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Home 2019 January
Why the private sector must support the call for Competition Law?
Competition/Antitrust law over the past 150 years has been seen as one of the regulatory packages needed to ensure that the market works efficiently...
Record year for African ‘Tech Startups’ as funding hits US$334.5m
African tech startups smashed funding records in 2018 as 210 startups secured US$334.5 million worth of investment, with Nigeria emerging as the premier investment...
VW announces multi-pronged entry into Ethiopia
Volkswagen brand continues its engagement in emerging countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the presence of Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany,...
Apple rushes to fix Face Time ‘eavesdropping’ bug
Apple has acknowledged a flaw in its FaceTime software that allowed for brief eavesdropping - even if the recipient did not pick up. In some...
Huawei denies wrongdoing after US criminal charges
Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has denied any wrongdoing after US prosecutors filed a host of criminal charges against the firm. Huawei has also rejected criminal...
Theresa May will ask the EU to reopen Brexit deal
Theresa May has told MPs she will seek to re-open negotiations with the EU over the Northern Ireland backstop. The PM said she would go...
BoG seeks to steepen yield curve
In an innovative effort to solve the two biggest challenges facing monetary policy in the country at the same time, the Bank of Ghana...
Business confidence rebounds, BoG’s index inched to 97.3% from 95.1%
Business confidence in the economy, as measured by the latest edition of a periodic survey of business owners and managers sentiments, has shown some...
GRA targets key institutions to identify taxpayers as it prepares to widen tax net
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is set to obtain third-party information - from both public and private institutions, to capture data on potentially eligible...
Free zones to pay duties on goods in FZ shops, MoF prepares to monitor...
The Ministry of Finance has resolved to keenly monitor implementation of a directive by the Ghana Revenue Authority to make Free Zones operators pay...
Kejetia stall allocation resumes, trading begins today
Nigeria’s state oil firm awards oil-for-fuel swap deals
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ICOBS
ICOBS 6
ICOBS 6.5 Renewals
View ICOBS 6.5 as PDF
View ICOBS 6 as PDF
View ICOBS as PDF
ICOBS 6.5.1R 01/10/2018
1This section applies when a firm proposes to a consumer the renewal of a general insurance contract, which is not a group policy, and which has a duration of 10 months or more.
In this section, ‘renewal’ means carrying forward a policy, at the point of expiry and as a successive or separate operation of the same nature and duration as the policy, with the same insurance intermediary or the same insurer.
The firm must provide to the consumer the following information in good time before the renewal:
the premium to be paid by the consumer on renewal;
in a way that is consistent with the presentation of (a) so that they can be easily compared:
except where (ii) applies, the premium for the policy which the firm proposes to renew, as set out at the inception of that policy;
where one or more mid-term changes were made to the policy which the firm proposes to renew, an amount calculated by annualising (or otherwise adjusting as appropriate to the duration of the proposed policy) the premium in effect following the most recent mid-term change, excluding all fees or charges associated with those mid-term changes;
a statement alongside (a) and (b) indicating that the consumer:
should check that the level of cover offered by the renewal is appropriate for their needs; and
is able, if they so wish, to compare the prices and levels of cover offered by alternative providers.
Where the proposed renewal will be the fourth or subsequent renewal the consumer has entered into in respect of the policy, the firm must include the following statement, to appear alongside the matters required by (3)(a), (b) and (c)(i) (but omitting (c)(ii)): “You have been with us a number of years. You may be able to get the insurance cover you want at a better price if you shop around.”
The firm must communicate the information in (3) and (4):
clearly and accurately;
in writing or another durable medium; and
in a way that is accessible and which draws the consumer’s attention to it as key information.
ICOBS 6.5.2G 01/10/2018
1A firm should have regard to the record-keeping obligations referred to in ICOBS 2.4.1G and ensure that it has appropriate systems and controls in place with respect to:
the adequacy of its records so it may fulfil its regulatory and statutory obligations; and
the sufficiency of its records to enable the FCA to monitor the firm’s compliance with the requirements under the regulatory system.
1A firm should ensure it complies with the other requirements in ICOBS that are relevant, such as providing product information to customers (see ICOBS 6.1), including the requirement to provide an IPID (see ICOBS 6.1.10AR).
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“Our Pleasant Willy”: Re-posting No. 46 of 100 Reasons Shake-speare was Edward de Vere the Earl of Oxford
Edmund Spenser published the first books of The Fairie Queene in 1590; in the following year came the Complaints, which contained his poem The Teares of the Muses. In the latter, nine goddesses bemoan the current state of the arts, despite the fact that a great renaissance of English literature and drama had been taking place, just in time for England’s defeat of Spain’s attempted invasion in 1588. Now, at the start of a new decade, Spenser was warning that the renaissance had ended.
The English government, having used the wartime services of writers working under de Vere’s patronage, promptly forgot them. Burghley began to pressure the earl financially. As a result, many of the writers who depended upon him fell to the wayside. Lyly, his private secretary, was out of a job; Kyd was tortured to death on the rack; Watson died in 1590; Greene died in 1592; Marlowe was murdered in 1593; Lodge left England. Future scholars would conclude that “Shakespeare,” arriving onto the printed page in 1593, “had the field all to himself.”
One of Spenser’s laments in Teares is delivered by the goddess Thalia, Muse of Comedy, who wails over the public withdrawal of a particular poet-dramatist who, while being “learning’s treasure,” has been delivering “comic sock” to audiences with his plays:
Where be the sweete delights of Learning’s treasure,
That wont with comick sock to beautefie
The painted theaters, and fill with pleasure
The listners eyes, and eares with melodie,
In which I late was wont to raine as queene,
And maske in mirth with graces well beseene?
O, all is gone! and all that goodly glee,
Which wont to be the glorie of gay wits,
Is layd abed, and no where now to see;
And in her roome unseemly Sorrow sits,
With hollow browes and greisly countenaunce
Marring my joyous gentle dalliance.
Spenser certainly knew in 1590 that de Vere had abruptly withdrawn from public life; in that sense, as well as financially, the earl was “dead of late.” Continuing her lament in Spenser’s poem, Thalia declares:
And he, the man whom Nature selfe had made
To mock her selfe, and truth to imitate,
With kindly counter* under mimick shade,
Our pleasant Willy, ah! is dead of late:
With whom all ioy and iolly merriment
Is also deaded, and in dolour drent.*
Instead thereof scoffing Scurrilitie,
And scornfull Follie with Contempt is crept,
Rolling in rymes of shameles ribaldry
Without regard, or due decorum kept;
Each idle wit at will presumes to make*,
And doth the learneds taske upon him take.
[*”Counter” = counterfeit, imitate; “drent” = drowned; “make” = write poetry.]
But that same gentle spirit, from whose pen
Large streames of honnie and sweete nectar flowe,
Scorning the boldnes of such base-borne men,
Which dare their follies forth so rashlie throwe,
Doth rather choose to sit in idle cell,
Than so himselfe to mockerie to sell.
Only one man in Elizabethan England held the mirror up to Nature with such scathingly accurate imitations of truth that his audiences roared with laughter and swooned with delight. “We should be convinced that by ‘our pleasant Willy,’ Spenser meant William Shakespeare,” Nicholas Rowe writes in his Some Account of the Life of the bard (1709), the first attempt at Stratfordian biography, explaining that “such a character as he gives could belong to no other dramatist of the time.”
But Spenser’s description has presented an insurmountable problem, as Shakspere of Stratford had barely begun his alleged career in 1591. In no way could he have withdrawn from writing for the stage, nor could he have been “dead of late” or “sitting in idle cell.” But such was precisely the case with forty-year-old de Vere, who had become a virtual recluse by 1591; in the Oxfordian view, he had begun revising his previous stage works to be published under the “Shakespeare” pen name. In that view he was “idle” only in the sense that he was no longer writing many original works for the public; otherwise he was hard at work, alone, transmuting much of his prior work into literary and dramatic masterpieces that would live for all time. Perhaps it was no coincidence that, as a much younger man in 1576, Oxford had published a signed poem in The Paradise of Dainty Devices concluding he was “never am less idle, lo, than when I am alone.”
And what to make of Spenser’s statement about “our pleasant Willy” that he was “Scorning the boldness of such base-born men,” reflecting the attitude of a high-born nobleman who looks down with scorn upon commoners? At a time when class distinctions were rigid, how could the commoner Shakspere have fit that description unless he was scorning the boldness of such men as himself? Otherwise it expresses exactly the view of proud de Vere, the highest-ranking earl of Queen Elizabeth’s realm.
“The Faire Queene” by Spenser (1590) and his Dedication to Queen Elizabeth
One of Spenser’s seventeen dedicatory verses to noble individuals in The Fairie Queen of 1590 was to Oxford, whom he praised directly and personally as a poet, in language that called attention to “the love which thou dost bear to th’Heliconian imps [Muses] and they to thee, they unto thee, and thou to them, most dear.” Writing publicly to de Vere, using his real name and calling him the poet most beloved of the Muses, Spenser added:
Dear as thou art unto thyself, so love
That loves and honors thee; as doth behoove.
Ogburn Jr. translates those lines as Spenser telling Oxford: “As dear as you are to yourself, so are you to me, who loves and honors you, as it behooves me to.”
The bafflement over the identity of “our pleasant Willy” disappears once the “experts” realize that Spenser was referring to the great author who was not, after all, Shakspere of Stratford, but that same earl of Oxford who was “most dear” to the Muses and would soon adopt the pen name “William Shakespeare.”
[This blog post, with editing by Alex McNeil, now appears as No. 30 of 100 Reasons Shake-speare was the Earl of Oxford (2016), published by Forever Press.]
on November 1, 2018 at 1:42 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: authorship, earl of oxford, edmund spenser, edward de vere, shakespeare authorship, spenser, whittemore, who wrote shakespeare
The Echo: Re-Posting No. 45 of 100 Reasons to Conclude that “Shake-speare” was the Earl of Oxford
A Lover’s Complaint by “William Shake-speare” (the name is hyphenated on the title page) appeared in print at the end of the first and only quarto of the Sonnets in 1609; the “Echo” poem “Sitting Alone Upon My Thought” in Verses Made by the Earl of Oxforde was written circa 1581. The similarities between the two works are unmistakable. If Oxford wrote the Complaint attributed to “Shake-speare,” he must have written it about the same time he wrote the “Echo” poem, nearly three decades earlier than 1609. Here is how they both begin: A Lover’s Complaint by Shake-speare (1609) From off a hill whose concave womb re-worded A plaintful story from a sistering vale, My spirits to attend this double voice accorded, And down I laid to list the sad-tuned tale; Ere long espied a fickle maid full pale, Tearing of papers, breaking rings a-twain, Storming her world with sorrow’s wind and rain. Upon her head a platted hive of straw, Which fortified her visage from the sun, Whereon the thought might think sometime it saw The carcass of beauty spent and done… “Sitting Alone Upon My Thought” – (before 1581) Sitting alone upon my thought in melancholy mood, In sight of sea, and at my back an ancient hoary wood, I saw a fair young lady come, her secret fears to wail, Clad all in color of a nun, and covered with a veil; Yet (for the day was calm and clear) I might discern her face, Three times, with her soft hand, full hard on her left side she knocks, And sigh’d so sore as might have mov’d some pity in the rocks; From sighs and shedding amber tears into sweet song she brake, When thus the echo answered her to every word she spake… As one might see a damask rose hid under crystal glass. Here, too, are lines from Ruins of Time attributed to Spenser (1591), also with remarkable similarities: It chaunced me one day beside the Shore Of silver streaming Thamesis to be, Nigh where the goodly Verlame stood of yore, Of which there now remains no Memory, Nor any little Monument to see; By which the Traveller, that fares that way, This once was she, may warned be to say. There, on the other side, I did behold A Woman sitting sorrowfully wailing, Rending her yellow Locks, like wiry Gold, About her Shoulders carelesly down trailing, And Streams of Tears from her fair Eyes forth railing: In her right Hand a broken Rod she held, Which towards Haven she seem’d on high to weld. Each of the poems centers upon a mysterious maiden sitting alone and weeping. The Stratfordian model dictates that “Shake-speare” must have seen Ruins of Time before writing his Complaint; but Oxford had already written his Echo poem far earlier than 1591, so the likelihood is quite the reverse, i.e., that Spenser borrowed from him. And if Oxford had also written A Lover’s Complaint much earlier, then Spenser might have borrowed from that poem as well! (This blog post is updated with editing by Alex McNeil and now appears as no. 82 in 100 Reasons Shake-Speare was the Earl of Oxford.)
Tags: A lover's complaint, authorship, earl of oxford, edward de vere, monument sonnets, shakesepeare's sonnets, shakespeare authorship, spenser, The Monument, whittemore, who wrote shakespeare
Henry Peacham’s Loud Silence in “The Compleat Gentleman” of 1622 — No. 38 of 100 Reasons Why Edward de Vere Earl of Oxford = “Shakespeare”
In 1612, Henry Peacham (1578-c. 1644) apparently suggested in Minerva Britanna (1612) that Edward de Vere Earl of Oxford (1550-1604) had been a playwright of hidden identity. A decade later, in 1622, he published his most popular work The Compleat Gentleman, in which he stated:
Title Page of The Compleat Gentleman
“In the time of our late Queene Elizabeth, which was truly a golden age (for such a world of refined wits, and excellent spirits it produced, whose like are hardly to be hoped for, in any succeeding age) above others, who honoured Poesie with their pennes and practice (to omit her Majestie, who had a singular gift herein) were Edward Earle of Oxford, the Lord Buckhurst, Henry Lord Paget; our Phoenix, the noble Sir Philip Sidney, M. Edward Dyer, M. Edmund Spencer, M. Samuel Daniel, with sundry others: whom (together with those admirable wits, yet living, and so well knowne) not out of Envie, but to avoid tediousnesse I overpasse. Thus much of Poetrie.”
Eva Turner Clark (1871-1947)
The first Oxfordian to report on this passage was Eva Turner Clark in The Man Who Was Shakespeare (1937). In that work Clark acknowledges that Peacham was following others (in the 1580’s and 1590’s) who had cited Oxford for his poetry and for his (officially “lost”) writings (“comedies”) for the stage; and “significantly,” she adds, Peacham “does not mention Shakespeare, a name he knew to be the nom de plume of Oxford.”
Louis P. Benezet (1876-1961)
Picking up on Clark’s observation, Louis P. Benezet, Chairman of the Department of Education at Dartmouth College, wrote in The Shakespeare Fellowship Quarterly of October 1945 that Peacham’s statement in The Complete Gentleman is “one of the best keys to the solution of the Shakespeare Mystery.” And he continued:
“We recall the statement of Sir Sidney Lee [1898], that the Earl of Oxford was the best of the court poets in the early years of Elizabeth’s reign, and Webbe’s comment [1586] that ‘in the rare devices of poetry he (Oxford) may challenge to himself the title of the most excellent among the rest.’
“Also we remember that The Arte of English Poesie [1589] after confessing that ‘as well Poets as Poesie are despised, and the name become of honourable infamous’ so that many noblemen and gentlemen ‘are loath to be known of their skill’ and that many who have written commendably have suppressed it, or suffered it to be published ‘without their names,’ goes on to state that in Elizabeth’s time have sprung up a new group of ‘courtly writers, who have written excellently well, if their doings could be found out and made public with the rest, of which number is first that noble gentleman, Edward, Earl of Oxford.’
“Now comes Henry Peacham, confirming all that has been said by others,” Benezet writes, noting the date of 1622, when the likes of George Chapman and Ben Jonson were “yet living, and so well knowne,” while William Shakspere of Stratford had been dead for six years and, by all rights, should have been on the list – unless, of course, the real “Shakespeare” was in fact heading the list under his real name, Edward de Vere, who had died in 1604.
Peacham “was in a position to know the truth,” Dr. Benezet continues. “He had been for several years the tutor of the three sons of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, Oxford’s cousin. Living in the family circle, he knew the secret behind the pseudonym under which were published Venus and Adonis and Lucrece, those poems which, with The Fairie Queene [by the late Edmund Spenser, whom Peacham mentions], provide the high water mark of Elizabethan rhyming.”
Sir George Greenwood in The Shakespeare Problem Restated (1908) had noted that the theatrical manager Philip Henslowe had never entered Shakespeare’s name in his diary, Dr. Benezet recalls, adding that “still more compelling is the silence of Henry Peacham, for not only does he ignore the Stratford man, but, at the head of his list of the great poets of ‘the Golden Age,’ where the name of the Bard of Avon should be expected, we encounter instead that of one who is not even mentioned in any of the histories of English literature consulted as ‘authority’ by my colleagues of the Departments of English, the greatest of the world’s unknown great, Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford.”
Back in the mid-1590’s, as a seventeen-year-old Cambridge graduate, Peacham had created a sketch apparently depicting the rehearsal or performance of a scene from Titus Andronicus,which was first published anonymously in a 1594 quarto. Given that four years later Francis Meres in Palladis Tamia of 1598 listed Titus as one of Shakespeare’s tragedies on the public stage, we can be sure, if Henry Peacham had thought “Shakespeare” and “Edward de Vere” were separate individuals, he would have included both names on his list of the greatest no-longer-living authors of Elizabeth’s time. Instead he knew the two names designated one and the same man.
Tags: authorship, Compleat Gentleman, earl of oxford, edward de vere, eva turner clark, Henry Peacham, henslowe, louis benezet, Minerva Britanna, monument sonnets, queen elizabeth, queen elizabeth 1, shakespeare authorship, spenser, whittemore, who wrote shakespeare
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The Witchcraft Trial of Elizabeth Morse of Newbury, 1680
By Gordon Harris on August 24, 2015 • ( 17 Comments )
Plaque commemorating Elizabeth Morse in Newburyport
Elizabeth Morse of Newbury was accused and found guilty of being a witch. She was initially sentenced to be hanged, but the execution was never carried out and, after spending a year in the Boston jail, Elizabeth Morse was sent home to live with her husband on the condition that she was forbidden to travel more than 16 rods from her property unless she was accompanied by a pastor or a deacon. The Morse Society placed a bronze plaque on a building on Market Square in Newburyport where it is believed Morse’s house once stood.
The following story is from, “A Book of New England Legends and Folklore.”
In the year 1679, there happened in that part of Newbury, now known as Newburyport, and to one Goodman Morse of that town, a series of petty annoyances that were forthwith set down to the account of the arch-fiend himself, since, as everybody said, no one else but the devil himself could have done such things. This Goodman Morse was an industrious cobbler, about sixty-five years old, with whom lived his wife and grandson, a lad whose roguish disposition.
Caleb Powell, Morse’s neighbor, had a shrewd suspicion that the grandson was the real culprit. But instead of declaring his suspicions in an open way, he persuaded Morse that he could exorcise the evil spirit by his command of secret power, provided he could have the boy put under his hand. In truth, the strange molestations suddenly ceased with the lad’s departure, whereupon Powell was immediately suspected of dealing in the Black Art, was arrested.
In court, Goodman Morse testified,
“Last Thursday night my wife & I being in bed, we heard a great noise against the roof with sticks and stones throwing against the house with great violence, whereupon I myself arose, and my wife, and saw not anybody, but were forced to return into the house again, the sticks and stones being thrown so violently against us. We locked the door again fast and about midnight we heard a great noise of a hog in the house, and I arose and found a door being shut. I opened the door again and the hog runneth violently out.”
And in conclusion the poor, silly Morse stated,
“A mate of a ship came often to me and said he much grieved for me, and said the boy was the case of all my trouble, and my wife was much roughed, and was no witch; and if I would let him have the boy but one day he would warrant me no more trouble. I being persuaded to it, he came the next day at the break of day and the boy was with him until night, and I not any trouble since.”
It thus fell out that well-meaning Caleb Powell, instead of being thanked for his pains, was accused of being a wizard, hence his arrest and trial. At the March term of the court at Ipswich, Powell’s case came up and additional testimony was brought out. Sarah Hale and Joseph Mirick testified that Joseph Moores hath often said in their hearing that if there were any wizards, he was sure Caleb Powell was one. This Moores was boatswain of the ship of which Caleb Powell was mate.
The court decided its verdict:
“Upon hearing the complaint brought to this court against Caleb Powell for suspicion of working by the devill to the molesting of the family of William Morse of Newbury, this court cannot find any evident ground of proceeding farther against the said Powell, yet we determine that he hath given such ground of suspicion of his so dealing, that we cannot so acquit him but that he justly deserves to beare his owne shame and the costs of prosecution of the complaint.”
Since Powell had escaped with his life, it was necessary to find another victim. This time, Morse’s wife Elizabeth was hit upon as the guilty one. Therefore, on the 20th of May, 1680, at a Court of Assistants held in Boston, she was indicted by the grand jury for “not having the fear of God before her eyes, being instigated by the devil, and having familiarity with the devil contrary to the peace of our sovereign lord the king, his crown & dignity, the laws of God, and of this jurisdiction.” The result was a verdict of guilty, and Goody Morse was condemned to death by the governor on the 27th of May, in the following words, ”
” Elisabeth Morse, you are to goe from hence to the place from whence you came and thence to the place of execution and there to be hanged by the neck till you be dead, and the Lord have mercy on your soul.”
The court was adjourned, from day to day, until June 1, when the governor and magistrates voted to reprieve Goody Morse to the October term.The next year the case was brought before the Great and General Court, by two petitions from the husband of the accused, in which he attempted to free his wife from the deadly accusations made against her. Mr. Coffin, the historian of Newbury, believes that the life of Goody Morse was saved by the firmness of Governor Bradstreet,and the town of Newbury was thus prevented from offering the first victim, in Essex County, to that lamentable spirit of delusion, which, twelve years after, left so dark a stain.”
A Book of New England Legends and Folklore
www.geni.com/people/Elizabeth-Morse-Witch-of-Newbury
The First New England Witch by William Morse
The Devil of Great Island
Categories: Legends
Tagged as: 1680, Newbury, witches, women
Ipswich Chronicle Report of the 250th Anniversary Exercises, August 16, 1884
Historic women of the North Shore
Wanda L Covey says:
Descendant of Joseph Morse , any iufo welcomed!
Carolyn Stickney says:
My husband Jeffrey Stickney is a descendant of William and Elizabeth Stickney who came to America from England in 1635. Their son Amos Stickney married Sarah Morse. Her uncle was William Morse, who was married to Elizabeth Titcomb. This would be my husband’s 11th great aunt/uncle. Interesting story!!
Darlene Kozlovskis says:
Elizabeth is my descendant, on my mother’s side, this is very interesting
Marion Millard says:
Thank You for supplying this information!
Colleen Watson says:
I am descended from Samuel Morse and Elizabeth Jasper through the Daniell family whose descendant Sarah Daniel married a Fruean , Charles Fruean Zimmermann left New England for the South Pacific.I search in my spare time .Warm affectionate greetings to all my kin.
ancestralghost says:
Thanks so much for posting this information. Elizabeth and William Morse are my 9th great grandparents. I knew there’s been ongoing research on Elizabeth so I did a search for updates and found this lovely page. Very nicely done.
I am descended from Samuel MORSE b:1640 (m. Elizabeth WOOD), and his father Joseph MORSE bapt:1613 (m: Hannah Phillips), and his father Samuel MORSE bapt:1576 (m: Elizabeth JASPER).
I have seen that the husband of this Elizabeth MORSE (accused witch) was married to William MORSE. How does William MORSE fit into this pedigree?
C Dixon says:
Your line descends from Anthony Morse, the brother of William.
I don’t know if or why my message isn’t coming through. But I will try this: William Morse 1614-1683 from Marlborough,Wiltshire, England was my 11th great uncle. Anthony Morse 1606-1686 was my 10th great grandfather.
shannon murphy says:
according to my ancestry tree Elizabeth Morse was my 6th great grandmother.
Is there anything is you can share with me regarding her and other family?
Marcia Morse Mullins says:
The court documents related to Elizabeth’s trial were scrutinized several years ago, and it is now apparent that the accusation of Elizabeth was grounded in a community disagreement over the administration of church government. There is an article about the researcher’s findings on the home page of The Morse Society’s website, http://www.morsesociety.org
Also in the case of Elizabeth Howe of Ipswich, who was hung as a witch, I’ve read that their neighbors, the Perley family fought for years to keep the Howes out of the church, before resorting to charges of witchcraft.
Marion, your Joseph Morse (b. 10/28/1673) was the grandson of Anthony Morse. Anthony was the brother of William Morse, Elizabeth’s husband. Anthony and William emigrated together from England to Newbury in 1635.
Marcia Morse Mullins, President
The Morse Society
My goodness Marcia Morse Mullins, thank you so very much! I will copy this and save it for my research (which happens to be currently limited.) It was so kind of you to respond to me!
It occurs to me that we are very distant relatives on my mother’s side of the family! Her grandfather was an Allen.
Thank you so very much for responding, Marcia! I was excited to see this. It occurs to me that we are distant relatives, and that is exciting, also. I printed this information and intend to use it, trying to make sure that I have names, places, people, correct. As you know, it can be challenging at times. My computer skills are not all that I wish they were, but I keep trying.
I am just delighted that you sent this, and I thank you immensely! Marion Millard ☺
To: marionmillard@hotmail.com
Parker River says:
It was the Porter/Putnam family feud in Salem Village which, too, was over a church issue which birthed the entire matter. The church then was both a shield and a sword.
We have a direct ancestor from Essex, MA named Joseph Morse 10/28/1673 Perhaps this is a relative of the lady tried for witchcraft, Elizabeth Morse?
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Before the Cataclysm, there existed a dark secret. HiveSec kept all of its prisoners incarcerated in plain sight, behind a Giant False wall on the West side of the complex. Nobody even knew of it’s existence, save the inmates. Each wing of the prison was a fortress unto itself, able to localize and put down any insurgence or riot that occurred. If the threat became too high, the atmosphere would be vented in that wing and all inhabitants would be sucked into space, the security forces having the only Atmos survival rigs given to non-military or planetary construction workers would have been unharmed by the venting. During the Cataclysm, however, the bombardment of meteroties pummelled the shielded doors to such an extent that the seals were molten and warped shut, meaning that the full-scale riot that ensued was uncontrollable by the forces at hand. HiveSec held off in the Wardens Tower and the gangs and groups that previously inhabited hive started taking turf within the prison. Not only were prisoners warring with the HiveSec, they started warring with each other, bad blood rose to the surface and old vendettas could now be resolved.
The Three Year War hit hard, many gangs rose and fell during this time, it was bloody, treacherous and the boundaries of loyalty rose as quickly as they fell. Once the war was winding down, fighters too exhausted or beaten to care much for the war anymore, something unexpected happened. An alliance of 4 Gangs, the biggest of the lot and the ones who took no part in the war, emerged from hiding and declared themselves their saviours. The leader of this was a man known as Solomon, and he unified the gangs, stating that if they didn’t put aside petty differences, none would survive. Even the HiveSec, besieged in their own tower, joined the cause, and together they forged a new time of prosperity, peace, and more importantly, survival.
Only 2 of the three wings survived, however, one was sealed off by the automated defences during the cataclysm, now forgotten about and only referred to in hushed whispers as being part of the “Badlands, the most heavily affected parts of Hive. The prison was opened up to the rest of Hive by the cataclysm, a large explosion from one of the industrial Districts outside the Wall caused a large chunk of the false wall to crumble. Alley Kings have been sending out small warbands of their regular troops but after very few returned, they decided to further Reinforce and repopulate what they had already claimed first before expanding.
The prison itself is still in a state of lockdown. Each segment of prisoner housing was burrowed into the rock underneath Hive, with the Warden’s Tower overlooking it all. All of the wings had to be tunnelled into, making it into a giant ant nest. The Warden’s Tower at the centre became the Sons of Solomon’s seat of power; from there they exacted their will and their vengeance upon those who disobeyed. Gangs would rise every so often or marauders and renegades would come through The Gap but they were swiftly dealt with, either by the Heavily Armoured Kingsguard or by the longrifles of the Deadeyes.
Subfactions
Convicts are the more aggressive criminals, assault and murder are so easy to them. They wear old clothes reclaimed from the Property Offices combined with riot gear “Borrowed” from the old security force. They are the soldiers of the Alley Kings, used to wipe out marauder warbands and push back opposing forces into what they consider “Their Kingdom”
They have an uncanny ability to take what isn't theirs, granting a bonus to Raid loot. They also have a higher resistance to stim addiction, requiring more to become addicted and lessened side-effects.
They might be tough, but they ain't smart. They cannot take career skills other than the Warleader skill. They cannot use long rifles or sniper rifles, they just do things so much less…..personally. Why do things from afar when you can see the fear in the enemies eyes just before the life drains from them.
These are the more white-collar criminals, they were the best at hacking, swindling and tricking people out of their money. In the penal fortress, they became the suppliers, the informants and the runners. Their intuition and their initiative is the only reason why the convicts hold them in such high regard, without them, they would never clear the security checkpoints, get into the locked down sections and access the security feeds necessary to effectively hold their Kingdom. They generally wear old reclaimed clothes along with janitors overalls, maintenance gear and prison guard basic gear.
Being a more cunning sort of criminal grants the ability to pick locks and hack computers quicker, 30 seconds quicker to be exact. They also have the ability to figure out the best escape plans, gaining additional information of hidden tunnels and access points once territory is taken.
Cannot use heavy rigs past Worn and cannot use LMGs or two handed melee weapons. Cunning doesn’t mean tough, ya know!
Retrieved from "https://hivelrp.fandom.com/wiki/The_Alley_Kings?oldid=4319"
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Kylie Jenner Risks Malfunction In Racy, Cutout Cleavage Dress — Pic
August 10, 2015 7:49PM EDT
Jennifer Carpenter Gives Birth: ‘Dexter’ Star Welcomes First Child With Fiancé
Fameflynet
Chris Rogers
Congratulations! Jennifer Carpenter and her fiance, Sean Avett, welcomed their first child together, a new report claims. The ‘Dexter’ star spoke on the panel for CBS’s ‘Limitless’ at TCA Aug. 10 and said she was 8-months pregnant while filming the pilot. She now has a flat stomach.
The proof is in the pudding! Jennifer Carpenter, 35, showed off a very flat belly at TCA on Aug. 10, leading us, and many others, to believe that she gave birth to her first child recently. The Dexter star was rumored to be expecting with her fiance, Sean Avett, when photos, showing her with with a baby bump, emerged in February. Jennifer, who spoke on one of the panels, even said she was eight months pregnant while shooting the pilot for CBS’s Limitless.
“I did eight years of research on a show called Dexter about working in law enforcement. I felt pretty equipped. It was more about ignoring my current circumstances of being eight and a half months pregnant while we were shooting the pilot, and asking everyone else to pretend that stomach wasn’t there,” she told the audience of filming the pilot in late March, according to E! News. This means she must have given birth in late spring. Her flat belly was also on display while shopping with her fiance on Saturday, Aug. 8. (See the pic above!)
So how did she hide her baby bump while filming her new series? “We have an incredible costume designer and he worked miracles,” she said. “I’m actually wearing something in the second episode that we tried to wear in the first around my pregnant belly. I don’t know if he’s a magician or what but Marc Webb‘s camera angles, people crossing at the right time, I actually bumped into [co-star Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio]’s desk at one point and that actually made it into the show. It was magic…I have my mother’s frame.”
Jennifer and Sean (of Avett Brothers) have been together since 2013. They started dating shortly after she divorced her Dexter co-star Michael C. Hall, who was her on-screen brother.
Limitless premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 10 p.m. ET on CBS. Send Jennifer and Sean your congratulations in the comments section below!
— Chris Rogers
Follow @ChrisRogers86
More Jennifer Carpenter News:
Jennifer Carpenter: 'Dexter' Star Is Pregnant & Engaged To Seth Avett
'Dexter' Star Jennifer Carpenter Shows Off Her Stylish Side In These Never-Before-Seen Pics
The Real Reason Michael C. Hall & Jennifer Carpenter Are Getting Divorced: 'Dexter' Doesn't Want Babies!
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Iggy Azalea Twerks & Slays In Sexy Latex Outfit In Fierce ‘Sally Walker’ Music Video — Watch
March 15, 2019 10:00AM EDT
Afrojack Gets ‘Real’ On Hard-Hitting New Track ‘Sober’ With Rae Sremmurd
Afrojack’s first song of 2019 is an epic collab with Rae Sremmurd & Stanaj! The DJ told HollywoodLife why the two artists were the perfect fit for the brand new smash.
What do you get when you put Rae Sremmurd, Afrojack and Stanaj in a room together? A hard-hitting track that will have fans of all three artists pressing the ‘repeat’ button. Afrojack, AKA Nick van de Wall, has proven himself to be one of the top producers on the globe, and he EXCLUSIVELY told HollywoodLife how the new collab, “Sober,” came together seamlessly. “We have all performed together at different festivals,” the DJ explains. “And, we did a surprise collab at EDC with Rae Sremmurd, and at Ultra with Stanaj for “Bed of Roses.” Nothing beats working with a team that all wants to go for the best.”
The new track, which received the visual treatment as well, shows all three artists entering a trippy, sci-fi fantasy world. Afrojack revealed that he had one specific requirement when it came to making the video. “We gave the director a lot of freedom but my priority is that it ‘shines.’ No matter what the product or song, its gotta sound natural and real, and needs to have the same look,” the hit-maker said.
It seems like we’re seeing more cross-genre collabs than ever right now, and Afrojack says it’s one trend he can definitely get behind. “Its the most fun. As a DJ, I’m used to mixing different genres into one experience, and the biggest reactions are always from the surprise approach, mixing pop with trap, disco with techno, or my favorite EDM with hiphop.” So – what’s next for the Dutch DJ? “I’ve been doing this for a minute and its still one of my biggest hobbies, but I’m in love with building new artists, producers, and putting them in the spotlight,” he tells HollywoodLife.
Watch the brand new video for “Sober” above! As his first smash of 2019, Afrojack really nailed it with this one.
More Music News:
ScHoolboy Q: 5 Things To Know About The 'Numb Numb Juice' Rapper
Lance Bass Teases A New NSYNC Album: There Are 'A Lot Of Songs Written' That We Could Record
DJ Audien & Echosmith Reveal How They Linked Up For Cross-Genre Collab 'Favorite Sound'
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> Blog > How Does Hearing Solutions Recycle Your Hearing Aid Donations?
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April 28th, 2014 | General | by Michelle Sabari
How Does Hearing Solutions Recycle Your Hearing Aid Donations?
By Michelle Sabari, M.Sc., Au.D., Aud (C), Reg. CASLPO
Are you doing some spring cleaning and unsure of what to do with the hearing aids that you’re no longer using?
Bring them into one of our locations across the Greater Toronto area. This donation will become a gift of hearing for someone who otherwise would be unable to obtain hearing aids.
Are you wondering where these hearing aids will go?
Hearing Solutions teamed up with an organization called Purinapaq. Purinapaq was founded in 2006 by Jose Orozco. Mr. Orozco became physically disabled due to a workplace accident. In Canada he had the opportunity to receive the devices he needed and to be re-educated to go back to the workplace again. He felt so grateful that he wanted to be able to offer this opportunity to others. In particular, he wanted to offer the people of his home country Peru similar opportunities that he had in Canada. Therefore, Jose Orozco began Purinapaq as an organization that provided wheelchairs to people in Peru who have disabilities and live in poverty. Today, Purinapaq has grown and now provides assistance to people in many areas including occupational, physical and psychological rehabilitation, as well as biomechanical aid and assistive devices. Hearing Solutions collects and donates approximately 20 pairs of hearing aids to Purinapaq every 4 months to send to Peru.
What hearing aids are accepted?
All hearing aids are accepted even if they’re not working. The hearing aids are sent to a hearing aid clinic in Peru. There, the audiologists and hearing aid specialists will determine which hearing aids are in good working condition, which ones need to be repaired and which ones have useful parts that can be used for repairs. The audiologists are able to refurbish and reprogram the hearing aids to be given to the recipient.
Who receives the hearing aids?
In Peru there is a National Council for people with disabilities, as well as some local municipal programs. These groups receive requests and have waiting lists for people who need hearing aids. A patient will have a hearing test and a hearing aid evaluation by an audiologist to determine the hearing aid that will work best for them. When a donated hearing aid is received that will fit a patient’s need, the patient will be contacted to come to the clinic to have the hearing aid set and fit for their particular hearing loss. Many patients are school aged children who have a severe hearing loss. Some of the fittings are for adults with disabilities.
Stories of appreciation
A 21 year-old woman with a profound hearing loss had not worn hearing aids since she was in elementary school because she could not afford to purchase new hearing aids and her old ones had broken. Purinapaq received two donated power behind-the-ear style hearing aids that would be a perfect fit for this patient. When she came to the clinic and had the hearing aid turned on for the first time, she started to laugh for over 5 minutes. She explained to her mother “I hear you when you whisper about me.”
A university student with a moderate to severe hearing loss wore two in-the-ear style hearing aids. While walking on the street one day she was approached by a man and robbed of her hearing aids. Without these devices she could not hear. She felt like her world had collapsed. This student got in touch with Purinapaq and they were able to find her appropriate new devices. When she received the hearing aids, they happened to be the same make and model of the hearing aids that were stolen from her. She would have thought they were the same devices except she recognized that the serial numbers on the devices were different. She was overjoyed.
Thank you for your kind donations.
Michelle Sabari is an Audiologist registered with CASLPO and she sees patients at our Hearing Solutions at Lawrence Plaza in Toronto.
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Meghan Markle's TV dad says they used code to talk about Prince Harry on the set of "Suits"
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Meghan Markle may no longer be officially part of the Suits family, but she’ll always share a special connection with her on-screen dad, Wendell Pierce. The actor, who played Rachel Zane’s father on the hit show for several years, shared his touching parting words for Markle as they finished filming season 7.
"I had a really wonderful moment as we were coming to an end of her time on the show," Pierce told Harry Connick Jr. during an interview on Harry, which will air on Tuesday. "It was just she and I in the room and I said, ‘I know your life is going to change but always know, no matter where you are, I will always be your loving fake father.'"
It’s clear that the two of them developed a strong bond together, and while he didn’t pry into her love life, Pierce revealed that when they did discuss her relationship with Prince Harry that they talked about him in code.
Ian Watson/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Related article: Meghan Markle could get an allowance from the British Royal Family
"We always talked about him in code really. You know, ‘How you doing?’ ‘Oh I’m going to London, coming from London, whatever.'"
So, will he get invited to her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19? “I hope so,” he said. We have a feeling that he’ll be making a trip across the pond come spring.
By InStyle Magazine
This story originally appeared on Instyle
Ariana Grande’s Sweetener Tour just set major records for voter registration
Cardi B has one big question for Democratic candidates, and she wants to hear your questions, too
Harry and Meghan just distanced themselves from William and Kate in a big way
I talked to Mindy Kaling about the horrors of shaving, and it was the best 10 minutes of my life
Newlyweds Sophie Turner and Katharine McPhee joked about honeymooning together, and can we come too?
Here's how Meghan Markle, Taylor Swift, and more celebs are celebrating Pride Month
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared never-before-seen pictures from their royal wedding, and we're swooning
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It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare. — Edmund Burke
History of Germany - H. E. Marshall
Lewis IV of Bavaria and Frederick the Handsome
Frederick could not persuade his brother Leopold to yield to Lewis, and so after a short time he bade a sad farewell to his family, and once more returned to prison. But now Lewis received him as a friend. Touched to the heart by his enemy's knightly deed, he threw his arms about him, and swore that henceforth they should be as brothers. And henceforth it was so. They sat together at table, they shared one bed, and at length Lewis decided that they should share the throne.
So to all the Empire he sent forth the decree that they two should be looked upon as one Emperor. "We, Lewis and Frederick," ran the decree, "by the grace of God, Kings of the Romans, do hereby declare and make known that we are united and bound together for ever more; that we having both been chosen and consecrated shall as one person have, and possess, guide and rule, the Holy Roman Empire. Equal honour shall we have in street, and in church, and in every place."
And now at length, seeing his brother on the throne, Leopold yielded and made peace with Lewis. Soon afterwards he died, to the great grief of Frederick. "Why have you left me thus lonely?" he cried in despair. "Of what good is life to me without you?"
Frederick grieved for the loss of his brother, but Lewis well knew that, by his death, peace was made more secure. So now he prepared to march into Italy, to receive the Imperial crown. For it had been agreed that although Frederick should share the title of King, Lewis alone should receive that of Emperor.
Lewis had already quarrelled with the Pope, who denied his right to the throne and excommunicated him. But Lewis determined to set the claims of the Pope at nought, and be crowned Emperor in spite of him.
The Ghibellines of Milan received him with joy, and set upon his head the iron crown of Lombardy. From Milan he marched southward to Rome. Here too, the people received him gladly. But there was no Pope to crown him either willingly or unwillingly. For the Pope, still under the power of the French King, was more than half a prisoner at Avignon.
But in spite of the Pope's absence and anger, the coronation took place. A bishop was found to anoint Lewis, and a noble placed the crown upon his head.
Then, when the Pope preached a crusade against Lewis, and thundered against him all the curses of the Church, Lewis declared him deposed and set up a Pope of his own choosing. And by this Pope, Nicholas V, Lewis was for the second time crowned Emperor.
But the fickle Italians soon began to tire of their new Emperor. Many of them took the real Pope's part against him. And when in 1330, on the news of Frederick's death, Lewis returned to Germany, Italy was already lost to him. His anti-pope was driven from the throne. By his expedition to Italy, he had gained nothing but a life-long and very bitter enemy in Pope John XXII.
Frederick having died, Lewis was now sole ruler of Germany, and after a time he tried to make friends with the Pope, but he tried in vain. But the Pope had no longer the tremendous power he used to have. The people and the Emperor of Germany no longer cowered beneath his ban, and the princes of the realm were not afraid to take the part of their Emperor against him. In 1338 the Electors all met together and solemnly declared that the Emperor took his rank and crown, not from the Pope but from them.
The princes thus showed themselves boldly to be on the side of their King. And had Lewis been wise, he might have become one of the most powerful Emperors Germany had ever known. But Lewis was not wise. Instead of thinking of the Empire, he thought merely of his own house, and tried to make that great. In many ways he added land upon land to his private possessions until at length he and his son became so rich that the jealousy and anger of the princes was aroused.
Tyrol belonged to a lady named Margaret Maultasch, and Lewis thought he would like that land too for his son, and resolved that he should marry the Lady Margaret. The Lady Margaret was already married, but she was very unhappy, so Lewis took upon himself to divorce her from her husband, and allow her to marry his son. In doing this he usurped the power of the Pope, for he alone had power to unmake a marriage. So once more the sleeping wrath of the Pope was roused against the Emperor. Once more the thunders of Rome shook the Imperial throne, and the Pope called upon the princes to depose the King and choose another. This time the princes were ready to listen to the Pope. They declared Lewis deposed, and chose Charles, the son of the blind King John of Bohemia, and grandson of Henry VII, as the next Emperor. This was in July. In August, the battle of Crecy was fought between the French and English, and both King John and his son the new chosen Emperor, fought on the side of the French. John, you remember, met his death in the thick of the fight, while his son fled from the field.
After Crecy, Charles returned to Germany. But although he had been chosen King the people of Germany now refused to acknowledge him. Both the royal cities of Aachen and Cologne shut their gates against him, so he had to content himself with being crowned in Bonn, as Frederick the Handsome had been.
But, crowned or not, the people would still not acknowledge him. "A priest's king," they called him in scorn. And at length, disguised as a peasant, the would-be Emperor had to steal through the land until he reached Bohemia. There in his own country he began to gather an army to fight for the crown.
Lewis too, began to gather his army. But one morning, not feeling well, and hoping that the fresh air would do him good, he set out upon a boar hunt in the forest near Munich. Suddenly, as he rode along, he swayed in the saddle and, almost without warning, he fell to the ground.
Anxiously his attendants crowded round him. But there was little to be done, for the hand of death was upon him. "Sweet Queen, our Lady," he murmured, "be with me at my passing." Then he lay still.
Tew and His Children
Teutons and Romans
Ariovistus, First Great German
Herman, the Hero of Germany
The Huns and Goths
Winfrid, Apostle to Germans
Lewis the German
Lewis I and Charles the Fat
Arnulf of Carinthia
Lewis the Child
Conrad I
Henry the Fowler
Otto I the Great
Otto II the Red
Otto III
Henry II the Halt
Conrad II
Henry III the Black
Lothar the Saxon
Conrad III
Frederick I, Redbeard
Frederick 1, Redbeard
Philip of Swabia
Otto IV
Frederick II, World's Wonder
Conrad IV and the Interregnum
Rudolph of Hapsburg
Adolfus I of Nassau
Albert the One-Eyed
Henry VII of Luxemburg
Lewis IV of Bavaria
Frederick the Handsome
Charles IV
Wenceslaus of Bohemia
Frederick III
Charles V
Ferdinand I and Maximilian II
Rudolph II
Ferdinand II
Ferdinand III
Leopold I
Joseph I and Charles VI
The Rise of Brandenburg
Francis I
Joseph II
Francis II
Under the Heel of Napoleon
Under Napoleon (cont.)
The Downfall of Napoleon
Divided Germany
Austria and Prussia Struggle
William I, United Germany
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Up, Up and Away with Icom Radios
Up, Up and Away with Icom Radios In May 2010, in a scene reminiscent of the Disney film ‘Up’, American adventurer Jonathan Trappe strapped himself to an office chair tied to 55 helium balloons and floated 62 miles from Ashford in Kent to Dunkirk in France. There was of course no way of steering so he had to rely solely on the vagaries of the wind. His strategy for landing? When you are over France snip one balloon off at a time. So what does an adventurer do to maintain his safety…he uses Icom radios.
Jonathan’s chair was packed with communication gear including an Icom IC-F15S VHF transceiver to coordinate the flight with the 12 strong support team. Jonathan said,’ I realised I needed an air-to-ground chase radio system. Icom has an excellent reputation in the avionics world, and I was comfortable going with Icom Private Business radios based on my experience with Icom Airband radios.’
Jonathan said,’ Safety is the most important aspect of this type of flying. That takes meticulous strategic and tactical planning and equipment. That’s why in addition to my aircraft radio, we used Icom IC-F15S VHF transceivers to coordinate the flight with the crew on the surface.
‘When I’m high in the air, the range of the Icom radio is a hundred miles’ said Trappe. ‘It’s a good thing too. Coordinating with the ground crew is extremely important. They nee to be right there when I come down…it’s not like landing in an airport.’
IC-F15/F25 Series
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Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/scandj/v112y2010i4p864-883.html
My bibliography Save this article
New Evidence on Implicit Contracts from Linked Employer-Employee Data
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Juha Kilponen
Torsten Santavirta
We improve the precision of the implicit contract model test proposed by Beaudry and DiNardo (1991) . Our dataset allows us to define the exact industry and plant of a particular employment relationship, link local labor market characteristics to individual-level wages, and control for composition effects. We find evidence in favor of the spot-market model of wage setting in the whole sample, but there is significant variation across industries and education levels. In particular, the spot market matters most for low-skill workers, while the implicit contract model with one-sided limited commitment applies better to high-skill workers. Copyright © The editors of the "Scandinavian Journal of Economics" 2010 .
Juha Kilponen & Torsten Santavirta, 2010. "New Evidence on Implicit Contracts from Linked Employer-Employee Data," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 112(4), pages 864-883, December.
Handle: RePEc:bla:scandj:v:112:y:2010:i:4:p:864-883
File URL: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9442.2010.01623.x
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Kilponen, Juha & Santavirta, Torsten, 2010. "New evidence on implicit contracts from linked employer-employee data," Research Discussion Papers 12/2010, Bank of Finland.
Brown, James N & Light, Audrey, 1992. "Interpreting Panel Data on Job Tenure," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 10(3), pages 219-257, July.
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Christopher A. Pissarides, 2009. "The Unemployment Volatility Puzzle: Is Wage Stickiness the Answer?," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 77(5), pages 1339-1369, September.
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Beaudry, Paul & DiNardo, John, 1991. "The Effect of Implicit Contracts on the Movement of Wages over the Business Cycle: Evidence from Micro Data," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 99(4), pages 665-688, August.
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Marianne Bertrand & Esther Duflo & Sendhil Mullainathan, 2002. "How Much Should We Trust Differences-in-Differences Estimates?," NBER Working Papers 8841, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
Gary Solon & Robert Barsky & Jonathan A. Parker, 1994. "Measuring the Cyclicality of Real Wages: How Important is Composition Bias?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 109(1), pages 1-25.
Gary Solon & Robert Barsky & Jonathan A. Parker, 1992. "Measuring the Cyclicality of Real Wages: How Important is Composition Bias," NBER Working Papers 4202, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
Petri Böckerman & Roope Uusitalo, 2006. "Erosion of the Ghent System and Union Membership Decline: Lessons from Finland," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 44(2), pages 283-303, June.
Robert E. Hall & Paul R. Milgrom, 2008. "The Limited Influence of Unemployment on the Wage Bargain," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(4), pages 1653-1674, September.
Robert E. Hall & Paul R. Milgrom, 2005. "The Limited Influence of Unemployment on the Wage Bargain," NBER Working Papers 11245, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
Robert E. Hall & Paul R. Milgrom, 2007. "The Limited Influence of Unemployment on the Wage Bargain," Levine's Bibliography 321307000000000135, UCLA Department of Economics.
Hogan, Chad, 2001. "Enforcement of Implicit Employment Contracts through Unionization," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 19(1), pages 171-195, January.
James Ted McDonald & Christopher Worswick, 1999. "Wages, Implicit Contracts, and the Business Cycle: Evidence from Canadian Micro Data," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 107(4), pages 884-913, August.
McDonald, J.T. & Worswick, C., 1997. "Wages, Implicit Contracts and the Business Cycle: Evidence from Canadian Micro Data," Department of Economics - Working Papers Series 588, The University of Melbourne.
Darren Grant, 2003. "The Effect of Implicit Contracts on the Movement of Wages over the Business Cycle: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Surveys," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 56(3), pages 393-408, April.
Milton Harris & Bengt Holmstrom, 1982. "A Theory of Wage Dynamics," Review of Economic Studies, Oxford University Press, vol. 49(3), pages 315-333.
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Hermann Gartner, 2015. "Implicit contracts and industrial relations - Evidence from German employer-employee data," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 35(1), pages 298-304.
Martins, Pedro & Snell, Andy & Thomas, Jonathan, 2010. "Minu, Startu and all that:- Pitfalls in estimating the sensitivity of a worker’s wage to aggregate unemployment," SIRE Discussion Papers 2010-109, Scottish Institute for Research in Economics (SIRE).
Cockx, Bart & Ghirelli, Corinna, 2016. "Scars of recessions in a rigid labor market," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 162-176.
Bart Cockx & Corinna Ghirelli, 2014. "Scars Of Recessions In A Rigid Labor Market," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 14/894, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
Bart Cockx & Corinna Ghirelli, 2015. "Scars of Recessions in a Rigid Labor Market," Discussion Papers (IRES - Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales) 2015005, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
Cockx, Bart & Ghirelli, Corinna, 2015. "Scars of Recessions in a Rigid Labor Market," IZA Discussion Papers 8889, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Bart Cockx & Corinna Ghirelli, 2015. "Scars of Recessions in a Rigid Labor Market," CESifo Working Paper Series 5240, CESifo Group Munich.
Corinna Ghirelli, 2015. "Scars of early non-employment for low educated youth: evidence and policy lessons from Belgium," IZA Journal of European Labor Studies, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-34, December.
Corinna.Ghirelli, 2014. "The scarring effect of early non-employment," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 14/895, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
Corinna GHIRELLI, 2015. "Scars of early non-employment in a rigid labour market," Discussion Papers (IRES - Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales) 2015008, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
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Shoegazin’ punks SAAT comment on their well-textured gritty debut
By Karol Kamiński
Shoegaze is one of those genres, whose boundaries won’t be well precised. The style’s aesthetics have expanded from its initial soft & noisy / haunting and beautiful model to modern gybrids, in qhich bands from many different scenes experimented with it and blended with their own niche influences. Our today’s guests from Yekaterinburg, Russia called SAAT play a mixture of shoegaze, emo, and 90s moody post hardcore and their debut 2-tracker feels like a really fresh take on some familiar sounds. We asked them to drop us a couple of lines about both aurally beautiful songs and here’s what we’ve got.
SAAT by SAAT
Raindrops is a song about people’s reluctance to hear each other. Think about how often we defend our point view, forgetting about important things. We try so hard to close our ears with hands to stay in the zone of own comfort. In an attempt to defend our position, we are often guided by emotions. Abuse, insults, tears are those falling raindrops. As a result, we have two sides, which are exhausted by controversy. They both “don’t know how” to “break the wall” . This fight for the “truth” is meaningless, if it hurts a person you care about. It doesn’t mean we have to give up, no! It means that we shouldn’t fight with close people: we have to search for compromise.
Raindrops are
Fallin’ in my arms
Fallin’ on my lips
I try to
Say your name out loud
Say something at all
I don’t know how
Can I break the walls.
This song is about naked emotions. Sometimes you feel that something goes wrong and you just can’t do anything with it. And then you realize that you don’t control the situation anymore. Moreover, you feel lost and there’s no need to wait for support. And actually, you understand that it is only your way, you have to cope with difficulties without any help. And everything seems so fragile. But you know, that there is still hope, that there is something that never let you give up. And they will not win.
Rolling, rolling
Now I’m falling
They betrayed me and enjoyed the taste of my tears.
I’m standing on knees…
This battle was lost but they will not win.
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The Church of England in Britain moves closer to same sex marriage
By Alan Austin | 18 February 2017, 7:00am | comments
Archbishop of Canterbury speaks to LGBTI protesters prior to the vote. (Image via The Christian Post)
The Church of England in Britain – and the rest of the world – edges closer to same sex marriage. Slowly. Alan Austin reports.
THE GLOBAL push towards accepting same sex unions was blessed this week by a vote in London by the Church of England’s peak decision-making body, the General Synod. While somewhat convoluted, the decision is a huge boost for the marriage equality movement. Not just in the Anglican community and not just in Britain.
Background to this is the determined struggle within almost all faith groups to abandon the doctrine – fiercely defended by biblical literalists and other conservatives – that all same-sex activity is an abomination. Virtually all mainstream churches, synagogues, mosques and temples are now engaged in what they call “dialogue” on the issue. In most, the shift is on towards accepting marriage equality, but with greater resistance and more acrimony in some than in others.
Following three years of internal Church of England “conversations”, a long-awaited report was presented to this week’s synod. It reaffirmed that marriage was for straight couples only and that openly gay clergy – a numerically significant and influential group – had to commit to celibacy.
Church of England rejects controversial report banning same sex marriage https://t.co/szAedOJ4We
— Sandi Keane (@Jarrapin) February 17, 2017
No joke, there is currently a rainbow over Church House ️ #Synod pic.twitter.com/efNqzvvtcX
— Stevie (@breakingbutter) February 15, 2017
In a shock to most, but to the delight of progressives, the elected governing body rejected the report. For its recommendations to be accepted, the report needed the approval of a simple majority of all three separate “houses” of the synod — the bishops, the clergy and the laity. The bishops – who authored the report – and the laity approved it. But the house of the clergy rejected it 93 to 100. Hence its failure to pass.
Given the history of reform within Anglicanism and events elsewhere in Christendom, this outcome suggests there will be no going back to blanket rejection of gay marriage — which was legalised in the United Kingdom in 2014 despite stern church disapproval.
Similar drawn-out processes have been experienced in earlier struggles against injustices, including remarrying divorcees, accepting women as priests, then as bishops, and accepting openly gay people as clergy.
In the UK parishes, numbers of openly gay priests have increased steadily over the decades. Prominent London priest Andrew Foreshew-Cain, who broke the rules when he married his same-sex partner in 2014, was popularly elected to the general synod in 2015. Bishop of Grantham, Nicholas Chamberlain, came out as gay in September.
Gotta love Father Bower (@FrBower)- raising eyebrows with signs addressing gay marriage & race relations in #Gosford pic.twitter.com/bQGOr6WxAV
— Matt McDonald (@MattM_UQ) August 26, 2014
So the move for equality is accelerating. Even the bishops’ report rejected this week contained several elements which were advances on earlier sentiments. It called for a 'fresh tone and culture of welcome and support' towards gay people. And it recommended openly gay trainees for the priesthood should not face questions about their lifestyle different from those asked of straight candidates — a sort of ecclesiastical “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
The next time this matter comes up at synod, it is likely the house of laity will relax its opposition to same-sex marriage. The laity’s vote on Wednesday was a fairly narrow 106 to 83 with four abstentions. Opinion polling confirms that only 17 per cent of Anglicans now believe same sex relationships are always wrong. That compares with 53 per cent in 1983.
Wednesday’s outcome is likely to hasten reform elsewhere, as the Church of England unofficially leads the global Anglican community and influences other mainstream Protestant churches. It is in formal dialogue with the Roman Catholic church and several other denominations on this and other ecclesiastical matters.
Anglican provinces now offering significant – although not unanimous – support for same-sex marriage include Canada, Brazil, New Zealand, Scotland, South India, South Africa, the USA and Wales.
Most other Protestant denominations now have active internal movements seeking to approve same-sex marriage. Churches which already do so are increasing annually. The Orthodox churches, the Jewish community, Islam and other faiths are also making slow but steady advances towards accepting gays and marriage equality.
Social conservatives are going to get cucked on SSM then devote the rest of their lives to voting reform https://t.co/OS9tOHbrub
— elle hardy (@ellehardytweets) February 15, 2017
Australia is not leading the world, but is not bringing up the rear either. Australian Marriage Equality – a collaboration which includes Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Quakers and others – is actively seeking to change perceptions that all religions are anti-gay.
Why does this matter? Well, much of the resistance to marriage equality in parliaments and among voters has its basis in religious teaching, notably in Africa where anti-gay attitudes are often murderous.
As Malcolm Turnbull once observed:
“Many people who oppose gay marriage do so because, generally for religious reasons, they regard homosexuality as inherently wrong — a crime in the eyes of God.”
Turnbull should know. He has several religious nutters in his joint party room who are obstructing reform in Australia.
The sooner such attitudes are abandoned, the better — for gay men and women, for the broad society to which they contribute so creatively and extensively, and for the faith communities to which they would like to belong.
You can follow Alan Austin on Twitter @AlanTheAmazing.
Breaking news: Marriage has very little to do with religion (and vice versa)! https://t.co/UvaArY6PeS @IndependentAus #auspol #SSM
— Us & Them (@SSLsoundguy) September 16, 2016
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Archbishops call for 'radical new' inclusion for gay couples after #synod rejects sexuality report:https://t.co/ydKfw2ePUH pic.twitter.com/SLVZjqjqPS
— Harry Farley (@HarryFarls) February 16, 2017
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Alan Austin @AlanTheAmazing SSM marriage equality UK Church of England synod vote bishops report gay LGBTI Andrew Foreshew-Cain
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Behind the Scenes of Creativity
by Pavani Kaushik | Jun 26, 2018 | Heritage Arts, Performing Arts | 0 comments
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What does it take to create a work of art? The sort of art that goes beyond merely engaging your senses, but informs and educates as well. There are many steps before a talented artist showcases his creative idea to the viewer. When all we have to admire is the finished product itself, we can only surmise and conjecture about its creation.
A unique event right here in Villa Montalvo Arts Center, will unveil all that goes into the creative process. Artist Mrugen Rathod and curator Sandhya Gajjar are to be featured on June 29th, 2018 in an Art Forum sponsored event that promises to go behind the finished product to reveal, engage and excite.
When you think of the term ‘Artist ‘ – the image that springs to mind is of an individual who is given to solitary spells of creative endeavors, completely at ease with spending long periods of time alone. And many artists are typically not the sort who will let you peek into their works in progress. It is their ‘sacred space.’ However, collaborations can yield some surprising results. Collaborations of the right sort…
Mrugen Rathod and Sandhya Bordewekar Gajjar are enjoying just such a discovery on the beautiful grounds of Villa Montalvo. Gajjar will be documenting Mrugen’s creative exploration as he adapts to and creates work in a new environment. They are part of the Sally and Don Lucas Artists Residency Program (LAP), and have been sponsored by Art Forum – an organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area, promoting contemporary South Asian artists from various disciplines.
Mrugen Rathod:
Mrugen Rathod is a well known name in the Indian art world. He graduated from M.S University Baroda, with an MFA from the Baroda school of art. His site-specific art installations challenge artistic conventions and strive to lend his voice to the events that unfold around him. Whether it is highlighting the plight of the Olive Ridley turtles in Kerala, bringing awareness to the increasing pollution on the Vishwamitri river, or adding his efforts to revive a traditional craft form like Bellaguntha; Rathod’s art is all about involving viewers and encouraging them to ask questions. “For me, my art is about ‘doing.’ I learn more from being personally involved in the environments that I create in,” says Mrugen.
His artistic concepts are shaped by the existing socio-political-ecological-cultural settings he chooses to work in. He is keen on creating awareness in the ecological and environmental areas of life, through his work. He speaks passionately about the experience on a Kerala beach, when he ‘created’ replicas the Olive Ridley turtles whose numbers were depleting at an alarming rate. Using eco-friendly, locally sourced materials like bamboo and plantain leaves, Rathod used the knowledge of local artisans to create the armatures and shells of the ‘turtles.’ He then filled them with an organic dye and worked all night to ‘arrange’ them all along the coastline. As dawn broke over the sand, the turtles ‘bled’ and turned the incoming tide red. The impact was captured by his camera as passersby stopped to ‘investigate’ and participate in his scene. “This was the real art experience – interacting with the locals as they stopped, asked questions, learned about their environment,” says Mrugen. And as the tide washed in, the ‘turtles’ disappeared into the ocean waters without a trace – emphasizing the artist’s intent to make a statement about decay and impermanence, both in life and in his art.
Some of Mrugen’s installations require considerable time and planning. His documentary film titled ‘Shore‘, spotlights Bellaguntha – the traditional craft of Odisha. Once considered a ‘heritage’ in Odisha, Bellaguntha has been eclipsed by the more popular and now mainstream art and crafts like Patachitra. Stylistically, the two share many similar motifs, drawing from the same myth and lore of the region. But because of the remote location of the craftsmen, Bellaguntha has sadly not had its share of the limelight. Beautifully crafted, delicate brass plates are shaped and joined together to create flexible ‘fish’ forms, called ‘Pithala Macha’ (brass fish). The fish motif is a nod towards their traditional mode of sustenance and occupation. It also signifies the Matsya incarnation of Vishnu from the Dasha avatar (10 incarnations) – derived from the mythology of the region.
With the help of Patachitra artists, he created illustrated booklets featuring the traditional ‘Macha’ or ‘Matsya’ form. Mrugen then worked with local sand artists, using their popular status and visibility, and created over-sized sand sculptures of sea life all along the Odisha coastline, culminating in the Bellaguntha fish motif. As people gathered about to watch the process, examine, photograph and investigate, Mrugen and his team distributed the booklets of information printed in three languages. They also documented the work and printed leaflets which went out as newspaper inserts in three major cities of Odisha. The leaflets contained only pictures – seeking to make a visual impact. There was no other information provided. Through his efforts, Mrugen not only created an awareness in real time, he also brought a forgotten heritage craft to the fore. “In a sense, Patachitra supported Bellaguntha, and sand sculpture supported my work… bringing all these ideas to the same platform,” says the artist. To him, this was the most gratifying part of this project, which took him nearly 2 years from concept to realization.
Mrugen values the experience he gains from residencies such as the Lucas Artists Residency Program, “I especially benefit from the exchange of ideas and inspiration from other artists engaged in their own work. I also gain an understanding of different local environments”. Needless to say, there is tremendous exposure to be gained from such opportunities. He is currently working on creating work by including the famed California Redwoods and the Hetch Hetchy reservoir into his collaborative project at Villa Montalvo.
Sandhya Gajjar:
Sandhya Gajjar’s association with the art world, also began at M.S. University in Baroda, but with English Literature and Art History. She has been writing extensively on Contemporary Indian art over the past 35 years, for many leading newspapers and art magazines in India. Sandhya has undertaken research projects related to cultural documentation. Her involvement as Founder member of the Heritage Trust paved the way for working with issues related to local tribes in Gujarat.
“In Art, as in Life – theory always follows practice,” says Sandhya, Artists create based on their personal experiences. It is up to the historians and theoreticians to identify the basis for that creativity, and formulate a ‘language’ to fit that expression. The real challenge is to forge a collaborative relationship with an artist who is willing to accept such an ‘intrusion‘ into their creative space. The responsibility to aid the creative process and complement each other’s energies towards a mutually beneficial process weighs heavy on both sides.
The main aim with a collaborative endeavor, is ‘creative resonance’. Such a collaborative opportunity results in an exciting challenge and a richer experience for both parties. Needless to say, the viewer stands to gain the most out of this experience!
“Documenting The Creative Process”, opens on Friday June 29th, 7pm at Villa Montalvo.
Pavani Kaushik is a visual artist who loves a great book almost as much as planning her next painting. She received a BFA from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. Her new avatar requires creative juggling with the pen and the brush.
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“Textured Triumphs” – Basuki Das Gupta
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Mallika Sarabhai Creates
Dancing to the Tunes of Her Heart
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Si Se Puede! Yes, We Can!
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VIDEO: Fire breaks out at NIIT centre in Connaught Placehttps://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/fire-breaks-out-at-connaught-place/
VIDEO: Fire breaks out at NIIT centre in Connaught Place
A call to the Fire control room was made at around 7:15 am and around 10 fire tenders reached the spot.
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Fire broke out in the first floor of NIIT centre in Hamilton House, Connaught Place early on Monday morning. The fire spread to a gym on the floor above the computer centre. Police said the fire has been doused and no casualties have been reported.
According to police and fire fighters, the fire had started in NIIT’s library on the first floor from where the fire spread to the rearmost end touching Rama House. Initially, there was confusion since the fire control room had got a call reporting fire in Rama House. When they reached the spot they realised the fire had started from the NIIT centre in Hamilton House.
The fire also spread to Fitness First gym on the floor above NIIT centre. A call to the Fire control room was made at around 7:15 am and around 10 fire tenders reached the spot. By around 11:00 am, 20 firetenders were in operation.
When smoke was first discovered early in the morning, around 6 persons who were working out in the gym around the time quickly evacuated the building. Nobody was injured or trapped, however.
The fire had not spread to the FabIndia and Starbucks coffee outlets just below NIIT centre. Water from the firetenders, however, had seeped into the shops.
The owner of a telecom company said that open wires to all air conditioners in the building might be the cause behind the fire. If one of the wires had a short circuit, all the other wires would catch it since they are all open. Morever, most shops draw electricity in excess of their permitted limit which might cause the meters to overload and the wires to catch fire.
Neither police nor the fire control officials have detected the exact cause of the fire. Though police officials are guessing a spark or short circuit in electronic devices in NIIT could have led to the fire. The NIIT centre was open to students from 8:30 am onwards.
fire accident
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Democracy, Technology, Economy
Now science has provided the technological capability to make democracy more true to its basic principle. Democracy as it obtains today cannot obstruct for long the far-reaching impact of information technology that is now common place. Democracy is theoretically the ideal mechanism of self governance invented by human beings. It is but natural that in the collective living of a group, all individuals may not always agree while taking decisions.
Human beings in their evolutionary history have co-existed for long and devised many forms of dispute-redressing mechanism to ensure their continued comparatively peaceful co-existence. And, now we have a dispute-redressing socio-political engineering that we call democracy. Democracy is a form of human self governance. Its basic principle is the rule of the majority over the minority. In the collective living of human beings there are always recurring moments when they are required to take collective decisions, and often, momentous decisions. While taking decisions, the unanimity of decision makers is ideal but almost always elusive. And, therefore, the next best thing possible is to take decisions by majority of the decision makers. Taking decisions by majority that bind majority and minority both is democracy.
It is natural that the minority, which did not agree to the majority view but found a much disliked-decision imposed on it by the operation of majority rule, would search for some loopholes to thwart and diminish the impact of the unpleasant majority decision. We are not talking here of the mundane routine scandalous politics that intermittently occur in democratic countries. We are up for serious things here.
The crux is that on crucial economic issues that vitally affect human beings in their collective living, the majority must find benefit in the decision that is taken by the majority notwithstanding the opposition of the minority. However, we find that in economic matters the minority is rich to the detriment of the majority who are poor. This is impeccable proof that here democracy, the rule of the majority, has been thwarted by whoever got illegitimate benefits from this distortion and by whatever means.
We must purify democracy by the application of science. We are not against anybody. We hold that human beings are mere instruments of forces that guide the course of events, at micro and macro scale in this grand universe.
We stand for the truly majority rule and surely the majority would benefit by its own rule in economic matters in contradistinction to the benefit accruing to minority. The minority has usurped machine, that saves human labor, from the hands of majority and yoked it in their own selfish service by rendering millions jobless. The minority monopolizes machine so that it may earn private profit by the work of machine with the less human labor needed. The minority has become rich and the majority has been reduced to poverty, though this majority is still flaunted as the rulers. In the rule of majority, the majority cannot be poor and the minority rich. It is distorted democracy. The science has come, as ever, to play its redeeming role to change the things in a forward movement.
How the science can be applied to democracy? We elect our representatives for a fixed term. They represent us for this term. We need the application of available technology on this issue in two ways. Firstly, the initial electoral process is presently much influenced by artificial means. The objective image of prospective representative is allowed to be bolstered by lobbying forces. This bolstering needs money that is not sufficiently available with the majority of population and their true aspiring representative is rendered disadvantaged. This could not be helped yesterday; today it can be remedied. The voting must be done only through the suitable device of information technology and without any role for the intervening economic forces in any manner.
It is possible. And, it must be done to redeem democracy from the hands of minority and accumulated money. Secondly, we must employ the information technology once again to constantly approve or disapprove our initially elected representatives. Of course, we need stability of the term of representation. Also, our representatives need insulation from momentary passions of the electorates who may disapprove leader’s unpopular decisions under the heat of the moment but may later on approve them on their cool calculations.
These are some of the problems that the technology enabled true democracy would have to resolve. There may be fixed a critical approval index below which a representative must quit. However, the technology should be used to constantly elect our representatives. Our leaders should be our representatives and they should be so at every moment. There cannot be anything like fixed secured term in true democracy. The fixed or secured term must be provided only to offset the undesirable impact on the cool decisions of our representatives. In fact, the real remedy of this problem lies in educating and enlightening our people and not allowing our representatives to continue despite electorate’s disapproval. Theoretically, the electorates know their interest best and the elected representatives cannot continue in the face of disapproval by their electorates.
For the democracy to become true today, the application of technology is necessary. For a democracy to become vibrant and healthy, it is necessary that its citizens should be educated, informed, empowered and enlightened.
Trackback: Path of New India – New Age Economy and New Age Democracy (3) | Indian People's Congress
Trackback: Electing Parliament: The On-line Way (2) | Indian People's Congress
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Beauty Marks: A History Lesson
by Lauren Maas
I don’t know when my beauty mark first appeared, but I do know it was some time before I could tell the difference between left and right. Now it resides just above my mouth on the right side of my face, and when I was a kid, the only way I could be really sure I’d turned to the right was by touching the mole first. Weird tic, no doubt, but it worked.
Now I more or less forget about it, outside of spacey moments when someone asks me to turn at a traffic light or move this way or that for a photograph. But once, after a bad sunburn sent me to the dermatologist, the doctor asked if I wanted to have it removed—not because it was cancerous, just because it was there—and I left her office in a huff. My beauty mark is a part of me! If it wasn’t dangerous, it wasn’t going anywhere. There was comfort in this certainty.
Call it what you will—birth mark, beauty mark, or overachieving freckle. A mole by any other name would be just a mole…but a mole of distinction? Interpreters of old believed there was more to these spots than met the eye. Let's explore, shall we?
*Everything always starts with a jealous God
*The mythical explanation of antiquity was that the gods, concerned that some mortals were just too beautiful, sent dark spots down to mar pretty faces. Meanwhile, on our earthly plane, scribes were writing about “olives of the body,” attemping to deduce the science of moles. They came up with a guide: a mark near the mouth indicated gluttonous tendencies; one on the neck foretold a possible future beheading, and so on. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, developed a more complicated system of mole mapping informed by astrology. And even though flawless skin was always preferred, Romans would apply leather patches to disguise pockmarks or scars as beauty marks instead.
*A royal game of telephone
*Medieval Europe, always the downer of any historical round-up, saw moles as evidence that the devil had entered a body—this is why witches are imagined with hairy moles on their gnarled noses or chins.
The mood lightened up by the 18th century, when moles were all the rage in the royal courts of Europe. Courtiers of both sexes would wear artificial beauty marks called mouches (French for “flies'). These adhesive patches were made of silk, taffeta, or velvet, and came in a variety of shapes—including hearts, spades, clubs, even tableaus (an entire horse-drawn carriage-shaped patch has been documented). They were so popular in Venice that an entire street—Calle de le Moschete—was dedicated to vendors of paste-on birthmarks.
Placement was a language unto itself; the infamous mistress of Louis XV, Madame Du Barry, created a crib sheet for mouche-decoding. A mouche on the cheek meant you were a flirt, while one near the lower lip suggested you were discreet (but still wanted to let everyone know it). Even private messages were sent via beauty mark. In Spain, one suitor learned the status of his beloved’s relationship with another man by reading her face: a patch on her right temple let him know a break-up was on the horizon and she would soon be back on the market. It certainly sounds like a fun game, which you and your loved ones can play at home with the help of Bell’occhio’s Mouches Pour Bal, Hottiedots, Marbella’s Beauty Mark, or just some strategic waterproof eyeliner application.
*Read my face
*In some Eastern traditions, moles are seen as symbols of luck. Mian Xiang, the Chinese practice of face reading, views red and black moles as auspicious and dull or brown moles as bad omens. Spontaneous bleeding or sudden appearance? You better watch yourself. A Mian Xiang reading of my face suggests I may “tend to have foot problems' and will “need to prevent water-related accidents,” but could also have a balanced and successful life, and be rich, famous, and enjoy a lavish lifestyle. I’m crossing my fingers for that last one.
*Ms. Pac-Man, the ultimate sex symbol
*In America, early film starlets like Clara Bow and Jean Harlow sported migrating spots that ushered in the celebrity beauty mark to rule them all: Marilyn Monroe’s. As Norma Jeane, it was just a faint freckle on her cheek. In the '60s, Elizabeth Taylor, Etta James, and Edie Sedgwick sported beauty marks that seemed to grow bolder as their stars rose. The '70s featured the spunky moles of Goldie Hawn and post-yé-yé France Gall. And the beauty mark of the '80s projected a sultry-smutty glamour on the lips of Madonna and Cindy Crawford—a look later channeled via piercing by Amy Winehouse and tattooing à la Dita Von Teese. Meanwhile, Ms. Pac-Man was cast as coquette in 1982 with an 8-bit beauty mark and a bright red bow and has been going strong ever since.
Plenty of celebrities have opted for removal—Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna, and Enrique Iglesias, to name a few. And given the very real dangers of skin cancer, it’s hardly a choice you can fault them for making. SJP, for her part, worried after fans admonished her for “getting rid of her trademark,” A valid concern, only made more interesting by the occasions when magazines opt to erase celebrity beauty marks and freckles for the sake of cover art. Recent Top Shelf-er Lilly Hartley expressed frustration with the practice—even going as far as to demand it's replacement on her face. Which goes to show what's been true in the case of beauty marks since antiquity: Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but a beauty mark is what you make of it.
—Lauren Maas
Photos via Vogue Paris, Lula , Lynch/Forst Productions, Paramount Pictures, The Cut , Genlux , Oyster , Twentieth Century Fox Film Coporation , Mark Abrahams, Clash , MGM Studios , Paper , Vanity Fair , Interview Russia , Paramount Vantage , V Magazine , Nickolas Muray, Vogue Australia , Dior, W Magazine , Sony Pictures , and Alexander Wang.
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BC-APFN-LT--Uruguay-Prison Entrepreneurs
In this May 29, 2019 photo, an abandoned guard tower stands in the inner court area as clothes hang from a fence of the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Punta de Rieles is an exception not only in Uruguay but in Latin America where penitentiary systems are synonymous with inhumane treatment, inhospitable conditions and very high recidivism rates. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 15, 2019 photo, an inmate looks through the window of the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Uruguay has 11,000 inmates in crowded prisons, and it locks up more people per capita than nations such as Mexico, Colombia or Argentina, according to a study prepared for congress. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 29, 2019 photo, inmate Rolando Bustamante uses his mobile phone inside his cell at the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Bustamante is on the last two years of a 21-year sentence for assault and runs a cement block factory inside the prison. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 23, 2019 photo photo, an inmate sweeps the restaurant where he works, at the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Punta de Rieles prison has been transformed into an unusual experiment. Inmates form businesses, work for one another and offer products both to the world within the walls and to that without. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 29, 2019 photo, inmate Federico Gonzalez, also known as Kung-Fu OmBijam, holds his handwritten lyrics inside his cell at the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Federico is a well known rap singer who is usually allowed to perform outside the prison. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 15, 2019 photo, inmate Federico Gonzalez, a musician also known as Kung-Fu OmBijam, talks to another inmate, a rap singer known as MC Mafia, at a multipurpose hall inside the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Gonzalez has been authorized to go outside the prison to develop cultural or educational activities, having been allowed the leave the prison grounds more than 250 times. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 11, 2019 photo, inmate Federico Gonzalez, left, a musician also known as Kung-Fu OmBijam, performs at La Cretina pub during a Hip Hop festival in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Gonzalez is an inmate at the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, but is allowed to leave the grounds to perform as part of a program designed to rehabilitate the inmates of the prison. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 15, 2019 photo, towels are displayed for sale at a clothing store run by an inmate at the Punta de Rieles prison, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The inmate who runs this business also studies economics at the university. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 18, 2019 photo, a television plays inside a cell of the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. At the prison cells are never closed. The prisoners can circulate throughout the grounds freely during the day and during the night the buildings are closed but not the cells. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 9, 2019 photo, inmates pose for a photo as they walk in a street of the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Of the 510 prisoners, who include thieves, assailants, kidnappers and killers, 382 work and 246 study, some do both. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 18, 2019 photo, inmate Nelson Avantti, who runs a bakery inside the Punta de Rieles prison, holds a cake at his bakery at the prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Money to start businesses like Avantti's comes from inmates' families or from a quasi-bank largely administered by inmates themselves. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 18, 2019 photo, the yards of the Punta de Rieles prison can be seen from a prison window, in Montevideo, Uruguay. Punta de Rieles is an exception not only in Uruguay but in Latin America where penitentiary systems are synonymous with inhumane treatment, inhospitable conditions and very high recidivism rates. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 9, 2019 photo, an inmate works making concrete blocks, at a factory run by inmate Rolando Bustamante, at the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Bustamante's factory is one of dozens of inmate businesses in the prison, which has been transformed into an unusual experiment. Inmates form businesses, work for one another and offer products both to the world within the walls and to that without. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 9, 2019 photo, an inmate at the Punta de Rieles prison that runs one of the existing barbershops, cuts the hair of another inmates t the prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. To get chosen for Punta de Rieles, prisoners have to have at least a six-month period of good behavior elsewhere. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 15, 2019 photo, inmates work at a bakery at the Punta de Rieles prison, in Montevideo, Uruguay. This bakery was started by two prisoners who have kept it going despite being released and now employ 50 to 70 people. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 15, 2019 photo, inmates carry bread to their cells at the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. The bakery is run by former inmates that come back to the prison almost daily and sometimes even sleep there, voluntarily this time. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 20, 2019 photo, former inmate Mauro Rodríguez works at the blacksmith shop at the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Rodríguez came to repair a machine that makes cement blocks, that he'd created while spending several years as an inmate. He now has a blacksmith's shop on the outskirts of Montevideo, where he works with his brother. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 15, 2019 photo, Inmate Federico Gonzalez, a musician also known as Kung-Fu OmBijam, stands on the grounds of the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Punta de Rieles is an exception not only in Uruguay but in Latin America where penitentiary systems are synonymous with inhumane treatment, inhospitable conditions and very high recidivism rates. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 9, 2019 photo, a closed store that used to sell cleaning products stands inside the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, May 9, 2019. The shop was one of the many that were started inside the prison but went out of business. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 9, 2019 photo, Luis Parodi, head of Uruguay's Punta de Rieles prison walks on the prison's grounds in Montevideo, Uruguay. Asked if there are other prisons in the world of this type, Parodi said, "I don't think so, I'm afraid to say. This is the synthesis of 30 years of work, reading, experiences and failures." (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 9, 2019 photo, an inmate uses his tablet to chat, at the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. The prisoners enjoy significant freedom within their confinement: They can largely say what they want, form groups, unions or cooperatives, have a telephone, use the internet and communicate with the outside world, even own a dog. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
In this May 29, 2019 photo, couples kiss inside the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo, Uruguay. Inmates can receive visitors on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
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VanDenburg’s Breathtaking Ballad Drives Her To Top 5
American Idol from YouTube
The first hour paid tribute to the music of the Woodstock era on American Idol Sunday night, and Cohoes' Madison VanDenburg proved once again, that she can rock out with the best of em'. But it was during her show-stopping second performance of the evening, a power ballad by Celine Dion, where the local teen brought the house down.
With attitude, confidence, and guitar in hand, VanDenburg kicked off the performances with a stirring rendition of 'Piece Of My Heart' by Janis Joplin. Peace, love, and praise came from all three judges and our local Idol hopeful was off to a hot start on a night where she needed to be great to make another cut.
During hour number two of the live show, Madison chose to sing the power ballad, 'I Surrender' from Celine Dion. It's a big song that comes with a bit of risk. There are tender moments which leave you vulnerable, and serious 'runs' that could expose even the slightest cracks in one's vocal ability.
VanDenburg, per usual, was up to the challenge. Unfazed by the moment or the stakes, the teenage sensation rose to the challenge again proved that she's a showstopper. She's so good in fact it's hard to believe she's only 17-years-old.
The Idol judges used a late show 'save' on Laci Kaye Booth who along with VanDenburg, Laine Hardy, Alejandro Aranda, and Wade Cota advanced to the Final 5.
Three more episodes remain of this season of Idol, with the Top 5 battling it out Sunday (8pm) before the two-part finale begins May 19.
Source: VanDenburg’s Breathtaking Ballad Drives Her To Top 5
Filed Under: american idol, Brian and Chrissy, Celine Dion, cohoes, Janis Joplin, latham, MADISON VANDENBURG, Top 5, wgna
Categories: Around Albany, Pop Culture
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blackout wednesday.
November 27, 2018 Reese 26 Comments
I was excited for my presentation. Sometimes I like to show off. And I was really proud of my design. For the occasion, I wore black high waist ankle pants, a cropped navy blouse and my go to work mules.
Since I already knew I was quitting no matter what, I decided to schedule my interview for Wednesday morning. Normally I take work more seriously.
The receptionist set me in a late glass enclosed conference room when I arrived. I was thinking, “Just how many people are going to see my presentation?”
Turns out, four. Frank, Angie, an older VP named Bill and a younger guy from the marketing team.
“Before you start showing us what you can do, why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself?” Bill said.
Oh. Again. I tried not to sound bored as I have my typical spiel, including a ton of details and answers to upcoming questions they might ask. Everyone stared at me with blank expressions. Bill asked a few interview questions, kind of basic, like what systems I was proficient in, the biggest team I’ve led. Then I got up and did my presentation. It was pretty long as again, I’d tried to cover all the questions they might have.
At the end, Bill said, “Here’s what I like about it. I like the overall look. The colors, I think, are great and work well with the overall concept. I think it is appealing for a multitude of people. What do you guys think?”
They all had nice things to say and I stood up there beaming. Then Bill says, “Here’s what I don’t like.”
“I don’t like that every element of the design has thought behind it. I think the design itself is simple enough, bu all the back story and meaning weighs it down. Does that make sense?”
Everyone nodded even though it didn’t make sense. What the fuck? Your little brain couldn’t handle my thought process? Annoying.
After the interview, Angie wanted to meet with me again. We headed down to the lobby to have coffee. We took our coffee (tea) to a little two seater and sat. She asked me my salary expectations and I told her, adding $10,000 to my current salary. You can’t be too greedy.
And then she asked me what my current office is like.
“Its similar to your office. It’s an open concept like it is here which is nice for collaborating with other teams. It’s pretty laidback. I like that everyone is willing to help each other with everything. Everyone has great ideas,” I told her.
She nodded and then leaned in close. “This is a predominately male office. It can be intimidating and I want to make sure that’ll be okay with you.”
I couldn’t picture myself in an all male office. Who would I grab coffee with and complain to? Who would I alert that Sephora had new product launch? What if all the men had a crush on me and I fell into temptation?
“I don’t think that would be an issue,” I let her know.
After the interview, I sent Frank and Angie an email thanking them for the opportunity and stuff. The proper after interview protocol. Surprisingly, Angie emailed me back immediately thanking me and sending a winking face. She was probably just pumped that there was a possibility that another woman would be joining the office.
On Thursday, I met up with Lola after work. I needed some career advice. We braved the snow to go to a packed hotel bar. I told her about the jobs and had to basically scream because the place was lit.
“Honestly, they both sound really cool. I’m really into the second one though. I feel like you would really have freedom to do whatever you wanted and that’s important,” she said.
“Should I accept the first job offer? What if I don’t get a job offer from the other one?” I asked.
“Yeah, accept it. If you do end up getting the other offer and you want it, rescind. Fuck them. Don’t sign anything yet,” Lola said, taking a gulp of her whiskey ginger.
So I accepted the offer. Heidi was thrilled. I still wasn’t quite sure which job I wanted and whether or not I’d even get an offer from the other place. But I told her that I’d start December 3rd.
That weekend, one of Brady’s friends was in town and Brady said he could stay with us. It’s bad enough that Brady is never home to spend time with me, and now I had to share him with Raul.
When Raul got in, we dropped his stuff off at the apartment and headed to dinner. Raul and Brady spoke in Spanish the whole time. I was sitting there bored and even my food wasn’t entertaining me.
Finally, I interjected and said, “What are y’all talking about?”
Brady just stared at me and Raul said in his cute little accent, “We are simply discussing my job prospects here.”
“Oh, me too! What jobs are you in the running for?” I said, excitedly.
“He’s a pharmacist, Reese. He’s looking for pharmacist jobs,” Brady said, sounding exasperated.
“Sorry for wanting to be included,” I said back, offended that he’d been so rude to me.
They continued talking and I sat there glaring and being bitter. After dinner as we were walking to the next place, Brady tried to grab my hand and I snatched it away.
“Did it make you feel better to exclude me from the conversation at dinner and then yell at me when I tried to talk?” I asked.
Brady had the nerve to roll his eyes at me. “I haven’t seen Raul in years and I really don’t need you taking over the conversation and trying to make everything about yourself.”
“I’m not!” I exclaimed, shocked and appalled that he’d even said that.
We walked to a bar where I sat on my phone the whole time. Fine. If Brady didn’t want me talking, then I wouldn’t. I texted Kendra, Carly, Preston, Luke, Lexi, Ava, Nick and Lola. Lexi was the only one who texted back right away, letting me know that she was out on a date and she really thought things might go somewhere with this guy. After she told me his name, I spent the next thirty minutes stalking him on the internet so I could find a reason it wouldn’t work out.
I felt Brady slide a hand into my lap. I looked up at him.
“Hey hey. I love you,” he said, barely even looking at me.
“Why don’t you tell me that again when you actually mean it,” I said.
Brady laughed but then went right back to talking to Raul. Cool.
The next morning, Brady wanted to show Raul the gym and woke up mega early to go.
“Can’t you wait like an hour? It seems unnecessary to go this early,” I groaned.
“Reese, it’s 9:00,” Brady said.
I got up and put on my workout gear then the three of us walked to Equinox. They wanted to lift and I wanted to do cardio so I told them I’d meet back up with them after.
After 30 mins on the elliptical and 10 minutes on the stairs, I was actually ready to go. To kill time, I went and got a fresh juice. There was a gentleman there also getting a juice who insisted on talking to me. My RBF failed me.
Just as the guy was going into an tangent about his work on Wall Street, Brady and Raul rounded the corner. Thank God. I hate finance guys.
“Finished already?” Brady asked me.
I nodded and handed him my half finished juice. “I got you something.” He accepted my gift.
We took Raul to some touristy things during the day which was awful. The only thing that got me through it is that we stopped at bars after each attraction so I consumed a lot of drinks. I was happy.
For dinner, we went to an Italian place and shared four dishes. I was mostly excited about the extensive wine list and consumed a bottle on my own. By the time we got back to the apartment, I was sleepy and drunk and wanted nothing more than to get in bed with Tucker and ice cream.
Brady put on some music and he and Raul started getting ready to go out. They showered and ironed shirts and took shots of tequila.
“Reese, how long do you think it’s going to take you to get ready?” Brady asked me as I sat on the couch with my ice cream.
“I don’t think I’m going,” I said.
“Really? Okay,” he said, immediately accepting my answer and walking off.
Uh, okay. I thought he’d try a little harder to get me to go with them, but obviously not. Whatever. All I could think about was my new silk pillowcase anyway.
Brady and Raul woke me up out of my sleep at around 4:30am. They were being loud and laughing and I rolled over, waiting for Drunk Brady to join me.
A few minutes later, I heard him stumbling into the bedroom. He kicked off his shoes and got undressed and then got into bed. I could hear his phone vibrating with messages from one of his pockets.
“I wish you came out tonight. I love you,” he said.
“I was actually sleeping really soundly before you came home. Please don’t annoy me,” I said.
Brady ignored me (or wanted payback for all the times I annoy him) and started telling me stories about things that happened at the bar.
“And then this guy, I think he was gay, came up to us and blah, blah, blah.”
I actually fell asleep during his story and Brady woke me up so he could finish telling me. Like dude.
The next morning, I woke Brady up by wrapping my legs around him. It’s my way of telling him I want sex. He rolled over and declared that he felt like shit.
Not my problem.
I climbed on top of him and started grinding slowly on his crotch area until I felt him get hard. Brady didn’t last very long and didn’t indicate that he was going to finish, I literally just felt it.
I got up and showered and when I came back to the bedroom, Brady seemed to want to redeem himself. Before I could get dressed, he pulled my towel off of me and started sucking on my boobs. I grabbed his hair and moaned – it felt so good. He got up and bent me over the side of the bed and we proceeded to have sex again, loud enough for poor Raul to hear.
While Brady was in the shower, I decided to go through his messages so I could see who had been messaging him the night before.
The most recent one was with Sydney.
“Did you make it home?” she’d asked.
“I’m home 🙂” Brady replied.
“Good! Tell Reese I said hello and that we missed her tonight!” Sydney said.
Wait. I couldn’t tell if she was being condescending or if she actually meant that. It’s hard to tell in text message form, right? If she was being real, then that was very nice.
The next thread was with an unsaved 310 number.
“Where are you tonight?” the number asked.
Literally four hours later, Brady responded, “I’m at Nitecap 🙂 Leaving soon.”
What was with all the smileys? Brady is obviously not an emoji person. It’s like someone else was texting people from his phone.
The number said, “Meet me in Turtle Bay. Bring Zeke.”
Later, the person said, “Have a good night, Brady!”
Super unclear if Brady had met up with whoever this person was, but I needed to get to the bottom of it. I saved the number to my phone and synced my contacts to my Snapchat. I quickly found out that the culprit was a person named “Kim” with a blonde bitmoji. My heart raced excitedly. I don’t know if I was excited for potential drama or if I thought I’d finally caught him cheating once and for all.
We spent the day out again, showing Raul our favorite places. They were a little hungover and moving slow, but I wanted to day drink.
“Three Bloody Mary’s and three shots of vodka with a splash of lemon on the side, please,” I told the server at the second place we went to.
“Reese, please,” Brady groaned.
“What?” I said back innocently.
And the two of them drank their drinks and took their shots so I don’t see why Brady pretended they didn’t want them. After Raul left for the airport, Brady decided he had work to do. And I did not feel like sitting around waiting for him to be finished so I invited Gabby out for drinks nearby. She bounded in with her red hair in a high pony wearing black heeled booties, a plaid dress and a leather jacket.
“I’m meeting Kevin after this,” she greeted as if explaining her outfit.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about Kevin. How’s he doing?” I said.
“Good.” She began blushing. “He’s really busy with work though. Like, he works 16 hours a day. It’s crazy.”
“Welcome to my life. Brady works a lot too. It’s actually awful.”
“But he always tries to find time for us. Even if it’s last minute like tonight.”
Girl. I wanted to tell her that it was last minute because he thought of her as an afterthought, a backup plan for when his original plan fell through. But what did I know? No need to push my pessimism onto her. Or does that make me a bad friend? I just try not to give unsolicited advice.
I put my two week notice in on Monday.
“Aw, man. Seriously? You just got here,” Brett groaned.
When he asked where I was going, I told him that I had a couple of different opportunities which is true.
Sarah and Michelle didn’t take it quite as well. Before I’d even had a chance to tell either of them myself, Sarah chatted me.
“If you didn’t want to work here, why didn’t you just tell me? I can’t believe you have been looking for a new job.”
Oh. So she was taking it personally. I decided not to respond – if she wanted to talk about it, she could be an adult and talk to me in person.
Michelle wanted to talk about it in person like a grownup. She came and found me at my desk on Tuesday morning.
“Reese, hi. Do you have a moment to meet with me?” she asked.
“Um, sure. One moment,” I said back. I actually had all the time in the world. All I was working on was Brett’s project, which needed a complete overhaul because the way he was reporting it was terrible.
Michelle pulled me into an office and we sat down.
“So I was surprised to hear that you are leaving,” she began.
“I understand. Honestly, I’ve been job hunting for a while. I am grateful that I was able to transfer here, but the sales manager job is just not the direction I want to go in my career…”
“If you’d just told me that, we could have found a place for you here, Reese. There are plenty of opportunities outside of sales,” she said gently.
Ah, exactly like Brady had said.
“Really?” was all I said back.
Michelle nodded and asked me about my careers plans and what I wanted to do. I told her, putting an emphasis on product development, but also marketing.
“We don’t have anything open in product development right now as you know, but we are about to open up a new position in social media marketing. We are looking to ramp up our paid ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram and also collaborate with influencers,” she explained. “So we need someone to take over that side of the business and I think it would align well with what you want to do. Does that sound like something you’d be interested in?”
“Well, yeah. It does.”
Michelle pulled out her iPad and said, “Let’s get an interview scheduled with the marketing team.”
So I have an interviewed scheduled this week. It happened so fast that I didn’t even get a chance to think about if I actually wanted the job she mentioned and if it was enough to get me to stay.
With all that was going on with work, I almost forgot that Brady and I were going to Houston to visit my family for Thanksgiving. I snuck out of work early on Wednesday because I still needed to pack. Brady had only packed half of his stuff so I also finished packing for him. Do you see that? A wife.
I slept the whole way there while Brady did work on his laptop and when I felt we were landing, I woke up excited for Blackout Wednesday.
“Let’s drop this shit off at my parents, get ready and then hit the streets,” I said.
I didn’t have specific plans for us, but I love showing Brady around where I came from. It’s quite different than his WASP-y upbringing and obviously more fun.
My mom was waiting for us just outside the terminal. She looked cute in hip ripped jeans, a black cape thing and a pair of black strappy heels that I’m pretty sure were once mine. She had a side swept bang going on and was wearing glasses.
“Since when do you wear glasses, Mom?” I greeted her.
“I need them for reading and driving. These are Dior,” she said, proudly. They were pretty cute, I’ll admit. “Brady, so good to see you! You look fantastic. Have you been working out?” She pulled him into a hug.
I smirked.
We hopped in the car and my mom drove us home.
“What are y’all doing tonight? We should go to dinner, that might be fun,” my mom said as she let us into the house.
“I’m taking Brady downtown. It’s Blackout Wednesday,” I let her know.
My dad wasn’t home yet. He was wrapping up a ton of work before the holiday.
“I can relate! Brady works as late as possible every single day. I even had to pack for him,” I said, smiling affectionately at him. He didn’t look amused.
My mom ordered pasta for us to have for dinner and left to go pick it up. I offered to give Brady a tour and took him around my parent’s place. My mom has great style and opted for lots of random prints, neutrals and pops of jewel tones. Like Moroccan inspired, but way more glam. It’s super cute. She turned the spare bedrooms into three guest rooms each with a different theme. One was millennial pink and gray -very on trend, one was tan and white and looked like a rustic farmhouse and another was navy and turquoise with deer antlers on the wall. I opted for that one because it has a 70 inch television in it.
Brady and I showered and got ready then headed to a cocktail lounge downtown. A couple drinks in, Brady started getting cute and grabbing my waist and kissing me and telling me how beautiful I am. I thought it was the perfect time to bring up Kim. After more research, I’d discovered that she lived in New York, but was from California somewhere. Her Instagram was wide open and each of her pictures had over 1,000 likes despite only having 900 followers. Something’s fishy there. She’s cute. Kind of skinny with a big head. Her LinkedIn tells me she works in a clothing store so I’m not sure how Brady would know her.
“Did you hang out with Kim the other night?” I asked.
Brady looked confused. “Kim who?”
“Blonde Kim.”
“Ohh,” he nodded like he got me. “I didn’t hang out with her. Why?”
“Who is she?” I demanded. I was happy that he said he didn’t hang out with her, but he could easily be lying.
“A friend. Well, not even a friend. She is romantically interested in Zeke and I know her because of him.”
Y’all remember Zeke? The nympho with tattoos all over his body? I have a secret crush on him kinda. But Kim can have him if she wants him.
“What are you then, the fucking matchmaker?” I said. “Why would she be texting you?”
Brady laughed and I made a note to keep tracking this further.
The next morning, I woke up in the navy and turquoise room. Brady had his arms wrapped around my body like he was afraid I was going to escape.
“Morning. Are you feeling okay?” Brady said, sensing that I was awake.
I just nodded, knowing that my breath probably smelled like I’d given a homeless person a blowjob.
“I love you,” he said, nuzzling my neck.
I didn’t know why he was being so sweet again, but it was weird and I hopped up to shower and brush my nasty teeth. I vaguely remembered throwing up in the bathroom at the bar the night before.
I came back in the room in my fluffy white bathrobe my mom had gotten me and Brady was sitting on the side of the bed. Now that I was clean, I felt like I could actually speak.
“Sorry if I was a hot mess last night,” I said.
“Don’t worry about it. Um…” Whenever Brady pauses like that he needs to say something, but is nervous about it. I braced myself, wondering what I’d done wrong this time. “I was thinking about you said last night. About how you feel like our relationship has plateaued.”
Oh, did I say that? I didn’t even realize I felt that way until he brought it up. But yeah.
“I don’t want you to feel like that, but I think I understand why you do. I realize some of our friends are in completely different places, but in my opinion, we have a lot of other things to figure out before thinking about possible next steps.”
“Possible next steps”? What was this, a job interview? Only Brady.
“Okay. So what are you saying?” I asked.
“We just moved together and I don’t think we have settled from that. And I believe that is a big commitment. I hope that is enough…for right now.”
I wish I could have had a recording of my face. Because what the fuck?
“It’s not just about commitment. I don’t even want to be engaged. What I’m saying is we’ve already gotten into this routine of you working late everyday and then working when you get home. I’m lonely! We hardly ever talk or do anything together. If I would’ve known it was going to be like this, I would’ve stayed in Chicago where people made time for me.”
Brady’s face fell and I kind of regretted saying that. But y’all know me, I don’t back down.
“I’m really trying to make more time. I guess it is harder than I anticipated,” he said quietly.
We spent the day out with my parents and then instead of trying to slave away for dinner, my dad just made a reservation at a really nice steakhouse. My maternal grandparents joined us.
At dinner, my dad said, “So Brady, tell us about your new job.”
And when Brady started telling us, talking about what he does on a day to day basis, the team of medical professionals he works with, the patients who sometimes receive experimental treatment, but are so grateful for anything, made me realize that I’m so concerned about him not ever being home that I don’t even know anything about his work. I am such a bitch.
“You don’t test that crap on animals? What if it kills somebody?” my grandpa said. He rarely ever speaks and this is what he decided to say.
Brady laughed. “I assure you, nothing we administer would ever hurt anyone.”
They all started having a conversation about the FDA. My mom and I just kept looking at each other and then she asked if I’d tried any of Kim Kardashian’s perfumes.
After dinner, we headed home and drank. My parents are getting along really well these days and my mom seems to really want to be a good wife. She always texts me asking what she should say and do in certain situations. Like, “Your dad’s company is having a dinner with the execs. What should I wear that is sexy for him, but not too sexy because all of his colleagues are there?” and “I gave your father all of my money this month. I didn’t go shopping at all. I hope that makes him happy,” and “Your father and I haven’t slept together in three weeks, do you think something is wrong?” Mother, please.
On Friday, we went to a show at the theater with my parents after doing a bit of shopping. I told some of my friends I’d meet up with them on Saturday. I wasn’t super pressed to hang out with them, but when Brittany found out I was in town, she called me and let me know that they had a table at a club and we should stop by. Lucky for her, I’d brought a clubbing outfit (black dress, chunky heels and no jewelry).
Brady and I got dinner and pregamed at a bar before heading to the club.
“Try not to flirt with Brittany too much tonight,” I instructed on our way in.
Brady grabbed my hips and pulled me close into him. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
Inside, I found Brittany and Co at their little table in VIP. She was standing up dancing wearing a sequin tank top and a pair of American Apparel adjacent disco pants. Okay girl. She saw us and waved, but didn’t bother getting down to greet us. Brady and I made drinks and danced around the table for a little bit. Brady was way more drunk than I was and kept putting his arms around my whole body and swaying.
Eventually Brittany sauntered over with a drink in her hand.
“Hi, beautiful!” she greeted me with big hug. She reached over and hugged Brady next. “I’m so glad to see y’all!”
“Same! How are things? How have you been?” I said back. I haven’t spoken to or seen Brittany in forever. She started her own real estate company and posts about the luxury high rises she has available on Instagram all the time. She replies to my stories all the time, but we don’t ever really talk.
“Things are so good. I miss you, girl.” She leaned it close to me. “Christian is here.”
“Oh, ew!” I said loudly. Do y’all remember Christian, the music producer who thought I was a prostitute? Obviously she didn’t hear how that whole thing went down.
“Tell me about your real estate thing,” I said, to change the subject.
Over the music, she told me about her work, how she’d done it so she could have financial freedom and a flexible schedule. It sounded like one of those multilevel marketing presentations. My eyes began glazing over.
On cue, Christian and his entourage made their way over to the table. There were like fourteen of them, but Christian led the pack. I obviously wasn’t going to say hello and he did a double take when he saw me.
“Christian!” Brittany called, gesturing for him to join us. She is so petty.
He walked over slowly, taking a sip from his plastic cup.
“Hey, how have you been?” he said to me, hugging me with his free arm.
“This is my boyfriend,” I said when we pulled away. Christian put out his fist for Brady to pound it.
“I miss our group!” Brittany whined.
Group? What group? I literally laughed.
“You been doing okay though?” Christian said to me.
“I’ve obviously been completely fabulous,” I said, flipping my hair over my shoulder.
He smirked and put his drink out to cheers me. As he walked away, Brittany leaned in close to us and exclaimed, “He’s soo cute.”
Like, he’s okay. Definitely dropped down a few points for thinking I sell my ass for money.
When we got back to my parents’, we were happy and giggly after finding tacos on the way home. Back in our turquoise room, Brady immediately pushed me back on the bed and began kissing me. He pushed my dress up and crouched down in front of me. Brady loves to eat pussy and that is one of his most redeeming qualities.
Is it rude to hook up at your parents’ house?
i’m my own person.
After sending my project in at 6:45 on Friday morning, I didn’t hear anything back immediately. I was proud of what I’d come up with and expected Frank to reply instantaneously singing my praises.
Brady and I planned to leave for Philadelphia after work that evening and I busted my ass finishing up all the work I needed to in order to leave by 5:00pm. We still needed to pack and drop Tucker off. When I got home, I checked my phone to see that Brady had texted me.
“I got called into a meeting this evening and I still have some auditing to do. Not sure what time I’ll be home, but it’s going to be late,” he said.
Ugh. I’d worked hard to ensure I left work at a good time in order to stick to our plans and I was annoyed that he wasn’t doing to the same.
“Okay? What does this mean then?” I said back.
“What if we leave tomorrow morning instead? That way we aren’t rushing. We wouldn’t get there until way late tonight anyway.”
Of course. I didn’t respond and instead texted Lola to see what she was up to.
“Drinking with Kellen’s cousin. Come through,” she replied, including an address in Park Slope. I changed into jeans and booties and called an Uber.
When I arrived at the row house, Lola answered the door.
“Hey! You made it,” she greeted me. “Give me one second to grab my things and then we’ll go.”
I followed her inside through a tiny, but charming apartment with exposed brick walls and minimalistic black and white furniture. There was a tall guy standing at the kitchen island, one who I could tell was covered in hair all over his body. He was cute though and looked really Italian.
“Michael, Reese. Reese, Michael. I’ll probably see you next week at the birthday party. Have a good night,” Lola said as she picked up her Stella McCartney Falabella crossbody and maroon suede trench from one of the barstools.
Lola was acting so weird. And where was Kellen? I thought we were all supposed to be drinking together.
Michael took a sip of the glass in front of him and gave Lola a little wave. Outside on the sidewalk, she pulled out a pack of cigs from her bag and offered one to me.
“Ugh. I should’ve known that was a bad idea when Michael invited me over without Kellen. But I thought he just wanted to drink. I didn’t think he would get the wrong idea,” she said.
“What happened?” I wanted to know.
“He just kept making inappropriate comments. Acting like something was supposed to happen between us because I was there alone. When I told him you were coming, he said ‘three’s company’ all suggestively.”
“Did you really think it was a good idea to go over there by yourself?”
“I didn’t think anything of it. He’s my boyfriend’s cousin! I was counting on him to do the right thing.” She took a drag. “I hate that a guy and a girl can’t hang out without the expectation of something happening. Like why would it? You’re my boyfriend’s cousin! Men are so gross.”
I realized that she was absolutely right. Why would she think hanging out with the cousin would be anything more than hanging out? Why would she even think or know that the guy was going to be inappropriate?
We stopped at a quaint wine bar and ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir and some almonds to snack on. I told her about how frustrated I was with Brady and his latest antics.
“Working late?” Lola repeated. “The classic excuse. Are you buying that?”
“He’s always worked a lot of crazy hours. In fact, the first night I met him, he was working and it was a Friday night,” I said, feeling kind of defensive of Brady.
“Mmhm, I bet,” she repeated, popping an almond in her mouth. “And let me guess, he’s screwing the blonde bimbo assistant too?”
I told her about Sydney – how she weaseled her way into everything including moving to New York at the same time as us. I told her how I felt the first time I heard Brady talking to her, how affectionate and delighted he sounded.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I have a guy friend at work who I talk to and text all the time. He has a girlfriend and I have a boyfriend and there’s nothing there. I mean, nothing. It’s nice to have someone to complain to, you know? I’d never move across the country with him,” she said.
“I get that. It’s just the way he talks to her. And she’s always invited to everything. She’s just annoying,” I said.
“But if Brady wants to spend time with her, it’s more of an issue with him than her, right? Like, why does he want to hang out with her so much? Knowing you hate her. He’s willing to risk his relationship with you to hang out with her. That’s the issue.”
After we polished off the bottle of wine, Lola suggested a jazz bar a few blocks away. We had a couple of drinks then decided to head home.
When I got home, Brady was sitting on the couch with a beer in silence.
“Oh, you’re home,” I said, looking at the time. 11:30pm.
“I am. Where have you been?” he said.
“Out with Lola. We found a cute wine bar in Brooklyn.” I stepped into the kitchen to find food and saw that there was a white takeout bag in the fridge.
On cue, Brady followed me into the kitchen and said that he’d brought home dinner. Then I felt bad. Obviously, he’d come expecting me to be there so we could have dinner together. I felt like such a bitch for assuming he wasn’t trying and he was.
The next morning, Brady crawled out of bed at 7:30am. He wanted to hit the gym before leaving for Philadelphia.
“Do you want to come with me?” Brady asked, standing at the end of the bed, fully dressed.
“Not really,” I said, but knew I needed to. “But I’ll come. Give me five minutes.”
We walked a few blocks to Equinox and went our separate ways when we got inside. Brady prefers to lift, but I really just need cardio. I want legs that look like Kendall Jenner’s.
We finally hit the road at 11am and arrived at around 1:00pm. Carly answered the door of their cute, new townhouse with Baby Sloane in her arms. Sloane was super cute with her wispy hair and polka dot pajamas and pink glittery binky. I literally screamed when I saw them.
“Oh my gosh, hi!” Carly exclaimed, pulling me into a hug with the baby. They smelled like laundry. “We are so glad you’re here. Hi Brady!”
We all filed inside where Chris was making lunch for us. We sat around the dining table with its Pottery Barn-esque table setting. I demanded to hold Sloane and help her eat.
“Gladly,” Carly said, passing the baby over to me.
Carly and Chris told us all about what’s new with them – Chris recently got a promotion hence why Carly is able to stay home with Sloane. She’s joined a Mommy Meet-Up group to meet people and does yoga-lates every morning at 5:30am before Chris goes to work.
“You should try it, Reese,” she said. “It has helped with my energy level and mood.”
Whatever. I’m not about to wake up at 5:30am to do anything. After lunch, we bundled the baby up and put her in a stroller and then took a walk around their cute new development neighborhood where a bunch of other new couples were also walking around. We ended up at a little restaurant for drinks. Sloane sat on the table kicking her little boots out.
Carly saw how much fun I was having with Sloane and said, “Do you want one?”
“Of course. Not like, right now though. I can take Sloane on the weekends if you want,” I replied.
Carly grinned. “I’d love that actually. As much as I love being with her 24/7, it would be nice to have a break.”
“Do you think you’ll go back to work?” I asked.
She wrinkled her nose. “Eventually, I’m sure. I am happy with the way things are going now. Chris just started his new position and I want to wait until he’s settled into that before doing anything. We are still figuring out our routine.”
There was a pause and then I asked something I was genuinely wondering. “Are you happy?”
If y’all remember, Carly was second guessing things hard before she got married. She even got on Tinder.
“You know, I am. I feel like I settled down and into things really fast, but I’m not mad about it. It’s really fun actually.”
“How?” I had to know. Staying home and talking to a baby all day did not seem fun to me. And she even said it herself; Chris can be really boring.
“Well, it’s nice to know I have a partner for life. I definitely don’t miss wondering if I’m ever going to meet my person and being super insecure.” She looked at me apologetically like she hoped she wasn’t offending me.
“Do you think Chris is your person?” I asked, curious.
“Obviously I do. I wouldn’t have married him if I didn’t.” Carly paused. “Do you think this one is your person?”
I followed her head nod to Brady, who was sitting across the table taking a swig of beer.
“I don’t think I have a person,” I told her.
She looked surprised. “Really?”
“Yeah. Like, I’m my own person. I don’t feel like I need someone else to complete me.” I was actually surprising myself with what I was saying. Maybe it was my defense for what Carly had said previously. But I love myself.
“So you don’t want to get married?” Carly asked.
“I mean, I do of course. I want that. But I’m not like, insecure or anything. I love being with him, but I’m also okay with being alone. I don’t need another person to make me feel whole. I’m enough by myself. Is that bad?” I said.
“Kind of.”
We were silent and I wondered if I was being a hypocrite. But honestly, I haven’t thought about marriage in forever and I obviously haven’t brought it up to Brady either. I think I felt pressure before – everyone was getting married and I finally found someone who likes me as much as I like them – but now I think I just want to be happy.
That evening, Carly called the babysitter (Chris’s cousin) over to watch Sloane so we could have a night out. Carly and I got ready in her private powder room downstairs, the one Chris let her splurge to customize. It has a crystal chandelier, pastel floral wallpaper and apothecary jars everywhere. Very cute and very Carly.
I put on an olive green jumpsuit, a Sherpa coat and clear mules. Carly and I made festive drinks consisting of vodka, ginger ale and cranberry juice and had finished several of those before leaving for the bar.
When we got into the dark bar, Carly grabbed my hand. “This sounds bad, but it feels nice to get out of the house and I don’t have to worry about my crying baby.”
You know how some moms go out and check their phones constantly because they are worried about their child? Carly is not that mom. Mama was thirsty for a night out. Carly drank like a fish for an hour straight and I struggled to keep up. We’d lost the boys somewhere near the entrance and were loitering near a window. I was shooing guys away, but Carly seemed desperate for male attention. It was just like old times.
“I’m gonna come visit you in the city soon,” she promised. “This is soo fun.”
We talked about Kendra and Preston. Preston was engaged, set a wedding date, pushed the wedding back and is now seeing someone new I believe. I can’t keep up with him. Kendra never replies to my messages, but sends daily pictures of Mia which I love and appreciate.
The next morning, Carly and I woke up in the shabby chic guest bedroom together.
“I hate myself,” she declared.
We peeled ourselves out of bed and took turns showering before brunch. Brady had slept on the couch since Carly and I took over the guest bedroom.
“Why didn’t you just sleep in the bed with Chris?” I asked and they both gave me a look like that was not an option.
Brady still had work to do prior to work Monday so we left to come home right after brunch. I slept in the car the whole way home.
Frank emailed me first thing Monday morning.
“Hi Reese. We’d love to have you stop by the office and present what you came up with to our team. Are you available anytime on Wednesday?”
So I thought about my presentation all morning – what I’d say I was inspired by, how I would bring every element of my design back to the company’s core values. I created a note in my phone of all the bullet points I wanted to cover.
That afternoon, Heidi emailed me.
“Reese, we are thrilled to offer you the manager of product development position you applied for. Please review the attached job offer and let me know what questions you have. I can’t wait to hear from you!”
I felt a one thousand pound weight being lifted off me. Finally. A way out of this hell hole. I opened the attachment and saw the salary (which I was satisfied with) and sign on bonus (which wasn’t much, but was well, a bonus).
I replied letting her know that I was honored and I’d get back to her as soon as I could with a decision. I knew I wanted to probably take it, but I also still had the other interview and I was still very much interested in that job too. I wondered how long I could take “deciding.”
When I got home, Brady was not home as promised. I was so excited to tell him about my offer and the new potential job and I felt like he was the only person I wanted to talk about it with. Maybe he is my person.
When he got home an hour later, I bombarded him with all my news before he could even put his stuff down. He settled on the couch next to me with his laptop bag.
“If you had both job offers in front of you, do you know which one you would take?” he asked me.
“Well, no. I think I’d feel the same way. Both of the jobs excite me, but I feel like I don’t know enough about the second job or company. I definitely have more of a connection with the first company, but the second job is way more intriguing.”
Brady thought on it for a second. “Why don’t you ask them to give you until Friday to make your decision? That way you will have already gone through with the second interview and will have a better idea if you’re even going to like the other company and if they like you.”
Friday seemed like a long time to keep the job offer waiting. I told Brady this.
“If they don’t want to allow you that long to think, then if I were you, I’d accept.”
I waited for him to elaborate, but that was it. He got up and asked what I wanted for dinner.
So that’s where I’m at. I’m super excited for my interview tomorrow, but if I got both offers, I really have no idea what I’d do. The thing that is swaying me most is that I have a good connection with Heidi and working with people you get along with is so important.
enjoy masturbating to my selfie.
November 7, 2018 Reese 15 Comments
I’d applied for another job that I was so excited about, but I hadn’t heard back in so long that I figured they weren’t interested. But then I got an email the other day inviting me to complete an online assessment. I think online assessments are complete bullshit, but I still did it. Literally five minutes later, they called me to schedule an interview.
Without giving away too much, it’s for a company that is not known for apparel launching an apparel and accessories line. The job is lead that launch in terms of creative direction, licensing, design, marketing, etc. It sounded like a really big job and I was honestly shooting for the moon by even submitting my resume. I was genuinely surprised when they even wanted to bring me in for an interview.
After speaking with the recruiter, we scheduled my interview for Monday after work.
Valerie emailed me on Monday morning.
“Hi Reese,
We’ve spoken to all of your references except Scott. We can’t seem to get ahold of him. Is there another reference you can provide?
I’d already spoken to Scott and asked for permission to use him as a reference. He’d happily agreed and said that the job sounded like a perfect fit for me. But apparently he didn’t actually want to help me after all. So I gave them another reference while thanking Scott for literally nothing at all.
The office I interviewed at was at a big brick building in Chelsea. I had to be buzzed in by the receptionist and I waited in the lobby for the recruiter to come fetch me. The lobby was small and cute with fresh flowers everywhere and a small desk area that housed the receptionist. Over to the side was a fully stocked coffee shop/bar.
“Please help yourself to coffee or tea,” the receptionist told me.
I thought about it, but it looked like the bar offered ceramic mugs rather than an accident-free paper cups. I decided not to risk it.
The recruiter came downstairs and got me – a cute brunette with a leather jacket draped over her shoulders. She led me upstairs to a glass enclosed office. I noticed that the office appeared to have that open concept like my current office has with everyone’s desks lined up in rows. There were huge picture windows lining a side wall, letting in a ton of natural light. All of the walls were brick and I noticed several mobile white boards filled with ideas scattered everywhere.
“Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee, tea, water? Kombucha?” the recruiter asked.
Okay, fine. “I’ll have a water.”
She came back with a glass of water and let me know my interviewer would be with me shortly.
“Shortly” ended up being 20 minutes. Eventually a cute middle aged woman sauntered in. She had a black lob, chunky heeled mules, and again, a leather jacket draped over her shoulders.
“Hi Reese. Thank you so much for coming in to meet us today,” she said. “I’m Angie, the director of marketing here. Why don’t you start by telling me a little bit about yourself?”
There’s no such thing as a “little bit” about me and I launched into a full rundown of my education and work background. I always have a lot to say. Angie smiled and took notes in her Moleskin and didn’t interrupt my spiel.
“And what are your career aspirations?” she asked next.
Ah, the one thing I didn’t cover. I didn’t give her a specific role, but told her what I liked doing and what I want to be doing eventually.
Angie closed her notebook. “And what questions do you have for me?”
Uhh, all the questions! Since it seemed like there was a huge chunk of the interview missing (where was the introduction?) I spent the next hour and a half asking her questions (Can you tell me more about the role? Who would I be reporting to? What were their goals for this project? What team was bringing this to life?) I’ve never had an interview like that.
Once I’d asked every question I could think of, Angie asked, “Do you have time to meet with one more person today?”
Knowing that the walker had taken Tucker out just a few hours prior, I said I could. She left and a couple minutes later, a tall bald man joined me in the little conference room.
“I’m Frank! How are you?” he greeted me with a strong handshake. Before I could answer his apparent rhetorical question, he said, “Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?”
Again? I went back into my spiel, but a condensed version because Frank didn’t seem like he wanted to hear my fluff. And he was taking notes and watching me with a steely gaze the whole time.
Once I was finished, he said, “We’d really like the person in this role to be creative and innovative which it seems like you are. We are asking candidates to do a take home project. We want you to create a top, bottom and and an accessory that is all a part of a cohesive line. We ask that you to come up with a logo and a tag line that would be used throughout the marketing in conjunction with the ‘launch.’ Do you think you can handle that by Friday?”
Ooo, a project. I let him know that Friday was plenty of time and I was excited about the challenge.
“Good,” Frank said, getting up to leave. He slid a card across the table to me. “Email me when you are proud of what you come up with. And I’m available if you have any questions.”
I left the interview really excited for a chance to prove what I could do. I don’t have any experience designing apparel, but the project was really about what design/logo was on the clothing, not so much the actual silhouette. And I could fumble my way around InDesign and Illustrator enough to create something amazing.
Brady was already home when I got home. He was sitting at the dining room table on a video conference call on his laptop. A warning would have been nice because you could clearly see me walking in in the background of his screen. But maybe it’s a good thing. Let the gals know he’s off limits.
Brady came and found me folding laundry after his call.
“Hey. I might be able to work from home on Monday evenings,” he said.
“Okay,” I replied, not exactly sure where he was going with this.
“So we can spend more time together.”
Wait. That was cute.
“But if you’re working, we won’t be spending time together,” I pointed out.
“I’ll be able to get more work done with less distractions and it’ll eliminate my commute time. I’m hoping by the time you get home, I’ll be wrapping things up and we will have the whole evening to look forward to.”
I smiled like a maniac, touched that he’d put so much thought into it.
We got changed and went to an Italian restaurant nearby for dinner.
“Would you want to go Philadelphia this weekend?” Brady asked.
“Hmmm, I dunno. Why? Do you want to go?” I replied.
I haven’t spoken to Carly in a few weeks because she’s just so busy. She posts pictures and videos of the baby on Instagram everyday talking about how happy and lucky she is to have such a perfect daughter. She’s one of those “I can’t believe my little princess is 5 months old. She loves applesauce, morning snuggles and being the sweetest angel in the world,” kinda people. But then she’ll randomly message me and Kendra in our group chat complaining about how tired and overwhelmed and miserable she is. She isn’t even back at work.
“Chris mentioned it and I thought it might be a fun trip. It’s up to you though. If you’d rather stay in the city, we can,” Brady said.
“No, I think we should go.” I figured it’d be nice to see a friend and especially a friend like Carly because I really do miss her. I feel like we’ve grown apart the past few years and it’s sad, but since we are less than two hours away from each other now, maybe we can rekindle our friendship.
On Tuesday, Brady texted me letting me know that he was going to watch the election results at a bar and did I want to come? Nerdy, but I said I’d go. We had dinner at the bar with Brady’s friends and they literally just wanted to watch the voting coverage. I got bored and started bothering people in my phone. I actually didn’t even realize that I sent Nick a picture of my purse, vegan buffalo wings and beer until he responded.
“Looks like you’re having a good night! Can I see your face?”
I happily sent back a serious-face selfie with my red lipstick.
“Taking selfies again?” Brady asked me.
“It’s for my mom,” I fibbed.
Nick took a screenshot of the picture I sent him and then he didn’t even respond. Whatever, dude. Enjoy masturbating to my selfie.
no one has to work that late on a friday night.
Heidi called me on Monday afternoon. I’d actually given up hope on the job and was focusing my search elsewhere.
“Hi Reese,” she said on the phone. “My apologies, I thought someone had reached out to you last week. We’d like to invite you back in to meet a few more people from the team. Do you have any availability this week?”
I didn’t, but I could make time. I told her I’d come in the following afternoon. I’d just have to cancel a few meetings.
When I walked into work on Tuesday, Brett was waiting by my desk.
“There you are!” he shouted.
I was walking in forty five minutes later than I normally do because I’d been talking to Gabby at reception. We’d decided that we were going to dress up for Halloween and hit the town after work. “Dressing up” would consist of all black with Ariana Grande style bunny ears because we are adults here.
“Sorry, I got caught up. What’s up?” I said, putting my stuff down.
“I wanted to talk to you and see if you’d be interested in a project,” Brett said.
“Okay. Tell me more.” I was sitting now, booting up my laptop. I was half listening, half overwhelmed by the amount of email I knew I had waiting since everyone relies on me for everything.
“We had a ton of installations recently and we need to analyze them for quality. Make sure they are up to standard, on brand, that kind of thing. We also need to document the best ones and get them photographed for the website and social media,” he explained. “I guess the role is kind of like a project manager. I thought of you when we talked about it because of your attention to detail.”
I’d pointed out a typo on the website and now I was known for my “attention to detail.” But I was bored and looking for something to do.
“Okay. That sounds good. When do you want me to start that?”
Brett seemed relieved that I’d said yes and brought his laptop over to show me the docs I’d be using to keep track of all of my work. I wouldn’t get a chance to start on my new project that as I had a list of things I wanted to get done. Plus I’d scheduled my interview for 2:00pm and I didn’t know what time I’d be back.
Just as I was heading out to the interview, Michelle walked past.
“Hi there. You are coming to the meeting at 2:15, aren’t you?” she asked.
There was an optional company update meeting where the execs were going to let us know what was going on and what we had in store. And since it was optional, I figured it was one I could skip in order to go to my interview.
“I have a prior engagement,” I told her.
“What is it? Is it something more important than hearing whatever your exec team has to say?” Michelle asked.
My priority was in a different place so for me, it was. I couldn’t tell her that though.
“If I could reschedule my meeting, I would. It’s with [the software company we use to track sales]. One of their agents is in town and since we are having so many glitches recently, I thought I’d better meet with them,” I lied.
“Well, thank you for doing that. Do let me know if anything important comes from the meeting,” she said.
“Of course. And I’ll have Brett fill me in on the company updates,” I said.
I was glad I’d gotten myself out of that, but felt slightly bad that Michelle thought I was doing something nice/helpful. I walked to the interview and met with Heidi and who I gathered is the second in command, Valerie. Valerie wanted to talk numbers and business, how I’d driven sales and examples of how I’d showed innovation. Heidi looked on like a proud show mom as I answered the questions with ease.
At the end, Valerie said, “If we wanted a professional reference, who would we call?”
I told her I’d email her the contact information once I got back to my office. Why do people even bother calling references anymore? Like, of course your references are going to say amazing things about you otherwise you wouldn’t be using them as a reference.
Anyway, by the time the interview was over, it was 4:30 and I figured I’d head back to the office to do some work for a few hours. It was the least I could do before jumping ship.
I decided to tell Brady about the interview since it seemed like I was in the final stages and I didn’t want to suddenly drop a bomb on him.
“I mean, it sounds like something you’d enjoy doing. I‘d say make sure it’s what you want though so you aren’t job hopping a lot,” Brady said after I told him (at 9:30pm because that’s what time he came home).
Obviously dude. As if I want to be job hopping.
“It’s more in line with what I want to do in the long run. I don’t want to be doing just sales. I think I’m better than that,” I said.
“Is there any opportunity at your current office? Maybe you could work toward a promotion rather than leaving the company all together,” he suggested.
I hadn’t thought about that, but I feel like I’ve given up on my job so much that it’s out of the question. I can’t imagine working hard for a promotion when I’m so not motivated.
No one at the office dressed up for Halloween which is so annoying. Obviously I wasn’t going to dress up for work, but at least a couple people in my old office would come in costume. These people are just so boring. Gabby and I left at 4:30 so we could each run home and put on our black attire and then meet at a bar in FiDi.
When I got home I was surprised to find Brady home. On any given day he doesn’t come home until 8:30-9:30pm. He was still in work clothes and pouring a glass of water in the kitchen.
“Heyyyyyy, what are you doing home?” I asked, half confused, half excited to see him.
“I got off a little earlier,” Brady said and took a drink from his water.
“But why? Is everything okay?” I couldn’t help asking.
“Everything is fine. I came home early,” he said, his voice softening. “I thought we could maybe do something tonight. Grab dinner or drinks. Or cook here and drink wine and wait for trick or treaters.”
My little heart was so excited that he’d come home to hang out with me. “Aw. That is so sweet! I have plans though. I’m meeting up with Gabby in like twenty minutes.”
“Oh.” Brady didn’t even try to hide his disappointment. “Okay.”
I apologized and kissed him and I walked past to go get changed. I came back out after changing and Brady was still in the kitchen, leaning against the counter.
“Hopefully I get home at a decent time and we can still see the trick or treaters,” I said.
Brady looked at me and my outfit (black bodysuit, black skirt and fishnets) and said, “Are you not even going to invite me?”
For a moment, I felt terrible that he felt left out. But then I got defensive.
“Well I didn’t know you’d be home, Brady, so I planned a girl’s night,” I said.
He didn’t say anything and pulled out his phone. His face told me that he couldn’t believe I wasn’t cancelling my plans to hang out with him.
“I’m so sorry that I made plans thinking you wouldn’t be home since you always stay at work until 9pm. I’m so sorry I didn’t drop everything because you decided to come home early,” I said sarcastically.
“I’m not asking you to drop everything. I’m asking to be invited,” he said.
“I’m sorry, but no. I need to make friends without you so I will have someone to hang out with when you’re working for 70 hours out of the week. And if you come I’ll be worried about you the whole time and I don’t want to do that,” I explained.
“Okay, then.” Brady walked out of the kitchen and I heard him asking Tucker if he wanted to go for a walk.
Whatever. I walked out and set out to the bar. Gabby was already there when I arrived and had attracted a guy to the table she was sitting at. She waved me over.
“Hey. Need a refill?” I greeted her, noting that her glass was half empty.
“Why not? This is Kevin, by the way,” she said, gesturing to her friend – a typical fuckboy in his button down and Patagonia. She gave me a discrete look that told me she was excited about him.
I headed to the bar and got two vodka sodas and rejoined them at the table. They were talking about Colorado (they both have ties to Colorado) and I watched with a critical eye to make sure Gabby was presenting herself correctly. I chimed in here and there, but I didn’t have a lot to say as this was not my conversation.
“I’m gonna go grab another beer and I’ll be back. Stay put,” he told Gabby, touching her hand lightly.
“Thoughts?” Gabby said excitedly as soon as he walked away.
“I’m into it. And y’all seem to have a lot to talk about so that’s great,” I said.
Kevin came back and he had a friend with him.
“This is David. Gabby and, what was your name again?” Kevin said.
Ugh, I was being so boring that he thought I needed company. I didn’t, but whatever. I couldn’t sit there watching Gabby and making them uncomfortable, so fine. I’d entertain this loser for a few hours to help a friend out.
An hour later, I was on my fourth vodka and had my phone out showing David pictures of Tucker. He’d told me that his family back home had a dog thirty minutes ago and I’d been telling him about Tucker since.
“I just found a recipe to make him a vegan Thanksgiving pâté. I can send it to you if you’d like,” I said.
David kind of looked like he wanted to take his own life.
“Reese, we are going down the street to a comedy show. Are you coming?” Gabby asked.
“Yeah, I guess. Sure,” I said. I was aware that I should think about getting home to Brady, but the night was still young.
We walked a few blocks to a dark, basement comedy club. Since there was a show going on, we couldn’t talk which I’m sure David was thankful for. After the show, we all headed outside. It was 11:00pm at this point.
“Did you want to grab another drink somewhere?” Kevin asked Gabby.
Gabby was thinking about saying yes, but I cut in.
“She does, but we have a busy day at work tomorrow. Another time perhaps?” I said.
Kevin looked like he was wondering why I was speaking for her and what our busy day possibly consisted of.
“Yeah, maybe another time,” Kevin said. He pulled out his phone to get Gabby’s number.
“Would you like to grab a drink another time?” David asked me.
“No, thank you,” I said, not looking up. I was calling an Uber.
Once the guys walked away, I explained my reasoning to Gabby.
“I know you were having a great time with him, but you have to leave the evening on a high. If you continue drinking you’re going to have sex with him and then everything will be ruined,” I said.
“No, I wouldn’t have,” Gabby said, not even convincing herself.
When I got home, Brady was sitting on the couch with his laptop and Tucker, drinking a beer.
“Hi, trick or treat!” I greeted him.
He raised his eyebrows, but didn’t say anything.
“Don’t you have a treat for me?” I asked, joining them on the couch.
“Sure. You can have the whole bowl of candy there since we didn’t get any trick or treaters,” he said and it sounded sarcastic.
“Aww! The kids could probably sense that you were grumpy and didn’t want to bother you,” I said.
“Yeah, probably.” Brady went back to work on his laptop.
I got up to change and came back out wearing my velour pajama set. I turned on the TV and Brady tried to ignore the fact that I was sitting next to him. A few minutes later, he shut his laptop and got up. Tucker got up with him and they walked out. Rude.
After I heard Brady brush his teeth and get settled, I decided to go confront him.
“I’m so sorry, was I bothering you?” I demanded in the dark. Brady and Tucker were in bed.
“Reese, please. Don’t start this right now,” Brady said.
“What? You obviously have an issue with me because I wanted to do something without you. Sorry I want to create my own life here. Unlike you, I don’t have friends who already live here!”
“I don’t care what you do. If you want to go out with your coworkers or whoever, please do so. But I’ve always included you in all of my plans and tried my best to make sure you don’t feel alone here.”
“I want my own friends! I don’t want to hang out with your friends all the time!” I exclaimed, shocked he didn’t get what I was saying.
“Okay. I’m really tired and I’m going to sleep now,” Brady said.
I climbed into bed and we fell asleep.
The next morning I woke up at the literal asscrack of dawn, happily not hungover. Brady was still sleeping next to me and I wrapped my legs around him. It took him a moment to wake up and realize what was going on and respond. He rubbed my leg for a minute before turning around to face me. He pulled me on top of him and tried to take my top off without unbuttoning it.
“Allow me,” I said since obviously he was having trouble with it.
We proceeded to have sex twice back to back and then Brady suddenly jumped out of bed because it was way past the time for him to start getting ready.
I was still in bed when he came back fully dressed.
“I don’t know what time I’ll be home tonight. And I don’t know if I told you, but I have to go to Connecticut on Saturday.” His cold demeanor was back.
“You know you didn’t tell me, but fine,” I said back.
Once I found out that Brady was working on Saturday, I reached out to Lola and we decided to hang out that day.
On Friday night, I’d made plans in my head for Brady and I to go out and have dinner and a few drinks – nothing crazy since he had to work the next day.
When Brady wasn’t home by 9:30, I poured a glass of wine. I was already dressed thinking he’d be home soon.
At 10:00pm, I was on my third glass of wine and FaceTiming Preston.
At 10:30pm, I was so anxious that Brady was still not home this late on a Friday night, that I needed something stronger and poured a tequila with Red Bull.
Brady finally waltzed in at 10:45pm. I was raging.
“Are you absolutely shitting me right now?” I screamed.
“Whoa. What are you talking about?” he said, confused and not coming close to me.
“Where have you been?” I demanded.
“I’ve been at work. What do you mean? Where else would have I been?”
“You expect me to believe you’ve been at work until almost 11 on a Friday night? Do I really look that stupid?”
Brady still hadn’t moved from the doorway. “You know I work late-”
“Not this late!” I was fuming.
“We can talk about it when you’ve calmed down,” he said, walking past me.
I was so upset that I didn’t even want to go out and do anything anymore. I glared at Brady as he came back from putting his things down and walked into the kitchen.
“Did you already have dinner?” he asked.
“Of course I have. It’s 11:00pm!”
Brady shook his head like I was ridiculous as he started pulling out stuff to make dinner. I felt a little bad and wanted to make food for him, but he could not think what he’d done was okay. There’s just no way your job needs you that late on a Friday night. The story in my head was that he’d gotten off early and hung out with someone else before coming home. And it didn’t help that he opened his laptop at the little bar area while he ate.
“How do you still have work to do if you’ve been at work for literally 16 hours today?” I asked, sipping my drink.
“Prep work for tomorrow,” he said, not looking up.
Whatever, dude. I took my drink and a bag of pretzel chips to the living room with me. A little while later, Brady came and joined me on the couch. I was going to sit there and ignore him as I was still mad at him.
“I’ll for sure be getting off earlier tomorrow,” he told me. “Maybe we could do something in the evening.”
“Yeah, maybe. I’m hanging out with Lola and I don’t know how late that’ll go. Please know that I’m not going to alter my plans to hang out with you when you can’t even call to let me know when you’re going to be home extra late,” I said.
“I know,” Brady said back.
We sat there in silence for a few minutes until Brady grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. Oh, he wanted to get some. That was fine because I did too.
Lola and I had plans to go to yoga then brunch and then wherever else the day took us. We met outside the yoga studio in our cute Lulelemon and Outdoor Voices gear. I’d gotten a fun printed yoga mat for the occasion.
“Ugh. I’m so hungover. I hope this helps me recover,” she greeted me.
“What’d you do last night?” I asked.
“Me and the boy went to a show. We were out until like an hour ago,” she said.
After yoga, we walked a few blocks to a cute little French restaurant to eat. We ordered avo toast, sausage, fruit and bottomless mimosas.
“Did you quit your stupid job yet?” Lola asked.
“Not yet. Hopefully soon though. I’ve been interviewing with this company and I’m hoping they extend an offer soon,” I told her.
Lola works as a copywriter at an advertising agency. She loves it because she gets to be creative and she says her bosses always love all of her crazy ideas.
After our bottomless time limit was up, we Googled a place nearby for more drinks. While we were there making plans for later, I got a Insta-Snap from Nick. It was a selfie with his tongue out, wearing a Michigan football jersey and a U of M flag behind him. Lola and I were at a sports bar that was playing the game and I saw that Michigan was winning.
I took a video of the bar and said, “Seems like we have all Penn State fans here.”
He sent back another selfie and I showed it to Lola. “Thoughts?”
“He looks like a douchey bro,” she said back.
“He is. I liked him though.”
Nick and I continued talking the rest of the day. About nothing mostly and it was completely innocent. Then he said, “Wanna FaceTime really quick?” And I forgot to reply back to that.
That evening, Brady, Lola and her boyfriend, Kellen, made plans to go out to dinner then hang out at one of Brady’s friend’s apartments in Brooklyn. We had tacos and margaritas for dinner and then headed to the house party. The apartment was right on Water Street with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge (only from outside though because it was a garden unit). It was so fucking nice and I demanded to know why Brady hadn’t found something like it for us.
Lola and I were two of three girls at the apartment which was strange. The guys were sitting around smoking weed out of weird contraptions.
“Let’s see what Marie is up to,” Lola suggested.
She pulled out her phone and texted, “Plans this evening?”
Marie let us know that she had worked late at the brewery and was headed home for the night. And then a few minutes later, she said, “Let’s see a pic of you :-)”
“Okay, we need to get a picture of Brady right now,” Lola instructed.
“I don’t see how that’s going to happen. Brady doesn’t like pictures,” I said.
She rolled her eyes and marched over to him on the couch. “Take a pic with Reese for Instagram.”
Brady smiled at me and gestured for me to join him. I climbed on his lap and Lola snapped a picture of us. It actually turned out well and I did post it on Instagram (sorry, Nick). But we also sent it to Marie.
“You look especially cute,” she said back.
The girl couldn’t even take a hint.
How was everyone else’s weekend? Update me.
i wore pajamas to a wedding.
Brady invited me to Boston for the weekend. He said it would be nice to get out of the city and that we might find plans, but nothing major.
“Maybe pack something nice for Sunday in case we do anything,” he’d instructed nonchalantly.
I waited until Saturday morning to pack even though we had plans of leaving at 8:30am. I threw a bunch of random shit into my weekender, including a black lacy number that I thought I could throw on as a costume for Saturday night if needed.
We dropped Tucker off with the sitter and then drove 4+ hours to get to our cute, industrial Airbnb near Boston Common. I didn’t know our plan until we got there and Brady informed me that we had a little bit of time to kill then we had a wedding to attend that evening.
“Wait, wedding? Who’s getting married?” I asked.
“My friend, Josh. I told you,” Brady said.
I know that I’m getting old and my memory is fading, but I know for sure that Brady did not tell me about a wedding.
“No you didn’t! I didn’t plan to come for a wedding! I don’t have anything to wear!” I exclaimed.
“It’s okay, it’s not black tie or anything. Just something casual,” Brady assured me.
Not only had I not packed anything suitable to wear to a wedding, I hadn’t washed my hair in five days and I didn’t bring any face makeup with me. I was in no shape to be going to a wedding.
“Aside from the fact that you decided not to tell me that and that is fucking rude, I do not want to go to a wedding today. I don’t have anything to wear, I look disgusting and I’m in not in the mood to socialize,” I said as calmly as I could.
Brady looked at me like I’d better lose the attitude. “I told you that it isn’t a formal wedding. Wear whatever you want. I’d like it if you’d come with me, but if this is how you are going to be then you don’t have to come.”
Do you ever get so frustrated that you want to scream? Brady just didn’t understand. A girl needs warning about this kind of thing. Obviously Brady thought I was being high maintenance and annoying, but he just didn’t get it.
And instead of allowing me to take the spare five hours we had to wash my hair and shop for something to wear, Brady insisted on going to see historical landmarks as if he hadn’t seen them a million times since he’s from the area. Then he wanted to go to this taco place that he loves. I spent the day with anxiety about what the fuck I was going to put on for the wedding.
When we finally got back to the apartment, it was 4:30.
“Let’s try to leave by 5:30. I don’t know how long it’ll take to get there,” Brady said.
“That won’t be enough time to wash my hair! I have to wash it, it smells like spoiled milk!” I said.
He looked at me like I was crazy. I guess it was my own fault for letting myself go a bit, but still. I stormed off. I ended up wearing a leather skirt and black tights. The top I’d packed to go with the skirt was a plunging leopard print bodysuit which didn’t seem appropriate for the wedding. So I decided to wear the top to a set of silk pajamas I’d brought. It was hot pink, but it was kind of cute I guess. It was that or wear a graphic tee since I am super casual these days. I doused my hair in dry shampoo leaving my roots a cute eggshell shade. I slicked it up into a bun.
Brady was right in that the wedding wasn’t your traditional formal situation. The bride was wearing a fascinator and strapless dress with tattoos covering her shoulders and arms. But still, I felt and looked unprepared.
At the after party, a random girl came up to me. Brady was talking to friends and I was hitting up the vegan snack bar.
“Who are you here with?” she asked.
She had dyed white blonde hair, pale skin, huge dark black eyes and hand tattoos a la Rihanna.
“My boyfriend. Why?” I said, immediately defensive.
“Just asking. I’ve never met you,” she said, unfazed. “I’m Lola.”
“Reese,” I said back.
“Who is your boyfriend?” she wanted to know.
“His name is Brady. Do you know him?” I was curious to see if she had any dirt on him.
“Oh, yeah yeah. I was just talking to him since he lives in New York now,” she said.
“With me,” I added, in case she missed that memo.
“Mmmhm. I do too.”
Lola and I continued talking for a bit. She asked about how I’m liking the city and because I hadn’t talked to anyone about it in a few days, I told her how much I’m hating work.
“Quit,” Lola said. “You don’t need that shit. New York has too many opportunities for you to be miserable.”
And I loved her carefree attitude. After chatting for a while, I really needed to go find Brady. Lola said she’d go with me. When we found him, he was with a group of people. Do y’all remember when Brady’s friend named Jenny confronted me and made me cry? I was in a really vulnerable state at the time. She was there and standing in the group. I was pleasantly surprised to see her.
“Hey, I met Lola who I love,” I greeted Brady. “Introduce me to your friends?”
He introduced me to the group, a couple guys and then Jenny. Once he finished, I circled back to Jenny.
“We’ve met, correct?” I said.
If y’all remember last time we saw Jenny, she was wearing a maxi dress and booties. She was wearing the exact same outfit at the wedding. This was like three years ago.
“Yeah, we have,” was all Jenny said back.
I pretended to rack my brain. “Didn’t you verbally assault me at a dinner table once?”
Before Jenny could even think about saying anything back, Brady yanked my shoulder back, catching me off guard.
“Are you fucking crazy?” I demanded.
“Do not start,” he said sternly, through clinched teeth.
Sensing he wasn’t joking around, I walked off and Lola followed. Brady came and found me a few minutes later and didn’t mention what had just happened. We danced and drank a little bit, but I think everyone was just weirded out that it was a cash bar, not an open bar. A cash bar feels like it’s discouraging drinking and no one wanted to be the only one trashed.
Luckily, an hour later, someone decided we should go to a bar nearby. Brady chugged down his drink and I turned to Lola, making sure she was coming.
“I hate going out in Boston, but I guess I’ll come,” she said.
“You share my sentiments,” I told her.
A few hours later, Lola and I were tearing up the small dance floor. I was absolutely hammered, but trying to hide it because Lola and I’d had about the same amount to drink and she was two inches shorter and one hundred pounds lighter. She is tiny. It was embarrassing.
We’d talked at the previous bar and she told me about her on/off boyfriend.
“I love him, but I really don’t trust him. I don’t trust anything with a penis honestly. They can’t control them. That’s not a stereotype, that’s science,” she said.
“No, I completely agree with you! You’re absolutely right. I don’t even trust my male dog!” I said. Lola laughed.
At the end of the night when it was time to go home, Brady found me outside smoking a cig with Lola. We’d already exchanged numbers and followed each other on every social network and we hugged goodbye.
“I literally love Loz [pronounced Lowz]. I’m so glad I have another friend in New York now,” I told Brady as we walked back to the apartment.
“Yeah, me too. She’s cool,” he said back.
I grabbed his hand and leaned up to kiss him, but he rudely pulled away from me and said, “You smell like an ashtray.”
The next day, after a big breakfast to cure my hangover, Brady and I went to a brewery for a tasting and a tour. The girl serving us started talking to us and telling us about her life (including moving to Boston with her boyfriend for his job) and she reminded me a lot of myself actually. We use a lot of the same phrases and have some of the same mannerisms and it was kind of weird. When she walked away for a moment, I asked Brady if he noticed and he looked at me like I was crazy. I loved her at the time though. Her name was Marie.
We hung out there for about two hours and learned about all kinds of man issues Marie was having like how her boyfriend’s mother hates her and always sends her messages on Facebook telling her to take pictures and posts down. Can’t relate. Once it was time to go, Brady paid for our experience and left a hefty tip for her on his card.
“Here, I’m going to give you my business card. I’m a manager here and you guys are welcome back anytime. I’ll write down my cell too. Feel free to call me or you can even text me,” she said and handed the card to Brady.
At the time, it didn’t seem that weird because we’d had such a good time with her. But when we got back home and I saw the card on Brady’s nightstand while he was showering, I got absolutely furious.
I snapped a picture of the card and sent it to Lola, who I’d been texting all day, and told her what happened.
“I’ll handle it. Get rid of the card,” she said back. I didn’t know what that meant, but I was happy to know that I had a supporter on my team. I did as I was instructed and ripped the card into teeny, tiny pieces.
An hour later, Lola sent me a string of screenshots from a conversation she’d had with Marie. Lola had texted her pretending to be Brady and Marie eagerly texted back, “Hey! I was hoping I’d hear from you. :-)”
They had a long conversation in which Brady (Lola) hinted at meeting up and hanging out and Marie suggested places in both Boston and New York City for them to meet. I was never mentioned by either of them.
“Can’t trust bitches either,” Lola said.
“You’re so good at this,” I commented, realizing how much she sounded like a cheating man in the texts.
“Experience,” she said.
As of this evening, Brady (Lola) and Marie are still texting.
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Action Ann Arbor, MI: Anarchists Hold Anti-Fascist Block Party
Ann Arbor, MI: Anarchists Hold Anti-Fascist Block Party
Today, SE Michigan anarchists expropriated the city-tolerated “graffiti alley” in the downtown of gentrifying Ann Arbor, during the huge corporate-sponsored #AnnArborArtFair, turning it into a temporary antifascist zone, really really free zine share, informal people’s assembly, outdoor social center, “Ask an Anarchist” infoshop, political street art canvas, and conversational outreach space for the #WeekOfSolidarity for the #J20Defendants.
Hundreds of J20 posters, along with flyers, zines, and posters on everything from street art to anarchism to antiracism to imagining a world without police were wheat-pasted during the days as hundreds of art fair goers stopped to watch and talk. Banners were hung, paint was sprayed into big red and black stars or ACAB, and stickers were stuck, and among the many, many fabulous, funny, and/or frustrating chats with people from all walks of life, a highlight was the guy who exclaimed, “Wow, I’ve never met a real anarchist,” and was met with “Well hello, we’re your friendly local anarchists and there are many of us,” then got a few sweet definitions and handshakes all around, or another guy who connected tomorrow’s 50th anniversary of the Detroit Rebellion with the J20 rebellion, approvingly.
They take our world, we take it back, visibly, face-to-face, with the common sense beauty and joy of everyday anarchism in action, and by spending hours explaining and demonstrating to random passersby just what solidarity and self-organization feels like, looks like, and is.
Local anarchists spend hours doing face-to-face outreach today during the #WeekOfSolidarity for the #J20Defendants by posting up in “graffiti alley” in Ann Arbor, during the bustling downtown-wide art fair. Plenty of zines and flyers were given out. Abundant conversations were had. Wheat-paste, paint, pens, stickers, string, and tape aided in posters & a big banner filling the alley’s walls. But besides all the urban redecoration and Michigan-chatty dialogues, so many connections were made about the politics of what J20 represents: from anticapitalist and anti-white supremacist to prefigurative forms of mutual aid and solidarity, or a world without police in which people instead love, care for, and protect each other.
For more on J20, see @defendj20 or www.defendJ20resistance.org
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"A Warm Spell" wins big at Queens World Film Festival 2016
A Warm Spell, an Official Selection of the Queens World Film Festival and nominated for three awards - Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Narrative Short - won the big prize last night and was chosen as the best short film of the festival.
Big congrats to Toshimichi Saito, the writer/director, and the whole team!
(A Warm Spell, formerly Koharubiyori, is a short film I produced that we shot in Japan in February 2013).
Jason Stefaniak, www.jasonstefaniak.com, Toshimichi Saito, A Warm Spell, Koharubiyori, Queens World Film Festival, QWFF 2016, NYU Grad Film, Best Narrative Short
"A Warm Spell" @ Raindance Film Festival
A Warm Spell, the short film I produced that's written/directed/edited by my good friend and frequent collaborator, Toshimichi Saito, will have it's UK Premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in October!
Congratulations, Toshi! I'm very excited for you.
P.S. Toshi is killing it with this film
A Warm Spell, Raindance Film Festival, Filmmaking, Toshimichi Saito, NYU Grad Film, Jason Stefaniak, www.jasonstefaniak.com
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Islanders make history; win first BCJALL championship
It all came to an end tonight at the Coquitlam Sports Centre where the Delta Islanders and Coquitlam Adanacs faced off in the final game to decide who will be this year’s BCJALL champion.
The Adanacs got on the board first with a goal from TylerPace 7 minutes into the first period.
Islanders’ JonPhillips tied the game up with 6:37 left in the first period followed by an AdamJay goal to give the Islanders their first lead of the game.
With 2:53 left on the clock, the Adanacs took advantage of a delayed penalty call, so with the extra man, NicholasMcnabb evened the game up at 2 before the period ended.
The Islanders started the second period off with a bang. Goals from Aidan Milburn, Nick Jensen and RileyPhillips before the halfway mark made it 5-2 Islanders. Impressive enough, the Islanders were hitting on all cylinders as Milburn’s goal was shorthanded, Jensen’s was on the powerplay and Phillips was even strength.
Of course you can’t count out the Adanacs. After all, there’s still a period and a half to go. JohnHofseth started the comeback with 8:58 to go in the second period, followed by two goals from Pace with 3:11 left.
The Adanacs scored a late goal, giving them a 6-5 lead heading into the third period.
Early in the third period, either team couldn’t get any momentum going after scoring a goal. The Adanacs strike first, but the seesaw battle continued until there was 4:48 left on the clock. The Islanders, down by one, applied the pressure in the final minutes and were able to tie the game up with a JonPhillips goal with 1:03 left on the clock as Game 3 was heading to overtime.
Heading into overtime, both teams were looking a little more retreated, but more so the Adanacs than the Islanders. However, it was the Adanacs who took the lead in overtime with a Hofseth goal, but there was just no giving up by the Islanders tonight, as ChaseFraser scored with 1:07 remaining in overtime as this game was heading into double overtime.
In double overtime, everyone in the Coquitlam Sports Centre witnessed history. NickJensen scores early in the second overtime and that was all she wrote. The Delta Islanders are your 2016 BCJALL Champions, ending the Adanacs streak at 7 straight championships. The Islanders also win their first ever BCJALL championship. Extremely well deserved.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Delta – JonPhillips – 3 goals
2. Delta – NickJensen – 2 goals
3. Coquitlam - TylerPace - 4 goals
That wraps up the 2016 BCJALL season, but it doesn’t mean lacrosse season is over. The Minto Cup begins August 20th at the Langley Events Centre where the BC, Ontario and Alberta champions and the BC host faceoff for the Minto Cup.
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CRIME WAVE - TIFF 2014 - TIFF CINEMATHEQUE 2K RESTORATION - Review By Greg Klymkiw
PREAMBLE:
THE BITCH-GODDESS "SUCCESS" ELUDES ONE OF THE GREATEST, MOST INFLUENTIAL CULT FILMS OF THE 80s.
THOSE WHO "KNOW", KNOW. THOSE WHO DON'T, WILL.
CRIME WAVE is the best cult film you've never seen.
Before you read my review, it might be interesting for you to peruse the following history as to why you might have never seen this masterpiece.
After its triumphant 1985 world premiere at TIFF, a Canadian film distribution company called Norstar Releasing signed the film for world wide sales. The deal came with a $100,000 guarantee which would be payable no later than 18 months after the first date of the film's theatrical release. This was just the impetus director John Paizs needed to redress something that was nagging at him. In spite of the accolades, he didn't like the ending and knowing $100K would eventually be paid, he rewrote, reshot and recut the entire final 20 minutes and fashioned the film into what we all know and love today.
Months, then years, passed by. Norstar Releasing was making money on the film in the home video market via a poorly transferred, retitled VHS American version, as well as substantial pay-TV and free-TV broadcast sales. NO theatrical release was forthcoming. As it turned out, there was no specific clause in the contract which guaranteed ANY theatrical release.
There was NO LEGAL NEED for Norstar Releasing to pay the $100K to Paizs until a theatrical release would trigger the said payment.
This, in spite of the fact that the company lured the filmmaker with verbal promises of a 400-screen theatrical release, as noted in this archival news clip (the tape quality is a bit grotty, but you'll get the idea) from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:
In my then-capacity as Director of Distribution and Marketing for the Winnipeg Film Group, I poured over the deal made long before my tenure there began. I engaged in the aggressive move to visit the Norstar offices in Toronto and examine their books. Sadly, all was on the up and up - save for the scumbag deal its filmmaker signed in good faith. Even if it hadn't, neither Paizs nor the non-profit arts group The Winnipeg Film Group were well-heeled enough to mount expensive forensic audits and/or legal challenges against a company as huge and powerful as Norstar Releasing was at the time.
In the early years of home video, this was still long before the days of VOD, digital downloads and many of the current platforms industry and audiences are aware of today. As such, if you signed a distribution deal, you automatically assumed there would be a theatrical release. At this point, I aggressively lobbied an independent movie theatre in Winnipeg, where the film was made, to secure a theatrical playdate. Even then, Norstar tried to dissuade the movie theatre from showing the film, but luckily, perseverance won the day and the film was slated for release - in ONE THEATRE.
18 months passed. The trigger to pay had come and gone. Though the money was due, Norstar was still not coughing up. I called the Toronto office of Telefilm Canada, the Federal Government's film financing agency which, at the time had a distribution program that actually funded Canadian distributors to offer guarantees to Canadian films. The head of distribution at Telefilm at the time was Ted East, a film distributor and producer who provided a very sympathetic ear when I explained how a Canadian company fucked over John Paizs. Mr. East poured over his agency's policy and discovered he could put money into Norstar's pocket to pay the filmmaker who was deeply in debt for a film that many loved, but that many more had not seen.
The money was finally paid. The debts were erased.
Still, the film languished. Norstar eventually sold all its titles to Alliance Films. When Alliance Films became Alliance-Atlantis, the library simply moved over. When the "Atlantis" portion went the way of the dodo, Alliance Releasing continued to maintain the library.
At one point in the 90s, Fantomas, a very tiny boutique indie home video company in the United States, known for its small, but very cool catalogue of cult items, contacted Paizs directly They wanted to release a super-deluxe DVD version of Crime Wave. They were even offering a decent advance. When Paizs contacted Alliance, he was given the run-around.
The company fucked the dog on the generous Fantomas offer until eventually, they rejected it. Alliance, it seems, was planning to dump huge swaths of its catalogue into a package deal with some dubious entity in the United States. Sadly, the Fantomas deal was not the only offer made to handle Crime Wave over the years to both Norstar and Alliance.
All offers were rejected by the indifferent Canadian conglomerate.
Eventually, Alliance was swallowed up by eOne Entertainment. which is where Crime Wave currently languishes. Thankfully, Steve Gravestock from the Toronto International Film Festival was able to provide funding for an all-new 2K digital restoration of Crime Wave and it is now being premiered at TIFF 2014 in conjunction with the launch of Jonathan Ball's new scholarly book about the film.
This is great news! Still, something was nagging at me. Given the film's reputation, would it still be sitting in the vaults? I sent a note to President of E1 Films Canada, Bryan Gliserman, and asked the following questions:
1. As your company inherited the rights to this film, what are e-One's plans to redress the wrongs perpetrated upon this masterpiece of Canadian Cinema by the previous companies holding the rights?
2. What are your feelings about the recent TIFF-initiated-and-funded 2K restoration?
3. Will there be a proper theatrical platform re-release in Canada?
4. Are there any discussions about a deluxe, extras-packed commemorative Blu-Ray?
He has yet to respond. He's a busy man.
Here's the bottom line:
Companies all over the world have tried to cut a deal with the right-holders prior to eOne, but continually hit brick walls as those Canadian conglomerates sat on it. The irony is that the Canadian taxpayers, via the aforementioned kind and magnanimous gesture on the part of Ted East when he was an official with Telefilm Canada, contributed a whack of dough to pay the filmmaker a guarantee that the original company tried to screw Paizs out of. If this hadn't have happened, Paizs would still be on the hook for finishing funds rightly owed to him.
Bryan Gliserman is a mensch.
I doubt, HE, as the president of a company as powerful as e-One, and the Canadian branch, no less, would ever think about screwing over a masterpiece of Canadian Cinema. He's one of the true pioneers of distribution in Canada and it might be the best thing in the world for this picture that it's found a home with someone like him. He's the real thing. I personally never put faith in any government or corporate entity, but from time to time, INDIVIDUALS within them step up to the plate - like Ted East when he was at Telefilm, programmer/critic Geoff Pevere when he first supported Paizs in the early years of TIFF and Steve Gravestock in TIFF's current era - there have always been human beings who all had faith in this film.
So too, I believe, will Bryan Gliserman. I have faith that he'll do something about the woeful state of affairs that's beleaguered this film for three decades. Crime Wave, with a mensch like Gliserman manning the control panel, will no doubt soar to the heights it deserves.
In the meantime, feel free to read my review. I've never written about Crime Wave before and frankly, I doubt anyone will be able to top Geoff Pevere's brilliant piece (pictured above) that he originally wrote many years ago in Cinema Canada, but for what it's worth, here's my take.
Your script doctor wishes to SODOMIZE and MURDER you
and in so doing, he will teach you
the real MEANING of the word,
"TWISTS!"
Dir. John Paizs
Starring: Eva Kovacs, John Paizs, Neil Lawrie, Darrell Baran, Jeffrey Owen Madden, Tea Andrea Tanner, Bob Cloutier, Donna Fullingham, Mitch Funk, Angela Heck, Mark Yuill, C. Roscoe Handford
In 1985, Jay Scott, the late, great Toronto Globe and Mail film critic, renowned and beloved the world over, wrote in his review of Crime Wave after its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (then called the Festival of Festivals):
"...if the great Canadian comedy ever gets made, John Paizs might be the one to make it.”
We're one year shy of thirty years later and nobody has yet made the "great Canadian comedy", though writer-director-star John Paizs gave it a damn fine run for the money with his drawer-filling, knee-slapping, near-heart-attack-inducing, Campbell Scott-starring 1999 satire of 1950s science fiction Top of the Food Chain (aka Invasion!, languishing for a time in the Lions' Gate DVD catalogue).
Scott never did review Paizs's 1986 version of Crime Wave. Still, taking mild criticism in Scott's review to heart, Paizs completely rewrote, reshot and recut the entire last half hour of the film. If Jay Scott had been given the chance to review this version, if the film had actually been released, I suspect Scott's line would have been: "John Paizs has made the great Canadian comedy!"
There's no doubt about it.
Some Quiet Men are Nice!
Others are INSANE!
You know, I can't begin to count the number of times I've seen Crime Wave. Has it been 40, 50, 60 times? Have I seen it 100 times?
Even more, perhaps?
Whatever the final tally actually is, and it is way up there, the fact remains that each and every time I see the film, I'm not only howling with laughter as hard as I did when I first saw it, but absolutely floored by how astoundingly brilliant and original it is.
This is a movie that has not dated and will probably never date.
It's a film that has inspired filmmakers all over the world and not only is it the crown jewel in the "prairie post-modernist" crown - coined and bestowed upon it by film critic Geoff Pevere - but it's a film that paved the way for Guy Maddin, Bruce McDonald, Reg Harkema, Lynne Stopkewich, Don McKellar, Astron-6 and virtually any other Canadian filmmaker who went on to blow the world away with their unique, indigenous cinematic visions of a world that could only have been borne upon celluloid from a country as insanely staid and repressed as Canada.
I'll go further and suggest even this: I think it was more than mere "zeitgeist" which bore the fruit that was/is David Lynch's Blue Velvet. Now, not to take anything away from Lynch's mad classic of the dark side lingering under the surface of a sun-dappled small-town America, BUT, if one does a tiny bit of simple math on the following, there's no question Paizs influenced David Lynch:
1. In the mid-80s, a wonderful, but now (sadly) defunct film festival in Edmonton, Alberta screened the "new" re-edited version of Crime Wave in addition to Paizs' unique shorts. This was a festival devoted to indigenous, independent (or indie-flavoured) films which told stories about far-flung places which were as much a character in the films as their human counterparts.
The name of the festival was "Local Heroes", named after the 1983 Bill Forsyth classic Local Hero with Burt Lancaster and Peter Riegert. That film embodied everything the festival was about. Most importantly, a special guest of the festival was also in the audience for Paizs's shorts and Crime Wave. The guest was none other than the producer of Local Hero, David Puttnam.
2. From 1986 to 1988, David Puttnam was the CEO of Columbia Pictures. His term was short-lived. In spite of the fact that he was hired to bring his magic touch to the studio, they really weren't keen on what he wanted and did indeed green-light. He had requested and was armed with a clutch of John Paizs' short films and Crime Wave on VHS.
3. With the Paizs films floating about the studio, Puttnam green-lit a now obscure feature at Columbia called Zelly and Me. The star was Isabella Rossellini, the eventual female lead of Blue Velvet. Acting in a supporting role was none other than David Lynch himself who was also a mentor to the film's director Tina Rathbone (she eventually directed episodes of Twin Peaks).
4. In the fall of 1988, David Lynch's Blue Velvet, a film which shares a tone, colour scheme, thematic similarities and shots which are slight variations of those appearing in Paizs' films.
Here's yet another time-worn archival CBC video which delivers even more clips from all of Paizs's sun-dappled darkness:
Zeitgeist, indeed.
Borrowing from all his favourite childhood films - sleazy, garish crime pictures, technicolor science fiction and horror epics, weird-ass training/educational films, Roger Corman, Terence Fisher, Kenneth Anger, the Kuchar Brothers, Elia Kazan, Orson Welles, Walt Disney, Frank Tashlin, film noir, Douglas Sirk, John Ford (!!!) and yes, even National Film Board of Canada documentaries - John Paizs made one of the most sought after, coveted and beloved cult movies of the past thirty years.
Taking on the lead role of Steven Penny, Paizs created a character who is hell-bent upon writing the greatest "colour crime movie" of all time. He boards in the attic above a garage owned by a family of psychotically normal Winnipeg suburbanites whose little girl Kim (Eva Kovacs) befriends the reclusive young man.
He has the worst writer's block of all - he can write great beginnings, great endings, but NO middles.
Every morning, she rifles through the garbage where Penny has disposed of his writings and as she reads them, we get to see the gloriously lurid snippets of celluloid from the fevered brain of this young writer. These sequences are scored with gusto, dappled with colours bordering on the fluorescent and narrated with searing Walter Winchell-like stabs of verbal blade thrusts. Via Kim's gentle, non-colour-crime-movie narration, Steven is innocently described by her like all those serial killers who people say after their capture, "Gee whiz, he was a really nice guy."
Indeed, Steven Penny inhabits Kim's words like a glove:
THE TOP!!!!
FEW MEN REACH IT!!!
"He was a Quiet Man."
As the film progresses, we see more and more of the film Steven is trying to write, but his creative blockages become dire. He even locks himself up for weeks, his room becoming so foul and fetid that rats are even scurrying upon his immobile depression-infused carcass. Kim must take the bull by the horns and indeed finds salvation in the back of a magazine ad in "Colour Crime Quarterly". It seems that one Dr. Jolly (Neil Lawrie), a script doctor, exists in Sails, Kansas.
He, Kim insists, is what Steven needs. Dr. Jolly himself provides comfort to burgeoning young screenwriters that what they really need are the one important thing he can provide:
TWISTS!!!
Unbeknownst to anyone, Dr. Jolly is a serial killer who lures young screenwriters into his den of depravity to sodomize and murder them. Dr. Jolly's goal is to truly show young men the meaning of the word:
As a filmmaker, Paizs leads us on an even more insane journey than we've been on and the final twenty minutes of the film delivers one of the most brilliant, hallucinogenic and piss-your-pants funny extended montages you'll ever experience. John Paizs then teaches us the meaning of the word:
Twists indeed, You'll see nothing like them in any film. Crime Wave is one of the most dazzlingly original films ever made. If you haven't seen it, you must. If you have seen it, see the picture again.
And again, and again and yet, again.
That's why they call them cult films.
THE FILM CORNER RATING:
***** 5-Stars
Crime Wave, not to be confused with the Coen Brothers/Sam Raimi debacle with the same title from the same year has been lovingly restored in a 2K digital transfer courtesy of Steve Gravestock and the Toronto International Film Festival. You can see it at Tiff 2014, For tickets, date and time, visit the TIFF website by clicking HERE.
A Few Added Notes On CRIME WAVE:
If you are desperate to see it AND want to own what will be a COLLECTOR'S ITEM, feel free to order the VHS tape still available at AMAZON. This is the "new version" of Paizs's film with the title changed to THE BIG CRIMEWAVE. It's a standard one-light transfer to VHS from the original One-Inch tape that was originally broadcast on CBC-TV and TMN way back in the early 90s. If you click this link directly and order it, you'll ALSO be assisting with the ongoing maintenance of The Film Corner:
In USA and the rest of the WORLD - BUY The Big Crimewave (aka CRIME WAVE) on VHS - HERE!
Hopefully, if a proper home entertainment deluxe Blu-Ray is ever made, the "original" 1985 Crime Wave will be included on it. I love that version for very different reasons. It's perverse, extremely DARK and most delightfully of all, it features backwoods inbreds bearing the names "Ol' Mum" and "Ethan".
The original version also has a much better shot of the young, hogtied screenwriter in Dr. Jolly's motel room. The scene is meant to be a taste of what's in store for Steven Penny when he meets up with the sodomy-loving script doctor. The actor in the original version, Jon Coutts, one of Paizs's best friends and part of the production team, has such a beautiful, pert ass and baby-flesh skin that many people thought Jolly had a very young, teenage boy hogtied and ready for Hershey-pronging.
Mostly, it was the idiot distributor Norstar (that screwed Paizs over in the first place) that objected the most strenuously to this. The "new" version, alas, replaces the sweet, silky, lithe young NAKED body of Mr. Coutts with only his bare back and a pair of jeans.
I know what I preferred. You? (And if you ever see Paizs' personal 16mm archival print of the film, you WILL see the pert ass cheeks.)
Finally, SHAME on the TORONTO GLOBE AND MAIL for not doing a major profile in conjunction with this special TIFF initiative. If only to honour the late Jay Scott, this could have been an amazing opportunity for it to provide the kind of content any important newspaper of record would be pleased to report on.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I produced John Paizs's early short films. I also appear in Crime Wave as a Dog Breeder with the great line of dialogue: "I come a hundred miles to breed this here bitch!" as I mistakenly point to my wife instead of the dog. Enjoy!
DOG BREEDERS:
C. Roscoe Handford
& Greg Klymkiw
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's January 2014 New Music Festival, in collaboration with Spur and the Winnipeg Film Group Cinematheque presented a major series of new musical works and a film retrospective entitled "Forgotten Winnipeg". The 70s and 80s NYC film scene experienced by Jim Jarmusch (presenting his new opera-in-progress on Nikola Tesla in the aforementioned series) is captured beautifully in the documentary Blank City and resembles the very cool explosion in indie underground cinema that I and many colleagues and friends were involved with as it spawned around the same time during those halcyon days in Winnipeg. This period, coined by film critic Geoff Pevere as Prairie Post-Modernism included the works of John Paizs, Guy Maddin, Greg Hanec and many others.
Greg Hanec's extraordinary Downtime which has the distinction of being a parallel cinematic universe to Jim Jarmusch's Stranger Than Paradise is a case in point. Both films were made at the same time in two completely different cities and scenes and both Hanec and Jarmusch premiered their films at the same time at the Berlin Film Festival. One's famous, the other isn't - but now that the "lost" and "found" Downtime has been remastered from original elements to DVD, it can now be purchased directly online.
Order DOWNTIME directly
from the film's new website
Perhaps the greatest Canadian independent underground filmmaker of all-time is Winnipeg's John Paizs. It's virtually impossible to secure copies of his astounding work which, frankly, is responsible for influencing the work of Guy Maddin, David Lynch, Bruce McDonald and an endless number of great indie filmmakers the world over. Paizs' great short film Springtime in Greenland is available for purchase in a beautiful remastered edition from a fan website, the inimitable Frank Norman. Norman has Paizs' blessing to provide copies of the film, so feel free to directly make your request to Mr. Norman by clicking HERE.
Visit Frank Norman's CRIME WAVE fan site by clicking HERE
Crime Wave
by John Paizs
& The Editor
by AdamBrooks
and MatthewKennedy
is the IDEAL
Toronto International
Film Festival (TIFF 2014)
Double Bill.
Too bad nobody thought
of scheduling them
in the same venue.
No matter.
See Crime Wave on
Friday, Sept. 12 @ 9pm
in TIFF Bell Lightbox #4,
then see The Editor
on Saturday, Sept. 13
@ 6:15pm in Scotiabank #4
and PRETEND
you watched them
back to back.
Read my review of
Crime Wave HERE
and my review of
The Editor HERE
and go see BOTH
great films from God,
the Father of Prairie
and His only
begotten Sons.
Labels: ***** , 2K restoration , Bryan Gliserman , Canada , Comedy , Cult Film , eOne Films , Geoff Pevere , Greg Klymkiw , John Paizs , Steve Gravestock , TIFF 2014 , Toronto International Film Festival 2014
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This Year's Best Zelda Merchandise Is A Master Sword Shoehorn
Filed to: ZeldaFiled to: Zelda
Photo: Inside, Nintendo
When you think of the Master Sword, putting on your shoes probably doesn’t come to mind.
But that’s what makes this officially licensed Master Sword shoehorn so brilliant.
According to Inside, the 35-cm long will be released this October in Japan. No word on an international release.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: The Kotaku Review
Alaska Man Arrested After Hitting Roommate With Zelda Sword
Breath Of The Wild Gets Official Placement On The Zelda Timeline, But There Are Shenanigans
Originally from Texas, Ashcraft has called Osaka home since 2001. He has authored five books, including most recently, Japanese Whisky: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Desirable Spirit.
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It just hit me:
My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.
He has his food prepared for him.
He can eat whenever he wants, 24/7/365.
His meals are provided at no cost to him.
He visits the doctor once a year for his check-up, and again during the year if any medical needs arise.
For all this he pays nothing, and nothing is required of him.
He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than
he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep. If he makes a mess,
someone else cleans it up for him.
He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep.
He is living like a King, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.
All of his costs are picked up by others who go out and earn a living every day.
I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me:
My dog is a politician!
<img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/65102wquiom7BD9AAG8798FGGBEE" alt="Shop <a href=" http:=""
“>www.pet-source.com””=””>
dog, donkey, funny, humor, joke, parrot
While strolling past a pet shop, a cat notices a sign in the window: Help Wanted. Knowing himself to be no ordinary feline, he saunters into the shop and calls out “Hello! I’d like to apply for the job.”
The owner of the pet shop is very amused at the idea of a talking
cat, and she wants to hear more, so she plays along, saying “Oh, I’m
sorry, but this is a clerical job. We need someone who can type and
The cat hastens over to the office typewriter and, quick as a wink,
he pounds out something about a quick brown fox and a lazy dog until he
has filled a page. He grabs a stack of papers , alphabetizes them by
subject matter, and puts them away in the file cabinet in less time than
one would expect of a critter who lacks opposable thumbs.
The owner is charmed, but figures she can’t possibly hire a cat, so
she thinks of another excuse. “You type very nicely, and your filing is
flawless, but this job demands computer literacy.”
The cat immediately takes his place in front of the computer and,
mouse in paw, cruises the Web, gathering useful information about
increasing the profitability of pet shops.
The owner is stunned. She has got to think of a tactful way to tell this cat that she isn’t going to give him a job.
“Well, you’re an amazing cat indeed. You type, you file, and you’re a
computer whiz. But we really, really must have someone who is
bilingual.”
The cat stares imploringly into the owner’s eyes and says “Woof!“
The Donkey in the Well
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well that the farmer had accidentally left uncovered. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, so it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone . We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Now, most people think that’s the end, but it isn’t.
The donkey later came back and bit the hell out of the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected, and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
So the real moral from today’s lesson?
When you do something wrong and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.
Washing the Dog
A young boy, about eight years old, was at the corner “Mom & Pop”grocery picking out a pretty good size box of laundry detergent.
The grocer walked over, and, trying to be friendly, asked the boy if he had a lot of laundry to do.
“Oh, no laundry,” the boy said, “I’m going to wash my dog.”
“But you shouldn’t use this to wash your dog. It’s very powerful and ifyou wash your dog in this, he’ll get sick. In fact, it might even killhim.”
But the boy was not to be stopped and carried the detergent to thecounter and paid for it, even as the grocer still tried to talk him outof washing his dog.
About a week later the boy was back in the store to buy some candy. The grocer asked the boy how his dog was doing.
“Oh, he died,” the boy said.
The grocer, trying not to be an I-told-you-so, said he was sorry the dogdied but added, “I tried to tell you not to use that detergent on yourdog.”
“Well,” the boy replied, “I don’t think it was the detergent that killed him.”
“Oh? What was it then?”
“I think it was the spin cycle!”
The Football Game
During the Super Bowl, there was another football game of note betweenthe big animals and the little animals. The big animals were crushinglittle animals and at half-time, the coach made a passionate speech torally the little animals.
At the start of the second half the big animals had the ball. The firstplay, the elephant got stopped for no gain. The second play, the rhinowas stopped for no gain. On third down, the hippo was thrown for a 5yard loss.
The defense huddled around the coach and he asked excitedly, “Who stopped the elephant?”
“I did,” said the centipede.
“Who stopped the rhino?”
“Uh, that was me too,” said the centipede.
“And how about the hippo? Who hit him for a 5 yard loss?”
“Well, that was me as well,” said the centipede.
“So where were you during the first half?” demanded the coach.
“Well,” said the centipede, “I was having my ankles taped.”
So there’s this fella with a parrot. And this parrot swears like a sailor. I mean he’s a pistol. He can swear for five minutes straight without repeating himself.
Trouble is, the guy who owns him is a quiet, conservative type, and this bird’s foul mouth is driving him crazy.
One day, it gets to be too much, so the guy grabs the bird by the throat, shakes him really hard, and yells, “QUIT IT !”.
But this just makes the bird mad and he swears more than ever.
Then the guy gets mad and says, “OK for you”, and locks the bird in a kitchen cabinet. This really aggravates the bird, and he claws and scratches, and when the guy finally lets him out, the bird cuts loose with a stream of vulgarities that would make a veteran sailor blush.
At that point, the guy is so mad that he throws the bird into the freezer.For the first few seconds , there is a terrible din. The bird kicks and claws and thrashes. Then it suddenly gets very very quiet.
At first the guy just waits, but then he starts to think that the bird may be hurt. After a couple of minutes of silence, he’s so worried that he opens up the freezer door.
The bird calmly climbs onto the man’s outstretched arm and says: “Awfully sorry about the trouble I gave you.I’ll do my best to improve my vocabulary from now on.”
The man is astounded. He can’t understand the transformation that has come over the parrot. Then the parrot says, “By the way, what did the chicken do?”
Get your chuckles on Kindle.
It is in this light I have decided to publish some of my random thoughts based on the views of our ancestors.
The Talking Parrots
Talking Parrots
A lady approaches her priest and says, “Father, I have a problem. I have two female talking parrots, but they only know how to say one thing.”
“What do they say?” the priest inquires.
“They only know how to say, ‘Hi, we’re prostitutes. Want to have some fun ?'”
“That’s terrible,” the priest exclaims, “but I have a solution to your problem. Bring your two female parrots over to my house, and I will put them with my two male talking parrots whom I taught to pray and read the bible. My parrots will teach your parrots to stop saying that terrible phrase, and your female parrots will learn to praise and worship.”
“Thank you!” the woman responds.
The next day, the woman brings her female parrots to the priest’s house.His two male parrots are holding rosary beads and praying in their cage. The lady puts her two female parrots in with the male parrots, and the female parrots say, “Hi, we’re prostitutes, want to have some fun?”
One male parrot looks at the other male parrot and exclaims, “Put the beads away. Our prayers have been answered!”
The Dead dog
A man rushed into the veterinarian’s office carrying his dog, thoroughly distraught. The vet examined the dog’s still, limp body and sadly informed the man that the dog was dead.
Saddened at the loss of his best friend, the man asked the doctor if he could please try one last time to revive the dog.
The doctor stepped into his other room and returned with a cat in a wire cage. He set the cage on the examining table and opened the sliding door.
The cat got up, stretched, stepped out of the cage and slowly walked around the dog from head to tail sniffing the body. When it was finished, it looked up at the veterinarian with a “meow”, walked back into the cage and went back to sleep.
The vet looked at the man and said in his best bedside manner, “I’m sorry, but there is nothing I can do.”
Resigned, the man signed and said, “Thanks for trying. How much do I owe you?”
“Three-hundred fifty dollars,” the doctor replied.
“Thr . . . thr . . .three-hundred fif-fif-fifty bucks to tell me my dog is dead!” the man stammered.
“Well, it was only $50 for the office visit. The other $300 is for the CAT scan.”
Gary is a writer and photographer living in Sarasota, Florida. He maintains a website featuring some of his travel photos and markets a line of products featuring many of his photos.
animal jokes, dogs
The Wife’s Snails
A wife and her husband were having a dinner party for all the major status figures in Rome, Italy. The wife was very excited about this and wanted everything to be perfect. At the very last minute, she realized that she didn’t have any snails for this dinner party, so she asked her husband to run down to the beach with the bucket she was handing him to gather some snails.
Very grudgingly he agreed. He took the bucket, walked out the door,down the steps, and out to the beach. As he was collecting the snails,he noticed a beautiful woman strolling alongside the water just a little further down the beach. He kept thinking to himself “Wouldn’t it be great if she would even just come down and talk to me.” He went back to gathering the snails. All of the sudden he looked up, and the beautiful woman was standing right ove rhim. They got to talking, and she invited him back to her place.
They ended up spending the night together. At seven o’clock the next morning he woke up and exclaimed, “Oh no! My wife’s dinner party!” He gathered all his clothes, put them on real fast, grabbed his bucket, and ran out the door. He ran down the beach all the way to his apartment.He ran up the stairs of his apartment. He was in such a hurry that when he got to the top of the stairs, he dropped the bucket of snails.
There were snails all down the stairs. The door opened just then,with his very angry wife standing in the doorway, wondering where he’s been all this time . He looked at the snails all down the steps, then he looked at her, then back at the snails, and said, “Come on guys, we’re almost there!”
animal jokes, Marital Humor
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A brief interview for ifc.com’s Portlandia blog
One Quick Question for Justin Maurer of Clorox Girls
The singer-guitarist recounts memories of playing shows around Portland in the mid-aughts.
Posted December 22nd, 2011, 1:12 PM by mpsinger
In the mid-aughts, there wasn’t a more furiously fun live band in Portland than the Clorox Girls. Comprised of three Oakland expats—none of whom were females, by the way—the group played ebullient, blink-and-miss-it pop-punk with roots in the Buzzcocks and Red Kross, a song by whom the band took its name. The Girls seemed poise for a breakthrough after the release of 2007′s J’aime Les Filles on seminal L.A. label BYO Records, but after years of international touring, singer-guitarist and, at that point, lone original member Justin Maurer found himself deep in debt. He put the band on hold and relocated to Spain.
Last year, however, Maurer returned to the states and started recording under the Clorox Girls name again. He didn’t forget about Portland, though. And earlier this month, he reconvened the band’s original lineup—himself, bassist Colin Grigson and drummer Clay Silva—for a one-off reunion gig at the proudly divey Southeast Portland punk club East End. Although he now lives in Los Angeles, Maurer remembers his time in the Rose City fondly. We asked him for memories of playing shows around town in the early days. He offered several.
“We had things happen, like, people would end up cutting their hands open and rub blood on my face like warpaint. One time, we were driving to a show, and we were in this phase where we were mooning everybody. So we were sticking our asses out the window and someone threw a cinder block at our van. It almost hit me, and it actually hit the van. We opened for that band Total Chaos one time at the Paris Theater, and we all wore short jean shorts that were so short the pockets were longer than the shorts. I had a Black Flag T-shirt that says ‘Make Me Cum,’ and I made it into a cutaway shirt, and we’re opening for these tough guy punks in Total Chaos. Lots of times we threw flour into the crowd. We played Beulahland and threw a bag of flour, and it got into the ceiling fan, and it just completely fucked up the sound equipment and the microphones. The bartenders were seriously going to kick our ass. We had to clean up the mess ourselves to avoid getting beat up by the Beulahland staff. We were young and stupid, but we always tried to have a good time. Lots of alcohol, some drugs, and a lot of soaking wet Converse All-Stars.”
http://www.ifc.com/shows/portlandia/blog/2011/12/justin-maurer-clorox-girls
← An essay on Portland legends Dead Moon for the Rumpus’ “Albums of Our Lives”
Razorcake interview with powerpop/punk legends The Undertones! →
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Michelle Obama's Arms Are Causing a Fashion Riot
Filed to: michelle obamaFiled to: michelle obama
Joyce Purnick
Joyce Purnick writes in the New York Times Styles section about Michelle Obama's arms and how they make her feel like a flabby bag of limp old ramen noodles.
I HAD expected to keep mum about my problem with Michelle Obama until after the election, but my frustration has gotten the better of me. I can contain it no longer.
I refer not to her politics, but to her arms — her bare, toned, elegant arms. Enough!
I, too, say "enough!" But I mean it in the opposite way — I'm pretty much done with people lusting after Mobama's admittedly fabulous limbs, especially when it's to simultaneously complain about their own pudding-in-a-knapsack upper arms. Why can't we all be dancing in front of mirrors while on the phone and looking at our reflections and telling our best friends like, "Girl, I'm very pretty."
I know we're not living in the utopia Nelly sort-of prophesied; upper arms are a concern not just to Purnick, but to millions of other women. Mobama's muscles brought the issue into the spotlight, but honestly, when has it ever been unfashionable to bare your arms? The catwalk is a naked-arm parade (partly because it is way easier to make garments without sleeves, sleeves can be difficult and mass-producing them for a variety of arm sizes is trickier than waist sizes). Any "designer" worth her salt can take a potato sack and cut three holes in it. Voilà, fashion!
However, I think we're at a point where "firming" that upper arm flab, henceforth to be known as the jowls of the arms, is seemingly more important to ladies of a certain age than pretty much any other body part. Is it because we've wasted all of our caring on stomach, legs, and face in our earlier years, and it remains the final frontier of body shame? Is it, ladies?? To drive her point home, Purnick has to bring ageism and Ann Romney into the equation.
Then again, Mrs. Obama will be 49 in January. Could it be time for her at least to begin to ponder setting a new fashion trend? Here's a thought. Maybe she could take a cue from her husband and, in a bipartisan gesture, adopt Ann Romney's preference for elbow-length sleeves and red taffeta. Or not.
Or not. Just because our first lady — who is attractive of body and mind at any age — sports the sleeveless styles doesn't mean that you can't wear head-to-toe leg warmers if you want to, Purnick. Or maybe you can show off your whatever-sized arms in whatever the fuck you want to wear? I know, it's WILD. Yes, it's the Styles section, so the bar is set pretty low, but I really hope by the time that I'm 50 that I seriously don't give a crap about ANYTHING besides living out loud. I'm gonna be rocking a crotchless polyester leisure suit and riding my motorized scooter in a circle around Hometown Buffet because FUUUUCK IT. Also, I'll probably also be waving my free-flowing arms around like I just don't care, perhaps even Purnick will join the jowls of the arms revolution!?
[(Psst: We Feel Bad About Our Arms)]
Recent from Laura Beck
I Have Reason to Believe Barbara Bush Is Four Feet Tall
Getting to Know Some of the Morrissey Superfans at FYF Fest (Of Which I Am One)
Rejected URLs for My Wedding Website
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Becky Watts: Another girl gone missing
The Complete Mystery of Madeleine McCann™ :: Other Crimes :: Other Fake Abductions, Hoaxes, Appeals and Crocodile Tears
Page 1 of 11 • 1, 2, 3 ... 9, 10, 11
by jozi on 26.02.15 10:27
Don't know where to put this so thought I will put it here? Mods please move if not in right place......
Just been reading about this poor girl as its the first time I have heard anything about this.!!! I don't want to be a pessimist but I got a chill down my spine reading this as it is so similar to the Tia Sharp case ?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2970076/Friends-say-missing-Becky-16-sent-text-asking-miss-disappeared-hunt-enters-
Re: Becky Watts: Another girl gone missing
by ChippyM on 26.02.15 10:39
I thought of the Tia Sharp case too. Forensics have been in the house which they said was routine. The stepmother was the last to see her and her grandmother made a statement saying the girl could come and stay with her 'as long as she wants'. To me that implies some kind of friction at home. Hopefully she just ran away but apparently she was extremely shy and wasn't one for going out alone.
ChippyM
@ChippyM wrote: I thought of the Tia Sharp case too. Forensics have been in the house which they said was routine. The stepmother was the last to see her and her grandmother made a statement saying the girl could come and stay with her 'as long as she wants'. To me that implies some kind of friction at home. Hopefully she just ran away but apparently she was extremely shy and wasn't one for going out alone.
Very sad ChippyM,the step mum was the last one to see her but she left to go to a Hospital Appointment easy to check up on but I thought they could track the cell phones now ? I know the signal is dead now but I think they can still track it !
If she was too shy to go into a shop I don't think she would run away !!!
by HelenMeg on 26.02.15 11:49
Sounds as if there may have been a need to talk about blood
HelenMeg
@HelenMeg wrote: Sounds as if there may have been a need to talk about blood
BLOOD....where have you heard that ?
@jozi wrote:
They could check when the stepmother went to hospital but how can they know whether the girl was there when she left? In the Tia Sharp case the step grandfather lied about seeing her at home and she was missing much earlier.
For me the latest turn of events is quite disturbing. The father is tweeting extremely personal things (talking about blood and underwear!) about his daughter and telling the public a white van was seen in the area. Apparently police have not sanctioned his comments.....so is it verbal staging? He seems to be going all out to say it was a sexually motivated abduction by volunteering too much information, again without the police approving his statements!
[size=31]Missing Bristol teenager: Strange and bizarre message appears on Becky's dad's Facebook page[/size]
By [url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/people/The Bristol Post/profile.html]The Bristol Post[/url] | Posted: February 26, 2015
Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Missing-Bristol-teenager-Strange-bizarre-message/story-26089391-detail/story.html#ixzz3SrFRKLg4
Follow us: @BristolPost on Twitter | bristolpost on Facebook
Mr Galsworthy, 51, posted the bizarre message on his profile page on Wednesday morning - six days after she vanished.
The note - written in block capital letters and repeated three times in just 11 minutes - asked women to watch out for blood on family member's underwear.
The disturbing message reads: "THIS IS A MESSAGE TO ALL WIFES MOTHERS AND GIRLFRIENDS IT WAS MY BABY GIRLS TIME OF THE MONTH SO IF YOU HAVE WASHED ANY BLOOD FROM YOUR PARTNERS OR SONS UNDERWEAR AND THEY CANT EXPLAIN IT PLEASE IMAGINE IF THIS WAS YOUR CHILD WHAT WOULD YOU DO PLEASE REPORT IT."
Within five hours of the post appearing, Mr Galdsworthy and his disabled wife Anjie, 49, were ushered out of their home by police and taken to a 'safe house'.
by Benion on 26.02.15 13:49
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J_YzX9GVPo
Dad describes her "She was your typical teenage girl"
Past tense????
Benion
by soundworks on 26.02.15 15:47
@Benion wrote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J_YzX9GVPo
Looks iffy to me, id be defo looking at the parents
Phone and laptop taken with her? where was she going? to me sounds like they have been destroyed in helping to cover up her murder
soundworks
by jeanmonroe on 26.02.15 16:01
and telling the public a white van was seen in the area.
Ah, the 'cleaners', from PDL, are 'back'!
Imo, it 'looks' 'staged'
'Combo' of Phillpot AND Hazell.
'touch' of Matthews'? 'hidden' somewhere......................til the 'fund/reward' kicks in?
What i've read, so far, is that NO 'zlebs' NO 'politicos' are crawling all over this, with 'undying' SUPPORT!
No private jet to whisk the 'distressed' parents off to Rome to meet the Pope?
No 'legal fund' from Branson and his 'friends'?
Perhaps non BK could nip down to Bristol and tell us, in 15 SECONDS, how 'innocent' the 'parents' ARE!
And 'donate' his 'entire' fortune to them to 'find' her.
Oh no, he can't, can he?
He's already pledged his multi MILLIONS to the McS!
His REAL 'family' never did say what they thought of him puttiing two doctors 'plight' BEFORE and ABOVE their 'wellbeing'
Have we become too 'blaze' about these er, 'disappearances' or just totally 'cynical'?
ALL the 'above' is IMO, only.
If she found 'safe and well' i'd be 'delighted' of course.
Jury's OUT, for me, on this one.
jeanmonroe
by Julchen on 26.02.15 16:29
Had a look at her FB account.
The pics on there don't fit the description of a shy teenager.
https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.watts.167?fref=ts
Julchen
Can't 'access' FB page.
Is this 'possibly' ANOTHER McScam?
Just reading 'people lied to us' (Yorkshire Police, Claudia Lawrence)
Well THAT had to be a 'revelation' moment for the cop!
People 'LIE' to UK Police?
dogs brought in to 'search' alleyway behind CL house
So, dogs 'good' in Yorkshire, but 'crap' in Portugal?
eta: Where's Shazza Leal, when you need her?
She'd have this 'sorted', and tell us if the parents are 'lyiing', or not, in 5 SECONDS flat!
C'mon Shazza, watch the 'videos'!
by By Numbers on 26.02.15 17:17
@ChippyM wrote:
Don't know anything about this story, apart from what's in these posts, but is my family unusual or do all fathers and daughters share this information? Or should my inference be that family and friends were brainstorming about what might have happened, and someone thought the fact that she was menstruating might be relevant to helping work out what had happened? What... I mean, uh... huh?
By Numbers
Dad's FB page is even weirder IMO
https://www.facebook.com/darren.galsworthy1
From his Facebook page in 2011
the ancient greeks once told of a box which contained all the evils of the world they named this vessel pandoras box when what they really meant was rebecca galsworthy my precious darling little girl.
=100001983812094&p[1]=140907019318758&share_source_type=unknown]Share
by MRNOODLES on 26.02.15 19:39
The whole thing whiffs a little IMO.
MRNOODLES
Another girl missing
by G-Unit on 26.02.15 20:11
Today sniffer dogs were seen being led to the back of the house into the garden by officers wearing blue and white overalls.
The spaniels were taken from a large white van parked outside the family house in Bristol and could also be seen going in and out of the house throughout the afternoon as the search intensified.
There has been more activity outside the house throughout today as three large police vans turned up and officers wearing Welsh police uniforms emerged.
As yet it is not known why the Welsh officers have been brought into the investigation.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/rebecca-watts-missing-recap-updates-5233756
by margaret on 26.02.15 20:23
@By Numbers wrote:
I think it's highly unusual for a dad to know that much less share it with the world. I think things lie with the father.
by ultimaThule on 26.02.15 20:43
@Benion wrote: From his Facebook page in 2011
A most peculiar statement for a father to make about his daughter, Benion. What could he have meant by it?
Tanya Watts has 'broken her silence' http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Missing-Bristol-teenager-Becky-s-mum-breaks/story-26089933-detail/story.html from which it would seem there may have been some estrangement between mother and daughter. It seems to me that either Ms Watts was not married to Rebecca's father, or she changed her daughter's surname to that of her spouse. Curiously, there's no mention of younger/older siblings.
Is it usual for a 16 year old, who apparently had no known plans for the day/evening, to be absent overnight with her phone turned off without a parent attempting to make contact with her boyfriend/friends in order to assure themselves that she's safe and well? Rebecca's stepmother says she last saw her on Thursday morning but the girl was not reported missing until 4pm on Friday.
In those circumstances I would have been climbing the walls by midnight and calling the police way before late afternoon of the following day.
by Knitted on 26.02.15 23:58
I've only heard about this via this forum.
Having looked at his FB page, and having looked into what is available online and in the media, he seems to have (in my opinion) posted some very odd things about his daughter.
Some years ago I was a step-father to three girls, (E...F... & J). Two of whom (E & J) claimed (to their mother) that their genetic father had touched them inappropriately. All exhibited behavioral signs of sexual abuse (Over the years I've dated two very senior Kent & Sussex Social Workers and so had, by coincidence, acquired an idea about what to look for)...
I do hope that 'Darren' doesn't have any Masonic, Church or Political connections. If he does, and is investigated, then I fear that no matter what he has done...or where he has shoved his 'flesh'... then he will get away with it, (n.b. My "daughter's" genetic father is a 2xPGM of a Masonic Lodge in Kent/SE London and was able to get a GP to tamper with a DNA paternity test)
If, as I am sure Darren is, (just as I am confident that Dr. GM and Dr. KH are 'innocent' of killing and disposing of their daughter's body) this 'Dad' is innocent then he has nothing to worry about and thus 'must', 'should' and 'will' do anything to help the Police with their enquiries.
Hopefully any questions put to him by the investigating authorities, (unlike Dr. Kate Healy ... who didn't respond because she was, obviously, being stitched up), will be answered..
by columbostogeys on 27.02.15 6:04
St Georges in Bristol is a drug and rat warren, i wouldnt want to live there....personally.
16 year old takes her laptop and tablet but not her phone and her purse. This could simply mean she went off somewhere a hot spot to talk to someone she had met on line, when you look at her facebook photos she is not a shy lass no way, and the words sexy under some of her post by men....one would assume she has friends who quite liked her.
Perhaps she didnt want people to contact her and she had no need for her purse as she was going somewhere locally......perhaps she thought she would only be out for a short time...etc.
I have no clue what has happened to her, its like this Boxer too in Monaco just disappeared.......surprised all of the conspirators havent linked the two together lol, both coming from Bristol...nah just kidding, but that is how it gets out of control isnt it. The father mentions blood on facebook and now he is guilty of harming her......who knows what happened, but i would look towards facebook personally until proven otherwise. IMHO.
The Dogs Dont Lie
http://eddieandkeela.blogspot.co.uk/
columbostogeys
by aquila on 27.02.15 6:17
What child of this era leaves the house without their mobile phone?
From what I see nowadays adults and children alike rely on their mobile phones for just about everything.
by Julchen on 27.02.15 7:55
@aquila wrote: What child of this era leaves the house without their mobile phone?
Leave their mobile phone behind if they've got their laptop and tablet (both????) with them....why not?
BUT: they would certainly have taken their chargers with them!!!!
With virtually each brand requiring "branded" chargers, after a day or two(most certainly after a whole week) you will definitely need YOUR charger.
Looks more like laptop and tablet being disposed of IMO.
by jozi on 27.02.15 9:56
No, she did take her mobile phone, laptop computer and tablet all at the same time ???
And what a odd thing the Father saying she is menstruating.......how does he know ???
They are now closing their original Facebook Find Rebecca Watts group and opening a new one with better security settings as they are concerned the press may be reading the posts
@margaret wrote:
I agree, if the police didn't see it as imperative to share this info, why would the father? it's a red flag to me also for a parent to imply or say outright their child is evil as in the 'pandoras box' tweet, some parents with personality disorders demonise and pick on their kids like that, which is not a normal child/parent relationship. I also remember the children of Rosdeep Kular were said to be very quiet and shy like this girl. If you're parents fly off the handle at the slightest thing I suppose you would be.
I wonder if dogs have been used at the home, it might rule out an attack at the home at least.
by Jill Havern Today at 15:27
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Lilt.com
What We’re Reading: Neural Machine Translation with Reconstruction
by Spence Green
August 2, 2017 at 6:36 AM 2 Minute Read
Neural MT systems generate translations one word at a time. They can still generate fluid translations because they choose each word based on all of the words generated so far. Typically, these systems are just trained to generate the next word correctly, based on all previous words. One systematic problem with this word-by-word approach to training and translating is that the translations are often too short and omit important content.
In the paper Neural Machine Translation with Reconstruction, the authors describe a clever new way to train and translate. During training, their system is encouraged not only to generate each next word correctly but also to correctly generate the original source sentence based on the translation that was generated. In this way, the model is rewarded for generating a translation that is sufficient to describe all of the content in the original source.
When translating, their system generates multiple alternatives and chooses the final translation such that two conditions are met simultaneously: the translation is predictable given the source, and the source is predictable given the translation. Ensuring this two-way coherence provides a substantial benefit in translation quality. In their experiments, translation lengths were more similar to human reference lengths, and the system was less prone to generating too much or too little content compared to a strong neural MT baseline.
A more technical summary of this paper when it was originally released was provided by Denny Britz, and the first author Zhaopeng Tu responded to those comments.
Paper: Neural Machine Translation with Reconstruction
Authors: Zhaopeng Tu, Yang Liu, Lifeng Shang, Xiaohua Liu, and Hang Li
Venue: Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) 2017
What We’re Reading: Single-Queue Decoding for Neural Machine Translation
The most popular way of finding a translation for a source sentence with a neural sequence-to-sequence model is a simple beam search. The target sentence is predicted one word at a time and after each prediction, a fixed number of possibilities (typically between 4 and 10) is retained for further exploration. This strategy can be suboptimal as these local hard decisions do not take the remainder of the translation into account and can not be reverted later on.
Here's Why Neural Machine Translation is a Huge Leap Forward
Though machine translation has been around for decades, the most you’ll read about it is the perceived proximity to the mythical “Babel Fish” --an instantaneous personal translation device-- itself ready to replace each and every human translator. The part that gets left out is machine translation's relationship with human translators. For a long time, this relationship was no more complex than post-editing badly translated text, a process most translators find to be a tiresome chore. With the advent of neural machine translation, however, machine translation is not just something that creates more tedious work for translators. It is now a partner to them, making them faster and their output more accurate.
2019 Lilt, Inc.
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Police: Street Racing May Be To Blame For Deadly Woodland Hills Car Crash
Filed Under:Car Crash, De Soto Street, Kuwaiti, Mustang, Speeding, Street Racing, Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Street racing may be to blame for a horrific car crash that killed three men and seriously injured two others in Woodland Hills, police said Sunday.
Investigators said the victims appeared to be in their 20’s and were Kuwaiti nationals.
The collision happened Saturday night when a Ford Mustang slammed into a Mercedes exiting a Chevron gas station at Ventura Boulevard and De Soto Street, Los Angeles Police Department officer James Norton said.
The Mustang, with the three men inside, then collided with a 2015 Chevy Malibu traveling the opposite direction and a parked Honda Accord.
Police confirmed speed was likely a factor. And a police source told CBS2/KCAL9’s Erica Nochlin that the Mustang was racing.
“When it caught on fire, I was like: ‘Oh my God! This is done,” one witness said. “Scary, really really scary. It could have been us.” The witness estimated the Mustang was traveling at about 85 to 90 miles per hour.
The man said he was in his car just feet away when he saw the Mustang speeding through a red light before slamming into three other cars and bursting into flames.
Police said bystanders used fire extinguishers and buckets of water to hold back the flames until firefighters arrived.
“When a whole car explodes, you can’t do anything with a little fire extinguisher,” the witness said.
“It sounded like a bomb. There was nothing left of the Mustang, nothing left of it,” another witness recalled.
Police said they have stepped up patrols on that stretch of Ventura Bouelvard and several other areas in Woodlands Hills because street racing has been a problem recently.
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Shinedown vs. Saving Abel – Cage Match
Liz Ramanand
With Mark Tremonti and his crew entering the Cage Match Hall of Fame after five straight victories, it’s time for two new bands and their singles to duke it out in the Cage Match.
Shinedown head into the matchup with their latest single ‘Unity’ off of their new album ‘Amaryllis.’ This mid-tempo track is complete with a positive message along with orchestral strings and a serious guitar solo. Shinedown are currently on tour in Europe but will head back to the States to headline the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival Tour.
Mississippi's Saving Abel take the Cage Match by storm with their brand new tune ‘Bringing Down the Giant,’ which is the title track and first single off the band's upcoming album, due out July 17 via eOne Records. The new disc will be the band’s follow up to 2010’s 'Miss America.' Saving Abel are also out touring all across the U.S.; for a full list of dates and cities, click here.
So will Shinedown fans unite or will Saving Abel be ‘Bringing Down the Giant’ that is Shinedown? Get in on the action and vote for your favorite song below!
(This Cage Match has ended, click on the button below to cast your vote for the new matchup.)
Next Cage Match: Shinedown vs. Rush
Listen to Shinedown, ‘Unity’
Listen to Saving Abel, 'Bringing Down the Giant'
Email Me When Cage Match Winners Are Announced
Enter your email address below to receive the Loudwire newsletter, which will include notification of the daily winner of the Cage Match, as well as our top stories of the day.
Rules of Cage Match:
There are no rules … except this one: If a song remains the reigning champ for five straight cage matches, it is retired to the Loudwire Cage Match Hall of Fame. With so many great songs out there, we have to give other bands a chance!
Filed Under: Saving Abel, Shinedown
Categories: Cage Match
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You are here: Home / Comunidad / “We are all Trayvon”
“We are all Trayvon”
July 15, 2013 /0 Comments/in Comunidad /by Helen Alonzo
It’s my senior year of high school and I remember how cold it was this one day at soccer practice. Playing in 30 degrees I bundled up, putting on my Knight Hawks soccer hoodie. Saturday practice ends, I get into my car and drive home, where my mom was doing laundry in the garage. I say hi and she tells me to never drive with my hood on. I tell her that I am cold and what was the big deal. She says I could pass for a boy with my long curly hair hidden by my hood. I wondered why my mom cared about me looking like a boy. She said I could appear menacing to other drivers on the road. In my ignorance of having grown up in a racially diverse community I didn’t understand the profoundness of her statement. The lessons she gave and the explanations of what she said she’d seen didn’t have examples until Trayvon Martin.
My mother said she wanted to protect me from possible harm by dispelling any negative thoughts thrown my way. See, the thing is not only would I look like a boy, but I would look like a Latino boy. The tan, dark olive complexion of my face would be the only thing other drivers see. That would be enough for other drivers or even officers to form an opinion, to perceive me as menacing, to demonize me. As a girl, she says, I am not viewed as a threat.
But I was at home, in a known neighborhood, and I am a girl. Trayvon’s situation had none of these. On that rainy day, he pulled his hood up as a form of security, but his hood became an added layer to the nasty practice of racial profiling.
George Zimmerman has been found not guilty in a case in which Trayvon was not alive to give his account of what happened. The public will never know the truth of what really happened that day without hearing both sides of the story.
Yet, one thing is clear. Race is still a dominant factor in the U.S. Individuals argue that we live in a colorblind society, yet they just have to look at this case to realize we do not. From the first news accounts of what happened that day, it was seemingly not a story of a man killing a boy but of white versus black. Communities of color are bound together by the death of Trayvon. His death is the sad but extreme result of what occurs when individuals of all races are quick to judge one another.
Demonstrations following the verdict have surfaced nationwide: Florida, Illinois, New York, Colorado, and California among others. Demonstration signs across the U.S. have the words “We Are All Trayvon” written on them. Communities of color, including mothers, fathers, and male and female youth, are speaking up because they see someone they know or see themselves in Trayvon Martin.
Below are photos and videos by Gentista Michael Reyes at a demonstration on Crenshaw Boulevard in South Los Angeles.
Pages: 1 2Tags: california, Justice, La Gente Newsmagazine, Latina, Latino, Los Angeles, politics, Protest, Racial Profiling, Trayvon Martin, We Are All Trayvon, youth of color
IDEAS Aid Undocumented Students
Fiesta Mexicana with Grupo Folklórico de UCLA
What is wrong with the police?
UCLA Community Comes Together in SAC
CicLAvía: Montando bicicleta en Los Angeles (en español)
Arise my Xicana
General strike in Brazil Support for hunger strikers at Corcoran prison
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Tricia Marwick is a lady with a plan.
The Scottish Parliament's presiding officer knows the institution like the back of her hand. And all is not, in her view, as it should be. In the New Year, she will put proposals to MSPs, providing that the chairs of Holyrood's committees should not be promoted and executed according to the whims of party whips, but should instead be selected (a) to reflect the parties' balance of representation in the chamber and (b) elected by secret ballot of the whole chamber.
The idea is to give committee chairs an independent dignity in their roles. Rather than being the preserve of party placemen and women, reliant on the favour and whim of party leaders, the hope is that direct election will stiffen MSPs' sinews, encouraging a more critical, less cravenly partisan approach to the deliberation and work of Holyrood's committees. Or as Marwick told the Herald this week:
"I believe the responsibility of conveners of the parliament should be first and foremost to the parliament. How do you enshrine that? The only way to do that is to get the whole parliament to elect the conveners so they derive their authority and mandate from the parliament itself and not through the parties. The very act of being elected by the whole parliament gives a message to the conveners and everybody else that the conveners are there primarily to act in the interests of the parliament and not their own political party."
Marwick takes her inspiration from 2010 reforms introduced at Westminster, which saw MPs casting ballots for their preferred select committee chairs, with the seat allocated according to the Additional Vote system (ironically, you might well think). The division of booty is secured by allocating chairs to particular parties, and only permitting candidates from that party to stand. In 2010, this meant that Liberal Democrats were in contention for two chairs, Labour nine, with the Tories snaffling the remaining twelve. Eight chairs were uncontested, the rest being determined by run-offs between two and six candidates (with competition fiercest for the Labour-controlled Public Accounts Committee. Ex-minister Margaret Hodge won out over Hugh Bayley in the fifth round by just six votes). No North Korean style elections these: the outcomes can be close-run things.
Marwick's proposals seem sensible and modest, but a few obvious questions suggest themselves. One: isn't there a risk that these reforms will transform an explicitly leadership-controlled appointments process into one where parties can still work their will behind the scenes? Tricia has not yet published full details of her proposals, but in Westminster, would-be candidates must be nominated by 15 MPs or 10% of their parliamentary party, whichever figure is lower, nor can MPs nominate more than one candidate for the same chair.
In a smaller, proportional chamber like Holyrood, there are far fewer votes going begging, and far fewer candidates, having stripped out ministers and their shadows from consideration. Never underestimate the power of a quiet word in the ear. You know the sort of thing: "Please don't stand, John. For the good of the party." "Johann would really appreciate it if you gave Jackie a clear run at this one." "If you nominate that berk, Willie will take his mellon-baller to your kidneys."
We might hope that our parliamentarians will put aside such calculations, and support the most able candidate for the role. But if Holyrood adopts strict threshold requirements for nominations, it seems likely that these informal mechanisms will allow party leaderships to continue to influence the choices put before parliament. Only the very naive would assume that politicians - a noteably scheming, climbing band of folk - could resist the temptation to meddle.
Two: I wonder to what extent is the partisanship of Holyrood's committees is caused by the lack of independence of their chairs? And three: to what extent is that lack of independence really attributable to the process of their appointment? MSPs are generally, of their natures, partisan creatures. Unlike the serried, gossipy, idling ranks of Westminster MPs, the party caucuses in Holyrood are pretty cosy affairs. Propotionality also seems to encourage party discipline, in government and in opposition.
Between 2007 and 2011, when the minority administration faced knife-edged votes, a stray vote here or there could prompt high drama. The SNP majority has shrunk back since 2011, no doubt focussing minds on the government benches on the unaffordable luxury of dissent. The independence referendum imposes its own overriding demands of unity. On the Labour side, ranks depleted to thirty-seven members of which fourteen serve in party leadership roles (38%), observing the line-to-take and abominating Salmond and all of his works remains a unremitting duty. There just aren't enough Greens or Liberal Democrats to form a decent internal schism.
Moreover, Holyrood still lacks any real discourse of the backbench parliamentarian, ploughing an independent-minded, dissenting furrow. I can't think of the last time, in the justice brief, when the majority on the Justice Committee sounded any meaningfully critical note concerning a flagship government policy. While the idea briefly flared into a sort of life when the committee considered the Scottish Government's Football Bill, in the event, all five of the SNP's MSPs yielded up their votes, despite the fact that their investigations into the legislation had blown a series of holes in the government's case. It'll be interesting to see what Christine Grahame and her colleagues make of the corroboration debate. Though some of the parliamentary scrutiny is woeful, it is not as if our MSPs don't have it in them.
But none of these are really reasons to be skeptical about Marwick's proposals. If anything, they all point to the importance of cultural factors. Structural changes may not be sufficient, in and of themselves, to transform the parliament's approach. But they can underscore and help foster important aspirations about how committees can and should conduct themselves - and start to challenge the excesses of unthinking partisan loyalty, whichever side of the chamber you sit on.
Labels: Christine Grahame , Corroboration , Greens , Holyrood Parliament , Justice Committee , Labour , Lib Dems , Presiding Officer , SNP , Tories , Tricia Marwick , Westminster
I'm not one of those people with a very keen sense of time. Left to my own devices, I trauchle along day by day. But as the shutters come down on 2013, I thought it might be interesting to peer back through the last twelve months' back catalogue of writing on the blog, and revisit the most popular articles of the year.
Here as elsewhere, the independence referendum debate has predominated. You don't need to be the Brahan Seer to see that 2014 is doomed to be cut from the same cloth. But it is heartening to see that the constitutional debate hasn't entirely muscled out every other tale, issue and question. Without further ado, to the rankings.
There's a distinctly partisan flavour to the top two entrants on our leaderboard. In at number one, a post from September, taking aim at the metropolitan pundits, seemingly desparate to regard themselves as the tragic victims of the Yes campaign's pernicious brand of ugly, ethnic nationalism. Lost and confused? Me too.
1. Victim Fantasies.
Coming in second place, another vinegary blog from November, laying into Scottish Labour's epistemic closure and grim psychology of political entitlement.
2. Scottish Labour: Learned Nothing, Forgiven Nothing.
Another autumnal piece takes the bronze. At the middle of November, the tealeaves were disturbed by the scandal of an SNP minister, questioning the impartiality of an academic. For Better Together, with represented an outrage and a scandal. Drawing on my own experiences on Newsnicht last year, I take a potshot or two at the humbug of their selective interest in academic freedom.
3. A Stooge Writes.
In fourth, a more controversial entry, perhaps, from April. The SNP has put skepticism about the likelihood of further devolution after a No vote at the heart of its pro-independence message. Vote Yes, or get nowt. But is all this really convincing? Is there a risk of Nationalists falling prey to our own myths - myths we can't reasonably expect the rest of the country to share?
4. The SNP: Choking on Tomorrow's Jam?
Another Labour-bashing blog ranks fifth (are you detecting a theme here)? In Scottish politics, perhaps the most significant development of 2013 was Johann's junking of her critique of the consequences universalism during the Dunfermline campaign. But how well did such a critique sit beside Ed's headline commitment to freeze energy prices? How will shifting the cost of freezing the Duke of Buccleuch's heating bills onto general taxation help frozen grannies? I took a critical look.
5. Ed's energy freeze: something for nothing?
At number 6, we are back on the devolutionary theme, this time, with the Tories. If the Better Together parties are to persuade the public that more devolution is a foregone conclusion with a No vote, their proposals will have to be credible and achieable. For Ruth Davidson, assisted by a single Tory MP at Westminster, this means persuading her English and Welsh colleagues to support the devolution of more powers. But how well does this sit beside the Scottish Tory leader's efforts to emphasise her distinctiveness?
6. Ruth's Pushmi-Pullyu routine
I'm pleased that at least one more legally-inflected article made the top ten. This one is a bally scandal. In 2013, the Court of Criminal Appeal confirmed that it remains the law of Scotland, that raping your partner, wife or girlfriend is less blameworthy than sexually assaulting a stranger, and should attract a softer sentence. Regrettably, this outrageous proposition was only covered in my blog - and in a piece in the Scotsman.
7. Sexual History Mitigates Rape: It does in Scotland
The constitution took over at number 8. The SNP leadership's monarchism is a source of a certain vexation to republican elements of the Yes campaign. In this piece, I commend hard-headed republican scheming over pointless grousing. If we carry the referendum in 2014, the new constitution represents a marvellous opportunity to adopt a republican constitution - albeit a crowned one. Republicanism ought to be about more than what we call our head of state.
8. Scotland: A Crowned Republic
Bugger all of these Nordic comparisons: shouldn't Scottish nationalists be talking about Ireland more? And but for the odd BBC4 drama, how many folk really know or understand Sweden or Denmark? Aren't our close comrades over in Eire a far more meaningful parallel to draw? The ninth blog in our series makes the case.
9. Not Scandinavia, but Ireland
And sneaking in last, in tenth place, is perhaps the year's most personal post. While I've supported the equal marriage campaign from the get-go, a couple of experiences this summer emotionally radicalised me for the cause. It was one of the more emotionally-involved pieces of writing here over the year, but for me, represented one of 2013's most interested changes of heart, if not changes of mind.
10. Equal Marriage and the Passionate Mode of Politics
And that's us for 2013! It's been an eventful one. Let's hope 2014 keeps to the Chinese curse, and that we continue to live in interesting times.
Labels: Ed Miliband , Gay marriage , Ireland , Johann Lamont , Labour , Monarchy , Rape , Republicanism , Ruth Davidson , Scandinavia , Tories
"What's to-day, my fine fellow?"
Who's that knocking on the window,
Who's that standing at the door,
What are all those presents
Laying on the kitchen floor?
Who is the smiling stranger
With hair as white as gin,
What is he doing with the children
And who could have let him in?
Why has he rubies on his fingers,
A cold, cold crown on his head,
Why, when he caws his carol,
Does the salty snow run red?
Why does he ferry my fireside
As a spider on a thread,
His fingers made of fuses
And his tongue of gingerbread?
Why does the world before him
Melt in a million suns,
Why do his yellow, yearning eyes
Burn like saffron buns?
Watch where he comes walking
Out of the Christmas flame,
Dancing, double-talking:
Herod is his name.
Weird, huh? I don't know how many mugs of mulled wine Charles Causley had scooped when he composed Innocents Song, blending Santa with King Herod's notorious Massacre of the Innocents from the New Testament. But there it is. A winter's tale, with just a hint of darkness against the twinkling candlelight.
A little horror to leaven the jollity is traditional around Christmas. Dickens, inevitably, but also the atmospheric and otherworldly short stories M R James. This year, Mark Gatiss has adapted his Tractate Middoth for the BBC. Youtube yields up other unsettling delights from the back-catalogue.
Michael Hordern's splendidly detailed, greedy, mumbling professor in Whistle and I'll Come to You (1968) almost makes up for his appalling, emotionally-empty performance as Prospero in the BBC Shakespeare version of the Tempest. And although the recording quality is a bit iffy, Number 13, masterfully but simply narrated by Christopher Lee, is fine unsettling stuff for the hour of the wolf, dram trembling in hand.
I hope it has been a good year, and my thanks to all the folk who've taken time to lend their lugs to our podcasts and to read this blog over the past twelve months. I hope both have been diverting. As the Stygian gloom of a December afternoon draws in, all that remains is to wish you all, all of my readers, a very Merry Christmas tomorrow.
May Santa fill up all your coal scuttles to the brim.
Labels: Charles Causley , Charles Dickens , Christmas , Christopher Lee , M R James , Mark Gatiss , Michael Hordern , Poetics , Tempest , William Shakespeare
What does "sovereignty" of the people of Scotland mean?
David Torrance has a column in this morning's Herald, "Recognition of sovereignty need not threaten UK state." In it, David takes aim at what he perceives to be the SNP's absolutist and old-fashioned thinking about that slippery term, "sovereignty", arguing:
"In practice, however, the notion of "absolute" Westminster sovereignty has been on the wane since 1973, when not only did the UK join the European Economic Community (thus ceding sovereignty to a wider union) but also sanctioned a "border poll" in Northern Ireland. In a precursor of next year's independence referendum, the latter invited the people of the six counties to choose their constitutional future (in or out of the UK) via a referendum."
"Thus Westminster conceded that the province was sovereign, as in fact it had been since opting out of the Irish Free State some 50 years before. Similarly, the devolution referendums of 1979 and 1997 acknowledged sovereignty in Scotland and Wales. Indeed, throughout the 20th century Parliamentary sovereignty was ceded repeatedly. The tiny Sultanate of Brunei only became independent from the UK in 1984, while this year David Cameron has emphasised the sovereignty of Crown subjects in the Falklands and Gibraltar."
Certainly, different political claims were advanced and recognised in these accessions and referendums - but why should we conceptualise all of them as exercises in recognising sovereignties? Legally, much of this is problematic. But I'm conscious that law need not - and should not - have the last word on our political thinking. But even without privileging a legal analysis, I'm not convinced that Torrance's expansive approach to defining sovereignty is terrifically helpful.
Firstly, it is useful to bear in mind that the concept of sovereignty has multiple traditional senses and meanings. We might be talking about the sovereignty of a state recognised by international law. If you are not a state, you cannot be sovereign in this sense. Alternatively, we might want to focus more narrowly on recent British constitutional traditions, in which parliament is sovereign. Here, sovereignty relates to the idea that parliament may make or unmake any law, and its determinations about what the law ought to be generally cannot be challenged in court, as the validity of American statutes may be constitutionally challenged before their Supreme Court.
Here, the sovereignty of parliament primarily regulates the relationship between parliament and the executive and judiciary, and between one parliament and its successors. In Torrance's third sense, we have the "Scottish constitutional tradition" of popular sovereignty, echoed by the SNP and others. Despite my Nationalist sympathies, I find much of this is pretty dubious intellectual history, tracing an questionable line from a wilful misunderstanding the oligarchy defended by Declaration of Arbroath, through misconstructions of the poisonous anti-Catholicism of the Claim of Right of centuries later - to the anti-Westminsterism of the Scottish constitutional tradition as promoted in many Nationalist circles today. I'll vigorously defend the political principle of popular sovereignty, but lord deliver us from the ridiculous fantasy of Scotia's medieval democrats.
The 1997 devolution referendums did not recognise any sovereignty of the Welsh or Scottish people in any legal sense, nor did joining the EU "cede" - in the sense of giving up, or alienating - parliament's sovereignty either. Powers devolved are powers retained. De facto it might be politically difficult for Westminster to reverse legislation adopted by Holyrood, or to abolish it outright, but de jure, the competence exists and the courts would enforce it. The same goes for the law of the European Union, which enjoys supremacy over domestic law - but for the purposes of a UK constitutional analysis, only because Parliament itself has assented to be bound by it.
In his lectures at the University of Edinburgh in the early 2000s, Professor Colin Munro gave us the traditional, if rather starchily Victorian view of Albert Venn Dicey: the Crown in Parliament is sovereign. End of. In contrast with his monolithic structure, David sees a flourishing field of different (and competing?) sovereignties. European institutions take decisions on the scope of our human rights, and shape our ability to move, trade, work and study freely within its bounds. And David is right. Or at least, half right.
In practice, parliament mostly accepts these decisions and submits to these determinations. Holyrood follows its own path, the people decide on devolution through a legislatively-summoned referendum, and will decide on independence to boot. Who the hell is really sovereign here anyway? As Lord Hope observed in the AXA judgment of the UK Supreme Court, Holyrood is a creature of statute and not a sovereign body. Had the independence referendum preceded without the section 30 order, we might all have had cause to understand the consequences of that fact more clearly. Sovereignty must be about more than having an influence on the political scene, or promulgating laws. The authority to get your way in the last instance matters.
But surely these realities matters more than the nice, pristine constitutional theory-building? I'd sympathise with that, somewhat. The concept of parliamentary sovereignty is a rotten guide to how the British democratic system functions. But that doesn't mean that generalising the concept of sovereignty is the best way to knit together a better understanding.
There is a significant risk of sogginess about Torrance's approach. If we're defining sovereignty as any decision taken by bodies discharging public function which are perceived as legitimate, and are complied with - and at its loosest, David seems to be suggesting something along those lines - where's the limit?
For example, the scale of the UK administrative state has developed significantly since the beginning of the 1900s. Ministers command executive agencies and officers, not entirely freely, but with broad statutory grants of powers by parliament. Theoretically, parliament remains sovereign and the font of all legitimacy - but de facto, the executive has a powerful defining role. If we're being hard-headed realists, we'd note that ministers and their functionaries often get their way, making regulations, establishing the detail of a whole gamut of entitlement schemes. Parliament may be sovereign, but it is largely left to them. Should we see the administrative state as an alternative "sovereignty" too?
The forces of organised capital have considerable impact on our law-making and policy-setting. Thanks to privatisation and the outsourcing of delivering public functions, the distinction between public and private bodies is increasingly problematic. Should we see boardrooms and businessmen as representing another alternative "sovereignty"? At its loosest, David seems to be referring to all sorts of legitimated exercises of power by "sovereignty". I can't see what is gained - and much is lost - by generalising our conception of sovereignty in the manner he proposes.
I'd imagine David would want to draw a categorical distinction between these examples and the examples he gives. But what's the real difference? Territory? Institutional structures? Ghostly ideas of nationality or ethnicity or somesuch? None of these seem - to me - particularly persuasive bases to make such distinctions, once you've plucked out sovereignty's distinctive characteristics, as traditionally understood. An absolute monarch who takes good advice, and changes her mind, keeps her throne. If she is deceived by influential underlings, she also remains in place. The quality of the advice she receives is important for the courtier or the calculating diplomat, but it does not remove her crown; sovereignty is better conceived as a thing apart from the eddies and tides which govern its exercise.
I'm also a mite perplexed by the implication that the creation-myth of parliamentary sovereignty should be seen as an outmoded and unrealistic abstraction - worthy enough stuff to inflict on undergraduates in an arid constitutional law seminar - but of peripheral interest for the practical man of the political world. If anything, the last three years has seen a remarkable upswing in the rhetoric of the "erosion of parliamentary sovereignty". The notion is consistently invoked to criticise the legitimacy of any and every inconvenient ruling emanating from the European Court of Human Rights. Taking them on their own terms, many of the Tories who've manacled Cameron to an EU referendum would offer similar explanations for their attempt to "repatriate" relinquished powers to Westminster.
Sovereignty's late flourishing is one of the primary reasons for my skepticism about the possibility of further devolution after a No vote. Britian may not be a unitary state, but the political imaginations of UK politicians and media are ever-more myopic, uninterested in finding ways to integrate our increasingly politically disunited kingdom.
Our zombie broadcasters continue to ignore devolution. We hear incessantly about "the NHS", "the" education system. Recognising even this little complexity - seemingly impossible. Whatever the realities of devolution and distributed power, if a sovereign parliament sees itself and is seen by its main commentators as the only legitimate game in town - woe for the federalist, trying to unearth a new constitutional politics for the United Kingdom.
You may well wish things were otherwise, but you might as well plant your seed in the desert.
Labels: A V Dicey , Council of Europe , David Cameron , David Torrance , Devolution , EU , Herald , Holyrood Parliament , House of Commons , Sovereignty , Tories , United States , US Supreme Court , Westminster
No #indyref votes for prisoners, Court of Session holds
A snowball's chance in hell. That was my assessment of the chances of prisoners persuading any Scottish court that they were entitled to vote in the independence referendum. Or more precisely, that to exclude them wholesale from the franchise, as the Scottish Government and Parliament determined to do, was unlawful.
But to court three prisoners went, seeking judicial review of the legislation. This morning in the Court of Session, Lord Glennie handed down his judgment in the case. As predicted, for all the ingenuity of their counsel, the Addiewell Three didn't win out.
Counsel for the prisoners argued that the legislation was objectionable on three grounds: ECHR rights, fundamental common law rights, and EU law. Under the Scotland Act, Holyrood and Scottish Ministers are explicitly bound over to observe both European legal regimes. Any Scottish legislation which clashes with fundamental rights or Union law is no law at all: a powerful tool in the litigant's pocket.
Firstly, citing ECHR rights, Aidan O'Neill argued that the legislation violated Article 10 (freedom of expression) and Article 3 of the first Protocol to the Convention, which provides that:
"The High Contracting Parties undertake to hold free elections at reasonable intervals by secret ballot, under conditions which will ensure the free expression of the people in the choice of the legislature."
In the now-notorious Hirst case, the Strasbourg court cited this provision to hold that the UK's blanket exclusion of all prisoners from the franchise (save for untried folk, detained on remand) violated the Convention. As I suggested they might a few months ago, the prisoners argued that there was really no principled reason why we should distinguish between elections to the legislature and referendums. And such an important referendum, too, determining the fate of the nation. As Lord Glennie notes:
"The difficulty for the petitioner, however, is that it has been held consistently both by the Commission and by the European Court of Human Rights that A3P1 applies to voting in elections for the legislature and has no application to voting in a referendum or, for that matter, in an election to elect a president or head of state. There is a long line of cases all to this effect."
How to wriggle off this hook? Here, Aidan O'Neill tried to persude the court strike out more ambitiously, following a scattering of ambiguous signs from the Strasbourg jurisprudence that the European Court might reverse the consistent course of its case-law, pulling referendums within the compass of Article 3 of Protocol 1. This was a pretty tenuous line of argument at best, and Lord Glennie wasn't buying it. The freedom of expression argument proved equally shoogly. ECHR snowball, duly melted.
Secondly, the prisoners citing "fundamental" or "constitutional" rights, arguing that the right to vote is now part of the Common law. Pulling in a range of judicial decisions from the rest of the democratic world, focussing on Canadian and South African cases, the prisoners cited the resounding language of Justice Albie Sachs to the effect that the universality of the franchise must be a cardinal principle of democratic governance:
"Universal adult suffrage on a common voters roll is one of the foundational values of our entire constitutional order. The achievement of the franchise has historically been important both for the acquisition of the rights of full and ineffective citizenship by all South Africans regardless of race, and for the accomplishment of an all-embracing nationhood. The universality of the franchise is important not only for nationhood and democracy. The vote of each and every citizen is a badge of dignity and of personhood.
Quite literally, it says that everybody counts. In a country of great disparities of wealth and power it declares that whoever we are, whether rich or poor, exalted or disgraced, we all belong to the same democratic South African nation; that our destinies are intertwined in a single interactive polity. Rights may not be limited without justification and legislation dealing with the franchise must be interpreted in favour of enfranchisement rather than disenfranchisement."
In a somewhat densely-reasoned series of paragraphs, Lord Glennie held that "though I accept the existence of a fundamental or constitutional right to vote in general terms, I have come to the conclusion that that right does not extend to voting in a referendum." So no joy for the petitioners under the common law either.
Lastly, Aidan O'Neill squeezed in an EU law challenge. And it'll be familiar to students of the independence debate. Expect the media to may much hay with it. Lord Glennie summarised the applicants' argument on this score:
[84] The petitioners here contend that EU law is engaged because the outcome of the Independence Referendum will affect Scotland's membership of the EU and the status of Scottish nationals as citizens of the EU. The Referendum is therefore not simply a domestic matter. It affects the EU rights of Scottish nationals entitled to vote in the Referendum in two ways: first, because an independent Scotland would not, for a while at least, be a member of the EU, and therefore individuals resident in Scotland would not have access to EU rights for the period when Scotland was not a member state; and secondly, because Scottish citizens, not being citizens of a member state, for a while at least, would for that period cease to be EU citizens.
The points are separate but obviously closely related. The first of those points, namely that Scotland would cease for a while at least to be a member state of the European Union is predicated on the proposition that Scotland as an independent state would have to apply for membership from outside the EU, and unless and until she became a member she would remain outside the EU. The second point is based on an interpretation of article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ("TFEU"). That article establishes citizenship of the Union and provides that "every person holding the nationality of a Member State shall be a citizen of the Union".
It goes on to say that citizenship of the Union is additional to and does not replace national citizenship. The argument is that upon the Scotland attaining independence and becoming an independent state outside the EU and applying to get in, Scots who had previously been nationals of the United Kingdom but had become Scottish nationals would no longer be nationals of a Member State and, as a result, would lose their EU citizenship. The argument assumes that those becoming Scottish nationals would be required to give up their United Kingdom nationality."
Describing the complex issues of fact and law involved in Scotland's relationship with the EU after a Yes vote, Lord Glennie observed that:
"It is apparent from the Crawford and Boyle Opinion that in legal terms there is no simple answer, either in law or in fact. They correctly describe the legal situation as sui generis, pointing out that the various EU Treaties do not specifically cover the point. But the difficulty goes further than that. As is apparent from the terms of their Opinion, and as is perhaps obvious to anyone with even a passing acquaintance with the arguments for and against, the decision on continued membership will not ultimately be decided solely as a legal question but will, to a greater or lesser extent, involve questions of hard politics.
The court is not in a position to know fully what political considerations will be brought to bear on the issue, and with what leverage. Accordingly, to ask the court to decide the question whether upon achieving independence Scotland would cease for a time to be a member of the EU, with consequences for its nationals in terms of their citizenship of the EU, would be to ask the court to predict the outcome of robust and complex negotiations. That is a question largely of fact. It is not a task which the court is equipped."
With reference to the EU authorities, rejecting the challenge, the Court held that:
"... the Scottish Parliament is not exercising competence in the sphere of nationality. It is not purporting to make a decision about EU membership or EU citizenship. The process which it is putting in place by the independence referendum is not a process which will have any direct impact on the question of EU membership or EU citizenship. The point may arise in the future where decisions are taken which might affect those questions. But that time has not yet come."
So the third limb of the prisoners' case failed too. A comprehensive judgment from Lord Glennie, if not one that will satisfy the three residents of HMP Addiewell, who will remain bystanders as their nation collectively determines its constitutional future. Politically, this is an outcome to be lamented. Legally, it is the right decision. But one, I fancy, which may have a good chance of being appealled to the Court of Session's Inner House for further analysis. A setback, certainly, but the game's no bogey - yet.
Labels: Aidan O'Neill QC , Albie Sachs , Canada , Court of Session , EU , European Convention on Human Rights , HMP Addiewell , Indyref , Lord Glennie , Prisoner votes , South Africa
"Bringing Scotland into line with England..."
Making many of the Westminster government's mistakes, but more slowly. It is hardly a spirit-kindling motto for devolution. "Bringing Scotland into line with England" represents one of the most curious tendencies of this SNP government.
The argument was deployed in 2011 to introduce the offence of incitement to religious hatred north of the border, despite the fact that the party had, in my view rightly, opposed an identical measure, introduced by Tony Blair's government in 2006. England, understandably, is the main comparator for corroboration reform, which will eliminate one of the most distinctive features of Scots criminal procedure. The Scottish Ministers are also taking Westminster's lead when it comes to tribunal reform.
Politically, the fate of tribunals may not stiffen the sinews, or summon up the blood, but they're important. With the growth of the administrative state after the Second War, tribunals sprung up around the executive like mushrooms, attached to a whole gamut of statutory schemes. The minority - like the Employment tribunal - consider party to party cases, often with legal representation, and closely resemble our civil courts.
But most concern disputes between citizens and the state. Unhappy with how the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has handled your claim? You can take it up with the review tribunal. In dispute about tax assessed as owed? There's a tribunal for that too. Disagreements about social security and child support entitlements, immigration decisions, detentions under the Mental Health Act - tribunals offer a mechanism independently to review a vast swathe of executive decision-making.
In their aspirations at least, most tribunals aim to cultivate greater informality and less expense than ordinary courts for their users. You needn't instruct counsel: people taking cases before them generally need not be legally represented. For many, no fees are levied. The panels, if not inquisitorial in their approach towards resolving the dispute, adopt a more investigative posture towards it than the classic understanding of a judge in adversarial systems, as a passive arbiter between the parties.
They also break with ordinary courts by putting experts, not in the witness box before a legally-trained judge, but on the decision-making panel itself. The Mental Health Review Tribunal, for example, includes personnel from medical backgrounds, as well as lawyers. The thinking is that, tribunals will achieve a measure of specialisation in their respective fields, constantly exposed to the workings of the executive departments they review, rather than our generalist judges serving in the civil courts, chancing across these issues once in a blue moon in judicial review.
That's the theory, anyway. The empirical evidence from tribunals offers a considerably more ambivalent picture. Despite the rhetoric of accessibility, many unrepresented applicants understandably approach their tribunal hearing with apprehension. It isn't obvious that a court would be markedly less stressful. Considerable legal formalism and difficulty still marks the decision-making process too. Kicking lawyers and adversarial legalism out of the system is not without its attractions. But the legal norms being applied by these tribunals can be complicated, and the lack of representation offers only a veneer, an illusion of informality, while many legally unturored applicants still struggle to identify the relevant issues of fact and law around which their case really turns.
However patchily, however unsuccessfully they realise these aspirations, tribunals shouldn't be thought of as the civil courts' anaemic, callow kid brother. They promote laudable aims, of increasing the celerity and the accessibility of justice in a world where access to legal remedies is becoming more and more like the Ritz Hotel of Victorian London: open to the wealthy and the rich alike, but you don't see many paupers in the Deluxe King suite. Tribunals emerged, albeit on a fragmented basis, as a response to the problems and limitations of courts. It's for that reason that recent reforms, and the threat they might represent to tribunals' fragile yet distinctive character, are rightly concerning.
Acting on the basis of the Leggatt Report, in 2007 the UK government rationalised the whole tribunal system in England and Wales (and the reserved tribunals in Scotland), condensing the various bodies into a neat two-stage system. The First Tier tribunal would take all first-instance decisions, with the possibility of review by the Upper Tribunal on point of law. Nothing wrong with that. But significantly, the legislation also judicialised these executive bodies, providing for a judicial independent appointment processes to ensure their independence from the departments they review, rechristening the personnel serving on these tribunals "judges".
This advancing judicial logic was reflected in the 2010 decision of the coalition to merge the now independent tribunal service with Her Majesty's Court Service, responsible for the administration of the ordinary courts in England and Wales. The coalition followed the outgoing Labour government, taking this decision was taken after a paper-thin consultation with little research or recognition of the distinctive cultures dividing tribunals from courts.
The usual nostrums about efficiency and cost-savings were trotted out by Ministers, but the development prompts obvious concerns for the autonomous administrative justice values which tribunals strive to pursue. As Professor Michael Adler observes, "this, at the very least, puts a very big question mark over the prospects for tribunal justice in the UK", continuing:
"In his response to consultation, Richard Thomas, Chair of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, expressed concern that the merger would raise significant risks for tribunal users if it led to a ‘one size fits all’ approach that took insufficient account of differences in the ways in which citizen vs. state disputes are handled in tribunals and party vs. party disputes are handled in courts. 49 There is, of course, some overlap between courts and tribunals. Some courts, particularly lower-tier courts dealing with small claims, housing disputes and family matters, have adopted the active , interventionist and enabling procedures that are associated with tribunals and, especially where the parties are not represented, adopt inquisitorial rather than adversarial procedures.
At the same time, some tribunals, particularly when the parties are represented, are rather formal, adopt a ‘hands-off approach’ and favour adversarial rather than inquisitorial procedures. Some people argue that it doesn’t matter what the forum is called, i.e. whether it is called a ‘court’ or a ‘tribunal’, that what matters is the appropriateness of the procedures that are adopted and that a unified Courts and Tribunals Service should be in a good position to determine the appropriate procedure for dealing with different types of disputes.
However, there are real differences in culture between courts and tribunals and there is little doubt about who the senior partner in this merger is. There is thus a real danger that a ‘court culture’ will prevail in the unified Courts and Tribunals Service and that the distinctive approach to dispute resolution that has been associated with tribunals, and championed by its supporters, will be put at risk."
Now, at the instigation of Scottish Ministers, Holyrood is plodding after Westminster, essentially copying this half-rationalised model and applying them to the devolved tribunals, shifting them to the judicial branch of the state, under the ultimate authority of the Lord President and subject to administration by the Scottish Court Service.
While the streamlining of these disparate Scottish tribunals into a unitary Upper and First instance structure with consistent appeal mechanisms seems sensible, the judicialising drift in administrative justice policy is much more problematic. As Richard Henderson argues in a recent piece for the Guardian on the proposed reform, "the real risk is that the distinct characteristics of tribunals will fade after the merger, gradually to be succeeded by something resembling the courts as we know them."
Tribunals may not ignite fires in many political bellies, but their characteristics and aspirations are of the utmost political importance, mediating between citizens and the state, offering a distinctive account of the sort of justice which ought to be available to the citizen. The argument for "bringing Scotland into line with England" just isn't good enough.
Labels: Con-Dem Government , Labour , Scottish Court Service , Scottish Government , SNP , Tribunals , Tribunals (Scotland) Bill
Muddle-guddle...
Holyrood is getting itself in a muddle. This week, the Justice Committee heard from a bench of eminent criminal lawyers and academics. The topic, as ever these days, was the proposed abolition of corroboration. I've inveighed before against the bewildering idea that that parliamentarians aren't really abolishing the corroboration rule, by endorsing legislation with a section headed "abolition of the corroboration rule".
This chimerical notion raised one of its three heads again in the Justice Committee Session this week, emanating from SNP MSPs Christian Allard and Sandra White. Sandra observed - yet again - that:
"We have established that the bill is not about abolishing corroboration per se, but is about removing the mandatory requirement for corroboration."
Christian, having quoted from the evidence before the Committee, concluded:
"...corroboration will not be removed, but they [the Polis] are happy to have the requirement for corroboration to be removed and for the situation to be as it is in England. Corroboration will still be used."
Last week, I tried to sketch the perils of this kind of thinking. The corroboration rule MSPs are considering abolishing means only the essential facts of the case must be evidenced by two independence sources - (1) that a crime known to the law of Scotland was committed, and (2) that it was the accused who committed that crime. Kenny's proposals to abolish corroboration are clearly going to change that.
Take this example. Say, under the status quo, an accused person confirms that consensual sex took place between himself and the complainer. She alleges the absence of consent. The complainer was not otherwise injured and there is no evidence of subsequent distress, observed by a third party, capable of corroborating her lack of consent. Today, this case would founder for want of corroboration of the essential fact of the absence of consent on her part, although the crucial fact that intercourse took place is corroborated by the evidence of the complainer and the accused.
We might describe this as a partially-corroborated case, or to use the language of the Justice Committee, one in which there is some "supporting evidence" in addition to the complainer's allegations for at least part of the offence alleged. Critically, however, it is not a fully corroborated case. If and when this Bill passes into law, and the corroboration rule vanishes, I wouldn't be at all surprised to discover cases of this character reaching the High Court docket, where the complainer is assessed to be credible and reliable by prosecutors. But the availability of evidence supporting some but not all of the essential facts does not equal corroboration. It isn't corroboration by another name, as Allard and White seem to understand it and parliamentarians are getting themselves in a guddle, if they can't distinguish the two.
If this legislation is to extend access to justice for complainers at all, as Kenny has said time and again, the Crown are obviously going to have to apply something other than - something weaker than - the current corroboration rule. That much should be self-evident. If all Holyrood thinks it is doing is transforming a mandatory rule of evidence into the same rule, enshrined only in prosecutorial practice, nobody's access to court will be extended one jot. The 3,000 rape and domestic violence cases Sandra White is concerned about will fall at the same hurdle. Either you abolish corroboration de facto and de jure and you open the court doors to those cases - or you don't abolish corroboration de facto and the way remains shut. It's an incoherent position to imagine otherwise.
There's another head to this chimera: the failure to distinguish properly between (a) the law on the books and (b) guidelines from the Lord Advocate on how prosecutors will decide which cases to take in practice. Prosecution policy isn't unimportant, but it can't and shouldn't be the be-all-and-end-all for legislators scrutinising this Bill. Why not? It seems that only an extreme example will serve to batter home the point, so here's one.
A democratic political community tires of the delays and compromises inherent in democratic processes. They find their most virtuous, kindly, and wise citizen, and by a vote of all of their peers, invest that citizen with supreme powers, suspending legislative assemblies. The whim of the sovereign is to be the highest law. That sovereign promises to use their dread powers soberly, sending the dogs of the prosecution racing after only malefactors, only bad folk who really deserve it, not the innocent, or those who occasionally criticise one of his initiatives. One or two folk have qualms about all this - but are cried down by the multitude. He is a good man. He will use these powers wisely.
But the old adage applies, and their sovereign's virtue withers on his throne. Accustomed to the exercise of absolute power, he begins persecuting citizens, adopting illiberal policies and arbitrary practices. His promises of good conduct - ash. But legally, the deed is done. By granting him unconditional, absolute power, his erstwhile comrades could rely only on his current promise of future benevolence. Only when he proved less than kindly, did the incautious character of their initial grant of power fully reveal itself.
This is becoming a parliamentary bad habit: trust prosecutors, trust police. Endorse criminal laws drafted in remarkable breadth which you'd baulk to see enforced, soothed by the idea that constables and procurators will only apply them to the really suspicious or mischievous or malignant characters caught by it, whoever they are. We have to keep (a) the law and (b) aspirations about practice distinct in our heads.
Now, by no means is the Lord Advocate a parallel tyrant, but such practice guidelines as he may adopt are evanescent, and may be ripped up tout suite. Perhaps his successor in office will take a wider view, less concerned about the perils of single-witness convictions, and give prosecutors the go-ahead with fewer and fewer of the essential facts of the charge being corroborated. Such an outcome is not unthinkable. Parliament will get no say if the Lord Advocate's policy changes, no say if the assurances they have been given over the course of this Bill prove empty.
In such circumstances, we get down to the bedrock question - the question really before our legislators: will it be legal for a court to convict someone on a criminal charge, exclusively on the evidence of one witness, and without any external evidence supporting their claims? The short answer is yes: this law will make that possible. If the Bill is to be defended, that proposition is to be defended. I think it can be defended. But there's no point using fast and loose misunderstandings of corroboration to pretend otherwise.
Labels: Christian Allard , Corroboration , Crown Office , High Court of Justiciary , Holyrood Parliament , Justice Committee , Lord Advocate , Procurator Fiscal Service , Sandra White
Money Grubbing Bastards Vol. II
Blessed sanity! "Holyrood set to cut pay link after planned 11% rise for MPs" reports the Herald this morning, and a damn good thing too.
As I set out here back in July, when these pay proposals first emerged from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, there's no reason whatever why Holyrood should follow suit, adding flipping great wadges of cash to MSPs' already substantial piles.
While I welcome the statement of principle, Robbie Dinwoodie's Herald piece contains this curious passage.
"It is understood Holyrood's cross-party housekeeping committee, the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB), is looking at how to break the link laid down in the Scotland Act 1998. It set the salary of an MSP, currently £58,097, at 87.5% of that of an MP. It is not clear if Holyrood would have to change the act to break this link or if it could be achieved by a legislative consent motion at Westminster."
"A Scottish Parliament spokeswoman said: "It would be wrong to assume any pay rise will automatically apply at Holyrood. The SPCB is aware of the IPSA consultation and has considered the most appropriate arrangements for determining MSPs' pay. The SPCB will be announcing its proposals shortly."
Reading this, you'd get the impression that cutting the link between MSPs' and MPs' salaries is liable to be technically tricky, perhaps requiring Westminster legislation to effect. But this is nonsense, and Dinwoodie - or whoever he is taking his cues from - has seriously garbled his legals here. A quick look at the parliamentary record, or the 1998 Act itself, or recent events around the Bill Walker case, makes it absolutely clear that (a) it is easy for Holyrood to diverge from Westminster's salary schemes (b) that no fancy legal measures are required and (c) that almost all of Dinwoodie's legal analysis is not just wrong, but obviously wrong.
Let's clear away the fog. Firstly, Holyrood passes legislative consent motions when Westminster legislates in devolved areas. It can never be the other way around, since Holyrood can't legislate about reserved matters. Westminster recognises no such thing as a legislative consent motion.
Secondly, Holyrood can't change the Scotland Act on its own motion. If further devolution is required to enforce a more moderate pay scale for legislators, Westminster would have to adopt subordinate legislation through an Orders in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act, as we observed in the referendum debate - not a legislative consent motion as the Herald reports. But if changing MSPs' rates of pay relied on amending Holyrood's founding statute, Schedule 4 makes it is crystal clear that this would be outwith Holyrood's current powers.
But is it? I think not. If you undertake a cursory examination of the Scotland Act 1998, you'll find no reference to any 87.5% rule governing MSPs' pay whatever. None of this is buried deep in the legal prose. It's all nicely set out under the heading "Remuneration of Members of Parliament and the Executive".
The basic points: it is for the Scottish Parliament to determine the salaries of its members. Such provision may be made (a) by an Act of parliament or (b) by a motion conferring functions on its Corporate Body. If we delve back into Holyrood's early history, we'd discover that MSPs took the latter, more flexible course and that it was the Corporate Body, not Westminster, who adopted the policy of pegging MSPs' wages to 87.5% of that paid to their brethren serving in the London parliament.
No queer legal measures are indicated or necessary to detach that peg. The Corporate Body may do so on its own authority, though I imagine they might choose to lay any changes before MSPs in a motion to be validated.
We had a recent - very visible - example of this authority at work in the Bill Walker case. On this legal basis, Tricia Marwick was able speedily to act to change the salary scheme to cut the reluctant parliamentarian's wages by 90% during any such time as he would spend in the clink. That wouldn't have been possible, if complex constitutional tinkering was necessary.
Contra Dinwoodie, there are no legal impediments or complexities around severing the salary link. We should be able to expect similar decisiveness from Holyrood, in rejecting these disgusting and impolitic proposals.
Posted by Lallands Peat Worrier at 11:26 am 10 comments
Labels: Bill Walker , Herald , Holyrood Parliament , Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority , Robbie Dinwoodie , Scotland Act 1998 , Scottish Parliament Corporate Body , Tricia Marwick , Westminster
It's a No from me, Darling...
Tory money, Labour activists: that was the deal.
Better Together's founding compact had a certain sense to it. The coalition government simply lacks the clout to carry Scotland alone. Association with the Conservatives has seen a wide-spread cull in Liberal support and representation across the country. You can install Alistair Carmichael or Michael Moore as Secretary of State for Scotland, to avoid the embarrassment of exposing the timorous David Mundell to the public consciousness. But the political charms of neither the Orkney and Shetland MP, nor the lugubrious borderer, neatly transfer into the populous red girdle about Scotland's middle.
Across great swathes of the country, but for Scottish Labour, the Better Together party political coalition enjoys only meagre penetration. They're going to have to invest their hopes in the organisation which brought us such favourites as the 2011 Holyrood election campaign. It is an unenviable position. But who to lash to the front of this jury-rigged ship? Gordo Broon doesn't seem keen. Alistair Darling, shop-soiled perhaps, and not very fruity, proved their best bet.
I've always been skeptical about the extent to which the ordinary punter, even the Labour sympathetic punter, holds Darling in a warm place in their hearts. The Scottish press rate him, so the soft soap is in the pat to cover his various interventions. But it worth remembering that during his stint in ministerial office, Darling topped the league as the Most Boring Westminster politician for two years on the trot.
Reassurance, sobriety, and good judgement may be virtues, but you can't expect anybody to notice, if they're nose-down in the mashed potato over the evening news, having lost the will to live. I'm yet to meet anybody active in public affairs, who would list a faultless capacity to elicit abject tedium as a cardinal virtue of an effective political campaigner.
But the claret's running down in the walls in Telegraph and Spectator towers. Cochers has popped. A small knot of "senior" Tories have had the splendid idea of laying into Darling in the Financial Times, suggesting he is "comatose" and "dreary". Various other media outlets have followed the tale up. Cameron is, apparently, spitting blood and feathers and making placatory telephone calls. Whatever the truth of any of this, it is, as Massie, Martin and Cochrane argue, pleasingly bonkers from a political perspective - and arguably only a foretaste of things to come.
Mid-term, closing the constitutional distance between the Tories and the Labour party to meet the Nationalist threat might have seemed compelling. As the Westminster General Election looms closer, however, it will become an ever less comfortable proximity. How can the Labour Party indict David Cameron and all his works, but preserve the tender, fragile argument that we're all, ultimately, "better together"?
If the Unionist constitutional argument shifts onto more positive terrain, beyond British nationalist appeals to identity, how are their tribal differences and hatreds to be reconciled with a united vision of what it means to be "better"? How likely is it that escalating political hostilities between the two big British parties will be compatible with comity and constructive working in Scotland - while ripping the gizzards out of each other, day in day out, in the House of Commons and on the pan-UK airwaves? Faced with a choice - emphasise comity to win the referendum, or emphasise division to win the General Election of 2015 - which impulse do you think will triumph, given their Westminster-dominated priorities?
Actuarially speaking, a snowball in hell seems likely to enjoy a more favourable life expectancy and quality of life than this unhappy fellowship of enemies. Particularly where the Tories don't feel that they are getting an adequate bang from their buck from an unimaginative and episodically incompetent Better Together campaign, and from sullen Labour establishment, with less and less reason to cooperate, even if they had the capacity to do so.
Bluntly speaking, it seems only a matter of time before the SNP take a more active hand in the direction of Yes Scotland. The Greens and the SSP may squawk a little. We may see a few press headlines, and over-refreshed visions of Nationalist control-freakery, but nobody is likely to care all that much. The same does not go for the more contested territory of Better Together. My hunch is, these incautious Tory critiques of Darling gesture indirectly towards a much broader sense of anxiety and dissatisfaction in Conservative and Liberal circles with the tactics and approach of the official No campaign. That's a problem.
But what is HM's Government to do? They may fruitlessly grumble to sympathetic journalists, and take pot-shots at their own extremities, but the opportunity for Cameron's government to "step in" if things start to fray is limited. The Scotland Analysis papers are an attempt to contribute to the constitutional debate from arms length, with plausible deniability. We know that the Prime Minister is - for understandable strategic reasons - keen not to become a focus for attention in the constitutional debate in Scotland. You can't be out of it, having conducted a field execution and promoted one of your own.
And then there are the territorial questions. But for the odd Tory, Better Together's functionaries are Labour bodies who will, in time, drift back to Mother Labour, whatever the outcome. Delicate balances are being struck here, on a political but also on a personal basis. I've no insight into Better Together's inner workings, but I'd be surprised if folk working there left all of their allegiances at the door. They've their living to think of.
While it remains to be seen just how all of this will transpire, disunity in Better Together is only likely to heighten as the referendum date approaches. These jabs at Darling are only the first sallies in what seems all too likely to become a you scratch my back, I'll stab yours routine between Better Together's uneasy, cut-throat alliance.
Labels: 2015 General Election , Alistair Carmichael , Alistair Darling , BetterTogether , David Mundell , Gordon Brown , Greens , Indyref , Labour , Michael Moore , SSP , Tories
Scottish Police Federation: lost and confused
You know me. I'm a generous soul, and I don't like to pick on people. But Holyrood's Justice Committee was witness yesterday to such an extraordinarily incompetent performance by the Scottish Police Federation, we shouldn't pass over it in silence. The topic of the day was the abolition of corroboration. If the success or failure of Kenny's proposals rested on the understanding and clarity of many of its proponents, it'd be stuffed.
The polis put up the first panel of witnesses, three senior officers representing Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Federation and Association of Scottish Police Superintendents. As the papers cover this morning, this appearance was of interest, as two of the three bodies initially expressed qualms about abolition. Yesterday, through their Vice-President David Ross, the SPF indicated that their view had shifted. The reasons he gave were astonishing in their incoherence.
The official report has not yet been published, but you can watch the session here. In explaining his organisation's change of view, David Ross claimed that the Police Federation's initial concerns were based - not on any of the proposals - but a series of fantasies and anxious impressions which its membership had dreamed up, without bothering to investigate whether they had any foundation.
Apparently, the SPF thought the Bill would move us from a criminal standard of proof - beyond reasonable doubt - to the civil standard - balance of probability. Quite how they arrived at this eccentric and baseless impression, it is difficult to say. The glaikit Mr Ross could only shrug and avow past bemusement. This is an extraordinary approach for the SPF to own up to. Invited to submit evidence in the course of the parliamentary scrutiny of legislation - on Mr Ross' evidence, the Police Federation didn't bother investigating the actual proposals, and instead, sounded off about unrelated fears and concerns.
Perhaps anxiety tied his tongue, but Ross' evidence also showed a remarkable lack of understanding about what the corroboration rule requires at present. His opening gambit:
"I think as discussion and debate around corroboration has moved on, it has become clearer what's intended, in terms of what's taken in the Bill. And our view is now that we're talking about the requirement for every strand of evidence to be corroborated being removed, in favour of checks and balances across the whole of the evidence and safeguards. So, in truth, what our view is now, in terms of the checks and balances, other evidence supporting the evidence of an eyewitness, rather than two eyewitnesses, that kind of -" [Interrupted by the Chair]
"Our view has always been in terms of how police gather evidence and how we report evidence is by in large that's done using two police officers, two forensic scientists - and our view has always been that was unnecessary and was costly to the criminal justice system but didn't provide any great benefit to it. So, - and that was part of our response, in terms of our view on corroboration.
So we were always opposed to the blanket removal of it, in terms of - the most recent comments of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, and, indeed, the Lord Advocate, suggest that we're talking about checks and balances and other evidence, and safeguards. In truth, what we're talking about is corroboration from different sources, rather than corroborating each - you know, an eyewitness's account being corroborated by another eyewitness' account, or indeed forensic evidence being corroborated by some other form of evidence."
This is, to borrow a phrase I've used before, baffling poppycock. An incoherent mess and I marvel that a trained copper could trot it all out.
Firstly, this is a really foolish way to talk and think about corroboration. Yesterday's session was rife with it. Corroboration is a rule of law, requiring only that the essential facts of the case - that the crime was committed and that it was the accused who committed it - are substantiated in evidence from two independent sources. Anything less than this is not corroboration. The Criminal Justice Bill proposes that this rule be eliminated from our law, and that these essential facts can be proved in law by evidence from a single source, say by a single witness.
For example, in a rape case, the Crown must prove that sex occurred. In the absence of a second source of evidence - either DNA evidence or the accused's own admission - the charge will be insufficiently corroborated to take to court under the current dispensation. Having abolished corroboration, the complainer's evidence alone will be enough to make out this element of the offence. There may be other evidence supporting the allegation in general terms - evidence of distress say - but the complainer's evidence about this essential fact won't have to be supported.
The extent of David Ross's ignorance is summed up by a quote he gave to the Scotsman, arguing that:
“It has become clearer we will still have corroboration across the whole of the evidence, but not on every individual strand. That’s from the cabinet secretary, the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General. It was a significant concern that evidence from one source would be sufficient – if corroboration was removed in its entirety. And that was a step too far.”
Sorry to break it to you Mr Ross, but if the SPF now support the legislation because they think a single witness's evidence will not be sufficient in law to bring home a conviction - you've seriously misunderstood the whole enterprise. Legally "one source would be sufficient". If you haven't realised that - michty - you've not been paying nearly enough attention.
Secondly, the corroboration rule never required, as Ross implies "every strand of evidence" to be corroborated, only the essential facts. Again, you'd think and hope he'd have a clear understanding of that, before presenting himself as an expert witness in parliament. Thirdly, corroboration was never about two eyewitnesses. I'm astonished that any senior police officer would seriously suggest otherwise.
All in all, this was thoroughly unedifying performance from a lost and confused Scottish Police Federation.
Labels: Corroboration , Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill , David Ross , Justice Committee , Scottish Police Federation
Time for Holyrood to drink the hemlock
In November 2010, Holyrood vetoed Margo MacDonald's End of Life Assistance Bill on first principles, after a critical report from Ross Finnie's mostly hostile ad hoc committee.
Parliamentarians' criticisms of the proposals ranged from arguments rooted in a priori propositions - the intentional taking of human life is always wrong - to problems with how the legislation and its safeguards had been drafted. Didn't the Bill conflate the issues of assisting suicide with active euthanasia? Did the process adequately arrest any rush, perhaps prompted by a bout depression, through the doctor's surgery and into the grave? Would it - could it - provide adequate safeguards for medical professionals, pledged to uphold their Hippocratic Oath?
MSPs thought not, with 66% of them voting agin, just 12% for keeping the discussion going, with 2% abstaining (the remaining 20% of parliamentarians were absent. It was a snowy day in December). Hoping for better luck this time, Margo has marshalled sufficient support among MSPs to relitigate some of the issues, with a new Bill, of a much more limited scope, with much more clearly delineated safeguards. This is no mere rehash of the 2010 proposals - not at all. While on a superficial reading, you might expect this batch of MSPs to shoot the proposal down in flames as summarily as their colleagues in 2010 - having read the new Bill I wouldn't be so sure.
Critically, the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill (explanatory notes here, policy memorandum here) removes the issue of euthanasia from consideration altogether. We're only talking about the circumstances in which people may lawfully be assisted to commit suicide in Scotland. Here's where it gets a wee bit more complicated. While assisting suicides is illegal in England and Wales under the Suicide Act 1961, the legislation doesn't extend to Scotland. While the English law conceivably criminalises helping a family member to take a plane to Zurich for the purposes of ending their life, in and of itself, assisting suicide is not illegal under Scots law and this sort of act is (probably) not an offence known to the law of Scotland.
On the other hand, as Frank Mulholland made clear in his evidence to the parliament in the last session, assisting suicides will, in some circumstances, bring you within the ambit of Scottish common law offences. Crimes like "the administration of noxious substances", for example, might catch a doctor providing a patient with a fatal supply of drugs. But legally, the scope of all of this is terrifically unclear: no virtue in the criminal law.
Last time out, Ross Finnie and his committee bungled the investigation of the legal aspects, failing to ask Frank all of the obvious questions, and reaching the stupefying conclusion that the Scots law in this area is clear and foreseeable. But it isn't, and Margo's proposals would go a long way to clarifying the issues. This is important, as MSPs are essentially being asked not to endorse doctors killing their patients, but to clarify the circumstances in which assisting suicides will be legal under Scots law, as some forms of assistance already are. That's a different kettle of herring.
So what will the proposals require and what will they legalise? Firstly, the cause of death must be the person's own deliberate act. As a consequence, these proposals will not legalise medical killings based on living wills, where the patient does not have mental capacity to consent or where individuals lack the physical capacity to administer the substances to themselves. Doctors will not be permitted or required directly to inject deadly substances into patients' bodies: that will remain the crime of homicide. We're now talking exclusively about facilitating suicides, safely and humanely.
So how will it work? A person seeking assistance to take their own life must make a witnessed preliminary declaration to their medical practitioner. After another week, the person may make a First Request to their doctor for assistance to commit suicide. People making such a request must be at least sixteen years of age, and must have s8(5)(a) "an illness that is, for the person, either terminal or life-shortening" or s8(5)(b) a condition that is, for the person, progressive and either terminal or life-shortening" which leads them to the conclusion that "the quality of the person’s life is unacceptable" (s8(3)(d)).
This First Request has to be endorsed by two different doctors, applying the same requirements with respect to the medical condition of the patient and having concluded that the patient's "conclusion under section 8(3)(d) that the person’s quality of life is unacceptable is not inconsistent with the facts then known to the practitioner". The Bill also excludes a range of interested persons from acting as witnesses to this process (presumably aiming to answer the macabre scenario of elderly people, being encouraged to end their lives early and against their will by grasping family members, keen to inherit).
This is followed up by a Second Request, after another week, requiring another round of medical endorsements, after which it will be lawful for a "licensed facilitator" to assist suicide within a period of fourteen days. While these facilitators might be medical practitioners (and there may be tricky legal issues here about access to drugs), Margo proposes a separate licensing regime for facilitators, to be regulated by the Scottish Ministers.
Unlike the jiggerpokery which characterised Margo's last attempt, the standing Health and Sport Committee will lead scrutiny of the legislation. Let's hope Duncan McNeil and his colleagues make a better fist of their investigations into this - essentially modest, sensible and clarifying - proposal.
Labels: Assisted Suicide , Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill , Duncan McNeil , End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill , Euthanasia , Frank Mulholland , Holyrood Parliament , Margo MacDonald MSP , Ross Finnie , Suicide Act 1961
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New ANC President Endorses Transfer of Lands from Whites to Blacks
By Global Information Network
(GIN) – Barely a month into his presidency, Cyril Ramaphosa has taken sides on a hot button issue whose resolution had eluded previous leaders. He vowed to speed up the seizure of land from white owners and turn the properties over to blacks.
“This original sin that was committed when our country was colonized must be resolved in a way that will take South Africa forward,” he declared.
The resolution calling for expropriation without compensation was introduced by the self-described radical and militant Economic Freedom Front, and passed 241 votes in agreement, and 83 votes against.
Sinawo Thambo, provincial chairperson of the group’s Student Command in the Western Cape, exuberantly described the vote in an article titled “Land Expropriation a Victory for Africa.”
“Land dispossession in South Africa, although marred by barbaric violence, was also a legislated policy,” he wrote. “The oppression of exploitation of the black majority was rationalized under a parliamentary and judicial framework. This means it is engrained in history and in policy that perpetuates the dire conditions the black majority exists in in this country.
“Central to the (newly-passed) resolution is the agreement not to compensate when expropriating land,” he continued, because “it is unreasonable to expect compensation for land theft and the criminal process of colonialism. It would be justifying the rational of dispossession as an acceptable fact and rewarding theft. It simply should not be done and the debates in Parliament expressed that succinctly.”
Other measures proposed by the new president were announced in his State of the Nation address.
Among the initiatives planned to jumpstart the economy are: a jobs summit, an investment conference, and compulsory local procurement in major economic sectors with a focus on youth empowerment.
His stand on land reform was cautious and measured: “We are determined that expropriation without compensation be implemented in a way that increases agricultural production, improves food security and ensure that the land is returned to those from whom it was taken under colonialism and apartheid.
”Government will undertake a process of consultation to determine the modalities of the implementation of this resolution,” he told the Assembly.
Ramaphosa rejected the torrent of criticisms appearing in national and international media. There will be “no smash-and-grab of land in our country”, he responded. “That we will not allow. There is no need for anyone to panic and beat the drums of war,” adding that the “issue would be solved without any problems”.
Everyone will have an opportunity, regardless of their race, birthplace or the wealth of their parents, he said, and repeated it in Afrikaans. w/pix of Pres. C. Ramaphosa
Categories: International
Tags: #lasentinel | African Briefs | ANC | Black | Cyril Ramaphosa | Global Information Network | South Africa
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Book Reviews / By erin / July 7, 2013 1
Book Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn’t remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?
This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson’s vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication.
The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a mix of mystery and science fiction, which proves to be a thought-provoking combination. Many important points involving identity, morality, and biomedical ethics are raised: How far would you go to save someone you love? What makes us human? Where should we draw the line when it comes to scientific advancements? These are just a few of the questions that I have been quietly contemplating since I finished reading this book a couple of days ago – to the point where they have inspired me to take a biomedical ethics course this fall.
While the plot is slow and relatively uneventful compared to many other YA books, it is written in such a way that the reader feels as though they are Jenna. The only information that the reader is given is that which Jenna knows or discovers herself, which made me connect with her on an almost personal level. As the plot largely relies on secrecy, I can’t say much more about it – though I will say that it is beautifully crafted and filled with surprises.
I highly recommend reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox if you’re interested in a compelling, thought-provoking read.
mary e. pearson
the adoration of jenna fox
Review | Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi
Mini-Review | The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo
Review | The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey
Book Blather July 7, 2013 at 11:54 pm
Hmm first saw this on Kristi’s blog (storysiren) years ago, and I keep meaning to try it. Great review!
Leave a Reply to Book Blather
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Auto Dealer Fraud, Credit Repair, Debtor-Creditor, Lemon Law
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Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
Tome 1: Legends in Exile
(898 évaluations)
Ajouter à la liste des souhaits
Envoyez comme cadeau
FABLES is the winner of 14 Eisner Awards and is one of the most enduring Vertigo titles ever. Here, in this new, 10th anniversary edition, is a newly colored 8-page story from the Fables prose work PETER & MAX: A FABLES NOVEL, as well as a beautiful new cover from series artist Mark Buckingham.
When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the ""mundys,"" their name for normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters created their own secret society that they call Fabletown.
From their exclusive luxury apartment buildings on Manhattan's Upper West Side, these creatures of legend must fight for their survival in the new world.
Collects FABLES #1-5.
Date de Sortie numérique
Âge conseillé
17+ Uniquement
Scénario:
Romance Mythology Drama Mature Fantasy
Autres options de lecture
The Complete Fables
(Économisez 14%)
When the Adversary conquered the lands of legends, the inhabitants were forced into exile. They form a secret society, a hidden enclave in modern-day New York. Bill Willingham's award-winning "fractured-fairy-tale" series explores the world of these beloved fables...one that exists within our own.
New York Times best-selling, award-winning creator Bill Willingham turns the spotlight on the female FABLES--spinning secret histories of Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, Snow White, Rose Red and others. They may be beautiful, but there will be blood.
Jack of Fables
The "fractured-fairy-tale" series FABLES tracks a secret society formed by myths and legends, living in a hidden enclave in modern-day New York. But what happens when a wayward Fable roams the heartland of America? And how are all the legendary Jacks (Horner, Frost, etc) the same guy?
Cinderella: Fables Are Forever
Following up on the smash hit CINDERELLA: FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE, everyone's favorite secret-agent and bon vivant Cinderella is back on the job, alongside writer Chris Roberson and artist Shawn McManus!
Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love
Spinning out of FABLES comes a tale starring Fabletown's greatest secret agent! When supernatural artifacts from the Homelands begin surfacing in the modern world, it falls to Cinderella to stop the illegal trafficking. But can Cindy foil the dark plot before Fabletown is exposed to all the world?
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October 2, 2010 October 2, 2017 by mvbookreviewer
Review: The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley
Endearing Hero, Endearing Heroine, Favorites, Genius Hero/Heroine, Historical, Leisure Books, Outstanding Read, Red Hot Reads, Review, Toe Curler!!
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Series: Highland Pleasures, Book 1
Publisher: Leisure Books
Hero: Lord Ian Mackenzie
Heroine: Beth Ackerley
Sensuality: 3.5
First Published on: April 28, 2009
Started On: October 1, 2010
Finished On: October 2, 2010
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie lived up to and exceeded all the expectations I had before I started on this novel. A lot of romance readers on Amazon seem to unanimously agree that this is one of the best historical romances that has been published of late and the awards that this book has received is testament enough that this story is a favorite amongst many romance readers.
This story is the first title in a series entitled as Highland Pleasures by Jennifer Ashely of which the second book in the series has already been published on July of this year. The Mackenzie family is Scottish in its origins and was one of the most powerful families in the region during the 1800’s. Hart Mackenzie who is the Duke of Kilmorgan is the eldest followed by Mac, Cameron and Ian who is the youngest.
Ian Mackenzie is a genius (who was suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome?) who was gravely misunderstood during his childhood. With a father who was driven to rages and drinking, Ian had always been the odd one who had stood out from his siblings. With his analytical genius mind which would remember everything he has read or heard verbatim and the ability to play music that he has heard once flawlessly though he never understands the normal modes of behavior always lands him in trouble. When Ian witnesses the murder of his mother at his father’s hands during one of his fits of rages, Ian’s father has him declared insane and locks him up in an asylum where he spends his childhood until his father’s untimely death ends in Hart attaining dukedom. Because Ian is misunderstood, he has always been labeled as the mad one in the family. The Mackenzie’s though powerful has always been considered wild and uncouth and it was considered unfit for a lady to be in the presence of a Mackenzie without a chaperon.
Ian and his tendency to collect Ming porcelain items lands him in the company of Sir Lyndon Mather who has got himself engaged to Mrs. Thomas Ackertey (Beth Ackertey), a widower who had come into a considerable fortune on the passing of her employer Mrs. Barrington. Beth’s father had been a Frenchmen who had seduced her mother, a daughter of an English squire into marrying him which had ended up in her mother being disowned. Her father had died when Beth had been quite young leaving them both destitute which had resulted in both mother and daughter having to seek refuge at a workhouse. When Beth’s mother had died when she had been 15 years old, Beth had managed to acquire a teaching position at the workhouse and when she had turned 19, Thomas Ackerley the vicar newly in charge of the workhouse had married her. A year later, Thomas had died of a fever and Mrs. Barrington had hired her as her companion whom Beth had looked after for the past 9 years.
When Beth first lays her eyes on Ian, his massive height, width of his shoulders together with his dark hair and amber eyes that always seem so restless take her breath away. The heat that slowly starts to burn within her in the presence of Ian is something that Beth had almost forgotten that her body could feel. Having agreed to marriage to Mather had been Beth’s way of making sure that she would never be lonely during the years to come and also the route to having her own children someday. What she never expects to happen is for Ian to warn her of Mather’s rather unusual sexual preferences and the fact that Mather was actually interested in her money rather than herself. Ian knows something worth protecting when he sees one and he so badly wants Beth. And before the first encounter between the two is over, Ian thoroughly kisses the delectable Beth and proposes marriage to her as well the latter of which Beth refuses though she is more than tempted.
Ian wants to protect Beth from all the rumors and the darkness that surround his family. The murder of a whore named Sally Tate that had long gone unsolved which Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows was trying to pin on the Mackenzie’s with a vengeance; particularly to send Ian back to the asylum where he supposedly belongs to is something that Ian would rather Beth doesn’t find out. When another whore who named Lily Martin is viciously murdered Fellows swears that he wouldn’t stop his quest for justice until the Mackenzie’s pay for their crimes. Beth however has a mind and a will of her own that Ian has no idea how to predict or control and before long Beth has it in her mind to find out who actually committed the murders so that her beloved husband would finally be free of the nightmares that haunt him day and night.
I absolutely loved reading this story. Ian is a hero so very worth drooling over with his eccentric and unusual behavior. What he fears most is looking Beth in her eyes because it is the one place in this world that Ian fears he might lose himself in. Ian who doesn’t know how to express emotions like normal people do has a hard time believing that he has the capability of falling in love, something which Beth disproves so beautifully before the story is through. I loved Beth for her courage and unwavering belief in the man she comes to love, and for the fact that she understands Ian better than anyone else. The love scenes are beautifully done with a hero whose unwavering focus on what he is doing is a delight in itself. I am so very interested in reading about all the Mackenzie men because Ms. Ashely has definitely whetted my appetite for more.
All in all, recommended for all romance lovers. This is a MUST read!
She heard the echoes of Ian’s screams in her head. Beth pressed her forehead to his hands, her heart wrenching. Ian’s hands were large, sinews hard under his kid-leather gloves. Yes, he was strong. In the Tuileres Gardens, it had taken both Mac and Curry to pull him away from Fellows. That didn’t mean others could try to tear at that strength, try to defeat him. The doctors in the horrible asylum had done it, and now Fellows was trying to.
I’m falling in love with you, she wanted to say into their clasped hands. Do you mind awfully?
Ian closed his eyes. Beth watched emotions flicker across his face, the uncertainty, the stubbornness, the raw pain he’d lived with for so long. He didn’t always know how to express his emotions, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel them deeply.
When Ian slowly opened his eyes, he guided his gaze directly to Beth’s. His golden eyes shimmered and sparkled, pupils ringed with green. He held her gaze steadily, not blinking, or shifting away.
“I love you,” he said.
Beth caught her breath, and sudden tears blurred her vision.
“Love you,” Ian repeated. His gaze bore into hers harder than Hart’s ever could hope to. “Love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you…”
Ian cupped her chin and turned her face up to his. Then he did what he’d been practicing since the night on the train – he looked her fully in the eyes.
He couldn’t always do it. Sometimes his gaze simply refused to obey, and he’d turn away with a growl. But more and more he’d been able to focus directly on her. Ian’s eyes were beautiful, even more so when his pupils widened with desire. “Have I told you today that I love you?” he asked. “A few dozen times. Not that I mind.”
As a young woman who’d been starved for love much of her life, Beth lapped up Ian’s generous outpouring of the words. He’d surprise her with them, catching her as she walked down the hall, pushing her up against a wall, breathing, “I love you.” Or he’d tickle her awake and tell her while she tried to hit him with a pillow. The best was when he lay against her in the dark, fingers tracing her body. She treasured his whispered, “I love you.”
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WITH THIS WE CALL FOR CHANGE
By Manuel Rodriguez II, UST - Students' Democratic Party(SDP)
“…DEMOCRACY… IT IS OUR DUTY NOW, IN DANGER AS IN SECURITY, TO UPHOLD AND SUSTAIN IT WITH ALL THAT WE HAVE AND ARE.”
-excerpt from the Democratic Creed by Stephen Bennet
(Standard creed of the SDP 1st party convention)
The case of Mr. Jocjoc Bolante on the 728 million pesos fund for fertilizers, the disappearance of the 3.1 billion budget for irrigation, Arroyo’s fraudulent acts on the 2004 national elections that made her an illegitimate president, left and right cases of extra-judicial killings and the most recent and controversial NBN-ZTE deal scandal.
For 7 years the Arroyo regime failed to uphold the trust of the Filipino nation, our country is left tortured and wounded. The continuous issues and scandals in the country’s political arena have effectively placed into the spotlight the crisis in the administration of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – the crisis which has transformed the people’s search for truth and justice into an advocacy to oust an immoral leader of the land.
The whole truth about the anomalous NBN-ZTE contract is slowly being revealed by the statements of a very credible individual in the persona of our fellow Thomasian, Eng’r Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, former President of PhilForest, a corporation owned by the government. According to Lozada, Mr. Jose Miguel “Mike”Arroyo the husband of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, and the former ComElec Chairperson Benjamin Abalos are one of the people who are very willing to close the deal between the Philippines and China, because of their self interests to earn a 65 million to 130 million US dollars commission.
While majority of our people live their everyday life with only 65 pesos or lower on their pockets, people like Mr. Arroyo and Mr. Abalos are earning millions without sweat.
Under this kind of administration our search for truth will not and never be easy and will face many crossroads and obstacles. We can expect the government to discredit witness like Eng’r Lozada and block possible bearer of truth like Sec. Romulo Neri of CHEd.
If the University of Santo Tomas (UST) demands from its students which are their main stakeholders commitment, compassion and competence, then the nation as the same expect from the Thomasians to make use of their education in defining and knowing the difference between justice and injustice with very strong fervor.
In a three page paper titled “Why I Cannot and Will Not Support Calls for the Presidents’ Resignation,” pro- administration priest Fr. Ranhillio Calangan- Aquino pointed out that “when one protests his earnestness in search for truth, and at the same time presses for the resignation of the President (PGMA), one is guilty ofperformative contradiction.”
“If you search for truth, you do not know yet the whether she is guilty or not. But if you do know this yet, what reason is there to ask her to resign?” Fr. Aquino retorted.
My response to his statement? It is not that the current President has lost her capacity to govern the country, however due to many controversial events, I believe that the President should step down or be ousted from her position because of her inability to gain the trust of the Filipino people. Leadership requires influence; clearly the President has lost that.
With this we call for change.
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Burlington News
Home » Burlington icon Ron Joyce leaves a legacy of entrepreneurial success and meaningful philanthropy
Burlington icon Ron Joyce leaves a legacy of entrepreneurial success and meaningful philanthropy
By John Bkila
Join the many residents who have signed up for updates on Burlington issues and to provide input on key decisions
Photo by Danny Ouimet on Unsplash.
Last week, I released a statement on the passing of Ron Joyce and the legacy he leaves behind in Burlington and beyond.
Our city lost a great man and community leader in the passing of Mr. Joyce, one of our most celebrated and generous residents.
He not only leaves a legacy of remarkable entrepreneurship and business success, but one of meaningful philanthropy and giving back, as well.
Mr. Joyce’s renown for years of hardwork building the Tim Hortons brand, as co-founder, to one of international success is easily matched by his charitable efforts – through The Joyce Family Foundation, helping make education more accessible for all Canadians, and the Tim Horton’s Children’s Foundation, sending youth from low-income families to summer camps.
The list of awards and acknowledgements he has received throughout his life are long and prestigious.
In addition to local recognition, via the Distinguished Entrepreneur Award by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, and his name on display at the Ron Joyce Centre (home of the DeGroote School of Business’ Burlington campus), he also received the Order of Canada, the Gary Wright Humanitarian Award, the Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award, and was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.
He will be missed not only by those he knew and impacted throughout Burlington, but throughout the country and beyond.
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Burlington Mayor’s Office Looking for a New Executive Administrator
Five-Year Agreement Reached for Burlington Firefighters
Guest Post: Burlington-based Automated Accounts Payables Startup WayPay Acquired by RBC
Red Tape Red Carpet Draft Recommendations Report Tabled at Burlington Council Meeting
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Constituent Assistant: Georgie Gartside
georgie.gartside@burlington.ca
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Tag Archives: Robert Pattinson
Cosmopolis: A huge throbbing chainsaw and a cream pie
Posted on August 27, 2012 by marjoriekaye
Cosmopolis: A huge throbbing chainsaw and a cream pie a review ***spoilers***
Right before I entered the theater to see Cosmopolis, a 2012 film written and directed by David Cronenberg from a 2003 Don DeLillio novel, a fellow middle-aged lady asked me why I had decided on seeing it. “I almost went,” she said, “but people kept telling me how boring it was, and so she changed her mind.” She said the name of the movie she was seeing. However, I forget what the movie was.
I told her that I had heard the same thing. But I liked Cronenberg movies.
There were mixed reviews regarding Pattinson. Having worked in casting in a previous incarnation of my professional self, I was curious to see what kind of chops this young actor was sporting since he traded in his fangs.
Okay, let’s get this over with. The dialogue of the Cosmopolis script is dense, artificial, and extremely inaccessible.
Do you think I came up with the “huge throbbing chainsaw” on my own? Nope; it was one of the script’s many gems. The entire script reminds me of scenes I’d get assigned in acting class when I was at UCLA. Nineteen-year old students, who spend a lot of time imagining their glorious futures often tackle scene assignments dealing with the existential.
We’d mouth lines, pretending to know what was going on.
Since most of our fellow students were as clueless as I was, it wasn’t a total humiliation. In fact, this script might have worked better in a theater in terms of audience enjoyment. Also, theater, audiences are an active part of the experience.
Movies are inclusive, but movie audiences are passive.
The aim is to immerse you in a point of view and in a world. Most films aim to make you feel something rather than think. Movies communicate by manipulating our responses.
In Cosmopolis, a sense of deprivation is the point. Cronenberg wants us to feel like outsiders.
He wants us straining to understand what is going on behind those tinted limo windows. But what we learn in Cosmopolis is unsettling. There’s no place for us in the limo as it glides through Armageddon. A character remarks on how the future is cannibalizing the present. He claims that time is broken up into infinitesimally smaller bits. People can’t keep up with how fast things change or deal with the necessary “creative destruction.”
Eric Packer (Pattison), a self-made multi-billionaire. He recalls that when he was four, he calculated how much he would weigh on each planet of our solar system.
I imagine that potty-training baby Eric must have been interesting. One thing hasn’t changed. Eric, the protagonist of Cosmopolis, is every bit as bloodless as Edward the lovesick vampire.Most of the action takes place in the interior of a white stretch limo where Eric, a 28 year old self-made capitalist, holds court. Along the way, various minions enter the womb-like limo interior. We see all the symbols of wealth on numerous small screens, But the only tangible evidence is damaged people and neglected streets. Apparently, these are the results of the machinations of the rich and entitled.
Eric stares impassively through the bullet-proof windows at the rage of on-going riots. One by one, these employees report and/or perform.
Then he receives reports from two of his even younger male staffers. Unfortunately, Eric has lost all of his money and all the capital of his clients. However, the news has no effect on him. And Eric is restless and bored. Two of the women, including his art dealer/mistress (Juliette Binoche) bask in his attention. Determined to please, the women reflect back to Eric his narcissistic approval. One employee (Emily Hampshire), forced to interrupt her day off, strokes the nozzle of her water bottle. Incredibly, a doctor who joins Eric in the limo, which hosts an ultrasound and mini-lab, performs what for Eric, is a highly erotic prostate exam. We see Eric’s attention to the woman end as the exam ends. Only the doctor’s comment that his prostate is asymmetrical has any effect on Eric’s mood.
I’ve known people like Eric. There’s an unspoken message: Impress me; entertain me. Make me care; make me notice.
And the people in Eric’s small world do try. It’s not enough. Eric has a hard time feeling anything. His outer shell is a white limo that becomes increasingly defaced as it crosses through an urban nightmare. Several times, during the course of the day, he encounters his new wife, an equally bloodless blonde. Each time, he coerces her into having a meal with him. She rejects him sexually, saying that her writing (she’s a poet) takes too much of her energy.
Her rejection is what he finds compelling.
When his “I deal in theory” servant (Samantha Morton) sniffs at the sight of a man self-immolating on a sidewalk, dismissing it as an unoriginal gesture (it’s been done), Eric wonders at all that pain to just make a statement, to say something.
Cosmopolis is a journey. Ulysses, the character from Homer’s epic, The Odyssey (okay technically he’s Odysseus), as well as James Joyce’s novel inspired DeLillio.
Both works (Ulysses) were also an influence on Mark Rothko, the artist whose “Rothko Chapel” Eric means to buy. Talk about entitlement; he assumes everything’s for sale. The trip is a slow crawl through Manhattan traffic, its street arteries clotted by a POTUS visit.
“We (as in the royal we) want a hair cut.” Eric announces.
The barbershop in question is across town. It is a space, that for Eric, means the comfort of the familiar–mirrored walls, swivel chairs, etc. He dismisses his bodyguard’s warning that someone means to kill him.
This devourer of the future craves the illusion of the past.
Very little elicits an emotional response from Eric or from us, the audience. One sweet exception is a cream pie that is smashed into titan boy’s face. The pie is wielded by a man with his own film crew. This man, who has smashed pies into the faces of countless heads of power, assures Eric that he’s nonpartisan. Castro got served too. Then Eric gets a spectacularly bad hair cut. After the haircut, Eric commits an off-the-wall murder.
Lastly, Eric faces his end in a run-down building, at the hands of a bare-foot, hang dog (even more than usual), former employee (Paul Giamatti).
Before he was downsized, this employee went nuts trying to keep up with the rate of changes in the way things are calculated. How’s that singularity thingy workin’ out for ya? Now the man has no identity. For him, “no identity” means no appointments, no plans, and no credit card receipts.
Eric forgot, the man accuses him, that all the Universe’s symmetry and repetition means nothing without the isolated exception.
Exception, like the asymmetrical prostate, a benign condition he and Eric both have. Worse, this man has a fungus between his toes, and it urges him to kill Eric. In the words of the long-ago church lady, “Isn’t that special?” Eric has failed to save him, you see, and so Eric must die. The young titan doesn’t seem too concerned. Death is new; it’s something he hasn’t done.
We all have this in common: We fear death and want someone to make it better.
Some of us find comfort in religion and others in superheroes. No wonder vampires are so popular. Unlike zombies, you’re undead and you get have sex and you keep your marbles (smarts).
As far as Pattinson’s chops go, he’s got them.
The vivid desperation of the other characters collides with the impassivity of Pattinson’s face. He’s a neutral so that the colors are more vivid. I’ll be interested to see what he does and how he is cast as he ages. Most likely, he’ll welcome the chance to do character work, and I hope he can keep working.
Regardless, I suspect some of those scenes will be showing up in actor showcases. Of course, there are some things that don’t change.
movie review Movies cosmopolis david cronenberg don dellilio drama entertainment Robert Pattinson
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Home / Czech Glass
A 1960s Vladimir Mika for Moser Ovoid Vase
Category: Czech Glass
Factory: Moser, Karlovarske Sklo
Designer: Vladimir Mika
Produced: Late 1960s
This vase comes from a very scarce range that won a Gold Medal at the important Liberec trade exhibition in 1967. Profiled in the State’s trade publication Czechoslovak Glass Review in February 1968, it went on to be exhibited at the International Exposition in Osaka, Japan, in 1970. Other forms in the range include a taller version of this teardrop shape, and a low and long jardinière. Colours included blues, topaz, and greens. The range was a departure for the internationally renowned company of Moser, who are best known for their heavily cut and faceted designs.
The curving forms and use of the traditional technique of casing recall the sommerso (submerged) designs produced by Flavio Poli for Seguso on Murano from the 1950s onwards. The major difference is the join in the interior aperture which accentuates the form and layers, and showcases the talents of Czech glassmakers. This hallmark feature also forces flower stems to either side, meaning flowers are displayed at an avant garde angle, contrasting with the rounded form. Although sold as a practical vase, it is equally successful as a stand-alone sculptural object. The curving, stone-like shape interests the eye but also presents a tactile appeal, almost demanding to be picked up and caressed.
7in (17.5cm) high
Few hard facts are known about Vladimir Mika, but it appears that he studied glass painting amongst other skills at the glassmkaing school in Novy Bor. He began his career just after World War Two when he joined the Mstisov glassworks, which began to become known for its hot-worked coloured glass from 1958. After working in quality control, he began work as a designer when Hana Machovska went on maternity leave. He moved to the Moser Karlovarske Sklo works when the Msistov production was transferred there in 1964, but appears to have produced very few designs himself. Instead, he appears to have focused on production and worked in conjunction with a number of key designers such as Pavel Hlava and Frantisek Vizner. In 1967, he won a Gold Medal at the important Liberec trade exhibition for this range of curving, ovoid vases and bowls with a joined area in the centre of the aperture or well. His designs were then exhibited at the 1970 International Exposition in Osaka, Japan. He then moved to the pressed glass factory at Teplice, where he oversaw the production of bottles for Western companies such as Coca Cola, before retiring.
A 1970s Josef Hospodka for Prachen Bowl
A 1960s Novy Bor ‘Dual’ Range Bowl by Karel Wünsch
A 1950s Alexandrite J. Hrobár for Chribskà Sculpture
A 1970s Josef Hospodka for Prachen Vase
A Rare 1970s Pavel Hlava ‘Garnet’ Studio Vase
A 1970s Large Jan Gabrhel for Chlum ‘Pierrot’ Bottle
A Unique Sklo Kodejs ‘Mother & Child’ Cut Vase
A 1950s Per Lütken for Holmegaard 'Orchid' Vase £55.00
A Rare Late 1970s Jiri Suhajek for Moser Ovoid Vase £650.00
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You searched for Employment Law -- Employee. Did you mean Employment Law -- Employee in Labor Law?
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Robinson, Newton, Olney, Casey, Lawrenceville
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In any legal transaction or dispute, your representation will make a difference in your case. Whether you are facing a criminal charge, need aggressive representation in a personal injury case, or are seeking to protect your business against liabilities, your legal advocate is the voice you need to protect your rights and succeed in or out of court. At Fuller & Quigg, we are committed to providing...
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Committed to providing the highest level of legal representation possible, the attorneys at Glenn R. Tetzlaff & Associates in Marion, Illinois, are fully prepared to help you with virtually any legal issue affecting your life, your family, your business and your future. Serving clients throughout Williamson, Jackson and Morgan counties and the rest of southern Illinois, the legal professionals...
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Sorling, Northrup, Hanna, Cullen & Cochran, Ltd. has established a reputation for combining the breadth and depth of specialized legal services normally found in larger metropolitan law firms, with the personal attention and timeliness found in smaller firms. Firm attorneys and support staff serve business, not-for-profit, governmental, and individual clients in a manner emphasizing client...
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James A. Devine practices both public and private sector employment law. He also provides legal assistance to members of the military, veterans, and their families. His background includes service on active duty as a U.S. Marine Corps lawyer, as an assistant Illinois state’s attorney, and assistant Illinois attorney general. He spent over twenty years as a civilian in the Pentagon before...
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When you are faced with difficult legal challenges, the right attorney can make all the difference. At Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb, LLC, we are lawyers who have earned a reputation for excellence in the practice of law and in our service to clients. Our firm is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and serves clients in St. Louis and throughout Metro East and the Illinois Riverbend. We draw upon...
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Please see our website at www.backlawoffice.com....
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Insurance, Birth Injury, Nursing Home Abuse, Drugs & Medical Devices
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You searched for Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff. Did you mean Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff in Motor Vehicle Defects?
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You were injured in a car accident. You need to speak to an attorney immediately. Call us today for a free consultation.
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Car Accident Lawyers Serving Warrenton, VA (Manassas)
Dougherty Tobias Iszard, Northern Virginia Law, P.C.
Compassionate Guidance And Dedicated Advocacy FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION for Personal Injury and Criminal Defense cases. At Dougherty Tobias Iszard, Northern Virginia Law, P.C., our attorneys are dedicated to helping you resolve many different types of legal matters as efficiently and effectively as possible. Family Law | Personal Injury | Criminal Defense | Wills & Trusts | Appeals...
Rodriguez Law Firm
Available around the clock every day of the week, our team at Rodriguez Law Firm in Manassas is always ready to help people throughout Northern Virginia. We handle personal injury, immigration and criminal defense cases that involve issues such as the following: Motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice and wrongful death Asylum, removal and green cards DUI, traffic violations, domestic...
Car Accident Lawyers Serving Warrenton, VA (Woodbridge)
Williams & Bell, PC
Car Accident Lawyers Serving Warrenton, VA (Front Royal)
Comprehensive Legal Help In Northwest Virginia Williams & Bell P.C. is a full-service law firm with two locations in northwest Virginia to more conveniently serve the needs of our clients. From our law office in Front Royal, the attorneys at our law firm represent individuals, families and business owners throughout Warren County and the surrounding areas who have legal needs involving any of...
Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas is a Virginia personal injury and workers' compensation law firm with a history going back over 40 years. Founded in 1977, our law firm has since expanded thanks to our long record of success, and we now have offices in Warrenton, Culpeper, and Front Royal. We proudly serve victims of accidents who live and work in the Front Royal area. Our firm's three...
Car Accident Lawyers Serving Warrenton, VA (Fairfax)
Law Office of Richard L. Downey
MacDowell Law Group, P.C.
At MacDowell Law Group P.C., our attorneys combine more than 60 years of experience to advocate for people in Fairfax, Virginia. Our law office oversees criminal cases as well as other legal matters. We use our strength in negation and, if necessary, litigation to deliver aggressive defense for clients. Our attorneys are able to leverage previous work in prosecution to take on both misdemeanor and...
Ryland & Merchak, PC
Rooted In A History Of Success Ryland & Merchak, PC, has been a pillar among quality legal service providers throughout Northern Virginia for more than two decades. Our team of attorneys shares more than 70 years of combined experience. We leverage this experience to produce favorable results in both litigation and transactional matters. As a local firm, we are well-established in the...
Park & Park, P.C.
Portner & Shure, P.A.
Car Accident Lawyers Serving Warrenton, VA (Reston)
At the law firm of Portner & Shure, we are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients, whether through fighting for the compensation they are entitled to after suffering an injury, or loss, or defending them against felony or misdemeanor criminal charges. We are conveniently located with office locations throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Our attorneys...
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Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Legal Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Business & Commercial
Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Oakdale, Manteca
Language German Spanish All
Top Empire Professional Malpractice Lawyers - California
Nearby Cities: Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Oakdale, Manteca
Related Practice Areas: Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Legal Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Business & Commercial
Brunn & Flynn
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (Modesto)
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the Law Offices of Brunn & Flynn, based in Modesto, California. Founded in 1963 by Charles K. Brunn, the firm is actively engaged in the general practice of law in state, federal and appellate courts throughout California. The Law Offices of Brunn & Flynn serves businesses and individuals locally and statewide. We are also approved...
Wessels Law Firm
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (San Jose)
More Than 20 Years of Experience in Probate, Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts and Civil Litigation...
Abronson Law Offices
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (Los Gatos)
At Abronson Law Offices, we take pride in our ability to help those who have been injured in an accident that was the fault of another. After an accident, many find themselves hounded and harassed by insurance companies, and our goal is to get victims the compensation they deserve and protect the injured. We represent those in the California Bay Area, who are dealing with any of the following:...
Balamuth Law
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (Moraga)
Since 1992, Balamuth Harrington, LLP has served those who have suffered serious injury as a result of the wrongful conduct of others. We specialize in suits caused by automobile collisions, bicycle and pedestrian accidents, falls due to dangerous conditions, defective buildings, construction site accidents, dog attacks, legal, medical and accountant negligence, and defective products. We represent...
Evers Law Group
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (Sacramento)
Evers Law Group was founded by attorney Geoffrey O. Evers, who has been practicing law for nearly 30 years. After starting his career in the 1980s as a prosecutor in the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Mr. Evers relocated to Sacramento. There, he joined the litigation department of a San Francisco-based international law firm, where he litigated in practice areas, including environmental...
Wilcoxen Callaham, LLP
Personal Injury And Malpractice Support In Sacramento At Wilcoxen Callaham, LLP, we are committed to achieving the best possible results for our clients who have been injured and are seeking compensation for their damages. We have built a 40 year reputation on excellence and the ethical practice of law. We are respected throughout the legal community and have earned the esteem of judges,...
Law Offices of Patrick K. Hanly
Patrick K. Hanly has been practicing criminal law since 1989. He is a former federal prosecutor of 15 years and a graduate of the University of Southern California Law Center. Mr. Hanly represents individuals and businesses throughout California who are being investigated or who have been charged by state or federal authorities. He practices in all areas of criminal law, with a special emphasis on...
Hayes Scott Bonino Ellingson Guslani Simonson & Clause, LLP
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (San Carlos)
Founded in 2003, Hayes Scott Bonino Ellingson Guslani Simonson & Clause, LLP, has quickly become one of the most respected commercial litigation and appellate law firms in the state of California. Our California business law attorneys have also built a reputation for effectively handling legal matters ranging from new business formation to complex corporate litigation and class actions. Hayes...
Law Office of Richard D. Warren
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (Berkeley)
Anderlini & McSweeney LLP
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (San Mateo)
The law firm of Anderlini & McSweeney LLP was founded by two lawyers who have dedicated the over 40 years to representing clients in San Mateo, San Jose and Redwood City, California. Terry Anderlini and Brian McSweeney focused their practice on providing personal, comprehensive legal services to their clients. Anderlini & McSweeney LLP is a law firm created by experienced lawyers...
Farbstein & Blackman
With decades of experience in civil litigation, business law, personal injury and professional liability, Farbstein & Blackman represents individuals and companies throughout San Mateo, California. We focus our work on what we know and have subject matter expertise in each of our practice areas. Our law office's proven successes include the following: Seven-figure settlements and...
McKennon Law Group, PC
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (San Francisco)
When the doors of our law firm first opened, our founder, Robert J. McKennon, decided to focus his practice on insurance law. Today, he heads one of California's leading legal teams at McKennon Law Group PC, offering representation during both litigation and arbitration to individuals, professionals and businesses from throughout the state. In fact, the demand for our services has been so great...
Scarlett Law Group
Scarlett Law Group is a top-tier personal injury law firm in San Francisco, California. With decades of experience, the firm’s legal team is committed to providing aggressive yet compassionate legal guidance for victims of catastrophic accidents, traumatic brain injuries, and more. At Scarlett Law Group, we know that a successful personal injury lawsuit or claim depends on the right legal...
Law Office of Jane E. Bednar
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (Carmel Valley)
The Law Office of Jane E. Bednar, in Monterey, California, represents clients in matters concerning elder abuse, injury accidents, professional malpractice and in mediated disputes. We provide compassionate and tireless representation to the elderly in cases in which they are the victims of abuse: fraudulent contracts and scams, financial mismanagement by trustees, abusive conservatorship...
Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller & Moskowitz LLP
Professional Malpractice Lawyers Serving Empire, CA (Santa Rosa)
Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller & Moskowitz LLP — Full-Service Santa Rosa, California, Law Firm Founded in 1997 in Santa Rosa and serving the legal needs of clients throughout Northern California, Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller & Moskowitz LLP is recognized as one of the pre-eminent law firms in the North San Francisco Bay Area. Attorneys and office staff at the firm combine...
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Show Related Q&As Cyber Security Master's Degrees: Online and Campus-Based Programs Security Contractor Requirements Career Options with a Safety and Security Management MBA Degree What Homeland Security Careers are Available?
Computer and...
Where Can I Find Free Online Cyber Security Courses?
Free online cyber security courses are provided by Open University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University. Students will have access to various course materials available for independent study. Schools offering Computer Forensics degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Accredited universities and online college platforms offer non-credit courses in cyber security at no cost to you. Some of the topics you may learn about include crypotography, authentication, software protection, viruses and firewalls. Courses on the history of security software may be available as well. Your course may include readings, video lectures, and optional assignments.
Stanford University's Entrepreneurship Corner website offers a series of video lectures on cyber security by John Thompson who, at the time of the presentation, was Chief Executive Officer of Symantec Corporation. You can access the lectures for free.
What Do the Lectures Cover?
Thompson's topics include 'What is the History of Security Software,' 'Changes in Enterprise Software' and 'Customer Diversity is Essential.' Other cyber security topics include identification technology, anti-virus software and the need for affordable security technology for small firms.
The Entrepreneurship Corner website provides a list of Thompson's lectures, which can be viewed in video format at the website. The lectures can also be downloaded, once you sign up for it.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers an OpenCourseWare (OCW) version of the for-credit network and computer security course originally offered to graduate students. You can take this OCW non-credit course for free.
The course covers methods of providing security for computer networks and distributed computer systems. Other topics include e-mail and Web security.
You could complete five problem sets, some with solutions. The course provides lecture notes and readings from a textbook and several other publications. None of the assignments will be turned in.
Materials include a list of suggest textbooks and papers on cyber security. You will need special software to access some materials, such as file decompression software, Java and Keynote.
The Open University provides an introduction to information security course through the school's OpenLearn website. The non-credit course is based on the for-credit version originally taught to graduate students on campus.
The course explains why cyber security is important for organizations and reviews computer security techniques. You will develop an understanding of information security and learn to plan and implement protective systems.
The course includes several activities involving your organization's information security, such as assessing security policies and procedures that protect your organization's computer data. You will not receive credit or feedback for completing these activities.
Materials include short case studies of computer security issues that confront organizations. Diagrams depicting information security strategies are available. You may access readings on information security standards.
Information Assurance & Security
Information Security & Forensics
What are the 3 Top Cyber Security Schools?
Best Cyber Security Schools in the USA
Cyber Security Career and Salary Facts
Cybersecurity, MS
Computer Information Technology - Database Management, BS
Computer Information Technology - Networking, BS
Information Systems Management, BS
Computer Information Technology, AS
BS Business Studies in Computer Information Technology
Bachelor of Science Information Technologies - Des
BS Management Information Systems - IT Mgmt
M.A. in Law - Cybersecurity Law
M.A. in National Security Studies - Cybersecurity Policy
Accounting Fraud Investigation, BBA
Select a Very Specific Subject Computer Systems Security System Management System Networking Management Webmaster and Web Management
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Cyber Security Associate's Degree In a cyber security associate's degree program, you can learn about encryption, forensics, and...
How Can I Become a Cyber Security Specialist? Research what it takes to become a cyber security specialist. Learn about education and...
Best Online Schools for Cyber Security Get tips for finding the best cyber security programs with online components. Discover what you...
Online Cyber Security Degree Programs Cyber security provides the first line of defense for computer networked information against...
Cyber Security Bachelor's Degree Program Cyber security programs can prepare you to test and manage the security of computer networks. Get...
Cyber Security Colleges and Courses As a cyber security professional, you'll protect Internet consumers from various threats, such as...
Cyber Security Master's Degrees: Online and Campus-Based Programs
Security Contractor Requirements
Career Options with a Safety and Security Management MBA Degree
What Homeland Security Careers are Available?
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How Much Do Airport Security Jobs Pay?
What Does a Flight Attendant Do? - Video
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Norwegian Tanker Attacked In Gulf Of Oman, 3 Explosions Reported
The crews of two oil tankers were evacuated off the coast of Iran on Thursday after they were reportedly attacked and caught fire in the Gulf of Oman, sending w...
Source: ndtv.com
Here's the possible fallout from the Gulf of Oman tanker explosions The U.S. Navy is assisting two tankers that were reportedly attacked in the Gulf of Oman just south of Iran. John Kilduff, Again Capital founding partner and a CNBC contributor, joins "Squawk Box" to discuss....
Crew members of oil tanker Front Altair that was attacked in Gulf of Oman land in Dubai after 2 days in Iran. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Crew members of oil tanker Front Altair that was attacked in Gulf of Oman land in Dubai after 2 days in Iran. ....
Oil tanker crews abandon ship after 'reported attack' in Gulf of Oman amid tensions with Iran Two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz were reportedly attacked on Thursday, which left one ablaze and adrift as sailors were evacuated from both. ...
Crew Members of Attacked Norwegian-Owned Tanker Now in Dubai NICOSIA, Cyprus — Crew members of the Norwegian-owned oil tanker that was attacked in the Gulf of Oman landed Saturday in Dubai after two days in Iran. Associated Press journalists saw the crew members of the MT Front Altair after their Iran Ai...
The oil tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman Two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz were attacked Thursday, which left one ablaze and adrift as sailors were evacuated from both. ...
Two tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman Ships owned by companies in Norway and Singapore were attacked near the Gulf region's Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatic tensions had already been high since attacks on four vessels last month....
| Norwegian tanker Front Altair still afloat after reported attack: owner Norwegian tanker Front Altair was still afloat after a reported attack in the Gulf of Oman Thursday, the chief executive of the company that owns the vessel told AFP, denying reports it had sunk....
Report: US shipping tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman near Iran The "Squawk Box" team reports on the breaking news that the U.S. Navy is assisting two tankers that were reportedly attacked in the Gulf of Oman just south of Iran....
Tankers Attacked Again in Gulf of Oman, Raising Fears of Wider Conflict Two tankers have been hit, forcing their crews to abandon ship, near where four tankers were damaged last month. It was not clear who carried out the attacks....
Oil Tankers Attacked Again in Gulf of Oman, Raising Fears of Wider Conflict At least two tankers have been hit near where four tankers were damaged last month, according the Iranian news media and a shipping industry official....
U.S. Navy: assisting tankers after 'reported attack' in Gulf of Oman U.S. Naval forces are assisting tankers in the Gulf of Oman after receiving two distress calls on Thursday, the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet told Reuters....
Gulf of Oman oil tanker attack: US military releases video 'showing Iranian navy boat removing unexploded mine from tanker' The US has released a video which it claims shows an Iranian navy boat removing an unexploded mine from one of the oil tankers targeted in the Gulf of Oman....
China says nobody wants war after tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman Nobody wants war in the Gulf of Oman, China's foreign ministry said on Friday, calling on all sides to exercise restraint following attacks on oil tankers in those waters, and urging dialogue to resolve differences....
Nobody Wants War After Tanker Attacks In Gulf Of Oman: China Nobody wants war in the Gulf of Oman, China's foreign ministry said on Friday, calling on all sides to exercise restraint following attacks on oil tankers in those waters, and urging dialogue to......
US Navy says it is assisting 2 oil tankers targeted in ‘reported attack’ in Gulf of Oman DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — US Navy says it is assisting 2 oil tankers targeted in ‘reported attack’ in Gulf of Oman....
US Navy’s 5th Fleet says it is ‘aware of the reported attack on tankers in the Gulf of Oman’ DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — US Navy’s 5th Fleet says it is ‘aware of the reported attack on tankers in the Gulf of Oman’...
Why Tanker Blasts in the Gulf of Oman Have Put the World on Edge Unexplained explosions that crippled two tankers have raised alarms about potential military conflagration in the Middle East. How has that happened?...
Oil tanker filmed ablaze in the Gulf of Oman – video Two oil tankers have been hit in suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman and the crews evacuated, a month after a similar incident in which four tankers in the region were struck. In this video, one of the tankers can be seen on fire but still afloatTw...
US Blames Iran For Tanker Attacks In Gulf Of Oman Two oil tankers were attacked on Thursday and left adrift in the Gulf of Oman, driving up oil prices and stoking fears of a new confrontation between Iran and the United States, which blamed Tehran......
Oil prices jump 3% on tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman Attacks near the world's busiest sea lane for oil shipments come amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States and its Gulf allies....
India deploys two ships in Gulf of Oman after tanker attacks India's navy has deployed two ships in the Gulf of Oman to ensure safe passage for Indian-flagged vessels, the country's defense ministry said late on Thursday, a week after two oil tankers were attacked in the region....
Footage captures aftermath of Gulf of Oman tanker attack The U.S. Navy is assisting two tankers that were attacked in the Gulf of Oman just south of Iran. CNBC's Carl Quintanilla and Jim Cramer discuss what the possible fallout....
Iran rejects US blame for tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman Tehran has dismissed US accusations that the Iranian navy was behind attacks on tankers navigating the Straight of Hormuz as "baseless." Iran said their vessels had rushed to help the damaged ships and save their crews....
Frontline says its Front Altair tanker on fire in Gulf of Oman -VG The Norwegian shipping firm Frontline confirmed on Thursday that its oil tanker Front Altair was on fire after an incident in the Gulf of Oman, Norwegian newspaper VG reported, quoting a company spokesman....
Wall St. higher as oil surges after tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman U.S. stocks continued their climb on Thursday after two days of declines as energy shares gained on higher oil prices following suspected attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman....
Iran denies responsibility for the tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman The Trump administration is accusing Iran for the attacks on the shipping tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The attacks are the latest in a series in the region that the U.S. blames on Iran, despite the Iranian government's denials. CNBC's Kayla...
Jim Cramer: The Gulf of Oman tanker attack is a story about US oil independence The U.S. Navy is assisting two tankers that were attacked in the Gulf of Oman just south of Iran. CNBC's Jim Cramer and Carl Quintanilla discuss what this might mean for business and the markets....
US blames Iran for the twin tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman Two tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman just south of Iran on Wednesday. The Trump Administration has announced they hold Iran responsible for the attack. CNBC's Brian Sullivan reports....
Oil price jumps after Gulf of Oman tanker 'attacks' - business live Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as tanker fires send crude prices soaringOil tanker incident in Gulf of OmanTwo tankers hitOil jumps over 3%, lifting Brent crude to $62/barrelTanker manager: Crew safe after suspected attac...
Oil tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman fuel security, oil supply fears Two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, leaving one ablaze and both adrift, shipping firms said, driving oil prices as much as 4% higher over worries about Middle East supplies....
Mike Pompeo blames Iran for oil tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman US secretary of state accuses Tehran of ‘lashing out’Iran denies responsibility for early-morning attackThe US has blamed Iran for an early-morning assault on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, which ended a Japanese mediation effort and raised fears o...
Tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman fuel security, oil supply fears Attacks on two oil tankers on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman left one ablaze and both adrift, shipping firms said, driving oil prices up 4% over worries about Middle East supplies....
Pompeo Says Intelligence Points to Iran in Tanker Attack in Gulf of Oman The secretary of state offered no evidence, but said the actions fit into a pattern. The assertion is certain to fuel tensions between the Trump administration and Iranian leaders....
Qatar calls for international probe into tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman Qatar called for an international investigation into attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday and a de-escalation of tensions in the region....
Gulf of Oman oil tanker attacks fuel maritime security demand Maritime security firms have seen demand soar following the attacks on oil tankers on June 13. But defending ships from allegedly involved state-backed forces such as Iran's Revolutionary Guard may not be easy....
U.S. blames Iran for tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman, oil prices rise Two oil tankers were attacked on Thursday and left adrift in the Gulf of Oman, driving up oil prices and stoking fears of a new confrontation between Iran and the United States, which blamed Tehran for the incident....
Saudi crown prince blames Iran for Gulf of Oman tanker attacks Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is blaming Iran for last week's attack on two ships in the Gulf of Oman, calling on the international community to take a "firm stand towards an exponential regime that supports terrorism and spreads killing and...
UK-flagged tanker reported 'safe and well' after stop in Gulf The UK-flagged supertanker Pacific Voyager that halted in the Gulf on Saturday is "safe and well," a British official told Reuters, after Iran dismissed reports its Revolutionary Guards had seized the vessel....
UK-flagged tanker stopped in Gulf reported 'safe and well' UK-flagged supertanker Pacific Voyager which halted in the Gulf on Saturday is "safe and well", a British official told Reuters, after Iran dismissed reports its Revolutionary Guards had seized the vessel....
Benchmark Brent crude oil rises 4% in trading to over $62 a barrel after oil tanker incident in Gulf of Oman DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Benchmark Brent crude oil rises 4% in trading to over $62 a barrel after oil tanker incident in Gulf of Oman....
Iranian vessel removed unexploded mine from stricken oil tanker in Gulf of Oman, US officials say An Iranian vessel removed an unexploded mine that had been attached to a Japanese-owned oil tanker which suffered serious damage after an explosion in the Gulf of Oman early Thursday, U.S. officials told Fox News....
Japan shipping company Kokuka Sangyo says its tanker was attacked in Gulf The president of the Japanese shipping company Kokuka Sangyo Ltd said one of its tankers had been attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, its president told reporters at a news conference....
Gulf of Oman oil tanker attack: US accuses Iran of trying to shoot down surveillance drone during suspected attacks The US military has accused Iran of trying to shoot down a US drone to disrupt surveillance during suspected attacks oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman....
Gulf of Oman oil tanker fire: Dozens of sailors evacuated amid explosion after two ships hit in suspected attack Forty-four sailors have been evacuated from two ships in the Gulf of Oman this morning after the vessels were hit in a suspected attack, according to reports....
US Navy assists 2 tankers after 'reported attack' in Gulf of Oman amid tensions with Iran Two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz were reportedly attacked on Thursday, which left one ablaze and adrift as sailors were evacuated from both. ...
U.S. blames Iran for tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman, Iran rejects assertion The United States blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday that drove up oil prices and raised concerns about a new U.S.-Iranian confrontation, but Tehran bluntly denied the allegation....
US aviation agency says US-registered aircraft barred from parts of Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman amid Iran tensions DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — US aviation agency says US-registered aircraft barred from parts of Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman amid Iran tensions....
Fire, explosions at Philadelphia oil refinery; no injuries reported It’s the second fire at the refinery in one month, following a June 10 fire in which no injuries were reported. ...
Fire, explosions at Philadelphia oil refinery caused by butane vat; no injuries reported It’s the second fire at the refinery in one month, following a June 10 fire in which no injuries were reported. ...
Blast-hit Norwegian tanker's crew land in Dubai Crew members of Frontline's oil tanker Front Altair, one of two vessels attacked this week in the Gulf of Oman, have landed in Dubai, the Norwegian ship's operator said on Saturday....
Iranian lawmaker says explosions at UAE port show Gulf security is fragile A senior Iranian lawmaker said on Sunday that explosions near Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates showed that the security of Gulf states is fragile....
UPDATE 1-Blast-hit Norwegian tanker's crew land in Dubai Crew members of Frontline's oil tanker Front Altair, one of two vessels attacked this week in the Gulf of Oman, have landed in Dubai, the Norwegian ship's operator said on Saturday....
How the Oman tanker attack played out The attack on two tankers in a vital Gulf of Oman waterway Thursday comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran in the oil-rich region and raises concerns of a potential conflict in the Middle East....
Assault reported at Dominican resort where woman says she was attacked A Pennsylvania man claims a pair of would-be robbers savagely attacked him at the same Dominican Republic resort where a Delaware mom claims she was savagely beaten. Robert Walker of New Castle said he was ambushed walking alone back to his room at t...
US Navy assisting two tankers targeted in Gulf of Oman DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, were reportedly attacked on Thursday, the U.S. Navy said, with one adrift and on fire amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and a...
Iran will get the blame, but the Gulf of Oman truth is likely a lot murkier As the plumes rise from a brazen attack in the Gulf of Oman, oil brokers and diplomats are panicking about another lurch toward confrontation In the Middle East. Why it happened and who did it is not easy to explain, not least because it doesn't appe...
Reports of Incident in Gulf of Oman Send Oil Prices Up A U.K. maritime safety group early Thursday warned of an unspecified incident in the Gulf of Oman, as tensions remain high between the U.S. and Iran following an attack on four tankers in the region last month....
Latest on suspected attacks on tankers in Gulf of Oman Here is the latest from Reuters on suspected attacks on two tankers on Thursday south of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the Middle East's oil is shipped:...
Two oil tankers struck in suspected attacks in Gulf of Oman Sailors evacuated from two tankers in distress near the strategic Strait of HormuzTwo oil tankers have been hit in suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman and the crews evacuated, a month after a similar incident in which four tankers in the region wer...
UPDATE 1-GCC bonds weaker after tankers hit in Gulf of Oman International bonds issued by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments weakened on Thursday after two tankers were hit in suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman, a month after a similar incident in which four tankers in the region were struck....
Britain blames Iran for attacks on tankers in Gulf of Oman Britain blamed Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Friday for attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Oman, saying no other state or non-state actor could have been responsible....
Iran-US dispute grows over attacks on oil tankers in Gulf of Oman Tensions remain high as Arab League calls for restraint – and Labour warns of UK being drawn into conflictDivisions over responsibility for last week’s attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman deepened this weekend amid warnings over the danger ...
UK maritime safety body investigating 'incident' in Gulf of Oman An oil tanker managed by Bermuda based shipping company Frontline suffered a fire on Thursday morning while sailing through the Gulf of Oman, a spokesman for the company told CNN on Thursday....
Factbox: Latest on suspected attacks on tankers in Gulf of Oman Here is the latest from Reuters on suspected attacks on two tankers on Thursday south of the Strait of Hormuz, through which almost a fifth of the world's oil is shipped:...
Pompeo: Iran responsible for attack on oil tankers in Gulf of Oman Two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz were reportedly attacked on Thursday, which left one ablaze and adrift as sailors were evacuated from both. ...
US Navy Receives Distress Calls From 2 Ships In Gulf Of Oman The US Fifth Fleet said on Thursday that its vessels in the Middle East have received distress calls from two tankers reportedly under attack in the Gulf of Oman....
India deploys destroyer, patrol vessel to Gulf of Oman The Indian Navy said Friday it has deployed two warships to the Gulf of Oman to protect the country's shipping vessels amid heightened tensions in the Middle East....
| US navy says received distress calls from two ships in Gulf of Oman The US Fifth Fleet has said that its vessels in the Middle East have received distress calls from two tankers reportedly under attack in the Gulf of Oman....
Egypt condemns attack on oil tankers in Gulf of Oman: foreign ministry Egypt condemned on Thursday any acts that undermine the safety of waterways in the Gulf region, the foreign ministry said, after two oil tankers were attacked and left adrift in the Gulf of Oman....
Iran targeted and missed US drone flying over Gulf of Oman: officials Iran targeted and missed a US drone flying over the Gulf of Oman shortly after the Thursday attack on two tankers there, US officials said. The unmanned aircraft was responding to a distress signal from one of the crippled ships, the officials said t...
Two oil tankers struck in suspected attacks in Gulf of Oman: shipping firms Two oil tankers were hit in suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman and the crews have been evacuated, shipping firms and industry sources said on Thursday, a month after a similar incident in which four tankers in the region were struck....
Saudi Airlines shift flights away from Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz Saudi Arabian Airlines has altered the path of its international flights away from the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya said on Sunday, citing its own correspondent....
Gulf of Oman Attacks Force Shipping Firms to Tighten Security Governments and tanker companies are stepping up efforts to protect shipping lanes after tankers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, through which more than a third of the world’s seaborne oil is shipped....
WW3 fears mount as Iran 'launches missile at US drone' in Gulf of Oman THE crisis in the Gulf of Oman continues to escalate after US officials accused Iran of firing a surface-to-air at one of their drones in the region....
Iran responsible for 'blatant assault' on oil tankers in Gulf of Oman, Mike Pompeo says The suspected attack on two oil tankers off the Gulf of Oman early Thursday came amid U.S. officials’ warnings that Iran is posing an “imminent” risk in the region, reiterating fears of a possible military confrontation with Iran....
Britain urgently seeking facts on reports of tankers hit in Gulf of Oman: PM's spokesman Britain is aware of the reports of two tankers being hit in suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman and is seeking urgently to establish the facts of what happened, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Thursday....
Saudi Oil Tankers Attacked Before Entering Persian Gulf Two Saudi Arabian oil tankers suffered significant damage in an attack over the weekend near the Strait of Hormuz, the kingdom’s energy minister said, amid heightened military tensions in the Persian Gulf....
Ships in Gulf were attacked, other vessels at risk: INTERTANKO The tanker association INTERTANKO said on Thursday that two vessels had been attacked in the Middle East and there were growing worries for the safety of ships and their crews sailing through the Strait of Hormuz....
German airline Lufthansa says planes won’t fly over Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman after shooting down of US drone BERLIN (AP) — German airline Lufthansa says planes won’t fly over Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman after shooting down of US drone....
Taiwan's CPC says tanker carrying naphtha attacked in Middle East An oil tanker chartered by Taiwan's state oil refiner CPC Corp to carry fuel from the Middle East was attacked earlier on Thursday, a senior company official said....
Taiwan's CPC sees little impact after tanker attacked in Middle East Taiwan's state oil refiner CPC Corp said on Friday it was still accessing the damage to a tanker it had charted to carry fuel from the Middle East that was suspected to have been attacked, while the company expected little impact to its supplies....
Iran Airs Footage Of Attacked Tanker's Crew, Say They're In "Full Health" Iran's English-language Press TV aired footage of rescued crew members of one of the two tankers attacked in the Sea of Oman Thursday, saying they are all in "full health."...
Australia’s Qantas reroutes flights away from Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman after Iran shot down US military drone DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Australia’s Qantas reroutes flights away from Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman after Iran shot down US military drone....
UK maritime safety group warns of unspecified incident in Gulf of Oman, urges ‘extreme caution’ amid US-Iran tensions DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — UK maritime safety group warns of unspecified incident in Gulf of Oman, urges ‘extreme caution’ amid US-Iran tensions....
Owner of Japanese oil tanker attacked in Strait of Hormuz says its crew saw Iranian naval vessel nearby TOKYO (AP) — Owner of Japanese oil tanker attacked in Strait of Hormuz says its crew saw Iranian naval vessel nearby....
Tanker attacks in the Gulf — evidence or warmongering? For the US government, it is clear that Iran is responsible for the explosions on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. As proof, a video and 13 photos have been published so far. What do they show? DW investigates....
Iran says it came to help of disabled foreign oil tanker in the Gulf Iranian navy vessels came to the assistance of a disabled foreign oil tanker in the Gulf that needed repairs, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying on Tuesday by the semi-official news agency ISNA....
US Navy explosives expert: Investigators have recovered fingerprints, hand print from attacked Japanese-owned oil tanker US NAVY 5th FLEET BASE NEAR FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — US Navy explosives expert: Investigators have recovered fingerprints, hand print from attacked Japanese-owned oil tanker....
GCC bonds weak on news of tankers hit in Gulf of Oman, Aramco bonds down International bonds issued by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments were down on Thursday after two tankers were hit in suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman, a month after a similar incident in which four tankers in the region were struck....
Pope urges restraint in Gulf after tanker attacks Pope Francis called for restraint and a lowering of tensions in the Middle East on Sunday following attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman that have raised fears of a broader confrontation in the region....
Russia Blames US Over British Oil Tanker Incident In Gulf Russia on Thursday blamed Washington for the escalation in tensions with Tehran after Britain said Iranian ships had attempted to impede a British oil tanker in Gulf waters....
Wall St. climbs as oil jumps after Gulf tanker attacks U.S. stocks rose on Thursday after two days of declines, as energy shares rebounded with oil on concerns of a supply disruption following attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman....
Iranian boats 'harass' British tanker in the Gulf: U.S. officials Five boats believed to belong to Iranian Revolutionary Guards approached a British oil tanker in the Gulf on Wednesday and asked it to stop in Iranian waters close by, but withdrew after a British warship warned them, U.S. officials said....
Iranian ships tried to block British oil tanker in Persian Gulf Iranian ships attempted to obstruct a British-flagged commercial oil tanker as it sailed in the Persian Gulf, Britain's Defense Ministry said. ...
U.N. chief calls for independent probe into Gulf tanker attacks United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Friday for an independent investigation to establish the facts and who was responsible for attacks on two oil tankers this week in the Gulf of Oman....
Iranian Boats Tried to Block British Tanker in Persian Gulf, U.K. Says The Iranian vessels only turned away after receiving warnings from a British Navy ship accompanying a commercial tanker, the government said in a statement....
Iranian boats harass British tanker in the Gulf: US officials Five boats believed to belong to Iranian Revolutionary Guards approached a British oil tanker in the Gulf on Wednesday and asked it to stop in Iranian waters close by, but withdrew after a British warship warned them, U.S. officials said....
Oil surges on Gulf tanker attacks, Treasury yields fall Oil futures jumped on Thursday after suspected attacks on two tankers off the coast of Iran, while U.S. Treasury yields edged lower as economic data seemed to strengthen the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this year....
Trump says 'Iran did do it,' as U.S. seeks support on Gulf oil tanker attacks The United States on Friday blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers at the entrance to the Gulf and said it was seeking international consensus about the threat to shipping, despite Tehran denying involvement in the explosions at sea....
Wall Street climbs as oil jumps after Gulf tanker attacks U.S. stocks continued to gain on Thursday after two days of declines, as energy shares turned attractive after oil prices rose sharply on concerns of supply disruption following suspected attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman....
Oil surges after Gulf tanker attacks, stocks claw higher Suspected attacks on two tankers off the coast of Iran saw oil markets erupt out of their recent slump on Thursday and kept traders gobbling up ultra-safe government bonds, gold and the Japanese yen....
US proposes tanker protection force in wake of Gulf attacks Trump official seeks to isolate Iran as Washington plans further sanctionsThe US is to propose an international maritime Gulf protection force, its special envoy on Iran has said, as the Trump administration prepared to announce fresh economic sancti...
3 Iranian Boats Tried to Block British Tanker in Persian Gulf, U.K. Says The Iranian vessels only turned away after receiving “verbal warnings” from a British Navy vessel accompanying a commercial vessel, the government said in a statement....
Tanker Kokuka Courageous damaged in Gulf incident: manager The Kokuka Courageous tanker was damaged in a security incident in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, a spokesman for the vessel's manager BSM Ship Management (Singapore) said....
Oil tanker owners DHT and Heidmar halt new bookings to Mid-East Gulf Oil tanker owners DHT Holdings and Heidmar have suspended new bookings to the Mid-East Gulf, three ship brokers said, following suspected attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday....
British oil tanker in the Gulf ‘harassed’ by Iranian boats: U.S. officials The incident occurred almost a week after British Royal Marines boarded an Iranian tanker, Grace 1, off Gibraltar and seized it on suspicion that it was breaking sanctions by taking oil to Syria....
Saudi Arabia demands 'decisive' response to Gulf oil tanker attacks Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said the vital oil supply routes in the Gulf must be protected following "terrorist acts." G20 ministers have sought to downplay fears of possible disruption....
US Navy Says Mine Fragments Suggest Iran Behind Gulf Tanker Attack The United States sought on Wednesday to bolster its case for isolating Iran over its nuclear and regional activities by displaying limpet mine fragments it said came from a damaged oil tanker and......
Iran dismisses reports about seizure of a British oil tanker in Gulf: IRIB Iran has dismissed as "fabricated" reports of the seizure of a British oil tanker in the Gulf, Iran's IRIB news agency quoted unnamed sources as saying....
REFILE-UPDATE 2-Tanker attacks cause jitters among Gulf bond investors International bonds issued by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states weakened on Thursday after two tankers were hit in suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman, a month after a similar incident in which four tankers in the region were struck....
Oil surges on Gulf tanker attacks; stocks rise on Fed rate cut expectations Oil futures rose on Thursday after attacks on two tankers off the coast of Iran, while the U.S. Treasury yield curve steepened and stocks rose following economic data that was seen as strengthening the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rat...
U.S. Blames Iran for Oil Tanker Attacks Near Persian Gulf, Secretary of State Says (WASHINGTON) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the U.S. believes that Iran is responsible for attacks that damaged two oil tankers near the Persian Gulf. Pompeo said at a news conference Thursday in Washington that the attacks on the s...
U.S. Navy says mine fragments suggest Iran behind Gulf tanker attack The United States sought on Wednesday to bolster its case for isolating Iran over its nuclear and regional activities by displaying limpet mine fragments it said came from a damaged oil tanker and saying the ordnance looked Iranian in origin....
Important To Know Truth: UN Chief Pushes For Probe Of Gulf Tanker Attacks UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday pressed for an investigation to establish those responsible for a spate of suspected attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf that has raised fears of war....
U.S. Navy says mine fragments, magnet point to Iran in Gulf tanker attack The United States Navy on Wednesday displayed limpet mine fragments and a magnet it said it had removed from one of two oil tankers attacked in the Gulf of Oman last week, saying the mines bore a striking resemblance to Iranian ones....
Iran sends team to tanker in Gulf to see if rescued crew can return: Tasnim Iran said on Friday it had dispatched experts to one oil tanker from which it rescued crew members from a fire caused by an attack to see whether they could now return to the vessel....
Iran's Revolutionary Guards deny trying to stop British tanker in Gulf-Fars news Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards rejected on Thursday a U.S. claim that they tried to stop a British tanker in the Gulf a day earlier, the Guards said in a statement carried by the semi-official Fars news agency....
Iran's Revolutionary Guards deny trying to stop British tanker in Gulf - Fars news Iran's Revolutionary Guards rejected on Thursday a U.S. claim that they tried to stop a British tanker in the Gulf a day earlier, the semi-official Fars news agency reported....
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose trains guns on Iranian ships trying to divert British tanker in Gulf A Royal Navy frigate trained its guns on three Iranian boats seeking to force an oil tanker off its route through the Strait of Hormuz, it emerged today....
Iranian IRGC boats tried, failed to seize British oil tanker in Persian Gulf, senior US defense official says Five Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats tried to seize a British oil tanker in the Persian Gulf Wednesday but backed off after a British warship approached, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News....
Syria's Raqqa rocked by explosions: NGO Syria's northern city of Raqqa, a former stronghold of the "Islamic State" (IS) group, has been hit by two bomb blasts, killing 10 people, said a rights watchdog. No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks....
Man arrested in explosions that have rattled community BANGOR, Pa. (AP) — A man has been arrested in connection with a series of small explosions that have rattled a community in eastern Pennsylvania. Police in Washington Township in Northampton County say the FBI and local police took 44-year-old Jason ...
Nepal explosions kill 3, at least 8 injured No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts, but police suspect a political splinter group. Three people have died and several others have been wounded....
Nepal explosions kill three, at least eight injured No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts but police suspect a splinter political group. Three people have perished and several others wounded....
A New Chapter for Norwegian Air? Troubled budget airline Norwegian Air is trying to turn the page: Its chief executive is stepping down and flights between the U.S. and Europe are finally becoming more profitable. But investors shouldn’t hold their breath....
US withdraws train crew proposal that came after explosions BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Trump administration is withdrawing a proposal for freight trains to have at least two crew members, which was drafted in response to explosions of crude oil trains in the U.S. and Canada. Department of Transportation offic...
Small fire still burning at site of oil refinery explosions PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Officials say a very small fire continues to burn at a Philadelphia refinery following explosions and a pre-dawn blaze that shook homes and caused some minor injuries. Philadelphia Energy Solutions said Saturday that workers are t...
11 Killed, 25 Injured as Explosions Rock Somalia’s Capital MOGADISHU, Somalia — A pair of explosions rocked Somalia’s capital and left 11 people dead, the country’s police chief said Saturday, as the al-Qaida-linked extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility. Another 25 people were wo...
Explosions near Syrian capital in apparent Israeli strikes Syrian state media is reporting that several explosions were heard in the capital Damascus as the country’s air defenses opened fire on “objects” coming from the direction of Israel...
Fire at Oil Refinery in South Philadelphia Causes Massive Explosions A massive fire rocked an oil refinery in South Philadelphia early Friday morning, causing explosions that could be felt as far away as New Jersey, according to early news reports. No evacuations have been issued for the area, but those in neighborhoo...
Nepal on high alert for general strike after explosions KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Security forces in Nepal are on high alert amid a general strike called by an outlawed communist group suspected in a series of explosions that killed four people and wounded seven more in the capital. Schools and main markets...
41,000 portable speakers recalled after multiple reports of explosions About 41,000 portable speakers are being recalled after the company received five reports of explosions from the devices, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said....
8 killed, at least 16 wounded as explosions rock Somalia’s capital MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — 8 killed, at least 16 wounded as explosions rock Somalia’s capital....
8 killed, 16 hurt as explosions rock Somalia’s capital MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — An ambulance service says eight people are dead after a pair of explosions in Somalia’s capital. Dr. Abdiqadir Aden with the Aamin ambulance says another 16 people were wounded, some seriously, in Saturday’s blas...
Trump Accuses Iran in Explosions That Crippled Oil Tankers In his first public comments since two ships were damaged by explosions, the president said “Iran did do it” and warned Tehran against closing the Strait of Hormuz....
Massachusetts gas company reaches $80M settlement for explosions, fires A gas company responsible for an explosion that cause dozens of house fires and killed at least one person last year reached an $80 million settlement with the affected communities Tuesday....
Explosions of universe’s first stars spewed powerful jets Several hundred million years after the Big Bang, the very first stars flared into the universe as massively bright accumulations of hydrogen and helium gas. Within the cores of these first stars, extreme, thermonuclear reactions forged the first hea...
Three killed, six injured in two explosions in Nepali capital-police Three people were killed and six others injured on Sunday in two separate explosions in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, and police said they suspected a Maoist splinter group may have been responsible....
Fire crews dodge SC fireworks store explosions Firefighters had to dodge exploding rockets to douse a spectacular fire that destroyed containers of fireworks stored for sale in Fort Mill, S.C. on the Fourth of July. (July 4) ...
A Norwegian City Wants to Abolish Time Every day, the Earth rotates. The Sun appears on the horizon in the morning, and then some time later, it sets. We’ve built our lives and societies around this periodicity, with days that are divided into hours, minutes, and seconds, all kept track o...
Iranian lawmaker says 'saboteurs from a third country' may be behind Fujairah explosions: IRNA A senior Iranian lawmaker said on Monday that "saboteurs from a third country" could be behind explosions near Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates....
Explosions cause partial collapse of dorm at University of Nevada, Reno Classes were canceled and several people suffered minor injuries Friday after a utilities explosion caused the partial collapse of a student dormitory at the University of Nevada, Reno....
Explosions heard in Syrian capital apparent Israeli strikes Syrian state media is reporting that several explosions were heard in the capital Damascus as the country's air defenses opened fire on "objects" coming from the direction of Israel....
Controlled explosions demolish remains of collapsed Italy bridge Six seconds of controlled explosions wiped out the remains of a collapsed bridge in the northern Italian city of Genoa on Friday, paving the way for a new structure to replace the ageing viaduct that gave way last year, killing 43 people....
Billowing fire, explosions at oil refinery shake South Philadelphia A billowing fire and series of explosions at a South Philadelphia oil-refining complex, the largest on the Eastern Seaboard, shook homes as far away as southern New Jersey Friday morning. The blaze started in a vat of butane, which exploded and prom...
Explosions rock Syria’s northern city of Raqqa, killing 10 BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian opposition activists are reporting that two explosions killed 10 people in the northern city of Raqqa. The Saturday night blasts occurred in two different locations in the city that was once the de facto capital of the Islamic St...
After explosions, Brazil power transmission companies remove GE equipment After an unusual number of explosions, several Brazilian power transmission companies have started removing a piece of equipment made by General Electric Co, a blow for GE's Brazil unit as it battles competing suppliers from China and India....
Massive Fire Breaks Out At Philadelphia Oil Refinery, Triggers Explosions A massive fire erupted at a crude oil refinery in Philadelphia on Friday morning, triggering several explosions and sending flames high into the sky. Philadelphia...
There aren’t enough space explosions to explain strange radio bursts Weird flashes of radio waves from space could in theory be coming from huge explosions, but now we know the radio bursts occur too often for that idea to work...
Shell fined for explosions, gas leak at Dutch chemical plant THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch court has fined oil giant Shell 2.5 million euros ($2.8 million) for breaching Dutch labor and environmental laws in a case linked to two explosions and a gas leak at a chemical plant south of Rotterdam. The East...
Bol surprises Norwegian favourites for Stage 1 victory "Patience paid off for Sunweb sprinter Cees Bol, who out-flanked duelling Norwegian rivals Alexander Kristoff and Edvald Boasson Hagen to claim the opening stage win in Egersund …"...
Police say abducted Norwegian woman probably murdered Investigator says kidnapping possibly staged to disguise killing of Anne-Elisabeth Hagen, wife of wealthy investorThe wife of a wealthy Norwegian businessman who disappeared nearly eight months ago was probably killed and the murder made to look like...
Norwegian Air Replaces CEO, Forecasts Lower Growth Norwegian Air Shuttle, the budget carrier that made a splash with cheap fares between the U.S. and Europe, said founder Bjorn Kjos was stepping down as chief executive, as it reported sharply lower earnings, reduced its growth guidance and took a lar...
RPT-UPDATE 3-Norwegian Air CEO and co-founder Kjos quits top job Norwegian Air's Bjoern Kjos stepped down on Thursday as chief executive of the airline he co-founded and turned into Europe's third-biggest budget carrier by passenger numbers....
RPT-Equinor drills dry well in Norwegian Arctic area Equinor has drilled a dry well near its Korpfjell gas find in the Norwegian Arctic, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said on Monday, in an area near the offshore border with Russia the company had hoped would contain oil....
Fire burns out of control at Philadelphia refinery amid reports of explosions A fire was burning out of control at an oil refinery in Pennsylvania on Friday morning, a Philadelphia fire department official said, as NBC Philadelphia reported a series of explosions on site....
Norwegian oil workers agree pay deal, averting strike Norwegian oil workers struck a wage deal with employers on Tuesday, averting the outbreak of a strike that would have cut production by 440,000 barrels of oil equivalents per day (boed), the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association announced....
Equinor says production starts at Trestakk field in Norwegian Sea Production on the Trestakk oil and gas field on Haltenbanken in the Norwegian sea has started, operator Equinor said on Tuesday, adding that the project had come in under budget....
Norwegian Islanders Want to Go ‘Time-Free’ During Summer Months (COPENHAGEN, Denmark) — Residents of a Norwegian island where the sun doesn’t set for 69 days of the year want to go “time-free” and have more flexible school and working hours to make the most of their long summer days. Peopl...
Norwegian startups flocking to New York for lower tax rates The Norwegians are coming to New York with startup companies, fresh ideas and millions in capital. And hundreds of these startups are raring to go, say business executives. The city is the gateway for a growing number of fledgling companies from Norw...
Caroline Graham Hansen: the tireless Norwegian out to run down England The winger, recently signed by Barcelona, will be Norway’s biggest threat in the absence of Ada HegerbergCaroline Graham Hansen has never lacked confidence. When she was younger she played in the same team as the boys and one of their parents complai...
Han Kang buries new manuscript in Norwegian forest until 2114 Novelist presented the Future Library manuscript wrapped in a ceremonial cloth as used in South Korean rites marking birth and deathInstead of launching her latest work in a bookshop surrounded by readers, the award-winning South Korean novelist Han ...
2 Norwegian shipping executives indicted in antitrust case BALTIMORE (AP) — Two Norwegian shipping executives have been indicted on charges that they participated in a sprawling antitrust conspiracy. The case against the two Norwegian businessmen has been unsealed in federal court in Baltimore. It’s pa...
Norwegian diplomat pushes Venezuela talks against the odds BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Any negotiated settlement to Venezuela*s protracted crisis will likely be reached with the help of a self-effacing Scandinavian diplomat with a fondness for distance running. Dag Nylander is leading the exploratory talks betwe...
Fly to Europe and Back Starting At $226 With This Norwegian Airlines Sale Flying to Europe for your next vacation could be cheaper than flying to somewhere domestic. Norwegian Airlines is currently running a US-to-Europe sale with roundtrip fares to be found for as low as $226....
Large Norwegian Teen Scores Nine Goals In One Game In U-20 World Cup This is Erling Braut Håland. The 6-foot-3 Norwegian is 18 years old, and he looks like a lock to be cast as Thor in the certainly forthcoming Teen Avengers movie. He also scored nine times in today’s game against Honduras in the U-20 World Cup as Nor...
UPDATE 2-Norwegian Air filled more seats in June, shares rise Norwegian Air filled more seats on its planes than expected in June, compensating for a dip in passenger numbers due to the ongoing grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX jets, sending its shares higher on Thursday....
Millennials want to cruise. How Norwegian is attracting these savvy young travelers The cruise industry is the fastest-growing category in the leisure travel market. Estimated at $45 billion in 2018, cruise vacations attracted more than 26M travelers last year. How Norwegian has buoyed a top spot in this fiercely competitive market....
Norwegian Air expects Boeing 737 MAX fleet to remain grounded until end of August Norwegian Air expects Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft to remain grounded until at least the end of August, missing the European summer season, CEO Bjoern Kjos said on Friday....
Norwegian Refugee Council: More people displaced by fighting, disasters than ever before More people have been displaced in their home countries by events like war, violence and natural disasters than at any other time in history, a new report said Friday....
Residents of Norwegian island where sun doesn't set for 69 days in a row want to go 'time-free' Residents of a Norwegian island where the sun doesn't set for 69 days of the year want to go "time-free" and have more flexible school and working hours to make the most of their long summer days....
Norwegian tycoon's wife abduction may have been faked, was likely killed, police say Authorities in Norway have shifted course in the investigation of the alleged abduction of the wife of one of the country's richest men, revealing on Wednesday they believe she may have killed and her kidnapping may have been staged....
Watch: Norwegian teen scores record nine goals at U-20 World Cup Norwegian teen Erling Braut Haland had a triple hat-trick in a 12-0 victory against Honduras during the group stage of the 2019 U-20 World Cup in Poland....
UPDATE 1-Norwegian oil workers agree pay deal, averting strike Norwegian oil workers struck a wage deal with employers on Tuesday, averting the outbreak of a strike that would have cut production by 440,000 barrels of oil equivalents per day (boed), the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association (NOG) announced....
Environment activists block entrance to Norwegian central bank Protesters from the environmental group Extinction Rebellion blocked access to Norway's central bank on Friday, demanding that its $1 trillion wealth fund, the world's largest, stop investing in companies that burn coal....
Wife of Norwegian tycoon is likely dead after fake abduction, cops say A Norwegian tycoon’s wife who was believed to have been kidnapped eight months ago was likely killed, according to police, who said it’s possible her abduction was staged to hide her death. Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen, who is married to...
US official: Initial assessment suggests Iran was involved in Middle East ship explosions WASHINGTON (AP) — US official: Initial assessment suggests Iran was involved in Middle East ship explosions....
Beluga whale in mystery harness harasses Norwegian boats – video Marine specialists believe this white beluga whale filmed approaching fishing boats in Norway could have received military-grade training by the Russian navy. The whale, which was first sighted near the Norwegian village of Inga, was wearing a strang...
Norwegian Officials Are Worried This Beluga Whale Escaped From the Russian Military (COPENHAGEN, Denmark) — A beluga whale found with a tight harness that appeared to be Russian made has raised the alarm of Norwegian officials and prompted speculation that the animal may have escaped from a Russian military facility. Joergen R...
IRCTC Norwegian Getaway Cruise: Package Cost, Itinerary Details Here IRCTCNorwegian Getaway Cruise's tour package cost is Rs 3,16,365 per person on triple occupancy basis and covers destinations like Finland, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russian Federation and Sweden....
Exxon Mobil says may sell all stakes in offshore Norwegian fields -newspaper Exxon Mobil is considering selling all of the stakes it holds in oil and gas fields off the Norwegian coast, a company spokesman told business daily Dagens Naeringsliv....
Norwegian Fishermen Discover Beluga Whale That Might Be Working with the Russian Navy Norwegian fishermen discovered a beluga whale wearing a harness off the country’s northern coast last week. The fishermen were fascinated with how tame it was, but there might be a good reason that it was comfortable around humans. Scientists from No...
Norwegian Epic cruise passenger goes overboard in Mediterranean Sea; search for woman called off A woman went overboard from the Norwegian Epic cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea over the weekend, and in a grim development, officials called off the search for her on Sunday....
Norwegian Air drops high heel, makeup requirement for female flight attendants Norwegian Air has dropped a policy requiring female flight attendants to wear high heels and makeup. Men can also now wear makeup. ...
Thousands of Norwegian Cruise Line passengers stranded in Barcelona after technical issue Norwegian Cruise Line is apologizing to customers for canceling a cruise in Spain, days before it was supposed to end in Italy. ...
Norwegian Cruises authorities are searching for cruise ship passenger who went overboard near Spain SVEIN OVE EKORNESVAAG/AFP/Getty Images Authorities are reportedly searching for a cruise ship passenger who went overboard in the Mediterranean Sea. NBC News reported that Cruise Norwegian launched a rescue mission Saturday after receiving a report ...
Powered by nature: Norwegian cruise operator signs rotten fish biogas deal Norwegian cruise ship operator Hurtigruten has signed a 7.5-year deal to buy liquefied biogas (LBG) made from dead fish and other organic waste to help power its vessels, the firm said on Thursday....
Oman says it will reopen its embassy in Iraq DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Oman says it will reopen its embassy in Iraq, decades after it closed its diplomatic post. Oman’s Foreign Ministry made the announcement on Twitter on Sunday night. The sultanate, on the eastern edge of the Ar...
Police say Oman-Dubai bus crashes, killing 17 in UAE DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Police in Dubai say 17 people were killed when bus from Oman crashed in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai police announced the death toll in tweets published early Friday. Police say the bus crashed into a sign on She...
The Latest: Oman says it’s working to ease US-Iran tensions ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Latest on developments in the Persian Gulf region and elsewhere in the Mideast amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran (all times local): 12:20 p.m. Oman’s Foreign Ministry says it’s working to “ease ...
The Latest: US Navy assisting 2 targeted tankers in Oman Sea DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Latest on Mideast developments amid rising tensions in the Persian Gulf region (all times local): 11:25 a.m. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet says it is assisting two oil tankers targeted in the “reported a...
The Latest: Oman says it will open embassy in West Bank MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — The Latest on developments surrounding a U.S.-hosted conference in Bahrain about Washington’s economic plan for the Palestinians (all times local): 9:55 a.m. The sultanate of Oman has announced it will open an embassy in ...
6 Of Maharashtra Family, On Visit To Oman, Swept Away In Flash Floods Six members of a family from Maharashtra's Beed district have been swept away in flash floods in the Gulf nation of Oman where they had gone on a visit, Mumbai Police said Monday....
Oman Air plans Airbus talks unless Boeing provides 737 Max support plan Oman Air CEO Abdulaziz Al Raisi plans to hold talks with Airbus if Boeing does not provide a support and recovery plan for its grounded 737 MAX planes before June 17, a statement by the Omani company said on Friday....
Hyderabad Woman Rescued From Oman After 5 Months, Thanks Sushma Swaraj A woman from Hyderabad who was trafficked to Oman on the pretext of a job was rescued after five months. Kulsum Banu thanked External Affairs Ministers Sushma Swaraj for her help in the matter....
Oman says 3 arrested for allegedly setting deadly house fire Police in Oman say three people have been arrested over allegedly setting a deadly house fire in the sultanate that killed a mother and her two children....
Oman following Yemen escalation with 'great concern': Omani media Oman is following with "great concern the military escalation" in Yemen's war as well as a missile strike on Saudi Arabia's Abha airport, the Oman TV News website said on Friday, citing a Foreign Ministry source....
Norwegian pop singer Sigrid's new video stars the video's director because her flight got delayed One must adapt when something goes wrong. For director Max Siedentopf, that meant starring in his own music video. Siedentopf was hired to direct the video for Sigrid’s “Mine Right Now,” but, as the Norwegian singer clarifies in a message before the ...
Love 'Aladdin'? Get to know the new Abu, Rajah and that goofy Norwegian prince Adorable Abu and hilarious Dalia are exactly what we wished for in Disney's live-action remake. We shine a light on the unsung stars of 'Aladdin.' ...
Oman author Joka Alharthi wins Booker International Prize LONDON (AP) — An author from Oman has won the prestigious Man Booker International Prize for “Celestial Bodies,” the story of three sisters and of a desert country confronting its slave-owning past and a complex modern world. Jokha Alhart...
Oman author Jokha Alharthi wins Booker International Prize An author from Oman has won the prestigious Man Booker International Prize for “Celestial Bodies,” the story of three sisters in a desert country moving from slave-owning traditional society and complex modern nation...
Cyclone Vayu Changed Course, Has Moved To Oman: Gujarat Chief Minister Cyclone Vayu lay centred over the northeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea at 3:30 am on Friday, stated India Meteorological Department (IMD)....
Thomas Ulsrud's Norwegian Team Is Disbanding After 12 Years Of Curling, 10 Years Of Outrageous Pants The curling team with the pants. That’s all you have to say. The imagery is instant: four grown Scandinavian men and their provocative trousers. It’s quite an accomplishment, especially for a niche Olympic sport....
Oman to open embassy in Palestinian territories' West Bank: foreign ministry Oman said on Wednesday it is planning to open a new diplomatic mission in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and that a delegation from its foreign ministry will be going to Ramallah for that purpose....
Oman author Jokha Alharthi wins prestigious Booker International Prize Jokha Alharthi has become the first Arabic-language writer to scoop the Man Booker International Prize with her novel "Celestial Bodies." The book focuses on three Omani sisters and the country's history of slavery....
Oman hires banks for bond issue, deal could raise $2 billion – sources Oman has hired a group of international banks including HSBC and Standard Chartered for a planned bond issue which could go up to $2 billion in size, sources familiar with the matter said....
Trump warned Iran via Oman that U.S. attack imminent, called for talks: Iranian officials Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had received a message from U.S. President Donald Trump through Oman overnight warning that a U.S. attack on Iran was imminent....
Muslim shops in Sri Lanka attacked Violence erupted in a Sri Lankan town bombed on Easter Sunday after a largely Catholic mob attacked Muslim-owned shops and a vehicle -- prompting church authorities to call for calm and no further hostilities against Muslims in the area....
DOJ Says Chinese Hackers Attacked Anthem, but Not Why For years, China was rumored to be behind the health insurance company's massive data breach, but now the Justice Department is noticeably silent on the hackers' motives and affiliation....
Man dies after suffering seizure, attacked by his dog UNIONTOWN, Pa. — Police say a western Pennsylvania man died after he suffered a seizure and his dog bit his neck. WPXI-TV reports Homer Utterback’s girlfriend heard what sounded like something falling in their Uniontown home on Thursday. She fo...
LGBTQ play canceled after actors attacked Two actors were subjected to a homophobic assault Saturday in Southampton, southern England, resulting in the cancellation of two performances of an award-winning LGBTQ play....
Four kittens die after attacked by rabid skunk in Amado TUCSON – Four kittens have died after more than a dozen pets were exposed to a potentially rabid skunk in Amado in May. According to Pima Animal Care Center, a woman contacted the shelter on June 4 about a possibly rabid skunk interacting with ...
Up to 15 beachgoers attacked by stingrays in matter of hours Dangerous stingrays are swarming a California beach amid high ocean temperatures — and up to 15 people reported being attacked in one afternoon, according to officials. Between 10 to 15 people were stung Tuesday afternoon along the shores of Coronado...
London Police Arrest 4 After Gay Women Are Attacked on Bus The Metropolitan Police of London said four teenagers were arrested after two women reported being assaulted, harassed and robbed on a bus by men who had tried to make the couple kiss....
Lesbians attacked on London bus for refusing to kiss for men Four men have been arrested after two lesbians were beaten up in what British police called a disgusting homophobic assault. One of the victims described how the men taunted and punched the couple before fleeing....
US says new photos show Iran attacked tankers The Pentagon has released images it says provide further proof that Tehran was responsible for attacks in the Gulf of Oman. In response, Iran announced that it is days away from breaking the terms of its nuclear deal....
US Teen Loses Her Leg After Being Attacked By Shark While Swimming A teenager lost part of her leg after being attacked by a shark while swimming off the coast of the southeastern United States, her family said on Monday....
Man attacked by veteran’s support dog sues over negligence ATLANTA (AP) — An Alabama man who was attacked by a veteran’s emotional support animal while on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to San Diego is now suing the airline and the veteran. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday that ...
Attorney: Officer who shot 3 in Costco was attacked first The off-duty officer who shot and killed a man inside a Southern California Costco last week was attacked without warning as he held his toddler son, the policeman's attorney said Monday....
Zookeeper attacked by lions in northern Germany BERLIN (AP) — Police say two male lions have attacked and seriously injured a keeper at a zoo in northern Germany. The dpa news agency quoted a spokesman for police in Walsrode, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Hamburg, as saying the experienc...
Sri Lanka imposes new curfew as mosques attacked Sri Lanka widened a curfew on Monday after attacks on mosques and Muslim-owned businesses in the worst unrest since Easter bombings by Islamist militants and blocked Facebook and WhatsApp to stop people inciting violence....
Saudi Arabia Oil Pipeline Attacked by Drones Saudi Arabia said it halted pumping on a major oil pipeline after it was hit by armed drones, the latest attack on its energy infrastructure after two of its oil tankers were damaged near the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend....
Amnesty International says civilians attacked in Libya A rights group is accusing combatants in Libya of committing "unlawful" attacks against civilians in the capital Tripoli that could amount to war crimes....
Saudi Arabia says oil facilities outside Riyadh attacked Saudi Arabia said armed drones had struck two oil pumping stations in the kingdom on Tuesday in what it called a "cowardly" act of terrorism two days after Saudi oil tankers were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates....
Paris hospital attacked by May Day protesters, say officials Staff at Pitié Salpêtrière said demonstrators entered emergency ward and equipment smashedFrench officials say medical staff narrowly averted “a catastrophe” after May Day demonstrators reportedly stormed a Paris hospital and attempted to force their...
Ethiopia PM says army chief of staff attacked Ethiopia's army chief of staff, General Seare Mekonnen, has been attacked, the country's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a national television address early Sunday....
Saudi Arabia says its oil infrastructure attacked by drones The assaults marked the latest incidents challenging Mideast security after the alleged sabotage of oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates earlier this week amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran. &...
Saudi Arabia Says Drones Attacked Its Oil Pipelines (DUBAI, United Arab Emirates) — Saudi Arabia said drones attacked one of its oil pipelines as other assaults targeted energy infrastructure elsewhere in the kingdom on Tuesday, shortly after Yemen’s rebels claimed a coordinated drone atta...
Saudi Arabia Says Oil Stations Attacked By Armed Drones Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that attacks on two of its oil tankers and a major pipeline targeted not only its own security but that of the world's supplies....
Two girls viciously attacked at an east side neighborhood TUCSON – On May 29 by Wheeler Elementary School near 22 and Kolb, 18-year-old Lauren Tibbetts and 19-year-old Belle Koondz were viciously attacked by half a dozen teenagers. There were three boys and three girls. “It was around 9:00 pm and we w...
Sheriff: Deputy shoots man who attacked deputies with stool ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Authorities in Florida say a deputy has shot and killed a man who attacked deputies with a bar stool in a home. Orange County Sheriff John Mina said at a news conference Tuesday that deputies were called to the Orlando home becau...
Unexploded device spotted on one of attacked oil tankers: U.S. source An unexploded device, believed to be a limpet mine, was spotted on the side of one of two oil tankers attacked on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity....
| DR Congo Ebola clinic in North Kivu attacked Dozens of fighters from an armed group known as Mai-Mai went into the northeastern city of Butembo in the Democratic Republic of Congo and fought with security forces....
Man attacked in Brooklyn’s second suspected hate crime in 3 days An Orthodox Jewish man was punched in the head by a stranger in Brooklyn in the second suspected hate crime attack in three days, police said Thursday. The 39-year-old victim who was dressed in traditional religious garb, was walking in the area of R...
Attorney for journalist attacked by Antifa says she plans to 'sue everybody' the law permits The attorney for Andy Ngo, a conservative journalist who was attacked by Antifa during a protest in Portland on Saturday, said she plans to hold the city government responsible for his beating....
Man attacked worker over sawdust left on Porsche: cops A Connecticut hothead caused quite the dust-up when he discovered sawdust on his prized Porsche, police said. When Francisco Hidalgo, 35, of Norwalk, went to move his ride on Tuesday, he discovered it was covered in sawdust, authorities said. But ins...
Lesbian couple attacked on bus gets blasted on social media ‘for being gay’ Social media users are adding insult to injury to the lesbian couple who suffered a chilling attack on a London bus last week. The assault, which left an American woman with a broken jaw after she refused to kiss her partner at the urging of a group ...
UPDATE 4-Sri Lanka imposes new curfew as mosques attacked Sri Lanka widened a curfew on Monday after attacks on mosques and Muslim-owned businesses in the worst unrest since Easter bombings by Islamist militants and blocked Facebook and WhatsApp to stop people inciting violence....
| WATCH: Saudi Arabia says oil tankers attacked near UAE waters Saudi Arabia said two of its oil tankers were damaged in "sabotage attacks" in the Gulf as tensions soared in a region already shaken by a standoff between the United States and Iran....
Sri Lanka imposes nationwide curfew after mosques attacked Sri Lankan police fired tear gas at mobs attacking mosques and shops owned by Muslims on Monday and imposed a nationwide curfew after the worst outbreak of sectarian violence since the Easter bombings by Islamist militants....
DNA tests confirm mountain lion attacked California boy SAN DIEGO (AP) — California wildlife authorities say DNA tests confirm that a mountain lion killed in a San Diego County nature preserve this week is the animal that injured a 4-year-old boy hours earlier. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife sa...
Miffed With Re-Polling, YSR Congress Candidate's Son Attacked in Chittoor Enraged by the decision of re-polling, people in Chittoor area on Thursday attacked Mohit Reddy, son of YSR Congress Party's candidate Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy....
Saudi oil tankers among those attacked off UAE amid Iran tensions Saudi Arabia said on Monday that two of its oil tankers were among those attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and described it as an attempt to undermine the security of crude supplies amid tensions between the United States and Iran....
WhatsApp attacked by advanced spyware via missed calls A missed call on WhatsApp was enough to infect some of the app users' phones with advanced spying software, the messaging platform has said. The malicious program was reportedly developed by Israel's NSO group....
California teen attacked by sea lion in ‘very rare’ incident A 13-year-old California girl was injured when a sea lion attacked her in what officials say was a “very rare” incident. Megan Pagnini said she was near the shore at Pismo Beach on Friday night when the sea lion came charging at her, news...
Trump fires back at UK ambassador who attacked him: 'We are not big fans of that man' President Trump fired back at Britain's ambassador to the United States on Sunday, saying "we are not big fans of that man" and asserting that he has "not served the U.K. well" after a leaked diplomatic cable showed him slamming the White House....
Elderly woman attacked outside Kentucky’s only abortion clinic LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky woman is charged with assaulting an 82-year-old woman who tried to hand her a flier outside the state’s only abortion clinic. WDRB-TV cited a criminal summons in reporting that 31-year-old Janaya Gregory at first ignored ...
Man harassed with ant-gay comments, attacked in Tribeca subway: Cops A straphanger was attacked at a Tribeca subway station on Sunday night by two men shouting anti-gay statements, cops said. The incident happened around 7 p.m. on a northbound A Train at Chambers Street, according to police. The victim, described as a...
Man sexually attacked elderly woman in FiDi: cops A man tried to rape a 73-year-old woman in Manhattan Sunday before punching her in the face, leaving her with a broken eye socket and missing teeth, police said early Tuesday. The brute first demanded sex from the elderly victim he approached at abou...
Student who attacked gunman given hero's send-off Two days after police say Riley Howell acted heroically when giving his life to stop a gunman in his UNCC classroom, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers escorted his body from a Charlotte mortuary to his hometown of Waynesville, North Carolina. (Ma...
New Zealand Treasury website was attacked 2,000 times, says its chief New Zealand's Treasury chief, Gabriel Makhlouf, said on Wednesday that the Treasury website was attacked 2,000 times in two days by hackers seeking access to budget details....
Turkey says ship attacked off Nigeria, 10 crew kidnapped Turkey’s state-run news agency says an armed gang has attacked a Turkish cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria and kidnapped 10 of vessel’s crew members...
Latest: Lawyer says officer attacked unexpectedly in Costco The Latest on a fatal shooting at a Costco Wholesale warehouse store in Southern California (all times local): 12:45 p.m. Monday Los Angeles police say an off-duty officer who shot and killed a man inside a Southern California Costco store won't have...
Children Attacked in Deadly Mass Stabbing at Japan Bus Stop A man wielding two kitchen knives charged into a group of elementary-school girls in a Tokyo suburb and stabbed multiple people, injuring more than a dozen....
Rapist attacked victim again after hospital leaked her information: suit A sex assault victim is suing a Kansas hospital for allegedly leaking her private health information to her alleged rapist — allowing him to attack her again. The federal lawsuit accuses Atchison Hospital and former X-ray technician Janet Rawson Enzb...
Turkey says Syrian government forces attacked its observation point Syrian government forces have attacked a Turkish observation point in Syria's Idlib province, Turkey's Defence Ministry said on Thursday, in what it assessed to be a deliberate attack involving 35 mortar shells....
Keanu Reeves supports Rome cinema collective attacked by far right Actors and directors, from Richard Gere to Spike Lee, condemn violence that targeted Cinema AmericaHollywood names including Keanu Reeves, Willem Dafoe and Alejandro González Iñárritu have come out in support of an Italian cinema collective who have ...
Pompeo says Iran attacked oil tankers to raise global oil price U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday blamed Iran for attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, saying it was an effort by Tehran to raise the global price of oil....
Crime Trackers: Woman claims she was attacked and her disabled son was nearly kidnapped TUCSON – A woman claims she was assaulted, and her disabled son was nearly kidnapped from their home. It happened June 12 on 44th Street West of South Sixth Avenue. Mercedes Ortega told News 4 Tucson two women came to her house harassed her son...
Florida man attacked landlord who accused him of taking too many showers: report An enraged Florida tenant viciously attacked his elderly roommate — because the man accused him of taking too many showers, according to a new report. Byron Christianoudis, 48, was going to take a shower Tuesday when his 70-year-old roomie — also his...
Global Telecom Carriers Attacked by Suspected Chinese Hackers Hackers believed to be backed by China’s government have infiltrated the cellular networks of at least 10 global carriers, swiping users’ whereabouts, text-messaging records and call logs, according to a new report....
Suspected Bomb Found in New Zealand City Where Mosques Were Attacked New Zealand police said they uncovered ammunition and a suspected bomb in a vacant property in Christchurch, where a gunman killed 50 people last month....
Iran’s defense minister vows to defeat US, Israel if attacked Iran’s top defense official predicted Wednesday that the Islamic Republic would vanquish the US and its ally Israel if his country is attacked. “We will defeat the American-Zionist front,” Minister of Defense Amir Hatami said, according to the Islami...
Saudi Arabia oil facilities attacked, U.S.-Iran tensions flare Saudi Arabia said armed drones struck two oil pumping stations in the kingdom on Tuesday in what it called a "cowardly" act of terrorism two days after four Saudi oil tankers were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates....
Man who attacked Tacoma immigration center was repeat assailant: authorities Authorities in Tacoma, Washington, have named a man who was killed after attacking an immigration detention facility, and court records showed he had been previously arrested for assaulting a police officer at a protest outside the same facility....
Hunt attacked for repeating 'incredibly alarming' abortion views Conservative leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt has been accused of "attacking women's rights" after reiterating his view that the legal limit for abortion should be reduced from 24 weeks to 12 weeks....
Pose Actress Indya Moore Attacked by Trump Supporter in NYC In the midst of Pride, the month when we celebrate, acknowledge and continue to resist the myriad oppressions that LGBTQ+ people face, Pose actor Indya Moore was apparently assaulted by a Trump-nut....
Woman Who Accused Karan Oberoi Of Rape Attacked In Mumbai The woman who accused Karan Oberoi of raping her was attacked with a sharp object by the two men at around 6:30 am this morning and has been injured, her advocate said....
Delaware Mom Opens Up After She Says She Was Brutally Attacked While Vacationing At Caribbean Resort (TODAY) – A Delaware woman who said she was brutally attacked and left for dead while vacationing at a Dominican Republic resort is sharing her story to caution others against letting their guard down, even in so-called paradise. “I just ...
Russian lawmaker says Poland could be targeted if Russia is attacked: Interfax Russian lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov said on Thursday that Washington's plans to deploy spy drones and send troops to Poland are a concern to Moscow, and that Poland could be hit with a retaliatory strike if Russia were attacked, Interfax reported....
Turkey says observation post in Syria's Idlib attacked, no casualties A Turkish observation post in the Idlib region of northern Syria was attacked by mortar fire launched from territory controlled by Syrian government forces, Turkey's defense ministry said on Saturday, adding that there were no casualties....
Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Saudi airport, power station Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement said on Monday that it carried out drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's Abha airport and Tihama power station, the group's Al-Masirah TV reported....
Turkish journalist critical of Erdogan government attacked outside home The Yenicag newspaper said columnist Yavuz Selim Demirag was beaten up by about five or six people with baseball bats after appearing on a TV show Friday....
Off-duty corrections officer attacked 2 women at nightclub: cops An off-duty corrections officer was arrested for attacking two other women during a brawl at a Queens nightclub, police confirmed Thursday. Cotrina Theodore, 32, was at Club Amadeus on Albion Ave near Barnwell Ave in Elmhurst at about 9:00 p.m. on Ju...
Russia warns of “cyberwar” following report the US attacked its power grid Enlarge / Zapadnaya in the Moscow region. (credit: Vladimir Fedorenko / Владимир Федоренко) The Kremlin on Monday warned that reported US digital incursions into Russia's electric power grid could trigger a "cyberwar" between the two countries. Th...
Schiff agrees with Trump: 'No question' Iran attacked oil tankers Rep. Adam Schiff. D-Calif., often a harsh critic of President Trump, agrees with him on one thing: the idea that Iran was behind the bombing of two oil tankers in Gulf of Oman last week....
Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Saudi's Najran airport by drone Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement on Thursday launched a drone attack on a Patriot missile battery in the airport of the Saudi city of Najran near the Yemeni border, the group's Al-Masirah TV said on Thursday....
Costco shooting: Police say off-duty officer shot man who attacked him and his son An off-duty police officer opened fire on a man who he said attacked him and his son in a shooting at a California Costco on Friday night that left one dead and three injured....
Baby left fighting for life when herpes virus attacked his eye Noah Tindle was just 4 weeks old when his short life was left hanging in the balance. Mom Ashleigh White noticed her son’s right eye had become swollen, blistered and was watering. The 21-year-old sought advice from a visiting nurse, who reassu...
North Carolina burglar attacked by boy with machete flees hospital North Carolina police were hunting on Sunday for a suspected burglar who was fought off by an 11-year-old boy with a machete and later fled a hospital where he had sought treatment for a head wound before police could arrest him....
Pompeo says ‘lots of evidence’ proves Iran attacked oil tankers Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said more evidence will be released to show Iran was responsible for attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and the Trump administration is weighing all options – including military – in response. “The ...
Thai anti-military activist attacked and left unconscious BANGKOK (AP) — A Thai activist who opposes the military’s role in politics has been assaulted and left unconscious in the second attack against him this month, as violence against pro-democracy advocates becomes more aggressive. According to a ...
US releases photos to bolster claim Iran attacked tankers WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is releasing new photos that officials say show that members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard were responsible for attacks last week on two oil tankers near the Persian Gulf. The military says the photos taken from a...
Two Oil Tankers Attacked in the Middle East, Stoking Fears of Conflict Two oil tankers on Thursday morning were reportedly attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transport route that sits between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, echoing a similar attack last month and stoking fears about escalating tens...
Mosques attacked in Sri Lanka town after Facebook row, curfew imposed Several dozen people threw stones at mosques and Muslim-owned stores and a local man was beaten in the town of Chilaw on Sri Lanka's west coast on Sunday in a dispute that started on Facebook, sources told Reuters....
A Transgender Woman Who Was Attacked in Dallas Last Month Has Been Found Dead When Muhlaysia Booker was attacked in April, it made headlines. One month later, she was shot and killed. The police have not linked the two episodes....
Man Attacked By Emotional-Support Dog On Delta Flight Sues Airline An attack on a plane by a fellow passenger's emotional-support dog left Marlin Jackson needing 28 stitches, according to a negligence lawsuit filed Friday against Delta Air Lines and the dog's owner.......
Here's why authorities say David Ortiz was mistakenly attacked in the Dominican Republic The shooting of baseball legend David Ortiz in the Dominican Republic left fans wondering why would anyone try to kill Big Papi. Turns out, according to prosecutors, he wasn't the intended target....
Trump nepotism attacked after 'out-of-her-depth' Ivanka given key summit role Experts say first daughter’s presence reflects gravely on USOpinion: Laugh at Ivanka – to take her seriously is frighteningDonald Trump has been accused of taking nepotism to alarming new depths after giving his daughter, Ivanka, a prominent role in ...
Babul Supriyo Says Vehicles Of His Security Personnel Attacked In Bengal Union Minister Babul Supriyo on Sunday alleged that his security personnel's vehicles were attacked with stones by Trinamool Congress (TMC) "goons" near West Bengal's Basirhat....
More than 760 reported measles cases in US The number of measles cases reported this year in the United States has climbed to 764, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....
Hundreds more reported ill with salmonella Over 220 cases of salmonella have been reported in the past month in outbreaks spanning 41 states, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday, and the agency believes that backyard poultry is to blame....
An American is attacked in the Dominican Republic. A resort says police question her story. Tammy Lawrence-Daley says an employee beat and strangled her. Majestic Elegance Punta Cana claims Dominican police say there are "weak spots and unanswered questions."...
Doctor who attacked boy in ‘ski rage’ assault will spend next three Valentine’s Days in jail A New Jersey doctor who pummeled a 12-year-old boy in a “ski rage” attack three years ago will spend the next three Valentine’s Days behind bars — with a judge specifically choosing that date because it’s when the beatdo...
Journalist violently attacked by Antifa recalls ‘complete anarchy and lawlessness’ The Oregon clash between Antifa and conservative demonstrators was "complete anarchy and lawlessness," according to a journalist injured in an attack allegedly by members of the group....
East Village’s famed lovelorn hawk attacked by former mate’s new flame Dora the red-tailed hawk — beloved by bird watchers but scorned by three-timing sweetheart Christo — has finally flown her East Village coop after she was clawed so badly that she may never fly again....
Web Series Crew, Allegedly Attacked By Drunk Men, Meet Devendra Fadnavis A group of drunk men allegedly attacked a crew shooting for a web series in Thane, on the outskirts of Mumbai. Actress Mahie Gill and the crew, who was shooting at the location, also alleged the......
Thai anti-junta activist attacked, latest in 'pattern' of violence Unknown assailants attacked and wounded a Thai pro-democracy activist on Friday, apparently the latest victim of what rights groups call a systematic campaign of violence against critics of the army following a disputed election....
Saudi Arabia says oil tankers were attacked off the UAE coast; Iran calls for a probe Saudi Arabia said two Saudi oil tankers were attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, condemning it as an attempt to undermine the security of crude supplies....
Sri Lanka clashes kill one; imposes nationwide curfew after mosques attacked One person was killed in Sri Lanka on Monday as police fired tear gas at mobs attacking mosques and Muslim-owned shops and imposed a curfew after the worst outbreak of sectarian violence since the Easter bombings by Islamist militants....
Army Vehicle Attacked In Jammu And Kashmir's Pulwama, Encounter Underway An army vehicle was targeted with an improvised explosive device today in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, where a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force was attacked by a suicide bomber in February.......
Previously attacked transgender woman found shot to death: cops A transgender woman who was attacked by a group of people after a car accident in Texas last month was found fatally shot over the weekend, police said. Muhlaysia Booker, 23, was found lying face down in a street early Saturday in east Dallas. She di...
A woman says she was brutally attacked and left for dead at a Dominican Republic resort Google Maps Tammy Lawrence-Daley, 51, of Wilmington, Delaware, claimed in a Facebook post that she was beaten unconscious during an eight-hour attack at a Dominican Republic resort in January. She said the incident happened while she was vacationing...
Trump suggests 'loose and stupid' Iranian officer attacked US drone President stopped short of escalating standoff, saying if a person was in the drone ‘it would have made a big, big difference’Donald Trump has stopped short of escalating the worsening standoff with Iran in the Persian Gulf, suggesting that the shoot...
Rikers inmates stop fellow prisoner who attacked female guard A Rikers correctional officer was locked in a pantry and attacked by an inmate Wednesday morning — but other prisoners rushed to the woman’s aid, law enforcement sources told The Post on Wednesday. Raphael Davlos allegedly lured the woman...
Yemen's Houthis say attacked Saudi's Jizan airport by drone: Masirah TV Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched a drone strike on military hangars in Saudi Arabia's Jizan airport near the Yemeni border, the group's Masirah TV reported on Sunday....
Gen. Keane believes plans for Iran strike are 'shelved' unless Americans are attacked Retired U.S. four-star General Jack Keane reacted Friday to President Trump's decision to call off retaliatory strikes against Iran, saying the president appears to believe "time is on his side."...
2.4 earthquake reported in Kentucky, no damage KEVIL, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 2.4 earthquake has occurred in Kentucky along the New Madrid fault line. News outlets say the quake was reported northeast of Kevil shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday. There were no reports ...
Damage reported in El Reno after likely tornado Officials confirmed at least two fatalities after a destructive tornado ripped through El Reno, Oklahoma, late Saturday night. An unknown number of people remain missing....
2 subway slashings reported within hours of each other Two slashings took place just hours apart from each other Saturday night, police said. The first incident took place shortly before 9 p.m at the Franklin Street subway station in the staircase of the northbound 1-train, when a 55-year-old man was rob...
AOC to visit border despite reported CBP threats against her Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she and other congressional Democrats will go through with plans to visit a migrant detention facility on Monday after a news report revealed that a group of Customs and Border Protection agents talked about harming...
Storm Damage Being Reported Throughout Eastern Ky. (LEX 18) – Multiple storm damage reports are coming in to the LEX 18 Newsroom. Most of the severe weather is moving out of the southeastern Kentucky counties. That being said, thunderstorms are still capable of producing damaging wind gusts and...
Fire reported at UAW headquarters in Detroit The UAW told employees to work from home on Monday and Tuesday and that the ceremonial beginning of contract talks with the Detroit 3 automakers would proceed as scheduled this week. ...
Woman who allegedly attacked Boston EMTs eyed in airport bomb threat An “emotionally disturbed” woman who allegedly attacked two Boston EMTs this week — stabbing one multiple times and pepper-spraying the other — is also being eyed in a recent bomb threat at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. Julia Tejeda was ...
Shiv Sena Leader Tweets Poem On RaIn, Attacked For "Utter Insensitivity" Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut is being criticized for posting a poem about rain on Twitter, at a time when record rain in Mumbai has killed several people and brought life to standstill in Mumbai....
Border Patrol agent rescues Guatemalan mother and son attacked by a swarm of bees A Guatemalan woman and her 8-year-old son were rescued in Texas after thousands of bees attacked them near the border, US Customs and Border Protection officials said....
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Norway to Security Council: 'State actor' attacked oil tankers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have told the United Nations Security Council that investigators have determined that a "state actor" was behind attacks on four oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman last month....
Off-duty FDNY firefighter attacked by teens after defending elderly couple, cops say A New York City Firefighter sustained a concussion and several broken teeth Saturday after police say he was assaulted while trying to stop a group of teens from harassing an elderly couple....
Saudi oil facilities attacked, U.S. sees threat in Iraq from Iran-backed forces Saudi Arabia said armed drones struck two of its oil pumping stations on Tuesday, two days after the sabotage of oil tankers near the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S. military said it was braced for "possibly imminent threats to U.S. forces in Iraq...
Beehives in Texas attacked, set on fire, killing half a million bees, officials say Dozens of beehives were attacked and set on fire in Texas over the weekend, an act “beyond comprehension” that killed an estimated half a million bees, officials said....
Trump questions Japan defense pact, says if US is attacked, 'they can watch on a Sony television' President Trump questions the fairness of Washington's longstanding defense pact with Japan just as he is about to head there for the G-20 summit....
Explorer gets attacked after hearing growling noises coming from attic of abandoned house A BRAVE explorer who heard creepy growling noises coming from the attic of an abandoned house quickly regretted venturing upwards to find what was there....
UK's Prince William visits New Zealand mosques attacked by gunman, meets survivors Extremist ideology must be defeated, Britain's Prince William said during a visit to a New Zealand mosque on Friday where dozens were killed in a mass shooting last month after earlier meeting survivors of the massacre....
Tiger attacked Kansas zookeeper after safety doors were left unlocked, report says Kansas zookeeper Kristyn Hayden-Ortega was hospitalized after a tiger attack left her with puncture wounds and lacerations to her head, neck and back....
A nurse was beaten unconscious. Now, more workers attacked at Iowa mental health facility At least four state employees in two weeks have been injured in violent patient outbursts at the Independence Mental Health Institute. ...
BJP Leaders Dilip Ghosh, Himanta Biswa Sarma's Convoy Attacked In Bengal The BJP has claimed its leaders Dilip Ghosh and Himanta Biswa Sarma were allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress workers in West Bengal's East Midnapore on Tuesday....
Sri Lanka blocks social media platforms after Muslim shops, mosques attacked Sri Lanka said on Monday it was temporarily blocking some social media networks and messaging apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp, after mosques and Muslim-owned businesses were attacked in the wake of Easter bombings by Islamist militants....
US national security adviser Bolton says ships sabotaged off UAE coast were attacked ‘almost certainly by Iran’ ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — US national security adviser Bolton says ships sabotaged off UAE coast were attacked ‘almost certainly by Iran’...
Outbreak of hepatitis A reported in Cochise County COCHISE COUNTY, Ariz. – Cochise County Health Department has issued a county-wide hepatitis A alert after the county received five confirmed cases of the liver infection since March. According to officials, the department has also seen several ...
Navy says reported ‘UFO’ sightings will be kept secret under new guidelines The U.S. Navy has drafted new guidelines for collecting information on UFO sightings, but the information won’t be made public, according to a Tuesday report. A Navy spokesman told The Washington Post that the reporting on UFOs would fall under...
Man dies in Hawaii after reported shark attack MAUI, Hawaii (AP) — A man has died in Hawaii after a reported shark attack. Authorities say shark warning signs were being posted in the Ka’anapali Beach Park area on Maui where the man died Saturday morning. The signs will remain in place unti...
At least 20 reported dead after tour bus crash in Mexico JALAPA, Mexico (AP) — Authorities in the Mexican state of Veracruz say at least 20 people died and 31 were injured in a collision between a tour bus and semi-trailer. Nogales township civil defense director Roberto Hernández told a local radio statio...
Near drowning of 2-year-old reported in Rita Ranch TUCSON – A 2-year-old was rescued after he was involved in a near drowning at a southeast side home Tuesday afternoon. According to officials, Tucson Fire Department received a report at around 3:30 p.m. about a 2-year-old falling into a spa in...
Brother of Algeria’s ex-president reported detained ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — A security official in Algeria says the influential brother of the country’s former longtime president has been detained for questioning. The official on Saturday confirmed Algerian media reports saying Said Bouteflika w...
Senators briefed by Pentagon on reported UFO sightings Three US senators were reportedly briefed by the Pentagon on Wednesday about recent reports detailing UFO sightings by Navy pilots. The revelation, reported by Politico, comes days after President Trump disclosed that he too had been briefed on the “...
Man who reported girl missing arrested in her disappearance The man who reported last weekend that 4-year-old Maleah Davis had been abducted was arrested near Houston in connection with her disappearance and police said they found her blood in his apartment....
Superconductivity reported at the temperature of a good freezer Enlarge (credit: Manmohan Singh | Getty Images) Superconductivity offers the promise of hyper-efficient electric motors, ultra powerful magnets, and the transmission of electricity without losses. The reality, however, has fallen considerably shor...
Small fire reported at PCC West Campus TUCSON – A small fire was reported at Pima Community College’s West Campus Thursday morning. According to PCC officials, the blaze occurred in the West Campus C-Building, damaging an air conditioner on the second floor. Authorities say no...
The Latest: Venezuela gov't, opposition reported in talks The latest on the political crisis in Venezuela (all times local): 9:15 p.m. Officials in Venezuela say representatives of the government and opposition have traveled to Norway for talks on resolving the political crisis in the South American country...
Three major pharmaceutical companies just reported earnings — here's how they did Shares of pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Merck rose in premarket trading after reporting first-quarter financial results that beat Wall Street's expectations....
Former student who reported rape says college betrayed her CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The warnings came in text messages from her friends: He’s outside the dorm. He’s at the student center. He’s at Starbucks. But for Alicia Gonzales, sometimes it didn’t matter where he was. She would of...
NBA notebook: Celtics reported favorite for G Walker The Boston Celtics are expected to make All-Star guard Kemba Walker a four-year, $141 million contract offer when free agency opens Sunday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported....
The Latest: Venezuela gov’t, opposition reported in talks Officials in Venezuela say representatives of the government and opposition have traveled to Norway for talks on resolving the political crisis in the South American country...
Heavy traffic and long delays reported on I-17 PHOENIX (AP) – Authorities report heavy traffic on northbound Interstate 17 and say drivers headed to northern Arizona should expect long delays. The Arizona Department of Transportation said late Saturday morning that the longest delays were b...
At least 60 ice seals reported dead in Alaska, officials say The discovery of at least 60 dead ice seals that have been found along Alaska's west coast in recent months is baffling federal biologists, who said the deaths have been reported in "unusually large numbers."...
Senators criticize FTC's reported Facebook settlement Three U.S. senators who have been frequent critics of U.S. tech giants wrote a letter to the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday to criticize its reported settlement with Facebook Inc....
11 people reported killed in gun attack at bar in Brazil Brazilian news media say a gang of gunmen roared up to a bar in Belem city in Brazil’s northern Pará state and opened fire, killing six women and five men...
U.S. senators criticize FTC's reported Facebook settlement Three U.S. senators who have been frequent critics of U.S. tech giants wrote a letter to the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday to criticize its reported settlement with Facebook Inc....
Attacked Over Farm Loan Waiver, Rahul Gandhi Spots A Shivraj Chouhan Link Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, in the middle of addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, turned to Chief Minister Kamal Nath asking for a list he had shown him earlier on his mobile phone....
Stadium worker attacked on way home less than 200 yards from fatal shooting among four dead in just 48 hours in London A young man on his way home from work was beaten to death in a park last night, making him the fourth person to be murdered in a weekend of bloodshed....
UPDATE 1-Sri Lanka blocks social media platforms after Muslim shops, mosques attacked Sri Lanka said on Monday it was temporarily blocking some social media networks and messaging apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp, after mosques and Muslim-owned businesses were attacked in the wake of Easter bombings by Islamist militants....
Teens Allegedly Attacked by Mall Cop and Security ‘Attack Dog’ Plan to File Lawsuit [Corrected] Lawyers representing a group of five black men ranging from 15 to 20 years old announced plans to file a lawsuit against the owners of an Alabama mall and security company after their clients say a security officer profiled them, slammed them against...
Senators grill FTC over reported $5 billion Facebook settlement Facebook's reported $5 billion settlement with the FTC isn't even official yet, but that isn't stopping politicians from bristling at it. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Josh Hawley and Ed Markey (pictured) have sent a letter to the FTC ...
More than 5,000 valley fever cases reported in Arizona this year TUCSON — There have been more than 5,000 cases of Valley fever in Arizona so far this year, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. That number is up from what we saw this time in the past couple of years. “The very highest was ...
Connecticut mom of 5 reported missing in midst of contentious divorce Cops searched the woods in a wealthy Connecticut town on Tuesday following the disappearance of a mother of five who lives nearby and is embroiled in a bitter divorce....
Fatal Crash Reported On Northbound I-75 In Scott County SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18)– Scott County Dispatch has confirmed there is an accident on northbound Interstate 75 around mile marker 122. According to officials on scene, one man has died. Use caution in the area....
Multiple pilots have reported encounters with UFOs, Navy says A growing number of Navy pilots claiming to have spotted unidentified flying objects, or UFOS, has led the Navy to update its protocol for reporting them, according to a New York Times report....
Teen Hacker Who Apple Reported to FBI Just Wanted a Dang Job The lawyer for an Australian teenager who twice breached Apple’s internal security says he did so because he thought it might land him a job at the California-based tech giant, the Australian Associated Press reports.Read more......
Man Arrested After Officials Say He Falsely Reported Someone Being Held At Gunpoint LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) – The Laurel County sheriff’s office says that a man was arrested and taken into custody after they say he falsely reported an incident. According to a post to their Facebook page, sheriff’s officials say...
The Latest: 42 reported killed at 3 prisons in north Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The latest on deadly violence at prisons in northern Brazil (all times local): 8:35 p.m. Brazilian authorities say 42 inmates have been found dead at three different prisons in the capital of the northern state of Amazonas, a da...
Live Updates: EVM Malfunctioning Reported In Raebareli And Amethi Nearly 700 candidates are contesting for the 51 seats spread across seven states in phase 5 of Lok Sabha elections 2019 today. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, his mother and UPA chairperson, Sonia......
U.S., China reported near deal to end some tariffs; talks 'productive' The United States and China are nearing a trade deal that would roll back a portion of the $250 billion in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, Politico reported on Wednesday after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the two countries completed "pr...
| Congo Ebola cases hit record for most reported in single day Health experts are expressing growing alarm about the number of people sickened with the Ebola virus who are never reaching treatment centres, allowing the disease to spread to caregivers and countless others....
Ebola Cases in Congo Have Hit a Record for Most Reported in a Single Day (BUTEMBO, Congo) — The woman spent more than a week at home sick before family members tried to take her to an Ebola treatment center in eastern Congo. Before the motorcycle could reach the facility, it was too late. Her crumpled body rested ag...
UPDATE 1-U.S. senators criticize FTC's reported Facebook settlement Three U.S. senators who have been frequent critics of U.S. tech giants wrote a letter to the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday to criticize its reported settlement with Facebook Inc....
US measles outbreak now worst since 1994 after 60 new cases reported The disease was eliminated in 2000, but public health officials blame the resurgence on misinformation about vaccinesThe US recorded 60 new measles cases last week, taking confirmed cases for the year to 940, the worst outbreak since 1994 and since m...
Pope requires sex abuse to be reported to church, not police Pope Francis has issued a new law requiring all Catholic priests and nuns around the world to report clergy sexual abuse and cover-ups by their superiors to church authorities...
Nearly 70 tourists to Dominican Republic reported illness since March Nearly 70 tourists have reported getting violently ill while vacationing in the Dominican Republic since March, according to a commonly used website that tracks food-borne illness outbreaks. That’s up from just 10 reported illnesses in the country fo...
Rape reported at West Village subway station A 19-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a stranger on the staircase of the West Fourth Street-Washington Square subway station in the West Village early Tuesday morning, police sources said. The woman said she was on the staircase around 3:40 a.m....
Historical marker commemorates reported alien abduction PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — A historical marker has been placed near the river where two men in southern Mississippi said they were abducted by aliens in 1973. News outlets report the city of Pascagoula dedicated the marker Saturday at Lighthouse Park. ...
Quakes in Albania damage some homes, five reported injured Six earthquakes in the space of two hours, the first with a magnitude of 5.3, shook south-eastern Albania on Saturday, injuring five people and causing damage to five houses, the Defense Ministry and local media reported....
With Onset Of Rain, No New Encephalitis Case Reported In Muzaffarpur With the onset of rains, no fresh Acute Encephalitis Syndrome case has been reported in Muzaffarpur district on Sunday even as the health department cracked its whip on a doctor who was asked to......
Two more Americans reported dead after Dominican Republic vacations Two more Americans — a man from Kansas and a woman from Pennsylvania — died during vacations in the Dominican Republic, amid a recent spate of tourist deaths in the country, according to a new report. The families of Chris Palmer — a 41-year-old Army...
Vehicle crash reported at Tucson International Airport TUCSON – A crash is causing some traffic delays at Tucson International Airport Thursday afternoon. According to Tucson Airport Authority Fire-Rescue Department, the collision occurred at the lower level roadway. Motorists are advised to be cau...
Unprecedented Rs 71,500-Crore Bank Frauds Reported In 2018-19: RBI In the last 11 fiscal years, a total of 53,334 cases of fraud were reported by banks involving a massive amount of Rs 2.05 lakh crore, according to data from the central bank. A total of 4,534 and......
Man who reported Maleah Davis missing arrested in her disappearance HOUSTON — The man who reported last weekend that 4-year-old Maleah Davis had been abducted was arrested near Houston in connection with her disappearance and police said they found her blood in his apartment. Derion Vence, who had lived with Maleah a...
No injuries reported in apartment fire on east side TUCSON – Tucson Fire Department crews battled an east side apartment fire Tuesday morning. According to TFD, a resident of an apartment located in the 200 block of South Kolb Road near Broadway Boulevard called 911 to report about a fire that s...
Earthquake shakes much of western France, no damage reported PARIS (AP) — A moderate earthquake has hit western France, felt as far as Bordeaux in the south and Normandy in the north. No damage has been reported so far, according to Col. Michael Bernier, spokesman for the national civil security service. He sa...
Gun violence in Agua Prieta continues, 4 more deaths reported DOUGLAS, Ariz. – Four more deaths have been reported resulting from the gun violence in the town of Agua Prieta, Sonora. According to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, initial information indicates that it continues to be cartel violen...
HTC U11 starts receiving Android Pie update again, no new bricking reported (yet) Despite keeping its fans waiting for a painfully long time, HTC somehow still managed to mess up the official Android Pie update for the high-end U11. The 2017-released 5.5-inch smartphone was treated to the long overdue UI makeover in Taiwan less th...
Damage reported across northeast Kansas after tornado hits People from Iowa through Oklahoma were faced with severe weather into Tuesday night as a round of powerful thunderstorms inflicted major damage over the central United States....
Seven migrant deaths reported in 'extreme heat' at U.S. border Authorities in Texas reported seven migrant deaths on Monday, including those of a woman, two babies and a toddler, showing the danger of extreme summer heat as Central American families surge across the U.S.-Mexico border....
Three reported shot by gunman at North Carolina university A suspect opened fire at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Tuesday, and local media reported that three people were wounded before a suspect was taken into custody....
Man who reported 4-year-old Texas girl missing is arrested HOUSTON (AP) — The man who reported a 4-year-old Texas girl had been abducted from him last weekend has been arrested near Houston. U.S. Marshals’ southern district spokesman Alfredo Perez says that Darion Vence was taken into custody Saturday ...
The Latest: Police chief says 6 reported dead in Indonesia JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The Latest on post-election protests in Indonesia (all times local): 2 p.m. Indonesian police say based on reports from hospitals six people have died in rioting in Jakarta a day after the presidential election results were ...
Two more mysterious deaths reported in Belize after doctor’s slaying Two mysterious deaths were reported out of Belize over the weekend, including a British expat whose body was floating off the coast and a dad who died after returning home from a birthday celebration. Errol Crown, 57, who spent most of his life in th...
Saudi Arabia says an oil pipeline was attacked by drones, shortly after Yemen’s rebels claimed assault on the kingdom DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia says an oil pipeline was attacked by drones, shortly after Yemen’s rebels claimed assault on the kingdom....
Democrats criticize FTC's reported $5B fine against Facebook as 'slap on the wrist' The Federal Trade Commission's reported approval of a $5 billion fine to Facebook for failing to protect the privacy of its users has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers....
Indonesia's top court jails woman who reported sexual harassment Indonesia's Supreme Court has jailed a woman who tried to report her employer for alleged sexual harassment, in a ruling that rights groups said on Friday risked turning victims of sexual abuse into criminals....
Australia says no word yet on student reported detained in North Korea Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday Canberra has yet to establish the whereabouts of an Australian man missing in North Korea for several days.The family of Alek Sigley said on Thursday they had not heard from the 29-year-old univ...
Michigan Republicans Tune In to Democratic Debate. No Conversions Reported. Scouting out the opposition, Republicans viewing Wednesday’s debate were impressed by Tulsi Gabbard and Elizabeth Warren and quick to defend President Trump....
Frosts reported in several coffee, sugarcane areas in Brazil - agronomists Frosts have been reported in several agricultural areas in Brazil over the weekend, including coffee and sugarcane production regions, as an intense polar air mass sweeps through the country....
OPP and MNRF warn residents after reported bear sightings in Midland Southern Georgian Bay OPP and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) are warning residents about bears after an adult black bear and cub were spotted in Midland in the early morning hours of Friday....
New Jersey couple reported missing in Barbados after renting jet ski Monday New Jersey residents Oscar Suarez, 32, and Magdalena Devil, 25, haven't been seen since renting a jet ski in Barbados on Monday. ...
Scientists baffled as dozens of seals reported dead in Alaska The discovery of at least 60 dead ice seals that have been found along Alaska’s west coast in recent months is baffling federal biologists, who said the deaths have been reported in “unusually large numbers.” The National Oceanic an...
Crude oil prices drop after API reported lower-than-expected draw Oil prices fell early Wednesday, likely a result of lower-than-expected draws in an API with traders awaiting official EIA inventory data later in the day....
Multiple injuries reported in gas explosion at Florida shopping center A gas explosion at a Florida shopping center has left at least 22 people hospitalized — two critically — and heavy damage to an LA Fitness outlet and several other stores. Five fire departments responded to the scene of the blast in Plantation, Flori...
Crews search Chicago lagoon after possible alligator sighting reported CHICAGO (WMAQ) – Crews were seen searching a Chicago lagoon Tuesday after police said they received reports of a possible alligator in the water. Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi wrote in a tweet Tuesday evening that the Chicago Polic...
Kangaroo reported hopping across walking bridge over Wisconsin highway Police in Wisconsin said they are on the lookout for a loose kangaroo after a marsupial was reported hopping across a highway walking bridge Monday morning....
Here's How Long It Takes for Paid Debt to Be Reported to Credit Bureaus You just made the last payment on a large purchase you’ve been paying off for what seems like forever. A celebration is in order, right? Go ahead, dance in your seat as you hit that “pay now” button for the very last time. Crack open some bubbly. Cal...
One migrant child reported dead or missing every day, UN calls for more protection Around 1,600 children were reported dead or missing between 2014 and 2018 – an average of almost one every day – but many more go unrecorded, a new UN report revealed on Friday....
Queens mom latest fatality reported at Dominican Republic resort A “vibrant” Queens mom of four is the latest fatality to be reported at a Dominican Republic resort — where she died within hours of coming down with a mystery stomach illness. Donette Edge Cannon, 38, visited the embattled tourist destin...
YouTuber Etika Reported Missing Following Mental Health Struggles Gaming YouTuber Desmond “Etika” Amofah has been missing for over 36 hours, the New York Police Department reports. His disappearance comes at the end of a long and public battle with mental health that, on Wednesday night, culminated in an eight-minu...
First West Nile virus death reported for Maricopa County PHOENIX (KPNX) – The Maricopa County Department of Public Health is urging people to take caution after the first death in the county from West Nile virus was reported Thursday. The person who died was older and had other health conditions. H...
Huge tent collapses at Indian ceremony, 14 reported dead NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concern over the collapse of a large tent at a religious ceremony that news reports said killed at least 14 people Sunday. Modi said in a tweet on his office’s official account ...
Injuries reported in Coney Island high-rise fire At least two people were hurt when a fire erupted inside a Brooklyn high-rise Tuesday morning, fire officials said. Firefighters responded shortly before 4:30 a.m. to 444 Neptune Ave. in Coney Island, where they found a fully engulfed apartment on th...
Watch: Delays reported after plane skids off Newark runway No injuries were reported Saturday when a United Airlines flight from Denver skidded off a runway at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey....
Air Canada flight diverted to Hawaii after turbulence, injuries reported An Air Canada flight was diverted on Thursday to Hawaii after a sudden case of severe turbulence left 35 passengers with minor injuries, the carrier said in a statement....
General Accused in Ethiopian Coup Attempt is Reported Killed Gen. Asamnew Tsige had been accused of plotting the shooting of five political and military figures in an effort to seize power in the region of Amhara....
Small quake hits Mexico City, no damage reported A small earthquake struck central Mexico City on Tuesday night, jolting office towers and apartment buildings in the sprawling metropolis, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage....
Plane lands in Moscow covered in flames; 1 death reported Officials say one person died and at least four were injured after a plane belonging to Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot made an emergency landing in Moscow covered in flames and with smoke billowing from its rear section...
Ku Klux Klan rally in Ohio; no reported clashes, problems DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A small group of Ku Klux Klan members penned in by fencing, surrounded by police and drowned out by protesters, held a rally in Ohio with no reported clashes or problems. The city of Dayton blocked streets with large trucks Saturd...
Shots fired on Kansas State campus; no injuries reported Kansas State University officials have confirmed that shots were fired at a parking lot on campus but that no injuries have been reported and there is "no ongoing threat."...
Fire Breaks Out At Housing Complex In London, No Injuries Reported No injuries have so far been reported at a fire in east London, a London Ambulance spokesman said on Sunday, adding that ambulance units were still at the scene....
No injuries reported at residential fire in London: ambulance service No injuries have so far been reported at a fire in east London, a London Ambulance spokesman said on Sunday, adding that ambulance units were still at the scene....
Cruise Ship Quarantined in St. Lucia After Measles Case Is Reported The confirmed case, on a ship reportedly owned by the Church of Scientology, comes as the U.S. grapples with the largest measles outbreak in a quarter century....
Polling In Progress In Madhya Pradesh, Minor EVM Issues Reported Polling was in progress in seven Lok Sabha seats of Madhya Pradesh today with minor Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) glitches being reported at some booths, an official said....
16 charged in Bangladesh for burning a teenager alive after she reported harassment Sixteen people have been arrested and charged in Bangladesh for the immolation death of a teenager in April, after she had reported sexual harassment....
Indonesia election: Deaths reported as protesters clash with police Angry supporters of unsuccessful Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto have resorted to violent protest in the streets of Jakarta. The city's governor reported six people killed and many more injured....
First case of African swine fever reported in North Korea The first case of African swine fever has been reported in North Korea, South Korea's agriculture ministry said on Thursday, showing how the virus has spread widely since the first outbreak in East Asia was found in China in August last year....
LEGAL-NEWS-NETWORK.COM
LEGAL-NEWS-NETWORK.COM: Breaking News, World News, US News
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Clio Cloud 2015: The Globalized Market of Legal Services
As globalization changes the legal marketplace, solo and small firm lawyers are scrambling to keep up. Why are so many attorneys resistant to embrace new technology? Should technological competence be the responsibility of law schools, the American Bar Association, or individual lawyers? In this Special Report, Legal Talk Network host Adriana Linares and John Stewart,...
Michele DeStefano
Michele DeStefano is a professor of law at the University of Miami and the founder and director of LawWithoutWalls,...
Michael Mills
Michael Mills is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Neota Logic Inc., developers of a no-code software platform...
Adriana Linares
Adriana Linares is a law practice consultant and legal technology coach. After several years at two of Florida’s largest...
As globalization changes the legal marketplace, solo and small firm lawyers are scrambling to keep up. Why are so many attorneys resistant to embrace new technology? Should technological competence be the responsibility of law schools, the American Bar Association, or individual lawyers?
In this Special Report, Legal Talk Network host Adriana Linares and John Stewart, lawyer and legal techspert, interview Michele DiStefano and Michael Mills, presenters at the 2015 Clio Cloud conference. Michele, a law professor and founder of LawWithoutWalls, talks about globalization, the changing nature of legal services, and the responsibility law schools have to teach technological competence. Michael, a lawyer and founder of Neota Logic, Inc., discusses collaboration and interstate business models, eradicating the term “non-lawyer”, and how state bars and the ABA can encourage progressive change.
Michele DeStefano is a professor of law at the University of Miami and the founder and director of LawWithoutWalls, a part-virtual collaboratory of about 750 change agents including entrepreneurs, lawyers, academics, business professionals, and venture capitalists. In 2015 to 2016, she will be a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and visiting faculty lead of Harvard’s Center on the Legal Profession.
Michael Mills is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Neota Logic Inc., developers of a no-code software platform with which lawyers and other professionals build expert systems to automate guidance, documents, and processes. Before Neota Logic, Michael was a biglaw lawyer and a law firm IT and manager.
Podcast: On the Road
Category: Best Legal Practices , Legal Technology
Recorded on the conference floor, "On the Road" includes highlights and interviews from popular legal events.
AALL 2019: Fastcase 20th Anniversary
Ed Walters and Phil Rosenthal celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Fastcase.
Elevate 2019: Using Data, Process Review & KPIs to Drive Growth and Productivity
Jack Newton, Mary Juetten, and Patrick Palace discuss how data, processes, and KPIs can help law firms drive growth and productivity.
Elevate 2019: Cannabis Law
A panel of guests join OTR to discuss cannabis law, review different rules and regulations around the country and discuss about Colorado’s legalization of...
Elevate 2019: Legal Services and the Future
Jeff Bell and Mike Turpen talk about their thoughts on the future of legal services and what they're working on with LegalShield to help...
Elevate 2019: Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready
Glen Mulready talks about what it's like to be the insurance commissioner in Oklahoma, why he chose to pursue public office, and discusses Oklahoma's...
Elevate 2019: LegalShield Provider Stories and A2J
Ben Farrow, Joy Webb, and Kevin Almeroth talk about their experiences working in LegalShield provider firms, what it means to be part of LegalShield's...
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Markus Hans Ludwig
Veronika Engl
Laura Keogh
Simon Geyer
Tax Specialists
Martina Ebeling
Markus Baldauf
Main Office Munich
Branch Office Memmingen
Career/Job Opportunities
Tax, Accounting & Payroll
German-Irish Business
Irish Firms in Germany
Private Client Matters
MHL Support Services Ltd. Ireland.
Professional Titles: Company Director • German Lawyer • Specialist Tax Lawyer • Irish Solicitor
Practice Areas: Corporate Law • Contract Law • Tax Law • Employment Law • IT Law • Probate
Email: ludwig@mhl-law.de / ludwig@mhl-law.ie
Mr Ludwig set up his own law firm on 1 July 2011 as a sole practitioner and since January 2018 this has expanded into a new company MHL-Law Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH with Mr Ludwig as director. Mr Ludwig is currently a practicing lawyer / specialist tax lawyer in Germany as well as an Irish solicitor.
Rechtsanwalt and Fachanwalt für Steuerrecht (Deutschland) – Practicing –
Solicitor (Republic of Ireland) – Practicing –
Solicitor (England and Wales) – Non-Practicing –
Markus was born in Munich in 1971. He grew up in Bavaria but spent happy summers during his childhood in Co Kerry, Ireland.
Markus graduated from Ludwig-Maximilians-University in 1995 with a degree in law. In 1998 Markus joined the tax firm Leinauer & Müller to build up the legal department of the firm. From 2001 to June 2011 Markus was a partner at LM LEINAUER MÜLLER LUDWIG & PARTNER practicing predominantly in the areas of tax, corporate and IT law.
Markus holds a specialisation in tax law since 2001 (“Fachanwalt f. Steuerrecht”). In 2008 Markus was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland and currently also holds a practising certificate in Ireland. In 2010 Markus was admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (non-practicing)
In July 2011, Markus set up his own legal and tax firm as a sole-practitioner and since January 2018 it has expanded into a new company MHL-Law Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH with Markus as the director.
© MHL-Law Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbh
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Home/Celebrities/David Haffenreffer’s Wiki: Relationship, Net Worth, Wedding, Occupation
David Haffenreffer’s Wiki: Relationship, Net Worth, Wedding, Occupation
1 Who is David Haffenreffer?
2 The Bio of david Haffenreffer
3 Career — News Anchor Turned Real Estate Broker
4 Relationships — Is H Cellular Divorced Or Married?
Who is David Haffenreffer?
David Haffenreffer is a real estate agent who changed career paths from tv to property. Before his present effort, he had been the anchor of the morning television programme that was aired by CNN — “Ahead of the Curve” — in which everyday happenings in the US markets were analysed. The TV character was married to Lara Spencer who’s also a TV character. Are they married? Do they have children together? Keep reading to get the answers.
Is there a more challenging sport to do play-by-play for than @NHL hockey? #NHLPlayoffs #GoCaps
— David Haffenreffer (@Haffenreffer) June 5, 2018
The Bio of david Haffenreffer
David Haffenreffer was created on August 2, 1967, as David Huffard Haffenreffer Jr. at Rhode Island, United States of America into American working class parents that are comfy earners. His dad, David Haffenreffer Sr. of Providence, Rhode Island is currently a vice president at Providence for Fleet Investment Advisers, a unit of FleetBoston Financial and his mom, Susan Haffenreffer operates at the Bristol County Community Health Center as a medical social worker. The gym is situated at Taunton, Massachusetts. There’s not any information about his early family life except the fact he has two sisters who are Kristen Haffenreffer Moran andAshley Haffenreffer Wagstaff. David proceeded to examine in the American University Graduate School of Public and Journalism Policy. The former journalist is American by nationality and belongs into the white ethnicity. His hair color is brown and he’s blue eyes.
Our #WeekendEscapes Open House event is this weekend and you can navigate to over 350 homes for sale on the @waze app starting today! @HoulihanRE The Future of Real Estate Since 1888 #innovation pic.twitter.com/ro2hAkJXE7
Career — News Anchor Turned Real Estate Broker
David Haffenreffer began his journalism career in the GTE Corporation where he was employed as a video field manufacturer before going up to act as a news anchor and then manager for WSUB-AM. Following a career in the press and in the front of the display, which spanned over 15 decades and watched David job atBloomberg, News 12 Connecticut, WABC-TV, WCBS-TV, WSUB-AM and CNN, he ventured into property in 2015 and eventually become a broker in Connecticut. He acts as a realtor inGreenwich Now. He says that his passion would be to infuse innovative technology to the company of property brokership that will make it much easier for sellers and buyers to receive their deals shut over the shortest period possible. The one time financial news specialist has worked with Prudential ConnecticutRealty and Sotheby’s International Realty but now works withHoulihan Lawrence Agency because of their Brokerage Manager. His salary and net worth aren’t understood right now.
….with a population cap of 25k residents.
Relationships — Is H Cellular Divorced Or Married?
Former CNN financial news anchor, David Haffenreffer is currently single but has been formerly married to Lara Christine Von Seelen, co-anchor of this live TV series “Good Morning America”, popularly called Lara Spencer. They got married in 2000 when David moved around to CNN as TV news anchor while she was employed as a TV reporter for WABC-TV. The marriage was blessed with two beautiful children — Duff Haffenreffer (b. 2002) and Katharine Paige Haffenreffer (b. 2004). On the other hand, the kids weren’t sufficient to halt the union from going into the stones. The couple announced their separation, which stunned their fans and has been divorced on June 18, 2015. Their marriage looked like a fairytale and not one of their fans could have expected them to not be together forever and that’s why when the statement due to their separation came out from March 2015, their lovers were dumbstruck. No motive was given for the divorce but it’s recommended in certain quarters that the prior couple had personal irreconcilable differences that degenerated in their eventual separation. Regardless of their divorce and separation, both want to remaingood buddies for the sake of their children so they can increase them together. They had been quoted as stating that the decision to have a divorce wasn’t an easy one for them but their children remained their “top priority”. Since the divorce, David has stayed unmarried whilst focusing on building his new profession but the exact same cannot be said of Lara who declared recently that she had been engaged to tech entrepreneur Rick McVey who’s also CEO of a financial technology firm, MarketAxess.
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Where’s Olesya Rulin now? Wiki: High School, Net Worth, Son, Parents
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Why Content Creation is Nearing A Tipping Point
Peggy Chen March 29, 2019, 4:00 pm March 29, 2019
Content creation is nearing a point where a machine-first approach is becoming a reality. This is largely due to the fact that going global has never been more important for companies, yet despite the opportunity that comes with accessing untapped markets and driving exposure in unchartered territories, expansion overseas is not without its challenges.
Deloitte Private recently launched its first global business survey, analyzing the objectives and results of almost 2,000 private company leaders in 30 countries. The report found that private companies are just as reliant on overseas markets as their larger public counterparts, and that 57 percent of private-company executives said global trade is important to their supply chain, compared to just 16 percent who said it’s not.
A big piece of the ‘going global’ puzzle seems common-sense to many, but is something few are able to master. This is the ability to address customers in their native languages, which is essential to gaining their trust, loyalty and ultimately, business. Unfortunately, accurate translation, achieved at scale, is too often overlooked by marketers when it comes to developing a robust content strategy.
Due to the fact that creating, translating and delivering locally relevant content is no simple or quick task, humans acting alone are fighting a losing battle trying to keep up with the pace. Failing to meet these demands can lead to compromising customer experience. So, how do companies keep ahead of the tide in today’s market?
Read More: Why Context is The New King in Marketing
Keeping up with the Internationals
The key issue when it comes to content and companies wanting to go global is sheer volume. According to the 2018 Forrester study, companies said they’re simply struggling to keep up with the growing volume and velocity of content they’re currently offering, with 93% saying they are even planning to increase this further within the next two years.
And while many think a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach could help manage this volume, that simply doesn’t cut it for brands hoping to engage audiences in a more meaningful and lasting way. Not only do brands have to create content that resonates in multiple languages, but it demands expertise, precision, cultural awareness and crucially — speed.
Man and Machine Working Together
While a human approach to translation tackles many of the demands listed above, it is by no means a perfect solution. Judging the relevance of a phrase within new surroundings demands culture understanding, an awareness of the current political and social climate and a degree of empathy — all of which are taking into consideration by linguists. However, the ability to scale this skill can often slow down the translation process. In order to translate content both accurately and at speed, man and machine must work together.
By embedding Machine Learning technologies into the content supply chain, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help achieve the balance needed to satisfy global audiences, and deliver empathetic, anticipatory, intelligent, respectful and real digital experiences.
In the same way that autonomous cars will change the need for parking spaces in the cities of the future, machine-first, human-optimized content supply chains will change our future digital landscapes in exciting new ways.
Read More: Three Ways Context Helps to Cut Through the Mobile “Noise”
Introducing Linguistic AI into the Content Supply Chain
By adopting a machine-first translation approach, companies can leverage AI to address these bottlenecks and ensure they’re presenting only the most relevant content to their customers, no matter which location they’re reading from.
One of the ways this can be achieved is by using linguistic AI to help analyze multiple pieces of content within a remarkably short timeframe, uncover the most relevant content for audiences, suggest keywords and taxonomies and help determine where human involvement is needed specifically.
According to IDC, data professionals spend more time on governing, searching and preparing data than on extracting real value from it. And on average, they waste 14 hours per week because they aren’t able to find, protect or prepare data, with a further 10 hours lost building information assets that actually already exists.
By applying Machine Learning, AI and deep neural network expertise, content creators can quickly understand the context of in-depth source documents and automatically produce high-quality content variants at speed.
Read More: Contextual Content and AI: The New Wingmen for Email Marketing Campaigns
It’s Not a Question of If, but When…
If enabled to do so, machines can free up time spent on the more mundane aspects of content creation, translation and delivery, enabling marketers space to focus on the creativity of their craft. It’s worth noting that Forrester research also reveals that eight out of ten companies believe that their content supply chain challenges impede their ability to deliver on business objectives. With machines paving the way for humans to focus on assembling high-quality marketing materials that have the power to drive forward their business objectives, this could well be a key way of combating the issue.
For companies looking to retain and expand international audiences, and cater to their language needs by adopting the content supply chain of the future, the question must not be if they allow humans to work alongside machines, but when?
AIArtificial IntelligenceContent CreationDigital ExperiencesforresterIDCmachine learningSDL
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EA Sports to Bring Madden to Facebook
By Samuel Axon 2010-02-08 14:22:54 UTC
EA Sports President Peter Moore told Bloomberg that the popular Madden NFL series of football video games will make its way to Facebook.
We haven't heard a peep about a launch date. Moore says we will definitely see Madden on the Facebook platform, but the social media version will be simpler than its console cousins, because EA wants to "make Madden more accessible."
Facebook games are a big deal these days. FarmVille and Mafia Wars developer Zynga just raised $180 million in funding. The news that established (but more niche) long-time video game franchise Civilization is coming to Facebook this summer has gotten a lot of press and interest, too.
More presciently, EA just bought a huge Facebook game company called Playfish for $400 million. The quote from Moore about EA's Madden plans didn't mention Playfish, but it's possible that the acquired company's resources will be used to develop and publish Madden on Facebook.
EA launched Madden NFL 2010 for the video game consoles just in time for the Super Bowl, so hype for the brand is already high right now. This was a good time for the company to let this news slip out.
Samuel Axon
Samuel Axon is a digital content producer in New York City. He has worked as an editor at Engadget, Mashable and the Joystiq network, and currently leads content strategy as Editorial Director at Sprout Social.
Topics: ea sports, Facebook, football, Gaming, madden, Media, NFL, online games, social networking, Sports
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Kash Ali left the ring in disgrace.
Boxer’s ‘disgusting’ act sparks outrage
by Peter Gilbert
31st Mar 2019 12:51 PM
DAVID Price was bitten on the torso by Kash Ali, who was disqualified, in their chaotic heavyweight meeting in Liverpool, England.
Price was ahead on the scorecards and rocked his former sparring partner with a big right in the fifth when he was hauled to the ground and bitten on the torso.
Referee Mark Lyson, who had already docked Ali a point for hitting the back of Price's head, had seen enough and disqualified Ali. Price had earlier accused Ali of biting in a separate incident.
A cagey opener saw Price boxing behind his long jab while Ali enjoyed some success by targeting the body.
Ali continued with his body shots in the second and kept out of the way of the taller man's big shots.
Price bloodied Ali's nose in the third and began to throw the bigger shots but midway through the round complained to the referee that he had been bitten by Ali, who was penalised a point for punching the back of Price's head.
The fourth round saw Ali using his head, shoulders and elbows but Price responded by hurting his opponent with a big uppercut.
Price continued pushing forward in the fifth, punishing his man for his rough-house tactics and connected with a right.
Ali responded by grabbing hold, throwing Price to the canvas and biting his body again before being disqualified.
"He gave it away in the press conference that he was going to lose his head," Price said afterwards. "He was in the fight, he ruined it for himself!
"I hurt him to the body just before the final bite he took.
"He did a couple (of bites) early on and I thought he had lost his head completely.
"He said, 'Let's do a rematch' but I don't want to share the ring with an animal like that."
Speaking in a separate interview with iFL TV, Price labelled the affair a "f***ing disgrace".
"He came here trying to play the villain a little bit and thought I might have swallowed it, so to speak," Price said.
"A f***ing diagrace, really. He's an animal and he doesn't deserve a rematch."
Ali left quite the mark with one of his bites.
British boxing great Tony Bellew slammed Ali and said he shouldn't be allowed to box again.
"His bottle went and they were disgusting things which have no place in a boxing ring," Bellew said.
"He bit him not once, not twice, not even three times, he bit him four times and the referee caught him twice.
"He's a disgrace and shouldn't be allowed back in a boxing ring ever again.
"He should not be paid for the fight, give the money to grassroots boxing and help develop amateur boxing.
"Biting a man when they're on the floor, there aren't many lower things in life."
BITTER BUILD-UP TO FIGHT
The disgusting Mike Tyson-esque scenes followed a bitter build-up to the fight on the Liam Smith-Sam Eggington undercard, The Sun reports.
At their pre-fight press conference Ali, from Birmingham, chillingly warned his former sparring partner: "I'm coming for you."
Usually mild-mannered Price, 35, uncharacteristically hit back with warnings of his own.
"I'll tell you exactly what's gonna happen Saturday night (Sunday AEDT) lad," Price began.
"This is the big stage, right? You're gonna be like a rabbit in the headlights and I'm gonna f***ing run you over.
"I've seen what you've been saying, 'Oh, he's a quitter'. Do you think I'm gonna quit against you lad? You throw about 20 punches a round.
"I'm made up you've gone like this because I thought you were half alright, but you're a f***ing blert and you're gonna get your head punched in."
The result extended Price's record to 24 wins and six defeats and was the first defeat of Ali's 16-fight career.
With Sky Sports and The Sun
biting boxing editors picks
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NEWS ARCHIVES - ARTICLES Feature
Great Designer Search 3 Finalist – Jay Treat
Posted in Feature on March 9, 2018
By Wizards of the Coast
Trial 2
Scored 73/75
Guest judge Ethan Fleischer
Recall with Purpose (uncommon)
3WB
Return target creature card and up to one target aura card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
That Aura you're getting back won't be sitting on that creature you're getting back—they're coming back at the same time, and you have to pick where to put the Aura before they move. Your best bet here also removes the "up to one" construction: make the spell modal, since modes are performed sequentially in order:
Choose one or both—
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Return target Aura card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Getting the Aura on the creature card will take some templating effort, but it can work. I think this design is great.
This is great. I'm happy to pay five for a Zombify, and the added bonus of maybe getting an Aura is nice. Looks like a fun Limited card.
This mitigates the risk of running Auras in your deck a bit. It allows your reanimation spell to be more impactful without having to make a dedicated reanimator deck. I would certainly put this in a file, especially if the set had an Aura subtheme.
With Eli's caveat that the words need some massaging, I like this card. It's a nice blending of white and black, and it allows some fun things in a deck that plays Auras.
Echidna's Two-Headed Pup (uncommon)
1RW
Creature — Chimera
Menace, Vigilance
CARDNAME can block an additional creature each combat.
One head loves being petted and the other hates it. Good luck.
So much two-headed action! I love it!
Wow, this card looks like a beating. It's very strong. The rarity is fine, but the rate is off. Doesn't look like a fun card to play against in Limited at this rate, but I like the design overall.
I like the symmetry of menace and "can block an additional creature." We saw that on Two-Headed Dragon back in Mercadian Masques, but this design makes way more sense than that one did. A nice, clean, novel design.
I love when a designer can mix and match mechanics we've used many times before to make something new (this card feels different to me than Two-Head Dragon). This card is flavorful, matches the colors and rarity, and will play well all in an elegant package. I can't stress how hard it is to do this well. Congrats, Jay.
Third Degree (common)
CARDNAME deals 2 damage to target creature and its controller. Gain 2 life.
This is a very appealing common, though I would probably charge three mana.
Nice and simple, a great common. I think the rate is off by one mana. This card is doing just a bit too much at common. 1BR seems correct here.
This is a perfectly serviceable card, but there isn't much to excite my interest here.
This is a nice clean common with just enough of a tweak to get the second color, in this case red, into the design.
Cosmic Revelation (uncommon)
Until end of turn, target creature has base power and toughness each equal to the number of cards in your hand.
I can't tell if you want to lock in the target's size right away or if you want it to update throughout the turn. Words exist for either way, but how should it be tested? One trick some designers use is to put in plain-English reminder text answering the question until the editors change the words or I change the rules.
I like how this can either shrink a creature or pump one, depending on your hand. I definitely appreciate you adding "draw a card" on here so it's not a kill spell in green-blue. That said, I think this card is too strong at this rate. A lot of the time you are using this as a combat trick, and a very flexible one at that. "Kill a guy, draw a card" is not okay for three mana, and that is what this card will be doing most of the time. I would add a mana to the cost.
The cantrip helps to ensure that this is unlikely to be pseudo-removal, which I appreciate. A sort of Maro-themed combat trick is a cool idea for a card. I suspected that this could cost less than three mana, but seeing Melissa's comments made me realize I was wrong.
This is another fun design. It blends the two colors perfectly while making a very playable effect, all while playing to one of the judges. Bravo!
Lure of Treason (rare)
3RG
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. All creatures able to block it this turn do so.
I don't think this is all that novel for a rare, but it is a nice design.
While this card is costed appropriately and is the right rarity, I do not think it is a fun rare. It is a Limited bomb capable of winning games, and frustrating to lose to (surprise Lure creature). Cards like this are too narrow to have many Constructed applications. It's not an exciting card to open in a pack for the player who doesn't play Limited and likes cracking packs.
Act of Treason ends a lot of games. Lure ends a lot of games. Combining them together onto one card will end a lotta lotta games. This is obviously strong in Limited. I wonder if it has Constructed implications.
I like that this is another nice blending of abilities. Red could do "must be blocked," but it takes green to get "all creatures." I agree with Melissa and Ethan that I'm not sure how much fun it would be.
Illusive Vagabond (common)
1UB
Creature — Rogue Illusion
Whenever CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player, sacrifice it. That player discards a card and you draw a card.
This is a very interesting common, and very appropriate for the color pair, both mechanically and strategically.
I understand what you're trying to do, but I dislike this card. I would avoid forced sacrifice. Even though I'm gaining value, sometimes I don't want to sacrifice my creature. This body is sized in a way where he will not connect very often. I do like the idea here.
A nice, simple common.
You have a pretty good knack for making commons that are actually common. I like that this card has a little mission to hit the player once and then does its thing. The flavor also seems spot of for a blue-black creature.
Bucket List (rare)
1UR
Whenever you cast a spell of a type showing on CARDNAME, put a counter over that type and draw a card. If all five types on CARDNAME have counters over them, sacrifice it and draw one more card.
[ ] artifact [ ] creature [ ] enchantment [ ] instant [ ] sorcery
I'm positive that I can write rules to make this design work, but seeing it pop up out of nowhere made my brain do a somersault. It would require extensive rules work and terminology definition, and then there's even more issues I'm aware of downstream: graphic design concerns, digital tracking and display concerns, and tournament play concerns. I hope you've got more than one card cooked up to use this design space for the amount of work it'd need, but I'm impressed and intrigued.
This is a nice build-around quest.
This is a lot of work for not much payoff. The deck-building restraint is huge. That said, I do think the card reads very fun. There are tracking issues with this, as you need to find a way to mark your card. Putting a die over each thing doesn't seem reasonable. This is the type of card we would show to the Magic Online and MTG Arena teams to make sure they can make it work (not a bad thing).
This card is playing in the B-I-N-G-O space. Its usability will depend greatly on whether the graphic designers can find a way to build the frame to accommodate these various spots to place counters. There are also potential concerns with how this would be implemented digitally, but I suspect that it wouldn't be too hard. In general, this looks like it's a pretty fun quest to build a deck around. I guess it goes with the delirium cards you mentioned in your essay.
This was my favorite design of all 94 design tests. It is an interesting "build around me" card that makes use of the frame in an all-new way. This is the kind of card that inspires me to make a whole mechanic. (And it's clear from Eli that we'd want to make use of this on enough cards to justify the effort to make it work.)
Jori, Archaeologist (mythic rare)
Legendary Planeswalker — Jori
+2: Put the top 2 cards of your library into your graveyard. Gain 2 life.
-2: Return target permanent card from your graveyard to your hand.
-7: Until end of turn, you may play cards from your graveyard. If a card would be put into your graveyard from anywhere this turn, exile that card instead.
Keep in mind that Jori's last ability will stop "when something dies" triggers when nontoken permanents die, but not tokens. Do you want to risk players misplaying, or play it safe and just have "a card or token" exiled if it tries to go to your graveyard?
This is a straightforward, solid planeswalker design.
Three-mana planeswalkers are tricky to make because they are much harder to deal with than four-mana planeswalkers by a significant amount. This comes down before the opponent has a board presence. For this reason, we usually start off three-mana planeswalkers with low loyalty. You started yours at three and it immediately goes to five. While it does not do anything on the plus, the opponent will have to invest a lot of resources in killing this. That said, I think this design is very cool. It has some fun play patterns (mill yourself, fill your graveyard, cast all your stuff, get back permanents when you need to do that). I am usually going to be happy activating any of the abilities and the choices are interesting, whether I want to work up to the ultimate or minus to get a key card back. I think this planeswalker is great if we adjust the numbers.
A tight package where every ability works together in a cohesive way. The Yawgmoth's Will ultimate is saucy! As I said above, planeswalkers are hard, and this one is pretty compelling. This card doesn't have any way to protect itself with its abilities, so it might want to start with higher loyalty (and have a corresponding higher ultimate cost).
This is another cool design. It leans a bit more black, but there's enough green in the design to justify the two colors. I wonder whether the ultimate should just be an emblem rather than an "until end of turn" effect.
Fiona, Peaceseeker (mythic rare)
2WU
Legendary Planeswalker – Fiona
+2: Each player may tap an untapped creature he or she controls. Each player that does draws a card.
0: Gain 1 life for each card in your hand.
-12: Gain an emblem with You have no maximum hand size, then draw cards until your hand size equals your life total.
I am not a fan of this design. I am concerned that the 0 ability is going to lead to games where your life total is a runaway train, where you aren't going to lose, but you might not win for a very long time. At that point, the ultimate is useless because you would immediately deck yourself.
This planeswalker tells a story and is obvious how I am supposed to play with it and build with it. That's great! That said, I think it's very rare that I am going to use the 0 ability to gain life, when the incentive to use the +2 is so high (adding loyalty for a card is much stronger than no loyalty for life). I realize the drawback here, but it is not significant enough for me not to plus this forever. I would change the 0 ability to be stronger in some way. Maybe a way to go up a card with a small life gain. Just like with your other planeswalker, I think this can be a great card with some number adjustments.
I like this one a lot less than I liked Jori. There are so many game states where I won't even want to cast this. If my opponent has more creatures than I do, or if my hand it empty. I generally prefer planeswalker designs where I can usually cast my planeswalker with confidence and then figure out which ability is best to activate.
There's a lot of cool elements in this design. I like the need for creatures to draw cards. I like the synergy with caring about your hand size. I enjoy that it all thematically and mechanically ties together. My favorite though is the ultimate. It has the "Wow, that sounds fun to do" quality I look for in planeswalker ultimates.
Bought the Farm (uncommon)
1GW
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant land you control
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until CARDNAME leaves the battlefield.
Enchanted land has T: Add GW to your mana pool.
I feel this is a bit much, and would have you sacrifice the enchantment for mana. That way you could keep their creature away, but would let it out to do something big.
Wow, nice. This looks very appealing to me. However, that is some huge upside on your ramp spell. This card looks a bit too strong for Standard, but this is an awesome and innovative way to do a Journey to Nowhere. I think a good fix here is to restrict the type of creature it can remove.
This is a hot glue gun design: Banishing Light combined with Wild Growth. It's a bit weird that there'll be this pile of three cards sitting in my land row. This card is a bit strategically incoherent, too, in that a ramp spell is proactive and a removal spell is reactive. This card presents the player with too much tension, in my opinion. I most like wouldn't add it to a set.
We've done Oblivion Ring–style effects on Auras, but never on an enchant land. Lands are traditionally difficult to destroy, so I'd probably want to make sure the set had an answer to it, but I like the general design. I'd change the flavor, but it's a cute design name.
Overall Judge Commentary
This is a very fruitful set of cards. With a little work, almost all of these could be solid fun cards. Your cards are the best of the competition.
I thought a lot of your cards were great and many of them made me excited to build decks around them. There were quite a few rate issues with your cards, but that can be easily solved through experience. All of the rate issues were about cards being too strong rather than too weak, so keep that in mind for future weeks. Another thing to consider is game play patterns. For example, having choices on cards you'd never make, or being forced to do things you don't want to do in game.
It seems clear that you've designed a lot of Magic cards, and even Magic sets. You understand what sorts of cards a Magic set needs to create fun, dynamic environments. I'd love to have you on a set design team, where we're trying to find relatively simple solutions to specific problems. Your designs look fun and elegant. However, aside from Bucket List, they're pretty conservative. I'd love to see you push the boundaries a bit. I'd also like to see more build-around cards and top-down designs in future shows. Basically, I want to see more cards that would make players sit up and take notice: "I can't believe they did THAT!" For planeswalkers, remember that these cards are almost always aimed at Standard Constructed, so they should usually have the option to be board-impacting in some way the turn they're cast.
You had the strongest design test of all the candidates. Your cards are well crafted and mostly functional. It is clear that you have a good idea of what Magic sets need to work. I think my notes are similar to Ethan's. I know you're capable of much more than what you're showing us. I want to see you stretch more and try pushing into a little less safe design space. Bucket List was my favorite card in all the design tests, but I felt like none of your other cards showed the potential for untapped design space that Bucket List did. You are also the only returning GDS person in this competition and I know you feel you have a lot to prove. [Jay was the first designer eliminated in GDS2.] Demonstrate all the skills you've picked up in the seven years since the last Great Designer Search. I feel you're capable of so much more than you've showed us in your design test. Use these upcoming challenges to prove me right.
Challenge #1
Guest judge Alexis Janson
Tribal Choice: Shaman
Contestant Comments
There is value in tribes that come together based on the synergies and playstyles cards of that tribe create, rather than explicitly referencing the tribe on every card. Many Shamans have had activated abilities, and that feels like a sort of innate magic different from spellcasting, so I'm eager to build on that history here.
(I also want to explore more cross-tribal, but that's a different animal entirely.)
This set includes cards (especially in BRG) that reward activating abilities, not all of which explicitly name Shamans; that's why half these cards grant activated abilities where they could have been more direct. The result is a tribe that's chock full of synergies that make the player feel smart, but is also more complex as a package and will likely slow the format down—something to watch for. (Common Shamans do exist—it's not all red flags.)
The hybrid-tap symbol is a crazy idea, but it worked in my very limited playtesting and is worth thinking about. While playtesting, I kept wishing I could pay mana rather than tap—and vice versa—in different situations. Both "tap this creature" and "pay some mana" are costs and symbols, so at least theoretically can be hybridized. The once-per-turn limit might only be needed for Ritual Flame; I'd need to test more to know. We can avoid certain hard questions by restricting where and how we use it.
Vision Quest (common)
When you cast Vision Quest, up to one target Shaman gains "1, T: Copy Vision Quest" until it resolves.
Search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.
Wait, that's a comm—no, I'm only commenting on rules, not rarity. I get that you're aiming for "activated abilities matter" for Shamans, but if splicing on an activated ability to copy a spell that's doing the splicing is what you need to make your theme work, I question whether your theme might be laden with too many edge-case quirks.
This is a very strange common. I appreciate that you are looking for a way to tie in to activated abilities, but commons need to be simpler than this.
Not common. This is complex. I think the space is interesting, but I would not have creatures granting a copying spells effect at common.
Granting a tap ability is barely common, if there's a set theme that justifies it, but this is just too weird as the first card someone might read in a set. Ideally, commons can stand on their own, and this just makes me go "Huh?" This card hints at the kind of complex puzzles that I love to piece together in Constructed and higher-powered Limited environments, but it doesn't belong at common here.
One of the things we liked about your design test was how much your common designs felt like commons. Sadly, I can't say that about this design. Unless part of a larger concentrated keyword mechanic, the word "copy" shouldn't be on a common card. If you wanted this to be common, you'd probably tutor for an additional land if you have a Shaman on the battlefield. I get that you're trying to tie into your Shaman's activations theme, but it makes the card too complicated for common.
Shamanic Epiphany (common)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has haste and is a Shaman in addition to its other types.
Untap enchanted creature at the end of combat on your turn if you control a Forest.
This is also a strange common. It makes the creature a Shaman, but it is not clear why I am making the creature a Shaman; if I were playing a Shaman deck, this wouldn't be very useful. Commons should strive to be easier to appreciate.
This is such a bizarre card to me. It doesn't feel like a red effect, and adding "If you control a Forest" makes me think that was added as a way to keep the card in color pie. The effect itself is very weak. It's not worth a slot in most Limited decks, even if I have the right synergy for it. End of combat is a weird time to trigger effects, but I understand why, if this is meant to work with your above common. It's often a step that many players don't know exists and is likely to be forgotten about.
This also seems to be a bit more complex than I'd want a common to be. I'm scratching my head and wonder exactly what I should be trying to do in this Limited environment. You didn't give me a common or uncommon that would make me actively excited to put this in my deck. Left to my own imagination, I can't imagine putting this in my deck without it enabling something broken.
This is another common that's not really a common, although it's closer than your first card. It's a weird, secretly red-green card. Yes, the untap ability (something green can do but not red) is allowed with the Forest rider, but I'm not sure why you're doing it. (Yes, red and green are the most common Shaman colors.) This design seems more clever than functional. Also, you were instructed that your cards had to mechanically care about your creature types, which this card doesn't actually do (making something a Shaman is not mechanically caring about Shaman), so you get a ding for that. I can appreciate granting haste and untapping for a tribe built around activations, but the whole package is inelegant.
Moonspire Diabolist (uncommon)
Creature — Vampire Shaman
Moonspire Diabolist has lifelink and deathtouch as long as you've activated an ability of a Shaman this turn.
This is an appropriate reward for uncommon.
This one is interesting. Plays into the Shaman themes and has a satisfying reward.
I'm afraid your theme isn't going to work out at lower rarities. "Activating abilities" is a very mechanical concept and one that beginning players shouldn't be asked to understand to play casual Magic. I'm not sure why you went black here, as the third color doesn't add anything to your submission, and creatures "working together" is pretty much the antithesis of black.
This design is tapping into interesting space. We haven't had a tribe care about activations before. If you had limited this to just one keyword, maybe this could have been one of your commons. I'm not a big fan of deathtouch as I don't like surprises that are sitting on the battlefield waiting for an unobservant opponent to walk into, so just being lifelink at common probably would have been a better card. I agree with Alexis that I don't quite get why the shift into black.
Ritual Flame (uncommon)
Ritual Flame deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Until end of turn, Shamans you control gain "(T/r): This Shaman deals 1 damage to target creature or player." (Activate this ability for R or by tapping that creature, but only once each turn.)
The tap-hybrid symbol idea is pretty cool, and I can write rules to support it without any trouble. However, the "once per turn" restriction is pretty odd. I can untap a creature with a tap ability and activate it again, why can't I do that here? You could consider a direction more like the Mirrodin Shards so that you can charge more mana and remove the restriction: "T or 2R: This Shaman deals . . ." Always consider options, even if you really, really want that restriction. Someone else down the line might veto it, and a backup idea may make the difference between salvaging a mechanic that charms you and having to start over.
Paying an activation cost of red does not generally limit to once per turn, so making a hybrid symbol with red, and making that also imply "only once per turn" doesn't seem good to me. Tapping is the default way of getting players to only use an ability once. It is not clear to me why you didn't stick with that, especially since I already paid four mana for the spell. This card is unnecessarily complicated.
This looks like a rare design. It's complex, and too strong for uncommon. I think the space is interesting, as is the tap/R hybrid activation. For an uncommon, I would have chosen to not put the hybrid activation on a sorcery granting it to a creature, due to complexity. This is probably the first card like this a player sees. (Could have gone on a red creature with T/2R: 1 damage to target player, for example). I think the activation on a creature would have been a more successful way to execute this mechanic.
This card hurts my brain. Why can I only activate this only once a turn? If I'm paying R, why can't I pay R again? Why did you make such a weird card rather than a simpler execution that focuses on the tap/red mechanic? Convince me that enough simple designs exist to meet the high bar necessary to create a new symbol. It's your job to convince me that "activated abilities matter" can exist at common/uncommon, and you've done the opposite.
You're definitely one of the designers that pushes hardest into new design space. While I'm intrigued by the tap/red hybrid symbol, my designer instinct says it would cause more confusion than it's worth. I do admire the willingness to explore, though. I also agree with many of the other judges that the whole point of having the red activation would be so you weren't limited to using it once per turn.
Sacred Circle (rare)
T: Add C to your mana pool.
T: Until end of turn, activated abilities of Shamans that aren't mana abilities cost you 1 less to activate. (No minimum cost.)
You made a three-color tribe, which already stresses the colored mana of the player's deck. Reducing the activation cost by 1 severely limits the development of your abilities. Suppose the correct activation of a Shaman is 1? That would break, because of this land. Since the design of this land isn't great, I would immediately replace it with a simple tri-land, and label that CQI ("continuous quality improvement"—R&D slang for "use this for now, we'll make something better later") until we get something more innovative.
I like the design of this land, but the "no minimum cost" killed it for me. Having multiples of these means there is high risk for infinite combos. Lands are hard to interact with, especially in Standard. I think this is a cool design, but I would have added the text "can't cost less than 1" and would not put the line on a permanent that is hard to remove.
Allowing the cost of abilities to drop to zero is a huge red flag for my otherwise excited inner Jenny, even with the mana ability restriction. I understand the desire to innovate, but this would almost definitely become something more like "T: Add CC. Spend this ability only on activated abilities of Shamans."
This is an odd design. For starters, you don't gain mana advantage unless you're using two different Shaman abilities (as you're giving up the mana from the land). I would have put this ability on something (probably a creature) that doesn't produce mana. Also, the no minimum cost rider makes my R&D funny bone tingle. (The other judges' responses show I'm not alone.) You're playing in dangerous territory, doing something I doubt you'd get Play Design to go along with. Also, even if no Shaman have an activation of 1 (I didn't look), keeping us from ever being able to print one is a bad idea. Finally, a land tapping for C in a three-color tribe is ill-advised.
Brighthearth Pendant (rare)
Whenever you activate an ability of equipped creature that isn't a mana ability, you may pay 2. If you do, or if equipped creature is a Shaman, copy that ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Equip 2
"If you do or if {other condition}" is interesting. My instincts tell me it'd be some hassle to add to existing rules, but doable.
This is too similar to Illusionist's Bracers.
This is a more successful way to do what the Shaman tribe is trying to do. I wouldn't do free triggers on this (because it's repeatable). I'd instead include some kind of cost, or limit the activation to once a turn in some way. On the plus side, this card is a little easier to understand than some of your previous designs.
I like this tweak on Rings of Brighthearth and friends. It excites me to find ways to optimize this, and I would hope to find combinations that play differently from Rings. This is a good example of evolutionary design that doesn't just feel arbitrarily derivative, but instead explores existing design space in a way that feels flavorful and compelling.
This design is cute. I'm not sure what danger free copies of activated abilities brings, but it's probably less dangerous than Sacred Circle. I believe this Equipment would be pretty popular. I probably would have made it colored though to allow us to be more aggressive with its costing.
Bearer of Lightning (mythic rare)
2RR
Creature — Elemental Shaman
Shaman creatures you control have "R: This creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn."
T: Bearer of Lightning deals 3 damage to target or player. Activate this ability only if you control three or more Shamans each with power 3 or greater.
This doesn't feel all that mythic rare to me. Also, the activation for R in a three-color tribe seems off.
Not exciting, I have to jump through so many hoops to get my payoff. Very complex. Of course high complexity is fine for a mythic rare, but this card just doesn't excite me. It feels mythic rare because of complexity, not because of how cool/novel/splashy it is.
I like this card and would be excited to play with it. I like the synergy between these abilities. This card continues to demonstrate your theme's complexity cost, as this would just be printed as "R: Target Shaman creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn." in any other set. This card provides an alternate Shaman theme as a go-wide tribe that cares about power. It's good for one of your tribe's (mythic) rares to lead you down a different path with that tribe, although I'm not sure that was your intention here.
There's a lot going on here. It's a mythic rare though, so you get a bit more room to play around. It ties into your activation theme and has a little built-in game to play, so I'll give it a tentative thumbs up.
Mystic Slime (mythic rare)
Creature — Ooze Shaman
When Mystic Slime enters the battlefield, you may activate an ability of each Shaman and/or Ooze you control without paying the mana in its activation cost.
Creatures you control have "2G: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Activate this ability only as a sorcery."
Reducing the cost by "all its mana" screams red alert to me, just like it did last week when Linus suggested it. This isn't an alternative cost, so can X go sky-high? You've got a bigger problem, though. This card's a self-contained bombo. The sorcery timing restriction on the granted ability trumps the permission granted by the trigger.
The enters-the-battlefield effect is great. I don't really like the second ability. I feel the "green" ability here would be to add a lot of mana to only use with other Shaman.
I like this design better than the land, because it's bounded to only one per Shaman per turn. However, this is still a risky design. This is the type of card where I would look to cast it and win the game that turn with some kind of combo.
I really like this line of text; it's innovative and powerful. It's a little weird that this is secretly at least a 5/5, but this and Brighthearth Pendant would get me digging through Magic's history of Shamans with activated abilities. This is easily your best design this round.
You're the one of only two designers to cross-pollinate tribes, which I liked seeing. Shaman and Oozes seem like an odd place to cross the streams though. You're messing with free activations again, but this time it's just a one-shot, so far less dangerous. My biggest complaint with this card is that it doesn't hold together. Bearer of Lightning was complicated, but the pieces at least felt connected. Mystic Slime feels like a recipe where you just threw in ingredients you liked.
I appreciate your attempt to be more ambitious in your design. However, this is just too far from New World Order. Not only are there a lot of activated abilities, but there is ability granting and cost reduction. It is demanding that people remember too much just to understand the board state, never mind the combinations of abilities. A lot of people won't enjoy playing against the Shaman deck, and I would have to cut so much, that this is not a fruitful submission. Here your overall theme is very ambitious, but if that fails, then the whole exercise fails. I would prefer ambitious individual card designs, but a sensible overall theme.
Overall I think there are some novel designs and interesting space, but your cards are not the right power level for the rarity you assigned them, and are much too complex as a whole, especially with your lower rarities. I like your vision and the mechanical identity you gave to your tribe, and I think this identity can lead to some very cool cards, but your execution was not successful.
Holy complexity, where are your commons? An important instinct for a designer is to hone in on the hardest problem to solve and do that first. This is where you missed here. You chose a theme that you needed to prove could be done at common with enough variety of designs to fill out a set, and you convinced me of the opposite—and I'm your target demographic for this theme!
I asked you to show us the potential for untapped design space. And you did. I think the implied part was "while still doing the elegant and attention-oriented design that made you win the design test judging last time." I'll be blunt, Jay. You had a bad week. You walked into this challenge the frontrunner and walk out in the middle of the pack. Your commons weren't common (aka most your designs were too complex for their rarity). Many of your designs were unfocused. And you made Play Design really nervous (be careful how often you make things free to cast). There was some good there. I liked that you were exploring untouched tribal design space. You definitely had cards that spurned new design ideas for me. And I saw more of your creative energy. All that said, another week like this week is going to get you in trouble. Show us you can do simple, clean design, that's rarity appropriate, that hints at bigger ideas. For example, I was intrigued by your tap/red mana symbol, but you did nothing to make it shine. The key to showing something new is to put it in its most elegant form so we can see why we might want to use it in the game. I'm hoping we can chalk this week up as a learning lesson and get you back to the top of the pack.
Jay, I believe in you. I know there's an amazing designer in there, but I have to see it on paper. Let Challenge #1 Jay come up with ideas, but have Design Test Jay execute on them.
Guest judge Aaron Forsythe
Bigtopia is a loud set that invites players to experience the thrill of show business.
Ringmaster (GUR)
We ask players to walk a tightrope to keep the big show going—rewarding them for casting a spell on each of their turns.
Rebound (WUBRG)
The return of a popular mechanic helps make that feat possible.
Exalted (GW)
A good ringmaster must keep the audience focused, keeping other performers back in support of the one in the spotlight.
Peak Performance (RWB)
You've got to train hard to perform the most impressive feats of daring. Exalted helps you reach the threshold of 5 power where you really shine.
Rogues (UB)
The circus is a veritable rogue's gallery. Be careful not to cross one, because they're all family.
"The Only Show on Earth" has a secret purpose: This tiny Romani-inspired plane is being used by a devious Planeswalker as a prison in disguise. Planar magic compels inhabitants to aspire to be the circus's greatest performers, a feat accomplished only by the most daring and dedicated. This villain wipes his enemies' minds and deposits them here, where they are swept up into the act, too distracted to wonder about their old lives.
This plane's inhabitants and magic are amusing, unique, risky, and impressive.
Bigtopia's aesthetic is: bright lights/dark shadows; colorful/striped; and loud/bustling. Common art should depict the circus's band and pipe organ to evoke the associated music.
Acrobatics (common)
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains flying until end of turn.
Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)
This is a good flavorful match, and an appropriate common.
Love it. Rebound looks great here.
Rebound works well here. This card definitely feels like an acrobat jumping around, and it feels common and playable. Nice.
Clean and simple as well as flavorful. A good common. I like the gameplay of rebound, but I'm not quite sure thematically what it's adding to the set. Yes, it makes sense with regard to acrobatics, but that's a tiny part of the set. Does it make sense as a part of circus world? I'm a little more dubious.
Unicycle (common)
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and can't be blocked by more than one creature.
If a creature with menace rides your Unicycle, it's the most terrifying thing in all existence (obviously) and nothing can block it at all. I think that's pretty awesome, but keep an eye out for whether that makes your set's Limited environment less interactive than you'd like.
This is a funny interpretation of a unicycle.
Common Equipment is very hard to design. This card type has a huge effect on Limited games, and many Equipment designs start out too strong or unfun. I think this is a good example of a common Equipment that is appropriate for Limited and is at a fun rate. Good job.
This one also feels common, but less playable, and much less flavorful. I can imagine an argument that a unicycle makes you more effective in combat and harder to block, but those aren't the words that leap to mind.
It's surprising to me how many people chose to make a Unicycle as an Equipment and not as a Vehicle. I understand that rebound was your one non-evergreen mechanic, but I would have chosen a different card. That said, I'm not sure from a flavor standpoint why this represents a Unicycle. The design is common enough but kind of blah as, to me, the flavor is weak.
Knife Thrower (uncommon)
Creature — [Human] Rogue
When Knife Thrower enters the battlefield, target creature an opponent controls gets -1/-1 until end of turn for each differently named Rogue you control.
This feels more like someone who leads a bunch of Rogues than a circus knife thrower.
Interesting . . . Cool build-around for Limited, reminds me of a knife thrower.
The Rogue thing could work, and I think the flavor is okay here. When the card works, it's going to play more like a Ravenous Chupacabra and less like a knife thrower. I'd like it more if the tribal synergies led to more knives being thrown as opposed to a single more powerful knife.
This is cute. I like tying the Knife Thrower to Rogue tribal. I can image adding some carnival elements to a circus world and making many of the "carnie" Rogues feels flavorful. This is a cool uncommon build-around for Draft. You also made the right choice to have all the -1/-1 effects target a single creature.
Tightrope (uncommon)
At the beginning of your end step, scry 1. Sacrifice Tightrope unless you have cast a spell this turn.
This doesn't feel like a tightrope to me.
Overall good design, feels like a tightrope. Repeatable scry is complex, but on uncommon or higher it's okay. Good job.
I like this one a lot. You can cast it early assuming you think you can curve out over the next few turns, but its best use is probably in the midgame to make sure you don't run out of gas. The flavor works well.
I get that you're trying to "walk a narrow path," but the connection of mechanics to flavor for me (this is another card showing the subjectivity of top-down as the judges are all over the place) is a little too esoteric and I think it would get missed by most players. Look at Chris's Juggling for a card that's doing something similar but has a stronger flavor connection.
Traveling Circus (rare)
Enchanted creature has haste.
Whenever Traveling Circus enters the battlefield or you cast a spell, gain control of enchanted creature until end of turn and untap it.
"Who's running away with whom?"
This is a cool and entirely functional card, but you're asking for a lot of rules knowledge and careful attention. Did you expect players to notice that you can cast more spells to untap the creature even after you control it, or that you can use an instant to pull it out of combat and block? I'd need to look at this a little more for any other potential weirdness with other creatures in your set, then you'd need to decide if you want to add some clauses to cut off any of those behaviors or to at least make them more obvious. Or maybe this is the one bonkers Melvin-deluxe card for the set!
This is interesting to think about, but I doubt it is fun to play. I'm skeptical I would keep it in the file for long.
Interesting and flavorfully makes sense. The card doesn't look super fun to me. Repeatable Act of Treason does not sound fun, especially when you have full control over when you get it. These effects are usually sorcery speed for this reason. Makes sense as a rare. Looks very strong in Limited, but in Constructed, I'd usually want a real removal spell. I don't think this is worth a rare slot in a set.
This card is a twist on some of the other repeated control-changing cards we've made in the past in that you can use instants to steal the creature on the opponent's turn as well, and that's kind of nifty. But a circus is not one creature, and this card is not very top-down. If we had asked for a card called "Run Away with the Circus," maybe this would have worked.
Mechanically, I like the design of this card (although Eli is right, you don't get too many of these in a set). The connection to the flavor though doesn't work at all for me.
Feats of Strength (rare)
Choose a different mode for each of up to three target creatures you control:
• Put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.
• That creature fights target creature you don't control.
• Destroy target artifact or enchantment [with converted mana cost less than or equal to that creature's power].
This has a nice flavorful feel, gives green some interesting choices and interaction. This is my favorite card of your set.
These three modes are narrow by themselves and when you have three creatures in play the upgrade is not very impressive. I think this card has the complexity of a rare but the power level and coolness factor of an uncommon. Rares need to have a good balance between complex and cool, and while I think you're doing better in terms of complexity, I think this card could do something a little more exciting.
The word "feats" seems to lead most people to modal spells, which makes sense, but isn't scoring anyone points for originality. The last mode is really weird without the parenthetical, since the card implies you need to have creatures for each mode. With that text, two of the three modes at least feel like feats of strength. Not sure this is an exciting rare, or just rare because it's has weird targeting restrictions.
Again, I like the mechanical execution, but have some issues with the flavor connection. Three modes and three targets is a cool idea, though I understand it's not quite what you did here. I think we could make a splashy cycle out of. You connected the flavor to the larger concept of "feats of strength" rather than what it means within the context of a circus. In a circus, it's used to refer to a singular person who is abnormally strong (a strongman or strongwoman) performing "feats of strength." Putting the effects across multiple creatures doesn't line up with this circus flavor.
Rosella, Trapeze Artist (mythic rare)
Legendary Creature — [Human] Rogue
Whenever Rosella attacks, exile the top card of your library. You may cast that card.
Whenever you cast a spell, Rosella gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is that spell's converted mana cost.
Rosella has flying as long as its power is 5 or greater.
Another layer snag—you can't have a creature gain a keyword based on its power. This one's tricky because a beginning-of-combat trigger won't work with the on-attack trigger, so you're going to need to redesign how it gains flying in some way.
I am not sure this is a trapeze artist. It is also undercosted, and difficult to put at a proper spot.
I think this card is great on multiple levels. Flavor, power level, wow factor. Fun play pattern. All abilities make sense as a package. Very nice design.
I like the idea of a trapeze artist that can gain flying, but this package reads more to me like a human cannonball than a trapeze artist. Red, haste, flying, huge power? Cannonball.
This is another cool design. Red's flying tends to be restricted to Dragons and Phoenixes, so I'd probably add in white or blue and make this a multicolored card. As it's legendary, that would make it a bit more versatile as a commander as well.
Pyramus the Magician (mythic rare)
2UU
When Pyramus the Magician enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 blue Illusion creature token and draw a card.
Sacrifice an Illusion: You may cast Pyramus the Magician from the battlefield (for its mana cost).
"Of course I'm a magician. Could I do this without magic?"
Casting things from the battlefield? What a circus. Especially since it can die in response to the ability. Feel free to test this out, but by the time it gets to the end of the process, expect it to be something more like "Exile CARDNAME and an Illusion you control: You may cast CARDNAME from exile."
This looks very frustrating to play against. You attack with two creatures, I block both, draw a card, and have the same board as I did before you attacked. I could imagine a game state where I am ahead, and am leaving an extra four mana up. There will be a long time where you are extremely unlikely to win, but I am slowly and safely accumulating my resources before even trying to win.
Casting something from the battlefield technically works (I asked Eli!), but the rules people aren't big fans of it. A wording of "2UU, sac an Illusion: Exile CARDNAME. You may cast it without paying its mana cost" is just as functional, as is "2UU, sac an Illusion: Exile CARDNAME, then return it to the battlefield." What I dislike about this card is the repetitive play patterns it creates. The Illusion token is not usually going to be used as a creature, but more as a fog (block two things, sac the Illusion, recast this). This is repeatable turn after turn as long as you have 2UU. With weak stats, I don't see this card doing much else. It would have been interesting if it didn't create an Illusion, but you had to meet another condition (that you didn't just get for free by resolving this) to be able to recast this.
Borderline web comic. You found a fancy way to write "2UU, Sacrifice an Illusion: Exile CARDNAME, then return it to the battlefield. Activate this only as a sorcery." Having to write rules and answer scads of questions for functionality that is barely different from existing well-understood templates is not a great idea.
All the judges are basically saying the same thing. You chose to do a splashy wording when a simpler, more understandable wording was available. Now, there are times I'll defend doing that, but not when the splashier version causes excessive rules confusion. Also, I'm not a fan of sacrificing something that literally just replaces itself with upside. There's some fun flavor here and I like the idea of making Illusion creature tokens, but I'd be happier if there was something a little more interesting to do with them.
Your commons are very good, but I don't like your mythic rares as a pair. Planeswalkers tend to give repeated card advantage, so we are unlikely to have many other mythic rares that give an extra card per turn. However, both of your mythic rares do exactly that. It is important to showcase a variety of effects at each rarity.
Overall, I think you have good ideas. I love the use of rebound here. I think one thing to watch out for is cards that create repetitive play patterns. Your Act of Treason rare and blue mythic rare both did that, and both looked problematic. I think both of those cards can be executed in different ways and have better play patterns. If you have two choices—one is to use the ability of your card and the other is to cast a spell from your hand—and the answer is always use this card, then that is a sign of repetitive play patterns. I think you improved a lot from last week in terms of your overcomplexity. I think your next step is finding the right balance between complexity and fun, especially in your higher rarity cards.
I found about two-and-a-half of Jay's cards to be great. His mix of mechanics—Rogue tribal, rebound, high-power-matters—didn't paint a particularly cohesive picture for me. Jay's in the bottom band of contestants for me this week.
This wasn't a great week for you. Interestingly, my biggest issue is a different one from the other judges. I think your flavor connection was off. This was a top-down challenge, so the thing I most look for is the ability to convey flavor through mechanics, and you struggled in this area. There were moments of greatness (I really liked Rosella, for example), but more missed than hit for me. I also agree with Aaron that I didn't get a good overall sense of what your circus world was up to mechanically. This felt like a bunch of random cards rather than cards all from the same set. Finally, I like rebound as a mechanic, but unless you were planning for the acrobats and trapeze artists to take up a larger portion of the set than I would assume, I'm worried the mechanic wouldn't feel circus enough.
Jay, I think you have good designer instincts and your designs tend to look like they'll be fun to play. I know you work on larger card set projects for yourself, so I think it might help you to take a step back and think of the design challenge as a larger set challenge of which you are only showing a few representative cards. I think if you focus a little more on the forest instead of the trees, it will help you bring more clarity to your submission.
Guest judge Jules Robins
Jund fans, with our return to Alara, please savor bloodspill.
Cylian Physician – Bloodspill comes in three forms. First is this conditional: Attacking with a 1/1 and a 2/1 will do the trick.
Share Pain – Second form. Warriors like you don't begrudge the cost of doing business. When your enemy is too cowardly to defend themselves? Gravy.
Put those forms together to finally see the most representative use of bloodspill: Bloodthorn Acolyte.
Bloodthorn Acolyte – Acolyte rewards you for dealing damage to your opponent, but you can also choose to pay 3 life to enable it yourself. Jundians are happy to contribute their own blood to the gruesome cause.
Jund Vengeant – I'd pay 3 life to surprise an attacking 2/3. If they're too big to ambush, use the damage they deal to fuel the swing back.
Goring Taurean – It's unfortunate that double strike doesn't help after regular damage, but it's easy to arm Taurean before damage thanks to bloodspill.
Field of Gore – Field turns on your Taureans and Acolytes with a single payment. Unlike shock lands, it's also possible to use it immediately at no cost as long as you can make an opponent bleed—something I suspect you enjoy anyhow.
Blood Will Flow – Here's the third form of bloodspill. This Killing Wave will do a lot of work in your bloodspill deck, exsanguinating your opponent or their creatures and turning on bloodspill. If only you could benefit from spilling blood multiple times in a turn . . .
Insatiable Kresh – Bolas's villainous influence has twisted Kresh from a metaphorical Sanguinarian to a literal one.
Bloodspill engages both players in a heart-pumping struggle for life.
Cylian Physician (common)
Creature — Vampire Cleric
When Cylian Physician enters the battlefield, if you spilled blood this turn, gain 3 life. (You spill blood whenever a player loses 3 or more life.)
This is a fine common to get across that we are looking for packets of 3 or more life.
This is a fine common with your mechanic. I'll play it on turn two and be fine not getting the reward, but if I've damaged my opponent already, it's a reasonable bonus. That said, I expected this to be a green card. It's weird for a black card to just gain life. Usually there is life draining or life gain when a creature deals damage or dies. Just a straight-up life gain on a mono-black card is weird to me.
This design thematically feels like a Vampire, gives a moderate reward for playing with the mechanic without becoming unplayable without it, and aesthetically links numbers to create a satisfying package. All those good things said, there's a certain amount of dissatisfaction that will come with this card being extremely hard to maximize. Playing this on turn two won't trigger its ability. Trying to meet that goal for every card with this mechanic would restrict your mana costs too much, but it's wise to be wary of how many designs like this you'd need to justify the mechanic. This might have been a good spot to make a slightly more complex or less clean common that would let players feel like they "did it." (e.g., "Whenever you spill blood, gain 1 life.")
I'm a bit torn about bloodspill. I like that it's flavorful and cares about something game relevant, allowing for a lot of interactions with minimal text. I'm less excited that it might discourage attacking and cause games to slow down. I'm also worried that not enough players understand that damage becomes life loss. I do like that you made a simple common with a straightforward "enters-the-battlefield" trigger, but I wish you'd chosen a mono-black effect. (Melissa is correct that black only gets life when you drain something or in conjunction with sacrificing something.)
Share Pain (common)
You may spill your own blood. (To spill your own blood, lose 3 life.)
Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the most life any player lost this turn.
This is confusing. We have a similarly named mechanic, but it's different. A goal we have with names is that as you learn names, it becomes easier to understand what the other cards do. I am not sure why you wouldn't just write out "you may lose 3 life." Secondly, this deals with the total amount of life a player lost, not the packets of 3 or more life. I might change the "spilled blood" mechanic to look for a player who lost 3 or more life.
I dislike how narrow this spell is. Hard to cast before combat (because no one has been damaged yet), and hard to cast when I'm losing and have a low life total. I dislike the words here, and would prefer a cleaner "You lose N life, then . . ." The words you wrote here need to be processed. First, read the words, then understand why you would want to lose the life, etc. This is a hard-to-understand common in my opinion.
This is certainly some pretty different design space from your last card! Life payments appeal to a pretty narrow and Spikey group of players, so I'm skeptical that this space would ultimately prove worth all the complexity it adds to learning the mechanic. Assuming we did want to do this space, this is a solid design, but not a good common. It uses X (which, although not strictly prohibited at common, is a big hurdle for a lot of newer players), but moreover it asks you to track a quantity you weren't paying attention to. Other bloodspill cards are doing a binary check on the number 3, but this demands you keep paying attention after that threshold is met.
One of my pet peeves is mechanics that work differently on different cards. You spilling your own blood is different than blood being spilled (the first is active and the second is passive—that is, the first allows you to activate it while the second requires for something else to have happened). This is going to cause confusion. I would rather you just have spells that let you pay life and thus trigger bloodspill. Next, this is not a common design. First, it uses X. That's a red flag at common. Second, it lets you pay life, yet the effect of X might not be based on the action you're taking. Third, you made it an instant, increasing the chance people try to use it incorrectly in combat.
Bloodthorn Acolyte (common)
Creature — Goblin Barbarian
Bloodthorn Acolyte enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it if you spilled blood this turn or spill your own blood. (You spill blood whenever a player loses 3 or more life. To spill your own blood, lose 3 life.)
This is a good tension-filled creature. Given that you have two common creatures, it would be better to avoid putting the same converted mana cost, power, and toughness on both of them.
Appropriate common for this mechanic, and has Standard applications. That said, I am not a fan that your mechanic is actually two different things: a check for loss of life and a life payment. I would stick to only one.
This design skirts the "don't play it on turn two" issue, but bringing the two executions of this mechanic onto one card adds a lot of sequencing complexity for a player trying to maximize their plays—enough that I'd red-flag it at common.
You have one common where you need to spill blood, a second common that wants you to spill your own blood, and a third that lets you do either? I'm in the camp that all rarities should just have one option, but if you have more than one, at least put only one option at common. I agree with Erik that you should make your two common creatures with your mechanic different from one another.
Jund Vengeant (uncommon)
You may cast this spell as though it had flash if you spilled blood this turn or spill your own blood. (You spill blood whenever a player loses 3 or more life. To spill your own blood, lose 3 life.)
Be careful mixing passive conditions and active costs like this. Draconic Roar and friends did that in Dragons of Tarkir, for an idea of what the words for this look like, though this would be even weirder.
Flash is a bit of an oddball, in that it is harder to take make someone lose 3 life. This seems appropriate at uncommon.
I like this design. I like the choices here. Can ambush or punish my opponent for attacking me. But with previous feedback I dislike that the mechanic is doing too much. I think this is a cool card that stands on its own and doesn't need a keyworded mechanic. Also, it doesn't feel green, with the life payment.
This card plays well spilling your own blood, but presents a lot of potentially frustrating moments gaining its ability from blood being otherwise spilled. Casting it with flash on your own turn after damaging an opponent doesn't do much, even though you "did the thing," and while there's value to being able to cast this card at your opponent's end step after taking a hit, it's likely to make players aware of the lost value of not having flashed in to block.
I can have a surprise blocker if somehow before combat damage I've lost 3 or more life? I know there are tricks to make this work, but it's quite frustrating if you don't have the trick. You're going to want to pick effects that you're happy getting postcombat. And as Melissa said, spilling your own blood in colors other than black is going to feel odd. We have allowed all five colors to pay life in the right environments though, so this isn't a deal-breaker.
Goring Taurean (uncommon)
Creature — Minotaur Berserker
Goring Taurean has double strike as long as you spilled blood this turn. (You spill blood whenever a player loses 3 or more life.)
This is a bit odd in how weak it is when you don't spill blood.
Awkward card. Double strike matters before combat damage is dealt, so this is hard to turn on unless you have a lot of ways to damage yourself, face burn for your opponent, etc. This is the type of card I would expect to have the life payment, but it doesn't!
This design is going to trick players and lead to arguments. Most players don't know all the intricacies of how the rules work, and just assume their cards can do everything they look like they might be able to. As a result, they'll expect this card to get a second hit when it attacks or blocks and normal damage causes them to spill blood, but the first strike damage step will already be long past without another first striker, so instead they'll get nothing. Consequently, we would never print this card.
Again, you gave an ability you really want to gain before combat damage based on something that will most often trigger after combat damage. Double strike is particularly odd because if you have another creature with first strike or double strike (or triple strike in silver-border Magic), the creature will gain double strike just in time to not do damage twice. I understand you plan to have support for this mechanic to enable things when you need them, but if your designs can't work without the support, that's usually a sign that there's a problem.
Field of Gore (rare)
Field of Gore enters the battlefield tapped unless you spilled blood this turn or spill your own blood. (You spill blood whenever a player loses 3 or more life. To spill your own blood, lose 3 life.)
T: Add B, R, or G.
A tri-land is a Constructed card in a typical Standard environment, though you could consider making one a tad stronger. A "bolt land" is already very powerful: in Modern it is common to use a fetch land to get a shock land. To add more onto that is inappropriate.
This card enables three-plus-color decks too easily. Paying 3 life is a drawback for sure, but these lands will slant the format aggressively. This card widens the gap between strong aggro and strong control, and would push control decks out of Standard. I think if you were looking for a land that could turn on your bloodspill cards, an uncommon tri-land that enters the battlefield tapped and had an activation with a life payment would be cool.
This card is appealing on its own, but causes significant issues for the wider set and for Standard. Trying to print this card requires either a mismatch in mana fixing, or placing a constraint on all of the shards to have a thematic restriction they can use for a tri-land. As for Standard, it's important that mana fixing capabilities are pretty even across color combinations to avoid all of the strongest decks gravitating to the colors with the best fixing. We normally do dual- and tri-land cycles with the same condition to ensure their balance, and asking for five disparate conditions is almost guaranteed to result in one of them being significantly stronger or weaker than the others.
This design is more functional than pretty. It's the kind of card you have to teach less enfranchised players that it's worth actually playing because it won't seem attractive at first blush. In general, I like to be careful not to make mana generation that discourages some subset of players from playing it. (Remember that some players are bad at evaluating cards, either ignoring some aspect of it or not immediately sensing that this is strictly better than an "enters the battlefield" tapped tri-land. The knowledge of the power of shock lands might help, though.)
Blood Will Flow (rare)
1BB
For each creature, spill its controller's blood unless they sacrifice it. (A player loses 3 life when their blood is spilled.)
The extra terminology isn't helpful.
This card is hard to understand even with reminder text. It reads like I have to pay 3 life per creature, even the opponent's. I understand that's not your intent or how it works, but using these words is confusing, because it's telling the spell's controller to do something (spill its blood). This card is Killing Wave, which is not an innovative design, and I don't think this card is worth the keyworded mechanic. 1BB, "For each creature, it's controller sacrifices it unless they pay 3 life" is cleaner and more elegant text and removes confusion.
This is a cool punisher effect. The card is a little bit odd in that it loudly says to play it like a sweeper (that is to say, creatureless), but most of its actual strength comes with being able to put your opponent's life total under pressure. Having a few cards that surprise players in their use is positive; we just don't want too high a density. This card is also fairly weak, but that's appropriate as forcing these very Spikey decisions on a lot of players who didn't opt into them is liable to make them have less fun.
While this might seem like you're just using an already established ability in a new way, this is actually a new ability. Spilling your own blood is allowing you to pay 3 life (usually with the promise that life loss will be rewarded elsewhere on the card). Spilling the opponent's blood, is a punisher effect, forcing the opponent sent to choose one of two options. While related, those are actually different things. I appreciate you trying to maximize how much design space you can get out of your mechanic, but you're making similar yet functionally different mechanics rather than tweaking your mechanic.
Insatiable Kresh (mythic rare)
1BRG
Legendary Creature — Vampire Warrior
When Insatiable Kresh enters the battlefield, spill each opponent's blood. (A player loses 3 life whenever their blood is spilled.)
Whenever you spill blood, put that many +1/+1 counters on Insatiable Kresh. (You spill blood whenever a player loses 3 or more life, and get 3+ counters as a result.)
I can't really tell what Kresh's last ability is doing with that reminder text. Up until now, I'd have assumed that Shock plus Prodigal Pyromancer would spill blood, but Kresh's telling me that doesn't count. This one is your actual third use of bloodspill—you're watching for a one-time event instead of an aggregate history. Blood Will Flow is just the same as "spill your own blood," but with various different bloods all flowing at once (eww). You've definitely got way too much going on with this keyword at this point.
This is very strange. Now it is packets of 3 or more life, put the counters aren't the number of packets, it is the size of those packets.
I think this is a great design, but I'm still having a hard time processing the words. Spill blood means that any player needs to lose 3 life, but you are using the words "you spill blood," which is confusing to me. I would expect it to say "whenever a player spills blood," but I don't really see a reason to keyword this. I think this card is nice. It looks fun in Standard and sweet in Commander, but I would change the first ability to read "each opponent loses 3 life" and "spill blood" to read "lose life."
This card will generate a lot of confusion. It puts a wording challenge for the two uses of the mechanic front and center: while the way they refer to players is technically consistent, in the context of spilling opponents' blood, checking if you've spilled blood is going to read to many players like it's just checking if you've lost 3-plus life. That confusion is more likely to come up for players that haven't played with many other bloodspill cards, but for those who have . . . Casting two Shocks on your opponent is going to turn on Cylian Physician, but won't trigger Kresh. This sort of inconsistency makes it much harder for players to get to a point where they feel like they understand the mechanic, and most people find it hard to have fun while actively confused. Finally, the way this card scales up in multiplayer will make it appealing, but only because it's ludicrously powerful. Players are always excited by power, but we can't just scale up the power level of cards in the game indefinitely, so that appeal comes at the price of excitement for future cards. In Commander specifically, this card just posing a one-shot commander-damage kill with any effect that grants double strike is not going to make for good gameplay.
I'm starting to get confused about what counts as spilling blood. I thought the mechanic just cared about any player losing life for any reason, but now you're talking about the act of spilling blood, which makes it sounds like you only count when you're actively spilling it. This is a side effect of you trying to use one concept to do too many things. It starts to break down what the mechanic even means. Also, why does this trigger off of spilling blood and not life loss? Do I only get counters when life loss happens in chunks of 3 or more? And it says "when you spill blood" but the card implies "when anyone spills blood." There's a design buried in here that seems like it might be cool, but I have no idea what exactly it even does.
You're trying to use "spill blood" as both active (spill your own blood) and passive (if blood was spilled). That's fine in general, but you have them meaning very different things. One's a conditional check for something that happens all the time, the other sounds like it could be that, but it's really saying "pay 3 life." Players reacted poorly to the "two meanings" implementation of haunt, and I'd bet they'll have the same issue here. In normal design, I'd expect you to forge ahead with testing this, but you're going to need to chop something, either into its own keyword or un-keyworded mechanic.
You have packets of 3 life, pay 3 life, the most life a player lost this turn, and amount of life lost in a packet of at least 3 life. I did not enjoy this presentation. If you had picked one thing such as "if a player has lost 3 or more life this turn," there might be something. You could still have cards that let you pay 3 life, without creating keywords. An extra pass to create a coherent theme would have helped a lot.
Positives: What I like about this is that is checks for both players. I can play an aggro deck and usually my cards will be on, but if I am playing cards with life payments or my opponent is beating me down, I can get the bonus that way as well.
Negatives: First I think this mechanic is secretly two mechanics. One is a mechanic that "turns on" whenever a player loses 3 life. I think that is fine when it's on a handful of cards, but doing this too frequently it creates a hyper-aggressive Limited format. The second mechanic you made is "pay 3 life for a bonus." Each on their own is fine, but I think combining these into one mechanic is confusing. Does spill your own blood mean that I lost 3 life that turn, or have to pay life as part of this cost? I would have just made spill blood mean only one thing. It's cleaner and once you know what it means, you'll never have to read reminder text again. In your version, I have to double check to see if the spell has a life payment or turns on when a player already lost life that turn.
There are a lot of things to like about bloodspill. The baseline morbid-esque version fosters a number of distinct gameplay patterns: attacking with creatures, dealing damage directly to your opponent, paying your own life as a cost, and acting as a comeback mechanic on instants when you're getting beaten down. It cleanly fits into three colors, gives you a good reason to build new decks, and gives the player a quest that meshes well with basic Magic gameplay and cards from across Magic's history. Despite coming up with the best mechanic design of the bunch, I found your execution lacking. The version of bloodspill that lets you pay life muddies the message about what the mechanic's doing while having pretty narrow appeal, and the baseline mechanic already could have appealed to those very same players with the addition of a few independent life-payment cards. We asked you to show off range, but also to make cards that would all go in the same set, and the set would be worse off for these divergences in the core mechanic's functionality. You also completely ignored the low-hanging fruit of the mechanic for a low rarity design: a four-plus mana creature that will naturally curve at a point where the player can be triggering bloodspill in combat. You found a mechanic that has good gameplay without doing anything fancy. Use that space!
Jay, this design was a mess for me. Buried deep inside it is a potentially cool idea (mechanically caring about damage), but your execution had numerous problems, the biggest being that you tried to use one name to cover three distinct mechanics. This leads to all sorts of templating confusion as the player is trying to figure out which version of the mechanic you mean. When "my opponent spills blood," for example, does that mean they've lost 3 life or they've been forced to pay 3 life or they've opted to pay 3 life to prevent a different effect from happening? In your quest to consolidate everything under one umbrella, you've changed effects that we already have a template for. Why not just use "pay 3 life," rather than "spill your own blood"? It's a template Magic's used for most of its lifetime. Ideas are important, but they have to be executed well, and you fell down on this challenge in that area.
Jay, I'm sorry to say that we have to let you go this week. The competition is just getting tighter and tighter and you've had a few weeks where you've ended up on the bottom half of the challenges. You have the honor, along with Scott Van Essen, of being just one of two people to ever be in two different Great Designer Search Top 8s, and I know you have great potential. Keep at it. I have faith we will one day work together.
Jay was eliminated prior to this challenge.
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AN ORACLE’S INTERPRETATION OF DOTS!
The Circles suit – or, as we call them, the Dots suit – is the original suit of the Mah Jongg tiles; the Bamboo (Bams) and Wan (Craks) suits were added later. The similarity of the circles to coins leads to the belief that the majority of the Circles suit tiles are connected to money or business. Tiles in this suit are numbered from 1- 9 and are described below.
1 Circles
Chinese Character: “Chu”
The first of the Circles suit and represented by the pearl – its Chinese name is “the Moon from the Bottom of the Sea”. Pearls indicate the refinement of a connoisseur and so this tile suggests luxury and wealth.
Chinese Character: “Sung”
Represented by the pine tree and symbolizing the qualities of the tree – firmness and strength – and therefore often linked to a young man. Perhaps a lover, younger brother, or son. It is also linked with writing and drawing (not painting) because the wood of the pine makes the finest charcoal and its soot the finest ink. It can therefore indicate a resolute person who chooses diplomacy rather than violence.
Chinese Character: “Feng”
Symbolized by the phoenix – in Chinese legend the phoenix is a bird that is said to appear only at the beginning of a reign of a benign Emperor, when Earth and Heaven are in harmony. It therefore signifies happiness, joy, and splendor. It is the symbol of the Red Bird of Summer, one of the four great Chinese astrological constellations and is therefore associated with the South Wind.
Chinese Character: “Yü”
Represented by jade – in China it is prized above gold. But jade when taken from the ground is a dull piece of rock; it only acquires value when time, work, and skill have transformed the raw stone to an object worthy of admiration. Jade does not fade, rust, or decay; it is a treasure that survives for all time. Jade therefore represents hard work, but work to a worthy end. It also represents lasting values, long friendships, long life, and a sense of justice.
Chinese Character: “Lung”
Symbolized by the dragon – a symbol of good luck and fortune. It represents sudden and unexpected fortune rather than rewards through diligent efforts. It is therefore associated with gamblers and gaming. 5 Circle can also be symbolized by the Plum Blossom, the first sign of spring and it can represent the hopes for luck and fortune in the newly arrived year.
Chinese Character: “Tao”
Symbolized by the peach, the softness and fragrance of which express the qualities of feminine beauty. It often denotes the influence, appearance, or interference of a young girl who can be a lover, daughter, or younger sister. The peach can also represent extravagance and indolence. And, as we saw from my unforgettable birthday party post, the peach can also represent immortality.
Chinese Character: “Ch’ung”
Represented by the insect, and signifying industrious, because of the behaviour of the insect, for example, the silk worm spinning its thread, the ant building its city and the bees gathering food. The insect is the counterpart of jade (4 Circles). Whereas jade represents sustained effort bringing lasting reward, the insect represents a period of busy activity over a short period, perhaps for no eventual purpose, but the reward can be temporary achievement. The fragility of the insect also represents weakness and therefore can indicate that a situation is not as weighty as first thought.
Chinese Character: “Hu”
Symbolized by the white tiger, and the most masculine of all tiles. It represents authority and bravery, but also aggression. It can mean an officer, a person in uniform, or one’s superiors such as the police or bureaucrats. It can also reveal a father or the elder of two boys. The white tiger is a constellation of Autumn and is therefore associated with the West Wind.
Chinese Character: “Ch’i”
The symbol is the unicorn – in Chinese legend one of the signs that appear in the reign of a good Emperor. The unicorn is regarded as having powers to see into the future, a talent that was passed on to mortals who gazed into pools of water by the light of the unicorn’s burning horn. The significance of the unicorn is therefore the ability to foresee events and can signify the gift of clairvoyance. On a more material level it indicates a natural ability of a person to keep ahead of events or rivals – a sense of being able to judge other people’s characters with uncanny accuracy by seeing through them.
Thanks to The World of Mahjong Webring for these interpretations.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged circles, dots, dragon, insect, jade, mah jongg, peach, pearl, phoenix, pine tree, the world of webring, tiles, unicorn, white tiger on February 2, 2014 by Mah Jongg and Me.
← 马年大吉 AN ORACLE’S INTERPRETATION OF CRAKS! →
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Business a.m.: Ericsson sales plummet, Drake taps into another profit stream
Ericsson's share price plummet by almost a fifth, Drake's Virginia Black Decadent American Whiskey sets LCBO sales record
Paul Delean, Montreal Gazette
Sure he's smiling: even Drake's whiskey is a hit David Becker / Getty Images for Clear Channel
Here’s our look at the big stories this morning on the business beat:
Ericsson shares hammered: Mobile networks company Ericsson saw its share price plummet by almost a fifth Wednesday after it said third-quarter earnings this year will be “significantly lower” than expectations and it predicts no improvement anytime soon. The Swedish company said its sales fell 14 per cent in the period compared to a year earlier due to weaker demand for broadband networks. Ericsson CEO Jan Frykhammar says “current trends are expected to continue short-term.” He said that the Stockholm-based company “will continue to drive the ongoing cost program and implement further reductions in cost of sales to meet the lower sales volumes.” After the announcement, Ericsson shares fell nearly 17 per cent to 51.40 kronor in early Stockholm trading. Last week, Ericsson announced 3,000 job cuts in Sweden, or nearly 20 per cent of its local workforce, and said it will downsize operations at several plants as part of its global plan to cut costs by 9 billion kronor ($1 billion U.S.) in 2017.
The spirit moves: Canadian rapper Drake truly has the Midas touch these days. His music career is soaring, and he’s striking gold in other areas. His new alcohol collaboration with DeLeon Tequila founder Brent Hocking, Virginia Black Decadent American Whiskey, was recently added to the shelves of LCBO stores in Ontario, retailing for $39.95, and the company says it set a record for largest single-day launch sales in LCBO history. It’s not listed for sale yet on the website of the Société des Alcools du Québec.
Another deal for WSP: Montreal-based WSP Global Inc. is buying a U.K.-based engineering consulting firm with expertise in public transportation and infrastructure, including intelligent systems for managing road traffic. WSP says it will pay the equivalent of $120.4 million (75 million pounds) to purchase Mouchel Consulting, which employs about 2,000 people — mostly in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Mouchel Consulting is currently part of the Kier Group PLC. WSP provides engineering and other professional services to various industries, with about 34,000 employees in 500 offices across 40 countries. Formerly called Genivar, the company has grown rapidly in recent years through the acquisition of London-based WSP Global in 2012 and Parsons Brinckerhoff in 2014. WSP’s president and CEO said the Mouchel Consulting acquisition is part of a three-year growth strategy begun in 2015. “It is also in line with our U.K. growth strategy to increase our presence in the U.K. public sector, in order to benefit from the continued government investment in infrastructure,” WSP chief executive Alexandre L’Heureux said in a statement.
Molson Coors expands its line: Molson Coors wants to offer Canadians a wider selection of imported beers after closing its $12-billion (U.S.) acquisition of Miller brands that makes it the third-largest global brewer. Several craft and mainstream brands from the United States and Europe — including Leinenkugel, Miller High Life, Sharp’s, Staropramen and Franciscan Well — could make their way onto store shelves next year, Molson Coors CEO Mark Hunter said. Meanwhile, Canadian craft beers like Creemore and Granville Island could be exported to the large American market. “It’s potentially going to be a two way street,” Hunter said in an interview. “We’re doing all of our planning right now for 2017 so you’d expect to see some of these emerge in our portfolio once we get probably into the spring of 2017 so they’re there for peak selling time.” Based in Denver and Montreal, Molson Coors acquired SABMiller’s 58 per cent stake in MillerCoors, a U.S. joint venture formed in 2008. It also gained the international rights to Miller brands and royalty-free U.S. licences for SABMiller import and license brands including Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, Fosters and Redd’s. Molson Coors expects the doubling in size will reduce ingredient and administrative costs while a more integrated North American network will make its supply chain more efficient.
Market swoon: Global markets retreated Wednesday after a dismal Tuesday on Wall Street marked by disappointing earnings news from the likes of aluminum producer Alcoa and genetics research company Illumina. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both dropped more than 1 per cent. Canadian stocks fared better, with the Toronto Stock Exchange down just 0.11 per cent Tuesday, as crude oil prices stabilized near their highest point in over a year, about $51 (U.S.) a barrel. The Canadian dollar is currently trading around 75.4 cents (U.S.).
pdelean@postmedia.com
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Politics Tue, 9 Apr 2019
NPP descends heavily on John Mahama, NDC
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has descended heavily on former President John Mahama and the NDC for attacking Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu, made this 'attack' known at a press conference yesterday in response to the NDC’s ‘Counter-economic lecture’ held on Thursday, April 4, at the Mensvic Hotel in Accra following government’s Economic Management Team Townhall meeting on Wednesday.
The NDC's Economic Lecture was led by Hon. Isaac Adongo to expose the NPP government on how they are mismanaging the economy of the country.
In his speech, Mr Adongo described Vice President Dr Bawumia as 'Walewale Adams Smith'. This description has been identified by the NPP as an insult.
According to John Boadu, the NPP builds the economy and NDC comes to destroy since 1992.
He explained "To buttress the above, if you look at the state of Ghana’s economy and growth paths over the years, it is obvious that the NPP builds and the NDC destroys. NDC took us to HIPC but did not have the courage to admit it even though it was under an IMF programme in 2000. It took President Kufuor to have the bulk of Ghana’s debt written off and get Ghana out of the IMF programme. Not only that, NPP, through the focused operations of GNPC, made Ghana an oil rich nation but left office before a single barrel of Jubilee oil could be produced. Also, the NPP under President Kufour left office with Ghana’s first credit rating taking us to B+. Before that we were not even rated. Credit rating is necessary for both government and business to transact business and borrow internationally.
After 8 years of NDC economic management our rating went down from B+ to B-. Yes, B minus under John Mahama! After only 20 months of NPP under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, we have already been upgraded from B- to B. Our upgraded credit ratings earned us an oversubscribed Eurobond issue in multiples of 7 at the lowest coupon rate and longer maturity Ghana has ever had"
He stated that, "Say No to a redenominated candidate (Mahama) for he never changes. Mahama - The value is the Same. More importantly, The NDC alternative under Mahama still scary".
Below is the full press statement
Response to the NDC
By John Boadu
Fellow Ghanaians, ladies and gentlemen of the press, welcome and thank you for responding to our invitation. Today’s briefing will be straight to the point.
In the past few days, we, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have had to ask ourselves a single, but very difficult question: must we really respond to, what you journalists have yourselves described as a “concert party comedy” by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) put up last week by what can only be described as John Mahama’s alternative Economic Management Team? We have decided to respond because whether we like it or not, former President John Mahama and his NDC are the alternative that Ghanaian voters have to President Akufo-Addo and the NPP in 2020.
An Economic Management Team led by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and an Economic Management Team with Adongo and co. 2020, ladies and gentlemen should surely be more than Adongonomics. It should be about how to protect the gains so far made and how to deepen and spread those gains through more jobs and better incomes.
A brief sketch of NDC and NPP eras
Ghana is 62 years old now. The bulk of that, 27 years in all, have been under the (P) NDC. Again, out of the 26 years of the Fourth Republic, 16 years have been under the NDC and 10 under the NPP. This means that the NDC has had the largest opportunity to transform this country and bring about prosperity to the people of Ghana. But, what do we see?
What we see is this: the NDC, after their eight years, end up taking the nation back for the NPP to fix it. Then they use propaganda, lies and insults to get back in to destroy what has been fixed for the NPP to come back to fix what they the NDC destroy. What is even worse this time, ladies and gentlemen, is that they are so arrogantly disrespectful of the electoral wishes of the people that they are presenting the very John Mahama leadership that sent Ghana so disgracefully back between 2012 and 2016. Our question is this: what new message can John Mahama and his NDC offer for your vote?
The nature of the Fourth Republic has been the same story: the NDC creating a monumental mess of the economy, the NPP coming in to clean up their mess only for the NDC to engage in the antics such as they did last week that flies in the face of the facts and reason in the hope that their legendary aptitude for lies and deception will someway, somehow, somewhat propel them back into office for another opportunity to roll back the progress we have made.
To buttress the above, if you look at the state of Ghana’s economy and growth paths over the years, it is obvious that the NPP builds and the NDC destroys. NDC took us to HIPC but did not have the courage to admit it even though it was under an IMF programme in 2000. It took President Kufuor to have the bulk of Ghana’s debt written off and get Ghana out of the IMF programme. Not only that, NPP, through the focused operations of GNPC, made Ghana an oil rich nation but left office before a single barrel of Jubilee oil could be produced. Also, the NPP under President Kufour left office with Ghana’s first credit rating taking us to B+. Before that we were not even rated. Credit rating is necessary for both government and business to transact business and borrow internationally. After 8 years of NDC economic management our rating went down from B+ to B-. Yes, B minus under John Mahama! After only 20 months of NPP under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, we have already been upgraded from B- to B. Our upgraded credit ratings earned us an oversubscribed Eurobond issue in multiples of 7 at the lowest coupon rate and longer maturity Ghana has ever had.
We understand and appreciate the genuine concerns by the Ghanaian people that the NDC has a discredited record as far as the management of the economy is concerned and should therefore not be our benchmark for comparison. That is a fair comment, except, the NDC is the only realistic alternative Ghanaians have. Sad but true. We, the NPP, are happy for the public to judge us with a higher benchmark than the NDC. However, Civil Society Groups and the media, when having a go at us, do not behave as if they know that the alternative is worse. All that we are saying is this: credit us for being better than the NDC and challenge us to do much more for Ghana. Do not make the Ghanaian voters, who may rely on you for information, think that the NDC is a credible alternative. Let them know that #TheAlternativeIsStillScary and we promise not to be complacent but to push harder to deliver. That is exactly what President Akufo-Addo is doing for Ghana.
Yes, it is true that in a multiparty democracy the acid test to any political decision of the incumbent should be what the alternative is. However, this test becomes suspiciously lethal when the alternative is really scary. If you consider the incontrovertible facts, as laid out by the government’s Economic Management Team (EMT) in the speech read by its Chairman, the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, it is clear that in the past two decades Ghana’s economy recorded its worst performance during the four year rule of Mr. John Mahama. Let me put it another way, President John Dramani Mahama did worse than the late President John Evans Atta Mills. Indeed, you can even say that John Mahama destroyed whatever future John Atta Mills was hoping to build. And, yet, the NDC could not find any other alternative to lead them. And, the alternative they have to the late Amissah Arthur to head their economic management team appears to be Adongo.
He emphasized that when it comes to economic performance, former President John Mahama did worse than the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
"...Indeed, you can even say that John Mahama destroyed whatever future John Atta Mills was hoping to build. And, yet, the NDC could not find any other alternative to lead them. And, the alternative they have to the late Amissah Arthur to head their economic management team appears to be Adongo", he stated.
He continued "In the few months that he became President before the 2012 general elections, he spent an additional GHS4 billion that was not budgeted for in his desperate attempt to win that election. We all recall the rlg laptops that were prepaid but the students never got them. We all remember the tens of millions of dollars worth of SADA trees that were prepaid but never planted and the Guinea Fowls that were also prepaid but never seen only to be told they flew to Burkina Faso. The schools under trees projects that were never built but paid for we did. For the NDC under Mahama, creativity was limited to how to steal money from the state. What did he do with the GHS4 billion? Where is the money?"
Up until today, John Mahama has not been able to explain two nation-wrecking events that happened under his rule – both in election years.
In the few months that he became President before the 2012 general elections, he spent an additional GHS4 billion that was not budgeted for in his desperate attempt to win that election. We all recall the rlg laptops that were prepaid but the students never got them. We all remember the tens of millions of dollars worth of SADA trees that were prepaid but never planted and the Guinea Fowls that were also prepaid but never seen only to be told they flew to Burkina Faso. The schools under trees projects that were never built but paid for we did. For the NDC under Mahama, creativity was limited to how to steal money from the state. What did he do with the GHS4 billion? Where is the money?
Again in 2016, John Mahama spent an additional GHS7 billion presumably on capital expenditure that was not budgeted for yet was spent on costly infrastructure, and many of these with inflated price tags can neither be seen today nor were they even priority projects for the country. That GHS7 billion extra money spent on infrastructure in 2016, the NPP is calling on John Mahama and his NDC to show us what they did with it and we will show them that we are able to do three times more with even a smaller amount. What he did was simply to use that allegedly on contracts that did not benefit the people he was elected to serve. But added hugely to our debt stock pile up, which we continue to pay for painfully today.
By the end of 2012, as a result of John Mahama taking over the Presidency after the sad passing of then President Atta Mills, the economy had been plunged into one of the worst fiscal deficits in our history at 12.2% of GDP. Ghana never recovered from that unprecedented recklessness from the same person who is now coming back to ask for your votes in 2020.
The path of double digit deficit (in other words, reckless spending) continued for 2013, 2014 and 2016, ending with 9.3% of non-rebased GDP. The NDC have not been able to dispute these facts because they are beyond dispute.
Let me expose the lies put up by Ato-Forson on these facts, particularly the non-rebased fiscal deficit figure for 2016. This is what Ato-Forson said, “Official data from the Ministry of Finance indicates clearly that overall deficit by end year 2016 was 7.8% of GDP (6.1% of new GDP)”. Ladies and gentlemen, this was a big lie from Ato-Forson. The actual (not provisional) fiscal deficit figure for 2016 is clearly provided for in the mid-year budget of 2017, as well as the 2018 and 2019 budgets. And in all of them the figure mentioned is 9.3%, consistent with what Dr. Bawumia mentioned. For example:
Where did he get the 7.8% for 2016 from? Even the rebased (new) deficit figure of 6.1% was wrong. It is rather 6.8% as mentioned by Dr. Bawumia.
During Mahama’s time, unbridled borrowing and debt accumulation was the order of the day with annual rate of debt accumulation reaching 47% and 50% in 2013 and 2014, respectively until the beginning of the IMF programme. Debts had piled up at the end of John Mahama’s term such that Ghana’s debt alone could eat up about 73% of our gross domestic product. Ghana was classified as a country at high risk of debt distress. Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to imagine where Ghana would have been if the people did not vote for change in 2016? In 2012, the Mahama bad management left Ghana no option but to rush to the IMF for rescue. In 2016, where else could we have run to because by the end of 2016, Ghana had not achieved any of the agreed benchmarks in the budget and also with the IMF? He was running the economy down and the banking sector was also about to suffer a major collapse.
Again, Mr. Mahama, having inherited the 2011 real GDP growth of over 14% could not even maintain it but rather superintended over its decline to 3.4% by end of 2016. The largest fall for over twenty years. This was a monumental failure that ought not to be given any slightest chance to repeat itself.
The cedi had gone down in value in four folds depreciating from GHC1.1/$, to GHC2/$ (doubling the nominal rate) to GHC3/$ and GHC4.2/$! (Close to a quadruple increase). Let’s count: 1, 2, 3, and 4! They were not even on double track on the exchange rate, they were on quadruple track! The question then is: given this abysmal quadrupling record of Mr. Mahama in the management of the cedi relative to the dollar, what nominal value would he have taken the price of the cedi per the dollar to if NDC were still in power today or given another 8 years to rule? Your guess is as good as mine.
The situation was so bad that the NDC had no choice but to turn to the IMF for help. By the end of 2016 John Mahama and the NDC government had missed all the targets under the IMF Programme, leaving Ghanaians, and their newly elected government, NPP, holding the explosive can. This poor performance is unacceptable for a government that had large quantities of crude oil and borrowed as if there was no tomorrow. Yes, for the 4 years, President Mahama borrowed like a billion dollars every year to support the budget and this was on top of huge deficits. The capital projects under Mahama were not funded from the Eurobonds. They were funded from shamefully expensive project funds. We all recall the inflated projects like flyovers built by Brazilian firms. Watch this space. NPP intends to build flyovers this year at about half of the price Ghanaians were made to pay for under Mahama.
Instead of apologizing to the people on how he wasted public funds, John Mahama is busy using those same dubious infrastructure projects at insanely inflated prices as his 2020 campaign. This is the height of reckless arrogance.
We owe it to the people to let them know that the borrowed money under NDC went into inflated contracts such as the Terminal 3 at the Kotoka International Airport and other public works. Any caring government could have built the Terminal 3 and still have some change to spare to build the Ho Airport and upgraded three more airports at the same $275m or so price tag.
With all the billions in loans/debt contracted by John Mahama and the NDC in the name of building infrastructure, the NDC’s exit from office was met with the loudest and most contentious cries by Ghanaians for affordable homes, roads, bridges, schools, hospitals (including activation of abandoned ones etc.) among others. The question we have to ask John Mahama wherever he goes to campaign for 2020 is this: where did all the money go? Why the public agitation for public infrastructure if so much was contracted by the NDC in the name of the same? The truth is simple: inflated contracts and plain theft! That is the legacy of John Mahama’s government which he wants an opportunity to repeat. What at all did Ghanaians ever do to John Mahama and the NDC? Is there an end to their greed? Is there an end to their ‘search and destroy?’
Whilst the economy was severely mismanaged and almost every single economic indicator taking the opposite path, so much hardships were unleashed on the ordinary Ghanaian. In 2009, in line with the NPP programme, President Mills increased the capitation grant from GHS3 to GHS4.50 per child. Please note, the capitation grant was what provided free basic education in Ghana. President Mahama did not increase it even once. For the four years under him, it stayed at GHS4.50. Allowances for teacher and nursing trainees were cut, public sector employment saw a virtual freeze, there were cuts on research allowances for lecturers, import duty waiver for health workers was scrapped, statutory payments were in several months of arrears and in some cases not paid at all, electricity bills were increased, taxes were imposed on every conceivable item including condoms, cutlasses, etc. Worse of it all Ghanaians were made to endure a painful life of Dumsor for over 4 years - a precarious situation the country did not witness even in the dark days of military regimes. How were jobs to be saved and new ones created when businesses were using a chunk of their working capital to pay just electricity bills and employees were using in some cases half of their pay to pay light bills? This was the life of the Ghanaian under Mr. Mahama and the NDC. How were jobs to be saved or created?
Even Mahama’s solution to dumsor was merely an opportunity for his transaction agents to make more money from granting power purchasing contracts. The Akufo-Addo government deserves praise for saving Ghanaians over $7.6 billion in excess capacity charges in electricity alone over the next 13 years. Yes, $7.6 billion - nearly GHS40 billion! The NPP did so by competently reviewing some 26 out of 30 power purchase agreements (to build power plants) signed by the NDC, which would have offered us more than 10,000 megawatts capacity of power! Yet, this is a country that today our peak demand is around 2,500MW! The NPP saved Ghana by terminating 11 power purchasing agreements and deferring some others. We come to fix what NDC came to destroy. This is the story of Ghana under the two parties so far.
With all the noise they made on roads, including the Eastern Corridor Roads, I am challenging the NDC to name any single major road they completed in their 8 years in the then Upper West and Upper East Regions. In President Mahama’s home region (the then Norther Region) the only major road they completed is the Fufoso-Sawla. And even that one is currently being ripped off by rains. If the challenge is about borrowing to throw so much money at fewer projects at unreasonably exorbitant costs, then the NPP is not interested in that competition.
The legacy of John Mahama and the NDC has also been one of suffocating interest payments on the debts they left behind, runaway inflation, high interest rates, a weak banking system, and rising unemployment.
The Situation under NPP and President Akufo-Addo
Today, under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP, the economy has turned around, we have exited the IMF Programme, and are well on our way to creating the kind of future that Ghanaians have always yearned for. New oil and gas discoveries gives us another opportunity, under an NPP government, to grow the economy in leaps and bounds, create jobs, and for Ghanaians to lead the way into a prosperous Africa.
To facilitate trade, make our ports competitive in the region, and to further reduce the costs of goods and services even with a single digit inflation, government has introduced a raft of measures at the ports that is ground-breaking. While the reduction in benchmark values of a hefty 50%, and 30% for vehicles seems to be making the news, permit me to talk about the others less talked about first. I shall return to the benchmark values presently.
A flat fee structure is now adopted for port and customs fees and charges. This means the charges will no longer be calculated as a percentage of the value of the goods, helping importers make significant savings on port charges and fees.
Subject to Parliamentary approval, the following are also to be reviewed to further reduce the fees and charges on imports:
The service charge by Ghana Shippers Authority of $1.50 per ton of every export and $2.0 per ton of every import levied
The importer registration fees imposed by Ghana Standards Authority, The Eazy Pass levy introduced by the Ghana Standards Authority of up to 0.5% of the CIF value of goods by.
The Security Charge by Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) of $0.50 per gross tonnage of every vessel coming into Ghana’s waters, and The Eco Levy charged by EPA of $7 per new tyre and 0.5% of CIF value on a number of import items.
The reductions in port fees and charges are in addition to the reduction of 50% in the benchmark or delivery values of imports (30% for vehicles). Benchmark values are the values that have been assigned to the large group of products by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), excluding goods covered by the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) system, because over the years there have been efforts by a few unscrupulous importers to under-invoice them.
The effect of this is that the dutiable value of say a container-load of tin tomatoes which may have been say GH?100,000.00 attracting say 10% in total fees, charges, and duties of GH?10,000.00 has immediately become GH?50,000.00, resulting in lower total fees, charges, and duties of just GH?5,000.00. This in turn translates to affordable prices of tin tomatoes on the market for Ghanaians of all income groups and jobs for more people along the line etc.
Ladies and gentlemen, the uniqueness of this new policy to reduce import duties through the adjustment of benchmark values is the immediacy with which the reductions took place. Despite several attempts by NDC to paint the gloomy picture that the reductions will not occur, importers started feeling the impact 24 hours after the announcement. There have been several evidences and testimonies to this effect on radio, TV, and social media.
This shows prudence and competence by government in rolling out the policy and seeing to its successful implementation. We are however, informed by some importers about the possibility of some officials at the ports and usual saboteurs to frustrate importers and also obstruct implementation. We are by this encouraging government to be steadfast and look out for such individuals whose actions or inactions may pose threats to this policy.
In sharp contrast to the situation that existed under Mahama and the NDC, President Akufo-Addo and the NPP are restoring the courtesies and opportunities that were taken from the Ghanaian people under Mahama while establishing new ones that never existed. Today, the nursing and teacher trainee allowances have been restored about 17 taxes have either been abolished or restored. There is no freeze on public sector employment – unemployed graduates’ association disbanded, Import duties have been reduced for all, including health workers SHS school fees have been scrapped, BECE registration fees are absorbed by government, Electricity bills have been reduced, Statutory payments are paid – over GHc1.2 billion NHIS arrears paid
Infrastructure under NPP
Ladies and gentlemen, you may have heard the NDC in their ‘Chalewote’ Town Hall meeting challenging the government to match their infrastructure record. Much as their 8 years inflated infrastructure record they tout is nothing but a complete charade, let us all ask them to mention a single infrastructure they built in Ghana in their first two years from 2009 to April 2011.
In just two years of President Akufo-Addo’s government we have a lot to show with a lot more coming. Just this week, in fact on Wednesday the 10th, government will launch the commencement of a US$2 Billion investment in infrastructure projects, two-thirds of which will be in roads and highways. This will be the single largest infrastructure investment project by any government in a year over the past 5 decades. We are doing this by not adding to our national debt, instead, we are using innovative financing techniques to leverage our natural resources, bauxite in particular, for development. This project will see to the construction of the first ever interchange in the five Northern Regions at point 7 in Tamale and Western Region at PTC in Takoradi, a dream our brothers of the North and West gleefully await.
We have securitized GETFUND receivables for $1.5 billion school infrastructure projects. These projects are ongoing in every region of the country. In the railway sector, the Accra to Tema railway service has started running on the refurbished line, rehabilitation of Accra/Nsawam line is almost complete, work is continuing on the rehabilitation of the Kojokrom to Tarkwa, work on the standard gauge section from Kojokrom to Manso is ongoing, Eastern Line, Western and Tema-Ouagadougou lines are being tendered.
Others include the Tamale Airport Phase 2, Kumasi Market and Airport Phase 2, Construction of Four (4) Dedicated Container Terminals, Multi-Purpose Container Terminal at Takoradi Port, Dry Bulk Jetty at Takoradi Port, Construction of Ferry Landing Sites( Dambai, Yeji, Makango and Agordeke), 10 Youth and Sports Resource Centers of Excellence underway, Eastern Regional Theater at Koforidua is complete.
In addition to the above and many other projects, including road constructions going on in Kumasi, Accra and other parts of the country, funds have also been secured for the start of the following: 12 Fish landing sites, Yendi Water Project, Pwalugu multi-purpose dam, Bui solar hybrid and irrigation project, etc. Between Pwalugu and Bui, 60,000 hectares to be brought under irrigation compared to 12,980 hectares of government financed irrigation since GIDA was set up in 1977.
Under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), every single constituency in Ghana has seen significant number of basic infrastructure such as toilet, water, school blocks, etc. completed or ongoing. The debate on infrastructure is an interesting one and we welcome our NDC friends to it. We are inviting the NDC to this challenge and we hope they will accept. Show us your infrastructure projects in your first two years in office from 2009-2011. The Time Keeper’s clock has started and we are counting.
Fellow Ghanaians, this is certainly the work of a government of visionary leadership with the welfare of Ghanaians at the heart of everything it does. At this pace, can you imagine the amount of work that will be delivered after 4 or 8 years of this government? We are on the cusp of a major transformation in our lives. John Mahama, and the NDC have demonstrated clearly that they have nothing to offer except mismanagement, incompetence and corruption. That alternative is scary and we must all work together to make sure it never happens.
The biggest mistake we, as Ghanaians, can make is to entrust these resources, and our future, again, into the same hands that took an oil-rich country from a growth path of 14% to 3.4%.
Mr. Mahama with the NDC had 8 years in government. With Mahama constitutionally allowed for just another 4 years opportunity in the unlikely event that he gets the nod. Is he seeking to redenominate himself from 8 years rule to 4 years and be called a REDENOMINATED CANDIDATE? As we all know from our experiences in 2007 when we redenominated the cedi, in Redenomination the Value is the Same. Therefore Mahama has no new thing to offer Ghanaians other than the incompetence and corruption we witnessed under his tenure.
Say No to a redenominated Candidate (Mahama) for He Never Changes. Mahama - The Value is the Same. More importantly, The NDC Alternative Under Mahama Still Is Still Scary.
Source: Daniel Kaku
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Using HTTP Compression
Thursday Jun 23rd 2005 by Martin Brown
HTTP compression is a simple way to improve site performance and decrease bandwidth, with no configuration required on the client side. Find out how it works, and how to configure Apache and IIS to compress data on the fly.
There's a finite amount of bandwidth on most Internet connections, and anything administrators can do to speed up the process is worthwhile. One way to do this is via HTTP compression, a capability built into both browsers and servers that can dramatically improve site performance by reducing the amount of time required to transfer data between the server and the client. The principles are nothing new — the data is simply compressed. What is unique is that compression is done on the fly, straight from the server to the client, and often without users knowing.
Why Compress
Suitable File Types
Enabling HTTP Compression
- Apache
- IIS 6
- IIS 5 and Earlier
Effects on Server Performance
HTTP compression is easy to enable and requires no client-side configuration to obtain benefits, making it a very easy way to get extra performance. This article discusses how it works, its advantages, and how to configure Apache and IIS to compress data on the fly.
Why Compress?
Most user's knowledge of compression is from compressing a group of files that they download, extract, and open. But compression can also be used passively to compress documents as they are being transferred to a client's browser. Because it's a passive process, the server can reduce the size of the pages sent, therefore reducing the download time for users and their bandwidth usage.
Working the numbers helps clarify the gains. You can typically reduce an HTML document to less than half of its original size. This, in turn, halves the amount of time the client needs to download the page as well as the amount of bandwidth required. All of this is achieved without actually changing the way the site works, its page layout, or the content. The only thing that changes is the way the information is transferred.
Unfortunately, there are limitations.
Not all files are suitable for compression. For obvious reasons, files that are already compressed, such as JPEGs, GIFs, PNGs, movies, and 'bundled content (e.g., Zip, Gzip, and bzip2 files) are not going to compress appreciably further with a simple HTTP compression filter. Therefore, you are not going to get much benefit from compressing these files or a site that relies heavily on them.
However, sites that have a lot of plain text content, including the main HTML files, XML, CSS, and RSS, may benefit from the compression. It will still depend largely on the content of the file; most standard HTML text files will compress by about a half, sometimes more. Heavily formatted pages, for example those that make heavy use of tables (and therefore repetitive formatting content) may compress even further, sometime to as little as one-third of the original size.
Fortunately, with most HTTP servers it's possible to select which types of files are compressed so the effects of trying to compress non-compressable data is limited.
>> Enabling HTTP Compression
HTTP Compression is a function of the server, but the browser automatically supports it without any additional configuration on the client. To start gaining the benefits of compressed content, simply enable compression on the server.
The way to do this differs among Apache, IIS6, and previous version of IIS.
Apache 2.0 comes with the mod_deflate, which adds a filter to Gzip the content (don't let the term "deflate" fool you, though) content. Filters can be blanket — in Internet Explorer everything is compressed — or selective — compressing only specific MIME types (determined by examining the header generated, either automatically by Apache or a CGI or other dynamic component.
To enable blanket compression, set the SetOutputFilter directive to a Web site or Directory container, for example:
<Directory "/export/http/webs/com.mcslp">
To enable compression on specific MIME types, use the AddOutputFilterByType directive, for example:
Note that this compresses all output with this MIME type, so if the CGI code or other applications (e.g., Tomcat or mod_perl) are generating the right HTTP content header as part of their operation, the output will be compressed as well.
Some browsers, particularly older ones, may not work correctly with compressed formats. Compression filtering for specific browsers is disabled using the BrowserMatch directive. Check out the mod_deflate documentation for more information.
IIS 6 includes a native compression system that is easy to use and deploy. Because it's built-in, rather than operated by an ISAPI filter, it is very fast and has basically put the previous commercial alternatives available for IIS 5 and earlier out of business. The compression system can be configured to compress both static content and dynamic content (i.e., scripted output). IIS 6 also caches the compressed information in a directory, which helps improve the performance for both static and script-based responses by eliminating the need to compress already compressed content.
To enable HTTP compression in IIS 6, open the Web site's property page to edit the global properties for the site. Change to the Service tab, and configure the options within the HTTP Compression section.
Figure 1 is a sample of a window.
Setting HTTP Compression in IIS 6
Cached files are stored in the Temporary Directory. The default is within a suitably named directory within the IIS metadata directory. The directory selected must be on an NTFS partition. You can limit the size of the cache or leave it unlimited; we recommend setting a limit of about two-times the maximum size of the site (including the data it might generate from a scripted page).
IIS 5 and Earlier
There is no built-in compression for IIS versions prior to version 6, but ISAPI filters are available. All of these are understandably slower than the built-in facility in IIS 6. We recommend using the commercial ISAPI filter ZipEnable from Port80 Software.
Others are available, but ZipEnable is one of the few packages Microsoft specifically recommends. It is also compatible with IIS 6 and can further control the compression on a directory-by-directory level by editing the IIS 6 metabase configuration for you.
>> Effects on Performance, Browser Support
Compressing content obviously requires a certain amount of CPU time to compress the information for transfer. This compression process can have a detrimental effect on the site because each object selected must be compressed before sending. This is one area where IIS 6 has a leg up on Apache, as it creates a cache directory into which compressed files are kept, reducing the CPU load for frequently accessed pages. What it doesn't do is completely eliminate the need for inline compression. Heavily dynamic content must still be compressed on the fly, and there may be a finite amount of cache storage.
To be honest, it's unlikely that the loading in any test-heavy Web site will exceed the benefit obtained by using the compression. Savings of 50 percent in bandwidth deliver a significant site performance increase by sacrificing less than 10 percent (and often less than 1 percent) of CPU time. That's more than worth it, especially for enterprise paying by the megabyte for transfers.
Browser Support and Dynamic Content
Today, most browsers support some kind of compression, but the exact type of compression supported is browser dependent. This is not an issue you need to worry about; the Web server will send compressed documents only if the browser indicates it supports them. It is, however, worth examining the mechanism and looking at some of the supported compression types of different browsers.
A browser supplies, as part of its URI request, the compression formats it supports through the Accept-Encoding HTTP header. Apache (and others) make this information available through the HTTP_ACCEPT_ENCODING environment variable. Again, you don't actually need to do anything; Apache will automatically encode content appropriately if it identifies the browser can accept it through the HTTP header.
The table below lists various browsers and the encodings they support.
Browser Support for Compression Encodings
Browser Supported Encodings
Firefox 1.0, Mozilla 1.x, Camino gzip, deflate
OmniWeb 5.x bzip2, gzip, deflate
Safari gzip, deflate
Internet Explorer gzip, deflate
"Identity" is sometimes listed as a type. This means the browser supports uncompressed content (which is basically implied, so not all browsers explicitly state this).
As the list indicates, modern browsers support compression. Thus, clients don't need to do anything to actually use compressed content; the browser automatically supplies its supported encodings when it makes a request. So, to get a speed improvement you need configure only the server.
Using HTTP compression is a very simple way to improve site performance and decrease bandwidth by doing very little. There are potential downsides due to the additional CPU overheads required to support it, but they are relatively minor tradeoffs in comparison to the potential benefits.
And if it doesn't result in significant improvements? Disabling it is just as simple because the content of the site has not been modified, only the way the content is transferred.
Apache Web Server Powers Forward with TLS 1.3
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Hill dream crashes
By Satish NandgaonkarSatish Nandgaonkar, Mumbai Mirror | Updated: Sep 1, 2018, 13:45 IST
Lavasa to face insolvency
Banks that lent funds to developer of the hillside project will get first right to recover money, not home buyers who have waited years for possession
Hundreds of families whose money and dreams of idyllic hillside dwellings are stuck in Lavasa have suffered another jolt, with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ordering insolvency proceedings against the debt-ridden firm behind the stalled development.
Tribunal member MK Shrawat has appointed Devendra Prasad as the interim resolution professional to initiate the insolvency procedure. The process will offer banks and other financial entities that lent funds to Lavasa Corporation to develop the sprawling but controversial hill city, near Pune, the first right to recover money. Home buyers and property investors — who paid huge booking amounts six to eight years ago but are still without possession — will be recognised as “unsecured financial creditors” with much less authority to protect or recover their investment.
Worse, they will not be able to file any fresh complaint or suit against Lavasa Corporation, a subsidiary of Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) Ltd, with any redressal body, including the real estate regulator MahaRERA. So, while they continue to pay EMIs for home loans, they will not get any immediate financial relief from the insolvency process. At this juncture, there is no guarantee that the development of the ambitious hill city, as it was envisioned, will be completed. The official in charge of the proceedings will have to find new promoters willing to take up the entire project. If no company makes a reasonable offer, the official may explore other options such as liquidation.
Over 1,000 buyers from Mumbai and Pune had purchased apartments and villas in Lavasa, where construction has repeatedly stalled because of a variety of challenges, ranging from environmental clearances to a shortage of working capital. Lavasa Corporation owes Rs 3,000 crore to lenders.A government-registered valuer had earlier estimated the land cost at Rs 9,280 crore.
Mumbai resident Kalpesh Patel was lured by the prospect of a quiet life in Lavasa after suffering a devastating personal loss, and paid Rs 94.83 lakh to book a flat in 2012. Currently, he pays Rs 57,000 as EMI. “There is a misconception that only the rich bought homes in the hillside township. I sold my flat in Mumbai and started living on rent so I could pay instalments for the Lavasa apartment. It’s been six years and I don’t know if I will get possession or the money back,” he said.
Another Mumbaikar, Manju Joshi, purchased a flat in 2013 after borrowing Rs 10.5 lakh. She was promised that she would get the keys to the property in 2015. “Today, my property is not in my possession, Lavasa has gone insolvent, and I am left with paying EMIs. From all sides, it is home buyers who are losing,” she said.
Shrawat of the NCLT approved the insolvency proceedings under the new Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code on Wednesday. The order, which was made public late on Thursday night, was issued following a petition by Raj Infrastructure Development, which had carried out works at the project but was not paid by Lavasa Corporation. The appointed administrator will now draw up a plan to help the lenders recover their investment.
“With the initiation of the insolvency process, home buyers cannot approach MahaRERA seeking possession of their flats, or interest and refunds,” said lawyer Tanuj Lodha, a partner at Lodha & Lodha Advocates who represented some of the buyers before MahaRERA. “Though flats are 90 per cent complete, the buyers will not get possession as of now. They will have to wait for a resolution.”
The buyers will get voting rights in the process, but the fate of their investment will be known only after the lenders’ interests are secured. “It leads to a situation where their EMIs continue, but they have no right to their homes,” Lodha said.
In a statement, Arjun Dhawan, director and group CEO of HCC Ltd, said he was hoping for a quick resolution. “While shareholders’ interests have been sacrificed, we are hopeful that the pioneering efforts to grow Lavasa into a thriving smart city will now find stewardship in the hands of a new owner, enabled by the NCLT. A swift resolution through IBC will benefit all stakeholders, especially customers who have patiently supported Lavasa through this tumultuous period.”
In a letter sent to the buyers on Friday, HCC said it was not the end of the road for Lavasa. “The city will not only live on, but grow once a resolution of debts is finalised in a time-bound manner…” it added.
Kalpesh Patel, who was promised possession in 2016 and then in 2020, claimed home buyers would have landed a better deal in the mess had MahaRERA not showed reluctance to decide on their complaints. “Lavasa Corporation offered us flats through a 999-year renewable lease instead of a sale deed, assuring us that the two were the same. After the possession date was pushed further, we moved MahaRERA, which refused to take up the case saying it had no jurisdiction over long-lease disputes,” Patel said.
Jitendra Tulsiani was the first to seek the regulator’s intervention. After his plaint was dismissed, he moved the Maharashtra Real Estate Appellate Tribunal, which said the agreements between buyers and Lavasa should be seen as sale deeds, and MahaRERA should examine the disputes. “All MahaRERA had to do was order refunds. It reserved its verdict and now the insolvency process has begun. We received a mail from Lavasa today (Friday) that it is no longer responsible for our property or refunds,” he said.
Over 1,000 buyers from Mumbai and Pune had purchased flats and villas in the hill city, where construction has stalled repeatedly
Vidarbha towing contract invalid, says state law dept
Now the state home department may have to terminate the seven-year contract granted to Nagpur-based towing company; charges of favouritism continue
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The Trill quilt
In the summer I was inspired to design a quilt using all curves, and I’m so proud and excited that it came to exist in the real world.
I’m calling it Trill, after the wobbly notes of a bird’s call. I thought it suited both the design and the fabric, Wildwood by Elizabeth Olwen for Cloud 9. I used the collection with Cirrus Solids in Ocean, my favorite navy blue of the moment. I think one of my favorite things about this quilt is the secondary squiggle between the prints.
The design is actually made of just one block with different rotation and fabric placement. I’m writing a pattern for it this month and I’ll definitely keep you updated throughout the process. I can’t wait to see how someone else would interpret it– between the circles and pointed shapes and the background there are a lot of possibilities for change and movement.
There were two prints in the collection– one a vibrant coral, the other bright teal– that didn’t quite fall into the categories of blue or white-based print. So I made the coral the focal point and put Ocean in the center, framing it with teal in the binding.
Speaking of binding, I tried something new that I really love as an innovative way of labeling a quilt– embroidering the binding with the alphabet stitches on my Janome 6600. I learned it from my Instagram friend Shannon, aka @nerdcamp. (She makes the coolest clothes and quilts, by the way.)
The final size is 57″ x 69,” perfect for a couch throw. I love the drape that the quilting gives it, and it crinkled nicely after a wash. I’ll get to snuggle it after a little trip to Quilt Market, where it’s going to hang out with Elizabeth Olwen herself along with the rest of the fabulous Cloud 9 team.
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit.
Category : finished quilts, quilts
Tags : Cloud9, Cloud9 fabric, fabric, finished quilt, finished quilts, inspiration
← The Cirrus Solids quilt
Adventures in Teaching, in three parts →
15 thoughts on “The Trill quilt”
sfredett on October 17, 2014 at 2:38 pm said:
This turned out gorgeous!!!! Can’t wait for the pattern release. 😀
Daniela D on October 17, 2014 at 2:45 pm said:
Absolutey magnificent, Melanie! I love this quilt. Loved seeing it progress along the way. Beautiful pattern for beautiful fabric! Brava!
Jess @ Quilty Habit on October 17, 2014 at 3:51 pm said:
That squiggle is so amazing! I’d love to help you test (especially if there’s a small/baby version). I totally want to use Jessica Levitt’s new Cascade fabric.
katechiconi on October 17, 2014 at 4:48 pm said:
It’s beautiful, and I love the corner detail on the binding. But there’s no way on earth I’d inflict a whole quilt of pieced curves on myself, so I shall content myself with admiring yours!
melintheattic on October 17, 2014 at 10:06 pm said:
Thank you, Kate! They’re just gradual curves! But I felt the same way once upon a time. I think I caught a curves bug or something.
On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 4:48 PM, melintheattic wrote:
Beth on October 17, 2014 at 5:48 pm said:
So utterly gorgeous!!! And you make me brave with all those curves. Will definitely try the pattern. And the embroidered label is downright brilliant!
Renee on October 17, 2014 at 10:32 pm said:
Such a sweet quilt! It looks so cozy, I love the colors and fabrics you chose, they work so well with your pattern!
Diane on October 18, 2014 at 4:32 am said:
Don’t ya just love it when comments you make on blogs disappear?!! Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I think this is brilliant. The way the thin pointy sections meet must’ve been hard work but so worth it. It really sets a standard for modern patchwork design.
pam on October 18, 2014 at 11:07 am said:
Great graphic punch for showing Elizabeth’s fabrics! I love how you made them stand out. I want this pattern! Have a blast seeing this at Quilt Market. This quilt will be sure to grab attention!
erin on October 19, 2014 at 7:17 am said:
it’s stunning!
So excited that I got to see this one in progress. It came out great!!
Lisa on October 25, 2014 at 3:46 pm said:
I love this quilt cant wait for a pattern!
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Susan Lesh on April 24, 2017 at 4:10 pm said:
Was a pattern ever made for this Trill quilt, if so where can I find it. Thanks
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Schlagwort-Archive: Walt Disney
Hey Musicmaniacs all around the world!
I did some updates for the section „Concerts – July“ and uploaded tons of pictures (especially for the entries of Tom Waits and Woven Hand) – check them out:
https://melomaneblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/concerts-july
Cheers and spread the word!
Alex Melomane
Veröffentlicht unter News | Verschlagwortet mit 16 Horsepower, 2000, A83, Alternative Tentacles, Ampere, Andreas Vollenweider, Andrew Eldritch, arena, Beasts of Bourbon, bigger bang, bigger bang tour, Bill Wyman, Blackmore's Night, Blush, Bruce Springsteen, Budapest, Burg Clam, Burgarena, Calexico, Charlie Watts, Chris Eckman, Coast to Coast Bluesband, darryl jones, David Eugene Edwards, Dead Kennedys, Deep Purple, Denver, Denver Sound, deus, Dirt Music, Dirtmusic, Disney Films, Ebensee, Eberhard Weber, ECM, Eishalle, Eric Reed Boucher, Ernst Happel, Ernst Happel Stadion, Finkenstein, Giant Sand, Glitterhouse Recocrds, Glitterhouse Records, Grand Rex, Guantanamo School of Medicine, Howe Gelb, Ian Anderson, Iggy Pop, Jan Garbarek, Jan Garbarek Group, jello biafra, Jethro Tull, Joey Burns, John Convertino, John Lee Hooker, Kapitelplatz, Keith Richards, Kino, Kino Ebensee, Kurt Rohrauer, Lambchop, Lilium, Mali, Marilyn Mazur, Martin Barre, München, Mick Jagger, Muffathalle, Munich, Ordy Garrison, Paris, Pascal Humbert, Passion Fodder, Patti Smith, Peter Van Laerhoven, pohoda festival, Rainer Brüninghaus, Ritchie Blackmore, Rites, Rolling Stones, Salzburg, Sisters of mercy, Sixteen Horsepower, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, stay awake, Szene, Szene Wien, Tamikrest, The Boss, The Stooges, theo hakola, This corossion, Tollwood, Tollwood Festival, Tom Waits, ton maessen, Tuareg, Ulitma Vez, Ultima Vez, Vienna, Visible World, Volkstheater Wien, Walkabouts, Walt Disney, Wien, Wim Vandekeybus, Woven Hand, Wovenhand | Kommentar verfassen
JETHRO TULL – Salzburg (Eishalle)
After my very first Jethro Tull live experience in October 1989, which was one of the most impressive things of my life, my favorite band played very close to my hometown in the beautiful city of Salzburg. As I have heard that Ian Anderson and his group will play at the Kapitelplatz behind the wonderful dome, I was thrilled. But unfortunately they changed the place and we had to walk into the Eishalle, which is the place for ice hockey in winter.
Before the show we were just walking around through the Volksgarten area – a nice park behind this hall. As we killed time I saw Ian Anderson doing an interview. I waited until he finished it and then I worked up the courage to ask him: „Would you mind taking a picture of you?“ „No, not at all“ was his very polite answer and so I took two pictures, just to be sure that at least one is okay. „Oh, two!“, he said and then I asked for another one with me. After he said „No problem“ my girlfriend took one 😉
Then we entered the hall and I bought myself a „Thick as a Brick“ shirt and a cap. While standing in the second row and waiting for the show, bass player Dave Pegg passed by. I called; „Hey Dave!“ and in his typically and funny way he greeted back.
With the intro of „Cross-eyed Mary“ Ian Anderson was brought in a wheel chair to the microphone – a sort of „Too old to Rock’n’Roll: Too young to die!“ joke. So he immediately stood up for his vocal parts and began to sang.
The setlist was a very good section from Tull classics, old tunes and rarities like the wonderful „Jack-A-Lynn“ or the fantastic version of „Fat Man„. Unfortunately they didn’t play any song from the upcoming album „Catfish Rising„, which was scheduled for release just two months later in September 1991.
The Setlist:
Cross-Eyed Mary
Steel Monkey
Farm On The Freeway
Paparazzi (Instrumental)
Serenade To A Cuckoo
Jack-A-Lynn
My God (incl. Bourée)
The Whistler (Instrumental)
Nothing Is Easy
Kissing Willie
Too Old To Rock’N’Roll: Too young to die
Locomotive Breath
Seal Driver(Instrumental)/Black Sunday (Instrumental)
Thick As A Brick (Reprise)
JETHRO TULL – Wels (Stadthalle)
During the „25th Anniversary“ tour Jethro Tull played after Vienna (30th June at the Arena) and Wiesen another show in Austria – this time in Wels, which is from the mentioned three the nearest place to my hometown. And it was an indoor performance at the Stadthalle.
It was almost the same show as in Vienna – but two things were different: Firstly, at the end of „Too old to Rock’n’Roll: Too young to die!“ Ian Anderson was saluting for a few seconds to the balcony – me and my friends had no idea what’s behind this gesture. And secondly, this time I was the lucky guy who cought the Polaroid picture taken by Martin Barre 😉
My Sunday Feeling
For a Thousand Mothers
Bourée
So much Trouble
With you there to help me
Sossity: You’re a Woman/Reasons for Waiting
Songs from the Wood/Too old to Rock’N’Roll/Heavy Horses (Medley)
Later that same Evening (Instrumental)
Life is a long Song
Andy Giddings‘ Parrot
A new Day Yesterday
Passion Jig/Seal Driver (Instrumental)
Dharma for One
JETHRO TULL – Vienna (Arena – Open Air)
Before the show and while the support act Colosseum did the soundcheck I interviewed Jethro Tull drummer Doane Perry for the Austrian independent radio station B138! It was a very interesting and comprehensive talk in which Doane told me everything about his career, all his recordings he did all over the years and his lost luggage! And during the chat Ian Anderson came along and watched the scenery for a while 😉 You can stream/download it for free here!
The venue (at the Arena – an open air location in Vienna) was almost sold out and after Colosseum finished their set, Jethro Tull entered the stage with the classic „Nothing is easy„. Apart from two brandnew songs („Hare in the Wine Cup“ & „A Change of Horses„) one remarkable situation touched the hearts and souls of all longtime fans: Ian Anderson dedicated „Bourée“ to Michael Cermak, who passed away just two days before on the 30th June.
JETHRO TULL: Locomotive Breath
Beggar’s Farm
Pastime with good Company (King Henry’s Madrigal)
Songs from the Wood
Bourée (dedicated to Michael Cermak)
Hare in the Wine Cup
A Change of Horses
My God
Locomotive Breath/Teacher (Instrumental)
WOVENHAND – Vienna (Szene)
Another Wovenhand show with many news: No keyboards and so no Jeff Linsenmaier in the line up, therefore a second guitar player (Chuck Edward French from the band Git Some) and Greg Garcia Jr. (formerly drummer in Slim Cessna’s Auto Club during the Europe tour in 2009) joined David Eugene Edwards and Ordy Garrison this time. So it was no surprise that the sound developed more harder and louder.
The setlist was full of surprises and brandnew songs from the upcoming masterpiece „The Laughing Stalk“ (which was released a few weeks later in September) were played. The wonderful „Glistening Black“ was the opener of the show. Shortly after that two more new tracks blew me away: „Long Horn“ and „King O King„. After the classic live tracks like „Winter Shaker„, „The Speaking Hands“ and „Tin Finger“ the new tunes „In the Temple“ and „Maize“ followed. During the encore break I was wondering if Wovenhand can be more louder than this – the answer is definitely YES! An asskicking „Kicking Bird“ and the killer track „As Wool“ were the last songs of the show. And when you close your eyes you had the feeling that you are attending a Heavy Metal show – so loud and intense was the sound that night!
After the gig a friend of mine said: „Wow, that sounded like 16 Horsepower meets Social Distortion!“. A very interesting quote and it’s the perfect description of this breathtaking performance – HOKA!
WOVENHAND: Kicking Bird
Glistening Black
The Beautiful Axe
Long Horn
King O King
The Speaking Hands
Winter Shaker
Sinking Hands
Kingdom of Ice
Tin Finger
A Holy Measure
In the Temple
His Rest
Kicking Bird
As Wool
Almost the whole concert was filmed by a friend of mine – you can watch the clips here!
JELLO BIAFRA & THE GUANTANAMO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE – Vienna (Arena)
The first time that I was able to see the Godfather of Punk: Mr. Eric Reed Boucher, better known as Jello Biafra! He and his band The Guantanamo School Of Medicine performed in an awesome way. Of course they played also some Dead Kennedys classics like „Holiday in Cambodia„, „California über alles“ or „Too drunk to fuck„. And of course Jello did a lot of speeches between the songs (many taken from the current release „The Audacity of Hype„) as you can see on the video listed below.
A very nice compilation of that performance:
More clips from that performance you can watch here!
04/07/1991 or 1992:
JOHN LEE HOOKER – Vienna (Arena – Open Air)
I’m not quite sure if this concert took place in 1991 or 1992. If anybody knows it – please drop me a line – thanks! Anyway – as a huge fan of origin Blues I was very looking forward to see Mr John Lee Hooker live in Vienna at the Arena (Open Air). Unfortunately the performance was not that long, but it was obvious, because this music legend was over 70 years old that time! With the Coast To Coast Blues Band John Lee celebrated the Blues at its best. And was a unforgettable moment of glory to hear his classic songs like „Boogie Chillen“ or „Boom Boom“ live.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E-STREET-BAND – Vienna (Ernst-Happel-Stadium)
First of all – I was not really that huge fan of Bruce Springsteen’s albums – some are really excellent (especially his solo albums like „The Ghost of Tom Joad„) and some just average because of this typically US producing, which sounds always very mainstream and radio friendly. A friend of mine is a producer and he told me that you CAN’T compare the studio recordings with the live performance. This is completely different and you will understand when you see The Boss live on stage.
So I headed with him and other friends to the Ernst-Happel-Stadium in Vienna. As we were very early to queue up we had the chance to get a very close place in front of the stage at the so called „Wave Breaker“ area. It was perfect and also obvious that I was very looking forward to see Bruce Springsteen with his E Street Band. So Nils Lofgren opened the show with a tribute to Austria and played the „Donauwalzer“ on the accordion – well, the first goose started to walk over my grave 😉
And when Bruce started to play and sing I understood immediately what my friend told me before – this guy is an outstanding performer. Or like Chris Eckman from the Walkabouts told me in an interview: „He is music, he breaths music!“. And that’s the point. The setlist was very well chosen and featured songs from the new release „Working on a Dream„, classics like „Cover me„, nice rarities („4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)“ – and first played on that tour!), covers („Proud Mary„) and a super awesome cover version of Tom Waits masterpiece „Jersey Girl„. And I was told that this track was never played before outside the USA so far! So thanks to the girl who was wearing a „Jersey Girl“ shirt during that show 😉
Another remarkable thing was the performance of Clarence Clemons, the long time saxophone player of the E Street Band. „The Big Man“ had serious problems with his knee that time so he had to sit most of the time during the shows. Sadly he suffered a stroke two years later and passed away on the 18th June 2011 – R.I.P.
After the show I bought myself two shirts and the tourbook as souvenirs of one ot the best concerts I have ever seen so far.
You were not there? Or you were there and you want to hear/watch it again? No problem at all – the full performance is here for you:
Intro („Donauwalzer“)
My Lucky Day
Outlaw Pete
Darlington County
Working On A Dream
4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
Waiting On A Sunny Day
Jersey Girl (Tom Waits Cover)
10th Avenue Freeze-Out
American Land
Pictures and another review can be found here!
JAN GARBAREK – Munich (Tollwood Festival)
A wonderful performing by Jan Garbarek with his group in Munich at the Tollwood Festival. Eberhard Weber on bass, Rainer Brüninghaus on piano and Marilyn Mazur on percussion created a perfect classic/jazz sound carpet for Garbarek’s unique saxophone playing. There was magic in the air while this outstanding quartet filled the huge tent with such beautiful sounds as you can also hear on releases like „Rites“ or „Visible World„.
TWO GALLANTS – Salzburg (Rockhouse)
Support by: SHOSHIN (UK)
WOVEN HAND – Vienna (Szene)
Two months after the first part of the Europe tour to support the new Woven Hand release „The Threshingfloor“, David Eugene Edwards and his band came over again for some more dates. So they played diffent countries like Israel, Austria and Slovakia. And just before the show in Vienna the awesome guys from „They Shoot Music“ recorded David Eugene Edwards doing some very nice acoustic solo stuff – here are the videos:
And some pictures of this vey special performance can be seen here!
The location for the show was the Szene again – and it was really HOT in there! When the band entered the stage, David fetched his Banjola for the opening track „Sinking Hands„. Then with „The Threshingfloor“ and „Holy Measure“ two more new songs followed. Before he introduced us more tunes from the latest release the Joy Division cover „Heart And Soul“ gave me the creeps again. „Off the Cuff“ finished the regular set and anfter the encore break DEE returned with no shirt and so you had another chance to see his tattoos 😉
„Deerskin Doll“ and a fantastic and heavy played „Your Russia“ were the conclusion of that night. After the show we met the band again and before they left for the show next day in Slovakia I chatted with Jeff Linsenmaier about my Denver stay in December 2009. And when David came out of the Szene I said to him that the gig tomorrow will be another hot one. „Yeah, at 2 p.m. – that’s crazy“, was his answer. So in a few hours we will see them again but before that I tried to get some sleep to be ready for the drive.
The Threshing Floor
Heart and Soul (Joy Division Cover)
Raise her Hands
Orchard Gate
Deerskin Doll
Your Russia
WOVEN HAND – Trencin (Pohoda Festival)
The first time that I was in Slovakia – and me and my friend went by car with no aircondition so you can imagine that the trip was sweat inducing. When we arrived at the Pohoda Festival area (which is like an airport – a lot of concrete) we had a huge range of picking a parking lot. As we walked to the parc with all the stages it was obvious that this will be one of the hottest shows EVER. Woven Hand was billed for 2 p.m. and so we were not really surprised that only a handful of people showed up to see the band. The setlist was short but well chosen and David decided to play only one Banjola song – the rest were heavy rockers like „Winter Shaker„, „Heart and Soul„, „Tin Finger“ or „Your Russia„. To have an idea how hot the weather was – just check out the pictures below 😉
Another Woven Hand show in Vienna – and it was at the Szene again. It was hot and sticky inside and I didn’t was that close to that stage. So it was not that intense as normally and during the show I missed something – this kind of magic, which was at the last shows in 2005 so present (remembering the breathtaking shows in Salzburg, Vienna and Bonn). The performance was nevertheless an excellent one, but comparing with the three concerts I attended before, it was just average.Maybe it had something to do with the return of Mr. Pascal Humbert, who played with David in the outstanding formation 16 Horsepower. It could be that they were not well-practised for the sound but anyway: David Eugene Edwards, Ordy Garrison, Pascal Humbert and Peter van Laerhoven performed a lot of the latest Woven Hand release „Mosaic“ and unfortunatley they didn’t play „Down in yon Forest“ like the year before as an extended version which was over ten minutes long. As me and my friend decided to see them two more times on that tour (Budapest and Ebensee) I was quite sure that the other shows will be much better 😉
Breathing Bull (Intro Tape)
Elktooth
Sparrow falls
Dirty Blue
Slota Prow
Full Armour
Whistling Girl
Truly Golden
Down in yon Forest
Phyllis Ann
Into the Piano
LAMBCHOP – Ebensee (Kino)
The fourth time that I was going to see Lambchop live in concert. This time in Ebensee at the Kino again and before the show I had the opportunity to do an interview with singer Kurt Wagner for the Austrian independent radio station B138. It was very funny and interesting to talk with him about the latest album „OH – Ohio„, the music industry in general and many other things like paintings or touring, while sitting on the stairs of the Kino. You can stream/download it for free here!
As I offered Mr. Wagner that I am a huge fan especially of the Lambchop album „What another Man spills“ I hoped for some songs („Life #2“ or „N.O.“ – two of my all time favorites) that night, but unfortunately they played many songs from all the othere LPs 😉 And with the Sisters of Mercy cover „This Corrosion“ Lambchop accomplished at least one of my desires – thanks!
The old Gold Shoe
The new Cobweb Summer
Sharing a Gibson with Martin Luther King Jr.
Grumpus
What else could be
Slipped, dissolved and loosed
Unknown Song #1 (maybe you can help?)
Nashville Parent
National Talk like a Pirate Day
Six o’Clock News
All Smiles and Mariachi
Is a Woman
Up with the People
Give it (X-Press Cover)
This Corrosion (Sisters Of Mercy Cover)
DIRTMUSIC/TAMIKREST – Ebensee (Kino)
Chris Eckman, Hugo Race and Chris Brokaw founded Dirtmusic a few years ago. And with the African band Tamikrest they recorded the fantastic album „BKO“ (named after the airport Bamako in Mali). So the performance was a sort of a jamsession. First Dirtmusic played three songs before clearing the way for Tamikrest. The Tuareg rockgroup introduced us four songs before Dirtmusic came back and the real jam seesion began. It was a sort of „Worldmusic meets Indierock“ – a mixture which blew everybody away!
The other Side (Dirtmusic)
Collisions (Dirtmusic)
Still Running (Dirtmusic)
Saharel Song (Tamikrest)
Amidini (Tamikrest)
Alhoriya (Tamikrest)
Outamachek (Tamikrest)
Black Gravity (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Ready for the Sign (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
All Tomorrow’s Parties (Velvet Underground Cover)(Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Desert Wind (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Unknowable (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Toumastin (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Aicha (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Tidite Tille (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Tamiditin (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Lives we did not live (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Adagh (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Smoking Bowl (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
Tahoult (Dirtmusic & Tamikrest)
WOVEN HAND – Budapest (A38)
After the Vienna show the day before we took the train for Budapest to see Woven Hand again. This time on a boat called „A38“ which is on the Danube! When we arrived there Pascal Humbert crossed my way, pointed on my shirt (I wore a Slim Cessna’s Auto Club brown tee) and said: „Good band!“. I smiled back and we went to the boat and inspected the ship. To get into the concert hall you have to take the stairs downstairs so the stage was more or less under the water. And the temperature was very nice there – not too hot like the day before. I was quite sure that the show tonight would be much better – also the sound, because of the water outside which surrouned us. Also I do know that David has some friends in Budapest so it was obvoius that he was very looking forward to meet them again. The performance was much better than the oone the day before in Vienna. Very intense and tight – and it was really great to see Woven Hand playing with a bass man again 😉
The setlist was more or less the same, BUT David came back for a second encore! He performed solo the 16 Horsepower songs „Black Soul Choir“ and „Outlaw Song“ which left me speechless.
Breathing Bull (from Tape)
Black Soul Choir
Outlaw Song
THE ROLLING STONES – Vienna (Ernst-Happel-Stadium)
The legendary Rolling Stones stopped during their „Bigger Bang Worldtour“ in Vienna at the Ernst Happel Stadium again. Due to Keith Richards‘ coconut accident the show was postponed to that day. And for my second Stones live experience I had a perfect place at the so called „Wavebreaker“. Before Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Darryl Jones started the show the rain stopped and the sky was unbelievable coloured in all kind of orange! A video clip startet and all of a sudden I had the creeps everywhere! Then „Jumping Jack Flash“ opened the performance in a perfect way. Beside all the classics and the some new songs from the latest release I was very happy to hear „She’s so cold“ from the album „Emotional Rescue“ – what a wonderful suprise! And when the band rolled on a B stage through the crowd everybody went nuts! I never was so close to Keith Richards – just a few meters!
Nice compilation of the „Bigger Bang“ Tour:
Oh no, not you again
Let’s spend the Night Together
Rain fall down
She’s so cold
Streets of Love
As Tears go by
Tumbling Dice
Night Time is the right Time
This Place is empty
Before they make me run
Miss you (To B-Stage)
Honky Tonk Women (Back to Main-Stage)
You can’t always get what you want (Encore)
(I can’t get no) Satisfaction (Encore)
You can watch some videos of the Vienna show here!
And here are some reviews taken from several Austrian newspapers – just click on the pictures to enlarge them!
BEASTS OF BOURBON – Ebensee (Kino)
I was very surprised when I see a sign at the Kino in Ebensee to see the Beasts of Bourbon saying „Sold Out“! But luckily a friend of mine had one ticket left so I had finally the chance to see these Australian Indie-Heroes live on stage the very first time. It was packed and hot inside but the show was nevertheless a very good one. Most songs of the setlist that night were taken from the current release „Little Animals“ – an awesome album with a killer opener „I don’t care about Nothing anymore“. After the show I bought some CDs and a shirt with the cool bandlogo on it 😉
ANDREAS VOLLENWEIDER – Munich (Tollwood Festival)
I really can’t remember this show anymore – and no, I was not drunken 😉 A friend of mine gave me his ticket for the show as a gift and so I took the chance to see the master of the harp live in concert. Andreas Vollenweider from Switzerland served us a beautiful mixture of Jazz, Classic and World Music. More infos about this show and the whole tour you can find here!
PATTI SMITH – Wels (Schlachthof – Open Air)
All over the years I missed the chances to see Patti Smith live in concert. But this time it happened! Me and my friend headed to the Open Air gig in Wels at the Schl8hof. Beside from a very noise crowd and a lightly sick Patti (she had a cold and so some problems with her voice that night) the performance was an excellent one. The Setlist picked with all classics, poems and also some covers (as you can see listed below).
My blakean Year
Are you experienced (Jimi Hendrix Cover)
Beneath the Southern Cross
Pissing in a River
Dancing Barefoot
Peacable Kingdom/People have the Power
People have the Power
Horses/Gloria
Babelogue/Rock’n’Roll Nigger
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WOVEN HAND – Vienna (Flex)
This was the third time for me to see David Eugene Edwards performing with Woven Hand. And two days later another performance followed – and a very special one because he shared the stage then with the dance company Ultima Vez to perform „Blush„. And it was obvious that some dancers from the ensemble were also at the Flex that night, because „Blush“ was billed for a serie of three nights at the Volkstheater.
Well, back to this show: The line up of Woven Hand that time consisted of David Eugene Edwards, Daniel McMahon, Ordy Garrison and Shane Trost (who joined Slim Cessna’s Auto Club later in 2009). And the setlist was a cross section of the self titled debut album and the „Blush“ release. As a suprise „Black Soul Choir“ was also played. And it’s a funny thing when you compare the sounding, when Woven Hand started to it nowadays – it is like you hear two completely differant bands. But it’s also interesting to see how the live sound changed over one decade now – from soft and beautiful to really loud and hard. Like a folk musician who modified to a heavy metal rocker 😉
Last Fist
Wooden Brother
Bleary Eyed Duty
Blue Pail Fever
Cripplegate (Standing on Glass)
Story and Pictures
Aeolian Harp (Under the World)
White Bird
Black Soul Choir/Phyllis Ann
The Good Hand
Another review of this show can be found here!
WOVEN HAND with ULTIMA VEZ – Vienna (Volkstheater)
First of all – I am not really into modern dance so I had my doubts about this very special performing by the Belgian dance company Ultima Vez, but I was also very curious about this performance while my favorite band Woven Hand accompany the dance scenerie with music. Me and my friends had very good seats at the beautiful Volkstheater in Vienna – we sat in the middle of the fourth row. So it was simply perfect to watch and listen. I have to admit that the dance performances were breathtaking. And by using huge video walls for some clips the scenerie was very impressing. While the dancers did unbelievable things, Woven Hand played not only songs – they also did a kind of soundtrack thing between the tracks.
Animalitos (Ain’t no Sunshine) (Bill Withers Cover)
My Russia (Standing on the Hands)
Aeolian Harp (Underworld)
Your Russia (Dance without Arms)
Another White Bird
A review of the Austrian newspaper „Der Standard“ can be found here! And here are some more reviews!
WOVEN HAND – Ebensee (Kino)
More pictures and the whole setlist you can find here!
NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE – Vienna (Stadthalle)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Vienna (Stadthalle) (23.07.2014) Ticket © Alex Melomane
IGGY POP – Munich (Colosseum)
BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – Munich (Muffathalle)
TOM WAITS – Paris (Le Grand Rex)
My very first Tom Waits experience happened in Paris on the 24th July of 2008. I was pretty nervous, because HE was and still is one of my most admired musicians ever. A MASTER and GENIUS without any doubts. As a big fan all over the last years I was really looking forward to see HIM live on stage.
As we arrived at the wonderful location “Le Grand Rex” some very long queues were at the entrances. But we have already our tickets, so we didn’t have to queue and so we entered this wonderful building – an old cinema which has a capacity of approximately 2.500 people. After checking the merchandising (I bought one T-Shirt, the small tourbook “True Confessions” in which Tom Waits interviews himself and a concert poster) and one beer we head to our seats. And what can I say – I found myself in the SECOND ROW in the middle – almost directly in front of the stage! I really didn’t believe my eyes. So I sat there with always the same thoughts: “Is this true? Am I really going to see Tom Waits live? Is it me who is sitting here?”
Then the lights went out and the master entered with his band the stage! The crowd went crazy and Mr. Tom Waits greeted the audience.
He opened the concert with “Lucinda” and “Ain’t going down to the Well”. My eyes started to become wet and it gave me the creeps! Now it was REAL – I was seeing Tom Waits live! I was in Heaven! Then the classic “Rain Dogs” followed and it was surprising how the song sounded! Tom and his amazing band created new arrangements – and this not only for “Rain Dogs”! Almost EVERY track of the show was completely rebuild and so the compositions sounded fresh and wonderful! “Falling down” was the next one – and Mr. Tom Waits showed us all the colours of his UNBELIEVABLE voice! “All the World is Green” and “I’ll shoot the Moon” caught the audience.
Then Tom Waits spoke the first time with us this night: “This is a song about family reunion. The trouble with family reunions – in my opinion – there are too many of them. And they go on too long. And there’s always people there that I know and I don’t want to see again. There’s Bob – don’t look! There’s Steve – really don’t look! There’s Pierre – don’t look, don’t look, don’t look! There’s Franklin – don’t even, just walk the other way!” And then “Cemetery Polka” was played! After the breaks in that song (before the lyrics go on with “Auntie Mame” and “Uncle Phil”), Tom shouted “Boom! Boom! Boom! Sorry!” for shocking the audience. The beautiful “Cold cold Ground” came next.
Tom introduced the following song: “I’ve got two eyes. One is stationary and the other one is removable – so this is a true story about my eyeball.” During “Eyeball Kid” (also with completely new arrangements) Mr. Waits set up a special hat with mirrors – so the lights shined on him and the rays of the light lighten up the Grand Rex.
The classic “Way down in the Hole” moved the audience to cheering again loudly!
After that Tom Waits went to the piano and gave us some stories and more classics of his huge and fantastic song collection. “Okay, okay, okay”, said Tom and started with some of his “true tales”. And he spoke one sentence in French, which I really didn’t understand but the audience was very happy about this fine gesture and applauded immediately! One of his stories was about lemon: “You always get lemon with fish. And everybody thinks that this is good for the flavour. This is untrue! The idea was when people ate fish originally they were so afraid of the bones getting caught in their throat and maybe die of this. Somebody told them, if you put a little lemon in your mouth after you have a bite of fish it will kill the bone and it will disintegrate the bone. I had a mathematic professor and he had a piece of fish during a test we were having and he choked on a fish bone and he died in the middle of the mathematic test.”
After the first “history lesson” of the night, Tom played the wonderful “The Briar and the Rose” solo on the piano. Then another story was told by the master: “I didn’t know this. In Paris it’s against the law to wash your car by using an old underwear. It’s also against the law to give a monkey a cigarette. And you can’t get a fish drunk. Okay, let’s do some requests!” So, one person shouted some song requests. And Tom answered: “I said, let’s have SOME requests, not YOUR requests! You’ve got to pay more attention!” Another one shouted something and Tom said: “That’s my brother in law. You’re still working on the airport? I’m happy for you!”
So Tom carried solo on with “You can never hold back Spring” – just WONDERFUL! Then some lines of “Lucky Day” followed, but Mr. Waits aborted the track with the words “What the hell is this place on the piano!”. Meanwhile Seth Ford-Young accompanied on the Upright Bass for “Tom Traubert’s Blues”.
Another story followed: “On an aeroplane I was reading a magazine and there was this article saying ‘One out of every ten men are important’. I thought about this and then I realised that I switched the letters. It was not ‘important’, it was ‘impotent’.” So he continued his story with this: “Every time a male has a release, you know, A RELEASE – THAT kind of release. Every time that happens 250 million sperm are released. Now as we know only one of these sperm is going to fertilize that egg. So the thing is, before you even get here, you already a winner! That’s the way I see it.” Then he played the first tones of “Innocent when you dream” on the piano.
During the song, Tom said “Come, sing with me!” and the audience sang with the Master the refrain. “And it’s such a sad old feeling, the fields are soft and green. It’s memories that I’m stealing, but you’re innocent when you dream.” After that Tom returned to his small stage on the main stage and he began to sing “You’ve got to lie to me, Baby!”. And the audience cheered loudly between the breaks and after “I know you got yourself a skinny ol’ man, let me be your Baby, I know that I can” the microphone slided through the hand of Tom Waits and fell on the floor. But he didn’t get bothered about this at all. During the outstanding “Hoist that Rag” (it featured Tom Waits’ son Sullivan on Percussion!) the crowd went nuts once more!
And this time Patrick Warren on the keyboards, Omar Torrez on guitar and Vincent Henry on the woodwinds get enough space for their amazing solos. “Bottom of the World” was also fascinating and wonderful. Then “November” gave me the creeps again and “Hang down your Head” drove me to tears – not the very first time this night!
“Get behind the Mule” (from one of my personal favorite Tom Waits albums “Mule Variations”) hit me with full force. I really couldn’t believe my eyes and tears – words can’t describe the feelings I had by listening to this. But this was not the end of highlights! “Dirt in the Ground” (from another favourite album of mine – “Bone Machine”) with minimized arrangements blew me straight away – WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE BEAUTY!
Then “Make it Rain” surprised with new arrangements and special confetti rained down, which fell during the song on Mr. Tom Waits!
He introduced the whole band (Vincent Henry on woodwinds, Casey Waits on drums and percussion, Omar Torrez on guitars, Patrick Warren from Paris/France on keyboards, Seth Ford-Young on bass, Sullivan Waits on the second clarinet in that song) and after that the second confetti rain fell on Tom!
Then he said good bye the first time tonight and disappeared from the stage with the band.
The audience cheered, shouted and went completely nuts! After a short encore break Tom returned with the band for an amazing “Chocolate Jesus” – yeah, this version (including the famous megaphone) tasted superb!
Tom howled into “Trampled Rose” and – as we all know – everything has come to an end: “Come on up to the House” (with false start!) finished this OUTSTANDING concert.
“Thank you” and “Bonsoir” were the last words of the evening.
The audience cheered, shouted, clapped and howled for another encore, but Mr. Tom Waits stayed backstage. Well, this genius is already 59 years old and he has to be economical with his health and strength. And remember: This was the first show in Paris – the next followed the day after.
Lucinda/Ain’t going down to the Well
All the World is Green
Cemetery Polka
Cold Cold Ground
Eyeball Kid
Way Down in the Hole
The Briar and the Rose
You can never hold back Spring
Lucky Day (aborted)
Tom Traubert’s Blues
Innocent when you dream
Hoist that Rag
Bottom of the World
Hang down your Head
Get behind the Mule
Dirt in the Ground
Chocolate Jesus
Trampled Rose
By leaving the Grand Rex, we were all sooooooooooo happy and glad. But some questions came into our minds: How will be the show tomorrow night? Which setlist will be played? And in which shape will Mr. Tom Waits be? The answers are listed below 😉
Well, so here’s my second Tom Waits experience:
As the day before, we took the tube very early to “Le Grand Rex”. And it was the same as 24 hours before: A lot of people were queuing in front of and beside the location. As we have already our tickets, we enjoyed some beers before the show in a restaurant vis à vis of the location.
After finishing our beers we went into the location and headed to our seats: This time we were at the balcony – third row. Perfect place again with a wonderful view. All instruments stood there like yesterday and we began to discuss about the setlist, because of other reviews of the concerts before, we knew already that he changes the setlist every night. So we were really excited to get our second portion of Tom Waits.
The begin of the show was the same as the day before: The crowd went crazy and stamped with their feet rhythmically, when Tom and his band entered the stage. Tom was really impressed, lift his hat and said in his best French: “Sacrebleu!”.
Then the show began:
The start was the same as yesterday (“Lucinda”, ”Ain’t going down to the Well”, ”Rain Dogs” and ”Falling down”).
But compared to the show the day before I had the feeling, that the band was a little bit in a better mood and also Tom Waits seemed (in my opinion) in a better shape. I think, he was more relaxed than yesterday and also his voice sounded slightly sharper and more powerful.
Nevertheless was the night before one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in my whole life!
Then the first change of the setlist happened: “The other Side of the World” (from the fantastic soundtrack “Night On Earth”) surprised us – wonderful arrangements, Omar Torrez’ fantastic guitar play and Tom’s voice gave me the creeps again.
“Lucky Day”, which was aborted yesterday night, followed. Words can’t hardly describe the feelings, when I heard this beauty in its full length! “Okay Baby, this one’s for you” opened another surprise: “God’s away on Business”. The crowd tried to clap in the right rhythm, but it didn’t work really, so Tom stopped the song after approximately 40 seconds: “You know, you guys never ever worked together before. Maybe there are three or four people who have a musical background. One sits there, the other over there. That’s enough for a quarrel maybe. So we start this song all over again. Then you feel like we’re further along in our relationship.” So they started “God’s away on Business” again – without crowd clapping this time (apart from some cheering after Vincent Henry’s solo and at the end of the song – but this time Tom shows how to clap correctly).
The next surprise came along with the wonderful “Hold on”.
After that, Tom told us something about his eyeball again. “I take it out right now. I don’t do this often in front of people. This I do normally in the bathroom. And then he “threw” his eyeball through Le Grand Rex, “caught” it up again and simply played with it like it was – yes, just a ball. Then he said: “Oh, by the way, it bounces!”. When he feigned this, the band played some notes and then lead into “Eyeball Kid”. Also with the light effects like yesterday night.
„Jesus gonna be here” (from the fantastic “Bone Machine” album) was the next change of the setlist. Tom’s wonderful and powerful howling filled the venue and my eyes get wet again.
Then Mr. Tom Waits went to the piano, took his seat and told us some of his wonderful stories: “You know, I realised today, I really hate it when somebody says to me: ‘You know, my phone is also a camera’. I’m waiting for someone who says to me: ‘My glasses are also a tricycle’. Or: ‘My blender is also a pocket knife’.”
A story about a male spider followed: “He sticks out one of his legs. We assume, it’s a leg, that he’s sticking out. I’m not sure. Whatever it is, what he sticks out, he spins the web with it. And it makes a sound.” Then Tom played some keys on the piano and afterwards he said: “That’s not the actual sound, that’s my impression.” He continued the story with this: “The sound, this makes, it attracts the female spider. Up to a certain degree, she can’t resist. Even she is watching a soap opera, she has to stop! Right now – and find the web.” Then he started another one: “In one square mile of earth, there are more insects than there are people, that inhabit the entire earth. Do you know what I mean? One square mile, that many insects – Jesus Christ! I hope that they never get the vote.”
Then he started playing piano with the words: “B flat – my favourite!” – and “You never hold back Spring” filled the venue.
Another story was next:
“Last time I was in Paris, I went to a little pond in the afternoon. And I swam in the pond and I don’t read French. And it probably said ‘Whatever you do, but don’t swim in this pond’. I thought it was said ‘Welcome to Paris!’. About two months later when I was home I felt something in my stomach. It was so strange and I went to a doctor and he inspected me with an ultrasound. And they found out there was a spawn of frogs. And now I have three bullfrogs living in my stomach. The doctor said to me: ‘Hey, it’s your decision, you know. If you wanna keep it. Or if you wanna get rid of it, I know somebody.”
After the story time, the classic “Johnsburg, Illinois” was introduced with “This is for my wife”. For this wonderful song, he was accompanied by Seth-Ford Young on the Upright Bass.
“Tom Traubert’s Blues” and a unbelievable and wonderful version of “Innocent when you dream” (the crowd sang along the refrains like the night before) drove me to tears. Even now, while I’m typing this, the feelings are coming back and my eyes get wet again. Like yesterday, “Lie to me” was next – this time, the microphone didn’t fall on the ground and between the breaks the crowd cheered loudly again.
“Hoist that Rag” made the crowd wild again – and Tom’s son Sullivan played the percussions on this one. And it was an excellent decision to keep this song on the setlist, because it’s such a beauty and the solo performances of the band members fit perfectly in this track.
“Heigh Ho – The Dwarf’s Marching Song” (first time released on the sampler “Stay Awake – Various Interpretations Of Music From Vintage Disney Films” in 1988) was another big surprise and without any doubts one of the night’s highlights. “Lost at the Bottom of the World” took us back to the yesterday’s setlist – but it was a wonderful reminder in any way. And another fantastic highlight followed: “Hang down your Head” transferred me back in time, when I first heard the timeless masterpiece “Rain Dogs”. So eternal bliss was still growing on me.
With “Poor Edward” a song from the album “Alice” was played. Thanks to this, I discovered this LP again! Oddly enough, I always forget about this one, when I pick one of my collection, when I’m in my Tom Waits mood.
The first seconds of “Black Market Baby” left us open–mouthed – another surprise and so we felt again like a child in a candy store.
“Dirt in the Ground” was already yesterday night unbelievable, but tonight it was out of this world. What a brilliant version again – words can’t describe this properly. The refrain was this: “You know, I know, we know – we all gonna be dirt in the ground.”
“Make it Rain” including two confetti rains and the band introduction closed the regular set (just like yesterday’s show).
During the encore break the crowd went really crazy and nuts. They cheered, howled, clapped, stamped and made such a noise – unbelievable. So Tom and the boys came back on stage and “Way down in the Hole” opened the encore. With the fantastic “Jockey full of Bourbon” they gave me that feeling back, which I had at least every five minutes during the two shows: Wet eyes and another goose was walking over my grave again.
And with “Anywhere I lay my Head” an amazing song was picked for the end of this unforgettable evening. “Merci beaucoup” and “Bonsoir“ were the last words from Mr. Tom Waits before he and the band left the stage.
Lucinda/Ain’t going down to the Well no more
The other Side of the World
God’s away on Business
Jesus gonna be here
Johnsburg, Illinois
Heigh Ho
Lost at the Bottom of the World
Poor Edward
Black Market Baby
Make it Raink
Jockey full of Bourbon
Anywhere I lay my Head
All in all we had to say that the second show was a little bit better. But really only a little bit. Anyway – both shows were one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in my entire life. And I’m really happy, glad and thankful, that I was so lucky to get the chance to see one of my most admired artists live on stage. I’ll NEVER forget these two nights.
JETHRO TULL – Finkenstein (Burgarenazelt)
Someday the Sun won’t shine for you
Living in the Past (Instrumental)
Rocks on the Road
A new Day Yesterday/Kelpie
A Christmas Song
Pussy Willow (Instrumental)
Doctor to my Disease
Too old to Rock’n’Roll: Too young to die!
My God/God rest ye merry Gentlemen
JETHRO TULL – Klam (Burg Clam)
WOVEN HAND – Munich (Ampere)
We arrived at the location called “Ampere” (it’s beside the big one called “Muffathalle”) at 6.30. Nobody was there but we heard that the band was making the soundcheck. It was obvious that Woven Hand are at work, because of the wonderful drumming of Ordy. At 7 o’clock we saw the band eating and drinking in the beergarden, which was next to the Ampere. At 7.45 we entered the location and it was really a very nice surprise. A small club with a balcony. The stage was very small and when you stand in front of David (like me at this night) you are at eye-level. The crowd was very small and we hoped that this will change otherwise Woven Hand would play in front of approximately 50 people! But shortly before the show began more people found the way into the Ampere and so it was well crowded.
The night began with an explosive “Tin Finger” and between the song David did some very nice vocal improvisations. “Whistling Girl” follows – beautiful as always. So after these two songs – a heavy and a soft one – it was obvious that the sound was simply perfect for this night. Another vocal improvisations (“Horse Head Fiddle”) lead into the first new song of the evening: “The Beautiful Axe”! A wonderful track which makes real appetite for the upcoming “Ten Stones” album. When David played he suddenly stood up and played on on his red Gretsch Tennessee Red guitar! Then one of my personal all time favorites “The Speaking Hands” followed in a very powerful way. After that, it was time for another new song: “Kingdom of Ice”! Therefore David fetched his Banjola and the very intense track started. It was obvious that David loves to play the new songs. He was shaking his left foot and before the song ended he stood up – the second time of the evening! After that the Woven Hand classic “Dirty Blue” followed. As you can heard of the applause, this song is really loved by almost everybody. Following David changed the red Gretsch with the black one and another vocal improvisations lead to the next new song: “Iron Feather”! A wonderful beauty with some lyrics like “All these tears gathered together, down your cheek, your neck and feathers”. Nobody applauded afterwards, because of such a brandnew beauty – almost anybody was touched by this song. “Winter Shaker” broke the silence and Ordy showed again, how powerful a drummer can play! And David? Well, he stood the third time up during that song! Vocal improvisations (parts from „Slota Prow“) introduced „Elktooth“. After one minute a security guy tipped on my shoulder and said “Stop photographing!”. Well, so I stopped it, because I didn’t want to hear the rest of the show outside. Then „Deerskin Doll“ followed. During that song Ordy had some problems with one of his drum and so he had to fixed it again. But David didn’t stop to play. He just waited until Ordy was ready again and then they continued – what a wonderful version it was! I never heard it that way – AMAZING! After that, Pascal, Ordy and Peter left the stage and David played “Into the Piano” and “Chest of Drawers” solo. Beautiful and very intense! In my opinion one of highlights of the night. I enjoyed “Chest of Drawers” with closed eyes. The boys returned to close the show with a dynamic and heavy “Your Russia“. You could see that Ordy enjoyed the playing. He kicked the shit out of his drums! This guy is unbelievable! And the real fans knew that this will be the last song before the encore. After a short encore break, David entered the stage, fetched the banjola, thanked for coming to the show tonight and the 16 Horsepower classic “Black Soul Choir“ followed. After a few seconds David stood up again and sang approximately one meter far from the microphones. Another proof of his beautiful voice which is getting better and better form year to year! This version was very special, because of string and technical problems (drowning because of a cell phone) David interrupted the song three times. But he took it with humour and laughed a little bit. By the new beginning of the song he said “Voilà!”. Maybe he thought already about the upcoming gig in Clergoux the next day. Then Pascal, Ordy and Peter accompanied David for “Truly Golden” (wonderful as always!) and “White Bird”. So the show ended like it began – VERY POWERFUL AND HEAVY!!!
After the show we met Peter, David and Ordy and talked a little bit with them. Then they had to leave – what a fantastic night!
dEUS – Salzburg (Rockhouse)
CALEXICO – Vienna (Arena – Open Air – Jazzfest)
Si tu disais
Sunken Waltz
Across the Wire
Jesus & Tequila
Not even Stevie Nicks
El Picador
The Ride, Part II
Sonic Wind
Letter to Bowie Knife
Frontera/Trigger
Improvisations
Alone again or (Love Cover)
Güero Canelo
Bisbee Blue
Dub Latina
Crystal Frontier
Ojitos Traidores
THE ROLLING STONES – Vienna (Praterstadium)
Support by Dan Reed Network
Latest Updates: July 2013
Veröffentlicht unter Concerts (July) | Verschlagwortet mit 16 Horsepower, 2000, A83, Alternative Tentacles, Ampere, Andreas Vollenweider, Andrew Eldritch, arena, Beasts of Bourbon, bigger bang, bigger bang tour, Bill Wyman, Blackmore's Night, Blush, Bruce Springsteen, Budapest, Burg Clam, Burgarena, Calexico, Charlie Watts, Chris Eckman, Coast to Coast Bluesband, Crazy Horse, darryl jones, David Eugene Edwards, Dead Kennedys, Deep Purple, Denver, Denver Sound, deus, Dirt Music, Dirtmusic, Disney Films, Ebensee, Eberhard Weber, ECM, Eishalle, Eric Reed Boucher, Ernst Happel, Ernst Happel Stadion, Finkenstein, Giant Sand, Glitterhouse Recocrds, Glitterhouse Records, Grand Rex, Guantanamo School of Medicine, Howe Gelb, Ian Anderson, Iggy Pop, Jan Garbarek, Jan Garbarek Group, jello biafra, Jethro Tull, Joey Burns, John Convertino, John Lee Hooker, Kapitelplatz, Keith Richards, Kino, Kino Ebensee, Kurt Rohrauer, Lambchop, Lilium, Mali, Marilyn Mazur, Martin Barre, München, Mick Jagger, Muffathalle, Munich, Neil Young, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Ordy Garrison, Paris, Pascal Humbert, Passion Fodder, Patti Smith, Peter Van Laerhoven, pohoda festival, Rainer Brüninghaus, Ritchie Blackmore, Rites, Rolling Stones, Salzburg, Shoshin, Sisters of mercy, Sixteen Horsepower, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, stay awake, Szene, Szene Wien, Tamikrest, The Boss, The Stooges, theo hakola, This corossion, Tollwood, Tollwood Festival, Tom Waits, ton maessen, Tuareg, Two Gallants, Ulitma Vez, Vienna, Visible World, Volkstheater Wien, Walkabouts, Walt Disney, Wien, Wim Vandekeybus, Woven Hand, Wovenhand | 8 Kommentare
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Teaching rationale and relationship
May 27, 2014 May 27, 2014 / Ian Biddle / Leave a comment
Lectures cover key topics in the module and the Russian language seminars will introduce students to how to read basic primary source materials in Russian. Both modes of delivery (lectures and seminars) are geared to the assessments: lecture materials deal with topics rehearsed in the essay and seminars are tested by the in-class language tests (semesters 1 and 2) and, indirectly, in students’ encounter with and analysis of primary sources as tested in the essay.
Student Hours
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities Lecture 18 1:00 18:00 N/A
Guided Independent Study Directed research and reading 164 1:00 164:00 N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities Small group teaching 18 1:00 18:00 Two or three seminar groups, each meeting with module leader for an hour a week
Total 200:00
Module aims
May 27, 2014 / Ian Biddle / Leave a comment
For MUS3003, the module aims to
familiarise students with musical practices engaged by a range of actors in the Soviet Union
familiarise students with the key debates that raged, internally and externally, around music and music making in the Soviet Union;
introduce the range of musics deemed appropriate or inappropriate by the Soviet authorities;
introduce and analyse the boarder historical and cultural contexts in which the Soviet authorities and other cultural actors operated
introduce students to the Cyrillic alphabet
introduce students to basic features of the Russian language
Welcome! добро пожаловать!
This module introduces students, at an advanced level, to the range of musical practices engaged in by the peoples of the Soviet Union (1917-1989). The module aims to give students a clear sense of how Soviet authorities and state-sanctioned ideologies and policies intervened in and shaped Soviet musical cultures, how the peoples of the Soviet Union responded musically to those interventions. The module will cover ‘classical’ (Shostakovich, Prokoviev, Myaskovky and so on), popular (bard musics, rock and singer-songwriters) and folk musics (from all over the Soviet ‘nations), offering both a broad survey of Soviet musics and some detailed engagement with key pieces and practices. The module will also introduce students to theories of totalitarianism, political theories of the left and the critical scholarly literature of Soviet culture more broadly. In addition, the module aims to introduce students to the basic elements of the Russian language (alphabet, basic vocabulary and syntax).
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Iridium Maintenance Advisory
18 June 2019 June 18, 2019 Juan-Carlos TorresLeave a comment
Dear Distribution Partner,
Please be aware that from June 18th to June 19th 2019, Iridium Communications will be upgrading their Billing and Support systems. During this maintenance window no actions with Iridium SIM will be allowed including activation, deactivation and suspension.
We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you take the necessary precautions. For further questions regarding this topic or anything else please feel free to contact your MVS Account Manager at any time.
1,000 ThalesLINK units!
29 May 2019 May 29, 2019 Juan-Carlos TorresLeave a comment
Just months after the activation of the new Iridium Communications Certus constellation, we’re thrilled to announce that Thales Group already shipped over 1,000 ThalesLINK units worldwide enabling connectivity for people anytime, anywhere. These units are made up of both Thales MissionLINK® and Thales VesseLINK™ solutions.
Beginning in 2018, Thales began establishing a strong network of partners in the mobile satellite services domain which includes us MVS USA, Inc. providing end-users with critical, on-demand satellite connectivity solutions, for on land and at sea applications.
Thales is the only value-added manufacturer to date with an Iridium Certus certified land-mobile solution, proving a commitment to customers worldwide, and truly delivering the future of connectivity to customers, today.
“We’re very proud of our solutions and seeing the market’s reaction to our offering has been very exciting. Obtaining positive feedback is a key metric for us at Thales and we’re very happy with everything we’ve heard about the units we’ve delivered to date,” said Mike Sheehan, CEO of Thales Defense and Security, Inc. “We’re truly helping our customers achieve their big ambitions, which is our end goal.”
MissionLINK® and VesseLINK™ solutions operate using Iridium Certus broadband services over a network of 66 satellites that cover 100% of the globe. The MissionLINK® solution utilizes this robust network service to provide highly reliable, mobile and essential voice, text and web communications for fixed sites and mobile users.Thales VesseLINK™ provides global satellite coverage for maritime communications.
The world has already joined the future of communications, what are you waiting for? Contact your MVS Account Manager for more information!
FLEET ONE: New Maximum Speed!
We are pleased to announce that as of May 1, 2019… Fleet One maximum speeds increased to 150 kbps, delivering a boost in performance and user experience. All newly activated terminals will automatically access the increased speed, and active terminals can be updated to benefit. You will receive all relevant documentation to implement the speed upgrade on active Fleet One terminals shortly.
With the speed upgrade of Fleet One, we also announce the End of Sale of the FleetBroadband 150. All FB150 terminals can continue to be used and all applicable guarantees continue to apply.
If you have any questions please contact your MVS Account Manager.
Thuraya WE!
Staying connected is a priority. It’s at the heart of your social identity and self-expression. It’s how you reach out to your family and closest friends, to share with them your experiences and news. Thuraya understands this fundamental need, and that’s why we have been evolving and advancing our data products throughout the years to meet this ever-growing global demand for wireless data connectivity. Thuraya WE was developed to converge satellite with terrestrial communications. It is the world’s first dual mode Satellite & LTE hotspot that keeps you in contact with your family and friends all the time, no matter where you are.
Thuraya WE allows you to automatically switch between Satellite and GSM networks with a click of a button using the Thuraya WE mobile app and web interface. With Thuraya WE, you can transform any are into a Wi-Fi hotspot, and allow up to 10 smart devices to connect and share internet within a range of 100ft or more.
– Weight: 2.20 lb
– Size: 9 x 7.7 x 0.9
– Battery Type: Lithium Ion, Rechargeable
– Battery Capacity: 7.4V, 6Ah (2S2P) Run times (Battery)
– Run Times: Cell – standby: 20hrs; Cell – data: 9hrs; Sat – standby: 6hrs; Sat voice: 5hrs; Sat data: 3hrs
– Ingress Protection: IP54 compliant
– Single SIM, dual mode hotspot
– Manual or auto-network selection
– Calls and text messages in Satellite Mode
– Easy to use interface
– Lightweight and durable
Iridium CERTUS® Wins Top Connected Platform Solution Award at SATELLITE 2019
9 May 2019 May 9, 2019 Juan-Carlos TorresLeave a comment
Iridium Certus has won the award for “Top Connected Platform” during the annual Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA) Mobility Satellite Innovation Awards at SATELLITE 2019. Iridium Certus is a unique platform that enables both the development and adoption of specialty broadband applications while serving as the world’s only truly global commercial broadband service. The “Top Connected Platform” award comes less than four months after the service made its acclaimed commercial debut on January 16, 2019.
With more than 30 global service providers and six Value Added Manufacturers producing terminals for a combination of maritime, land-mobile and aviation markets, Iridium Certus continues to see growing adoption at a global level. This is the result of its best-in-class service reliability, top-end L-band broadband speeds, smaller antenna and terminal sizes compared to competitive services, cost-effectiveness and unique truly global coverage. The service has already proven to be a powerful ally for crews at sea, teams deployed to remote areas and organizations in need of on-the-move connectivity anywhere in the world at any given moment.
“We’re honored to see Iridium Certus gain such important recognition from our colleagues in the satellite industry. Iridium Certus is a truly unique platform and is already serving as an engine for innovation for our partners around the world,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. “This is just the beginning though, and later this year our partners will receive our new Iridium Certus 9770 transceiver that will open the door for an entirely new family of devices optimized for highly mobile and lower-cost applications. This can include personal devices offering rich data streams, pictures and even some video at a price point never before possible from a satellite operator. We thank MSUA for this honor and look forward to what the future will bring!” “Innovations in mobility, such as Iridium Certus, help reduce the barriers and showcase the benefits of satcom for organizations that previously may not have been able to justify its adoption,” said Catherine Melquist, president of MSUA. “MSUA is proud to present Iridium with the ‘Top Connectivity Platform’ award and looks forward to witnessing the company’s future innovations and continued leadership in our industry.”
Currently, three Iridium Certus terminals are commercially available, including the Cobham SAILOR 4300, MissionLINK™ by Thales, the only land-mobile terminal available today, and VesseLINK™ by Thales, with aviation terminals making their debut in late 2019 and 2020. These terminals are currently enabling on-the-move mobile office functionality for deployed personnel and two-way remote communication for assets, autonomous vehicles, trains and ships at sea for companies, governments and other organizations. Iridium Certus is also being developed as a platform for both maritime (GMDSS) and aviation safety services, as well as an ideal complement to other satellite and terrestrial technologies.
MVS assists the 2019 Philippines Election
In an incredible effort to keep the world communicated MVS will be assisting the 2019 Philippines Election this Monday, May 13th. We want to thank the Philippines government for trusting us once again this year with such an important national event.
Our MVS team lead by our CEO Deborah Deffaa along with Inmarsat and Smartmatic are already at Manila, Philippines running tests before Election Day. We will be providing 6500 BGAN terminals with the purpose of keeping cities (where regular internet access is not available) communicated at all times.
The BGAN terminals will transmit the votes for the location back to the Philippines Electoral Committee.
M2M Dubai: How technology is changing life in the emirate
29 April 2019 April 29, 2019 Juan-Carlos TorresLeave a comment
Dubai is changing swiftly. With advanced new technologies, a constantly expanding oil industry, and a growing and complex economy, communication has become more important than ever. IoT/M2M offers a major avenue for innovation and economic growth, and has the potential to address many of region’s challenges. Through these technologies, businesses are able to stay connected, regardless of where they are.
In line with the Smart Dubai Plan 2021, the emirate would be ready for mass IoT adoption by 2020.
Getting connected with M2M Dubai
Though Dubai still has an extremely robust oil and gas industry, diversification of the economy is incredibly important for long-term stability. Within the UAE, many are now looking to Dubai for ways to grow and expand without a reliance on the oil industry. Consequently, Dubai has been growing in areas of commerce, tourism, and more. These types of expansion absolutely demand the best available technologies, and it’s important for the groundwork for these technologies to be laid well in advance of expansion.
From oil fields to new construction projects, there are many areas of Dubai that are remote and still in development. Relying on traditional cellular signals isn’t feasible in these locations, as they don’t have coverage available. M2M can provide coverage to even the most remote of locations, ensuring the productivity and safety of these new developments. M2M includes communications technologies such as satellite phones, which rely on a broad network of satellites to deliver cellular data and internet data from anywhere in the world.
M2M for Dubai oil & gas
With lower oil prices being the new norm, enterprises in Dubai are adopting smarter, end-to-end M2M solutions for efficient operations, without jeopardizing their profit margins. This trend is bound to grow as the industry becomes even more competitive. Oil corporations are already altering their drilling strategies after comparing real-time down-hole drilling data with data from production of nearby wells. The advanced analytics are effected by intelligent M2M tools. According to Bain & Company, this level of visibility can help companies improve production by 6% to 8%.
Thuraya M2M automates monitoring and data readings of compressors, tank liquids, LACT (Lease Automatic Custody Transfer) meters, PIGs (Pipeline Inspection Gauges) as well as rectifiers deployed for cathodic protection.
M2M and cold chain telematics in Dubai
It is estimated that nearly 3.27 million tons of food, worth more than US $3.54 billion produced and imported in the UAE is wasted every year. The vast majority of food wastage happens before it even reaches the consumer. In the past, there was very little consistent cold chain integrity. The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming the efficiency of long distance food, pharmaceutical, and other perishable supply chains in the region.
According to recent studies, between 20 – 30% of the trucks and delivery wagons supplying food stuff in the UAE need to be equipped with the telematics technology as real-time information is key to managing F&B fleets efficiently. Rather than merely consisting of freezers and freight trains, the newer, temperature-controlled, ‘cold’ supply chain is now increasingly incorporating digital software solutions, secure cloud technology, and open architecture.
In areas outside regular telecom networks, Thuraya’s IoT/M2M technologies are the prime enablers of efficient cold chain supply and management.
Civil defense and M2M technology
When it comes to civil defense, the government and the public need to be connected. Yet as people continue to spread out to remote areas this can be difficult. If the telecommunications lines are down, it can potentially endanger important emergency communications. The political landscape is changing as quickly as the economic one, and many countries are now facing new challenges related to securing their cities and their borders. From external attacks to environmental disasters, it’s important for civil defense that every country be able to swiftly mobilize and alert its citizens.
Thuraya M2M helps government agencies connect with citizens regardless of the types of emergencies that are occurring. 98% of all buildings in Dubai, residential and commercial – old and new – are now linked to the central operation rooms of civil defence authorities as part of the Ministry of Interior’s ‘Hassantuk’ project. Using state of the art M2M technology, remote-communication technologies such as GPS and GPRS, every building and asset within Dubai, both government and privately-owned are monitored in real time for fire, lift and emergency alarms.
In urban settlements, satellite M2M provides secondary backup to GSM for 24X7 surveillance. However, where there is little terrestrial telecom coverage – such as desert and mountain outposts – Thuraya’s M2M solutions take the center stage.
M2M for better corporate profits
Companies coming to Dubai want to have their profits secured. Better technology and better communication are more attractive to investors long-term, bringing money into the economy and aiding further expansion. M2M Dubai doesn’t just improve upon the telecommunications resources open for a company; it can also directly improve their bottom line. M2M devices can be used for sensor equipment in the oil and gas industry, security solutions, and safety processes, reducing potential risks.
Thuraya Satellite IoT/M2M
Satellite phones and telecommunications aren’t the only M2M technologies; data can also be transmitted, paving the way for network connectivity in areas that were previously unable to be developed. Developing out these more remote regions will not only lead to improved commerce, but it will also eventually lead to additional livable areas where the population centers can expand and new amenities, such as shopping and entertainment venues, can be built.
If Dubai is to continue to thrive, it must continue to grow. The shifting global economy requires that companies do everything that they can to acquire better technology and further their accessibility. M2M technologies are able to provide better solutions overall, from innovation to security.
Virgin Atlantic boosts passenger experience with Inmarsat’s GX Aviation
Inmarsat’s award-winning GX Aviation inflight broadband solution will be available to passengers onboard Virgin Atlantic’s brand new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.
Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to receive 12 Airbus A350-1000s over the next three years, with GX Aviation pre-installed upon delivery. The service will be available once the first of these aircraft takes to the skies from late summer 2019, allowing passengers to seamlessly browse the internet, check social media, instant message and more during flights, with connection speeds on par with mobile broadband on the ground.
GX Aviation is the world’s first and only global, high-speed inflight connectivity service delivered through a wholly-owned and operated network of high-throughput satellites. It was revealed as part of Virgin Atlantic’s new onboard offering on the A350-1000 earlier this week, with other key features of the aircraft including an entirely new Upper Class cabin with brand new suite and social space.
Great Win
Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “Virgin Atlantic is firmly established as one of the aviation industry’s greatest innovators and were the first airline in Europe to offer Wi-Fi on all flights. Their brand new Airbus A350s will enhance the passenger experience even further and we are delighted that GX Aviation has been selected as the inflight broadband solution for the aircraft. This is another great win for our next-generation solutions.”
Gail Yates, Head of Inflight Services, Virgin Atlantic, said: “We are excited to unveil details of the unparalleled onboard experience that awaits customers on our new Airbus A350-1000s. Offering modern, world-class inflight connectivity is a fundamental part of this experience. We are confident that Inmarsat’s GX Aviation will truly raise the bar and offer second-to-none broadband for our customers.”
More than 1,600 aircraft are currently expected under signed contracts for Inmarsat’s next-generation inflight broadband solutions for airlines, with a new business pipeline of approximately 3,000 aircraft worldwide. To meet growing demand, Inmarsat has a fully-funded development roadmap, including three further Ka-band payloads. A fifth GX satellite will be launched later this year and two sixth-generation satellites are scheduled to launch in 2020 and 2021. In addition, planning is underway for the next generation of GX satellites.
Iridium Awarded Gateway Support and Maintenance Contract by the U.S. Department of Defense
MCLEAN, Va., April 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) announced today that it has been awarded a new contract by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to continue supporting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Enhanced Mobile Satellite Service (EMSS) gateway. The contract, valued at $54 million over 4.5 years, for Gateway Maintenance and Support Service (GMSS), will ensure that this dedicated ground site continues to operate at peak efficiency and in optimal condition for critical U.S. DoD missions.
Dedicated for use by the U.S. DoD, their Iridium gateway serves as the uplink and downlink point for the DoD’s EMSS communications capabilities through the Iridium® network. This includes the enhanced capabilities made possible by Iridium’s upgraded satellite constellation, which was formally completed and declared fully operational in February of this year.
“This new contract provides the mechanism for Iridium to help ensure the DoD gateway is able to fully support the new capabilities and services needed to meet the emerging requirements of the warfighter,” said Scott Scheimreif, executive vice president of government programs, Iridium. “It is yet another example of the strategic, long-term relationship between Iridium and the U.S. Department of Defense. We remain committed to the U.S. DoD and the warfighter as we explore new ways for addressing critical requirements leveraging our unique satellite network.”
The previous iteration of the GMSS contract was awarded in October of 2013 for a five-year term with a six-month extension option. The subscribers operating under the Iridium EMSS program run by DISA have more than doubled over the five-year period between 2013 and 2018 to 113,000, reflecting a 17.25% compounded annual growth rate. This surge in growth has occurred under the current flat-rate contract program that provides unlimited voice and data services to the U.S. warfighter and other government participants.
Certus 700 Annoucement
Iridium 500 Minute Voucher becomes a 600 Minute Voucher
The current 500 minute voucher will become a 600 minute voucher from May 1st, 2019 providing 100 additional minutes to customers at no extra cost. Each voucher will have 36,0000 units instead of the usual 30,000 – NO CHANGES to the burn rate.Iridium Northern Lights Voucher Price Increase
The price of the Northern Lights vouchers will increase starting on May 1st, 2019. Please contact your MVS account manager for the new price.Iridium 750 Minute Voucher No Longer Available
The 750 minute voucher will be retired. Do not forget that you can supply the 300 minute 12 month NON RELOADABLE voucher or the 200 minute 6 month Roll Over.
The development of Iridium Certus 700 capability will allow Certus terminals to receive data from the satellites at speeds of up to 704 Kbps which is progressing very well and at this time we expect Beta trials to start in Q3-2019 and commercial availability is scheduled for December 2019. As a reminder, this enhanced downlink capability will be available to all existing Certus terminals once a free-of-charge Firmware upgrade is carried out on the terminals. This new capability will make all Certus terminals the fastest L-Band devices in the market.
These are exciting times for Iridium, and we are very happy to have you as a partner as we break new ground in Mobile Satellite communications.
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Phoenix Jones, MMA fighter and Seattle’s vigilante superhero
Photo from GQ magazine
This Sunday, ESPN’s SC Featured will focus on a mixed martial artist, but not just any mixed martial artist. Ben Fodor, or more commonly known as Phoenix Jones, is a self-styled vigilante, a superhero that serves as a guardian for the city of Seattle, Washington.
Fodor is the leader of the Rain City Superhero Movement, a Seattle based citizen patrol group that describes itself as a crime prevention brigade.
If you think the superhero aspect is a gimmick, think again. Fodor has been doing it for years and has injected himself in many situations where he has faced life or death, all in the name of helping others. He has been stabbed, shot at and has had his nose broken while fighting crime.
He was ranked among the top amateur mixed martial artists in the country amassing a record of 25-2 before turning pro and going 6-0-1.
The younger brother of UFC, Strikeforce, and ONE FC veteran, Caros Fodor, Ben is part of a successful fighting family. Caros’ lone fight in the UFC was a split decision loss to hard-hitting Sam Stout at UFC 157 Rousey vs. Carmouche.
Ben, who fights under the nickname “Flattop” last fought and won just weeks ago, Feb. 21, when he submitted Jason Novelli via rear-naked choke. Before that he fought Tyson Cunningham to a draw in December.
The welterweight who trains with Shoreline MMA next fights Ben Egli at King of the Cage in Lincoln City, Oregon on March 21.
Fodor says he wanted to take policing matters into his own hands after a few incidents changed his mind about Seattle. The first was when he says that his car was broken into and his son was injured after returning to the vehicle and falling on the broken glass. Fodor was told that several people saw the break-in happen, but did not intervene.
So something had to be done.
Fodor initially began fighting crime with a ski mask but quickly began to develop a costume that was easily recognizable by law enforcement officers and the public.
He developed the supersuit and the pseudonym “Phoenix Jones.” Although Fodor has received advice from police to not intervene as he is injecting himself into the mix of often times dangerous situation, the guidance has fallen upon deaf ears.
Along with his wife who fights crime under the named “Purple Reign,” the Rain City Superhero Movement consists of members, Red Dragon, Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, The Mantis, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88, and Penelope.
One time, in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, Phoenix Jones doused a man with pepper spray after he attempted to steal a bus. The driver of the bus had been handing out fliers when another individual attempted to steal the bus. Jones was reported to have intervened and the hijacker escaped with his skin dyed orange due to the spray. Jones says he didn’t receive any help from Seattle police, who took hours to respond to the incident.
Below are a few Phoenix Jones videos. Proceed with caution as some contain foul language.
Tags: Ben Fodor, caros fodor, costume, flattop, One FC, Phoenix Jones, Seattle, Strikeforce, super hero, superhero, vigilante
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Home / Photography / Street PhotographyInterview: Street Portraits of the Incredible Cargo People Carry on Motorbikes in Hanoi
Interview: Street Portraits of the Incredible Cargo People Carry on Motorbikes in Hanoi
By Emma Taggart on May 9, 2019
If you’ve ever been to Southeast Asia, you know that motorcycles (or scooters) are the transport of choice for many locals. In dense cities such as Hanoi, the narrow streets are usually clogged with them, and there’s always the low hum of engines in the air. The 2-wheelers are perfect for zipping around from one spot to the next, but they’re also surprisingly useful for transporting cargo.
Intrigued by the scooter culture in Hanoi, London-based photographer Jon Enoch captures the vast and unusual motorbike loads across the Vietnamese city. “When I first traveled around Southeast Asia, 15 years ago, the number of motorbikes and mopeds just astounded me,” says Enoch. “Initially, that level of traffic that never stops is overwhelming to the senses—you wonder how you’ll ever manage to cross a road. I began to be fascinated by the drivers and deliveries.”
Enoch describes Hanoi’s motorbikes as the “workhorse of the city” and his photos are testament to that. From mountains of ice bags to stacks of precariously balanced eggs in boxes, the talented photographer’s photos reveal just how savvy the locals can be with the little space their scooters provide. In one image, a man transports multiple bags of live fish, and in another a vendor carries a mass of children’s toy footballs.
Hanoi has a population of 7.6 million, and the amount of scooters almost matches that at around 5 million. Since almost every person in the city owns one, there are serious air pollution problems. It’s so bad in fact, that in 2017 the government announced that they would ban motorbikes and scooters by 2030 to ease congestion. Although this is good news for the environment, the upcoming law is bound to have an effect on the many locals whose livelihoods’ depends on scooters.
We recently caught up with Enoch to ask about his experience capturing the motorbike drivers of Hanoi. Read on for My Modern Met’s exclusive interview.
Can you describe your first visit to Hanoi?
My first visit to Hanoi was actually to shoot this project although I have travelled around Southeast Asia pretty extensively beforehand. It was an odd visit as we were doing night shoots so we would sleep for the large part of the day and pretty much stayed on London time. It was a very nocturnal visit!
How do the locals usually react when you ask to take their photo?
With bemusement mostly. They are obviously used to seeing bikes like this on a daily basis so the subjects were a bit baffled as to why we were interested and passersby are quite used to tourists and cameras so we were pretty much left alone.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen packed onto a scooter?
I don’t think there is any end to how strange it can get. One of the funny things about the project is that we would be set up about to shoot someone—and then someone else would ride past with an even odder load. You can always take strange to the next level. There were a few things I saw that got away. The weight on the ice bike was unbelievable—I have no idea how he managed to ride it.
It has been announced that motorbikes will be banned in the city by 2030 in an attempt to combat pollution and traffic jams. How to you think this will affect the local way of life?
You can certainly see a change coming. Cars and mini vans are getting more popular and more common on the streets. Don’t get me wrong, the bike is still the undisputed king but for the transportation of goods at least change is certainly occurring.
Is there a reason you chose to shoot this series at night?
Partly out of practicality—Hanoi is a very busy place. And the more interesting locations like the old city are incredibly tight in terms of space. So it was partly to allow us to be able to work around the subjects safely. Partly it was because this is when the delivery guys are actually out delivering—much like in the west, stores refill overnight and in the early hours. It was also because I wanted some control over the light. Shooting in the middle of the day with the harsh sunlight would have been problematic and I thought there would be a beauty to using the mixed light of the night.
Do you have any tips for someone who wants to take up street photography?
The simplest and best piece of advice is probably “if you don’t ask you don’t get.” If you see someone and you want to pose them up and take their picture, you have to go for it. What’s the worst that can happen?
Do you have other exciting projects coming up?
My commercial practice working in the advertising and lifestyle field keeps me busy but I try to shoot a few personal works like this at least a couple of times a year. I have a few ideas that are swirling around; it’s an interesting time when you are deciding what to do next.
Jon Enoch: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Jon Enoch.
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My Search for the Political Mary
The Jewish Queens of Palestine..Some named Mary…Why they matter and why we don't know about them…
My Search for a Political Mary
A Black Madonna…Our Lady of Czestochowa…see Page “Mary as the Black Madonna” for her story.
This blog is about my search for a Mary that made sense to me…a Mary that fit into the patriarchal culture of her day…but also a Mary that could travel with her son and tell him what to do… something only a queen mother could get away with. She had to be a Mary that could help explain why her son, a Galilean citizen brutally killed by the Roman Occupier of Palestine in Jerusalem at the behest of the Jewish High Court and the High Priest…all the forms of political power of the day…died with a sign over his head saying “King of the Jews.” All four versions of the story in the gospels include the sign but do not explain in real time why it was there and why the first question Pilate, the Roman governor and his judge, jury and executioner, asked him was “Are you a King of the Jews?” to which Jesus answered, “Yes” all four times.
Being a king in a Middle Eastern monarchy even in the first century A.D. required a royal bloodline….even to be a puppet king in an occupied nation…as we will see. As a curious layperson, after years of studying Christian “Search for the Historical Jesus” books, I literally stumbled across an 800-page book of The Collected Works of Josephus, a Jewish historian born 4 years after the death of Jesus who wrote Antiquities of the Jews and Wars of the Jews in basically the same timeframe that the earliest gospels were being written (ca 90 A.D.) but using Jewish court records. Josephus spoke at length about a Jewish Royal family–other than the legendary Davidic one–that included queens with the dynastic name of Mariamne, often translated in Christian documents as Mary.
I have re-written this manuscript a hundred times over thirty-plus years and continue to at least look at the indexes of books still being written on the Historical Jesus…or less common…Mary…to see if my “idea” holds up…so far, so good but others are starting to take a hard look at the women also. I will share their ideas as we go along.
Simply comparing the rich and royal women and their stories in Josephus with the New Testament story does reveal a time of liberated women that answer the questions…Why are there so many women in the New Testament? Was Jesus a feminist? Or…more to my theory…was Jesus accompanied by his royal mother and her handmaidens who supported him? If so, then a certain amount of “veiling” on both the Jewish and the Christian side has been going on, as we will see…
By simply comparing Josephus’ histories of the New Testament era from the Jewish side…with the story of Jesus “son of Mary” as it has come down to us from the Christian side…and by studying a history of Jewish queens and their role in the politics of their nation…gives much needed context to the New Testament Mary and her role in the life and death of her son…see what you think. Even if you disagree, with “my Mary,” you will have to agree that looking at the women’s history…changes our understanding of the era and the role that royal women were expected to play…and did play…and that they were relevant…
In the nature of blogs…begin at the end if you want to read it like a book. Start with the earliest post under “Archives” October 2014 and come forward…if you want to look at queens from a specific time frame look under menus “Queens of Israel” as a sidebar. Under “Pages” are personal stories of my search and research and further topics that caught my interest but don’t flow chronologically. This blog presupposes a strong level of interest in the reader…a reader with some level of knowledge of the New Testament story…
Cleta Marie Flynn
Cleta M. Flynn 1. Searching for Mary in all the Wrong Places 2 Comments January 14, 2018 October 8, 2018 3 Minutes
The Virgin of the Pillar
All the prophecies of Armageddon and the End of Days were fulfilled. Millions were killed or enslaved or sent to the amphitheaters. But I believe there was a ray of hope for “certain” of those with eyes to see. Consider this last quote from Josephus just after the siege was broken…
Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency: this is, Phasaelus and Hippicus, and Mariamne…in order to demonstrate to posterity what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the Roman valour had subdued…This was the end which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among all mankind. Wars of the Jews VII.I.1
Continue reading “Still Standing” →
Cleta M. Flynn 5. The Last Queens Leave a comment September 11, 2015 October 5, 2018 3 Minutes
The Last Mary and the Apocalypse
The Virgin Mary in Glory from the Book of Revelation
Josephus, lastly, tells a story about one final Mary…the last one in his index and on my list. This Mary’s story is pretty awful. She does something that is the crowning evil that a woman could do; and not just any woman but a wealthy noble woman. Even Josephus hesitates to tell her story, except I have innumerable witnesses to it in my own age….
There was a certain woman that dwelt beyond Jordan, her name was Mary; her father was Eleazar, of the village Bethezub, which signifies “the House of Hyssop.”[i] She was eminent for her family and for her wealth, and had fled to Jerusalem with the rest of the multitude, and was with them besieged therein at this time.
When all exits were closed to the Jews, every hope of escape was now eliminated; and the famine, strengthening its hold, devoured the people, houses and families, one after another. The roofs were full of women and infants in the last stages of exhaustion, the alleys with the corpses of the aged: children and young men, swollen with hunger, haunted the market places and collapsed wherever faintness overcame them…Many, as they buried the fallen, fell dead themselves, while others set out for their graves before their fate was upon them. And throughout these calamities, no weeping or lamentation was heard…Deep silence blanketed the city, and night laden with death was in the grip of a yet fiercer foe—the brigands…Josephus and The Jewish War V.XII.3 Cornfeld.
Continue reading “The Last Mary and the Apocalypse” →
Cleta M. Flynn 5. The Last Queens Leave a comment September 6, 2015 October 5, 2018 7 Minutes
The Family of Mariamne in the End Times
King Agrippa II and his sister Queen Bernice listening to Paul tell them about Jesus and the Resurrection.
The Book of Acts mentions both Queen Bernice and Princess Drusilla in ca 57-59 A.D. Paul had been arrested to save him from young priests who vowed to kill him for bringing Gentiles into the Temple and Roman Procurator Felix wanted to hear what Paul was saying that was causing such turmoil in Jerusalem. His nineteen year old wife Drusilla daughter of King Agrippa also came to hear him.
“And, after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. (Acts 24:24
Continue reading “The Family of Mariamne in the End Times” →
Cleta M. Flynn 5. The Last Queens 1 Comment August 29, 2015 October 5, 2018 8 Minutes
Josephus’ Mother
Flavius Josephus
The family from which I am derived is not an ignoble one, but hath descended all along from the priests…to be of the sacerdotal dignity, is an indication of the splendour of the family…I am of the chief family of that first (priestly) course also; nay, farther, by my mother, I am of the royal blood; for the children of Asamoneus, from whom that family was derived, had both the office of the high priesthood, and the dignity of a king, for a long time together...Life of Flavius Josephus
Josephus was born to be somebody and he knew it. His full name was Yosef Ben Matityahu or Joseph son of Matthias. He emphasizes his high priestly credentials from his father and yet…he also has a Hasmonean bloodline though his mother, though he will not name his own mother in his autobiography. He claims descent from Jonathan, brother of Judas the Hammer/Maccabeus, the “first brother to be a high priest/ruler.” Continue reading “Josephus’ Mother” →
Cleta M. Flynn 5. The Last Queens Leave a comment August 26, 2015 October 6, 2018 9 Minutes
Mary the Nazarite
The earliest known depiction of Mary and baby Jesus from the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome dated to “late 2nd century.” Can’t tell how she is wearing her hair but it is either long and loose or more likely she is wearing a mantle. By then Paul would have had his way…Wikipedia.
So, if two actual historical queens took Nazarite vows in Jerusalem 20 to 30 years after the death of Jesus, is it too far afield to think that Mary/Mariamne made a long-term even life-long Nazarite vow until her prophecy was fulfilled…until her son returned to claim the kingdom? It will be a short discussion.
My first thought is, if I had a prophecy that I would bear a special son, I would want to look up how to do it right. Pre-google, you went to a scribe to look it up in the Torah or the prophets, as clearly the gospel writers did for the prophecies Jesus fulfilled.
And…in another “believe it or not,” there is a prescription given to a young woman by an angel on how to bear such a son…it is the story of the mother of Samson.
Continue reading “Mary the Nazarite” →
Cleta M. Flynn 5. The Last Queens Leave a comment August 1, 2015 October 4, 2018 6 Minutes
Nazarite Queens
A statue of Aphrodite showing the elaborate hairdos upper class women used around the Mediterranean which might be a version of a “Nazarite from his/her mother’s womb”…the hair being wound or “broided” and wound on the head…as the men’s hair was to be wound as a crown on his head…see last post. Pinterest from cristogenea.org, Susie Jackman Pinterest page.
Nothing we have heard so far about royal women would lead us to believe that they were religious. There were many rules women were to follow and sacrifices they were to make and a court in the Temple was called the Women’s Court so they could perform their duties and not contaminate the others. But, perhaps a clue can be found that might indicate a woman’s degree of religion…by hints like this…this quote from the mother of five high priest about her hair:
The hair was regarded by the Rabbis as so powerful an augmentation of beauty that married women were recommended to hide it…(T)he Talmud relates the following: Ḳimhit, the mother of seven sons who successively held the office of high priest, was once asked by what merit of hers she was so blessed in her sons. “Because,” said she, “the beams of my house have never seen my hair” (Yoma 47a). www.jewishencyclopedia.com
Continue reading “Nazarite Queens” →
Cleta M. Flynn 5. The Last Queens 4 Comments July 28, 2015 October 4, 2018 5 Minutes
Begin reading at the first post at the end of all the posts and come forward in time to read as a book. Additional topics and chapters are in “Pages.”
Cleta M. Flynn on Mary called Magdalene
Dena on Mary called Magdalene
Cleta M. Flynn on Nazarite Queens
10. Thoughts on Mary as We Thought we Knew Her…
11. Mary 101
12. The “Woman Taken in Adultery” and Mary
2. The New Physics and the New Feminism Hit New Testament Research in the 70s
3. Looking for “My Mary”
4. A Cult of the “Widow of her Virginity”
5. Hasmonean/Oniad/Herodian Genealogy Chart
6. A New Look at Our Lady of the Pillar
7. The Lost Years…Some Thoughts on Josephus and Mary/Mariamne III
8. DaVinci’s Last Supper and Mary/Mariamne Magdalene
9. Josephus, the King to Come
Menu of Chapters in Reverse Order
Searching for Mary in all the Wrong Places…
The Death of James the Nazarite
Agrippa’s Daughters–the last Queens of Jewish Palestine
Sapphira vs. Queen Glaphyra
Agrippa vs. James son of Mariamne III
Agrippa vs. Herodias
More Kings to Come
Mary Magdalene and the Resurrection
Beloved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus & Simon
King of the Jews
Mariamne VI of Bethany
Jesus son of Mariamne
Our Lady of the Tower
Mary called Magdalene
In Defense of Mary
The Damsel Queen Esther
Salome the Damsel Queen
Herodias vs. John the son of Elizabeth
Herodias sister of Mariamne III
Mariamne III through V vs. Mary Mother of Jesus
Queen Glaphyra’s Dream
A Small Apocalypse
Archelaus son of Malthace
A Note about Joseph the Just
The Last Days of Herod the King
An Unnamed Daughter of King Antigonus
Elizabeth daughter of Aaron
Out of Egypt–a Prophecy for Mariamne II the High Priest’s Daughter
The Virgin Mary on Trial
The Princess Handmaid
The Handmaiden Prophecy
The Virgin Prophecy
The Virgin Orphans on Trial
Mariamne III the Virgin Orphan
The Sons of Mariamne
Mariamne II the High Priest’s Daughter
The Execution of Mariamne the Queen
Mariamne I Queen of the Jews
Alexandra Queen Mother of Mariamne the Virgin
Two Virgin Marys…
A Genealogy for the House of the Hasmonean Queens
Two Alexandra’s daughters of the Hasmonean Civil War
Salome Alexandra a Harlot in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Shalomzion Regent
A Queen Mother as a Two-Edged Sword
A Queen Mother with a Blessed Memory
A High Priest’s Daughter becomes a “Queen”
Cleopatra Thea, a Greek Queen in Syria
A Widow with Seven Sons and the Resurrection
A Virgin with Seven Husbands
Judith the Savior and the Mother of All Wars
The Last Davidic Queen Mother
Mother and Daughter Queens of the Divided Kingdom
Bathsheba, from Consort to Queen Mother
Tamar Virgin Daughter of King David
Michal daughter of King Saul
Hanna and the First Birth Story
Strange Women
Tharbis wife of Moses
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Love 0 Loves
camera, early elementary, preschooler, tween
Hot Wheels Video Racer
I collected my fair share of Hot Wheels growing up, but none of them were half as cool or interesting as this Hot Wheels Video Racer. This car looks like any other at first glance; it’s a cool, sleek future car that begs to be shot out of a launcher like a rocket. However, what makes this particular one special is the action camera imbedded into the front of the car. Now, instead of just sending their Hot Wheels flying around at breakneck speeds, your kids can record the footage of their car’s action, and play it back as often as they want.
I’m going to let that sink in for a minute, trying to imagine how much fun I would have had with this when I was a kid. Hot Wheels already makes all sorts of intricate tracks and setups that kids absolutely cannot get enough of. I’m thinking about massive jumps over all those ramps, hairpin turns through the pre-made tracks, and races against my friend’s cars, except now they’re all recorded in first-person. What more could a kid want?
The Hot Wheels Video Racer comes with one 1:64 scale Hot Wheels car, a camera to record 30FPS video (up to 12 minutes), a built-in LCD screen, a USB cable for storage, and a clip to attach the camera.
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Part of Network Norfolk : the Christian community website
Film highlights homelessness challenge in Norwich
A special screening of highly acclaimed film ‘I, Daniel Blake’ was shown in Norwich on August 17. Prior to the film, people who have experienced homelessness spoke about their journey through the ‘system’ and the desperate need for more support.
Helen Baldry reports
The event at Cinema City was organised by local Christian charity Hope Into Action, who provides supported accommodation to vulnerable adults who would otherwise be homeless. Through links with local churches, they house 20 people in Norwich ranging from refugees to those recovering from addiction.
Michael from City Reach, a medical centre in Norwich that treats vulnerable people, gave some hard-hitting statistics on rough sleeping in Norwich. In 2014, 34 rough sleepers were identified in Norwich on a count . In the first three months of this year, 136 separate individuals were identified. The average age of death for a homeless man is 47 and 43 for a female rough sleeper. City The most common cause of homelessness is relationship breakdown.
Jon from Hope Into Action explained that people motivate others to bring about positive change in their lives. The two speakers who told about their homelesness and addictions, Graham and Donald, confirmed that genuine human connection, and the right help at the time it is needed – rather than at stages along the way – can make all the difference.
Graham explained that he always felt different. At the age of six he was dropped off at his nanny’s house and his mother said to him, “If I had you first, I woudn’t have had any more” [children] That comment has stayed with him for a lifetime. He has never settled and has had numerous relationships. He has been homeless a number of times, even living in his car for 18 months. Graham took a massive overdose of anxiety and depression medication. He was told he could not be helped because his his mental health made him intentionally homeless. Graham’s vulnerability meant that he was unable to challenge the council’s position. He didn’t know that he could until St Martins stepped in and helped him get some supported housing.
Graham said, “My life changed the moment I walked into City Reach.” He had seen many doctors in the past who had not enaged with him and had looked away from him at their computers before brushing him aside. This time he was asked one queston, “How are you?” That was the catalyst for getting help.
Graham believes that relationship was at the centre of the big turning points in his life. He now volunteers at City Reach and he champions people’s causes. He said, “I just want to give back a little bit of what I got. If I can change one person’s life it will make mine worthwhile.”
Donald also shared his story. Born in a ex ship-building area on the West Coast of Scotland, Donald grew up in a place where unemployment and poverty was rife. By the age of 18 he had a serious cocaine addiction and was dealing in the drug to the extent that his life was in danger and he had to leave Scotland. He moved to the South of France and got clean, but the lure of drugs became too much and he returned to crack addiction. His work in the yachting industry in France led him to travel to Antigua, where he met someone who had worked at Bishopbridge House in Norwich. When he returned to the UK in 2003, he came to Norwich and was rehoused in 2004. It took Donald years to feel truly settled and make his house like a home. Donald’s cycle of coming though and then falling back seemed to be on repeat and he couldn’t accept the idea that he could be successful and not revert back to drugs. He then had counselling which helped him to confront these issues.
Donald now has a key role in ensuring the voices of hard to reach groups can be heard, with the overall aim of further improving services for vulnerable people.
Hope Into Action, who organised the evening, held a fundraising raffle and collection – but the main purpose was to bring people together and to have a open conversation about the issues affecting homeless people. The film highlighted many of the issues faced by the charity’s tenants.
For further information about Hope Into Action contact Kate.Doran-Smith@hopeintoaction.org.uk 01603927271
Like Hope Into Action's facebook page for updates
Click below to view the trailer for 'I, Daniel Blake'
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Home \ Courts & Crime \ Inmate arrested for bribing officer
Inmate arrested for bribing officer
ONGWEDIVA – Trial-awaiting 36-year-old Abed Salom had an additional charge added to his multiple charges after he allegedly attempted to bribe a police officer to have him granted bail during his next court appearance.
Salom is scheduled to appear in court again on March 4, for multiple charges stemming from last year.
Salom was last week arraigned after allegedly trying to bribe the police officer with N$10 000.
New Era understands that Salom made calls to the investigation officer in charge of his case to come to Omuthiya police holding cells where he is being kept in order to receive the bribe money.
Salom was allegedly successfully lured into the trap leading to his arrest.Police Regional Commander in Oshikoto, Armas Shivute confirmed that CR40/2/2019 was opened against Salom at Omuthiya Police Station.
He appeared before the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and was refused bail.
Salom was arraigned last year for allegedly defrauding people of more than N$2.5 million.
He is alleged to have collected money from people in Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto and Oshana regions to either manufacture or repair their mahangu threshers but did not deliver.
So far, 79 people have opened cases against Salom.
Salom originally faced charges of fraud, theft under false pretence, tax evasion contravention of section 96 sub-section 1 (a) of the Income Tax Act 24 of 1981 as amended.
He also face charges of money laundering in contravention of section 6 of Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca).
His formal application for bail was dismissed last year.
Home \ Courts & Crime \ Inmate arrested for bribing officer - New Era Live
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PR: Rivetz Raises $5.5 Million in RvT Token Pre-Sale; Token Crowdsale Capped at 200,000ETH
This is a paid press release, which contains forward looking statements, and should be treated as advertising or promotional material. Bitcoin.com does not endorse nor support this product/service. Bitcoin.com is not responsible for or liable for any content, accuracy or quality within the press release.
First Decentralized Cybersecurity Token Poised to Add Unprecedented Proof and Assurance of Privacy and Security at the Hardware Level for Billions of Consumer, Business and M2M Transactions
GEORGE TOWN, CAYMAN ISLANDS — Rivetz Intl, Inc. (https://rivetzintl.com) has announced it has secured $5.5 million USD (19,000 ETH) in a private presale of its Rivet (RvT) token, a cybersecurity token developed to provide verifiable security controls for cloud authentication, IoT, blockchain, and legacy financial transactions. The RvT token enables multifactor authentication across devices, to achieve provable security at both the transaction and authentication level. The Rivetz solution uses technology that is already built in to hundreds of millions of mobile devices to assure the keys and transactions can not be altered or stolen by malware infecting the operating system. The token sale is open to the public since August 10, 2017 at 17:00 UTC.
Institutional buyers in the presale, including BnkToTheFuture and Tally Capital, are vocal in their support for Rivetz’s multifactor authentication solution.
“We are very supportive of the goals of Rivetz and happy to add it to our portfolio of tokens,” said Simon Dixon, CEO BnkToTheFuture.com. “Turning our phones into hardware wallets in a way that is scalable will be an important advancement as the world adjust to owning their own digital assets. Rivetz CEO Steven Sprague is a true expert in the field of security, and the perfect leader to bring this innovation in personal security forward.”
“The Rivetz token distribution is a groundbreaking moment in decentralized cybersecurity,” said Matthew Roszak, managing director of Tally Capital and co-founder of Bloq. “Rivetz provides consumer protections and simplicity that will help blockchain applications achieve their next level of adoption. This new platform will add a crucial new layer of protection to exchanges, wallet and new tokens to ensure a level of data integrity and identity protection never before available.”
The token sale is led by leading crowdfunding platform TokenMarket. For more information, visit https://rivetzintl.com. The team is available to answer questions on Slack or Telegram
About Rivetz
Rivetz is focused on solving problems associated with consumer and machine-to-machine digital transactions. Rivetz technology and services aim to provide a safer and easier-to-use model for all users to protect their digital assets using hardware-based trusted execution technology. The device aims to play a critical role in automating security and enabling the controls that users need to benefit from modern services. Rivetz leverages state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools to develop a modern model for users and their devices to interact with services on the Internet. For more information, visit www.rivetz.com
All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.
TokenMarket Contact: Freya Stevens, freya@tokenmarket.net
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CROWDLITOKEN AG pioneers and starts distribution of a digital bond – European retail investors benefit as well For the first… read more.
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Complaints at Morgan Stanley over low salaries for tech interns
by Sarah Butcher 08 May 2019
Summer internships in investment banks aren't supposed to be about getting paid: their main purpose is to enable the participating students to land job offers for when they graduate. But if you're paid well, it's a plus. And Morgan Stanley's tech interns don't seem to be paid well at all, comparatively speaking.
Interns arriving on Morgan Stanley's London tech team this summer say they're getting £36.4k ($47.5k) pro-rated for their work over the 10 week period, plus a £1k accomodation allowance.
This is substantially lower than tech intern salaries at other U.S. banks. Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Citi are all understood to pay in the region of £47k, pro-rated, to the students interning on their technology teams this summer.
Morgan Stanley declined to comment on compensation for its technology interns. The bank is understood to pay on a par with rivals when it comes to full-time junior hires, and is said to be reviewing compensation for its summer hires to ensure it's line with the market.
The low pay for tech interns at Morgan Stanley comes as most banks are chasing computer science and other STEM students as they recruit for their technology functions. Earlier this year, Goldman Sachs increased pay for its first-year technologists with masters qualifications to £98k ($128k), up from £67k in 2018.
While Morgan Stanley pays its technology interns less than the rest, the tech interns joining the bank this summer say there are compensatory aspects to the low pay: Morgan Stanley is said to offer better training than the rest.
What it’s like being an intern at the Big Four
COMMENT: Mad, bad and lazy banking interns - and how to handle them
COMMENT: My encounter with a lazy banking summer intern
Kreditorenbuchhalter (m/w/d)
Private Equity - Vice President Financial Planning & Portfolio Controlling (m/f/x)
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World Finalist David Taylor Leads Team USA on Day One at the World Championships
The World Championships started off with a bang for the United States men’s freestyle team as David Taylor faced defending World and Olympic Champion Hassan Yazdani (Iran) in the first match of the event. Amongst fans, there was plenty of discussion over whether the seeding system now in place by UWW actually works. Taylor was apparently not concerned about the draw and knocked off the Iranian in a similar fashion as the last time the pair met at the 2017 World Cup. Like the World Cup match, Yazdani jumped out to an early lead; however, Taylor was never flustered and eventually wore down his opponent. In this bout, Taylor’s scrambling ability and mindset to wrestle through every position was the difference in his 11-6 victory. Even with this huge, emotional win for the first-time world team member, Taylor still needed to win two more bouts just for a spot in the semifinals opposite Dauren Kurugliev (Russia). Kurugliev seemed to be in control of the match after the first period leading 3-1. In an exchange late in the first, Taylor was kicked in the face while trying to pursue a takedown and that would affect him for the rest of the period. In the second it was a different wrestler and Taylor was clearly the aggressor, repeatedly getting to his opponent’s legs. When it was all said and done, he racked up three takedowns to execute the comeback win 7-5. In tomorrow’s final, he will have Fatih Erdin (Turkey), the top seed at the weight.
The other bright spot for the American team was at 61 kg where late injury-replacement Joe Colon made a run to the semifinals. Colon’s length and strength seemed to frustrate his first two opponents. Unfortunately, once in the semi’s, he met a foe, Yowls Bonne Rodriguez, that was willing to engage in the upper body style the previous wrestlers could not handle. Bonne Rodriguez jumped out to a 9-0 before Colon battled back to make the final margin five points when he lost 9-4.
All told, the US team won their first eight bouts on the day, and all four wrestlers made it to the semifinals.
Returning world bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski fell in the quarterfinal round in a frustrating match. His opponent, Zhiwei Deng (China), never attempted any offensive moves; however, it was the American put on the shot clock while leading 2-1. Gwiazdowski took a shot and found himself stuck underneath his Chinese opponent who then exposed him for four points, which was a huge hole to climb out of late in the second period. Deng went on to win 5-0 in the semi’s which will bring Gwiazdowski back into tomorrow’s repechage.
Jordan Burroughs came up short in his quest to make American history by tieing John Smith’s record with six world/Olympic gold medals. After receiving a forfeit, Jordan gutted out a 4-3 this win over a game Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran). In the final bout of the quarterfinals, Burroughs met the European U23 Champion Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia). Though the veteran Burroughs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, the Russian match him with a takedown of his own and led on criteria at the break. While trailing late in the second period, Jordan picked up a go-ahead takedown on the edge to lead 5-4. With about 15 seconds left in the match, Sidakov went on the offensive and got deep on a shot which he used to drive Jordan out of bounds as the clock expired. A review by the American bench was denied which pushed the final score to 6-5, though the Russian had criteria.
After his match with Burroughs, Sidakov also took out another defending world champion Frank Chamizo (Italy), by the score of 3-2, which pulls Burroughs into tomorrow’s repechage.
Full Results from today matches involving US wrestlers:
61 kg – Joe Colon (W) vs Ivan Bileichuk (Ukraine) 9-6
(W) vs Vladimir Dubov (Bulgaria) 10-0
(L) vs Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez (Cuba) 9-4
74 kg – Jordan Burroughs (W) vs Venecious Juah (Liberia) FFT
(W) vs Mostafa Hosseinkhani (Iran) 4-3
(L) vs Zaurbek Sidakov (Russia) 6-5
86 kg – David Taylor (W) vs Hassan Yazdani (Iran) 11-6
(W) vs Hajy Rajabau (Belarus) 10-0
(W) vs Yurieski Torreblanca (Cuba) 8-0
(W) vs Dauren Kurugliev (Russia)
125 kg – Nick Gwiazdowski (W) vs Zolboo Natsagsuren (Mongolia) 9-4
(L) vs Zhiwei Deng (China) 5-4
Related Items:2018 Senior World Championships, featured
Four Pins Propel Adam Coon to Greco World Final
2018 World Championships – Day Seven Bracket Analysis and Predictions (GR 60, 67, 87)
Gray Wins Record-Tying Fourth World Gold Medal
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Facilities Services Buys Electric Vehicles Through Alternative Fuel Program
View all the posts from February 20, 2019
A fleet of Nissan Leafs, electric vehicles, recently purchased by Facilities Services for use on campus are setup for a photo at Cherokee Farm.
Through an innovative program intended to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on campus, Facilities Services recently purchased eight new electric vehicles—two that replace gas-combustion vehicles and six that are new to the facilities pool.
The purchase of the vehicles was made possible through the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Assistance program, launched in March 2018 through the student environmental initiatives fee.
Preston Jacobsen, sustainability manager, developed the idea for the program with Cris Taylor, director of fleet management.
“The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Assistance program is essentially a cost assistance program,” said Jacobsen. “It incentivizes the use of alternative fuel vehicles on and off campus in an effort to reduce gasoline and diesel consumption. The program’s added benefits include greenhouse gas emission reductions, vehicle tracking, a vehicle needs assessment, and lowered maintenance cost through the life of the vehicle.”
While the eight Nissan Leafs purchased are available for use only by Facilities Services employees, the program’s scope is campus wide. Any college, department, or office can purchase electric and hybrid vehicles through the program, which supplements the costs that would have been used on a diesel or full gas vehicle.
“As UT strives to become carbon neutral by 2061, taking steps such as replacing typical combustion vehicles with electric vehicles is vital,” said Carolyn Brown, sustainability outreach coordinator. “This program allows employees to have the benefits of a new vehicle, all while helping to reduce transportation emissions.”
To learn more about the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Assistance program or apply to purchase vehicles through the program, visit the sustainability office website.
The largest nonacademic department on campus, Facilities Services has nearly 150 UT-owned vehicles, with another 730 vehicles spread throughout different colleges and departments.
Brian Canever (865-974-0937, bcanever@utk.edu)
Carolyn Brown (865-974-7386, cbrow200@utk.edu)
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Restrictions imposed in Kashmir to prevent separatist-called protests
Srinagar, Feb 9: Authorities imposed restrictions in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley on Friday to prevent separatist-called protests on the death anniversary of Parliament attack convict, Afzal Guru. Afzal was hanged inside the Tihar Jail in Delhi on February 9, 2013, for his role the in 2001 attack. The protest was called to observe his death anniversary and to reiterate the family's demand for his mortal remains. Afzal was buried inside the jail premises. According to the police, the restrictions were imposed in old city areas of Srinagar, the uptown area of Maisuma and in some north and south Kashmir areas. Senior separatist leaders, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq continue to remain under house arrest while Muhammad Yasin Malik has been lodged in the Central Jail. Muzaffarabad-based umbrella of militant groups called the United Jihad Council (UJC) headed by Syed Sallauddin has supported the protest shutdown. Contingents of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in full riot gear have been deployed in the restriction imposed areas. Train services between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and Bannihal town in the Jammu region have been suspended as a precautionary measure.
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Ultimate design and furniture show set March 8-10
With the theme ‘Reflections’
Published February 13, 2018, 12:05 AM
Over 200 furniture manufacturers, designers and brands will be featured at this year’s PIFS.
VIPs and industry movers at last year’s PIFS opening.
PIFS pays tribute to furniture maker Osmundo Esguerra
The show will feature his works
One of the design showcase at last year’s PIFS.
The Philippines International Furniture Show (PIFS) is one of Southeast Asia’s premier trade fairs, offering an extensive range of furniture products, accessories, and décor. It is jointly organized by the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF), the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP), and the Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation (PFIF). It will be held on March 8 to 10 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex.
“We see PIFS as a platform to show the world the ingenuity of our local manufacturers and designers, how we interpret the latest industry trends, and in many cases, take the lead in design innovation,” said Eduardo Zuluaga, overall event chairman of PIFS and President of CFIP.
Keeping true to its form as the “Milan of Asia”, the Philippines has a strong reputation for originality and new, often groundbreaking, interpretation. That’s why PIFS continues to attract buyers who want to see first-hand what Filipino design and craftsmanship has to offer.
Visitors come from countries as far as the United States, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, UAE, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany and India.
“This year, we decided on portraying different kinds of lifestyles with our featured furniture pieces, furnishings, and fixtures,” said Ina Gaston, event chairperson for the CFIF.
“That’s how we came up with this year’s theme of ‘Reflections.’ Every day, each person we interact with, every place we go to, the pieces define the lifestyle and way of living.”
As a show feature, PIFS will bring one of the most respected hardwood artists and furniture designers in the country. Osmundo Esguerra, a self-made furniture maker, has made a name for himself by having a distinct style and approach in handling indigenous wood.
His crafts reflect his natural creativity and ingenuity, celebrating the true Filipino craftsmanship. In commemoration of his artistry, PIFS will be doing a special tribute to showcase a number of pieces by Esguerra during the show.
Some of the returning exhibitors who will feature their latest creations at the show include Aerostone, Azcor, Betis Crafts, Calfurn Manufacturing Phils., Cancio Contract Furniture, Carpetworld Manufacturing Corp., Cmc Lighting De Arte Inc., Coast Pacific Mfg. Corp., E. Murio Inc., Fashion Interiors Furniture Philippines Inc., Feliix, Inc., Filipino Creazione De Mano, Inc., Furniture Doctor Trading, Hacienda Crafts Company, Inc., among others.
Branded as the ultimate design event, PIFS will once again be held alongside the Interior & Design Manila, a sought-after event for architects, interior designers and design enthusiasts.
Stimulating and interactive activities are conducted for young professionals namely Interior Design Plus, Interior Design Excellence Award Pavilion and the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Conference where known personalities in the industry, local and international, are invited to share knowledge on their field of expertise.
Last year, PIFS reached a record-breaking 11,453 in visitor count – 40 percent of which were trade buyers from 32 different countries.
Tags: Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc., Eduardo Zuluaga, Fashion Interiors Furniture Philippines Inc., furniture designers, interior designers, Osmundo Esguerra, Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation, the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines, The Philippines International Furniture Show, Ultimate design and furniture show set March 8-10
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Chinese group objects to Dalai Lama's birthday celebration in Ladakh's border village
International National South Asia
IANS July 12, 2019
New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) A group of Chinese personnel in civilian clothes crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive Demchok area of Ladakh on July 6 and objected to the celebrations of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s birthday by locals, officials said here.
Amid reports that there was fresh incursion across the border, the officials clarified that the incident took place in the Koyul village in eastern Ladakh where the locals had put up Tibetan flag also. A group of Chinese personnel walked in and objected to activities of the people. They also carried a banner written in Chinese saying “ban all activities to split Tibet”. They stayed there for around an hour and left, claimed officials,
Demchok has witnessed several stand-offs between the Indian forces and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
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Honors Packages & Promotions
Hilton Invites the World to Play
Becomes Official Hotel Partner of Live Nation, Creating All-Star Entertainment Experiences to Reignite Play
January 12, 2015 Americas
Hilton is setting out to inspire a new, healthier mindset - encouraging people to seek out the unfamiliar, to appreciate a different point of view and to learn from every day experiences and travel moments. Credit: Hilton Worldwide.
Download Article Photos
MCLEAN, Va. - Unused vacation time. Extended workdays. Forgotten holidays. Year after year and in headline after headline, it's becoming more apparent: the world has lost its passion to play. Today Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) embarks on a mission to excite and inspire the world to play again with the announcement of a five-year strategic marketing partnership with Live Nation, the world's leading live entertainment provider. Through the relationship, Hilton will benefit from Live Nation's fully integrated global music platform including concerts, VIP access, digital media, ticketing, content and performance venues.
Hilton is setting out to inspire a new, healthier mindset - encouraging people to seek out the unfamiliar, to appreciate a different point of view and to learn from every day experiences and travel moments. That mission begins with the launch of "Hilton at Play," a global campaign created to connect people with enriching and playful experiences. Live Nation will help anchor "Hilton at Play" and extend the message beyond Hilton's more than 4,250 hotels worldwide.
The partnership will see Hilton become the "Official Hotel Partner" of Live Nation. Members of Hilton HHonors, Hilton's 42-million-member-strong guest loyalty program, guests and team members will be encouraged to play through experiences such as unique once-in-a-lifetime artist connections as well as highly sought-after concert tickets and private hotel concert events. Additionally, Hilton will receive access to unique content from hotel concert events and select artist connections, a robust digital media plan on LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.com, and "Where to Stay" booking links integrated on venue pages on both websites worldwide.
Hilton and Live Nation are scheduling play dates with award-winning artists at Hilton locations throughout the world - with the first taking place February 23 at the Conrad New York with GRAMMY®-nominated artist Paramore. In addition, Hilton HHonors members will be invited to redeem HHonors points and bid on exclusive play experiences such as sound checks and 'meet & greets' with popular artists.
"Around the world, people simply are not taking time off from work to play. For example, we have observed that in the U.S., Americans are taking less vacation time than at any point in the last four decades. 'Hilton at Play' is our response: it's a cultural catalyst for change and a reminder of the power of travel," said Jeff Diskin, executive vice president, commercial services, Hilton Worldwide. "We've entered into the Live Nation partnership - one of the largest in Hilton's 95-year history - in the hopes that we can inspire the world to stop and listen to the music, take a hard-earned vacation and join us in this journey to reclaim playtime."
Additionally, as the Official Hotel of Live Nation, Hilton will host Live Nation concert-goers, employees and touring productions during their travels at the company's 12 world-class global brands at the more than 4,250 hotels in 93 countries.
"Live Nation's fans from around the world are avid travelers, creating exceptional memories around their journeys to any one of our 23,000 global concerts," said Russell Wallach, president, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. "We have a shared mission, and our collaboration will fuel these memories, going beyond simply accessing music events to focusing on inspiring people to travel and share their experiences."
Playing with an Elite Team
Live Nation is the next chapter in Hilton's long and storied history in music, entertainment and sports. Building on Hilton's legacy of playful partnerships, the company announces renewed relationships with the GRAMMY Awards® and GLAAD. The first GRAMMY Awards® were held at the Beverly Hilton in 1959, and for more than 25 years Hilton has had a tradition of supporting The Recording Academy as the Official Hotel Partner of the GRAMMY Awards®. Hilton recently renewed the partnership through 2017 - enabling Hilton to provide exclusive experiences for its guests and Team Members and continuing the tradition of supporting The Recording Academy®, The GRAMMY Museum® and The Recording Academy's non-profit organization, MusiCares. Next month, Hilton will, again, host one of the most coveted parties in the music business - the Clive Davis Pre-GRAMMY Gala - at the legendary Beverly Hilton.
As the Exclusive Hotel Partner and Presenting Sponsor of the GLAAD Media Awards, Hilton will host the 26th Annual Media Awards on March 21, 2015 at The Beverly Hilton and May 9, 2015 at Waldorf Astoria New York. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their lives.
Live Nation joins a list of Hilton's existing partners, which will work in tandem to excite the world to play in 2015 - and beyond. This list includes the NBCU Golden Globe® Awards Show Viewing and After-Party, McLaren Honda Formula 1 team, U.S. Olympic Committee, Canadian Olympic Committee, Chinese Olympic Committee, the European Tour, James Beard Foundation and NBCUniversal.
Hilton's Days of Play Giveaway
In celebration of the campaign kick-off, Hilton launches its Days of Play giveaway on its Facebook page, offering daily opportunities for play. The giveaway features Hilton's portfolio of hotels and partners, including a Hawaiian vacation, tickets to the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards® and more.
A Creative Play
New "Hilton at Play" campaigns will run across TV, print, radio and online advertising, showcasing the range of enriching experiences Hilton offers its guests across its portfolio of 12 brands. Whether it's an hour at the local hotel spa, a short city weekend escape to New York or a weeklong vacation to Bora Bora, Hilton is committed to inspiring travelers to break away from their daily lives and play.
For more information, or to become a Hilton HHonors member, visit www.HHonors.com.
Brittany Feinson
Hilton Worldwide
brittany.feinson@hilton.com
Melissa Zukerman
melissa@pcommgroup.com
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world's leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.
About Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors is the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 17 world-class brands comprising more than 5,700 properties with more than 923,000 rooms, in 113 countries and territories. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else, and free standard WiFi. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. With more than 89 million members, Hilton Honors offers hundreds of ways to earn and redeem Points. Members can redeem their Points for free nights, premium merchandise, and items on Amazon Shop with Points; make charitable contributions; or gain access to unique events through Hilton Honors Experiences, such as exclusive artist connections and VIP concerts with Live Nation®, and race experiences with McLaren Racing. The program is free to join, and travelers may enroll online by visiting www.hiltonhonors.com. Connect with Hilton Honors at newsroom.hilton.com/hiltonhonors, and follow Hilton Honors on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 17 world-class brands comprising more than 5,700 properties with more than 923,000 rooms, in 113 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company, Hilton earned a spot on the 2018 world’s best workplaces list, and has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its 100-year history. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, more than 89 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy, plus enjoy instant benefits, including digital check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
Emily Montgomery
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End Times/Bible Prophecy
The Bible and Christianity
Scientists create organisms that contain the cells of humans and animals
By beameup
Scientists are now breathing life into the concept of chimeras by creating organisms containing the cells of humans and animals. Several teams in the US are inserting human tissue into early pig and sheep embryos. The journal MIT Technology Review estimates that 20 such hybrid embryos have been produced, an early proof-of-principle step towards growing human organs inside animal tissue. The hybrid embryos have been observed in early development but, crucially, are never brought to term. The Salk Institute in California, together with the universities of Stanford and Minnesota, are among the institutions pioneering the as-yet-unpublished research. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0e5b229c-bb8a-11e5-b151-8e15c9a029fb.html#axzz3zOfCMpDb
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24:37 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. Mark 14:22
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The Flash Proves the Arrowverse Has a Speed Problem
Arrow / March 20, 2019
Run, Arrowverse, run.
By Jesse Schedeen
Note: you'll notice we didn't run a review for tonight's Flash episode. We're trying something a little different with this week's coverage, so let us know in the comments what you think.
Also, beware of spoilers ahead for The Flash Season 5, Episode 17!
There's a lot to like about this week's installment of The Flash, "Time Bomb." This episode provides the momentum boost the series has desperately needed since the mid-season premiere, pushing forward the Cicada storyline and finally forcing Barry and Iris to confront the fact that their daughter has been working with Eobard Thawne from the very beginning. At long last, this season's ongoing Cicada conflict seems to be living up to its potential.
But therein lies the rub. Season 5 is rapidly drawing to a close, and only now is it starting to get good. Worse still, this is becoming an all too familiar problem in the Arrowverse. Why is it so common for seasons to chug along and only really start clicking into place in the home stretch? Why does the Arrowverse have such a problem with speed?
The Cicada Switch-Up
Season 5 has mostly revolved around the debut of Cicada, a serial killer who only targets metahumans. Eventually viewers learned that Cicada is Orlin Dwyer, a blue collar loner who became an unlikely father figure to his niece after her parents were killed. When Grace herself was critically injured in the fallout of Team Flash's battle with Clifford DeVoe, Dwyer made it his mission to eliminate all metahumans.
That's a perfectly solid origin story for an Arrowverse villain. The problem has always been that the series has been seemingly reluctant to progress beyond that point. Season 5 has devolved into a series of repetitive battles between Team Flash and Cicada, each of which ends with the villain escaping to kill another day. The teases about Nora's relationship with Thawne have only increased the sense that The Flash is dragging its heels rather than getting to the real meat of this year's conflict.
Finally, that changed thanks to the events of "Time Bomb." One Cicada has been eliminated in favor of his meaner, deadlier successor, and the truth about Nora is finally out in the open. But again, why did we have to wait so long for that to happen? Why couldn't this plot twist have unfolded in December rather than March?Why wait till now, when Season 5 has only half a dozen episodes left to explore the fallout of these huge developments?
The Arrowverse's Speed Problem
Sadly, these questions have been raised before, and not just in connection to The Flash. It's become far too common for the Arrowverse shows to struggle with poor pacing and awkward storytelling structure, resulting in drawn-out seasons that only really begin to heat up in the final six or seven episodes.
The Flash was the first big offender in this regard. Season 3 took a very long time to really click when it came to the conflict between Team Flash and Savitar. It was only after Savitar revealed himself to be a twisted, futuristic version of Barry Allen himself that Season 3's narrative gained the emotional hook it had been missing. Had that big reveal come a little sooner, Season 3 as a whole might have been far better off.
Arrow made similar mistakes in Season 6. Following the excellent Season 5 and the engaging rivalry between Oliver Queen and Adrian Chase, Season 6 squandered all that momentum by fixating on Cayden James, quite possibly the blandest villain in Arrowverse history. It was only in the tail-end of Season 6, when James was betrayed and Ricardo Diaz emerged as the true villainous mastermind, that Season 6 began to redeem itself. Even then, it was too little, too late for what can now be labeled Arrow's worst season.
We're even seeing a similar problem play out on Supergirl this year. Season 4 doesn't suffer from all the flaws of Arrow Season 6 and The Flash Season 3, but it has veered in a very different direction with the introduction of Lex Luthor in the episode "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" For a season that's already been juggling too many moving parts, is throwing the most iconic Superman villain of all time into the mix really the wisest move? Why has it become so common for Arrowverse shows to so abruptly and dramatically alter course in early spring?
Finding Focus
It's clear by now that the Arrowverse collectively has a speed problem, and one that's become more apparent than ever in 2019. The question is what these shows need to do to address that problem.
One solution is to pick villains that are better able to support a full, season-long narrative. The Flash: Season 1's handling of Reverse-Flash remains the best example. Season 1 boasted a very purposeful, well-thought-out structure. The slow process of revealing the true nature of Harrison Wells and his relationship to Barry Allen allowed for numerous cliffhangers and a hero/villain rivalry that steadily built until the season finale. Villains like Cayden James and Cicada simply don't have that same level of depth, and trying to force them into that mold is a big reason why those seasons failed.
But this speed problem also raises a question many have been asking lately - do Arrowverse shows really need to follow the traditional 22-24 episode structure? Would The Flash Season 3 and Arrow Season 6 not have been much better off if the fat were trimmed and they were condensed down to 10-13 episodes instead? It's definitely no coincidence that the two best DC shows on The CW, Black Lightning and Legends of Tomorrow, deliver, shorter, more tightly paced seasons than the rest. Fewer episodes means less room for repetition and filler and less time until these major, status quo-altering plot twists arrive.
Arrow's eighth and final season may wind up serving as an interesting test case. At a mere 10 episodes, Arrow Season 8 will have to be much more streamlined and focused than any season before it. That could wind up being a very good thing for the series, allowing it to end in top form as it brings the story of Oliver Queen to a close. And if that proves to be the case, maybe we'll see the other Arrowverse shows follow suit. Why not make 10 episodes the new standard? It would give the current shows a huge momentum boost, and it would free up space for The CW to greenlight other Arrowverse shows to boot. That could easily be a win-win situation for DC fans.
Jesse is a mild-mannered writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.
Arrow's Emily Bett Rickards Leaving Before Final Season
Meet Arrow's New Suicide Squad: The Ghost Initiative
Arrow Switches Time Slots, DC's Legends of Tomorrow Gets CW Premiere Date
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by Lisa KleypasLisa Kleypas
ONE WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN CURSED NEVER TO FIND LOVE . . .
ONE MAN WITHOUT A SOUL WHO WANTS HER MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF . . .
THEY MEET IN A SMALL ISLAND TOWN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, WHERE MAGIC IS IN THE AIR AND FATE IS A FORCE TOO POWERFUL TO DEFY. . . .
In New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas's Crystal Cove, Justine Hoffman has made a comfortable life for herself on the island of Friday Harbor. She is the proprietor of a successful boutique hotel, and she has the safe, predictable life she has always wanted. Growing up with her flighty, nomadic mother, Marigold, has instilled in her a deep longing for stability. But in spite of everything Justine has achieved, there is still something missing. Love. And after years of waiting and dreaming, she is willing to do whatever it takes to change her destiny.
What Justine soon discovers is that someone cast a spell on her when she was born, with the result that she will never find her soul mate. Determined to change her fate, Justine finds a way to break the enchantment, never dreaming of the dangerous complications that will follow.
And when Justine meets the mysterious Jason Black, she accidentally unleashes a storm of desire and danger that threaten everything she holds dear . . . because Jason has secrets of his own, and he wants more from her than fate will ever allow.
Friday Harbor Series , #4
Lisa Kleypas is the award-winning author of more than thirty novels, including A Wallflower Christmas, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, and Love in the Afternoon. Her books have been published in sixteen languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.
By Lisa Kleypas
Copyright © 2013 Lisa Kleypas
An excerpt from Crystal Cove
A mysterious guest is staying at Justine Hoffman's Friday Harbor bed and breakfast . . . the elusive Jason Black, a successful videogame developer who scrupulously avoids the public spotlight. Justine meets Jason for the first time when he requests a couple of vodka shots to be brought to his room . . .
The door opened. Justine had a brief, dizzying impression of midnight eyes and hard features, and a sexy disorder of short black hair.
He gestured for Justine to enter the room, pausing just long enough to tell her, "Don't leave yet." He looked at her directly.
The glance lasted only a half-second, but it was nearly enough to knock Justine backward. His fathomless eyes--shrewd and opaque as blackstrap molasses--could have belonged to Lucifer himself.
Justine responded with a dazed nod and managed to set the tray on the table without spilling it. She was so unsettled that it took her a minute to realize he was speaking in Japanese. His voice was mesmerizing, a quiet baritone wrapped in shadow.
At a loss for what to do, she went to one of the windows and looked outside. The vestigial light was melon-colored at the horizon, darkening to a black plum meridian overhead. The fissure of a crescent moon gleamed white and clear like a claw mark in the sky.
A night made for magic.
Her attention returned to Jason Black, who paced slowly as he talked. He was a big man, elegantly lean, the easy athleticism of his movements hinting at deep tracts of muscle beneath the crisp white button-down shirt and khakis. Leaning over the table, he scrawled a few words on a notepad. A stainless steel Swiss Army watch gleamed on his wrist.
His face could have been honed from amber, the cheekbones steeply angled. Weathering at the outward corners of his eyes betrayed a pattern of sleepless nights and restless days. Although his mouth was set in ruthless lines, his lips looked soft, as if erotic tenderness had been kneaded into the surface.
"Forgive me," he said, shutting off the phone as he approached Justine. "Tokyo is sixteen hours ahead of us. I had to get in one last call."
His manner was relaxed, but Justine had to fight the instinct to step back from him. Even though she knew he posed no threat to her, she had the sense of him as a dangerous creature, a tiger behind a thin glass wall.
"Of course," she said. "Your Stoli is right over there."
"Thank you." His gaze didn't move from hers. He extended a hand. "Jason."
"Justine." Her fingers were swallowed in a deep grip that sent a jolt of warmth to her elbow. "I hope your room is satisfactory."
"Yes. However . . ." Releasing her hand, he said, "I'm curious about something." He nodded toward the glazed earthenware flowerpot on the table. It contained a double-stemmed moth orchid, each stem bearing an inflorescence of snowy-white blooms. "I asked for an arrangement of white flowers. But this--"
"You don't like it? I'm sorry. First thing in the morning I'll get you another--"
"No. I--"
"It would be no trouble--"
"Justine." He lifted a hand in the peremptory gesture of a man who wasn't used to being interrupted. She fell instantly silent. "I like the orchid," he said. "I just want to know why you chose it."
"Oh. Well, it's nicer to have a living, breathing plant in the room instead of a cut bouquet. And I thought an orchid would go with the Klimt artwork."
"It does. Clean, elegant . . ." A barely perceptible pause, " . . . suggestive."
Justine smiled wryly. The orchid bloom, with plush petals resembling lips and furled folds and delicate apertures, was nothing short of flower porn. "If there's nothing else," she said, "I'll be going now."
"Do you have to be somewhere?"
She glanced at him in bemusement. "Not really."
"Then stay."
Justine blinked and knit her fingers together. "I was told you're not much on small talk."
"It's not small talk if it's someone I want to talk to."
She gave him a carefully neutral smile. "But you must be tired."
"I'm always tired." Jason gripped the back of the chair, lifted it easily with one hand, and placed it near the bed. He sat on the edge of the mattress, and gestured to the chair. "Have a seat."
Another command. Justine was half-amused, half-annoyed, thinking that he was entirely too used to telling people what to do. Why did he want to talk to her? Was he hoping to find out something about Zoë or Alex, something he could use during the negotiations for the Dream Lake development?
"Only for a few minutes," she said, lowering to the chair. "It's been a long day." Pressing her knees together and folding her hands in her lap, she looked at him expectantly.
Jason Black was so darkly beautiful, so striking in his cool self-assurance that he seemed more like a fantasy figure than an actual human being. He appeared to be on the early side of his thirties, wearing an air of disenchantment like a bulletproof vest. "Too handsome for his own good," was how his assistant Priscilla had put it . . . but it would have been more accurate to say he was too handsome for anyone's good.
"Why are you staying here?" she asked bluntly. "You could have chartered a luxury yacht and moored it in the harbor. Or gotten a hotel penthouse in Seattle and flown in for the day."
"I'm not the luxury yacht type. And the inn looked like the right place for a vacation while we negotiate terms for the Dream Lake project."
Justine smiled at that. "You're not on vacation."
One dark brow lifted slightly. "I'm not?"
"No, a vacation is when you spend entire days doing nothing productive. You take pictures of scenery, buy stuff you don't need, eat and drink too much, sleep late."
"That sounds . . ." He paused in search of the right word. ". . . grotesque."
"You don't like to relax," she said rather than asked.
"I don't see the point."
"Maybe the point is that every now and then you should take a break to look back and enjoy what you've accomplished."
"I haven't accomplished enough to be able to enjoy it."
"You're the head of a big company and you're a gazillionaire. Most people wouldn't complain about that."
"What I meant," he said evenly, "is that I can't take credit for the company's success. I have a good team. And we've had some luck." He took one of the vodka shots and nudged the silver tray toward her. "Here."
Justine blinked. "You're asking me to have a drink with you?"
She gave a disconcerted laugh.
His eyes narrowed. "Why is that funny?"
"Usually when you invite a person to do something, you don't give orders. 'Sit there, do this, have that,' . . ."
"How do you want me to say it?"
"You could try something like, 'Would you like to have the other shot of vodka?"
"But if I asked you that way, you might turn me down."
"Do you ever get turned down?" she asked skeptically.
"It's been known to happen."
"I find that hard to believe. Anyway, I'm not good at following orders. I need to be asked."
Jason's gaze was steady and intent on hers. After a moment he asked, "Would you stay and have a drink with me?"
Copyright @ Lisa Kleypas 2013
Continues...
Excerpted from Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas Copyright © 2013 by Lisa Kleypas. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
1. What is the significance of clocks and time in the story? What kind of message does it convey about how we measure our lives?
2. Do you believe that there are people whose abilities go beyond the realm of the five senses? Do you think this is magic, science, or perhaps a little bit of both?
3. Do you believe in the concept of soul mates? Why or why not?
4. At the start of the story, Justine does not believe love is possible for her. Do you think that some of this is a self-fulfilling prophecy? Have you ever known anyone like Justine?
5. When was the first moment you realized that there was a spark between Justine and Jason? Why do you think he was watching her in the garden?
6. Jason Black is demanding, perfectionistic, inflexible, and impatient. Are these qualities always bad ones? Do they help make a person successful? Are they attractive in a man? Why or why not? Are they attractive in a woman? Why or why not?
7. When describing his abusive childhood to Justine, Jason says, "Words lie, actions don't." Do you agree or disagree?
8. At one point Justine asks Rosemary and Sage, "Don't you understand the difference between love and control?" Is it difficult for some people to tell the difference? Have you ever viewed the actions of someone who loves you as controlling?
9. Justine's relationship with her mother is certainly complicated. Do you understand any of her mother's actions or do you think she was completely unjustified?
A little magic, a lot of romance and well-drawn characters make a satisfying read.” Kirkus Reviews on Dream Lake
“A multigenerational story of love, loss, forgiveness, and redemption. Lovely…as poignant as an old song.” RT Book Reviews on Dream Lake
“A surprising page-turner…strengthened by characters with depth and something interesting to say, this winning first installment in a trilogy is sure to thrill fans.” Kirkus Reviews on Rainshadow Road
“Lisa Kleypas can take broken people and infuse them with humor and heart.” USA Today on Rainshadow Road
“Sweet, romantic, and genuine…a refreshing holiday treat.” Publishers Weekly on Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
“Poignant, heartbreaking, and deeply satisfying.” RT Book Reviews on Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
Frustrated at being bound from birth by a spell that prevents her from falling in love, Justine Hoffman recklessly taps into her magical heritage in an attempt to lift the curse. But her untutored efforts have consequences, throwing her life into chaos and endangering that of enigmatic Jason Black, as well. Dangerous magic, long-kept secrets, and swift action keep the plot of this compelling story bubbling as a reluctant hereditary witch and a man in search of a soul challenge fate in a deadly battle for love. VERDICT This heart-rending, steamy sizzler gives new meaning to the term soul mates and ties up loose ends as it beautifully concludes Kleypas's mesmerizing "Friday Harbor" series. Kleypas (Dream Lake) lives in Washington State.
A love story that draws on all the senses, including the proverbial sixth. There is magic, there is insight--"the best part of the relationship wasn't all the things they agreed on--it was when they disagreed, when they helped each other to look at things in a new way"--and there is humor: "I would only go out with a guy if he had a good personality, a decent body, and a job. Now I'd settle for a man who isn't currently married or incarcerated." The smart, funny and sensitive Justine Hoffman was born shortly before her father died. Losing the great love of her life was so hard on Justine's mother, Marigold, that Marigold cast a spell on her daughter to protect her from the pain of finding and then losing that kind of love. What her mother did based on a loving desire to protect her child, grown-up Justine views as a curse that needs to be lifted. Marigold is a witch and raised her daughter in the pagan tradition. She wanted Justine to join her coven, but Justine preferred to run a B&B at Friday Harbor in the state of Washington, the one place she and her nomadic mother have ever stayed long enough for Justine to feel at home. Her business partner, Zoë, a distant cousin, encourages Justine to continue looking for "Mr. Right," but Justine feels that unless she can reverse the curse that leaves her unable to feel that kind of love, she wouldn't recognize Mr. Right, and has maybe already found him without knowing it. But when a famous video game creator books the B&B, there is no mistaking the sparks that fly. When this man searching for his soul meets this woman searching for her heart, the drama hits the ground running. A witty, moving and entertaining read.
Crystal Cove 3.8 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 130 reviews.
I love reading Lisa Kleypas books. Crystal Cove was very hard to get into. The 2 main characters did not connect for me. In the past I have read her books over and over but not this book. I felt that the "spell" just kept getting tossed back and forth with no meaning. There was just too much magic for me. If you enjoy magic then you will enjoy this book. Still waiting on Joe Travis's story. Smooth Talking Stranger is still one of my very favorite books.
This book was not worth it. I discovered this author last month and enjoyed the first three books in this series. I preordered the fourth, Crystal Cove because I loved the characters and story line. Well Crystal Cove is awful. Ms Kleyas seems to have decidec to sell books it had to mimic 50 Shades of Disgust. Don't waste your money.
It was a great disappointment. I do wish authors would stop trying to emulate the Fifty Shades books.
Did not connect with characters. For the firt time, I could put this book down and walk away without wondering about the charscters ending.
It is extremely well written...no problem there. I just couldn't get into it. When they started doing the witchy curse stuff, I just put it away. Sorry. I've been in Friday Harbor on these islands and I guess the place interested me more than the story. Didn't throw it away though. Maybe later.
I liked the other books in this series; however, was very disappointed with this book. It was all I could do to get through this one, as if had not purchased this Nook Book probably would have passed and stopped before half through. Basically about casting spells, and meeting the mysterious Jason Black. Loved the other characters in past books; however, this one was not my style and would not recommend. It would take a great book for me to go back to this author. Very boring!
I love this series, but this is my least favorite of all the books so far, but still a great book.
I enjoyed the third book in the series. It was good but I think the other two were more enjoyable. Lisa Kleypas is a good author, I have read a few of her books and I will lookfor more.
Not as good as other books by same author. Strange but interesting.
LollyReads More than 1 year ago
A bit disappointing after the good reviews I read. The first 2 books in the series had only light touches of magic but this one was over the top. The end was predictable.
Anonymous 4 months ago
i+have+read+this+book+twice+and+I+thoroughly+enjoyed+it+both+times+.++It+was+a+great+storyline+and+it+kept+my+I+interest+throughout+the+story
Welcome to crystalclan. I am leader of this clan. The first person who posts that wants to be a medicine cat can be,but if they are gone for one or more weeks without a good reason,they become a apprentice again.<br> <p> For information on the pact clans go to cloverclan at "clover" res 1,fireclan at "flame" res 1,and celestialclan at "cellphone" res 1.
Is on
J.ared please come back.
He as a massive bump in his shorts and he starts to tie up the girl
Happywitch More than 1 year ago
It was was different... But, I really enjoyed it. With each book in the series she added a little more magic or the supernatural. So, this wasn't too crazy! She is a great author & I scan read anything she writes. Like all of them it drew me in & had me cheering & crying with them.
Best book i have ever taken the time to read. Relates to a lot of people now a days and is accurate to real life experiences. I recommend this book t anyone who likes details about sexual relations or great romance.
Crystalstar purres "oh you."
blue eyed devil
crystal empire darkness falls
book by rick lax
book by lisa kleypas
on directing interviews with directors
serene the human crystal
Brown-Eyed Girl
She’s a single woman in the Lone Star state. Wedding planner Avery Crosslin may be ...
She’s a single woman in the Lone Star state. Wedding planner Avery Crosslin may be a rising star in Houston society, but she doesn’t believe in true loveat least not for herself. When she meets wealthy bachelor Joe Travis and ...
Crystal Empire: Darkness Falls
Antos is a Magical Planet run by Powerful Crystals. The King and Queen disappear, leaving ...
Antos is a Magical Planet run by Powerful Crystals. The King and Queen disappear, leaving Antos in Darkness.The Trolls use Black Magic to instill fear in the Fairies,leaving only chaos and destruction in their path.But there's a Secret hidden away. ...
Crystal Uprising: The Awakening
I could feel the tension in their bodies, with every step that hit the ground ...
I could feel the tension in their bodies, with every step that hit the ground as their feet firmly pressed into the earth. The fast pace of their heart beats echoing on the outside of their chests. The vibration from ...
Expect a Miracle: 7 Spiritual Steps to Finding
A practical how-to guide to finding your soulmate from leading meditation coach, Kathy Freston.In our ...
A practical how-to guide to finding your soulmate from leading meditation coach, Kathy Freston.In our hectic times, the search for love is often reduced to a joyless exercise, a desperate manhunt, or a cold and insensitive game. As many of ...
Killer Stuff (Jane Wheel Series #1)
In this dynamite series debut, Sharon Fiffer has introduced an engaging and enterprising heroine in ...
In this dynamite series debut, Sharon Fiffer has introduced an engaging and enterprising heroine in Jane Wheel. Recently laid off from her advertising job, separated from her husband Charley, and colliding head-on with a midlife crisis, Jane is trying to ...
LeMay: A Biography
LeMay was a terrifying, complex, and brilliant general. In World War II, he ordered the ...
LeMay was a terrifying, complex, and brilliant general. In World War II, he ordered the firebombing of Tokyo and was in charge when Atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was responsible for tens of thousands of civilian ...
Lost Antarctica: Adventures in a Disappearing Land
Few of us will ever get to Antarctica. The bitter cold and three months a ...
Few of us will ever get to Antarctica. The bitter cold and three months a year without sunlight makes the sixth continent virtually uninhabitable for humans. Yet marine biologist James B. McClintock has spent three decades studying the frozen land ...
Married by Morning (Hathaways Series #4)
For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the Hathaway sistersa pleasant ...
For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the Hathaway sistersa pleasant position, with one caveat. Her charges' older brother, Leo Hathaway, is thoroughly exasperating. Cat can hardly believe that their constant arguing could mask a mutual ...
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67’s pick up big point in OT loss to Hamilton
hamilton bulldogs
PLAY-BY-PLAY | BOXSCORE
The Ottawa 67’s moved three points head of the Sudbury Wolves for sixth in the Eastern Conference after falling 3-2 in overtime to the Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday.
Despite the loss, the 67’s continue to move toward officially securing a playoff berth with just three games — all at home — left on the schedule.
Matt Luff scored less than a minute overtime to hand Ottawa the loss. Leo Lazarev was strong in goal for Ottawa, making 32 saves. The overtime loss gives the 67’s four of a possible six points during their final road trip of the regular season.
There was little to separate the two teams through most of this one as neither team ever led by more than a goal.
Hamilton opened the scoring 6:48 into the game when Matthew Strome scored to give the home team a 1-0 lead. But the 67’s replied before the first period was over as Artur Tyanulin scored his 24th of the year.
It was Ottawa’s turn to take the lead in the second period, with Mathieu Foget scoring his 10th of the year. That lead would stand until the third when Hamilton, playing with the man-advantage, even the score at two goals apiece thanks to Brandon Saigeon’s 21st of the year.
Ottawa returns home Wednesday afternoon to host Peterborough in a special March Break matinee.
Tickets for all Ottawa 67’s home games are available at Ottawa67s.com, calling 613.232.6767 X1, or in person at The Box Office at TD Place. All minor hockey players part of the 67’s Prospect Program presented by Enercare get in for FREE. For more information on the 67’s Prospect Program click here.
Click here for the complete 2016-17 Ottawa 67’s schedule. Click here to
Click here to add to calendar.
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‘Dr Goebbels’ mastheads’: on antisemitism and News Corp
13.Jul.17
A few years back, News Corp was warning, almost every week, about antisemitism in Australia. Invariably, the claims were bogus: more about slating the Greens and the BDS movement than genuinely exposing bigotry.
Today, with a small but significant coterie of genuine antisemites raising their heads, we find News Corp again in the thick of the action: not calling out the racists, mind you, but providing them with political cover.
Let’s look first at Mark Latham. After destroying the manifold opportunities presented to him in the wake of his failed political career, Latham’s currently reinventing himself, in his taxpayer-funded retirement, as the world’s oldest teenager. When he’s not snarling at women for not sleeping with him, he’s yukking it up about Pepe and Kek and Big Man Tyrone: all totally normal preoccupations for a grown man who once led the largest political party in the country.
Latham’s recently signed with an outfit called Rebel Media. Who might they be? As Jason Wilson explained in the Guardian, Rebel Media offers a platform for ideologues at the intersection between the right and the far right. In fact, Latham announced his new venture during a conversation with none other than the English Defence League’s founder Tommy Robinson: a fellow who typifies the Rebel stable, what with being both a long-term Islamophobe and a convicted criminal.
Here’s another fun fact about Rebel Media: back in March, it hosted a video entitled ‘Ten Things I Hate about Jews’ in which one of its long-time contributors Gavi McInnes explained that ‘Jews are ruining the world with their lies and their money and their hooked-nose, bagel-eating faces.’
That’s the company Mark Latham now keeps.
Oh, he’s also chummy with Rowan Dean, the former adman responsible for the Australian edition of the Spectator.
Now, as the Monthly’s Richard Cooke points out, Dean’s roster of talent at the Spectator currently includes someone by the name of ‘Moses Apostaticus’.
The image below gives us a pretty good sense of Mr Apostaticus’ world view.
Here’s some of his other handiwork. pic.twitter.com/ar6QxSHDVu
— Richard Cooke (@rgcooke) July 11, 2017
Yes, that’s right – under Dean’s editorship, the Spectator’s publishing an unabashed antisemite of the Jews-run-the-world variety.
How did Latham and Dean come to be palling around with antisemites?
There’s no great mystery to it. They’ve both embraced the self-pitying identity politics of the right and thus spend their time moaning about the manifold injuries suffered by wealthy white men. The most virulent and consistent version of conservative identity politics gets articulated by the so-called alt right – and that’s the putrid swamp in which Latham and Dean now wallow.
For the most part, they devote themselves to attacking Islam, safe in the knowledge that, in Australia, you can say almost anything you want about Muslims without fear of repercussion.
But Islamophobia’s a gateway drug to a whole wonderful new world of bigotry. If you’re positing an inherent incompatibility between ‘Muslim culture’ (whatever that might be) and the West (whatever that might be), it’s not long before you’re extending the argument more generally, identifying all kinds of other ‘cultures’ that need to be purged from the body politic.
Recall Dean’s other recent intervention: his call for Race Discrimination Commission Tim Soutphommasane to ‘hop on a plane and go back to Laos’ if he was worried by the absence of diversity in Australia. In the past, that ‘love it or leave it’ rhetoric has been the preserve of skinhead gangs and overt neo-Nazis. The alt right, however, prides itself on what it calls ‘racial realism’: the embrace of racialised chauvinism (masked with only the thinnest of irony).
The extent to which that now prevails at the Spectator can be gauged from another recent post: John Elsegood’s defence of South African apartheid and its architect, Herbert Verwoerd, whom, we’re told approvingly, ‘likened the racial groups as being at different stages of development’, ‘considered that separation ensured good neighbourliness’ and argued ‘every nation had a right to survival without being overwhelmed numerically by others of a different culture’.
How nice!
It’s not, then, surprising that Islamophobes embrace antisemitism. As Mattias Gardell explained in Overland some years ago, the tropes of Islam baiting can be traced back to the same sources as the tropes of Jew baiting:
The tradition of Islamophobia is, like anti-Semitism, rooted in the medieval Christian hostility to the ‘enemies of God’, with these perceptions disseminated, expanded upon, restructured, rearticulated and reactivated in various social and political contexts, from the Turk scare in early modernity, via the colonial expansion, to the War on Terror.
Many stories told about Jews in medieval and early modern Europe were also spun around what were then termed Moors, Saracens or Red Jews: Muslims were devil-worshipping, sexually deviant, man-eating monsters; Muslims ritually defamed the cross and consumed the blood of ceremonially slaughtered Christian children in blasphemous communions. Church art portrayed Mohammed as the Antichrist, and Muslims as horned devils, Christ-killers, dogs or a hybrid race of dog-men. Lars Vilks – the Swedish artist who depicted Mohammed as a dog – may claim originality, but the dog motif goes back hundreds of years and is as old as the Judensau (the medieval depiction of Jews in obscene contact with a sow).
In some ways, the antisemitism of the alt right, whose memes Latham now bumblingly parrots, is almost a structural necessity: a movement devoted to conspiracies, racism and provocations was always going to embrace the most provocative racist conspiracy of all. Besides, the argument about protecting traditional culture against foreign influences invariably ends up in the traditional antisemitic opposition to the ‘alien’ Jew. Think of the Spectator’s defence of Hendrik Verwoerd and his theories of ‘separation’: does it really surprise anyone to discover that ‘like so many racialists, Dr. Verwoerd had his early training in anti-Semitism’?
It’s tempting to dismiss Latham and Dean as irrelevant. Yet both men still work for mass circulation News Corp papers – Latham writes a column for the Daily Telegraph; Dean writes for the Courier Mail (and produces spectacularly unfunny satire for the Australian Financial Review) – and they both appear regularly on Sky. They both thus lend credibility to the antisemites with whom they’re associated. The Spectator’s considered a mainstream publication and yet it publishes ‘Moses Apostaticus’, a man whose antisemitic stylings could quite easily have appeared under one of Dr Goebbels’ mastheads. As for Mark Latham, the guy nearly became Prime Minister of Australia – which makes a prestigious signing for Rebel Media, given the thugs, bigots and crackpots who normally write for it.
Furthermore, Australian conservatism’s going through a process of decomposition, as substantial sections of the right sign up to topple Malcolm Turnbull, even at the cost of bringing down the government. Cory Bernardi’s already fishing in the Liberals’ troubled waters but he’s not the only one with ambitions of creating a new rightwing tendency.
Will the alt right make a breakthrough? Who knows – but Murdoch’s continuing support for Latham and Dean and others of their ilk provides the far-right fringe with an important platform at an opportune time.
Image: ‘antisemitism’ / Quinn Dombrowski
Editorial note: Overland no longer capitalises or hyphenates ‘antisemitism’; as one of our writers puts it: ‘it’s not as though there’s a thing called “semitism” that people are “anti”, but that “antisemitism” is a thing’.
From Felicity Tilley on 13 July 2017 at 11.07 am
Being an ex South African reading a defence of Apartheid would just enrage me. However, I’ve never heard of Herbert Verwoerd. One of the chief architects of that diabolical experiment in social engineering was:
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd, also known as Dr. H. F. Verwoerd, was a Dutch-born South African professor of psychology, sociology and philosophy; Afrikaans newspaper editor-in-chief; and Prime Minister of South Africa. Wikipedia
Assassinated: 6 September 1966, Cape Town, South Africa
Children: 7
From Michelle Berkon on 13 July 2017 at 11.29 am
Great article. One argument. It is correct that the euphemism for hatred of Jews should not be hyphenated as this gives credibility to the conflation of Jewishness with Semitic identity. The identification of Jews as Semites is debatable, and Arabic speakers point out that this conflation of Jewishness and Arabness is a major problem in the light of current geopolitical tensions. However, it should be capitalised. Whether it refers to Jews or to Semitic peoples, both are proper nouns.
From KiT on 13 July 2017 at 11.54 am
Excellent aeticle. Out there in Facebook land, antisemitism has become very common in ‘patriot’ groups. This article does important work in showing how pervasive that destructive influence is. And tracks it back to those who profit from it, Newscorpse
From Liz Ross on 13 July 2017 at 2.25 pm
We should also call out the so-called ‘liberal’ press like the AFR and the rest of the Fairfax stable – that they continue to publish Dean and often give soft cover to racism over issues like ‘law and order’ and the Sudanes and Muslim communities should stand condemned.
From Robert on 3 June 2018 at 10.17 am
Interesting. So you no longer capitalise or hyphenate anti-Semitism… but you DO capitalise the newly-invented contrived notion of “Islamophobia”. (The latter invention being nothing more than an attempt to impose blasphemy codes and religious censorship on people.)
As if the antics of Corbyn in the UK weren’t enough, this seems emblematic of the state of modern Left.
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Save the Rhino!
pjdickens animal rights, cruel, cruelty, culling, hunting, mutterings, nature, paradise, rhino, rhino horn, slaughter, trapping Leave a comment
Poaching of African rhinos has risen 2,000 percent in the past three years & Rhino horns fetch up to $30,000 per pound.
The poaching of rhinos for their horns has risen dramatically over the last year and a half, conservationists report.
These crimes are fueled by demand for African rhino horn from the Asian market, where it can fetch more than $30,000 a pound ($60,000 per kilogram).
Africa is losing a rhinoceros every other day. South Africa, which holds more than 80 percent of the continent’s rhino population, has been losing at least 20 rhinos per month.
“Within South Africa’s national parks — not counting private land there, where poaching was rare — there were 10 rhinos poached in 2007,” said Matthew Lewis, senior program officer for African species conservation for the World Wildlife Fund. “Thus far in 2010 alone, more than 200 rhinos were poached within South Africa, with a lot of those poached outside national parks, so that’s a more than 2,000 percent increase in just three years’ time.”
The horns might weigh 6.3 to 8.1 pounds (2.9 to 3.7 kilograms) on average. Bits of crushed horn are a prized ingredient in traditional Asian medicines.
The crisis in Africa
Two species of rhino are native to Africa, while three are native to southern Asia. Of the two African species, the white rhinoceros is near-threatened, and the black rhinoceros is critically endangered. Some 4,000 black rhinos and 17,500 white rhinos are all that keep Africa’s rhinoceros population from extinction.
Hundreds of thousands of rhinos once roamed throughout Africa. Now highly organized international groups of illegal hunters are using helicopters and deploying technologies including night-vision scopes, silenced weapons and drugged darts to find and kill these giants.
“We’re up against the emergence of really high-tech poachers,” Lewis said. “This tactic of using helicopters and veterinary drugs on darts has really only come out in the last six months to a year. It really points to organized crime.”
Greed and nonsense
Most rhino horns leaving southern Africa are destined for markets in Asia, especially Vietnam, where demand has escalated in recent years.
“A lot of that has to do with how Vietnam’s economy has grown astronomically,” Lewis said. The country’s newly affluent middle and upper class seems to be seeking rhino horn as some kind of miraculous remedy, he said, although its traditional use in Chinese medicine is for fevers and nosebleed.
Rhino horn is made from keratin, “from compacted hair, a very similar substance to the hooves of a horse or a cow, or a person’s own fingernails,” Lewis said. “Taking rhino horn has the same effects as chewing on your fingernails: no medicinal properties whatsoever.”
With prices that high, there’s also the prospect “of creating anything and calling it rhino horn,” Lewis said. “People can throw in all kinds of crazy things, and it could actually be very dangerous.”
Trouble in Asia
Asian rhinos, which generally have smaller horns, seem to be less of a target for poachers. Still, two of the three Asian rhino species, the Javan and Sumatran rhinoceroses, are critically endangered at populations of 40 and 400, respectively, Lewis said, and only 2,400 or so Indian rhinoceroses remain in the wild.
“They were nearly wiped out 100 years ago, and they’re hanging on by a thread,” Lewis said. “Indian rhinos have much larger horns than the other two Asian species, and we’ve seen escalation to their poaching similar to Africa in the past three or four years.”
“We have to raise awareness and get on top of this,” Lewis concluded. “Rhinos could go extinct in our lifetime as a result of this if awareness isn’t raised.” He hopes increasing public awareness about the plight of rhinos could spur a crackdown on the criminals who buy and kill for these horns.
pjdickens art, paradise, photography, Pic of the day Leave a comment
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Babar Nawaz January 25, 2019 0
1 What is Synthetic Biology?
2 Synthetic Biology Definition
3 Synthetic Biology is a Computer Metaphor
4 Synthetic Biology History
5 Synthetic Biology is an Interdisciplinary Approach
6 How Is Synthetic Biology different from Biotechnology?
7 What is the fundamental difference between synthetic biology and genetic engineering?
8 What is the main difference between synthetic biology and systems biology?
9 Technologies empowering Synthetic Biology
9.1 Artificial DNA Synthesis
9.2 Genome sequencing
10 Synthetic Biology Goals
11 Some Synthetic Biology Breakthroughs
12 Some Synthetic Biology Applications
13 Example of Synthetic Biology Companies
13.1 Twist Bioscience
13.2 Ginkgo Bioworks
13.3 Autolus
13.4 Precision Biosciences
13.5 Gevo
13.6 Impossible Foods
14 Ethical Concern of Synthetic Biology
15 Get involved in Synthetic Biology
16 Synthetic Biology Publications or Journals
What is Synthetic Biology?
Synthetic biology or SynBio is an approach to engineer biology (cell). It is the union of engineering and biology that aims to make biology simpler and efficient.
Synthetic Biologist design and construct novel artificial biological systems or redesign the natural biological systems to perform useful functions. For example, diagnose a disease, engineered microorganisms that can detect toxins in the environment. Other sustainable products including bio-based fuels & chemicals, and valuable drugs such as vaccine, antibody and more.
All living creature comprised a set of information that is responsible to decides the way to look and what to perform. These instructions are cipher (encoded) in every organism’s genetic codes – also called organism DNA. What Synthetic biologists can do is to alter these cell’s DNA so that it behaves per specification, and to do something useful.
Synthetic Biology Definition
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, synthetic biology can be defined as “a field of research in which the main objective is to create fully operational biological systems from the smallest constituent parts possible, including DNA, proteins, and other organic molecules.”
Synthetic Biology is a Computer Metaphor
SynBio is often described using a computer metaphor. Cells are considered as Processors, while DNA is taken as a programming language and Proteins are considered as hardware. This standardization, allows Synthetic Biologists to program cell just like a computer.
The cell as an electronic circuit. Source: Wiley.com
Synthetic Biology History
The concept of synthetic biology was established in the 1800s when a German chemist Friedrich Wohler succeeded in making the first synthetic compound ever. He did this so by synthesizing Urea, an organic compound from inorganic sources such as ammonium chloride and silver isocyanate.
This was a revolution, as it proved the world that living things, which are organic, can be created by inorganic sources. However, the term “synthetic biology first appeared in 1910 by a French biologist” Stéphane Leduc in his publication.
The mid-1970s and 1980s were the recombinant DNA technology and Genetic engineering revolution. It leads to novel compounds, and one such example is synthetic insulin. It was during this time, Arber, Nathans, and Smith discovered restriction enzymes. This discovery helped synthetic biology in the early stages. Because of it, in 2000, two groups of researchers separately synthesized synthetic biological circuits and therefore laying down the foundations of synthetic biology.
The first-ever international conference on “synthetic biology 1.0” was held in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, on June 2004. The aims were to bring together synthetic biologists for the first time.
Synthetic Biology is an Interdisciplinary Approach
The most exciting aspects of synthetic biology are to integrate and coordinate beauty form each science field, including computer science, engineering, chemistry and of course Biology. It has gone elegantly into all possible fields of research.
Synthetic Biology integrates beauty from each possible science field.
Most of the researchers confuse synthetic biology with genetic engineering, biotechnology, and systems biology, even though they all share a common feature and this connected all these.
How Is Synthetic Biology different from Biotechnology?
Even though synthetic biology shares some common features with Biotechnology like both are concerned with producing different products, utilizing biology. But the core difference between them is that biotechnology alters or uses already present biological components. While synthetic biology does not entirely rely on the manipulation of those biological entities that only naturally occurs. But it also focuses more on synthesizing these biological things from scratches.
Synthetic biology focuses on ground-up approach, where you start from nothing and move upwards. The main idea behind biotechnology was that as we were already manipulating organisms, to give us our desired products by using techniques like genetic engineering and Recombinant DNA technology.
However, if we instead of manipulating, which comes with a considerable amount of risks. What if we engineer & synthesize them? Later these new synthetic organisms would act as factories and giving us our desired bioproducts, quickly and efficiently.
Explore More Biotechnology: What is biotechnology and how it changed our daily lives?
What is the fundamental difference between synthetic biology and genetic engineering?
Synthetic biology mainly focuses on making biological entities from scratches, designing novel biological components and systems, which didn’t exist before. While genetic engineering focuses on manipulating already existing biological parts and systems.
What is the main difference between synthetic biology and systems biology?
Similarly, synthetic biology focuses on synthesis. While systems biology focuses on the study of a specific biological component and its effects on its surroundings. Systems biology is a computational and mathematical modeling-based field. It uses a holistic approach for studying the interaction of various biological entities and phenomena.
Technologies empowering Synthetic Biology
Two main technologies paved the ways for synthetic biology, including
Artificial DNA Synthesis
The ability to rewrite or artificially produce DNA has allowed scientists and engineers to incorporate Processing, Manipulation, Fabrication, and Enhancement in biological systems.
On the other hand, genome sequencing is also helping synthetic biology to grow. The first genome sequencing took almost 13 years and billions of USD. Now you can sequence the whole genome within a couple of days. Also, entire DNA content and a total number of genes of an individual with a cost of 1000-3000 USD.
The cost of both DNA synthesis and sequencing are dramatically dropping over the past couple of years.
Synthetic Biology Goals
• The main idea of synbio is to utilize living organisms and use them as factories. Modifying and redesigning already present proteins and drugs, for enhancing efficacy. Also, artificial production of those compounds or materials, which source is a living being or processes. And that maybe have a massive risk in the negatively impacting environment and the lives of others involved in them.
For example, synthetic biologist, Jay Keasling is working on biofuels utilizing microorganism for generating fuel. Thus, reducing the harmful effects of traditional fueling process.
Similarly using synthetic biological circuits to produce certain vital drugs efficiently and at a low cost.
• Biological Parts Standardization – to identify, design, construct and to make a catalog of standardized genomics/gene parts, i.e., Promoter, Ribosomal binding sites, open reading frame (ORF), and terminator. So, in the future, these standardized parts could be used efficiently and quickly to construct novel biological circuits and systems.
• To synthesize unnatural base pairs to expand the natural genetic code. Consequently, to make novel proteins that have not previously existed. Example include; in 2014 Dr. Floyd Romesberg from Scripps Research Institute create two unnatural base pairs, so-called X and Y. They aim to produce novel proteins that have some therapeutic uses.
Read more about Un-natural base pairs: Scientists create first stable Semisynthetic Organism
Some Synthetic Biology Breakthroughs
In the 1970s, Her Gobind Khorana and his teammates made the first synthetic gene, outside a living system. The gene was from yeast, and it coded for tRNA (transfer RNA). While synthesis of the first protein-coding gene was successfully done in the laboratories of Herbert Boyer and Alexander Markham. However, these processes were not very profitable, because they were very time to consume, slow and prone to errors.
Today, gene synthesis is being carried out on a commercial scale. Companies like twist biosciences, integrated DNA technologies, Invitrogen and more provide their services for artificial gene synthesis. But this artificial gene synthesis was nowhere close to a fully synthesize genome.
In 2010, a scientist and entrepreneur, Craig Venter and his team, successfully created the first entire synthetic genome. This genome was formed by joining together long pieces of DNA made in the laboratory. While a bacterium, ‘’ Mycoplasma mycoides” was used as a reference genome, because it has one of the smallest genomes. Then they transplanted it into another bacterium, whose genome they had taken out. This was the first ever full synthetic genome created.
Craig Venter – the scientist behind first synthetic genome. Source: Forbes
First Synthetically design bacterium. source: JCVI
Craig Venter was not the only person to shine on the horizon of synthetic biology. Also, other giants stand beside him, taking synthetic biology to new frontiers. Some of these giants and their contribution to the development and growth of synthetic biology are:
Synthetic biology would not be what it was today if it was not for CRISPR. A new and powerful gene-editing tool allows researchers to very precisely edit the genome of almost any organism. It was the hard work of Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, who studied and used CRISPR in prokaryotes and showed its editing capabilities.
Later Feng Zhang used CRISPR for the first time on eukaryotes. He showed the potential of it in biotechnology, genetic engineering, and Synthetic biology.
Read more about CRISPR: What is CRISPR Cas9?
Tom Knight, Drew Endy, Randy Rettberg, Gerald Jay Sussman, and their associates, developed the concept of standardizing synthetic biology and its components. They did so by introducing the bio-bricks concept, just like actual bricks join together to make a building. Similarly, these biobricks, worked together, by joining in specific ways, to create synthetic biological circuits.
These circuits are then integrated into organisms, e.g., a bacterium. Then this bacterium utilized that synthetic biological circuit to carry a specific function. The synthetic genetic circuit is just like an electronic circuit.
Biobricks are often conceptualized with the ‘legos’. Just like different ‘legos’ combine to build something big and unique. Similarly, different biobricks combine to build larger biological components including DNA fragments, gene, and even whole genome.
DNA constructed from Legos. source: Wired
Building life from DNA Legos source:
The biobricks are different DNA sequence and pieces, which are standard and the same throughout the world. These include transcription start sites, ribosomal binding sites, coding regions, start and stop codons. Another good thing about biobricks is that anyone can register a sequence or anyone can make a biobrick and can store in a database known as Registry of Standard Biological Parts.
Jay keasling, another synthetic biologist, who succeeded in synthesizing synthetic artemisinin. A drug that is highly potent against malaria. Being synthetic makes it easier in batch production and makes the whole process fast and environmentally friendly.
George Church is considered as the father of synthetic biology. From finding out the functions of introns in regulations and further modifying and making the work of CRISPR better in gene therapies. Also, to multiplex genome sequencing, a type of genome sequencing in which different DNA molecules are sequenced at the same time, using specific tags or dyes of each type.
Dr. Church also paved the way for next-generation sequencing. Sequencing which once took almost 13 years, now due to next-generation sequencing takes only a couple of days. He also developed a technique known as DNA chip, in which multiple DNA samples can be screened, checked and sequenced.
Thus, making synthetic biology very fast, cheap and efficient. Recently, he was successful in inserting genes of a mammoth in an elephant, maybe making it possible for bringing extinct organisms back to life one day.
Some Synthetic Biology Applications
The beauty of synthetic biology is that its applications range from making compounds like alcohols or drugs, biofuels, to whole organisms on a large scale. In the case of biofuels, microorganisms are utilized to produce fuels based on solar energies and by generating energy by decomposing waste materials.
Similarly, work on industrial enzymes is being carried out, so that they can degrade those materials and compounds, which were either non-degradable or would deteriorate very slowly, like oil and plastic waste.
Bio-based chemicals and products are getting hold also, in which chemicals or products are extracted from synthetic organisms. Instead of utilizing their traditional sources, making it more environmentally friendly, more comfortable, and cheaper.
Applications of Synthetic Biology. Source: Synbiobeta
Synbio also focuses on the better production of vaccines and antibodies, to overcome the problems of antibiotic resistance, which is currently a grave concern.
Sometimes traditional ways of detecting and checking the quality of water or air, or some other source for contamination is not effective. For these biosensors are being made. These are modified organism, which will glow or will report the presence of specific contaminants after reacting with them. Similarly, bio-filters being created used not only for detection but also for removing the pollutants.
As an alternative to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which usually have many harmful effects, synthetically modified cancer-killing viruses are created. A researcher from MIT, Timothy Lu, has shown this in animal model studies, that when viruses loaded with synthetic biological circuits for specific molecules, like signaling molecules, can successfully battle cancerous tumors and cells.
Explore More: First child given pioneering CAR-T cancer therapy
Example of Synthetic Biology Companies
Apart from these scientists, there are also certain companies that have found their fortune in synthetic biology. They are working in the developing of synbio, in various ways;
Twist Bioscience
DNA synthesizing company founded by Emily Leproust & Bill Peck in 2013. Their primary goal is to synthesize synthetic DNA, parts of DNA and genes. The company goes public in 2018, sold 5 million shares with each $14. Also, on their debut in Stock Market, the company raised $70 million.
More DNA synthesizing companies include; Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), OriGene, GENEWIZ and more.
Ginkgo Bioworks
Co-founded by Tom Knight and his MIT colleagues in 2009. Gingko works on the organism level. They synthesize synthetic organisms for various useful purposes, like fuel producing yeasts, or oil or plastic degrading bacteria and more. In 2018, the company went with Bayer (pharmaceutics giant) and established a joint venture “Joyn Bio” aims to enhance the nitrogen fixation capabilities of soil bacteria for Plants.
Also, billionaire Bill Gates is bet on Ginkgo Bioworks.
Inside the Boston-based Organisms engineering company – Ginkgo Bioworks
Autolus
Autolus, since its inception in 2014, is working on Cancer Therapies, by synthesizing novel T-cells, which then recognizes cancerous cells and destroy them.
Precision Biosciences
A genome editing company is working on curing genetic diseases by editing the genomes of the affected individuals.
Also, CRISPR Therapeutics, co-founded by Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues to utilized the potential of CRISPR to treat some severe diseases.
Gevo
Based in Englewood, Gevo is focused on advanced renewable chemicals and next-generation biofuels.
The company is working in the field of food and nutrition. Just as its name implies, they are working on producing and making food from unconventional sources, like producing meat, from non-animal sources by culturing cells in the lab. Billionaire giants like Bill Gates and Richard Branson bet on this company.
More synthetic biology companies working on lab-grown meats include; Memphis Meats, Mosa Meats, and Beyond Meats. These startups aim to resolve environmental issues by making sustainable foods in the lab. Also, to stop the slaughtering of animals by preventing the diseases transferring from animals to humans.
Explore More: Why Bill Gates is Investing in Biotech Companies
Ethical Concern of Synthetic Biology
Synthetic biology with such huge potential also comes with very serious risks and dangers. There are now increasing chances of high-level bio-terrorism. And even possibilities of natural disasters, in case of synthetic organisms escapes into the environment either intentionally or unintentionally.
Therefore, there are ethical concerns regarding the misuse of these technologies. However, on the positive note, synthetic biology is not that much of a threat. Because there are fields like genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology, before synbio and none of them have ever attempted to work with such things.
Even though DNA sequencing is cheaper than ever, but still DNA synthesis is still an expensive process, and it is not affordable for everyone.
Get involved in Synthetic Biology
The unique thing that separates synthetic biology from other fields is that in this field networking is easily done. People from every walk of life and come and join it. For example, DIYbio which was founded in 2008, is a community of people from different fields, who come together and work on do-it-yourself bio-projects. This encourages everyone to join and interact with one another.
Another such network is Synbiobeta, where engineers, scientists, investors and people having a passion for biology and science comes together to solve different problems that we are facing nowadays.
While competitions like iGEM (international genetically engineered machines) and BioMod (bimolecular design competition), in which students compete against one another, on a global level.
Read more about iGEM: What is iGEM Competition?
The biobrick foundation is also a public benefit organization, where everyone came to give his or her contribution to synthetic biology and society.
Synthetic Biology Publications or Journals
There are also some leading journals where new work is publishing like
Systems and Synthetic Biology, ACS Synthetic Biology.
Journal of Synthetic Biology which is an Open Access Journal,
Synthetic Biology Collection – PLOS Collections,
International Journal of Systems and Synthetic Biology,
ACS Synthetic Biology.
In conclusion, synthetic biology is one of the newly emerging fields, which when fully developed will truly revolutionize the world and science.
Synthetic biology has such a vast potential that we can get almost anything we can, by just designing a specific synthetic biological circuit, and then inserting it in a host.
Explore More: Role of Synthetic Biology in Mars colonization
Biobricks DIYBio iGEM synbio synbio startups Synthetic Biology synthetic biology applications
Researchers can now erase painful and scary moments from your brain
Babar Nawaz
Biotechnologist, iGEMer, Bioentrepreneur!
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Poehler, Amy
We'd get to hang out with Amy Poehler, watching dumb movies, listening to music, and swapping tales about our coworkers and difficult childhoods. Because in a perfect world, we'd all be friends with Amy -- someone who seems so fun, is full of interesting stories, tells great jokes, and offers plenty of advice and wisdom (the useful kind, not the annoying kind you didn't ask for, anyway). Unfortunately, between her Golden Globe-winning role on Parks and Recreation, work as a producer and director, place as one of the most beloved SNL alumni and cofounder of the Upright Citizens Brigade, involvement with the website Smart Girls at the Party, frequent turns as acting double for Meryl Streep, and her other gig as the mom of two young sons, she's not available for movie night.
Luckily, we have the next best thing: Yes Please , Amy's hilarious and candid book. A collection of stories, thoughts, ideas, lists, and haiku from the mind of one of our most beloved entertainers, Yes Please offers Amy's thoughts on everything from her "too safe" childhood outside of Boston to her early days in new York City, her ideas about Hollywood and "the biz," the demon that looks back at all of us in the mirror, and her joy at being told she has a "face for wigs." Yes Please is a chock-full of words and wisdom to live by.
Publisher: Toronto, Ontario :, Harper Avenue,, [2014]
Edition: First Canadian edition
Branch Call Number: 791.45028092 POE NVD
Characteristics: xix, 329 pages : illustrations (chiefly colour) ; 24 cm
Read more reviews of Yes Please at iDreamBooks.com
KlayDyer May 17, 2019
Fans of Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph will definitely want to read Joy Press's "What a Trip!" in Vanity Fair (April 2019). A story of powerful women, amazing friends, and great wine (more or less).
emmckee Aug 27, 2018
I tried to read this 2x and it was just not entertaining to me. There was too much discussion of her children, and too many "essays" that weren't at all engaging. This book is only for an Amy Poehler superfan, of which I'm sure there are many.
ryner Nov 03, 2017
From tales of her humble beginnings and breaking into the comedy business to unabashed name-dropping and moments of shame and weakness, Amy Poehler has written a fun, honest and revealing autobiography. I'm rarely a laugh-out-loud reader, and this book was not necessarily an exception, but it was funny, sweet and charming. I feel like I understand and have more admiration for her and her talents.
ArapahoeHollyR Aug 29, 2017
Candid and hilarious stories from the SNL and Parks and Rec star. Be sure to check out the chapter "Sorry, Sorry, Sorry" - it is one of the best essays I have ever read.
jeana12 Aug 07, 2017
Way more personable and touching then I expected. This is such a wonderful read. It is also gives great insight into growing as a person and learning from our mistakes. The end part that is about her sons is extremely emotional and very well written. This book is very relatable .
ArapahoeAlicia Feb 24, 2017
I love Amy Poehler on and off screen. After Tina Fey's Bossypants, I was excited to read another book from a female comedy icon and while parts of this book made me laugh, something just fell short. Perhaps it was just a little more memoir than comedy. The writing just didn't incorporate enough of the Amy Poehler I love to keep me engaged.
DCPL_Karen Nov 04, 2016
Amy Poehler is always funny on screen -- I really enjoyed this opportunity to get to know her serious, thoughtful side. Packed with reflections and advice, it's a must-read.
JCLHelenH Aug 05, 2016
There's a lot to love in Poehler's Yes, Please. There's also a bit of meh. You'll need both the book (for the pictures) and the audio (for her own reading.)
daysleeper236 Jul 30, 2016
jannylegs Jul 17, 2016
Genuine and awesome, full of special guests. Part memoir, part self-help.
Ladieder Mar 20, 2016
Ladieder thinks this title is suitable for 16 years and over
blue_panda_2029 Jul 07, 2015
blue_panda_2029 thinks this title is suitable for 16 years and over
MADKC4Ever Jun 23, 2015
MADKC4Ever thinks this title is suitable for 16 years and over
Poehler, Amy, 1971-
Television Actors and Actresses — United States — Biography
Women Comedians — United States — Biography
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Tag Archives: Steam
The Insight: Daemonical Is A Hidden Gem Brimming With Online Horror
By Kimari Rennis Daemonical is a very well-hidden gem tucked away in some of the farthest corners of Steam. This incredible online survival horror game puts its own unique spin on Dead by Daylight by making you rely on communication, tracking, and trust in others to survive and stop the onslaught of a terrifying…
September 26, 2018 in The Insight.
The Insight: With Many-Legged Cannibals, The Forest Isn’t A Vacation Spot, Says Our 16 Year Old Writer
By Kimari Rennis “Why am I doing this to myself?” is the first thought that came to my mind when I started up The Forest – because I knew what this game was all about. The same phrase replayed louder in my head when the title screen showed a man hanging upside down in…
July 3, 2018 in The Insight.
The Insight: The Brilliant Unforeseen Incidents Is Far More Than Just A Mystery, Says Our 15 Year Old Writer
By Kimari Rennis It’s got that necessary dash of mystery. But it’s much more. Unforeseen Incidents is a 2-D point-and-click adventure game that requires you to collect items throughout your environment to solve puzzles. The game is one of a kind with its music, characters and atmospheres that players feel encouraged to jump into and engage…
June 8, 2018 in The Insight.
The Sadness: Her Heart Was Ripped To Shreds Because PixARK Didn’t Live Up To Expectations
By Kimari Rennis There are many painful feelings out there that can bring people down. But for some, the most painful feeling in the world is the disappointment you have in a game you had high hopes for. PixARK from Snail Games is no exception. Yes, it’s in beta, but the horrific experience I…
May 9, 2018 in The Insight.
The Roundup: GDC, Sea of Theives, Alter Army, Don’t Drive Drunk, Uurnog Uurnlimited
By Ronald Gordon Hello, members of the Critics Circle and the fans that follow us. My name is Ronald Gordon and I am the 17 year old intern here at the NYVGCC. I enjoy games with action, adventure, fighting, and story. I love a good game of Skyrim or Dragon Age: Inquisition but…
March 19, 2018 in Beyond The Circle, The Roundup, Uncategorized.
The Roundup: The Circle Speaks
By Harry Rabinowitz I want everyone to give a warm welcome to Matt Gerardi, the newest member of the Critics Circle! You can check out some of his work here at the A.V. Club. You may know Nintendo’s first party studio HAL Laboratory as “those folks who make Kirby”. Not anymore! Anthony John Agnello interviews game director Yasuhiro…
May 5, 2015 in The Roundup.
By Harry Rabinowitz You would think things would be slowing down now that the major release months are mostly behind us. You would be wrong. Games, tech, and more in this week’s Roundup! Dan Ackerman reviews the Alienware Alpha, the first “Steam Machine”…only its not really a Steam Machine. If the home console isn’t really your…
December 9, 2014 in The Roundup.
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Tag Archives: Manny Lieras
by Eric K. Arnold 2 Comments
Life, Death, and Rhythm: Cultural Resiliency and Anti-Displacement Efforts Gaining Momentum in Oakland
Life Is Living festival
So, let me get this straight: According to the New York Times, gentrification is going to save Oakland? That’s funny, almost, because that’s not the conversation Oaklanders are having about the Town they live in.
To recap: On October 3, journalism’s Grey Lady showed her true colors in an article ostensibly about the tragic murder of muralist Antonio Ramos, slain by a random act of violence while ironically working on a mural designed to heal trauma and beautify the hood. When we say ‘hood, we’re talking about freeway underpasses in West Oakland, which are typically not the parts of town you would show off to Marin socialites and international jet-setters.
“Oakland Superheroes” mural in progress
Yet in the Times’ view, the killing of a muralist was a blip on a forward march of foodie guidebook ratings, North Bay one-percenters mingling with pierced and tatted urchins during First Friday, and tech invaders annexing downtown, signaling Oakland’s arrival as – what, exactly? The Times didn’t specify.
What they did say was this: “the death of Antonio Ramos… was a reminder of the stubborn grit and crime that still cling to the city despite the gentrification boom that has fueled its reputation as Brooklyn by the Bay.” (emphasis added.)
Altar for Antonio Ramos
The Times article went on to quote OPD Chief of Police Sean Whent as saying, “people are worried about gentrification because, I think, it does enhance conflict.” Yet, maybe because that point conflicted with the article’s insistence that gentrification is a desired and entirely serendipitous outcome for all, the writer just sort of let that comment hang. She went on to quote Mayor Schaaf, who seemed apologetic that she had to deal with the reality that good people like Ramos are sometimes murdered over nothing. “That’s the life of an Oakland mayor,” she said.
Antonio Ramos dedication at mural site
Neither Schaaf nor the Times seemed to be able to grasp the essential dichotomy, that the mural Ramos was working on before he died was not about gentrifying Oakland for newcomers able to afford skyrocketing rents, but about beautifying an area whose primary demographic is black and poor, a woebegone, dark, and foreboding passageway which, prior to the mural, was primarily characterized by homeless people, birdshit, and carbon emissions – for the benefit of current residents.
As muralist Pancho Peskador, who witnessed the shooting, said, “This fucking freeway is pretty shady. It’s dark. It’s ugly.” But in doing the work, he added, “I see the transformation of it. It’s progress for the whole community.”
Ramos’ death, sensationalized by the media, has catalyzed the mural project – the third in a series developed by non-profit Attitudinal Healing Connection. I hesitate to use the word martyr, but there’s been a tremendous outpouring of love for the fallen 27-year old artist, from candles, flowers, and altars which cover almost the entire 200 feet of sidewalk at the mural site, to a tribute piece painted in his honor by his art teacher Eric Norberg, to a renewed dedication to the mural’s mission by the surviving artists. Even before the mural has been completed, the effect is tangible: a once foreboding piece of turf is now a sanctified, hallowed ground. It’s as if Ramos was a blood sacrifice to the gods. That’s a hard price to pay, but one which will hopefully bring more peace and less violence.
A wreath for slain muralist Antonio Ramos hangs in front of the mural site
Antonio Ramos didn’t die because Oakland isn’t being gentrified fast enough; he died because systemic inequity and internalized oppression among people at risk of displacement — on top of income gap, on top of daily pollution exposure, on top of police misconduct, etc., etc., — have degraded respect for life. As Project Director Dave Burke said, “that’s America” – not just Oakland.
The answer for Oakland isn’t more gentrification, although that seems fairly inevitable. The answer for Oakland is more art and culture which reflects, respects, and engages the community, celebrates diversity, and improves the quality of life in parts of town where cold-blooded murder can happen as quick as a furtive glance.
Speaking of life, there was plenty of it, in abundance, at this year’s Life Is Living Festival. Although there was some talk of the repercussions of not having a big headliners as in years past, that didn’t matter at all. Essentially, no one cared, because big headliners aren’t what people go to the festival for; the main reason to attend LIL is to be immersed in community and culture.
That was well-evident last Saturday. In the space of just a few hours, Oakulture experienced an African drum and dance circle; an amazing group of young Haitian musicians playing original compositions; an eye-popping demonstration of turf dancing; powerful sangin’ sistahs; equally powerful youthful spoken-word sheroes; Town Park youths perfecting ollie grinds; and a streetful of people filling up the asphalt of 18th Street, dancing joyously to a baile funk DJ as the sunset glowed with iridescent hues of orange and red.
Earlier, in a conversation with artist Brett Cook, I remarked that LIL seemed to embody the fulfillment of the Black Panthers’ vision of community-oriented social services intermingled with Afrocentric-leaning culture – a vision which began almost 50 years ago, and frequently utilized that same location (DeFremery Park, aka Lil Bobby Hutton Park). There were no overt politics on display, and the ideology being pushed essentially amounted to, celebrate life, the sunshine, and the people. It was a concrete example of what LIL producer Hodari Davis called “black joy in the hour of chaos.”
If LIL was a subtle anti-displacement initiative, somewhat less subtle was the Samba Funk-led #SoulOfOakland rally protesting a recent transplant’s attempt to shut down a drum cipher in honor of the Blood Moon, which ended in multiple citations and allegations of racial profiling and false accusations of assault. You may have heard about it; not only has reportage by Davey-D and others gone viral on social media, but Chronicle columnist and perennial Oakland hater Chip Johnson even weighed in, predictably defending OPD while chiding SambaFunk for riding the “racism train. “
To even go there, one has to ignore all the disturbing reports, not just of racial profiling by police, but of noise complaints against black churches, the non-profit-friendly Humanist Hall, and the Malonga Center—home to Oakland’s Afro-Diasporic dance and drum community—as well as the closure of the Burrito Shop on Lakeside and the Rock Paper Scissors collective on Telegraph, and reports that Uber’s relocation to the Sears building will accelerate gentrification even more.
In solidarity: Ieumsae
As Oakulture previously noted, Oakland’s recent percent for art ordinance was hit with a lawsuit by developers before it could commission even one work, and a proposal for an arts-friendly project on the Henry J. Kaiser Auditorium site was rejected by the City Council. Since then, more ominous news on the development front has come from the announcement of the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan and a SPUR report on the area — which specifically mentioned art in just one of 30 recommendations.
All of these are signs of the times, and if you connect the dots, it’s clear that what mainstream media calls a “gentrification boom” clearly means displacement for the have-nots.
#SoulOfOakland rally at City Hall
But Samba Funk isn’t having that. Not without a fight. And by fight, they mean, drums, lots of them. And dancers. The rally at the lake followed a successful action on the steps of Frank Ogawa plaza, within earshot of City Hall, which was followed dutifully by a TV news crew. Samba Funk Artistic Director Theo Williams later spoke up at the City Council meeting; the vibrant drumming from outside the building was clearly audible as he testified about the original incident.
The momentum generated by the action coalesced into the “#SoulofOakland movement, whose first action was Sunday’s rally at the Lake. In the course of two incredibly full hours, participants were treated to First Nation drummers Manny Lieras and George Galvis doing indigenous songs of resistance, Korean drummers Ieumsae playing traditional instruments in the Poongmul style (a folk art associated with working class people and social justice), a Puerto Rican Bomba troupe led by Shefali Shah complete with long-skirted dancers, Haitian troupe Rara Tou Limen led by master drummer Daniel Brevil, and a Brazilian outfit.
SambaFunk’s Theo Williams and Rara Tou Limen’s Daniel Brevil lead the drumline
It was a bit cute, light-hearted even, to see signs on people’s backs announcing “More Drumming, Less Gentrifying.” But there were serious undertones to the entire event. Cultural resilience is embedded into every beat of ethnic drums, and to experience a world-class exhibition of cultural diversity which was so much more than a drum circle – really, it was an anti-displacement ritual, and all that embodies – had a resonant impact. To hear tales of the Haitian defeat of Napoleon along with stories of the Ohlone village of Huichin gave a certain perspective which put gentrification, displacement, and cultural resistance in a historical context.
Indigenous noise: Manny Lieras and George Galvis
Councilmembers Desley Brooks and Abel Guillen professed support for the cause, but microphone pontification was kept at a bare minimum, and; instead of long-winded speeches, the focus was on building and engaging community through drumming and dancing.
According to Lieras, “Drums and voices were the first instruments. Some of you who have been drumming for a long time understand the healing powers these drums possess. We believe inside these drums, there’s spirits… when we use this drum, it has ceremonial healing practices and purposes.”
As an Ieumsae spokesperson said, “Drumming is an act of resistance. What happened last week with SambaFunk is not ok, it’s a problem. It’s gentrifying the soul of Oakland, so we’re here in solidarity.”
Shefali Shah’s Bomba troupe in action
“We’re gonna be drumming here on a regular basis,” said Williams, adding that he was renaming the amphitheater “freedom center.” Every time we’re here, he said, “we’re gonna exercise our freedom.”
“This is what makes Oakland great. It’s our culture and our arts,” said Guillen, who reaffirmed his intention to reinstate the city’s now-defunct Cultural Arts Commission.
By the end of the day, nearly all of the audience had joined the dance section; off to the side, the percussion contingent, most wearing white, supplied the music as the dancers supplied the movement. If Williams had wanted to emphasize that cultural diversity and rhythmic expression are indeed the soul of Oakland, he succeeded. This was a mini ethnic dance and drumming festival, in a public space, which engaged community in interactive, inclusive activities and championed an inspired cause. All one needed to participate were a percussion instrument and/or your two feet.
Well-played, Sambafunk. Well-played.
Dancers at the SoulOfOakland rally at the lake
Categories: Activism, Artivism, Community Issues | Tags: #SoulOfOakland, Abel Guillen, Attitudinal Healing Connection, Davey-D, drumming, Gentrification, Ieumsae, Lake Merritt Amphitheater, Life Is Living, Manny Lieras, Poongmul, Rara Tou Limen, SambaFunk, Shefali Shah, Theo Williams | Permalink.
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Aulococtena is the size and color of an orange and has two tentacles that are white, thick, unbranched and very sticky. This species has been encountered from 350-1100 meters deep on this expedition. Click image for larger view.
The ctenophore, Beroe cucumis , is specialized to eat other ctenophores. Click image for larger view.
Surprises from Comb Jellies in the Arctic
Jenny Purcell
Shannon Point Marine Center
The comb jellies, also known as ctenophores (meaning "comb bearers"), have provided us with a wealth of new and interesting information during our cruise. Comb jellies are not true jellyfish; unlike jellyfish, they do not sting. These animals are among the most poorly known in the world's oceans because they have extremely fragile bodies. Traditional sampling methods involving plankton nets and formalin preservation destroy their delicate bodies. Some species are so delicate they pour like liquid out of our collecting jars! To overcome these sampling problems, we are observing and collecting ctenophores by SCUBA diving in the surface waters and using an ROV in deep waters down to 2800 m. We are finding ctenophores living at all depths, from the surface to the deep ocean bottom.
There is a shallow-dwelling community of jellies that occupies only 1% of the total water column depth. This community includes the ctenophore, Mertensia ovum , which feeds with sticky tentacles on large copepods in the top 20 meters of the water column. Mertensia is a robust species known throughout Arctic waters. During our 2002 Arctic cruise, I had been impressed with the abundance of Mertensia near the surface because I didn't expect any animals to be abundant in these waters of supposedly low productivity. Also feeding on near-surface copepods is the ctenophore, Bolinopsis infundibulum , which catches prey inside large, translucent lobes. Bolinopsis is extremely fragile, and its biology was poorly studied in the Arctic until now. The Coast Guard SCUBA divers have collected numerous specimens of these two species for gut content analysis, and digestion and respiration rate experiments by pelagic team scientists. Specialized plankton net sampling is also allowing us to determine the abundance of ctenophores, and traditional sampling is allowing us determine the abundance of their copepod prey. From these data, we will estimate the importance of ctenophore predation on the populations of large copepods. Bowhead whales prefer to eat these same copepods, therefore jellies and bowheads may compete for the same food resources in surface waters of the Arctic.
The shallow ctenophore community also includes two specialized predators. The ctenophore, Beroe cucumis , eats only other ctenophores. At our Arctic locations, Beroe has a bright red gut, perhaps caused by eating the red-tentacled Mertensia . The second specialist found was previously known only in Antarctica and the eastern Arctic; Dryodora gladiformis eats only planktonic tunicates known as larvaceans. Finding such restricted diets is surprising in animals that cannot locate their prey using any specialized sensory organs (eyes, ears or noses) in an environment where prey are widely scattered in a three-dimensional water column.
A "live net" is deployed in Arctic waters. Live net sampling allows us to determine the abundance of ctenophores and other Jellies. Click image for larger view.
Calanus hyperboereus (up to 7mm in length) is a preferred food of both ctenophores and Bowhead whales. Click image for larger view.
Deeper in the water column, three types of ctenophores previously unknown to Arctic waters are being found. Around 300 m depth, we are seeing several ctenophores with teardrop-shaped tentacle branches. At 1375-2625 m depth, we are seeing ctenophores with dark purple guts and finely-branched tentacles that have been observed in other waters, but have not been formally described and named. We are collecting specimens of both species for photographic records, and taxonomic and molecular identification.
From 350-1100 m, we are seeing a ctenophore species previously described deep in Monterey Bay, California, and the North Atlantic. This amazing animal, Aulacoctena , is the size and color of an orange. I like to think of it as the 'Sunkist' ctenophore. It has two tentacles that are white, thick, unbranched and very sticky; during collection the tentacles managed to stick strongly to the ROV. We speculated about what such an unusual ctenophore might eat; other tentaculate predators with similar tentacles feed on large, active prey. Few large animals, however, live at such great depths in the mid-water realm. Finding the answer to this mystery was not expected, but the very first specimen collected regurgitated the remains of a meal in the container - mainly a partly digested nemertean worm. We had seen and collected this large, orange worm at similar depths. For me, this discovery is the highlight of the cruise because much of my research is devoted to measuring the diets and predation rates of jellies in various locations.
We expected to see some known jellyfish species hovering just above the ocean bottom, but we were startled when a completely unknown ctenophore species came into view! We collected the ctenophore and hope to obtain more video records and specimens on upcoming ROV dives. With luck, we will also be able to discover what types of animals this unknown species is feeding on!
Revised August 25, 2010 by the NOAA Ocean Explorer Webmaster
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05arctic/logs/july19/july19.html
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You are at:Home»Governance & Unity News»Governance & Unity Essays»Musings of the OCL Executive Director – Ends and Means Matter
Musings of the OCL Executive Director – Ends and Means Matter
By Webmaster on May 31, 2019 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News
George Matsoukas, Executive Director of Orthodox Christian Laity
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity
“Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake”. (Job 6:29)
The study of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and its relations with Greece and Constantinople is troubling as these documents described by Professor James Counelis of blessed memory demonstrate. As the stepchild of Constantinople, the autonomy of the Archdiocese has been diminished with each Charter. With the present Charter, the Archdiocese has been reduced to a colony controlled from abroad. The Metropolitans and Archbishop in the United States are auxiliary bishops of the Patriarch in Constantinople. There is, in effect, no Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
In reference to the recent appointment of an Archbishop, the Eparchial Synod of the United States had no input. Were three names submitted as part of the process? The American Eparchial Synod and the Archdiocesan Council had at least two years lead-time to weigh in on the selection of a successor to Archbishop Demetrios. The Patriarchate has made it known that they wanted the sitting Archbishop retired for these past two years. Where was the local Synod and the Archdiocesan Council these past two years? Did a delegation go to Istanbul to suggest names for a successor to the seat of Archbishop? The Charter imposed over the objection of the delegates to the Los Angeles Clergy-Laity Congress needs to be revised to restore good order to the Archdiocese. This unilateral appointment reinforces the fact that the Patriarchate does not respect the clergy, laity and hierarchy of the faithful in America. The official, appointed, lay overseers of the Church have enabled this disrespect to continue. Sadly, the legal counsel of the Archdiocese acquiesced in the development of this present Charter which effectively eliminated the autonomy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
It does matter where the Archbishop is born and raised and educated. A native-born archbishop who grew up here, who perhaps was a counselor at Ionian Village and who has a network of priests that he went to school with here in America, and who knows our parish life, would better understand the needs of clergy, laity and our faithful. I feel that such an Archbishop would have a head start in knowing that the Orthodox Christian Church in the USA is a mission Church, bringing the Good News of Christ to the American people. The Archbishop would know the overarching need to retain our young people within the life of the Church requires outreach programs to the least of our neighbors, so that our faithful young people can participate in Christian outreach in their communities. They want to be active participants and not passive observers.
These are my thoughts currently of transition in the administrative life of the GOA. There is no hope if fundamental changes in the administrative structure do not take place. Business as usual has caused loss and failure.
George Matsoukas
2003 Official Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
1977 Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America
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Constantinos on June 1, 2019 6:38 am
Mr. Matsoukis,
Outstanding musings as usual. I always look forward to your keen insight. Thank you for your wisdom.
VASEILI DOUKAS on June 1, 2019 4:34 pm
Yes it does matter where the hierarchy were born and raised. Decades ago there was a big fuss when it was discovered that the meetings of the bishops were conducted entirely in Greek. When you think and speak only in Greek, how can you guide an American ship? I wonder in what language the meetings now will be conducted?
Jk on June 5, 2019 6:52 am
Greek. Many Greeks worship Greek more than they do Christ.
Reply To VASEILI DOUKAS Cancel Reply
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30 Best Pictures of Machine this Week – May 08th to May 14th, 2013
Check out the amazing machine pictures of this week……..
1. Krupp’s Bagger 288 doing what is does best, removing overburden to enable mining operation [2126 x 1444]
2. One of the two 20-cylinder MTU Series 8000 propulsion engines of the German Rescue Tug “Nordic”, each capable of 8,600 kW [1430 x 1449]
3. The last primary structural element of CVN 78 Gerald R. Ford was lifted into place yesterday. [1113×739]
4. Airbus 380 engine, a Rolls-Royce Trent 900, exposed [4288 x 2248]
5. My office. Volvo 796 grader doing some edge ramping [2048×1529]
6. [OC] Microscope image of microparts sitting on a dime [1388×1038]
7. The Modular Airborne Firefighting System,is housed aboard a C-130 Hercules, and is capable of dispensing 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than 5 seconds [2100 x 1397]
8. Shifting a main engine for installation at Daewoo Shipyard, SK [639×720]
9. Drivetrain of a Large Farm Tractor. [2592×1936]
10. NuArt CAN-AM Chevy “Big Block” Cosworth (494cc) V8 producing 700+ HP. (CAN-AM is back, don’t tell Porsche). [OC] [2048 x 1360]
11. Lambert t15 jet engine, 200 grams, 1,6 kg thrust [600×400]
12. Top of an RBMK reactor. [609×424]
13. The Corvette C6.R engine. [3000 x 2250]
14. A liquid engine off of a Titan II missile that burned with over 100,000 lbs of force [1885×2513]
15. Iolair, an oilfield emergency support vessel [899×547]
16. Liebherr’s LR13000 doing what it was meant to do [650×900]
17. [OC] Scaled Steam powered locomotive at Swanton Pacific in the Santa Cruz Mountains. [3264×2448]
18. Liebherr LB28 [3141×2094]
19. One of four main bogeys of a C-5M Super Galaxy holding a total of 28 wheels [2910 x 1936]
20. An old diesel airplane engine I found at the airplane bone yard in Tucson, AZ [2448×3264]
21. Close-up of the face of the medieval astronomical clock in Prague, Czech Republic. [1024×688] (OC)
22. TVR Sagaris Straight Six [2592×1944]
23. Inside Marcos Ambrose Generation-6 NASCAR cockpit. No fuel gauge, only RPMs. Crude for a 200mph racecar. NASCAR testing yesterday, Sonoma Raceway, California. [OC] [2048 x 1360]
24. 2013 SRT Viper Engine, 8.4 L (513 cu in) Chrysler V10. This thing makes a noise that could raise the dead. [OC] [2048 x 1360]
25. The workings behind the clock face of the medieval astronomical clock in Prague, Czech Republic… The secret to how the apostles are made to appear and disappear from view. [640×427] (OC)
Funny Pictures – January 22, 2019
Funny Pictures – December 26, 2018
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What is The Batman Miniatures Game?
Bruce “The Edgelord” Wayne
The Batman Miniatures Game (BMG) is a skirmish tabletop game centered around the DC Universe’s brooding, edgy, tragic superhero vigilante ‘Batman’. The game is set in Gotham City or any other landscapes that fit the Batverse whether that’s Bludhaven, The Bat Cave, some twisted theme park operating as the Joker’s latest base of operations and anything in-between. As a player you have the option of playing as any of your favorite Batverse/DC hero or villain and his or her associated ‘goons’. The game starts with you and your opponents crew and plays around the interaction between them. One thing I will say is that this game plays very cinematic, more than most tabletop games. Knocking out a gun-wielding thug and then zipping up to the rooftop of a nearby building feels like Batman. Each activation of a character or model plays just like you’d imagine, or at least pretty close to it. Let’s talk about a few key points and I’ll post some useful links at the end of this post to help you get started.
I’m assuming you here for one or more reasons. The first being that you’re a tabletop gamer who’s also a fan of Batman or the DCU. Secondly, maybe you’re just a big comic book fan and you think the models look cool. Third, you’ve been coerced by your friends to play with little hand-painted figurines on a 3D board-game-like tabletop. Whatever your reasoning might be is good enough to at least check things out.
The Bane-Train
Let’s chat about crews for a moment. One of my favorite things about Batman is not just the Dark knight himself, but he has an amazing rogues gallery. All your favorite villains are here including everyone’s favorite drug addict Bane. Whether your heart is as cold as Mr. Freeze or you see yourself as a clown much like The Joker, or maybe you can relate to the family man cop Jim Gordon – there’s a crew for you. Now I won’t dive into the inner-workings of every crew in the game, at least not yet. I would say the first thing you should consider is what will you have the most fun playing. I always recommend playing something that matches your personality either aesthetically or play-style. That could also be as simple as picking your favorite character and building a crew around him/her, or maybe your the type to say “I just want to beat up other models effectively,” whatever that motivation is explore the model range and read through the rules to help you decide.
Named after the nickname you gave yourself as a 7 year old to sound cool — Nightwing
Some of you may be overwhelmed and have no idea where to begin. Though this is outlined in the book, you’ll need models with specific ranks to fill out your crew. They are: Leaders, Sidekicks, Free Agents and Henchmen. These ranks can be complex, but for the most part you’ll just need a Leader and from there with some constraints you can build outward with henchmen and maybe a sidekick or maybe even a team of characters like The Bat-Family. The catalyst of crew building revolves around resources and you have two to focus on. First we have reputation, this represents the core value of the model. For example Batman may be upwards of 125 reputation, whereas a measly guard might be 21 reputation. In a friendly game you can set your crew limits to be whatever you want, but the most common form of play is 350 Reputation and $1500 funding (Tournament and Batmatch Standard). For example, in a crew allowing for 350 reputation Batman will take up 125 of that and a guard 21 more, leaving the crew 204 remaining reputation for you to fill out. Next we have funding, this represents equipment that is either purchased after building a crew or an associated cost for a model. For instance, you might be eyeing another guard to stick with Batman, and he’s got a sweet assault rifle to pepper some makeup wearing thugs. now the guard himself is 26 reputation, but he also will cost you $600 in funding because those guns aren’t cheap and maybe after hiring him into the crew you want to make sure he’s got an extra clip so that’s another $200 tacked on, leaving you with 178 rep and $700 funding left. Thought this is just one example I think you get the gist.
Oh boy, Joker and his freaks sure are excited to see that Hot Topic is having another sale!
This has been a brief insight to the game. Obviously there is a lot more to cover, but I wanted to just touch on a few things that might interest you enough to look deeper. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or need some guidance, you can also find me the Arkham Rejects Discord chat daily. Here are some helpful links to scratch your Bat itch, cheers.
The official Website with free downloadable rules and more – https://www.knightmodels.com/en/
The BMG Discord Chat, for all your questions, theory-crafting and BS’ing – https://discord.gg/2hRsbCs
Podcasts, search for the following – The GCPD, Little Gotham, The Boy Wonders and Titandose.
The Iceberg Lounge, a collective of articles and blogs – https://iceberg-lounge.com/author/icebergloungebmg/
Solitaire Uncategorized Leave a comment March 7, 2019 April 8, 2019 4 Minutes
Me-wow!
Hey everyone, today we bring you the latest installment of the Kung-Fu Panda Series. In this particular film, a young Ben Turner becomes a karate-kid wannabe, fresh from his local furry fetish meetup group.
In all seriousness, I’m glad we’re finally seeing this character in BMG. This isn’t the design I was hoping for, but I’ve had him on my wish-list for some time and I’ll take what I can get. Let’s take a closer look at this martial master that has a real knack for the Tiger fighting style.
First off, he’s a free agent who works with all of your bad-guy crews and rivals Brave and the Bold. You may have also noticed with the Teams PDF being updated he can also be included in Suicide Squad, which is a great addition to a team that needs more options, and if you’re a comic book geek like myself you would have been outraged if Knight had somehow overshot that affiliation. Tiger comes in at 85 rep and no cost to your funding, putting him in a comparable free agent level to someone like King Shark who we’ve discussed in the past. The first thing you’ll notice is his stat-line, and wow is he solid. For 85 points he has a great set of stats that couple incredibly well with his traits. Ben is attack 5 with strength 3+, not only that, but due to Close Combat Master, he’s re-rolling his failed hits, all of which are putting out double stun from his Reinforced Gloves.
As a side note: re-rolls = reliability = success
Anyway, if that wasn’t enough for a great start to combat, he also has Martial Expert that allows him to crit on a roll of a 4, 5 or 6 on the collateral instead of the normal 6 roll that non-experts deal normally. This means he should crit 50% of the time, which is fantastic. But Wait! There’s More! Also our kung-fu-cat friend here has Offensive Defense, which allows him to use his defense counters as attack counters during his activation. Let’s do some math here. In a perfect world, Turner here is close enough to walk into combat with an enemy model without having to use any movement counters. Assuming he’s going for broke, he’s loaded up with 5 counters in attack and 2 in defense. That’s 7 re-rollable attacks at strength 3+. That’s potentially 15 stun damage with the improved crit chance from Martial Expert. That’s an insane amount of output for an 85 rep model, and if we compare him to someone like Shark who’s a high output glass cannon, this guy is a high output model that is defense 5. Let that sink in for a moment. Attack 5, defense 5, strength 3+, re-rolling hits, and 50% to crit, and the ability to exceed his attack counter threshold by dumping remaining counters in defense as attacks. What…
The fun doesn’t stop there, and one could easily argue that with just those abilities and stats, 85 rep may be a little low for him, or maybe he is just at the cusp of balance; however, he keeps going. He’s also a Martial Artist, so you can’t even attempt to drop his defense by outnumbering him, and if he finds himself in a crappy situation where he needs to D-up, he has the option to knock you out while protecting himself with Counter Attack. I actually don’t think you’ll need to use Counter Attack with him, just because he’s naturally resilient at Defense 5 and Martial Artist, but it’s a nice tool to have. Turner also has The Professional trait which allows him to score additional VP’s when he removes a Leader, Sidekick and/or Free Agent from the game. This is awesome, but paired with his final ability it pushes him over the edge for sheer point for point value. His final trait is Take Down, something you may be familiar with if you’ve looked at/played Red Hood. This is great for many reasons; the first being that if you’re someone who plays bad-guy crews, you have very few, and in some case, no options to take a model with Arrest/Cruel/Takedown in your crew. All of these abilities are incredibly valuable. With him you now have the ability to remove models from the game without having to spend activations trying to finish off a threat unreliably via coup de grace. The second reason is that assuming another model knocks out a Leader, Sidekick and/or Free Agent, Tiger can literally walk up and for one special counter remove that model and still gain the benefits from The Professional.
I think he fits amazingly in the game, he’s not an insanely expensive melee beater. In fact I would say he’s under-costed for what he does. His biggest weakness is speed, and at movement 3 he’s not suffering all that much. He gives bad-guy crews access to removal that they don’t get to see often without outright stacking blood dealing weapons. I would even go as far to say that this is the Free agent you want in a Bane crew, and because he doesn’t cost any funding it allows for a lot of equipment and guns to be purchased during creation. I love King Shark, and back before shark and before standard started to become more popular my go-to was Zsasz, and now we have Bronze Tiger. If his sculpt/design looked a little less like a mascot for a Chuckie Cheese Dojo, I probably would have died from over-stimulation.
What do you think of this kitty-cat criminal? Where do you see him fitting into your crews?
Solitaire Model Reviews Leave a comment May 19, 2019 May 19, 2019 4 Minutes
Adepticon 2019 Recap Pt. 2
Long time no see Bat-Family. Sorry for the silence on my end, life has been extra busy these past few weeks and I’ve just finished (well mostly finished) recovering from eye surgery. The surgery had rendered me incapable of looking at a computer/phone screen, in addition I’ve had to use this past week to catch up on some of my obligations. Anyway, I’ve meant to put this post together ages ago, but better late than never right? Let’s get into Jason’s analysis of Adepticon 2019 for the BMG tournament.
Let’s revisit Jason’s lists that he built as a sort of “all-comers” list for both. Also stating that the idea was to deal with “smaller elite” crews. Let’s take a look.
Poison Ivy (Big Ivy) – modified pheromones
Harley Quinn (Gotham City Sirens)
Mutated plant 1
Carnivorous Plant
Stealth Op – Mutant Alterations
Dreadnought Op – Mutant Alterations, Mutation Serum
Prisoner 1
Mutated Plant 3 – Titanic Mutation, Corrosive Blood
Dreadnought Op – Mutant Alterations, Mutation Serum, Rare Nth Medallion
Jason’s thoughts on his list and his games
The main difference between the two lists is the lists composition – list 1 with Tet and more plants compared to list 2 which had Scarecrow and Pipe Prisoner. I’m really trying to prevent my opponent from getting to his objectives with the plants and the hard to hit guys (Adaptable from the Serum) and of course Mind Control. None of my opponents attempted to hit Stealth Op at Defense 5, so he was great at holding my objectives. Dreadnought was more in the forefront, still trying to score my other objective, but also able to kill a model when needed (ironically he had trouble putting down Cooki’s Pipe Prisoner)
My idea was to have Ivy and Tet on the hunt to control and hand out fire makers to models they cross paths with.Tet killed 5 models in total, burning High Security, and Icy in one game. The next game he killed Cash, QRT2 ,and Arkham Guard 3. Harley was used more as a Support piece. Disarray, Follow Me! (the veteran models could move that counter to help deal more damage if needed) and her guns were used to scare my opponent. With harley you either commit to her or avoid her. Although it’s pretty unanimous throughout the community, she’s a great model with lots of impact in a single game. Not many other models can run up side of the table to go beat Lincoln March to death with a baseball bat.
I want to talk about Scarecrow and Ivy, and how good they are. I’d say together they are significantly stronger than if you were to look at them as individual pieces.
Scarecrow allows Ivy, or any other Mind Control user, to control higher willpower models with slightly more ease. He can also get a ping from Ivy’s roots. Charm is a good rule, and makes it tough to deal him in melee; however, there are still a lot of ways to put him down. Overall Scarecrow can easily die if you don’t act fast and cagey with him. Keep in mind that Persuasion can also help with positioning adding more control to his playstyle, it will help by giving him more breathing room, specifically forcing a model to activate, that may not want to activate. I used List 2 with him in it versus Ben and his BatB, also against Kevin’s Court.
I noticed in the games that his basic movement of 5” made a difference when catching models to spray as well as running to safety.
There’s not a whole lot to say about Ivy that we don’t already know. Against Kevin he passed the willpower tests 2 or 3 times, which was bad luck on my part since the models were at willpower 3 and 4 during those activations. I found myself constantly moving her up fast turn one. Then my opponent would rush me down, but unless they had a way around her Defense of 5, I’d just play cagey. I used Mind Control and Plants to back me up and take off some of the pressure.
Tet went on a killing spree, and as I mentioned before he had some key casualties. Controlling a model with Ivy allowed me to drop the model’s counters and the Tet could spray a nearby model catching 2-3 models easily, and with the loss of counters it was tough for my opponents to purge the fire markers off.
The plants were there simply to contest. I had about 2 seed markers near each objective, and placing the Caustic Plant in a good spot to shoot. Mutated Plant 3 is a steal with the Disruptor at 14 rep, so I included him to support my crew.
My main goal was to play fast on turn one, getting to my objectives and playing very cagey. Tet was the MVP but Kabuto and Pipe Prisoner were also doing a lot of work. Dreadnought did a great job, but he’s not going to be taking down the bat anytime soon. He really benefited from Harley consistently backing him up.
Overall, both lists were fast. It 100% came down what my opponent had in his list to help decide if I would run list 1 or 2.
Solitaire Tournament Coverage Leave a comment May 3, 2019 May 3, 2019 4 Minutes
Adepticon 2019: The Cooki Connection
Hey Everyone, part 2 of Jason’s Adepticon write up is coming soon, but I wanted to provide you all with something a little special. I had the chance to pick Aaron “Cooki” Cook’s brain about Adepticon after taking home first place. Without further adieu I present to you the Omaha Onlsaught, The Midwest Mayhem — Aaron “Cooki” Cook
I’ve been miniature gaming since I was about 10-11 years old, so about 16 years now (currently 27) I’ve played a ton of games from any Clix series, any GW game, warmachine/hordes, malifaux, etc… I haven’t won many major events but have placed/won a decent amount of smaller events. I don’t consider myself a “power gamer” because most of the time I just try and make things I like work. I’m notorious around the Midwest for using sub-par stuff and doing well with it. Batman is probably the “hardest” I’ve gamed in a while and even then it’s only about half of the time.
How long have you been playing Batman; moreover, how long have you been playing in BMG specific tournaments?
I’ve been playing Batman for around 2 years. Been going to Batman events since I’ve started. The Des Moines guys and us (Omaha) have hosted a few events for BMG.
What were your thoughts going into Adepticon from a player/strategic standpoint? Tell me why you chose your lists and what you aimed to accomplish with them if anything specific. What were you hoping to see or not hoping to see at Adepticon from a strategic standpoint? (IE: weaknesses/strengths)
Last year I placed second and Karl from Canada placed first. We both used basically identical lists. How the rounds and VPs went, we dodged each other and were both undefeated. So this year I knew I had to step up my game, Omaha thinks Freeze and Owls are the top two crews in the game currently after Society nerfs (which now has changed because of Joker’s bikes and that sweet DKR box, but that’s another discussion). So my buddy was taking Owls for sure, so I could have borrowed another friends Owl crew or just run Freeze. I went with Freeze because I like using big badass free agents a lot. That being said I knew I was afraid of Owls, Penguin, and Militia probably the most. So I built both of my lists to be able to feel comfortable enough to handle either in any scenario. I knew most of the time I’m dropping The Batman Who Laughs list anyways. The Enchantress was just to list-chicken some people. I dropped the Batman Who Laughs list 3 of 4 games.
Give me a brief rundown of how you felt about the games you played in specifically, and
what were your thoughts on your fellow players as a whole?
I got to play against completely new opponents for this tournament, which is a nice change.
First round I played against Jason Thompson in Secure the area. He dropped Ivy, Harley, Tet, Kabuto, Dreadnought Op, and 3 plants and I dropped my The Batman Who Laughs list. I picked Ice Field, Change of Plans, and Vandalism. I probably should have picked something else besides change of plans. He picked 2 patrols and Ivy’s strategy. I knew going into this match that it was going to be cagey and a very low VP scoring game because Freeze plays defense very well and Ivy’s plants are annoying. He made some very clutch Ice Flash rolls on Tet and he was tearing up my flank of High Security and double shovel guys. The game changed in my favor when I tempted Ivy into mind controlling High Security and a shovel with good counters on them, he took the bait and I failed both of my willpower rolls but then managed to take down Ivy with Freeze and Batman Who Laughs. It came down to my shovel guy surviving Dreadnought Op last turn to contest his Medical Supplies, which pushed it to a minor win for me. Very close game and a very cool and chill opponent in Jason Thompson. I got in a total of 3 pick up games with Jason over the Adepticon weekend.
Second game was against one of the Canhammer guys, Andrew Atkins. The scenario was looting and I went with the Batman Who Laughs/Freeze list and he dropped an Arkham Asylum Joker, Rebirth Harley, Borgon, Rasta Clown, Hobo, Master of Ceremonies, Pipe Clown, and Punker list. I went with double Fast Advance and Andrew picked Joker’s strategy, and Change of Plans. I knew going into this match up I needed a bunch of VPs because I was way behind the top three on VPs scored after the first round. Playing against Joker with only five rounds I needed to jump on objectives quick and out-last him, which is why the double Fast Advance was picked. I think Andrew’s biggest flaw, to me, was that it seemed like he didn’t have a game-plan throughout the game. At one point of the game he threw Joker’s explosive weapon at The Batman Who Laughs and did damage, I told him to use luck and fish for a knockdown. He didn’t realize ranged attacks can knock down large/huge guys. He got the crit and proceeded to chop The Batman Who Laughs in two with Master of Ceremonies, but Andrew had taken massive causalities and couldn’t come back. That game ended in a major victory for me. Andrew was a easy going guy, I enjoyed the game.
Game three was against Matt from Minnesota. We were playing Asphalt Jungle. He only had one list and it was the Penguin bat-box with a Scope on Tanner. I was about to drop the The Batman Who Laughs list again and then changed my mind because the Enchantress list was designed to fight crews more like the penguin bat-box (IE: some scary guns and lots of low powered henchman). I was afraid of tanner just 1-2 rounding The Batman Who Laughs before he got stuck in the mob of henchmen so that’s why I went with the Enchantress list. Matt is a fairly new player, I believe he said this was his 5th game and he had never played against Enchantress nor Freeze, so I knew it was going to be brutal for him. He deployed Tanner on a far flank with decent line of sight but then I counter deployed High Security with Bulletproof Vest/Grapple Gun within 12” and out of line of sight to threaten him right away. Tanner was my biggest concern from the start. He pulled first and shot my Whistle-Shovel and put 6 blood on him, then he used a sewer to go on top of a building near my deployment zone. I put my sewers all on top of buildings for the sole purpose of knowing that I could out-fight Penguin, so if he wanted to use sewers then I could out score him as well. I saved Enchantress for going last and zipped up the field to mind control Lark. Second round of the game is where it got brutal, I knew I had a good chance to pull first and with Tanner out of the game for this turn (sewer placements) I positioned myself for a good round of double sprays. Between Enchantress and two sprays his crew fell apart quick. We only got to round 5. Matt took the loss well and this is a situation where a second list designed to fight more of the top tier free agents and more games under his belt could change everything.
So going into the final round I was in fourth place. The top three guys were running VP farming type lists, so the only chance of me winning the tournament was for the top table to pull a draw and me to win. So knowing this I just needed a 5 point lead and hope for the best. My opponent was another guy from Canada, Will Paul. I was looking at his crew the entire tournament and was a bit afraid to play against it. I don’t have much experience against Riddler bots and hoped for a decent scenario against it as well (which two of the four scenarios that I would want to play against him in were already played). He was using Modern Age Riddler as the Mechanic Riddler which I didn’t know until we sat down and discussed lists, once he told me that I was a bit more at ease because I was thinking he could use regular objectives, drop riddles, and clues. His list was just the bot-spam clue and riddle farm with Ratcatcher. We were playing skirmish, a decent scenario to fight the bots against. I knew the bots don’t really want to fight and I need to get on them right away. So double Fast Advance was the choice, needing 4 strategy points to use two fast advances I needed to drop The Batman Who Laughs list. I set up super aggressively and was looking to match his points along the way and hope that I could make him run away (kill 70% of his crew). He set up his bots along his entire deployment but then clustered Riddler, Bodyguard Bot, and two other bots with the riddle dropping equipment in threat range of my two sprays and The Batman Who Laughs. To me this was his biggest mistake of the game. I pulled first and used freeze to inspire, ice flash, and spray 5 guys. Then my second activation was Coldy with the same 5-man spray. I didn’t care if I was wounding on 5’s because of the bot trait/Light Armor. I was just putting on a bunch of early damage that can only be healed by Riddler. It got crazy fast with High Security/The Batman Who Laughs and both shovels getting into it by turn 2. The mistake I made that game was forgetting he used Riddler’s strategy on one of my shovel guys and forgetting about it until he mentioned it in the recount phase, not a huge mistake but something to remember. After the first three rounds he didn’t have much left and I was up 1-2 points. At the end of round three I counted up rep and he made his run away check and failed it. So that pushed me to a major win due to bonus points. Will Paul was a great opponent and would play against him any time.
What are your plans for Batman moving forward?
I told myself after Adepticon to tone down my lists a little and I’m probably going back into Bane or Central City. I picked up a bunch of scatter terrain at Adepticon and need to start demo-ing around my area and build the community here.
What advice could you give to other players that are either interested in competitive play or interested in improving their play?
My biggest advise for players is to really start talking about things you don’t know how to play against/have troubles against and figure them out. Even in friendly games my buddies and I will talk to each other and figure out what the best course of action is at any state of the game. It helps with knowing our own crew better but more importantly knowing what the enemy wants/plans to do.
How do you think BMG could be improved? Or what changes would affect the game’s quality for the better?
I think Knight should tap into their community a bit more and get some more feedback. In all fairness though Knight has been doing a pretty good job with the game more recently.
I would like to say that I enjoyed the Batman tournament at Adepticon. There has been talk about how terrain was terrible and there was a pairing issue round 2, but all in all it was worth going to still. I even stated that at first glance the tables didn’t look amazing but they played fine, maybe besides 1-2 of them. The pairing issue was a bit frustrating but to be honest I think if I hadn’t said anything, people probably wouldn’t have really noticed/cared. I just love the game and want to play, that’s really the only thing I care about.
Aaron “Cooki” Cook
Solitaire Tournament Coverage Leave a comment April 7, 2019 April 8, 2019 8 Minutes
Hey everyone, I linked up with my buddy Jason Thompson who participated in the Batman Tournament at Adepticon this year and he was cool enough to share some info with us. I would have loved to attend myself, but being in California I can really only afford to make it out that way once a year for Tournament purposes, and for 2019 I’ll be using that time to make it out to Renegade. Let’s see what Jason had to show us from the tournament.
Jason came in 4th with his Ivy crew, stating that it “was a 2-list event with 28 players”. Though Jason had mentioned to me that a good portion of the players were newer to the game, 4th in a tournament of this size is a significant victory, and for that I’m clapping my hand on my chest right now #SelfClap. Awesome job Jason! He was also kind enough to provide us with a pie chart of the represented crews at Adepticon; in addition we also have every list, but we’ll dive into the top 4.
As you can see above, Brave and the Bold was the most represented at the tournament. With Penguin, Court of Owls and Bane tied up for the next most represented crews. You’ll also notice from the chart that there a few crews not represented at Adepticon. Those crews are: Militia, Suicide Squad, Society, Bat-Family and The Amazons. Let’s take a look at the top 4 that placed at the Tournament.
1st Place: Aaron (Cookie) Cook – Mr. Freeze
The Batman Who Laughs
Icy – Cool Generator
Snowy 5 – Med-Pack
Coldy
High Security Henchman – Grapple Gun, Improvised Armor
Prisoner 01
High Security Henchman – Grapple Gun, Bulletproof Vest
2nd Place: Dan Sammons – Court of Owls
Lincoln March – Talon Serum Infusion
Ephraim Newhouse – Camo Vest, Genetic Alteration, Rare Nth Medallion
O’Malley’s Grandfather – Camo Vest
O’Malley’s Son
Robin – Genetic Alteration
Strix – Genetic Alteration, Grapple Gun
Ephraim Newhouse – Camo Vest, Genetic Alteration, Rare Nth Medallion, Grapple Gun
Strix – Genetic Alteration
3rd Place: Karl Turbide – Penguin
Penguin with ‘Duck’ Upgrade
Killer Croc (Arkham Asylum/Disco Croc)
Lark – Improvised Armor, Rare Nth Medallion, Whistle
Pavillon A – Grapple Gun, Laser Sight, Improvised Armor, Backpack
Penguin Thug 1 – Radio, Improvised Armor
Rocket Launcher Penguin
Emperor Penguin
The Drowned
Lark – Improvised Armor, Rare Nth Medallion
Pavillon A
Penguin Thug 2
4th Place: Jason Thompson – Gotham City Sirens
Poison Ivy and Plants (Big Ivy) – Modified Pheromones
Tune in for Part 2 where Jason will give us his thoughts on the tournament, his thoughts on his lists and his experience in the various games he played. Thank you Jason! Everyone can catch him over in the Arkham Rejects discord under the name ‘Captain Blue!’
At First Glance: Batwoman
Everyone’s favorite crime-fighting, wig-wearing, lesbian red-head vigilante
Where do we begin with Kate Kane? She’s one tough cookie with daddy issues and she’s rocking the mantle of her rich emo cousin Bruce. If you’re a comic book fan you’ve seen that she’s been integral in the latest detective comics run featuring the current bat-family. Well let’s dive in and see what her 2nd edition counterpart has to offer.
Kate is a Leader or Sidekick for Brave and the Bold, and if you noticed there was some slight updates made for teams that includes Batwoman in Bat-Family. She’s coming in at 111 rep and no cost to your funding. Her stat-line is solid, not great for her cost, but solid nonetheless. Stat-line wise she’s exactly the same as she was in 1st edition with an additional willpower.
Batwoman has her same old weapon profiles with the R. Controlled Batarangs and the Shock Gloves. The real changes come in the form of her special rules and the fact that she is now a Leader/Sidekick hybrid instead of just a Sidekick.
Let’s see what she’s gained and lost in the updated model release.
Gained: Lost:
Air Combat Technique
Military Teamwork
Batcape
Losing Technique is rough. It is a strong ability that can completely render a model useless if it is affected by the paralyze effect; however, Kate gains a lot as you can see above. Air Combat is easily the most exciting of the bunch, but Interrogation is interesting as well. What’s nice about Air Combat is it is very easy to ensure combat bonuses on the turns that Kate’s Batclaw is active; zipping into combat with a Batclaw/Grapple Gun is often something you’ll have seen by various Batman models, Robins, equipped High security Henchmans and Borgons (not to mention the various other models and combinations). My point is that this is something familiar, but Batwoman is gaining a huge advantage by entering combat with her Batclaw since she’ll be +1 to hit and +1 to damage rolls. The great part is she effectively gains Martial Expert. The reason this is important is that Kate’s gloves have CRT: Stunned which gives Batwoman a lesser Technique in that it prevents the affected model from spending counters of any kind (it does not award -2 to defense though). There is a direct trade-off, yes Batwoman no longer has the reliability of technique; however, it is now supplemented that her crit effect on her gloves are much more likely to activate. Now Air Combat can also be activated by leaping down, and since you can only use her Batclaw every other round, she can still benefit from Air Combat by essentially jumping down and putting her hands on another model. This is why I believe that Knight decided to also give her the Batcape rule, preventing her from taking fall damage by trying to active Air Combat through a leap down movement (if the distance down is significant). Interrogation is another new one for her; the rule is a little wordy, but as far as I understand it is that if she is able to successfully grab or push an enemy model — she or another friendly model may move up to 4″ or reallocate 2 action counters. I see this being more beneficial for friendly models since Batwoman can try and move a friendly model out of harms way, or move them into an objective by beating someone up despite the location of her and said friendly model. For example, Kate successfully pushes High Security Henchman off of a roof, and on the other side of the board, Arkham guard moves 4″ into the player’s medical supplies effectively scoring it at the end of the round. It could also be used to pull a model or herself away from a lamppost, out of range of a gun etc… I really think this is a great rule, it’s just going to require some finesse and positioning. I could also see this being a way of moving her or a friendly’s counters around to either help with attacking, or to save someone by dumping more counters into defense, moving it into movement for dodging, moving unused counters into special to recover more effectively at the end of the round etc… Military Teamwork is another solid rule, but because Kate is going to be zipping around beating models up, it’s really only going to come into play when she makes her way into a situation where she’s saving another model or attempting to outnumber an enemy model.
Overall I think that Batwoman is solid, her main drawback is her cost, she’s expensive, but if you compare her to someone like AA Batman I think she’s much better and cheaper. I would say you probably won’t be running her with any of the really expensive Batman models or other Brave and Bold costly pieces. I think she does well in Bat-Family since she can Arrest and will be dealing stun damage anyway, so paired with someone like Damian who will gain the Boy Wonder trait, Damian could knock someone out and she could easily remove that model, especially with Criminology preventing Runaway, but she really pairs well with any high stun list which is the majority of the Brave and Bold/Bat-Family options anyway. She’s going to want to run around and pick people off since she’ll be pretty quick with her Batclaw. She’ll definitely want to zip into combat with enemy models camping objectives especially if she has back up to make use of Military Teamwork, but that will be more of a mid to late game scenario. Try to take advantage of height with her. Simply standing on a van and dropping down to punch someone can activate Air Combat, or dropping down from a building if you’re trying to keep her safe. She’s pretty survivable at Defense 4 and Endurance 7, and the icing on top is her Bat-Armor MK1. Just be careful when throwing her into a mob, since she does not have Martial Artist and guns can tear her apart if she’s not making use of Stealth.
Other things to note would be that Night Vision pairs well with the fact that her Batarangs are R. Controlled, making it so you can throw them from around a corner or weave them through obstacles. Searcher is always nice to have, in fact anything that removes strategy points or removes an enemy strategy is huge. I would also go as far to say that models that have an impact on the pre-game are always an option to consider and are generally useful for that reason alone. In addition to all that I just mentioned, Kate also has access to her Officer Training equipment which gives her the Follow Me! rule, something worth taking if you have the extra rep and funding.
Overall I think the new Batwoman is pretty awesome. What do you all think? Is she good? Bad? Will there be a Birds of Prey team coming? Does the carpet match the drapes? You tell me!
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Philly Planners May Have Finally Learned the Lessons of Too Many or Too Few Cars
Jonathan Geeting October 11, 2013
The Chestnut Street Transway didn’t work out so well.
Back in 1976, in keeping with the thinking of local planning giant Ed Bacon (“Clean Air, No Gangs, No Private Cars”), Philadelphia closed off Chestnut Street between 8th Street and 18th Street to private cars, creating the Chestnut Street Transway. The idea was that completely closing the street to cars would increase foot traffic, but the actual result was to sap it of pedestrian life. Immediately Chestnut Street began to decline, as shops closed and moved to Walnut Street or left the city altogether.
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The city overlearned the lesson of the Transway for decades, using population decline as an excuse to stretch out and liberally supply parking whenever possible. But at Thursday’s DesignPhilly event “Corridor Realities” hosted by the city’s commerce department and the Community Design Collaborative, there were encouraging signs that Philadelphia has been digesting Bacon’s insights about the tension between cars and foot traffic. In cooperation with some of the more enlightened corners of city government, many community development corporations, architects, designers, planners and others are setting their sights on new ways of putting cars in their place and restoring pedestrian energy to struggling corridors.
Brian Syzmanik of MAKE Architecture gave an example of how excessively high levels of service for cars have damaged a retail cluster on East Girard Avenue, where MAKE recently collaborated with the New Kensington Community Development Corporation on a Model Block demonstration project:
East Girard is a very desolate street so we’re trying to slow down traffic, we’re trying to fill any vacant properties on the block, and we’re also looking to attract lots of people who don’t come there now…
East Girard Avenue is a huge street. It has about eight lanes of traffic that should run at 35 miles per hour but can sometimes be more like 65. There are red lights that are run regularly. That’s our existing condition – a big giant street with not a lot of parking. We began by asking the question how can we make it less like a highway? How can we make it less imposing?
The MAKE crew came up with some ideas for “squishing” this stroad with street furniture and various illusions to make the corridor feel more walkable and pedestrian friendly, and the building results are impressive. But pedestrian conditions on East Girard Ave aren’t any less appalling. The street is still too wide, and that’s holding back its mixed-use retail corridors.
Syzmanik proved that talented private individuals’ efforts can go a very long way, but that’s not quite enough. Political choices about the allocation of street space, the width of moving lanes, the presence or absence of bus lanes, and the level of service for different modes of transportation (including pedestrians) can have a big impact on the viability of businesses and real estate.
Just like with the Chestnut Street Transway, misallocating street space or designing streets to accommodate only cars or only transit can destroy wealth and render commercial properties unattractive to businesses and their customers. Bacon’s “No Private Cars” mantra was too radical for his day, when the nation’s car culture was ascendant, and it is too radical now. But there is growing agreement that fewer privatecars is key to successful neighborhood retail clusters.
That was an underlying theme of several other presentations at Thursday’s event, from Robin Kohles’ recommendation of herringbone-patterned sidewalk bump-outs for Fabric Row, to Pam Zimmerman’s tales of small businesses’ strong positive response to Park(ing) Day, to Prema Gupta’s retelling of how The Porch “sacrificed” 34 parallel parking spaces to bring 250 sidewalk chairs and more to 30th Street Station.
Good design can make or break a business. After a big design upgrade, Mariposa Food Co-op’s business increased by 100 percent, and it grew from nine employees to 40. Jonathan Snyder of the commerce department’s Storefront Improvement Program noted that 79 percent of recipients reported a subsequent increase in sales. And Prema Gupta shared data on parklets boosting revenues for businesses — most notably, Honest Tom’s in West Philly saw a 40 percent increase.
As Philly learned after the Transway debacle, allocating too much space to private cars through extra-wide moving lanes and excessive off-street parking requirements will drain a mixed-use retail cluster of business just as surely as pedestrian malls. But Philadelphia planners today seem to have learned important lessons about humility and flexibility, preferring small-scale, inexpensive and reversible changes to the built environment that can be tested, tweaked or removed without permanent consequences.
Jonathan Geeting is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, where he writes about land use and public space politics. His work appears at Next City, This Old City and Keystone Politics.
Tags: philadelphia, urban planning, economic development, urban design, built environment, walkability, parking
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Showing results for tags 'Fire Emblem'.
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Chrom posted a topic in General Nintendo
https://fire-emblem-heroes.com/ The battle goes mobile with Fire Emblem Heroes, Nintendo's hit strategy RPG series reimagined for smart devices. Use this topic for general discussion of the game. Share your impressions, questions, strategies, teams, hero summons, or whatever else. Trailer Heroes and Heroines (part 1, part 2) A brand-new, original Fire Emblem story takes place in the world of Zenith, and you've been summoned to battle. The Emblian Empire seeks to conquer all worlds, while the Askran Kingdom stands against them. Together with Prince Alfonse and Princess Sharena of Askr, you play the role of a summoner who can call upon legendary heroes from other Fire Emblem worlds as your allies, and enlist in the Order of Heroes to aid them in this endless war. Battles are played in traditional Fire Emblem fashion that will appeal to veterans and newcomers alike, and completing tasks nets you rewards that you can use to unlock the potential of your allies, or recruit new ones. Collect your favorites and build your very own army of legends. Fire Emblem Heroes arrives on iOS and Android as a free-to-start game (with in-app purchases for gameplay incentives) on February 2nd, and will see long-term content updates to the game, including new characters, events, and other features.
Ty plays FE4: The Down's Syndrome Run
Tyranogre posted a topic in General Nintendo
With NS2 likely to disappear forever at any moment now, I figured now would be a good time to archive the Let's Play I did of FE4 from 4 years ago. A few of the screenshots in the original thread are missing from imgur, but luckily I still have all 2,443 of them safe on my hard drive. Also, note that this was played using an older version of FE4's translation patch from before Heroes came out. As such, the names of some characters, locations, and items might be inconsistent.
Genealogy of the Holy War
New Fire Emblem: Three Houses info
TKrazyO posted a topic in General Nintendo
Thought it was strange that no one was talking about the new information that came out about Fire Emblem: Three Houses, so I thought I'd share the translated feature from Famitsu. Translation posted on GoNintendo. Story Characters Protagonist The protagonist was originally making a living as mercenary, but then they realized that they had knowledge to pass on, and so became a teacher at the academy. Their mother had already passed away, which is why they were living with their father, who used to be at the head of the Knights of Seiros. Jeralt (Different translations had it spelled Geralt) The protagonist’s father, with a legendary reputation, and known as the strongest Knight that has ever graced the Church of Seiros, no less! After the protagonist is invited to the academy to take the position of teacher, he comes with him and becomes a knight again. More Detailed Info - a veteran Knight who used to serve as Head Knight for the Church of Seiros - regarded as the strongest Knight of all time - Jeralt left his position to become a mercenary - Jeralt's wife has passed away - Jeralt ends up joining the Knights of Seiros once again after the events at the beginning of the game - this is when the protagonist ends up saving students from the Officer’s Academy Sothis A mysterious girl who ends up saving the protagonist during a fateful night. She has lost her memory, and for some reason, only the protagonist can see her. More Detailed Info - a mysterious girl who appears in the protagonist’s dream - after saving the protagonist using her powers to rewind time, she stays in contact with them - the two can actually communicate as if she was in their head - no one but the protagonist can see her - she has lost her memories - despite looking like a young girl, she actually speaks like an old woman Three Houses and their leaders: Black Eagles Among the three powers ruling the Fodlan continent, the Adrestian Empire is the one with the longest history. People from there are usually more skilled with magic than weapons. The leader of the Black Eagles is Edelgard von Hresvelg, who also happens to be next in line to become Empress. She’s voiced by Ai Kakuma. She’s said to be quite the talented and signified individual. More Detailed Info on Edelgard - from the Adrestian Empire, and its future Empress - may appear somewhat cold and prideful, acting with diginity - always maintaining her composure, calmy assessing the situation and looking at other people before acting Blue Lions The House tied to the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. Its leader is Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd (voiced by Kaito Ishikawa), Prince of the Kingdom and future King. He’s said to be quite the polite young man, and the very embodiment of chivlary. However, it seems that he does have a dark side… Perhaps due to the prevalence of knights in the country, most students from that House are particular good with spears. More Detailed Info on Dimitri - leader of the Blue Lions, Prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus and future King - said to be quite the honest fellow, and the very embodiment of chivalry - you can sometimes see a faint bit of darkness hidden behind his smiles Golden Deer Members of the Leicester Alliance nobility make up the students of that House. They are said to be quite gifted with the bow. The leader of that House is Claude von Riegan (voiced by Toshiyuki Toyonaga), member of the Riegan family (leader of the alliance). He’s quite the friendly-looking fellow, who thinks deeply about things, and can be quite sharp-minded. Compared to the other two, the Golden Deer House has a higher proportion of commoners among its students. Gameplay systems - divided in two parts: battles, and student teaching - battles put a much stronger emphasis on character training - the rewind system from Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is back - battles have a large number of people taking part in them at once. - battles take place on a variety of terrains, which all have their own effects - terrain determines how units move around, and can give an evasion and defense boost for example - terrain includes the following: forest: increases evasion, making it harder for enemy units to hit you. A great place to wait for the enemy to ambush them; terrain that can heal your units; terrain that can warp characters around. - “Beat of Heaven” allows you to go back in time for a few turns, letting you fix any mistakes that you made - this can only be used a certain amount of times, and likely has a cooldown period - difficulty level influences how strong enemies are, and the modes allows / prevents allies from being revived after falling battle - there are normal and hard difficulties - there are casual and classic modes - when a character undergoes class change, their level is not reset to 1 anymore, and they can keep using the same weapon - a character can change classes as many times as you want, as long as they have passed the test for each class - during student training, you can move around in the Garreg Mach Monastery and interact with the various characters - the bond between teacher and student is said to be a key element of the game - at the Officer’s Academy, the students get to improve their skills - students can also be taught directly by the protagonist, and they can have conversations with them to deepen their bond - there’s a support system that kicks in during battles, with further details coming at a later date - in order to use specific weapons and techniques in battle, and in order to change their class, you need to raise your skill level - the higher their skill level, the stronger the skills they can acquire, and the stronger the weapons they can handle - each student have their own strengths and weakness - main skills include the following: Swordsmanship: sword-related skills Art of the Spear: spear-related skills Art of the Axe: axe-related skills Archery: bow-related skills Physics: dark and black magic-related skills Faith: white magic-related skills Flying: skills for flying units Heavy Armour: skills for armored units Horsemanship: skills for cavalry units - Main skills you can learn include the following: Swordsmanship Lv. 1 = when equipped with a sword, Hit Rate +5, Avoid +7, Dodge+5 Sword Slaying = when unit is equipped with armor and fighting a sword user, Hit Rate and Dodge +20 Art of the Spear Lv. 1 = when unit is equipped with armor, Hit Rate +7, Avoid +5, Dodge +5 Short-range counterattack = allow unit to counterattack when enemy is 1 space away; Physics Lv. 1: when unit is using dark and black magic equipment, Hit Rate +5, Avoid +5, Dodge +5 Faith Lv. 1: when unit is using light magic equipment, Hit Rate +5, Avoid +7, Dodge +5 - as the students progress, they eventually reach the point where they can take on exams - passing those allows them to change classes - in order take an exam, you also need an exam pass of the corresponding level - the higher the skill level of a student for the skill corresponding to the exam, the more likely they are to pass it - once a unit has passed an exam, they can change class at any time - even the protagonist can pass those exams - units have a base class, which changes depending on their origins - at the beginning, units have basic classes such as Swordsman, Knight, Fighter, Monk - these can move to a more advanced class by using a Level 5 or higher exam pass - class examples are as follows: Commoners / Nobles: no distinctive features, can use a little bit of magic Swordsman: they favor the sword. Speedy units with high Avoid rate; Knight: they favor the spear. Great dexterity, making it easy to hit enemies; Fighter: they focus on raw power. They can handle axe and bows with ease; Monk: they can use magic. There’s several types of Monks: White, Black, and Dark Lot of info! Here's what I took from it. It takes some ideas from Shadows of Valentia and upgrades them a bit. Nothing about building supports into marriage as of now. It sounds like if you use a certain weapon and eventually class change to a different weapon's class, you retain the use of the previous weapon. (ex. Myrmidon builds up enough skill points to take an exam for a Fighter class. Passes and changes classes. Can now use Swords along with Axes and Bows.) If that's the case, you can build a pretty powerful bunch. Only thing that needs to be touched on is the main story/conflict, since the world has currently been built for us. We just have to see how in depth we can get into unit building whether it's supports, classes, weapons and the like. I'll leave you with a bit of Anna! By the Gods I still need to beat Fates.
Archer Appreciation Day
In honor of the 3-13 Archer from Radiant Dawn, the thirteenth day of the third month is dedicated to an underappreciated class in the Fire Emblem series, the Archer. This year, I would like to declare my appreciation for Jamke, from Genealogy of the Holy War. On top of having an interesting character arc about having to choose between loyalty to his family and doing the right thing, Jamke is also the most balanced husband for Adean, as he grants Lester some good stats without screwing over Lana's. You may have noticed a small dot on Jamke's forehead. This is because a sniper is constantly aiming at him throughout the entire game, ready to fire at any second. However, he dares not take that shot, for he knows that Jamke is fast enough to take him out with an arrow before the bullet reaches his skull. That's how awesome Jamke is. So, who are some archers that you feel don't get enough love?
Tiki's Birthday 2019
While taking a photo of myself offering a treat to a computer screen on February 28th is nothing new to me, this particular year is special. It has now been 10 years since the international release of Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon, the DS remake of the very first Fire Emblem game. And in Chapter 19 of said game, a certain green-haired Divine Dragon appears as a recruitable boss. Yes, I am referring to my beloved waifu, Tiki. While some might consider this our tenth wedding anniversary, that's technically inaccurate for a few reasons: 1. There is no Avatar in FE11. 2. There is no marriage mechanic in FE12. 3. I was still together with my ex-girlfriend at the time. Regardless, from the moment Bantu first spoke to that Manakete Princess and snapped her out of Gharnef's trance, Tiki immediately became one of my favorite units in the series. Having already played Sacred Stones, I found the idea of a little girl transforming into a powerful dragon to be both hilarious and adorable. And unlike Myrrh, Tiki had more than one Dragonstone available to use as a weapon. Four years later, Tiki would re-appear as an adult in Fire Emblem Awakening, as a possible marriage option for the Avatar. And the rest, as they say, is history. Happy birthday, my love. Here's to another decade of smiles, tears, and joy.
waifu
does anyone even look at these anymore
A hypothetical FE4 remake
After successfully introducing Zora to Genealogy, coupled with the recent banner in Heroes, I've had Jugdral on the mind a lot lately, and what a hypothetical remake could be like. Before I begin, there's a great video by Zerk Monster Hunter that lays down some of the basics. I recommend you give that a watch before reading on. Now, the biggest challenge with a localization is one that is only vaguely alluded to in ZMH's video: the fact that the story features incest as an important plot point. No, I'm not talking heavy subtext like Eirika x Ephraim, nor first-cousin marriage like Azura x MaCorrin. If it weren’t for literal, blood-related, brother-sister incest, the game wouldn’t have a final boss. And that's not even the darkest subject matter, either. The story also features: *Political corruption *Genocide *Religious persecution *Child sacrifices to a Satanic figure *Rape *NTR ...among other things. While some of these topics have been involved in previous Fire Emblem games like Sacred Stones or the Tellius saga, they were mostly kept off-screen or alluded to in support conversations. In FE4, however, these themes are much more important to the plot, and if they were removed, the narrative would greatly suffer for it. Now, I don't want to start an argument about face-petting or vagina bones, but for the sake of the storyline, it's imperative that Treehouse not lay a grubby finger on this game. Even if it means garnering an M rating. Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about the gameplay. While FE4's storyline is rightfully lauded as the best the series has ever gotten, the gameplay, to put it kindly, hasn't aged quite as well. For every revolutionary game mechanic that became a series staple, there are an equal number of dumb decisions that were never seen again. There are quite a few features from modern Fire Emblem games that FE4 could greatly benefit from, such as: *Support conversations. The most important part of the metagame is deciding which characters in the first generation you want to pair together so that their offspring can participate in the second generation. However, the way this works leaves much to be desired: Just like the GBA games, support points are gained by having the units stand next to each other. But the key difference here is that in the GBA games, you must activate the support conversations manually, which renders it impossible to accidentally pair two characters together that you didn't want to. But in FE4, while there are still conversations that are manually triggered, the majority of the "love points" required to pair two units together are gained automatically. If you're not careful, you may accidentally end up pairing one of your Cavaliers with Ferry the Pegasus Knight, simply because their similar movement ranges make them the most likely to end their turns next to her. On top of that, only a select few pairings can even have conversations. For others, they can potentially fuck without ever speaking a word to each other. Therefore, locking the love growths behind conversations not only gives more control to the player over who they want to pair up, but it also ensures that the marriage actually makes sense in-story, as there would have to be a support chain written for every possible pairing. While Awakening and Fates were criticized for having the majority of the romantic support conversations seem contrived, Genealogy's much smaller cast would make this much less of an issue. Another problem with the conversations as they exist in FE4 is that certain valuable weapons are locked behind them. Ayra’s Brave Sword, for example, is only available by talking to Lex or Holyn, which gives a significant boost to their love points that makes it risky if you want to pair her with somebody else. This issue could also be resolved by, for example, giving Ayra the Brave Sword upon reaching a B-Support with Lex or Holyn, so that way it’s safer to have them talk to each other if you want to pair them with other units. *Pair-up. Long before the arena in Heroes, "Horse Emblem" was a common nickname for FE4 itself, as the massive, sprawling maps favored cavalry to the point that unmounted soldiers were easily left behind. With the pair-up mechanic introduced in Awakening, this issue would solve itself. Coupled with the above, it would also make it easier for first-gen units to fall in love without having to cuck each other. Alternately, if Pair-up is too overpowered, they could simply re-introduce the Rescue mechanic, fittingly introduced in FE4’s midquel. *Reclassing. As mentioned above, inheritance plays a major role in the metagame. However, unlike Awakening and Fates, where everyone except the main lord and Avatar can only produce a single child, every pairing in FE4 produces two children. As a result, many potential fathers tend to greatly benefit one of their potential children, while completely fucking over the other. For example, Azel x Adean results in a great Lana who can fight and heal equally well, but a useless Lester with no way to take advantage of his Mag stat due to being locked to Bows. On top of that, it is entirely possible for certain child units to inherit a Holy Weapon that they can’t use due to class restrictions, while their sibling can’t wield it due to lack of Holy Blood. Therefore, with the Reclass option introduced in Shadow Dragon, they could provide better options to second-gen units with unusual fathers. As a bonus, this could also resolve the aforementioned Horse Emblem issue, either by allowing infantry units to reclass into Cavalry, or vice-versa. However, one possible issue I could see happening is that there are certain scripted story events that could potentially be messed up depending on the player’s reclass options. The Yied Massacre, for example, heavily relies on the fact that Quan and Ethlyn are horseback units attempting to cross the desert, only to be ambushed by Wyvern Knights. A savvy player could attempt to circumvent this by reclassing them into Snipers or Sages before they left the party in Chapter 4. So, now that we’ve gone over what new things modern Fire Emblem games could bring to FE4, another problem is the possibility that IS might decide to do a remake that’s too faithful to the original. Echoes and the DS games both went about remaking their respective games in completely different ways: Archanea remakes: “The original games had a lot of stupid mechanics that people hated.” “Okay, then. Let’s get rid of them and replace them with features that people will actually like.” Gaiden remake: “The original game had a lot of stupid mechanics that people hated.” “I know! That’s what made it great! Let’s bring them back!” Make no mistake: Echoes had some of the best presentation the series has ever seen. Characters with less than a single line of dialogue in the original became much more compelling. New characters like Conrad and Berkut fleshed out the storyline without completely derailing it. And the Memory Fragments scattered throughout the game allowed us to actually see storyline events that were only vaguely alluded to in the original, such as the fall of Zofia, or Rudolf’s gambit. The gameplay, however, is largely the same broken mess that it was on the Famicom: Magic cast from HP, overpowered Dread Fighters and Falcoknights, only a single inventory slot per unit, etc. It also added a few even dumber mechanics, such as the Fatigue system, or reclassing being locked behind a limited-quantity DLC item. So, if they were to remake FE4, what features from the original game would they bring back for the sake of being faithful to the original, even if later games in the series were better off without them? The game’s huge maps, for one, you could argue as part of the game’s charm, as each “chapter” is about as grand in scale as roughly 3-4 chapters in other games. Likewise, the repairable weapon mechanic is a nice compromise between encouraging the player to actually use their weapons, and Fates’ approach of inflicting heavy stat penalties upon every weapon stronger than Iron. The convoluted inventory system, on the other hand, I could live without. Instead of a simple “trade” command, each unit has their own personal funds, and the only way to transfer weapons between units is to have one unit sell an item to the Pawn Shop, then have another unit buy it for twice the price. Not only does it necessitate constant backtracking to the nearest castle every time a random mook drops a weapon, but it also greatly imbalances the game because some units have a much more difficult time acquiring Gold than others. Lovers can freely give their Gold to each other, and Thieves can give Gold directly to other units, but there are two main problems with this: 1. You only get one Thief per generation. 2. You can’t manually select how much Gold to give to the other unit; either you dump your entire wallet, or however much the other unit can carry. So, if they were to insist on bringing back the inventory system, it would need a drastic overhaul. At the very least, I’d imagine that they could make it somewhat more bearable by enabling units to sell items directly to each other without having to backtrack to the Pawn Shop. But if there’s one feature from Echoes that FE4 could definitely benefit from, it’s the presentation. A good chunk of the characters’ backstories are only vaguely alluded to in-game, which could be further expanded upon with Memory Fragments. On top of that, IS could also take advantage of the presentation to mess with the player’s expectations. Both Echoes and Awakening begin with a cutscene that takes place much later in the game, depicting a main character dying. This gives the player a sense of dread as they get closer and closer to that point in the story, only to subvert it at the end by having that character not actually die. Well, what if an FE4 remake did the opposite? Start the game with a cutscene of Sigurd triumphantly returning to Grannvale, welcomed by cheering crowds. Then, when you finally play up to that point… It could also go the BSFE route of giving us a few optional side-chapters taking place in the world’s past. Perhaps a map where you control Ishtar trying to secretly sabotage the Child Hunts without getting caught by Julius? Or one where you play as the Twelve Crusaders during the Miracle of Darna? So, what do YOU want from an FE4 remake? Or what should they avoid?
Fire Emblem Cipher: Series 14
https://fecipher.jp/ The Fire Emblem Cipher Trading Card Game (TCG) is a collectible card game based on the Fire Emblem series by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. Though it has only been available in Japan and there's no word on an official English release, it is regularly updated with new sets and rules which keep it interesting for fans to talk about. Series 14 is the upcoming expansion releasing on September 27, and will include one new booster pack featuring characters from the titles Awakening, Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn, Birthright, and Tokyo Mirage Sessions. The focus of this topic is on this particular set, but is also open to having any other discussion pertaining to the TCG in general. Getting Started Despite the TCG only being available in Japanese, there are a number of resources made available by fans in English which provide information on what you need to know in order to collect the cards or even how to play the game. The best source, in my opinion, is the wiki guide written here, though you can also refer to the information on the official site linked above, albeit in Japanese. Basically: New collectors who want to own specific cards of their favorite characters should get an idea of how much they individually go for at the local retailers and try to buy/trade for them within the second hand market (fellow fans in various communities). This is generally more cost friendly than the easy route of buying them off online retailers like eBay, Amazon, or TCG Republic, so you can get a lot of mileage from doing research and knowing what's out there and at what prices. If you want to import sealed starter decks, boosters, or sleeves, I recommend buying through AmiAmi. New players can try owning any of the available starter decks to help them with learning, which are ready to play and are all suitable for introducing the game. Online simulators with English translations of all the cards are out there too! The one shared on the wiki is pretty popular, although I personally prefer playing with FECipherVit. New sets are released every few months and new promo cards are regularly distributed during the interims through various means (events, magazines, etc.), so there's constantly new stuff to glean over. If you really like the art, know that many illustrators of the card artwork tend to publicly upload the full illustrations via Twitter or Pixiv, usually after the release of a new set. Some might not be available though. Card Sets Series 14 will be out on September 27, but there have already been hundreds of different cards released since the TCG started in 2015, with each set focusing on specific groups of Fire Emblem titles. For a full list of cards, you can check them out here, or search the wiki. Series 15, which will feature New Mystery of the Emblem, Genealogy of the Holy War, Thracia 776, and Conquest, will release later this year! Basic Rules In Fire Emblem Cipher, two players wage battle against each other using their army of characters, with the ultimate goal of claiming victory by defeating the opposing army's leader in combat until they can no longer be sustained by their five orbs. Each army's deck needs at least 50 cards to engage in battle, and unlike some other card games, running out of cards to draw from your deck just means you have to replenish your deck with all the cards left in your retreat to continue the battle, meaning the victory condition is all you have to focus on. Game Flow Each turn consists of these actions in the following order, which are divided into their own phases: Drawing a card from your deck Adding a card from your hand to the bond row Deploying units from your hand to the battlefield Attacking enemies, activating skills, or repositioning your units This goes back and forth between both players until one emerges as the battle's victor! Card Details Here's a quick rundown on what everything means on any card: Unit name - The name of the character depicted on the card. With the epithet, constitutes the card name. Epithet - A title distinguishing the unit from other different cards they may have. With the unit name, constitutes the card name. Power - A measure of the unit's strength when engaged in combat. Aid - A measure of the unit's strength when assisting an ally in combat. Range - Indicates how far the unit can attack in relation to their position on the battlefield. Class - Represents the unit's class and how seasoned they are. Skills - Normal skills the unit possesses, which grant various abilities. Assist skills - A type of skill which may only be activated when the unit is assisting an ally in combat. Field cost - The number of bonds needed to deploy the unit from your hand to the battlefield. Class change cost - The number of bonds needed to promote the already deployed unit to this card. Symbol - Denotes the unit's associated faction and color. Gender - The gender the unit is identified as. Weapon - The type of weapon the unit uses in combat. Types - Additional attributes of the unit if any, such as if they are a flier or armored. Further details on how the game plays can be found on the wiki. If there's anything you want clarification on, whether about the rules of the game or anything else regarding the cards, you're welcome to ask here!
https://fecipher.jp/ Tempered blades strike again across the lands of Elibe, Archanea, and beyond in the upcoming expansion of Fire Emblem Cipher, the Fire Emblem trading card game! The Fire Emblem Cipher TCG is a collectible card game based on the Fire Emblem series by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. Though it has only been available in Japan and there's no word on an official English release, it is regularly updated with new sets and rules which keep it interesting for fans to talk about. Series 13 is the upcoming expansion releasing on June 28, and will include one new booster pack featuring characters from the titles The Blazing Blade, Shadow Dragon, and Heroes. The focus of this topic is on this particular set, but is also open to having any other discussion pertaining to the TCG in general. Getting Started Despite the TCG only being available in Japanese, there are a number of resources made available by fans in English which provide information on what you need to know in order to collect the cards or even how to play the game. The best source, in my opinion, is the wiki guide written here, though you can also refer to the information on the official site linked above, albeit in Japanese. Basically: New collectors who want to own specific cards of their favorite characters should get an idea of how much they individually go for at the local retailers and try to buy/trade for them within the second hand market (fellow fans in various communities). This is generally more cost friendly than the easy route of buying them off online retailers like eBay, Amazon, or TCG Republic, so you can get a lot of mileage from doing research and knowing what's out there and at what prices. If you want to import sealed starter decks, boosters, or sleeves, I recommend buying through AmiAmi. New players can try owning any of the available starter decks to help them with learning, which are ready to play and are all suitable for introducing the game. Online simulators with English translations of all the cards are out there too! The one shared on the wiki is pretty popular, although I personally prefer playing with FECipherVit. New sets are released every few months and new promo cards are regularly distributed during the interims through various means (events, magazines, etc.), so there's constantly new stuff to glean over. If you really like the art, know that many illustrators of the card artwork tend to publicly upload the full illustrations via Twitter or Pixiv, usually after the release of a new set. Some might not be available though. Card Sets Series 13 will be out on June 28, but there have already been hundreds of different cards released since the TCG started in 2015, with each set focusing on specific groups of Fire Emblem titles. For a full list of cards, you can check them out here, or search the wiki. Series 14, which is currently completely unknown with details beyond the keyword of mugen, will release later this year! Basic Rules In Fire Emblem Cipher, two players wage battle against each other using their army of characters, with the ultimate goal of claiming victory by defeating the opposing army's leader in combat until they can no longer be sustained by their five orbs. Each army's deck needs at least 50 cards to engage in battle, and unlike some other card games, running out of cards to draw from your deck just means you have to replenish your deck with all the cards left in your retreat to continue the battle, meaning the victory condition is all you have to focus on. Game Flow Each turn consists of these actions in the following order, which are divided into their own phases: Drawing a card from your deck Adding a card from your hand to the bond row Deploying units from your hand to the battlefield Attacking enemies, activating skills, or repositioning your units This goes back and forth between both players until one emerges as the battle's victor! Card Details Here's a quick rundown on what everything means on any card: Unit name - The name of the character depicted on the card. With the epithet, constitutes the card name. Epithet - A title distinguishing the unit from other different cards they may have. With the unit name, constitutes the card name. Power - A measure of the unit's strength when engaged in combat. Aid - A measure of the unit's strength when assisting an ally in combat. Range - Indicates how far the unit can attack in relation to their position on the battlefield. Class - Represents the unit's class and how seasoned they are. Skills - Normal skills the unit possesses, which grant various abilities. Assist skills - A type of skill which may only be activated when the unit is assisting an ally in combat. Field cost - The number of bonds needed to deploy the unit from your hand to the battlefield. Class change cost - The number of bonds needed to promote the already deployed unit to this card. Symbol - Denotes the unit's associated faction and color. Gender - The gender the unit is identified as. Weapon - The type of weapon the unit uses in combat. Types - Additional attributes of the unit if any, such as if they are a flier or armored. Further details on how the game plays can be found on the wiki. If there's anything you want clarification on, whether about the rules of the game or anything else regarding the cards, you're welcome to ask here!
Ty's Tiki Album
By popular demand, a compilation of photos dedicated to my beloved waifu, Tiki, that I've taken over the past several years, usually on her birthday (February 28th). Please note that this is merely a compilation album. Any future Tiki birthdays will get their own threads (though this one will also be updated to include future photos). In roughly chronological order: Tiki is love, Tiki is life.
the shit I do for you people
18th reply is NSFW
Reilly Plays FE8
Reilly posted a topic in General Nintendo
Looks like everyone is bringing back their old FE LP threads. Might as well bring back mine, too. Free post count boost, I guess. Thought I'd try one of these runs, in part because I miss the Nuzlocke community of the Safari Zone, in part because I don't have a lot of experience with the franchise and would like to change that. The only FE game I've ever played to the end is Awakening, and the only other two that I've tried are FE7 (on my Wii U) and Sacred Stones (on my 3DS), and even then, I'm only a few chapters into each. If I knew the story better, I might have decided to work my sprite comic magic, as I did with my Nuzlocke (which I still haven't completed theydonothing;), but since I don't know it all that well, I'm going to try out the screenshot-caption format that most people use around here. Hopefully, I manage to capture most of the important plot stuff. I'm new to this format of storytelling, as well, so please feel free to give me some pointers and criticisms on the way I'm handling the presentation. I can't promise a consistent update schedule, as I'm busy with grad school and things, but I'll try to update at least once every weekend. Within Awakening and my limited experience with FE7 and 8, I noticed myself resetting every time I lose a unit, struggling to accept the permanent death mechanic that makes the franchise unique. I'm going to use this run to try to full-on embrace the permanent death mechanic, which is how I got the inspiration for the name. For those unfamiliar with the A Song of Ice and Fire novels or the TV series Game of Thrones, all you need to know is this: All of your favorite characters will probably die. Wish me luck! Prologue: Welcome to Magvel!
sacred stones
ninfora plays fe
somewhat new to the series
all of your favorites
will probably die
https://fecipher.jp/ The battles rage on across the lands of Tellius, Ylisse, and Jugdral in the upcoming expansion of Fire Emblem Cipher, the Fire Emblem trading card game! The Fire Emblem Cipher TCG is a collectible card game based on the Fire Emblem series by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. Though it has only been available in Japan and there's no word on an official English release, it is regularly updated with new sets and rules which keep it interesting for fans to talk about. Series 12 is the upcoming expansion releasing on March 22, and will include one new booster pack featuring characters from the titles Path of Radiance/Radiant Dawn, Awakening, and Genealogy of the Holy War. The focus of this topic is on this particular set, but is also open to having any other discussion pertaining to the TCG in general. Getting Started Despite the TCG only being available in Japanese, there are a number of resources made available by fans in English which provide information on what you need to know in order to collect the cards or even how to play the game. The best source, in my opinion, is the wiki guide written here, though you can also refer to the information on the official site linked above, albeit in Japanese. Basically: New collectors who want to own specific cards of their favorite characters should get an idea of how much they individually go for at the local retailers and try to buy/trade for them within the second hand market (fellow fans in various communities). This is generally more cost friendly than the easy route of buying them off online retailers like eBay, Amazon, or TCG Republic, so you can get a lot of mileage from doing research and knowing what's out there and at what prices. If you want to import sealed starter decks, boosters, or sleeves, I recommend buying through AmiAmi. New players can try owning any of the available starter decks to help them with learning, which are ready to play and are all suitable for introducing the game. Online simulators with English translations of all the cards are out there too! The one shared on the wiki is pretty popular, although I personally prefer playing with FECipherVit. New sets are released every few months and new promo cards are regularly distributed during the interims through various means (events, magazines, etc.), so there's constantly new stuff to glean over. If you really like the art, know that many illustrators of the card artwork tend to publicly upload the full illustrations via Twitter or Pixiv, usually after the release of a new set. Some might not be available though. Card Sets Series 12 will be out on March 22, but there have already been hundreds of different cards released since the TCG started in 2015, with each set focusing on specific groups of Fire Emblem titles. For a full list of cards, you can check them out here, or search the wiki. Series 13, which is confirmed to feature characters from the titles Shadow Dragon, Blazing Blade, and Heroes, will release later this year! Basic Rules In Fire Emblem Cipher, two players wage battle against each other using their army of characters, with the ultimate goal of claiming victory by defeating the opposing army's leader in combat until they can no longer be sustained by their five orbs. Each army's deck needs at least 50 cards to engage in battle, and unlike some other card games, running out of cards to draw from your deck just means you have to replenish your deck with all the cards left in your retreat to continue the battle, meaning the victory condition is all you have to focus on. Game Flow Each turn consists of these actions in the following order, which are divided into their own phases: Drawing a card from your deck Adding a card from your hand to the bond row Deploying units from your hand to the battlefield Attacking enemies, activating skills, or repositioning your units This goes back and forth between both players until one emerges as the battle's victor! Card Details Here's a quick rundown on what everything means on any card: Unit name - The name of the character depicted on the card. With the epithet, constitutes the card name. Epithet - A title distinguishing the unit from other different cards they may have. With the unit name, constitutes the card name. Power - A measure of the unit's strength when engaged in combat. Aid - A measure of the unit's strength when assisting an ally in combat. Range - Indicates how far the unit can attack in relation to their position on the battlefield. Class - Represents the unit's class and how seasoned they are. Skills - Normal skills the unit possesses, which grant various abilities. Assist skills - A type of skill which may only be activated when the unit is assisting an ally in combat. Field cost - The number of bonds needed to deploy the unit from your hand to the battlefield. Class change cost - The number of bonds needed to promote the already deployed unit to this card. Symbol - Denotes the unit's associated faction and color. Gender - The gender the unit is identified as. Weapon - The type of weapon the unit uses in combat. Types - Additional attributes of the unit if any, such as if they are a flier or armored. Further details on how the game plays can be found on the wiki. If there's anything you want clarification on, whether about the rules of the game or anything else regarding the cards, you're welcome to ask here!
In honor of the 3-13 Archer from Radiant Dawn, the 13th day of the 3rd month is dedicated to the under-appreciated Archer class from the Fire Emblem series. However, with the ongoing success of Heroes, Nintendo seems to have lost sight of what it means to be an Archer. A lovestruck Pegasus Knight in a wedding dress? That's an Archer. A Thief in a swimsuit shooting popsicles at people? That's an Archer. A Butler dressed up like Frankenstein's Monster? That's an Archer (and an Armor Knight, apparently). But perhaps more distressingly, this neglect is also carrying over to other spinoff games: in Warriors, all four bow-users have the exact same moveset. This is a problem, because in the past two "mainline" games, Archers have also served as the most prominent representation of the LGBT community. Prior to Niles and Leon, the only explicitly LGBT character was Heather from Radiant Dawn. Now, what was her class? Thief. Therefore, Nintendo equated LGBT characters with people who break the law. Now, the entire above paragraph may have been shitposting, but the point still stands: Archers are an under-appreciated class that deserve more respect. So, who are YOUR favorite Archers?
The time has once again come to wish a happy birthday to the Daughter of Naga, Princess of the Divine Dragons, and love of my life, Tiki. This past year has been a big one for the both of us. Not only has she gotten three units in Fire Emblem Heroes, but she's also playable in Fire Emblem Warriors. But I'd also like to share something that I neglected to mention in last year's thread. If anyone wants to skip it, feel free to. Happy birthday, Tiki. No amount of ridicule from people on the internet will ever diminish my love for you. I probably could've gotten away with posting the unedited version of that picture without covering up her nipple in photoshop, but I didn't want to risk it.
https://fecipher.jp/ Journey through distant roads across the lands of Magvel, Aytolis, and Valentia in the upcoming expansion of Fire Emblem Cipher, the Fire Emblem trading card game! The Fire Emblem Cipher TCG is a collectible card game based on the Fire Emblem series by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. Though it has only been available in Japan and there's no word on an official English release, it is regularly updated with new sets and rules which keep it interesting for fans to talk about. Getting Started Despite the TCG only being available in Japanese, there are a number of resources made available by fans in English which provide information on what you need to know in order to collect the cards or even how to play the game. The best source, in my opinion, is the wiki guide written here, though you can also refer to the information on the official site linked above, albeit in Japanese. Basically: New collectors who want to own specific cards of their favorite characters should get an idea of how much they individually go for at the local retailers and try to buy/trade for them within the second hand market (fellow fans in various communities). This is generally more cost friendly than the easy route of buying them off online retailers like eBay, Amazon, or TCG Republic, so you can get a lot of mileage from doing research and knowing what's out there and at what prices. If you want to import sealed starter decks, boosters, or sleeves, I recommend buying through AmiAmi. New players can try owning any of the available starter decks to help them with learning, which are ready to play and are all suitable for introducing the game. Online simulators with English translations of all the cards are out there too! The one shared on the wiki is pretty popular, although I personally prefer playing with FECipherVit. New sets are released every few months and new promo cards are regularly distributed during the interims through various means (events, magazines, etc.), so there's constantly new stuff to glean over. If you really like the art, know that many illustrators of the card artwork tend to publicly upload the full illustrations via Twitter or Pixiv, usually after the release of a new set. Some might not be available though. Card Sets Series 11 will be out on December 7, but there have already been hundreds of different cards released since the TCG started in 2015, with each set focusing on specific groups of Fire Emblem titles. For a full list of cards, you can check them out here, or search the wiki. Series 12, which is confirmed to feature Fire Emblem Awakening, Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, will release early next year. Basic Rules In Fire Emblem Cipher, two players wage battle against each other using their army of characters, with the ultimate goal of claiming victory by defeating the opposing army's leader in combat until they can no longer be sustained by their five orbs. Each army's deck needs at least 50 cards to engage in battle, and unlike some other card games, running out of cards to draw from your deck just means you have to replenish your deck with all the cards left in your retreat to continue the battle, meaning the victory condition is all you have to focus on. Game Flow Each turn consists of these actions in the following order, which are divided into their own phases: Drawing a card from your deck Adding a card from your hand to the bond row Deploying units from your hand to the battlefield Attacking enemies, activating skills, or repositioning your units This goes back and forth between both players until one emerges as the battle's victor! Card Details Here's a quick rundown on what everything means on any card: Unit name - The name of the character depicted on the card. With the epithet, constitutes the card name. Epithet - A title distinguishing the unit from other different cards they may have. With the unit name, constitutes the card name. Power - A measure of the unit's strength when engaged in combat. Aid - A measure of the unit's strength when assisting an ally in combat. Range - Indicates how far the unit can attack in relation to their position on the battlefield. Class - Represents the unit's class and how seasoned they are. Skills - Normal skills the unit possesses, which grant various abilities. Assist skills - A type of skill which may only be activated when the unit is assisting an ally in combat. Field cost - The number of bonds needed to deploy the unit from your hand to the battlefield. Class change cost - The number of bonds needed to promote the already deployed unit to this card. Symbol - Denotes the unit's associated faction and color. Gender - The gender the unit is identified as. Weapon - The type of weapon the unit uses in combat. Types - Additional attributes of the unit if any, such as if they are a flier or armored. Further details on how the game plays can be found on the wiki. If there's anything you want clarification on, whether about the rules of the game or anything else regarding the cards, you're welcome to ask here!
http://fireemblemwarriors.nintendo.com/ Heroes from across the Fire Emblem universe collide in Fire Emblem Warriors on Nintendo Switch and New Nintendo 3DS, available starting October 20th! General discussion for FE Warriors goes here!
Fire Emblem Warriors (Switch) Review
Eliwood8 posted a topic in General Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda got the Musou treatment a few years ago on Wii U and 3DS, and now it's Fire Emblem's turn. Fire Emblem Warriors combines the colorful characters of Nintendo's strategy RPG series with the visceral and over-the-top action of Musou games like Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors. Thoughtful, turn-based combat is traded for real-time action where hundreds of enemies charge at your heroes, heroes drawn from across the history of Fire Emblem (though largely from the more recent entries in the series). It may be quite a gameplay change for Fire Emblem but like peanut butter and chocolate the two come together perfectly. Nintendo fans familiar with Hyrule Warriors will see some immediate similarities with FEW: worlds collide when portals between different Fire Emblem universes open up, allowing various heroes to fight alongside one another. And just like in Hyrule Warriors there are a few original characters as well. Rowan and Lianna are the twin prince and princess of Aytolis, and they're the ones that bind the group together on their quest to prevent the revival of the evil dragon Velezark. The plot isn't exactly a complex piece of writing, but FEW is still first and foremost a game catering to fans who want to see their favorite characters interact with one another. It may not be an elaborate story but it's fun to see a bunch of characters team up and battle alongside one another. There are even some support conversations as in the main series which is a nice touch, especially when characters from different universes interact. Musou games are founded upon a very simple tenet: it is a lot of fun to destroy enemy armies. Sure you have specific goals on each map and there are sub missions to keep you occupied as well but when it comes down to it, games like FEW are satisfying just for the enjoyment of wrecking whole swathes of enemy soldiers and building your kill count as high as you can. Sure it can be a little mindless at times but it really is gratifying to play. And to be fair there is still an element of strategy at play here as well. It's not quite on the same level as the main Fire Emblem series, but it's enough that if all you're doing is knocking down enemies you're not going to win on some of the tougher maps. In FEW you're both fighter and tactician, and you need to keep an eye on the whole battlefield to know where your ass-kicking skills are most needed at any given moment. Allies may be in danger, powerful enemies may spawn in unexpected locations, or one area of the map may just be overrun. The game alerts you to these developments, though sometimes it's hard to tell exactly what is happening on the mini-map. Thankfully there are some important strategy tools at your disposal. You can pause the game to get a good look at the map and direct your characters to attack or defend certain points. You can also switch between characters at any time—the AI is simply never as effective as a player controlled character—so you can quickly move to whatever point needs you most. On the truly difficult maps it can feel like spinning plates, trying to keep your army afloat against overwhelming odds, but that just makes the victory all the more satisfying. FEW also takes a few cues from the Fire Emblem series to add a bit more nuance to the gameplay. FEW features the weapons triangle (sword beats axe, axe beats lance, lance beats sword) and when you have advantage over an enemy it's easier to stun them and deal heavy damage. You can only bring so many characters into each battle so you'll want to survey the map and plan accordingly as far as what weapons might be most useful. You can also pair up characters just like recent Fire Emblem games, adding a bit of offensive and defensive power to the main character. Some characters on the map are strictly there for support purposes but if you pair up two playable characters you can switch between the two and make better use of the weapon triangle to take down enemies. It's great to have a bit more strategy at play in the game, but on the flipside you aren't beholden to it. If you want you can fight lance users with a sword-wielding character—it'll be a little harder, but FEW also has RPG leveling, so if you are a few levels above your opponent you won't have much trouble cutting through them like paper anyway. If you really want to stick to using specific characters you can (for the most part; some maps do have requirements/restrictions on whom you can bring). And with twenty playable characters in the main game—with more as unlockables and DLC—you're bound to find some that are your favorites. Even outside of the different weapon classes there is a decent amount of variety in how each character fights, so replaying maps with different characters can feel a little different. And Musou games are gold mines for replay value. You can build up support levels between characters, raise levels, earn gold, and gather items for upgrading character skill trees. Suffice it to say that, if you want to 100% complete FEW, you'll be putting a lot of time into the game. And if those hours upon hours of gameplay aren't enough the game also has a string of DLC planned, some of which is even free. A lot of it can be pretty repetitive but it's still satisfying to destroy waves of enemies, even the hundredth time you've done it. FEW also features split-screen co-op, and the only thing better than decimating enemy armies is being able to do it with a buddy. Co-op can also make it easier to coordinate your units since you can just plan together what needs to be done and cover more ground. The downside is the game takes a pretty noticeable hit to performance with two players. When one player is using a special attack the frame rate drops, and since the game is rendering two characters at different locations there are a lot fewer enemies on screen—sometimes this can actually make it a lot harder to hit the bonus goal of 1,000 enemy kills in a single map. The mini-map is also poorly handled in co-op. Both players get their own mini-map which is not only completely unnecessary, but it makes actually seeing the details of the map difficult. Of course you can just pause the game and look at the map there but it really is silly to have separate maps with a split-screen view. It has been quite a while since Fire Emblem fans have gotten to see a game made for a home console rather than handheld, and never before in HD. As a fan of the series it's a lot of fun to see these characters on the big screen, with all of the flashy, over-the-top attacks that pause the battle just so you can drink in all of the destruction. Even if the normal soldiers are pretty faceless there's still something so satisfying about seeing whole waves of them get knocked down with each attack. The game also has a pretty solid rock soundtrack, fused with bits of familiar Fire Emblem themes, but you'd hardly know it while playing. During battle it seems like characters never stop talking, whether to announce some change in battle or spout out a one-liner before a special attack. It's not that the voice acting is poor, for the most part it's pretty good, but it's kind of shame that it steps on the soundtrack's toes so often. As a longtime fan of Fire Emblem it's so much fun to see how much the franchise's popularity has boomed over the past few years, to the point where it now has a spin-off largely catered to the fans. But where Fire Emblem is slower paced and strategic, Fire Emblem Warriors is fast, chaotic, and thrilling. It's a distinctly different style but the characters of Fire Emblem and the gameplay of the Musou series manage to blend perfectly in a game all about fast, rewarding action gameplay. This game doesn't do much to reinvent the Musou franchise—there is still an undeniably repetitive cycle to the way these games work—but at the end of the day it doesn't really need to. Fire Emblem Warriors is still a beautifully action-packed game, one that will reward tenacious players with hours upon hours of game time. The only question now is: what will be the next Nintendo franchise to get the Musou treatment? Rating: 8 out of 10 Emblems
https://fecipher.jp/ Deliver the justice across the lands of Zenith, Jugdral, and more in the upcoming expansion of Fire Emblem Cipher, the Fire Emblem trading card game! The Fire Emblem Cipher TCG is a collectible card game based on the Fire Emblem series by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. Though it has only been available in Japan and there's no word on an official English release, it is regularly updated with new sets and rules which keep it interesting for fans to talk about. Getting Started Despite the TCG only being available in Japanese, there are a number of resources made available by fans in English which provide information on what you need to know in order to collect the cards or even how to play the game. The best source, in my opinion, is the wiki guide written here, though you can also refer to the information on the official site linked above, albeit in Japanese. Basically: New collectors who want to own specific cards of their favorite characters should get an idea of how much they individually go for at the local retailers and try to buy/trade for them within the second hand market (fellow fans in various communities). This is generally more cost friendly than the easy route of buying them off online retailers like eBay, Amazon, or TCG Republic, so you can get a lot of mileage from doing research and knowing what's out there and at what prices. If you want to import sealed starter decks, boosters, or sleeves, I recommend buying through AmiAmi. New players can try owning any of the available starter decks to help them with learning, which are ready to play and are all suitable for introducing the game. Online simulators with English translations of all the cards are out there too! The one shared on the wiki is pretty popular, although I personally prefer playing with FECipherVit. New sets are released every few months and new promo cards are regularly distributed during the interims through various means (events, magazines, etc.), so there's constantly new stuff to glean over. If you really like the art, know that many illustrators of the card artwork tend to publicly upload the full illustrations via Twitter or Pixiv, usually after the release of a new set. Some might not be available though. Card Sets Series 10 will be out on September 21, but there have already been hundreds of different cards released since the TCG started in 2015, with each set focusing on specific groups of Fire Emblem titles. For a full list of cards, you can check them out here, or search the wiki. Series 11, which is confirmed to feature Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, Fire Emblem Warriors, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, will release later this year. Basic Rules In Fire Emblem Cipher, two players wage battle against each other using their army of characters, with the ultimate goal of claiming victory by defeating the opposing army's leader in combat until they can no longer be sustained by their five orbs. Each army's deck needs at least 50 cards to engage in battle, and unlike some other card games, running out of cards to draw from your deck just means you have to replenish your deck with all the cards left in your retreat to continue the battle, meaning the victory condition is all you have to focus on. Game Flow Each turn consists of these actions in the following order, which are divided into their own phases: Drawing a card from your deck Adding a card from your hand to the bond row Deploying units from your hand to the battlefield Attacking enemies, activating skills, or repositioning your units This goes back and forth between both players until one emerges as the battle's victor! Card Details Here's a quick rundown on what everything means on any card: Unit name - The name of the character depicted on the card. With the epithet, constitutes the card name. Epithet - A title distinguishing the unit from other different cards they may have. With the unit name, constitutes the card name. Power - A measure of the unit's strength when engaged in combat. Aid - A measure of the unit's strength when assisting an ally in combat. Range - Indicates how far the unit can attack in relation to their position on the battlefield. Class - Represents the unit's class and how seasoned they are. Skills - Normal skills the unit possesses, which grant various abilities. Assist skills - A type of skill which may only be activated when the unit is assisting an ally in combat. Field cost - The number of bonds needed to deploy the unit from your hand to the battlefield. Class change cost - The number of bonds needed to promote the already deployed unit to this card. Symbol - Denotes the unit's associated faction and color. Gender - The gender the unit is identified as. Weapon - The type of weapon the unit uses in combat. Types - Additional attributes of the unit if any, such as if they are a flier or armored. Further details on how the game plays can be found on the wiki. If there's anything you want clarification on, whether about the rules of the game or anything else regarding the cards, you're welcome to ask here!
Sakura & Male Corrin revealed for Fire Emblem Warriors
Juanblue85 posted a topic in General Nintendo
The next playable character in Fire Emblem Warriors has been revealed via Famitsu, and it’s the final one of the royal siblings from Fire Emblem Fates, Sakura. Her main weapon is a bow, which she could use in Fates if she promoted into a Priestess. Edit: Forgot to add that Male Corrin is also confirmed. http://nintendoeverything.com/sakura-revealed-as-next-playable-character-in-fire-emblem-warriors/#disqus_thread
Cordelia and Female Robin confirmed for Fire Emblem Warriors!
Fire Emblem Cipher: Series 9
https://fecipher.jp/ Uncover hidden strengths from across Valentia, Elibe, and Tellius in the upcoming expansion of Fire Emblem Cipher, the Fire Emblem trading card game! The Fire Emblem Cipher TCG is a collectible card game based on the Fire Emblem series by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. Though it has only been available in Japan and there's no word on an official English release, it is regularly updated with new sets and rules which keep it interesting for fans to talk about. Getting Started Despite the TCG only being available in Japanese, there are a number of resources made available by fans in English which provide information on what you need to know in order to collect the cards or even how to play the game. The best source, in my opinion, is the wiki guide written here, though you can also refer to the information on the official site linked above, albeit in Japanese. Basically: New collectors who want to own specific cards of their favorite characters should get an idea of how much they individually go for at the local retailers and try to buy/trade for them within the second hand market (fellow fans in various communities). This is generally more cost friendly than the easy route of buying them off online retailers like eBay, Amazon, or TCG Republic, so you can get a lot of mileage from doing research and knowing what's out there and at what prices. If you want to import sealed starter decks, boosters, or sleeves, I recommend buying through AmiAmi. New players can try owning any of the available starter decks to help them with learning, which are ready to play and are all suitable for introducing the game. Online simulators with English translations of all the cards are out there too! The one shared on the wiki is pretty popular, although I personally prefer playing with FECipherVit. New sets are released every few months and new promo cards are regularly distributed during the interims through various means (events, magazines, etc.), so there's constantly new stuff to glean over. If you really like the art, know that many illustrators of the card artwork tend to publicly upload the full illustrations via Twitter or Pixiv, usually after the release of a new set. Some might not be available though. Card Sets Series 9 will be out on June 22, but there have already been hundreds of different cards released since the TCG started in 2015, with each set focusing on specific groups of Fire Emblem titles. For a full list of cards, you can check them out here, or search the wiki. Series 10, which is confirmed to feature Fire Emblem: Thracia 776, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest, Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, and Fire Emblem Heroes, will release later this year. It has also been announced that Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones and Fire Emblem Warriors will be featured in a Cipher set release at some point this year, most likely in Series 11. Basic Rules In Fire Emblem Cipher, two players wage battle against each other using their army of characters, with the ultimate goal of claiming victory by defeating the opposing army's leader in combat until they can no longer be sustained by their five orbs. Each army's deck needs at least 50 cards to engage in battle, and unlike some other card games, running out of cards to draw from your deck just means you have to replenish your deck with all the cards left in your retreat to continue the battle, meaning the victory condition is all you have to focus on. Game Flow Each turn consists of these actions in the following order, which are divided into their own phases: Drawing a card from your deck Adding a card from your hand to the bond row Deploying units from your hand to the battlefield Attacking enemies, activating skills, or repositioning your units This goes back and forth between both players until one emerges as the battle's victor! Card Details Here's a quick rundown on what everything means on any card: Unit name - The name of the character depicted on the card. With the epithet, constitutes the card name. Epithet - A title distinguishing the unit from other different cards they may have. With the unit name, constitutes the card name. Power - A measure of the unit's strength when engaged in combat. Aid - A measure of the unit's strength when assisting an ally in combat. Range - Indicates how far the unit can attack in relation to their position on the battlefield. Class - Represents the unit's class and how seasoned they are. Skills - Normal skills the unit possesses, which grant various abilities. Assist skills - A type of skill which may only be activated when the unit is assisting an ally in combat. Field cost - The number of bonds needed to deploy the unit from your hand to the battlefield. Class change cost - The number of bonds needed to promote the already deployed unit to this card. Symbol - Denotes the unit's associated faction and color. Gender - The gender the unit is identified as. Weapon - The type of weapon the unit uses in combat. Types - Additional attributes of the unit if any, such as if they are a flier or armored. Further details on how the game plays can be found on the wiki. If there's anything you want clarification on, whether about the rules of the game or anything else regarding the cards, you're welcome to ask here!
The Mouth of Truth *archived thread*
DISCLAIMER: This is a reproduction of a thread on NS2, which has long since been lost to the flow of time. I am re-posting it here for archival purposes only, as it is the origin of an inside joke that few people would otherwise understand. The opinions expressed in this thread are solely those of the people being quoted, and do not reflect the views of N4A or any of its affiliates. Additionally, N4A is not responsible for any brain damage caused by prolonged exposure to this thread. Since I'm shit at editing, I'll just tag each post by putting the person's name in front of it. The_Ultimate_Mario_Fan: @DLurkster: The_Ultimate_Mario_Fan: @DLurkster: @Youngster Joey: @Carl321: @Chrom: @K The_Ultimate_Mario_Fan (from here on out referred to as TUMF): Sorry, but Romans ARE Italians. There's a reason Rome is known as "The Eternal City." Just because we call Rome part of Italy now doesn't mean Rome can't be considered Italian history as well. "Felicità" means "happiness" in Italian, so it does seem they are decidedly focusing on Italian themes, even if in ostensibly minor ways. I hope they continue to inject more of this culture into the game. Also, "if" in Italian is "se." I wonder if that means anything.... (SE.... Square Enix? :o) @K: Except you used the word culture not history, Roman culture is not italian culture. And no Romans are not italians. TUMF: No, it is, at least in a matter of speaking. It isn't current Italian culture, no, but historically Rome is inextricably tied with Italian history and its culture. Think of Rome as the Proto-Italy. And that second sentence is almost as dense as saying New Yorkers aren't Americans. @Chrom: The first two Fire Emblem games on the GBA also had some minor Italian flavor, for what it's worth. For example, there's a territory called Tuscany and an entire region named after Etruria. In fact, the whole continent of Elibe (the setting of the aforementioned games) is even shaped like Europe, so those games are rife with a ton of similar European references, although none as blatant as the Mouth of Truth monster. @K: That's not what your original sentence meant though, what you're saying now is that it's tied to Roman culture, which is true, but it's tied because roman artifacts an and ruins are in Italy and they have based their daily lives around those things. To say Roman culture is Italian culture is a fallacy. And Rome is in no way a Proto-Italy. Only if New Yorkers lived thousands of years ago and had been conquered a dozen or so times. Making that comparison is dense. TUMF: Uh dude, yes it is. "Proto" means "earliest" or "ancestral" and Rome indeed far predates the Italy as the way we know it today. Also, numerous Roman customs carried over into the Italian way of life. The Mouth of Truth has since been adopted as a quintessential part of Italian cultural history as well. So many aspects of Rome have been enmeshed with the Italians that you can't just cleanly separate them like that, especially considering that Rome hasn't exactly changed locations. And let me just make sure: Are you aware that Romans still exist? Yes? Then you'll see how silly you sound. Ancient Romans on the other hand technically aren't Italian because Italy didn't exist yet. However, it isn't a stretch to call these Romans a part of Italian history, as without Rome, the Italy we know today basically wouldn't exist. Now let's please get back on topic. @K: Clearly you don't get how proto is used, just because they were a civilization that existed in the same space as the current italy and borrowed some customs doesn't mean they were Proto-Italians, they were completely different culturally. And I didn't say you couldn't say that there are parts of Italian culture tied to Roman culture I said that Italian Culture is not Roman culture. You know I was talking about Ancient Romans, or did you not read when I was talking about thousands of years ago. You even saying something like that just makes you seem spiteful. And I said from the beginning that I wasn't arguing that Romans weren't part of Italian history, I've been arguing your use of the word culture this whole time and yet you seem to not get that. TUMF: That's what I'm trying to get through to you: Romans were not "completely" different culturally--which also depends on what era of Italy you are drawing a comparison with--and were the same geographically. "Proto" can indeed be used here. Your point of contention was that the Mouth of Truth is not Italian, which simply isn't true--it is both Italian AND Roman. I frankly found it disrespectful that you would deny this artifact is in any way Italian when it has resided in Italy for centuries (millennia geographically), regardless of its origin, but to each his own. Italian is one of the few things I take very seriously around here and if I have learned anything from this prattle, it's that you're exceedingly persnickety when it comes to subjective semantics. For the record, I never said nor meant that Italian culture was the same as Ancient Roman culture. @K: So you would call Roman Armor Italian Armor as well? America isn't completely culturally different from Rome or Japan or Irish. There isn't a culture out there that doesn't take some small things from another, but if you're gonna tell me that Italian culture is even close to what Roman culture was then you're sadly misinformed. You know arguing semantics is not an insult right? You said things that were incorrect and now your saying that's not what you meant? @Iridium: This would almost be a good comparison if you'd at least said "New Yorkers aren't English", considering that that's far closer to what you're trying to compare it to. They were English at one point. Aspects of English culture carried into their society. That doesn't make them the successor to England or Modern Englishmen or anything like that. English history/culture/society, for the most part, is not the history/culture/society of New York. @Malkon: TUMF: It wasn't intended to be an insult, it was a tired statement. And please point out where I say the Italian and Ancient Roman cultures are the same, because I never did. However, I cannot agree that Ancient Rome, and especially Rome, shares no relation with Italy or its history and culture. The Romans and Ancient Romans are different, my friend. If you want to trade blows, take it to PMs. In the interest of conserving space, I'm cutting it off here at the end of page 1. Pages 2 and 3 will be up sometime after dinner.
Rome is Italy
TUMF
Four Awakening Characters Confirmed for Fire Emblem Warriors
So I saw this on GoNintendo earlier today but this trailer was shown at the 2017 Japan Expo. Believe it confirms Male Robin, Frederick, Lissa and Lucina. It could just be a confirmation for them being in the story. Pick a God and Pray!
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
http://fireemblemechoes.nintendo.com/ Intro Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is an enhanced remake of the second game in the Fire Emblem series, Fire Emblem Gaiden, which was originally released exclusively for the Famicom in 1992. In the game, players lead Alm and Celica along parallel paths in a quest to bring peace to a war-torn land through turn-based strategic battles. Now remade, remastered, and releasing outside of Japan for the first time ever, players can embark on the adventure on Nintendo 3DS with new features, including full voice acting, animated cutscenes, and new story content. In addition to the standard retail version and digital edition on Nintendo eShop, the Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Limited Edition has been made available too. Along with the retail version, comes with: Valentia Artbook (~40 pages) Reversible title sheet (designed after the original Fire Emblem Gaiden cover) Sound Selection CD (30 tracks) Pin Set (Alm, Celica, Marth) Features Explore Dungeons in 3D In a series first, players can explore dungeons in full 3D environments. Dive deep into what lies ahead, collecting treasure and engaging enemies in real time (though the actual battles are still in classic Fire Emblem fashion). Difficulty Options When you start a new game, you can choose options such as Classic Mode, where fallen warriors are gone forever, or Casual Mode, where the fallen return in the next battle. Relationships Position heroes next to each other on the battlefield and you may get to see extra conversations between characters. There are no mechanics tied to an avatar, marriage, or children like in Fire Emblem Awakening or Fire Emblem Fates. Tour the Towns You can visit towns and villages to talk to locals, look for items, and get quests. You may even meet new recruits to add to your armies. Experience Need to level up certain characters? Use them to explore 3D dungeons as many times as you like. Choose Your Battles Keep an eye on the map for new enemies that pop up in areas you’ve visited—then go get ‘em. Mila's Turnwheel You can use this special function during battle to revert back to a previous turn...helpful if you make a bad choice. amiibo With the Alm and Celica amiibo figures releasing alongside the game (exclusively as a two-pack in North America, individually elsewhere), you can challenge special dungeons. Test your mettle to see if you have what it takes to overcome them. In addition, you can tap an amiibo of a Fire Emblem character during battle to summon an ally in their likeness to assist you for one turn. The Alm and Celica amiibo can also store data so that you can retain their stats as they grow stronger. And if you don't have any amiibo of Fire Emblem characters, any other amiibo will work too and summon a random monster ally. DLC Build up your army with purchasable downloadable content. Some packs let you farm for items, experience, or in-game currency, while others offer more story content or add new characters. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia offers five different DLC packs that will be released weekly starting at launch, but you may buy them all in advance with a single purchase via the season pass at a discount ($44.99 USD) versus buying each piece of DLC individually. Fledgling Warriors Pack ($7.99 USD): A bundle of maps and a dungeon designed to aid novice warriors in the opening stages of their adventure. Undaunted Heroes Pack ($9.99 USD): A bundle of maps and a dungeon designed to aid seasoned champions in the latter stages of their adventure. Lost Altars Pack ($14.99 USD): A set of altars that grant power beyond normal human limits to those that are worthy. Each of these maps allows a character that has reached their maximum level to move up. Rise of the Deliverance Pack ($12.99 USD): A prequel pack of four maps tracing the war waged by the Deliverance. It occurs shortly before the start of Alm's tale. Cipher Companions Pack ($5.99 USD): Each pack in this two-pack set introduces two exclusive characters from the Japanese Fire Emblem Cipher trading card game. The characters will also be usable in the main game and will be fully voiced. For more information on DLC, you can check out this page: http://fireemblemechoes.nintendo.com/dlc/ Trailers Here's a collection of official videos by Nintendo promoting the game. Also included here as a bonus is Nintendo Minute's unboxing video of the Limited Edition. Launch Trailer Extended TV Cut Warring Gods Zofia's Call Two Armies 'A Master Class in Strategy' DLC Briefing Limited Edition Unboxing – Nintendo Minute Enjoy the game!
Fire Emblem Warriors - Daily Twitter updates
With the advent of the first new details about the upcoming Fire Emblem Warriors for Nintendo Switch and New Nintendo 3DS, Koei Tecmo has just launched the official site for the game, as well as an official Twitter account (@FireEmblemMusou) for the Japanese audience. The site at this time mostly just provides the same details as the preliminary info that was recently published by Famitsu (summarized in English here), but even more information is expected to arrive soon, as the Twitter account has posted that they intend to provide daily updates on the game. The game's planned release for fall 2017 is still a ways off, but in the meantime, these daily Twitter updates should prove to help make the wait more interesting as we learn more and more about the game over the next few months. Thus, the purpose of this topic is to facilitate any discussion regarding these forthcoming updates. Feel free to share or talk about any of them! To start, the Twitter account itself has revealed one entirely new detail: the presence of Anna, who serves as something of a series mascot for Fire Emblem, so it's little surprise to see that she serves a role in this new title. Whether or not she is actually playable has yet to be revealed!
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Review
When Fire Emblem finally made its international debut in 2003 with the GBA game, it was actually the seventh game in a series already well regarded in Japan. For several years American players didn't have a chance to play those earlier six games, until Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, a remake of the first game, released on the DS in 2009. It's been close to a decade since then but Nintendo has finally treated its international Fire Emblem fans to another taste of those early strategy adventures with Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, a remake of the second game in the series, Fire Emblem Gaiden. Shadows of Valentia isn't just a glimpse into the history of Fire Emblem though. Similar to Zelda II this sequel deviated from several of the features from the first game that would go on to become series norms. Shadows of Valentia retains most of these quirks while adding new features familiar to modern players to make one of the more unusual but just as captivating Fire Emblem games. The basic story of Valentia my seem familiar for anyone that has played a previous Fire Emblem game: the two nations of Rigel and Zofia are fundamentally opposed to one another in ideology, and when a coup kills the king of Zofia a war erupts on the continent of Valentia. There's more intrigue at play here though with missing royal heirs, as well as a missing goddess. It's a fine backdrop for a Fire Emblem story made better by a strong cast of characters. Alm and Celica share the spotlight as the key protagonists, and despite a childhood friendship find themselves on separate quests across Valentia. Their interactions with one another and the rest of the cast prove compelling, especially since there are essentially two armies in the game (Alm's and Celica's) so it doesn't feel like there are as many fluff characters as you might encounter in past Fire Emblems. The characters have a realistic amount of depth in their support conversations–after C level at least, many of which are oddly abrupt–and by the final plot twists of the game it's easy to care for all of them. As mentioned Shadows of Valentia retains many of the unique features of the original Gaiden. One of the more significant ones is dungeon exploration, where you can explore small caves and shrines to find treasure and battle monsters (battles are in the traditional strategy map grid). It feels strange for a Fire Emblem game at first, but it's a novel feature and a fun change of pace. The enemies within these dungeons are generally push-overs and you can get advantage on them before the battle by striking them, which makes them ideal for training weak units. On the other hand these battles can be so easy at times that it feels like you're wading through battle fodder, which can be fatiguing–literally, in this game's case. The fatigue system is brought back from Thracia 776, so when you use one unit a lot in battle they might tire out which causes their stats to drop. It's pretty much a non-issue in Shadows of Valentia though. For one, fatigue isn't a serious factor in normal battles, so it only has an effect in dungeons. For two, although fatigue carries over from one battle to the next, fatigue accrues slowly (thanks to the easy battles) and it is extremely easy to recover fatigue with healing items. Fatigue isn't the fun novelty that dungeon exploration is, but neither is it a weight on the player. Shadows of Valentia also lacks the familiar weapon triangle that has been a staple of the series for years (although the weapon triangle was not in Gaiden either). This is another feature that can feel jarring to veteran players, especially since it is mostly noticeable on weaker units who no longer have the crutch of a small boost to hit rate. Aside from the fact that your units' hit rate will be lower than average for other games you'll probably forget about the lack of a weapon triangle after the first few maps. More interesting is the weapon system itself in Shadows of Valentia, where weapons are equipped as items and you can only have one at a time. Weapons don't break, and after a unit repeatedly uses a weapon they'll learn an art–a special attack. Arts are an interesting addition; they're not useful in every situation since you can't attack twice with the majority of them, but every so often you need just a little extra power to finish off an enemy and arts become a valuable asset. And since you can't carry multiple weapons like other games, arts can sometimes fill the role of a different weapon, like adding +1 to your attack range. The downside is you don't get to keep the art if you change weapons, but Shadows of Valentia does have a weapon forge so you can improve weapons to keep them useful. It's a new way of planning out how best to equip your army for a Fire Emblem game, and although equipping only one weapon seems more simple there is still a satisfying degree of forethought necessary. Another surprising quirk of Shadows of Valentia and Gaiden is that magic requires health to cast, and the more powerful the magic the more costly it is. At first this system sounds kind of crazy, especially for a strategy game where making sure you have just enough health to survive the enemy's turn can sometimes be crucial. It definitely adds another layer to how you lay your plans. Mages end up feeling particularly delicate, especially if their maximum health isn't high to begin with. But as with everything in Fire Emblem it's manageable with a little strategic planning, especially since there are several spells that have a range of 3, so it's easy to keep mages out of the line of fire. And more importantly, magical attacks are far too valuable in this game to recoil at the sight of a few lost hit points. Resistance seems to be the dump stat of choice for just about every enemy type–and your own characters as well–so a good mage is worth the calculated risk. Easily the most useful oddity of Shadows of Valentia is Mila's Turnwheel, a feature entirely unique to this game. Every Fire Emblem player has had a moment that they wish they could undo, whether it's a character's death, a bad level-up, or a rage-inducing miss despite a 92% chance to hit. If the result was truly unforgivable players would routinely restart the entire battle, sometimes losing an hour or more of time. With Mila's Turnwheel players can turn back time by a single move or more to correct these mistakes. This can be hugely valuable, though there's a limit on the number of uses you have in a single battle (or a single dungeon) which prevents it from being completely overpowered. Of course, die-hard traditionalists can just ignore it, but for players that don't mind the game taking a bit of pity on them a bad move no longer has to be a catastrophic one. Of course, not every preserved quirk of the original Gaiden is necessarily to Shadows of Valentia's credit. Most notably the map design is a bore. And not just in the sense of uninteresting designs or repetitive objectives (most are rout the enemy), but annoying designs such as huge fields with one funnel that requires you to slowly move characters through. Enemy armies aren't always the most interesting either, with small numbers and little variety. Battles within dungeons are perhaps understandably simple, but even many of the main story battles tend to be surprisingly uncomplex. There is a bit of a feeling of quantity over quality battles in Shadows of Valentia. That's not to say the game is easy. There are still challenging moments, and perhaps the biggest challenge is the abysmal growth rates of most characters, which really makes the lack of a weapon triangle sting. Hit percentages can seem almost comically low, oftentimes not worth the risk in a different Fire Emblem game. None of this makes Shadows of Valentia too frustrating per se, but overall the core map and battle design of Gaiden could have used a bit of an overhaul for this remake. It's a Fire Emblem game so there's nothing fancy to learn about the controls–just about the only noteworthy aspect is that the N3DS c-stick is useful for camera control while exploring dungeons. Speaking of N3DS, Shadows of Valentia also supports amiibo. Any amiibo can be used to summon a random ally for one turn, or a Fire Emblem amiibo can summon that specific character (i.e. a Marth amiibo summons Marth). The only problem is that summoning an ally not only costs Alm's or Celica's turn, it costs them 10HP. This has a weird catch-22 effect for amiibo usefulness: having an extra unit would be most beneficial in early maps, but those are the times when losing 10HP would be the biggest problem. Conversely, by the time that health isn't as much of a concern you probably wouldn't have much use for an amiibo fighter, especially at the expense of Alm or Celica attacking directly. amiibo rarely have a profound effect on any game anyway though so it's not a huge loss having the amiibo in this game be only quasi useful. More importantly, Shadows of Valentia released alongside its own amiibo, one for Alm and one for Celica. In addition to being quite nicely detailed the amiibo unlock bonus dungeons with challenging enemies that, once defeated, drop valuable items and weapons. On one hand it's a nice boon for anyone dedicated enough to buy yet more amiibo, but it still would have been nice if the bonus dungeons had been more like real dungeons, with twists and turns to explore. Instead these are pretty much just a series of battles, and although the rewards are great the dungeons are a bit bland. Finally we come to the visual and aural features of Shadows of Valentia which are, perhaps surprisingly, pretty great. Obviously there is not much room for visual design in a grid-based strategy game, and even the newly rendered 3D dungeons lack panache, but the character design in this game is beautiful. The colors have a blown out, softer style that gives the game a misty, ethereal look that is captivating. Perhaps it is simply the change of pace from the past two Fire Emblem games but the character art looks great, plus you get to see it more often since while you are in villages you can see full body portraits of random characters. And although there aren't many cutscenes they don't look half bad either, though they don't leave nearly as much of an impression. The game's visuals are complemented by a quality soundtrack and excellent voice work. Part of the charm of many of the characters comes from their lively voice acting which does a great job of bringing out their personalities. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia straddles the line between old and new, creating an experience wholly unique and yet still recognizably Fire Emblem. The many quirks of Gaiden may still seem bizarre now, 25 years later, but they have a fun value in their own way, and are a good reminder that even beloved franchises deserve some wiggle room to experiment with new features. Speaking of which, the new features for this remake help keep the game accessible even to inexperienced players, and builds up on some of the areas where the original game was lacking. Outside of the unfortunate retention of uninspired map design Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a fantastic and fantastically unusual turn-based strategy adventure. Rating: 9 out of 10 Emblems
Shadows of Valentia
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Using the MIMIC II Database
Deidentification and Surrogate Data
How is MIMIC II being used?
Using the MIMIC II Clinical Database
Understanding Log Entries
Groups of log entries
About timestamps
Source codes and entry types
Name-value pairs
Interpreting encoded values
Viewing and downloading logs
Software for reading and writing logs
Using the MIMIC II Waveform Database
Waveform records, numerics records, and alerts
Reading samples as text
Selecting one or more signals
Plotting signals and time series
Linking Clinical and Waveform Records
This tutorial is intended to help you get started on a project that makes use of the MIMIC II Database, a large collection of data obtained from intensive care unit (ICU) patients. If you have used other PhysioBank databases, some of this material may be familiar, but the MIMIC II Database contains many types of information that are not available in any other PhysioBank database, and these notes discuss how to access and interpret this information.
As described on its home pages, the MIMIC II Database consists of a Clinical Database and a Waveform Database. Although it has a number of unique features described below, the MIMIC II Waveform Database consists of physiologic signals and time series of vital signs similar to those in most other PhysioBank databases, and it is accessible by any of the same WFDB software that can read those other databases. On the other hand, the MIMIC II Clinical Database, derived from medical records, is unlike any other PhysioBank database to date; its organization and contents are described in the next section.
It is important to note that the portions of the MIMIC II Database that are posted on PhysioNet have been deidentified (anonymized), by removal of the 18 types of protected health information (PHI) defined by the HIPAA Privacy Rule. PHI includes names, addresses, dates, medical record and other identification numbers, ages if over 90, precise geographic locations, and a variety of less common types of information that might be useful for determining the identity of subjects. Although not defined as PHI by the HIPAA Privacy Rule, we have also removed names of caregivers, hospitals and clinics, and other information that might compromise the privacy of the MIMIC II subjects. Where any such information appeared in the source materials, it has been replaced by surrogate information in the database. Thus names have been replaced by surrogate names, locations by surrogate locations, dates by surrogate dates, etc. The ages of subjects under 90 were as stated, but ages of 90 and above are all recorded as 200+.
The MIMIC II Database can support several distinct types of studies:
focus on how observations vary across groups of subjects. Such studies typically require examination of all records that share some set of characteristics in order to determine if they significantly differ from some other group of records. For example, a cross-sectional study by Jia et al. used the MIMIC II Database to examine the association of mechanical ventilator settings with risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
follow subjects over time, aiming to reveal aspects of dynamical change. Some such studies address basic questions in physiology, others may evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic interventions, and still others may be aimed at improving methods for automated diagnosis or medical decision support. For example, in a longitudinal study Sun et al. used the MIMIC II Database to compare a broad assortment of previously described methods for estimation of cardiac output from blood pressure waveforms against intermittent cardiac output estimates obtained by the standard method (thermodilution).
(or data-directed) studies aim to discover variables that may be related. Data mining may be useful in studies that are cross-sectional, longitudinal, or both, as a complement to a hypothesis-driven investigation. In data collections containing large numbers of variables, such as MIMIC II, relationships among pairs or larger sets of variables may not be obvious a priori. The common hypothesis underlying data mining is that uncovering hidden relationships may lead to useful diagnostic or prognostic insights. The PhysioNet/Computers in Cardiology Challenge 2009, on the subject of predicting acute hypotensive episodes, might be addressed using a data mining approach, by looking for markers that precede episodes in the training set.
The MIMIC II Clinical Database currently consists of data from the medical records of about 26,000 ICU patients. Only a small number of these are currently available on PhysioNet, but all of those whose subjects are also represented in the MIMIC II Waveform Database (about 4,000) will eventually be posted here. The (text) file RECORDS contains a list of all currently posted records in the MIMIC II Clinical Database.
For longitudinal studies, it is often most useful to examine the log for each patient. A log records observations of the patient and medical interventions in chronological order, often beginning with a list of ICD9 diagnosis codes from the ICU admitting note. Within these logs, each item of information is recorded with an associated timestamp that specifies when the information became available. Since the log entries are recorded in time order, it is possible to reconstruct the sequence of observations and interventions associated with each patient. In each case, the log spans an entire ICU admission, and in many cases the log includes months or years of medical history before the ICU admission; for those patients who were admitted to the ICU more than once during the study period, the logs include available medical history between the multiple ICU stays.
Logs are available in three formats on PhysioNet:
HTML logs:
The default view of a log is as a web page; for example, point your browser to http://physionet.org/physiobank/database/mimic2cdb-ps/s20794/ to open another browser window (or tab) with a view of the log for MIMIC II Clinical Database record s20794. This view allows you to browse through a case much as you might look through a logbook. It is designed to be relatively easy to read, but there are other views that will be more suitable for analysis.
HTML is meant to be rendered by a web browser for visual review; it is needlessly complicated to parse it for any other purpose, given that more suitable alternatives exist. The big advantage of the HTML logs for visual review is that the encoded fields present in the other formats have been decoded, so it is much easier to understand HTML logs than those in the other formats.
Plain text logs:
In the text view of the same case, a log entry is a line of text that contains a varying number of fields separated by tab characters. The first field is the entry timestamp, the second is a two-character source code that specifies the source of the information in the entry (for example, the patient's ICU chart, a physician's order, or a laboratory test), and the remaining data fields contain the information (for example, the name and value of a measurement, an ICD9 diagnosis code, or the name and quantity of a medication). If you need to make use of MIMIC II clinical data within a computer program, and you are not using WFDB software for any other part of your study, you may prefer plain text format.
Annotation logs:
A third view is also available, in which the log is presented as a WFDB annotation file. WFDB annotations can be related readily to MIMIC II Waveform Database records by a large number of existing applications. If your focus is on waveforms or time series ("trends") and you need to understand what has been happening to the patient at a particular time, the WFDB software that you are using to read the waveforms or time series can probably read annotation logs, too.
The information content is identical in all three log file formats, so you may choose whichever format works best for your study. The HTML and text logs are generated from the annotation logs using software available here; this software also includes a program to translate a properly-formatted text log into an annotation log. Logs in HTML format cannot be translated back into either of the other formats (at least, not with the software provided here).
If you need to edit or otherwise modify copies of these logs (for example, to incorporate findings of your analysis into them for reference, exchange with colleagues, or further study), edit either plain text or annotation logs rather than HTML logs, since edits in text or annotation files can be propagated to the other formats with only trivial effort. Furthermore, it is very likely that expanded and amended versions of these logs will be posted on PhysioNet in the future, and merging your edits with either plain text or annotation logs will be much easier than doing so with HTML logs.
Let's have a look at a few lines from a text log:
[15:48:00 06/09/2016] ch t0=[15:00:00 06/09/2016] id=211 el=0 cu=69 cg=2393 v1=98 u1=BPM st=NotStopd
[15:48:00 06/09/2016] ch t0=[15:00:00 06/09/2016] id=212 el=0 cu=69 cg=2393 v1=Normal Sinus st=NotStopd
[23:42:00 07/09/2016] me t0=[23:15:00 07/09/2016] tf=[15:58:00 24/10/2016] dt=67243 id=131 el=1 cu=69 cg=2404 so=140 vo=0 v1=50 du=mcgkgmin sv=50 su=vl rt=IV Drip
The lines above correspond to these entries in the HTML log:
[15:48:00 06/09/2016]
Chart Event
t0: [15:00:00 06/09/2016]
id: Heart Rate
el: 0
cu: MICU
cg: RN
v1: 98
u1: BPM
st: NotStopd
id: Heart Rhythm
v1: Normal Sinus
Med Event
tf: [15:58:00 24/10/2016]
dt: 67243
id: Propofol
so: N/A
vo: 0
du: mcgkgmin
sv: 50
su: vl
rt: IV Drip
The first point to notice in this example is that three entries in the text log have been grouped into two sections of the HTML log. Simultaneous entries are common, and the HTML log is structured so that all entries with the same timestamp are grouped in one section. When simultaneous entries of the same type occur, they are grouped together under a common type heading (marked by a bullet point).
Timestamps, such as [15:48:00 06/09/2016] in the example above, indicate the 24-hour time (3:48 pm in this example) followed by the surrogate date (6 September 2016 in this example). The date is shifted forward in time by a randomly chosen number of weeks, which is always the same for any given subject but differs between subjects. The time of day is unaltered from that in the original medical record. Although the format of the timestamps suggests 1-second precision, the effective time resolution is one minute in the existing logs, and discrepancies of a few minutes between clocks used by different caregivers should be expected.
Each entry has a primary timestamp that indicates when the associated information (what follows the timestamp on the same line of the text log) was recorded in the log. Some entries, such as the third one above, contain one or two additional timestamps. Where present, the t0 timestamp indicates the time of the event that was logged. The entry timestamp might be later than t0 because an observation or intervention was logged some time after the event; for example, t0 for a blood test is the time the blood was drawn from the patient, but the results of the test might not be determined and logged until several hours have elapsed. If a study needs to follow the patient's state (for example, to quantify the dynamics of response to an intervention) t0 gives better information about that state as a function of time than the entry timestamp. On the other hand, if a study aims to develop methods for medical decision support based on available information, the entry timestamp is an appropriate basis for determining what information can be used as a basis for a medical decision at any given time.
If a tf timestamp is also present, it indicates the end of a time interval (beginning at t0) during which an event occurred or was expected to occur, such as the period for delivery of a specified volume of intravenous fluid.
In annotation logs, t0 and tf timestamps appear as intervals in seconds relative to the entry timestamp. In the third entry illustrated above, for example, t0 is recorded in the annotation log as -1620 (27 minutes earlier than the entry timestamp).
To make sense of a log entry, we need to know where it came from, which might be any of:
ad [1] Additive (to solution)
ce [3] Census Event [transfer of patient]
ch [4] Chart Event [event recorded in the ICU]
de [5] Delivery
ic [6] ICD9 [diagnosis code]
io [8] I/O Event
me [10] Med[ication] Event
po [11] Physician Order
so [12] Solution
to [13] Total I/O [fluid balance] Event
In a text log, each entry contains one of these two-character source codes from the table above. The source code immediately follows the primary timestamp. In an annotation log, the source codes are numeric, as shown above, and in HTML logs, the source codes are replaced by descriptive headings as in the right column of the table.
Source codes provide the context needed to decode the remaining data in each entry.
Following the source code in a text log, or in a character string embedded in each entry in an annotation log, are tab-separated name-value pairs containing the clinical data. The names are two-character tags. The meanings of the tags, and the source codes with which they may be associated, are given below:
Meaning [source context]
ai Alternate ID [io]
am Amount of additive [ad]
ap Method of approximation [to]
cg Care giver (provider) [ad, ch, de, io, me, so, to]
cu Care unit (location) [cd, id, md, ad, ce, ch, de, io, me, so, to]
cv Cumulative volume (ml ???) [to]
dd ICD9 diagnosis code [ic]
de Destination care unit [ce]
di Discharge status
ds Diagnosis sequence number [ic]
dt Event duration (minutes) [cd, id, md, ce, to]
du Units for am [ad] or v1 [me, so]
el Element ID [cd, id, md, ad, ch, de, io, me, so, to]
es Estimate [io]
f1 Form of m1 [po]
fr Frequency of medication administration [po]
fs Schedule of medication administration [po]
id Event type [cd, id, md, ad, ch, io, me, so, to]
io I/O type [ad, de, so]
ld Description of dd [ic]
lo Location for medication administration [de]
m1 Medication (main component) [po]
m2 Medication (base component) [po]
m3 Medication (additive 1) [po]
nb New bottle [io]
pt Procedure type [po]
pv Volume per hour [to]
ra Rate [de]
rs Result status [ch]
rt Route for medication [ad, me, po, so]
ru Units for ra [de]
so Solution type [me]
st Stopped/not stopped [ch, io, me]
su Units for so [me]
sv Volume of so [me]
t0 Event start time [cd, id, md, ch, io, me, to]
tf Event end time [cd, id, md, ce, po]
u1 Units for v1 [ch, po]
u3 Units for v3 [po]
uh "Units" of fluid hung [io]
v1 Value of parameter specified by id [ch, me] or amount of m1 [po]
v2 Value of second parameter specified by id [ch] or amount of m2 [po]
v3 Amount of m3 [po]
vo Volume [io, me, so]
vu Units for vo [io]
Several of the tags in the table above mark fields that contain encoded information. In HTML logs, this information is decoded (although the decoded strings may still be abbreviated). In text and annotation logs, however, the raw codes are presented; they can be decoded by looking them up in the appropriate code dictionaries:
Tag [source codes]
cg cg-dict
cu, de cu-dict
id [cd, ch] ch-id-dict
id [id, io, to]; io io-id-dict
id [ad, md, me, so] me-id-dict
So, for example, we can find the meaning of an id value that appears in an ad entry by looking it up in me-id-dict.
The MIMIC II code dictionaries are available at http://physiobank/database/dictionaries/, where they can be read directly by applications that use the WFDB library, such as loghtml. If you wish to improve the translations, download the dictionaries, edit them as desired, and install them in /usr/local/dictionaries/, where WFDB applications will be able to find them.
A set of logs consisting of a few entries of each type (including the examples above) is available as a MIMIC II Clinical Database record named "sample". In addition to the annotation, text, and HTML logs, a commented version of the HTML log, with interspersed entries from the text log, is provided as a guide to interpreting MIMIC II logs.
To obtain a log, do one of the following:
See the HTML log by clicking on the name of the record on the MIMIC II Clinical Database home page.
View or download a text view log by appending record.txt to the URL of the HTML log (for example, http://physionet.org/physiobank/database/mimic2cdb-ps/s20794/s20794.txt); or simply follow the link at the top of the corresponding HTML log.
Download an annotation log by appending record.log to the URL of the HTML log (for example, http://physionet.org/physiobank/database/mimic2cdb-ps/s20794/s20794.log). In order to use an annotation log, you will also need the corresponding WFDB header file (for example, http://physionet.org/physiobank/database/mimic2cdb-ps/s20794/s20794.hea).
For cross-sectional studies and all studies involving data mining, it may be helpful to select a set of subject logs and create a relational database from them. Instructions for doing this will be posted in a future revision of this tutorial.
Software for converting an annotation log to an HTML log, or to and from a text log, is available as a tarball or as individual files.
The MIMIC II Waveform Database currently consists of recorded vital signs (such as continuous ECG and blood pressure waveforms) and time series of periodic measurements derived from the vital signs (such as systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate) obtained from over 4000 patients. Each MIMIC II Waveform Database record typically covers a patient's entire stay in an intensive care unit (in many cases a week or more).
A bedside monitor receives analog inputs from a variety of transducers attached to each patient in an ICU. During an ICU stay, these transducers are occasionally recalibrated, moved, or replaced, so it is not unusual to find changes in amplitude and discontinuities, as well as the appearance of new signals in the record from time to time. Bedside monitors digitize the analog inputs, analyze them to obtain the periodic measurements, and then relay these data to a central archive that stores them in a proprietary format. The archived data are copied, reformatted in an open (PhysioBank-compatible) format, and deidentified before they are posted as MIMIC II Waveform Database records on PhysioNet.
The WFDB Software Package contains dozens of applications designed to read, display, and analyze data in PhysioBank-compatible formats, including MIMIC II Waveform Database records. These applications are built on the WFDB library, a set of functions (subroutines) for reading and writing PhysioBank-compatible files. The WFDB Software Package is free and open-source, and the WFDB library may be included in your own software if you wish to write custom applications (see the WFDB Programmer's Guide for details). The WFDB Software Package runs on all popular platforms, including GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, MS Windows, Solaris, and Unix.
Three types of data are contained in the MIMIC II Waveform database:
Waveform records
contain digitized physiologic signals sampled 125 times per second, such as ECGs and continuous blood pressure waveforms. These records are often very large; depending on the number of signals (1-7), the number of bits per sample (8 or 16), and the length of the record (1-100 days), they range from 10 Mbytes to nearly 20 Gbytes (500 Mbytes is typical). Records consist of multiple segments, and the size of individual segments is limited to 2 Gbytes or less, for compatibility with platforms that cannot handle larger files.
Numerics records
contain time series of vital signs sampled once per second or once per minute, such as measurements of systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressure, or heart rate. Usually a dozen or more such time series, all collected simultaneously, comprise a numerics record. Numerics records are stored in the same formats as waveform records, but since the sampling rates are far lower, numerics records are much smaller, and it is not usually necessary for them to be divided into multiple segments.
Alerts (and other non-periodic data)
include information about some of the ICU monitor alerts, in some cases supplemented by additional observations collected from other sources. These data are recorded in the same format used for the annotation logs of the MIMIC II Clinical Database. Each annotation is associated with a specific time interval in a waveform or numerics record, and may optionally refer to a specific signal or time series with the record as well. Since monitor alerts may be relevant to the study of either the waveforms or the numerics, copies of the .alarms annotation files containing information about these alerts are linked to both waveform and numerics records.
Waveform records are usually paired with numerics records that have been created simultaneously. It often happens that a waveform record and its accompanying numerics records do not begin and end at the same times, and occasionally it is possible to obtain a numerics record without an acccompanying waveform record, or vice versa.
A record may have multiple annotation files containing independent sets of observations. You can view annotations together with the associated waveforms or numerics using software such as the PhysioBank ATM's "plot waveforms" tool (a viewer that runs in your web browser) or WAVE (a viewer and annotation file editor that runs on your desktop).
Most software designed to read, display, and process PhysioBank data makes an implicit assumption that the same set of signals is recorded at constant gain (amplification) throughout a record, an assumption that allows us to avoid considerable complexity. As noted, this assumption is generally not valid for the data that comprise the waveform records of the MIMIC II Waveform Database. Each record is divided into a set of segments of varying length such that this assumption is valid throughout any given segment, however. Thus software that reads only one segment may assume that the monitor setup is unaltered.
The first segment of each waveform record is a zero-length layout segment. It includes a list of all signals that are present in any segment of the record, and specifies a standard gain for each signal. Software that uses the WFDB library to open a complete waveform record, beginning with its layout segment, will "see" a continuous record, seamlessly reconstructed from the concatenated segments, with sample values rescaled to match the standard gain for each signal, and discontinuities filled in with a special value (-32768) that indicates that a sample is missing. Thus, even when reading an entire record, it is still possible to assume that the monitor setup is unaltered.
The PhysioBank ATM's record maps (such as the one below) provide compact views of records that make it easy to locate intervals containing specific signals or combinations of them.
This example shows, schematically, the entire length (almost 4 days) of MIMIC II Waveform Database record a40006. The red bars indicate when ECG signals were recorded, and the blue bars indicate the blood pressure signals. Below the signals, the density of the annotations in the alarm set is represented by the grey histogram; this record doesn't have an alM set of annotations, so no indicators appear on the corresponding bar. When viewing a record map in the ATM, you can select a region (for viewing in detail, downloading, or other functions) by clicking on the navigation area above the map.
In the first group of 2769 records, 2630 were obtained from 2320 subjects who are also represented in the MIMIC II Clinical Database. About 11% of these 2320 subjects were admitted to an ICU more than once during the inital study period and are thus represented by two or more MIMIC II Waveform Database records in the first group. These records include up to four simultaneous signals (125 eight-bit samples/second each) and (typically) ten or more derived measurements recorded once per minute. Records obtained after the first group (roughly 2000 additional patient records to date) include up to seven simultaneous signals (125 ten-bit samples/second each) and ten or more derived measurements recorded once per second.
The MIMIC II Waveform Database file named RECORDS is a text file containing a complete list of the available MIMIC II Waveform Database records. Each record is stored in its own subdirectory of the MIMIC II Database home directory. This arrangement is reflected in RECORDS, which begins:
a40001/a40001
If your software uses the WFDB library to read these records, it is not necessary to download them, since the WFDB library can act as an HTTP client to read their contents directly from the PhysioNet web server. It is not necessary to read an entire record, or even an entire segment of a record, in order to read the data in any arbitrary region of interest; since MIMIC II Waveform Database records can be tens or hundreds of megabytes in length, you may save considerable time by reading only the regions of interest as needed.
If you decide to download entire records anyway, it will be easiest to use the PhysioBank ATM to obtain a tarball or zip archive of each record of interest. We strongly recommend creating a mimic2db subdirectory within some directory in your WFDB path and then unpacking the downloaded tarballs or zip archives within it, thereby creating a subdirectory of mimic2db for each record, as on the PhysioNet web server. If you do so, the examples below will work as shown for any record in the MIMIC II Waveform Database; if a local copy of a record is available, it will be read, and if not, the copy on the PhysioNet web server will be read.
The PhysioBank ATM offers several other possibilities for downloading records. If you have software that can read EDF (European Data Format), you can download an EDF file of an entire record. If you are using Matlab or Octave, you can download a .mat file of any one signal, or of all signals, containing up to a million samples per signal (about 2 hours and 20 minutes of a waveform record, or, in most cases, an entire numerics record). Longer .mat files can be produced by downloading a tarball or zip archive, unpacking it, and converting the files using wfdb2mat from the WFDB software package. The ATM can also help you to read samples and annotations as text, discussed in the next section.
It may be useful to view or save an excerpt of a record in text form, which can be done easily following the methods described here. For example, to read the first 10 samples of each signal in record a40004/a40004, use the command:
rdsamp -r mimic2db/a40004/a40004 -t s10 -p -v
which produces this output:
time II III AVL AVF ABP PAP
(sec) (mV) (mV) (mV) (mV) (mmHg) (mmHg)
0.000 0.176 - - 1.000 109.600 -
0.032 -0.024 - - 1.043 96.800 -
The command-line option '-r mimic2db/a40004/a40004' specifies the desired record within the MIMIC II Database (mimic2db). See rdsamp's man page within the WFDB Applications Guide for a description of all of rdsamp's command-line options.
The first line of output above shows that there are 4 ECG leads (II, III, AVL, and AVF) and two blood pressure signals (ABP and PAP) available at various times during this record. Not all of them are available simultaneously, however, and at the beginning of this record, only ECG leads II and AVF, and ABP (blood pressure measured in the radial artery) were recorded.
Since the records begin almost immediately upon the patient's admission into the ICU, often while the monitor leads are still being connected, it is frequently the case that the first few segments of a record are short and that no signals (or few signals) are visible initially.
The individual segments within each waveform record have record names of their own, such as a40001/a40001_000000, a40001/a40001_000001, etc., and can be read in the same way as the complete (multi-segment) records, as in this example:
rdsamp -r mimic2db/a40004/a40004_000000 -t s10 -p -v
time II ABP AVF
(sec) (mV) (mmHg) (mV)
0.000 0.176 109.600 1.000
0.032 -0.024 96.800 1.043
Notice that the signals that were unavailable in the first example are not even listed in this case, because those signals are not available within the specific (single-segment) record.
The time series of derived measurements recorded once per minute (for the first group of records) or once per second (for all later records) are stored as a separate single-segment record within the same directory as the associated waveform record. The name of the record containing the derived measurements is the same as that of the waveform record, but with an appended 'n'; thus the record of derived measurements associated with a40004/a40004 is named a40004/a40004n, and the measurements acquired over a 15-minute period beginning 25 hours into the record can be read by the command:
rdsamp -r mimic2db/a40004/a40004n -f 25:0:0 -t 25:15:0 -ph -v
time HR ABPSys ABPDias ABPMean PAPSys PAPDias PAPMean CVP PULSE RESP SpO2 NBPSys NBPDias NBPMean CO
(hrs) (bpm) (mmHg) (mmHg) (mmHg) (mmHg) (mmHg) (mmHg) (mmHg) (bpm) (pm) (%) (mmHg) (mmHg) (mmHg) (Lpm)
25.000 100.000 109.100 65.700 82.500 29.300 16.400 22.000 15.300 100.100 6.900 99.000 - - - 0.000
25.017 100.200 101.500 61.900 77.200 27.700 15.600 21.100 8.300 100.300 0.000 99.000 - - - 0.000
25.033 100.000 97.900 59.900 74.700 27.200 15.800 21.000 8.100 99.800 7.800 99.000 - - - 0.000
25.050 99.700 95.900 59.000 73.300 26.600 15.300 20.400 8.000 99.500 11.700 99.100 - - - 0.000
25.067 99.700 94.200 58.300 72.100 26.100 15.400 20.300 8.100 99.400 9.000 99.100 - - - 0.000
25.100 99.000 94.000 56.000 71.000 35.000 9.000 19.000 9.000 98.000 6.000 99.000 - - - 0.000
25.117 97.700 94.500 57.000 71.200 0.000 0.000 20.400 10.200 99.100 5.300 99.000 - - - 0.000
25.133 97.200 96.300 57.400 72.000 31.400 16.900 20.700 226.700 96.800 6.000 99.000 - - - 0.000
25.150 96.700 96.900 58.000 72.200 34.100 18.200 20.000 295.700 96.100 15.000 100.000 - - - 0.000
25.167 96.200 97.800 58.500 72.700 0.000 0.000 20.200 297.500 96.400 13.300 100.000 - - - 0.000
25.217 95.400 97.700 57.800 72.000 26.800 15.400 21.000 16.200 94.800 12.900 100.000 - - - 8.280
25.233 94.900 98.100 58.200 72.300 26.400 15.200 20.700 8.000 94.700 13.000 100.000 - - - 0.000
Note that the noninvasive blood pressure (NBP) measurements are missing during this period, and that there is a single cardiac output (CO) measurement at 25.217 hours. Since the CO measurement is obtained by thermodilution, no values are available except at varying intervals when a test is performed; the instrument that measures CO reports zero at other times. Occasional zeroes and other anomalously low values also appear in some of the other columns, including respiration rate (RESP) and pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP); anomalously high values are recorded for central venous pressure (CVP) during a 5-6 minute interval. These non-physiologic values can be recognized readily in this case, but in other cases it may be necessary to refer to the (higher resolution) waveform records to determine if an observed change is artifactual or physiologic.
You can obtain outputs such as those shown above using the PhysioBank ATM from your web browser.
By naming the signal(s) of interest following rsamp's -s options, the volume of output can be reduced considerably, as in this example using numerics record 40006n:
rdsamp -r mimic2db/a40006/a40006n -ph -s CO
which produces output that begins
The standard grep utility can suppress the uninteresting lines:
rdsamp -r mimic2db/a40006/a40006n -ph -s CO | grep -v 0.000
yielding:
11.883 4.300
As a final example, we can combine rdsamp with plt like this:
rdsamp -r mimic2db/a40006/a40006n -ph -s CO | \
plt 0 1 -t "CO vs. time" -x "Elapsed time (hours)" -y "CO (liters/minute)"
to produce a plot like this (click on the image for a larger view):
See the plt Tutorial and Cookbook for examples and details on plotting using plt.
A pair of tables is provided so that records in the MIMIC II Clinical Database can be matched with those in the MIMIC II Waveform Database. To find waveform records corresponding to clinical records, refer to the clinical database map, and to find clinical records corresponding to waveform records, refer to the waveform database map. Both maps include the gender and age of each patient, and a concise statistical summary of the patient population represented in the databases.
Send feedback about this page to PhysioNet
Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please send them to webmaster@physionet.org.
For general enquiries about PhysioNet and its contents and usage, please see our FAQ.
Updated Sunday, 25 October 2015 at 15:44 EDT
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PropertyPak.com® > Blog > All News & Research > All Other News > Editorializing > News: Real Estate, Risk, Economics. Jan. 20, 2015
← News: Real Estate, Risk, Economics. Jan. 17, 2015
News: Real Estate, Risk, Economics. Jan. 22, 2015 →
News: Real Estate, Risk, Economics. Jan. 20, 2015
Posted: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 5:33 PM
1) It can be morning again for the world’s middle class – FTcom
2) A new idea steals across Europe — should Greece’s debt be forgiven? | World news | The Guardian
3) Bigger Wall Street Bonuses, Bigger Home Budgets – NYTimescom
4) Five Critiques of Arthur Laffer’s Supply-Side Model Show Tax Cuts as Junk Economics | The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
5) Washington | The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
6) What Part of Japan’s 3.5 Percent Unemployment Rate is Anemic? | Beat the Press
7) Slimin’ Jamie Dimon Tells Howlers About Persecution of Banks, “Fortress Balance Sheet” | naked capitalism
8) Wealthiest 1% will soon own more than rest of us combined, Oxfam says – CNNcom
9) Bullish on economy, cautious on housing – OC Housing News
10) Malawi faces ‘unprecedented’ flood disaster – Africa – Al Jazeera English
11) Seconded – Tim Duy’s Fed Watch
12) Mongols of the Sea (Amateur Historical Speculation) – NYTimescom
13) Bracing for Stagnation by Raghuram Rajan – Project Syndicate
14) Escape From Draghi QE Sees Traders Going Long UK Bonds – Bloomberg
15) Six Charts to make you Suspicious of the Chinese Equity Market Rally | Jeroen Blokland Financial Markets Blog
16) China posts slowest growth in 24 years | Reuters
17) Metro Detroit home prices spike in December; sales flat
18) The Chinese Housing Market’s Outrageous Price-To-Income Ratio | Seeking Alpha
19) Oil markets dip on weak China GDP data | Reuters
20) ECB’s QE won’t be enough – YouTube
⇧ It can be morning again for the world’s middle class – FT.com
When Lawrence Summers gets it (at least some of it anyway):
…if it is to benefit the middle class, prosperity must be inclusive and in the current environment this is far from assured. If the US had the same income distribution it had in 1979, the bottom 80 per cent of the population would have $1tn — or $11,000 per family — more. The top 1 per cent $1tn — or $750,000 — less. There is little prospect for maintaining international integration and co-operation if it continues to be seen as leading to local disintegration while benefiting a mobile global elite.
⇧ A new idea steals across Europe — should Greece’s debt be forgiven? | World news | The Guardian
Angela Merkel, where’s your application of the Golden Rule? Your country was aided by a much fairer hand than you have dealt Greece. People have been dying in Greece do to completely unnecessary but counter-productive austerity. Where’s your heart for your fellow Europeans?
SECRET OF THE ‘GERMAN MIRACLE’
Germany’s “economic miracle” (or wirtschaftswunder), which saw the defeated country rebuild its shattered infrastructure to become a world-beating industrial powerhouse, was made possible by a deal struck in London in 1953, which saw half of the debts it owed to the rest of the world written off.
Since the global financial crisis of 2008, Germany’s has been one of the strongest voices advocating programmes of unflinching austerity for Greece and the other bailed-out European economies.
Yet in the wake of the second world war, West Germany managed to secure 15bn deutschmarks of debt forgiveness, in what became known as the London agreement.
The deal is less celebrated than the well-known Marshall plan, which saw US aid flood into Europe; but it was critical to Germany’s re-emergence as a major economic force.
Its creditors feared the threat from the communist east, and believed the West German economy must be allowed to recover. In a proposal drafted in 1950, the US, UK and France argued that “the restoration of German solvability includes an adequate solution for the German debt which takes Germany’s economic problems into account and makes sure that negotiations are fair to all participants”.
After talks that dragged on for several months in 1953, and included private sector lenders as well as governments, all participants agreed to write off about half of the country’s outstanding debt — much of it contracted before the Nazis had come to power, in order to pay off the reparations imposed on Ge rmany after the first world war.
Crucially, it was made a condition of the deal that West Germany would only have to make repayments when it was running a trade surplus: in other words, when it had earned the money to pay up, rather than having to borrow more, or dip into its foreign currency reserves. Its repayments were also limited to 3% of export earnings.
Germany’s creditors therefore had an incentive to buy the country’s goods, so that it would be able to afford to pay them.
This approach was widely seen as helping to sow the seeds of the powerful export sector that has become such a dominant characteristic of the German economy over the past 60 years.
⇧ Bigger Wall Street Bonuses, Bigger Home Budgets – NYTimes.com
How the other half lives, unless you’re part of that other half:
Lisa Larson, an associate broker at Warburg Realty, says that several of her more reluctant clients are now ready to jump into the buyers’ pool. “A couple of my clients, even just a year ago, were sitting on the sidelines and didn’t want to get involved in bidding wars,” she said. “But now there has been a perfect storm of conditions that are making them more optimistic and ready to buy.”
Her clients, and others like them, have a general feeling that they have weathered the recession and are now more confident about holding onto their jobs. Many are also looking to take advantage of low interest rates….
⇧ Five Critiques of Arthur Laffer’s Supply-Side Model Show Tax Cuts as Junk Economics | The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
Lawmakers seeking to reduce or eliminate income and estate taxes frequently claim that doing so will result in an economic boom. Supply-side economist Arthur Laffer is often enlisted to bolster this argument with his analyses purporting to show that states lacking an income tax or estate tax have economies that outperform the rest of the country, and that any state can easily replicate that success by abandoning their income and estate taxes.
A series of reports from Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy explains why these supply side claims are not supported by the evidence, and exposes the many serious flaws in the analyses that Laffer has constructed to lend it support.
⇧ Washington | The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
We covered this briefly in our immediately prior post but wanted to include more on it. Here’s the source material.
According to ITEP’s Tax Inequality Index, Washington has the most unfair state and local tax system in the country. States with regressive tax structures have negative tax inequality indexes, meaning that incomes are less equal in those states after state and local taxes than before (See Appendix B for state-by-state rankings and more details).
“Comparatively high cigarette tax rate” We don’t consider that a bad thing and shouldn’t be included in “regressive” but rather a special category.
Poor people shouldn’t smoke: shouldn’t waste money on smoking. No one should for that matter.
Also, there are costs to government and other taxpayers for the illnesses from cigarette smoking. Higher cigarette prices via higher taxes on cigarettes are just another incentive to quit and is good public policy and not ideologically wrong within a fully informed democracy. Who doesn’t know cigarette smoking is bad, and what kind of society would we have where everything bad is allowed based solely upon personal choice? Right now, we’d have anarchy, utter chaos.
⇧ What Part of Japan’s 3.5 Percent Unemployment Rate is Anemic? | Beat the Press
Leave it to Dean Baker to inform us of what we typically don’t see anywhere else in the media.
Its employment rate has risen by two full percentage points since the end of 2012 when its new government shifted towards Keynesian expansionary policies.
⇧ Slimin’ Jamie Dimon Tells Howlers About Persecution of Banks, “Fortress Balance Sheet” | naked capitalism
Yves Smith really, really, really doesn’t like Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan. Does she have a case against him? Read her scathing article and decide.
Jamie Dimon seems to think if he can tell his Big Lies long enough, he’ll be believed. In reality, the only ones who will buy his blather are his fellow members of the elite banker looting classes and their hired help.
…if there might be actual economies of scale, they appear to be more than offset by diseconomies of scope.
…Jamie Dimon is his bank writ large: bullying, dishonest, and an unrepentant lawbreaker.
⇧ Wealthiest 1% will soon own more than rest of us combined, Oxfam says – CNN.com
“Do we really want to live in a world where the 1% own more than the rest of us combined?”….
The 80 richest people on the planet have the same wealth as the poorest 3.5 billion people, the report says.
⇧ Bullish on economy, cautious on housing – OC Housing News
I recently made a series of bold California housing market predictions for 2015. I don’t believe housing will do poorly this year despite high prices because I believe the economy is improving, which will put more people back to work, cause wages to rise, and ultimately help home sales, assuming rising interest rates don’t spoil the party.
The only reason I am not more bullish on housing is the inevitable impact rising mortgage rates will have on sales. The federal reserve will likely begin raising short-term interest rates this year, which will likely cause mortgage rates to rise.
I will make one unusual economic prediction for 2015: I believe the spread between inflation, as measured by CPI, and the yield on 10-year Treasury Notes will hit a record low.
CPI is a heavily manipulated number, but a surging economy will cause prices to rise, so the CPI will go up. Further, the beggar-thy-neighbor policy among central banks worldwide will cause foreign investment to seek the safe haven of the US dollar. This influx of foreign capital will continue to pile in to 10-year Treasuries causing yields to remain very low; thus the gap between CPI and Treasury yields will fall to a record low.
We agree with almost all of Larry’s reasoning there, but we qualify by saying Janet Yellen is going to err on the side of employment. What that means is that so long as fuller employment does not cause price inflation above the Fed’s target, interest rates are likely to remain low. The only thing that could change this is Janet Yellen falling prey to hawks who are driven as much or more by ideology than data.
The Fed should definitely wait until it sees the whites of price inflation’s eyes before pulling the rate-hike trigger. Doing otherwise could shoot the recovery in both feet. Inflation will definitely not runaway if the Fed waits. It can always just hit inflation with a larger than average hike: 100 basis points if necessary. Inflation isn’t going to be able to escape large hikes. Paul Volcker proved that. The most important thing is the recovery, not shooting prematurely and at imaginary inflation shadows at that. Wages must rise significantly and translate into significant, hard price-inflation before the Fed rate is hiked. Anything else would be foolish.
We can’t be sure that Janet Yellen won’t be foolish; but if her speeches are any indication and if she will stay true to her words, we have reason to believe she’ll stay strong and resist the needlessly paranoid.
If she slips up, let’s pray she gets the message quickly and reverses course before much damage is done.
We’re also waiting to see what oil does: the degree to which Fed Vice Chair Stanley Fischer is right or wrong about whether the oil-price drop will do more good than harm (environmental questions aside).
⇧ Malawi faces ‘unprecedented’ flood disaster – Africa – Al Jazeera English
At least 176 people lost their lives and another 200,000 have been displaced when heavy rains submerged homes, schools, and in places, washing away an entire village.
“It has shocked all of us: from government, to donors to the people,” Robert Kisyula, national director of international NGO World Vision Malawi, told Al Jazeera on Saturday. “People hung on to trees, waiting for the waters to subside, as they usually do, but water kept on coming and they were washed away.
“These were unprecedented floods, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” he said.
On Friday, the country’s vice-president described the situation as “very bad”. Kisyula, the World Vision offiicial, said that it will take months before people return to any semblance of normality.
For most, the biggest concern now, other than finding those who are still unaccounted for, is to provide the necessary infrastructure and prevent an outbreak of waterborne diseases, such as cholera. “Rain water, sewerage have all mixed with drinking water, and this is the next major concern,” Kisyula said.
⇧ Seconded – Tim Duy’s Fed Watch
As a clear follow-up link to Larry Robert’s post above and our commentary on the topic, here’s Tim Duy:
My opinion is that the global disinflationary environment would support low inflation at levels of unemployment below the Fed’s current estimate of the natural rate, similar to the situation of the late 1990s.
We agree.
Also, the issue of inequality enters here very much. Productivity gains are not being passed on to labor nearly at the level that used to prevail. That’s because of labor’s weakened hand ever since Ronald Reagan broke the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (union). The strike was technically illegal, but the law was blocking proper reforms, many of which were only adopted after Ronald Reagan fired the strikers. It was not the way we would have handled the situation. We would have backed most of the requested reforms before the strike ever happened.
⇧ Mongols of the Sea (Amateur Historical Speculation) – NYTimes.com
Paul Krugman proving those who call him a know-it-all wrong:
Of course, there’s a strong possibility that this is either (a) obviously wrong for some reason (b) a hypothesis thoroughly discussed by some eminent historian I just happen to have missed, or (c) both.
Actually, it’s a good hypothesis that withstands scrutiny if not more than a bit obvious.
No offense intended, Paul, but “such sailors make good sailors” is something we don’t need to test.
Anyway, we do like the humility; and it is an interesting topic/article.
⇧ Bracing for Stagnation by Raghuram Rajan – Project Syndicate
Raghuram Rajan, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (India’s central bank). He is also a bit of a darling among libertarian-leaning anti-Keynesians.
As 2015 begins, the global economy remains weak. The United States may be seeing signs of a strengthening recovery, but the eurozone risks following Japan into recession, and emerging markets worry that their export-led growth strategies have left them vulnerable to stagnation abroad.
The article doesn’t mention Japan’s dramatic fall in unemployment or that its products are now more affordable abroad.
Besides that, no alternative to debt other than cuts in government spending was offered. What a shame. We doubt very seriously that Raghuram Rajan is unfamiliar with the term “money financed” fiscal spending (which doesn’t increase the budget deficit or national debt a bit). It is the favorite thing for the mainstream to ignore because the mainstream takes its marching orders from the usurers who run the banks in the first place.
⇧ Escape From Draghi QE Sees Traders Going Long U.K. Bonds – Bloomberg
Germany has lost the argument.
Draghi’s bid to overcome German opposition to QE won a legal endorsement on Jan. 14 when the European Union’s top court backed stimulus measures used in 2012 to stem the euro-area debt crisis. BOE Governor Mark Carney also threw his weight behind Draghi, telling lawmakers in London the same day that more stimulus would help the ECB return inflation to its goal of just under 2 percent.
⇧ Six Charts to make you Suspicious of the Chinese Equity Market Rally | Jeroen Blokland Financial Markets Blog
We love it when someone focuses first and foremost on the fundamentals. It’s a month old, but still… Jeroen Blokland:
While equities around the world are getting severely hit this December, one market stubbornly rallies on. For the Chinese stock market lower oil prices, the demolition of Russia, and the political tensions in Greece do not seem to matter for now. With a housing market that is slowly deteriorating, the Chinese now try their luck in equities . But, here are six graphs that should make you at least a little wary of the massive rally that is going on.
⇧ China posts slowest growth in 24 years | Reuters
Policymakers also are concerned about the potential onset of a deflationary cycle, aggravated by plummeting energy prices, industrial overcapacity and sluggish demand.
At the same time, there may be a looming crisis among debt-sodden local governments which are facing strains from sliding property sales, on which they rely for much of their revenue.
In another worrying sign, power output growth in China, used by some as a proxy for economic performance, posted its slowest growth rate since 1998 at 3.2 percent.
⇧ Metro Detroit home prices spike in December; sales flat
Realcomp CEO Karen Kage said there is speculation that a large number of bank-foreclosed houses could flood the market later this year, greatly increasing the number of homes for sale in metro Detroit.
The banks may have been waiting for prices to rebound before foreclosing on these properties.
“If it happens, I don’t think it would really hurt the market unless they all came on the market the same day,” Kage said. “If they are spread out throughout the year, it could actually help the market. It would increase the inventory that is available.”
⇧ The Chinese Housing Market’s Outrageous Price-To-Income Ratio | Seeking Alpha
Focused on the fundamentals:
Who in the U.S. making $50,000 a year would ever consider buying a house for $1.5 million? Obviously no one would. Maybe in their dreams, as they think about what they would do if they won the lottery, but it would only be a dream. A bank wouldn’t even consider giving this type of loan out. In fact, a person wanting to get that kind of outrageous loan wouldn’t even go to a bank, as there would be no hope of getting a loan that large when only making so little.
Yet this is what is happening every day in China. Families are betting the farm on the housing market, trying to buy a home, to fulfill their dreams and feel like they have made it in the world.
Yet families are desperately scraping together the needed amount for a down payment, before housing prices rise even further. And the common consensus among our friends was that they will continue to go up in the future. Obviously prices will not go up forever without some kind of correction. But people don’t always understand this. They just see prices going up and up and think they always will.
So how are these people buying houses? Most of them are not buying them. That privilege is reserved for the wealthier people in China. Instead of investing in stocks or bonds, many wealthy people, or developers, buy houses. And they buy lots of them, hoping to someday sell them for a large profit. In fact, many of these “investments” are empty cement apartments that have not been finished yet. And they will remain empty until the investor decides to sell them. There are estimates that say there are between 50 and 70 million empty apartments in China. Wow!
China’s economy is overly dependent on the property market, especially construction of new buildings and the things that are tied to new houses. Estimates are that up to 25% of China ‘s GDP is tied to the housing and construction market. If things do go downhill in the housing market, GDP will get clobbered.
The government is between a rock and a hard place. They don’t want the economy to slow down, yet a large chunk of GDP is tied to housing in some way or another, and that housing has become extremely expensive for the average person. More housing needs to be built to drive GDP forward, yet almost every city in China, both large and small, has been adding housing projects over the past six or seven years that have literally doubled the size of these cities. Way too many houses are empty, with no intention of anyone living in them, because they are just investments waiting to be sold. But to whom? …
The Chinese government will try everything it can to make sure housing prices never go down too much, as that could discredit them in the eyes of the people, and the government hates social instability and unrest. Peace, prosperity, and harmony are the motto. The government will pull out all the stops and keep on stimulating the economy, like it just announced a while ago with a USD $1 trillion spending package. But how long can this go on?
In the meantime, housing remains out of reach for many people. In my opinion, there is no lack of supply of housing. Speculation is the problem. Someday the price-to-income ratio for housing will come back to normal, which means a day of reckoning will come. I just don’t know when that will be. Nor does anyone, really, as people have been sounding the alarm for a few years now.
⇧ Oil markets dip on weak China GDP data | Reuters
Lower usage in China will offset eventual lower production in the US but by how much?
It looks like Japan will do better than most of the naysayers thought, as it has no place to go but up and is heavily dependent upon imported oil.
As we mentioned above, Japan’s unemployment is down considerably despite the goofy sales-tax increase that never should have happened during a recovery.
Oil markets dipped on Tuesday as China’s economic growth for 2014 undershot a government target and hit its weakest annual expansion in 24 years, adding to worries in energy markets already suffering from slowing demand and oversupply.
⇧ ECB’s QE won’t be enough – YouTube
On Thursday the European Central Bank is expected to launch quantitative easing, but investors are skeptical over its ability to reflate the eurozone. Alberto Gallo, head of macro credit research at RBS, explains why to the FT’s Ferdinando Giugliano.
We think there’s a mental disconnect amongst those surveyed concerning price inflation from the planned QE and growth. However, Alberto Gallo’s observation that depressed consumers will deleverage or save is correct (for a while).
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Jesca Ada Hoop is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Northern California, who writes and performs in diverse musical styles, under the initial encouragement and guidance of her former employer, musician Tom Waits. Leia mais
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C Duncan
Timber Timbre
The Weather Station
Stations With Jesca Hoop
Jesca Hoop Radio
Plays Jesca Hoop along with similar artists like:
Julie Byrne, Phoebe Bridgers, Ryley Walker, Timber Timbre, The Proper Orn…
Ladies Of Indie Pop
An expansive collection of today's best female indie pop vocals
Regina Spektor, El Perro del Mar, Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton, Best Coas…
Wallis Bird Radio
Plays Wallis Bird along with similar artists like:
KT Tunstall, Sharon Van Etten, Phoebe Bridgers, Diane Birch, Kristin Hers…
Cate Le Bon Radio
Plays Cate Le Bon along with similar artists like:
Scout Niblett, Haley Bonar, Smog, El Perro del Mar, OCS…
David Eugene Edwards Radio
Plays David Eugene Edwards along with similar artists like:
16 Horsepower, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, T…
Mick Harvey Radio
Plays Mick Harvey along with similar artists like:
J Mascis, Antony and the Johnsons, Chuck Prophet, Daniel Lanois, Paul Wel…
David Thomas Broughton Radio
Plays David Thomas Broughton along with similar artists like:
Palace Music, Sandy Bull, Phosphorescent, This Is The Kit, Palace Brother…
Group Bombino Radio
Plays Group Bombino along with similar artists like:
Michael Kiwanuka, Bob Dylan, Benjamin Booker, Shuggie Otis, Hindi Zahra…
From Jesca Hoop
The Lost Sky
Intelligentactile 101
Memories Are Now
Out The Back Door
Seed Of Wonder
Silverscreen
Havoc In Heaven
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