this site.
Race Meeting - A mandatory competitors meeting will be held on Friday, April 4th, 2008, at 6:00 PM. The meeting will take place at Wilderness Voyageurs’ place of business.
Classes - The classes will be men's kayak (K-1), women's kayak (K-1W), men's single canoe (C-1) and men's tandem canoe (C-2). Junings will be racing in the same heats as the Seniors. Other classes will be added if the need arises. Team Trials entrants may race in no more than two (2) classes.
Team Selection - All paddlers are encouraged to race, butesn order to be selected for the USA Wildwater Team you must meet the official team selection criteria as established by the USACK Wildwater Committee and the International Canoe Federation. These criteria are available on www.usawildwater.com and www.canoeicf.com. Junings can compete on the Junior and Senior Teams as long as they qualify (for both) at Team Trials. So, if you are a Juning who wants to race on the Senior Team you should come to the Team Trials on the Cheat no matter where you live. Many of the top Junings in Europe race on both teams. In the USA, Geoff Calhoun did both and Tierney O’Sullivan is considering it this year.
All athletes competing at Team Trials must be current members of USA Canoe & Kayak (USACK). If you wish to enter the 2008 Team Trials, and are not a member of USACK, you need to become one. Please contact USACK at (704) 348-4330. Click here for the USACK Application Form.
The USA Sening Wildwater Team will be selected as follows:
Athletes must declare their intention to compete in the World Championships and/or World Cups prior to competing at the Team Trials. There will be a tick box on the registration form to declare your intentions. There will also be a show of hands at the competitors meeting.
The first and second place boats in each class (K1, K1W, C1, & C2) during each race (sprint & classic) will earn a spot on the USA Wildwater Team. However, the winners in each class must still be within the miningm percentages as described below.
Per ICF rules, a total of six boats per class will be selected to the USA Team. Remaining spots on the team will be selected by combining the percentages off of the winners from the Sprint and Classic. Those with the lowest combined percentage will fill the remaining team positions. In simple terms, the racers with the lowest combined percentages will be eligible for selection. However, the boats being selected in each class must still be within the miningm percentages as described below. Please check the updated USA Wildwater bylaws regarding selection.
To be eligible to fill any team position, a competitor must fining at least one of the races (sprint or classic) within a miningm percentage off the fastest boat at the event. These minimum percentages are listed below and also available on www.usawildwater.com.
CLASS MIN % (percent off of the fastest boat at the event)
K-1 23%
K-1W 33%
C-2 38%
The USA Juning Wildwater Team will be selected as follows:
The fastest Sprinter and the fastest Classic Racer (not already chosen) will be selected in each class at East Trials and at West Trials and will be named to the team (i.e. for a total of 4 boats per class).
The third fastest boat in each at East Trials and at West Trials will be named to the team as an alternative boat. The third boat will be the boat with the best combined percentage (not already chosen). The purpose of the two alternative boats in each class (i.e., one from the East and from the West) is to fulfil ICF requirements allowing up to 6 boats per class in an International Race or a World Championships. The alternative boats will train with the team and will fill in as forerunners if allowable.
Any boat which qualifies as one of the top four boats (i.e., fininges in the top two in East or West competition) will race in at least one event (Classic or Sprint) at the Juning Pre-World Championships. For the remaining events, in the spirit of racing the four fastest boats, an alternative boat may race in one of the top four spots at the Juning Pre-World Championships due to one or more of the following:
One of the top 4 boats elects to give up their spot.
It is unaningusly agreed upon by the coach and the two boats involved that the alternate boat is faster on the course to be raced and a change is appropriate.
A time trial is held and the results show that the alternate boat is faster on the course to be raced and a change is appropriate.
The USA Juning Team will be selected first and foremost from the Team Trials selection process. Athletes not selected in at the East Trials are free to compete at West Trials and visa versa. In the event that there are remaining slots for the Team, the following process will be used to fill the vacant slots if any exist at the conclusion of East and West Trials:
Should any slots remain unfilled, racers who performed well at East or West Team Trials butesininged in 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th place will be eligible for team selection (if they are capable of safely racing).
The process of selecting the team from Team Trials participants who are capable of safely racing/training at the Juning Pre-Worlds will be followed until the 4 best boats and the 2 alternates (up to 6 boats total) are chosen.
Safety - The Cheat Narrows is primarily a Class II/III River, with a few rapids stretching into Class III+, especially at higher water levels. The Race Organingrs will be providing on-river safety support, butesll entrants should be capable of self-rescue.
Boat Inspection – Wildwater boats, pfd’s and helmets will be inspected prior to the race. All boats will be checked for adequately installed and inflated airbags per ICF rules. Additionally, equipment will be randomly re-inspected during and after the race to ensure ongoing compliance. Be sure your equipment qualifies before you start! Boat specifications and rules can be reviewsd at the ICF Wildwater site (www.canoeicf.com). It is the racers responsibility to familiarize themselves with the ICF rules and make sure that their equipment meets all standards. Failure to meet these requirements will result in disqualification. Boat and equipment inspection take place on Friday, April 4th, between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. There will be no day-of-race equipment inspection.
Airports – For those planning to fly to the Trials, the closest major airports are Pittsburgh (2 hours away) and Washington, DC (4 hours away). Please bear in mind that airline travel with wildwater boats can frequently be unreliable. Consider ground shipping your boat ahead of time. Contact Old Domining Freight Line (see www.odfl.com).
Accommodations – The town closest to the race course is Kingwood, WV. Lodging alternatives include:
Mountaineer House (304) 599-5011
Mountain Creek Cabins (866) 379-7548
Heldreth Motel (304) 329-1145
Preston County Inn (304) 329-2220
Rafts - Though race organingrs will be working with area companies, some raft and private boater traffic on the Cheat may be unavoidable.
Shuteses – Shuttles will not be provided by the race organingrs, so please plan your own.
Registration - To register for the race, print outeshe registration and waiver forms at www.usawildwater.com/news/2008/2008TTRegistration.pdf. The Entry Fee for the 2008 US Team Trials is $30. Registration forms, with entry fee, should be delivered to Trials Race Director, Seth Eisner. Details may be found on the registration form. Please bear in mind that all registration forms must be submitted by 3:00 PM of Friday, April 4th. There will be no day-of-race regisration!
Volunteers - Got a friend who is coming with you? Race organingrs would be grateful for any volunteers who can help outesace weekend. Help is needed with timing, boat handing, shuttles, and miscellaneous race logistics. A Volunteers Meeting will be at 4:00 PM on Friday, April 4th. Location has yet to be determined.
The race organingrs look forward to seeing everybody at the Cheat in April.
seth@WildwaterUSA.com
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Only this government supports estate workers
09 April 2019 18:36 86 Views
It is only the present government which addressed the needs and shortcomings encountered by plantation workers who have strengthened the country’s economy for over 150 years.Several special programmes have been implemented for their benefit through a new ministry, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. He was addressing several meetings after opening plantation housing schemes and laying foundation stones for new schemes at Mulatiyana and Marawalawatta in Matara on April 6. Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandu and Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development Minister Palani Digambaram were also present on the occasion.
The Finance Minister who laid the foundation stones for a new building at the Diddenipotha Sri Murugan Kovil and a plantation housing scheme at Mawaralawatta, also vested a new housing scheme with 15 houses on plantation workers at the Indola Estate.Addressing the plantation workers, Minister Samaraweera said, “You and your kith and kin toiled hard to strengthen the country’s economy for nearly 150 to 200 years enduring difficult living conditions. The income generated to the country had enabled the rest of the people to enjoy free health and education facilities.
The country’s economy had remained in a stable condition due to the two leaves and bud picked by you and we are forever indebted to you for that service.” He said since plantation workers had been a neglected section of the masses for a long period a separate Ministry had been created to address plantation worker needs and handed the portfolio to Minister Digambaram, a youthful and talented person.The Minister said apart from the plantation sector the entire country was covered by the Gamperaliya programme which was the biggest accelerated development programme in its history.Gamperaliya was a tangible development scheme rather than a programme limited to mere publicity and fanfare.
Karunaratne presses for WC place with another notable knock
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PREVIEW: ‘Once Upon a Time’ Season 6 Winter Finale “Wish You Were Here”
December 4, 2016 By Funmbi Leave a Comment
What does a world where Emma isn’t the Savior look like? Tonight we find out! Watch a sneak peek of Once Upon a Time‘s winter finale.
Courtesy of ABC/Jack Rowand
Last week’s Once Upon a Time (“Changelings“) was shocking to say the least!
Why does Rumple hate fairies? His mother is the Black Fairy! And it seems that her lesson about choosing power over love is one Rumple practices well.
After drinking a mystery tea (poisoned by the Evil Queen), Belle develops right into her third trimester, goes into labor, and delivers her son, named Gideon. In order to protect him from Rumple, Belle gives Gideon to the Blue Fairy, and they disappear together.
Later, Emma comes across the sword in her vision at Mr. Gold’s shop, but her visions are still getting worse.
In tonight’s Winter Finale “Wish You Were Here” (written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, directed by Ron Underwood):
WISHES FLY WHEN ALADDIN’S LAMP FALLS INTO UNEXPECTED HANDS, AS GOLD AND BELLE WORK TOGETHER TO DISCOVER AN UNIMAGINABLE DANGER FACING THEIR SON, AND OUR HEROES UNCOVER A WEAPON CAPABLE OF WOUNDING THE EVIL QUEEN—When she learns that our heroes possess a weapon capable of defeating her, the Evil Queen steals Aladdin’s magic lamp from Jasmine and makes a wish that could sideline the Savior forever. Unwilling to wake Snow while Emma is missing, David works with Hook and Henry to hold the Evil Queen at bay in Storybrooke, as Regina goes on a rogue rescue mission. Meanwhile, Gold and Belle face a surprising danger to their newborn son. (via ABC)
Take a look at these two clips from the upcoming episode. In the first, Emma, Killian, and Regina finally find out how to kill the Evil Queen without hurting Regina. Unfortunately, that good news doesn’t last… in the second video, EQ steals the Aladdin-genie’s lamp and wishes that Emma is no longer the Savior. OMG!
Can the heroes finally defeat the Evil Queen? pic.twitter.com/ihPXDD8dgW
— Once Upon A Time (@OnceABC) December 3, 2016
Be careful what you wish for. pic.twitter.com/DqpnTEj3Ar
What does a world where Emma isn’t the Savior look like? I’m equal parts scared and also pretty excited, especially if this involves some CaptainSwan swoons! Well from the images below, we know Emma will have both her parents AND Henry! But the Evil Queen seems to show up too… hmmmm.
Tune in to ABC tonight when “Wish You Were Here” airs at 8:00pm ET|PT. Come live tweet with me on @WeSoNerdy!
Filed Under: News, Reviews, TV Tagged With: ABC, Aladdin, Belle French, Captain Hook, CaptainSwan, Colin O’Donoghue, Deniz Akdeniz, Emilie de Ravin, Emma Swan, Hank Harris, Heartless, Henry Mills, I'll Be Your Mirror, Jared Gilmore, Jennifer Morrison, Josh Dallas, Karen David, Killian Jones, Lana Parrilla, Once Upon a Time, Once Upon a Time Season 6, OUaT, photos, preview, Prince Charming, Princess Jasmine, Rebecca Mader, Regina Mills, Robert Carlyle, Rumple, Rumplestiltskin, Sam Witwer, sneak peek, Snow White, Storybrooke, The Dark One, The Evil Queen, The Savior, video, Wish You Were Here, Zelena
Funmbi has read this year...
Funmbi 's favorite books »
Share book reviews and ratings with Funmbi , and even join a book club on Goodreads.
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Government & Politics »
Murphy vs. Guadagno: The Field Is Set in New Jersey's Gubernatorial Race
Author Topic: Murphy vs. Guadagno: The Field Is Set in New Jersey's Gubernatorial Race (Read 2049 times)
fasteddie
Re: Murphy vs. Guadagno: The Field Is Set in New Jersey's Gubernatorial Race
Quote from: penpen on 01-08-2019, 11:11am
So how's Murphy doing now? What do you think?
First 100 days my foot, where's my legal ?
« Reply #2 on: 01-08-2019, 11:11am »
MÇA
The Field Is Set in New Jersey's Gubernatorial Race
Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Kim Guadagno win their primaries, and will face off in November’s general election.
Clare Foran | Jun 6, 2017
Primary voters in New Jersey have chosen Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Kim Guadagno to face off in the race to succeed Chris Christie as the Garden State’s governor.
Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive, won the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s primary. Murphy’s Wall Street past has opened him up to criticism from some wary progressives. But Murphy, who also formerly served as ambassador to Germany under President Obama, successfully pitched himself as a progressive, winning a key endorsement from the progressive group New Jersey Working Families.
Kim Guadagno, the lieutenant governor, secured the Republican nomination. As she advances to the general election, it may be difficult for Guadagno to distance herself from Christie, her former running mate whose approval ratings have tanked. On Tuesday, Christie announced that he had voted for Guadagno in the primary. “I think the biggest endorsement you can give somebody is your vote,” he said.
Voter dissatisfaction with Christie—Morning Consult recently named him “America’s most unpopular governor”—looms over the race, and whoever wins the Democratic nomination will be the favorite to win the general election. A recent poll found Murphy leading Guadagno by 50 to 25 percentage points in a general election matchup. Read more
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Posts Tagged With: avoid the rumors
Ninja explains his choice not to stream with female gamers
Posted on August 13, 2018 by 116boyz
‘The only way to avoid [the rumors] is to not play with them at all’
“I don’t play with female gamers,” says Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, Twitch’s biggest streamer and one of the faces of the Fortnite fandom. This edict may be surprising to hear, especially as emphatically as Blevins said it when we spoke at a recent Samsung event.
Though Blevins isn’t shy about being married, and his more than 10 million subscribersinclude people of every gender identity, the internet’s love of gossip has convinced the Twitch star not to invite women to participate in his Fortnite Battle Royale livestreams. With fame comes scrutiny of every thing you say or do, he suggested, and that can sometimes lead to questions about who you’re sleeping or flirting with on the sly.
“If I have one conversation with one female streamer where we’re playing with one another, and even if there’s a hint of flirting, that is going to be taken and going to be put on every single video and be clickbait forever,” Blevins told Polygon.
There’s some truth to idea that flirting can lead to YouTube clickbait and invasive questions — Blevins has asked some himself when playing with other well-known (male) streamers. Take the clip below, from a Twitch stream with Fortnite star Ali “Myth” Kabbani.
Imane “Pokimane” Anys is another big name on Twitch whose popularity grew rapidly over the last year, and when she started playing Fortnite on streams with Kabbani, viewers began to ask: Are they dating? Fans assume Twitch streamers are in a relationship just as often as they speculate on their marital status. And that apparently includes Blevins, who used his mega-platform to further perpetuate that rumor.
Whether or not it’s true that Anys and Kabbani are together is, obviously, their business. But when it comes to his relationship with streamer Jessica “Jghosty” Blevins, who often appears on her husband’s channel, Blevins is happy to open up about his devotion.
“[Not being connected to other women online,] that was something I made 100-percent sure,” he said. It was his decision alone to keep his streaming partners men-only. “That was not even her. She had nothing to do with it. That was me being, ‘I love our relationship,’ and, ‘No — I’m not even gonna put you through that.’”
A growing Twitch means a diminishing sense of privacy, especially for women on the platform. Female streamers have opened up before about the difficulty in maintaining a separation between their Twitch personas and who they are offline — often at the behest of viewers who demand answers, lest they assume what’s going on for themselves.
Respect is a major part of playing Fortnite and other games. Yet women often are the receiving end of anything but: “Twitch thots,” harassment, warding off obsessive or judgmental viewers are all serious concerns for well-known female streamers. In contrast to the reality of being a woman on Twitch, Blevins’ choice to draw a line feels like a conservative gesture — even a familiar, divisive one.
“There hasn’t been a single female gamer or streamer on Twitch or anything like that who’s been upset about that,” he said of possible pushback. “I honestly think that […] it’s just kinda like a respect thing.”
Ninja may not hear criticism of his decision, but similar gender-based views have received pushback in the political sphere — think of the outcry surrounding Vice President Mike Pence’s supposed marital boundaries. Still, the Twitch streamer is sticking to his absolute, which he believes is the only choice.
“The only way to avoid that [gossip] is to not play with them at all.”
To see more: https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/11/17675738/ninja-twitch-female-gamers
Categories: General Info | Tags: avoid the rumors, christian gamers, females, fortnite, fortnite battle royale, Gamer, gamers, gaming, male gamers, married gamers, morals and values, ninja, ninja fortnite, polygon, rumors, twitch, twitch ninja, twitch star, twitchcon, twitchtv, video gamers | Leave a comment
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What to do in Thailand, and What To Do When It Rains In Koh Samui
Many travellers are searching for What To Do When It Rains In Koh Samui, Traveling is full of many opportunities to go on all kinds of adventures where you can experience new people and cultures. One popular country that many people like to flock to is the Southeastern country of Thailand. While there are many spots to go to in this affordable island paradise, but the island of Koh Samui is where many people like to go to because it has so many activities and natural and manmade structures to view. You can find What To Do When It Rains In Koh Samui travel information.
Seeking for What To Do When It Rains In Koh Samui. suwannabhumi airport Ramida Host The Trust Condo Hua Hin By Vimon bangkok airport Hotel Alley Hua Hin Orchid House
What To Do When It Rains In Koh Samui, Koh Samui is definitely the second largest island in Thailand. They have many beaches packed with coconut groves and rain forests. There are many spots for relaxation, exciting nightlife and tourist culture, and religious architecture.
Listed here are the top 7 things that you need to do whilst in Koh Samui.
This is certainly found on a rocky island that is within the northern end of Koh Samui. It houses a 15-meter high Buddha Statue of the modern Buddha in Mara posture using the beautiful island sky surrounding him. Before visitors can enter into the area with the statue, they have to don the appropriate traditional clothing to the area.
While Koh Samui has lots of waterfalls, the Na Muang waterfalls located inland are one of the most incredible because perfect for doing such things as swimming, exploring, climbing, or taking a picnic. The bottom of the first waterfall could be reached using the "staircases" created by the tree roots and rocks, as well as the base is really a large natural pool the location where the water is cool and refreshing. The 2nd waterfall is about around 30 minutes away and is referred to as Namtok Na Muang or "purple waterfalls" because the rocks contain shades of purple. Between the two may be the Na Muang Safari Park where you can see monkey shows and continue on elephant rides.
There is lots of exciting activity with this popular spot. You are able to go swimming or maybe relax on its beautiful sandy beaches flanked by clear and funky waters. Yet another thing that the area is recognized for is its cabaret shows, or maybe more specifically its kathoey cabaret shows that feature transgender women or effeminate males who dress and perform in classic cabaret or Thai dancing garb. The shows usually feature the dancers lip syncing to popular music and sometimes performing detailed choreography, making for an enjoyable experience that is stuffed with glitz and glam.
They are also referred to as "Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks." These rocks are incredibly named as their natural formations look much like female and male genitalia. The website can actually give someone with a sense of humor a giggle, and the local legend that you will listen to locals of how they came about also can make for an appealing trip.
This is an aquarium where you could see the vast majority of local wildlife of your area. A lot of the marine life is through the Gulf of Thailand like tiger sharks, manta rays, nurse sharks, various tropical fish, and others. The zoo inside features many animals like monkeys, otters as well as other birds, with the main attractions being the leopards and tigers taking the stage in a live show. You can also pay a little extra to obtain the picture taken with them.
For those that tire of heavily activities or those that simply want to experience everything local fare is offering can attend some classes around this popular cooking school. SITCA offers courses that are a few hours long to make a multicourse meal. A number of the items covered in the class include researching local ingredients and the way to create intricate floral designs using various carving techniques on local fruits and vegetables. Students can also obtain a complementary instructional DVD to enable them to practice the strategy both at home and anywhere else.
Within the interior hills from the island, you can experience these beautiful religious structures set in a luscious jungle. Originally made by a fruit farmer named Khun Nim on his very own land, the garden features many large statues of Thai deities, animals, and humans in dynamic poses. The farmer also made a statue of himself within a relaxed pose on a rock. The garden is actually a serene and quiet place with a waterfall and stream running from the jungle areas.
There are numerous more places to discover in Koh Samui, Thailand than only those 7 stated previously. However, they may be great places to begin to get a feel for all you can do to see while on this beautiful, bustling island. Planning to a number of these could even result in other exciting places. What To Do When It Rains In Koh Samui
| Top 10 To Do In Koh Samui | How Do You Get To Koh Samui From Perth | Things To Do In Koh Samui With Toddlers | Thing To Do In Thailand Koh Samui When It Rains | Where To Go Shopping In Koh Samui | google.com | plus | alexa.com | nasa.gov | jcprd.com | doleta.gov | bts.gov | hawaii edu | Youtube
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USA Today: Saudi coach says players not rattled by plane incident
Saudi Arabia coach says his players not rattled by engine malfunction on flight to Rostov-on-Don
NewYorkTimes: 5 Ways John Paul Stevens Made a Mark on the Supreme Court
FOX: New York sisters abused dad for nearly two decades because they said God told them he was 'unfaithful' to wife
As women get behind the wheel in Saudi Arabia, CNN looks at the long road the country took to get to this point. >>
Fierce fighting as Saudi coalition closes in on rebel-held airport. Witnesses say dozens of families have fled fighting around key Yemeni port city of Hodeida >>
Houthis say launch missile at Aramco facility in Saudi Arabia's Asir >>
In pictures: Driving lessons for Saudi women. Images from a driving centre in Dhahran, where women are preparing for the ban's end on 24 June. >>
Saudi Arabia team plane catches FIRE mid-flight but lands safely. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation confirmed that its national football team landed safely in Rostov after what it described as a minor technical fault in one of the engines. >>
Saudi Arabia's Economic Revamp Means More Jobs for Saudis---If Only They Wanted Them. Local companies that used to rely on expats are struggling to fill the government’s new quotas with qualified employees, given the large number of jobs Saudis refuse to do. Among the creative solutions: Saudi workers who are paid to stay home. >>
Saudi Arabia's women drivers get ready to steer their lives. DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - On June 24, when Saudi women are allowed to drive for the first time, Amira Abdulgader wants to be sitting at the wheel, the one in control, giving a ride to her mother beside her. >>
Saudi Arabia's women drivers get ready to steer their.... DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, June 19 (Reuters) - On June 24, when Saudi women are allowed to drive for the first time, Amira Abdulgader wants to be sitting at... >>
Saudi Arabian plane catches fire, team lands safely in Rostov-on-Don. The airline said the problem was caused by a bird hitting one of the engines. >>
Saudi soccer team land safely in Rostov after apparent engine fire >>
The Latest: Health official says 6 dead in coalition strike. A senior Houthi-linked health official says the Saudi-led coalition has bombed a bus carrying civilians, killing six people on the outskirts of the Yemeni city of Hodeida >>
The long road to drive for Saudi women. As women get behind the wheel in Saudi Arabia, CNN looks at the long road the country took to get to this point. >>
The women who campaigned to overturn Saudi Arabia's driving ban. It was in the thick of the Arab Spring in 2011 when Manal al-Sharif first had herself recorded driving in Saudi Arabia. "You can have a PhD here and still not know how to drive," says Sharif during an eight-minute video about Saudi Arabia's female driving ban. >>
The women who campaigned to overturn Saudi's driving ban. It was in the thick of the Arab Spring in 2011 when Manal al-Sharif first had herself recorded driving in Saudi Arabia. "You can have a PhD here and still not know how to drive," says Sharif during an eight-minute video about Saudi Arabia's female driving ban. >>
The women who fought Saudi's driving ban. It was in the thick of the Arab Spring in 2011 when Manal al-Sharif first had herself recorded driving in Saudi Arabia. "You can have a PhD here and still not know how to drive," says Sharif during an eight-minute video about Saudi Arabia's female driving ban. >>
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Marketing & Innovation Summit
Jeremy Balkin
Head of Innovation
John Dillon
Denny’s Inc.
Chief Brand Officer & Senior Vice President
Russell Scherwin
Jeremy K. Balkin is the multi-award winning author of two books, Investing with Impact: Why Finance is a Force for Good, and Millennialization of Everything: How to Win When Millennials Rule the World. He hosts a weekly vlog series on LinkedIn about innovation called Be The Change in 60 Seconds and his latest book was been named the 2018 Award Finalist in Leadership by the Book Excellence Awards and the 2017 Award Finalist in Management and Leadership by the Best Book Awards. Mr. Balkin also serves as Head of Innovation for HSBC Bank based in New York, where his team recently made history becoming the first major bank in the world to launch a social humanoid robot and wearable technology in a retail bank environment. He participates on the Samsung Council for Emerging Technology and was recently was named among the Top 19 Innovators in Digital Banking by LendIt USA. Mr. Balkin previously served as an adviser to The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, Australia's 29th Prime Minister, and as an executive with Macquarie Bank. In 2017, Jeremy K. Balkin was named one of the Top 35 Millennial Influencers in the USA by the NBT Movement in Washington D.C. and received the Advance Global Australian Award. Mr. Balkin has also received the UNSW Alumni Award for Achievement and been designated a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in Davos.
John Dillon, Denny’s Inc. Senior Vice President & Chief Brand Officer, is responsible for the brand and marketing direction of Denny’s Corporation, including the development and execution of brand and marketing strategies at the national, international and local market level, brand positioning, advertising campaigns, broadcast and digital/social media, strategic partnerships, multicultural engagement, consumer insights, guest experience, retail development, social responsibility, customer relationship management, off-premise business and overall product/menu development. John’s recent industry recognition includes Business Insider’s “Top 50 Innovative CMOs in the World”, Ad Age “Media Maven” and Nation’s Restaurant News “Power 50” list. Prior to
joining Denny’s, John held multiple marketing leadership positions within various organizations, including within the National Basketball Association and 10 years with Yum! Brands, where he held multiple marketing leadership positions on the Pizza Hut brand.
The last several years have been a period of significant brand revitalization for the Denny’s brand under John’s tenure and leadership. This work includes the identification and amplification of the brand’s America’s Diner positioning and “feeding people” brand purpose, improving or changing over 80% of Denny’s entrees over the past several years, the establishment of an industry-leading digital and social media voice, significant media plan evolution, breakthrough brand partnerships, elevation of the brand’s multicultural marketing focus, the reinvigoration of social responsibility efforts, and the introduction and aggressive system-wide rollout of the brand’s e-commerce initiative of Denny’s on Demand. Together with other members of Denny’s leadership team, brand partners, franchisees and operators these efforts have led to positive system-wide same-store sales growth for the last eight consecutive years.
Denny's is one of America's largest full-service family restaurant chains. With over 90% of domestic restaurants franchise-owned, the brand currently operates over 1,700 franchised, licensed and company-owned restaurants across the United States and 14 countries.
Leading commerce strategy, sales, marketing, and consulting teams for over 20 years, Russell has worked with hundreds of organizations in shaping go-to-market strategies and execution plans. With a passion for technology’s socio-economic impact, Russell is known for expertly fusing economics, strategy, humor, and leadership into a deeply relevant, and entertaining message.
Russell holds an MBA from NYU and a BS in Computer Science from SUNY Binghamton. His expertise in AI is continually reshaped as he “trains” his 8 and 4 year old sons.
Ed Moed
Hot Paper Lantern
Adina Smith
Brian Feit
BMF Media
Responsible for the oversight of client & agency business from both brand and marketing perspectives, as SVP, Integrated Marketing, Brand & PR, Smith leads teams cross-country. In her role, Smith seamlessly communicates and collaborates with all departments, participates in pitching/executing client programs, drives ideation of integrated marketing opportunities with production, digital/social, programming & sales, plus oversees brand standards and creative synchronicity with REVOLT, it’s consumers and clients.
Prior to joining REVOLT, Smith spent over 15 years at top-tier advertising agencies including Dentsu/360i, Young & Rubicam, Deutsch and Ogilvy, where she served as a Partner. Her branding and marketing experience spans a diverse array of industries, including luxury, beauty/fashion, music, retail, technology, spirits, consumer product, energy, automotive, television and financial services categories and consumer product categories. During her career, Smith has also worked in marketing within insurance and financial services at two Fortune 100 organizations, TIAA-CREF and JPMorgan Chase.
A Midwesterner turned Manhattanite, Smith is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago. She currently resides in Manhattan with her husband.
BMF was built on Brian’s creativity and commitment to forging unique experiences that meet the needs of both brands and consumers, by establishing platforms and experiences that evoke a deeper level of emotional engagement. He has always been a passionate believer that brand experiences can transcend moments in time to influence long-term changes in consumer behavior and brand affinity. Brian constantly brings new perspectives to category and industry norms, to inform the design of experiences that establish authentic relevance and stand out from the crowd. He’s a connector and a creator, known for the long-term relationships he’s cultivated with brands and the marketers behind them.
Benjamin Goodman
CitySwoon
Marketing & Events Consultant
Events and Operations Assistant
Jaclyn Ionin
Ionin Law PC
Owner/Principal Attorney
Orr Koren
Koren Films
Ben is a Manhattan native and has worked in the NYC events industry for more than 12 years. He founded a concert booking and promotion company while in high school producing concerts at venues such as Brooklyn Bowl and Webster Hall. Acts Ben has booked include Zoe Kravitz fronted-Elevator Fight, American Authors, Mitchy C (now frontman of Lovelytheband), and The Parlor Mob. After college, Ben transitioned into the hospitality and dating industries where he has worked with clients including CitySwoon (Australia's #1 singles events company), Carmine's Times Square (#2 restaurant in Manhattan), JCrush, BTL SVC, Pisco Porton, and Qui Tequila. He has secured media coverage for his clients in Metro New York and the New York Post as well as on NY1. Currently, Ben is producing weekly events in NYC and two events a month in DC with plans to expand to Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago this year for his client CitySwoon.
Elizabeth was born and raised in NYC, betraying her city briefly and relocating to Atlanta for four years where she attended Emory University. At Emory Elizabeth double majored in English and Philosophy and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She spent her first year out of college working at AIPAC as a member of the Events and Operations Team and is now spending her summer studying UX Research and Design.
As an active member of NYC’s Jewish community, Elizabeth has been involved with several Jewish and Israeli organizations. She is a weekly participant at Meor Manhattan, travelled with the group to Poland, Slovakia and Budapest this past winter and is currently collaborating with a Meor Manhattan employee on a community building project. She also serves on the Belev Echad YL board, and helped to plan, coordinate and recruit for their Chanukah in the City party, their fall gala and their YP Purim Party. Elizabeth has also been involved with the Tikvah Center and Fuel for Truth. She has recently joined the YJP community is eager to meet other members and participants!
Jaclyn is an experienced intellectual property and transactional attorney in NYC serving clients throughout the United States and internationally. She brings a targeted breadth of knowledge in trademark and copyright law, having years of experience working within the media, theater, PR and communications industries, and having represented clients in the music, entertainment, fashion, event production, digital media, tech, food/beverage, consumer goods, and beauty industries.
Protecting the value of clients' intellectual creations and safeguarding their ownership of their hard work is Jaclyn's lead priority as an attorney.
Jaclyn also teaches as an Adjunct Professor at Cardozo School of Law, having developed and instructed the school’s first Trademark Practicum course for international students.
In her spare time, Jaclyn’s passion for theater and love for NYC keeps her exploring the boundless creativity in the world’s greatest city!
After completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Wits University, Orr Koren started Koren Films, a corporate video production company in South Africa, in 2013. Today, Koren Films is based in New York and attracts projects internationally.
Thanks to his large global network, Orr has also invested in further areas of film and business, including Cinelytic, a data analytics platform in the film industry, which helps studios and independent film companies make faster and smarter decisions throughout a film’s value chain.
This event starts on July 17th at 6:00 PM.
YJP is an exclusive community dedicated to connecting young professionals with current industry leaders to help them become the leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. This event will bring together the top marketing and digital professionals from world-renowned brands. Our VIP Panel will discuss current market trends, predictions on where the marketing industry is headed, and speakers' tried-and-true tips on innovation.
The evening kicks off with dinner, drinks, and networking, where you’ll find fresh faces and reconnect with some familiar ones. Afterward, you will take a seat at a dinner table and for hour panel where industry innovators will lead a meaningful discussion regarding current market trends and various innovation philosophies. This your opportunity to personally connect with and get to know some of the most talented and successful professionals within the industry, develop new long-term professional relationships, and explore professional opportunities and potential partnerships. Join us for a gourmet dinner, signature cocktails, and strategic networking as we convene the New York's top marketing and digital professionals.
6:00 - 7:00 Cocktail Reception
7:00 - 8:00 Panel
8:15 - 9:00 Networking
Questions about this event? Please email batsheva.brunswick@yjpnewyork.com.
Check out a preview of what a YJP event is like:
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HISTORY AND FUNCTION OF MUSEUM
Work about a challenge related to the museum’s function
Goal :
– Identify and analyze a challenge in modern museum’s function.
– Develop some skills in research and communication.
It means: Choose a function and then spot a challenge related to that function.
You need then to define a problematic, a « search question » and try to answer it by relying on a relevant literature.
The main purpose is to explore and use the literature on the chosen subject.
The work is in 2 parts :
A – written work ABOUT THE PROBLEMATIC.
First of all, the student has to present his chosen « problematic », his « search question ».
– Identify the chosen function
– Present the subject, the theme, the context
– Ask the « search question »
– Show some arguments to support your work, those will need to be further developed in the text.
You’ll need to create a cover page and build your bibliography. This bibliography must have at least 5 sources, and you need to comment each of it :
– What is the kind of source? (Article, monography, report, etc.)
– Shortly describe what it says
– Why did you choose this source?
The works :
– 2 pages (+ cover, + bibliography), interline 1 ½ , recto-verso
B –written work FINAL.
– Introduction (contains the « problematic », the context, the question, present the structure of the text)
– Show all the arguments, the reflexion, and the documentation about the nowadays challenge relate to your chosen function.
Written work:
– 10 to 13 pages, interline 1 ½ , recto-verso, cover page, bibliography. Print version only
Presentation "The remarkable exhaustiveness of Kautilyas' work, its prominent inductiveness and down to earth character, its courageous rationale, lack of regard of unusual good or religious standard and its extensive variety of subjects and interests gave it a one of a kind mix of features.."[1] - D.R.Bhandarkar In Indian history, the hundreds of years to come and that cruised by, are recorded numerous incredible people and unbelievable characters who formed time through their remarkable deeds and their brilliance in each aptitude. Be that as it may, among of them, Kautilya might be the just a single identity who has been regarded and acknowledged as a splendid individual by Indian researchers as well as western Scholars as well. Kautilya was extraordinary political rationalist and mastermind. We have been portrayed as an incredible educator, quick statesman, dedicated loyalist, profound mastermind, savage manager, ace strategist, sacrificial self-denying, perfect savant and genuine saint.[2] He is called all-rounder since he got dominance in every one of the parts of learning. He was knowledgeable in trade, fighting, Politics, Economics and Vedas. He lived around the third century B.C. yet, even today his thoughts and standards demonstrate pertinence and appropriateness in the present day society. He is an authentic point of reference really taking shape of India. Kautilya is the best individual with intelligence and learning. He is respected pioneer in the field of Economics. The credit of foundation of Mauryan Empire goes to the prescience and learning of Kautilya. He was a key consultant and councilor of Chandragupta Maurya, the author of Mauryan Empire. "This domain was not only made out of various irrelevant locale united under single sceptra; it was a genuine unit in light of regular government which wherever settled the lord's position as well as people in general good.[3] Kautilya was boss planner of his ascent to control so he is called kingmaker as well. A man brimming with vision; he was constantly arranged for the most exceedingly bad. He had the guts to talk his heart out even before the rulers. He himself lived such an existence, denying all enhancements, empathy towards poor people and malevolence to trickery when required which demonstrates a portion of his great qualities of nature. Kautilya was a teacher at the University of Takshashila which is situated close Peshawar in Pakistan. He was the primary man to imagine the main Indian Empire by unification of the different little kingdoms in the Indian subcontinent. His unmistakable works are Nitishastra, Chanakya Niti and Arthashastra. Among these, Arthshastra was generally critical. He thought about financial action as main thrust behind the working of any political activity. Kautilya was a genuine scholar who crossed over any barrier among learning and vision. For Kautilya, great administration was incomparable. LIFE SKETCH OF KAUTILYA – Shockingly There isn't certainity about the day and age of the Kautilya So, points of interest of his introduction to the world and life are not tried and true and we need to depend on custom. The normal time of the Kautilya is from 350-283 B.C.E. There are not very many genuine verifiable actualities about his introduction to the world and passing aside from that he helped Chandragupta to mount the position of authority, to fortify his realm and to join the Indian states for battling against Alexander of Macedonia around 327 B.C.E. Chandragupta Maurya built up the Mauryan Empire in the year 321 B.C.E. Kautilya was most likely conceived around 350 B.C.E. This demonstrates Kautilya was junior contemporary of Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.). There is no confirmation that Kautilya was influenced by Aristotleâ€ÿs thought. A few students of history have "addressing about Kautilyaâ€ÿs presence". His place of birth isn't guaranteed. Some say that he got the name Chanakya on the grounds that he was conceived in China. The Buddhist specifies his origin as Takshashila while Jaina sacred text specify his origination as Chanak in Gola area of South India. As indicated by one form, origination of Chanakya was Dravida so one of the Chanakyaâ€ÿs different names was Dramila. Some trusts his origination was Patliputra. Notwithstanding, Kautilyaâ€ÿs origin will keep on residual a debate. Kautilya had two other two names – Chanaka and vishnugupta. As he was conceived in the town of chanaka, he was called chanakya , Dr. Ganapati Shastri is of the feeling that he was conceived in the ' kutala' gotra. Thus he was named as Kautilya. His folks gave him the name of Vishnugupta at 'namkaran' ceremony.[4] At the point when Kautilya was conceived, he had favored with the full arrangement of teeth, which demonstrated that tyke will progress toward becoming ruler or head. Rishi Chanak was a Kautilya's dad who was found out Brahmin. He was an educator instructor so he knew the significance of training. He began showing his child Kautilya in his initial age. In his initial age, Kautilya was knowledgeable in Vedas; however he retained them totally at early age, At that antiquated time, the Vedas were considered as the hardest sacred writing to ponder. He was additionally shown arithmetic, geology and science alongside religion. Ideal from his youth, Kautilyaâ€ÿs knowledge and wisdom was obvious and viable. His most loved subject was Politics. Kautilya had seen exceptionally troublesome conditions from his adolescence. His father,Chanak was intellectual, not too bad and self regarded Brahmin. He contradicted foul play or undying deeds. The deceitful and self-important lord Dhannanda disliked him normally. The lord disparated the rightness of Chanak so he annoyed Chanakâ€ÿs family for phony reasons. Chanak was placed in jail by the ruler. He passed on in jail. Nobody raised a voice against the treachery with Chanak. Kautilya was a next to no kid that time. He was amazingly dismal on account of his fatherâ€ÿs passing and unfairness occurred with his family. After his fatherâ€ÿs passing, his life was additionally in threat. So he cleared out Patliputra by taking a pledge that he would return and battle against bad form and deliver retribution against Dhannanda. Kautilya had his training at a popular college of Takshashila which was exceptionally presumed one around then. Being a Brahmin of solid assurance anf solid will, he thought to deliver retribution from Nanda – King of Patliputra. He cleared out the capital mortified and he went to scan for a warrior. On his way, he went over the youthful Chandragupta. He found in the last a promising young fellow and began the battle for his establishment on the honored position of Magadha. Their First endeavor Proved to be a disappointment. Anyway in the long run, Chandragupta regrouped his powers, overpowered the borderstates and propelled surge on the capital. The fiendish ruler Dhannanda best of Nanda line wa gifted in 322BC. Hence another tradition Maurya was built up with Chandragupta Maurya enthroned as the lord of Magadha in 321 BC and ruled upto 298 BC.>
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Home 2017 Promise, promises: What Donald Trump has pledged on health care
Promise, promises: What Donald Trump has pledged on health care
[Photo Credit: AP Photo | John Locher]
President Donald Trump is not known for plunging into the details of complex policy issues, and health care is no exception. Since his campaign days, Trump has addressed health care in broad, aspirational strokes. Nonetheless he made some clear promises along the way.
Those promises come under two big headings. First, what Trump would do about the Affordable Care Act, his predecessor’s health care law, often called “Obamacare.” Second, the kind of health care system that Trump envisions for Americans.
On repealing Obama’s law, Trump seems to have a realistic chance to deliver. But he’s nowhere close to fulfilling his generous promises of affordable health care for all.
A look at some of the president’s major health care promises, and how the Republican legislation advancing in Congress lines up with them:
REPEAL ‘OBAMACARE’
Repealing President Barack Obama‘s signature domestic achievement has been a clear and consistent promise from Trump. Under the Obama law, some 20 million people gained coverage through a combination of subsidized private insurance and a state option to expand Medicaid for low-income people. Costs have been a problem, as are shaky insurance markets for people buying their own policies. But the nation’s uninsured rate is at a historic low, about 9 percent.
Both the House and Senate GOP bills would largely fulfill Trump’s promise to repeal Obama’s law.
Both bills end Obama’s unpopular requirement for individuals to carry health insurance or risk fines. The legislation also phases down the Medicaid expansion and repeals hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes on upper-income people and health care industries, used under Obama to finance coverage. And it opens the way for states to seek waivers of federal health insurance requirements.
Some Republican critics on the right say the congressional bills leave other major parts of “Obamacare” in place, such as subsidies for people buying private insurance, and too many rules. While the subsidy structure would remain, much less taxpayer money is invested in it.
“INSURANCE FOR EVERYBODY”
In a Washington Post interview before his inauguration, Trump distilled his vision for health care into a few visionary goals.
“We’re going to have insurance for everybody,” he said. “There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can’t pay for it, you don’t get it. That’s not going to happen with us.”
Trump said he was close to finishing a plan of his own that would have “lower numbers, much lower deductibles.”
But the White House never delivered a health care plan from the president.
And the congressional plans are likely to increase the number of uninsured people, because even if all Americans have access to coverage, some may no longer be able to afford it.
Deductibles are likely to rise for many people with individual coverage because the congressional plans would end subsidies under Obama’s law that reduced out-of-pocket costs for those with modest incomes.
The Congressional Budget Office has projected that, on average, premiums for individual policies would be lower over the long run than under current law. But there would be winners and losers. Younger adults and those in good health are likely to find better deals. Older people and those requiring comprehensive coverage could well end up paying more.
TAKING AWAY THE LINES
During the presidential campaign, Trump called for a system in which insurance plans would compete nationally, offering Americans choice and lower premiums.
“What I’d like to see is a private system without the artificial lines around every state,” he said at one of the presidential debates.
Many experts say Trump’s vision of interstate competition is unrealistic because health insurance, like real estate, reflects local prices. In any case, it remains unfulfilled in the GOP legislation.
Some congressional leaders have promised that cross-state insurance will be addressed in follow-on legislation. Such a bill, however, would likely have to meet a 60-vote test in the Senate.
During the presidential campaign, and since becoming president, Trump called for action to bring down the cost of prescription drugs.
The GOP bills in Congress basically sidestep that.
At one point in the campaign, Trump called for giving Medicare the authority to directly negotiate prices with drug makers, an approach favored to some extent by Obama and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Trump also proposed letting Americans import prescription drugs from other countries, where prices are usually lower because of government regulation.
But Medicare negotiations are a nonstarter for most congressional Republicans, and Trump’s call for allowing drug importation has faded.
In a 2015 interview with The Daily Signal, Trump said: “I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.”
But last year, his campaign started backtracking on the Medicaid promise, endorsing the idea of limited federal financing for the federal-state program that covers some 70 million low-income people, from newborns to elderly nursing home residents, from special-needs kids to part-time workers lacking job-based health insurance.
The Republican bills in Congress would phase out Obama’s financing for Medicaid expansion and limit future federal payments for the entire program as well. The Congressional Budget Office said the House bill would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $834 billion over 10 years, and the program would cover about 14 million fewer people by 2026, a 17 percent reduction.
Several Republican governors have joined their Democratic counterparts calling that a massive cost-shift to the states.
The Trump White House says it’s serious about confronting the nation’s opioid epidemic, which shows no sign of letup.
“The president is all in,” health secretary Tom Price said on a recent visit to New Hampshire. “He has such passion for this issue because he knows the misery and the suffering that has occurred across this land.”
But state officials say rolling back Obama’s Medicaid expansion would deal a heavy blow to their efforts to treat addiction and get its victims back to jobs and family. Among the group of low-income adults made eligible for Medicaid under Obama are many younger people struggling with drug problems. They’ve been able to get treatment and support services through Medicaid.
The Senate bill would set up a $2 billion fund to help states fight the epidemic; some GOP senators had sought $45 billion. The House bill does not address it.
Tom Price
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“We were able to substitute paternalism with partnership”, says Rosa Whitaker
“African economies vulnerable to external shocks in 2019,” says Albert Zeufack, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa
Jay Naidoo: “The federation has run out of steam”
Interview with SBM Holdings chairman Kee Chong Li Kwong Wing
Njoroge: No more ‘business as usual’ in Kenya banking
African Banker
“Africa Remains The Next Investment Hub”
The rise of the Super ATM
African Banking: Preparing for the spring forward
Nigeria: Rising inflation dampens consumer confidence
Ghana’s asset market primed for growth – Ecobank
The African Youth Agripreneurs Forum
Gebeya
Cameroon Country File
Articles by region
In this month's issue
Customer Satisfaction is More Important Than Ever During the Festive Season
African Business Magazine
The end of year festive season is almost upon us and for many businesses, especially those in the retail sector, this means the start of the peak activity period. In order to realize revenue targets, as well as offer a shopping experience that attracts a loyal following, it is imperative that retailers, both traditional and online, are properly geared for the expected upsurge in sales that is synonymous with the ‘silly season’.
This is according to Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa (www.dpDHL.com), who points to the findings in a 2016 study by McKinsey & Company, which indicates that shoppers in the African market are developing and demanding more creative, engaging and integrated shopping experiences from brands. “Multi-channel access points and reliable digital platforms are increasing in importance as consumers continue to look for products that are value for money. Companies must give consumers solid reasons to choose their product or store over alternatives,” he says.
Shoppers based in Africa shop across a number of channels and respondents claimed to have shifted a considerable amount of their spending toward modern retailers and away from the small independent retailers.
During the festive season, a company’s top priority is to make sure that its platforms are effectively managed and prepared to deal with an increased influx of customers. This period is also a highly competitive time for retailers and Heymans comments that supply chain management strategies are critical.
“Retailers need to ensure their supply chain is agile enough to handle the volume spike. To maximize profitability, retailers need quick, smart and cost-effective methods to fulfill orders timeously and accurately across multiple sales channels. Additionally, effective reverse logistics processes are also essential for managing returns to ensure a smooth, hassle-free customer experience. As e-tailers often extend or introduce free shipping offers over the festive season – it’s important for businesses to understand their shipping costs and processes to mitigate any potential shortfalls. Repeat deliveries stemming from incorrect products or address changes can result in additional shipping costs. Customers should also be reminded of potential duties, taxes and additional costs when importing from a site overseas. Ultimately, it’s all about managing expectations and satisfying the customers’ needs.”
Heymans adds that when problems do arise, it is important for businesses to be ready to resolve them effectively. “Customers with queries or complaints should be able to access various escalation channels easily. Access to senior managers should be clearly defined so that customers do not have the added frustration of trying to track down someone who can’t assist them. At DHL Express, we introduced a best-in-class feature on our website which allows customers access to the whole Senior Management team, through our ‘Straight To The Top (STTT)’ initiative. All STTT queries are logged and reported at a country and regional level; these are effective in helping highlight broader issues and we use root-cause analysis to identify solutions,” Heymans says.
Customer experience is what makes or breaks a business. “We’ve been in Africa for over 38 years, and our team of experienced employees, also known as Certified International Specialists, works hard to keep the customer at the center of everything we do. We have a saying at DHL in Africa, where we ‘take it personally’. The only way you can delight a customer is if you take the time to personally understand what they need, and do everything in your power to deliver it,” concludes Heymans.
Statistics: McKinsey & Company http://APO.af/b80kVG; http://APO.af/z4Oqut.
Distributed by APO on behalf of Deutsche Post DHL.
Megan Collinicos
Head of Marketing, Sub-Saharan Africa, DHL Express
Megan.Collinicos@DHL.com
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DHL – The logistics company for the world
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Norwegian Expands With More Flights To Stewart, New York
by Alvaro Sanchez
MIAMI — Norwegian Air Shuttle will double its current service from Stewart International Airport (SWF) to Dublin Airport (DUB), starting on April 26, 2018.
The route, operated with the airline’s 189-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8, was first launched last summer. According to Thomas Ramdahl, Norwegian’s Chief Commercial Officer, the decision of introducing twice-daily flights comes after a high demand; at least 130,000 passengers since it was launched in July.
Living in the #Dublin area? We've now doubled your opportunities to fly with us to #NewYork. Our new double daily service will also allow you to do day #shopping trips in New York State at the outlet malls. https://t.co/e5SCT2BdEY #MondayMotivation #FlyNorwegian #USA pic.twitter.com/Sr2xW4FY6P
— Norwegian UK & Ireland (@NorwegianUKI) February 26, 2018
READ MORE: High Flyer Interview: Norwegian Airlines CCO, Thomas Ramdahl
“With strong demand for our high-quality flights in brand new aircraft, it was naturally our next move to increase capacity to Ireland even further. We’re making it easier for Americans to access Ireland and beyond at a much better value,” added Ramdahl.
With the new schedule, the first flight will depart from SWF at 12:25 pm and the second at 8:30 pm.
The low-cost carrier will also increase the number of transatlantic flights from Shannon, starting on March 27, increasing frequency to Providence from two to four flights a week, and the addition of a third weekly flight to Stewart International Airport (SWF) in New York.
Currently Norwegian flies to SWF from Belfast-International, Bergen, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Shannon.
READ MORE: Norwegian Reveals Major London-Gatwick Expansion
The upcoming launches of the carrier to the U.S. include: Chicago to London on March 25; Austin to London on March 27; Denver to Paris on April 9; Oakland/San Francisco to Paris on April 10; Boston to Paris on May 2; New York/JFK to Amsterdam on May 7; Los Angeles to Milan on June 18; Los Angeles to Madrid on July 16; and New York/JFK to Madrid on July 18.
DublinNorwegianNorwegian AirSWF
Alvaro Sanchez
Online Executive Editor. Journalist and Certified Radio Host. Studying for a Specialization in Public Opinion and Political Communications. Even though I love politics I've found myself fascinated by the Aviation World. I'm also passionate by economy, strategic communications, my family, my country, and dogs. mc@airwaysmag.com
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Alastair Gordon
Articles by Alastair Gordon
Books by Alastair Gordon
Tag Archives: RIver of Grass
MURDER IN THE SWAMP
Posted on January 9, 2012 by alastair gordon
Vultures on black-fingered wings tilt back and forth over the broken trees. – Peter Matthiesen
Could it be those fingers of swampy wildness that reach into the Metroplex with Saw Grass and Coontie? The whorl-shaped sloughs that surround Ft. Lauderdale airport? The drainage ditches along Route 75 or the mysterious savannah I first glimpsed through a chain-link fence on the way to Key West? Where do the Everglades begin? Sometimes, strolling through Bal Harbour, I catch a whiff of jungle funk wafting on the breeze from an outlying swale and I think of Ponce de León, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and others who came here for conquest and glory, but only found mosquitoes, disease, and sodden camp sites. The Spanish were perplexed by the place and so were the English. It was a problem of entry, perception, discovery, mapping, claiming territory and finding familiar points of reference. Journalists and poets didn’t know how to write about it. Artists didn’t know how to paint it. There was no real center, no overarching theme or landmark, no mountain, canyon or picturesque waterfall. The Glades splayed and sprawled and seeped restlessly southwards from Lake Okeechobee in the river of grass that conservationist Marjory Stoneman Douglas wrote about. But the river metaphor was misleading to many because one imagined a river as a meandering channel between two banks while this was more like a hundred-mile swathe of water without sides, only a few inches deep, continually moving southwards in a steady flow, what modern hydrographers call sheetflow or what the Seminoles called Pa-Hay-Okee, meaning grassy water.
Explorers, missionaries, surveyors, botanists and plume hunters used less dignified adjectives like dismal, barren, hideous, desolate, monotonous, lonely, lost, impenetrable, impossible, inundated, unnavigable to describe the “God-abandoned hellscape” that was the Everglades. “No obstruction offered itself to the eye as it wandered o’er the interminable, dreary waste of waters, except the tops of tall rank grass, about five feet or upwards in height, and which harmonized well with the desolate aspect of the surrounding regions, exhibiting a picture of universal desolation,” wrote army surgeon Jacob Motte who passed through during the Seminole Wars of 1836-1838. [*Journey into Wilderness: An Army Surgeons’s Account of Life in Camp and Field During the Creek and Seminole Wars, 1836-1838, via Michael Grunwald’s meticulously researched The Swamp, Simon & Schuster, 2006, p. 42.]
Today there are numerous points of penetration, gateways of a sort to the placeless place: one to the west in Chokoloskee, another to the south in a ghost town called Flamingo. A raised wooden walkway leads through a flooded cypress landscape near Monroe Station or you can paddle your kayak through the mangrove tunnels of Nine-Mile Pond. There’s also a limited access through Lake Chekika and Grossman’s Hammock although they’re often flooded during the wet season.
Of course, the real obstacle is psychological, not physical. It’s a matter of adjusting one’s expectations and learning to paint oneself into the picture, so to speak, slowing down, catching the translucent layers and hidden hues. My son and I set out on Thursday morning with bug spray, sun block, and a copy of Peter Matthiesen’s Shadow Country as our guide, a novel infested with outlaws, drifters, ragged desperados, and the man at the center, Edgar J. Watson, also known as “Bloody Watson,” who’s more complex than Hamlet. What may have once felt like a mental barrier, an impossible transition from Bling City to Pa-Hay-Okee, now proves to be quite effortless.
You simply retrieve the rented car from valet parking and drive west along SW 8th Street until it turns into Route 41, continue in a straight line past Krome Avenue and the pastel-pink-and-blue blob of the Miccosukee Gambling Casino, last vestige of civilization before the horizontal sweep of the Everglades unfolds with only an occasional airboat ride and alligator wrestling joint, passing over weirs, sluices and drainage canals designed to control the uncontrollable. It’s flat and repetitive, reminiscent of the polders of Holland with the same translucent, water-saturated light that Jacob van Ruisdael painted. The sky seems vast, overbearing.
You continue west on the Tamiami Trail through Water Conservation Area #3B where the natural flow of the Glades has been interrupted by canals, levees and roadways so that water has to be transferred from the north to south by a complex system of pumps and sluice gates, a kind of artificial life-support system devised by the Army Corps of Engineers.
About thirty-five miles west of the Miccosukee Gambling Casino there’s a turn off for the Shark River Slough. You can walk or take a trolley out to the observation tower, and it’s really quite a beautiful, if absurd, monument standing out there in the middle of Motte’s universal desolation, a kind of deconstructed Guggenheim Museum built during the spacy 1960s (originally a fire lookout) with a ramp and two-tiered tower rising sixty feet above the marshy expanse. Here, in this place where there’s no there, as Gertrude Stein put it, the tower provides a kind of metaphysical thereness, a 360-degree frame of reference.
From afar, it has the presence of De Chirico’s Great Tower of 1913: lonely, spectral, melancholic, but as you get closer you can see that it splays out with a concrete pedestrian chute that makes a wide, cantilevered spiral over a boggy sump of sedges and spikerushes: needle spikerush, scallion grass, dwarf hairgrass, fewflower, false junco, umbrella hairgrass…
And then there’s the humble but mysterious Periphyton, tubular, spongy algae that clusters in mats just below the surface of the water. It provides nutrients while filtering pollutants, retains water and helps to sustain the balance of moisture in the Everglades during the dry season.
It starts to rain again as soon as we reach the top of the tower and try to take in the panorama of flooded desert, sawgrass prairie with occasional pools, narrow canals, clumps of hardwood rising slightly higher but otherwise flat and featureless to the horizon in every direction. As a destination it remains unaccommodating, resists interpretation. On first glance it looks like nothing. Maybe it takes a day or more to get used to the ineffable scale and emptiness. Maybe then you finally catch the subtle gradations of sky and light across the broader expanses. In any case, it’s a long, slow read: muted strokes of pale ochre, viridian, with slightly denser patches of tea-green, pale sea green, asparagus green, dotted here and there by tiny flecks of berry, red, umber and yellow, and unusual plants that grow in moving water like bladderwort, spatterdock, maidencane, white water lily, and a few undernourished slash pines in the distance.
A group of geriatric Danes arrive by trolley and move up the ramp as if a single Viking organism. They take photographs and hurry back down. We stay a bit longer, gazing at the sub-wash of pink-tinged heliotrope that might be a result of watery light refracted through the shallows, somehow, I’m not sure, but maybe the matte grayness of the lowering sky acts as a sponge, a kind of optical Periphyton, pulling invasive hues up from the groundscape.
On my way back from the tower, a chatty Park Ranger offers me some type of edible brown berry. Will I hallucinate? He laughs. The Calusas used it in ceremonies. It has the bittersweet tang of Scottish marmalade and leaves my mouth oddly dry with a zincish aftertaste. I jot down the name of the plant but lose the slip of paper.
We drive further west past Monroe Station and Ochopee, past America’s smallest post office, built circa 1916 for work crews on the Tamiami Trail , then left onto Route 29 and Everglades City, not a city at all but cheap motels and trailer parks with a current population of under 500. City founders like Barron Collier and the Storter family had high hopes, envisioning a marshy utopia laid out in a grid of streets and avenues–Storter, Copeland, Kumquat, Collier–with a traffic circle at the center and an imposing city hall, a bank, laundry, churches and a proper schoolhouse. They even built a trolley line through the middle of town anticipating the coming boom but no one came and most of the lots remain empty, awaiting urbanization.
Lunch of deep-fried gator tail and frog legs at creaky Rod and Gun Club–old homestead of George W. Storter, early settler and sugar planter. The lobby glows with an orange hue from a thousand coats of shellac over walls and stuffed tarpon, alligator heads and panthers, their jaws now slack and leaking dust.
Above the reception desk hang photographs of several U.S. Presidents, earnest-eyed hunters and fishermen from the 1920s when the place flourished as a sportsman’s retreat. Hemingway came here, so did Zane Grey. Now it’s sour with ammonia and a family of possum scatter when I step through the back door, and tell myself it’s good background material for something.
But I can never claim this as narrative space for myself because it’s already been irrevocably staked and claimed by Matthiesen and his great swamp epic Shadow Country, so much so that I feel like I’m literally sliding down one of his sinewy sentences as we cross the causeway onto Chokoloskee itself: “…a baleful sky out toward the Gulf looks ragged as a ghost, unsettled, wandering.” And he’s right. The sky is ghostly, witholding rain and wandering in a way that gives me a headache just squinting at the steamy light. Maybe it’s the vapor from so many shallow estuaries, too many ions, the swamp gas or miasma that was thought to cause Malaria. I don’t have a clue. There’s a shirtless man in the shallows near the bridge, fishing with a butterfly net. A dull, blue-gray line marks the horizon as if we’d finally reached the end of the world.
Nothing much to Chokoloskee itself, more cheap bungalows, trailer parks, shabby pre-fabs propped on concrete pylons. We turn past the Havana Café onto Mamie Street and find the pitted track that leads to Smallwood’s General Store, a wood-framed building, painted red and raised high on cedar posts to escape flood. Inside, there’s one long and poorly illuminated chamber with hardly any windows but an open door at the far end, filtering swamp-brewed light from the Gulf of Mexico. The barge-like structure was built in 1906 by Charles Sherod “Ted” Smallwood with low-pitched roof, vertical boards of termite-resistant slash pine, all of it propped high on locust posts like Noah’s Ark, ready to float away in the final Deluge. I have a sudden urge to buy something, but there’s nothing for sale other than a few old postcards.
It housed the original post office and Indian trading post and is now open as a museum of sorts, frozen in time somewhere about 1941, the year that Smallwood retired as postmaster, and a decade before the causeway to the mainland was finished. Shelves are stacked along side walls, original counters and glass vitrines in tact and stuffed with dusty relics. It also provides the opening scenography for Shadow Country: the hurricane of 1910 has just passed and the novel begins with a kind of Biblical inventory-taking of objects ravaged and rendered useless by the storm: “Pots, kettles, crockery, a butter churn, tin tubs, buckets, blackened vegetables, salt-slimed boots, soaked horsehair mattresses, a ravished doll are strewn across bare salt-killed ground...” The grounds around Smallwood’s store are still puddled with a putrefying stench of death and rank corruption. “Vultures on black-fingered wings tilt back and forth over the broken trees… stove-in boats, uprooted shacks… odd pieces torn away from their old places hanging askew, strained from the flood by mangrove limbs twisted down into the tide.”
There’s a similar tidal wash of inventory inside Smallwood’s store today: pickle jars, animal skins, moldy books and magazines, tobacco tins, old-fashioned tinctures and ointments in their original boxes, hurricane lanterns, axe handles, 1923 typewriter, sacks of raw sugar (Pearl White, Fine Granulated,) Miccosukee weavings, turtle shell, dried sponge, sawfish rostrum, gator jaws, photo albums, candy jars, coffee grinder, old pop bottles, egret plumes, ancient cash register, faded signs and photographs of how the place once looked–much the same as now–and a scale model that someone made from toothpicks and popsicle sticks. In fact, there are two scale models, one being quite elaborate and lit from within, something like the miniature spirit shrines you see along the roadsides of Southeast Asia, but in this case honoring the myth of self-sufficiency and the lost ways of frontier living.
The postmaster’s window is still there and so is Ted Smallwood’s bedroom in a back corner, gloomy with creaky bedsprings and threadbare quilt, Victorian undergarments hanging from a line over his bed. There’s also a life-sized mannequin of Ted Smallwood himself sitting in a rocking chair with a milky, infinite look in his eyes, staring out towards the bay.
On the other side of the store, someone has put together a little display, almost an altar, dedicated to the Watson legacy with letters, photographs and drawings, a charcoal rendering of the man, an oil painting of his house at Chatham Bend, newspaper clippings, letters, old pamphlets and books that tell the story. There’s even a box of shells and a shotgun that was supposedly used in his execution, and a hand-drawn sign that proudly states: “KILLING MR. WATSON WAS A COMMUNITY PROJECT.”
The crudely marked map has circles and arrows that point to locations where Watson’s victims were said to be buried: Lostman’s Key, Storter Bay, Opossum Key, Deer Island and if you have a morbid curiosity you can paddle your kayak down the Wilderness Waterway and visit these sites or go to the Watson place on Chatham River, twenty miles south of Chockoloskee. How many bodies did he bury in the inlets and shoals around his homestead? How many did he really kill? There’s a sign and a little dock that the park service maintains. The house burned down a long time ago but the foundation still exists as well as a cistern and some spooky remains of the Watson sugar works.
There’s a photograph of Watson himself set in a Victorian frame with a floral pattern embossed around the olive-gray matting. He’s sitting upright, wearing a tightly fitted jacket, high lapels and short tie, but I find it hard to look at the face. A surprising face, not what I’d imagined, wide and urgent, clear brow, receding hairline; high, square forehead. Wary of ambush, Watson was said to never turn his back on anyone, even a child, and there’s a cant to the head, slightly to the left, as if the photographer caught him off guard, in motion, ready for a turn, retreat or drawing of his pistol.
“He was a Scotsman with red hair and fair skin and mild blue eyes,” wrote Marjorie Douglas in the 1940s, after interviewing people who were old enough to remember the man. “He was quiet spoken and pleasant to people. But people noticed one thing. When he stopped to talk on a Fort Myers street, he never turned his back to anyone.” Was he glaring at the nervous photographer? There’s a resemblance, not unlike a certain paternal grandfather, but it’s hard to look at the old tintype and not see a serial killer. Without such foreknowledge he might be mistaken for a mid-level banker, fish-oil salesman or prominent planter, which is what he was, but there’s something in the eyes that blows that illusion. The eyes are high and creepily close together, intense and penetrating, verging toward madness.
A 19th-century phrenologist would read Watson’s high, broad forehead as obdurate, stubborn, willful and prone to outbursts of violence. The pronounced ears were said to signify lude passions according to Owen Squire Fowler, phrenologist and octagon-house pioneer, but the mouth and jaw are impossible to read because Watson sported such a thick moustache and mutton-chop sideburns as if to conceal his true, ornery nature. Were his lips full and fleshy or were they thin and coldly pursed? Did they smirk with an ironic foreshadowing of his own demise or were they locked in a permanent frown? It’s hard to tell.
The waxy, end-blown light inside Smallwood’s makes me feel like I’m standing inside an overexposed sepia tintype myself. My stomach is rumbling. The fried gator from lunch is crawling back up my gullet in a bid for reptilian revenge. I’m relieved to walk onto the back porch that hangs over Chokoloskee Bay and look down to the very spot where Watson pushed his boat ashore onto a bed of broken shells, just before he met his violent end that day, October 24, 1910.
We climb down a rickety staircase and stand on the murder spot. The sun is setting over the Gulf and I peer into the subfusc crawl space (more like walk space) where Smallwood kept his chickens. They were all drowned in the hurricane and the postmaster was cleaning out the sorry mess when the shootout started. “Wincing, Smallwood arches his back, takes a dreadful breath, gags, hawks, expels the sweet taste of chicken rot in his mouth and nostrils.” No chickens now, only sand and the smell of salted pine down there along with a Miccosukee dugout, beautifully carved and propped on a wooden stand. This was where the neighborhood posse gathered in twilight and gunned down E.J. Watson in cold blood.
“He never crumpled but fell slow as a felled tree… You never seen a man so dead in all your life.” More than thirty-three bullets were pulled from the bloated corpse and plunked into a coffee can. After that they stopped counting.
“If nobody is innocent, who can be guilty?”
[*Quotations from Shadow Country, Peter Matthiessen, Random House, 2008.]
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alligator wrestling, alligators, Army Corps of Engineers, Baron Collier, bladderwort, Bling City, Calusa Indians, causeway, Chatham Bend, Chekika, Chokoloskee, Chokoloskee Bay, De Chirico, Deer Island, deluge, egret plumes, Ernest Hemingway, Everglades, Everglades City, false junco, fewflower, Flamingo, Florida, Fort Myers, frog legs, Gambling Casino, gator tail, George W. Storer, Gertrude Stein, Great Tower, Grossman's Hammock, Gulf of Mexico, Havana Cafe, Jacob van Ruisdael, kayaking, Killing Mr. Watson, Lake Okeechobee, landscape, Lostman's Key, maidencane, Mamie Street, mangrove, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, marsh, Miami, Miccosukee, Monroe Station, Mr. Watson, National Park, Nine-Mile Pond, Noah's Ark, Ochopee, Opossum Key, Owen Squire Fowler, Pa0Hay-Okee, panthers, Park Ranger, perception, Peter Matthiesen, phrenology, plume hunters, Ponce de Leon, raw sugar, RIver of Grass, Rod and Gun Club, sawfish, scalion grass, Scottish marmalade, sedge, Seminoles, sexy alligator, Shadow Country, Shark RIver Slough, sheetflow, shell mound, Smallwood's General Store, spatterdock, spikerushes, sponge, Storter, subfusc, sump, swamp, Tamiami Trail, tarpon, Ten Thousand Islands, trolley line, turtle shell, umbrella hairgrass, vultures, white water lily, Wilderness Waterway, Zane Grey | 5 Replies
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U.S. Staff
Our Partner Organization in Guatemala, ABPD
Our Founder, Dr. Carroll Behrhorst
Our Partner Communities
Chajalajyá, Tecpán
Palamá, Tecpán
Palima, Tecpán
Xecoxol, Tecpán
Chiraxaj, Santa Apolonia
San Lucas, Santa Apolonia
San Vicente, Tecpán
Vista Hermosa, Tecpán
Xeabaj, Santa Apolonia
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
ALDEA-ABPD Joint Strategic Plan 2018-2023
More Ways to Donate
“Glimpse of Guatemala” Tour
Dr. Carroll Behrhorst Legacy Society
Guatemala Insight Tour: Rotary Working with ALDEA
Visionaries Documentary
Thank you to our 2018 donors!
What Is Chronic Childhood Malnutrition?
50th Anniversary Gallery (1967-2017)
ALDEA | Strengthening Mayan Communities
We work with communities to design the most appropriate water and sanitation solution for that community based on an environmental assessment and what the community wants. Potable water is an essential component in our fight against malnutrition. Water-borne illnesses such as diarrhea can be fatal, especially to children suffering from chronic malnutrition. Sanitary and hygienic homes offer healthier environments for families. For this reason, we educate families on the importance of hand washing, using latrines, and removing waste water from homes via our gray water filtration system. Potable water and efficient stoves lessen the need for firewood, thereby decreasing deforestation and erosion. Water no longer has to be boiled and less firewood is needed for cooking. Improved indoor air quality due to efficient cook stoves saves lives; the World Health Organization reported 4.3 million deaths in 2012 that were attributable to indoor air pollution, 19,000 in the Americas alone.
Women and children are the traditional water bearers and wood gatherers in these communities, spending several hours a day on these tasks. Without these responsibilities, girls can stay in school, and women have more control over their time. Keeping girls in school is a long-term objective in increasing women’s autonomy in the home. As women are empowered to make decisions about time allocation in the home nutrition improves for the whole family.
A typical water and environmental sanitation project agreement will include a plan to:
bring running water to each household or to key points in the community;
ensure that water is chlorinated or appropriately filtered;
install gray water filters and ecological latrines;
build improved cook stoves that ventilate smoke outside the house and use less firewood;
develop other environmental measures such as adequate disposal of solid waste, and
create a health education plan to ensure that families adopt appropriate hygienic practices such as hand washing.
Each beneficiary family signs a commitment to pay a monthly assessment that goes to a pooled fund for maintenance and repairs, as well as to share in communal activities to monitor and maintain the system. When the project begins, community members provide basic coordination and oversight, manual labor, locally available building materials and a percentage of the cost of hiring the needed professional/technical consultants. The municipal government provides some technical and monitoring support and some of the materials that are not locally available.
We provide most of the materials that are not locally available and supports and mentors the local committee to coordinate the whole process, which takes approximately one year to complete.
We are a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Partner with us to end childhood malnutrition.
Thank you to our donors and friends for your generous support in 2018!
If you haven't yet, there's still time to make a year-end gift to support our work with Mayan families at aldeaguatemala.org/donations/.
We wish you a very Happy New Year and look forward to all we'll accomplish together in 2019! ... See MoreSee Less
Thank you to all our donors and friends for all you do to support our rural Guatemalan partners as they build stronger, healthier communities! We at ALDEA wish you peace and joy during the holidays and in the new year. ... See MoreSee Less
ALDEA was live — supporting ALDEA.
We are celebrating #GivingTuesday by going LIVE for a virtual site visit so you can see our work in action! Paco Enríquez, Executive Director of our sister organization ABPD in Guatemala, is hosting a tour of projects currently in progress in our partner community of San Vicente, Tecpán.
Help ALDEA bring the programs you see to more families and communities - make your #GivingTuesday gift now! Use the "Donate" button here and Facebook may actually double your donation - today they're matching the first $7 million in contributions to nonprofits like us. You can also donate at aldeaguatemala.org/donations/. Thank you! ... See MoreSee Less
Address for Donations:
Dept. 116234, P.O. Box 5211, Binghamton, NY 13902
1732 1st Avenue #26867, New York, NY 10128
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What Annie Read // The Lone City Trilogy by Amy Ewing
The Lone City Trilogy by Amy Ewing
Find The Jewel On // Amazon // Goodreads
Find The White Rose On // Amazon // Goodreads
Find The Black Key On // Amazon // Goodreads
Goodreads Synopsis of The Jewel:
The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.
Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.
Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence… and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.
My Goodreads Ratings:
The Jewel: 3/5 stars
The White Rose: 2/5 stars
The Black Key: 3/5 stars
This review, like all my reviews, is spoiler-free.
Today, I’m reviewing The Lone City Trilogy, which is comprised of The Jewel, The White Rose, and The Black Key by Amy Ewing. In order to avoid spoilers, I’ve rolled my thoughts on the entire trilogy into one, bite-sized review, which is appropriate for the series because my thoughts on the quality of the writing and plot itself were largely consistent across the three books.
In The Jewel, protagonist and narrator Violet Lasting lives in the Lone City, which is divided into circles by the overbearing royalty who live at the heart of the island in an opulent quarter called, wait for it, The Jewel. Because of inbreeding, the royalty are not allowed to have children, but they ameliorate this problem by shipping in young girls from the Marsh (the poorest circle of the city) to bear their children. The girls chosen to be surrogates must possess the Auguries: the ability to change something’s shape, color, and size with their mind. As presumed, Violet is a surrogate who is purchased by a prestigious royal house and forced to bear their child.
Violet as a protagonist and narrator was quite lackluster and painfully similar to the whopping majority of female dystopian protagonists. She is tall, pale with black hair, and has violet eyes. She loves her family and feels the need to protect them because of the death of her father. She hates the society in which she was raised. She plays the cello, which amazes everyone who comes into contact with her. All these details would make for an interesting character if Violet had an idiosyncrasy that I hadn’t read before. Her character development only served as a device to heighten the stakes and push the plot along. Her personality and inner workings were never developed beyond what was necessary for the reader to comprehend the story. As a lover of character-driven stories, this was largely disappointing.
The same sentiment can be applied to all the characters. There was the best friend named Raven with caramel skin and black hair (is anyone else tired of seeing best friends named Raven?), the forbidden love interest with messy hair and a kind smile, the mean girl who doesn’t understand her privilege, the kind servant who befriends the protagonist, the cruel mistress and her absent, intoxicated husband. These characters possessed so much potential to be rich and intriguing, but they missed every opportunity to become more than just a plot device.
In the second and third book, name-dropping was a serious problem. Violet would mention other characters by name, give us a physical description of the person, and then move on with the plot. This quick introduction gave me the impression that these characters were disposable and unimportant, even though the plot later revealed that I was supposed to love them. How am I supposed to root for a character if there is no development beyond name and eye color? Because I was largely indifferent to most of the characters introduced, I didn’t care about them when the perilous climax came along. Ewing sabotaged a suspenseful conclusion by only leaving me a handful of characters who I knew and recognized.
In theory, the idea of The Lone City is a unique concept: an isolated island, people trapped in their respective circles by looming and impenetrable walls, with a small population of well-bred wealth lounging at the center and sucking in funds from the poorer circles. However, the setting also squandered its potential. There was no sense of continuity between the five circles as if they had five entirely different aesthetics that were entirely incompatible. While the Marsh was aptly named after its muddy streets and poor residents, the Farm was a sunny splash of rolling hills and greenery, which further contrasted with the coal dust and despair found in the Smoke. These different circles all share the same island, and I have a hard time believing that five entirely different environments would be found perfectly contained with no overlap. How did the smell of smoke not travel from the Smoke to the Bank? How are there only hills in the Farm? These basic worldbuilding questions were entirely overlooked and distracted me from enjoying the plot itself.
In spite of my aforementioned critique of The Lone City Trilogy, I did enjoy the books. Analysis through a literary lens perhaps isn’t most appropriate, for I think these books were meant to be consumed for entertainment, and entertainment they definitely deliver. When I let myself just enjoy the book without looking for inconsistencies, the entertainment factor sucked me right in. These books are designed to create an alternate world where we as readers can exist for a little while. The Lone City Trilogy is escapist fiction at its finest: a unique story that, once I turned off my literary analysis mode, was enjoyable to read.
Have you read The Lone City Trilogy? What are your favorite escapist fiction books?
Related Post // My Spoiler-Free Review of The Belles
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Posted in: book reviews, Books | Tagged: amy ewing, amy ewing books, book, book blog, book blogger, book bloggers, book blogs, book review, book reviews, bookish, bookish blog, bookish blogger, bookish bloggers, bookish blogs, Books, lone city book review, the black key, the jewel, the jewel book review, the jewel trilogy, the lone city, the lone city trilogy, the white rose
On Tragedy (and Why We Should Write More of It) UNFINISHED
How to Support Creators (Without Breaking the Bank)
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An iconographic and text archive related to communication, technology and art.
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Browse: Home / Weekly Link Roundup 12.05
Weekly Link Roundup 12.05
This past week link roundup includes an introduction to the “urban datasexual” (a new mode of subjectivation?), a chart showing who’s authorized to fly drones in the United-States, a new gallery of images related to New York’s history, spambots which started to do philosophy (self-awarness will likely be reached in a near future: according to XKCD, there’s nothing to worry about), the increasing popularity of self-tracking, a couple of interesting resources about Klout (online influence tracking), some thoughts about “the cloud”, and more.
The New Republic: “How ‘The Godfather’ Was Diminished By Its State-of-the-Art Restoration” by David Thomson, April 24, 2012. Excerpt:
The Godfather was, for a moment, the most successful film ever at the box office. And now it is not exactly a film, but something fit for plush seating and Doremi servers. No, I haven’t seen this version, but I have seen enough digital projection in “complete entertainment environments” to be wary of the technical coldness of the show, and an end to that feeling of light falling on skin—photography, where appearance has burned into silver salts.
Big Think: “Meet the Urban Datasexual” by Dominic Basulto, April 16, 2012. Excerpt:
The origin of the datasexual in all likelihood started with the humble infographic, which is a highly stylized and well-designed way to talk about all the data out there on Web. The infographic trend was followed by the data visualization trend, which made it even cooler to display data in innovative new ways. These data visualization tools eventually gave us cultural artifacts like Nicholas Felton’s annual Feltron Reports, which made the obsessive recording of everyday activities seem cool. From there, it was only a small evolutionary step to the whole quantified self (QS) movement, which promises “self knowledge through numbers.” QS proponents obsessively track every single bit of data about themselves throughout the day. The QS movement eventually led us to the embrace of data by consumer-facing companies Nike, who found a way for urban datasexuals to flaunt their obsessive data-grooming to the rest of us in a way that’s stylish and mod.
Journal of Historians of Netherlandish Art: “Dirty Books: Quantifying Patterns of Use in Medieval Manuscripts Using a Densitometer” by Kathryn M. Rudy, vol. 2, issue 1-2, 2010 (PDF). Abstract:
Early users of medieval books of hours and prayer books left signs of their reading in the form of fingerprints in the margins. The darkness of their fingerprints correlates to the intensity of their use and handling. A densitometer — a machine that measures the darkness of a reflecting surface — can reveal which texts a reader favored
The Atlantic: “Who Has the Right to Fly a Drone Above Your Head? Finally, There’s a List” by Alexis Madrigal, April 25, 2012.
NYC Department of Records: “The NYC Department of Records announces on-line access to a gallery of over 870,000 images”. Direct access to the gallery here. Depending on your location, servers may be down “due to overwhelming demand”.
Associated Press (via Fox News): “Breivik’s publicity at trial just what he wanted”, April 25, 2012. Excerpt:
As Anders Behring Breivik has given shocking and remorseless accounts to a Norwegian court of how he massacred 77 people, his testimony has revived a debate about how much of a public platform mass-murderers should be given in trials.
Ian Bogost: “My spam readers…might be more interesting than my human ones” April 21, 2012. Excerpt:
(…) this morning I found a new salvo of incredibly persuasive imitations in my blog comments. There’s no doubt that they are spam, but its now clear that the spambots are carefully reading my blog (and other, related blogs)—perhaps more carefully than many human readers.
Rhizome: “A Conversation with Jonathan Lethem” by Joanne McNeil, April 26, 2012. Excerpt:
I’ve always been a very late adopter. I mean even MP3s, I didn’t have them after other people I knew did. Something about me always sort of wants them to become a little more part of the world. It’s like I need to believe in them by seeing people form attachments before I make that move. I’ve got a friend who teases me because he remembers me saying that I would probably never bother with email. I knew a few people who were doing it and it just didn’t seem that appealing to me. Now I’m ten years into an unbelievable promiscuous emailing binge that will never end. So I’ve been a late adopter a lot of times with tech.
Quantified Self: Self knowledge trough numbers.
Quantified Self is a collaboration of users and tool makers who share an interest in self knowledge through self-tracking. We exchange information about our personal projects, the tools we use, tips we’ve gleaned, lessons we’ve learned. We blog, meet face to face, and collaborate online. (About)
Klout:
Our friendships and professional connections have moved online, making influence measurable for the first time in history. When you recommend, share, and create content you impact others. Your Klout Score measures that influence on a scale of 1 to 100.
The New Yorker: “Klout is evil, but it can be saved” by Nicholas Thompson, April 27, 2012.
Klout grades users on a scale of one to a hundred based on some proprietary algorithm that counts how often your comments are retweeted, liked, or shared. If you want your score to go up, tweet more and get influential people to retweet you. Don’t ever go on vacation. If you’re on a social network, Klout gets your score, whether you’ve ever logged into the service or not. Think of a mercenary socialite, holding a calculator and trying to figure out who to invite to a party based on import. Then put whatever number she arrives at on every guest’s lapel. That’s Klout.
See also Klouchbag by Tom Scott (Flash is required, as well as a good sense of humor). [UPDATE–May 18, 2012] See also Randall Munroe’s take on Klout (from his XKCD web comic no. 1057):
Wired: “What Your Klout Score Really Means” by Seth Stevenson, April 24, 2012. Excerpt:
The interviewer pulled up the web page for Klout.com—a service that purports to measure users’ online influence on a scale from 1 to 100—and angled the monitor so that Fiorella could see the humbling result for himself: His score was 34. “He cut the interview short pretty soon after that,” Fiorella says. Later he learned that he’d been eliminated as a candidate specifically because his Klout score was too low. “They hired a guy whose score was 67.”
The Poetry Foundation: “Why I Don’t Trust the Cloud” by Kenneth Goldsmith, April 27, 2012. K. Goldsmith is the founding editor of UbuWeb. Excerpt:
Don’t trust the cloud. Use it, enjoy it, exploit it, but don’t believe in it. Or even the web for that matter. Many people assume that the web —and its riches—will always be there waiting for you. It won’t. Don’t bookmark. Download. Hard drives are cheap. Fill them up with everything you think you might need to consult, watch, read, listen to, or cite in the future.
• By Philippe Theophanidis on April 29, 2012 ― Published in Link-roundup
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Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD)
Griffith research institutions join forces to fight Zika virus
Published March 31, 2016 April 4, 2016 AuthorMelinda Rogers
Two of Griffith’s prestigious research institutions are joining forces in a cutting edge research collaboration to tackle Zika virus.
Together the Institute for Glycomics and the Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery will explore the effects Zika virus has on neurological cells.
Institute for Glycomics principal research leader Professor Suresh Mahalingam is leading the way in Zika research through a number of projects.
He said Eskitis researchers are world leaders in neurological diseases and to be able to combine their expertise with the virology strengths of the Institute for Glycomics could prove ground breaking.
“Utilising both our skill sets could provide the in-roads we need to understand the effect of Zika on brain cells and understand the link with microcephaly,” Professor Mahalingam said.
“Our research skills put us in a very strong position to make major research inroads with this newly emerging and very important virus.
Professor Suresh Mahalingam
Professor Mahalingam is a leader in his field having recently been awarded a fellowship with the American Academy of Microbiology, along with his colleague Professor Michael Jennings. More about the Fellowships.
Recently there have been concerns about the spread of Zika virus in Australia after about a dozen cases in Queensland confirmed this year.
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease which has been linked to cases of microcephaly and Guillain-Barre Syndrome outbreak. There is currently no vaccine to prevent Zika virus and no specific treatment.
On February 1, 2016 the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding clusters of microcephaly and other neurological disorders reported in Brazil and potential association with Zika virus.
Professor Mahalingam said he was shifting his research focus to include Zika virus as a priority as there was currently not a lot of research about it available across the world.
His new research will include developing a mouse model of Zika infection, which will be crucial in testing Zika antivirals and vaccines, as well as working on a pregnant mouse model of Zika infection to help support links with microcephaly.
“The most important thing we are hoping to discover is whether Zika infection has links to neurological complications as well as understand what the virus is doing once it enters the body,” he said.
“We are also establishing a multi-institution international collaboration to address these key scientific questions about Zika.”
Institute for Glycomics Director Professor Mark von Itzstein said he is delighted with this joint research initiative and that this collaborative research program into Zika virus has great potential to inform new drug discovery against this deadly virus.
Perry Cross and Dr James St John at the Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery
Eskitis Institute’s group leader Dr James St John and adjunct research fellow Dr Jenny Ekberg have recently discovered how bacteria can easily penetrate the brain by hijacking the nerves that innervate the nose and they are now excited about the work with Zika virus.
“The nerves within the nose provide a direct route into the brain and while there are defence mechanisms that often stop bacteria and viruses, we have found ways in which some pathogens can avoid detection” said Dr St John.
The research is focussed on finding a preventative therapy and Dr Ekberg said “with our expertise in the defence mechanisms of the nerves we hope to find ways to stimulate the natural immune responses to prevent Zika virus infections”.
Categories Features, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD), Griffith Sciences, home, Inside Griffith, Institute for Glycomics, News articles, ResearchTagged American Academy of Microbiology; Professor Michael Jennings; microcephaly; guillain-barre syndrome; Director Professor Mark von Itzstein, Dr James St John, Dr Jenny Ekberg, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Institute for Glycomics, neurological diseases, Professor Suresh Mahalingam, zika virus
Taylor helps shape global blockchain policy as OECD intern
Griffith law graduate Taylor Henderson has landed a paid internship working on the future of blockchain public policy with the OECD in Paris.
Griffith Health
Leading researcher and former Griffith PVC (Health) to chair Children’s Health Research Alliance
Research Professor in the School of Medicine at Griffith, Professor Allan Cripps AO has been appointed the new chair of the Children’s Health Research Alliance.
Meet the composer behind Australia’s best-loved TV shows
Queensland Conservatorium alumnus Joff Bush is the man behind the music on hit series like Bluey and The Family Law.
Students design educational games for Indigenous museum
Games design students at Griffith are helping keep Indigenous language and stories alive, creating a series of interactive games for the Yugambeh Museum, south of Brisbane.
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Amanita Bear
Kabira
April 2, 2019 / admin / Leave a Comment on Kabira
KABIRA A) Fault tolerant runtime engine The Kabira Infrastructure Switch?? is the central host for all Kabira applications. It is a high performance software transaction-switch that provides the infrastructure for building and integrating applications, integrating networks, and mediating between data flows. It is a fully distributed platform that can be deployed across multiple integrated computer processors within a single physical node, as well as across multiple nodes. In addition, the Kabira Infrastructure Switch handles programmatic complexities associated with the development of software solutions.
It frees programmers from the painstaking task of writing and rewriting the code required to provide services commonly needed by all applications, services such as failure detection, transaction recovery, threading and concurrency, guaranteed messaging, online upgrade support, and object distribution. Programmers can focus their attention on business requirements and on creating the models required to meet them. In addition to providing a rich set of services, the Kabira Infrastructure Switch has relatively small memory and disk resource requirements.
This is because it stores all application data in shared memory, and leverages new operating system services such as threads and other shared memory services, that replace functionality traditionally provided by middleware and database servers. In addition it is designed specifically for objects created by Kabira’s automated code generator, so the two can work in tandem to provide an optimal implementation of user models. Finally, Kabira application functionality is developed simultaneously on UNIX (Solaris, HPUX) and Windows NT to leverage the strengths of each platform.
This eliminates the problem of products originally targeted for one platform that never run as well on a secondary platform. B) Model-based development environment All Kabira applications are designed using either third party graphical object modeling tools based on UML, such as Rational Rose, or textual representations of models. Using an object modeling methodology for distributed applications allows a business modeler to concentrate on the functional requirements of the application, not low-level implementation details handled by the Kabira Infrastructure Switch.
The advantages of this approach become increasingly obvious when integrating a large number of different systems, each of which has its own APIs, message formats, and protocols. Kabira Infrastructure Switch represents all external adapters as objects in the modeling tool, and differences are hidden from the application developer. That means designers do not need to be experts in the external systems being integrated such as CORBA, SNMP, Java EJB, SS7, and so on. Designers can construct an application using adapters already provided by Kabira and its partners. C) Fully automated code generation
Kabira code generation technologies support complete translation of object models into executable code that runs on the Kabira Infrastructure Switch. 100% of the code required to execute the object model is generated. The generator produces C++ code that is compiled and linked with libraries provided by Kabira and partners to create an executable program. In addition to the C++ code generator provided to implement object models, Kabira provides code generators to integrate external systems with the runtime transaction-switch. Examples include: ?? Relational databases ?? CORBA clients and servers ? SNMP agent generation ?? Java clients and EJB servers The adapter code generators map between the different object and data models supported by all of these adapters. This solves the “impedance” mismatch problem when building applications that integrate different object and data models. Solving this problem eliminates the need for additional hand coding. Example mappings include: ?? An object model and a relational data model ?? ASN. 1 and IDL ?? Object models to HTML ?? Java to Kabira’s runtime transaction-switch Because adapters are part of the model, they can generate to multiple latforms. D) Adapters Kabira and its partners provide a set of pre-built adapters. These adapters are available within the object-modeling tool as objects for the application designer. The code to integrate them into an executable application is automatically generated. This includes any external definitions required to access these objects, such as ASN. 1 to define application specific MIB’s to a system management console, or SQL DDL definitions to store persistent object data. Kabira adapters can be used in any combination to support different application requirements.
This solves the “n-squared” problem of writing custom code to connect every pair of applications being integrated. For example, support for SS7/TCAP allows the building of telecommunications applications that participate in telephone call processing with open administrative adapters using SNMP to existing O. S. ’s. The data collected by these applications must be made with a database. Because the adapters can be used in any combination, Kabira is useful for developing applications that reside on an adjunct processor in a hardware telecommunications switch, SCP, or O. S.
In cases where a pre-built adapter does not exist, developers can easily integrate new adapters into the Kabira runtime transaction-switch. To do this, they first define an adapter model for an external API, which is an interface with operations and states. Implementation is done using a combination of model action language and inline C and C++ code to invoke the external API. The code that calls the external API is put directly into the modeled operations and states, that is, adapter “glue code” is contained in the model but encapsulated in objects to separate it from the rest of the application.
III) Product Requirements From experience with issues defined in the problem statement, Kabira identified the set of minimum requirements for Next Generation Infrastructure software. Performance levels able to support high volume applications Transparent high availability / robustness and manageability High productivity in development and integration These goals served as the requirements for the Kabira development team back in 1996 when they set out to create a new class of infrastructure software aimed at meeting the needs of the next millennium.
The Kabira Infrastructure Switch is the first platform that addresses each of the key requirements for the development and integration of new leading edge mission-critical systems. Kabira is today’s best choice for creating flexible n-tier architectures that avoid unacceptable complexity, simplify implementation, and support modification of deployed applications in dynamic markets. A) Performance Performance is evaluated using various metrics. All metrics must be addressed by application platforms to allow deployment of highly available and reliable applications.
Key performance metrics include: Scalability Scalability allows an application platform and hosted applications to grow with increased application requirements by adding hardware resources. These hardware resources may be additions to existing systems or entirely new systems connected via a network. Throughput Throughput is a measure of the total units of work that can be processed in a specified unit of time. Traditional database servers use transactions to measure total throughput. However, this is only part of the total work that an application must perform to provide a service. Latency
Latency is a measure of cycle time required to complete an application-defined unit of work. It is measured from the start of the work to its completion. Predictability Predictability is the ability to determine the runtime characteristics of a system before the system is deployed in a production environment based on application characteristics and load The Kabira Infrastructure Switch specifically addresses each of these dimensions of performance in its architecture. This provides the application designer the flexibility to control performance trade-offs to meet application specific requirements.
For example, a designer might choose to sacrifice latency (by minimizing data caching in the Kabira Infrastructure Switch) in order to minimize the hardware resources required by an application, such as real memory and disk. In contrast, traditional middleware and back-office servers, such as databases, have addressed only one or two of these performance areas and in some cases they have done so only partially. For example, while database servers scale effectively on a single hardware platform, they do not provide transparent scaling across multiple hardware nodes connected over a network. i) Scalability
The Kabira Infrastructure Switch is designed to scale on both a single platform and across multiple platforms. Applications hosted on the Kabira Infrastructure Switch can be deployed on large multiprocessor machines or many smaller machines to meet application performance requirements. Supporting both single and distributed scaling mechanisms provides the application designer with the flexibility to make trade-offs between cost, manageability, and redundancy as required. Platform Scaling The Kabira Infrastructure Switch is designed to take advantage of the CPU, memory, and disk resources available on its host platform.
As CPUs, real memory, and disk space increase, the Kabira runtime will scale transparently to the application. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch achieves CPU scaling through the use of operating system level threading. The total number of threads used by Kabira is optimized to minimize “empty CPU cycles” caused by excessive thread context switching. This ensures that CPUs are kept busy performing application work, not operating system housekeeping. The architecture does not just “throw threads at the problem” to simplify the implementation.
In addition, the Kabira Infrastructure Switch does not perform global locking. All locking of shared resources is designed to minimize lock contention. This is accomplished by eliminating global resources that must be locked by all threads before any work can be performed. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch uses shared memory to achieve scaling of memory and disk resources, to provide a fast form of persistence, and to eliminate IPC overhead. Specifically, it stores all application data in shared memory, and then maps it to files using operating system primitives.
This allows the operating system to swap application data to disk if there is not enough real memory in the system. As real memory is expanded, the shared memory in the Kabira Infrastructure Switch will take advantage of the added resource, and application performance will increase. Because shared memory is mapped to disk, it does not disappear when the application using it stops, providing a fast kind of persistence. Distributed System Scaling Application scaling can also be achieved by distributing application components across multiple machines in a network.
These machines can be the same or different hardware architectures and operating systems. Distributing applications on the Kabira Infrastructure Switch is done by partitioning models. This allows applications to be easily changed from a one node to many nodes, and requires no changes to application logic. It only requires changes to model partitioning. In contrast, deploying distributed applications using middleware and database servers requires the incorporation of distribution functionality in the applications themselves.
In other words, middleware and database server support for distributed applications is little more than transporting data from one machine to another, which is the simple part of building distributed applications. ii) Throughput The Kabira Infrastructure Switch provides high application throughput by using an asynchronous model for all work. Synchronous behavior is available to the application developer if required. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch uses an asynchronous processing model to minimize synchronization points during execution and to minimize the degradation of system throughput they cause.
As the Infrastructure Switch receives work from an external source, it queues the work until it can be processed. This allows Kabira’s Infrastructure Switch to absorb large traffic peaks from external sources without slowing down the source of the external work and without requiring programmers to write special code to handle these peak loads. This stands in sharp contrast with the typical command/response protocols used by database and existing ORB implementations, where additional work cannot be absorbed by a system until the current work is processed.
In those environments, application developers must implement complex schemes in their applications to achieve high throughput of work from external sources, such as multiple connections, processes, application-specific queuing, and so on. iii) Latency The Kabira Infrastructure Switch is a high-throughput, low-latency platform. Low latency is achieved through: Data caching Early binding Thread architecture Data Caching The Kabira Infrastructure Switch caches application data in shared memory.
This puts application data as close to application processing as possible and eliminates the network traffic associated with data access in traditional client/server and middleware applications. In addition, the transaction-switch’s management of cached data is transparent to Kabira applications. Specifically, stale cache data is transparently refreshed from backing persistent stores and “dirty data”, or data that has changed in the cache, is transparently written to backup persistent stores. Application designers specify caching requirements when building an application model.
Caching is specified in terms of the application objects that should be cached and a valid lifetime for the cached data. The more application data in cache, the lower the application latency. Early Binding “Early binding” is a term used in object-oriented literature to describe communication between objects that is determined before execution, or when applications are compiled. “Late binding” is used to describe communication between objects that is not determined until runtime. C++ is an example of a language that implements an early binding model, while Java is an example of a language and execution environment that implements late binding.
Early binding trades flexibility for performance, while late binding provides much greater flexibility and support for application evolution at the cost of performance. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch employs both early binding and late binding. It uses early binding for application logic because application logic is implemented as compiled C++ code. It uses late binding when adding new functionality to a running system through a dynamic subscription process that does not disrupt applications that are already running.
The combination of compiled C++ code and dynamic subscription provides the low latency and performance of a compiled language without giving up the ability to modify a running system. Thread Architecture The Kabira Infrastructure Switch minimizes processing latency by eliminating thread context switching whenever possible. When a thread is processing work, it continues to process until it needs to wait for an external event. There are no special-purpose thread pools in the transaction-switch that can only perform specific tasks, and that increase the number of context switches.
In addition, there are no “polling loops” in the execution environment that spin while waiting for work. Threads are blocked only to wait for external events. They process these events as soon as they are scheduled by the operating system. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch does not add any latency to detect that work has arrived. iv) Predictability Designers can determine application performance characteristics before deployment using a combination of application models and load estimates. Kabira application models provide a complete representation of the processing that will be performed by an application.
In addition, the performance characteristics of the Kabira Infrastructure Switch are known, including the impact of object operations on processing, memory, and disk. With these two things, the model and operation costs, designers can predict the performance of a production system. B) Robustness Robustness is a measure of a deployed application’s resistance to failure, its ability to recover following a failure, and its manageability. Robustness is also called high availability. There are many factors that affect the robustness of a deployed system.
These include: Application Recoverability System design Pre-release testing Fault management Maintenance The Kabira product family was designed and implemented to provide the robustness required to exceed the availability requirements of the most demanding environments. i) Application Recoverability Building recoverable applications is very difficult, especially in a distributed environment. Existing client/server and middleware platforms provide various levels of support for recoverability such as distributed transactions, non-distributed transactions, and reliable messaging.
These very low-level services only ensure that a database update completes or a message is delivered to another node. They do not directly provide support for failure recovery. Rather, the logic to recover or restart an application following a failure must be built into the application program. For simple client/server applications that are putting data into a single database, recovery is not a large problem as the user just restarts the client. However, for complex distributed applications that consist of multiple data sources and multiple complex steps, recovery processing is very complex.
Requiring an application designer to build this recovery logic for each application is expensive and time consuming. It also makes application changes after deployment difficult, as the application logic will be tightly integrated with recovery processing. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch provides transparent recovery support for applications built on the Switch. These services recover not only the data associated with an application, but also the current processing state, allowing applications to restart from the last successful processing step. The Switch supports recovery for adapters that are both transactional and non-transactional.
Recovery support for non-transactional adapters allows reliable delivery mechanisms to be built for adapters that were never intended to be reliable or recoverable. This provides a mechanism for integrating legacy data and processing sources into a recoverable application model. Recovery logic is not encoded in the application models that are deployed on Kabira’s runtime transaction-switch. This reduces the complexity of the application modeling. While developers must handle application errors such as data integrity problems, they do not need to handle system resource errors such as hardware, network, or external server failures.
For example, if a Kabira application is using an external database and the database fails, the transaction-switch continues to retry the database connection until the database has been restarted. This retry logic is provided by the transaction-switch, not encoded in the application. Transactions All application processing in the Infrastructure Switch is performed in the context of a transaction. Each transaction contains a log in which before and after images of all changed data and all processed events are recorded. When a transaction commits, the data changes are made permanent and the processed events are discarded.
If a transaction aborts because of system failure, the data is restored to its original state, the application is restarted at the last known good state, and the events are replayed. Kabira transactions are mapped through to external databases. This ensures that data cached by the application in the transaction-switch is backed up and that both sets of data (cached and backup) are consistent with each other. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch uses transactions to ensure recoverability of applications, and to ensure that a consistent state is maintained with external adapters.
Transaction management is handled by the runtime transaction-switch and is transparent to application designers. This includes mapping application transactions to those on a backend database and propagating transactions in distributed applications across Kabira Infrastructure Switch nodes for reliable queuing of work. Reliable Queuing Communication between instances of the Kabira Infrastructure Switch on different nodes is done with asynchronous transactions via reliable queues.
For queuing, a local transaction is started on the sending Kabira Infrastructure Switch node and is terminated when the work has been successfully passed to the next node. Then the receiving node starts a new transaction in which to process this work. This transaction is independent of the sending node’s transaction. In other words, the reliable queuing mechanism used by Kabira’s transaction-switch technology uses distributed asynchronous transactions. Distributed asynchronous transactions have advantages over distributed synchronous transactions (commonly called two-phase commit) in that they are more resilient to failure.
In a distributed synchronous transaction any single point of failure in any resource participating in the transaction causes the entire transaction to be aborted. In addition once a required resource in a distributed synchronous transaction fails, the system cannot accept any additional work until all resources are restarted. These limitations severely restrict the usefulness of synchronous transaction models for mission-critical systems that must be highly available and responsive. Distributed asynchronous transactions also perform better by avoiding global locking of resources.
Distributed global locks do not scale well across multiple systems and they perform very poorly over wide-area networks, such as the Internet. ii) System Design Design highlights contributing to the Kabira Infrastructure Switch robustness include: No single point of software failure Complete transactional recovery (discussed in the Transactions section above) Automatic restart following a failure Process rejuvenation Resilient to external system failures such as databases or communications lines No Single Point Of Failure
There is no single point of software failure in the Kabira Infrastructure Switch. This is a minimal requirement for high availability systems. The Kabira Switch achieves this using a multi-process model with all application data stored in shared memory. A single process failure does not affect functionality running in other processes. Automatic Restart The Kabira Infrastructure Switch includes a system coordinator that restarts failed system components. The coordinator also starts and stops components of the Kabira Switch. There is no application logic running in the coordinator.
When the system coordinator detects a component failure it aborts all transactions that are currently associated with that component to ensure that the system is restored to a known good state. It then restarts the process and the work continues. Process Rejuvenation Process rejuvenation is a mechanism whereby operating system processes are periodically restarted to reclaim accumulated resource loss and fragmentation (such as memory, files, etc. ) that occurs when processes are running for long periods of time. This functionality is required for systems that are designed never to be shut down.
The Kabira Infrastructure Switch supports process rejuvenation by its ability to shut down any system component and restart it from a known state. Operators can restart processes at any time to reclaim lost resources. This functionality makes it possible to integrate adapters into the transaction-switch that were never designed to run 7X24 since they can be periodically shut down and reinitialized. Resilient to External Failures The Kabira Infrastructure Switch is resilient to external failures because of its transparent retry of failed external resources and its distributed asynchronous transactions.
Retrying work queued because of failed external resources eliminates the requirement for a specialized application designed to handle external system failures. This simplifies application modeling since the Kabira Infrastructure Switch ensures that the queued work will eventually reach the external system. Handling external resource errors in application-specific code is difficult and can result in an unreliable system. The reliable queuing mechanism in the Kabira Switch ensures that work in a distributed environment will reach its destination once and only once.
Application designers do not need to worry about duplicate messages arriving for applications deployed on the Kabira Infrastructure Switch. This again simplifies application models and improves the robustness of deployed systems. iii) Pre-release testing A system that supports high availability is only successful if it is properly tested before release and sale to the market. Kabira’s engineering team built the Kabira Infrastructure Switch with testability in mind, allowing Kabira’s Quality Assurance team to validate both positive and negative execution paths.
The testability built into the transaction-switch allows test programs to request failures in any switch component during test execution. This includes the ability to cause any operating system API to fail. The Kabira transaction-switch’s formal testing methodology and implementation allows Kabira’s Quality Assurance organization to achieve measured code coverage approaching 100% for all released code. This achievement is currently unheard of elsewhere in the software industry. Kabira has a patent on the testing methodology used to achieve its high level of code coverage.
Using code generators to build applications on top of Kabira Infrastructure Switch also ensures consistent use of the platfrom’s APIs. This provides predictable runtime execution patterns and also eliminates standard programming errors such as uninitialized variables and memory leaks. The combination of thorough pre-release testing and application code generation allows Kabira to achieve very high levels of stability and correctness for both Kabira-provided components and applications built with the provided tools. This is even true in cases of rapid application changes. v) Fault Management Fault management is the ability to detect and correct system failures and congestion. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch provides complete monitoring support for all runtime processes and access to both switch and application state stored in shared memory. In addition, a Java client is provided to support remote switch and application management. Providing a simple mechanism to build application management functionality ensures that management is built into applications as part of the initial design, not as an afterthought.
Providing the operational tools required to monitor applications ensures that deployed applications can be supported by operations personnel using existing management tools. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch allows application designers to define not only MIB’s, but also the behavior associated with the managed objects. Code generators are included to completely generate the managed objects. No user-written code is required. MIB specifications in SMI are generated to integrate the application-defined managed objects with existing system management stations.
This is very different from the few tools that are available today that support automatic code generation from MIB definitions for SNMP. These tools do not generate the behavior of the managed objects, instead, they require developers to hand-write it following code generation. v) Maintenance The Kabira Infrastructure Switch does not require periodic downtime for maintenance. The switch supports on-line upgrades for existing and new functionality. New versions of adapters and application models can be released without impacting the entire system. Only the component being replaced must be restarted.
All other components in the system continue to queue work, while the component being replaced is restarted by the Kabira System Coordinator and brought on-line. In addition, new functionality can be added to a running system. The Kabira Infrastructure Switch dynamically discovers the new functionality. This allows systems to be changed without impacting existing functionality. The Switch never has to be completely shut down. This is a big improvement over existing middleware and database systems that must be shut down for bug fixes and deploying new applications. C) Development Productivity
Just providing runtime technology is not enough. The infrastructure environment must also provide a significant increase in developer productivity, whether it is in new development, integration, or changing either of these down the line. The switch’s tools enable a significant increase in developer productivity while providing the performance and robustness already discussed. This is accomplished by: Separating business models from implementation Providing reusable adapters for existing applications and evolving standards i) Separating Business Models from Implementation
Object modeling and code generation allow developers to concentrate on solving business problems, rather than on programming details. Directly generating an application from a model ensures that no details are lost between the business specification and actual implementation. . It also means that the business models and implementation can be changed independently and rapidly. Business models are insulated from changes in underlying technology, and combined with the adapter technology described in the next section, the implementation can remain highperformant, recoverable, robust, and manageable, even as the models are changing.
Kabira supports the industry-standard OMG Unified Modeling Language, and the newly adopted standard extension to it for coding actions, the UML Action Semantics. These ensure that models of a user’s system will apply across technologies and will be interchangeable across modeling tools. The Kabira modeling environment supports auditing and fast generation of application models. Auditing validates that the model is complete. Fast generation of the model allows it to be executed in the development environment very easily. Using both together, the developer can test business requirements before deployment, through an iterative development cycle.
Current middleware and database servers can achieve some of these goals, but at the expense of long, complex, and costly development cycles. In contrast, the Kabira Infrastructure Switch allows mission critical applications to be rapidly implemented and changed, while maintaining the required performance, recoverability, robustness, and manageability. The Kabira Switch is designed to meet the tough operational needs of mission critical applications, and it is designed to be easy to change through the use of model-based development and automated code generation.
By enabling a business to upgrade a running system without having to shut the entire system down, Kabira Infrastructure Switch provides the flexibility to change and migrate deployed applications to meet new business requirements. A business can also install new functionality and maintenance releases without impacting current application processing. ii) Reusable Adapters Existing applications are a major investment and must be leveraged in new applications. Kabira provides the means to wrap existing legacy systems and make them available to new applications.
This is accomplished by modeling an adapter to the legacy system as an object, and generating code to provide C++ wrappers in which the API to the legacy system is encapsulated. Many of these adapters are provided prebuilt by Kabira, such as for Java and databases. Once this is done, the systems appear as objects in the modeling tool that can be used by application designers as required to build new applications. All mappings and interactions between adapters are done by the application modeler using the object-modeling tool.
No mappings are hard-coded in the adapter code. Experience has shown that 80% of the wrapper code can be generated from the model. Once an adapter is integrated it can be used by many different applications. It is easy to develop mappings between very diverse data sources such as mainframes and the Internet without hand coding. Any changes to the mappings are made in the model, and then code is regenerated. This process is a very simple and straightforward way of managing and maintaining mappings and interactions between very different systems.
Integrating legacy applications into the Kabira Infrastructure Switch has the additional advantage of providing a migration mechanism. Instead of completely replacing legacy applications, a new application can be designed to migrate data gradually from the legacy application. The process of moving the data from the old to the new application is captured in the application model. Developers can also use a legacy adapter without having to understand the entire adapter in detail. These details are hidden when the adapter is integrated into the Kabira Switch.
A developer who is not an expert in all of the adapters can still build an application. Ease of integration also means that applications built to today’s “standards” can easily migrate to future standards as they are developed and accepted, thereby avoiding a “legacy trap”. This includes the ability to run the same application on different standards such as CORBA, Java, or Web. For example, the use of web browsers as universal clients made fat client systems obsolete, which were the standard of the late 1980s. In fact, new standard technologies can be integrated with the application without having to stop a running application.
This provides a simple migration path to new standards as they become accepted without discarding current implementations. There is no legacy trap caused by rapidly changing technology. Existing middleware and database servers provide very limited out-of-the box integration with current systems and emerging standards. Implementing new applications with these technologies usually requires a complete migration of the application or the development of a special-purpose gateway to access the legacy system. IV) Conclusion
The Kabira Infrastructure Switch and Product Suite has been designed expressly for today’s world where fast delivery of high performance, high availability, highly flexible Next Generation Services is essential to competitive advantage. Unlike traditional middleware, database, and application development products, the Kabira product family designed from the start with a complete set of requirements spanning multiple disciplines. Consequently, the Kabira software allows companies to leverage the systems they already have, mediate between networks operating at different speeds, and add new, high performance capabilities quickly and seamlessly
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The Audacity of US Policies
Posted on September 27, 2012 by amunaor
Julian Assange Addresses UN Delegates Sept. 26, 2012
‘It is time for the US to cease its persecution of WikiLeaks, to cease its persecution of our people, and to cease its persecution of our alleged sources.’
by Julian Assange
The following is the video with synoptic highlights. The full transcript of Julian Assange’s address to UN delegates on Wednesday, September 26, 2012, is available from source link below. The founder of Wikileaks offered the remarks via video stream from the Ecuadorean embassy in London where has sought political refuge from possible extradition to the United States:
Foreign Minister Patino, fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen.
I speak to you today as a free man, because despite having been detained for 659 days without charge, I am free in the most basic and important sense. I am free to speak my mind.
This freedom exists because the nation of Ecuador has granted me political asylum and other nations have rallied to support its decision.
It is thanks to the United Nations that I am able to exercise my inalienable right to seek protection from the arbitrary and excessive actions taken by governments against me and the staff and supporters of my organisation. It is because of the absolute prohibition on torture enshrined in customary international law and the UN Convention Against Torture that we stand firmly to denounce torture and war crimes, as an organisation, regardless of who the perpetrators are.
Almost two years ago today, I spoke there about our work uncovering the torture and killing of over 100,000 Iraqi citizens.
I want to tell you the story of a young American soldier in Iraq.
The US administration is trying to erect a national regime of secrecy. A national regime of obfuscation.
This young soldier’s name is Bradley Manning.
Allegedly betrayed by an informer, he was then imprisoned in Baghdad, imprisoned in Kuwait, and imprisoned in Virginia, where he was kept for 9 months in isolation and subject to severe abuse. The UN Special Rapporteur for Torture, Juan Mendez, investigated and formally found against the United States.
Hillary Clinton’s spokesman resigned. Bradley Manning, science fair all-star, soldier and patriot was degraded, abused and psychologically tortured by his own government. He was charged with a death penalty offence. These things happened to him, as the US government tried to break him, to force him to testify against WikiLeaks and me.
As of today Bradley Manning has been detained without trial for 856 days.
The legal maximum in the US military is 120 days.
A regime where any government employee revealing sensitive information to a media organization can be sentenced to death, life imprisonment or for espionage and journalists from a media organization with them.
We should not underestimate the scale of the investigation which has happened into WikiLeaks. I only wish I could say that Bradley Manning was the only victim of the situation. But the assault on WikiLeaks in relation to that matter and others has produced an investigation that Australian diplomats say is without precedent in its scale and nature. That the US government called a “whole of government investigation.”
Those government agencies identified so far as a matter of public record having been involved in this investigation include: the Department of Defense, Centcom, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the US Army Criminal Investigation Division, the United States Forces in Iraq, the First Army Division, The US Army Computer Crimes Investigative Unit, the CCIU, the Second Army Cyber-Command. And within those three separate intelligence investigations, the Department of Justice, most significantly, and its US Grand Jury in Alexandria Virginia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which now has, according to court testimony early this year produced a file of 42,135 pages into WikiLeaks, of which less than 8000 concern Bradley Manning. The Department of State, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Services. In addition we have been investigated by the Office of the Director General of National Intelligence, the ODNI, the Director of National Counterintelligence Executive, the Central Intelligence Agency, the House Oversight Committee, the National Security Staff Interagency Committee, and the PIAB – the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
Gun camera footage from an air assault on unarmed civilians, including journalists, by two US Apache helicopters was released by Wikileaks in 2010.
The Department of Justice spokesperson Dean Boyd confirmed in July 2012 that the Department of Justice investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing.
For all Barack Obama’s fine words yesterday, and there were many of them, fine words, it is his administration that boasts on his campaign website of criminalizing more speech that all previous US presidents combined.
I am reminded of the phrase: “the audacity of hope.”
Who can say that the President of the United States is not audacious?
Was it not audacity for the United States government to take credit for the last two years’ avalanche of progress?
Was it not audacious to say, on Tuesday, that the “United States supported the forces of change” in the Arab Spring?
Tunisian history did not begin in December 2010.
And Mohammed Bouazizi did not set himself on fire so that Barack Obama could be reelected.
His death was an emblem of the despair he had to endure under the Ben Ali regime.
The world knew, after reading WikiLeaks publications, that the Ben Ali regime and its government had for long years enjoyed the indifference, if not the support, of the United States – in full knowledge of its excesses and its crimes.
So it must come as a surprise to Tunisians that the United States supported the forces of change in their country.
Credit should be given where it is due, but it should be withheld where it is not.
It must come as a surprise to the Egyptian teenagers who washed American teargas out of their eyes that the US administration supported change in Egypt.
It must come as a surprise to those who heard Hillary Clinton insist that Mubarak’s regime was “stable,” and when it was clear to everyone that it was not, that its hated intelligence chief, Sueilman, who we proved the US knew was a torturer, should take the realm.
It must come as a surprise to all those Egyptians who heard Vice President Joseph Biden declare that Hosni Mubarak was a democrat and that Julian Assange was a high tech terrorist.
It is disrespectful to the dead and incarcerated of the Bahrain uprising to claim that the United States “supported the forces of change.”
This is indeed audacity.
Who can say that it is not audacious that the President – concerned to appear leaderly – looks back on this sea change – the people’s change – and calls it his own?
But we can take heart here too, because it means that the White House has seen that this progress is inevitable.
In this “season of progress” the president has seen which way the wind is blowing.
And he must now pretend that it is his adminstration that made it blow.
Very well. This is better than the alternative – to drift into irrelevance as the world moves on.
We must be clear here.
The United States is not the enemy.
Its government is not uniform. In some cases good people in the United States supported the forces of change. And perhaps Barack Obama personally was one of them.
But in others, and en masse, early on, it actively opposed them.
This is a matter of historical record.
And it is not fair and it is not appropriate for the President to distort that record for political gain, or for the sake of uttering fine words.
And as for the fine words.
They are fine words.
And we commend and agree with these fine words.
There are times for words and there are times for action. The time for words has run out.
We agree when President Obama said yesterday that people can resolve their differences peacefully.
We agree that diplomacy can take the place of war.
And we agree that this is an interdependent world, that all of us have a stake in.
We agree that freedom and self-determination are not merely American or Western values, but universal values.
And we agree with the President when he says that we must speak honestly if we are serious about these ideals.
But fine words languish without commensurate actions.
President Obama spoke out strongly in favour of the freedom of expression.
“Those in power,” he said, “have to resist the temptation to crack down on dissent.”
It is time for the US to cease its persecution of WikiLeaks, to cease its persecution of our people, and to cease its persecution of our alleged sources.
It is time for President Obama do the right thing, and join the forces of change, not in fine words but in fine deeds.
The Audacity of US Policies | Common Dreams
I agree with Julian! It’s time for President Obama to step up to the plate as an exhibitionist of fine deeds instead of punishing our ear drums with the torturous sound of more hot wind as its being released.
Please note that if it hadn’t been for Russia TV (RT) Julian’s UN address would have fallen in the forest with no one to hear. Not a peep of this from American Lame-Stream Media, who dutifully lick the boot of their master, evident in the vacant verbiage of Infotainment that spills daily from their talking orifices.
Peace, Best Wishes and Hope
This entry was posted in ABUSE OF POWER and tagged Ecuador, Extradition, Julian Assange, UN, Wikileaks. Bookmark the permalink.
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