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Erik Korsvik Østergaard
helping leaders create the future
Speaker // Author // AdvisorBloch&Østergaard
29/03/2015 Erik Ledelse
What is your organizations ‘Kevin Bacon Number’?
Kevin Bacon, renowned for a long list of movies (credited for 80 movies according to IMDb), not least Footloose (1984).
Also, he has given name to the Kevin Bacon Number, which – according to Wikipedia – started as a party trick among three students at Albright College in 1994. The number describes affiliation between a given Hollywood actor and Kevin Bacon, stating that six links/degrees is enough to relate any movie appearance to a movie with Kevin Bacon in it.
Later, it spread globally to state that every person on the planet is related to each other within Six Degrees Of Separation. This has further been detailed (2011) to state that the average separation for all users of Facebook is 4.74 degrees, and Twitter respectfully 4.67 degrees.
So, why is that relevant for your organization?
The concept is relevant in order to discuss the networking strengths and weaknesses of your organization regarding formal and informal communication, resilience, and cooperation.
Is a specific ‘Kevin Bacon Number’ relevant for an organization?
Mapping your networks and communication flows is relevant.
Finding “bonders” and “bridgers” is relevant.
Spotting bottlenecks and alternative routes is relevant.
Identifying change agents is relevant.
It’s a part of measuring the social capital, and can be done via an Organizational Network Analysis (an ONA).
Introducing the Organizational Network Analysis (ONA)
An ONA is a mathematical way of mapping and illustrating networks in an organization. See two simple examples below.
Network of an IT consulting company
There are generally two ways of doing that, either by gathering existing data from e.g. email/IM usage (get system data about who communicates with who), or by survey. The first is usually either illegal or unethical (feels like spying), and the latter has the risk of not providing the right answers (people might provide political or tactical answers); however I always use the survey approach, and trust them to provide useful, true answers.
How to engage the organization
Go ask the employees who they work with, who they use for sparring, who they see as role models, who they get energy from, who they talk to about non-professional matters – or similar questions that reflect relations, information flow, and trust in the organization. And, gather relevant demographics, e.g. location and department.
Say, that the investigation naturally cannot be anonymous (we cannot map the networks without knowing how to connect the dots), but it is handled with absolute confidentiality, and only presented in plenum in blurred/blinded versions, where individuals cannot be identified.
Say, what you plan to use the results for – and how you plan to feed the findings back to the employees.
Once you have the survey results, go plot the relations using a network analysis tool. I currently use NodeXL.
Analyzing the network
Now, spend a significant amount of time looking at the maps. Do it together with an employee, who has in-depth knowledge of the organization and the employees.
The obvious things. Do the graphs generally illustrate the organization? Where are the silos? The projects? The matrix structure? Do the organization collaborate as expected?
“Bonders”, who are the magnets in the organization, and attract people
“Bridgers”, who are the glue between sub-maps
Satellites, who flow in the outskirts of the networks
The informal leaders, who the peers look at and work with
People, who have a different role than expected
Weak spots, where the organization is relying on a single resource
Network of a professional services organization
(Also, a lot of metrics can be automatically calculated, like in-degrees, centrality etc. However, use with care, as the interpretation and usefulness can be hard to transmit to the organization.)
Now, feed the findings back to the organization, and discuss what to do with it. What should we keep? What should we try? What should we avoid? What should we introduce? How do we use the informal leaders and change agents?
And, plan for a re-run in 6-12 months to measure the change.
Your organizations ‘Kevin Bacon Number’ is …
… not relevant, but knowing the informal structure, the elasticity and the resilience is. It’s part of a modern, including, network-based, community-oriented world.
ONA, Organisational Network Analysis
My phased approach to UNBOSS
Six Mistakes I Have Made – learnings from leadership engagements
erik@blochoestergaard.dk
@ErikQstergaard (Twitter, Instagram)
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PANDORA - the National Archive
A little while ago, I recieved an email from the State Library of Queensland asking to include FoodMeUpScotty in the National Archives as a 'culturally significan contemporary online publication', copy of the letter below.
I was pretty stoked and agreed immediately - FoodMeUpScotty is now part our our contemporary cultral online heritate - how cool is that?
Request for permission to archive: The FoodMeUpScotty blog http://www.foodmeupscotty.com/
The State Library of Queensland aims to build a comprehensive collection of Queensland publications to ensure the availability of our documentary heritage both now and in the future. State Library’s commitment to preserving the documentary heritage of our state extends to contemporary electronic resources, including online publications and websites of lasting significance. This is achieved through our participation in PANDORA, Australia’s web archive.
PANDORA was established by the National Library of Australia in 1996 to enable the capture of and long-term access to Australian online publications. We cooperate with the National Library in order to build and preserve a comprehensive collection of Australian online publications. State Library’s brief is to enhance the Queensland presence in this national archive.
The FoodMeUpScotty website has been selected for inclusion in the PANDORA Archive. This means that you would grant the Library permission to retain your publication in the Archive and to provide public access to it in perpetuity.
As such it’s now on display in the PANDORA archive at http://nla.gov.au/nla.arc-147974
Mark Wilton 10 November 2014 at 12:55
Thats amazing news, well done
Anthony Clark 15 November 2014 at 18:27
Cheers Mark, I was pretty stoked
Thanks very much for your comment, I really love and appreciate feedback and your thoughts
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일반 검색
언어별 검색
국가별 검색
에 관하여
GRN Offices in Oceania
Global Recordings Network Australia
GRN Australia Bases
GRN provides for 3 overseas bases
이 페이지는 현재 영어로 제공되지 않습니다.
If you would like to help translate this site please click here.
Global Recordings Network (GRN) is made up of Centres and Bases, both of which are staffed by GRN personnel. Centres are independent, national, and self-administered with its own governance board. Bases are under the authority of the Director and Board of another country. A Base has no local governance board but may have a local advisory committee.
GRN Australia is a Centre, below are the Bases that report to Australia.
The region of Southern Africa includes all of the following countries: Madagascar and surrounding islands, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa.
Dalene Joubert (GRNSA Director) leads the GRNSA team - Riaan and Emese Ferreira who have been seconded from Wycliffe and Joel, from USA.
Learn more about the GRN Southern Africa - globalrecordings.net/za
Myanmar - Southeast Asia
Myanmar, formerly Burma, is a Southeast Asian nation bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. With a population of around 50 million, the majority religion is Buddhism and the official language spoken is Burmese. In addition to Burmese, there are over 130 tribal languages spoken throughout the country.
The GRN Myanmar team has David and Naing Oo. Together they are recording and distributing the story of Jesus to speakers of tribal languages in Myanmar.
Learn more about GRN Myanmar - globalrecordings.net/mm
GRN in Papua New Guinea
PNG is the most linguistically diverse nation in the world, with 870 languages and dialects spoken in a population of around seven million people. Many languages have no access to the gospel.
The diversity of the languages, the difficulty of access to some areas and a number of cultural issues make bringing the gospel to PNG a very challenging task - but with God - not impossible.
GRN PNG's ministry was dormant for a number of years and GRN Australia is currently re-establishing this ministry.
Learn more about GRN PNG - globalrecordings.net/pg
내각:
의 비젼
사역방법
교리문
경영방식:
GRN 근처 당신
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Gym for All
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Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
The 2019 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships will take place from Sept 16-22 in Baku, AZE and will feature individual all-around and apparatus finals, as well as group all-around and apparatus finals.
Artistic Gymnastics World Championships
The 2019 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships will take place from Oct 4-13 in Stuttgart, GER and will feature team, individual all-around, and apparatus finals for both men's and women's artistic gymnastics.
Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships
The 2019 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships will take place from Nov 28 to Dec 1 in Tokyo, JPN and will feature individual and team event finals in men's and women's individual trampoline, double mini-trampoline, and tumbling. Synchronized trampoline will be individual finals only.
Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships
The 2019 Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships will take place from June 27-30 in Gyor, HUN. This is the first-ever World Junior Championships and will feature team, individual all-around, and apparatus finals for both men's and women's artistic gymnastics.
Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships
The 2019 Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships will take place from July 19-21 in Moscow, RUS. This is the first-ever Junior World Championships and will feature individual all-around and apparatus finals, as well as group all-around and apparatus finals.
Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions
The 2019 Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions will take place from Dec 5-8 in Tokyo, JPN and will feature age group finals in men's and women's individual trampoline, synchronized trampoline, double mini-trampoline, and tumbling for ages 11-21.
Get exclusive Gymnastics Canada clothing and accessories and show your love for our sport!
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“Hamilton Architects have shown great professionalism and purpose in providing a building of character which gives us a firm identity within the Chinese and wider community. We have been guided successfully through the design and construction of our new building which was an unfamiliar process to us. The Architects have designed a bright and airy building which meets our aspirations and needs and is a delight in which to work, teach, meet and socialize for all age groups and communities who visit the new Centre.”
Eileen Chan-Hu — Chinese Welfare Association
“The University is very pleased with the sensitive restoration of Riddel Hall and the design of the two new buildings, which complement the listed premises and its historic setting. This juxtaposition of the new with the old has been very successful. The brief for Riddel Hall was to conserve its significant architectural and historical value, by keeping intervention to a minimum, while creating a building that met operational need and was environmentally sustainable going into the future. Hamilton Architects are to be congratulated in meeting this very challenging brief.”
Jacqueline Kearns — Queen’s University Belfast
“Hamilton Architects have provided an excellent service to National Museums Northern Ireland in the development of the designs for the Ulster Museum refurbishment project. In all aspects of their work, including consultation with staff, they have demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism and quality and efficiency in their creative responses to our complex brief. The building design is truly fit for purpose, and meets user requirements without question. National Museums Northern Ireland is delighted with the new museum, and the public’s positive reaction is testament to the excellent work carried out by Hamilton Architects.”
John Gilmour — NMNI
“Martin & Hamilton selected Hamilton Architects as lead consultant and conservation architects for the design and development of the Gatehouse & Administration Blocks at the Crumlin Road Gaol. Throughout the contract period Hamilton Architects demonstrated high levels of professionalism and close attention to detail to ensure that high standards of conservation and build quality were delivered within budget. Hamilton Architects led constructive consultation with Planning NI, NIEA and Building Control to ensure Statutory Authorities approvals were obtained within the challenging project timeframes, this included a comprehensive review of the building layouts and circulation to achieve Universal Accessibility to all facilities within the Grade A listed Lanyon buildings.”
Jamie Mone — Martin & Hamilton
“Hamilton Architects, through working with numerous stakeholders and applying their own positive pro-active approach, have assisted in delivering numerous complex projects within extremely critical timescales and budgets to improve the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust’s ability to provide 21st century Patient Care.”
Declan Hall, Senior Estates Officer / Project Manager — Royal Group of Hospitals
“Hamilton Architects have worked with us closely to deliver a high quality centre (Environmental Skills Centre). They have provided us with an innovative approach to our design needs while ensuring budgets were adhered to. The level of communication is excellent and I was kept fully informed on progress of scheme design, including developments and issues that could impact upon delivery of projects. They have considered sustainability as a holistic part of the design and their rigorous analysis of whole life costings ensures that we have a building in which revenue costs are minimised.”
John McConnell, Estates Manager — SERC
“Hamilton Architects have designed and delivered two projects for Dundalk Stadium over the past 5 years. Their approach to meeting our requirements whilst bringing these complex projects in on time and within budget is second to none. Dundalk Stadium is delighted with the completed project and would have no hesitation in recommending Hamilton Architects.”
Jim Martin — Dundalk Stadium
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Game Maker Games - Return to Sector 9
Return to Sector 9 by Pug Fugly Games
Jump to: Review · Download · Share · Recommendations · Comments
Review by Jabberwock
Few developers deliver action that pulls me in quite so well or consistently as PugFugly. And I think few would argue that Return To Sector 9 is less than his greatest achievement to date. It's very rare that a game comes around that's as well-rounded, well-presented, and altogether thrilling as this one - and the best part is it's free.
This game is really several games in one - several "modes" that each could be a game on their own, though they all (except one) revolve around similar gameplay (read: shooting lots and lots of stuff). It's pretty clear, though, that some of the game modes were meant to be played more than others. There's a lot more to do in some of them, and a couple do get old or frustrating pretty quickly. For me, the core of the enjoyment revolves around the two first modes: a story mode and an arcade mode. In these, you fight enormous hordes of aliens (from ships to giant space squids), strategically using your special weapon and avoiding enemy shots at all costs. Control setup is simply brilliant - your ship fires automatically, and you aim by rotating with x and z, while maneuvering with the arrow keys. It might sound odd, but it's one of the most intuitive and clever control setups I've ever come across. Other game modes involve manning turrets, rescuing astronauts, and deactivating mines, among other things.
The game doesn't have a single storyline - rather, the half-dozen different game modes each have their own mini-story, which are only tied together in that they all take place in the same corner of the universe - the oh-so-hazardous Sector 9. The game also contains a bunch of unlockable ships to fly, each with its own backstory. These little storylines are interesting and pretty well-written on top of that, and they've all got a touch of subtle (or occasionally not-so-subtle) humor. A bit ironically, one of the few Game Maker games out there worth taking seriously doesn't take itself seriously at all. But the result is a better game; it gives the game world (or rather, Sector) depth and a feeling of backstory and character - which is rather rare among free games, and even rarer among arcade-action fare.
The presence of an enormous number of unlockables rather sets this game apart. It screams "play me!" and when you stop, it screams "play me some more!" I've spent more hours than I care to mention playing this game, and I haven't yet unlocked everything. There are special weapons, ships, paint jobs, game modes - and every one is unlocked through playing the game, a lot, on every possible setting. It's sort of daunting, honestly, but not enough to drive anyone away, I'm sure - rather, it serves to suck you in even further.
Graphically, I could not ask for anything better. The bullet patterns are elaborate and pretty, the explosions are satisfying, the ships are pristinely pixelled, the particle effects are liberally applied, the menus are professional... really, it is visually flawless. I like all the different ship designs and special weapons, specifically.
The music, as with any PugFugly game, is original and excellent. He has a distinctive style that I think is great, and a talent for memorable melody. Sound effects are everywhere, and they work very nicely.
Really, it's hard to think of a game that is better all-around. Other than that I kind of disliked a couple of the game modes, I can't think of a single complaint. It's a brilliant and addictive game, and obviously the product of a great deal of work. I highly recommend it.
Spotlight - July 2009
Download Return to Sector 9 (EXE, ~11.8 MB , Suitable for everyone )
View Pug Fugly Games's Profile
Opinions about Return to Sector 9
Showing: GMG Staff (2) · GMG Users (1)
Overall: recommended
Recommendations: The 12 people who like Return to Sector 9 also like the following games.
An Untitled Story
Jumper Two
Painajainen
More games by Pug Fugly Games
More reviews by Jabberwock
2009.07.09 12hotaje
Great game man but i have to say one thing: whenever you press the down arrow it doesn't look like you are slowing down but rather you are moving backwards: unless you wanted it to be that way! Awesome game though!
2009.06.03 snowyowl
Rating: --
Not bad. The only critiscism I can think of is this: winning a bronze medal in each minigame unlocks more minigames, winning silver unlocks assorted awesome stuff, but gold? Just a 'congratulations' message. Anticlimactic or what?
That aside, I absolutely agree that this game is worth taking seriously and that the humour adds a lot. I also caught the reference to The Encryption by YoMamasMama (another awesome game), snd wonder if any other ships come from games I should be playing?
2009.06.03 Trogador
About time somebody reviewed this. Disregard my previous review of the game.
2009.06.01 phoenix0
For all of you complaining about the long loading time, that's dependent on the speed of your computer. Also, this seems like yet another staff score that's too high. 9.5?
Now that I'm done ranting, this game is very good. Some of the games are really boring, but that ones that are fun are really fun. This is a must-download.
2009.06.01 BigxBen
GMG pretty late with this game.
2007.11.07 DeathMasterGames
There were a few minigames I didn't care for, but the overall game is excellent. A definite improvement over the previous one. I love the variation in monsters, attacks, power-ups, and ships. It's addicting, fun, and has a lot of replay value. I know a few people who are going to be up all night playing this game. I'd say it's about as good as Pyramids, only you added boss fights, which I love. Good work.
On the other hand, there were some annoying mini games, and you have to play them to unlock the others, and ships. And the loading time was annoying for a GameMaker game. So all in all, 8/10.
2007.08.28 LordMetroid
Best GMG bar none. Gold Rush and Doomball were pretty bad minigames though.
Honestly, I thought Return could be better. When I booted up the game it took a long time to load, and then came lag in the menu and title functions. I will say that the graphics are amazing and the formula hasn't changed at all. it's addictive and fun for a long time.
however, the fact that the formula hasn't changed really kills the game. you have Return to Sector 9 plus 9 other games which are simply the same game over and over again.
To put it simple, Return To Sector 9 may offer more than many other space shooters, but it's just the same game with a new paint job.
2007.08.09 BloodMonger
Awesome game! Very creative and beter than the original
2007.08.04 Mynameisonic
Wow! This game is amazing. Better than the original in every way. The graphics were stunning.
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A Clash of Kings – Chapter 39
Confusion and clangor ruled the castle. Men stood on the beds of wagons loading casks of wine, sacks of flour, and bundles of new-fletched arrows. Smiths straightened swords, knocked dents from breastplates, and shoed destriers and pack mules alike. Mail shirts were tossed in barrels of sand and rolled across the lumpy surface of the Flowstone Yard to scour them clean. Weese’s women had twenty cloaks to mend, a hundred more to wash. The high and humble crowded into the sept together to pray. Outside the walls, tents and pavilions were coming down. Squires tossed pails of water over cookfires, while soldiers took out their oilstones to give their blades one last good lick. The noise was a swelling tide: horses blowing and whickering, lords shouting commands, men-at-arms trading curses, camp followers squabbling.
Lord Tywin Lannister was marching at last.
Ser Addam Marbrand was the first of the captains to depart, a day before the rest. He made a gallant show of it, riding a spirited red courser whose mane was the same copper color as the long hair that streamed past Ser Addam’s shoulders. The horse was barded in bronze-colored trappings dyed to match the rider’s cloak and emblazoned with the burning tree. Some of the castle women sobbed to see him go. Weese said he was a great horseman and sword fighter, Lord Tywin’s most daring commander.
I hope he dies, Arya thought as she watched him ride out the gate, his men streaming after him in a double column. I hope they all die. They were going to fight Robb, she knew. Listening to the talk as she went about her work, Arya had learned that Robb had won some great victory in the west. He’d burned Lannisport, some said, or else he meant to burn it. He’d captured Casterly Rock and put everyone to the sword, or he was besieging the Golden Tooth… but something had happened, that much was certain.
Weese had her running messages from dawn to dusk. Some of them even took her beyond the castle walls, out into the mud and madness of the camp. I could flee, she thought as a wagon rumbled past her. I could hop on the back of a wagon and hide, or fall in with the camp followers, no one would stop me. She might have done it if not for Weese. He’d told them more than once what he’d do to anyone who tried to run off on him. “It won’t be no beating, oh, no. I won’t lay a finger on you. I’ll just save you for the Qohorik, yes I will, I’ll save you for the Crippler. Vargo Hoat his name is, and when he gets back he’ll cut off your feet.” Maybe if Weese were dead, Arya thought… but not when she was with him. He could look at you and smell what you were thinking, he always said so.
Weese never imagined she could read, though, so he never bothered to seal the messages he gave her. Arya peeked at them all, but they were never anything good, just stupid stuff sending this cart to the granary and that one to the armory. One was a demand for payment on a gambling debt, but the knight she gave it to couldn’t read. When she told him what it said he tried to hit her, but Arya ducked under the blow, snatched a silver-banded drinking horn off his saddle, and darted away. The knight roared and came after her, but she slid between two wayns, wove through a crowd of archers, and jumped a latrine trench. In his mail he couldn’t keep up. When she gave the horn to Weese, he told her that a smart little Weasel like her deserved a reward. “I’ve got my eye on a plump crisp capon to sup on tonight. We’ll share it, me and you. You’ll like that.”
Everywhere she went, Arya searched for Jaqen H’ghar, wanting to whisper another name to him before those she hated were all gone out of her reach, but amidst the chaos and confusion the Lorathi sellsword was not to be found. He still owed her two deaths, and she was worried she would never get them if he rode off to battle with the rest. Finally she worked up the courage to ask one of the gate guards if he’d gone. “One of Lorch’s men, is he?” the man said. “He won’t be going, then. His lordship’s named Ser Amory castellan of Harrenhal. That whole lot’s staying right here, to hold the castle. The Bloody Mummers will be left as well, to do the foraging. That goat Vargo Hoat is like to spit, him and Lorch have always hated each other.”
The Mountain would be leaving with Lord Tywin, though. He would command the van in battle, which meant that Dunsen, Polliver, and Raff would all slip between her fingers unless she could find Jaqen and have him kill one of them before they left.
“Weasel,” Weese said that afternoon. “Get to the armory and tell Lucan that Ser Lyonel notched his sword in practice and needs a new one. Here’s his mark.” He handed her a square of paper. “Be quick about it now, he’s to ride with Ser Kevan Lannister.”
Arya took the paper and ran. The armory adjoined the castle smithy, a long high-roofed tunnel of a building with twenty forges built into its walls and long stone water troughs for tempering the steel. Half of the forges were at work when she entered. The walls rang with the sound of hammers, and burly men in leather aprons stood sweating in the sullen heat as they bent over bellows and anvils. When she spied Gendry, his bare chest was slick with sweat, but the blue eyes under the heavy black hair had the stubborn look she remembered. Arya didn’t know that she even wanted to talk to him. It was his fault they’d all been caught. “Which one is Lucan?” She thrust out the paper. “I’m to get a new sword for Ser Lyonel.”
“Never mind about Ser Lyonel.” He drew her aside by the arm. “Last night Hot Pie asked me if I heard you yell Winterfell back at the holdfast, when we were all fighting on the wall.”
“I never did!”
“Yes you did. I heard you too.”
“Everyone was yelling stuff,” Arya said defensively. “Hot Pie yelled hot pie. He must have yelled it a hundred times.”
“It’s what you yelled that matters. I told Hot Pie he should clean the wax out of his ears, that all you yelled was Go to hell! If he asks you, you better say the same.”
“I will,” she said, even though she thought go to hell was a stupid thing to yell. She didn’t dare tell Hot Pie who she really was. Maybe I should say Hot Pie’s name to Jaqen.
“I’ll get Lucan,” Gendry said.
Lucan grunted at the writing (though Arya did not think he could read it), and pulled down a heavy longsword. “This is too good for that oaf, and you tell him I said so,” he said as he gave her the blade.
“I will,” she lied. If she did any such thing, Weese would beat her bloody. Lucan could deliver his own insults.
The longsword was a lot heavier than Needle had been, but Arya liked the feel of it. The weight of steel in her hands made her feel stronger. Maybe I’m not a water dancer yet, but I’m not a mouse either. A mouse couldn’t use a sword but I can. The gates were open, soldiers coming and going, drays rolling in empty and going out creaking and swaying under their loads. She thought about going to the stables and telling them that Ser Lyonel wanted a new horse. She had the paper, the stableboys wouldn’t be able to read it any better than Lucan had. I could take the horse and the sword and just ride out. If the guards tried to stop me I’d show them the paper and say I was bringing everything to Ser Lyonel. She had no notion what Ser Lyonel looked like or where to find him, though. If they questioned her, they’d know, and then Weese… Weese…
As she chewed her lip, trying not to think about how it would feel to have her feet cut off, a group of archers in leather jerkins and iron helms went past, their bows slung across their shoulders. Arya heard snatches of their talk.
“… giants I tell you, he’s got giants twenty foot tall come down from beyond the Wall, follow him like dogs…”
“… not natural, coming on them so fast, in the night and all. He’s more wolf than man, all them Starks are…”
“… shit on your wolves and giants, the boy’d piss his pants if he knew we was coming. He wasn’t man enough to march on Harrenhal, was he? Ran t’other way, didn’t he? He’d run now if he knew what was best for him.”
“So you say, but might be the boy knows something we don’t, maybe it’s us ought to be run…”
Yes, Arya thought. Yes, it’s you who ought to run, you and Lord Tywin and the Mountain and Ser Addam and Ser Amory and stupid Ser Lyonel whoever he is, all of you better run or my brother will kill you, he’s a Stark, he’s more wolf than man, and so am I.
“Weasel.” Weese’s voice cracked like a whip. She never saw where he came from, but suddenly he was right in front of her. “Give me that. Took you long enough.” He snatched the sword from her fingers, and dealt her a stinging slap with the back of his hand. “Next time be quicker about it.”
For a moment she had been a wolf again, but Weese’s slap took it all away and left her with nothing but the taste of her own blood in her mouth. She’d bitten her tongue when he hit her. She hated him for that.
“You want another?” Weese demanded. “You’ll get it too. I’ll have none of your insolent looks. Get down to the brewhouse and tell Tuffleberry that I have two dozen barrels for him, but he better send his lads to fetch them or I’ll find someone wants ’em worse.” Arya started off, but not quick enough for Weese. “You run if you want to eat tonight,” he shouted, his promises of a plump crisp capon already forgotten. “And don’t be getting lost again, or I swear I’ll beat you bloody.”
You won’t, Arya thought. You won’t ever again. But she ran. The old gods of the north must have been guiding her steps. Halfway to the brewhouse, as she was passing under the stone bridge that arched between Widow’s Tower and Kingspyre, she heard harsh, growling laughter. Rorge came around a corner with three other men, the manticore badge of Ser Amory sewn over their hearts. When he saw her, he stopped and grinned, showing a mouthful of crooked brown teeth under the leather flap he wore sometimes to cover the hole in his face. “Yoren’s little cunt,” he called her. “Guess we know why that black bastard wanted you on the Wall, don’t we?” He laughed again, and the others laughed with him. “Where’s your stick now?” Rorge demanded suddenly, the smile gone as quick as it had come. “Seems to me I promised to fuck you with it.” He took a step toward her. Arya edged backward. “Not so brave now that I’m not in chains, are you?”
“I saved you.” She kept a good yard between them, ready to run quick as a snake if he made a grab for her.
“Owe you another fucking for that, seems like. Did Yoren pump your cunny, or did he like that tight little ass better?”
“I’m looking for Jaqen,” she said. “There’s a message.”
Rorge halted. Something in his eyes… could it be that he was scared of Jaqen H’ghar? “The bathhouse. Get out of my way.”
Arya whirled and ran, swift as a deer, her feet flying over the cobbles all the way to the bathhouse. She found Jaqen soaking in a tub, steam rising around him as a serving girl sluiced hot water over his head. His long hair, red on one side and white on the other, fell down across his shoulders, wet and heavy.
She crept up quiet as a shadow, but he opened his eyes all the same. “She steals in on little mice feet, but a man hears,” he said. How could he hear me? she wondered, and it seemed as if he heard that as well. “The scuff of leather on stone sings loud as warhorns to a man with open ears. Clever girls go barefoot.”
“I have a message.” Arya eyed the serving girl uncertainly. When she did not seem likely to go away, she leaned in until her mouth was almost touching his ear. “Weese,” she whispered.
Jaqen H’ghar closed his eyes again, floating languid, half-asleep. “Tell his lordship a man shall attend him at his leisure.” His hand moved suddenly, splashing hot water at her, and Arya had to leap back to keep from getting drenched.
When she told Tuffleberry what Weese had said, the brewer cursed loudly. “You tell Weese my lads got duties to attend to, and you tell him he’s a pox-ridden bastard too, and the seven hells will freeze over before he gets another horn of my ale. I’ll have them barrels within the hour or Lord Tywin will hear of it, see if he don’t.”
Weese cursed too when Arya brought back that message, even though she left out the pox-ridden bastard part. He fumed and threatened, but in the end he rounded up six men and sent them off grumbling to fetch the barrels down to the brewhouse.
Supper that evening was a thin stew of barley, onion, and carrots, with a wedge of stale brown bread. One of the women had taken to sleeping in Weese’s bed, and she got a piece of ripe blue cheese as well, and a wing off the capon that Weese had spoken of that morning. He ate the rest himself, the grease running down in a shiny line through the boils that festered at the corner of his mouth. The bird was almost gone when he glanced up from his trencher and saw Arya staring. “Weasel, come here.”
A few mouthfuls of dark meat still clung to one thigh. He forgot, but now he’s remembered, Arya thought. It made her feel bad for telling Jaqen to kill him. She got off the bench and went to the head of the table.
“I saw you looking at me.” Weese wiped his fingers on the front of her shift. Then he grabbed her throat with one hand and slapped her with the other. “What did I tell you?” He slapped her again, backhand. “Keep those eyes to yourself, or next time I’ll spoon one out and feed it to my bitch.” A shove sent her stumbling to the floor. Her hem caught on a loose nail in the splintered wooden bench and ripped as she fell. “You’ll mend that before you sleep,” Weese announced as he pulled the last bit of meat off the capon. When he was finished he sucked his fingers noisily, and threw the bones to his ugly spotted dog.
“Weese,” Arya whispered that night as she bent over the tear in her shift. “Dunsen, Polliver, Raff the Sweetling,” she said, calling a name every time she pushed the bone needle through the undyed wool. “The Tickler and the Hound. Ser Gregor, Ser Amory, Ser Ilyn, Ser Meryn, King Joffrey, Queen Cersei.” She wondered how much longer she would have to include Weese in her prayer, and drifted off to sleep dreaming that on the morrow, when she woke, he’d be dead.
But it was the sharp toe of Weese’s boot that woke her, as ever. The main strength of Lord Tywin’s host would ride this day, he told them as they broke their fast on oatcakes. “Don’t none of you be thinking how easy it’ll be here once m’lord of Lannister is gone,” he warned. “The castle won’t grow no smaller, I promise you that, only now there’ll be fewer hands to tend to it. You lot of slugabeds are going to learn what work is now, yes you are.”
Not from you. Arya picked at her oaten cake. Weese frowned at her, as if he smelled her secret. Quickly she dropped her gaze to her food, and dared not raise her eyes again.
Pale light filled the yard when Lord Tywin Lannister took his leave of Harrenhal. Arya watched from an arched window halfway up the Wailing Tower. His charger wore a blanket of enameled crimson scales and gilded crinet and chamfron, while Lord Tywin himself sported a thick ermine cloak. His brother Ser Kevan looked near as splendid. No less than four standard-bearers went before them, carrying huge crimson banners emblazoned with the golden lion. Behind the Lannisters came their great lords and captains. Their banners flared and flapped, a pageant of color: red ox and golden mountain, purple unicorn and bantam rooster, brindled boar and badger, a silver ferret and a juggler in motley, stars and sunbursts, peacock and panther, chevron and dagger, black hood and blue beetle and green arrow.
Last of all came Ser Gregor Clegane in his grey plate steel, astride a stallion as bad-tempered as his rider. Polliver rode beside him, with the black dog standard in his hand and Gendry’s horned helm on his head. He was a tall man, but he looked no more than a half-grown boy when he rode in his master’s shadow.
A shiver crept up Arya’s spine as she watched them pass under the great iron portcullis of Harrenhal. Suddenly she knew that she had made a terrible mistake. I’m so stupid, she thought. Weese did not matter, no more than Chiswyck had. These were the men who mattered, the ones she ought to have killed. Last night she could have whispered any of them dead, if only she hadn’t been so mad at Weese for hitting her and lying about the capon. Lord Tywin, why didn’t I say Lord Tywin?
Perhaps it was not too late to change her mind. Weese was not killed yet. If she could find Jaqen, tell him…
Hurriedly, Arya ran down the twisting steps, her chores forgotten. She heard the rattle of chains as the portcullis was slowly lowered, its spikes sinking deep into the ground… and then another sound, a shriek of pain and fear.
A dozen people got there before her, though none was coming any too close. Arya squirmed between them. Weese was sprawled across the cobbles, his throat a red ruin, eyes gaping sightlessly up at a bank of grey cloud. His ugly spotted dog stood on his chest, lapping at the blood pulsing from his neck, and every so often ripping a mouthful of flesh out of the dead man’s face.
Finally someone brought a crossbow and shot the spotted dog dead while she was worrying at one of Weese’s ears.
“Damnedest thing,” she heard a man say. “He had that bitch dog since she was a pup.”
“This place is cursed,” the man with the crossbow said.
“It’s Harren’s ghost, that’s what it is,” said Goodwife Amabel. “I’ll not sleep here another night, I swear it.”
Arya lifted her gaze from the dead man and his dead dog. Jaqen H’ghar was leaning up against the side of the Wailing Tower. When he saw her looking, he lifted a hand to his face and laid two fingers casually against his cheek.
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Xbox 360 - Tron Evolution
Tron Evolution by Propaganda Games
Format: Third person shooter / racing / climbing / fighting
Type: Movie Tie-In
Rated: Violence
Tron Evolution is a sequel to the original film Tron and a prequel to the film Tron Legacy. The story in this game fills in the gap between these two films. You play as the 'System Monitor' program (another type of Tron-like program). As the 'System Monitor' you are designed to seek out rogue code and destroy it. Note, while this game borrows heavily on concepts introduced in Tron 2.0, this game has nothing to do with Tron 2.0 or Tron Killer App.
Because this game is a movie-tie in, it really has 'crap' written all over it. Surprisingly, it's better than I expected for a tie-in. However, it is by no means perfect. If this game had had another year for development, this game could have been as good as any top-end game. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. It's too bad that movie studios don't insist on better quality games for tie-ins.
You are System Monitor and are the nemesis of CLU and Abraxas. CLU and Abraxas have teamed up to wipe out the ISOs. You are there to stop this process as System Monitor. CLU has effectively turned rogue and you have to stop CLU and Abraxas from fulfilling their nefarious plans. Along the way you meet Quorra who occasionally helps you out.
The game play starts as you run around looking to do specific tasks. It starts with a small tutorial that leads into the larger game play. The trouble with this game is two-fold. The camera and the controls (both problems are really interlinked).
In many situations, the camera is way too active, moving around randomly and, by effect, causing control problems. Because the controls are based on the direction the camera is looking, it's easy to jump in the wrong direction. Combine this with way overly sensitive controls, and you end up derezzing over and over because System Monitor decides to jump off of a cliff or double jump into an abyss.
The style of many of the levels is to lock you into a space until you kill every enemy in the space. At that point, the blocking shield falls and you can move on.
Grid and Games
Unfortunately, I was expecting a lot more from the grid games and the game didn't deliver. I was hoping for actual grid gaming matches as part of the story. Instead, you're pretty much just fighting your way through each level on your own rather than on the game grid. The lightcycles part of this game is way too sparse. The few times you do get to use the lightcycle, it's unwieldy and uncontrollable. I was hoping for better here. The best part of this game is the tank. Once you finally get into the tank, you can start taking out Recognizers. Then the game almost takes on a feel like Flynn's very own fictional game 'Space Paranoids'. A game that we've never gotten to play, until Tron Evolution. So, once in the tank vehicle, the game feels like it would have to play 'Space Paranoids'.
The music is probably the best part of this game (and, in fact, a great part of the film as well). Daft Punk put together a very strong soundtrack that makes this game work quite well. Unfortunately, the camera really holds back the quality of this game even as good as the music is.
The graphics in this game are very good. I was hoping for slightly better graphics, but it still looks very good for what it is. That said, the cinematics are done with the Xbox 360 game engine rather than using pre-rendered animated cinematics. The game suffers graphically from this. While the Xbox 360 engine is good for gaming purposes, it's not outstanding for cinematics. I think Propaganda Games has made a bad design decision for not producing standalone cinematics to link the segments together.
The multiplayer aspects are similar to most multiplayer games. There are some team games and there are individual games. On some levels, you play only with throwing the disc. On other levels, you can do both disc and vehicles (tank, lightcycle, etc).
I wasn't that impressed with the multiplayer aspect mostly because you either have to run the server on your Xbox 360 or you play it on someone else's 360. If that person shuts off their 360, then the game goes away. So, it's probably better to host the game yourself so that it hangs around as long as you continue to play.
The story is short and the gameplay can be, at times, tedious. This game suffers from lack of control and an extremely unwieldy camera. Part of the camera problems stem from being too far back behind the player. So, it's constantly trying to avoid bumping into things. Because they have tied the direction of movement to the camera view, it's difficult to control where the character ends up.
The multiplayer aspects are ok, but not great either. The levels are very expansive, depending on the map, so you there's a lot of space to roam. The multiplayer aspects just didn't grab me and make me think it was something great.
If you are a Tron gaming fan, this one is a buy. Otherwise, I recommend renting. The game is very short, so any price above $20 is too much for this game considering its major shortcomings and the overall length of the story. However, if you are looking to fill in the gaps between Tron and Tron Legacy, then you should get Tron Evolution for the story alone.
Sound: 9/10 (excellent soundtrack, effects are good)
Graphics: 8.5/10 (characters look good)
Gameplay: 7/10 (somewhat repetitive)
Story: 8.5/10 (story is better than movie story)
Bugginess: N/A (no bugs found)
Controls: 4/10 (hard to control at times)
Bang-to-buck: 2/10 (definitely a rent)
Play Value: $20 (If fan, buy. If not, rent)
Overall: 7/10 (camera makes controls frustrating).
Labels: movie tie-in, tron
webmaster said...
BF 2011 Great buy for Xbox 360 Black Friday. Thanks
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<< Previous Saga Entry
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(Pluto's back, and it's pissed...)
Nealocrats and Georgicans
Entry Logged on: August 25, 2012 to Part 3 by: Neal - Photos by: Neal (1)
Page Views: 193 - Times Displayed: 2588
In 2034, as a result of their love of George and Neal, America did away with their bipartisan political landscape, replacing it with a more unified governmental system known as Neorgitarians. But by 2035, the unification was no more - the group had splintered into two distinct and separate groups, Nealocrats and Georgicans. Nealocrats were considered intelligent, rational, and well-spoken; however, they constantly inappropriately dressed for most occasions.
Above: A Nealocrat attending a somber funeral. Most assuredly, this did not put the "fun" back in "funeral." It did, however, put the "uncomfortable" back in "uncomfortabuneral".
Georgicans were widely considered insane, but known to have excellent table manners.
Tags: 2034(2) 2035(2) government(16) politics(9)
Tags & Related Posts:
2034 - (1 Other Entry)
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government - (15 Other Entries)
The Recession: The Origin - In 2003, becoming increasingly paranoid that officials at the Pentagon were conspiring against him, George W. Bush asked that George and Neal create t...
Measure Your Spaghetti - In 2018 George and Neal were invited to appear before the entire US Government to talk about their accomplishments. The talk started out normal enough...
Bum Ba Bum, Ba Bum Bum... - In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum securi...
We the Bad-Ass Americans - George and Neal went on a vacation/bender in 1776 (again with the time machine). Luckily, though wackiness ensued, nothing was altered in our time-lin...
Restraining Orders Suck - Between 2056 and 2058, George and Neal had little contact, due to a government-sought restraining order. During those years, Awesomeness!™ was outlawe...
politics - (8 Other Entries)
Jaros/Simon 2016 vs Simon/Jaros 2016 - Exhausted with the mean-spirited nature of recent presidential elections as well as the inability of presidents to follow through on campaign promises...
2008 Election Campaigns - During the 2008 election season, George and Neal were hired by Barack Obama's marketing team to come up with catchy ditties about the man. After writi...
Chicken To Ride - And Other Classics Done Right - In 2012 George and Neal recorded an album of cover songs, except instead of the actual lyrics we sang the lyrics that everyone thinks the original art...
Clint Ain't Wacko! - In August 2012, Clint Eastwood was thought to have embarrassed himself at the Republican National Convention by pretending to argue with an invisible ...
Need More Conventions!!! - By 2031 there were so many comic conventions and expos (including Comic-Con, WizCon, APE, C2E2, WonderCon, Comikaze, C4, MegaCon, Sac-Con, Pros & Con,...
Luckily for cats, this was a very short period. - During the brief period where George and Neal were not awesome (see www.george-and-neal-are-not-awesome.info), they invented Cat Baseball. It... did ...
We'll never learn... - In 2059, George and Neal did some other awesome stuff, and one thing they are both not very proud of. It involved a tray of ice, a can of motor oil, a...
Nealotards - For six years, from 2021 to 2027 Neal tried very hard to get the world to pick up male-leotards as the latest fashion trend (he called them Nealotards...
Nanas & Tiaras - Sickened by the inappropriate nature of the popular show "Toddlers & Tiaras", in 2018 George and Neal created a much more family-friendly rival show,...
The Multiverse - There are lots of stories about the Bermuda Triangle and how it causes ships and airplanes to mysteriously disappear. In actuality, this is the simply...
EW2JRP
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Category: Full Ablution
Is it permissible for a woman to do her household duties when she is junub?
Is it permissible for a woman to do her usual household duties such as cooking, looking after the children, and housework, before she does ghusl following intercourse?.
Is it haraam for a woman who is junub to cook or touch things?
He did ghusl with the intention of doing it for Jumu‘ah and he forgot about doing it for janaabah; did it remove his impurity?
It is haraam for the person who is junub (in a state of impurity following sexual activity) to pray, perform tawaaf, stay in the mosque, recite Qur’aan or touch the Mushaf. Everything else is permissible.
There is nothing wrong with a woman who is junub cooking, looking after her house, taking care of her children or fulfilling any other needs. This is indicated by several pieces of evidence including the following:
(a)It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) met him on one of the roads of Madeenah when he was junub. He said: I turned back and went and did ghusl, then I came. He said: “Where were you, O Abu Hurayrah?” I said: “I was junub and I did not like to sit with you when I was not in a state of purity.” He said, “Subhaan Allaah, the Muslim does not become impure.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 279; Muslim, 371.
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said: This indicates that it is permissible to delay doing ghusl from the time when it first becomes obligatory, and that it is permissible for the one who is junub to go about his business.
Fath al-Baari, 1/391.
It is better for the one who is junub to hasten to do ghusl, lest he forgets that he is junub. And it is recommended for him to do wudoo’ before he touches food and drink and before going to sleep. That is better than doing these things when he is junub. But this wudoo’ is not obligatory, rather it serves to reduce the impurity, and it is mustahabb. There are a number of ahaadeeth concerning that, including the following:
(i)It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was junub and wanted to eat or sleep, he would do wudoo’ as for prayer. (Narrated by Muslim, 305).
(ii)It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Can one of us go to sleep when he is junub?” He said: “Yes, if he does wudoo’ then he can go to sleep when he is junub.” (narrated by al-Bukhaari, 283; Muslim, 306)
Al-Nawawi said: This indicates that it is mustahabb to do wudoo’ and to wash one's private parts before doing all these things, especially if the man wants to have intercourse with a wife with whom he has not yet had intercourse. It is definitely mustahabb to wash one's private part. Our companions have stated that it is makrooh to sleep, eat, drink or have intercourse before doing wudoo’, and these ahaadeeth indicate that. There is no dispute among us that this wudoo’ is not obligatory. This is also the view of Maalik and the majority.
Sharh Muslim, 3/217
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
It is mustahabb for the one who is junub to do wudoo’ if he wants to eat, drink, sleep or have intercourse again, but it is makrooh for him to sleep if he has not done wudoo’. It was proven in al-Saheeh that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked, “Can one of us go to sleep when he is junub?” He said: “Yes, if he does wudoo’ as for prayer…”
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 21/343
See also question no. 6533.
What is ghusl required and when is it mustahabb?
She used to pray but she was not aware of the obligation of ghusl after menses
It is not essential to rub when doing wudoo’ and ghusl
Ruling on a Muslim man marrying a non-Muslim woman and vice versa
Ruling on husband and wife playing while fasting
Ruling on buying and selling shares
Having a blood sample taken for testing does not invalidate the fast
What should he do if he gets urine on his clothes?
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Category: Removing Impurity
What is required when madhiy is emitted
Every time my husband says to me “I love you” or he whispers to me, I feel some wetness and I do not know whether this is maniy. Does it mean that I have to do ghusl? Is this the wetness that comes with desire? Although I feel happy and excited when he says that to me, it is different from the way I feel when having intercourse. Please advise me, because my husband is always calling out to me “I love you”, and I feel that wetness every time he says it. Do I have to do ghusl every time? I am confused about my situation… do I have to do ghusl for every prayer?.
The difference between maniy, madhiy and moisture
Ruling on the discharges that come out from the woman’s uterus
Firstly:
It seems that this wetness that you feel is madhiy and not maniy, the emission of which means that you must do ghusl.
Based on this, you do not have to do ghusl when it is emitted, you only have to do wudoo, because the emission of madhiy invalidates wudoo’, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said concerning madhiy: “Wudoo’ is required for it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (1/168): The scholars are unanimously agreed that the emission of madhiy invalidates wudoo’
It must be noted that madhiy is naajis (impure), and any part of the body that it touches must be washed. As for clothing, Islam is lenient about purifying it so as to ward off hardship. It is sufficient for you to take a handful of water and sprinkle it on the place that has been touched by madhiy, because when the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about how to cleanse a garment of madhiy, he said: “It is sufficient for you to take a handful of water and sprinkle your garment where you think the madhiy touched it.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (115); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
We have explained the difference between madhiy and maniy and the rulings on them in the answer to question no. 2458, to which you may refer for more information.
Differences between semen (maniy) and urethral fluid (madhiy)
It is permissible to use just tissues to clean oneself after defecating
Is wudoo’ invalidated if some wetness comes out of the vagina?
Ruling on regarding twitching of the eye as an unlucky sign
She does not want to live with her husband’s family
Ruling on animated drawings (cartoons)
Hanging pictures of people in the house
Sleep invalidates wudoo’ if it is deep
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Why is MySpace popular
Alf Eaton · August 30, 2006
A brief analysis of why MySpace is successful as a space for music (for which it was originally designed):
You can listen to full tracks by each band.
There's no need to find and navigate complex Flash-based artist websites.
There's a direct communication channel to and from the artist - via the blog outwards and via the comments inwards.
You can see the band's social network in context - their friends, people who like them.
There's a standard gig listing template (though this is the weakest point, it should really be location-aware and aggregatable to show you which of your favourite artists are playing nearby in the next few weeks - see SonicLiving).
How about an analogy to science publishing:
You can't read full papers (most of the time).
There's no central (or distributed) repository of papers, though PubMed Central is a start. Finding papers is easy, but navigating journal sites can be awkward. Finding author profile pages (generally home pages on university sites) is hard, and their list of publications is often out of date.
There's no public communication channel with the authors: you can send them an email, and some journals provide space for comments, but they're not very visible and I don't know if the authors are notified when a comment is posted.
There's no indication of an author's collaboration network.
There's no unique identifier for authors (except in some places: Scopus and SciLink), so getting a list of all an author's publications can be difficult.
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Giulio Cesare in Egitto
George Friedrich Händel
Nicola Francesco Haym
Her Majestys Theatre
1724 – London, United Kingdom
GenreOpera . LanguageItalianYear of the Premiere1724Acts3
The people of Egypt acclaim the exultant Giulio Cesare, who has just defeated his rival Pompeo in battle. When Cornelia and Sesto, wife and son of Pompeo, come to beg Cesare for a cessation of hostilities, the Roman tribune Curio confesses that he has long loved Cornelia. Cesare agrees to receive Pompeo if he comes in peace, but Achilla, general of Tolomeo, King of Egypt, brings the head of Pompeo as a token of friendship, offering hospitality at the same time. Cesare angrily rejects the cruel deed and Cornelia faints. Achilla is struck by her beauty. Recovering from her swoon, Cornelia wishes to kill herself, but is restrained by Curio, who offers to avenge her if she will be his wife. She rejects his offer. She can find no source of comfort, but Sesto resolves to seek vengeance.
Cleopatra, co-ruler of Egypt with her brother Tolomeo, resolves to be sole ruler. Hearing from her confidant Nireno of Tolomeo's overtures to Cesare, she decides to go to Cesare herself, to press her claim to the throne. Tolomeo confronts her, suggesting she return to women's weapons, the needle and spindle, and leave Egypt to him, but she answers him spiritedly and sets off with Nireno. Achilla reports to Tolomeo who is angered at Cesare's rejection. Achilla suggests that Cesare be killed as Pompeo was, and offers to carry out the deed if Tolomeo will grant him Cornelia.
Cesare meditates on the transience of life as funeral rites are celebrated for Pompeo. Cleopatra presents herself, pretending to be Lydia, one of her own attendants. He is bewitched by her beauty and promises her redress against Tolomeo, whom she accuses of having deprived her of her patrimony. She and Nireno watch as Cornelia bids a formal farewell to her dead husband and draws a sword from among his weapons, planning to kill Tolomeo. She is prevented by Sesto, who says it is for him to take revenge. Hoping that Sesto will assist her path to the throne by killing Tolomeo, Cleopatra, without revealing her identity, offers assistance to Sesto, who rejoices in the prospect of revenge. Nireno will guide him. Cleopatra looks forward to power and love.
Tolomeo welcomes Cesare, who replies politely but makes it clear he disapproves of the murder of Pompeo. Neither trusts the other and Cesare likens himself to the hunter stalking his prey. Achilla brings Cornelia and Sesto to Tolomeo. They abuse him and Sesto offers single combat, but he orders them imprisoned, promising to reserve Cornelia for Achilla, while having designs on her himself. Cornelia refuses Achilla's offer of freedom for herself and her son if she will marry him. Sesto is taken to prison, Cornelia sent to work in the harem garden. Mother and son bid one another farewell.
Having fallen in love with Cesare and hoping to arouse a reciprocal passion, Cleopatra stages a pageant (in which she herself takes part, representing Virtue enthroned, surrounded by the muses) for his benefit; he is enchanted.
Cornelia laments. Fleeing from the advances of Achilla, she runs into Tolomeo, who offers love on his own account. Her scornful rejection provokes his rage. Sesto restrains his mother from leaping from the walls to be devoured by the wild beasts outside and swears to avenge their wrongs. Nireno has been ordered to place Cornelia in Tolomeo's harem, but promises to take Sesto as well, so he may kill the king. Both he and his mother look forward to vengeance.
When Cesare is shown to Cleopatra's apartments, she pretends to be asleep to find out if he loves her. He is so enraptured he murmurs that she must become his wife, but, still believing her to be Lydia, he is disconcerted when she accepts. They are interrupted by Curio with the warning that Cesare's camp has been attacked by Tolomeo.
Failing in her entreaties to keep Cesare by her side, Cleopatra reveals her identity and declares that her presence will be enough to quell the attack, but finding that this is not so, urges Cesare to flee. Cesare rushes out into the midst of his enemies, leaving Cleopatra a prey to conflicting emotions. Tolomeo is surrounded by his favorites, Cornelia among them. She reacts indignantly when he gives her the handkerchief signifying she is the chosen one for the night. Sesto bursts in, taking the sword Tolomeo has left lying, but Achilla takes it from him and gives it back to Tolomeo. He reports that Cesare and Curio are dead, but Cleopatra has fled to the Roman camp and is rousing the soldiers. Tolomeo rejects Achilla's request for Cornelia in return for his services and sets off to do battle, leaving Sesto so despairing of the prospect of revenge that he thinks of killing himself, but Cornelia urges him to seek battle with Tolomeo.
Achilla has turned on the ungrateful Tolomeo and gathered a band of soldiers. Defeated and captured by Tolomeo, Cleopatra is still defiant. Tolomeo has her put in chains and threatens to tame her rebellious spirit. She laments her fate.
Cesare had saved himself by jumping into the harbor, but he is now alone, without his army. Achilla, lying mortally wounded on the shore, confesses to Sesto and Nireno that he advised the killing of Pompeo and stirred up the rebellion against Cesare in the hope of winning Cornelia. He gives them a seal which his followers will obey and dies. Cesare steps forward and takes possession of the seal and sets off with Sesto and Nireno to rescue Cleopatra and Cornelia.
Surrounded by her weeping women, Cleopatra fears that Tolomeo is about to kill her, but Cesare frees her. Cornelia again rejects Tolomeo, who tries to embrace her, but Sesto bursts in sword in hand and kills him. Cesare embraces Sesto as the avenger of his father and Sesto swears allegiance to Cesare, who proclaims Cleopatra Queen of Egypt and they rejoice in their love amid general festivities.
Giulio CesareMezzo-sopranoCountertenor
The First Roman Emperor
CleopatraSoprano
Queen of Egypt
TolomeoCountertenor
Cleopatra's brother and King of Egypt
CorneliaContralto
Widow of Pompey
SestoMezzo-soprano
Son of Pompey
AchillaBass
Tolomeo's General
CurioBaritone
A praetor, Caesar's General
NirenoCountertenor
Cleopatra's and Tolomeo's servant
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Too close to call..
BANDAR Penawar Sports School (BPSS) and UniKL will square off in a classic Junior Hockey League (JHL) final, which will be too close to call, at the Tun Razak Stadium tomorrow.
BPSS and UniKL drew 1-1 in the League match, and the university side went on to lift the League title only on a four- goal average.
For the record, UniKL won the Overall title and finished second in the League last year behind BPSS, and this season won the League title and are chasing a double in only their second JHL season.
“We have two strong reasons to wrest the Overall title from UniKL because they dethroned us as League champions, and now we would like to return the favour in the Overall final.
“The second reason is that the final will be the last time we will be playing under the BPSS banner, as next year the school’s name will be changed to Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School,” said BPSS coach Wan Roslan.
As for UniKL, they want to claim a double, and also prove to the hockey fraternity that their players have been groomed for the senior league.
“Of course we will be playing for the double on Saturday as it will be a feather in our cap as we are only two seasons-old in the JHL.
“However, the our bigger aim is to show that fielding players in the JHL has made them matured enough to play and make an impact in the Malaysia Hockey League next season, as that is the bigger picture that we have been planning for,” said UniKL manager Amir Azhar.
UniKL have fifteen Project 2013 players, while BPSS have 11 Project players -- making it really difficult for the coaches to plan for a surprise.
“Both the teams are basically made up of Project 2013 players and they know each others strengths and weak nesses.
“That is why I believe the team which comes up with a jolt, a surprise set-piece in the penalty corners, could land the title,” said UniKL coach S. Velappan.
UniKL have yet to be beaten since they started playing in the JHL, and they want to keep the proud record.
“We have some draws, but we never lost a match since making our debut in the JHL. And we would play to keep that record and hopefully achieve the double in style,” said Amir.
BPSS have scored a total of 59 goals, with 44 coming from field, 13 from penalty corners and two from penalty strokes. Their top scorer is Shahril Saabah who six field and eight penalty corner goals.
As for UniKL, they also scored a total of 59 goals with 30 coming from field, 27 from penalty corners and two from penalty strokes.
The university side’s top scorer is Zulhairi Hashim who tucke in a massive 17 penalty corners into the net.
SATURDAY -- Third-Fourth: Bandar Penawar Sports School Juniors v Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors (Tun Razak Stadium, 6pm).
Final: Bandar Penawar Sports School v UniKL (Tun Razak Stadium, 8pm).
Achtung! in semis..
DEFENDING champions UniKL and Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS)-Thunderbolts are expected to treat their in-form opponents with respect and caution in the Junior Hockey League semi-finals today.
UniKL, led by 12 players from the Project 2013 squad, face Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors (BJSS Jnrs) while BPSS Thunderbolts play BPSS Jnrs, both at the Tun Razak Stadium.
UniKL team manager Amir Azhar Ibrahim warned his players not to be complacent.
"Our key players failed to perform in our 9-0 quarter-final victory over MSSP-USM (Friday). The two-week lay-off after the last league game affected our play as our core players were with the Project 2013 squad," said Amir Azhar yesterday.
"We, however, have a good idea of our opponents' strengths and weaknesses, having beaten them 6-0 in the league stage."
Amir Azhar also hopes his side will kill-off their opponents with early goals.
"We must also score early to open up the game. We have to play quick and score goals as soon as possible," he added.
BJSS Jnrs, marshaled by six players from the national Under-16 squad, are out to uphold their school's proud track record in the tournament.
"We will neither hold back nor play cautiously. I want my players to maintain their discipline and focus on a good result," said BJSS Jnrs coach Lokman Yahaya.
He said his players must play without fear against UniKL.
"We need to play in such a way that will limit our opponents from scoring many goals. It will be tough but my players are also in a confident mood," added Lokman.
The other semi-final between BPSS-Thunderbolts and BPSS is also expected to be a fiery affair.
BPSS Jnrs coach Mohd Fakhrulnizam Baharuddin said his team will go all out to scalp the senior team.
"We must not show them too much respect. If we can upset BJSS then doing it again against our senior team is not impossible," he said.
Semi-finals -- Today: UniKl v BJSS Jnrs (4pm), BPSS Jnrs v BPSS-Thunderbolts (6pm) -- matches at Tun Razak Stadium -- AJITPAL SINGH
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KAVIN Kartik (pic right) is the last Mohican standing, as he battled all odds to to be selected for the Junior Asia Cup, and is now looking forward to his second Junior World Cup appear ance.
The 20-year-old from Tampin, Negri Sembilan, played in the 2009 Junior World Cup but after that, weight problems weighed him down almost into the abyss.
But he shed eight kilos just months before the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca, and was aptly named as the Best Player of the Final.
That is not all, he also sacrificed one semester of his matriculation to make the hockey grade.
“I had to make many sacrifices and also work harder than the rest because I was overweight, but looking back now, it has been more than rewarding,” said Kartik after receiving RM12,500 from the Malaysian Hockey Confederation on Thursday.
And the only non-Malay in the juniors outfit is ready to skip another semester next year, as he badly wants to help Malaysia make an impact in New Delhi November next year.
“I would do it again (skip studies) as training is a full-time job, and I have the support of my parents to play first and study later,” said Kartik.
He was first spotted when as a 16-year-old in 2008, he scored a penalty corner brace to beat Kuala Lumpur 2-0 in the Razak Cup semi-finals after former skipper S. Kuhan failed in numerous attempts for Negri Sembilan.
K. Rajan, who was coaching the national juniors then, spotted his talent and drafted him into training.
“It was a dream come true to be selected for the 2009 Junior World Cup, and now that I have a second chance, I want to help Malaysia achieve their best finish ever,” said Kartik.
Malaysia will not have penalty corner flickers Faizal Saari and Noor Faeez Ibrahim for the World Cup because both will be overage for the Under-21 tournament by then.
“It will be a big loss as both the flickers played a major role in winning gold in Malacca, but I am ready to fit into their shoes if the coach wants me to,” said Kartik whose weight problem was one of the reasons why he lost his penalty corner touch.
And what is he going to do with the RM12,500?
“I will keep it for my education,” said Kartik whose father Govindasamy and family members came in force to see him receive the reward at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
RIP RAMAMURTHI
FROM http://www.malaysianhockey.blogspot.com
It is with profound sadness that we report the demise of Ramamurthi, the elder brother of The Star Journalist S. Ramaguru.
I received a call from Ramaguru at dawn informing me of the loss and am told that the funeral will be held on Saturday in Seremban.
The late Ramamurthi was 59 and rushed to the Damai Hospital at around 3.00am as he had chest pains but succumbed to a heart attack.
Will update funeral details later.
My condolences to Ramaguru and his siblings as well as the rest of the family.
KAVIN Kartik (pic right) is the last Mohican stand...
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KLHC gunning to equal Tenaga's 12 titles..
KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) will be gunning to equal Tenaga Nasinal’s 12 titles when they face off in the TNB Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tomorrow.
And in the President’s Cup final, the battle will be between UiTM and TNB Thunderbolts.
Today, the third-fourth placing matches of the TNB Cup and President’s Cup will be held in Bukit Jalil.
Tenaga have seven Overall and five League titles, while KLHC have three Overall and eight League titles.
Tenaga player Faizal Saari will also be out to create history of his own, to become the MHL top-scorer for the third consecutive year.
In the 2011-12 season, Faizal top-scored with 19 goals, while in the 2012 season, he had a tally of 20.
Going into the final tomorrow, the national player is tied on 17 goals with Sapura’s Pakistan import Khasif Ali.
“Being named as the top-scorer the last two seasons did not mean anything as my team lost the TNB Cup both times to KLHC.
“I’m in the running again to become the top-scorer, and this time, I want to do it by winning the title as well,” said Faizal.
KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj knows the heart-break which comes with defeat, as he has seen his team lose seven times in MHL finals.
“I have been coaching KLHC for 14 years now, and even though we have won 11 titles, I have also the misfortune to have lost in seven other finals.
“So I know how it feels to be a champion as well as ending up at the losers end,” said Dharmaraj.
When six of Dharmaraj’s stalwarts left to join Terengganu HC this season, many had written off the club, but they went on to win the League title with only one blemish -- a 3-3 draw against Tenaga Nasional.
“We were involved in a scramble to recruit foreign players when six left us for better offers, and fortunately, we managed to hire a good crop of Pakistan and also an Australian player.
“I have no hard feeling for the six who left us, as the offer was much more better than what we could give. Now, the foreign as well as my local players have a very good understanding, and we will be gunning to equal Tenaga’s record on Sunday,” said Dharmaraj.
Entrance is free, and 2,000 lucky draw tickets for two Modenas motorbikes are expected to be given away at the entrance.
TODAY (Third-Fourth): President’s Cup -- Ipoh City Council v Sunday 2030 (6pm); TNB Cup -- Maybank v Sapura (8pm).
TOMORROW (Finals): President’s Cup -- UiTM v TNB Thunderbolts (6pm); TNB Cup -- Kuala Lumpur HC v Tenaga Nasional (8pm).
Note: All matches at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
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At 24, international debut for Jasjit
He has not come through the hard-grind of Academies. He in a way represents amateur-kind of players, who don’t compromise studies for the sake of hockey. Yet, in a short span of taking of up hockey, knocked the doors of Indian team. And makes his international debut not in a run-of-of the mill stuff, but in the mother of all battles, the world cup.
Here you have Punjab’s puttar Jasjit Singh, who is a kind of Viren Rasquinha as he is doing Masters in Business Administration nowadays.
The 24-year old has been included in the Indian team bound for The Hague. Perhaps after Cedric Pereira, now settled in Perth, Australia, a player is making his international debut in a world cup. Cedric was a surprise choice for the first world cup held in Barcelona.
“He trained well, we all felt he can be a good choice”, asserts smiling Roelant Oltmans, who first tested him in the Hockey India League early this year. Jasjit Singh was part of the medal winning team 2014.
“The coach, selection committee are all unanimous of his choice, its unfortunate he had suffered a minor injury before the Europe Tour, and missed it”, elaborates Oltamans.
Jasjit was on the other day had to face the same question from the media at the Holiday Inn where the world cup team was announced, amidst the galaxy of 1975 World Cup goldies. The question was: Don’t you feel the pressure to play your first tournament in World Cup?
The smiling assassin has only one answer: “My coaches say differently. Because I did not play any other tournament, I will be natural, and play my game. This is what I also believe the scene is going to be”
Its not often one come across in India a player making international debut at the age of 24 – considering his colleague in The Hague team Mandeep Singh is six years junior to him, and has already been in the international circuit for well over two years – but Jasjit Singh, who was picked up among the 90-odd probables after the Pune Senior Nationals when Michael Knobbs was at the helm of affairs, could not make any headway further than continue to play for his college team Khalsa in Jalandhar, but his days could not be denied for long.
With a strong midfield where captain Sardar Singh is well anchored, the think tank seemed to have taken a risk of sort in picking up the new face.
It’s a reward for Jasjit, who hardly had any stints in any hard-grind academies, where in fact the academics is the first casualty due to heavy work load, who had only practiced on the Jalandhar Surjit Hockey Academy turfs on Sundays.
“My mother used to take me to the Turf on Sundays because the Academy will have holiday, we can get to play on Turf”.
Jasjit, who joined Indian Railways a couple of years ago, and posted in Jalandhar, relished any position in the midfield, and it gives elbow room for coaches insofar as his utility value is concerned.
Tailpiece: Jasjit is a Kular, a clan which produced n-number of internationals in the 50s and 60s, which included Ajit Pal Singh and Udham Singh, a four-time Olympian. Yes, he is a Sansarpurian.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: P.R. Sreejesh, Harjot Singh.
Defenders: Gurbaj Singh, Rupinderpal Singh (vice-captain), V.R. Raghunath, Birendra Lakra, Kh. Kothajit Singh, Manpreet Singh.
Midfielders: Sardar Singh (captain), S.K. Uthappa, Dharamvir Singh, Jasjit Singh, Chinglensana Singh;
Forwards: S.V. Sunil, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Mandeep Singh.
Standbys: Gurpreet Singh (goalkeeper), Vikram Kanth, Gurinder Singh (defenders), Danish Mujtaba, Devindar Walmiki (midfielders), Lalit Upadhyay, and Yuvraj Walmiki (forwards).
Coach almost quits...
The national players undergo a training session at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday in preparation for the World Cup. Pic by Hasriyasyah Sabudin
THE national hockey squad were within a whisker of heading into the World Cup without a chief coach after an upset K. Dharmaraj decided to quit yesterday.
Angry at being treated as an outcast and irked that repeated requests for a contract fell on deaf ears, Dharmaraj decided enough was enough.
Surviving on a monthly allowance of RM4,000 for the last five months, Dharmaraj skipped the squad’s training session yesterday as he prepared to walk out.
However, word reached Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and his quick action resulted in the issue being resolved yesterday evening, just 16 days before Malaysia begin their World Cup campaign.
Even then, MHC didn’t cover itself in glory over the incident, especially as it had no one but Dharmaraj to turn to after Paul Revington quit as national coach.
“I really don’t understand why some of my coaching staff and I were treated like outcasts. Despite repeatedly knocking on the doors of MHC, we never received any feedback on our contracts.
“I did not even know how much my salary scale was for the past five months, and was living on a monthly allowance of RM4,000,” said an upset Dharmaraj after the issue was resolved.
Tengku Abdullah instructed MHC treasurer Datuk N. Radhakrishnan to settle the matter.
“After waiting for five months, I was finally called to the MHC office on Wednesday and asked to sign a contract which only increased my salary by RM2,000 from my juniors contract.
“That was the breaking point, as I was promised many things before this but was then handed a pathetic contract to sign.
“My wife also told me to quit, as I was being treated badly by the very officials who had promised me many things. I also wonder why when the MHC president finally found out about it, it was easily resolved,” said Dharmaraj.
Dharmaraj, based on his achievement in guiding his charges to a fourth-placed finish in last year’s Junior World Cup, is in the running for Coach of the Year at Monday’s national sports awards.
He has proven his mettle with the senior side as well for after having replaced Revington, he guided the team to a silver-medal finish behind Australia in the Azlan Shah Cup.
That was followed by a bronze medal finish in the Champions Challenge 1 in Kuantan.
“The issue here was not about money but I was peeved with the way they handled my case as I kept knocking and knocking my head against the MHC door, with no answer.”
Malaysia are in Group A of the World Cup with Australia, England, Belgium, Spain and India.
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Whitsun Cup: Inexperience cause of friendly defeat...
THE MALAYSIAN Under-16 team lost 2-0 to the German Under-16 team in a friendly in Mannheim Friday, but had plenty of chances to seal off the match.
Inexperience saw them bungle five penalty corners, and five open play sitters.
The boys were selected after the recent National Under-16 tournament, and underwent a four-day training in Ipoh during the Azlan Shah Cup.
In Mannheim, they will play against Netherlands, German Under-16 and German Under-17.
They start with Germany Under-16 Sunday, for the Whitsun Cup.
The match was played in 20 minute halves and Germany Germans scored a goal in each half via quick counter-attacks.
According to coach Nor Saiful Zaini, the scoreline was a little too flattering towards the hosts.
"We had five clear chances to score but poor finishing, inexperience and a really good goalkeeper stood in the way of any possible turnaround. The Germans were physically bigger but we held our own against them.
"We also had five penalty corners to Germany's one but failed to convert any. Overall, I am happy with the performance and look forward to the tournament Sunday", said Saiful.
This is an invitational tournament where Malaysia were left out for the last two editions. However, Malaysia finished second behind Germany in the Whitsun Cup when it made its debut in 2010.
MALAYSIAN Under-16: Goalkeepers: Hamiz Ahir, Helmi Fazli; Defenders: Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin, Zulfitri Zin, Arif Syafie.
Midfielders: Pavandip Singh s/o Gurdip Singh, Amirul Hamizan, Akram Hakkam, Granson Noel, Faiz Aiman, Zafri Afiq, Syarman Mat Tee.
Forwards: Haridzmi Nizam, Noor Firdaus Rosdi, Muhibuddin Moharam, Syamin Naim, Saifuddin Azli, Akhimullah Anuar.
Coach: Nur Saiful Zaini; Assistant Coach: Sufian Mohamed.
Ranking points for Asian Champions Trophy
THE Fourth Edition of Asian Champions Trophy finally received recognition as the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will accord it world ranking points.
Ranking points have become paramount, as the World League format to qualify for World Cups and Olympics relies heavily on it when teams are tied on the same placing.
Malaysia finished sixth in the World League semi-finals in Antwerp, but Argentina World League sixth placed New Zealand went to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics because they were higher ranked.
The decision by the FIH Executive Board, which met in April, was conveyed to the Asian Hockey Federation on May 12.
"This is great news for Asian teams and it will surely make the tournament more competitive as well raise its profile," said Malaysian Hockey Confederation CEO K. Logan Raj.
"From our perspective, gaining valuable ranking points will surely boost our chances of moving up the world rankings."
With a higher profile, it can be rest assured that this years Asian Champions Trophy, slated from Oct 20-30 in Kuantan, could see a more closely challenged event, thus giving Asian hockey the much needed boost.
The other five teams which will compete in Kuantan are India, Pakistan, South Korea, China and Japan -- based on the top-six finish in the last Asian Games.
The ACT, incepted in 2011, was not accorded ranking points and teams started to take it lightly by sending their development squads.
Prior to this teams in Asia could only gain ranking points from continental tournaments like the Asian Games or Asia Cup.
And for the second-tier Asian teams, the FIH confirmed that an Asian Champions Challenge will be held where ranking points will also be accorded.
Malaysia ranked 13th in the World, held world no 8 New Zealand 3-3 twice in the Azlan Shah Cup pool and bronze medal matches, indicating that the team's rankings are well below their playing level.
The first edition of the ACT was held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, in 2011 followed by Doha, Qatar, in 2012 and Kakamigahara, Japan, in 2013.
Malaysia finished third in all three ACT's, which did not offer any ranking points then.
Posted by Jugjet Singh at 8:27 AM
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INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH OF REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
Guardian of your health
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INFORMATION on the situation of measles in the Republic of North Macedonia in 2018-2019, June 13, 2019
In the period from 07.06 – 13.06.2019, a total of 70 cases of measles were reported. From the total number of newly reported cases, 11 cases are from Skopje, while the remaining 59 are from 8 other cities in N. Macedonia –Tetovo (16), Struga (10), Gostivar (9), Veles(8), Kumanovo (7), Stip (5), Ohrid (3) and Valandovo (1).
During this week, the highest number of cases (33) are over the age of 30,
According to the vaccine status, 55 or 78.6% of the registered cases are unvaccinated, incomplete vaccinated or with unknown vaccine status.
In total, since the onset of the epidemic in December 2018 as of June 13, 2019, 1891 cases of measles have been registered in the Republic of North Macedonia with a disease rate of 91.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. Due to the epidemiological criteria, a measles epidemic has been declared on the entire territory of the Republic of North Macedonia.
According to the place of permanent living, measles cases are registered in 24 towns, of which 989 cases are from Skopje, Kumanovo – 221, Tetovo – 194, Struga – 136, Kicevo – 64, Veles – 54, Gostivar – 63, Ohrid-30, Gevgelija -19, Debar -30, Prilep-12, Stip-41, and in other cities less than 10 cases were registered (Chart 1). The highest incidece is registered in Skopje (160.1/100 000, Struga (200.4/100 000, Kumanovo 154.9/100 000) Chart 1.
Chart 1. Geographic distribution of measles in N. Macedonia, December 2018 – June 2019 (n=1891)
The largest number of cases are from the age group over 30 years -861 (67.6%), and the overall disease rate in this age group is 61.8 per 100,000 inhabitants. 312 (16.5%)children under the age of one year were registered and a disease rate of 1215.1 per 100,000 inhabitants. Children aged 1-4 years are registered with 263 cases (13.9%) and the second highest incidence of 283.3 per 100,000 inhabitants (Chart 2).
Chart 2. Distribution of measles patients in N.Macedonia by age, December 2018-June 2019 (n = 1891)
According to the vaccine status, 1420 or 86.7% of diseased people are unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated or with unknown vaccine status. From the non-vaccinated persons, 312 (22%) are under the age of 12 months and are not subject to vaccination, according to the Immunization Calendar.
Out of 263 children aged 1-4 years, 86.7% were unvaccinated or with unknown vaccine status, and from 861 patients over 30 years of age, 74.1% were unvaccinated, incomplete vaccinated or with unknown vaccine status.
From the reported cases, 797 or 42.2% were hospitalized, and 281 (14.9%) had complications. Of these, the highest number of complications – 124 or 44.1% were in children from 0-4 – 74 (26.3%) under the age of one year and 50 (17.8%) in children aged 1-4 years, suggesting that this age group is the most affected and susceptible to complications.
In Skopje from the beginning of the epidemic, a total of 15250 children were vaccinated to 14 years of age.
In the rest of the country, a total of 14607 children
The total number of immunized people aged 14 years with MRP vaccine since the start of the epidemic in the republic is 29857.
From the beginning of the epidemic to present date, in the Centers for Public Health, a total of 5115 people have been vaccinated, of which more than 60% are health workers, students and pupils in secondary medical schools, the rest are 2439 contacts and persons over 14 years of age.
March 24 – World Tuberculosis Day
World TB Day is held each year on March 24th and aims to build public awareness for…
Report for exceeding the threshold for information on PM10 particles and recommendations
After the received announcement from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning on 4.12.2018, in…
SITUATION WITH INFLUENZA IN MACEDONIA, season 2017/2018 (week 49, up to 10.12.2017)
During the 49th week of 2017 ((04.12.2017 – 10.12.2017), the Republic of Macedonia registered 112 influenza…
INFORMATION on the situation of measles in the Republic of North Macedonia in 2018-2019, June 21, 2019 06/24/2019
Summer tips to prevent harmful effects from excessive exposure to solar radiation 06/20/2019
HOW TO PREVENT FOOD BORNE INFECTIONS IN SUMMER 06/19/2019
Preventing harmful health effects of heat-waves 06/18/2019
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A luxury we must afford
Tue, 3 Jan 2017
A Luxury We Must Afford: An Anthology of Singapore Poetry. (PHOTO: Math Paper Press)
My poem, “Where The Wild Things Are”, is in A Luxury We Must Afford: An Anthology of Singapore Poetry.
The anthology is edited by Christine Chia, Joshua Ip and Cheryl Julia Lee and published by Math Paper Press.
Details of the anthology launch:
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2017
Time: 6pm to 7pm
Venue: The Chamber at The Arts House (1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429)
What does the future of Singapore hold?
In 2015, the anthology A Luxury We Cannot Afford commemorated 50 years of man-made myth – 50 years of mysteries and ministries, Marxists and memorandums, the Merlion and The Man – and whether the 1969 assertion that “poetry is a luxury we cannot afford” still held true in the 2010s.
Instead of looking back, this companion volume to the first looks forward to everything SG51 and beyond. It is a collection of bold narratives of Singaporeans shaping their own future, a cornucopia of hyper-modern dreams of robots and aliens, yet also tales of muted despair at a future slipping out of touch with the past.
In the face of a fraught, uncertain future, there is no longer any need to debate whether poetry is an unaffordable luxury. In times like these, writers are the ones who must step up and reimagine possibility, speak out for hope and humanity, and inscribe the circumference of our soul. In 2017, poetry is…a luxury we must afford.
Please go for the launch by signing up here.
Read my poem here.
You can also read “Horrowshow”, which appeared in A Luxury We Cannot Afford, here.
A luxury we cannot afford
Oxley Cultural Centre
Signed, sealed, delivered
SWF Book Launch: Discussion on Big Mole and Spider Boys
arts literature musings poetry society
What matters
That feeling
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Home / Football / TPS – TPV
TPS vs TPV Match Prediction 02-07-2019 05:00
The highest win for bets on away win beckons you at 1xBet, where the odds are 1.69. Currently, bookmakers favor an away win by Turku. The fixture between Tampere and Turku in the Finnish Ykkonen will take place on 02.07.2019 at 17:30. If you bet 10 you get 16,90 back (profit = 6,90). So the 2nd of the table of the table is guesting at the currently 7th of the table.
In the first half time, coach Anssi Ylinen's team is able to sore most of there goals. In the current season, the most frequent result in home matches was 1:0, 1:3 or 1:1. Tampere's current record shows an average of 1,83 goals per home match, of which 0,67 are their own goals and 1,17 are goals scored against them.
Their overall record is: Won: 19, Lost: 10 and Drawn: 6. They have played 35 matches in the past 12 months. The team has scored an average of 1.91 goals a match. They have given up 1.17 goals each game.
This one ended with a noteworthy display where they ran out the easy winners 3-0.A. Muzaci scored twice. KTP were their away opponents earlier this month for a Ykkonen match.
TPV vs TPS Match Preview and Prediction
The average total goals for TPS has been 2.0 goals and TPV have an average of 0.5. Clashes between these two sides have averaged 2.5 goals a match.
This season the team has won 3 out of 5 away games so far (60%). In their last match, Turku won 4:0 against Ekens IF. Turku has won seven matches and lost three matches in the last 6 months, one match ended with a tie.During that period Turku won three away games while the team lost one match at away stadiums and one match ended in a tie.
Under you found the prediction processed by our proprietary software and reviewed manually by our editors of the football match TPV-TPS Turku, match of the championship Finland Ykkonen. Even stats, standings, news and information on the football league Finland Ykkonen and on teams TPV and TPS Turku.The prediction 1x2 or under/over or goal/nogoal, with odds of bookmakers comes complete with the correct score. With this, we always try to provide gratis all the tools you need to bet responsibly and we hope winning!
TPS have won 1 and their opponents have won 0. These two teams have played each other 1 times over the last decade. A total of 0 matches have resulted in a stalemate.
They have played 35 matches in the past 12 months. Their overall record is: Won: 19, Lost: 10 and Drawn: 6. The team has scored an average of 1.91 goals a match. They have given up 1.17 goals each game.
TPS Stats
Frog has considered the latest prices offered by a selection of sportsbooks. The Total Goals market prices are presently looking like something that has caught our attention; for this match specifically, Frog has picked something out from the Over/Under 2.5 Goals lines.
They have conceded 1.36 goals per game. They have averaged scoring 1.67 goals a match. Their record over this period is: Win 16 - Loss 12 - Draw 8. They have played 36 matches in the past 12 months.
Last season, von Turku finished with an average of 0 goals for and 0 against the team in away games. When Turku plays away, there is an overall average of 2,20 scored goals per match. 1,40 away goal scored the eleven of Tommi Pikkarainen on average this season, most of these were achieved in the first half time. In the current season, Turku's away games mostly ended 1:0, 1:3 or 3:0.
In the current season 2019, Tampere has managed to win 2 out of 6 home games (33.33%) so far. The hosts were able to win 2 of their 11 games of the last 6 months in their favour. After all 11 games in the season, Tampere now has two victories, four draws and five losses to their credit. In the last match the TPV Tampere lost 1:0 against the Musan Salama. Two matches ended in a draw and two matches are lost at home. With its own fans in front, Tampere was able to win two matches, 2 times the duel ended with a tie and two matches were been lost.
Brondby vs Lech Poznan Prediction
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IFK Varnamo vs Malmo Prediction
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Find a Pub in:
Homepage UK Pub Guide Types Of UK Pub Pub Activities Pub Food Pub Accommodation Get Listed Contact Us
Pubs in M28
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Sorry no matches were found for M28. Here are some businesses near to M28
Moss Tavern
CompanyType : Public Houses, Bars & Inns
101 Ashton Road, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 7FJ
Telephone: 0161 370 2461,
Lewis Road, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 6WR
The New Dane Bank Hotel
Windmill Lane, Denton, Manchester, M34 2EY
The Turnpike
520-522 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 4BT
Hogs Head
653a Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 6QZ
729 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 6WF
The Halfway House
435 Manchester Road, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 6JE
The Nook
19-21 Boarshaw Road, Middleton, Manchester, M24 6BR
The Houghton Arms
708 Oldham Road, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 9FD
Trafford Tavern
The Orient, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8EH
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Photo : Vivian Doan
Louise Campbell is a Montreal-based musician whose professional hats range from clarinettist to conductor, community arts facilitator to musicians’ health therapist. As a performer, improviser and composer, Louise seeks to interrogate and renew the ways in which we make music by creating new works with everyone, regardless of age, ability, level of prior experience, or training. Her specializations include improvisation and creation with untrained (aka ‘amateur’) musicians, improvised conducting, cross-disciplinary creation, commissioned works, and public engagement. She has toured as a performer, guest artist, and lecturer of improvised and composed musics across Canada, the US, France, Germany, and Brazil.
Career highlights include collaborations with
In Extensio: her ensemble with whom she co-creates and commissions new works
Ian Ferrier, spoken word artist: ongoing collaborations
Eryn Dace Trudell: composition and recording of music for parent and baby/toddler dance, Mama Dances, 2015
Camille Renarhd, choreographer/director and Benoit Dhennin, videographer: R, Agora de la danse, 2013
Valerie Dean and Don Reider: collaborating on and performing music for New Circus, Hope for the Haunted, 2013
Jeanette Pope, film director: writing and performing music for Dust, a sculptor’s journey, Festival du nouveau cinéma 2011; Berson Boys, Kodak Emerging Filmmaker Program at Cannes, 2009
Annie Abrahams, writer and Rebecca Barnstaple, director: creating an installation involving projected text, dance and music, l’envoyer à mars pour y trouver la quiétude, 2008
Education and Professional Affiliations
Louise holds an MMus in Clarinet Performance with a minor in Jazz from Indiana University, an MA in Music Education from McGill University, and a Certificate in Shiatsu Therapy from Institut Kinéconcept. Her primary influences include clarinettist James Campbell, jazz pedagogue David Baker, artist coach Valerie Dean, and the One Yellow Rabbit Theatre Company. Louise is a board member of ELAN English Language Arts Network, and member of the Inclusion Committee for this same organisation, member of the Public Engagement Committee of the Canadian New Music Network, and member of Le Vivier, the Guilde des musiciens et musiciennes du Québec, SOCAN and Natural Health Practitioners of Canada.
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y salvation is to let all this roll over me, to write, write and write some more. To hammer keys until I am finger worn to the second joint and then to hammer keys some more. To pile up copy, stack up stories, roll the wordage and generally conduct my life along the one line of success I have ever had. I write.
And so he did. Beginning in the bleakest of the 1930s, when facing a blank page posed a challenge only writers of that era can appreciate, L. Ron Hubbard very literally piled up copy, stacked up stories and rolled out the wordage. Initially, he wrote for a variety of publications: he covered rodeos, air meets and motorcycle races for the specialty magazines. He supplied human interest features for Washington, DC dailies. He also scripted radio dramas, speeches, a substantial body of poetry and authored an award-winning one-act play, The God Smiles. But when readers of the day spoke of L. Ron Hubbard, they generally spoke in terms of his novels and stories as published in that now fabled Pulps.
Stepson to the nineteenth-century penny novel, and named for the cheap pulpwood printing stock, the all-fiction Pulp still occupies a significant place on American literary shelves. In the twenty-year Pulp heyday between the World Wars, readership numbered in the tens of millions, while leading authors enjoyed legitimate stardom. In point of fact, the likes of Lester Doc Savage Dent, Norvell The Spider Page, H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Louis LAmour and, of course, L. Ron Hubbard were virtually household names. Moreover, if critics of the day tended to dismiss those Pulps as lowbrow escapism or prurient tripe, the best represented substantially more. Indeed, with Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and even a young Tennessee Williams also setting forth from between gaudy covers, the Pulps arguably provided as much to the modern American novel as a Hemingway or Fitzgerald. Then, too, with a full quarter of an American population regularly turning to those crudely cut pages, the Pulps introduced far more newly literate Americans to the sheer joy of reading than a Henry James or Stephen Crane.
What L. Ron Hubbard brought forth from that great Pulp kingdom was ultimately just as significant and just as enduring. * As a matter of fact, recalled a then young fan Frederik Pohl, Nobody was doing the sort of thing he did any better... colorful, exciting, continually challenging. Also generally remarked upon in reference to Rons work through these years was his truly astounding rate of production. If one needed a story on a Monday, explained Standard Magazines editor Jack Schiff, one only had to telephone Ron Hubbard on a Fridayand the statement was no exaggeration. With a regular production of one hundred thousand words a month, L. Ron Hubbard stood as undisputed king of high-speed production writers (and that at only three days a week). Moreover, and even more to the publisher's bottom-line, the name L. Ron Hubbard on the cover of a Thrilling Adventures or Five Novels Monthly invariably guaranteed greater newsstand sales. (The same was also true for a number of L. Ron Hubbard pseudonyms he employed to span the various genres.)
Writer continued...
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| Your View | Related Sites | L. Ron Hubbard Home Page | Bookstore | Home page |
info@scientology.net
© 1998-2004 Church of Scientology International. All Rights Reserved.
For Trademark Information
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August 8, 2018 • Let's Go To Court! Explicit
Episode 28: The Kidnapping of America’s Best Businesswoman & the Murder of Lisa Techel
By the early 1930’s, Nell Donnelly had it all. Women everywhere loved Nell Donnelly’s stylish, well-made, and inexpensive dresses. But she didn’t just make great dresses. She made a great work environment, too. Unlike a lot of factory owners at the time, Nell paid well. She offered her employees medical care and a pension plan. She even paid for them to go to school. Nell’s hard work paid off. Fortune Magazine called her possibly the most successful businesswoman in America. She was rich, stylish and classy. But she was also a target.
On December 16, 1931, Nell and her chauffeur, George, were kidnapped and driven to a nasty old cabin. The eventual trials of Nell’s kidnappers captured the nation’s attention and involved some of Kansas City’s most prominent citizens.
Then Brandi frustrates the hell out of us with the story of Lisa Techel’s murder. When Lisa was discovered shot to death in her Iowa home, everyone knew exactly who’d done it — her neighbor. The man had a bad history with Lisa and her husband Seth. Police were sure they had their guy. But when they went to question him, he wasn’t quite the cold-blooded murderer they expected him to be. Hold on tight, folks. This one has so many twists and turns that it could be a two-hour episode of Dateline. Oh, wait. It is.
The book, “James A. Reed: Legendary Lawyer; Marplot in the United States Senate,” by Michael Cronan
The book, “Called to Courage: Four Women in Missouri History,” by Heather Roberson and Margot McMillen
The book, “The Devil’s Tickets: A Vengeful Wife, a Fatal Hand, and a New American Age,” by Gary M. Pomerantz
“Strange bedfellows,” KChistory.org
“Nell Donnelly Reed, 102, Pioneer In Manufacture of Women’s Attire,” New York Times
“Before Dawn” Dateline ep.
“Techel Trial: Opening Arguments Heard” by Stephanie Moore, whotv.com
“Court upholds man’s conviction in slaying of pregnant wife” by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press
Episode 27: The Strange Life of Michael Marin and Game Night Gone Wrong →
← Episode 29: The Internet’s First Serial Killer & the Disappearance of Cora Okonski
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N30 strike: live updates
Updates and accounts of the massive November 30 strike against cuts, particularly of public sector pensions. Please post your news and accounts of your day below.
Please post updates and accounts of the day. If you will be updating your twitter account post up the link below.
Some 58% of England's 21,700 state schools are shut with 76% affected by strike action. In Wales around 80% were believed shut and in Northern Ireland more than 50% of 1,200 schools were closed.
Industrial action by about 300,000 workers in Scotland has seen most schools close. Only 33 of the 2,700 council-run schools stayed open today as a result of action by education workers.
Civil service and local government
135,000 civil servants went on strike, representing just over a quarter of the civil service. Mark Serwotka, the leader of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), said reports from picket lines showed a huge turnout, with up to 90% of staff in some government departments on strike.
In Northern Ireland, more than 200,000 workers went on strike across the area. The Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) — representing members across the civil service — will alone have more than 45,000 workers on strike and stage 160 pickets.
7,000 routine operations across the UK have been cancelled, as well as tens of thousands of appointments.
London Ambulance Service told BBC London it was struggling and people not in a life-threatening condition might not get an ambulance.
Up to 1,000 marches and rallies were due to take place across the UK.
An estimated 7,000 striking public sector workers have marched outside the Scottish Parliament, in protest at UK government pension changes.
libcom
Nov 30 2011 00:01
public and third sector
UK against austerity
fromhackney
Dec 1 2011 18:24
Seems all of the people arrested in Dalston yesterday morning have now been released, on police bail, nearly all for affray. They were taken to several different police stations all over London including Heathrow airport.
On release none were allowed to have back any of their own clothing or even shoes, just told these were needed 'for forensics'. Some were released in the early hours of this morning, and others still held for interview until the middle of the day.
Imagine of garment workers in Bangladesh marching in Solidarity with British striking workers, Absolutely insane!
Spikymike
I think I seriously underestimated the numbers at the Manchester Rally in my previous post here.
For some local friendly (if not revolutionary) news on Manchester and Salford see:
http://www.manchestermule.com/article/manchester-rallies-for-biggest-strike-in-a-generation
http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1211
fromhackney wrote:
Here's an eye witness report:
http://www.solfed.org.uk/?q=repression-in-dalston
No1, could you add paragraph spacing to that?
squaler
deciding to label a group black bloc or a roving band of crusties is pretty alienating you ask me.
these people were not black bloc and not crusties, they were people who have lived in the area for some time now, largely squatters who have developed links through resisting evictions, like this: http://london.indymedia.org/articles/10787
They blocked the bus depot in hackney central (near the bus stop on narrow way) for some time, then went with a sound system through hackney, stopping by pickets along the way. Some roads were blocked, dalston junction, on the way to the library. pigs descended on CLR, violently arresting two, nicking all the others who they could kettle.
Afterwards, and with so many in the nick, a demo was still organized at stokey copshop. I heard numbers between 100 and 30, depending on the time. This solidarity demo afterwards shows the support from the community these people have developed.
Rob Ray
If that was aimed at me, I should point out that
1. I quite like most of the crusties I know, it's certainly not meant as anything particularly hurtful.*
2. I didn't say black bloc (though mostly they did mask up and were mostly wearing non-descript clothes, so I could see how other people might make the error).
3. I actually went to the solidarity demo afterwards.
* Fair enough a bit patronising maybe, that's mainly because I'd seen them earlier at Hackney town hall and they'd annoyed the picketers by putting up a big Smash The State banner without asking, not talking to anyone and fucking off after five minutes, so I was feeling a bit like I was having to make up for the bad impression they inadvertently left, which manifests as a kind of general "bless em their hearts are in the right place" thing.
The CNT defense committees in Barcelona 1933-1938: An interview with Agustín Guillamón
A discussion of the rise and fall of the revolutionary institutions that were the foundation of the Spanish Revolution in the anarchosyndicalist stronghold of Barcelona, the social and...
The Iranian coup, 1953
A detailed account of the overthrow of nationalist Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh by the CIA at the behest of the British and American governments, written by Stephen Kinzer.
Four ways to forgiveness - Ursula Le Guin
No justice, no piece! A working girl's guide to labor organizing in the sex industry
The CIO: from reform to reaction - E. Jones
Enoch Powell: the New Right (1970) - Tom Nairn
Building the Barbican 1962-1982: taking the industry out of the dark ages
An interview with Tony Mcqade, former shop steward.
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Definitions for "Superstition"
Keywords: irrational, belief, reverent, ignorant, supernatural
Related Terms: Faith, Belief, Fideism, Atheist, Believe, Magical thinking, Discernment, Miracle, Rationalism, Agnostic, Atheism , Dogma, Truth, Truth, Contemplation, Ontological argument, Religion, Mystery, Conviction, Agnosticism, Sage , Theodicy, Taqwa, Manifestation, Enthusiasm, Freethinker, Deist, Delusion, Beliefs, Nihilism, Tenet, Virtue, Nihilist, Kavanah, Spirituality, Skeptic, Free will, Love, Iman, Reverence, Humility, Secularism, Cosmological argument, Vision, Theist, Prayer, Religion, Curse, Mercy
An excessive reverence for, or fear of, that which is unknown or mysterious.
An ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; also, a rite or practice proceeding from excess of sculptures in religion.
The worship of a false god or gods; false religion; religious veneration for objects.
Belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in magic, omens, prognostics, or the like.
Excessive nicety; scrupulous exactness.
An unreasonable belief based on ignorance and sometimes fear
kented.org.uk
A commonly held belief in the supernatural for groundless reasons. Theist: Someone who holds the belief that god/s exist. Reference section 1.4 Unitarian Universalism: A church which focuses on reverent services, open to people of all views, including even atheists.
dtstrainphilosophy.blogspot.com
an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
a belief people hold which is not based on reason
shyez.vicp.net
a belief, practice, or rite resulting from ignorance of the laws of nature or from faith in magic or chance
home.earthlink.net
a belief that depends less on reasoning and more on fear and lack of knowledge
thirdmill.org
an excessively credulous belief in and reverence for the supernatural
dailymirror.lk
an incorrect belief about the relation between certain actions and other actions
icanedu.com
an irrational belief that an event was influenced by actions, things, or circumstances not logically or causally related to that event
esu.edu
an irrational belief that an object, action or circumstance plays an illogical role on another matter
askmen.com
an irrational Irrationality is talking or acting without regard of rationality
a powerful form of belief
a theory of cause and effect that has no empirical evidence and is not based on any rational paradigm
maverickphilosopher.powerblogs.com
Belief that performing an action, wearing a charm or amulet, or eating something will have an influence on life events. These beliefs are upheld by magic and faith.
A belief or idea, not based on reason or knowledge, about the meaning or significance of a particular thing, happening etc.
angeltowns.com
A false belief often formed by mis-attributing a cause and effect relationship between two events that are, in fact, coincidental. The error can usually be made apparent by careful observation, simple experimentation, and a willingness to consider the possibility that the superstitious belief is wrong. It's that last requirement that seems to give people the most trouble.
atheistdictionary.com
the belief in things that cannot be detected or proven, without evidence or in the face of contrary evidence. (see Religion) Taliban - the future of America if the fundies and the christian conservatives get their way.
flamewarrior.com
A belief or practice believed to stem from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or a mistaken concept of causation. Common surviving superstitions based on ancient lore are the idea that knocking on wood will stave off bad luck. This superstition is said to have grown out of the prehistoric idea that friendly spirits dwelt in trees, and if someone was afraid something bad would happen to him, knocking on a tree would let the friendly spirits know that he needed help.
astrocenter.com
Keywords: luck, ritual, macbeth, unfounded, backstage
Theatrical people are notoriously superstitous. There are many rules which some people swear by related to working in the theatre. 1) Backstage whistles were originally used to give instructions to the sailors who (because they knew the best knots) had the job of operating the theatre's flying system. Nowadays, whistling is forbidden backstage because it might result in a lost sailor cutting a rope and dropping something on somebody. 2) Mentioning Macbeth in a theatre is said to invoke the curse of the Scottish Play. The only way to break the curse is for the offender to spin on the spot and then spit. This is an approximation to a purification ritual. The spin turns back time, and the spit expels the corrupting poison. 3) Saying Good Luck is not allowed backstage. The term "Break a Leg" is used. See the separate page about this
stagespecs.com
a single behavior an athlete adopts that is based more on luck and generalizations than on reason
al3q.info
The unfounded believe that certain object, activities or rituals can be helpful or harmful.
prsne.com
Keywords: album, twenty, siouxsie, stevie, banshees
Superstition is an album by Siouxsie & the Banshees, released in 1991. The first single, "Kiss Them for Me," gave the band its first top-forty Billboard Hot 100 hit in the United States, peaking at number twenty-three. Breaking tradition, the band handed over production duties to Stephen Hague, known for working with Pet Shop Boys, Erasure and New Order, among many others.
"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was twenty-two years old. It was included on Wonder's Talking Book album, and released as a single in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number four in the UK, in February 1973.
Keywords: overstays, premature, explanation, time
a premature explanation that overstays its time
Keywords: conceptualize, phenomena, intellectually, explain, culture
an individual's or culture's way to conceptualize natural phenomena that they cannot intellectually explain
dumbrella.com
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(LUSAKATIMES) Police deny PF-UPND pact permit to hold a victory match
Police deny PF-UPND pact permit to hold a victory match
Saturday, October 17, 2009, 16:40
POLICE in Mpulungu have denied granting a permit to PF-UPND pact cadres who had wanted to hold a solidarity march to celebrate their victory in Kasama Central. The cadres were yesterday planning to hold celebrations slated for today for their Kasama Central by – election victory but their plans were thwarted by police in the area.
In a statement co-signed by the pact’s district chairman Reuben Chisenga and District Secretary Muchinzi Mwazya, the two party officials stated that the solidarity march would not go ahead as planned.
And in a separate interview, Mr Mwazya expressed disappointment that police had infringed on their constitutional rights to assemble and freely express their feelings by denying them a permit.
He dismissed some of the reasons advanced by police to deny them a permit as flimsy.
Mr Mwazya, who also the Pact Secretary, said among the many reasons given by police were that the celebrations could have triggered a counter reaction from MMD cadres that could have endangered peace in the township.
He however noted that a celebration was not a protest of any kind and felt that police had treated his members unfairly because if MMD had won, they would have been allowed to celebrate without any restrictions.
Mr Mwazya also pointed out that it wouldn’t have been possible for the PF-UPND pact to have given police a seven day notice in advance as they were claiming because it was not clear who would emerge victorious in Kasama.
” The PF-UPND pact will now watch closely and with interest on how police will react if MMD wins any by-election in the near future. We shall closely observe how they are going to handle such a case,” Mr Mwazya stated.
Mwazya appealed to police to be professional and discharge their duties in the public interest.
He further added that his members were saddened because they had been denied a chance to celebrate together with their colleagues in Kasama, saying the Kasama central by- election was an important victory for the PF-UPND pact.
Efforts to get a comment from police in the area proved futile by press time.
The PF-UPND pact’s candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba on Friday won the Kasama central by-election with 10 688 votes and was followed by MMD’s Burton Mugala who got 4184 votes.
ZANIS
Labels: DEMONSTRATION, PF-UPND, POLICE, SATA
Tsvangirai should sack Nkomo, Holland
Madluphuthu Khumalo - Opinion
Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:41:00 +0000
I DO not know if there is anyone who was surprised to read about Minister Sipepa Nkomo of MDC-T insulting and denigrating our national hero, the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, recently.
That is MDC-T for you. The party consists of political opportunists who sing the empty “Mugabe must go” rhetoric without any tangible solution thereafter. It is well known that when MDC split in October 2005, Sipepa Nkomo remained with the party, the MDC faction led by Professor Arthur Mutambara, when
Tsvangirai took his jacket and left the party with his bootlickers and kitchen cabinet.
Sipepa Nkomo even contested for the senatorial seat in Tsholotsho on an MDC ticket only to be thrashed by a Zanu PF candidate. He then defected to MDC-T.
I must say that having many political parties in Matabeleland is not enhancing democracy in this region, because it divides our leadership on party lines. So some of our leaders such as Prof Welshman Ncube, Dumiso Dabengwa, Gibson Sibanda, Joshua Malinga, Paul Themba-Nyathi, Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, just to mention a few, would not work together for the betterment of Matabeleland.
But for Sipepa Nkomo to insult Father Zimbabwe and pretend to be representing Matabeleland is an insult and an embarrassment. Even if we admit that Matabeleland region does not need many political parties, MDC-T is not a political party with Matabeleland people at heart; therefore we do not need it.
How many politicians worth their salt are in MDC-T Matabeleland region? Truly speaking they are all turncoats who were either defeated in internal party elections in MDC or were facing disciplinary action, and later defected to MDC-T to avoid embarrassment or sanctions.
MDC-T’s agenda is to destroy Matabeleland’s culture and heritage. It all started with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai himself when people of Matabeleland were complaining that civil servants, especially teachers, deployed in primary schools should be locals to avoid language barriers.
He accused people of Matabeleland of wanting to remain being “villagers” and in “paddocks” and he said there was nothing wrong with people learning local languages and working anywhere in the country. Unfortunately he himself cannot speak isiNdebele. Matabeleland people were simply saying that their young children should be taught by people who understand their languages and culture.
Secondly when Minister Sekai Holland insulted our King Mzilikazi, Sipepa Nkomo and other MDC-T politicians from Matabeleland remained quiet, so that they do not anger their principal who appointed them into Cabinet. If they respect the people of Matabeleland who they purport to represent, they were supposed to protest there and then to PM Tsvangirai to fire Minister Holland without delay.
But unfortunately some people from this region are the ones who walk at night like witches and wizards to console Minister Holland, giving her advice that she must not apologise for her unbecoming remarks on our king but remain mum.
Some of them, together with their surrogates have, I am told, even written letters to PM Tsvangirai giving him the so-called legal advice against firing Sekai Holland. What legal advice?
A minister can be dropped and replaced any minute without any problems. There will not be any legal complications if PM Tsvangirai, as the Prime Minister, advises President Mugabe, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, that they are withdrawing Minister Holland from the Government and replacing her with somebody else.
The President would only make an announcement as a formality. Anyway whose interest is she serving by insulting our king? What national healing is she promoting by insulting other people? She is not fit to be a minister, moreso of National Healing.
Therefore one would be forgiven for saying MDC-T is a political accident made into being by people’s anger and would not offer anything to Matabeleland. MDC-T politicians are a bunch of opportunists who accuse Zanu-PF of “wrongdoing” but at the same time are not clean themselves.
One recent event highlights that. A few of the Prime Minister’s closest aides recently amended their party constitution in luxurious offices to remove the restrictions on presidential terms, thereby giving PM Tsvangirai an effective life presidency. It is very sad especially coming from a party which says it is bringing a “new order on good governance” to the country.
In countries which practise democracy and good governance both Ministers Holland and Sipepa Nkomo would have resigned from government for vomiting their poisonous venom in public although we know that it is in fact, their way of thinking.
Some of the MDC-T ministers also tell journalists not to bother them on weekends and after working hours because they would be “off-duty”, enjoying themselves.
What an insult! A public servant who was elected by the people, now telling them not to bother him with issues affecting them, especially health matters! For sure MDC-T is a political accident not a political party.
As Matabeleland people, we demand that PM Tsvangirai remove both Ministers Holland and Sipepa Nkomo as ministers because they are a disgrace to the nation.
Also the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Henry Madzorera, should be cautioned for telling journalists not to seek comment from him during weekends because, according to him, he would be off-duty.
He must be reminded that as long as one is a public servant, off-days and weekends are a luxury the country cannot afford for now and forever.
May people of Zimbabwe respect our heroes such as Mzilikazi, Lobengula and Joshua Nkomo. As people of Matabeleland, we are here because of them; therefore let us not insult them to solicit favours from other people. - The Chronicle
Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SAMUEL SIPEPA NKOMO, SEKAI HOLLAND
(TALKZIMBABWE) The 'Bennett Affair' and the future of the MDC-T
The 'Bennett Affair' and the future of the MDC-T
Philip Murombedzi
THE Movement for Democratic Change party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has decided to "disengage" from the inclusive Government. This is very unfortunate. It shows a lack of foresight and direction in that party which purports to represent the wishes of the Zimbabwean people. Critics say it is the "Bennett Affair" which made the MDC-T take this crucial stance.
The incarceration of Roy Bennett has threatened the welfare of millions of Zimbabweans; despite the fact that many other MDC-T members and MPs have been arrested, charged and jailed over the past year on various offences ranging from rape to kidnapping.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti, who doubles as the Secretary General of the MDC-T, spent months in Chikurubi prison. There was no outcry from the party, nor a boycott of talks. PM Tsvangirai's aide, Ghandhi Mudzingwa and other MDC-T members are still in lockdown; but they seem less important figures that Roy Bennett.
The MDC-T party holds very crucial portfolios in the inclusive Government, which if compromised could affect the welfare of Zimbabwean people.
President Robert Mugabe should now hasten to make alternative acting ministerial appointments until such a time when the MDC-T party decides to "re-engage", especially in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
Surely the party does not expect Zimbabwe to go without these two crucial ministries, even for a day. The appointments of Attorney General Johannes Tomana and Reserve Bank Governor, made before the formation of the inclusive Government, were made at a time when the MDC-T was dithering on entering into government with Zanu PF. The country could not have gone without these crucial posts.
There are crucial executive decisions that need to be made and meetings to be attended to by the leadership in these crucial ministries.
Zimbabwean people cannot be held at ransom by a political party that decides to sulk over "outstanding issues" that a few weeks ago PM Tsvangirai called "not insurmountable".
MDC-T represents a significant chunk of the Zimbabwean electorate, but not all Zimbabweans. It should, therefore, not make decisions on behalf of all groups in the country that depend on these crucial ministries
Just a week ago, PM Tsvangirai told reproters in the northern Spanish city of Valladolid where he was due to receive a prize for lifetime achievement, that he had a good working relationship with President Mugabe and called for relations between the European Union and Zimbabwe to be normalised.
He also appealed to the EU to start pouring development aid into the country as opposed to humanitarian aid. One wonders what could have changed in a matter of a week.
On his return to Zimbabwe on Friday, PM Tsvangirai said people could live in peace in Zimbabwe since the formation of the inclusive Government.
He said that while there were some "toxic issues" for the government, the MDC-T party "will make progress working with the veteran president and eventually be elected in its own right" and that "now people can live in peace" in Zimbabwe.
"Progress is gradual and it cannot be an event. You have to work it on a daily basis and hopefully we can do that within the shortest possible time," he said.
PM Tsvangirai also added, "There has been substantive progress, it's just that you have got one or two incidents and then it spoils the thing."
It is interesting that these "one or two incidents" did not lead the PM and his team to disengage from the inclusive Government. The "one incident" that was too hot to handle for the MDC-T was Bennett's indictment and incarceration: the "Bennett Affair".
Bennett has since been released on bail pending his trial which resumes on Monday.
The PM and his party and government deputy Thokozani Khupe on Thursday, a day before the MDCdecided to boycott government, appeared alongside President Mugabe at a women's summit in the country and everything looked in place.
The "Bennett Affair" seems like the one single issue that the MDC-T will not compromise on: no more, no less.
What wonders what it is about Bennett that makes the MDC-T party leadership cringe.
Philip Murombedzi is the editor of the Zimbabwe Guardian. He can be contacted via: philipmurombedzi@yahoo.com
Labels: MDC, ROY BENNETT
Ban calls for investment in food production, distribution
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Saturday, October 17, 2009 1:15:17 AM
UNITED Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday said there is urgent need for attention to respond to the needs of the hungry by ensuring adequate political and financial support for emergency food assistance.
And European Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid Karel De Gucht has said that food insecurity is posing a serious threat to achieving all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of ending abject poverty by 2015.
Commenting on the 2009 World Food Day whose theme is ‘achieving food security in times of crisis’, Ban stated that challenges of food security demand multilateral commitment, creativity and leadership.
“At this time of crisis, I encourage all nations to pursue coordinated and comprehensive strategies for agricultural development and effective social protection so that vulnerable people can get the food they need for nutritional security and well being,” Ban stated.
“Throughout the developing world, food prices remain stubbornly high. We must respond to the needs of the hungry by ensuring adequate political and financial support for emergency food assistance and the 2009 theme, emphasises the need for even greater efforts to respect the dignity of those affected by poverty and hunger and to support the committed women and men who often risk their lives to deliver help.”
He stated that food and nutritional security were the foundations of decent life, sound education and the achievement of the MDGs.
“Over the past two years, volatile food prices, the economic crises, climate change and conflict have led to a dramatic and unacceptable rise in the number of people who cannot rely on getting the food they need to live, work and thrive hence the need to invest in food production and distribution,” stated Ban.
And De Gucht stated that the World Food Day must serve to remind people about doing something to prevent more than a billion people from going hungry.
“To meet the challenge, the EU's 1 billion euros food facility is delivering fast and tangible results by giving small-scale farmers across developing countries the seeds and fertilisers needed to boost their agricultural production,” stated De Gucht.
“We will build on the experience we have gained in implementing the food facility to ensure the new pledge made at the G8 summit in L’Aquila is just as effective in battling global hunger. More than one billion people in the world are malnourished; that's 15 per cent of all humanity. This figure is on the rise in the wake of the food and financial crises. Food insecurity thus represents a real threat to achieving all the MDGs of ending abject poverty by 2015.”
Labels: BAN KI-MOON, FOOD, WORLD FOOD DAY
posted by MrK @ 12:15 AM 1 Comments
‘I am not a dictator, I am just stubborn’
“I am not a dictator, I am just stubborn.” This is what Rupiah Banda says he is: stubborn but not a dictator. Being stubborn is not a good thing in public life, in politics, especially when one occupies a very high public office like that of president of the Republic. And the Holy Bible is full of verses that denounce being stubborn and we are all urged to avoid that type of attitude or conduct. In Proverbs 1:30-32, we are told:
“You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern.”
And Proverbs 9:7-9 adds: “If you correct a conceited man, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand an evil man, you will only get hurt. Never correct a conceited man; he will hate you for it. But if you correct a wise man, he will respect you. Anything you say to a wise man will make him wiser, whatever you tell a righteous man will add to his knowledge.”
In Proverbs 9:8, we are warned: “Sensible people accept good advice. People who talk foolishly will come to ruin.”
It is very difficult to understand how Rupiah can be proud and boast about being arrogant when “no one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin” (Proverbs 18:12).
And moreover, the Bible advocates punishment for arrogance: “Arrogance should be punished, so that people who don’t know any better can learn a lesson. If you are wise, you will learn when you are corrected” (Proverbs 19:25).
It is said that “the most stupid fool is better off than someone who thinks he is wise when he is not” (Proverbs 26:12).
And what is the difference between being a dictator and being arrogant? There is no good sense in being an arrogant person. And “a ruler without good sense will be a cruel tyrant” (Proverbs 28:16). “If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover” (Proverbs 29:1). And “arrogance will bring you downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected” (Proverbs 29:23).
If this is what is said in the Holy Bible about arrogance, how can a sensible person brag or boast about being arrogant? This is why it is said that honesty makes a good man’s life easier, but a wicked man will cause his own downfall. People who can’t be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty. Anyone who loves truth, anyone who wants to do good welcomes knowledge and wants to be told when he is wrong. “It is stupid to hate being corrected” (Proverbs 12:1). “Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice” (Proverbs 12:15). And “pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall” (Proverbs 16:18).
We are also told in Sirach 3:26-29: “Stubbornness will get you into trouble at the end…a stubborn person will be burdened down with troubles. There is no cure for the troubles that arrogant people have; wickedness has taken deep root in therm. Intelligent people will learn from proverbs and parables. They listen well because they want to learn.”
Listening to Rupiah, it becomes easy to see why it is said that “a skilled craftsman is admired for the things he makes, and a leader’s wisdom is proved by his words. Someone who speaks rashly and recklessly is feared and hated by everyone in town” (Sirach 9:17-18). It is said that arrogance is like a fountain pouring out sin, and whoever persists in it will be full of wickedness.
Humility and self-respect are very important things, especially for a leader. It is very important to keep one’s self-respect, but remain modest. Arrogance is dangerous and does not pay. There is need to value oneself at one’s true worth. No one respects a person who has no respect for himself. It is better to admit when you are wrong and avoid embarrassment. Arrogance doesn’t take anyone anywhere but to destruction.
And when we speak of corruption, Rupiah should realise that we include arrogance, lack of humility and abuses of power. Some people begin to change, to be deformed, as soon as they have a little responsibility – a little, not much, power – and we think that, the more power people have, the greater the risk; that’s a fact. We think it requires being aware of the danger and every alert, ever vigilant against it.
If you are humble, truly humble, you won’t be arrogant. If you are unassuming and have a clear understanding of the worth of people and yourself, you won’t be arrogant. There is need to maintain eternal vigilance about this throughout one’s life, and be very self-critical, especially if one is a leader. There is need to always examine everything one has done, checking to see whether it was correct or not, whether or not one let oneself be carried away, whether or not pride or arrogance had anything to do with it.
Rupiah’s arrogant position over Frederick Chiluba’s corruption, acquittal and withdrawal of the appeal against his acquittal has introduced veritable chaos in the nation. If you start a process in which all of a country’s values and institutions begin to be destroyed, that process is very negative. If you destroy the authority, the prestige of the country’s judiciary and the entire judicial process, the consequences can be terrible. It’s a matter not of analysis or criticism of problems, but of the destruction and negation of all the value, merits and integrity of our state institutions, of our judicial process. Rupiah and his minions made enormous mistakes by failing to foresee the consequences of what they were doing and by not doing the right thing to reach the goals and purposes they proclaimed.
Many strategic and tactical mistakes were made and were viewed as the correct way of doing things.
As Sketchley Sacika correctly observes, if Rupiah was so concerned about ensuring that his friend Chiluba does not go to jail, he could have allowed the courts to make their own decisions and convict him and then free him via a presidential pardon. This would still have been undesirable, many Zambians would have still opposed that pardon. But Rupiah would have acted perfectly legally – undesirable as it may be. And this would have left the standing and integrity of our judicial process intact. The magistrate who decided that matter would have preserved his integrity, the Director of Public Prosecutions would have been saved this ridicule and scorn that he is today subjected to. But of course there is a reason why Rupiah decided to take this route. Rupiah had dreams of how to use Chiluba in the 2011 elections as he still believes the man is popular and could be of some political value to him. This being the case, he didn’t want him to be convicted and carry that image into the 2011 campaigns. And this may explain why Rupiah insists Chiluba is innocent even when his own government has a judgment in which this same man has been asked to pay over US $40 million he had stolen back to the Zambia people. How can Rupiah explain all this? This just goes to show the crookedness of Rupiah in all this.
And it’s this lack of explanation that makes him rely so much on arrogance. A humble person, an honest person, cannot do or say the things Rupiah is saying about Chiluba’s corruption; it’s only a corrupt and arrogant person who can say the things Rupiah is saying about Chiluba because they don’t make sense and defy logic.
Those who had doubt about what happened with the Chiluba case, how he was acquitted and why Rupiah’s government withdrew the appeal that was already in court opposing Chiluba’s acquittal, now have an opportunity to clear their doubts. This is nothing but a stinking corrupt scheme that will leave a very big dent on our judicial process for many years to come. It is sad that our friends in the Law Association of Zambia are blinded by political affiliations, sympathies or connections with the Rupiah government and are failing to see what is crystal clear. But in the future, they will have to answer for all this. The president of the Law Asociation of Zambia and his colleagues will have to explain why they failed to see that which was very clear and come up with a correct stand. We do appreciate the fact that for some of them, Rupiah was their client a few months ago and their partners are today part of his government.
But no one forced them to take up leadership positions in the Law Association of Zambia that would conflict with what they have done or are doing with Rupiah. If there is a conflict of interest, they are free to leave and go and serve Rupiah’s interest than to circumvent a legitimate institution of the people. This is what happens in a nation when values are lost, when principles are traded on the altar of political expedience.
I’m stubborn – Rupiah
Written by Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:52:41 AM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said he is not a dictator but he is just stubborn. And President Banda has praised the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) for carrying out important duties such as distributing electoral materials in times of elections among other things.
Speaking on arrival in Livingstone on Thursday where he had gone to officiate at the ZAF pass-out parade, President Banda said he did not need to be told what he should do for the MMD. President Banda said every political party had its own problems.
“We don't have to be told what we need to do, a ruling party. That is why they call me a dictator. That is not true. I'm not a dictator, I'm just stubborn,” he said. “I will not allow any outsider to run this party from outside, to pretend that they are true members of this party when they are not. This party has come from a long way and no one will cause confusion in this party.”
President Banda said he would not allow anybody to interfere in the operations of the MMD especially not people like former vice-president Enoch Kavindele.
“As a President I won't allow anybody to interfere in the functions of the party from the outside. Just the other day he was at State House telling the problems he was going through. Maybe he thought that I did not listen to his problems. My brother says that the democracy in this party is threatened. It is not true, it is not true because he remembers very clearly when he was in UNIP and he tried to stand against Dr Kaunda. If he is honest, let him come out and in the paper tomorrow, I went to his room and said 'you are entitled to whatever you want to do, you are entitled to challenge whoever you want to challenge'. I'm not afraid of standing against anybody as president I m not afraid,” he said.
President Banda said the MMD had a lot to do for the people and their performance would determine their way forward in 2011.
He advised the MMD cadres not to be worried of the UPND-PF pact and mockingly said the country needed to change the Constitution to accommodate co-presidents. “We should not worry about the pact because we should possibly change our Constitution so that they can be co-Presidents,” he said
He also attacked the suspected UPND and PF cadres who disrupted Namwala UPND member of parliament Major Robbie Chizyuka's press briefing last Tuesday.
“The pact, for them to go with spears and knobkerries on innocent Zambian citizens such as Major Chizyuka will not be allowed and if you did that I would condemn you here and right now,” President Banda said.
On the dissolution of the Western Province party executive committee, President Banda said the former chairman Simasiku Namakando was now free to use the hostile newspapers to speak freely.
He wondered how Namakando could both be the provincial party chairperson and attack his brothers in the MMD through a hostile newspaper at the same time.
President Banda said he was the only president of the MMD.
He said the MMD should not be pushed on the issue of the convention.
“We are a democratic party but to say when we shall go and the day we should go is not being fair for any member of the party. When you have not been given a chance to work after being elected, we want to do certain things before we go to a convention. Let us continue, let us remain united and focus on the problems of the people and development of the party,” President Banda said.
Earlier, Southern Province MMD chairman Solomon Muzyamba said the province was politically stable.
“The pact is the decision of two leaders and members of the UPND and PF are not part of the pact. …The recent political sentiments against Major Chizyuka are a clear indication that the pact is headed for a downfall. It is a wait and see situation,” Muzyamba said.
Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe described President Banda as a distinguished manager, ambassador and cream of Zambian politics.
“I want to amplify that the chairman's statements that the pact is between two leaders. HH is now reducing himself to becoming a ward leader. He is in Kasiya and I found him in Kasiya. He can't go to Chitambo because he would stray, he is rejected. You cannot see MS [Michael Sata] here, you only see HH. He is adamant, they cannot exist without UPND and PF cannot exist without UPND. HH is here with our ward leaders rubbing shoulders with them. He should join MMD, he has a future and would be described as a cream of Zambian politics. But right now he is pouring mud on himself, he is tormenting himself,” Munkombwe said.
And officiating at the pass-out parade at Livingstone International Airport yesterday, President Banda urged ZAF officers to strive to be open-minded, non-partisan and serve Zambians with loyalty, honour, commitment and dignity.
President Banda said he was aware that military training was always a difficult undertaking because of the high physical endurance and the heavy demands on the trainee.
“The defence should employ effective methods and strategies to protect the lives and property of our people against all sorts of activities. I also wish to commend our men and women in uniform for carrying out important duties such as food production, road works and repairs, rehabilitation of street children, distribution of relief food as well as distribution of electoral materials in times of elections,” he said.
President Banda urged the officers not to take time to relax or take peace for granted.
“Be alert and remain vigilant at all times. Always approach your duties with professionalism and civility. Peace is a catalyst to economic development and therefore, it must be protected jealously. Be rational and judicious in the use of scarce resources in performing your duties. I would like you to work to inspire others and be always what is acceptable and expected of you,” he said.
President Banda, who received praises that he looked smart in the ZAF uniform he wore during the parade, also advised the officers to implement good ideas and rise above all challenges.
He said it was part of government's policy for women to have equal opportunities as their male counterparts.
“I m equally happy to learn that among the graduating officers today are young women who have trained alongside their male counterparts and qualified as pilots. I wish to commend these young women for their tenacity and resilience,” President Banda said.
He said he was also aware that the ZAF academy and the flying training school had been producing quality trained officers for over forty years.
He said the defence forces had a highly critical responsibility of preserving, protecting and defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Zambia so as to safeguard citizens from both internal and external aggression.
“For this reason, the defence force should optimise the use of available scarce resources in order to carry out this constitutional mandate effectively,” he said.
He said the government was aware of the numerous challenges the defence personnel faced in carrying out their duties.
“Despite this, I do not expect you to lose sight of your primary calling of defending and protecting this nation. As defenders of our peace and security, I expect you to remain focused and disciplined. Your government is mindful of the limitations of resources and we are addressing most of the challenges that confront the wellbeing of the personnel,” he said.
He warned the officers of the dangers of HIV AIDS, which had ravaged Zambia.
“This scourge poses a serious threat to the effectiveness of our defence force because it affects physical and mental fitness of its victim. I therefore wish to advise you, our young men and women graduating today, to treat HIV/AIDS as your number one enemy,” President Banda said.
ZAF commander Lieutenant General Samuel Mapala acknowledged government's resolve to tackle the economic hardships of Zambia in light of the global economic crisis.
“It is because of your government's resolve that we are now seeing development. I wish to thank government for the efforts to make available more resources to ZAF. Furthermore, I wish to thank you for facilitating the joint military exercise in South Africa involving soldiers in the SADC region. This is important because it fosters corporation between these countries and also offers us an opportunity to prepare ourselves for many calamities,” he said.
Lt Gen Mapala said of the 18 ZAF officers that had graduated, eight were engineers while nine were pilots including three women.
Labels: RUPIAH BANDA, ZAF
Banda is prepared to destroy the judiciary over Chiluba – Sacika
Written by George Chellah
FORMER secretary to the cabinet Sketchley Sacika yesterday said President Rupiah Banda is prepared to destroy the country's Judiciary, which currently stands discredited because of former president Frederick Chiluba's acquittal. And Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Dr Fred Mutesa said President Banda's statement on Chiluba's acquittal undermines the sacred principle of equality before the law.
Reacting to President Banda's remarks on Chiluba's acquittal during a closed-door meeting in Kasama last Sunday, Sacika expressed displeasure with President Banda's statement on the acquittal.
“The Bembas have a very interesting saying. They say 'Akanwa kamilandu kalailetelela' [a guilty mouth brings trouble upon itself]. The President is merely confirming what everybody has been talking about, namely that he has manipulated the judicial system in order to secure Mr Chiluba's release,” Sacika said.
“Not for the reasons that he and his minister Mike Mulongoti gave. Mr Banda has convinced himself that Mr Chiluba is very useful to him in the presidential election in 2011.”
He said President Banda was so preoccupied with winning the elections in 2011.
“Such that he does not seem to care about the harm he is inflicting on our country, on our state institutions and apparently on his own political party, the MMD. In the MMD, he doesn't want to go for a national convention because he doesn't want to be challenged and that really is a slap in the face of the MMD, a party formed to promote democracy in the country,” Sacika said.
“He is also prepared to destroy our Judiciary in order to achieve his political ends. He has destroyed the dignity of the institution of chiefs by turning them into his political cadres and now he wants civil servants to support him because he is head of state.”
He said the future of Zambia could not be guaranteed by what he termed as 'big man politics'.
“Our future can only be guaranteed by strengthening our institutions. Mr Chiluba was our president but he is now an ordinary person and he doesn't need a special prison for his incarceration. If Mr Banda had felt for Mr Chiluba, the best thing was to grant him a pardon after the conviction, instead of leaning on our Judiciary to acquit him,” Sacika said.
“As a result of Chiluba's acquittal, our Judiciary stands discredited and this is a serious matter. It's frightening to see our President defend a man who has done so much harm and injustice to the people of Zambia. Rupiah will not be President forever, what legacy is he going to leave when he is no longer President? A legacy of confusion and destruction?”
He said a President of Zambia is elected to serve the interests of the people not to serve his own interests because that was not what the Constitution states.
“Chiluba let the people of Zambia down and the President is now doing the same. This is unacceptable,” Sacika said.
And Dr Mutesa expressed disappointment and dismay at the statement attributed to President Banda on Chiluba's acquittal.
“We are alarmed that the alleged argument by President Banda not only does it border on a serious abrogation of the oath he swore to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution, but also undermines the sacred principle of equality before the law. We have said it before, for us as a party, the issue is not about nailing or not nailing Dr Chiluba to the cross,” Dr Mutesa said.
“What is at stake is that justice must not just be done, but must be seen to be done. Statements such as the one attributed to President Banda serve only to lend credence to the widespread view that our judicial system is being interfered with by the executive wing of the state.”
He said the legal fraternity in the country had agreed that there were good enough grounds for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to appeal the verdict of the trial magistrate.
“The Constitution does have provision for the Republican president to have his say in a judicial process, but only after the different layers of our court system have had their turn. President Banda could have patiently waited for his turn at the appropriate time and could still have saved Dr Chiluba, assuming that the Supreme Court would have handed him a guilty verdict,” Dr Mutesa said.
“We, therefore, condemn any pronouncement, regardless of who is behind them, that has the effect of compromising the principle of separation of powers, the bedrock of any democratic society. In the same country, we cannot have different sets of laws, one for the powerful and another for ordinary people. That would be building an unjust society.
“In fighting for independence in 1964 and multiparty democracy in 1991, respectively, Zambians were essentially saying no to discriminatory systems. We should be working towards empowering all Zambians, regardless of their social status and not bringing back decadent and archaic practices. Assuming Dr Chiluba had been found guilty, it should not have been a headache for the Head of State on where to put him. We have enough prison space for lawbreakers in this nation.”
He said his party believed in equal access to justice for all, without regard to one's social, economic or political status.
“We demand that President Banda's performance of national duties adhere to the tenets of the Constitution he swore to uphold, protect and defend and not be swayed by personal sentiments,” Sacika said.
Last Sunday, President Banda said Chiluba's acquittal had brought relief to the nation. He said jailing Chiluba would have brought a lot of complications to his government.
And speaking on arrival at Livingstone International Airport on Thursday, President Banda said he was not a dictator like some people allege. He said he was merely firm and would not allow outsiders to tell him how to run the MMD.
“I am not a dictator, I am just stubborn,” said President Banda. “I am not going to allow outsiders to run this party from outside pretending that they are advocating democracy when in fact they want to destroy our party.”
Labels: CHILUBA, DR. SKETCHLEY SACIKA, JUDICIARY, RUPIAH BANDA
Rupiah, Chiluba are licking their shame – Sata
Written by Patson Chilemba in Lusaka and Chibaula Silwamba in Kasama
RUPIAH Banda and Frederick Chiluba are now licking their shame over the MMD's defeat in the Kasama Central parliamentary by-election, Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata charged yesterday. And newly-elected Kasama Central PF parliamentarian Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba said his victory is just the beginning of the PF-UPND pact success and road to forming government in 2011.
Commenting on the PF's landslide victory in the Kasama Central by-election that was held on Thursday, Sata said President Banda was deceived to think that former president Chiluba was popular.
“Mr Chiluba and Mr Banda, they are licking their shame. They must be licking their shame because Banda thought Chiluba is very popular in Northern Province, but he has now proved that that man is very unpopular in Northern Province. He's [Chiluba] a liability for him, and we would like to encourage President Banda to keep Mr Chiluba nearer him all the time,” Sata said. “We are pleading with the President to keep Mr Chiluba close to him all the time, because it makes our job easier.”
Sata said Chiluba had become sick in South Africa as a result of the MMD defeat and many more were going to be sick.
He said President Banda miscalculated the reality on the ground in Kasama because he was misled by his minions who included Vice-President George Kunda and MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga.
“They thought that if you go and pick rejects from PF such as [former PF secretary general] Edward Mumbi and Guy Mulenga, and they go to Kasama, start talking rubbish, unsubstantiated rubbish, they think that will take them somewhere. And Rupiah Banda was misled by George Kunda and Michael Mabenga to say 'pick Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba to Ukusefya Pang'wena'. Because since that ceremony started, none of those two gentlemen have ever been to that function,” Sata said.
“I was with Frederick Chiluba in government for 10 years, he never attended a single Ukusefya Pang'wena. They thought Frederick Chiluba was very influential, but I am glad now they can swallow their pride. And you know they thought Kasama Central was as easy as Chitambo for them to rig, because they did everything, even the 4,000 that they got, that was not genuine.”
Sata said MMD had been taught a lesson and PF would now move to Solwezi-Central to help the pact partner UPND win that seat. He challenged the remaining PF rebel members of parliament to follow Saviour Chishimba's example by resigning from the party so that PF could recover their seats.
On President Banda's statement that he would have been miserable if Chiluba had been convicted and sent to jail, Sata said what President Banda said was an understatement. He said President Banda would continue to be miserable for interfering with natural justice in the nation by supporting Chiluba.
“He is going to be much more miserable. For example, Kasama is making him more miserable, and many more constituencies will make him more miserable. That is why he should keep Frederick nearer. And that is why I am saying, if all those rebels can resign starting from Chawama, Matero, all of them if they resign and then we go there and teach Rupiah Banda a lesson,” Sata said. “We need to teach him a clean lesson. Clean, no violence, no corruption, no intimidation.”
Sata said President Banda was supporting Chiluba because they were birds of a feather, going in the same direction.
“We told the people of Kasama, umutaba weshilu, bakombola elyo lipenene. So we told the people to eat, and they ate and enjoyed. But they never gave them [MMD] a vote. They got the money, they ate the chicken, they drank the kachasu, sugar, and finally they even stoned [tourism minister Catherine] Namugala to say 'you haven't brought enough',” he said.
Sata said because PF knew MMD's rigging tactics, they asked the electorate to sleep outside the polling stations on the eve of voting and they did just that to perfection as some even waited at the stations until the results were announced.
He said even the kneeling of Lusaka Province minister Charles Shawa to plead for the people to vote for MMD could not help their cause. Sata also said he felt sorry for Paramount chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people who had earlier asked the people to vote for MMD losing candidate Burton Mugala
“They said 'why are you kneeling down now because you don't give us basic amenities,'” said Sata. “Now that the election is over, let police arrest Namugala for dangerous driving because she knocked somebody and that person is in hospital.”
Sata said he would travel to Kasama soon to say thank you to the people for retaining the seat to PF.
Former foreign affairs minister Mundia Sikatana said the MMD was wired badly in Kasama because of President Banda's abusive language.
“Abusive language must stop. The leadership of the party is never seen at the party headquarters,” said Sikatana
Sikatana said MMD had lost Mwamba who was a very faithful member and assisted the party a great deal.
The PF overwhelmingly scooped the Kasama-Central when their candidate Mwamba amassed 10,688 votes against MMD's Mugala who got 4,184, leaving a difference of 6, 504 between them.
Kasama residents had been celebrating since 01:50 hours on Friday when Mwamba was declared winner of the hotly contested by-election.
And speaking shortly after returning officer for Kasama Central Constituency Alfred Nsama Muonga declared him dully elected member of parliament, Mwamba popularly known as GBM said he foresaw his victory coming.
“It was expected,” Mwamba said.
Asked if his victory would boost the pact between PF and the UPND, Mwamba responded: “Precisely of course...This is just the beginning of everything.”
“I, Alfred Nsama Muonga, being the returning officer for Kasama Central Constituency, do hereby declare that I have in accordance with the law ascertained the results of the poll in the said constituency and that they have been given to Ng'ona Maggie [APC] 40 votes, Ntalasha Christy [independent] 50 votes, Muhammad Hamir A [independent] 170 votes, Chansa Alexandar A [UNIP] 189 votes, Mugala Burton [MMD] 4,184 votes, Mwamba Geoffrey B [PF] 10,688,” announced Muonga around 01:50 hours on Friday morning. “I further declare that a total of 126 ballot papers have been rejected as invalid. Further I declare that a total of one ballot paper has been disputed. I, therefore, declare that said Mwamba Geoffrey B to be this day dully elected as member of parliament for Kasama Central constituency."
After the declaration of Mwamba as member of parliament, PF supporters including some civil servants and police officers jubilated.
Mwamba's supporters attempted to lift him but failed, instead they just surrounded him in celebratory mood amid cheers as he walked to his vehicle. "MP! GBM! PF!" shouted the supporters. "Mugala walala! Walala! Mugala walala! MMD yalala! Yalala! MMD out! Kuyabebele!"
Mwamba and his supporters drove in a long convoy to his residence.
I am tired. I have to go and sleep now. I need to reflect on a lot of things, said Mwamba as he was being driven out of the Civic Centre amidst tight security provided by Sata’s bodyguards.
The jubilant supporters spent the whole night and yesterday singing, ululating and dancing throughout Kasama town.
Motorists had been hooting in celebration while cyclists, who have joined in the celebrations, rung bells of their bicycles.
Mwamba's victory is the talk of Kasama.
Youths and the old, and all those with energies to sing and dance are being driven around the townships celebrating - like they were rejoicing a political revolution.
PF supporters had camped at various polling stations from 18:00 hours on Thursday when counting of votes started.
MMD members were nowhere to be seen since the election results were announced.
Meanwhile, MMD campaign manager Shawa congratulated Mwamba and the PF for winning the by-election, adding that despite losing, the MMD government would continue with its numerous developmental projects in Kasama Central Constituency.
Shawa, who is also Lusaka Province minister, congratulated Mwamba and the PF.
“They have won and we congratulate them for that, a thing which they don't usually do," Shawa said. "If it was MMD that had won they would have accused us of rigging. But I am very happy and I want to thank the people of Kasama we worked well together, we were very peaceful and I thank them for that.”
He said the MMD had made improvements compared to the results of the presidential elections last year.
“We have put up a better fight if you compare with the presidential results,” Shawa said. “There was voter apathy and some people might have stayed away because of fear of violence because our [PF] colleagues were violent.”
He said although the MMD were peaceful, the PF were violent.
“The PF even tear gassed our person. I wonder where they got the tear gas from,” Shawa said. “And we must not cling to tribal politics.”
He assured that government would continue with development projects in Kasama.
“He [Mwamba] will depend on government and the MMD government will continue with its development projects like building schools, clinics, building roads in Kasama,” said Shawa.
The Kasama Central parliamentary seat fell vacate following former PF ‘rebel’ member of parliament Chishimba's resignation from his portfolio and the party.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, CHILUBA, KASAMA, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA
MMD NEC is under siege, says Mpombo
FORMER defence minister George Mpombo has charged that the MMD national executive committee (NEC) cannot make the right decision over the convention because it is under siege from President Rupiah Banda.
Mpombo, who is also Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament, said arguments that the NEC would make a decision on whether or not to forego the convention could not be relied upon because several committee members were President Banda's appointees.
“Because you see, the NEC now is something that is under siege of Mr Banda because most of the people in the NEC are appointed. So these are people that will dance to his whims. So we will have to be very careful not to allow this business to continue,” Mpombo said.
“These people, if they force their way, their end will be very bad; will be very shameful because no one can fight the machinery of the party, the power of the people is greater than individuals.”
Mpombo charged that President Banda and his colleagues were trying to liquidate the party through unpopular statements that would only serve to divide the MMD.
“We will not allow anyone to liquidate the party through his irresponsible activities. Because these are people, they don't love the party. They want to harvest from the party but at the same time, they are not watering the roots of the party,” he said.
Mpombo said he supported former foreign affairs minister Mundia Sikatana's statement that President Banda should resign from the MMD for trying hard to break the rules and regulations the party had stood on for a long time.
He said President Banda and his colleagues had chosen to waste time over simple issues that could have been avoided.
Mpombo said it was President Banda who even chaired the meeting where the issue of endorsing him as sole candidate was discussed.
He said people like President Banda who were creating confusion in the party should be the ones to resign.
“It was not even necessary for them to have made those resolutions which are totally unacceptable. So these are the ones who are trying to destroy the MMD party which they found,” Mpombo said.
“Mr Sikatana is correct. It's Mr Banda and his colleagues who should resign and leave MMD in peace, because we can't afford to have dictatorial tendencies in the party. We can't allow anybody to destroy or hijack the party constitution.”
Mpombo said he was not being sponsored to say what he was saying and those who had doubts should check his political record and see what stuff he was made of.
Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, MMD, NEC
UPND wins Lubanda ward local govt by-election
Written by Frederick Mwansa and Christopher Miti
OPPOSITION UPND has scooped the Lubanda ward local government by-elections. And the ruling MMD has scooped the Chikowa ward by-election in Malambo Constituency.
Local pastoral farmer Harrison Kamano won the seat after getting 491 votes under the UPND-PF pact ticket.
MMD candidate Bettis Mambonwa managed to get just over 240 votes as a closest rival, while UNIP got 48.
The Lubanda ward seat fell vacant following the incarceration of former UPND councillor Harry Namaluba for participating in unlawful assembly at which he incited people to dethrone chief Shimbizhi.
And Eastern Province electoral officer Alex Bwalya said MMD candidate Bartholomew Mbewe got 267 votes, UNIP's Adrian Kaleya got 204 and PF candidate Evans Phiri got 137 votes.
Returning officer John Mwanza who announced the results declared MMD's Mbewe as a duly elected councillor for Chikowa ward.
Mwanza said of the 1, 099 votes cast, three were rejected while one was disputed.
The seat fell vacant after the death of MMD's Maximina Kamlewe.
Most political parties who participated in the election described the election as free and fair.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, UPND
Court dismisses Post’s appeal in Rupiah defamation case
Written by Laura Hamusute
THE Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by Post Newspapers Limited in a defamation case involving President Rupiah Banda. This is in a case where The Post appealed to the Supreme Court against the ruling of Lusaka High Court judge Charles Kajimanga dated October 3, 2008 in which he dismissed two preliminary issues by The Post.
The Post advanced three grounds of appeal, the first being that the judge erred when he held that it was proper for President Banda’s lawyer Christopher Mundia to depose to an affidavit whose contents were highly contentious.
On the second ground of appeal, The Post averred that the judge erred when he failed to vacate the order for leave to commence contempt proceedings in the light of sufficient grounds that the newspaper advanced.
The last ground of appeal was that the judge failed to address matters that were argued before court.
On September 26, 2008, President Banda through his lawyer Christopher Mundia filed a writ of summons and a statement of claim in the High Court seeking damages for alleged defamation by The Post.
Simultaneously, with the documents in question, President Banda applied for an ex parte order of interlocutory injunction to restrain The Post from publishing libelous words against him in their editorials and reports.
The ex parte order was granted on September 27, 2008 and judge Kajimanga set October 3, 2008 for the determination of the application for an interlocutory injunction inter parte.
On September 28 and 29, 2008, The Post allegedly published articles that President Banda thought were highly defamatory.
The defamatory materials according to President Banda also included an editorial/opinion, which he said was a total disregard of the ex parte order granted by the court earlier on.
President Banda then filed summons for leave to commence contempt proceedings pursuant to Order 52 rule 2 of the Supreme Court Rules.
On October 2, 2008, The Post filed a notice of intention to raise preliminary issues during the proceedings of contempt of court and the preliminary issues the newspaper sought to raise hinged on whether it was proper for President Banda’s lawyer Mundia to depose to an affidavit in a highly contentious matter.
The other issue The Post sought to raise was whether the ex-parte order for leave to commence contempt proceedings granted on September 30, 2008 should be vacated on grounds that an ex parte order was a provisional order liable to be vacated on sufficient grounds.
In delivering judgment, Supreme Court judge Sandson Silomba said he agreed with Mundia that the application for the leave in question was in compliance with procedure under Rule 2(1) (2) and (3) of the Supreme Court Rules and that Mundia had to provide information not as proof of the matters in controversy but for the purpose of making a prima facie case for the granting of leave to commence contempt proceedings.
Judge Silomba dismissed ground one and also dismissed ground two contending that the defence of justification and fair comment could not be used as a good ground for setting aside a validly obtained ex parte order.
Judge Silomba dismissed the last ground of appeal explaining that the court was not told what the judge omitted to do.
Labels: COURTS, RUPIAH BANDA, THE POST
(HERALD) The rise of African nationalism
The rise of African nationalism
By Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa
THIS is the second of a series of articles in which AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER MUTSVANGWA traces the foundations of Zimbabwe and how four centuries of Zimbabwe-Europe interaction have served to sap the country of its ability to chart an independent and prosperous course in global affairs.
Soshangana and the Shangani in the East
Another Nguni offshoot, the Shangani moved into the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border. Here they fought great anti-colonial battles against Portuguese rule under the great chief Gungunyana.
The British and modern Zimbabwe
The present-day Zimbabwe is a product of British imperial rule for over 90 years. Unlike other African countries where the English sent administrators, Zimbabwe was turned into a home by the colonisers.
The fertile soils, the equable climate off the plateau was simply too enticing to the new European invaders thus vindicating the great sense of human geography in the original Shona who had made the plateau home at about the same time as Vikings invaded England and well before the Norman conquest of the British Isles.
At their population height in 1970s, the white settlers were less than 3 percent of the total population. Yet they wielded great power concentrated in a racial minority.
Their numbers have dwindled mainly because of lack of allegiance to Zimbabwe.
Britain, the metropolitan power, has consistently and persistently manipulated their loyalty to serve a selfish, neo-colonial and increasingly outdated agenda of pernicious influence on the Zimbabwe body politic.
The British tradition continues to wane as their numbers have decreased in the aftermath of their military defeat a decade before the 21st century. But their influence in ushering in the concept of a modern state to the Zimbabwe nation is still there and will endure long after their present if flippant sulkiness.
The English language and international discourse
Besides the management of a modern economy, advanced commercial law and other aspects of a modern state, the enduring contribution is the usage of the English language in national discourse.
With the emergence of the USA as the dominant superpower of the 20th century and beyond, Zimbabwe could ride on the world-wide acceptance of English as the premier lingua franca of international interaction.
The liberal democratic tradition
Another remarkable feature of English colonial rule was the introduction of the liberal democratic mode of governance.
At home, British rule had done its part in advancing constitutionalism as a mode of modern governance. Yet as it went abroad, British imperialism practised class discrimination that would lead to rebellion by the American colonists. Worse, it was the pioneer and practitioner of modern racism against the people of colour.
Nevertheless, with the eventual demise of the imperial adventure, the concept of liberal democratic governance has been avidly adapted by the former subjects.
In Zimbabwe, it took one generation before the black majority shook off the stupor of the shock of military defeat by British conquerors at the end of the 19th century.
Agitation for workers’ rights in the new towns soon coalesced with rural demand for stolen land.
The aftermath of the Second World War saw this political activism morph into the demand for the non-racial voting and majority rule.
Political parties were formed in the face of growing resistance and increasing white minority settler repression. This was the incubation of the future political leadership that would culminate in a successful military challenge to British imperial rule.
Heroes and the anti-colonial tradition
Just as Walter Rodney postulates in his celebrated book, "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa", the natural development of Zimbabwe was stunted and even temporarily arrested by aspects of its negative interaction with Europe.
Changamire Dombo of the Rozvi
The Portuguese who had set up legation at the court of Munhumutapa did not take long to see an opportunity in occupying the well-endowed Zimbabwe plateau for their far away king.
Through the ruse of dabbling in local succession politics, the Portuguese interlopers did not take time to ensconce themselves as imperial arbiters of the Munhumutapa Kingdom.
Though outnumbered with stretched supply lines, they soon turned themselves into rulers taking courtesy of their advantage of superior firepower. However, their imperial adventurism was very shortlived as the Shonas from the interior organised a counter-offensive.
Changamire Dombo of the Rozvi was the first great hero in the long history of painful encounter with European imperial invaders. His warriors drove Portuguese armies away from the interior plateau to the Indian Ocean coastal zones.
He thus spared the country the fate of present-day Mozambique which became a colony of Portugal for so many centuries.
The respite of freedom was to be challenged by more modern and better armed British imperial troops. Under the guise of dubious and deceitful treaties, Rhodes and his Pioneer Column occupied present-day Zimbabwe in the wake of the 1884 Berlin Conference on the Partition of Africa.
Lobengula and the Ndebele War
This brazen act of imperial conquest forced King Lobengula of the Ndebele nation into a war against the marauders.
Though he was defeated, the spirit of resistance took another dimension when both the Shona and Ndebele organised a joint resistance that would stretch the new occupiers.
Nehanda and the First Chimurenga
Nehanda, Kaguvi, Mashayamombe, Chingaira and many other Shona and Ndebele chiefs carried out co-ordinated attacks at isolated settler outposts all over the Plateau. Facing stark prospects, imperial Britain had to dispatch fresh reinforcements from Port Elizabeth to go to Zimbabwe through Beira in order to save its embattled settlers from imminent annihilation.
European advances in military technology such as the Gatling gun and the invention of dynamite tilted the equation against native peoples who still fought with spears. Their numbers were rendered useless against such firepower and the war of resistance collapsed into painful defeat.
Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo and modern nationalism
The defeat of the people of Zimbabwe cowered a whole generation into submission as fear gripped the land and white settlers did as they wished. They appropriated large estates for themselves while forcing the majority natives into marginal lands.
Indentured labour was the order of the day. So were onerous taxes and other administrative measures intended to force the majority into a new proletariat designed to serve the new masters. Working conditions in new urban centres, farms and mines were as appalling as the low wages.
The sheer weight of oppression was such that it could only revive the spirit of resistance. By the 1930s the people had taken to strikes and agitation against colonial excesses.
The outbreak of the WWII forced a stretched Britain to recruit Africans and other colonial subjects into its war effort against Hitler’s Germany.
The battle cry of freedom had a resonant effect. At the end of hostilities, many were demobilised without as much as a thank you by a broke and penniless England.
To their consternation they noticed their erstwhile battlefield white colleagues being rewarded with even more land which was being expropriated from fellow Africans. The resultant anger and alienation fuelled the spirit of popular resistance eve more.
In the meantime, missionary education had nurtured a more conscious African elite, which could eloquently articulate the issues of concern to the black majority.
This new elite also benefited from interaction with other Africans when they went to South Africa to further their education.
After all, South Africa had the oldest liberation movement, the African National Congress, which had been founded in 1912 in reaction to nascent apartheid as the British co-opted Afrikaners into a white ruling condominium.
Joshua Nkomo, the Father of the Nation, became the voice of Zimbabweans as he articulated their grievances and formed political parties that urged majority rule and one man one vote.
Robert Mugabe, an uncanny intellectual, austere revolutionary and visionary statesman started his political career as Joshua Nkomo’s lieutenant but came into his own as the demands of the drawn out struggle rose.
The two combined into a formidable duet that scaled new heights in the fight for freedom. They did not hesitate to the ultimate choice of armed confrontation with the entrenched settler minority in order to dislodge it from power.
Repeated proscriptions of political parties, imprisonment and detention of the leadership, brazen violence meted out to the agitating populace exposed the futility of non-violent confrontation of the entrenched settler minority.
The nationalist movement came to the painful conclusion that to win freedom and sovereignty, the people had to organise their own defence against the colonial state machinery.
Zimbabwe had to reverse the defeat of Nehanda, Kaguvi and others before they could once again come into their own.
One man one vote, majority rule, a people’s constitution and all that go with the trappings of a modern democratic state were only possible after the people had been organised to answer the settler insolence and intransigence with potent armed power. A terrible new beauty was about to be born.
Herbert Chitepo, J Z Moyo and the People’s War
The challenge to chart the new territory of founding a revolutionary army fell on two, on lawyer Herbert Chitepo of Zanu and Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo of Zapu.
In the relative safety of exile in newly independent Zambia and Tanzania, both took it upon themselves to embrace current thinking on national liberation theory and practice.
They rightly deserve the credit of the formation of an armed political cadreship for the defence of a people under colonial bondage.
This army was built on the bedrock of love of the country and its people. Those who were its initial cadres sowed a tradition were the well-being of the individual was subsumed to that of the nation.
The prospect of one’s life was subordinated to that of a country and its people for eternity.
Good schooling, rewarding work, marrying and bringing up own family as well as quest for self-actualisation, including any anticipated fame: all these were to pale in significance and value to the call of patriotic duty.
A great calling that could not reward the self. It inevitably led to maiming, loss of sight or hearing.
Most horribly, it often ended with the brutish claim of that invaluable, once only gift of life. And for the survivors there is the lifelong trauma of war and the consequences of foregone opportunity in a competitive society.
It is no wonder that their invaluable philosophy and praxis of nation building so frightened the enemy that he dedicated all his effort to the personal elimination of both Herbert Chitepo and JZ Moyo among many others of their proud ilk.
Josiah Tongogara, Nikita Mangena and the Samora Machel generation
Zimbabwe’s military genius came into its own under the command of the incomparable Josiah Tongogara of the Zimbabwe African Liberation Army (Zanla) and Nikita Mangena of the Zimbabwe’s African People’s Army (Zipra).
Their military mettle came to the fore courtesy of a new wave of recruits who left the country at the inspiration of the political and military exploits of Samora Machel and his Frelimo of Mozambique.
The armed victory of the people of Mozambique that helped foment a revolution against fascist Portuguese rule was to fire the imagination of youth in the whole of Southern Africa.
All the classrooms of the region starting with those of Soweto burst into open defiance of colonial rule spilling into the streets to demonstrate.
More potently, thousands others melted into the African bush to trek to neighbouring independent countries to seek the much loved gun. Defying the prospect of imminent death they fervently embraced arms with the sole desire to train and go back home to settle the final score with a well-armed and dug-in armed racist oppressor.
Cuito Cunavale and Mavonde battles: racist military invincibility shattered
The armed forces Marxist coup of 1974 removed the forces of Fascist Portugal from the Southern Africa war theatre.
At the same time it triggered heavier military commitment and co-operation by the racist regimes of Rhodesia and South Africa. Armed intervention into the black-ruled states of the region translated into open conventional aggression especially in Angola.
An alarmed West came to the logistic assistance of their increasingly cornered kith and kin. Angola had no option but to call in Cuban help with Russian weaponry to stem the tide of invasion.
The encounter was to culminate in the battle of Cuito Cunavale in 1978 in southern Angola, when South African forces of occupation were soundly defeated by allied Cuban, Angolan, Swapo and ANC forces.
With this rout, the myth of the invincibility of white racist forces in confrontation with black Africans was effectively shattered.
On the eastern front in Zimbabwe, this piece of military history was to be repeated in the 1979 Battle of Mavonde at the border between Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) and Mozambique.
As the British supervised truce talks went on at Lancaster House in London, the beleaguered Rhodesian forces decided to mount a last-ditch offensive to break the back of Zanla.
The express aim was to militarily humiliate the guerrilla army and force the black nationalists into abject surrender at the negotiating table.
Alas, they had not reckoned with the cunning Josiah Tongogara and his meticulous battle planning. The Zanla High Command had chosen a strategic stronghold in the mountainous border region as their staging base for a final onslaught on the racist edifice of Rhodesia.
Taking a leaf from the Viet Cong book, they proceeded to build an elaborate defence structure based on intricate tunnels. They then deployed their best firepower cocksure that the day of reckoning would surely come.
Sure enough, November 1978 saw attacking Rhodesians hurl full force into what would turn out to be the mother of all battles. But their luck of yesteryear when they would use superior arms to wipe out hordes of spear wielding Africans had finally met its match.
Their ground assault with heavy guns ran into tenacious resistance of military riposte. They then roped aerial bombardment. But all to no avail as volleys of anti-aircraft bullets sowed sure death on any pilots who would dare to approach the Mavonde military complex.
The time was up for racist Rhodesia. Zanla carried the day. General Peter Walls, the crest-fallen commander of the Rhodesian Army had to pack his bags and fly to London for ignominious face to face talks with Josiah Tongogara and his Zipra counterparts.
The chastened British military did not lose time to confer their formidable foe with the status of a full general notwithstanding the fact that he had never gone through the paces of the famed Sandhurst military training. With that came the honour of leading the discussion of the all-important military aspects of the ensuing ceasefire.
It is worth noting that Rhodesia disappeared from the map of history without ever having issued a military communiqué of the final outcome of the Battle of Mavonde or "Monte Casino" as they had christened it.
The Battle of Mavonde victory and history
The Zanla victory at Mavonde sealed the fate of the Lancaster House peace talks and led directly to the independence of Zimbabwe.
Britain was forced to finally assume control of its wayward Rhodesian kith and kin. It now had to do its best to pull any chestnuts it could out of the colonial bonfire they had recklessly lighted for themselves through arrogance of misguided intransigence.
But it had a more stunning if numbing effect on apartheid South Africa and its military industrial complex.
The ferocity and tenacity of the Zanla defenses at Mavonde had finally sounded a death knell to wafted tales of the inane military superiority of the white men in the region.
And in this instance, the Zanla victory was totally homegrown. At the battle of Mavonde, there had been absolutely no involvement of Cuban internationalist forces or any other outsiders in the fateful encounter.
The faith of apartheid politicians in the invincibility of white generals had gone up in military smoke.
The watchword was that it would be folly for white South Africa to allow military confrontation to take its unfettered course. Eschewing the defiant extremism of Rhodesia’s Ian smith, it became more prudent to bargain existing military superiority into political concessions.
After all, memories of the 1974 demise of fascist Portugal were still fresh. The military and political victory of Samora Machel had spawned a new revolutionary dynamism in the sub-region. The respite of Zimbabwe’s negotiated independence had to be leveraged for sub-regional accommodation with the potent force of African nationalism. The political grounds of the peaceful surrender of apartheid were thus sown.
Zimbabwe and wounded British imperial pride
Starting with the so termed Kaffir Wars against the Xhosa, on to the Nguni Wars in Zululand, then the Shona-Ndebele Wars, and indeed the Anglo-Boer War, the rampaging British imperial marauders had tasted occasional battlefield losses but never lost a war in this sub-region and in sub-Saharan Africa.
The lasting effect of the victory at Mavonde was slow to be fully absorbed by those of the English who still harbour imperial nostalgia of the British Raj. That explains why London–Harare bilateral relations are apt to be so easily sullied. Military defeat at the hands of Africa is a painful new lesson to permanently scribe into the history of a bygone but once proud empire.
Independent Zimbabwe and its contribution to Africa and beyond
National reconciliation and nation building
The new Republic of Zimbabwe pleasantly stunned the white former foes by announcing a policy of national reconciliation as opposed to the justifiable retribution that would have merited their genocidal excesses during the national liberation war.
Notwithstanding its absolute parliamentary majority, a Government was formed by Zanu-PF out of all national stakeholders including the white losers.
The new Government went on to perform the miracle of minting a new unified army out of the three military factions who had so bitterly fought each other.
The Zimbabwe model of national reconciliation was to be avidly embraced by the United Nations in its invigorated role of conflict resolution and nation building.
Conscious of the Shona and Ndebele as the population pillars of modern Zimbabwe, the two national leaders, Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe tirelessly worked for a new national cohesion. The Unity Accord of 1987 brought in a new dimension to the politics of national accommodation.
Independence also saw migrant workers from all sub-regional neighbours being granted citizenship. This still has to be emulated elsewhere in the Sadc region.
Zimbabwe has also benefited from the domestication of faith based institutions. Much as metropolitan Europe and America have tried to abuse the Christian church for neo-colonial ends, the faith-based institutions have tended to evince patriotism. This has come in handy to assist cohesive national political discourse.
Zimbabwe used the opportunities of independence to make extraordinary advances in education that has seen it top all sub-Saharan Africa.
Only Tunisia is ahead on the continent. The massive educational drive has proved a boon in many ways that may not have been anticipated.
When the HIV and Aids pandemic struck, the country could still find itself with a rich human resource pool that withstood this national calamity.
And when the mean West opportunistically imposed illegal sanctions to pauperise the nation, Zimbabweans skipped into the Diaspora where their high quality skills and dependable work ethic found ready demand.
Their remittances would provide a lifeline of sorts to those who remained in the beleaguered economy at home. Now with internal stability returning and more promising economic prospects, the ingrained patriotism shall seem a return of all that treasure of varied skills and global exposure.
Pan-Africanism and regional solidarity
True to the tradition of anti-colonial Frontline States, the new state lost no time in shouldering its share of sub-regional responsibilities. Zimbabwe’s foreign policy and military engagements became premised upon the need to stem the northward counter push of apartheid as it preyed upon a war weakened Mozambique.
Soon after internal peace was assured, the Zimbabwe military was deployed in Mozambique to fend off apartheid sponsored Renamo, which was on the verge of toppling the Frelimo-led government.
With relative stability achieved in Mozambique, Zimbabwe’s diplomacy became the bastion of the fight against apartheid colonialism that would lead to Namibia’s independence.
It went on to stand full-square in the struggle against apartheid until the freedom of Nelson Mandela and the peaceful demise of apartheid.
As South Africa was still consolidating its peace and democracy, Zimbabwe allied itself even more closely with Angola to thwart the irredentist ambitions of Unita, until the latter was finally defeated.
Driven by a desire for a peaceful sub-region that would provide an environment conducive to economic development, Zimbabwe together with Angola and Namibia led a military push to arrest Rwandan-Ugandan territorial expansionism in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The British riposte and illegal economic sanctions
This military action was to open a fresh wound in the toxic relations with imperial-minded Britain and other Anglophonia. All of them including Bill Clinton’s Washington would have wanted to profit from the dismemberment of this important country at the heart of Africa.
They also would have opened a rear front for the express purpose of the destabilisation of the emerging Southern African bloc that was prone to be assertive in dealing with Europe and the West.
After Zimbabwe’s successful foray into Congo-Kinshasa, London had a new reason to be fervently anti-Zimbabwe and to seek to bring President Mugabe and his Government to heel.
Labourite London wasted no time in adopting the same strategy that imperial Portugal had used to weaken the Shona and their Rozvi Kingdom after their humiliation in the 17th century.
Bin Laden’s 2001 attack of New York World Trade Centre would turn out to be the perfect excuse for vindictive policy of regime change under the umbrella of Pax America.
Harare was now in the gun sights of the ambitious builders of a new empire. But the painful aftermath of military adventurism in Iraq ended up checking the neo-imperial pretensions of Tony Blair and George W Bush.
In the meantime, landlocked Zimbabwe has had to be severed from all economic links to the outside world even to the extent of ill-fated attempts to invoke United Nations Sanctions. With China and Russia wielding veto power that goal proved impossible.
But even then, of immediate use was the riot act of the West-dominated economic order of the Bretton Woods system read out on Zimbabwe. Misery wrought upon the populace through financial strangulation and opportunistic divestment by traditional economic co-operating partners became the basis of a push at orchestrated regime change.
Surviving illegal sanctions: triumph through unity
For a decade, Zimbabwe has laboured under a very onerous sanctions regime that would have felled any third world country of lesser resolve.
Yet the people of Zimbabwe remained unflinching and their spirit refused to be bowed down. Instead, it led them to be more soul searching until a new found internal political cohesion was found with the help of regional solidarity.
Admittedly the country’s cohesiveness has been severely tested. The label of pariah state and instability became the badge of a contrived, externally driven dishonour.
For the record, the internal political debate at times took a more vigorous twist.
Yet to the relief of all Zimbabweans of goodwill it ended up shunning the temptation of fawning to foreign interests, let alone the cardinal sins of treachery or treason.
Thus when our fellow African brethren entered into the fray as peace-brokers, they were positively surprised to find themselves working on fertile fields of ready political compromise for the good of the nation
And that national discourse, aided by the effort of regional neighbours and the goodwill of Africa as well as the sympathy of progressive humanity carried the day.
The beautiful tale is that all Africans ended rejoicing in the signing of the Global Political Agreement by President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara under the contented gaze of President Mbeki of South Africa and other regional leaders.
A genuine national middle class is the road to national prosperity
The sources of the Zimbabwe tradition have clearly shown that the four centuries of Zimbabwe-Europe interaction have mainly served to sap the country of its ability to chart an independent and prosperous course in global affairs.
Wars and economic sanctions have stunted the development of a national middle class. Colonial occupation wanted to make sure that Zimbabwe, and indeed Africa would never follow this normal route of national evolution.
With the successful recovery of our land and its resources, Zimbabweans are once again poised to follow the well-trodden path of nation building that will lead to prosperity.
The history of national genius is about to write yet another more glorious chapter in the tradition of great granite citadels at Great Zimbabwe and elsewhere. The heroes of the past can once again smile in the gaze of the departed.
The only noble reason to write a new constitution is to create a socio-political environment that achieves this great end of national social progress to the glory of the nation for all generations to come.
Any other argumentation is the height of frivolity and should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. The train that is Zimbabwe which had been derailed for a good four centuries is now firmly back on its proper tracks.
Labels: HISTORY, PATRIOTISM
(HERALD) Act fast on this emerging monopoly
Act fast on this emerging monopoly
EDITOR — There is a very worrying trend in the Information Communication Technologies sector, which requires urgent Government intervention.
If the issue is not urgently addressed, Zimbabwe would soon have a Bill Gates kind of scenario because at one point Microsoft software packages were found on almost every computer in the world, until the anti-monopolies trust in the European Union, in particular, ended up taking Bill Gates to court where he was heavily fined.
They also argued that Gates’ monopoly was stifling innovation, growth and competition in the ICT industry.
The question we should ask ourselves is, although Bill Gates is a savvy businessman, why did the EU take such a decisive action, which on face value seems as though it was an infringement on his rights?
When one mobile phone provider in the country now has more than two million people on its subscriber base, then we should start wondering whether the provider is not already monopolising the ICT industry.
Since it is still expanding, aren’t we going to have a situation where one company ends up controlling the whole industry, which translates into having a monopoly on what people say, to whom, and what they view and listen to, when and how?
With the convergence of ICTs where we are seeing the integration of technologies such as the Internet, television, radio and newspapers, what is the result of such a monopoly?
Simply put, Government should closely monitor the situation.
Cyberpunk Librarian.
Labels: ICT, MONOPOLIES
(TALKZIMBABWE) MDC-T, a party of sorts
MDC-T, a party of sorts
Peter Chimutsa - Opinion
INDEED the Movement for Democratic Change party is a party of sorts. A resolution made on Thursday is indeed a testament to this. It is a party full of 'leaders' who are not able to make decisions.
The party thinks the Zimbabwean people are so gullible as to accept their current National Council position: to run ministries led by their party without contact with Zanu PF, because their financier and treasurer-general, Roy Bennett was indicted on Thursday.
This is the most unfortunate statement from a party that wishes to take power at some point in future.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai cancelled the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, which works in parallel with the Cabinet, and did not go to his office.
The Council of Ministers is an MDC-T agenda. They pushed for it in the Global Political Agreement. Saka ishiri iri kuzvidyira mazai ayo (a bird feeding on its own eggs).
There are many other MPs from the MDC-T party who have been arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated. What is so special about Bennett?
In any case, the MDC-T party shares ministries with Zanu PF. The party has deputy ministers in Zanu PF led ministries. What happens to those deputies and permanent secretaries?
What also happens to Zanu PF deputy ministers in MDC-T led ministries? What happens to the co-shared ministry of home affairs?
In any case, the MDC-T party knew about Bennett's case long ago. They should have made a decision before Wednesday's indictment, on what to do.
Interestingly, as the MDC-T party mulled whether or not to stay in the inclusive Government, a colourful installation of an MDC mayor, Brian James was taking place in Mutare. Government officials from both Zanu PF and MDC-T attended that ceremony.
The MDC-T party's leadership will only corner itself by taking such a stance.
Many of us wait in the wings to see how they will play this one.
Peter Chimutsa writes from London, UK. He contacted at peterchimutsa@yahoo.com.
Rupiah is the most corrupt – Hichilema
Written by George Chellah and Patson Chilemba
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that President Rupiah Banda is the worst, most corrupt and dangerous President Zambia has ever had. And Lusaka lawyer Wynter Kabimba yesterday challenged the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to make its position clear on former president Frederick Chiluba’s acquittal following President Rupiah Banda’s revelation on the matter.
Reacting to President Banda’s remarks on Chiluba’s acquittal during a closed-door meeting in Kasama last Sunday, Hichilema said President Banda had come out in defence of Chiluba’s acquittal because he wanted to protect himself from the corruption he is currently involved in.
“He wants to shield himself away from the current corruption so that nobody asks him how he ran his government when he leaves,” Hichilema said. “He is basically exonerating himself from the current corruption he is involved in like the RP Capital and Zamtel deal. That’s why he is coming out this way on the acquittal.”
He said the biggest problem Zambia was faced with was President Banda.
“He is the one interfering with the judicial process. People must target Rupiah because he is the one who is mismanaging the judiciary. Rupiah is just confirming what we have been saying that he is the one who instructed for the appeal to be stopped,” Hichilema said.
“That’s why he fired Max Nkole. It is very sad… this is what I have always said that Rupiah is in State House for himself. It is him who has destroyed the country. So far he is the worst President Zambia has ever had.”
Hichilema said President Banda was offering a poor quality leadership coupled with a corrupt mind.
“He is the lowest, the worst, most corrupt and the most dangerous President we have ever had. It's leadership with no vision, interfering in the judicial process, corrupt and also dictatorial,” said Hichilema.
And Kabimba said President Banda confirmed works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti’s earlier statement on Chiluba's acquittal.
“There is no doubt listening to what Mulongoti said about Chiluba’s acquittal and what Rupiah said in that closed-door meeting…it’s now clear that it was a Cabinet decision to influence the acquittal of Chiluba. The government must have had a hand in the acquittal of Chiluba,” Kabimba said.
“However, what is surprising is how the same Cabinet that was so committed to see that justice runs its course in this matter under Levy Mwanawasa can today state to the people of Zambia that Rupiah would have regretted if Chiluba was sent to jail. After Levy’s death last year, Rupiah has failed to sustain or uphold Levy’s legacy.
“The decision by the DPP to withdraw the appeal that was lodged by the Task Force on Corruption was in line with the government’s decision to stop this matter. That’s what is very clear from all these pronouncements...”
Kabimba challenged LAZ to make a clear statement on the issue.
“This matter is still in court and we have commenced judicial review proceedings to challenge the appeal and yet the people in government including the President keep on making prejudicial statements against these proceedings. The people that have been culprits are Mulongoti, Vice-President George Kunda and Rupiah himself,” Kabimba said.
“This must worry LAZ vis-à-vis the question of the independence of the judiciary. I challenge LAZ to come in the open and take a clear position whether these rantings are clear for the administration of justice in our country. They should be able to ask what is behind these pronouncements.”
Kabimba said LAZ had been very vague with its position on the matter.
“This is the only country that I have seen where lawyers do not side with poor people. Lawyers all over the world have been known to be instruments of social change where injustice has reared its ugly head against the people,” Kabimba said.
“Lawyers are not siding with the poor people, which is a spirit that we can’t be proud of as lawyers. Neither can the people of Zambia be proud of the legal profession anymore. This is the issue that I would like LAZ to take a position on.”
Kabimba said the government was eroding the independence of the judiciary.
“With these statements, isn’t the government itself sending bad signals to the public about the independence of the judiciary? The President is saying the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) can appeal if he wishes. How does the DPP exercise his powers against these prejudicial statements that are being made?” he asked.
And in a letter to the LAZ president dated October 15, 2009, Kabimba stated that the statements from government had the effect to erode the independence of the judiciary.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, KASAMA, RUPIAH BANDA
Compromised church
The joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of the women and men of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, should be the joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of our church leaders, of the followers of Jesus Christ.
And Evans Rubara is very right when he says our situation requires alert and fearless church leaders that would take the government to task on behalf of the poor, the weak and the voiceless. Truly, Zambia needs religious leaders that will truly speak for the poor and the marginalised.
But today we are seeing some church leaders aligning themselves with the rich, the powerful, with those who have stolen from the poor. Instead of defending the poor who have been robbed of their country’s meagre resources, some church leaders are having special sessions to defend Frederick Chiluba. These have never held special sessions to pray for the poor but they have time to organise special meetings for Chiluba.
We truly need religious institutions to continue to be the conscience of society, a moral custodian and a fearless champion of the interests of the weak and downtrodden. The enjoyment of the right to an adequate standard of living by the poor requires, on the part of the church and indeed on the part of the government, a preferential option for the poor and the weak.
It is very pleasing to see the church, to hear the church becoming more conscious of its mission to serve the poor and the marginalised. In this preferential option, which should not be understood as something exclusive, the true spirit of the Gospel shines. Jesus declared the poor to be blessed (Matt.5:3; Luke 6:20) and He Himself wanted to be poor for our sake (2 Cor 8:9).
And Reverend David Masupa has expressed sadness at how the Church has become so compromised in Zambia that it could not even differentiate between what was morally wrong and morally right. Today it appears it’s so easy for anyone with money and power to find some church leaders who can defend him and be his public relations officers. It is happening with Chiluba. There are a number of reverends or pastors who have hired themselves out to Chiluba’s defence when they know very well that the man is a thief who has stolen from the poor people of this country and has caused so much suffering to them. But it’s not surprising because when Chiluba was president of the Republic, he used to take money from our poor taxpayers and give it to these pastors or reverends as donations.
These words of Rev Masupa and Rubara express an insight into the Gospel which has been gaining clarity in the Church over a number of years. It is the realisation that in situations of poverty and marginalisation, church leaders and their congregations are called upon to make a preferential option for the poor. By preferential option for the poor, we mean a special solidarity with those who are in any way deprived or wronged or placed at a disadvantage in our society. It is motivated by the love that God wishes them to have for all people. Through this love, they desire that the rights and dignity of every person may be respected. Therefore they are specially drawn to the side of those who are deprived of justice and robbed of human dignity. This opposition is described as “preferential” rather than “exclusive” because it does not imply the exclusion of anyone from their care, their respect or their love. What they desire for the poor, they desire for all people. If the poor are given preferential treatment, it is because of the greatness of their disadvantage. Their aim is not to create a new elitism, but to bring about a situation of justice and equality.
The preferential option for the poor may be compared to the special concern that a family would show to one of its members in distress. What is given to the one is not taken away from the others. This kind of preference was a distinct characteristic of Jesus, who always showed a special care for the poor, the sick, the marginalised and the defenceless (Matt 11:4; 5:25-30). He wanted this characteristic also to distinguish his Church (Luke 14:12-24).
Since, in practice, the common good is not sufficiently highly cherished, and since too many people fail to live in solidarity with the community, it is inevitable that there are those who suffer as a result of these failures. These are the poor, the marginalised, those living on the margins of the community, those whose interests have been neglected or ignored. As such, they are especially entitled to solidarity, to the special commitment of the rest of the community to remedy the situation in which they find themselves. It is this special commitment that is called ‘preferential treatment of the poor’. In practical terms, it means that our economic resources and decisions must not only avoid harming the interests of the poor, but must actually contribute to their upliftment. The option for the poor can be exercised not only in favour of the materially poor, but also towards those who have been marginalised because of other factors for whatever reason. Indeed, such classes of people often tend to be materially poor as well, as a direct result of being marginalised. Also, it must be understood that the poor are not passive recipients of this option, but active participants in its exercise. They must demand what the common good requires for them and they must exercise the same solidarity among each other as the community as a whole must show to them.
Truly, as Rev Masupa has correctly urged, the Church should rise to the occasion and do what is right and should not sell its birthright of morality but instead must be advocates of morality. Of course in trying to champion that which is right and in trying to denounce that which is wrong, church leaders have been accused of politics and have been challenged to join the political arena instead of hiding behind the pulpit. This is as if we didn’t have reverends like Ronnie Shikapwasha in government. Rev Masupa has got a very good answer to this: “What we must know is that there is a very thin line between politics and Christianity, Christians are advocates of justice and when they speak for the poor, they should not be viewed that way.”
We think there is a great coincidence between Christianity’s objectives and the ones which honest, fair-minded, just and humane politicians seek. We are living at a time when politics has entered a near-religious sphere with regard to man and his behaviour. We also believe that we have come to a time when religion can enter the political sphere with regard to man and his material needs.
It is our fellow man, and especially the one who lacks life and needs justice, in whom God wishes to be served and loved. They are the ones with whom Jesus identified: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcomed thee, or naked and clothe thee?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’” (Matt 25:37-40).
Therefore, there is no contradiction between the struggle for justice and the fulfillment of God’s will. One demands the other. All who work along that line of God’s scheme for life are considered Jesus’ brothers and sisters (Mark 3:31-35). This is the best way to follow Jesus, especially in our country’s present situation. And following Christ means being like him. The name Christian means: like Christ, follower of Christ. Now, Jesus Christ was humble, most pure, poor, meek: how can His disciple and imitator be proud, dishonest, angry, greedy, a thief, a lazo?
How many Christians are there who have no more than the name and the baptism of Jesus Christ, while they live like pagans!
He who does not imitate Christ does not love Christ: love is imitation. Imitation is the infallible character to distinguish the lovers of Jesus. One cannot continue defending plunderers who have been corruptly saved from going to jail by some corrupt schemes of their friends in power. Instead of defending the poor people who have been robbed, some of our reverends, pastors, Christians are defending plunderers as if they have never heard of Proverbs 18:5: “It is not right to favour the guilty and keep the innocent from receiving justice.”
Labels: CORRUPTION, DAVID MASUPA, RELIGION
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The Moving Image
Guest Editor’s Foreword: Early Cinema and the Archives
Tami Williams
Volume 16, Number 1, Spring 2016
pp. ix-xv
Guest Editor’s ForewordEarly Cinema and the Archives
Tami Williams (bio)
The cover image introduces one of the principal themes of this special issue, “Early Cinema and the Archives”: “play.” A concept with many meanings (affect, agency, sensation), play also invites the viewer to participate actively through such devices as identification, manipulation, and decipherment, leitmotifs that run through several articles in the issue. Our cover shows us an impressionistic sketch evocative of a vaguely Parisian skyline with a daring, fully dressed woman on a tightrope traversing it, framed by an evocation of the Eiffel Tower on the left and, on the right, iconic buildings suggestive of the Trocadero Palace and the distant dome of Montmartre’s Sacré-Cœur. Or, alternatively, it is simply a painted circus backdrop using forced-perspective drawing to depict an unknown cityscape with an electrical tower and treacherous power lines. A man on a ledge looks on, shouting and beckoning to the woman as she moves (boldly or perhaps with trepidation) further along her way across the wires. The direction of the woman’s movement in the image is difficult to pin down. Is she going backward, forward, toward, away from the wildly gesticulating gentleman and us, the onlookers? The cinema poster, while dynamic and playful, screams of movement, contingency, transformation, and ambiguity in an electrified, modernizing world.
Yet, aside from being an audacious image of play and sensation (and arguably of social transformation), the poster also relates tangentially to several articles in this special issue as a form of identification; ephemera; a paratext; an archival or exhibition object; and a data point for historical research, close analysis, or what some of our authors define as “distant reading.”1 Whether viewed in paper or digital form, the still image invites us to examine it closely, to metaphorically zoom in and then out to [End Page ix] discover that it is a printed or digital image of a photograph (or a digital file) of a billposter transporting an advertisement for an early Dutch-distributed film.
Beyond its scarcely identifiable Danish lead actor, and its evocation of a woman treacherously traversing a cityscape, it contains edge or border markings that provide information about the absent film’s provenance; the companies that funded, distributed, and exhibited it; and the actual path the film (and the poster) must have traveled: starting in Denmark and heading to Amsterdam or Rotterdam, in Holland, then on to other, perhaps unknowable paths that (barring felicitous research findings) we may only surmise.
The prudently balanced oversized film poster or bill is being wheeled along steadily atop a two-wheeled handcart by its unmindful bill sticker to an unspecified location, presumably to (or away from) a movie theater called the Cinema Parisien, which, if one trains one’s eyes along the edges of the photograph (from the left margin to the small signs in the entryway), appears (at least at first) to be in a German(ic) language location. A close examination of the filmstrip itself, the projected film, and the paratexts (trade publications, advertising) would certainly tell us much more. As it turns out, the poster is for the still extant 1912 “sensations” film from the Nordisk Film Company Dødsspring til hest fra cirkuskuplen (The great circus catastrophe), attributed to director Eduard Schnedler-Sørensen; starring Denmark’s premiere actor, Valdemar Psilander; and distributed by Dutch cinema owner Jean Desmet. The vitally important Desmet Collection is the object of two complementary articles in this issue.
The use of analog or new digital scanning (or viewing) technologies to examine the filmstrip more closely or to conduct data-driven research (in the Desmet archive), as some of our authors do, or to engage in a comparative digital humanities approach of “distant reading” of similar films (of the same producer, director, actor, genre, etc.), promises to expand our understanding of the film, as well as the world from which it emerged, from its conception to its projection on the screen.
As Arlette Farge prescribes in her elegant historiographic study The Allure of the Archives, the perceptual and affective experience of archival research that comes from physical contact with the original texts (alongside paratexts, fragments, and...
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CEA Critic
Protocols and Provocations: Milton's Gestures of Rebellion: Vol. 68, No. 1–2, Fall 2005 / Winter 2006
Joseph Wittreich
Volume 80, Numbers 2/3, July/November 2018
10.1353/cea.2018.0042
Buy Issue for $20 at JHUP
Protocols and Provocations: Milton's Gestures of RebellionVol. 68, No. 1–2, Fall 2005 / Winter 2006
Many years ago, the then-President and current Chancellor of the University of Maryland system put to me this question, "Where, Joe, is the humanity in the Humanities?" Then, as now, I answer that question not by championing my discipline but by singling out one of its practitioners, John T. Shawcross. As colleague, mentor, and friend, Shawcross continues to exemplify the Blakean adage, "The most sublime act is to set another before you" (36). One year he was my mentor-large, the reader for what would become a PMLA essay on Lycidas. The next year, he became my senior colleague at the University of Wisconsin; and in that role, he gave me a leg up on my aspirations to become a Miltonist. During the late 1960s, Milton was the poet of the moment, and teaching and writing about Milton under Shawcross' tutelage were always occasions of inspiration, not intimidation. What made Milton a poet among poets was that he forced the questions of "relevance" haunting those times, and what made Shawcross the teacher's teacher was that he never evaded those questions. Through his own relentless interrogations, Shawcross opened the way for me to write about "Why Milton Matters," and it owing to Shawcross' insistence that Milton is inexhaustible, that "rethinking" Milton criticism is a way of revitalizing it, that I can write, yet again, on a topic Shawcross encouraged me to pursue and helped me to develop: rhyme—or lack thereof—in Lycidas.
If we are now at a crossroads in Milton studies, if a new Milton criticism is at last emerging, then that is owing in large measure to John Shawcross who, devoting a lifetime to studying Milton, has greatly expanded the knowledge base of Milton studies while simultaneously altering some of its premises and procedures. Once annihilating M. Manuel's argument that "Real criticism of Paradise Lost begins only with the last decade of the century" (44), Shawcross upends a similar one, again by Manuel, concerning Lycidas: "this great poem seems to have passed unnoticed during Milton's lifetime…. No contemporary printed allusion to the poem has been so far discovered" (12).1 While it is often acknowledged that Lycidas is a coda to Justa Edvardo King Naufrago (1638), that claim begs the question whether Milton's poem is part of a dialogue among poets and, if so, the further [End Page 329] question about the comment those poems make on Lycidas (or what sort of comment Lycidas makes on them), especially in its abandoning a regular rhyme scheme and subsequent questioning of providence and inveighing against a corrupt clergy.2
The poems preceding Lycidas affirm traditions that it transgresses and tout protocols that Milton's poem taunts. They may not "examine Gods decree, / Nor question providence" (173)—"Tis not for thee to question Providence" (187), but Milton does. Other of these poems call into question the very kind of questioning that Lycidas promotes: "Where were ye Nimphs, when the remorselesse deep / Clos'd ore the head of your lord Lycidas"? (193). Justice and justification are already core features of Milton's bold interrogations. Other poems revere the Church and Churchmen whom Milton sternly rebukes (195–96), both within his poem and in the epigraph added to the 1645 Poems. Over time, rather than softening, Milton hardens the sharp political edge of his elegy. Still other poems acknowledge the impropriety of the rhyme they continue to deploy: "The seas too rough for verse; who rhymes upon't tears" know no laws," and grief itself cannot be "fetter[ed]" (181): "Poetick measures have not learn' d to bound / Unruly sorrows" (184). Yet, all these English poems, with the exception of Lycidas, are written in rhyming couplets. Only Lycidas, which promises to "build the lofty rhyme" (192), seems to spurn a protocol it eventually reclaims as a way of figuring the disordered order of Milton's poem and its quaking world.
Years ago now, in Milton 1732–1801: The Critical Heritage, Shawcross drew our attention to a variety of early voices that represented an emerging understanding of Milton's...
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Intermedia Launches Hosted PBX Service
Wednesday Aug 4th 2010 by Ted Stevenson
SMBs can meld this VoIP offering with Intermedia's hosted Microsoft Exchange and OCS services for fully integrated UC.
New York City-based Intermedia, widely known for its hosted Microsoft Exchange e-mail service, yesterday announced the addition of hosted PBX to its roster of cloud-based communications services.
Another hosted VoIP providerin a world in which Enterprise VoIPplanet has already profiled in the neighborhood of 70 such providers?
Yes, but this is a rather different play from the typical hosted PBX offeringand quite forward looking.
As Intermedia has a decade's experience selling Exchange e-mail as a service (which it does to some 260,000 end users), and added Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) as a service, starting several years ago, Intermedia hosted PBX completes the picture of a true unified communications deployment.
"As excited as we are to be able to offer a standalone hosted PBX product to both our existing customer base and new customers, what we're really excited about is unified communications," McCormick told VoIPplanet.
Intermedia hosted PBX is a nice service on its own, featuring a separate DID and phone line for each seat. It offers an automated assistant to greet callers and route calls, as well as hunt groups to route calls across sales, customer service or other teams. It provides in-office extension dialing, find me/follow me functionality, and voicemail to e-mail. And, a plus for current Intermedia Exchange customers, it is managed from the same HostPilot control panel as the company's other offerings.
Included in the $25 per month per seat price (a promotional price that is likely to rise to around $35, according to McCormick) is unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada.
"I think one of the big things that will differentiate Intermedia from other hosted PBX providersstraight PBX providersis not the feature sets of the PBXs, it's the ability to fully integrate it with the leading hosted Exchange offering alreadyand to be able to go sell that to a large customer base like ours," McCormick explained.
Intermedia hosted PBX can be "consumed," to use McCormick's term, independent of the company's other communications service offeringswhich include not only Exchange and OCS, but fax, SharePoint, wireless integrations, and the likeor in combination with any or all of the others.
Intermedia hosted PBX user interface
E-mail and telephony are probably the two most important communications applications. OCS, for all its cool technology, is fundamentally an instant messaging and presence server that also provides in-network IP telephony and convenience features like click-to-call. In terms of connecting to the outside world, however, it is designed to work with, but does not itself include, a PBX.
McCormick spelled out Intermedia's underlying strategy: "If you consume all threehosted Exchange plus hosted PBX, and then you do the hosted OCS add-on [a mere $4.95 per month]you get a true, fully integrated unified communications product from Intermedia."
However, McCormick was quick to point out, the company is not emphasizing this in the launch of the PBX product. "We're taking the step approach toward full unified communications for SMBs," he said, "because there's a bit of an education hurdle for them, and trying to sell them unified communicationswell, their heads just start to spin."
"It's announced as a hosted PBX launch because it's easier for people to digest and understand, but . . . the real goal of the company is unified communications that the little guy can consume," McCormick said.
Moreover, the total UC bundle integrates with Microsoft Outlook, a factor of which Intermedia's customers and partners alike have stressed the importance. "Really, what we're selling is Outlook that can dial your phone, because if you can keep people thinking about Outlook, that's something they get and they know and love," he explained.
This is all in keeping with Intermedia's ultimate goal, which is to become "the trusted provider for complete business communications in the SMB marketplace." "If we can get people the extreme productivity that comes with a unified communications system, we're going to have a very sticky product there," McCormick said.
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DIRECTOR OF MAKER TALKS ABOUT MAKER MOVEMENT
Maker has been extremely honored to be invited as a part of the Southeast Asian premiere in the A Design Film Festival 2014 which took place in Singapore this September. In the festival guide, Director Tsai was interviewed about the maker movement based on his experience in filming Maker and being a techie.
With a society often only consuming, what drives the maker community and keeps it growing?
On a material level, certain things that people desire simply can't be bought on store shelves. The way mass production is designed doesn't apply to niche needs; the internet and modern fabrication methods turn making into a viable option rather than purchasing. On a spiritual level, making has become a form of self-definition. Since I can buy the exact same chair that thousands of other people have, how can I hack it to make it my own? Or how can I build something that addresses my personal desires and carries my unique voice? I think it's a physical manifestation of a person's identity.
What advice would you give to young Makers out there trying to start something of their own?
Find the type of making that suits you the best, don't limit yourself to technology or electronics. For me making has often been building something towards a personal vision. It could be a physical device, making a film, or building a company from scratch; the journey is similar. You will get to know a little bit more of yourself every time you make something.
If there’s any DIY-Project you could start right now, what would it be?
I think the first thing that comes to mind would be a smart cat feeder, something that could feed and monitor my cats while I'm abroad. With an app on my smartphone, I could dispense a certain amount of food for my cats and measure their satisfaction anywhere in the world. I bet connected pets is bound to be the next big thing.
How will the 3D-Printing technology affect the Makers and our everyday lives?
I see it as a great tool, and it certainly has gathered a lot of attention. I think this is good because it serves as an angle for people to understand the mass-customization aspect of the maker movement, where individual designs can be realized on a mass level and on demand. I do think however for 3D-printing to be disruptive and not just become a novelty is that it has to find a way to integrate with our existing habits, or maybe it'll remain among certain professions. However much like the way digital files can be copied easily for free, the ease of physical reproduction is bound to challenge traditional manufacturing and business models.
How would you describe a Maker how would someone become one?
In order to be a director, you direct. In order to become a maker, you make. I can relate the Maker movement happening in the filmmaking world. It used to be that a couple of huge companies and wealthy individuals had the advantage over the independent makers. Right now it blows my mind that anybody has access to high-quality filmmaking equipment and international distribution, which was impossible just several years ago.The democratization of technology has greatly lowered the barriers of creation.
Have you ever done a DIY-Project before or would you want to do one?
I'm not a huge techie, but I've built a RC car, working on it for a week and seeing a pile of parts and screws gradually taking shape as a car. I've also built my own computer after years of purchasing pre-built computers. What's really great is that you get to see a pile of parts and screws gradually take shape, and the moment it comes to life it's an immensely satisfying, almost magical experience. It's awesome feeling that you thoroughly know how something works, that it's not just a mysterious black box.
Newer:MAKER X C2O PRESENTS: INDONESIA PREMIEREOlder:MAKER SCREENING IN YUKON
AuthorMaker The Movie
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A.D. Mana is a solo artist and producer from the UK, now based in Berlin. He renders skeletal guitar lines, enmeshed in electronics both dense and pristine. Post punk, shoegaze, synth pop, EBM... yes... but not entirely. Beneath the shifting tension of these disparate strains, there is an underlying iridescence to the sound.
From a punk and then songwriter background, and having grown frustrated with the tonal limitations of acoustic instruments, A.D. Mana had always been experimenting in electronic production. Through working as a graphic designer at a music software company, he gained access to an array of synths, drum machines and other equipment, as well as the knowledge of how to operate them. However, spending days designing software interfaces and long nights in the East London studio experimenting with gear, eventually began taking it's toll. After declining health gave him the warning signs something needed to change, A.D. Mana relocated to Melbourne, Australia. He wrote and recorded with various artists there, but had still not defined something that felt like his own work.
Relocating again, this time to Berlin, he reconnected with friend and sound engineer, Christian Richardson. Finishing the first eponymous A.D. Mana EP, released on Sentimental Records in 2016. He followed this with the music video for the single 'Take Hold', directed by Sally Dige, which took us on a propulsive, paranoid, desaturated Super 8 journey through Berlin.
Working with Alex Akers of Forces (Fleisch Records), he has now completed his debut LP 'First Life', creating an expansive world racing between celestial freefall and claustrophobic shadow. The record is a bittersweet and sprawling letter to lovers wilfully lost in the onsen of desire, mundanity, heartbreak and hope.
'First Life' will be released in 2018 on Manic Depression Records. The first single and video 'Blue Romeo', taken from the forthcoming album, is out now.
Digital download only
Body of Glass EP
Post-Punk / New Wave / Digital - 4 tracks
(Manic Depression - MD100-S1 - 2018)
Promo EP
Blue Romeo (Video and Radio Edit)
Blue Romeo (Instrumental)
Blue Romeo (Extended Album Version)
First Life
Post Punk / New Wave / Vinyl 12� - 8 tracks
Blue Romeo
What Will Become
Fractal Cascade
2019-05-07 : A.D. Mana on tour
17 jan : Berlin w/ VV & The Void + Night Nail
13 may: Berlin
14 may: Liepzig
17 may: Gand
21 may: Paris
23 may: Eindhoven
01/10 DOM, Łódź (PL)
02/10 Chmury, Warsaw (PL)
04/10 DK Luksus, Wrocław (PL)
05/10 Kołorking Muzyczny, Poznan (PL)
06/10 CKN Centrala, Gorzów Wlk (PL)
18/10 The Cave, Frankfurt (DE) (SUIR Release Party !)
23/11 Asociación Freedonia, Barcelona (ES)
24/11 TBC, Valencia (ES)
2018-09-13 : A.D. Mana: press review
Obskure (F)
2015-05-23 : A.D. Mana, "Body of Glass" new video, Promo EP
A.D. Mana, who will release our 100th reference on June 15 "First Life", is releasing today a dystopian and strobochedelic video single, another hit called "Body of Glass", see the video premiered on Post-Punk.com.
We also release the single as a promo free digital EP of "Body of Glass" with the first single "Blue Romeo" on 3 different versions.
2018-05-23 : A.D. Mana : concerts
08 June : Rosi's - Ostkreuz (D) VV & The Void, Todesstrahlen + A.D. Mana
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'Fumes and smoke appear before the flames do'
Saturday October 18, 2008 [04:00]
The atmosphere is tensing up and if things continue this way, Zambians are unlikely to have peaceful elections this month-end. There is so much suspicion in the air about the possibility of rigging. Public trust in the Electoral Commission of Zambia and the government seems to be at its lowest.
There is great fear among opposition leaders and their supporters that this election may be rigged. It is said that fumes and smoke appear before the flames do; insults come before violence (Sirach 22:24).
The issues being raised by Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) may have a lot to do with these suspicions. At the beginning of these campaigns, Rupiah Banda’s agents made it very clear that for them, this election was a matter of life and death. And we all know what happens in a contest that is a matter of life and death – rules are ignored, laws are broken, principles are violated.
And as TIZ has correctly observed, Rupiah and his sponsors have been breaking electoral rules without the Electoral Commission of Zambia taking them to task. At the beginning of his campaign, Rupiah was distributing sugar and mealie-meal bought with government money to the electorate.
When issues were raised, the Electoral Commission, instead of coming out strong on it, tried to mitigate for him. Rupiah made discriminatory statements in Chipata inciting the people of Eastern Province to chase other candidates whose origins are in other parts of our country and stop them from campaigning in this important province of our nation.
Again, issues were raised about this but the Electoral Commission turned a blind eye. There was the electoral bribery issue of James Lukuku. The Electoral Commission did nothing about it. Government motor vehicles are being abused by Rupiah to ferry supporters and other agents. And these include police vehicles and even ambulances. The Electoral Commission know about these abuses but have done nothing.
It seems Rupiah is a highly privileged presidential candidate who is above the law. The rule of law doesn’t seem to apply where Rupiah is concerned. Where Rupiah is concerned, it seems the right to equality before the law, or equal protection of the law as it is often phrased, does not apply. But we know that this principle is fundamental to any just and democratic society. It seems in Zambia today, we have electoral rules that apply only to Rupiah’s opponents while none apply to him.
Rupiah doesn’t seem restricted in any way by electoral rules. He can do what he wants without being questioned by anybody. The Electoral Commission seems helpless when it comes to Rupiah and his misdeeds or violations of the electoral code. But the rule of law requires that whether politically powerful or weak, we should all be equal before the law, we should all be entitled to equal protection before the law.
We appreciate that no one can guarantee that life will treat everyone equally. But under no circumstances should the Electoral Commission impose additional inequalities; it should deal with all the candidates and their supporters evenly and equally. But this is not the case today. Rupiah and his supporters appear to be above the law.
We are reminded that “every lawless act leaves an incurable wound, like one left by a double-edged sword” (Sirach 21:3).
Simply permitting the opposition presidential candidates access to the ballot is not enough. The rules and conduct of the election contest must be fair.
If what Rupiah has been doing was done by an opposition candidate, we have no doubt the Electoral Commission would have come out strong on them. But when it comes to Rupiah, their reaction is usually in the form of a generalised condemnation – trying to blame even the opposition candidates when they have not done anything wrong.
This type of behaviour is dangerous; it creates serious suspicions and dissention. It is not right to favour the guilty and keep the innocent from receiving justice (Proverbs 18:5). Rupiah is getting away with a lot of things, a lot of wrongs. And it is difficult to understand why the interests of an individual – Rupiah – should take precedence over the interests of the rest of the citizens of this country.
TIZ is right in its observation to the effect that the Electoral Commission’s inertia when it comes to Rupiah’s violations raises the question: “Why do we have an Electoral Code of Conduct if we cannot enforce it?”
And we agree with TIZ’s conclusion that the impunity Rupiah’s campaign team continues to show in the abuse of government resources is partly aided by the Electoral Commission’s inability to adequately carry out its duties.
It will be very difficult under these circumstances for the opposition candidates and their supporters to accept unfavourable results of the October 30 election because the Electoral Commission has failed to level the play field and to organise the electoral process in a manner that inspires confidence and dispels suspicions. The way the Electoral Commission has treated things so far leads to only one reaction: suspicion of rigging and other malpractices.
The way the Electoral Commission reacted or tried to explain the ballot papers that were nearly taken to Kalabo without their ‘knowledge and authority’ is frightening. It leaves any sensible and fair-minded person worried about their efficiency, effectiveness and ability to conduct elections in an orderly manner. If someone can drive in their stores, pick up ballot papers and drive away without their knowledge, how on earth can they expect anyone to have confidence in their ability to organise free and fair elections?
If anarchy follows this election, the first blame should go to the Electoral Commission. And the second one, should lie with Rupiah.
And probably it’s time the performance of the Electoral Commission management is reviewed. It is not enough to be changing chairpersons without paying attention to those who daily direct the operations of the Electoral Commission.
Poorly conducted elections are very dangerous. They are a recipe for anarchy.
We need to conduct our elections as openly as possible so that our people at the end of the elections have confidence in the results, in their accuracy and are left with no doubt that whoever has won has the majority support, was voted for by most of the voters.
We do appreciate the fact that democracy is in many ways nothing more than a set of rules for managing conflict. We say managing conflict because things do not sort themselves out, solutions have to be found to problems and conflicts have to be resolved by consensus and other acceptable means.
Conflicts or disagreements over how the elections must be conducted need to be managed within certain limits and result in compromises, consensus or other agreements that all sides accept as legitimate. An overemphasis on one side of the equation, an overprotection of those in government, can threaten the entire undertaking. If our candidates and their supporters perceive democracy as nothing more than a forum in which they can press their interests, do or die as Mbita Chitala said, we are in trouble, anarchy may soon engulf our country.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that this democracy we are pursuing is not a machine that runs by itself once the proper principles and procedures are inserted. A democratic society needs the commitment of citizens who accept the inevitability of conflicts as well as the necessity for tolerance, compromise and consensus.
It is said that democracy is not a set of revealed, unchanging truths, but the mechanism by which, through the clash and compromise of ideas, individuals and institutions, the people can, however imperfectly, reach for truth.
As we have stated before, the ability to conduct free, fair and honest elections is at the core of what it means to call a society democratic.
Casting a vote for a presidential candidate of our choice on October 30, in itself, guarantees us nothing. It offers instead the opportunity to succeed as well as the risk of failure.
Going to the polls is then both a promise and a challenge. It is a promise that if we work together in the spirit of love and tolerance, we can elect representatives who will help us govern our country’s affairs in a manner that will serve our aspirations for personal freedom, economic opportunity and social justice. It is a challenge because the success of such elections, of this democratic enterprise we have embarked upon rests upon our shoulders as citizens of this country and on no one else. In the end, we get a government we deserve.
For these reasons, we urge the Electoral Commission and Rupiah to mull over things and consider the feelings, the concerns of other stakeholders, of fellow citizens over the manner in which they are conducting this presidential election. We know Rupiah wants to win, and justifiably so, but it shouldn’t be at any cost – at the cost of igniting the sparks of anarchy in this country.
As for the Electoral Commission, there has to be an admission that all is not as it should be in the manner they are conducting this election. There are clear manifestations of inefficiency, ineffectiveness, lack of orderliness and sometimes dishonesty in the way they are managing things. This needs to be corrected and corrected very quickly because time, although of essence, is not on their side. Public mistrust in them – as a result of their inefficiency, ineffectiveness, disorderliness and sometimes dishonesty – is starting to run very high.
All efforts should be made to restore public confidence in their work. As things stand today, it will be very difficult for the opposition to accept defeat on October 30. This is not a conducive atmosphere for holding such important and highly competitive elections. We say this because these elections are not symbolic – they are competitive and the president of this country is supposed to be decided by the voters of Zambia on October 30.
And these elections are not about the political survival of Rupiah and his sponsors, they should be for the good of the people and our country. If the spirit of this primacy of the common good were to animate Rupiah and his sponsors and those in charge of the affairs of the Electoral Commission, we would not witness elections that leave the public dismayed and disheartened.
We should therefore ensure that this coming presidential election is held or conducted in national interest for the good of all our people and not necessarily for the good of the candidates or one of them – Rupiah.
Anarchy can be avoided by doing everything in the most transparent and accountable manner. There should be nothing secret about this election.
The only exception should be the casting of the vote itself – everything else should be transparent for all to see or verify. This is the only way we will ensure a free and fair election that will be accepted and respected by all our people – winners and losers alike.
Labels: TIZ
Sata accuses Rupiah of being provocative
By Patson Chilemba in Mkushi
No bullet will stop us, declared Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday. Reacting to Vice-President Rupiah Banda's threats to deal with Sata or any other person who will not accept the results of the forthcoming presidential elections, Sata warned that the Vice-President was taking the most provocative and dangerous path.
He vowed that Zambians would not allow Vice-President Banda to rape the country through empty threats to deal with anyone who would dispute the October 30 presidential elections.
He said he was aware that there were manoeuvres by the government to rig elections. However, Sata said Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson justice Florence Mumba should be allowed to conduct a free and fair election.
Sata said Vice-President Banda could not have issued the threats if he were not assured of rigging.
"They lied about VJ. We have information," Sata said. "In 2006, I did not want to embarrass the incumbent. Rupiah Banda is not an incumbent. Rupiah Banda has been rejected by his own party.
This is evidenced wherever he has gone as Acting President, he's not accompanied by ministers."
Sata said the normal way of running government was that the president should be flanked by a deputy minister or one or two Cabinet ministers.
"But in Northern Province, he was flanked by Sakwiba Sikota and Nevers Mumba. Where was Lameck Chibombamilimo Northern Province minister?" Sata asked.
He maintained that he would not accept 'rigged' election results and that Vice-President Banda was using Dr Kenneth Kaunda's language of detaining people without trial.
He said Zambians would not be intimidated because time had come to stop rigging once and for all.
"Rupiah Banda can run to Zimbabwe where he was born. This is our country and we are not going to allow Rupiah Banda to rape this country," Sata said. "So they must take this warning seriously. No bullet will stop us.
On the last minute directive by Vice-President Banda to reduce the price of fertiliser from K200,000 to K50,000 per 50 kilogramme bag, Sata said this was the old UNIP gimmick of reducing prices during an election.
"We don't want ad hoc measures. Today he says he will reduce and after elections we will again pay more. They should wait for PF because fertiliser will be free," he said.
And Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM revealed that two of his buses were in the early hours of yesterday morning stoned by MMD cadres in Serenje area where PF had earlier held a mammoth rally on Thursday. He said desperation was creeping into the MMD.
And Sata said it was sad that political opportunism has blinded 'once upon a time' men of integrity like pastor Nevers Mumba, Sakwiba Sikota and Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika from condemning the blatant abuse of public resources by Vice-President Banda's campaign team.
He said it was sad to see people who were once hailed for their anti-corruption stance join hands with Vice-President Banda whose image was dented with corruption.
Sata said it was sad that pastor Mumba, Sikota, Aka and many others had thrown their principles to the wind. He said these people were part of the alarming abuse of public resources by Vice-President Banda.
"It is sad that people who are not even MMD members like Sakwiba Sikota and Ben Mwila are using public resources to campaign for Rupiah Banda. People like Jeff Kaande, even though it is immoral, can ask for a lift from Rupiah Banda but not Ben Mwila and Sakwiba Sikota. They belong to other parties...," Sata said.
"MMD can't prove if these people are being looked after using MMD money or government money. Sakwiba Sikota thinks going round with Rupiah Banda will help him for 2011, but it can't. In fact, he is not even making any impact and he will never make any impact."
Sata said pastor Mumba should consider resigning from the church because apart from embarrassing the church, he was a false pastor. He said pastor Mumba was holding the Bible in one hand while embracing corruption in the other.
"Nevers Mumba's presidential ambition is misplaced. And I understand why Levy Mwanawasa fired him. It was because he saw his naked ambition to be president," Sata said.
And addressing a huge rally in Samfya on Thursday, Sata pleaded with the people to forgive him for having adopted Joseph Kasongo. He said PF would in future adopt people who stayed in their constituencies and of high principles.
Sata promised that PF would be distributing fertiliser free of charge using chiefs and their headmen.
"And the ones charging fish levy, let them create their own river and put their fish there," said Sata to a loud applause.
In Serenje, Sata said PF would embark on massive construction of secondary schools. He said education should be for all people in the country.
Labels: RUPIAH BANDA, SATA
(LUSAKATIMES) Contractor abandons a K319 million project in Gwembe
Contractor abandons a K319 million project in Gwembe
A named contractor constructing the K319 million community ice plant in Gwembe district has allegedly abandoned works, bringing the project to a standstill. This is despite the fact that the government had fully paid the contractor for the project.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS shortly after a tour of the site today, Gwembe District Commissioner, Dorothy Hamvula, expressed concerns over the delays in the completion of the project which was supposed to have been commissioned in June this year.
“This project was supposed to have been commissioned in June this year, but according to information I have received, the contractor has not been on site since March this year, this is despite the fact that he has been paid in full for the whole project,” she lamented.
Ms. Hamvula wondered why the named contractor was paid in full before the completion of the project.
She explained that at first, the contractor had cited delays by ZESCO to erect power lines at the site as the reason for the delayed completion.
“At first the contractor said he could not complete the project because ZESCO had not yet powered the site, but now ZESCO has done its part, but the contractor has not been on site for more than six months now,” she explained.
A check by ZANIS at the project site revealed that very little progress has been made, with the wiring and plumbing not yet completed, while the plastering of the buildings housing the ice machine and the offices were partially done.
This is despite all the necessary materials to complete the project being readily available on site.
The contractor only did a bit of chiseling of the walls for the wiring. The ice machine has not yet been connected to the power supply.
The named contractor, who was awarded the contract by the Justice for Solidarity Poverty Reduction Funds (JSPRF) early last year, has been away from the project site for more than six months, and was allegedly seen in Lusaka and Sesheke, where he was awarded another project.
Once completed, the Chipepo Ice plant project would benefit both local and general fish traders by providing refrigeration and cold room services to traders who store or transport fish to other parts of the country.
ENDS/MZ/KSH/ZANIS
Labels: BOONDOGGLES, CONTRACTORS, DEVELOPMENT
Rupiah is panicking, says HH
By Zumani Katasefa in Chingola
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that Vice-President Rupiah Banda is panicking to win the October 30 presidential election. And unruly Patriotic Front (PF) cadres on Thursday nearly disrupted a mammoth UPND rally held at Chingola's Kaunda Square in Chiwempala.
In an interview on Thursday after he addressed a series of rallies on the Copperbelt, Hichilema said the government's decision to reduce the price of fertiliser was a clear indication that Vice-President Banda was panicking to win the election.
"Rupiah Banda is panicking, he is just emulating the UPND manifesto. Things are bad for Banda, image builders are not working for him, that is why he is now panicking," said Hichilema.
He said reducing the price of fertiliser during an election period was tantamount to corruption.
"The MMD is confused; why reduce the price of fertiliser around this time? Twachula pafula, MMD kuya bebela," he said.
He said people on the Copperbelt had realised that it was only the UPND that could transform the country's economy.
"You saw the rallies that I held on the Copperbelt I challenge Banda to come here and see how many people will attend his rallies," he said.
He said once UPND formed government, people would be given free fertiliser for three years to ensure increased food production in the country.
Hichilema refused to comment on the outcome of the Kanchibiya parliamentary by-election where the PF emerged victorious.
And commenting on the behaviour of PF cadres who caused disturbance at his rally, Hichilema said the cadres' behaviour clearly reflected who their leader was.
He warned Copperbelt residents not to vote for leaders who would fan trouble in the country.
"But we are not worried about the behaviour of PF cadres, they were just jealous of our mammoth rallies on the Copperbelt, that is why they decided to come and disturb us," he said.
He said PF cadres failed to disrupt the rally despite their frantic efforts to do so.
The PF cadres gathered on Chiwempala road near where Hichilema was addressing his rally and started chanting PF slogans and raising their fists.
The cadres mostly taxi and minibus drivers also honked as they drove past the UPND rally, as police officers watched them helplessly.
The behaviour annoyed the UPND leaders who started exchanging bitter words with the PF cadres and threatened to beat them if they continued with their behaviour.
UPND national deputy chairman for cooperatives Fred Chimuka condemned the police for watching the cadres misbehave.
At the rally, Hichilema promised to sort out dirty water in Chingola.
Hichilema urged people not to vote for PF leader Michael Sata or Vice-President Banda saying they were too old and had no ideas to bring about meaningful development to Zambia.
In Mpongwe during a courtesy call on chieftainess Malembeka at her palace, Hichilema said he was happy to be received by the chieftainess in her area adding that once he formed government, he would partner with the traditional leaders in achieving national development.
At chieftainess Lesa's palace, the UPND leader told chieftainess Lesa that he respects tradition as he was also a village head from the village he hails from.
He said he wants to improve the living stands of Zambians including chiefs once his party forms government.
Hichilema said he would improve the chiefs' palaces and ensure that they had better infrastructure and clean water.
At chief Ndubeni's palace, Hichilema explained to the chief through an interpreter that once voted into office, his government would work closely with traditional leaders in various areas.
He said chiefs would be involved in fertiliser distribution to the grassroots.
Hichilema added that once in power, he would improve the medical sector and build clinics and hospitals in all parts of the country.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RUPIAH BANDA
Kabwe admits being well connected to Chiluba's govt
By Inonge Noyoo
ACCESS Financial Services Limited (AFSL) executive director Faustin Kabwe has said he was well connected to government during the reign of former president Frederick Chiluba. And the court yesterday heard that AFSL, Zambia Security and Intelligence Services (ZSIS) and others intended to own 49 per cent shares in Ndola Lime while Daniel Israel, director of Kwachamania, and other foreign investors would own the remaining shares.
This is a case in which Chiluba is separately charged with AFSL directors Kabwe and Aaron Chungu for theft of about US$488,000.
In his cross-examination led by prosecution lawyer Mutembo Nchito, Kabwe agreed to the evidence of Robert Standard in the International Court of Arbitration that he was well connected with government under the presidency of Chiluba.
He said he had various business encounters with Standard in Zambia.
Kabwe said Standard was part of the team that were the preferred bidders for Ndola lime's privatization and were supposed to partner with ZSIS, AFSL and other foreign and local investors in its acquisition.
He said he undertook to interface with local authorities as well as their active support and co-operation on all levels concerning activities of Israel and other investors.
Kabwe said the interface was to allow Kabwe to obtain all required information whether published or not.
He said he also undertook to ensure government protection of interest, positive attitude and co-operation with activities concerning Israel's group.
Kabwe said his company's role was to obtain information published or not that Israel and his foreign partners required from government and other existing companies.
Asked how he was going to manage to obtain unpublished information which could be of interest to Israel and his group when he was just a private citizen, Kabwe said he had a way of getting information from the government of the day whenever he required it.
Kabwe in the memorandum undertook to take all necessary measure to ensure that Israel was granted a license for instant lotto.
Kabwe was also undertaking to provide Israel with published or non published information on other companies wanting to set up lottery business in Zambia and provide proposal from other competing cooperation.
And Kabwe yesterday said according to the memorandum for the acquisition of Ndola Lime, AFSL had made an undertaking that Standard and his team would transfer 100 per cent shares to Israel's group who would in turn transfer the 49 per cent shares to AFSL and ZSIS.
Kabwe said in simple terms, Israel's group comprising multinational entrepreneurs intended to own the majority shares.
Asked if there was any agreement for the US$20 million Ndola Lime acquisition on how it was going to be shared among the parties involved, Kabwe said there was none.
And Ndola High Court deputy registrar sitting as Lusaka magistrate Jones Chinyama has allowed the state to use whatever evidence at its disposal to rebut the evidence of the defence as long as the documents are relevant.
Magistrate Chinyama allowed the state to refer or submit evidence that was used in the International Court of Arbitration as long as it was relevant.
This was after the three accused's lawyer John Sangwa objected to Nchito's use of Standard's evidence deposed in the International Court of Arbitration.
Sangwa objected to the use of statement, saying the prosecution cannot refer to evidence used in a civil matter in a criminal matter.
Trial continues.
Labels: ACCESS FINANCIAL SERVICES, CHILUBA, FAUSTIN KABWE, KWACHAMANIA, ZSIS
Accusations of tribalism rock MMD
By Masuzyo Chakwe
The husband of losing MMD Kanchibiya parliamentary candidate Judith Kapijimpanga, Davies has accused community development minister Catherine Namugala and Northern Province MMD chairman Griever Sikasote of practising tribalism and being behind his wife's loss.
But Namugala said she did not want to respond to Davies because he did not hold any position in the MMD.
In an interview yesterday, Davies accused Namugala and Sikasote of being tribalists. He said his wife was totally abandoned by her own party.
"No one was sent there to go and campaign the way they did with the Milanzi by-election and even if resources were sent, she needed human resource; people who were going to be helping her there.
PF literally camped there, all the PF MPs camped in Kanchibiya. None of our MPs from Northern Province camped there. And the reason is very simple. It is people like Catherine Namugala and Griever Sikasote who think that Northern Province only belongs to their tribe because they are tribalists," Davies said.
He said from the beginning, Namugala and Sikasote never wanted Kapijimpanga to be close to the hierarchy of Northern Province because they think it belonged to them only.
"And if you remember at one time, Namugala was even fired by Mwanawasa because she made announcement that ‘Aba bemba baliteka pafula’ (Bemba's have ruled for many years) and Mwanawasa didn't like people who were full of tribalism and she was fired at some point and the only time she was re-appointed is when Richard Kachingwe (former MMD deputy national secretary) went to plead with the president and pleaded that 'No, Your Excellency people wont look at this as a good point because we are talking about 30 per cent women representation'," Davies said.
"That's how Namugala came to government, but she made it a point that she decampaigned my wife. Even when the adoption process started, she said 'I would rather support a dog than Judith Kapijimpanga’. So how are we going to be in a party where people are going to be selective in their dealings?"
Davies said Namugala was not a person of integrity and he had no apologies to make on this issue. He dared Namugala to challenge him on this score if she felt that she was a person of high morals and integrity.
"I know a lot about her and let her dare me. Namugala thinks she is a very intelligent person. She is not intelligent. I am not making excuses. Even Griever Sikasote has been misleading Rupiah Banda that Northern Province is okay, but there it is.
That by-election is not the true reflection of what the people wanted. Judy would have won the election if they had supported her but they never supported her, they never! It is the likes of Griever Sikasote and I am not making apologies to anyone: Namugala and Sikasote are behind my wife's loss.
Not that the people of Kanchibiya didn't want her, they are the ones who were decampaigning her. They didn't want her in the beginning, they wanted a lady called Patricia Mukwala to be the candidate," he said.
Davies said if people like Namugala surrounded Vice-President Banda, then MMD was in trouble. He said Vice-President Banda needed people with morals to surround him.
"I am not going to sit down and see MMD being wrecked by restless people. We are true supporters of MMD. I personally started MMD with my uncle Mr Humphrey Mulemba and I am still here. I am a true supporter of MMD and I have never changed from supporting MMD.
I supported the late president Mwanawasa from the first to last day and I am going to continue supporting MMD on that issue, but if we are going to have reckless people like Namugala coming and destroying Northern Province because of their own benefits, then we are in trouble.
Ask her where her integrity is. Even Sikasote has got no morals. I am not going to be a diplomat like Mrs Kapijimpanga," he said.
Davies said only desperate people could do desperate things and that was why Namugala would hoodwink people not to go to Kanchinbiya and campaign for Kapijimpanga.
He said PF president Michaela Sata knew that Kapijimpanga was a credible candidate.
"Ask Sata, he will tell you that Judy has performed in Kanchibiya. She was one of the few MPs in MMD that worked because if you go to Kanchibiya today, you will see clinics, roads and developmental projects," he said.
Davies said Namugala knew that if Kapijimpanga won the election, she had no chance of being given a ministerial job. He said president Mwanawasa appointed Namugala as a minister because he had a limited choice.
"How many women won the elections but if he had a choice he would have appointed a woman of integrity even where he lies, may his soul rest in peace. People of Northern Province must learn. There should be no tribalism. When making a programme for Rupiah Banda for Northern Province, they didn't want to go to Kanchibiya.
They wanted Rupiah to first go to Isoka where Namugala comes from. I had to call them myself and ask 'You guys, what are you doing? Let's go to Kanchibiya, that's where the elections are'. I was questioning why the acting president wanted to go to Isoka and not Kanchibiya where the elections were," he said.
Davies said there was a lot of tribalism in Northern Province and the people who were practicing tribalism were Namugala and Sikasote and this could never be disputed. He said Mwanawasa knew this and that was why he never appointed Sikasote in any position during his tenure.
"They are just full of lies. You have seen how the MMD had taken a causual approach to Kanchibiya. They just said it was a PF stronghold, but that's not the reality on the ground. Go to Kanchibiya, we lost because we had no support. Judy was alone. She was like an orphan. No one supported her.
So MMD should not say that 'Judy was not popular, and Judy has caused us embarrassment'. They have caused themselves embarrassment. They never supported their candidate and I have no apologies to make to anyone," Davies said.
But when contacted for comment, Namugala said she would avoid discussing this issue, saying if she responded, she would be attacking Kapijimpanga who did not raise the matter.
She said looking at where Kapijimpanga had come from (the loss), she (Namugala) didn't want to start arguing with people.
"I don't think we should come to that. We have lost as a party and we are not happy with that so I think for me I don't think you should write that story because Davies Kapijimpanga doesn't hold a position in the party. It will not even help his wife," she said.
Namugala said looking at where her constituency was situated, she wondered how she could practice tribalism in Kanchibiya.
"You know where Muyombe is and where Kanchibiya is. How do I practice tribalism and how do I affect the outcome of the election in Kanchibiya?
I am very far from where Judy is and if I am not a factor, how does my not supporting her make Judy lose?
Those stories don't make sense and I think it is unfair for Mr Kapijimpanga to blame individuals for his wife's loss in Kanchibiya," Namugala said.
She said it was sad that Davies wanted to get personal over his wife's loss.
"I am very far and this is not the first time she lost; she lost in 2006. How does tribalism come in? There are no Tumbukas in Kanchibiya, so how does practicing tribalism make her lose in Kanchibiya? Namugala asked.
She said Northern Province had many tribes and she was not in any way trying to dominate any tribe in the province.
"So I don't think it is fair for any one to call another person a tribalist. Judy lost in 2006, did we have anything to do with that? So when he says we did not offer support I think that is very unfair.
We all wanted Judy to win. Personally, I know that Judy did a lot of developmental work in her constituency and we felt she can be given a chance to continue with those projects. So for Mr Kapijimpanga to say those things, it is being unfair and ungrateful," said Namugala.
Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, GRIEVER SIKASOTE, JUDITH KAPIJIMPANGA, MMD, TRIBALISM
Suspicions of rigging worry TIZ
IT is imperative for the government, ECZ and stakeholders to commit themselves to an election which is transparent and free from corruption and suspicion of possible rigging, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has urged. And TIZ has advised Zambia to learn bitter lessons of neighbouring countries that have continued to exhibit scars of failed elections. TIZ president Reuben Lifuka said Zambians must conduct an election that is befitting the country's reputation as a pacesetter for democracy in the region.
“We should seek all opportunities that will unite us as opposed to the numerous and yet unwarranted circumstances that will divide us,” Lifuka said.
He said the October 30 presidential elections would be a litmus test for democracy, adding that all candidates without exception should be above board in their words and deeds.
And Lifuka said the open display of defiance by the MMD despite the existence of an explicit Electoral Code of Conduct was not only worrying but also set a bad example for all other political parties.
“Zambia cannot afford to be divided merely on account of an election,” he said.
Lifuka said the silence and desire by ECZ to unnecessarily defend their inaction were propelling electoral malpractices by different political parties, including the ruling MMD. He expressed concern over the continued abuse of government resources by Vice-President Rupiah Banda's campaign team.
Lifuka said the impunity that Vice-President Banda's campaign team continued to show in the abuse of government resources was partly aided by ECZ's inability to adequately carry out its duties.
“We would like ECZ to be more assertive in the discharge of its duties and we can rest assure them that they will have our support if they decide to nip in the bud all forms of electoral malpractices whether these are committed by the ruling party or the opposition political parties,” Lifuka said.
He said it defied logic to imagine that Vice-President Banda and his entourage needed not only three planes but also government department vehicles to drive around members of the campaign team and cadres.
“We have seen party operatives, sympathisers and image builders jumping on these presidential planes and yet ECZ has not provided appropriate guidelines,” said Lifuka.
“This inertia raises the questions, 'why do we have an Electoral Code of Conduct if we cannot enforce it'?
Lifuka also said TlZ desired an election aftermath which would be peaceful and a moment for all Zambians to congratulate the winner and enjoy a successful electoral process.
Labels: ELECTIONS, TIZ
Political criminals can't be allowed to rule - Mpombo
By Mutuna Chanda in Kalulushi
DEFENCE minister George Mpombo has charged that political criminals such as PF leader Michael Sata cannot be allowed to rule the country. And Mpombo said UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was a political apprentice who required 'polio injections' and needed time to be weaned into political maturity.
Meanwhile, Mpombo said the MMD campaign team on the Copperbelt went on a rampage using door-to-door campaigns in wooing voters to elect Vice-President Rupiah Banda instead of the usual political rallies.
Addressing a handful of Chibuluma residents on Wednesday evening, Mpombo said Zambians should not experiment with leadership.
Mpombo, who spoke mostly in Lamba, told the residents that from late president Levy Mwanawasa's illness to his eventual death, there was peace and security in the nation because of Vice-President Banda's leadership.
He said Vice-President Banda had demonstrated that he had good leadership qualities, unlike Sata whose only record was that of being a colonial constable.
Mpombo urged Zambians not to waste time on Sata because he had no principles.
He described Sata's behaviour as someone who was unreliable, possessed and had poor judgment.
"Aikona ukutumpaika ku bantu iyoo; Ba president Kaunda, first Republican president balabile ukwebati yes Sata talingile ukuba pali bu president Sata inchito ingamulinga yabu district governor nabu deputy minister Do not be cheated by people; president Kaunda said that Sata was not fit to be president but the only job that suits him is that of district governor and deputy minister," Mpombo said.
Mpombo charged that Sata was borrowing money from foreigners and that once he assumed power he would mortgage the country to alien interests.
"Umunthu kuti aya mukuleta shani aba ku South Africa balemwensha ne ndeke? Nga ba Michael Sata bafunya kwisa indalama isha kuchita hire helicopter brand new ukufuma ku South Africa? He is selling, mortgaging the integrity, sovereignty of this country
How can someone go and get pilots from South Africa to fly him around? Where has Michael Sata gotten the money from to hire a brand new helicopter from South Africa?," Mpombo asked.
He charged that South Africans were bankrolling Sata's campaign and that if he were elected President, the country would return into the hands of whites who gave him the money.
And Mpombo said Hichilema had long way to go before he could assume the leadership of Zambia.
He charged that Hichilema had nothing to offer. He said Hichilema only had cheap political pride and was therefore wasting his time.
Mpombo also declared that MMD was on a rampage on the Copperbelt where it was aiming to get more votes than it did in the 2006 elections.
Mpombo said instead of addressing campaign rallies, MMD was moving door to door to convince people to vote for Vice-President Banda and that the picture in the October 30 polls would change against PF.
Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO
(GLOBALRESEARCH) Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay and Argentina: threatened by one and the same enemy
Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay and Argentina: threatened by one and the same enemy
by Guillermo Almeyra
Things have reached boiling point in Bolivia, where right-wingers emboldened and encouraged by Washington have set out on an upsurge in violence likely to culminate in civil war. Venezuela, in turn, is facing a possible media-backed coup d’état also orchestrated in the United States. Paraguay’s Fernando Lugo warned of a coup in the making while the country is still under pressure from the State Department’s demands for the resignation of the Foreign Minister, whom the US accuses of being linked with Hezbollah and Hamas, and the IMF’s opposition to the Paraguayan government’s plans to tax soy exports.
For its part, Argentina is enmeshed in the Miami-based trial of a Venezuelan-American criminal who tried to smuggle $800,000 in a cash-stuffed suitcase into Buenos Aires. Despite the fact that the money was seized by and remains intact in the hands of Argentine customs officials, and after three requests for extradition so far unacknowledged by the US authorities, the FBI is playing into the Argentine right’s hands with claims that it was an outside –and thus illegal– operation to fund Cristina Fernández’s presidential campaign. In the meantime, the US reestablishes its Fourth Fleet, which will be in charge of patrolling not only Latin American coasts but also rivers flowing through Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina and Paraguay, under pretext of conducting anti-drug trafficking missions.
Bolivia expelled the U.S. Ambassador after proving he was aiding and abetting secessionist Media Luna (Half Moon) groups who block highways, tamper with the supply of natural gas to Brazil and Argentina, and threaten Paraguay. The same measure was taken in Venezuela, while Honduras has yet to accept the U.S. Ambassador’s credentials and Argentina made it known that it feels under attack. Latin America is on the alert as tensions rise in the continent.
Any government trying to keep at a safe distance from Washington is exposed to the danger of a growing US economic crisis and the fall in the price of oil and raw materials, which also boosts the struggle in each country between the bourgeoisie and the oppressed and the fight for state revenue and power between the capitalistic agricultural and financial sectors supported by foreign capital and the much weaker elements who, unlike the former, strive to foster their domestic markets and find ways to help the poor for that purpose.
While these sectors seek US support and the reformists and distributionists hesitate, all efforts to defend national development and sovereignty fall entirely on the shoulders of the indigenous, peasants, workers and poorest layers of the urban and rural middle class. This situation further exacerbates classist and racist discrimination by the ruling capitalists, who sometimes fool popular sectors into thinking they’re above the “Indians” or “Blacks” and therefore closer to their masters’ ideology. That’s what imperialists do: when unable to send the Marines, they engage their mass media in socio- and psychological warfare in the voice of their reactionary middle class. Washington sets in motion by remote control the most conservative ruling class elements in every country, as it did in Salvador Allende’s Chile.
Furthermore, McCain’s vice-presidential candidate –Alaska’s governor Sarah Palin– has just said that the U.S. must prepare for war with Russia (and ergo with Moscow’s ally China) as Washington refuels Cold War on a worldwide scale. Such is the origin of decisions to overthrow even capitalist governments if they fail to take sides with the Empire. Venezuela buys Russian weapons to defend itself, and Bolivia leans on Iran, which turns Presidents Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales into instant targets.
The Bolivian government has just declared a state of siege in Pando while holding talks with the right. However, even if the country is ruled by the left, the State is still owned by capital, like in Venezuela, where a part of the State apparatus plots against Chávez. Unobstructed by a corrupt legal system, the Bolivian right wing intends to sic the State on the indigenous president, and it will neither conciliate nor negotiate, because it counts on the racist and fascist masses of Santa Cruz and the backing of the State and the military. Therefore, State repression is the only way to tackle the right-wingers, impose respect for the Constitution, and supply the peasants with arms to protect helpless workers –as well as democracy itself– from being killed by racist mobs.
Bloodshed must be avoided as much as possible, and not everything should depend on soldiers and policemen. Yet, peasants have been killed, and those in uniform are beaten by racist gangsters who find in their total impunity an incentive to become more and more daring, while the armed forces are disheartened by the government’s political weakness and unable to deal with pro-coup tendencies. Chávez is right, then, to say he will get involved in any armed conflict intended to topple Evo Morales’s legitimate government. Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Peru also offered Morales their “unconditional, unlimited support”, as should all Latin American governments. On behalf of Juárez and Zapata, we must demand similar support from the Mexican government.
A CubaNews translation. Edited by Walter Lippmann.
original: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2008/09/14/index.php?section=opinion&article=022a1pol
Global Research Articles by Guillermo Almeyra
Labels: BOLIVIA, COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, NEOCONSERVATISM, NEOLIBERALISM, PARAGUAY, VENEZUELA
(REUTERS) Chavez says "Comrade Bush" turns left in crisis
Chavez says "Comrade Bush" turns left in crisis
Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:35pm EDT
2007 CARACAS (Reuters) - Socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez mocked George W. Bush as a "comrade" on Wednesday, saying the U.S. president was a hard-line leftist for his government's intervention of major private banks in the U.S. financial crisis.
Chavez, who calls capitalism an evil and ex-Cuban leader Fidel Castro his mentor, ridiculed Bush for his plan for the federal government to take equity in American banks despite the U.S. right-wing's criticism of Venezuelan nationalizations.
"Bush is to the left of me now," Chavez told an audience of international intellectuals debating the benefits of socialism. "Comrade Bush announced he will buy shares in private banks."
Chavez, who has insulted Bush in the past as a drunkard or the devil, called him clueless on Wednesday. He accused him of simply parroting the words of his aides without understanding the new policies that rely on heavy state intervention.
"I am convinced he has got no idea what's going on," said Chavez, who has nationalized swaths of the OPEC nation's economy in recent years and is in negotiations to take over a Spanish bank in Venezuela.
Chavez lauds his nationalizations for allowing the state to refocus companies' activities on helping the poor rather than creating value for their shareholders.
The Bush administration, which has promoted free-market policies throughout Latin America, resisted taking equity in banks for weeks. But, faced with a spiraling financial crisis, it reversed course this week with a $250 billion plan.
Chavez, who the United States labels an autocrat, is popular among his supporters at home for criticizing Bush and sometimes wins praise abroad for voicing anti-U.S. opinions.
Despite the ideological differences between the two governments and the diplomatic sparring that led weeks ago to the countries expelling each other's ambassador, Venezuela remains a major oil supplier to the United States.
(Reporting by Patricia Rondon; Writing by Saul Hudson; Editing by Anthony Boadle)
Labels: CHAVEZ, GEORGE BUSH, NEOLIBERALISM
(TALKZIMBABWE) Zimbabweans must tolerate opposing political ideas
Zimbabweans must tolerate opposing political ideas
Reader opinion in response to columnist Dr. Philip Murombedzi
DEAR EDITOR – [In response to Philip Murombedzi’s article published today (see here)] Frankly, the behaviour of some of the MDC-T supporters belies their mantra that they are democrats. Some of them would not recognize democracy if even it was staring them in the face. Their intolerance of opposing views is unbelievable, their insults are shocking, their tribalistic rhetoric is simply frightening.
MDC-T supporters should be careful that their actions do not tip the country into civil war. Yes, the majority of Zimbabweans question why all of a sudden MDC-T supporters such as David Coltart, Eddie Cross and Roy Bennett are crying more than the bereaved when they all had very significant roles during Ian Smith era to deny the Zimbabwean blacks their human rights.
All of a sudden these guys are democrats. A leopard never changes its spots. Black Zimbabweans extended a hand of reconciliation to these guys after independence and frankly, these guys' actions to date is a mockery of that gesture.
There are many Zimbabweans who would like to see Coltart, Cross and Bennett at the Hague for crimes against humanity. Threats against Murombedzi by MDC-T supporters should be strongly condemned.
Murombedzi is advised to report such low-lives to the authorities.
Murombedzi has a right to belong to Zanu PF and defend its values and beliefs just as MDC-T supporters are similarly allowed to do so.
Democracy is about engaging in peaceful debates and not violence, threats and hounding fellow Zimbabweans out of universities, jobs and countries just because they hold different political views.
Zimbabwe is for all of us irrespective of race, creed, political differences etc. Let us all build a peaceful and tolerant Zimbabwe.
(TALKZIMBABWE) Media 'wising up' to MDC tactics
Media 'wising up' to MDC tactics
Nyasha Nyakonda – Opinion
WHILE many voice the slogan "united we stand, divided we fall," few realize what is required to achieve unity—common purpose, goals, objectives, and fewer still are willing to surrender their personal ambitions, or perhaps their hidden agenda, for the good of the community. In Zimbabwe today, the requisite political organization needed to determine such goals and objectives does not exist.
Zimbabwe is home to a few thousand organizations representing the common interests of their member organizations, and this includes political organisations.
During the last decade, the MDC has had modest victories necessitated by informal and formal cooperation with other civil society and political (not necessarily party political) organizations, but the party has never fully acknowledged the support it received from these organisations.
In the power-sharing talks, the MDC has completely ignored and failed to acknowledge the input of those organisations that helped the party gain the successes it boasts of today; viz the white commercial farmers, the various students bodies, the media and the various bloggers and individuals who campaigned for change.
Yet such acknowledgement and recognition was required to move forward and define the next phase of the development of our country.
Prior to the 2000 elections and subsequent elections, several organizations announced their support for candidate Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party who won some unprecedented and unexpected seats in Parliament.
Now these organisations are asking: How was the decision to support Tsvangirai made, and what did we get in return for our support? Should civil society, the independent media and other political groups support issues, rather than a party or presidential candidate? What are the goals and objectives of the MDC in its claim to represent us? What are the sources and uses of funds received by the MDC and do they benefit the common people? Is the MDC concerned about the suffering masses or about the welfare of party loyalists?
The answers are not forthcoming.
And while our organizations are ignored, our criticism is getting ahead. The only way now left to our sidelined organisations is to beat the MDC at its own game, but not by merely working harder for change or recognition, but by also working smarter.
We, in the media realize that the MDC sidelines us when it is seeing better days, but runs to us when the going gets tough. We will work much smarter in future and expose the MDC for what it really is.
[Nyasha Nyakonda is a media professional. This name is a pseudonym as he prefers to remain anonymous.]
(TALKZIMBABWE) Zim deal a blow to South African industry - report
Zim deal a blow to South African industry - report
Ralph Mutema
ZIMBABWE’S power-sharing deal which is now very imminent is likely to exacerbate South Africa’s already strained human-resources situation, Ernst & Young mining sector leader Adrian Macartney said on Wednesday. An Ernst & Young concluded that the global mining industry is facing a critical shortage of staff with the requisite skills.
Macartney urged the mining industry to continue developing staff despite the current turmoil in global financial markets which has seen unemployment in the UK soar to 1.7 million from just 950, 000 people last year.
The report entitled, “Attracting Workers to the Mines and Retaining Them” concluded that South Africa will find itself with a “a bit of a hole to fill” if Zimbabweans returned home after the deal is signed.
The study also concluded that South Africa witnessed a departure of one-third of the its engineers over the past 40 years and shortages were in all levels of the mining industry. The shortages were dealing a huge blow on the productivity of South Africa’s mining industry.
The mining industry in the country is also affected by fast growth in Russia, China and India who are now competing with the Southern African country. There is also insufficient new graduates to fill the posts in the mining industry and an ageing work force in the country.
The report also says that South Africa’s HIV/Aids rate is affecting the productivity of industry in general, but especially the mining sector – one of South Africa’s chief foreign currency earner and which claims a large chunk of the country Gross National Product.
South Africa also has a legacy of poor education for 90% of the population, at a time of massive resources-sector demand.
Australia and Canada are also affected by skills shortages requiring an additional 80 000 workers and 70 000 respectively, to meet their mining industry’s projected needs.
In Canada, 40% of the mining work force would retire by 2014.
Staff turnover was also high, Australia’s the highest ranging from 20% to 45%, depending on location.
The South African mining industry is also facing competition for engineers from the booming construction industry, according to the report.
The report suggested looking outside the mining industry and attracting people with general, rather than specific skill sets, and opening up the sector to a broader demographic (to include women)..
The effective participation of women in the sector was currently low, in Australia women making up only 18% of the work force in mining, compared with 45% of the total work force.
Labels: MINING, ZIMBABWE
(NEWZIMBABWE) The era of de-regulation in financial services is over
The era of de-regulation in financial services is over
By Victor Chimbwanda
Posted to the web: 15/10/2008 14:20:32
SINCE the East Asia Financial Crisis of 1997, financial regulators across the world have been adopting global standards in an attempt to detect, prevent and contain national, regional and global financial crises. These standards have been increasingly incorporated into domestic laws by respective governments in order to address weaknesses that exist in financial systems.
While the development of these standards presented a case for legal reform in emerging economies, the current global credit crisis has exposed the inadequacies of the regulatory frameworks used to monitor global financial markets to prevent liquidity crises. Hence, it is no longer emerging economies that are vulnerable but the entire global financial system.
This has put the entire global economy at risk. It has become necessary, therefore, for current regulatory frameworks to be revamped in order to close the loopholes that gave room to rogue traders and unscrupulous bankers in Wall Street that created the current liquidity crisis.
Banks over the years have been involved in risky off-balance sheet activities that are beyond regulatory control. Through a process called securitisation, they would off-load part of these risky business activities to special investment vehicles (SIVs) that would trade on the international financial markets with little or no regulation at all. This business strategy known in financial jargon as the “originate and distribute model” is less risky for the banks but has the capacity to bring huge profits.
It has always been the unwritten rule that banks and institutions that engage in such activities should not expect liquidity support of the central banks in times of crisis because of what is referred to as “moral hazard”.
What triggered the credit crisis was that risks associated with such activities which were supposed to be borne by investors found their way back onto the balance sheets of banks that “originated” them when the financial markets ran into a liquidity problem as a result of the 2007 US mortgage crisis.
These off-balance sheet activities created very complex financial instruments (securities) that could be traded in financial markets across the globe. So complex were they that they failed to absorb all the risk as had been contemplated.
What this meant was that when there’s a crisis in the financial markets, banks had no option but to support these SIVs. This inevitably put banks under tremendous strain. They needed adequate financial resources to sustain this sudden need for liquidity. But because banks borrow short and lend long, short-term assets are transformed into long ones which means that when there’s a shortfall to cover immediate liquidity needs, banks have to borrow from each other.
Because all major banks were experiencing the exact same challenges owing to the risky securitised transactions, they became unwilling to lend to each other because they needed to hold on to their resources and avoid compounding their own liquidity problems.
Under normal circumstances, banks would be able to raise money from the financial markets but they have been failing to do so because investors withdrew their money since they were not willing to be exposed to the “toxic” US mortgage securities that lost value on the financial markets when it was discovered that some mortgage lenders had given mortgages to borrowers who had no means to repay such loans. These are the so-called “subprime mortgages”.
The argument therefore is whether the institutions confronted with such liquidity problems should be guaranteed liquidity support by central banks when it’s clear that they took on too much risk? Sounds familiar?
This is precisely what the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had to deal with during the banking crisis of 2003-4 when several banks that had engaged in risky practices bordering on illegality were no longer able to fund their operations. [Please refer to my article of 10/10/2008]. As we reflect on this issue in light of the on-going global liquidity crisis, there is need to address the question, how best can such crises be avoided?
Writing for the International Law Journal, a renowned expert and academic, Prof. J. Norton (1999) observed that financial crises in recent times reflect deficiencies in the legal frameworks that support various economic, financial and commercial systems.
Addressing problems in the financial sector in particular, such as corruption and irregularities in the liberalisation process, he argues that all these weaknesses are a result of law-based failures and that there is a need for “meaningful bottom-up economic, financial and commercial law reform throughout emerging and transition economies”. As I have noted above, this is no longer a problem unique to emerging economies because the ongoing financial crisis started in the US.
What is important is that Prof. Norton goes on to acknowledge the role of legal education as a part of this reforming process.
There is need, therefore, for effective and relevant training programmes to be developed that will target central bank employees, bankers, lawyers, accountants, auditors and even parliamentarians who will be instrumental in contributing to this much needed reform.
The significant developments in the financial services sector as well as in corporate and commercial law are being influenced by a growing literature of global principles and standards promulgated by various international institutions and committees such as the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision. Many of these committees have representatives on the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) that was established by G7 Ministers and Governors in 1999 after the East Asia Financial Crisis.
The FSF was mandated to “strengthen the surveillance and supervision of the international financial system…. to assess issues and vulnerabilities affecting the global financial system and to identify and oversee actions needed to address the problems identified”.
All the weaknesses in our banking system such as financial mismanagement, inadequate or lack of disclosure, structural deficiencies (under-capitalisation), corruption (misappropriation of depositor funds) which the RBZ has had to deal with in 2004, form the thrust of the work of the Basle Committee whose recommended standards have been ignored by many regulators across the world.
It must be mentioned that all these issues, particularly corruption, were at the heart of the East Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, which attracted the intervention of the IMF in order to contain what would have become a global crisis.
According to the 2008 Growth Report, “corruption must be fought vigorously and visibly. Government leaders send powerful signals about values and the limits of acceptable behaviour when they decide on how to respond to cases of misbehaviour”.
In the same context, the then Managing Director of The IMF in1998 called for the modernisation of the legal and regulatory environment. In this respect, it is also worth repeating the famous quote by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe; “We call upon our legislators to come up with stringent statutes that punitively fight corruption and all its shadows.”
Recently, the group of 30 central bankers and regulators led by Paul Volcker, former Federal Reserve chairman, also admitted that there is need for considerable regulatory reform in many countries.So, while the current financial crisis is being addressed, relevant authorities must adopt a law-based approach to eliminate problems that are inherent in the financial sector.
The era of de-regulation and liberalisation of the financial services sector is certainly over.
The writer is currently conducting research for his PhD thesis on Central Banking and Banking Regulation. He can be contacted on e-mail: c_victor@lycos.com
Labels: DEREGULATION, FINANCIAL CRISIS
(NEWZIMBABWE) By denying Tsvangirai peace prize, Nobel Foundation preserved its integrity
By denying Tsvangirai peace prize, Nobel Foundation preserved its integrity
By Obert Madondo
Last updated: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:13:53 GMT
SO, ZIMBABWE’S Prime Minister-designate, Morgan Tsvangirai, lost the coveted 2008 Nobel Peace Prize to former Finnish president Artti Ahtisaari? What rank nonsense! Tsvangirai may never have been on the coveted 2008 shortlist to begin with.
We have a potential Zimbabwe Nobelgate scandal here. Tsvangirai’s supporters may have exploited the biggest weakness inherent in the Nobel Prize institution – secrecy – to elevate him to the rank of Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and other great global peace icons.
Each year, the respective Nobel Committees distribute nomination forms to an undisclosed number of recipients who pick nominees. These nominees include past winners, prominent institutions, academics and respected members of the field.
Nobel Foundation statutes forbid the disclosure of information about nominees. Only winners in each category – physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace and economics - are announced.
The 2008 Peace Prize list reportedly had 197 nominees, comprised of 33 organisations and 167 individuals. Candidates reportedly included Irish singer, songwriter and political activist, Bob Geldof and Chinese dissident, Hu Jia.
The secrecy presents a quandary for Tsvangirai’s supporters. The nominator can only step forward with the evidence that Tsvangirai was on the list at the risk of betraying the Nobel Foundation’s trust.
By implication, Tsvangirai’s critics can posit a compelling argument that his nomination may have been manufactured.
For argument’s sake, I’m willing to consider that someone in the West may have successfully nominated Tsvangirai. Acceptable nominators include “members of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague and of the International Court of Justice at The Hague” and “university professors of history, political science, law, etc, and university presidents and directors of peace research institutes and institutes of international affairs”.
There’s a personal vested interest here. The Hague hungers for Mugabe. Over the last ten years, the intellectuals in the second category have created an irretrievable, larger-than-life evil persona of Mugabe through books, university lectures and media analyses.
It is possible that someone nominated Tsvangirai in retaliation for the spectacular failure of the West’s regime-change project. Maybe the nominator hoped to land a cheap political punch at Mugabe? In 1989, the peace prize was awarded the Dalai Lama, a decision lauded as a “slap at China”.
Or maybe someone genuinely believed Tsvangirai deserved the most prestigious prize in the world? They are wrong. Tsvangirai might have shown extra-ordinary courage in confronting Mugabe’s dictatorship, but he is no Nobel Prize material.
His popularity in the West derives more from being regularly roughed up by Mugabe rather than for bringing substance to the democratic process.
Let’s take a quick analysis of the history of the Nobel Peace Prize and the man’s political career.
Time Magazine suggests that the prize has “peace and security roots” and often favours individuals in the “international peace and security industry”. Time further notes that “it's not unusual for the Nobel Committee to honour individuals from that industry in order to draw attention to the importance of the work of the institutions they represent.”
The magazine suggests that the 2005 prize went to Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei to highlight the importance of the International Atomic Energy Agency's work in monitoring nuclear proliferation “two years after the Bush Administration blundered into Iraq, pooh-poohing the IAEA's finding that Iraq had no nuclear weapons”.
Kofi Annan, then United Nations Secretary General, was awarded the prize in 2001 “to affirm the importance of international law and consensus following the shock of 9/11.”
The Nobel Peace Prize has also sought to impact global civil society. In 1990, it was awarded to Russian President, Mikhail Gorbachev, who engineered the collapse of the Soviet Union and helped change the course of history.
Local efforts with global implications were evidently in the spotlight when the South African pair of Nelson Mandela and F.W. De Klerk, and Kenya’s Wangari Maathai, won the prize in 1993 and 2004, respectively.
The prize has also drawn attention to courageous individuals who have shown courage, inspiration and leadership in the face of violent repression. Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is one example.
All these examples have “inspiring leadership” and “global implication” as qualifying pre-requisites.
To paraphrase Shakespeare, there are three types of great leaders: leaders who are born with greatness; leaders who achieve greatness and leaders who have greatness thrust upon them.
There’s nothing in Tsvangirai’s humble upbringing to suggest that he was born with greatness. He is yet to achieve greatness.
Stephen Chan, author of “Citizen of Africa: Conversations with Morgan Tsvangirai”, describes the PM-designate as “a hit-and-miss politician… prone to periods of wayward and ineffectual leadership”.
Chan only partially sums up the stagnated democratic struggles of the last nine years. Tsvangirai’s is an impressive history of failures.
Remember his famous call for the violent overthrow of Mugabe before the 2002 presidential poll? The election came and Mugabe stole it. In 2002, Tsvangirai pledged to unseat Mugabe “within a year”. The crippling mass protests and boycotts subsequently promised never materialised.
Tsvangirai’s dictatorial leadership and violent crackdown of dissent facilitated the 2005 split of the MDC. His failure to heal the rift and galvanise democratic forces around him cost Zimbabweans outright victory against Mugabe in the March 29 Presidential election. He won the first round but lost every contest.
After the election Tsvangirai went on self-imposed exile, putting his personal safety above the welfare of his supporters. Returning from exile, he promised a “rude shock for Mugabe” that never materialised.
Tsvangirai’s jinxed politics have now contaminated the current inclusive government, condemning it to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). With an inflation rate of present (231 million per cent), the Zimbabwe of Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, is burning, her spine broken.
Tsvangirai belongs with the group of leaders who have greatness thrust upon them.
The Nobel Peace Prize has often been linked to the anniversary of some significant event. The 2008 Prizes coincide with the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
Could Tsvangirai’s nomination have been designed to associate him with the noble struggle for human rights? Tsvangirai is no human rights champion. By signing the power-sharing agreement, Tsvangirai invited Zimbabweans to worship the same devil he condemned yesterday. After signing the agreement, he declared that Mugabe will not be prosecuted for crimes against humanity.
Those who may accept this undeserved immunity for Mugabe for the sake of national unity and progress had another rude awakening. For the MDC, prosecuting other alleged human rights abusers in Mugabe’s Zanu PF, including the military chiefs, is tantamount to sabotaging its future.
What a way to rubbish Gukurahundi, Murambatsvina and all the innocent lives the Mugabe dictatorship consumed over the last 28 years? Maybe Tsvangirai is just admitting that he is just an accidental by-product of Mugabe’s dictatorship, without the political substance of his own? Without Mugabe, there would be no Tsvangirai.
Over the last nine years, Mugabe has been demonised and associated with everything and everyone evil. A parallel campaign has sought to prop up Tsvangirai’s image by portraying him as Mugabe’s exact opposite. While Mugabe was busy destroying Zimbabwe, Tsvangirai was the “man who embodies Zimbabwe’s hope for change”, a democrat.
The West imposed sanctions on Mugabe while simultaneously sponsoring ‘events’ in Zimbabwe aimed at ‘discrediting’ Mugabe. Last week US Ambassador, James McGee inadvertently confirmed that he was among Tsvangirai’s top advisors when he admitted to playing golf with the PM-designate.
Then there were attempts to associate Tsvangirai with world-renowned movement and institutions. On October 10, The Telegraph told us the “Nobel Peace Prize shortlist includes Morgan Tsvangirai and Chinese dissidents”.
In one instance of absurdity, one Zimbabwean website proclaimed: “Tsvangirai loses Nobel prize to scientists who discovered AIDS virus”.
After Tsvangirai had “won” the March 29 presidential election, both the USAToday and International Herald Tribune newspapers carried biographies of the Presidential candidates. Tsvangirai: “graduated from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2001 with a diploma in Executive Leaders In Development Program”.
In the real world, even a 2-week Harvard University “executive leadership training” crush course does not make a leader, let alone a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Surely, if Tsvangirai had a single drop of Nobel Prize blood in him, this spirited, expensive campaign to spruce up his image would be unnecessary.
Again, I’m willing to consider that Tsvangirai may have been nominated for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize. By denying him the honour, the Nobel Foundation preserved its integrity and saved the West from sinking to yet another lower level patronage and desperation.
Obert Madondo is a Zimbabwean national and writes from Toronto,
Labels: HYPOCRISY, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, NOBEL PRIZE
Rupiah, his image builders and their make-up
Friday October 17, 2008 [04:00]
Justice Florence Mumba and her staff at the Electoral Commission of Zambia have a duty to ensure that the October 30 presidential election is conducted as openly as possible, so that citizens are confident that the results are accurate and the government that will emerge from there does, indeed, rest upon their consent.
Justice Mumba also has a duty to ensure that the practice where the ruling party, MMD, is being allowed to abuse its position by using unlimited government resources in its campaign for Rupiah Banda is checked.
We cannot have an election which is being dubbed as free and fair in which government resources are being used by Rupiah for his campaign as if they were his. The Electoral Commission needs to send a very strong message to Rupiah and his handlers that this is not acceptable.
The party in power may enjoy some advantages of incumbency, but the rules and conduct of the election contest must be fair by ensuring that a limit is put to what advantages Rupiah may enjoy as Vice-President of the Republic.
There is a reason for these rules. Elections are only useful to a society if they are conducted in a free and fair way resulting in a clear reflection of the will of the people. Anything that distorts this process should never be allowed and is dangerous in the long-term.
And the ability to conduct free and fair elections is at the core of what it means to call a society democratic.
Abuse of public resources is not the only threat that there is to holding free and fair elections. Transparency and accountability in the conduct of elections is also very important. Indeed, the election is held for the people to express their opinion. They should be free to see how the process through which they express their opinion is managed. And the only part of this process that should be secret is the casting of the vote itself – everything else should be transparent and verifiable by the stakeholders.
None of us can ever say that the Electoral Commission and its processes are perfect. But its deficiencies and shortcomings should be part of the verification process by stakeholders so that at the end of the day, the process is acceptable to all the players. In this way, the result of the election is unlikely to be contested.
We do not expect the Electoral Commission to be perfect nor can it be. But we expect it to be magnanimous and humble in reacting to its shortcomings. When mistakes are made and discovered, they should be accepted and fully acknowledged and promptly corrected to the satisfaction of all. The Commission should never be shy to publicly say they erred. Failure to accept this creates an impression that what happened was not a mistake but a deliberate act intended to deceive, cheat or defraud the electorate. And when this happens, suspicions of rigging that could lead to a breakdown of law and order emerge.
There must be a reason why we have always had a judge as the overseer of our electoral processes. A judge, in our understanding, is trained never to prejudge and always to hear all sides of the argument. It is not enough that a judge has done justice in the matter that they are handling. Civilised societies require that where justice is done, it must not only be done, it must be seen to be done.
This is the challenge that justice Florence Mumba is up against. She must be ready to let the light of public scrutiny shine through every hidden recess of the operations of the Electoral Commission. She is at the moment presiding over a process that makes a difference between Zambia going forward or regressing into anarchy.
We can never overemphasise the importance of the next election being perceived as free and fair. It is not enough for the Electoral Commission to stand and tell the nation that the election was free and fair. They must strive to ensure that people feel that indeed the election has been free and fair.
This will not happen if the Electoral Commission will look on helplessly as Rupiah and his sponsors continue to abuse public resources in support of his campaign. We can never argue that Rupiah, as someone exercising some of the functions of the president, is not entitled to some of the facilities of the office.
On the contrary, no one can convince us that it is right for Rupiah to commandeer three government-owned aircraft on his campaign trail. This is clear abuse.
If anyone is in doubt as to what kind of government Rupiah wants to run if he is elected president, just look at what he has been doing. How can Rupiah’s campaign justify carrying their image builders using Ministry of Health transport, ambulances?
This is an insult to the people of Zambia. We know that many of our people who desperately need transport to obtain necessary medical attention can never dream of getting this transport and yet Rupiah and his sponsors have no problem in diverting government automobiles and other resources to their campaign. This is before they are elected and in full view of the nation, of the voters! If they can do this when we are all looking and they are seeking our votes, what are they doing in secret, what will they do when we have given them our votes?
The whole idea of hiring image builders is questionable in the first place. Instead of telling people what he is going to do for them if elected, Rupiah has hired magicians to come and hypnotise the people and hoodwink them into voting for him. This is what image builders do. They are not very different from dishonest salesmen who will sell whatever they are asked to sell.
They don’t care about its quality, they just want to sell. What these image builders are trying to do with Rupiah is put him in a beautiful wrapper and make Zambians think they are buying choice meat when it is simply Nyama Soya – an imitation of meat. It is also not different from what beauticians do to us with makeup.
The problems that this country faces do not require make-up – they do not need image builders, we need real solutions and not fake ones. The money Rupiah is spending on these image builders could have built so many primary schools and clinics in our compounds, in our villages. But in his own wisdom, Rupiah has decided to send this money to England and America to enrich the already rich.
But also it shows a high sense of desperation on Rupiah’s part. Why should a person who is all the time in touch with his people, try to colour himself using image builders for him to be acceptable, to be electable? What is he hiding? What is it that the image builders are meant to hide? It means that Rupiah is not electable on his own, without make-up by the image builders, who have now resorted to using public resources to carry their make-up kits for Rupiah. And if we are not careful, with this make-up, with this image building, we may end up buying, voting for a gong’a.
No amount of political plastic surgery will bring Rupiah closer to the people. The only way to be close to the people is to be real and take steps towards them. We are not in the UK or America where people choose candidates the way they choose cosmetics in shops. We are in Africa, in Zambia – the real Africa, and we face real problems. Our people are looking for real solutions not spin doctors such as the ones Rupiah has hired. He is wasting money and taking the Zambian people for granted.
And this is not the first time that the Ministry of Health is being abused in election campaigns. Frederick Chiluba did it in 2001 and look where Kashiwa Bulaya ended up. We are surprised that Simon Miti, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health, who worked for Bulaya and knows very well what happened to Bulaya, can commit the resources of the Ministry of Health to Rupiah’s campaign.
It is sad to see how Mike Mulongoti is ending up. He does not seem to have any shame in defending what is clearly wrong. His cynicism is a direct insult to the Zambian people. To suggest that Rupiah’s image builders may have been hired by the Ministry of Health is to take for granted the intelligence of our people. This is the same Mulongoti who said there was nothing wrong with bribery as long as it was a senior party bribing a junior party, in the James Lukuku bribery scandal.
These things may appear insignificant to some people but they are not. They demonstrate a general disregard for the rule of law and the predisposition towards abuse of authority.
The Electoral Commission should not look helplessly at these matters. They need to give confidence to the people by clearly, categorically and fairly denouncing such activities. Their silence in the light of such overwhelming evidence only serves to undermine the integrity of the institution and the confidence that people have in its ability to run fair elections.
It is their failure to deal with blatant abuses such as the one Rupiah and his sponsors have engaged in that makes it difficult for people to believe them when they say they have made a genuine mistake on another matter.
Justice Mumba should be very concerned about the ballot incident from the other day. It shows a total lack of confidence in the Electoral Commission which could spell disaster for our country. If people believe that the institutions that are set up to defend their interests are not doing so, it leaves them open to manipulation and could leave them with no choice but to take the law in their own hands.
We should learn lessons from what has happened in Zimbabwe and what happened in Kenya. Lack of confidence in the electoral authorities of those countries led to serious disturbances, loss of lives and property and dislocations of many innocent and helpless people.
We should not pretend that the job that justice Mumba has to do is an easy one. In many ways, it is a thankless job but she accepted to do it. It is not too late for her to grow the confidence that the public should have in her institution. All she has to do is to ensure that the spirit and letter of the law that she is administering is fully implemented in the most transparent and accountable way.
The Electoral Commission should not allow Rupiah’s political plastic surgeons to use public resources for their regrettable activities. They are not doing this for the love of Rupiah, for the love of MMD or indeed for the love of Zambia. They are doing it for money in the same way mercenaries are used in fighting dirty wars. However, it is important for the Zambian people to know what is going on and to make their choices without being influenced by make-up, by small and artificial things.
Satamania hits South
By Maluba Jere
Michael Sata has broken regionalism and tribalism barriers that dominated the area, declared Patriotic Front (PF) Sout-hern Province coordinator Opper Ham-iyanze yesterday. Hamiyanze said the people of Southern Province were like the rest of the country embracing Sata. “The Satamania has also hit Southern Province,” Hamiyanze said.
“People have realised that tribal politics does not bring development.”
Hamiyanze said he was confident the people of Southern Province were going to redeem themselves on October 30 by voting for Sata. He said Sata was the only leader of action who would uplift their living standards and those of all Zambians.
“The PF here is selling very well. After having been to every part, we have managed to put party structures in all the districts of Southern Province,” Hamiyanze said. “It is clear that Sata is winning in Southern Province because he has broken the barriers of regionalism and tribalism and people have accepted to work with him.
People have realised that voting on tribal lines doesn't help in any way.”
Hamiyanze said once elected, Sata would return Southern Province into the food basket that it once was.
“The frequent outbreaks of animal diseases in the area would be a thing of the past. Sata's government would ensure that funds for vaccines reached the intended beneficiaries,” Hamiyanze said. “Time and again you hear of outbreaks in animal diseases, especially corridor disease. Some of these diseases are preventable. We are very near Botswana which has lots of livestock but has no cases of corridor disease.
The problem is that the MMD lacks political will in fighting animal diseases but the PF will make sure it is eradicated and all these bans of animal movements lifted. We will ensure vaccines go straight to farmers through the chiefs unlike the MMD who use party cadres.”
Hamiyanze said rehabilitating feeder roads would also be top on the agenda as they were an important factor in agriculture.
“The PF will ensure all feeder roads such as the Zimba-Livingstone road, Choma-Niko road are worked on so that farmers can have access to markets for their produce,” said Hamiyanze.
Labels: SATA, SOUTHERN PROVINCE
Rupiah has gone beyond limit in abusing state resources - Caritas
By Maluba Jere and Chibaula Silwamba
Caritas Zambia executive director Samuel Mulafulafu yesterday observed that Vice-President Rupiah Banda has gone beyond the limit in abusing public resources. And a Post reporter Lambwe Kachali on Wednesday had a personal encounter with Vice-President Banda's foreign image builders in Kasama where they complained about the state owned Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail's alleged failure to publish pictures of the Vice-President's alleged huge rallies.
Meanwhile, The Post has established that one of the image builders is a former army officer who at one time served as an aide to US army general Peter Schoomaker, the former head of the US army and press officer for the UN in Bosnia.
Commenting on a picture in yesterday's Post showing Vice-President Banda's image builders arriving in a vehicle belonging to the Ministry of Health at an MMD rally in Mbala on Wednesday, Mulafulafu challenged Vice-President Banda to explain to the nation his definition of a free and fair election because such acts were a total contradiction of his messages. He expressed disappointment that the ruling party did not seem to listen to concerns raised by various stakeholders on abusing public resources during campaigns.
"I think Rupiah Banda has gone beyond the limit. First, it was the issue of using three airplanes in his campaign trail and now there is the use of hospital vehicles," Mulafulafu said. "The Vice-President's behaviour is not in the spirit of free and fair elections because he is not refraining from abusing public resources."
Mulafulafu said Vice-President Banda's action had clearly defied all principles of a free and fair election contrary to what he had been calling for.
And when contacted for a comment by Muvi TV, information minister Mike Mulongoti said he did not know why the image builders were using a Ministry of Health vehicle adding that maybe they had a project with the ministry.
The MMD has hired five image-building consultants from the Bell Pottinger, a UK-based firm, to help improve Vice-President Banda's political image to the public.
According to sources in Vice-President Banda's campaign team, the image builders first came to Zambia in early August through Mulongoti but went back after a few days.
"But they returned to Zambia a few days after RB was elected as MMD presidential candidate by the NEC," the source said. "Among these consultants is Luke Chauveau who is a director in Bell Pottinger. Others are Lee Petterson, Jonathan Caine and Ms Rhi Price."
And according to information on Bell Pottinger's website, Luke - with 14 years experience in consultancy - specialises in advising companies and prominent individuals on their reputational and communication challenges.
"Examples include the former prime minister of Thailand on media handling in the UK, the Nigerian President Ura'Adua on his election campaign, as well as heads of state on their officials visits to the UK. He also advises the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Trafigura and Emirates Airline," read the website in part adding that Luke is a former aide to the US army general Peter Schoomaker, the former head of the US army and press officer for the UN in Bosnia. Luke, whose sector specialism is the defence industry, also worked at the Press Complaints Commission.
Jonathan Caine was a special advisor to two successive Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland from 1991 to 1995 and from 1989 to 1990 he was a member of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher's political office in 10 Downing Street. He worked alongside David Cameron in the Conservative Research Department from 1988 to 1991 and as a fellow supervisor from 1992 to 1995.
At various times, Jonathan was the principal advisor to successive leaders of the opposition and members of the shadow cabinet on Constitutional Affairs, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Jonathan also served as a member of William Hague's PMQ preparation and speech-writing teams.
Labels: CARITAS, CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA
Opposition stops ballot papers 'theft'
By Noel Sichalwe, Brighton Phiri and Masuzyo Chakwe
Alert opposition PF and UPND cadres on Wednesday caught a driver from Kalabo District Council John Zaza loading unverified ballot papers in a government vehicle at Lusaka International Airport for dispatch to Kalabo in a scheme linked to election rigging.
And PF and UPND yesterday backed out of their earlier agreement with Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for the commission to distribute extra ballot papers to polling stations across the country. This was after ECZ failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding Zaza's alleged attempt to ferry unverified ballot papers to Kalabo.
Meanwhile, a truck suspected to be carrying materials for ECZ yesterday arrived in Lusaka.
Zaza was caught loading the unverified ballot papers during the verification process in full view of armed uniformed police officers, electoral agents, stakeholders and ECZ officials.
Zaza, who was driving a maroon Land Cruiser registration number GRZ 841CA, had parked inside the main hall where the verification process was taking place. He started loading printers, toners and voters' registers that were supposed to be delivered prior to the dispatch of ballot papers.
In the process of Zaza loading the items from the table, which was about five meters from the vehicle, he also picked the unverified ballot boxes for loading. However, he was quickly spotted and one of the polling agents queried why he was loading the ballot boxes in his vehicle.
The PF and UPND cadres questioned why Zaza picked ballot boxes from the table where MMD representatives from Kalabo sat. They said this was a systematic way by the ruling MMD to rig elections.
The cadres contended that if Zaza claimed to have made a mistake in loading the ballot boxes, he could have picked ballot papers for another province rather than picking those for his district.
However, Zaza expressed ignorance that what he was loading were ballot boxes. This attracted attention from everyone in the verification room. The verification process was brought to a standstill as political agents started to manhandle Zaza while hurling insults on him as others tried to physically beat him up.
Police mounted a human shield around Zaza to protect him from any harm although some irate cadres tried to penetrate to beat him. The cadres alleged that Zaza had made an earlier trip with similar items though he denied having taken the ballot boxes.
In an interview after being caught, Zaza explained that his boss whom he identified as Kambole Kambole who is Kalabo deputy council secretary, told him to load the items in the vehicle that were suppose to be delivered to the district.
"He told me to get the toners and load them in the vehicle. Now when loading those toners, I thought that even these boxes contained toners. So when I had loaded some of these boxes, I was about to get some more and that's when somebody said I should not get those boxes. Some people are saying I wanted to steal but I just made a mistake. It's not that I wanted to steal, it's only that I thought they were toners as well. I only made a mistake and I did not want to steal," Zaza said.
Kambole, who was suspected to be from the Office of the President, said Zaza only made a mistake and did not mean to steal ballot boxes to rig elections.
Kambole said ballot paper boxes were ready to be verified to ensure that there was no foul play in the entire episode.
ECZ representative Priscilla Isaacs said Zaza loaded ballot boxes by mistake because he could not do so without permission.
Isaacs explained that ECZ's procedure was that they sent voters' registers to the districts before voting day to ensure that everything was set and that ballot papers were dispatched later.
Isaacs then ordered political agents and police officers to check the ballot papers and ensure that everything was in order. She said the only way to verify was by checking what was loaded in the vehicle and whether anything had gone missing.
PF vice-president Guy Scott, secretary general Edward Mumbi and party spokesperson Given Lubinda arrived at the scene while UPND secretary general Tiens Kahenya arrived later.
At this point, Zaza offloaded all the items from his vehicle and the party electoral agents started comparing serial numbers for the five boxes that were loaded with the serial numbers that were listed in their handouts.
After an extensive comparison, it was discovered that Zaza had loaded 16 ballot papers for Lokona polling station, six ballot papers for Munyonga polling station and five ballot papers for Lyahonga polling station, all from Kalabo Central Constituency.
Among the loaded items were certificates for those that were trained as election monitors, voters' register, printer and toner.
Further inspections on the vehicle revealed that it did not have chassis and engine numbers and it appeared to be a brand new vehicle that was recently bought from Durban with port discharge numbers.
The vehicle did not even have a licence or any documentation to prove that it belonged to the government apart from the number plate, which appeared to have been placed for convenience purposes.
Later, the cadres also found bags of electoral material in a separate warehouse and they suspected the bags contained ballot boxes until they were opened. However, the bags contained stationery.
The mood at the verification venue was highly charged and everyone was overly alert in trying to identify anyone that attempted to manipulate the ballot papers.
Mumbi said if the vehicle was not spotted by his vigilant members, it could have been driven to Shang'ombo.
Mumbi doubted whether or not ballot boxes were safe in ECZ's hands.
"I would like ECZ to come out in public through the media and inform the nation of what has transpired today so that they can start rebuilding their image," Mumbi said. "What has happened today in front of all uniformed policemen is that there was a vehicle which is not even verified and checking the vehicle, it has no chassis number, it has no engine number and it has got a brand new GRZ number plate with prints of a vehicle that has just been imported from Durban. So who was in Durban buying vehicles? We don't know because it has no details but what we have noticed is that on the screen, there are those port discharge numbers."
He said the vehicle would be detained at the airport and that ballot boxes would be handed to ECZ.
"If ECZ doesn't know who is picking ballot papers, then the election is not safe," Mumbi said. "So we find it very strange and very disappointing that the Commission which just this morning was trying to assure us that they would look after this election and conduct it in a very free and fair atmosphere to behave like this."
Kahenya said the issue was not a simple matter and there was need to understand it. He expressed disappointment with what had happened and demanded that Zaza and Kambole be detained by the police.
And yesterday after an ECZ closed-door meeting with the stakeholders over the matter, Mumbi said PF had decided to pull out of the "gentleman's agreement" with ECZ because they could no longer trust the Commission.
"We can't trust ECZ. We have since told ECZ that our gentleman's agreement is null and void due to the gravity of the anomaly that occurred at the airport," he said.
Mumbi said PF demanded for a comprehensive report over the matter before they could agree that extra ballot papers be distributed across the country.
"Since, we can't trust ECZ, we are going to court to seek judicial review over the matter," Mumbi said.
Kahenya said UPND was not satisfied with the explanation by ECZ and that they were greatly concerned with the manner in which ECZ trivialised electoral anomalies.
"We have asked ECZ chairperson justice Florence Mumba, whom we are told is in Kasama, to come back and convene a stakeholders' meeting over the issue," Kahenya said. "We have cancelled the earlier agreement with ECZ because of the gravity of their trivialising the electoral anomalies."
MMD presidential candidate Rupiah Banda's representative Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika said the meeting heard complaints and questions arising out of suspicions over the Zaza incident.
"The meeting received verbal responses to a variety of concerns and complaints, in both moderate and intemperate fashion, that were raised by representatives of presidential candidates, over this incidence and others," he said.
Aka said after much question and answer deliberations, he proposed, and that it was unanimously agreed, that the meeting be adjourned and reconstituted at a later date, when justice Mumba would be present. He further proposed that ECZ should present a comprehensive written report on the incident, including information on what happened and what follow up corrective and assurance measures have been undertaken or proposed to be undertaken. Aka said such a report should reassure stakeholders of the ECZ's competence, commitment and credibility in superintending over the whole electoral process.
Aka said Vice-President Banda was pleased that ECZ had been convening inter-party forums to address electoral complaints and questions.
On the foreign truck carrying ECZ election materials, Given Lubinda disclosed that the opposition raised the issue during the meeting to seek an explanation on the truck.
He said ECZ explained that the truck in question was carrying election booths for the forthcoming presidential elections.
"ECZ clarified that the truck was loaded with election booths and that it was going to offload at the airport where our election agents will monitor," Lubinda said.
The truck registration number B6010ANV, which had two containers, caused anxiety among Lusaka residents as word went round that a truck carrying ECZ materials was parked along Kafue Road near Afif Electricals.
Asked about the goods in the containers, one of the foreign drivers who only identified himself as Nyati said they were carrying goods for ECZ and were taking them to an office.
Another driver, a Zambian, said there were ballot papers in the containers.
Nyati explained that the goods were from South Africa even though the truck belonged to a company in Botswana called Road Freighters.
A foreign passenger wondered why they were being asked so many questions.
"Where are you from and why are you asking so many questions? Why are you taking pictures of the truck?" he asked before they drove away.
The truck proceeded towards Kafue roundabout before driving along Independence Avenue.
After realising that their truck was being followed by journalists, the drivers stopped along Chikwa Road for a few minutes before proceeding towards Haile Selassie Road where it again stopped in front of the Patents and Companies Registration Office for a few minutes.
The truck then drove towards Ndeke House where the Ministry of Health is situated and parked for a few minutes.
One of the security men at the gate was heard saying that they were asking if the truck could be parked at the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) headquarters.
After some minutes, the truck drove towards the ZAF headquarters but the officers denied the driver entry.
Labels: CADRES, ELECTIONS
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By S Gurumurthy
It is the government’s official website. It celebrates the nation’s civilisational genesis in the ‘yoga’ and ‘meditation’ of Mohanjadaro and Harappa; its ancestral origins in vedic Puru and puranic Takshaka clans; its cultural roots in Takshasila and Gandhara; its historical antiquity in Mahabharata and Arthasastra; its intellectual leadership in Panini and Chanakya; and its historic political masters in Maurya and Kanishka. It glorifies the Gandhara civilisation, Maurya and Kushana rulers. Which government’s website is it? Indian? No. Hold your breath. It is Pakistan government’s official website: http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/history_of_pakistan.htm. It glorifies the Gandhara — not any Islamic — culture as ‘the high water-mark of Pakistan’s culture’; and celebrates the Kushana — not any Islamist — rule as ‘the Golden Period of Pakistan’. Pakistan, the harvest of the vicious two-nation theory that tore India apart, is shockingly searching for Pakistan’s pre-Islamic, Aryan-Hindu roots.
Jinnah exploded India by expounding his two-nation theory at the All India Muslim League meet at Lahore on March 22, 1940, claiming that Hindus and Muslims look to ‘different sources of history for inspiration’, to ‘different epics’, and to ‘different heroes’. His theory is now found to be bogus by his very creation, the Pakistan establishment. Its official version of history affirms that Muslims too trace their cultural ‘inspiration’ to Gandhara and Takshasila, their ‘epics’ and literature to Mahabharata and Arthasastra, and their ‘heroes’ to Panini, Chanakya, Chandragupta and Kushana. Islamic Pakistan’s official history claims no other cultural antiquity, no other epic, no other heroes! Why does Pakistan now undo the very theory that created it? That is because Pakistan is imploding by the very theory that exploded India.
Soon after Partition, Pakistani leaders realised that religious and political Islam would not transform into constitutional Islam that could accommodate all faiths and peoples. The Objectives Resolution passed by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in 1949, declared that ‘sovereignty belongs to Allah’ (not to the people) and the state should enable the Muslims to order their lives in accordance with Islam. A study by Aparna Pande, a scholar at the well-known Hudson Institute, in the US, says that this very objective “gave rise to a central question that has bedeviled Pakistan ever since its creation: If Islam is to be the basis of the state, whose Islam will be followed and how?” Whose Islam? Are there many, diverse, Islams? Yes. The report of the judicial commission (1954) headed by Pakistan’s Chief Justice Munir to inquire into the large-scale violence against the Ahmedia sect put the issue ‘whose Islam’ pithily thus: no two of the several Ulamas are ‘agreed on’ what is Islam; a person who is a Muslim under the definition given by one Ulama, will be kafir according to every other Ulama; and no new definition is possible as any definition that ‘differs from that given by all others’ will be ‘out of the fold of Islam’. QED: Islam prescribes One God, but there is no One Islam.
Thus, far from uniting, says the Hudson study, Pakistan’s Islamic ideology has operated to divide the Pakistan, pitting Muslims against non-Muslims first, later Muslim against Muslim. All Muslims jointly ethnically cleansed non-Muslims and Ahmedi Muslims. The result: Ahmadis, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and Parsis, quarter of Pakistan’s population in 1947, are now just 5 per cent. The jihadis kill Hindus in India as kafirs. But, they kill fellow Muslims in Pakistan as not Islamic enough. In this free for all killing, Sindhi Muslims kill immigrant Indian Muslims; Baluch Muslims kill other Muslims; Pashtoon Muslims kill Punjabi and Sindhi Muslims; Sunni Muslims kill Shia Muslims. Muslims have killed 42,772 fellow Muslims in Pakistan since 2003, till July 29, 2012, including 4,570 securitymen.
Pakistan’s political leadership has been trying to paper over the disunity within Islamic Pakistan by uniting Pakistani Muslims against Hindu India. Professor Sayyed Vali Raza (of Tuft University) says that the anti-Hindu prejudices of Partition days were transformed into ‘Indo-Phobia’. Hussein Haqqani, Pakistan-born scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, writes that ‘unsure of their nation’s future’, Pakistani leaders and army ‘decided to exacerbate’ the antagonism between Hindus and Muslims, that led to Partition, to acquire the distinctive identity for Pakistan as ‘Islamic Pakistan’ resisting ‘Hindu India’, hostility with India being critical to Pakistan’s identity. Christophe Jaffrolet, well-known author, writes that Pakistan’s ‘nationalism is without a nation’ and is, in essence, anti-Indianism. Khaled Ahmed, leading Pakistani writer, wrote (in 2008) that to be ‘Pakistani’ is to be anti-Hindu, opposing ‘Hindu India’ having become the defining feature of Pakistan’s Islamic nationalism.
In their blind anti-Hindu rage, Muslims of undivided India created Islamic Pakistan which, they now find, they cannot keep up nor give up. After Partition, Pakistan’s diverse inhabitants had no ‘common identity that might bind them together’ and Pakistan has ‘struggled with this lack of a common identity and principle ever since’, says the Hudson study. Hans Morgenthau, a leading 20th century scholar on international politics, said prophetically in 1956 itself: “Pakistan is not a nation and hardly a state, with no justification in history, ethnic origin, language, civilisation, or the consciousness of its population...it is hard to see how anything but a miracle...will assure Pakistan’s future.” The dilemma of Pakistan is brilliantly captured by a Pakistani scholar, Waheed-uz-Zaman, in 1973: “If we let go the ideology of Islam, we cannot hold together as a nation by any other means.... If the Arabs, the Turks, the Iranians, god forbid, give up Islam, the Arabs yet remain Arabs, the Turks remain Turks, the Iranians remain Iranians, but what do we remain if we give up Islam?”
Waheed has touched the heart of Pakistan’s identity crisis. The nationalism of Arabia, Turkey or Iran is not Islamic, because there is no Islamic nationalism as such. Islam in Pakistan’s nationalism is an alibi for anti-Indianism. Says the Hudson study, ‘Without an identity that is firmly anti-Indian, Pakistani leaders fear their country will be reabsorbed within a greater Indian identity’. That is the undivided India’s pre-Islamic cultural identity — the danger, Waheed sees, to ‘Islamic Pakistan’. That, however, may well be the life vest for ‘Pakistan’. An anti-India nation, Pakistan is now a failing state. It is helplessly sliding into anarchy. It is tormented, split between Army-ISI-Jihadi combine’s hate for Hindu India and its compulsion to de-Islamise politically, for its survival. If Pakistan has to survive, it has to de-Islamise politically; for that, it has recall its pre-Islamic ancestry, culture and tradition. If that is happening, it may well be the ultimate solution to Indo-Pak hostilities.
S Gurumurthy is a well-known commentator on political and economic issues.
Courtesy: New Indian Express, Aug 10, 2012
http://newindianexpress.com/opinion/article586299.ece
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Rohr Reveals How He Was Robbed In Asaba
Rohr.
Rohr on Monday attempted an explanation about how his phone and some other valuables were stolen during his visit to Asaba for the Aiteo Cup final
Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr had a nasty experience when he was in Asaba to watch the Aiteo Cup final match between Enugu Rangers and Kano Pillars few weeks ago.
While speaking with journalists on Monday ahead of Tuesday's friendly against the Cranes of Uganda, the Franco-German attempted an explanation about how his phone and some other valuables were stolen from him.
READ ALSO: TRADE FAIR: Shell Cooperative Trade Exhibition Kicks-off In Lagos
Rohr said: "I had it (his phone) in my pocket, there were so many people hugging me...one person must have put his hand into my pocket."
It was gathered that outside the phone stolen during the Aiteo Cup final, Rohr also lost his wallet which contained valuable contacts and most especially the visa visit that enables him to come to the country whenever the need arises without hiccups from the Nigerian Immigration.
Don’t forget to please share this story with your friends and family..
ALSO WATCH:
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DJ Experience, News | Mar 12, 2018
Workshop Recap: Inside the Agency with Sleeping Giant Music
Last week, BPM Supreme hosted the first “Inside the Agency” workshop with our good friends from Sleeping Giant Music and Booking Agency. It was a packed house with local DJs, artists, and entrepreneurs all gathered to listen to advice from industry experts.
Speakers included Sleeping Giant Music founder, Freddie Harb, co-owner, Troy Gilmore, and roster DJs, Chris Cutz and Lavelle. The workshop covered interesting topics like the benefits of signing with an agency, how a DJ can stand out from their competition, and the importance of things like social media and marketing.
“Agencies can put DJs and artists in front of the right people. At the end of the day, artists have to make themselves, but having that exposure makes a big difference,” said Gilmore.
Chris Cutz added that joining the Sleeping Giant roster has opened doors to big venues in cities like Las Vegas, and has also helped him to consistently get paid on time. Lavelle agreed and said that having a dedicated agent allows him to focus on his music rather than worrying about the day-to-day responsibilities, such as invoicing.
“When you’re just starting your DJ career, you gotta be doing it all. But when it starts getting a little overwhelming and you can’t find time to get in the studio, that’s where an agency or a manager can help, “ Lavelle said.
If you weren’t able to attend the workshop, you’ll soon have another chance to get inside the minds of these veterans. In the works, BPM Supreme and Sleeping Giant Music are creating an exclusive “Inside the Agency” video series. We’ll dig deeper and ask the questions you want answered the most.
What would you ask a booking agent if you had the chance? What kind of industry knowledge would be helpful to advance your DJ career? Leave us your questions below and stay tuned for the video series coming soon.
Exclusive: On Deck with ADMC
Wedding Entrance Songs That Will Get the Part...
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NSF backs strategy to reconstruct cancer cells’ evolution
– August 1, 2018Posted in: Current News
Rice’s Luay Nakhleh earns grants to bolster genomic tools, probe roots of disease
The National Science Foundation has awarded two grants for a combined $1.5 million to Rice University computational biologist Luay Nakhleh to expand big data techniques in the fight against cancer and to scale up methods that infer connections between evolutionary pathways.
Luay Nakhleh.
While the projects use similar strategies to track evolutionary pathways, one focuses on species-level analysis, while the other drops down to the level of single cells.
Nakhleh’s research group specializes in computational research related to evolution and develops big-data tools that use genetic data to find previously unknown connections between species. Using a statistical technique called inference, the team can estimate the probability of that genes in one species are related to genes in another.
A four-year grant will allow Nakhleh’s lab to expand the capabilities of PhyloNet, an open-source software package he and his team developed to determine aspects of evolution that wouldn’t show up on a standard evolutionary — or phylogenetic — tree but would appear as part of a network.
Phylogenetic networks are branching diagrams of evolutionary progression based on similarities and differences in species’ genetic characteristics, but they are limited in the amount of genetic data they can handle at once.
“We have developed the computation model so we know how to do these comparisons,” said Nakhleh, a professor of computer science and biosciences and chair of Rice’s Department of Computer Science.”Now we want to do them fast and for large data sets. Now that we know how to do them for five genomes, how do we do it for 300?”
The second grant will fund a three-year project in collaboration with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to better understand why some cancer cells spread and mutate differently than others, a phenomenon that can complicate cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“In the last four or five years, the medical community has started to get interested in evolutionary questions related to cancer, and now they’re gathering data we can use,” Nakhleh said. “The computational community has been developing tools for this kind of analysis for a long time, but we have focused on how species and genes evolve.”
Tools that test for variations between the genetic code of species can be adapted for cancer research, he said.
“Cancer cells are heterogeneous,” Nakhleh said. “If you sequence multiple cells from a patient biopsy, the average won’t reflect what’s going on in the individual cells.”
Nakhleh’s MD Anderson collaborator, computational biologist Ken Chen, made Nakhleh aware of work by geneticist and colleague Nicholas Navin to extract sequence data from individual cancer cells.
“Cells divide, DNA replicates and cancers start to evolve as mutations accumulate,” he said. “That’s why single-cell data is ideal for doing phylogenetic or evolutionary analysis.”
Nakhleh said cell data will help researchers understand when and how cancers evolved in individual patients. “We have a lot of questions: Why do cells become resistant to chemotherapy or targeted drugs? Why do certain cancers become metastatic? Why does one patient with lung cancer survive for 50 years and another dies after six months? Not all the answers are in the genome, but we think we can start to go after basic genetic underpinnings of these kinds of phenomena.”
He said his group will draw upon mathematics, computer science and statistics as it develops algorithms to infer the evolutionary histories of tumor cells. “Usually when you say evolutionary biology to medical people, they think that’s an academic question,” Nakhleh said. “But they are missing so much of what’s happening because at the end of the day, cancer is about evolution and mutation. It’s not an academic question; it’s about getting at the root cause of what’s happening.”
Tags: Computer Science, Data Science, Elevate Research, Engineering, Engineering Medicine, Research
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Why we must be wary of the pitfalls in defining ‘Islamophobia’
January 7th, 2019 | Posted by Singh in Current Issues | Press Releases - (0 Comments)
Proposed APPG definition (from Islamophobia Defined):
“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”.
Over the summer we provided oral evidence to the APPG on British Muslims inquiry into a working definition of Islamophobia/anti-Muslim hatred further to submitting written evidence explaining how Sikhs have suffered since 9/11. We believe our work over the last few years has put Sikh concerns firmly on the government agenda. In a recent debate about the proposed ‘Islamophobia’ definition suggested by the APPG earlier, a few peers independently acknowledged Sikhs suffer ‘Islamophobia’ and Baroness Warsi mentioned Sikhs in interviews she gave to the media further to publication of the report Islamophobia Defined. However, we are not sure ‘Islamophobia’ is the best word to describe a complex amalgam of issues, and believe anti-Muslim hate, like anti-Sikh, is far clearer, precise and more helpful language.
During the debate last month, our Director Lord Singh said, ‘We all sympathise with the suffering of the Muslim community, encapsulated in the word “Islamophobia”. It is our common responsibility to tackle it but we have to be clear about its meaning to do so. To me, the suggested definitions are still woolly and vague; I will try to give a more precise one. If we do not have a clear definition, “Islamophobia” risks being seen as an emotive word intended to get public sympathy and government resources—a concern raised by the APPG on British Muslims.’
He went on, ‘Unfortunately, it is a fact that some communities use government funding to produce questionable statistics to show that they are more hated than others; groups without a culture of complaint, such as Sikhs, fall off the Government’s radar. We have had debates on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, but what about other communities? Should we not be thinking about all communities, not just those in more powerful positions? I believe that the Government must be even-handed.’
During the debate Lord Singh pressed the minister about what work was being conducted for other faith groups aside from Muslims and Jews. He also clarified that although the APPG on British Muslims considered a variety of evidence from academics, organisations and victims’ groups in helping come to the proposed ‘Islamophobia’ definition, not all of it was agreed in the definition. In fact, when Lord Singh gave oral evidence to the APPG, Lady Warsi ended the session by saying, ‘I disagree with everything you’ve said Lord Singh.’ Some of our evidence was echoed by that of Southall Black Sisters and the National Union of Students, as well as in a letter published in the Sunday Times coordinated by the National Secular Society.
Baroness Falkner of Margravine gave a compelling speech in which she challenged the racial component of the proposed definition. She said, ‘When you define a religion—in other words, a belief system—as an adjective and declare that this is rooted in race, which is biological, you ascribe to belief an immutability which cannot work’. She also discussed the prejudice her family had faced moving from India to Pakistan in 1947, and that she had personally faced from her co-religionists in Muslim countries for being ‘insufficiently Muslim’, adding ‘but that experience was as nothing compared to the discrimination that Ahmadiyyas, Shias and various others still face today at the hands of other Muslims.’
The NSO believes ‘Islamophobia’ is an unhelpful and vague term, because it could include a number of distinct and separate components. These include anti-Muslim hate, a racialization of Islamophobia and ‘mistaken identity’ attacks on non-Muslims (like Sikhs), a reaction to the perceived teachings within Islam, and the perceived behaviour of a minority of Muslims. As Baroness Falkner rightly suggests, it also includes prejudice within Muslim communities against one another for being ‘insufficiently Muslim.’ There is no mention of this aspect in the APPG report Islamophobia Defined. We are strongly of the view that anti-Muslim hate crime, (like anti-Sikh) is the best terminology for policy makers to use moving forwards.
The debate and Lord Singh’s full speech can be viewed here.
anti-Semitism, APPG on British Muslims, Baroness Falkner, Baroness Warsi, islamophobia, Lord Singh, National Secular Society, National Union of Students, Southall Black Sisters
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Odell Deaton
February 23, 1934 - February 4, 2019
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Services for Thomas Odell Deaton, 84, of Ada are at 10 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Baptist Church. The Rev. David Gray will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. today at Criswell Funeral Home.
Mr. Deaton passed away Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at his home.
He was born Feb. 23, 1934, at the Lovelady community, east of Ada, to T. O. "Dude" and Lavonia Jared Deaton. He attended Lovelady grade school and graduated from Byng High School in 1953.
He married Pokey Cantrell on June 3, 1955. She preceded him in death Feb. 6, 2016. He later married Mary Lou Thompson.
Odell was co-owner of Deaton and Manuel Construction with Lonnie Manuel and was also a farmer. He served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Mare Island off the coast of California.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou, of the home; a daughter, Denise Adams and husband, Brad, of Tuttle; two sons, Tommy Deaton and wife, Karrie, of Ada and Teddy Wayne Deaton and wife, Misty, of Atwood; two bonus sons, Mickey Thompson and Jon Thompson; three sisters, Mary Jo Reynolds, Pat Coffey and Debbie Christian; 13 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Anita Meeks and Teri Smith; and a granddaughter, Ashley Adams.
Bearers will be his sons and grandchildren.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, 3800 N. May, Oklahoma City, Ok 73112.
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National Highway 68 (India)(old numbering)
Title: National Highway 68 (India)(old numbering)
Subject: List of state highways in Madhya Pradesh, National Highway 231 (India)(old numbering), List of state highways in Haryana, Ambala Chandigarh Expressway, National Highway 70 (India)
National Highway 68
Road map of India with National Highway 68 highlighted in solid blue color
134 km (83 mi)
Major junctions
East end:
Ulundurpettai, Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu
Salem, Tamil Nadu
Ulundrupet - Kallakkurichchi - Attur - Pethanaickenpalayam - Vazhapadi - Salem
Highway system
Indian Road Network
Expressways
← NH 67 NH 69 →
National Highway 68 (NH 68) is a National Highway in India entirely within the state of Tamil Nadu. It runs between Ulundurpettai and Salem in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu for a total of 134 km (83 mi).[1] It connects with NH 7 and NH 47 at Salem. NH 68 connects NH 45 and SH 69 at Ulundurpettai. It was upgraded to a dual carriageway road in two phases on a Build-operate-transfer basis by Reliance Infrastructure and Maytas.[2]
1 Traffic
2 Route
NN 68 is an important connecting road for vehicles travelling from the two major cities Coimbatore and Kochi. NH 68 connects Salem, in directly Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur and the cities around these areas with Chennai.
Ulundurpettai - Elavanasur - ThiyagaDurgam - Kallakurichi - Chinnasalem, Thalaivasal - Kattukottai - Attur - Pethanaickenpalayam - Vazhapadi - Salem
NH 68 near Kallakurichi in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu.
NH 68 near Kallakurichi, Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu
National Highways Development Project
^ "National Highways Starting and Terminal Stations". Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
^ R, Ilangovan (2009-03-19). "Satyam fiasco affects NH-68 works". Salem:
Indian Highways Network
National Expressways
State Expressways
Mumbai-Pune
Ambala-Chandigarh
Delhi-Gurgaon
Delhi-Faridabad
Kundli–Manesar–Palwal
Faridabad-NOIDA-Ghaziabad
Kalyani Expressway
DND Flyway
Bengaluru-Mysore
Chennai HSCTC
Belghoria Expressway
Golden Quadrilateral
North–South and East–West Corridor
Arunachal Frontier Highway
National Highways in Tamil Nadu
Indian National Highways
India road stubs
Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Coimbatore District, India, Chera dynasty
List of state highways in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh, Chennai HSCTC, Golden Quadrilateral, North–South and East–West Corridor, Indian Expressways
National Highway 231 (India)(old numbering)
Uttar Pradesh, Raebareli district, National Highway (India), Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Chennai HSCTC
List of state highways in Haryana
Haryana, Gurgaon, Alwar, Mewat, Chennai HSCTC
Ambala Chandigarh Expressway
Haryana, Chandigarh, World Bank, Economy of Haryana, Rewari district
National Highway 70 (India)
Himachal Pradesh, National Highway (India), Jalandhar, Punjab (India), Hoshiarpur
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COVER STORY QUT discrimination case exposes Human Rights Commission failings
CANBERRA OBSERVED Triggs in the gun: loaded section 18C to get overhaul
EDITORIAL First Brexit, now Trump - it's the economy, stupid!
ANALYSIS What is possible to a Trump Whitehouse
MANUFACTURING Foreign ownership no sole reason for breakdown
ENVIRONMENT Billionaires bankroll U.S. anti-coal campaign
LIFE ISSUES Abortion trauma link to male suicides
NATIONAL AFFAIRS Commission's "Get Pell" campaign fails on facts
GENDER AND POLITICS Pronouns, ordinary folk, and the war over reality
NAVAL MILITARY HISTORY A WWII encounter that deserves remembrance
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS China builds Great Wall in the South China Sea
MUSIC Dylan's Nobel prize causes song and dance
CINEMA Humanity within inhumanity: Hacksaw Ridge
BOOK REVIEW Bill is $500 billion and counting
BOOK REVIEW Arguments and facts: the man who remade Russia
POETRY Sunset at the Perth War Cemetery
by Joshua Forrester, Augusto Zimmermann and Lorraine Finlay
News Weekly, November 19, 2016
In a decision that is seen as a litmus test for the controversial section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (RDA), the Federal Circuit Court has dismissed Cindy Prior’s case against Queensland University of Technology (QUT) students Alex Wood, Calum Thwaites and Jackson Powell. Prior had alleged that these students had breached section 18C.
Judge Michael Jarrett concluded that Prior’s claim against them had no reasonable prospect of success.
What was the case about?
On May 28, 2013, Wood and two other students were using a QUT computer lab when Prior asked them whether they were indigenous. They replied they weren’t. Prior then asked them to leave.
Later that day, on the “QUT Stalkerspace” Facebook page, Wood posted: “Just got kicked out of the unsigned Indigenous computer room. QUT stopping segregation with segregation…?”
Many people commented.
Powell posted: “I wonder where the white supremacist computer lab is….”
Prior alleged that Thwaites posted “ITT niggers”. (A claim that Thwaites has always categorically denied.)
Prior complained to QUT about these and other comments, which were promptly removed. However, Prior was ultimately unhappy with QUT’s handling of the matter and lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).
The AHRC conciliated Prior’s complaint. However, it did not contact the students directly about the complaint or the conciliation conference. Instead, it left this task to QUT. Powell did not know about Prior’s complaint until after the conciliation conference.
Conciliation failed, and Prior commenced proceedings in the Federal Circuit Court against QUT, certain QUT employees, and a number of QUT students, including Wood, Thwaites and Powell. Prior’s claim was for $247,570.52.
Prior alleged that the students had breached 18C. She also alleged that QUT and its employees had breached section 9 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.
A number of students settled with Prior. Wood, Thwaites and Powell brought an application for Prior’s case to be summarily dismissed. (It should be noted that Prior’s case against QUT, its employees, and student Chris Lee continues despite her case being dismissed against Wood, Thwaites and Powell.)
Why did Judge Jarrett decide the way he did?
For Wood and Powell, Judge Jarrett concluded that an ordinary and reasonable member of a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (either students or generally), who had the characteristics of a member of a fair and tolerant society, would not be reasonably likely to find their statements offensive, insulting, humiliating or intimidating. Wood’s statements were against both QUT and racial discrimination generally.
Powell’s statements, when read in the context of other comments, were “a poor attempt at humour”.
In any event, both Wood’s and Powell’s statements amounted to “mere slights”, thereby not meeting the threshold 18C requires. Finally, neither Wood nor Powell made their statements because of Prior’s race, nor because of the race of the relevant groups.
Judge Jarrett decided Prior’s claim against Thwaites differently. Thwaites had provided evidence that he could not have posted the comments Prior alleged. Despite having opportunity to do so, Prior provided no evidence contradicting Thwaites’ evidence. Hence, Judge Jarrett concluded Prior could not sustain a case against Thwaites.
Why did this case generate controversy?
Section 18C’s supporters point to decisions like this one to say that the system works: a weak claim was dismissed at an early stage. However, this case in fact highlights significant problems with 18C.
First, the process itself is the punishment. A summary dismissal application involves the filing of pleadings, affidavits and submissions, and appearing in court. There are significant costs in time, money and stress. A dispute that arose in May 2013 has taken until November 2016 to resolve.
Tony Morris QC and Michael Henry have acted pro bono for Wood, Thwaites and Powell. But most people are not so fortunate.
In applications like these, legal fees frequently exceed $10,000, and often go much higher. Most people simply cannot afford to defend themselves, and legal aid is unavailable. Hence, it is unsurprising that other QUT students settled their cases with Prior for $5,000, even though they probably could have successfully defended themselves.
In addition to the costs in time and stress, and despite being “cleared”, the QUT students’ reputations have suffered enormously. The stain of being an alleged racist will be hard to remove. Thwaites has abandoned the idea of becoming a schoolteacher because parents or students may Google his name and find he was accused of racism.
Second, the AHRC’s conduct in this case has been disgraceful. Judge Jarrett’s dismissal of this case raises the question of why the AHRC did not initially reject Prior’s complaints against the students. That the AHRC proceeded to conciliation may have given Prior false hope that her case against the students had merit.
Nick Cater of the Institute of Public Affairs writes that, from 2001 to 2005, the AHRC rejected almost 30 per cent of complaints. But he notes that under its most recent presidents, Catherine Branson and Gillian Triggs, less than 5 per cent have been rejected.
The AHRC must exercise better judgement.
Further, it is astounding that the AHRC left it to QUT to contact students about the conciliation conference. The AHRC must contact each respondent directly. In defending its actions, the AHRC has stated that in such matters it “sometimes” leaves it to organisations to contact members who are respondents, a practice Triggs has confirmed.
However, even if only done “sometimes”, the AHRC violates both fundamental principles of procedural fairness and what its own governing statute requires. Indeed, that the Prior case does not appear to be an isolated instance of AHRC misconduct is deeply disturbing. Unsurprisingly, Thwaites and Powell have lodged complaints about this issue.
Unfortunately, until section 18C is amended, repealed, or struck down, cases like this will arise in the future.
Joshua Forrester is a PhD Candidate in Law at Murdoch University; Augusto Zimmermann is Director of Postgraduate Research and Senior Lecturer in Law and Murdoch University; and Lorraine Finlay is a Lecturer in Law at Murdoch University.
This article originally appeared on website on November 7, 2016.
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March 8, 2019, Lunar Water Molecules Hop as Surface Temperature Increases
March 6, 2019, SWIM Project Maps Potential Sources of Mars Water
Jan. 31, 2019, Sodium, Not Heat, Reveals Volcanic Activity on Jupiter’s Moon Io
Jan. 23, 2019, PSI’s Michelle Thomsen Named 2019 Arctowski Medal Recipient
Jan. 14, 2019, PSI Scientist Anticipated "Snowman" Asteroid Appearance
Jan. 3, 2019, 2019 Pierazzo International Student Travel Award Winners Announced
Dec. 3, 2018, The Water in Saturn’s Rings and Satellites is Like That on Earth Except for Saturn’s Moon Phoebe, Which is Out of This World
Nov. 15, 2018, 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast Turns 10
Nov. 1, 2018, Science Operations End For NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft
Oct. 25, 2018, Hayabusa2 Team Prepares for Asteroid Sample Collection
An illegal choice has been detected. Please contact the site administrator.
Plan Developed to Characterize and Identify Ocean Worlds
Voyager 2 image of Neptune’s moon Triton
Credit: NASA/JPL/USGS
Tucson, Ariz. -- Strategies to identify and explore ocean worlds in our Solar System should focus on a range of targets, including confirmed and unconfirmed ocean worlds, according to a new paper by a team led by Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist Amanda R. Hendrix.
Hendrix and Terry A. Hurford of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center are co-lead authors of “The NASA Roadmap to Ocean Worlds” that appears in Astrobiology. Hendrix and Hurford co-chair NASA’s Outer Planets Assessment Group’s Roadmaps to Ocean Worlds (ROW) team. As laid out in the paper, the ROW team supports the creation of an exploration program that studies the full spectrum of ocean worlds: not just the exploration of known ocean worlds such as Europa but also candidate ocean worlds. In their study, the ROW team finds that the confirmed ocean worlds Enceladus, Titan and Europa are the highest priority bodies to target in the near term. As far as candidate (unconfirmed) ocean worlds, Neptune’s moon Triton is the highest priority.
The study also finds that significant understanding of ocean worlds begins by studying our own planet. “Progress needs to be made in the area of collaborations between Earth ocean scientists and extraterrestrial ocean scientists,” Hendrix said. “In addition, to map out a coherent ocean worlds program, significant input is required from studies here on Earth; rigorous research and analysis studies are called for to enable some future ocean worlds missions to be thoughtfully planned and undertaken.”
The paper defines an ocean world as a body with a current liquid ocean, not necessarily global. All bodies in our Solar System that plausibly can have, or are known to have, an ocean are considered in this framework. The Earth is a well-studied ocean world used as a reference and point of comparison. Ice giant planets are not included as ocean worlds.
“The overarching goal of an ocean worlds program, should be to identify ocean worlds, characterize their oceans, evaluate their habitability, search for life, and ultimately understand any life we find,” Hendrix said.
Alan Fischer
fischer [at] psi.edu
SCIENCE CONTACT:
Amanda R. Hendrix
ahendrix [at] psi.edu
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Week Twenty-Five Newsletter
It was another good race for the Player of the Week nod, but in the end, forward versus goalie, the forward is going to win pretty well every time. Scoring goals is a big tie-breaker in this pool.
Of course, saying that, Ryan O'Reilly made it really close in the week, only scoring 1 goal and 7 assists in his 8-point week, taking the cake for the best player in the pool in Week Twenty-Five.
The 24-year old forward in Colorado played in four games in the week and registered points in every game in the week. Monday, it was a pair of assists against the Flames, Wednesday saw a goal and 2 assists against the Oilers, there was another pair of assists against the Canucks on Thursday and then an assist against the Sabres on Saturday.
This brings O'Reilly's totals to 14 goals and 52 points in 75 games this season, good enough for 86th overall in pool scoring, to this point of the regular season, with only a couple weeks of action left to go.
Allan picked the forward in the 4th round, 74th overall, which isn't too far off where he has landed to this point, and since he's running hot at the moment, Allan may recover this pick to somewhere a little closer to his draft position. O'Reilly is his best forward this season, having had to drop his highest picked forward, thanks to injury concerns. It has just been that kind of season for him.
It's feast AND famine for Dale B.'s team, who has now made it three straight weeks in the Newsletter, thanks to his second appearance in the Mover & Shaker over those three weeks. If the other appearance wasn't a Basement Dweller nod, he could have moved into the last money position, instead of still being a ways back.
Week Twenty-Five saw his team rack up 35 points, which boosted him back a few more positions, now sitting in 7th place, up from 10th after Week Twenty-Four, but still down a couple spots from Week Twenty-Three, where he finished 5th.
This past week, it was a duo that led the way for Dale's team, as Wild forward Mikko Koivu and Sharks forward Patrick Marleau, each finished with 5 points a piece. Four more players each had 4 points, while there were a trio of 2 points and a load of singles through the week, so there was lots of help from throughout his lineup, it just seems kind of funny that his team took a week off, completely, between two Mover & Shakers.
Dale is only 18 points out of 3rd place and made up 13 points in the past week on the position, so it isn't completely out of the question for these last two weeks, that he could jump into that spot, but he will have to avoid the basement in the coming week, getting out of the pattern, in order to achieve that.
The Basement Dweller race was also quite tight and came down to the last few games on Sunday, but in true dweller fashion, Grant K.'s team failed to register any points to keep them out of the Basement for the week and with only 15 points to his team's name, the nod is all his.
This is Grant's first team visit on the Newsletter and unfortunately, it is in an infamous fashion. His team got off to a pretty good start, opening Week One in 3rd place, but dropped off, hovering in the middle of the pack until the end of the second segment, when the bottom kind of fell out from underneath his team and it has been in 20th spot for the last month. Remarkably, this is his first Basement Dweller nod this season, giving that his team has seen a pretty good slump this year.
Grant had a pretty good team on paper at the beginning of the year, but injuries and some horrible luck with some of his Waiver Draft pick-ups have really sunk his boat this year. His team holds a -16 points ratio from the Week Nine Waiver Draft and is only a +1 from the Week Eighteen Waiver Draft, which has definitely hurt his side.
All three teams in the Olli bobblehead race did make up some ground on Grant this week, but his team still holds a 27-point gap ahead of 21st, which should hold him from joining the race... in theory.
TROPHY TALK
Kristy & Don have had 1st place locked up for too long, Grant S.'s lead in 2nd over 3rd is 26 points, which isn't impossible, but fairly improbable at this point to close up. Wes, who holds 3rd place, now only sits 10 points clear of Benson in 4th, 14 points clear of Scott & Clayton in 5th & 6th, and as mentioned above, Dale B. is only 18 points out.
Wyllie moved back into the Olli lead, now with a 5-point gap between his team and Allan's, while Ryan's team is only 8 points out and still somewhat in the mix, with a couple weeks left to go.
For the third segment, Benson is beginning to run away with the nod, as his team is now 15 points clear of Brian & Mike, while Scott is 22 points back. Benson has had the hottest team and could still come away with money, if his team continues at this pace.
WINNING EVERY WEEK
Kristy & Don's goalies are still dominating, posting 5 wins in the week and with two weeks to go, they could have a team that posts a win in every single week this season. This hasn't been measured before in any other pool, so I can't tell if this has happened before. I would imagine that it probably has.
ROOKIE SCORING
The key to Dale B.'s team at the moment is his rookies, it would seem, as his team posted another 7 points in the rookie race, opening up his team's lead again, which now sits at 8 points. Wilton would need a couple of pretty good weeks from his single rookie to beat Dale's trio.
Goal scoring doesn't seem to be much of an issue for the teams that are streaking still. Every team is still in this one that was in it from last week. I don't think there is much reason to waste much more time on this, unless a team or five drops out in the next week or so.
CHRIS STEWART VS ERIK COLE
Well, out of the two players in the side bet, only one of them managed to play all week and that was Chris Stewart of the Wild, who finished the week with 3 points. Erik Cole suffered an injury with the Red Wings this week and failed to play much hockey at all, failing to register a point. Cole still holds a 14-13 lead in the points since the Week Eighteen Waiver Draft department, but the injury is putting a damper on the money, going from one pocket to the other.
ROUND 1 IN THE DRAFT
Pick # Round Pool Player NHL POS Points
16 1 Wes Moroz Carey Price MTL G 101
8 1 Clayton Corley Marc-Andre Fleury PIT G 85
1 1 Stuart Greenley Sidney Crosby PIT F 79
14 1 Grant Saskiw Jonathan Quick LOS G 79
4 1 Brian Towers John Tavares NYI F 77
9 1 Kristy & Don Alex Ovechkin WAS F 74
23 1 Scott Gilmore Jamie Benn DAL F 72
19 1 Allan Scott Antti Niemi SAN G 71
11 1 Leo Macht Evgeni Malkin PIT F 70
5 1 Troy Berkley Claude Giroux PHI F 69
6 1 Ryan Miller Tyler Seguin DAL F 69
2 1 Cam Wagner Ryan Getzlaf ANA F 68
12 1 Dale Bradley Tuukka Rask BOS G 68
3 1 Grant Kanwischer Steven Stamkos TAM F 67
13 1 Stacey Campbell Patrick Kane CHI F 64
15 1 Stacey McDonald Jonathan Toews CHI F 62
18 1 Benson Greenley Semyon Varlamov COL G 62
20 1 Brenda Farrell Henrik Lundqvist NYR G 61
17 1 Mike Somerville Jordan Eberle EDM F 60
10 1 Tony Dourado Phil Kessel TOR F 57
22 1 Dale Corley Corey Perry ANA F 52
21 1 Derek Wilton Matt Duchene COL F 50
7 1 Derek Wyllie Taylor Hall EDM F 34
Out of the 23 players taken in the 1st round of the pool draft, only 12 of them would be considered worthy to be 1st round picks, given the scoring that has happened this season. Ryan Getzlaf would be the last pick in the 1st round, if we were to conduct the draft, as per the points, as of today.
Of course, Patrick Kane would have been in the mix, if it wasn't for his injury and there may have been some merit for a couple other players, like Henrik Lundqvist or even Taylor Hall, if injuries didn't cut their season short.
Carey Price is the only player to hit the 100-point mark this season and is the leading candidate for pool MVP and to think, he was the 16th overall pick in the draft this year. That's 15 players that should have been taken after him... that's a big season.
I'm not sure where all the points came from this past week, especially since the well was looking awfully dry for the last couple weeks previous. The pool almost hit the 600-point mark in the week, averaging 11.2 points per NHL game, which is a pretty decent week, by this year's standards. Skater games and goalie minutes were both up, meaning that players were getting healthier, which certainly helps. Hopefully, with the playoffs right around the corner, more players will get healthy and we'll see another increase in production.
The news and notes will be somewhat abbreviated this week, as there is lots to go through and very little time before the new week starts to get them done. It will look a bit rushed here.
Hampus Lindholm was the next Anaheim defenseman to take a seat in the team's rotation of blueliners on Saturday night. Sunday, he was back in the lineup, as all the pool defenders were, but in that game, forward Matt Beleskey was a late scratch, as he suffered a lower-body injury in the warm-up. He is listed as out day-to-day.
Also a scratch on the weekend, Devante Smith-Pelly had a seat for the Canadiens, as they work towards a division title in the Atlantic. Smith-Pelly was brought in to bring a physical element to the team and hasn't quite given the side what they've wished for, it would seem.
Nashville was without their captain on the weekend, as defenseman Shea Weber didn't play Saturday or Sunday, due to a lower-body injury, which he had suffered in the week. With only a few games left before the end of the season, the team will likely rest their best player for a long playoff run. He is on the list as day-to-day right now.
Sounds like a touch of the flu hit the Flyers dressing room and it cost defenseman Mark Streit a game down the stretch. The Flyers are now running on fumes for their playoff hopes and they had to tap the minor leagues to try and help them out. Fortunately, Streit should be ready to go again for the team's next game, which is good news.
A couple of notes from the St. Louis Blues, as forward T.J. Oshie missed out on Saturday's game with a bit of an illness as well, but he appears to be ready to play on Monday night, while Alex Steen suffered a lower-body injury in that same game and won't be able to go on Monday. Steen is currently listed as out day-to-day.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were feeling awfully confident this season, but now that it is crunch time, some injuries may have put a dent in that confidence. Forward Tyler Johnson is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury and will miss Monday's contest, while forward Cedric Paquette is a game-time decision with a lower-body injury and defenseman Jason Garrison will miss the next 3-to-4 weeks with an upper-body injury.
Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask had to exit Saturday's game a little earlier than expected, to which the coaching staff attributed dehydration as the reason why he left early. That didn't stop Rask for making a quick comeback, playing and winning on Sunday, as the Bruins beat the Hurricanes, the next afternoon.
The Panthers are scratching and clawing for points and in order to do so, they're scratching some veterans, as some of their younger players have been giving the lineup a bit more pop. On Sunday, Brad Boyes was a healthy scratch for the team and the team pulled off a big win, so there is a chance that he may find his way to the press box again.
Forward David Perron was held out of Saturday's contest for the Penguins, due to an illness, but was able to return for Sunday's contest against the Sharks, so this is only to mention the one game he missed, since he was back in the lineup right away. No big deal here.
A lower-body injury on Saturday against the Flyers sidelined Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic for Sunday's game against the Penguins, as he awaits some tests to tell him how long he expects to be out of the lineup. He'll be on the list as out day-to-day for right now, something we should hear about in the next day or two.
Posted by opiatedsherpa at 4:02 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: blues, bruins, canadiens, ducks, flyers, illness, injury, lightning, newsletter, panthers, penguins, predators, returned, sharks
Player Notes in the Draft (Mar 28)
Big news for the St. Louis Blues, as defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is expected to be re-joining the lineup today against the Blue Jackets, as he returns from abdominal surgery in the beginning of February. Shattenkirk was working at a dominating pace, when he left the lineup in the second segment of the season, as he was ranked 2nd amongst all defenders in scoring at the time, but his time away has dropped him to 22nd in the position, although he is still 1st in a points-per-game pace, just a shade ahead of Ottawa's Erik Karlsson.
This injury was a huge blow to Tony's season and frankly, I believe expedited his spiral into the bottom of the standings. Tony had already dropped to 7th place from a money spot, but the loss of his best defenseman saw his team free fall, as it goes into Saturday in 19th place.
More confirmed returns for Saturday, as the Penguins will have forwards Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist back in their lineup for their game against the Coyotes this afternoon. Malkin has been dealing with a lower-body injury, while Hornqvist's ailment was never really disclosed, but each missed about a couple weeks of action and the Penguins have sure suffered in their absence.
In some of the meaningful races, Hornqvist will return to Allan's lineup, as he tries to stay away from the Olli bobblehead, while Leo will get Malkin back, but his team is safe from any extra bobblehead shame this season.
The NHL is going to be super busy all day, as there are 11 games on the schedule for this Saturday and five games will be morning/afternoon games, out here in the West.
Since it's a busy day, it will be just about the races today, but be warned, since the games are really early today, there will be a lot of projected goalie starts, more than confirmed starts.
Wes' lead over 4th place, Benson, is now 15 points and only 16 points on Scott, 17 points on Clayton, the four teams we'll look at for this race, as they're all within 20 points. Wes will have both of his goalies going today, as Mike Smith should be in Arizona's net against the Penguins and Carey Price is expected to start for Montreal against Florida. Benson is expected to have both Semyon Varlamov and Kari Lehtonen in their respective nets, as both teams, Colorado and Dallas, struggle with their dwindling playoff hopes. Scott is expected to have both of his goalies go head-to-head, as Petr Mrazek has been confirmed to go for Detroit, hosting Tampa Bay, who should go with Ben Bishop, although it hasn't been confirmed. Scott's best bet is one goalie earns a shutout tonight. Clayton will be the only one of the four teams with only one goalie going, as Brian Elliott has already been tipped to go for St. Louis against Columbus.
5 points separates 7th through 11th today, so a shutout or two would go a long ways for these teams to solidify their spot in the top 10. Stacey M. isn't expected to have any help today from the crease, Dale B. is expected to have Tuukka Rask in net for the Bruins this afternoon against the Rangers, Dale C. won't have any help today, Brian will likely have Devan Dubnyk in for the Wild again, this time against the Kings, while Cam might finally see the return of Craig Anderson today for Ottawa. Not a lot of help in this race at all, eh?
Finally, the race for the Olli, sees Wyllie with a 2 point gap on Ryan and 6 points back of Allan going into Saturday. Wyllie will have Michal Neuvirth going for the Islanders against the Ducks, in a tough game, but at least a little bit of help. Ryan isn't tapped to have any crease help today, while Allan has both teams that provide his goalie help playing each other, but he is only expected to have Steve Mason in net, which will help who he should be cheering for in the Sharks/Flyers game.
An updated list of injuries can be found here.
Posted by opiatedsherpa at 9:24 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: blues, penguins, returned, starting goalies
Bjugstad Done After Back Surgery
It appears that the lower-body injury that had kept Florida forward Nick Bjugstad out of the lineup for a couple games was far worse than initially expected.
On Friday afternoon, the team announced that the team's leading goal-scorer will now miss the remainder of the regular season after undergoing successful back surgery. It sounds like, if the Panthers make the playoffs, 3 points out going into the last couple weeks, Bjugstad won't be available for the Spring Dance, but he is expected to be 100%, come September.
In 72 games played this season, Bjugstad finishes his year with 24 goals and 43 points, which at this time, is good enough for 3rd on the team in pool points (behind Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Huberdeau) and 126th overall in league pool scoring.
Bjugstad was a fairly consistent contributor to Brian's team in the pool this season and that would be more than he asked for out of his 10th round pick, 227th overall. Even without him in the last couple weeks of the season, this should still work out to be a big bargain pick.
Unfortunately for Brian, his season might have been hurt pretty badly by this injury, as his team had already dropped off, but it gets worse with this news. Brian sits in 10th place, midway through the night on Friday and could go either way with a good or bad string of nights.
Labels: injury, panthers
More Player Notes in the Draft (Mar 27)
The Buffalo Sabres lost the services of forward Tyler Ennis during Thursday night's game between themselves and the Coyotes, the battle of the basement teams in the NHL, due to an upper-body injury. The Sabres are not considering the injury to be too serious, as Ennis will travel with the team, but it doesn't seem likely that he'll play until Monday.
Ennis belongs to Brenda & Seward this season, who have fallen on hard times in the standings, down to 17th place again after a good portion of the season. They did move up a spot this week, which is good news, but a strong second segment couldn't be followed up and they fell back down near the bottom in the third segment.
Somewhat of a surprise listing, as Red Wings forward Riley Sheahan is expected to miss some time to an upper-body injury. There was no word on when the young forward was hurt exactly, but according to the coaching staff, there will be some time missed. He'll be on the list as out day-to-day for right now, since the description of the injury is quite vague, but if anything else should pop up here, then it will hit the blog.
A new twist in the race for the Olli, as Sheahan belongs to Ryan, who fell down to 22nd place again this week, still 5 points clear of 23rd, but nowhere near as safe as he may have thought he was a week or two ago.
Only three games going on this Friday night, so we'll have a quick overview, thankfully, I still have time before I hit the publish button before they start.
Devan Dubnyk will try and keep the Wild's good fortunes going at home against Karri Ramo and the Flames tonight. Dubnyk will also try and rekindle Brian's chances at possibly jumping into the money in the last couple weeks of the season, while Ramo will try to spoil some hopes and keep Leo's team from the basement dwellers.
A former Central Division battle sees Columbus in Chicago, where it will be Sergei Bobrovsky against Corey Crawford. It's Troy versus Dale C., respectively, in this one, 12th versus 8th in the standings, as Troy tries to make the leap into the top 10, but first he'll need to close a 12-point gap to 11th to do so.
Finally, the Dallas Stars are in Edmonton tonight to take on the lowly Oilers. The Stars will rest whatever playoff hopes they have left on Kari Lehtonen, while the Oilers will try and play spoiler, using their non-pool back-up, Richard Bachman in net. Benson, now in 4th place, is only 13 points back of Wes in the standings and could use, what should be, easy points from this game.
Labels: injury, red wings, sabres, starting goalies
Playoff Pool Available on March 31
The New York Rangers became the first team to qualify for the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday night, which means that the Spring Dance is only so far away. Yes, we're counting down to the Playoff Pool now, with the expectation that the sheet will be done on Tuesday for release. An online version of the sheet will be made available and I am also hoping that you will be able to choose your team online as well.
Entries will not be accepted without the $10 entry fee, but I will have all the details online when the pool goes live. The sheet will likely have a number of teams still in the race, so you will likely want to wait to submit the sheet, but at least you can start doing your homework here right away.
The injury news page for the draft pool has already got a column referencing the boxes that players are in and there are a number of players who are hurt at the moment, so there will be some changes made ahead of time. Those boxes will change, hopefully eliminating the injured players and keeping it as fresh as possible.
We don't have very much time left in the regular season, so if you're already out of the race in the draft pool, you can start your homework here.
Posted by opiatedsherpa at 11:37 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: playoffs, pool announcements
It's now looking like a pool defenseman carousel in Anaheim, as Thursday night saw the return of Cam Fowler to the lineup, after an absence of one game, while James Wisniewski took his spot in the press box for the game against the Bruins in Boston. The way things are going there for the Ducks, the nights off are coming in single stops, so I would imagine that Wisniewski will work his way back in before too long. The Ducks are on the verge of clinching their playoff spot, so resting players before the Spring Dance will be a must.
This season, between Columbus and Anaheim, Wisniewski has picked up 8 goals and 32 points in 64 games played, which has been decent for Scott. Scott has been moving up the standings as well, of late, as his team has now reached 5th place in the standings and is now 15 points back of 3rd. His team is keeping things interesting, that's for sure.
Labels: ducks
It sounds like the Winnipeg Jets are getting a boost to their playoff hopes tonight, as Dustin Byfuglien will return from his upper-body injury, which has kept him out since around St. Patrick's Day. The versatile superstar will likely hit the blueline again for the Jets, as they look to maintain their position in the Western Conference playoff picture.
This is a very small consolation for Tony in this year's pool, as his team has tanked and fell to last place in the third segment, picking up a pool-low, 102 points to date. In 12 weeks, his team has fallen 15 places, as his team now sits in 18th spot.
We're just short of getting the official word, but it sounds like the Bruins will welcome forward David Krejci back to their lineup tonight, as they are also in the hunt for a playoff spot, now 1 point out of a wild card berth. Krejci has been listed as probable for tonight's game between Boston and Anaheim and it couldn't come soon enough.
Benson, now fighting to make it into the money, will also welcome the addition back to his lineup, as he only sits 18 points back of 3rd place and has a real shot at it, given how hot his team has been lately. This could change the dynamic of the money race going forward.
11 games on tap for Thursday night in the NHL and the two races are now inexplicably tight, going into action tonight. As I've been doing lately, I'll start with the money race and then finish with the race for the Olli.
Wes' lead for 3rd place has gone up to 16 points, which is good for him, but only having one of his two goalies going tonight, may hurt his chances a little. Mike Smith will start for the Coyotes against the Sabres in the battle for last place in the NHL, which may end up being an interesting game. Clayton, who is now barely hanging on to 4th place, will have Marc-Andre Fleury going for the Penguins in Carolina tonight, as his only representation. Benson, now 2 points back of 4th and 18 points back of 3rd, is waiting to hear if Semyon Varlamov will be in net for the Avs, when they take on the Canucks in Vancouver. Varlamov was yanked in Wednesday night's game in Edmonton after a poor start against the Oilers. Scott is still in the mix, only 1 point behind Benson, and will have Ben Bishop in the Bolts' net tonight, as they host the Predators tonight.
Allan has moved out of the basement again, having a pretty good week all around, plus he'll get some help from Antti Niemi (in theory), as the Sharks take on the Red Wings in Detroit tonight. Wyllie moved back into the basement, but the two teams his goalies are from are playing each other tonight, but neither of his goalies are expected to start. Ryan, now ahead of Allan on tie-breakers, won't have a goalie going tonight either and his 6-point cushion on Wyllie won't increase from the crease.
Posted by opiatedsherpa at 12:55 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: bruins, jets, returned, starting goalies
Flyers Lose Two Players to Injury
Ehrhoff Back to the IR
Week Twenty-Four Newsletter
Kadri Suspended for High Hit
Week Twenty-Three Newsletter
Klein Out With Upper-Body Injury
Lightning Struck With Injuries
Week Twenty-Two Newsletter
Player Notes in the Draft (Mar 8)
Couple of Grounded Jets
MacKinnon's Season Ends Early
More Player Notes in the Draft (Mar 5)
Daley Expected to be Out a Month
Giordano Done With Torn Bicep
Wisniewski Heads to Anaheim
Stewart Goes Wild
Neuvirth for Johnson
Zidlicky Off to Detroit
Week Twenty-One Newsletter
Red Wings Add Cole
Jets Add Stempniak
Rangers Pony Up for Yandle
Glencross Goes to Washington
Blackhawks Nab Vermette
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All hail the peacemakers 19
Soldiers enter Hebron homes at night, photograph kids, 24/02/15
Night raids & interrogations: IDF soldiers giving Palestinian kids constant nightmares
AIPAC 101 - March 1, 2015
Ilan Pappe on Palestine and Noam Chomsky
Zionism: It's a Movement Made by People Who Don't Believe in God but God Promised Them Palestine
Palestine, Israël : entretien avec Amira Hass, journaliste israélienne (it's in english!)
Palestine formally joins International Criminal Court
Israeli soldier stabbed at West Bank checkpoint
Thieves in the Temple
War On Love
Paladin1
I watched the video thinking it was talking about archaeology and stealing artifacts. I guess it's talking about stealing money? I'm no power-point wizard but that was a pretty weak presentation for a university level, no?
War on Arabs, War on Africans
Jeff Halper in Bremen - Israel als Apartheid-Staat?
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Bomb?
I MUST start with a shocking confession: I am not afraid of the Iranian nuclear bomb.
I know that this makes me an abnormal person, almost a freak.
But what can I do? I am unable to work up fear, like a real Israeli. Try as I may, the Iranian bomb does not make me hysterical.
MY FATHER once taught me how to withstand blackmail: imagine that the awful threat of the blackmailer has already come about. Then you can tell him: Go to hell.
I have tried many times to follow this advice and found it sound. So now I apply it to the Iranian bomb: I imagine that the worst has already happened: the awful ayatollahs have got the bombs that can eradicate little Israel in a minute.
According to foreign experts, Israel has several hundred nuclear bombs (assessments vary between 80-400. If Iran sends its bombs and obliterates most of Israel (myself included), Israeli submarines will obliterate Iran. Whatever I might think about Binyamin Netanyahu, I rely on him and our security chiefs to keep our "second strike" capability intact. Just last week we were informed that Germany had delivered another state-of-the-art submarine to our navy for this purpose.
‘50 soldiers attacked our house’: IDF raid & arrest prominent Palestinian politician
Who can save Yarmouk?
Jerusalem: Hitting Home
Ice Cream at Hebron checkpoint
MY FIRST reaction after the election was: “Oh, no! Not a National Unity Government, please!
In my first article after the election, I devoted a large part to the danger of a "national unity" government, though at the time the possibility of such a government, based on Likud and the Labor Party, seemed very remote indeed.
But, looking at the figures, I had a gnawing suspicion: this looks like something that will end with a Likud-Labor combination.
Now, suddenly, this possibility has raised its head. Everybody is talking about it.
All my emotions rebel against this possibility. But I owe it to myself and my readers to examine this option dispassionately. Though pure logic is a rare commodity in politics, let's try to exercise it.
IS A "national unity government" good or bad for Israel?
Let's look at the numbers first.
What Do Ordinary Israelis Think of Netanyahu's U.S. Visit?
Palestinians mark Prisoners Day in West Bank
Peace Pioneer (1/5)
"There Are Still Judges…"
THIS WEEK I won a dubious distinction: a groundbreaking Supreme Court judgment has been named after me.
It is an honor I would have gladly dispensed with.
MY NAME appeared at the head of a list of applicants, associations and individuals, which asked the court to cancel a law enacted by the Knesset.
Israel has no written constitution. This unusual situation arose right from the beginning of the state because David Ben-Gurion, a fierce secularist, could not achieve a compromise with the orthodox parties, which insisted that the Torah already is a constitution.
Cats in a Sack
IT IS a rather disgusting spectacle.
The Israeli Right has won a crushing election victory. (On closer examination, the victory was not quite so crushing. Indeed, there was no victory at all. The crushing victory of Likud was achieved only at the expense of other rightist parties.)
The Rightist bloc together has not advanced at all. To form a majority coalition, it needs the party of Moshe Kahlon, the majority of whose voters are more leftist than rightist. Kahlon could easily have been persuaded to join a leftist coalition, if the leader of the Labor Party, Yitzhak Herzog, had been a more resolute personality.
Be that as it may, Binyamin Netanyahu is now busy trying to construct his government.
That's where the disgust comes in.
4-24-2015 After Israel's Election, Who Makes the Case for Peace?
Supremacist Stand-Up Comedy
A Boy Called Bibi
THERE ARE two different opinions about Binyamin Netanyahu. It is difficult to believe that they concern the same person.
One is that Netanyahu is a shallow politician, devoid of ideas and convictions, who is led solely by his obsession to remain in power. This Netanyahu has a good voice and a talent for making shallow speeches on television, speeches devoid of any intellectual content – and that's all.
This Netanyahu is highly "pressurable" (a Hebrew word invented almost solely for him), a man who will change his views according to political expediency, disclaiming in the evening what he has said in the morning. None of his words should be trusted. He will lie and cheat anytime to assure his survival.
The other Netanyahu is almost the exact opposite. A principled patriot, a serious thinker, a statesman who sees danger beyond the horizon. This Netanyahu is a gifted orator, able to move the US Congress and the UN plenum, admired by the great mass of Israelis.
So which of these descriptions is true?
Inside Israel's Race Wars
Black and Jewish in Israel
BINYAMIN NETANYAHU seems to be detested now by everyone. Almost as much as his meddling wife, Sarah'le.
Six weeks ago, Netanyahu was the great victor. Contrary to all opinion polls, he achieved a surprise victory at the last moment, winning 30 seats in the 120-member Knesset, leaving the Labor Party (re-branded "The Zionist Camp") well behind him.
The extra seats did not come from the Left. They came from his nearest competitors, the Rightist parties.
However, it was a great personal triumph. Netanyahu was on top of his world. Sarah'le was radiant. Netanyahu left no doubt that he was now the master, and that he was determined to order things according to his wishes.
A Day and Night-mare
AUDIO: African Protests in Israel
Are black Israelis being discriminated?
Sick & tired of racism in Israel
The War of Fools
A few days ago, Israeli TV Channel 10 broadcast an investigative story about the 2006 Israeli attack on Lebanon, known as "Lebanon War II".
Though not very profound, it provided a good picture of what actually happened. The three main Israeli protagonists talked freely.
The picture was very disturbing, to say the least. One could say that it was alarming.
The main conclusion is that all our leaders at the time behaved with blatant irresponsibility, combined with stupidity.
TO RECAPITULATE: Lebanon II lasted 34 days, from July 7 to August 14, 2006.
It was provoked by a border incident: Hezbollah forces in South Lebanon crossed the border and attacked a routine Israel patrol. The aim was to capture Israeli soldiers in order to effect a prisoner exchange – the only way to get the Israeli government to release Arab prisoners.
Left Turn
[url=https://ricochet.media/en/440/defying-harper-government-canadians-join-n... Harper government, Canadians join new flotilla to Gaza[/url]
Another fleet of boats will challenge the state of Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and stranglehold on 1.8 million Palestinians who live there. Well-known personalities, labour leaders and Aboriginal people from Canada are planning to be on board, though full details of their participation are being kept under wraps.
The action defies both the Netanyahu and Harper governments.
Sh*tting on the Israeli Flag: The Art of Natali Cohen Vaxberg
Panel 4 Is the Lobby Good for Israel? 1:15
Black Faces on Israeli TV
Israel's N-word
Kibbutz Chronicles (1/8)
Black Bodies in Dimona
Ilan Pappe - Wie ist der Staat Israel entstanden?(it's in English)
Al Jazeera World - Born in '48
WHO WILL SAVE ISRAEL?
THE BATTLE is over. The dust has settled. A new government – partly ridiculous, partly terrifying – has been installed.
It is time to take stock.
The net result is that Israel has given up all pretense of desiring peace and that Israeli democracy has suffered a blow from which it may never recover.
ISRAELI GOVERNMENTS – with the possible exception of Yitzhak Rabin's – have never really desired peace. The peace that is possible.
Leaving Captivity for the Promised Land
African Solidarity at Holot
Miko Peled: There's Nothing Racist in Boycotting Israeli Goods And Services. It's About Justice."
Amira Hass: An Israeli journalist living in Palestine
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Magazine Illustration Part 2: HOLIDAY magazine
Arguably the high point of Searle's career was during the 50s & 60s when his style found a comfortable median between overtly cartoony & more realistic reportage such as the REFUGEE drawings. He had numerous commisions from American HOLIDAY magazine & was sent all over the world to capture the exotic & esoteric in his inimatable style. From German brothels to the Alaskan wilderness the drawings he produced for HOLIDAY are amongst his finest.
Alternative version-
Excerpt from an interview with Frank Zachary, picture editor of HOLIDAY Magazine during the fifties:
"While photography was the back bone of Holiday, illustration was its soul. Zachary was underwhelmed by the prevailing sentimental illustrative approach found in most American magazines, and eyed Europe, specifically England and France, for the surrealistic comic vision he was looking for. "Frank brought sophisticated illustration to American magazines," recalls Sam Antupit. "Other art directors brought powerful or clever images, but Frank bought an unprecedented sophistication. Of course it came from Europe since in the early Fifties there weren't too many Americans practicing sophisticated pen work . . ."
". . . Holiday artists like Ronald Searle, Andre François, Roland Topor, Folon, Tomi Ungerer, Comenico Gnoli and Edward Gorey (one of the few native Americans practicing out of the mainstream) were given great latitude to develop their own stories and portfolios. Zachary avoided using the reigning stars because "that would be too easy," but chose to discover his own new galaxy. In most cases the artists actually transformed themselves in this environment. "I got people like Ronald Searle," remembers Zachary, "to do a feature on something like the London hotel scene. The first result was pretty straightforward, so I asked him to satirize it or just make it funny, and almost overnight, he changed his style, becoming the Searle that you and I know today." Searle concurs: "Frank gave me a lot of firsts. From around 1959 to 1969, he gave me all the space one could dream of, the chance to fill it with color, the freedom to travel and what proved to be the last of the great reportages. Off to Alaska! Cover all of Canada! Bring me ten pages on the dirty bits of Hamburg! No expense spared. The years of travel for Frank gave me experiences that cannot be bought. There was always one problem: he always called me 'Arnold' instead of Ronald. But then, he probably always called Arnold Newman 'Ronald,' so it balanced out."
Copyright 1991 by The American Institute of Graphic Arts.
The magazine even published a letter of complaint from illustrator John Maass in April 1957.
'HOLIDAY'S Art Director received the following from the artist who illustrated Punial's First American in the February issue:
Dear Mr Zacharie:
I don't know who is to blame at Curtiss. Is it Mr Patric? Mr Beimiller? ANyway, my name is misspelled in the February issue of HOLIDAY.
John Maass
Mr. M proved his point. Messrs. Zachary, Patrick and Biemiller of HOLIDAY, Curtis Publishing Company, will never forget it. - Ed.'
SIGNED, INSCRIBED 'PALM SPRINGS' AND DATED 1963 PEN INK AND WATERCOLOUR 19 X 14 INCHES
ILLUSTRATED: HOLIDAY, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 1965
HOLIDAY Magazine, February 1965
HOLIDAY MAGAZINE, APRIL 1962, FEATURE ON FLORIDA PEN AND INK 14 X 10 INCHES
Hawaii:Hotel Street, Honolulu HOLIDAY Magazine December 1965
Hawaii: Oahu HOLIDAY Magazine December 1965
Morocco: Family, Casablanca HOLIDAY Magazine September 1966
Germany: Black Forest HOLIDAY Magazine October 1964
'Welcome to the Reeperbahn', 1967 Pen & Wash
HOLIDAY Magazine January 1968
Canada: Hudson's Bay HOLIDAY Magazine April 1964.
This would later lead to a commission from The Hudson's Bay Company to illustrate their calender, the drawings for which were subsequently published in the book THE GREAT FUR OPERA, 1970.
HOLIDAY Magazine, March 1964
Frank Zachary would later go on to have a brief tenure as Art Director of TRAVEL & LEISURE Magazine & would again commision travel sketches from Searle.
TRAVEL & LEISURE autumn 1971 Original stolen New York.
'Shrine', 1975 Pen & Watercolour
Travel & Leisure Magazine, New York August 1975
'Crete', 1965 Pen & Watercolour
Venture Magazine, New York April 1966
SIGNED, INSCRIBED WITH TITLE AND DATED 1989 PEN INK AND WATERCOLOUR WITH CRAYON 15 X 15 1/2 INCHES
ILLUSTRATED: CONDE NAST TRAVEL MAGAZINE, APRIL 1990, 'LONDON' BY DAVID MAMET
Holiday magazine April 1961
San Francisco is the destination of Holiday's sumptuous April 1961 issue: It is a San Francisco of another time and place, one in which, even half a century later, the glamour, color, drive, grit and sheer wonder of the place is rekindled by a leaf through the magazine. This issue of Curtis Publishing's Holiday portrayed a city in love with itself and its past, yet teetering on the edge of a roiling future.
Holiday, Vol. 29, No. 4 is image-rich front to back. Its cover is a pastiche by David Stone Martin of "painted lady" Victorians, cable cars, Coit Tower, Chinatown and the Golden Gate Bridge. Inside are paintings by Asian American painter Dong Kingman and a biting pen-and-ink send-up of San Francisco society by caricaturist Ronald Searle titled "Morbid Anatomy of the San Francisco Society Lady."
1959 (Issue?) Las Vegas; July 1962 Tribal America; December 1963 Florida; July 1963
Alaska; April 1963 Dublin; March 1964 Wall Street; February 1965 Palm Springs;
May 1964 Canada; October 1964 Germany; February 1966 New England Skiing;
July 1964 New York World Fair; July 1965 Reno, Nevada; September 1966 Casablanca
Morocco; December 1965 Hawaii; July 1965 The Catskills; January 1968 Hamburg Night
Life; August 1968 Grand Central Station; September 1968 The Traveller's Club, Paris;
November 1968 Papa Doc, Haiti
Posted by Matt Jones at 6:36 PM
Labels: Holiday, Magazine Illustration, Reportage
the more i see the more entrancing it becomes. i think the sun shines out of this lads pants. A brilliant original, good for him and good for you for putting it together
Chloe Cumming said...
Thank you so much for posting these Matt. This blog is way up there on my links list. Aren't many draftspersons of this calibre knocking about nowadays.
Ann O'Dyne said...
I grew up with the genius of Searle. bless him. a genius.
thanks for this gallery
peas and love
(I found your site via link at Aint No Sanity Clause blog)
illustrationISM said...
'amen' to mick's comment
"the more i see
the more
entrancing it
becomes."
count me as one
of searle's admirers.
whenever i go to
yard or
garage sales, i'm always going through the old magazine stacks
for these issues!
his line work
mesmerizing!
mark jaquette @
ism &
BAMm
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Newest Husky Michael Boland trying to catch up
These have been exciting but very challenging days for the newest member of the UConn football team.
Michael Boland, who had 14 sacks as a standout two-way lineman at Dunmore (Pa.) High, was preparing himself to go to prep school this fall and likely playing on the line.
That all changed when former Cheshire Academy linebacker Cory Jasudowich left the program with the intention of transferring and Boland received the call that he could come to UConn immediately. He would not, however, be suiting up as a lineman for UConn.
However, UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni said that Boland will start off playing tight end.
“We envisioned him at three places,” Pasqualoni said. “We envisioned as a tight end, as an offensive tackle and as a defensive lineman. He is a about 265-267 pounds and had a pretty good high school career. He was pretty impressive on the basketball court so I he is one of the guys in this group who are pretty athletic, he has good size and good athleticism.”
Boland was preparing to enroll at prep school before heading to UConn in January but he was holding out hope that he would get the call that a scholarship slot was available immediately. That call came on Tuesday and the next morning he was in a car bound for Connecticut.
“When I got the call I was pretty excited and called my dad to try to get up here as fast as possible,” Boland said. “I know I had to have the right mindset, I knew I was going to be a little behind and had to get to know the playbook. All the time was spent studying the playbook.
“They had talked about it (playing tight end) back in my recruitment but what really surprised me is I thought I was going to prep school and when I first found out, I was shocked but at the same time I was real glad. I wanted to come up here and give it all I’ve got.”
With the graduation of Ryan Griffin and John Delahunt, transfer of Neil Shortell, decision to have fellow freshman Jordan Fuchs attend Milford Academy in the fall before enrolling at UConn and recent injury suffered by freshman tight end Quinn Thompson, the Huskies were in need of another tight end. Boland is happy to get the opportunity at tight end.
“I was mostly an offensive tackle and defensive end but whenever I ran I always ran with the skill guys so the speed didn’t bother me,” Boland said.
“Blocking wise it is pretty much the same but the only thing I have to learn are the routes.”
Boland knows he has plenty of work to do if he wants to be a part of the UConn travel squad as a true freshman.
“It is hard to come in and start as a freshman so I figured I had to come in and earn my way to make it onto the travel team,” Boland said. “We have two great guys in Sean (McQuillan) and Spencer (Parker) who are doing a great job and (freshman Tommy Myers) who is also doing a great job so I am trying to learn from them.”
On signing day Boland was one of the surprises in UConn's recruiting class so I was curious whether the Huskies made a late run to land Boland's commitment. Boland said the opposite was true.
"UConn was the first team to (show) interest in me and I always followed UConn for years following their great tight ends so when they interest in me I was really excited and it made me work harder and harder every day," Boland said.
Labels: Michael Boland
posted by Jim Fuller at 6:57 PM
Whitmer encouraged by progress of UConn's offense
Another Feagles getting his kicks at UConn
Former UConn teammates cross paths in preseason ga...
Jasudowich addresses decision to transfer
Jasudowich transferring, Boland coming in
Former Huskies in action tonight
Graham Stewart happy to be home
Leicester (Mass.) RB/LB commits to UConn
Manuel addresses team and then does same with medi...
Thoughts on Tuesday's practice
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Archive For The “John Silber” Category
#FreeUAB Worked. Would #FreeBU Have, Too?
By LFN | June 6, 2015
By all accounts what happened at UAB was extraordinary.
Last November, football at AUB was essentially abolished by the University of Alabama’s Board of Trustees and confirmed by president Ray Watts. The decision was made secretly, in the middle of the season, with an entire press release written up – but since it didn’t “look good”, Watts kept up with the fiction that there still was a decision to be made.
After the season concluded, Watts announced the termination of the program, saying that “was not about finances… but planning for excellence in the future for everything we do.”
You probably know the rest of the story. It was immediately apparent to all (but apparently not Watts, or the CarrSports Consultants who were commissioned the data to help make that decision) that UAB’s termination of football would almost certainly cost them membership in Conference USA, which was one of several factors that helped set ablaze students, alumni, and most importantly important boosters and community sponsors who mobilized immediately to save football (and bowling and women’s rifle, the two other programs that were cut in the same move).
#FreeUAB was a hashtag that never really went away from December 2014 to June 1st, 2015, when the Alabama Board of Trustees and Watts stunningly reversed their decision, saying that they would be reinstating football and remain members of Conference USA.
So much at UAB echoes what happened at other schools that shuttered their football programs, too, but nowhere does it echo more strongly than what happened at Boston University in October of 1997.
It makes me wish Twitter, and some variation of a #FreeBU hashtag, existed back then.
1997, Boston University, Disbanding, Football, FreeBU, FreeUAB, John Silber, Lehigh, Leon Spivack, Patriot League, T.J. Hartford, UAB
Why Don’t Loyola U. and Boston U. Sponsor Football (Again)?
When you see this picture of Loyola University headgear, do you think football, or lacrosse?
If you’re a rabid college football fan, you’re forgiven if you think of this as a possible concept football helmet for a member of the Patriot League, Loyola (MD), though it’s actually a lacrosse helmet, of course.
This last week I started to take a look at the financial details of the schools of the Patriot League, and some of the other schools in the Northeast that sponsor FCS football.
Yet one nagging question kept reappearing in my mind.
Why am I looking around for Patriot League expansion candidates to aid in the League’s football conference when two of the best possible additions in the league for football are already full-sports members?
One had a decidedly modest football history that didn’t make that much of a dent on the college football consciousness. The other had a rich football history buried by a president that was an ideological zealot. Neither sponsor the sport today.
But both have the facilities, the money, and the conference to do it. You can make a very good case that they should be the eighth and ninth football-playing members of the League.
Boston University, FCS, Football, John Silber, Lehigh, Loyola University MD, Patriot League
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#BlogTour #Extract from Kindred Spirits by Jennifer C. Wilson @inkjunkie1984 @BrookCottageBks #Giveaway
Posted on 18th June 2018 By Nicola
I’m delighted to be sharing an extract from Kindred Spirits by Jennifer C. Wilson today. My thanks to JB from Brook Cottage Books for the place on the tour. If you love historical stories which feature real historical figures, but with a difference, then this is the book for you. And there’s a chance to win the first in the series further down this post.
Series: Kindred Spirits
Genre: Paranormal Historical Fiction
Release Date: 8th June 2018
Publisher: Crooked Cat Books
On hallowed ground…
With over three thousand burials and memorials, including seventeen monarchs, life for the ghostly community of Westminster Abbey was never going to be a quiet one. Add in some fiery Tudor tempers, and several centuries-old feuds, and things can only go one way: chaotic.
Against the backdrop of England’s most important church, though, it isn’t all tempers and tantrums. Poets’ Corner hosts poetry battles and writing workshops, and close friendships form across the ages.
With the arrival of Mary Queen of Scots, however, battle ensues. Will Queens Mary I and Elizabeth I ever find their common ground, and lasting peace?
The bestselling Kindred Spirits series continues within the ancient walls of Westminster Abbey.
BUY LINKS KINDRED SPIRITS WESTMINSTER ABBEY
AMAZON UK: https://goo.gl/ye2v13
AMAZON US: https://goo.gl/A97Bf7
BUY ALL THREE BOOKS IN THE SERIES!
AMAZON: https://goo.gl/LMhv7J
So, to whet your appetite, here’s an extract from the prologue.
Kindred Spirits: Westminster Abbey – Prologue
“McGonagall!”
Mary-Eleanor Bowes triumphantly held the small scrap of paper aloft. The style of Westminster Abbey’s monthly Poets’ Corner Poetry Battle had been selected.
“No!” The anguish in Chaucer’s voice was clear. “We had him only three months back – surely we must pick again! Or, I shall pick. I pull rank, there must be a reselection.”
“There will be no reselection, Geoffrey, not by you or anyone else. And as for pulling rank, what right do you have? Ah, but of course, ‘your wife was sister to the Duchess of Lancaster.’ Well, my grand-daughter IS the Duchess of Lancaster.” Mary-Eleanor straightened out the piece of paper as she spoke.
“Your grand-daughter? Add a few ‘greats’ in there, I think. Besides, you mean ‘Duke of Lancaster’, which any true royal relation should know already, don’t you think?” retorted Chaucer, determined not to let her have the last word. Again.
“Oh, come, come now. Our form is chosen, we must work with what we have.” The calm, steady voice of Charles Dickens broke into the midst of their argument. “Now, shall we re-assert the rules?”
Reluctantly, Mary-Eleanor and Chaucer nodded, and returned to their seats among the rest of the group. With the crowds of the day gone, and Evensong finished, the silence in Westminster Abbey was growing, and in the South Transept, the residents of Poets’ Corner had emerged from their various tombs to take their places, waiting for the monthly competition to start. The first Saturday of the month, every month, since 1343. Although, in fairness, for the first few years it had mainly been Geoffrey Chaucer amusing himself, trying desperately to get the other spirits of the Abbey to join him. It had never worked, no others being so literarily inclined. But now he finally had some competition. Each passing decade and century had brought a whole host of new poets, new writers and new styles.
This month, however, saw a return to the nineteenth century, and the doggerel poetry of William McGonagall.
“At least McGonagall isn’t here to complain about anything,” called Shakespeare, from the corner in which he was huddled with Kit Marlowe. Their heads were bowed over a new academic analysis of Shakespeare’s work, left behind by a careless student. The ghosts were nervous each time such a volume was released, for fear it would spark yet more debate as to the plays’ true authorship. Marlowe had enough fun taunting his friend without help from academics.
“Thank our lucky stars – he stays up in Edinburgh, apparently. I heard it from Mary Queen of
Scots herself, last time she visited,” said Jane Austen. The pride of associating with monarchs was clear in her voice.
“Anyway, to return to the rules,” said Dickens, bringing them back to the point in hand. “Only those writers who are actually buried here may participate. Each poet will contribute two lines of poetry. The order of competitors will be decided first come, first served.” At this he glared at Chaucer, daring him to try and contradict him. The poet kept his silence; Dickens continued. “Any poet not able to contribute two lines within one minute is dismissed from this month’s competition. All agreed?”
“I still don’t see why poets who aren’t buried here shouldn’t be allowed to take part. This rule is surely out-dated by now, and besides, it limits your competition.” Oscar Wilde raised his monthly objection from his position, reclining on the floor and staring up at the ceiling. “Also, think of the lovely collaborations we could run with – all these styles and ideas to play with.”
Rudyard Kipling spoke up. “Rules are rules, Oscar, and these have been in place for centuries, long before you deigned to begin to join us. Perhaps, going forward, we shall hold the odd open competition, but even then, they would be open to those who attend our meetings regularly, not those who simply arrive on Eurostar the day before.”
Did you like that? Fancy a bit more? Here’s an extract from chapter one.
Queen Elizabeth I of England was sulking. And not quietly, as the rest of the Abbey’s residents would have preferred. Despite her advancing years, she could still flounce in style, and was keen to ensure everyone knew what was annoying her this time.
“It’s so boring here!” she exclaimed, dropping gracelessly into one of the choir stalls. “Nothing ever happens.”
“She’s been to the Tower again,” whispered Catherine Knollys to her brother, but not quite quietly enough, as the queen’s friends and cousins wandered over to see what specifically had been troubling her this time.
“Yes, yes, I have. At least things happen there.”
“Our Uncle George still as entertaining as ever then?” Henry Carey tried to divert his cousin’s attention, but only made it worse.
“Naturally. He was haunting the barrel of Malmsey with Clarence, and it was hilarious, as usual. Scaring people out of their skins. That’s what we ghosts should be doing, not just loitering about discussing experiments.” She glared at where Charles Darwin and Robert Stephenson were once again in deep conversation, sitting out of the way of the early tourists starting to make their way through the great church. Without a word, Darwin glared at her, then shifted in his seat turning his back against her, much to Elizabeth’s disgust.
“We do plenty of haunting, Cousin. It’s just that, well, you know the Abbey’s never really lent itself to that.”
“No, Catherine – everyone has simply become too old and too dull over the centuries. And too weak to stand up to my wretched great-grandmother. It’s all her fault.”
Catherine and Henry shot nervous glances at each other. When Elizabeth was in one of these moods, little could be done to stop her. Even her beloved Dudley had retreated back to Warwick after witnessing one of her angrier days. Before either could speak again, their cousin had moved on, stomping through the Abbey until she found the memorial to William Pulteney, the Earl of Bath.
As though knowing what was expected, the book in the centre of the statue flicked pages in silence. It wasn’t good enough.
“See? See that? A page of a statue’s book turning. Over three thousand of us in here, seventeen monarchs, no less, as the guidebooks tell us, and that’s the best we can come up with?” Queen Elizabeth spun on her heel, turning back to the siblings. “At the Tower they have my mother removing her severed head, with my step-mother and my aunt alongside her. They have a young, robust King, leading the way forward. They have wailings and chain-rattlings and, well, everything. We have a statue, turning its page.”
By now, a crowd had grown around the Queen, noting, not for the first time, how similar she was to her great-grandmother when her temper really took hold. Fiery Tudor blood indeed.
“We’ve talked about this, Elizabeth.” The chattering and ranting was broken by the only voice which ever had any control over the wayward Queen.
“Now she’s in trouble,” Mary-Eleanor smirked to her companion, only to receive a regal nudge in the ribs from Anne of Cleves.
Edward the Confessor moved slowly through the group, not troubling himself with meeting anyone’s eyes, but knowing they would move for him. They always did.
“We do not waste our time with such infantile behaviour here, Elizabeth, as well you know. We have held meetings.”
“Then we should hold more,” Elizabeth protested. “Otherwise, what is the point of us being ghosts?”
“Spirits,” the Confessor corrected her. “We use ‘spirits’ here. I don’t like ‘ghosts’.”
“Either way, we should be haunting. Surely even just a couple of calm visitations. You’ve never had a problem with Father Benedictus.”
“The good Father has his reasons for still being here. And he does the people he talks to no harm whatsoever. The souls of the Tower are troubled; they know no better than to disturb the peace of the living. Those of us here, we are not of the same ilk.” He glanced at Mary-Eleanor, knowing that of all those present, she would be the second most likely to argue with him. But instead she lowered her head in a slow, graceful nod, not uttering a word.
“I trust this matter is dealt with.” The Confessor ended the conversation and headed back to his shrine.
Jennifer is a marine biologist by training, who developed an equal passion for history whilst stalking Mary, Queen of Scots of childhood holidays (she since moved on to Richard III). She completed her BSc and MSc at the University of Hull, and has worked as a marine environmental consultant since graduating.
Enrolling on an adult education workshop on her return to the north-east reignited Jennifer’s pastime of creative writing, and she has been filling notebooks ever since. In 2014, Jennifer won the Story Tyne short story competition, and also continues to work on developing her poetic voice, reading at a number of events, and with several pieces available online. Her Kindred Spirits novels are published by Crooked Cat Books. In October 2017, she celebrated Richard III’s birthday by releasing her first timeslip novella, The Last Plantagenet
Enrolling on an adult education workshop on her return to the north-east reignited Jennifer’s pastime of creative writing, and she has been filling notebooks ever since. In 2014, Jennifer won the Story Tyne short story competition, and also continues to work on developing her poetic voice, reading at a number of events, and with several pieces available online. Her Kindred Spirits novels are published by Crooked Cat Books. In October 2017, she celebrated Richard III’s birthday by releasing her first timeslip novella, The Last Plantagenet.
Blog Tour, Extracts, Giveaways blog tour, extract, giveaway
Nicola Slade
18th June 2018 at 10:13
Great to see Jane Austen turning up in Jennifer’s entertaining cavalcade of spirits! Looking forward to reading this one.
Thanks for commenting, Nicola. Hope you enjoy the book.
Pingback: Kindred Spirits on tour! – Jennifer C. Wilson
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Heritage Association’s holiday home tour set for Sunday
The Mercury Staff
Community, Community Blogs, Featured, In the News, News, San Marcos 2, San Marcos Heritage Association, Scene
Ann DeStefano, Brenda Jenkins, Brian Burleson, Clay DeStefano, Don Wallace, Heritage Association of San Marcos, Heritage Neighborhood, Home for the Holidays Tour, Marianne Moore, Michele Burleson, Perry Moore, Willow Creek neighborhood
COVER: The gazebo at Veramendi Plaza. ARTWORK by JEFF KESTER
FROM SUBMITTED REPORTS
Five families will open their unique residences to the public 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 for the Heritage Association of San Marcos’ annual Home for the Holidays Tour.
For the first time, none of the featured homes lie within the city’s seven designated historical districts, according to one of the organizers.
“Since the spring tour always features heritage homes, we wanted to give tour goers a chance to see a broader view of San Marcos – beyond the heritage district[s] – and, in turn, get to experience different architectural styles on the tour,” said Marianne Moore, the holiday home tour chair.
Moore’s Mediterranean-style home at 2930 Summit Ridge Drive, which she shares with her husband, Perry, will be one of three spotlighted residences in the Willow Creek neighborhood. The others are Brenda Jenkins’ and Don Wallace’s home at 2801 Summit Ridge Drive and Michele and Brian Burleson’s home at 1211 Mountain View Drive. The remaining two homes on the tour includes Anne and Clay DeStefano’s home at 214 Scott Street, near downtown, and the DuPont family’s country home at 145 Spring Road.
“While the tour is still ostensibly about the homes, it’s really more about the holiday décor this time around. Each of the homes features unique floor plans and interior designs, but more importantly, they also feature ‘over the top’ holiday displays to inspire and delight all who enter,” Moore said.
Each home will feature holiday music and food or beverages. Late afternoon hours will allow tour-goers to take in Christmas lights as they drive between featured homes, Moore said.
Tickets can be purchased for $15 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday during the Cottage Kitchen luncheon at the Charles S. Cock House, 400 E. Hopkins St., or between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, 202 N. CM Allen Parkway.
2014 Holiday Tour of Homes | San Marcos
Brenda Jenkins and Don Wallace
2801 Summit Ridge Drive
This Tuscan-influenced newer home sits nestled in a lush stand of trees in the Willow Creek neighborhood. The greenery continues inside the richly appointed home, which is decorated with a 10-foot living room tree in gold and maroon; a dining room tree with red and gold poinsettias; a teddy bear tree; a childrens’ tree with ornaments collected over the course of 43 years; a bird tree with a collection of ornaments from over a decade,; a “Man Room” tree; and a kitchen ornament/cardinals tree. A nativity scene collection will also be featured.
Marianne and Perry Moore
Built in 2008, this two-story, Mediterranean-style home features a contemporary floor plan. For the Christmas season, it is decorated with 12-food red and green tree; a fruit tree; a green and gold tree; a Rattler purple tree; and a Zebra-themed “Texas Diva” tree. Holiday adornments also include a nutcracker Collection and a Texas capitol ornament collection. The tour concludes with a cup of mulled cider on a balcony that offers breathtaking views of the Texas Hill Country. NOTE: Tour is on second story (main floor) of house which requires navigating about 20 stairs.
Michele and Brian Burleson
Built in 2002, the Burleson home’s festive garb includes a dozen trees in the front yard wrapped with multi-colored lights. It has won neighborhood decoration contests several times. Inside, a series of 10-foot trees include family celebration tree; a celestial tree adorned from top to bottom with African-American angel dolls; and a whimsical tree that celebrates the Burlesons’ granddaughters. The home also features an extensive Christmastime village collection.
Anne and Clay DeStefano
214 Scott Street
This two-story town house was built in 1981 and renovated in 2009 and 2012. In addition to a unique floor plan and interior décor, the Christmas displays in this home consist of some of the very best of the homeowner’s mother’s collection. In addition to traditional Christmas tree and holiday floral displays, the DeStefano home also features Santa, nativity, reindeer and snowmen collections.
DuPont Family’s Spring Oak Farm
Spring Oak Farm has been home to four generations of the DuPont family. The original footprint of the home was built in 1902 with significant additions in 1956 and 2007. Although the home has been occupied by only three families in 112 years, it has always been the site of festive gatherings and entertainment, particularly during the holiday season. Celebrating the season at Spring Oak Farm includes fanciful trees in every room, swags and garlands and glitter galore, nostalgic reminders of holidays past, and all the charm of Christmas in the country.
— HERITAGE ASSOCIATION OF SAN MARCOS
10/13/2014 ‘Tales and Tours’ proposes a stroll through San Marcos history
05/04/2009 CTMC to host Cottage Kitchen luncheon on Friday
05/02/2014 Documentary premiere kicks off historical weekend
11/30/2009 Economic development plan in works for city
03/30/2010 Economic development plan waits on funding
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Cal Worthington
If you wanna "Go see Cal" now, you'd better bring a shovel.
Died on
Friday, December 31st, 1999
1. The February 2013 Lee Jr. 1
2. The 2013 Lee Atwater Invitational Dead Pool 6
3. The August 2012 Lee Jr. 2
4. The Bronko Nagurski Three Bagger 1
6. The May 2011 Lee Jr. 1
9. The Ted Dekker Memorial Three-Bagger 1
10. The Aleksander Petrovic Memorial Three-Bagger 1
11. The 2010 Lee Atwater Invitational Dead Pool 5
18. The March '03 Lee Jr. 1
20. The October '02 Lee Jr. 1
23. The September '01 Lee Jr. 3
Famous U.S. Navy Admiral, and later, the inspiration for an extremely popular doll, under its working title, Contaminate-Me-Elmo.
(d) January 2nd, 2000
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Debasing the CJ post
Written by Herman Tiu Laurel
From the noisy media circus atmospherics the past two weeks surrounding the scramble of Cabinet-member wannabes and outsiders for the Judiciary’s top post, to the buzz on whether or not these nominees’ Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) interviews should be televised, down to the paparazzi fervor with which these prospective candidates are being introduced to the public, all efforts in finding a replacement for ousted Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona ultimately bring up one question: Isn’t this a debasement, a trivialization, of what in the past was considered a rarefied post, along with the essential attributes of detachment and transcendence that the candidates — not just for the Supreme Court (SC) but for the Judiciary as a whole — are supposed to possess?
Thus, it was with a sense of disbelief that I witnessed the likes of the country’s chief tax collector showing off her wares in a cable news interview and of law deans and professors parading themselves to catch media attention, like in a burlesque show. It really is a sad spectacle; and sadder still when you think of how low it speaks of the ruling powers’ regard for the Judiciary.
One CJ qualification raised by Malacañang spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in obvious support of 51-year-old Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Chief Kim Henares, was on the matter of age. He told Palace reporters that since “age is not a factor,” a CJ candidate does not have to be old. What did he mean by that?
First of all, being 40 is not necessarily “young” to the younger set. Despite that, 50 can now be the “new 40” and 60 the “new 50.” Moreover, someone who is 60 can even conceivably be 40 in many respects since it is now widely believed that the mind determines the age. Therefore, someone at age 51 who is crabby, myopic, tyrannical and oppressive can really be an 81-year-old Mubarak in mental state. Got that, Lacierda?
Well, perhaps to buttress his argument, Lacierda also cited the case of US Federal Supreme Court CJ John Roberts, who, upon assuming his post at age 50, serves as an example of a young person appointed to the zenith of the Judiciary. What he failed to note, however, was whether or not this young appointee indeed had a sterling record of public service to begin with.
Objections were already raised about Roberts’ pro-right, anti-abortion leanings that allegedly triggered some violence by extremist groups prior to his appointment. Then, in his five years at the helm, a number of major, yet unsettling, changes came about under his leadership, which led retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to lament, among other things, Roberts’ reversal of her major contribution to US jurisprudence of imposing spending limits on political campaigns.
So besides the 40-year-old age requirement for Philippine CJs, should there be any room for petty ageism? Moreover, given the importance of the CJ’s position, have we ever had any in-depth, ideological, or jurisprudential discussion on issues relating to the CJ’s appointment?
Sadly, it has always been the case of the Chief Executive and his spokesmen, the Legislature, and the media being at the forefront of providing leading, albeit shallow and mediocre, questions in whatever discussions, with politicians, media, relatives, friends of JBC members, or law fraternities holding sway on a personal or parochial basis.
Such a debased (or debasing) process of naming, vetting and appointing the next CJ clearly creates worse conditions for any nominee, as he will no longer be unaffected; will likely feel obliged to respond to private and public parties to which he may feel indebted; or will fear chastisement if he displeases one or the other source of support for his appointment.
We must therefore take a second look at the serendipitous findings of lawyers Alan Paguia and Homobono Adaza in reviewing Article VIII Section 9 on the Judiciary: That there is no constitutional basis for the nomination by the JBC and the President’s appointment of the CJ.
Given the fundamental principles upon which our nation’s democratic system is supposedly founded (namely, the separation-of-powers, checks-and-balances, the independence of the Judiciary) and taking heed of the caveat from an old adage that says “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” we must end the practice of appointing a CJ from outside the SC once and for all in order to enhance the high court’s independence and detachment and for it to focus purely on the interpretation and execution of the Constitution and all its laws.
It is for this reason that Paguia, Adaza, Jojo Borja, myself, and several others will be filing a petition before the SC this Thursday on the issue.
Our thanks thus go to citizens Ric Palompon of Manila, Editha of Batangas, Bonifacio from the South, Romeo Lopez, Olive of Bulacan, Mrs. Villanueva of Mandaluyong, Mrs. Borja of Iligan, and Glen of QC for sending in donations for the filing fee and photocopying. To the few donors who have not sent in their names, we wish to thank them as well. Because of your generosity, I believe we will have enough by the date of filing. Mabuhay to all the conscientious and pro-active citizens who are continuing to support our cause!
(Tune in to 1098AM, dwAD, Sulo ng Pilipino/Radyo OpinYon, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 5 to 6 p.m.; watch Destiny Cable GNN’s HTL edition of Talk News TV, Saturdays, 8:15 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11:15 p.m.; visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com for our articles plus TV and radio archives).
(May Pahintulot ng Pamamahagi)
URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary?start=9
‘US anti-terrorism policy violates human rights’ – Jimmy Carter
Former US president Jimmy Carter has criticized America’s actions against terrorism, saying that drones attacks and targeted assassination of suspicious people are undermining America’s “role as the global champion of human rights.”
In his critical article "A Cruel and Unusual Record" published in the New York Times, Jimmy Carter said that with all the revolutions sweeping around the world, America should “make the world safer.” Instead, however, “America’s violation of international human rights abets our enemies and alienates our friends,” he argues.
US’s government counterterrorism policies, Carter says, are now clearly violating at least 10 of the 30 articles written in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights..... MORE
URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/carter-article-us-drones-677/
Turkey's downed jet: NATO action in disguise?
Turkey is pushing NATO to regard Syria's recent downing of a Turkish jet as an attack on the alliance. NATO is gathering to discuss the incident, while some see parallels with the events that preceded NATO’s campaign in Libya.
Turkey insists that its unarmed RF-4E reconnaissance jet was shot down in international airspace on Friday while testing a domestic radar system. The country’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc also said Monday that Syrian forces had opened ground fire on a search and rescue plane shortly after the first jet was downed.
Turkey has also requested that NATO hold a meeting under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty, which allows a NATO member to request a consultation if it feels a threat to its territorial integrity or security. The meeting is due to take place on Tuesday. The alliance will consider classifying the Friday incident as an armed attack under Article 5, which states that an attack against one NATO member shall be considered an attack against all NATO members..... MORE
URL: http://www.rt.com/news/turkish-plane-nato-syria-725/
547,000 victims
Written by Jonathan de la Cruz
To learned obser-vers, it is not so much the news that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has shifted $1 biliion of its $77 billion reserves from bonds or other financial instruments lodged with its accredited fund managers to an interest bearing account called the “firewall fund” administered by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that is the problem. That shift, not a lending, is not really as gross and threatening as some sectors would like the public to believe. It is in fact a prudent and, yes, a beneficial move as part of our commitment to the stability of global financial markets. Rather, it is the report that the BSP has presided over the collapse of 41 banks in the last 18 months alone putting the monies of 547,000 depositors in extreme jeopardy, which has raised alarm bells in these parts.
Coming as it did with the 49th anniversary of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) and the celebration of “Depositor Protection Week,” this piece of bad news has really sent shudders down the spine of millions of depositors whose hard-earned monies may just be lost in a jiffy resulting from what some observers have described as a disturbing trend of laxity in the BSP’s examination and supervisory functions as well as the inchoate if not conflicting rules and issuances made by it and its twin banking regulatory agency, the PDIC.
The unprecedented bank closures of more than two banks per month has prompted LPGMA party-list Rep. Arnel Ty to push a congressional inquiry on the reasons behind these closures and their impact on the communities and sectors they serve and the economy as a whole..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/item/684-547000-victims
Small lady at LTO strikes again
Written by Jacinto ‘Jing’ Paras
The BS Aquino administration seems so fond of small ladies, whether fictitious or real. One such small lady was mentioned during the impeachment trial where a congressman alleged that some documents were handed to him by a small lady.
Another is a mysterious small lady who left some documents at the gate of another congressman in his Loyola Heights home. Now another small lady that figured out in a very high profile controversy is the small lady of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and mind you, this small lady is not fictitious, she is for real and she’s got big plans but most have gained notoriety in our current day to day life. She’s none other than the best friend and shooting buddy of his Excellency BS Aquino, Ms. Virginia Torres.
Charlie Manalo of the Tribune called her, the most controversial official. If we recall, Ms Torres got involved in illegall and forcible takeover the facilities of Stradcom, a company owned by Mr. Cesar Quiambao. Torres tried to help the Sumbilla group, a group claiming ownership of Stradcom to forcibly open the offices of Quiambao’s Stradcom and entered its premises aided by LTO security forces. For this notorious act, Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima recommended the filing of both administrative and criminal cases and dismissal of Torres from government service..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary?start=18
One dead as Chinese ship sinks RP boat near shoal
FISHING CRAFT’S CAPTAIN SAYS ATTACK INTENTIONAL
The first physical encounter between Chinese and Philippine vessels amid a tense naval standoff over conflicting territorial claims of both countries happened last June 18, or a day after President Aquino ordered the pullout of Philippine ships from the disputed Scarborough Shoal, in an incident where a Chinese vessel rammed a local fishing boat near the shoal, killing one and leaving four others missing.
Office of Civil Defense chief Benito Ramos described the ramming as accidental but Posio Balmores, captain of the motorized fishing boat AXL John, said their seacraft was intentionally bumped.
Ramos, nevertheless, admitted that the suspected Chinese vessel did not stop to help the Filipino fishermen as seafaring protocol calls, raising suspicion that the incident was not accidental.
“It (foreign vessel) did not (stop) that’s why we are doubtful if it was accidental then they should have helped them (Filipino fishermen). They were recovered two days after by fellow Filipino fishermen,” Ramos said..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/700-one-dead-as-chinese-ship-sinks-rp-boat-near-shoal
Carpio accuser produces witness to SC cover-up in Urban Bank case
A lawyer, who was disbarred after accusing Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio of improprieties in handling a case involving the now defunct Urban Bank, has produced a key witness to back up his claim that there had been a cover-up.
The witness, former SC stenographer Fe Malou Castelo, who took notes of important proceedings in the high court for nine years lashed out at justices of the tribunal who, according to
her, erred in ordering the disbarment of the lawyer on “inadequate and insufficient” grounds.
In an affidavit dated May 25, 2012, Castelo, who was SC stenographer from 1997 to 2006, also backed claims by Magdaleno Peña that there was a “cover-up” in the complaints he filed against some justices and that the documents he submitted pertaining to an allegedly forged resolution issued in November 2002 by then First Division member Associate Justice Antonio Carpio were authentic.
“Throughout my tenure as a stenographer with the SC, I have never experienced an instance wherein any justice or division, or the en banc for that matter, changed the actions taken and agreed upon during the deliberations, without having the particular case called again,” Castelo said..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/695-carpio-accuser-produces-witness-to-sc-cover-up-in-urban-bank-case
POEA blacklists 2 US recruitment firms
Written by Mina Diaz
Two US-based employment agencies were blacklisted by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) for deceiving 24 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were promised jobs in hotels in Florida but were forced to work as farmers in Mississippi.
The POEA cancelled the recruitment license of US Opportunities and Royal Hospitality Services and the ZDrive Inc., both US-based employment services companies, for their failure to provide Filipino workers the jobs specified in their contracts.
POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac also ordered the exclusion of two US-based companies from participating in the government’s overseas employment program for contractual violation under the POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Overseas Workers..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/691-poea-blacklists-2-us-recruitment-firms
RP ranked 6th by WB in gender equality
President Aquino appears bent on naming more women to key positions in the Executive Department or the Judiciary where a selection process for the position of Chief Justice is in progress.
At a radio press briefing, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said the Aquino administration remained committed to the promotion of equality between men and women even as the Palace aide welcomed results of a World Bank (WB) study showing the Philippines ranking sixth out of 129 countries in gender equality..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/692-rp-ranked-6th-by-wb-in-gender-equality
Alcala urges Finance chief to discipline Customs boss
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala is calling on Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to ask Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon to make good on measures needed to curb smuggling of imported meats that erode the local industries of pork, poultry and other agricultural crops.
In a letter to Purisima dated June 13, Alcala followed up on the series of letter-requests he had made since April 10, asking among other things that the Bureau of Customs (BoC) provide the Department of Agriculture quarantine personnel with the Inward Foreign Manifest (IFM) “unfiltered on a real time basis.”
Alcala also asked Purisima on the status of BoC’s implementation on reference prices that he wanted imposed on imports starting May 11, 2012..... MORE
URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/metro-section/item/677-alcala-urges-finance-chief-to-discipline-customs-boss
Pasig PNP plan to release reporter’s assailant foiled
Plans of the Pasig City police to release “at cost” an arrested suspect believed to be one of the three assailants behind the slay try on The Daily Tribune reporter Fernan Angeles last March, was foiled when the journalist himself showed up at the Pasig PNP station to verify a text message saying the local drug ring’s designated hitman had just been picked up.
Angeles, who sustained permanent physical disabilities resulting from an ambush that saw him peppered with six bullets, assailed the anti-drug operatives of the Pasig PNP.
Angeles, who has resumed covering Malacañang Palace for The Tribune, recounted having seen how the Pasig PNP’s anti-drug operatives even accorded privilege to the suspect, one alias Junior Praning, who was allowed to use the mobile phone of an anti-drug police officer so he could contact anybody who could “bail him out instantly.”.... MORE
URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/metro-section/item/676-pasig-pnp-plan-to-release-reporter%E2%80%99s-assailant-foiled
‘US anti-terrorism policy violates human rights’ –...
Carpio accuser produces witness to SC cover-up in ...
Alcala urges Finance chief to discipline Customs b...
Pasig PNP plan to release reporter’s assailant foi...
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= Tier: Stars
= Console-verified
= Has commentary
SNES Super Mario World (USA) "warps" in 09:57.1 by BrunoVisnadi & Amaraticando.
lsnes movie (.lsmv) (date: 2015-12-09)
MP4 file via BitTorrent (Compatibility) (size: 38.44 MB, length: 15:13)
Mirror archive.org (MP4 Compatibility)
- Contains speed/entertainment tradeoffs
- Uses death to save time
- Takes damage to save time
- Forgoes major skip glitch
- Forgoes final boss skip glitch
- Forgoes time-saving glitches
This is the 12th published movie of Super Mario World that beats the game by clearing 11 of the 96 exits, the shortest route intended by the game developers. This movie's faster by 2.74 seconds, clocking at less than 10 minutes. As in the previous publication, Mario still dies in the process.
A few new tricks were found:
Stunning a fish;
Lateral corner clip;
Downward corner boost.
We recommend reading the authors' comments for more details.
There are also movies of this game that trigger the credits early, clear all 96 exits, clear as many exits as possible as small Mario and write a program using the game's code.
The encodes feature commentary by the authors as soft subtitles.
This run was played back on a real SNES console, watch the verification here!
Added SNES Super Mario World (USA) "game end glitch" by Doomsday31415, BrunoVisnadi & Masterjun in 00:41.68 (2019-07-04)
- obsoletes SNES Super Mario World (USA) "game end glitch" by BrunoVisnadi, Amaraticando & Masterjun in 00:41.81 (2015-08-18)
- - obsoletes SNES Super Mario World (USA) "game end glitch" by Masterjun in 00:41.98 (2014-05-25)
- - - obsoletes SNES Super Mario World (USA) "game end glitch" by Masterjun in 01:39.74 (2013-04-30)
- - - - obsoletes SNES Super Mario World (USA) "game end glitch" by Masterjun in 02:36.4 (2012-01-08)
Added SNES Super Mario World (USA) "warps" by BrunoVisnadi & Amaraticando in 09:57.1 (2015-12-09)
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[1868] SNES Super Mario World (USA) "no powerups, maximum exits" by PangaeaPanga in 1:18:23.22
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Matalan Weston-Super-Mare Contact Number 0870 025 0297
December 2, 2016 November 30, -0001 admin
Need to call Matalan in Weston-Super-Mare? Give the customer service team a call on 0870 025 0297.
This number will reroute you through our call forwarding service to the Matalan Weston-Super-Mare call center staff who will be more than happy to help with all enquiries.
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Weston-Super-Mare Matalan Contact Number:
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Weston-Super-Mare Matalan Contact Number 0870 025 0297
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Head Office MATALAN HEAD OFFICE,
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Telephone Number For Matalan Weston-Super-Mare: 0870 025 0297
Contact the Weston-Super-Mare Matalan Store: 0870 025 0297
Matalan Weston-Super-Mare General Information:
Matalan Weston-Super-Mare sells a range of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing. The clothing is suitable for all occasions, from party dresses to pyjamas. Clothing for women is available in sizes 8-20 with some items sized as small/medium/large. You can shop by searching through Weston-Super-Mare Matalan’s in-house brands including Papaya, Soon and Falmer Heritage. Fashion designer Julien Macdonald has also designed a collection of nightwear for the company. If you are struggling to put together an outfit or would like assistance in styling the latest trends, Matalan has an inspiration section on the website with edits and ways to wear sections designed to inspire you.
For men, you will find everything from full suits to loungewear. As with womenswear, there is a selection of in-house brands available including Pringle, Wrangler and Taylor & Wright. The sizing of menswear can vary- some items will be a straightforward small/medium/large whereas suits and formalwear may be measured by the waist, chest and inside leg measurements. Matalan also stocks a range of men’s accessories such as pocket squares, ties and belts.
Thanks for checking out the Weston-Super-Mare Matalan Contact Number page.
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Home / Tech News / Are you James Bond or Maxwell Smart? Find out at the Spyscape espionage museum
Are you James Bond or Maxwell Smart? Find out at the Spyscape espionage museum
admin February 20, 2018 Tech News Leave a comment 136 Views
Spyscape/Scott Frances
If you’ve ever thought you’d make a good spy, here’s your chance to prove it. The Spyscape museum, an interactive exhibit chronicling the history of espionage, just opened in New York City, and it offers an experience you won’t likely encounter outside of a Jason Bourne movie.
Located on 8th Avenue in Manhattan, the museum visit begins with a top-level briefing aboard one of the largest elevators in the world. The tour runs through seven exhibition spaces and includes hands-on experiences with surveillance, encryption, deception, hacking, and intelligence operations.
Shelby Prichard, Spyscape’s chief of staff, told Metro that he thinks the museum will make people more aware of the role of espionage and surveillance in modern society. “We hope this will be a really empowering experience for people to start to see their world differently, see themselves differently, and understand how the types of skills that spies use can be relevant to their daily lives,” he said.
“We show how the world of espionage is all around you,” he added.
During your visit, you’ll try to crack codes, take a lie-detector test, test out facial-recognition software, and even attempt to evade security in a laser-filled hallway. At each challenge, a bracelet tracks your progress to compile your spy profile, with an algorithm assessing things like tolerance for risk and ability to handle stress. After the tour, you’ll get an assessment of which of 10 spy roles you’d best be suited for.
“We developed this profiling system in concert with the former head of training for British intelligence, so it’s a super legitimate look at how the intelligence community thinks about what it takes to be different kinds of spy,” said Prichard.
It’s not just an interactive playground — the museum illustrates the history of the shadowy world of espionage, with exhibits ranging from code-breaker Alan Turing to NSA leaker Edward Snowden. Each of the seven sections of the museum is centered around the exploits of a real-life spy.
It was created by actual intelligence professionals, with former heads of spy agencies as well as white-hat hackers contributing to the project. “Whenever we explained the concept and how we’re thinking about making this world of spying more accessible, we had really great reception,” said Prichard.
The museum tour ends up at a book store with more than 1,000 rare and first-edition spy books. There’s also a gift shop, where you can purchase all sorts of cool spy gadgets, many developed in-house at Spyscape. After a hard day of spying, you can relax with a martini at the bar — shaken, not stirred, of course.
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9.5 Theses
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Christian girls in Iraq credit Virgin Mary with their survival
Iraqi special forces hold national flags after retaking Bartella, outside Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 21, 2016. Iraqi and Kurdish forces backed by a U.S.-led coalition launched a multi-pronged assault this week to retake Mosul and surrounding areas from Islamic State militants. The operation is the largest undertaken by the Iraqi military since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Iraqi officials said they had advanced as far as the town of Bartella, 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Mosul's outskirts, by Thursday. (Credit: AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed.)
Seven young women in Kirkuk, Iraq, credit the Virgin Mary for their safety after spending a harrowing eight hours hidden underneath beds while Islamic State group fighters used their room as a hideout during an assault on the city.
KIRKUK, Iraq - Seven young women in Kirkuk credit the Virgin Mary for their safety after spending a harrowing eight hours hidden underneath beds while Islamic State group fighters used their room as a hideout during an assault on the city.
“The Virgin Mary was with them,” Father Roni Momika told CNA Oct. 23.
The priest, who ministers in refugee camps of Ankawa, Erbil in northern Iraq, was in cell phone contact with two of the girls while they hid under the beds. They gave him a play-by-play account of what was happening.
Seven women, university students in Kirkuk, found themselves threatened by the Islamic State group’s assault on the city Friday, Oct. 21.
“ISIS entered the house of our students, the girls,” the priest reported.
When they heard the militants coming, the women quickly darted under four beds in one of the rooms, where they remained undiscovered for eight hours as ISIS fighters used the room as a refuge to eat, pray and hide from Iraqi Army forces.
“I was speaking with them all the time,” Momika said, noting how there was “a strong girl” who told him “Father, I will continue speaking with you and tell you all our news and what ISIS is saying.”
For the duration of their time there, the militants not only ate and prayed, but used the beds to care for two of their fighters who were wounded.
“On one bed there is a lot of blood,” the priest said.
He shared with CNA some photos taken of the room after the soldiers left. He explained that “when ISIS was attacked by our army (the Iraqi Army) there were two people from ISIS injured, and ISIS put them here on these beds…and under the beds were the girls.”
Momika said he was in constant contact with the girls, telling them not to forget their faith, and to “pray to the Virgin Mary, she will come to help you.”
In what both the priest and the girls view as a miracle, “ISIS didn’t see them,” Momika said. One of the girls told him later that “when ISIS entered our room, they didn’t see us (and) we feel that the Virgin Mary closed their eyes from seeing us.”
The attack on Kirkuk took place amid a wider offensive on the part of the Iraqi and Kurdish armies to retake the city of Mosul, which was taken by Islamic State group forces in 2014 and declared a caliphate.
On Oct. 17 Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the ground offensive to retake Mosul from the clutches of Islamic State, which has been months in the making.
In addition to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, U.S. troops, British and French Special Forces, and a number of Turkish soldiers are supporting the Iraqi army in the battle, which was initially expected to take between several weeks to several months to complete. However, the process has been going quicker than expected.
Mosul is the last major stronghold the Islamic State has in Iraq. They have been steadily retreating since the end of last year in battles against Iraqi and Peshmerga forces, as well as airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition.
The attack on Kirkuk left some 80 people, mostly security forces, dead. It was largely seen as an attempt to distract Iraqi and Kurdish forces from the Mosul offensive.
According to the U.K. newspaper The Guardian, at least 30 members of ISIS were still holed up in different parts of Kirkuk. However, the assault was officially declared over as of Saturday morning.
Momika explained that the seven girls were among more than 100 refugees taking university classes in Kirkuk after being driven out of their hometowns by the Islamic State group in 2014.
Many of the girls come from Mosul and other cities nearby such as Bartella, Alqosh and Telskuf, he said. All of them had studied at the University of Mosul before the invasion.
Although their families are living inside the refugee camps in Erbil, the girls, in addition to a number of boys, wanted to continue their studies, but were unable to attend university classes in Erbil.
They then enrolled at the University of Kirkuk. Since traveling back and forth everyday was dangerous, they stayed in houses the Church had been renting in the city, returning to Erbil on the weekends.
Momika said he is happy that all of the students escaped unharmed. Two of his fellow priests, Father George Jahola and another named Father Petros, who was ordained with him Aug. 5, traveled to Kirkuk Saturday to pick the girls up and bring them back to Erbil.
He also spoke about the liberation of his hometown, Qaraqosh. The town was formerly regarded as the Christian capital of Iraq before the invasion in 2014 forced 120,000 people to evacuate in one night. Most of its residents are now living in refugee camps in Erbil.
On Saturday Iraqi and Kurdish forces entered Qaraqosh, which sits about 20 miles from Mosul. Although the town is said to be largely empty, Islamic State militants have destroyed much of the city. They left landmines strewn along the road to Mosul.
Momika said that Iraqi soldiers have raised the Iraqi flag in Qaraqosh, replacing that of the Islamic State.
“Qaraqosh is liberated,” he said. He cautioned that there are still dangers, like Islamic State group fighters who are hiding throughout the city still.
He passed on a report that Islamic State fighters “made a big, deep hole” in the ground, climbed into it and “bombed themselves” as the Iraqi and Kurdish armies advanced.
The priest, who was still a seminarian when he himself was forced to flee the city, said he finds it hard to talk about what happened to Qaraqosh, “because we saw some photos, and they made us feel sad.”
“There are a lot of places destroyed, and ISIS burned our church and ISIS broke all our crosses that were above the churches,” he said. A very important church in the region had been destroyed.
“It’s difficult for us because it’s our history. It’s a big church in the Middle East, in Qaraqosh,” he said, explaining that the sight is similar for the neighboring town of Bartella. That Christian village was recently liberated by the Iraqi Army.
“Yesterday the priests, they entered the church in Bartella and they saw everything was dark, because ISIS burned everything,” he said.
He voiced hope that there would be no sight of Islamic State militants in Qaraqosh as the city is secured over the next few days. He had a request: “pray for us.”
Labels: Blessed Virgin Mary, Christian, protection
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Home » Celebrities » Camila Mendes Talks Her Decision To Go Public With Her Relationship With Charles Melton
Camila Mendes Talks Her Decision To Go Public With Her Relationship With Charles Melton
Camila Mendes and Charles Melton confirmed their rumored relationship back in October and now the Riverdale star is opening up about her decision to confirm it, rather than keeping it to themselves.
“I did it because people were speculating,” Camila explained to Fox News. “I want to be able to live a normal life. Like, ‘Yeah, I’m dating this person — so what?’”
She continues, “But I am the kind of person who’ll keep talking and then all of a sudden, I’ve said too much. Still, I want to be able to kiss him and not think about it.”
Camila also revealed that she’s not the best at hiding things anyhow.
“I’m like that,” she says. “I’ve never been closed off. Still, I’m always grappling with that part of myself — I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. I mean, I don’t have anything to hide — most of the time.”
A post shared by camila mendes (@camimendes) on Oct 7, 2018 at 12:11pm PDT
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Tag Archives: cultural competency
Short Coat Podcast
How Med Students Learn about Cultural Competency
Audio June 13, 2019 Dave Etler Leave a comment
https://chtbl.com/track/392G9/http://media.blubrry.com/theshortcoat/p/podcast.uiowa.edu/com/osa/280_cultural-competency.mp3
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Cultural competency is a tough thing to teach, but so important. Today’s physician (and med students!) encounter patients from wide range of backgrounds, any of which could come into play in a patient-provider interaction. In this episode, Brent asks how med students learn about the nuances that come with treating people of different backgrounds, from ethnicity to gender to religion to disability. Aline Sandouk and Brady Campbell consider the question and offer their experiences.
And Brady, who’s co-hosting on the eve of leaving CCOM for a year-long Masters in Public Health program at Hopkins, talks about why he’s pursuing a whole ‘nother degree and why he’s decided Hopkins is the right place for that given that we have a lovely Public Health school right next door.
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This Week in Medical News
A New Jersey pastor and a British clairvoyant are under investigation for promoting the use of ‘miracle mineral solution’ as a cure for malaria in Uganda. The WHO has removed ‘gender identity disorder’ from the International Classification of Disease. And with Viagra’s patent set to expire, what’s on the horizon for ED treatment? Don’t worry, we make plenty of jokes about that, as if you had any doubt.
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Continue reading How Med Students Learn about Cultural Competency →
Aline SandoukBrady Campbellcultural competencygender identityicd-10icd-11miracle mineral solutionviagraWHO
Dr. Paul Farmer and Liberation Medicine
Audio January 28, 2016 Dave Etler Leave a comment
https://media.blubrry.com/theshortcoat/p/podcast.uiowa.edu/com/osa/113-paul-farmer.MP3
“Any serious examination of epidemic disease has always shown that microbes also make a preferential option for the poor. But medicine and its practitioners, even in public health, do so all too rarely.” -Paul Farmer, MD, PhD. From left to right: Petra Hahn, Greg Yungtum, Paul Farmer, Katie Ryken, Josh Bleicher, and Jordan Harbaugh-Williams
Dr. Paul Farmer is sort of the rock god of global health. He’s an incredibly busy and influential guy, so when he flew in from Liberia to spend the entire day here with us at the Carver College of Medicine, it wasn’t easy to keep the stars from our eyes. Of course, he’s a physician, but he’s also a medical anthropologist, chief of Brigham and Women’s Division of Global Health Equity, professor of medicine at Harvard, and the UN Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Community Based Medicine and Lessons from Haiti. One of the things you notice about Dr. Farmer is that although he’s clearly a celebrity in his field, it doesn’t dampen his enthusiasm, idealism, and the pleasure he takes in meeting students who share his passion for understanding and changing how healthcare is delivered to the world’s neediest people.
Continue reading Dr. Paul Farmer and Liberation Medicine →
charitycommunity healthcultural competencydevelopmentebolaevergreenglobal healthGreg YungtumJordan Harbaugh-WilliamsJosh BleicherKatie Rykenliberation medicineliberiapatient educationPaul FarmerPetra HahnRwandastructural violence
What Cultural Competency Really Means
December 23, 2013 Dave Etler Leave a comment
You’ve practiced how to extract from a patient their chief complaint. You’ve memorized lists (and lists and lists) of drugs, treatment modalities, and other interventions. You’ve learned all the physical exam skills on the test, and you’ve got every organ system down pat. You even remember the Kreb’s cycle.
Now, your patient has walked into the exam room looking for help with her headache (although she turns out to have none), doesn’t appreciate your blank stare when she says her soul is lost, and is very confused about why you’re treating her clearly ‘hot’ illness with a ‘hot’ medicine. Time for a psych consult?
Nope. Time to delve into the patient’s cultural beliefs about illness, treatment, and doctors, and reach some sort of understanding between you and your patient that allows for a good outcome. That’s what cultural psychiatrist Hendry Ton, the Medical Director of the Transcultural Wellness Center and Director of Education at UC Davis School of Medicine Center for Reducing Health Disparities, advised UI student Lisa Wehr to do when she encounters a patient whose beliefs just don’t line up with those taught by Western medicine.
National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards in Health and Health Care
Listen to Episode 028: What Cultural Competency Really Means.
The opinions expressed in this feed and podcast are not those of the University of Iowa or the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.
cultural competencycultural psychiatryHendry TonLisa Wehrsoutheast asia refugeesvietnam
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The Warrior Lawyer
The Dark Knight: the Ultimate Batman Movie
Plagiarism in the Supreme Court
The Warrior Lawyer August 1, 2010 August 2, 2010
Justice Mariano Del Castillo is being accused of plagiarism in not properly citing the scholarly authorities used in the decision in Viduya vs. Executive Secretary, which he penned. An ethics committee has been formed to investigate the matter, chaired by Chief Justice Renato Corona, with Justice Teresita de Castro as the working chair and Justices Roberto Abad, Jose Perez, and Jose Mendoza as members.
But did he actually copy the words of an article written by Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association, and passed them off as his own ? Mr. Ellis’ article, entitled “Breaking the Silence on Rape as an International Crime”, was published in the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law and makes the case for considering rape as a crime against humanity, like piracy, genocide and other heinous offenses, and therefore “ subject to universal jurisdictions under customary international law”.
The Viduya ruling, in disposing of the claims of Filipino victims of Japan’s wartime policy of forcing women to work as sex slaves serving Japanese soldiers, held that the Philippines is under no obligation to assist in pursuing the comfort women’s claims. It essentially becomes a diplomatic issue. According to the Court, since “ The Executive Department has determined that taking up petitioners’ cause would be inimical to our country’s foreign policy interests, and could disrupt our relations with Japan thereby creating serious implications for stability in this region”, the Court cannot compel the government to take up the cudgels for the victims. The petition was accordingly dismissed.
Although it may appear from a quick and superficial reading of the Ellis article and the Viduya ruling that they espouse differing views on how rape should be treated under international law, they are actually on the same page. Both seem to “ fully agree that rape, sexual slavery, torture, and sexual violence are morally reprehensible as well as legally prohibited under contemporary international law”. But it was precisely in explaining the immediately preceding quote that Justice Del Castillo might have sailed into intellectually dishonest waters.
In the decision’s footnote (no. 65) to the quoted sentence, Mr. Ellis noticed uncanny similarities with the words and structure of his article and was understandably concerned. Here he was, presenting his best arguments for rape to be considered as a crime against the whole world, and it was being used in a judicial decision which says that this just isn’t yet so. Both are correct, from each one’s perspective, but it was unfair for Mr. Ellis’ that his ideas would be so utilized. Not only was there no proper acknowledgment or attribution, his words were used to bolster a position which he was opposing. A bit like being “fried in your own lard”, to use a popular Filipino saying.
What is plagiarism ? A good working definition is provided by uslegal.com, as follows:
Intentional or unintentional use of another’s words or ideas without acknowledging this use constitutes plagiarism: There are four common forms of plagiarism:
– The duplication of an author’s words without quotation marks and accurate references or footnotes.
– The duplication of author’s words or phrases with footnotes or accurate references, but without quotation marks.
– The use of an author’s ideas in paraphrase without accurate references or footnotes.
– Submitting a paper in which exact words are merely rearranged even though footnoted.
But did Mr. Justice Del Castillo really lift words and phrases from Ellis’ work and pass them off as his own ? From where I sit, it looks like he did. It’s doesn’t jump out at you and one had best read the Ellis article and the Vinuya decision in full before deciding, but it seems Mr. Ellis has a point. Apart from verbatim phrases lifted from the article, the flow of Mr. Ellis’ ideas, or at least a significant part of them, appears to have been duplicated in the Vinuya decision.
We may grant that, as Justice Del Castillo said in his defense, there was no malicious intent in his inclusion of Mr. Ellis’ work and that these were mere “appendages” which would not have affected the final outcome even if they were removed. But the fact remains that he may have copied Ellis’ words without attribution and this is more than sufficiently damning. It all comes down to a question of integrity. If the Supreme Court can be dishonest in seemingly minor things, how can we expect it to be truthful and forthright on the bigger issues ?
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4 thoughts on “Plagiarism in the Supreme Court”
Jhay says:
Well, the err is human as they say. And in this case, I hope that Justice Del Castillo had indeed made an honest mistake of sorts.
Otherwise, to be easily forgiving would not be wise.
plaridel says:
if this case happened in another country, it would have ended with a resignation, dismissal, or suicide. but not in the philippines.
great analysis, by the way.
bino says:
If there’s plagiarism, shouldn’t there be some punishment? Can a law student interpose sheer inadvertence or mistake as a defense against plagiarism? If not, how much more a justice of the Supreme Court, whose opinion is published as a decision of the Court itself and deemed as part of the law of the land?
These are strange times indeed…
Romulo S. Gatilao says:
Justice del Castillo did not commit an error. He perpetrated a reproachable act of intellectual dishonesty unbecoming of a justice of the highest court of the Philippines. Therefore, the Supreme Court, in order to rescue its immaculate name and integrity before the country and the world, should immediately annul the decision in the Viduya case penned by Justice del Castillo as unbecoming and inconsistent with its highest standards, and immediately assign another Justice to write a new decision. This will serve as a precedent to save the honor of the Highest Court of the land and a lesson for future generations of aspiring justices to follow.
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Project 1 — DARS-NIC-120105-F0K2L
Opt outs honoured: No - data flow is not identifiable (Section 251)
Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency
Critically ill children who are admitted to district general hospitals can require specialist transport to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). There is considerable variation in the care provided to critically ill children prior to admission to paediatric intensive care. It is unclear whether the differences in timeliness of access to paediatric intensive care, and care delivered during stabilisation and transport by specialist transport teams, matter in terms of clinical outcomes and patient experience. This lack of scientific evidence has led over the years to the evolution of different models of paediatric transport provision, the development of national standards based on expert opinion rather than scientific evidence and has contributed to the lack of progress in improving care at the crucial interface between secondary and tertiary paediatric care. The objective of the DEPICT (Differences in access to Emergency Paediatric Intensive Care and care during Transport) study is to study the association between timeliness of access to paediatric intensive care and 30-day mortality. The University of Leicester requires pseudonymised linked data for use in the quantitative analysis work stream of the DEPICT Study (IRAS ID: 218569). The DEPICT Study was instigated and is led by the Chief Investigator based at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Great Ormond Street Hospital hold the contract with the Department of Health for the NIHR funding for the DEPICT study. The study has four workstreams (quantitative analysis, qualitative and questionnaires study, health economic evaluation and mathematical modelling). Great Ormond Street Hospital have a collaboration agreement in place with all the various work stream lead centres including the University of Leicester (who lead Work Stream A -data linkage study), under the lead professor's leadership. This agreement relates only to the quantitative analysis workstream, which is led by the lead professor based at the University of Leicester. For this agreement Great Ormond Street and the University of Leicester are joint data controllers. Great Ormond Street Hospital in their role as lead for their study, and the University of Leicester in their role as lead for Workstream A. As Sponsor of the study, Great Ormond Street Hospital, through the Chief Investigator, have a responsibility for the conduct of the entire DEPICT study including Work stream A. The University of Leicester are essentially carrying out the data analysis of the linked data set, therefore will decide how the data is analysed. They will receive the study data and store it. Great Ormond Street Hospital will not receive or have access any data that has been received from NHS Digital. To undertake the analysis specified in the quantitative workstream, the University of Leicester will have access to pseudonymised linked data. The sources of data are: 1) Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network (PICANet) audit data from the University of Leeds. This audit is commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) and University of Leeds is a data processor for the audit data. There has and will not be any involvement from University of Leeds or HQIP in the design or performance of the DEPICT study, in the study itself or this agreement. 2) Case Mix Programme (CMP) audit data from Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC). There has and will not be any involvement from ICNARC in the design of the DEPICT study, in the study itself or this agreement. 3) Hospital Episode Statistics from NHS Digital. 4) Office of National Statistics mortality data from NHS Digital. 5) Patient Episode Database for Wales (PEDW) data from NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS). For both the audit datasets (PICANet and CMP), the University of Leicester approached HQIP and ICNARC to access and process their audit data for the purpose of Workstream A of this study, and this access has been agreed. Neither HQIP, ICNARC nor the University of Leeds have had or will have any further involvement in this study and, therefore, play no role in the design or performance of the project, and do not have access to any of the data to be disseminated by NHS Digital under this agreement. They will, however, receive study IDs only from the University of Leicester. The legal basis for dissemination: is: - Mortality data: Statistics & Registration Service Act S42(4A)(A) - Dissemination of data: Health and Social Care Act - 261(1) 261 (2)(b)(ii). The University of Leicester want NHS Digital to identify common records in the two audit datasets (PICANet and CMP) and link PICANet identifiers to HES and mortality datasets. Where common CMP records have been identified, the CMP unique identifier will be added to that record also. The University of Leicester will be the only organisation to access the record level data supplied from NHS Digital, as this is where the statistical team for the DEPICT Workstream A study are based. No other organisations will have access to the data received from NHS Digital. The University of Leicester is part of the DEPICT study collaboration and is leading the quantitative data analysis workstream. The DEPICT study is funded by the NIHR HS&DR programme (ref: 15/136/45). The DEPICT Study has three main aims: 1) Understand whether and how a) clinical outcomes and b) experience of critically ill children (and families) transported to PICU are affected by national variations in timeliness of access to care and care provided by transport teams before PICU admission. 2) Study the relative cost effectiveness of the current transport team and evaluate alternative methods of service delivery. 3) Provide evidence for the development of future clinical standards. The objective of the DEPICT study (see Aim 1a) is to investigate how the clinical outcomes of critically ill children who are transported to paediatric intensive care are affected by national variations in timeliness of access to intensive care. The primary outcome of interest is 30-day mortality and the secondary outcomes are: mortality in intensive care, at 90 days and within a year of admission; length of stay; resource use; number of hospital admissions and days in hospital in the 12 months following admission. In order to achieve these outcomes, the University of Leicester require linkage of PICANet audit data to HES and mortality data and the common records between PICANet and CMP to be flagged; this is so the outcomes of paediatric patients seen in both a PICU and other specialist intensive care units as part of their care can be analysed and a fuller picture of the cohort obtained. Under this agreement, the only organisation permitted to access and process the data provided by NHS Digital is University of Leicester.
The DEPICT Study addresses an important clinical problem related to the care of acutely ill children in the NHS. The study will provide important information about the differences which may exist between the different paediatric transport services and the outcomes experienced by children. This is particularly important since current national standards from the Paediatric Intensive Care Society (PICS) are expert consensus derived rather than being evidence based. The main areas of uncertainty addressed by the DEPICT study are: 1. Provision of early, high-quality acute care has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in specific diseases such as paediatric sepsis and head trauma but it is unclear how these findings apply to the vast majority of critically ill children who require stabilisation and transport to a PICU. We will examine whether and how timeliness of access to paediatric intensive care and care delivered during acute stabilisation and transport affect clinical outcomes of critically ill or injured children with a range of diagnoses and pre-existing medical conditions, so that findings can be generalised to all critically ill children. 2. Centralisation of specialist acute care has occurred in several NHS services such as stroke, trauma, and specialist paediatrics. The findings from our research can provide evidence that can be generalised to evaluate other such centralisations. This is especially relevant to questions related to the trade-off between timeliness of access to acute care and provision of high quality cost effective specialist care. 3. Evidence is urgently required to understand whether and how delays in access to paediatric intensive care and variations in the quality of care provided during acute stabilisation and transport affect clinical outcomes. This study will provide definitive outcome information about critically ill children who receive specialist transport to paediatric intensive care. Development of the transport services and their related PICS standards of care have been driven by expert opinion but these have lacked scientific evidence. It will allow different transport services to compare their service with other services in the country, whilst accounting for the differences in populations and sickness of the children they transport, and will identify inequalities in access and timing of care. The DEPICT study will generate the high-quality evidence necessary to guide the development of future standards of care for the transport of critically ill children and inform decisions about the associated national policy. This work will be completed by the conclusion of the study in 2022.
The results of the study will be disseminated actively and extensively. The research team has strong links with (a) the PICU community via the Paediatric Intensive Care Society (PICS), PICS Study Group (PICS-SG), and the NIHR CRN: Children Clinical Studies Group (CSG) in Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Cardiology; (b) the PICU Transport community through the PICS Acute Transport Group; (c) the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership national audit programme through the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network (PICANet) and Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) Case Mix Programme; and (d) NHS England. The DEPICT Study team plan to write six peer-reviewed publications related to the study aims. A recent paper describing the background to the DEPICT study was published in Paediatric Critical Care Medicine (Feb 2018). An peer-reviewed publication describing the DEPICT study’s initial findings will be submitted within 12 to 18 months of beginning the work. The intention is to publish the findings in high-impact journals and these will be made open-access. A final report overviewing the entire project will be published in the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research journal (funders of this research) by the end of the study (May 2020). CLINICIANS AND ACADEMICS: Clinicians in the study steering group will be drawn from all transport services in the UK, and will ensure wide dissemination of the results to frontline clinicians. The findings from the work will be presented at national and international conferences, potentially including the Annual Conference of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the World Congress of Paediatric Intensive Care, the PICANet Annual Meeting, the Society of Critical Care Medicine Annual Congress, PICS Annual Scientific Meeting, American Association of Paediatrics Conference, the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, and British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN). Dissemination at conferences will occur throughout the course of the DEPICT study (2019-2022). POLICY MAKERS: Recommendations for clinical guidelines arising out of the research will be published and disseminated to professional societies concerned with the care of children presenting with acute illness, including PICS and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Our strong links with service managers and NHS commissioners will allow our findings to be disseminated to national policy makers, especially through the PIC Clinical Reference Group. Presentation slides will be prepared for use by the study team or others in disseminating the research findings. The timescale for this will also be throughout the course of the DEPICT study (2019-2022). PUBLIC: The results of the study will be disseminated to patients and their families, facilitated by the co-applicants, members of the research team who have links with PICS and the NIHR CSG, and via The PICANet Families Group who we have liaised with already. Findings will be made available via the DEPICT Study website (https://depict-study.org.uk/) which will make all results publicly available. These will also be promoted via social media (Twitter @DEPICT_Study). We will ensure that lay summaries are provided (reviewed in collaboration with parents involved in this research). Where appropriate, results will be promoted as press releases. (2019-2022). Outputs will contain only aggregate level data with small numbers suppressed in line with HES analysis guide
The data flows are as follows: 1) Data flows to NHS Digital University of Leeds (PICANet) and ICNARC (CMP) will each securely transfer a file to the NHS Digital Data Access Request Service (DARS). These files will contain person-identifiable information (NHS Number, sex, post code, date of birth) and unique study identifiers (PICANet: DEPICT Study Number; CMP: CMP identifier) required to perform the data linkage. 2) NHS Digital will identify common records between PICANet data and CMP data 3) Data flows from NHS Digital - NHS Digital will supply a list of the study identifiers common to PICANet and CMP to University of Leicester - NHS Digital will provide HES data for all individuals in the PICANet cohort to the University of Leicester. The unique study identifiers (DEPICT study number and CMP identifier, where applicable) will be appended to the end of every episode record provided to the University of Leicester. - Mortality data for all individuals in the PICANet cohort will be provided to the University of Leicester. The unique study identifiers (DEPICT study number and CMP identifier, where applicable) will be appended to the end of every episode record provided to the University of Leicester. 4) Data flow from University of Leicester University of Leicester will securely transfer DEPICT study numbers and the unique CMP study identifiers for the records that were identified as been in common by NHS Digital to University of Leeds and ICNARC respectively. No HES or mortality data or any other personal identifiable data will be transferred. This information is shared so that clinical data for the records in common can be securely transferred from both PICANet and ICNARC to the University of Leicester for inclusion in their analysis. 5) Data flow from University of Leeds (PICANet) and ICNARC (CMP) University of Leeds (PICANet) and ICNARC will provide clinical data from their respective audits for the specific DEPICT and CMP records in common identified by NHS Digital to the University of Leicester by means of secure transfer. No personal identifiers will be transferred. All statistical analyses will be undertaken at the University of Leicester. The complete study dataset will only be accessed by two individuals employed by the University of Leicester for the statistical analyses. All organisations party to this agreement must comply with the Data Sharing Framework Contract requirements, including those regarding the use (and purposes of that use) by “Personnel” (as defined within the Data Sharing Framework Contract i.e.: employees, agents and contractors of the Data Recipient who may have access to that data). The datasets required by the DEPICT Study team from NHS Digital are mortality and HES data. Data will be required from 2012/13 to 2017/18 to allow investigation of mortality and details about re-admission to A&E or hospital up to one year after the initial admission to paediatric intensive care. Data is only required on individuals aged <19 years to follow up children who required paediatric intensive care. There will be no requirement nor attempt to re-identify individuals from the data. National data is required to allow comparison of the different specialist transport services across the country. The results of all analyses will be published in aggregate form, with small numbers suppressed in line with HES guidance. No identifiable data will be held by the University of Leicester; therefore, no identifiable data will be released. Linked study data provided by NHS Digital will be used by the Workstream A team at the University of Leicester to achieve the primary and secondary study aims, i.e. investigate if differences exist in PICU mortality, or at 30 days, 90 days or one-year post-admission or if differences exist in re-admission to hospital and subsequent care in hospital following discharge. The DEPICT Study has the relevant Research Ethics and Section 251 approvals. Under this agreement, the only organisation permitted to access and process the data provided by NHS Digital is University of Leicester’. There will be no data linkage undertaken with NHS Digital data provided under this agreement other than that which is specified.
Project 2 — DARS-NIC-148437-C9YSC
Sensitive: Sensitive, and Non Sensitive
When: 2016/04 (or before) — 2017/02.
MRIS - Cause of Death Report
This study aims to find out more about abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). This is a condition where the main artery in the body swells up and there is a risk of it bursting as a result. This kills approximately 10,000 people in England and Wales per year. These AAA can be found when they are small but it they get bigger there is no treatment for them other than high-risk surgery. Recently, a national screening programme has been started for AAA and through this programme, patients with AAA and those found not to have AAA will be recruited into this study. Study participants will have blood and urine samples taken at several time points as well being asked to fill in questionnaires about how they feel and their general health. Long-term follow up of the participants through the data retrieved from the MRIS will be used to determine mortality rates and causes in the study participants.
Project 3 — DARS-NIC-347200-H9G0Q
Researchers from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit are investigating the association of objectively measured levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with the risk of all-cause and disease-specific mortality. University of Leicester is requesting ONS-mortality data for its ‘Walking Away from Type 2 Diabetes Study’ to be used to answer this question. The ‘Walking Away from Type 2 Diabetes’ was conducted by the Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester. In total 833 participants were recruited to the study from January 2010 to January 2011. Of these, 719 gave consent for their future health status to be accessed. University of Leicester is seeking ONS-mortality linkage for these 719 individuals. Data will not be shared with a third party and will be stored on secure servers controlled by the University of Leicester
Over recent years sedentary behavior, conceptualised as any non-exercise sitting, has gained increasing interest as a distinct health behaviour that acts as an important determinant of mortality and mortality independently to MVPA. This has initiated research activity and public health attention on the possible benefits of displacing time in sedentary behaviour for time in light-intensity physical activity as an additional target to traditional lifestyle interventions focused on the promotion of MVPA. However, further research is needed with morbidity and mortality outcomes and objective measures of sedentary behaviour to adequately quantify the distinctive association of sedentary behaviour with health. Data generated by this study will help establish the strength of the association between sedentary behaviour and mortality risk and whether this relationship is fully independent of habitual physical activity levels. The research has been commissioned by the NIHR Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit and the results will be feed back to NIHR through the process of annual reporting. This analysis will also inform NICE guidance and guidance from other national/international health care organisations in the future. NICE have already held a Topic Advisory Workshop on sedentary behaviour and are likely to require robust evidence with which to form guidance specific to sedentary behaviour in the near future. Once this research is in progress, University of Leicester will contact the Chairperson of all relevant NICE committees (related to physical activity, sedentary behaviour or diabetes prevention) to make them aware of this project. University of Leicester will also seek to present any finding as expert testimony. This research will also inform lifestyle interventionists of the importance of targeting sedentary behaviour within the context of lifestyle intervention.”
The results of the analyses highlighted above will be disseminated through presentations at international topic-relevant conferences and publication in peer-reviewed academic medical journals. University of Leicester anticipate that results will be ready for dissemination by December 2016. Findings will be presented at the meetings organised by the “International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (annual)” or the “International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health (every two years)”. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. In the first instance University of Leicester will target a high impact journal such the Lancet or Journal of the America Medical Association. The exact journal will be dependant on the peer-review process and journal acceptance. The level of output data will be statistical in nature, i.e. the risk of all-cause mortality was reduced by XX% per every 30 minute difference in moderate-intensity physical activity. Individual record level data will not be published or shared with a third party.
University of Leicester want to test the hypothesis that objectively measured daily sedentary time and time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) are both independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The ‘Walking Away from Type 2 Diabetes’ dataset for which linkage to ONS-mortality linkage is being requested includes levels of objectively measured average daily time spent sedentary (i.e. sitting) and in MVPA. Objective measurements were obtained through accelerometer technology. The ‘Walking Away from Type 2 Diabetes’ study received a favourable NHS ethical review and patients were given the option of consenting to having their future health status accessed. Only those that explicitly provided this consent will be included in the dataset sent for linkage. Cox proportional hazard models will assess the independent associations of baseline sedentary time and MVPA time with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality that occurred from baseline to follow-up (most current ONS-mortality data). Assumptions of linearity will be assessed. Areas of non-linearity likely at the extremes of sedentary behaviour will be analysed using spline techniques. Data will be adjusted for accelerometer wear time and measured/clinical/anthropometric/demographic confounders. The hazard ratios obtained from the above analysis will be combined with those generated from other studies from which the outputs are accessible to University of Leicester using standard meta-analytic methods in order to increase the power and generalizability of this project’s findings. However, University of Leicester will not merge or link this data with other datasets or allow access to third parties. All analysis will be conducted within the Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester.
Project 4 — DARS-NIC-370641-K0J0T
Legal basis: Section 251 approval is in place for the flow of identifiable data
Hospital Episode Statistics Critical Care
Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients
Community screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) by ultrasound has been proven to reduce AAA related deaths and has recently been adopted by the NHS with national coverage established in 2013 and from this year onwards, over 300,000 men will be screened for AAA every year with approximately 4000 AAA detected. Community screening for AAA in England is carried out by the NHS AAA Screening Programme (NAAASP), part of Public Health England (PHE). NAAASP invites all men for AAA screening in the year of their 65th birthday. Screening is carried out by ultrasound and is both clinically effective and cost effective. NAAASP records the infra-renal aortic diameter for all men who attend for screening. Men found to have an AAA (aortic diameter >30mm) are either entered into a surveillance programme that is also run by NAAASP (AAA 30mm to 54mm) or referred to a vascular surgeon for consideration of surgical repair (AAA >54mm). In order to ensure cost-efficiency. The incidence of AAA is falling in western populations and this raises the question of whether AAA screening will remain effective in the long-term. In addition, the NHS AAA Screening Programme (NAAASP), who has become part of Public Health England (PHE), will detect a large number of patients with small AAA that will require regular surveillance imaging. The University of Leicester propose to determine the outcomes of men being invited for screening by the NAAASP and investigate clinical factors associated with outcomes by linking a single-year cohort of men invited for AAA screening by NAAASP with multiple years of Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data via the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). In this project NAAASP will control all personal data and process this into a dataset that contains both pseudonymised and study identifiers. The University of Leicester will receive a dataset from NAAASP detailing the outcomes of screening. NAAASP will send HSCIC dataset comprising a list of NHS numbers and the study identifiers. HSCIC will use this dataset to identify the HES/HES-ONS records for the men in the dataset and provide this data to the University of Leicester with only the study identifiers. The University of Leicester will link the NAAASP data and the HES/HES-ONS data and perform analysis. The outcomes of patients attending the NAAASP are partially unknown. Patients with AAA are followed up by NAAASP through AAA surveillance and the outcomes of patients referred for surgery are recorded. The cause of death in patients with AAA who die whilst under surveillance is not automatically made available to NAAASP. In addition, those screened and found not to have AAA are discharged from NAAASP follow-up and some patients do not attend for screening. There is some evidence that patients with a normal aortic diameter at age 65 may develop an AAA later in life and therefore be at risk of AAA related death. Also, NAAASP utilises a technique for the assessment of aortic diameter that results in a smaller measurement when compared to other methods and discharges patients if their aorta is below a 3.0cm threshold. This technique may therefore result in some patients being discharged by NAAASP who may be entered into surveillance in other screening programmes. It is not known whether this puts discharged patients at risk of aortic rupture. The University of Leicester propose to link all patients invited for screening by NAAASP in 2013/2014 with the HSCIC to obtain HES data as outcomes, with yearly updates.
In 2013/14 the NHS completed its first year of national screening for AAA. In the NAAASP men in the year of their 65th birthday are invited to have an ultrasound scan of their abdomen to screen for AAA. Screening men for AAA by ultrasound has proven to be clinically and cost-effective. If an AAA is detected there are well established pathways for treatment of large AAA, which are at risk of bursting (surgery), and clinical monitoring of small AAA, which are at low risk of causing harm. All men with AAA are followed-up by NAAASP. Only around 1.5% of men screened for AAA are found to have an AAA however. NAAASP screens over 300,000 men every year and measures the diameter of their abdominal aorta. It has been well established that aortic diameter is an indicator for the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, with the highest risk in those with very small or very large aortic diameters. Whilst NAAASP measures and records aortic diameter in the men it screens for AAA it does not follow these men up. Furthermore, attendance rates for AAA screening are in the region of 80% and nothing is known about the long-term risk of AAA-related morbidity/mortality in the men who do not attend for screening. In this project the University of Leicester wish to determine whether there are opportunities to improve the health of men attending for AAA screening beyond simply the detection and treatment of AAA. Since NAAASP has already been set up and is measuring aortic diameters in all men attending for screening, if the University of Leicester can identify those men at high risk of cardiovascular events and flag these men for the institution of secondary prevention in primary care, the University of Leicester can add significant value to the process of AAA screening. Secondarily, the University of Leicester wish to identify whether screening non-attenders are at high-risk or low-risk of AAA-related or cardiovascular events to determine whether additional effort in re-inviting these non-attenders would be worthwhile or not.
The University of Leicester will use this data for research purposes and to feedback to NAAASP outcomes for service evaluation. Only de-identified data will be supplied to the University of Leicester. Due to the long-term nature of AAA related outcomes after screening the University of Leicester expect that the research outputs will not occur for at least 5 years and will continue to be produced at such intervals for at least 15 years. The service evaluation aspects of this work will be produced on a yearly basis. The University of Leicester will produce an annual report for the NHS AAA Screening Programme based on the linked cohort. The University of Leicester will produce research publications from the data. The NAAASP annual report will be sent directly to NAAASP. NAAASP will include summary data in their publically available national programme reports. The University of Leicester’s data table suppression rules are adhered to in the report they send to NAAASP. Research publications will be open-access and available to the public. The University of Leicester will again ensure that the University’s table suppression rules are adhered to in the preparation of these publications. These suppression rules are aligned with the HES analysis guide and where they differ the University’s rules are more robust.
1. NAAASP will identify all men invited for screening in the 2013/2014 English screening cohort and all men with small AAA already under NAAASP surveillance. NAAASP holds this personal information for these men for the purposes of their clinical care. NAAASP will provide screening outcome data for the cohort to the University of Leicester. This data will contain a study ID for each individual. No personal data will be transferred to the University of Leicester. NAAASP will provide the NHS numbers of these men to the HSCIC, together with a study ID. 2. HSCIC will link the patients identified by NAAASP with HES/HES-ONS data using the NHS numbers and provide this linked data to the research team at the University of Leicester, using the same study ID as those used by NAAASP to transfer data to the University of Leicester. HSCIC will then supply the University of Leicester with HES/HES-ONS data stripped of identifiers other than the study ID supplied by NAAASP. The University of Leicester will apply for updated linkage reports on a yearly basis. 3. The University of Leicester will receive data from both NAAASP and HSCIC. This data will be linked using the study ID and analysed. The University of Leicester will provide NAAASP with annual reports based upon the data, the content of which will be determined by NAAASP but will primarily consist of all-cause and aneurysm-specific mortality and aneurysm-related morbidity. The University of Leicester will also analyse the data for the purposes of producing research papers focussed on the description of mid- to long-term outcomes of contemporary AAA screening. No personal data will be held or processed by the University of Leicester.
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SN 2 | EP 11 | The Miracle of Christmas Part I/II
With a little help from their future selves, Lucy and Wyatt -- along with the rest of the Time Team -- journey to the California Gold Rush and the Korean War's Hungnam evacuation in a daring bid to save Rufus and stop Rittenhouse once and for all.
Available: Hulu
When a group with nefarious intentions attempts to change the world as we know it by altering the past, Lucy, a historian, Wyatt, a soldier, and Rufus, a scientist, unite to form an unlikely partnership, traveling through time to save history. Their riveting adventures take them to some of the most thrilling, volatile and critical events on record, including a venture to the Old West, a sojourn to the Alamo, a visit to the famous Chicago World's Fair and a crusade into Nazi Germany. Along the way, they cross paths with famous historical icons, such as Josephine Baker, Harry Houdini, Ernest Hemingway and infamous rivals Eliot Ness and Al Capone. But every step the team takes to protect history puts everything we know at risk -- because changing one thing changes everything.
Drama, Action, Science fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Action and Adventure, Mystery, Series/Timeless, AOL13, Arts and Entertainment, Science and Technology, News, Technology, Consumer Electronics, News and Politics, MP3 players, U.S. News, Electronics, Portable Audio and Video
Abigail Spencer,
Lucy Preston
Matt Lanter,
Wyatt Logan
Malcolm Barrett,
Rufus Carlin
Garcia Flynn
Paterson Joseph
Connor Mason
Agent Denise Christopher
Claudia Doumit
Jiya
Marney Hochman
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What’s possible in a week? If you dedicated seven days to the achievement of one goal, how ambitious could you make this goal? These were the questions that the multilingual friends Katy and Sara posed themselves when they determined to learn English in one week, to prove that it can be done and anyone can do it with the right methods.
They would attempt to liberate themselves from the distractions and responsibilities of modern-day life in order to cram eight hours of study time and I was observing some of the world’s most capable language learners at work.
The language learning expert: Sara
The friends set themselves the challenge of learning a language in a week in order to stretch themselves, and then it was a question of choosing which language to learn. English presented itself as a natural option; there are nigh on 300,000 English speakers in Germany’s capital, and the areas are dotted with stores adorned with signs in English.
“Truly understanding one’s environment requires one to first understand English”
The first operational step in the friends learning process was to decorate the entire apartment with sticky notes. This had an almost ceremonial touch to it as the friends delved into dictionaries and proceeded to label everything with its corresponding English name.
Within the space of about an hour it was impossible to carry out any menial task, be it making a coffee or flicking off a light switch, without first being presented with at least three different words related to this action.
Sara learning in the park
The importance of the other twin’s presence became immediately apparent as Katy and Sara delegated responsibilities for rooms to decorate with sticky notes. This simple task was augmented by continuous little tests that they would spring on one another, and the fact that they split up their day slightly differently and studied different topics meant that each twin became a source of knowledge for the other.
The most extraordinary moment came towards the end of the week!
The friends simply switched their everyday conversations to English, asking one another if they wanted tea or coffee, were ready to cook dinner or when they were going to leave the house.
Katy and Sara had numerous micro-challenges throughout the week. On the first day they were visited by a English friend who greeted them in English and complimented them on how quickly they’d picked up their first words and phrases.
They then learned the names of fruits and the numbers from one to a billion so that they could visit the English market (although they refrained from purchasing nine hundred thousand kumquats). Displaying their haul after their first functional exchange in English, they beamed with pride and a palpable sense of accomplishment before marching back home to study further.
Katy playing audio lessons
On our second visit to the brother’s apartment 24 hours into the week, we found them sampling dozens of different kinds of English snacks.
Like kids staring at the backs of cereal packs before heading to school, the nutritional information and various special offers and competitions on the packaging were analysed during snack breaks.
There was no moment of complete removal from the language learning process during the eight hours that the friends had allotted to it.
They were constantly using their existing knowledge to support the ever-growing knowledge of English, this being the root of their success.
“you will likely come across words that share common origins with your native tongue”
The friends spent a lot of time engrossed in books or on their computers and apps, flicking and swiping their way through exercises eagerly, but at other times they were to be found searching busily for English radio stations and write-ups of English football games on the web.
There is no definitive method to learn a language fluently
All too often, people enter their weekly language class to converse with their teacher, but then barely have any contact with other speakers and that’s not enough.
The old saying that we can solve problems more effectively when we sleep on it may be especially true if the problem we’re trying to solve is learning a new language.
Motivated Katy out to the library
Researchers from two Swiss universities wanted to know if they could enhance the learning of words from a foreign language by exposing people to the words during non-rapid eye movement sleep the deep, dreamless sleep period that most of us experience during the first few hours of the night.
To find out, they gathered two groups of study participants, all of whom were native German speakers, and gave them a series of Dutch-to-German word pairs to learn at 10 pm. One group was then instructed to get some sleep, while the other group was kept awake.For the next few hours both groups listened to an audio playback of the word pairs they’d already been exposed to and some they hadn’t yet heard.
The researchers then re-gathered both groups at 2 am and gave them a test of the Dutch words to uncover any differences in learning. And indeed there was a difference:
“The group that listened to the words during sleep did better at recalling the words they’d heard”
The simple yet potent trick the researchers employed is known as verbal cueing, and this isn’t the first claim made for its success while sleeping. But what makes this study different is that it puts a finer point on the conditions necessary for this trick to actually work namely, it only works when we’ve already been exposed to the verbal cues before we sleep.
The researchers added a techie dimension by conducting electroencephalographic (EEG)recordings of the sleeping participants brains to track neural electrical activity during the learning period.
They found that learning the foreign words overlapped with the appearance of theta brain waves, an intriguing result since theta is the brain wave state often associated with heightened learning while awake (usually we’re in either the high-frequency, high-alertness alpha or beta states while awake, but it’s thought possible to induce theta state slower in frequency than alpha and beta through concentration techniques).
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‘The MobKing’ – Award-Winning Online Web Series Enters Into Blockbuster Television Deal
LOS ANGELES, October 16, 2018 (Newswire.com) – “The MobKing”, which recently won Best New Web Series and Best Lead Actor at the Annual Widescreen Festival 2018 has entered into a co-production deal with, Wanda-Halcyon Television, Un Nouveau Jour, New Street Pictures and Memphis Writers. “The MobKing” is a dramatic, visceral and moving series based on the world of corruption, murder and organized crime in modern Florida. The show was created by Ciro Dapagio, who stars as the lead protagonist and fan favorite, “Mike White”.
The visceral drama is centered around the tension between the Chicago syndicate and the New York “Cosa Nostra”, both of whom have a hidden financial interest in an Indian casino run by Mike White in Florida. The story arc revolves around Mike White, the key player that each group wants to take control of and relies upon in Florida.
However, Mike White has his own vision of how Florida should be run and who controls his destiny; a vision he planned during his previous years of incarceration for racketeering. Upon Mike’s release, he starts to challenge all legacy agreements “a la Count of Montecristo” and a clash of the old and the new violently unfolds on screen, providing the viewer with an explosive insider’s look at the nexus between organized crime, motorcycle gangs, and cartels through the eyes of Mike White, who takes the audience on his hero’s journey in the underworld.
The show ‘MobKing’ was scoring off the charts with some fairly intricate story arcs that were intelligent, realistic and incredibly current. We were very impressed with the loyalty of the ‘MobKing’ social media fan base, it was not something we had seen since ‘The Wire’ on HBO or ‘The Americans’ on FX.
PAT ANDREW
According to Pat Andrew of Wanda-Halcyon, former executive of Spelling Entertainment and also former assistant of the icon of Hollywood, Sydney Koshak; “We were researching the web looking for new shows for development using data analytics, branding profiles, views etc. and we found that the show ‘MobKing’ was scoring off the charts with some fairly intricate story arcs that were intelligent, realistic and incredibly current. We were very impressed with the loyalty of the social media fan base, it was not something we had seen since “The Wire” on HBO or “The Americans” on FX. Also, along those lines, the women to men viewers was evenly split in the 23-53 year old demographic so we knew we had come across something special. The lead actor, Ciro Dapagio, has a real magnetism that just resonates with viewers on screen.”
The “streaming” success is the work of creator, Ciro Dapagio, a unique figure and former member of organized crime in Florida who became a writer and actor upon his release from prison which gives a heightened authenticity to the viewer. Dapagio is also the star of the series along with veteran and respected actor Antoni Corone and Celine Alva, recent winner of Best Supporting Actress in the Annual Widescreen Festival 2018.
The show is a favorite among online critics and is applauded for its authenticity and intuitive dialogue written by Jokes Yanes and Ciro Dapagio.
Filming will commence in November in Marbella, Spain, London, England and Miami, Florida.
Media Contact: Lucy Carver, Lucy@wanda-halcyon.com, 213 283 0919
Source: Wanda-Halcyon Television
Montreal’s Biker History Plays Role in Forthcoming TV Series ‘The MobKing’
New BadAss Mobster Series With A Real-Life Twist
Former Hells Angel George Christie Joins Upcoming Series ‘The MobKing’
The MOBKING APPAREL
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Shocking Y'all - How Harvicks Move to Ford Could Surprise You
Sean Gardner/Getty Images
When Kevin Harvick moved to Stewart Haas Racing following the 2013 Season, many had doubts about what was happening with him personally and many began to wonder if that was a good move or not. Harvick joined Stewart Haas Racing in 2014 which would be the year Harvick would gain his first career championship in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series making many of those people who doubted him at one time reverse their decision.
Chris Trotman/Getty Images
The Trading Card Database
Now another move is facing Kevin Harvick going into the 2017 Season and that is the fact that Kevin Harvick will be driving the #4 Jimmy Johns Ford Fusion. Throughout his career in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series he's drove nothing but a Chevrolet any many doubt his decision to continue with Stewart Haas Racing who will be switching over to Ford in 2017. But in a surprising move he re-signed a multi-year deal with Stewart Haas Racing which made the many rumors disappear and Harvick was able to continue the season without the cloud of rumors hanging over his head and hanging over Kasey Kahnes head (Where he was rumored to go at one point in the 2016 Season.). It made focusing easier and it made that an aspect that they didn't have to worry about. The only thing that really troubled Harvick was the many pit road issues he had over the season and when it exploded at Darlington when he had some things to say about his crew to the Media. In 2017 I predict those issues will appear again.
What many don't recognize about Kevin Harvick and I didn't until I did my research is the fact that Kevin Harvick hasn't been solely with Chevrolet his whole racing career. In 1999, Kevin Harvick ran a full schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series behind the wheel of the #98 Porter-Cable Power Tools Ford for Jim Herrick. That season Harvick didn't gain a victory but he did gain three runner up finishes at Mesa Marin, Memphis, and Nashville Fairgrounds. Harvick has also raced a Pontiac once in his career in 1999 at Mesa Marin in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.
After his success from change he gained at Stewart Haas Racing I see the change this year as a chance for Harvick to shock the fans once again. (Koelle,2016)
Ford Performance Kevin Harvick NASCAR Monster Energy Premier Series Stewart Haas Racing
Our Most Viewed Pieces
BREAKING NEWS: ThorSport Racing Fire
We are just getting reports from Sandusky Ohio that Thor Sport Racing's Shop is on Fire. Not many details at this moment but be sure to stay tuned with The NASCAR News Source for the Latest! ThorSport Racing fields the #88 Entry for Matt Crafton, #41 Entry for Ben Rhodes, #13 Entry for Cameron Hayley and #98 Entry for Rico Abreu. Please keep this race team in your prayers as we hate seeing any team go through this situation. Stay tuned for more details as they emerge. The photo to the right was taken by Chris Sluss who is currently at the ThorSport Race Shop. (Koelle,2016)
Jeffrey Earnhardt and StarCom Racing Split Following Auto Club 400
StarCom Racing announced via Facebook Sunday night that the organization and Jeffrey Earnhardt has mutually agreed to go different directions following Sunday's race at Auto Club Speedway.
"We want to thank Jeffrey Earnhardt for his time at SCR, we have mutually agreed to move in different directions at this time. It was a pleasure working together and we wish much success to Jeffrey and his team."
Earnhardt joined the organization during the off-season after Earnhardt found himself without a ride when Joe Falk and Curtis Key went their separate ways. Earnhardt earned his best career start this weekend at Auto Club Speedway, Earnhardt also earned his career-best finish with StarCom Racing last month in the Daytona 500. He finished 21st. As for the future of both parties, the future is unknown. StarCom Racing will announce their replacement for Martinsville this weekend.
"Stay tuned this week for more information on who will be at the wheel of the 00 in Martinville.&q…
Cody Coughlin and GMS Racing Part Ways Effective Immediately
GMS Racing announced on Monday Morning that Cody Coughlin will not return to the organization effective immediately. GMS Racing released this statement early Monday Morning.
"Due to unforeseen issues with additional sponsorship needed, Cody Coughlin will no longer drive the No. 2 Chevrolet for GMS Racing. We are grateful for the relationship we made with Cody and the Coughlin family. We wish them the best in their future endeavors. Spencer Gallagher will fulfill the No. 2 GMS entry at Talladega, and we will announce who will be driving the remainder of the year at a later date."
In 18 races this season, Coughlin has a best finish of sixth at Dover earlier this year. He has six top-ten finishes with only one DNF last weekend at Las Vegas. His worst finish of the season, which was not a DNF, came at Martinsville where he finished 26th. Coughlin followed it up with a statement.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in NASCAR. I want to thank Maury Gallagher and Mike Beam for the o…
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Jan 1 Theresa Mazzullo
Amber Hudson
AgTech, Biotechnology, Energy, Media, Other IT, Semiconductors, Software, TelCo, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, SaaS
www.excellny.com
Collection of candid advice from women VCs
Theresa Mazzullo has been the CEO of Excell Partners since 2006. She has a 30 year track record in business, finance and entrepreneurship. Having owned and sold a small business, she brings firsthand knowledge, unique skills, and proven experience to the seed stage investment arena. In her role as CEO, her duties include governance, compliance, reporting, community integration, finance and fundraising.
Experience in founding and operating a company Theresa spent six years as President & Principal of EPIC Advisors, Inc a 401(k) retirement plan company with $1.5 billion in retirement plan assets. In her capacity as President, she built an infrastructure that supported annual revenue growth of 20%. She also directed business planning process regarding business strategy and tactics in the areas of finance, sales, marketing, administration, operations and information technology to ensure increased profitability and the achievement of the company vision. Ultimately, she led the team for a successful exit in 2005.
As a former banker, Theresa held various positions within financial institutions, including a Senior Vice President of First National Bank, where she established and built a Trust and Investment Division while the bank was under a Consent Order by the office of the Comptroller of the Currency. She managed to grow the Trust & Investment Division to $125 million in five years and at the same time built and managed the infrastructure to support the broker-dealer business unit for the bank.
Her community activity includes: Member, Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council & Co-Chair of the FLREDC’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Committee; Board Member-Executive Committee, Treasurer, Greater Rochester Enterprise; Board Member, High Technology Rochester; Member of the University of Rochester Technology Development Committee; Executive Committee & Board Member: Memorial Art Gallery; Trustee & Grants Committee Chair, Farash Foundation; Member: Investment Advisory Committee, Governor Cuomo’s $50M Innovation Fund.
Fund's investment verticals: medical device, materials, energy, biotechnology, agtech, imaging, and IT/software.
MEDIA ABOUT THERESA MAZZULLO
Seed Stage, Early Stage, Later Stage, Convertible Debt
Jan 1 Julie Papanek
Jan 1 Deepa Pakianathan
Jan 1 Mary Meeker
Jan 1 Sharon Stevenson
Jan 1 Nicole Vitullo
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Home WSLM NEWS Breaking News Accident sends three West Washington Seniors to Hospital
Accident sends three West Washington Seniors to Hospital
Three West Washington Seniors were taken by helicopter ambulance to the University of Louisville hospital at approx. 4:04p afternoon as a result of a crash on Beck’s Mill Road. Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg and deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the two vehicle crash that occurred on Becks Mill Road near Posey Chapel Road, in rural Washington County.
Injured were Dakota L. Bowling, 18, Salem; Serena Durgins, 19, Fredericksburg and Cody Lavens, 18, Fredericksburg. Only Lavens was not wearing a seatbelt.
The preliminary investigation revealed a white 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier was travelling south on Becks Mill Road. When the vehicle crested a hill, the driver lost control and went left of center, striking the front of a north bound, blue over gray, 2000, Ford F-350 pickup truck. The Ford F-350 pickup truck drove off the east side of Becks Mill Road in an attempt to avoid the white Cavalier, but was still struck.
The 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier was being driven by Bowling. He was wearing his seat belt. The front seat passenger, Durgins, 19, was wearing a seat belt and Lavens was in the back seat. All three occupants of the Chevrolet Cavalier were transported by air ambulance to the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, KY with serious injuries.
The driver of the 2000 Ford F-350 pickup truck, Jared T. Green, 41, from Fredricksburg was wearing a seat belt and sustained no injuries in the crash.
Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionist were called to the scene to reconstruct the crash. This investigation is continuing with the above information being preliminary.
Assisting Agencies were Washington County E.M.S., Squad 0195 and the Posey Township Fire Department.
Stay tuned for WSLM Radio for more details as they develop.
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Into The Vertical Blank: Generation Atari S1:E6 – Interfaces are where two worlds collide
by Jeff Fulton
Into The Vertical Blank: Generation Atari S1:E6 – Interfaces are where to worlds collide
The only thing from the 80’s that could rival our love for Atari was our love for punk rock and new wave, and especially, our favorite band: The Alarm. In 1987 those two things combined in an unexpected way. So unexpected in fact, that we were only able to fully understand impact of those two world’s clashing more than 30 years later. This episode documents that journey to understanding.
In 1987 we gave up the “Little Blue Desktop ” of Atari 800 DOS for the Little Green Desktop of the Atari 520 ST. At that exact moment in time, the music industry was changing dramatically from one that used mostly analog recording practices to adding digital instruments and recording methods into the Studio. The ATARI (ubiquitously known without the ST) mostly in studios was the cheapest, most accurate sequencer on the market.
Subscribe on iTunes , Google Play or Player FM
The list of bands that used an Atari ST for recording was compiled from the following sources: Atari Age,com forums, Sounds On Sounds Forum, https://www.musictech.net/, Matt Aniss and http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/, stuff.tv, Wikipedia and Google.
Matt Aniss has written the definitive exploration of the Atari ST an MIDI “Instumental Instruments- The Atari ST” http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2017/10/atari-st-instrumental-instruments
The Snippets of Alarm, songs played were used under fair use guidelines for the purposes of criticism. They were as follows:
Rain In The Summertime from the Album Eye Of The Hurricane, 1987
Declaration – live At The Hammersmith Palais, December 1984
Marching On – live At The Hammersmith Palais, December 1984
Across The Border – live At The Hammersmith Palais, December 1984
Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? – live At The Hammersmith Palais, December 1984
Unsafe Building – live At The Hammersmith Palais, December 1984
The Stand – live At The Hammersmith Palais, December 1984
Rain In The Summertime (Live) from the album Electric Folklore Live, 1988
Rescue Me, live at the Tower In Philadelphia, April 16th, 1988
Sold Me Down The River, from the album Change, 1989
Hardland, , from the album Change, 1989
Change 2, from the album Change, 1989
Prison Without Prison Bars , from the album Change, 1989
Rivers To Cross, from the album Change, 1989
Change 1, b-side of Raw singe, 1991
Two Rivers, from the album Equals, 2018
13 Dead Reindeer , from the album Equals, 2018
Tomorrow, from the album Equals, 2018
Atari Dos 2.X – Inside Atari DOS Byby Bill Wilkinson, published 1982 https://www.atariarchives.org/iad/
Atari ST TOS 1.0 Information, pictures, more
http://toastytech.com/guis/tos.html
BAAL – Atari ST – https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=baal+atari+st
Better Dead than Alien – Atari ST –
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=better+dead+than+alien+atari+st
A selection of Atari ST game videos featuring music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JcYTI-HT4&list=PLvf41E1k8S56HHewILZJ07qDZdRJP-UcO
The History of Midi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHmshRb5HQs
1986 Discussion of Midi Computers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-UtxKEXAAk
PODCAST ROLL:
Atari ST and 400/800/XL/XE Podcasts
Antic – https://ataripodcast.libsyn.com/
XE Game By Game – http://xegs8bit.com/
XL/XE – https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/xlxe-xlxe-uvPGcxAZnHD/
Player / Missile – https://playermissile.com/
Inverse ATASCII – https://inverseatascii.info/
Atari Game Podcasts
Ferg’s amazing Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast – https://player.fm/series/the-atari-2600-game-by-game-podcast
Atari Bytes – https://player.fm/series/atari-bytes
The Atari 7800 Game by Game Podcast (classic episodes) – https://player.fm/series/the-atari-7800-game-by-game-podcast
Shinto’s Jaguar game by game Podcast – https://player.fm/series/the-atari-jaguar-game-by-game-podcast
The Atari 5200 Podcast – https://player.fm/series/the-atari-5200-podcast
The Atari 7800 Homebrew Podcast – https://player.fm/series/the-atari-7800-homebrew-podcast
The Atari Lynx Handy Cast – https://player.fm/series/the-atari-lynx-handycast
The Atari 5200 Super Community Podcast – https://player.fm/series/the-atari-5200-super-community
The Best of the rest (if you are not listed an want to be , please contact us)
The Amazing Intellivisionaries Podcast – https://player.fm/series/the-intellivisionaries-podcast
The Essential Growing up 80’s Podcast – https://player.fm/series/growing-up-80s
Intarivisions – Atari, Intellivision and Coleco common games – https://player.fm/series/intarivisions
The Pie Factory Podcast – https://piefactorypodcast.wordpress.com/
The Floppy Days Podcast – https://player.fm/series/floppydays-vintage-computing-podcast
Essential Podcasts that might be of interest to this community
Reply-All – https://player.fm/series/reply-all
The Moth – https://themoth.org/podcast
Story Corps – https://storycorps.org/podcast/
Never let the fires die The official Alarm Podcast – http://thealarm.com/feed/podcast/
Comfortable Place on the Couch The Midnight Oil Podcast – http://darrenfoulds.com/podcasts/index.html
More 80’s podcasts on Player FM – https://player.fm/en/podcasts/80’s-podcasts
Category: Atari 8-bit, Atari Memoirs, Atari Nerd Chronicles, Atari ST, Into The Vertical Blank, Podcasts
← Atari Play field – Atari ST games #1 : Michtron.
Into The Vertical Blank: Generation Atari S1:E7 – Playing Together, Side By Side →
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XCSW
X City Jedi Council
Link to XCSW
Soda Cans
Prequels
Episode II Pics
E2 Storyboards
Episode I Cutscenes
TPM Script
BobaFett688
SlaveOne712
In Episode IV, Obi-Wan says that "a Jedi draws his power from the Force." The Force (which must be capitalized for some reason) is a mysterious energy which is neither good nor bad. Jedi draw their power from it, as Obi-Wan says. They can use it to enhance their strength or abilities. Tricks we've seen with the Force include:
Sensing the presence of someone
Using a "wave" of the Force to knock down someone.
Mind clouding, almost like hypnotizing.
Super-high jumping.
Moving things, like pulling switches, or bringing a lightsaber to your hand without touching them.
Sensing the future, past, or present.
Lightsabers are the Jedi weapon. They work like swords, only made of laser energy which you can activate and deactivate.
Jedi Knights
Jedi Knights, the defenders of the free galaxy. These brave men and women appear in all of the four current SW films, and will appear in the next two editions also. These guys are some tough mutha...... pretty tough dudes. The Jedi are strong in the ways of the Force, and most know how to handle a sword, even Yoda :P! I have listed them in appearance, starting with A New Hope, not The Phantom Menace. You know what I really don't get about the Jedi? Almost all of the human like Jedi's have British accents. Weird...
Obi-Wan is, in a sense, one of the greatest Knights of his time. He's single handedly (well, nevermind, with LOTS of help from Qui-Gon) defeated Darth Maul, trained Anakin Skywalker, does God knows what in Episodes II and III, and is Lukes mentor throughout the original trilogy. Obi-Wan is a force to be reckoned with, and (in his younger days especially) is very strong. Too bad old Obi got the boot by Vader in Episode IV, when he was known as "Ben".
Despite his size, looks, and speech, Yoda is the Jedi Master. He has trained many warriors, and led the Jedi Council for years. About 800 to be exact. Yoda's main role in the original series was as Luke's master, teaching him the ways of the Jedi and of the Force. After Vader made it his responsibility to seek out and destroy the remaining Jedi, Yoda retreated to Dagobah, a system where the Empire would never find him.
Luke, again, is a happening guy. He only does a few things really, you know, destroys the Death Star, frees the galaxy from the Empires reign of terror, yada yada yada, you know, typical stuff. But seriously, Luke's life has a very powerful impact on the galaxy. When we first meet the young man, he seems like a whiny dork ("But I was gonna go to Natashi Station to pick up some Power Converters"). As the movies progress though, Luke's power in the Force and his personality change for the better. Through near death confronations with his father, Darth Vader, to Yoda's harsh training, Luke becomes the Jedi Master he was destined to turn into.
Qui-Gon Jinn
Qui-Gon is another powerful Jedi Knight. A Jedi rebel at best, Qui-Gon seems to enjoy defying the wishes of his superiors, wanting to train Anakin, and other things we are left out on. Qui-Gon's past is mysterious, but we all know what happens in the end. The poor guy gets a hole cut through him by Darth Maul. Qui-Gon's dying wish was to train Anakin, a mistake he and the entire galaxy would regret.
Mace Windu, being played by Samuel L. Jackson, is of course a very cool guy. Though he only plays a minor role in Episode I, he seems to be a very important figure in Episode II, according to the storyboards. It is he who is said to kill Janga Fett, Boba Fetts father. Mace is sort of the Councils second in command, and is very buddy buddy with Yoda. Hopefully Mace's secrets will be revealed further in Episode II.
Ki-Adi-Mundi
Who is he? What is his role in future SW movies. How did he get that shape head? Nobody, aside from Lucasfilm, knows, and we may never find out. Until then, you can look at his picture above.
Adi Gallia
Adi is one of the few, or maybe the only, female Jedi to be featured in a movie. She is a member of the Council, which means her skills as a warrior are greater than that of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. Or maybe they just like having a politically correct council.
Plo Koon
Another guy we don't know much about. It seems, according to the storyboards, that he plays a brief role in Episode II, however rumors say that he is killed by 'Darth Tyranus.' We'll just have to wait and see.
Psst! The Official Star Wars site has a great section on the Jedi. Well, maybe not as great as ours, but click here to check out the 'official' Jedi information page.
Have any info on some of the Jedi seen here? Got one to add? Mail me
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Monday, 14 January 2013, 11:30 HKT/SGT
Source: MTA2013
Asia's Robust Oil & Gas Industry Spurring Demand for High Precision Engineering Solutions
MTA2013 will unveil a showcase of quality machine solutions specially designed for companies across the supply chain
SINGAPORE, Jan 14, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - Over the years, Singapore has built up a vibrant system of oil majors, drilling contractors, specialised marine equipment and offshore rig manufacturers, as well as engineering service providers. Riding on this wave, MTA2013, the leading precision engineering industry trade event in Asia, will be showcasing tools that aid in the manufacturing of machine parts for the oil & gas industry at the Singapore Expo from 9 - 12 April 2013.
Top quality machinery for oil and gas sector in high demand
Singapore is the global leader for the design and construction of offshore rigs, platforms and support vessels. Even without hydrocarbon resources, Singapore currently dominates 70 per cent of the global market share in the manufacturing of jack-up rigs for offshore drilling. According to Singapore's Ministry of Trade & Industry, the current economic uncertainties has not hampered the country's progress, for Singapore's marine and offshore sector continues to prove resilient with its total turnover in 2011 at $13.3 billion, and current net orders at a new high of more than $16 billion with deliveries extended to 2015.
With such imperative need for offshore equipment, coupled with the projected increase in demand in Asia for oil exports, the outlook for machine tool companies specialising in producing machinery parts for the oil & gas industry continues to remain upbeat.
MTA2013 zooms in on solutions for high value sectors
MTA2013 will be putting up a Capabilities Hub - a showcase featuring a group of precision engineering enterprises that provide a comprehensive range of products and services catering to high value sectors such as Aerospace, Complex Equipment, Medical Technology and Oil & Gas. Regarded for their high levels of competency, quality control systems, fast response & turnaround and excellent after-sales support, these companies include A&One Precision Engineering, ACP Metal Finishing, Beyonics Technology, CEI Contract Manufacturing, Chinyee Engineering & Machinery, Frontken (Singapore), Fujicon Engineering, Hup Fatt Brothers Engineering, Index Precision Industries, JCS-Vanetec, JEP Precision Engineering, Meiban Group, Microcast, Nanotechnology Manufacturing, Onn Wah Precision Machining, Racer Technology, Solidmicron Technologies, ST Kinetics Integrated Engineering, Trek 2000 International, Tru-Marine, Vigor Precision Engineering and Wah Son Engineering.
Tru-Marine has over 36 years of expertise in marine turbocharger reconditioning. With the installation of laser-aided-additive-manufacturing, the company has expanded its capability to serve the petrochemical, power generation and oil & gas industries. Its core expertise lies in the remanufacturing of worn components to their original condition, as well as the capability to extend the service life of critical new parts. Tru-Marine is a proud recipient of the Singapore Quality Award 2009, the most prestigious award conferred on world-class organisations that demonstrate the highest standards of business excellence.
"We expect offshore production to experience dynamic growth in the coming years. Tru-Marine is poised to capitalize on our entrenched competencies in component reclamation and remanufacturing to meet the industry's increasing demand for relevant technologies, products and support services," enthused Mr. Loke Yuen Kong, Director at Tru-Marine Pte Ltd.
The Capabilities Hub is designed to address the demanding and varied needs of the high-value industry sectors. For the oil and gas sector in particular, it highlights the manufacturers' capabilities that covers areas such as complex machining of specialised materials, fabrication of large components, materials testing, engineering services, supply chain management and systems integration. From the technology suppliers to manufacturers or sub-contractors to industry solution providers, the Capabilities Hub participants, together with the exhibitors in MTA2013, provide an enhanced, integrated experience for oil and gas industry professionals. Attendees can source for parts and components from suppliers as well as network with other manufacturers and industry solution providers under one roof.
"By allowing the manufacturers to showcase their know-how through the Capabilities Hub, MTA2013 provides the ideal platform for attendees from around the region to see and gain the knowledge in what the precision engineering industry in Singapore can provide. This is especially so for the production of Oil & Gas equipment, where Singapore excels in," states Mr. William Lim, Project Director at Singapore Exhibition Services, organiser of MTA2013.
Halliburton joins MTA2013 as Industry Partner
Halliburton is participating at MTA2013 to showcase its capabilities, technologies and solutions for the oil and gas industry at the event. Founded in 1919, the company has evolved to become one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. Armed with 70,000 employees in approximately 80 countries, the company serves the upstream oil and gas industry throughout the life cycle of the reservoir - from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimising production through the life of the field.
MTA2013 - Choice Asian launch pad for global manufacturing players
Beyond the Capabilities Hub, MTA2013 will also unveil global manufacturing bigwigs who will be demonstrating their latest portfolio of machine tools and tooling systems targeted at the Oil & Gas sector.
DMG Mori Seki will showcase the NLX4000 which offers stable machining with the widest slideways in its class and a high-rigidity structure.
Carl Zeiss will highlight its latest product in South East Asia - the O-INSPECT 322 multisensor measuring machine. This table-top optical Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) is equipped with telecentric Discovery zoom lens from Carl Zeiss Microscopy, as well as multi-point contact scanning sensor VAST XXT. The telecentric lens allows test objects with different material thickness in the camera image to be measured in the right imaging scale. The low probing force and contact scanning VAST XXT enable precision probing for true 3D form and position measurements.
MTA2013 at A Glance
Show: MTA2013 - The 19th Precision Engineering Industry Event,
held alongside MetrologyAsia2013
Incorporating: ToolTec2013, iAutomation2013, MetalAsia2013,
WeldTech2013, Outsource&SubCon2013
Date: 9 - 12 April 2013 (Tuesday - Friday)
Venue: Singapore Expo
Opening Hours: 10.30am to 6pm
Admission: Business and trade professionals only
Website: www.mta-asia.com
About Singapore Exhibition Services (SES)
Singapore Exhibitions Services organises a portfolio of international tradeshows serving the Communications, Engineering, Machinery and Lifestyle industries. Its events consistently attract a high level of overseas participation with foreign exhibitors accounting for almost 80% of the show floor. Singapore Exhibitions Services is a member of Allworld Exhibitions Alliance, a global network with over 50 offices worldwide. For more information, please visit www.sesallworld.com.
Juliet Tseng / June Seah
Senior PR Executive / PR Manager
Singapore Exhibition Services
Tel: +65 6233 6635 / +65 6233 6632
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Topic: Trade Show or Conference
Sectors: Trade Shows, Design Process, Engineering
MTA2013 Releated News
Apr 9, 2013 16:00 HKT/SGT
MTA2013 Opens to Much Fanfare
Feb 8, 2013 21:00 HKT/SGT
MTA2013 will Address the Needs of Singapore's Medical Technology Sector with High Precision Engineering Solutions
Dec 21, 2012 09:30 HKT/SGT
MTA2013 進一步強化新加坡作為全球航空製造亞洲核心基地的地位
MTA2013 进一步强化新加坡作为全球航空制造亚洲核心基地的地位
MTA2013 Supports Singapore's Position as Asian Hub of Choice for Global Aerospace Manufacturers
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Home » Job Seekers » Veteran Services
Professional Assessments
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Customer Code of Conduct
This newsletter is to inform veterans of the various programs, workshops, events and services available to the veteran community, along with items of interest.
Arapahoe/Douglas Works! is honored to provide career assistance to men and women who have served in the U.S. armed services, and qualifying spouses who are eligible for veteran’s preference. Our Disabled Veteran Outreach Specialist (DVOPS) work with eligible veterans, eligible spouses and family caregivers who have Significant Barriers to Employment (SBE).
Priority of Service. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! is honored to provide veterans priority of service, with regards to; employment, training, and placement services. Veterans who have served one day of active duty and received other than a Dishonorable Discharge, visiting Arapahoe/Douglas Works! are invited to move to the front of the line.
One-On-One Assistance. Our DVOPS are Disabled Veterans who understand first-hand how to find employment and related training by tapping into the enhanced skill-sets of service members.
Veteran Events. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! hosts and participates in a variety of veteran-related events including job fairs, veteran networking groups, workshops, and community outreach events.
Arapahoe/Douglas Works! can offer career assistance to all individuals who are eligible for veteran services. Employment Representatives provide; employment counseling, assistance in all stages of job search, direct referrals for job openings and veteran's job training programs. We also offer a wide variety of specialized employment and training services to veterans such as:
One-on-One Assistance
Resume and Interview Assistance
Job Referrals
Education and Training Assistance
Job Preparation Workshops
Job Fairs and Hiring Events
Referrals to other state and federal agencies for additional services
Disabled Veteran Outreach Specialist (DVOPS)
Our DVOPS provide intensive services to meet the employment needs of eligible Veterans and eligible spouses with significant barriers to employment (SBE), who have the most need. For eligibility, the Veteran must have served a minimum of 181 days of active duty (not including training), have other than a Dishonorable Discharge and one of the SBE’s below.
Service Connected Disabled or Special Disabled
Recently separated service member who has been unemployed in the previous 12 months for 27 weeks
Have been incarcerated
Lack a high school diploma or equivalent certificate
Low income or receiving public assistance, such as SSI, TANF, SNAP (food stamps), etc.
A Veteran between the ages of 18-24 years old
Are within 24 months of retiring from military service or 12 months of separating and have been through TAP
Are a Wounded Warrior, assigned to a Wounded Warrior Transition Unit or caregiver of a Wounded Warrior
The caregiver or spouse of a Totally Disabled or Deceased Veteran, whose disability or death is service connected or the service member is listed as missing in action (MIA) or detained by a hostile foreign power while on active duty for 90 days or more.
Service Connected Disabled Veterans
Special Disabled or Disabled: Defined in 38 U.S.C § 4211(1) and (3) as those who are entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA); or were discharged or released from active duty because of a service connected disability.
A Special Disabled Veteran must also be:
a. Rated by the VA at 30% or more disabled, or
b. Rated by the VA at 10% or 20% disabled in the case of a veteran who has been determined to have a serious employment handicap.
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPS) work closely with veterans to help them gain access to a variety of services within Arapahoe/Douglas Works! and other agencies.
Contact Veteran Services
veteranservices@adworks.org
Arapahoe County Veterans Service Office (303) 738.8045
Douglas County Office of Veteran Affairs (303) 663.6257
Help For Homeless Veterans (877) 424.3838
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (800) 827.1000
Veteran Affairs Eastern Healthcare System (303) 399.8020
Colorado Veteran Affairs PTSD Program (800) 273.8255 (Press 1) For Immediate Assistance 911
Colorado Department of Military & Veteran Affairs Main Office (303) 284.6077
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You are here: Home › Area Arts Videos Events and Updates › The Sixties: CNN’s new 10-part series features Grace Slick
The Sixties: CNN’s new 10-part series features Grace Slick
By admin on May 27, 2014 in Area Arts News Updates
CNN partnered with Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman to produce this miniseries, which premieres May 29th. It will explore everything from the decade that shaped America, from the space race, politics, and war to music, art, and counter-culture. Viewers will see many iconic figures from the time interviewed for their first-hand perspective.
CNN Special “The Sixties”
Unsurprisingly, Grace Slick was a go-to for the producers. The rock goddess turned visual artist has never shied away from speaking her mind, and who better to give us some insight into the counter-culture movement than the lady who teamed up with Abbie Hoffman in an attempt to dose President Nixon’s tea with LSD?
What other parts of 1960’s do you feel deserve a voice in this mini-series? Is there anything shouldn’t be mentioned? And more importantly, why are the ‘60s still so captivating to us, even more than fifty years later?
“A Conversation with Grace Slick” featured at the Grammy Museum
Grace Slick’s California Art Tour Concludes!
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Opportunity to Signed Contract in the Cloud
Opportunity to Signed Contract in the Cloud A look at how Arkus helped a client automate and improve their sales approval process, electronic contract generation and signature using Salesforce.com, Conga, and Echosign. http://www.arkusinc.com/archive/2011/opportunity-to-signed-contract-in-the-cloud http://www.arkusinc.com/archive/2011/opportunity-to-signed-contract-in-the-cloud/@@download/image/Opp-Contract-Process-Flow.jpg
Conga Composer, Chatter, Echosign
03/29/2011 by Justin Edelstein
A look at how Arkus helped a client automate and improve their sales approval process, electronic contract generation and signature using Salesforce.com, Conga, and Echosign.
One of the most important aspects of closing a deal is how fast you can get from the verbal agreement stage to a signed agreement stage. At Arkus we have automated our own proposal process using Salesforce Opportunites and Products along with Conga Composer to generate quotes and get them emailed off to the right person in literally minutes. When a client recently approached us to automate their sales process so that they can get a quicker turn around time from sale to signed deal we jumped at the chance to use Conga Composer integrated with EchoSign to make their process even more efficient. Here is a short description about what we did - hopefully this will help you as you start to automate your processes and close more deals.
Approving The Deal
The first step in the process for our client was getting the deal approved by management. Using the native Salesforce approvals engine we were able to route parallel approval processes to two users based on which region the deal was in. If the deal was based in one region it went to two people, if it was based in another region it went to two different people. The approval went to both people at the same time but once one of them approves then the deal is considered approved and moved into the next stage of the process. Of course when an Opportunity is approved the record Chatters so that anyone following the Deal gets notified in their feed. The next stages are the fun part.
Conga Workflow
Once a deal gets approved by one of the two approvers a field within the Opportunity record gets sent via an outbound message to the Conga Composer workflow service. The field is a URL that calls the Conga service and sends back a response to Salesforce. The magic here is that nobody had to do anything to generate a professional contract template that includes everything from the person signing to the products included in the deal. This generated contract comes back into the system and generates an Echosign Agreement through the native Conga to Echosign integration.
Once Conga does it's work and generates the contract document an Agreement record is created within Salesforce which includes the document as an attachment. This Agreement is related to both the person signing it and the Opportunity from which it was created. Again, automatically based on the approval of the Opportunity this document gets sent to the correct person who needs to sign it and the status of the Agreement is marked as such. Once the Agreement is signed the status of the record inside Salesforce gets updated and the originator of the sales process gets notified via Chatter.
Closing the Loop (and Deals)
This process is fairly typical for a sales organization. At a high level we have a deal that needs to get approved by management and then a contract that needs to go out and get signed. What we have done for our client is take all of those processes and baked them into one slick approval process with integrations getting kicked off automatically via Salesforce. As a salesperson you get your deals closed much faster if you can get that document approved and out for signature quicker and as an operations team you salivate at the idea of not needing to manually enter more data, not needing to generate contracts from templates by copying and pasting data, and keeping track of all the approvals and statuses of those contracts. Add to all of the automation the Chatter capabilities of having the data talk via feeds and the automation of this process is a true win win for everyone involved.
If you want to discuss this process automation or anything related to it feel free to reach out via Twitter at www.twitter.com/justedelstein or comment on the post on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/arkusinc.
March Madness & The Downfall of Netflix?
Backing Up Is Hard to Do
Setting Knowledge Free Using Solutions
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SO WHO WILL WIN? Buhari won’t win the 2015 election, Jonathan will lose it - Feyi Fawehinmi
How does someone go from really disliking Buhari to openly supporting him in 4 years? I doubt I’m alone in this – certainly I know a good number of people who wont have touched him with a long pole a couple of years and are now just waiting for their ballot paper so they can vote for him. I think that Nigeria will have a new President come May 2015 and it will be Muhammadu Buhari.
The first thing to note is that Buhari is actually quite easy to beat in an election. He is a very popular politician and I doubt any other politician in Nigeria today can come close to matching his numbers purely on name recognition and character. The man is not a crook and in Nigeria of today, that counts for a lot with millions of Nigerians. But he has one big strength – anti corruption – which makes it easy to develop a strategy to beat him in an election. To put it another way, when Nuhu Ribadu was in his prime at EFCC, it would have been very difficult for Buhari to defeat Obasanjo in an election. It does not matter whether the anti-corruption drive of Obasanjo’s government was highly selective in picking targets, the main thing is that that Buhari’s strength in an election was blunted Obasanjo having a highly public campaign against corruption.
What has happened over the past 5 years is that Goodluck Jonathan has gone out of his way to make Buhari as attractive as possible to many more people, as if under a spell. That a 72 year retired General who has been in semi-retirement for the better part of the last 30 years now has his best shot at becoming President – at the 4th time of asking – really ought to make pause and reflect.
Let’s be honest with ourselves – Nigeria is one of the best places for a politician to steal public money and get away with it. We do not really punish corruption in the normal way that other countries do – throw offenders in jail. Except you offend someone or fall into the hands of the British courts, you get to steal and keep the loot. Even when you have the misfortune of actually going to prison, it’s usually for a short period and you come back to your life as it was before you left. There is no shame or loss of privilege.
Consider Bode George who actually went to prison for corruption amount to N100bn of split contracts. Here’s what happened while he was in ‘prison‘:
Saturday Vanguard investigations revealed that the Chief Bode George and his colleagues had been confined to the V.I.P. section of the prison since they arrived Monday evening and have started eating meals prepared by their families.
It was gathered that there were no signs of molestation by other inmates of the dreaded prison yard as the new very important inmates were being accorded special treatment because of their former positions in the country.
As I recall it at the time, he was later moved to a ‘flat’ inside the prison with air conditioning. He came out of prison to a lavish reception that was shown live on TV and within a few months was nominating ministers that remain in government today. There is no evidence that he has suffered any loss of wealth on account of him going to prison and the current PDP gubernatorial candidate for Lagos, Jimi Agbaje, got the ticket because of him.
Why then did President Jonathan pardon Diepriye Alamieyeseigha last year? The point of the Bode George example above is to show that there really is no punishment for corruption even when you are convicted. Alams had served his time and had become influential again. There was nothing a pardon was going to do for him other than soothe his ego and perhaps allow him to convince himself that he was innocent afterall. Why did the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria use the powers of his office to grant such a pardon? Why?
After 4 years in office, this government cannot honestly point to anything it has done to at least stop corruption from over running the state. What we now have is a free for all. We have become numb to stories about Malabu or N123bn disappearing from the civil service or $6.8bn fuel subsidy scam or N28bn in pension funds going walkabouts. One time we even had receipts! The list is endless. Everyday there is one new theft or the other and some don’t even make the headlines. Even when there is a crisis or major incident that does not look like a corruption case on the surface, once the story starts to unravel, we see that it is actually corruption. A clear example of this is was the NIS tragedy that led to the loss of 17 lives because people were so blinded by greed. The Minister responsible still attends Federal Executive Council meetings in Aso Rock every Wednesday. And then there are the things we hear about the military about how our soldiers are sent into battle ill-equipped to face a deadly enemy because money continues to disappear before it gets to them. When he has managed to show some decisiveness, it is in sacking the Central Bank Governor for blowing the whistle on the cesspool of graft that is the NNPC. But he openly complains that his petroleum minister is summoned too often by the National Assembly at a time she was being probed (even if half heartedly) for corruption.
Goodluck Jonathan did not invent corruption in Nigeria – we have been at it since forever. What he has however done is take it to unseen levels that are difficult to explain. It is one thing to allow corruption to fester under your watch, what is perplexing is watching the President actively try to downplay by splitting hairs between ‘mere stealing’ and corruption. By arguing that corruption only exists as rhetoric, he seeks to convince Nigerians that what they see and hear everyday is some kind of an illusion. He does not believe that it is something that can totally corrode decision-making in a nation. He has no will to fight it.
The American Professor, Andrew Wedeman who has studied China for decades wrote a book called ‘Double Paradox:Rapid Growth and Rising Corruption in China‘. An excerpt from it:
Corruption in China more closely resembled corruption in Zaire […] But unlike Zaire, China punished around 668,000 members of the ruling party for corruption over a 5 year period and sentenced 350 to death.
We know what happened to Zaire. As countries go, it cannot really be called a going concern anymore. There is a real risk of state collapse in a country where corruption is allowed to roam free as has been the case in Nigeria in the last 4 years. Nothing useful can get done – indeed, if this government gets re-elected next year, it plans a budget where 91% of all spending will go towards recurrent items. Corruption helps to promote incompetence such that what is not stolen is wasted.
There is a whole Wikipedia page dedicated to George W. Bush’s ‘Bushisms‘. His grammatical challenges, combined with his Iraq misadventures helped to raise the status of eloquence in politicians aspiring for President in America to the point where they voted a former Law Professor with a silver smooth tongue to succeed him. Francois Hollande called himself ‘Mr Normal’ when he was campaigning for the French Presidency in 2012. He won. Why? Because Nicolas Sarkozy spent 5 years in office acting abnormally. He raised the status of normality to the point where French voters were happy to settle for a man who they pejoratively referred to as ‘Flanby’ – a kind of wobbly caramel pudding with a soft centre.
Were the Americans and French voters right to do a 180 turn from leaders who had turned them off? Well, we know the Americans had a chance to correct their decision in 2012 (if they felt they had been wrong in 2008) but instead stuck with it for another 4 years. The French will get their chance to make amends in 2017. As at today, it looks like they cant wait to kick him out of office but a week is a long time in politics, never mind 2 years.
Buhari has not much changed as a person over the years. It is Goodluck Jonathan who has raised his status. It is Goodluck Jonathan who has raised the status of a leader who can tackle corruption. And he has lowered the bar so much that if a President Buhari sacks just one Minister for corruption, he would have out performed Goodluck Jonathan. If he manages to supply the political will to send a couple of people to jail for stealing, Nigerians will feel like they did the right thing by voting him into office.
Nobody is going to vote for Buhari to come and put an end to corruption. Even in China where people are executed for stealing public funds, corruption has not stopped. It is to at least turn us in a different direction that makes people feel at least that we are not being completely overrun by rampant graft. think Buhari did a decent job with the economy when he took over power in 1983 but even he will be blown away by the scale of the challenges today. With the various economic headwinds facing Nigeria, one can only wish the next President the best of luck.
Will Buhari turn out to be the best President Nigeria has ever had or be so bad that Nigerians will be itching for 2019 when they can correct their mistake? It is impossible to tell. But it is – at this time – definitely a risk worth taking. This is why those who are trying to accuse people of inconsistency for changing their minds on Buhari are running a fool’s errand. The times have changed and this will be reflected in the votes in February.
There are countries that have done well in terms of development under a monarchy – Nigerians who like to visit Dubai can attest to this. Some dictators have also done well for their countries – Thomas Sankara comes to mind. And of course, much of the Western world continues to develop while being democracies – Sweden being one of the best examples.
You can get a good leader under any system. The trouble starts when you get a bad leader and you then want to change them. You discover that under a monarchy you have to wait for the King or Queen to die or in a dictatorship you wait for another dictator to come and kick them out of office.
But democracy – ah – is the only one that guarantees you can change leaders you don’t like at regular intervals.
It is for this reason that I am now firmly a Buhari supporter. He is not going to win the election. Goodluck Jonathan is going to lose it.
Posted by Leye Omole at 6:24 AM No comments:
Adulterous Wife Forced to Shower Outside as a Sign of Traditional Cleansing in Congo (WATCH)
It has been traditionally known in some rural part of Congo that whenever a lady is been caught cheating outside wedlock, some kind of cleansing must be done.
Which includes the promiscuous woman showering outside right in front of everyone, which indicates that she has totally washed off the calamity she practically engaged in, and only by then would she be forgiven and accepted back by the community. Hmmmm, it's quite a tough one.
To Watch The Video CLICK HERE
Posted by Leye Omole at 5:45 AM 1 comment:
Pictures From Ini Edo's housewarming party (LOOK)
Former Falcons player Chichi Igbo, Annie, 2face Idibia, Alexx Ekubo and others attend Ini Edo's house-warming party in Lekki. More pics after the cut...
Posted by Leye Omole at 2:35 AM 2 comments:
FG Declares Jan 1st & 2nd, 2015 As Public Holidays
The Federal Government has declared January 2nd 2015 as public holiday to mark Eid el Maloud celebration. In a statement released today by the Minister of Interior affairs, Abba Moro, the Federal Government asked Muslim faithfuls to offer prayers to God for the peace and Unity of Nigeria.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, on behalf of the government.
In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Makaji Abdulahi, Moro urged Muslim faithful and all Nigerians to pray for the peace and unity of the country.
Moro further urged all Nigerians to engage in violent free activities in the run off to the 2015 general elections and to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda to move Nigeria to the next level of development.
Moro also wished all Muslim faithful and Nigerians a very peaceful celebration.
The Federal Government had earlier declared January 1, 2015 as public holiday to mark the New Year.
Source: Channels TV
Nkiru Sylvanus In Husband Snatching Scandal, Weds Oge Okoye's 'Husband' Secretly
According to latest report, Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus has gotten married to Stanley Duru, the ex-husband of her colleague and former friend, Oge Okoye.
Nkiru is believed to have gotten married to Stanley traditionally on Saturday, December 27, and according to reports, the white wedding is slated to hold today, December 31.
Rumours of the impending nuptials have been whispered for a while but it seems that the deal has finally been sealed.
Reports from the grapevine have it that Stanley was in a relationship with Nkiru before he was allegedly snatched from her by Oge, who later went on to have two kids for him.
However, the union between Oge and Stanley is said to have crashed after she allegedly had an affair with his best friend.
Stanley supposedly found love with Nkiru once again and the duo have reportedly decided to make their union permanent.
Nkiru, who is now a Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said a few times that she would not mind being a second wife.
I Am The Luckiest Man On Earth - Peter Okoye Gushes About His Wife, Lola Okoye (SEE IT)
This is so sweet!!!
If You Love Poverty, Vote For Jonathan - APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Osinbajo
Prof Yemi Osibajo has said that it is only Nigerians who love hunger that will return the present administration into office in 2015. He said this at a town hall meeting for artisans, tradesmen and farmers organised by the Lagos state government at the state secretariat yesterday December 30th 2015.
“No one is ignorant of all that is happening to us in this country. No one likes hunger and poverty; but people are hungry. In 2015, only those who love to continue to be hungry would prefer that the government in power at the centre remains there. By God’s grace, we would remove them from the seat of power. The people there presently cannot do anything, because they don’t know how to. They lack the capacity and capability to govern the country. I pray for the farmers and artisans that the Lord will bless us in the incoming year.” he said
Check Out Empress Njamah's Hot New Looks
The sultry actress who has stayed busy has never failed to share her new looks over time. More pics after the cut:
HEARTBREAKING: Read this shocking transgender's suicide note he posted hours before killing himself
A 17 year old transgender teen Leelah (Josh) Alcorn committed suicide on Sunday Dec. 28th by walking in front of a tractor trailer on a highway in Ohio. A few hours later, her suicide note, which she posted on her Tumblr page through scheduled publishing, went up. In the heartbreaking suicide note, she blamed her death on her religious parents who she said refused to acknowledge her gender and forbade her from transitioning into a girl. Read her suicide note below...
If you are reading this, it means that I have committed suicide and obviously failed to delete this post from my queue.
Please don’t be sad, it’s for the better. The life I would’ve lived isn’t worth living in… because I’m transgender. I could go into detail explaining why I feel that way, but this note is probably going to be lengthy enough as it is.
To put it simply, I feel like a girl trapped in a boy’s body, and I’ve felt that way ever since I was 4. I never knew there was a word for that feeling, nor was it possible for a boy to become a girl, so I never told anyone and I just continued to do traditionally “boyish” things to try to fit in.
When I was 14, I learned what transgender meant and cried of happiness. After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was. I immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn’t make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don’t tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don’t ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won’t do anything but make them hate them self. That’s exactly what it did to me.
My mom started taking me to a therapist, but would only take me to christian therapists, (who were all very biased) so I never actually got the therapy I needed to cure me of my depression. I only got more christians telling me that I was selfish and wrong and that I should look to God for help.
When I was 16 I realized that my parents would never come around, and that I would have to wait until I was 18 to start any sort of transitioning treatment, which absolutely broke my heart. The longer you wait, the harder it is to transition. I felt hopeless, that I was just going to look like a man in drag for the rest of my life. On my 16th birthday, when I didn’t receive consent from my parents to start transitioning, I cried myself to sleep.
I formed a sort of a “f*** you” attitude towards my parents and came out as gay at school, thinking that maybe if I eased into coming out as trans it would be less of a shock. Although the reaction from my friends was positive, my parents were pissed. They felt like I was attacking their image, and that I was an embarrassment to them. They wanted me to be their perfect little straight christian boy, and that’s obviously not what I wanted.
So they took me out of public school, took away my laptop and phone, and forbid me of getting on any sort of social media, completely isolating me from my friends. This was probably the part of my life when I was the most depressed, and I’m surprised I didn’t kill myself. I was completely alone for 5 months. No friends, no support, no love. Just my parent’s disappointment and the cruelty of loneliness.
At the end of the school year, my parents finally came around and gave me my phone and let me back on social media. I was excited, I finally had my friends back. They were extremely excited to see me and talk to me, but only at first. Eventually they realized they didn’t actually give a s**t about me, and I felt even lonelier than I did before. The only friends I thought I had only liked me because they saw me five times a week.
After a summer of having almost no friends plus the weight of having to think about college, save money for moving out, keep my grades up, go to church each week and feel like s**t because everyone there is against everything I live for, I have decided I’ve had enough. I’m never going to transition successfully, even when I move out. I’m never going to be happy with the way I look or sound. I’m never going to have enough friends to satisfy me. I’m never going to have enough love to satisfy me. I’m never going to find a man who loves me. I’m never going to be happy. Either I live the rest of my life as a lonely man who wishes he were a woman or I live my life as a lonelier woman who hates herself. There’s no winning. There’s no way out. I’m sad enough already, I don’t need my life to get any worse. People say “it gets better” but that isn’t true in my case. It gets worse. Each day I get worse.
That’s the gist of it, that’s why I feel like killing myself. Sorry if that’s not a good enough reason for you, it’s good enough for me. As for my will, I want 100% of the things that I legally own to be sold and the money (plus my money in the bank) to be given to trans civil rights movements and support groups, I don’t give a s**t which one. The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say “that’s f***ed up” and fix it. Fix society. Please.
Goodbye,
(Leelah) Josh Alcorn
Posted by Leye Omole at 12:04 AM 1 comment:
Corrupt Nigerians are afraid of Buhari presidency - APC Chairman
The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Monday stated that only corrupt Nigerians and persons opposed to change were against the election of its presidential flag bearer, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, as Nigeria’s president.
APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said this in Benin, while speaking on speculations that the former military Head of State would probe past political office holders if he won the 2015 presidential election.
Odigie-Oyegun, who stressed that the APC was interested in the future of the country rather than digging into the past, said, “only people I can think of who will fear the Buhari Presidency are those who do not want change; those who want to continue with business as usual; those who want to continue to profit from the level of corruption in the society. We will have no apologies for people like that.
“But it is clear that from the Buhari perspective and that of the APC, the future of the people of this country is too important for us to spend valuable time trying to dig into the past.”
While urging public office holders to desist from corrupt practices, the APC Chairman assured Nigerians that the law would take its cause and that anybody who believed that the future of Nigeria was greater than his or her personal proclivity would have nothing to fear.
He said, “The message will be clear, whatever you engage in before that is detrimental to the people of this country, please stop it; change has come. It is time for change and anybody who decides that he does not want to be part of change and wants business as usual, that is his choice.
“And we are going to go into a situation, post May 2015, where the law will normally take its course. There will be a line drawn on the sand, on one part is the past the other side is the future.
“If you are part of the future, part of change, part of changing society from all these deliberating ills that have brought us to our knees, you are our friend. You have nothing at all to fear. We don’t have time to go digging into the past, the future of our people is the challenge that we have not the past.”
Expressing optimism that Nigerians would resist every form of rigging in next year’s elections, Odigie-Oyegun said, “One will hope the PDP don’t rig. Two, I hope they realize that there is a great movement for change and we hope they are wise enough, they should recognize it and allow the people’s vote to count.
“The international community has been sensitized. You can only rig when the people largely are on your side. I expect that they won’t be foolish enough to attempt the kind of crude and blatant rigging that can upturn the results that we expect and upturn the wishes of the people.
“I cannot predict; we are not in control of security forces. We are not in control of the police. We pray for peace; we want peace; we desire peace for the interest of the long suffering people of this country.
“But they will need to do something totally crude that any blind man can see for them to succeed in February 14. That, I think, is virtually impossible”.
Posted by Leye Omole at 11:11 PM 1 comment:
Ghanaian Actor, John Dumelo Caught Doing Things With A Popular TV Presenter (18+)
You won't believe what this Sexy TV presenter was caught doing with actor John Dumelo. Both of them never knew this video will go viral.
Posted by Leye Omole at 11:04 PM 2 comments:
LIPS SEALED: Halima Abubakar Shows Off her curves In New Photos (LOOK)
Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar shared these photos to show her Xmas celebration. Those curves though… *lips sealed*
SO SHE HAS A SON: Tiwa Savage Finally Reveals Her Top Secret; Meet Her Son
The married singer who’s yet to expect a baby from her husband TEE BILLZ took to her instagram account to announce she had a son but definitely not from her husband…
Jay Jay Okocha's Son Is So Handsome (PHOTO SPEAKS)
Meet Jay Jay Okocha's son, A-Jay, he was at the Love is Musical show at Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday Dec 27. Isn't he handsome?
BADDO IS GOING PLACES: APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Osinbajo Meets With Olamide
Gen. Buhari’s running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had nothing but praise for pop artist, Olamide after attending his Olamide ‘Live In Concert’ show. He said:
“I met the popular recording artist – Olamide. Impressive young man. We are richly blessed with talented and energetic individuals who have a lot to offer the nation. Everyone should get involved in transforming our country. It is achievable. #ChangeIsPossible #ChangeStartsWithYou”
These friends ain’t really loyal: SEE How Lionel Richie's Friends Keep Staring At His Girlfriend's Bare Nipples (PHOTOS)
While Lionel Richie was hanging out with his friends, his much younger girlfriend suffered a nip slip.
And while she tried to cover it, the legendary singer’s friends just kept staring!
See the photo below!
SHOCKING VIDEO: Ladies Go Topless and Beat Up Men who were Abusing a Girl for Wearing Short Dress in Uganda
Oh yeaaah! I love this. A Ugandan video that was meant to be appalling now turned out to be Interesting.
As you can see in the video, one of the touts saw the lady coming towards them, knowing fully well that they would abuse the lady. So he started to record the entire scene on time, but so unfortunate for him it didn't work for him as planned.. some group of ladies came and overpowered the touts.
FINALLY: Prophet T.B. Joshua reveals his true identity during his crusade in colombia
Prophet T.B. Joshua has finally revealed his true identity during his crusade in Colombia.To Watch The Video CLICK HERE
MEN BEWARE: ‘I cut off men’s penises for N150,000’ - Prostitute confesses
This is a big warning to whoremongers!!!
A 23-year-old lady prostitute resident in Imo State has made shocking revelations to the police after she was arrested for trying to cut off a man’s genitals.
The commercial sex worker, Uche Agunta told the security officials that she had cut off the penises of seven men with razor blades while they were having sex with her.
Unfortunately for her, she met her waterloo when she attempted to castrate her eighth victim, an anti-kidnap officer.
“I am a prostitute and I smoke. I have a gang and we specialise in sleeping with men and cutting their manhood during sex. We use the manhood for money rituals. I have killed seven men in the hotel in Owerri. They had sex with me after they have paid me N3, 000 or N5, 000. I would be on top of the man and in the process I would bring out blade and cut off his manhood,” Uche said.
“I usually hand over the manhood to our gang leader. They always promise to pay us N150, 000 for each manhood we could supply, and which they used for money ritual,” she added.
She explained the circumstances in which she met her last prospective victim:
“In November 2014, the man met me at Oyima Street, Owerri. He gave me N2,000 to have sex with me. It was around 3.00pm. The victim took me to the hotel in Owerri and he was having sex with me.”
“I was on top of him and when he was enjoying it, I brought out my blade and I started cutting his manhood. But it hadn’t cut off when he started to shout for help. Then they came to arrest me and he was rushed to the hospital. I was arrested and I have confessed to the police,” she said.
“I took the suspect to the hotel and I paid her N2, 000 for sex. The suspect was on top of me and suddenly she brought out a blade and almost cut off my manhood. Blood was gushing out and I started shouting, then the hotel staff came in and the police arrested her.”
“I was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. I am still receiving treatment. I thank God. My manhood could have been cut off; it remained just a little,” he added.
Uche’s arrest was confirmed by the State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali who stated that the suspect was indeed part of a prostitution ring which specialized in using men’s genitals for money rituals.
Why I Visited Babangida - President Jonathan Reveals
President Jonathan made a surprise visit to the former military head of state at his home in Minna and he explained to Nigerians why it was necessary for him to make such visit.
According to The Cable reports, Nigeria's former military president Ibrahim Babangida has declared that well meaning Nigerians will vote for President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015.
Speaking at his home in Minna on Saturday after he received Jonathan, IBB said: “What I will say is simple: the president means well for this country and he is working well for this country. Anybody who means well for this country should support the President to make sure that Nigeria survives as a united country,” he said.
Jonathan, who described his meeting with Babangida as “fruitful”, said he visited the former military leader because he just returned from a medical trip abroad.
“Of course, you know that this is the end of the year. Within this period, people pay visits. So I have come to visit him. You know he just came back from a hospital abroad, not too long ago. Since he came back, we have not seen. I need to see my father to know how he is feeling. I am quite pleased the way I have seen him.
“Of course, you all know that as a nation, we are facing challenges: security challenges all over, not just in the north. Yes, Boko Haram in the north. The south is not safe from commercial kidnapping and robbery.
“He is one of our experienced leaders. As somebody who is sitting where he was before, I need to see them from time to time to listen to their suggestions. That is one of the areas how we can collectively move the country forward and ensure that Nigerians live in peace.
“That is the key thing and I am quite pleased that we had fruitful discussion,” he said.
Posted by Leye Omole at 12:23 AM No comments:
FINALLY: Cossy Orjiakor Takes It Off For Christmas
The socialite released secy photos showing her in red bra and panties with a matching hat taking sexy poses. Check the pictures below:
Man Murders Austria-based Lover in Benin-City (GRAPHIC PICTURE)
The Edo State Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force has declared a manhunt for a suspected witness of a dastardly murder that was likely committed in the early hours of Christmas Day.
The manhunt followed the arrest by the Ikpoba Hill Police Division of the suspected murderer, Mr. Festus Aimufua, for the wicked murder of one Ms. Rose Aifuwa, a middle-aged Benin woman based in Austria, who had come home in a healthy, hale and hearty condition to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities with her family and friends.
Mr. Aimufua, who was said to be a lover of Ms. Aifuwa before she travelled to Austria, murdered the
deceased and thereafter dumped her corpse on the road along Upper Mission Street extension around Oando Filling Station in Benin City in the early hours of Christmas Day.
The gory sight of the woman’s physically assaulted and mangled body on the tarred road of the highly populated market street soon attracted a large crowd of onlookers some of whom would in no time identify her corpse and family, resulting to the invitation of the police and eventually, investigation into her sudden death.
In spite of the scanty information surrounding the death, the state police command soon began to unravel the mystery surrounding the woman’s death with the arrest of the lover in connection to the murder.
Saturday Mirror reliably gathered that Mr. Aimufua, the alleged murderer and lover popularly known as “Two Million,” might have killed the deceased after she insisted on collecting a certain amount of money running into millions of naira, which he allegedly owed her.
Sources said the debt accrued from the unpaid spare parts the woman supplied the lover boy who owns a spare parts shop in Benin City.
As at the time of filing this report, the police had already began its search for an alleged accomplice of the murder, who witnessed and possibly assisted the prime suspect to carry out the heinous act.
Saturday Mirror further gathered that the case would be transferred to the State Crime Investigation Department (SCID) for a detailed investigation of the murder.
While police investigations continue, family members and residents of the community have been calling for justice for the family of the dead since Christmas Day.
While police investigations continue, family members and residents of the community have been calling for justice for the family of the dead since Christmas Day. - See more at: http://www.lailasblog.com/2014/12/graphic-photo-man-murders-austria-based.html#sthash.wM3UrJ4t.dpuf
It’s not easy to be one of Africa’s sexiest men: Check Out Jim Iyke's hot bod during workout (PHOTOS)
Jim Iyke is in Calabar for the Carnival today ….And yea, he rocks shades while working out. Another pics after the cut:
"It is not our portion to go back to the kitchen" - Patience Jonathan replies Gen. Buhari on scrapping the office of the First Lady
In an interview with Weekly on Friday, General Buhari stated that if elected as president in next year’s presidential election, he would abolish the office of the First Lady. The office, though not constitutionally recognized, has been maintained by past and present administrations and is even seen as being key in policy decisions. He said that ministries, which are constitutional, should be allowed to play their roles instead.
"There is the Ministry of Women Affairs, and so on. I was raised by my mother, as I lost my father when I was under 6 yars, so I know what a woman can do if given the chance”.
In a subtle way of replying Buhari's comments, First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, emphasized the importance of the office of the First Lady in the Nigerian politics, saying that the office has been an avenue for mobilizing women for mass participation in politics.
She said this in Abia state during a reception organized for her by the Ohuhu community, her maternal home in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia state, yesterday.
She said the bid by politicians from the opposition camp to scrap the office of the First Lady would amount to sending the Nigerian women back to the kitchen if such came to fruition, adding,
“It is not our portion to go back to the kitchen. We have women that are capable. We can contribute our quota to the development of Nigeria". She also told the women not to vote for any politician who doesn't respect women.
The First Lady had veered off from the address she was reading at the occasion when she directed the attention of guests to Buhari’s idea which she said was not practicable in the ongoing political dispensation because of the critical role women have been playing in politics.
"Chei! There is Death O!" - SEE Wole Soyinka's Explosive Christmas Present to Obasanjo
I had fully attuned myself to the fact that our Owu retiree soldier and prolific author is an infliction that those of us who share the same era and nation space must learn to endure. However, it does appear that there is no end to this individual’s capacity for infantile mischief, and for needless, mind-boggling provocations, such as his recent ‘literary’ intrusion on my peace.
Perhaps I ought to interrupt myself here with an apology to some mutual acquaintances – ‘blessed peacemakers’ and all – especially in this season of ‘peace and goodwill to all men’. Please know that your efforts have not been entirely in vain. I had a cordial exchange with Obasanjo over the phone recently – engineered by himself, his ground staff and/or a chance visitor – when I had cause to visit his Presidential Laundromat for the first time ever. During that exchange, I complemented him on making some quite positive use of landed property that was acquired under morally dubious circumstances, and blatantly developed through a process that I denounced as ‘executive extortionism’. That obscene proceeding has certainly set a competitive precedent for impunity in President Jonathan’s recent fund-raising shindig, editorialized in THE PUNCH (Dec. 23, 2014) as “Impunity Taken too Far”. So much for the latest from that directions – we mustn’t allow Handing-Over notes between presidents to distract us for too long.
To return to our main man, and friendly interventionists, you may like to note that I went so far as to engage him in light banter, stating that some of his lesser sins would be forgiven him for that creative conversion of the landscape – a conversation that he shortly afterwards delightedly shared with at least three mutual acquaintances. I promised a follow-up visit to view some mysterious rock script whose existence, he informed me, was uncovered by workers during ground clearing. The exchange was, in short, as good as ‘malice towards none’ that any polemicist could hope to contribute to the ongoing season of peace and goodwill. Obviously that visit will not now take place, any more than the pursuit of vague notions of some creative collaboration with his Centre that began to play around my mind.
That much I do owe you from my report card. Perhaps you will now accept that there are individuals who are born incorrigible but, more importantly, that some issues transcend one’s personal preferences for harmonious human relationships even in a season of traditional good will. The change in weather conditions sits quite well with me however, since we are both acquainted with the Yoruba proverb that goes: the child that swears his mother will not sleep must also prepare for a prolonged, sleepless infancy. So let it be with Okikiola, the overgrown child of circumstance.
One of the incessant ironies that leapt up at me as I read Obasanjo’s magnum opus was that we are both victims of a number of distasteful impositions – such as being compelled again and again to seek justice against libel in the law courts. I felt genuine empathy to read that he still has a pending thirty-year case instituted by him against his alleged libelers! Judgment was delivered in my favour regarding one of the most nauseating only this year, after surviving technical and other procrastinations, defendant evasions and other legalistic impediments for nearly as long as his. That leaves only a veritable Methuselah on the court list still awaiting re-listing under the resurrection ritual language known as de novo. Unfortunately, not all acts of defamation or willful misrepresentation are actionable, otherwise, my personal list against this newly revealed fellow-sufferer would have counted for an independent volume of the Nigerian Law Report since our paths first crossed during the Civil War. My commitment to the belief in the fundamental right of all human beings NOT TO BE LIED AGAINST remains a life obsession, and thus demands, at the very least, an obligation of non-commission among fellow victims.
I must therefore reserve a full, frontal dissection of Obasanjo’s My Watch for later, most especially since the work itself is currently under legal restraint and is not readily accessible to a general readership. So, for now, let me single out just one of the most glaring instances of this man’s compulsive career of lying, one sample that the media can readily check upon and use as a touchstone – if they do need one – in assessing our author’s multifaceted claims and commentaries on people and events. I refer here to the grotesque and personally insulting statement that he has attributed to me for some inscrutable but obviously diversionary reasons. In the process, this past Master of Mendacity brazenly implicates an innocent young man, Akin Osuntokun, who once served him as a Special Adviser. Instead of conferring dignity on a direct rebuttal of an ignoble fabrication, I shall simply make a personal, all-embracing attestation:
I despise that species of humanity whose stock-in-trade is to concoct lies simply to score a point, win an argument, puff up his or her own ego, denigrate or attempt to destroy a fellow being. However, even within such deplorable species, a special pit of universal opprobrium is surely reserved for those who even lack the courage of their own lies, but must foist them on others. When an old man stuffs a lie into the throat of an age-mate of his own children – omo inu e! - we can only pity an irredeemable egomaniac whose dotage is headed for twilight disgrace.
D.O. Fagunwa, the pioneer Yoruba novelist, was a compulsive moralist. I suspect that he may have exerted some influence on our garrulous general, resulting in his pupil’s tedious, misapplied and self-serving deluge of moralizing. It seems quite likely indeed that the ghostly, moralistic hand of Fagunwa reached out from the Great Beyond, sat his would-be competitor forcefully before a mirror and bade him write what he saw in that image. I invoke Fagunwa because, at his commemorative colloquium in Akure in August last year, I drew my audience’s attention to a remarkable passage in Fagunwa’s Igbo Olodumare. The passage had struck me during translation and stuck to my mind. I found it uncanny that the original creative moralist, Fagunwa, had captured the psychological profile of a being whom I have been compelled by circumstances to study as an eerie creation, yet this was a character Fagunwa was unlikely to have encountered in real life at the time that he produced that work.
The section comes from an account of a visit to the abode of Iku, Death, the terrifying host to Olowo-aiye, the narrative voice of the adventure. Iku, the host, had been admonishing his guests through the histories of seven creatures who were not permitted a straightforward passage to Heaven or Hell, but were subjected to admonitory punishment at the halfway house to the abode of the dead. The most horrendous tortures were reserved, it would seem, for the last of the seven such ‘detainees’, and I invited my audience to ponder if they could identify any prominent individual, a public figure whose life conduct seamlessly fitted into Fagunwa’s portrayal, which went thus:
“The seventh…. is not among those who set out to improve the world but rather to cause distress to its inhabitants. It was through manipulations that he attained a high position. Having achieved this however, he constantly blocked the progress of those behind him, this being a most deplorable act in the eyes of God, and rank behaviour in the judgment of the dwellers of heaven – that anyone who has enjoyed upliftment in life should seek to be an obstacle for those who follow him. This man forgot the beings of earth, forgot the beings of heaven, in turn, he forgot the presence of God. The worst kind of behaviour agitated his hands – greed occupied the centre of his heart, and he was a creature that walked in darkness. This man wallowed in bribery, he was chairman of the circle of scheming, head of the gang of double-dealing, field-marshal of those who crept about in the dark of night. With his mouth, he ruined the work of others, while he used a big potsherd to cover the good works of some, that others might not see their attainments. He nosed around for secrets that would entrap his companions, and blew them up into monumental crimes in the eyes of the world. He who turns the world upside down, places the deceitful on the throne, casts the truthful down – because such is a being of base earth, he will never stand as equal among the uplifted.”
My co-occupants of the High Table, in side remarks, and those who came up from the audience afterwards to volunteer their answer to the riddle, without exception named one individual and one individual only, even as I remained non-committal. Indeed, one or two tried to put up a defence of that nominee, and I had to remind them that I had named no one! Fagunwa wrote largely of the world of mongrelized creatures but, as I remarked, his fiction remains a prescient and cautionary mirror of the society we inhabit, where beasts of the forest appear to have a greater moral integrity than those who claim to be leading lights of society.
In this season of goodwill, we owe a duty to our immediate and distant neighbours: CAVEAT EMPTOR! Let all beware, who try to buy a Rolex from this indefatigable watch peddler. His own hand-crafted, uniquely personalized timepiece has been temporarily confiscated by NDLEA and other guardians of public health but, there is no cause for despair. Such has been the fate of the misunderstood and the envied, avatars descended from the heavens before their time, the seers, and all who crave recognition. Our author invokes God tirelessly, without provocation, without necessity and without justification, perhaps preemptively, but does he really believe in such an entity? Does our home-bred Double-O-Seven believe in anything outside his own Omnipotency? Could he possibly have mistaken the Christian exhortation – ‘Watch and Pray’ for his private inclination to “Watch and Prey? This is a seasoned predator on others’ achievements – he preys on their names, their characters, their motivations, their true lives, preys on gossip and preys on facts, preys on contributions to collective undertakings…..even preys on their identities, substituting his own where possible. Well, hopefully he may actually believe in the inevitable End to all vanities? So, let our Great Immortal, the Unparalleled Achiever, Divinely appointed Watchman even on the world that is yet to come remember Fagunwa’s Iku, the ultimate predator whose visitation comes to us all, sooner or later.
Chei! There is Death o!
Professor Wole Soyinka, writer, essayist, and human rights advocate, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986
(Source: Premium Times Nigeria)
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Chicagoland celebrates Pride: A Babbler Special Report
Six UFOs observe the Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday.
On Sunday thousands of Chicagoland residents celebrated Pride, a celebration of the gay lesbian, bisexual and transsexual communities. The Babbler sent out a team of reporters to cover the first Chicago pride event held since Illinois legalized same-sex marriage.
UFOs fly over Chicago Pride Parade
The LBGT Union of Interstellar Pilots flew over the Chicago Pride parade in show of solidarity.
“I’m glad progress is being made on Earth.” Said Gigop, Mind One of the Union. “Sadly, there are places on Earth where humans, and visitors can be killed for who they love.”
Parade participants who were either psychic, or happened to be looking at the right place, saw a squadron of 5 UFOs fly over the parade route. The squadron performed the pink triangle formation, the spinning lights formation, and merge into a mothership formation. For their final flyover, the craft did a missing craft formation in honor of the human victims of anti-gay hate crimes.
Paul, who asked that we not use his last name, was excited to witness the spacecraft.
“I though I was drunk, but thanks to you guys, I now know I was just seeing aliens. I’m awed to know that there are gay aliens watching over us!”
Record number of ghosts march at Chicago Pride Parade
An estimated 300 ghosts marched at the 2014 Chicago Pride Parade, beating the previous record of 30 in 2000.
Doug, who asked that we not use his last name, claimed to have photographed a group of ghosts.
“I took a picture, and when I looked at the screen, I saw bunch of circles. I realized that they were orbs! I took a picture of marching ghosts! They have to put me on one of those paranormal shows now!”
A medium, who to be in contact with one of the ghosts, said they were very pleased with the progress the living have made with gay rights.
“Some of marchers died believing they suffered from a mental illness. Others died of AIDS due to the government’s slow response to the crisis. Today they are happy that gays can marry each other. There is still work to be done, but they appreciate the progress that has been made.”
A skeptic in the crowd, however, doubted that there were ghosts at the parade.
“Oh my God! This is a photograph with a bunch of over-saturated pixels. There are no ghosts in this. Plus just because someone claims to be a psychic, doesn’t mean they are. If they think they have proof of ghosts, they should apply for the Million Dollar Challenge!”
Cyborg fails to stop Pride March
Chicago police detained an alleged cyborg who tried to stop the Pride March.
According to sources, the cyborg walked in front of the parade staging point, and demanded that everyone go home.
“You should not demand gay rights at home until the other countries in the world support gay rights!”
At great personal risk, the officers tackled the man and used a taser on him. Chicago police officers on the scene defended that action.
“Sure he could have been drunk, or he could have been a Terminator. You can never be too careful around here. Besides, a lot of people fought and died for the rights we are celebrating today! We’re not going to let a cyborg spoil this parade!”
The man is currently under the care of Chicago Red Squad, and may be released sometime this week. They denied that he was from the future.
Former Bolingbrook Mayor celebrates 45 years of marriage
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God to smite Bolingbrook on 7/2/14
Posted by Unknown at Sunday, June 29, 2014 Links to this post
Ghost truck frightens Bolingbrook residents
File image of a truck.
Eyewitnesses claim to have seen a driverless semi-truck near RT 53 and I-55.
“I was driving back to Bolingbrook when my son noticed a truck behind us.” Said Paula, who asked that we not use her last name. “My son started motioning for the truck to honk its horn. It did. Then I looked back, and saw there was no driver! The truck was honking and moving by itself! Let me tell you, I’ve never driven so fast in my life!”
Charlie, who didn’t give his last name, also claimed he saw the driverless truck.
“I was going to turn left on to 53, and I saw this driverless truck behind me. I stared at it in amazement! Then it honked at me! I thought it was trying to talk to me, but then I realized it was just telling me that the light had turned green.”
After getting out of the way of the truck, Charlie pulled into a parking lot, and called 911.
“The dispatcher said I was abusing 911. I told her to shut up and call Bolingbrook’s Department of Paranormal Affairs. There was a haunted truck in Bolingbrook and she needed to do her job. She hung up. The next day, a police officer visited me and warned me not to talk about driverless trucks to anyone, except The Babbler, of course.”
Neil, a long haul truck driver, says he saw the truck at the I-55 Auto/Truck Plaza. He confirms that it had no driver, but it was occupied. According to Neil, a young man stepped out of the truck and filled it with gas. He then struck up a conversation with Neil. The man told Neil that the truck was part of a secret Microsoft project to create automated trucks. The man said that if the truck was successful, it would revolutionize the trucking industry, allow Bing Maps to overtake Google Maps, and lower transportation costs.
“I am the future of trucking.” The man allegedly said. “While you’re trying to stay awake and not get lost, I’m playing video games, blogging, taking online courses, and getting paid to do nothing except pump gas, and reboot the system if it crashes. You know what the best part is? It has no blind spots! So it’s actually safer on the road than your truck!”
Said Charlie, “That’s the really frightening thing about this truck! It could cost me my job!”
A spokesperson for Microsoft refused to comment, but did mention an article on the Vox web site about automated trucks.
Atheists threaten to build monument to Richard Dawkins in Bolingbrook
Soviets fail to drown Chicago
Michi the lake monster dies
Clow UFO Base accepts evacuees from Iraqi UFO base
UFO flees Iraq for Bolingbrook, IL.
(Enhanced from REUTERS/Nour Fourat photo)
Approximately 400 human and alien evacuees from Iraq’s X259 UFO Base arrived at Clow UFO Base over the weekend. The New World Order evacuated the base following the fall of the Iraqi city of Mosul to forces from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
“Let me stress that this is not a refugee crisis.” Said Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar, who is the head administrator of Clow UFO Base. “This is a last minute administrative reallocation of extraterrestrial space craft on Earth. This happens all the time. It just so happened that a civil war made the New World Order reconsider its plans sooner then intended.”
Claar stressed that Clow had plenty of room and supplies for the arriving evacuees.
According to eyewitnesses, X259, which is located 70 miles SW of Mosul, was under the protection of the Iraqi military and security forces under contract to the New World Order. When the city fell, the troops started abandoning their posts.
Xo Go Po of Proxima Centauri described the initial shock.
“The troops were taking off their uniforms and driving away. I asked why, and they said that they their job was to make visitors feel safe. Not to actually defend us. Especially against violent militants like ISIS. The troops told me that they were too violent even al-Qaeda. They said they’d rather take their chances in the desert than face them.”
Other eyewitnesses confirm that after the troops departed, the contractors started demanding more money to protect the base.
Another eyewitness, who asked not to be identified explained, “I heard the security forces say they knew what happened to captured government troops. They said if the NWO would have to pay more if they wanted to avoid an interstellar incident.”
Various sources confirm that the NWO assessed the situation and decided to evacuate the base rather than risk it falling to ISIS.
“There is no risk of ISIS gaining alien technology.” Said NWO Liaison Jeff Wagg. “We even destroyed the underground bunkers after emptying them!”
While all the evacuees expressed relief to be out of Iraq, many were angry that they had to be evacuated in the first place.
“The NWO said we would be safe in Iraq!” Said Po. “They said we could study the origin of human civilization in peace. Now we’re in a suburb of Chicago. Chicago and Bolingbrook are nice, but they are not the cradle of civilization!”
Wagg defended the NWO’s decision to operate a UFO Base in Iraq.
“Then President George Bush promised to inject microchips into the Iraqi people to subdue them. Based on that promise, we built the base. We since learned that the chips didn’t work, and were made by the same company that built phony bomb detectors. We tried to make the best of a bad situation, and now we feel that a temporary evacuation of the base is the best course of action.”
Wagg also defended the NWO’s situation of Iraq.
“We’re doing our best in the face of Illuminati resistance . There’s a saying in our organization. Just because we give new orders doesn’t mean everyone will follow them. It is just going to take us a few more years to get everyone in the Middle East to follow our orders.”
Claar also assured Bolingbrook’s residents that the evacuees won’t cause any local problems.
“Don’t think of them as refugees. Think of them as potential customers and job creators!”
Aliens peacefully enjoy the World Cup
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Christian satirist sends Secular Coalition for America into chaos
Is this a Photoshopped image designed to ridicule the atheist movement?
From the blog, Butterflies and Wings.
Christian satirical blogger Joseph of Bolingbrook claimed responsibility for the recent upheaval at the Secular Coalition for America.
According to Joseph, his satirical web page, Global Secular Council, was intended to poke fun at the SCA. Instead, SCA claimed responsibility for the site. This lead to a twitter war with blogger Ophelia Benson, and the site itself may have been a factor that lead to the removal of the SCA’s Executive Director Edwina Rogers.
“The secularists just can’t take a joke.” Said Joseph. “I proved to them that one man using the creative power of Jesus Christ can bring down one of their organizations. I mean, how many secular organizations do they really need? Anyway, they are in chaos, and I am blessed!”
Joseph said God told him to create the GSC web site after he heard about the SCA’s Secular Summit and Lobby Day.
“These unholy people were going to walk into the Capitol Building, which was created to honor God! So I prayed for guidance and then randomly picked a quote from the Bible. Luke 4-37 ‘And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.’ That meant God wanted me to create a web page.”
Joseph said he was inspired to create of council of “the atheists I hate the most!” Though he called it global, the members only consisted of Americans, UK residents, and one Swedish national. The leaders are mostly male, while most of the support staff are female.
“Atheists think they know everything about the world, but really they’re just a much of rich, white, isolated men who worship Ayn Rand. So I wanted to the council’s membership to reflect that. Plus all their policy recommendations are from the prospective of the United States Government. Come on! An entire section on the US Constitution for a global organization?”
After using Photoshop to create group pictures of the council, he launched the web page and Twitter account. Though he expected to be attacked by Atheists, he was surprised when the atheist community took him seriously.
“They missed the obvious clues.” Claimed Joseph. “My picture of Michael Shermer with his arm around Edwina? No serious organization would use that as a header image. None of the leaders having experience in global studies? Two cats on the advisory board? I was going to use Anti-psychic Kitty, but I didn’t want to get in trouble with The Babbler. Still, these people are supposed to be the most reasonable humans on Earth?”
Joseph suspects that the atheist leadership liked the idea of a secular “super group,” and many atheists enjoyed his Twitter war with Benson.
“I wasn’t sure what to do when she started questioning me. So I let God lead my finger to a Bible quote. Isaiah 53:9 ‘And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.’ So that meant starting a passive aggressive flame war with her.”
After a several weeks, Joseph claims that Rogers threatened legal action unless he handed over the site and Twitter account to him.
“The Bible said, Ephesians 6:18 ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ So I gave them to her.”
Rogers, he claims, was terminated a few days later.
“They say it was partly because two of her subordinates embezzled $78,805 from the group. I say it was because they wanted her to take the blame for my web site embarrassing the secular movement.”
Joseph told the SCA that he was going to go to the press with his story. He claims he was contacted by Matt Dillahunty of the Atheist Experience TV show. Dillahunty “promised” that his followers and him would “engage in countless debates” with Joseph on Twitter and on his blog if he went public. He then demonstrated his “debating technique” on a female atheist who called the atheist movement “a joke.”
“I asked God, and he directed me to Matthew 23:24 ‘Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.’ So I decided to tell you guys instead of the mainstream media.”
Benson and Rogers could not be reached for comment. The SCA wouldn’t comment on the record for this story. Dillahunty denied knowing Joseph, and promised to “debate” The Babbler if this article is printed.
One SCA member, who asked not to be identified, accused Joseph of lying, and that the GSC was a project of the SCA.
“Right now that project is under review, and I’m doing the first inspection.” He said while talking on the phone.
Later in the phone call, it sounded like the source entered a room where loud dance music was playing. One man screamed, “Total freedom! We love it!” Another man in the background exclaimed, “I love you man!” The source told that man to stop hugging him. The music stopped.
“What is going on? Who is in charge? What the hell? You two had better have a good explanation for that.”
“Um, we’re studying the Columbian underground economy?”
As for Joseph, he plans on producing another web site.
“I’m going to start the Illinois Skeptical Congress web page. They’ll say it represents all skeptics in Illinois, but all the members will be Chicago residents. I’ll also say it’s a project of Chicago Skeptics. I wonder if they’ll do a better job of figuring out the truth?”
Soviets launch cool air attack on Bolingbrook
Clow UFO Base names auditorium after Mayor Roger Claar
Aliens employing Bolingbrook teenagers
Sources: Bolingbrook Police to start social media division
Will the Bolingbrook police department start patrolling social media sites. Sources close to the Bolingbrook PD say yes.
The decision was made after the Will County Forest Preserve District issued a ticket to a woman based on a Facebook post. The Forest Preserve revoked the ticket, and, according to the Chicago Tribune, said, “The employee had good intentions, but it wasn’t a good idea,” Bolingbrook Police Department officials, however, were impressed.
Said one source, “The chief turned to me and said, ‘Why aren’t we doing that?’ Good question, I replied!”
The sources agree that the program will be led by former hacker and Bolingbrook resident Syntax Error. Syntax Error previously worked with the Bolingbrook Police to stop a computer virus from taking over Village Hall.
Syntax Error confirmed that he is the head of the new division.
“I found Jesus and gave up my wicked ways. With this job, I can use my computer skills and punish the wicked!”
According to Syntax Error, he, along with two other officers, will spend each weekday following Bolingbrook’s social media users, and reporting any criminal activity.
“You’d be amazed at what people will openly admit on their social media sites. I just started this project a few days ago, and you won’t believe how many photos of underage drinking I’ve found. Amazing!”
Syntax Error says he has no problem becoming Facebook friends by using his 50 fake accounts.
“Most people like to collect Facebook friends. It makes them feel important, I guess. So it’s very easy to get the inside scoop.”
Syntax Error added that his team would be monitoring other sites as well.
“Everyone has to be on Facebook, but lets face it. Ha! Anyway, It’s not exactly the cool site among young people. Heck, (Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar) has a Facebook page. That’s at least -100 uncool points! So I also have accounts on every other social media stuff. You won’t believe the stuff people share on Google+!”
The sources stress that the Bolingbrook Police won’t issue tickets or arrests based solely on social media posts. Instead, they will be provided as “tips” to detectives and other officers.
Said one source, “Think of it this way. You invited The Bolingbrook Police into your site. It’s your fault you’re getting questioned about your Foursquare checkin at gang headquarters!”
When asked to comment, a spokesperson for the Bolingbrook Police Department said, “We will neither confirm nor deny this story. We like to keep the public guessing.”
When called to comment, Claar answered the phone and replied, “I finally made a Twitter post and you didn’t notice! I win The Internets!”
As for Syntax Error, he hopes this will allow him to fulfill his new dream project.
“I want to create a fake atheist feminist web page, and then track all the commenters who leave threats and harassing messages. If I get this approved, we’re going to need a bigger jail!”
The ABCs of what’s wrong with the skeptical movement
New World Order confirms that MH370 is not at Clow UFO Base
Soviets threaten Bolingbrook with severe weather and heat wave
Chicagoland celebrates Pride: A Babbler Special Re...
Clow UFO Base accepts evacuees from Iraqi UFO base...
Christian satirist sends Secular Coalition for Ame...
Sources: Bolingbrook Police to start social media...
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Blank Forms Jam Up Broker In Annuity Sales
Time and time again I have admonished registered persons about the dangers of using the old blank form short-cut. And, time and time again, I report about cases in which regulators nabbed someone for filling in the blanks -- even when the customers were on board with the practice; and even when the customers had given explicit oral consent. Except, you know, rules are rules and oral consent just doesn't trump prior written authorization -- and none of those measures can get you over the hurdle when the use of blank forms itself is prohibited, period.
For the purpose of proposing a settlement of rule violations alleged by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), without admitting or denying the findings, prior to a regulatory hearing, and without an adjudication of any issue, Eric J. McMahon submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent ("AWC"), which FINRA accepted. In the Matter of Eric J. McMahon, Respondent (AWC 2010023549601, May 14, 2013).
In 1995, McMahon entered the securities industry, and in 1996 joined Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., where he remained until he joined Raymond James Financial Services in June 2009. The AWC asserts that McMahon's prior relevant disciplinary history includes a March 16, 2011, State of Ohio, Department of Insurance, Consent Order imposing a $10,000 fine and a 180-day suspension of McMahon's Ohio insurance agent's license. In entering into that state settlement, McMahon neither admitted nor denied that he submitted withdrawal forms from June 2002 to July 2009 that contained forged signatures in violation of state law.
VA Transactions
Starting as early as March 2004, McMahon recommended the purchase of variable annuities for at least nine of his Merrill Lynch customers. The recommended variable annuities permitted an annual 15% non-cumulative withdrawal without surrender fees. McMahon recommended, and each of his customers agreed to reinvest the proceeds from the free withdrawals into variable annuities and other products in their respective brokerage accounts.
When The Time Comes
According to the AWC, McMahon's practice was to explain that when the time came to withdraw funds he could, for the customer's convenience, contact them to confirm their intention to withdraw and reinvest the proceeds and complete a blank, previously signed withdrawal forms as an accommodation. Upon purchasing the annuity contracts, the customers were given by McMahon a blank annuity withdrawal form to review and sign in blank. Each customer agreed and McMahon submitted such forms on at least 27 occasions over a nearly five year period -- in each case, McMahon had obtained verbal customer approval when the forms were submitted.
The AWC asserts that McMahon's use of the blank, previously signed forms resulted in the creation of false business documents and violated NASD Rule 2110 and FINRA Rule 2010. In accordance with the terms of the AWC, FINRA imposed upon McMahon a $10,000 fine and a two-month suspension from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity.
Blank Customer Forms Can Blank Your Wall Street Career
Filling In The Blanks Gets Chase Stockbroker Fined and Suspended
Till Death Do Us Part Stumps Stockbroker
Surrender Fees
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The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Previous: Chapter 6: "I Am Coming, Too!"
Next: Chapter 8: Delirium
Part III.
Book VIII: Mitya
Chapter 7: The First and Rightful Lover
WITH his long, rapid strides, Mitya walked straight up to the table.
"Gentlemen," he said in a loud voice, almost shouting, yet stammering at every word, "I... I'm all right! Don't be afraid!" he exclaimed, "I -- there's nothing the matter," he turned suddenly to Grushenka, who had shrunk back in her chair towards Kalganov, and clasped his hand tightly. "I... I'm coming, too. I'm here till morning. Gentlemen, may I stay with you till morning? Only till morning, for the last time, in this same room?"
So he finished, turning to the fat little man, with the pipe, sitting on the sofa. The latter removed his pipe from his lips with dignity and observed severely:
"Panie,* we're here in private. There are other rooms."
* Pan and Panie mean Mr. in Polish. Pani means Mrs., Panovie, gentlemen.
"Why, it's you, Dmitri Fyodorovitch! What do you mean?" answered Kalgonov suddenly. "Sit down with us. How are you?"
"Delighted to see you, dear... and precious fellow, I always thought a lot of you." Mitya responded, joyfully and eagerly, at once holding out his hand across the table.
"Aie! How tight you squeeze! You've quite broken my fingers," laughed Kalganov.
"He always squeezes like that, always," Grushenka put in gaily, with a timid smile, seeming suddenly convinced from Mitya's face that he was not going to make a scene. She was watching him with intense curiosity and still some uneasiness. She was impressed by something about him, and indeed the last thing she expected of him was that he would come in and speak like this at such a moment.
"Good evening," Maximov ventured blandly on the left. Mitya rushed up to him, too.
"Good evening. You're here, too! How glad I am to find you here, too! Gentlemen, gentlemen, I -- " (He addressed the Polish gentleman with the pipe again, evidently taking him for the most important person present.) "I flew here.... I wanted to spend my last day, my last hour in this room, in this very room ... where I, too, adored... my queen.... Forgive me, Panie," he cried wildly, "I flew here and vowed -- Oh, don't be afraid, it's my last night! Let's drink to our good understanding. They'll bring the wine at once.... I brought this with me." (Something made him pull out his bundle of notes.) "Allow me, panie! I want to have music, singing, a revel, as we had before. But the worm, the unnecessary worm, will crawl away, and there'll be no more of him. I will commemorate my day of joy on my last night."
He was almost choking. There was so much, so much he wanted to say, but strange exclamations were all that came from his lips. The Pole gazed fixedly at him, at the bundle of notes in his hand; looked at Grushenka, and was in evident perplexity.
"If my suverin lady is permitting -- " he was beginning.
"What does 'suverin' mean? 'Sovereign,' I suppose?" interrupted Grushenka. "I can't help laughing at you, the way you talk. Sit down, Mitya, what are you talking about? Don't frighten us, please. You won't frighten us, will you? If you won't, I am glad to see you..."
"Me, me frighten you?" cried Mitya, flinging up his hands. "Oh, pass me by, go your way, I won't hinder you!..."
And suddenly he surprised them all, and no doubt himself as well, by flinging himself on a chair, and bursting into tears, turning his head away to the opposite wall, while his arms clasped the back of the chair tight, as though embracing it.
"Come, come, what a fellow you are!" cried Grushenka reproachfully. "That's just how he comes to see me -- he begins talking, and I can't make out what he means. He cried like that once before, and now he's crying again! It's shamefull Why are you crying? As though you had anything to cry for!" she added enigmatically, emphasising each word with some irritability.
"I... I'm not crying.... Well, good evening!" He instantly turned round in his chair, and suddenly laughed, not his abrupt wooden laugh, but a long, quivering, inaudible nervous laugh.
"Well, there you are again.... Come, cheer up, cheer up!" Grushenka said to him persuasively. "I'm very glad you've come, very glad, Mitya, do you hear, I'm very glad! I want him to stay here with us," she said peremptorily, addressing the whole company, though her words were obviously meant for the man sitting on the sofa. "I wish it, I wish it! And if he goes away I shall go, too!" she added with flashing eyes.
"What my queen commands is law!" pronounced the Pole, gallantly kissing Grushenka's hand. "I beg you, panie, to join our company," he added politely, addressing Mitya.
Mitya was jumping up with the obvious intention of delivering another tirade, but the words did not come.
"Let's drink, Panie," he blurted out instead of making a speech. Everyone laughed.
"Good heavens! I thought he was going to begin again!" Grushenka exclaimed nervously. "Do you hear, Mitya," she went on insistently, "don't prance about, but it's nice you've brought the champagne. I want some myself, and I can't bear liqueurs. And best of all, you've come yourself. We were fearfully dull here.... You've come for a spree again, I suppose? But put your money in your pocket. Where did you get such a lot?"
Mitya had been, all this time, holding in his hand the crumpled bundle of notes on which the eyes of all, especially of the Poles, were fixed. In confusion he thrust them hurriedly into his pocket. He flushed. At that moment the innkeeper brought in an uncorked bottle of champagne, and glasses on a tray. Mitya snatched up the bottle, but he was so bewildered that he did not know what to do with it. Kalgonov took it from him and poured out the champagne.
"Another! Another bottle!" Mitya cried to the inn-keeper, and, forgetting to clink glasses with the Pole whom he had so solemnly invited to drink to their good understanding, he drank off his glass without waiting for anyone else. His whole countenance suddenly changed. The solemn and tragic expression with which he had entered vanished completely, and a look of something childlike came into his face. He seemed to have become suddenly gentle and subdued. He looked shyly and happily at everyone, with a continual nervous little laugh, and the blissful expression of a dog who has done wrong, been punished, and forgiven. He seemed to have forgotten everything, and was looking round at everyone with a childlike smile of delight. He looked at Grushenka, laughing continually, and bringing his chair close up to her. By degrees he had gained some idea of the two Poles, though he had formed no definite conception of them yet.
The Pole on the sofa struck him by his dignified demeanour and his Polish accent; and, above all, by his pipe. "Well, what of it? It's a good thing he's smoking a pipe," he reflected. The Pole's puffy, middle-aged face, with its tiny nose and two very thin, pointed, dyed and impudent-looking moustaches, had not so far roused the faintest doubts in Mitya. He was not even particularly struck by the Pole's absurd wig made in Siberia, with love-locks foolishly combed forward over the temples. "I suppose it's all right since he wears a wig," he went on, musing blissfully. The other, younger Pole, who was staring insolently and defiantly at the company and listening to the conversation with silent contempt, still only impressed Mitya by his great height, which was in striking contrast to the Pole on the sofa. "If he stood up he'd be six foot three." The thought flitted through Mitya's mind. It occurred to him, too, that this Pole must be the friend of the other, as it were, a "bodyguard," and no doubt the big Pole was at the disposal of the little Pole with the pipe. But this all seemed to Mitya perfectly right and not to be questioned. In his mood of doglike submissiveness all feeling of rivalry had died away.
Grushenka's mood and the enigmatic tone of some of her words he completely failed to grasp. All he understood, with thrilling heart, was that she was kind to him, that she had forgiven him, and made him sit by her. He was beside himself with delight, watching her sip her glass of champagne. The silence of the company seemed somehow to strike him, however, and he looked round at everyone with expectant eyes.
"Why are we sitting here though, gentlemen? Why don't you begin doing something?" his smiling eyes seemed to ask.
"He keeps talking nonsense, and we were all laughing," Kalgonov began suddenly, as though divining his thought, and pointing to Maximov.
Mitya immediately stared at Kalgonov and then at Maximov
"He's talking nonsense?" he laughed, his short, wooden laugh, seeming suddenly delighted at something -- "ha ha!"
"Yes. Would you believe it, he will have it that all our cavalry officers in the twenties married Polish women. That's awful rot, isn't it?"
"Polish women?" repeated Mitya, perfectly ecstatic.
Kalgonov was well aware of Mitya's attitude to Grushenka, and he guessed about the Pole, too, but that did not so much interest him, perhaps did not interest him at all; what he was interested in was Maximov. He had come here with Maximov by chance, and he met the Poles here at the inn for the first time in his life. Grushenka he knew before, and had once been with someone to see her; but she had not taken to him. But here she looked at him very affectionately: before Mitya's arrival, she had been making much of him, but he seemed somehow to be unmoved by it. He was a boy, not over twenty, dressed like a dandy, with a very charming fair-skinned face, and splendid thick, fair hair. From his fair face looked out beautiful pale blue eyes, with an intelligent and sometimes even deep expression, beyond his age indeed, although the young man sometimes looked and talked quite like a child, and was not at all ashamed of it, even when he was aware of it himself. As a rule he was very wilful, even capricious, though always friendly. Sometimes there was something fixed and obstinate in his expression. He would look at you and listen, seeming all the while to be persistently dreaming over something else. Often he was listless and lazy; at other times he would grow excited, sometimes, apparently, over the most trivial matters.
"Only imagine, I've been taking him about with me for the last four days," he went on, indolently drawling his words, quite naturally though, without the slightest affectation. "Ever since your brother, do you remember, shoved him off the carriage and sent him flying. That made me take an interest in him at the time, and I took him into the country, but he keeps talking such rot I'm ashamed to be with him. I'm taking him back."
"The gentleman has not seen Polish ladies, and says what is impossible," the Pole with the pipe observed to Maximov.
He spoke Russian fairly well, much better, anyway, than he pretended. If he used Russian words, he always distorted them into a Polish form.
"But I was married to a Polish lady myself," tittered Maximov.
"But did you serve in the cavalry? You were talking about the cavalry. Were you a cavalry officer?" put in Kalgonov at once.
"Was he a cavalry officer indeed? Ha ha!" cried Mitya, listening eagerly, and turning his inquiring eyes to each as he spoke, as though there were no knowing what he might hear from each.
"No, you see," Maximov turned to him. "What I mean is that those pretty Polish ladies ... when they danced the mazurka with our Uhlans... when one of them dances a mazurka with a Uhlan she jumps on his knee like a kitten... a little white one... and the pan-father and pan-mother look on and allow it... They allow it... and next day the Uhlan comes and offers her his hand.... That's how it is... offers her his hand, he he!" Maximov ended, tittering.
"The pan is a lajdak!"* the tall Pole on the chair growled suddenly and crossed one leg over the other. Mitya's eye was caught by his huge greased boot, with its thick, dirty sole. The dress of both the Poles looked rather greasy.
* Scoundrel.
"Well, now it's lajdak! What's he scolding about?" said Grushenka, suddenly vexed.
"Pani Agrippina, what the gentleman saw in Poland were servant girls, and not ladies of good birth," the Pole with the pipe observed to Grushenka.
"You can reckon on that," the tall Pole snapped contemptuously.
"What next! Let him talk! People talk, why hinder them? It makes it cheerful," Grushenka said crossly.
"I'm not hindering them, pani," said the Pole in the wig, with a long look at Grushenka, and relapsing into dignified silence he sucked his pipe again.
"No, no. The Polish gentleman spoke the truth." Kalgonov got excited again, as though it were a question of vast import. "He's never been in Poland, so how can he talk about it? I suppose you weren't married in Poland, were you?"
"No, in the Province of Smolensk. Only, a Uhlan had brought her to Russia before that, my future wife, with her mamma and her aunt, and another female relation with a grown-up son. He brought her straight from Poland and gave her up to me. He was a lieutenant in our regiment, a very nice young man. At first he meant to marry her himself. But he didn't marry her, because she turned out to be lame."
"So you married a lame woman?" cried Kalganov.
"Yes. They both deceived me a little bit at the time, and concealed it. I thought she was hopping; she kept hopping.... I thought it was for fun."
"So pleased she was going to marry you!" yelled Kalganov, in a ringing, childish voice.
"Yes, so pleased. But it turned out to be quite a different cause. Afterwards, when we were married, after the wedding, that very evening, she confessed, and very touchingly asked forgiveness. 'I once jumped over a puddle when I was a child,' she said, 'and injured my leg.' He he!"
Kalgonov went off into the most childish laughter, almost falling on the sofa. Grushenka, too, laughed. Mitya was at the pinnacle of happiness.
"Do you know, that's the truth, he's not lying now," exclaimed Kalganov, turning to Mitya; "and do you know, he's been married twice; it's his first wife he's talking about. But his second wife, do you know, ran away, and is alive now."
"Is it possible?" said Mitya, turning quickly to Maximov with an expression of the utmost astonishment.
"Yes. She did run away. I've had that unpleasant experience," Maximov modestly assented, "with a monsieur. And what was worse, she'd had all my little property transferred to her beforehand. 'You're an educated man,' she said to me. 'You can always get your living.' She settled my business with that. A venerable bishop once said to me: 'One of your wives was lame, but the other was too light-footed.' He he!
"Listen, listen!" cried Kalganov, bubbling over, "if he's telling lies -- and he often is -- he's only doing it to amuse us all. There's no harm in that, is there? You know, I sometimes like him. He's awfully low, but it's natural to him, eh? Don't you think so? Some people are low from self-interest, but he's simply so, from nature. Only fancy, he claims (he was arguing about it all the way yesterday) that Gogol wrote Dead Souls about him. Do you remember, there's a landowner called Maximov in it, whom Nozdryov thrashed. He was charged, do you remember, 'for inflicting bodily injury with rods on the landowner Maximov in a drunken condition.' Would you believe it, he claims that he was that Maximov and that he was beaten! Now can it be so? Tchitchikov made his journey, at the very latest, at the beginning of the twenties, so that the dates don't fit. He couldn't have been thrashed then, he couldn't, could he?"
It was diffcult to imagine what Kalgonov was excited about, but his excitement was genuine. Mitya followed his lead without protest.
"Well, but if they did thrash him!" he cried, laughing.
"It's not that they thrashed me exactly, but what I mean is -- " put in Maximov.
"What do you mean? Either they thrashed you or they didn't."
"What o'clock is it, panie?" the Pole, with the pipe, asked his tall friend, with a bored expression. The other shrugged his shoulders in reply. Neither of them had a watch.
"Why not talk? Let other people talk. Mustn't other people talk because you're bored?" Grushenka flew at him with evident intention of finding fault. Something seemed for the first time to flash upon Mitya's mind. This time the Pole answered with unmistakable irritability.
"Pani, I didn't oppose it. I didn't say anything."
"All right then. Come, tell us your story," Grushenka cried to Maximov. "Why are you all silent?"
"There's nothing to tell, it's all so foolish," answered Maximov at once, with evident satisfaction, mincing a little. "Besides, all that's by way of allegory in Gogol, for he's made all the names have a meaning. Nozdryov was really called Nosov, and Kuvshinikov had quite a different name, he was called Shkvornev. Fenardi really was called Fenardi, only he wasn't an Italian but a Russian, and Mamsel Fenardi was a pretty girl with her pretty little legs in tights, and she had a little short skirt with spangles, and she kept turning round and round, only not for four hours but for four minutes only, and she bewitched everyone..."
"But what were you beaten for?" cried Kalganov.
"For Piron!" answered Maximov.
"What Piron?" cried Mitya.
"The famous French writer, Piron. We were all drinking then, a big party of us, in a tavern at that very fair. They'd invited me, and first of all I began quoting epigrams. 'Is that you, Boileau? What a funny get-up!' and Boileau answers that he's going to a masquerade, that is to the baths, he he! And they took it to themselves, so I made haste to repeat another, very sarcastic, well known to all educated people:
Yes, Sappho and Phaon are we!
But one grief is weighing on me.
You don't know your way to the sea!
"They were still more offended and began abusing me in the most unseemly way for it. And as ill-luck would have it, to set things right, I began telling a very cultivated anecdote about Piron, how he was not accepted into the French Academy, and to revenge himself wrote his own epitaph:
Ci-git Piron qui ne fut rien,
Pas meme academicien,*
* Here lies Piron, who was nothing, not even an Academician.
They seized me and thrashed me."
"But what for? What for?"
"For my education. People can thrash a man for anything," Maximov concluded, briefly and sententiously.
"Eh, that's enough! That's all stupid, I don't want to listen. I thought it would be amusing," Grushenka cut them short, suddenly.
Mitya started, and at once left off laughing. The tall Pole rose upon his feet, and with the haughty air of a man, bored and out of his element, began pacing from corner to corner of the room, his hands behind his back.
"Ah, he can't sit still," said Grushenka, looking at him contemptuously. Mitya began to feel anxious. He noticed besides, that the Pole on the sofa was looking at him with an irritable expression.
"Panie!" cried Mitya, "Let's drink! and the other pan, too! Let us drink."
In a flash he had pulled three glasses towards him, and filled them with champagne.
"To Poland, Panovie, I drink to your Poland!" cried Mitya.
"I shall be delighted, panie," said the Pole on the sofa, with dignity and affable condescension, and he took his glass.
"And the other pan, what's his name? Drink, most illustrious, take your glass!" Mitya urged.
"Pan Vrublevsky," put in the Pole on the sofa.
Pan Vrublevsky came up to the table, swaying as he walked.
"To Poland, Panovie!" cried Mitya, raisin, his glass. "Hurrah!"
All three drank. Mitya seized the bottle and again poured out three glasses.
"Now to Russia, Panovie, and let us be brothers!"
"Pour out some for us," said Grushenka; "I'll drink to Russia, too!"
"So will I," said Kalganov.
"And I would, too... to Russia, the old grandmother!" tittered Maximov.
"All! All!" cried Mitya. "Trifon Borissovitch, some more bottles!"
The other three bottles Mitya had brought with him were put on the table. Mitya filled the glasses.
"To Russia! Hurrah!" he shouted again. All drank the toast except the Poles, and Grushenka tossed off her whole glass at once. The Poles did not touch theirs.
"How's this, Panovie?" cried Mitya, "won't you drink it?"
Pan Vrublevsky took the glass, raised it and said with a resonant voice:
"To Russia as she was before 1772."
"Come, that's better!" cried the other Pole, and they both emptied their glasses at once.
"You're fools, you Panovie," broke suddenly from Mitya.
"Panie!" shouted both the Poles, menacingly, setting on Mitya like a couple of cocks. Pan Vrublevsky was specially furious.
"Can one help loving one's own country?" he shouted.
"Be silent! Don't quarrel! I won't have any quarrelling!" cried Grushenka imperiously, and she stamped her foot on the floor. Her face glowed, her eyes were shining. The effects of the glass she had just drunk were apparent. Mitya was terribly alarmed.
"Panovie, forgive me! It was my fault, I'm sorry. Vrublevsky, panie Vrublevsky, I'm sorry."
"Hold your tongue, you, anyway! Sit down, you stupid!". Grushenka scolded with angry annoyance.
Everyone sat down, all were silent, looking at one another.
"Gentlemen, I was the cause of it all," Mitya began again, unable to make anything of Grushenka's words. "Come, why are we sitting here? What shall we do... to amuse ourselves again?"
"Ach, it's certainly anything but amusing!" Kalgonov mumbled lazily.
"Let's play faro again, as we did just now," Maximov tittered suddenly.
"Faro? Splendid!" cried Mitya. "If only the panovie-"
"It's lite, panovie," the Pole on the sofa responded, as it were unwillingly.
"That's true," assented Pan Vrublevsky.
"Lite? What do you mean by 'lite'?" asked Grushenka.
"Late, pani! 'A late hour' I mean," the Pole on the sofa explained.
"It's always late with them. They can never do anything!" Grushenka almost shrieked in her anger. "They're dull themselves, so they want others to be dull. Before came, Mitya, they were just as silent and kept turning up their noses at me."
"My goddess!" cried the Pole on the sofa, "I see you're not well-disposed to me, that's why I'm gloomy. I'm ready, panie," added he, addressing Mitya.
"Begin, panie," Mitya assented, pulling his notes out of his pocket, and laying two hundred-rouble notes on the table. "I want to lose a lot to you. Take your cards. Make the bank."
"We'll have cards from the landlord, panie," said the little Pole, gravely and emphatically.
"That's much the best way," chimed in Pan Vrublevsky.
"From the landlord? Very good, I understand, let's get them from him. Cards!" Mitya shouted to the landlord.
The landlord brought in a new, unopened pack, and informed Mitya that the girls were getting ready, and that the Jews with the cymbals would most likely be here soon; but the cart with the provisions had not yet arrived. Mitya jumped up from the table and ran into the next room to give orders, but only three girls had arrived, and Marya was not there yet. And he did not know himself what orders to give and why he had run out. He only told them to take out of the box the presents for the girls, the sweets, the toffee and the fondants. "And vodka for Andrey, vodka for Andrey!" he cried in haste. "I was rude to Andrey!"
Suddenly Maximov, who had followed him out, touched him on the shoulder.
"Give me five roubles," he whispered to Mitya. "I'll stake something at faro, too, he he!"
"Capital! Splendid! Take ten, here!"
Again he took all the notes out of his pocket and picked out one for ten roubles. "And if you lose that, come again, come again."
"Very good," Maximov whispered joyfully, and he ran back again. Mitya, too, returned, apologising for having kept them waiting. The Poles had already sat down, and opened the pack. They looked much more amiable, almost cordial. The Pole on the sofa had lighted another pipe and was preparing to throw. He wore an air of solemnity.
"To your places, gentlemen," cried Pan Vrublevsky.
"No, I'm not going to play any more," observed Kalganov, "I've lost fifty roubles to them just now."
"The pan had no luck, perhaps he'll be lucky this time," the Pole on the sofa observed in his direction.
"How much in the bank? To correspond?" asked Mitya.
"That's according, panie, maybe a hundred, maybe two hundred, as much as you will stake." "A million!" laughed Mitya.
"The Pan Captain has heard of Pan Podvysotsky, perhaps?"
"What Podvysotsky?"
"In Warsaw there was a bank and anyone comes and stakes against it. Podvysotsky comes, sees a thousand gold pieces, stakes against the bank. The banker says, 'Panie Podvysotsky, are you laying down the gold, or must we trust to your honour?' 'To my honour, panie,' says Podvysotsky. 'So much the better.' The banker throws the dice. Podvysotsky wins. 'Take it, panie,' says the banker, and pulling out the drawer he gives him a million. 'Take it, panie, this is your gain.' There was a million in the bank. 'I didn't know that,' says Podvysotsky. 'Panie Podvysotsky,' said the banker, 'you pledged your honour and we pledged ours.' Podvysotsky took the million."
"That's not true," said Kalganov.
"Panie Kalganov, in gentlemanly society one doesn't say such things."
"As if a Polish gambler would give away a million!" cried Mitya, but checked himself at once. "Forgive me, panie, it's my fault again; he would, he would give away a million, for honour, for Polish honour. You see how I talk Polish, ha ha! Here, I stake ten roubles, the knave leads."
"And I put a rouble on the queen, the queen of hearts, the pretty little panienotchka* he! he!" laughed Maximov, pulling out his queen, and, as though trying to conceal it from everyone, he moved right up and crossed himself hurriedly under the table. Mitya won. The rouble won, too.
* Little miss.
"A corner!" cried Mitya.
"I'll bet another rouble, a 'single' stake," Maximov muttered gleefully, hugely delighted at having won a rouble.
"Lost!" shouted Mitya. "A 'double' on the seven!"
The seven too was trumped.
"Stop!" cried Kalganov suddenly.
"Double! Double!" Mitya doubled his stakes, and each time he doubled the stake, the card he doubled was trumped by the Poles. The rouble stakes kept winning.
"On the double!" shouted Mitya furiously.
"You've lost two hundred, panie. Will you stake another hundred?" the Pole on the sofa inquired.
"What? Lost two hundred already? Then another two hundred! All doubles!" And pulling his money out of his pocket, Mitya was about to fling two hundred roubles on the queen, but Kalgonov covered it with his hand.
"That's enough!" he shouted in his ringing voice.
"What's the matter?" Mitya stared at him.
"That's enough! I don't want you to play anymore. Don't!"
"Because I don't. Hang it, come away. That's why. I won't let you go on playing."
Mitya gazed at him in astonishment.
"Give it up, Mitya. He may be right. You've lost a lot as it is," said Grushenka, with a curious note in her voice. Both the Poles rose from their seats with a deeply offended air.
"Are you joking, panie?" said the short man, looking severely at Kalganov.
"How dare you!" Pan Vrublevsky, too, growled at Kalganov.
"Don't dare to shout like that," cried Grushenka. "Ah, you turkey-cocks!"
Mitya looked at each of them in turn. But something in Grushenka's face suddenly struck him, and at the same instant something new flashed into his mind -- a strange new thought! "Pani Agrippina," the little Pole was beginning, crimson with anger, when Mitya suddenly went up to him and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Most illustrious, two words with you."cried Grushenka.
"What do you want?"
"In the next room, I've two words to say to you, something pleasant, very pleasant. You'll be glad to hear it."
The little pan was taken aback and looked apprehensively at Mitya. He agreed at once, however, on condition that Pan Vrublevsky went with them.
"The bodyguard? Let him come, and I want him, too. I must have him!" cried Mitya. "March, panovie!"
"Where are you going?" asked Grushenka, anxiously.
"We'll be back in one moment," answered Mitya.
There was a sort of boldness, a sudden confidence shining in his eyes. His face had looked very different when he entered the room an hour before.
He led the Poles, not into the large room where the chorus of girls was assembling and the table was being laid, but into the bedroom on the right, where the trunks and packages were kept, and there were two large beds, with pyramids of cotton pillows on each. There was a lighted candle on a small deal table in the corner. The small man and Mitya sat down to this table, facing each other, while the huge Vrublevsky stood beside them, his hands behind his back. The Poles looked severe but were evidently inquisitive.
"What can I do for you, panie?" lisped the little Pole.
"Well, look here, panie, I won't keep you long. There's money for you," he pulled out his notes. "Would you like three thousand? Take it and go your way."
The Pole gazed open-eyed at Mitya, with a searching look.
"Three thousand, panie?" He exchanged glances with Vrublevsky.
"Three, panovie, three! Listen, panie, I see you're a sensible man. Take three thousand and go to the devil, and Vrublevsky with you d'you hear? But, at once, this very minute, and for ever. You understand that, panie, for ever. Here's the door, you go out of it. What have you got there, a great-coat, a fur coat? I'll bring it out to you. They'll get the horses out directly, and then-good-bye, panie!"
Mitya awaited an answer with assurance. He had no doubts. An expression of extraordinary resolution passed over the Pole's face.
"And the money, panie?"
"The money, panie? Five hundred roubles I'll give you this moment for the journey, and as a first instalment, and two thousand five hundred to-morrow, in the town -- I swear on my honour, I'll get it, I'll get it at any cost!" cried Mitya.
The Poles exchanged glances again. The short man's face looked more forbidding.
"Seven hundred, seven hundred, not five hundred, at once, this minute, cash down!" Mitya added, feeling something wrong. "What's the matter, panie? Don't you trust me? I can't give you the whole three thousand straight off. If I give it, you may come back to her to-morrow.... Besides, I haven't the three thousand with me. I've got it at home in the town," faltered Mitya, his spirit sinking at every word he uttered. "Upon my word, the money's there, hidden."
In an instant an extraordinary sense of personal dignity showed itself in the little man's face.
"What next?" he asked ironically. "For shame!" and he spat on the floor. Pan Vrublevsky spat too.
"You do that, panie," said Mitya, recognising with despair that all was over, "because you hope to make more out of Grushenka? You're a couple of capons, that's what you are!"
"This is a mortal insult!" The little Pole turned as red as a crab, and he went out of the room, briskly, as though unwilling to hear another word. Vrublevsky swung out after him, and Mitya followed, confused and crestfallen. He was afraid of Grushenka, afraid that the Pan would at once raise an outcry. And so indeed he did. The Pole walked into the room and threw himself in a theatrical attitude before Grushenka.
"Pani Agrippina, I have received a mortal insult!" he exclaimed. But Grushenka suddenly lost all patience, as though they had wounded her in the tenderest spot.
"Speak Russian! Speak Russian!" she cried, "not another word of Polish! You used to talk Russian. You can't have forgotten it in five years."
She was red with passion.
"Pani Agrippina-"
"My name's Agrafena, Grushenka, speak Russian or I won't listen!"
The Pole gasped with offended dignity, and quickly and pompously delivered himself in broken Russian:
"Pani Agrafena, I came here to forget the past and forgive it, to forget all that has happened till to-day-"
"Forgive? Came here to forgive me?" Grushenka cut him short, jumping up from her seat.
"Just so, Pani, I'm not pusillanimous, I'm magnanimous. But I was astounded when I saw your lovers. Pan Mitya offered me three thousand, in the other room to depart. I spat in the pan's face."
"What? He offered you money for me?" cried Grushenka, hysterically. "Is it true, Mitya? How dare you? Am I for sale?"
"Panie, panie!" yelled Mitya, "she's pure and shining, and I have never been her lover! That's a lie..."
"How dare you defend me to him?" shrieked Grushenka. "It wasn't virtue kept me pure, and it wasn't that I was afraid of Kuzma, but that I might hold up my head when I met him, and tell him he's a scoundrel. And he did actually refuse the money?"
"He took it! He took it!" cried Mitya; "only he wanted to get the whole three thousand at once, and I could only give him seven hundred straight off."
"I see: he heard I had money, and came here to marry me!"
"Pani Agrippina!" cried the little Pole. "I'm -- a knight, I'm -- a nobleman, and not a lajdak. I came here to make you my wife and I find you a different woman, perverse and shameless."
"Oh, go back where you came from! I'll tell them to turn you out and you'll be turned out," cried Grushenka, furious. "I've been a fool, a fool, to have been miserable these five years! And it wasn't for his sake, it was my anger made me miserable. And this isn't he at all! Was he like this? It might be his father! Where did you get your wig from? He was a falcon, but this is a gander. He used to laugh and sing to me.... And I've been crying for five years, damned fool, abject, shameless I was!
She sank back in her low chair and hid her face in her hands. At that instant the chorus of Mokroe began singing in the room on the left -- a rollicking dance song.
"A regular Sodom!" Vrublevsky roared suddenly. "Landlord, send the shameless hussies away!"
The landlord, who had been for some time past inquisitively peeping in at the door, hearing shouts and guessing that his guests were quarrelling, at once entered the room.
"What are you shouting for? D'you want to split your throat?" he said, addressing Vrublevsky, with surprising rudeness.
"Animal!" bellowed Pan Vrublevsky.
"Animal? And what sort of cards were you playing with just now? I gave you a pack and you hid it. You played with marked cards! I could send you to Siberia for playing with false cards, d'you know that, for it's just the same as false banknotes...
And going up to the sofa he thrust his fingers between the sofa back and the cushion, and pulled out an unopened pack of cards.
"Here's my pack unopened!"
He held it up and showed it to all in the room. "From where I stood I saw him slip my pack away, and put his in place of it- you're a cheat and not a gentleman!"
"And I twice saw the pan change a card!" cried Kalganov.
"How shameful! How shameful!" exclaimed Grushenka, clasping her hands, and blushing for genuine shame. "Good Lord, he's come to that!"
"I thought so, too!" said Mitya. But before he had uttered the words, Vrublevsky, with a confused and infuriated face, shook his fist at Grushenka, shouting:
"You low harlot!"
Mitya flew at him at once, clutched him in both hands, lifted him in the air, and in one instant had carried him into the room on the right, from which they had just come.
"I've laid him on the floor, there," he announced, returning at once, gasping with excitement. "He's struggling, the scoundrel! But he won't come back, no fear of that!..."
He closed one half of the folding doors, and holding the other ajar called out to the little Pole:
"Most illustrious, will you please to retire as well?"
"My dear Dmitri Fyodorovitch," said Trifon Borissovitch, "make them give you back the money you lost. It's as good as stolen from you."
"I don't want my fifty roubles back," Kalgonov declared suddenly.
"I don't want my two hundred, either," cried Mitya, "I wouldn't take it for anything! Let him keep it as a consolation."
"Bravo, Mitya! You're a trump, Mitya!" cried Grushenka, and there was a note of fierce anger in the exclamation.
The little pan, crimson with fury but still mindful of his dignity, was making for the door, but he stopped short and said suddenly, addressing Grushenka:
"Pani, if you want to come with me, come. If not, good-bye."
And swelling with indignation and importance he went to the door. This was a man of character: he had so good an opinion of himself that after all that had passed, he still expected that she would marry him. Mitya slammed the door after him.
"Lock it," said Kalganov. But the key clicked on the other side, they had locked it from within.
"That's capital!" exclaimed Grushenka relentlessly. "Serve them right!"
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Marching Men by Sherwood Anderson
Previous: Chapter III
In a cellar-like house driven like a stake into the hillside above Coal Creek lived Kate Hartnet with her son Mike. Her man had died with the others during the fire in the mine. Her son like Beaut McGregor did not work in the mine. He hurried through Main Street or went half running among the trees on the hills. Miners seeing him hurrying along with white intense face shook their heads. "He's cracked," they said. "He'll hurt some one yet."
Beaut saw Mike hurrying about the streets. Once encountering him in the pine woods above the town he walked with him and tried to get him to talk. In his pockets Mike carried books and pamphlets. He set traps in the woods and brought home rabbits and squirrels. He got together collections of birds' eggs which he sold to women in the trains that stopped at Coal Creek and when he caught birds he stuffed them, put beads in their eyesockets and sold them also. He proclaimed himself an anarchist and like Cracked McGregor muttered to himself as he hurried along.
One day Beaut came upon Mike Hartnet reading a book as he sat on a log overlooking the town. A shock ran through McGregor when he looked over the shoulder of the man and saw what book he read. "It is strange," he thought, "that this fellow should stick to the same book that fat old Weeks makes his living by."
Beaut sat on the log beside Hartnet and watched him. The reading man looked up and nodded nervously then slid along the log to the farther end. Beaut laughed. He looked down at the town and then at the frightened nervous book-reading man on the log. An inspiration came to him.
"If you had the power, Mike, what would you do to Coal Creek?" he asked.
The nervous man jumped and tears came into his eyes. He stood before the log and spread out his hands. "I would go among men like Christ," he cried, pitching his voice forward like one addressing an audience. "Poor and humble, I would go teaching them of love." Spreading out his hands like one pronouncing a benediction he shouted, "Oh men of Coal Creek, I would teach you love and the destruction of evil."
Beaut jumped up from the log and strode before the trembling figure. He was strangely moved. Grasping the man he thrust him back upon the log. His own voice rolled down the hillside in a great roaring laugh. "Men of Coal Creek," he shouted, mimicking the earnestness of Hartnet, "listen to the voice of McGregor. I hate you. I hate you because you jeered at my father and at me and because you cheated my mother, Nance McGregor. I hate you because you are weak and disorganised like cattle. I would like to come among you teaching the power of force. I would like to slay you one by one, not with weapons but with my naked fists. If they have made you work like rats buried in a hole they are right. It is man's right to do what he can. Get up and fight. Fight and I'll get on the other side and you can fight me. I'll help drive you back into your holes."
Beaut ceased speaking and jumping over the logs ran down the road. Among the first of the miner's houses he stopped and laughed awkwardly. "I am cracked also," he thought, "shouting at emptiness on a hillside." He went on in a reflective mood, wondering what power had taken hold of him. "I would like a fight--a fight against odds," he thought. "I will stir things up when I am a lawyer in the city."
Mike Hartnet came running down the road at the heels of McGregor. "Don't tell," he plead trembling. "Don't tell about me in the town. They will laugh and call names after me. I want to be let alone."
Beaut shook himself loose from the detaining hand and went on down the hill. When he had passed out of sight of Hartnet he sat down on the ground. For an hour he looked at the town in the valley and thought of himself. He was half proud, half ashamed of the thing that had happened.
In the blue eyes of McGregor anger flashed quick and sudden. Upon the streets of Coal Creek he walked, swinging along, his great body inspiring fear. His mother grown grave and silent worked in the offices of the mines. Again she had a habit of silence in her own home and looked at her son, half fearing him. All day she worked in the mine offices and in the evening sat silently in a chair on the porch before her house and looked down into Main Street.
Beaut McGregor did nothing. He sat in the dingy little pool room and talked with the black-haired boy or walked over the hills swinging a stick in his hand and thinking of the city to which he would presently go to start his career. As he walked in the streets women stopped to look at him, thinking of the beauty and strength of his maturing body. The miners passed him in silence hating him and dreading his wrath. Walking among the hills he thought much of himself. "I am capable of anything," he thought, lifting his head and looking at the towering hills, "I wonder why I stay on here."
When he was eighteen Beaut's mother fell ill. All day she lay on her back in bed in the room above the empty bakery. Beaut shook himself out of his waking stupor and went about seeking work. He had not felt that he was indolent. He had been waiting. Now he bestirred himself. "I'll not go into the mines," he said, "nothing shall get me down there."
He got work in a livery stable cleaning and feeding the horses. His mother got out of bed and began going again to the mine offices. Having started to work Beaut stayed on, thinking it but a way station to the position he would one day achieve in the city.
In the stable worked two young boys, sons of coal miners. They drove travelling men from the trains to farming towns in valleys back among the hills and in the evening with Beaut McGregor they sat on a bench before the barn and shouted at people going past the stable up the hill.
The livery stable in Coal Creek was owned by a hunchback named Weller who lived in the city and went home at night. During the day he sat about the stable talking to red-haired McGregor. "You're a big beast," he said laughing. "You talk about going away to the city and making something of yourself and still you stay on here doing nothing. You want to quit this talking about being a lawyer and become a prize fighter. Law is a place for brains not muscles." He walked through the stables leaning his head to one side and looking up at the big fellow who brushed the horses. McGregor watched him and grinned. "I'll show you," he said.
The hunchback was pleased when he strutted before McGregor. He had heard men talk of the strength and the evil temper of his stableman and it pleased him to have so fierce a fellow cleaning the horses. At night in the city he sat under the lamp with his wife and boasted. "I make him step about," he said.
In the stable the hunchback kept at the heels of McGregor. "And there's something else," he said, putting his hand in his pockets and raising himself on his toes. "You look out for that undertaker's daughter. She wants you. If she gets you there will be no law study but a place in the mines for you. You let her alone and begin taking care of your mother."
Beaut went on cleaning the horses and thinking of what the hunchback had said. He thought there was sense to it. He also was afraid of the tall pale girl. Sometimes when he looked at her a pain shot through him and a combination of fear and desire gripped him. He walked away from it and went free as he went free from the life in the darkness down in the mine. "He has a kind of genius for keeping away from the things he don't like," said the liveryman, talking to Uncle Charlie Wheeler in the sun before the door of the post office.
One afternoon the two boys who worked in the livery stable with McGregor got him drunk. The affair was a rude joke, elaborately planned. The hunchback had stayed in the city for the day and no travelling men got off the trains to be driven over the hills. In the afternoon hay brought over the hill from the fruitful valley was being put into the loft of the barn and between loads McGregor and the two boys sat on the bench by the stable door. The two boys went to the saloon and brought back beer, paying for it from a fund kept for that purpose. The fund was the result of a system worked out by the two drivers. When a passenger gave one of them a coin at the end of a day of driving he put it into the common fund. When the fund had grown to some size the two went to the saloon and stood before the bar drinking until it was spent and then came back to sleep off their stupor on the hay in the barn. After a prosperous week the hunchback occasionally gave them a dollar for the fund.
Of the beer McGregor drank but one foaming glass. For all his idling about Coal Creek he had never before tasted beer and it was strong and bitter in his mouth. He threw up his head and gulped it then turned and walked toward the rear of the stable to conceal the tears that the taste of the stuff had forced into his eyes.
The two drivers sat on the bench and laughed. The drink they had given Beaut was a horrible mess concocted by the laughing bartender at their suggestion. "We will get the big fellow drunk and hear him roar," the bartender had said.
As he walked toward the back of the stable a convulsive nausea seized Beaut. He stumbled and pitched forward, cutting his face on the floor. Then he rolled over on his back and groaned and a little stream of blood ran down his cheek.
The two boys jumped up from the bench and ran toward him. They stood looking at his pale lips. Fear seized them. They tried to lift him but he fell from their arms and lay again on the stable floor, white and motionless. Filled with fright they ran from the stable and through Main Street. "We must get a doctor," they said as they hurried along, "He is mighty sick--that fellow."
In the doorway leading to the rooms over the undertaker's shop stood the tall pale girl. One of the running boys stopped and addressed her, "Your red-head," he shouted, "is blind drunk lying on the stable floor. He has cut his head and is bleeding."
The tall girl ran down the street to the offices of the mine. With Nance McGregor she hurried to the stable. The store keepers along Main Street looked out of their doors and saw the two women pale and with set faces half-carrying the huge form of Beaut McGregor along the street and in at the door of the bakery.
At eight o'clock that evening Beaut McGregor, his legs still unsteady, his face white, climbed aboard a passenger train and passed out of the life of Coal Creek. On the seat beside him a bag contained all his clothes. In his pocket lay a ticket to Chicago and eighty-five dollars, the last of Cracked McGregor's savings. He looked out of the car window at the little woman thin and worn standing alone on the station platform and a great wave of anger passed through him. "I'll show them," he muttered. The woman looked at him and forced a smile to her lips. The train began to move into the west. Beaut looked at his mother and at the deserted streets of Coal Creek and put his head down upon his hands and in the crowded car before the gaping people wept with joy that he had seen the last of youth. He looked back at Coal Creek, full of hate. Like Nero he might have wished that all of the people of the town had but one head so that he might have cut it off with a sweep of a sword or knocked it into the gutter with one swinging blow.
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Home Brands Promasidor Nigeria celebrates 254 employees
Promasidor Nigeria celebrates 254 employees
UGO AMADI
Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, Top Tea, Onga and other quality products, honoured 254 of its employees who have put in several years in its service. The award ceremony, which was held in Lagos, brought together the company’s employees, relatives and distributors from different parts of the country.
Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Anders Einarsson told the audience that the awardees were honoured for their commitment, hard work and loyalty to the organisation. He said the celebrated employees, who he urged others to emulate, had grown through the rank and become pillars of Promasidor’’s growth as a result of their exceptional work ethics and positive attitude.
He stated: “For us at Promasidor Nigeria, the Long Service Award is not just a tradition. It is an opportunity to celebrate and honour our employees for their dedication, hard work, commitment and loyalty to the company. Most of them joined the company at an entry level but grew to the positions of regional sales managers. Such promotions do not come without measurable performances and hard work.
“At Promasidor, it is about good attitude, hard work and commitment. The awardees have met these standards; hence they have not only remained with us but have also become part of the pillars. The 20-year service awardees joined the company when it was just five -years old in Nigeria. What does that imply? They have witnessed the different stages of its growth and transformation.”
The three categories of awards were 20, 15 and 10 years in service with the beneficiaries evenly distributed among key departments, including sales, marketing, administration, engineering, finance and procurement.
Anih Chidubem, who rose from the position of Marketing Assistant to Regional Sales Manager in his 20-year career at the company, described Promasidor as “a merit-driven organisation.”
He further said: “Promasidor Nigeria is a fair organisation. If you are promoted, it means that you deserve it. For some of us who have been around for a while, it is not just a business organisation but a warm family. And I am very fortunate to have been part of it.”
Another awardee, Modupeoluwa Awonusi said the company was able to retain brilliant and hardworking staff because it rewards excellence and dedication. “Organisations that reward productivity, creativity and commitment keep their best employees. Certainly, Promasidor is one of the few organisations that know how to keep committed people. Twenty years after I joined the company, I am not still in a hurry to leave the great family, which Promasidor has become.”
Among senior management staff in attendance were Head of Legal/PR, Mr. Andrew Enahoro; Head of Information and Communication Technology, Mr Olumide Bello; Head of Logistics, Mr Sebastien Bonjean; Technical Senior Manager, Jean-Robert Thouanel and the Finance Director, Mr Per Kristensen.
Established in Nigeria in 1993, Promasidor operates an equal-opportunity recruitment and human resource management, which has enabled it experience tremendous growth across the country and become market leaders in various range of quality food and beverage products.
For a better society
celebrates 254 employees
Mr. Anders Einarsson
Nigeria newspapers
Promasidor Nigeria
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NECA tasks govt on wealth creation
CBN boosts forex market with another $210m
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Chazmania
Look closer
About My Hidden Image Art
Wild & Exotic Animals Gallery
Domestic & North American Animals
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Miscellaneous Non-animal Art Gallery
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ABOUT CHAZ
Chaz in his booth.
Chaz began his unique style of drawing after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Economics (Go Panthers). After a brief stint at U.S. Steel as a cost analyst he headed west to sunny Southern California. He ended up in Laguna Beach and worked at a resort while working on a children’s book and his tan.
He moved up to Los Angeles to manage a multi-media theater for ABC Television called The Hollywood Experience. There he went to movie premieres, got to meet stars and thought he was cool. But he missed his family and his native Pittsburgh. Go Steelers, Go Pirates, Go Penguins, Go Panthers, Go Home. So he moved back to the ‘Burgh.
Chaz befriends a rhino at the Pittsburgh Zoo.
He hadn’t seen snow for six years so that first winter back Chaz hid inside and drew. He settled down and worked for 12 years at Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. The amazing specimens at the Natural History Museum were a great influence along with the works at the Museum of Art and Andy Warhol Museum. The Omnimax films at the Science Center that were about nature were favorites. The Zoo, Phipps Conservatory and National Aviary also provided plenty of inspiration and nature in all its glory.
So Chaz bought a tent and display panels and started doing some shows. And kept doing drawings. Hope you like them.
Contact and Ordering Information
Wild & Exotic Animals
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FAQ: How does the game work?
Check out our Game Play page.
FAQ: I need more details on how to set up the board.
Separate the two decks, red/elephant and blue/donkey. Choose who will play which deck. Separate out the legislation cards as its own deck. Shuffle the remaining cards as your draw pile/main play deck. The table will be clear until you draw voter and platform cards, then the board will start to form.
FAQ: Why are there only two parties?
We are a two party system in America, and they both have specific and lengthy platforms which drive their goals and legislation in government. We plan to create expansion packs for third parties.
FAQ: Can it be played with more than two players?
We've played the game a number of times with groups of friends and it's engaging and entertaining for those watching as well as for those actively playing. Team play is possible and you can self-organize.
FAQ: Do the legislation cards cover the entire platform?
No there are some platform goals, like Defense and Agriculture, that we are waiting to create via "expansion packs" if we reach our goal.
FAQ: Are there any other games like this?
Though there are great online tools for civic education we haven't found any tabletop and/or card games that focus on American Democracy. Nothing exists that can be used as both an educational tool and a fun icebreaker to heal the divide that exists in America.
FAQ: Why a card game and not a board game?
We wanted this game to be as affordable and accessible as possible. It's small and light and easy to travel with!
FAQ: What do you hope to accomplish?
Two main things that we would like to accomplish with the game are to create a fun way for people to learn about and experience Democracy and to provide a way for families, friends, and neighbors to discuss politics in a safe and fun way. The game provides an icebreaker for people of different views to come together to discuss differences, talk about important issues, and find common ground.
FAQ: What are your long term goals?
Our long term goals are to continue to keep the game relevant. We will have new editions, but especially publish expansion packs so that players can keep their decks updated with legislation cards that reference the current party platforms. We would really like to see the game implemented in school curriculum and have even posted some suggested study/discussion questions on our website to accompany the game as a learning tool.
FAQ: How do we start the game?
The intent is for players to take turns going through all of the turn phases. There is a slight advantage to going first. If a player is fortunate enough to draw an elected official and a voter on their first turn, then it is an easy path to electing one of their party's candidates - this player essentially has 100% of the vote supporting their candidate (the opponent better focus on getting out their voters in subsequent turns).
FAQ: If you draw voters/platform and play immediately do you replenish your hand?
You do not replenish your hand after playing voter and platform cards.
FAQ: Explain more about the strategy behind the draw and discard steps of my turn.
It is not uncommon to only draw and discard in a turn, especially if your party has a strategy in mind (e.g. are you trying to get out the vote, find good candidates, find ways to pass legislation without having a majority - via Action cards). I tend to discard a lot early on to get out voters and find candidates, then later in the game, once I have Senators and Reps, I focus on passing legislation and playing Action cards to disrupt my opponent's progress.
FAQ: Are the game play turn phases mandatory?
You can pass on any phase of your turn
FAQ: How do I know when to run for office?
Before running for office, you need to know how many voters there are and how they will likely vote. In the real world, both parties study voter registration data, canvass, phone bank, door knock, etc and keep track of this in a database so they know how many base voters they have, how many base voters their opponents have, and how many persuadable voters there are to change parties during the election with campaigning. Both parties also know how many voters they need to get out to vote, which is why the PCO's are so important to organize "get out the vote canvasing/events" and voter registration days. Another part of the strategy when deciding to run, is do you think you can out-campaign your competitor (do you have enough campaign cards?). You don't need to have voter majority to win an election if you can persuade enough voters through campaigning (aka campaign cards). In the game, you need to also pay attention to whether or not your opponent has the SuperPAC in play (this could mean they have a hand full of campaign cards).
FAQ: What if I don't win the election?
When an official runs but is not elected, they are placed in the discard pile and will come back into play later in the game. Once you go through your deck, the discard pile is shuffled and then becomes your deck. This puts a lot more pressure on making sure you perform the checks described above to be sure you don't waste a good candidate on an election they can't win. At the same time, sometimes you will run a candidate for a race you don't need to win just to try to get my opponent to "spend" their campaign cards so I have a better chance of winning a race that I need to win ("every race every place" - this is a strategy used in the real world as well to ensure the opponent's party doesn't have "free" uncontested races - which means they have more to spend on other races).
FAQ: Can legislation be passed even without the platform card on the table?
in order to pass a piece of legislation completely (to count as one of your 3 towards winning the game), you need to have the matching platform card in play. The intent here is that, your political party and elected officials will likely not pay as much attention to proposed legislation if it is not a part of their platform (which is supported and drafted by their constituents). You can still pass legislation through the House, Senate, And President, (one per turn) but it can't count towards your goal of 3 pieces of legislation passed until you have the platform card on the table.
FAQ: How does legislation pass through the house or the senate?
You aren't required to play legislation each turn. It is best to wait until you have majorities in congress, the president to pass executive orders, or an Action card to help you pass the legislation. The intent is that you make one legislation move per turn - so either bring a new legislation to play from committee or move an existing legislation from House to Senate or Senate to President. The way this works in the game - organize your elected officials as shown on the back of the rules - place the legislation in the branch where it is passed. So, if I have passed legislation in the House on one turn, the next turn, I can bring it to a vote in the Senate - it passes and physically moves to the Senate if I have majority or the right Action card to get it through.
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The Greeting from Blizzard’s president
Welcome, and thanks for your interest in Blizzard Entertainment’s university relations program. Blizzard Entertainment was founded in 1991 by three recent college graduates looking to build a future doing something they were extremely passionate about: making games. Although the company has grown tremendously since then, we’ve been able to maintain a consistent approach to game development over the years by hiring people who share that passion.
Finding the best person to fill any particular open position at Blizzard Entertainment is always a challenge. Through this program, we’ll be collaborating with certain schools to give students more opportunities to learn about the industry and to develop their skills. With luck, this will also give us the opportunity to identify talented new individuals to join our teams.
I hope you’ll find the resources here helpful, and I look forward to working with some of you soon.
Author cadmin_0zzPosted on April 17, 2012 Categories diablo 3, Other Games
Experience the intensity of multiplayer Diablo III over an all-new
Experience the intensity of multiplayer Diablo III over an all-new, wickedly enhanced Battle.net platform with numerous enhancements to make connecting with your friends easier, and cooperative gameplay more fun.
Two decades have passed since the demonic lords, Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal, set out across the world of Sanctuary on a vicious rampage, twisting humanity to their unholy will. Yet for those who battled the Prime Evils, the memory fades slowly.
When Deckard Cain returns to the ruins of Tristram Cathedral seeking clues to defeat new stirrings of evil, a fiery harbinger of doom falls from the heavens, striking the very ground where Diablo once entered the world. This fire from the sky reawakens ancient evils and calls the heroes of Sanctuary to defend the mortal world against the rising powers of the Burning Hells once again.
Explore fully realized realms of Sanctuary – the living, breathing gothic fantasy world of Diablo III – rendered in gorgeous 3D.
Battle the unholy forces of the Burning Hells with all-new character classes such as the otherworldly Witch Doctor, or with re-imagined warriors from Diablo’s past, like the powerful Barbarian.
Rain Hell on your enemies and use the interactive environment as a weapon: lay cunning traps, turn destructible objects against your foes, and use environmental obstacles to your advantage.
Experience Five Bold Character ClassesBattle Hell’s minions as the Amazon
Diablo, the Lord of Terror, has fallen to a brave hero beneath the church of Tristram. Now that hero is gone, replaced by a Dark Wanderer who roams the world of Sanctuary leaving death and destruction in his wake. As a hero of humanity, you must face the minions of Diablo’s evil brothers and stop the Dark Wanderer before he fulfills his terrible destiny.
Experience Five Bold Character ClassesBattle Hell’s minions as the Amazon, Sorceress, Necromancer, Paladin, or Barbarian, each with unique skills and abilities.
Explore Four Expansive RealmsStorm a vast underworld of twisted dungeons and uncharted wilderness as you journey across the immense world of Sanctuary.
Battle With an Ever-Expanding ArsenalLearn new skills, find powerful new weapons and armor, and enhance your gear with magic as your hero’s power and legend grow.
Master Multiple Levels of DifficultyTake on the minions of Diablo in Nightmare Mode for greater challenge and greater rewards. Grow strong enough and enter Hell Mode, where your foes become truly fearsome, but the rewards are epic!
Defeat Diablo Online With Your FriendsTake the fight online with up to seven of your friends via Battle.net, Blizzard Entertainment’s free online gaming service. Find games, trade, and compete in regional ladders during ongoing seasonal competitions.
Author cadmin_0zzPosted on April 16, 2012 April 16, 2012 Categories diablo 3, Other Games
You can see one in battle with your own eyes
You can see one in battle with your own eyes. And it was difficult to believe, even then. He dispatched his opponent with terrifying precision, assaulting his victim’s mind and body with elixirs and powders that evoked fires, explosions, and poisonous spirits. As if these assaults were not enough, the witch doctor also had at his command the ability to summon undead creatures from the netherworld to rend the flesh from his enemy’s body.
I came upon this rare display as I ventured deep into the interior of the dense Torajan jungles that cover the southern tip of the great eastern continent, in the vast area known as the Teganze, with the goal of seeking out the tribes that reside there. This area is extremely secluded, and heretofore unseen by foreign eyes. I was fortunate to befriend the witch doctor I saw in battle, and, through him, his tribe: the Tribe of the Five Hills.
Walks of life. For instance, the Tribe of the Five Hills frequently engages in tribal warfare with both the Clan of the Seven Stones and the Tribe of the Clouded Valley, but these are matters of ritual and not of conquest. I had heard tales that these wars are waged in order that the victors may replenish their supply of raw materials for the human sacrifices that their civilization revolves around, and when I timidly asked my hosts more about this topic, I must admit their laughter made me fear for my safety. However, through stumbled attempts at communication of such complex topics as what constitutes heroism and honor in their society, I gathered that only those taken in battle are considered worthy of the ritual sacrifice, much to my relief.
Upon further discussions with my hosts, I discovered that these tribes define themselves by their belief in the Mbwiru Eikura, which roughly translates to “The Unformed Land” (this is an imprecise translation, as this concept is completely foreign to our culture and language). This belief holds that the true, sacred reality is veiled behind the physical one we normally experience. Their vitally important public ceremonies are centered upon sacrifices to the life force that flows from their gods, who inhabit the Unformed Land, into this lesser physical realm.
The witch doctors are finely attuned to this Unformed Land and are able to train their minds to perceive this reality through a combination of rituals and the use of selected roots and herbs found in the jungles. They call the state in which they interact with this other world the Ghost Trance.
Alongside the primacy of the belief in the life force and the Unformed Land, the second most sacred belief of the tribes is their philosophy of self-sacrifice and non-individuality, of suppressing one’s self-interest for the good of the tribe. This idea, so foreign to our culture, struck me as something I wished to delve into much more deeply.
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City ›
Former UT students aim to create affordable long-distance transportation
Published on November 14, 2018 at 11:53 pm
By Hayden Baggett
Hitch, a long-distance ride-hailing startup founded by two former UT students, is relaunching its operations in early December.
Hitch pairs drivers with passengers traveling to the same city. The company, formerly known as Krew, started August 2017 and paused their services a year later amid their partnership with the founders of uShip, a freight transportation startup created by UT alumni.
Tanuj Girish, chief technology officer and co-founder of Hitch, said the company is pivoting to focus on rides between Houston and Austin while increasing drivers.
“The main focus after this rebrand and relaunch is trying to capture empty seat capacity by attracting drivers that are already traveling from Austin to Houston or Houston to Austin,” said Girish. “We want to guarantee every ride that comes through the platform and just deliver a great experience.”
CEO and co-founder Kush Singh said he started Hitch to make the city-to-city travel industry both convenient and affordable.
“As a driver, you just hop in the car and start going toward your destination, and if we can find passengers exactly along your route, we match you to them,” Singh said. “As a rider, it’s extremely similar — 30 to 45 minutes before you need a ride, you can hop on the app and book it.”
Each ride costs $30 to $40, Singh said, and drivers earn roughly $20 while Hitch collects the remainder.
Singh said over 100 background-checked drivers have signed up and serviced more than 1,000 rides since Hitch started. He said they have hired seven staffers and accumulated more than $200,000 from investors. Singh said the company teamed up with uShip to raise capital to fund expansion.
After operations resume, Singh said they will publish a new website and adjust their mobile app for the refocus on rides between Houston and Austin.
Isaac Gorman, a communication and leadership junior, has driven for Hitch in the past. He said the company’s service is similar to the old idea of hitchhiking.
“I naturally just want to go see my family all the time, and Hitch makes it easier for people to do that,” Gorman said.
Gorman said using the platform helps him meet new people and cut down on gasoline costs.
Girish said making this a possibility had several complications along the way, but they manage to stay positive.
"We’re passionate about this,” Girish said. “We’ll give anything to make it successful.”
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Airline Transport Pilot Question Bank - Weight and Balance
The FAA Airline Transport Pilot test bank contains questions pertaining to Weight and Balance . The following list contains only a relatively small percentage of the pertinent questions. Our software, which you are free to download now at no cost, will generally contain a much more complete set of questions associated with this test bank. This list is intended only to familiarize you in a general way with the questions of the Airline Transport Pilot test bank.
GroundSchool: Airline Transport Pilot
FAA Written Test Prep Software
for MS-Windows
That said, while the following questions are intended as a general familiarization tool, this list may not be up-to-date nor accurate. We do not update this website as often as we update our software, which will contain at any moment all questions that we have for a given test / topic. Therefore, if you need to actually study for your test, instead of using the list below, we strongly, strongly encourage you to download our GroundSchool Airline Transport Pilot written test prep software. Not only is it more complete and more up to date, but it also includes answers and explanation and has many features to make your study fast and efficient.
Sample Questions from the FAA Airline Transport Pilot Test Bank
What is the maximum allowable weight that may be carried on a pallet which has the dimensions of 76 X 74 inches? Floor load limit - 176 lb/sq ft Pallet weight - 77 lb Tiedown devices - 29 lb
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11.) What is the CG in inches from datum under Loading Conditions BE-5?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11.) What is the CG shift if the passengers in row 8 are moved to row 2, and the passengers in row 7 are moved to row 1 under Loading Conditions BE-5?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 4, 7, 9, 10, and 11.) What is the CG in inches from datum under Loading Conditions BE-9?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 4, 7, 9, 10, and 11.) What is the CG if all cargo in sections A, B, J, K, and L are off-loaded under Loading Conditions BE-8?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 5, 7, 9, and 11.) What limit, if any, is exceeded under Operating Conditions BE 13?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 29, 31, 32, and 33.) Where is the longitudinal CG located under Operating Conditions BL-2?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34.) Given Loading Conditions BL-8, what is the effect on lateral CG if a passenger weighing 200 pounds is added to the outer left seat of row 1, and a passenger weighing 220 pounds is added to the outer left seat of row 4?
(Refer to appendix 2, figure 44.) What is the new CG if the weight is shifted from the aft to the forward compartment under Loading Conditions WS 2?
(Refer to appendix 2, figure 44.) What is the new CG if the weight is added to the forward compartment under Loading Conditions WS 3?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 76, 79, and 80.) What is the CG in inches aft of datum for Loading Conditions WT-2?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 77, 79, and 80.) What is the CG in percent of MAC for Loading Conditions WT 7?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 78, 79, and 80.) What is the CG in percent of MAC for Loading Conditions WT 11?
What is the maximum allowable weight that may be carried on a pallet which has the dimensions of 33.5 X 48.5 inches? Floor load limit 66 lb/sq ft Pallet weight 34 lb Tiedown devices 29 lb
What is the maximum allowable weight that may be carried on a pallet which has the dimensions of 143 X 125.2 inches? Floor load limit 209 lb/sq ft Pallet weight 197 lb Tiedown devices 66 lb
What minimum floor load limit must an aircraft have to carry the following pallet of cargo? Pallet size 78.9 inches wide and 98.7 inches long Pallet weight 161 lb Tiedown devices 54 lb Cargo weight 9,681.5 lb
What is the minimum floor load limit that an aircraft must have to carry the following pallet of cargo? Pallet dimensions 116.8 X 87.7 inches Pallet weight 137 lb Tiedown devices 49 lb Cargo weight 12,262.4 lb
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 5, 7, 9, and 11.) What limit is exceeded under Operating Conditions BE-11?
(Refer to appendix 2, figure 44.) What is the new CG if the weight is removed from the forward compartment under Loading Conditions WS 1?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 29, 31, 32, and 33.) What is the CG shift if one passenger weighing 150 pounds in row 2 is moved to row 4 under Operating Conditions BL-2?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 30, 32, 33, and 35.) What limit, if any, is exceeded under Loading Conditions BL-7?
(Refer to appendix 2, figures 30, 32, 33, and 35.) What limit, if any, is exceeded under Loading Conditions BL-10?
The list above contains 1/4 or less of the actual number of questions and may not be up to date! Download the software today to get access to all available questions.
For more information about the Airline Transport Pilot test bank, click here.
Copyright, Content, and Accuracy Notice: the questions presented here and the organization thereof include both elements whose copyright status is consistent with that of many US government publications and elements whose copyright status is vested in Dauntless Software, a private concern. Dauntless Software grants visitors permission to use the contents of this page for personal use - commercial or public use, including collecting (or harvesting) of any data or material on this page is strictly prohibited. This material is presented for informational purposes only and may be in error. Dauntless Software works hard to maintain our FAA written test question banks. If you see an error on this web page, it is likely NOT an error that is repeated in our software, as our software (unlike this web page) is connected to our editorial mechanism whose mission is to quickly identify and correct errors. If you see what you believe to be an error, please download and try our software to see if the error is repeated there. If you believe it is, you can use the issue-reporting mechanisms within the software to contact our editors about any concern you may have and we will be happy to look into it promptly.
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OBASEKI ADMINISTRATION: A GOVERNMENT FOR THE RICH?
July 26, 2017 Edoko VIEWS
By: Nosa Omorodion
While controversy rages as to what would be the benefit of the poor majority of Edo people in the ultramodern wing of the Central Hospital, Benin City, should Governor Godwin Obaseki succeed in his planned privatization of the public funded project, the management of another state government established and functioning institution has publicly declared that the institution was conceived, designed and equipped by the “founding fathers” to provide service for the rich only.
The institution referred to is the Edo State Government owned but somewhat privately managed Edo University, Iyamho. The government is yet to clarify convincingly the management mechanism of the university, having announced in 2016 that it was going to be run by private partners – an arrangement of which Afrinvest Ltd, a company owned by Mr. Godwin Obaseki the present governor of Edo State, is believed to be the consultant/manager.
The founding fathers referred to are without equivocation, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole who built the school and the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki who advised Oshiomhole to build and supplied the logistics.
Although speculation about this arrangement has been in the public domain, particularly in the media, since early 2016, it seemed to have been officially confirmed on Monday 24, July 2017 by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Aluyor, as reported by several print and online media. The Vice Chancellor is quoted to have said that the university was “established to cater for the academically endowed and the wealthy in the society”. The reference to the academically endowed is apparently to a minor factor, as any properly screened and admitted undergraduate is logically an “academically endowed” person.
The nagging question has been: why establish another state government owned university in spite of its huge financial implication when the existing Ambrose Alli University grapples with relative infrastructure neglect and lack of essential incentives for academic and non academic staff? And why another school offering similar courses like AAU?
The answer proffered, which can be said to be hypocritical, by the Vice Chancellor of the elitist government university is that “The idea behind the establishment of Edo University by the founding fathers is neither to replace nor compete with existing Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma but rather to complement it in terms of providing world-class education with the best of infrastructure to academically gifted students and the rich who can afford the fees”. What disjointed reasoning!
With whose money was the new school built? The poor’s of course. So, why the premeditated discrimination?
Coming to the precise wording of the VC’s statement, would it not have been better for the state government to have replaced for Edo people, the degraded AAU with a school with “the best of infrastructure”, facilities and incentives within the old environment and creating new campuses if needed, instead of building a superior university in the immediate past governor’s village to “complement” the inferior AAU by providing world-class education”?
What prevents a government of the people from providing world-class education in its premier university if not the unwillingness and insensitivity of the administration? Perhaps the poor are not deserving of world-class education. This is arrant nonsense as the commitment of government must be to elevate the poor to the best possible standard while helping the rich to maintain their tastes as they may fancy, through other means outside of limited government funds. What business of government is it to put the interest of the rich above that of the poor when the rich, at any rate, have many options at their disposal?
Imagine the statement that the Edo University, Iyamho is complementing the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma when in fact it was established in contempt of the school – a situation that the present administration seems committed to maintaining by a nauseating, egoistic, needless class distinction.
Is it not curious that the state government, instead of upgrading existing government facilities to best standards possible, would rather duplicate same with the vain aspiration of competing for profit with similar private establishments. While it is proper for government to project for revenue with the mind of carrying out development and growth, it must however, not descend into the arena of profiteering. Government is not business; it creates business for business people.
The Vice Chancellor of EUI rationalized the cost of the new university in relativity to improving the old AAU thus: “People have questioned why former Gov. Adams Oshiomhole did not upgrade AAU, than establishing a new university altogether. Apart from its being capital intensive to either renovate or bring the needed infrastructure, the idea was to provide a different brand of Education to the people”.
The VC says that upgrading AAU would be capital intensive but he did not say not affordable. Yes, the government could have afforded it if it had the passion for delivering best quality education through AAU. On the other hand, is the investment so far in EUI not capital intensive and still counting?
Right from the days of Oshiomhole till now the state government has deliberately avoided telling Edo people what it has cost them of tax payers’ money, statutory federal allocations and sundry revenues, to put up, equip and fund EUI. It has been independently reported though, that the school, which presently has less than 80 students, has gulped over N50billion. Just half of that amount would have revolutionized the officially despised AAU, making its students very competitive and its staff better devoted.
And talking about bringing a “different brand of Education to the people”, one is wont to ask: which people? The few rich instead of the hungry poor? A brand of Education to the rich who have their fathers’ businesses waiting for them to manage? How shallow can thinking get?
Now, if the government has its eyes on profit without discounting its investment, how many years and how many administrations will it take to recover the billions the government has sunk and is still sinking to provide vintage education for the privileged few? Really, what is the big deal about building a university for the rich? Ironically, in the next ten years, the revenue realized from the rich of that school will still be a far cry from the revenue realizable from the poor of AAU, if AAU is not made free of charge. So again I ask: what is the big deal for the state government?
Lest we forget, the immediate past administration of which the present one, in practical terms, is a continuation, established two universities on the same day, the one which could be likened to a premature still in an oxygen chamber, the Tayo Akpata University of Education, Ekiadolor was intended to be upgraded from a college of education in outlook and in content. Therefore, if we were to take seriously the argument of capital intensiveness of upgrading, as responsible for relegating AAU in the scheme of providing world-class education, what then should we conclude about the future of the controversial state university of education?
In the meantime, however, it is clear that the agenda of the present government, which is an ideological continuation of the previous one, is to have a university that caters for the rich, among which may include children and wards of political office holders, privileged high ranking civil servants, government contractors and other few fortunate citizens.
In conclusion, we cannot help but to relate the forgoing discourse to the unfolding plan of the state government with regard to the New Central Hospital, Benin City. The question is: was the government hospital, from the beginning, conceived to provide world-class health services to only the rich in the society? If so, what is the reasonableness of such a proposition given that the project was built with the money for the poor, and that the rich which is to make use of it, can never pay back the cost of building it in the near future? And then, why this infatuation for the wealthy, begun by Adams Oshiomhole who history records as not rising from among the poorest of the poor until he hit gold in the Labour Union Movement “fighting” for the poor as their leader? Is this a government elected by the poor to serve the interest of the rich? Posterity beckons.
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Tagged Benin Central Hospital privatisation
NFF, LMC, NANFP Meet On Ways To Reposition Nigerian League
WHY DELTANS WILL QUEUE BEHIND DR IFEANYI OKOWA COME 2019 —DESPSOMET
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Cultism: A Bane to Human Development in Nigeria May 12, 2019
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Copyright 2018 | by JOHNSON UMEH LTD. | News on the Go: edokowilson.com | contact: admin@edokowilson.com.
http://www.edokowilson.com/2017/07/26/obaseki-administration-a-government-for-the-rich/">
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Hannah Gadsby Says She Had An Abortion After Rape
I Show The Cultural Differences Between Japan And Other Countries (50 Pics)
5 Comics to Read After You’ve Seen Dark Phoenix
While You Were Offline: Ted Cruz Wants the Space Force to Fight Space Pirates
Elton John: ‘They wanted to tone down the sex and drugs. But I havent led a PG-13 life’
18 Jul, 2019, Thursday
Checkout the latest comic news
June 28, 2019 June 28, 2019 wp10046 Uncategorized
Poor Jean Grey. What should have been her moment to enjoy the cinematic spotlight in this week's Dark Phoenix ends up being stolen away by Charles Xavier and his eternal pity party, as with every single other X-Men movie since the first one. (He even fought for the lead role in Logan, of all things!) While Sophie Turner suffers through her second underwhelming finale of the year, X-Men fans can seek solace in the comic book catalog of the franchise, which contains the following five pieces of classic Jean action.
Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.
Buy on Amazon.
Uncanny X-Men #101-137
If the cinematic Dark Phoenix left you wanting more, there's one place to find it: in the original comic book storyline, which unfolded across four years and offered exactly the character development (and costume changes, BDSM-themed secret societies, and mind control, oh God, the mind control …) that fans are complaining the new movie lacks. All this, plus Dazzler makes her debut, in a period-appropriate discotheque. The 1970s were a hell of a time.
How to read it: Available digitally and in the X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga Omnibus print collection.
Bizarre Adventures #27
There's no way to avoid it; the Jean Grey strip published in this anthology title is an oddity, and a fairly obscure one to boot. Nonetheless, it builds out the backstory of Jean Grey, beyond what had appeared inside the core X-Men series, and it offers insight into an inner life that the character was otherwise denied. It also features a fight with an undersea despot, for good measure. If only all obscure oddities were this much fun (or this revelatory).
New X-Men #114-154
If the first Jean Grey Phoenix story line got retconned away a few years after it saw print, then Grant Morrison's early-21st-century makeover for the X-Men would turn out to be the first time Jean Grey got to turn into the Phoenix for real. It went … in a very unfortunate direction for her. (Spoilers: Jean doesn't make it out alive, except she kind of does. It's a whole thing.) For those who never quite bought the idea that a powerful woman is inherently not to be trusted, this might be the run you're looking for.
How to read it: Available digitally and in the New X-Men by Grant Morrison print collections.
Phoenix Resurrection #1-5
Perhaps the ultimate Jean Grey Phoenix story came in the miniseries that sought not only to bring Jean back into circulation after more than a decade—the adult Jean, at least; there'd been a time-traveling teenage version running around for a few years by this point—but also permanently resolve the nature of her relationship with the Phoenix Force. It draws on all kinds of X-Men comic book history and gets more than a little fantastic, but actually works as a great counterweight to what happens in the Dark Phoenix movie.
How to read it: Available digitally and in the Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey print collection.
X-Men Red #1-11, Annual #1
It lasted an unfortunately short amount of time, but X-Men Red was almost the Platonic ideal of what an X-Men comic could be. It also hits all the notes that the Dark Phoenix movie attempts, and in a more successful manner. A restatement of the mutant metaphor that pledges the franchise towards acceptance and diversity, it's a comic that feels as timely right now as it did when it was first released, unfortunately—which means that it's a comic that needs to be read right now, if you've not already done so.
How to read it: Available digitally and in the X-Men Red: The Hate Machine and X-Men Red: Waging Peace print collections.
Read more: https://www.wired.com/story/dark-phoenix-comics-reading-list/
Comic Info
Top 10 Rare Comics in the World
History of Comics
Comic Facts
10 Most Expensive Comic Books Ever
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2014 – Press Clip Archive
Superior Concrete goes ballistic in precast fence, site barrier engineering
Written by Concrete News
Branded Superior Ballistics, a new reinforcing feature doubles the strength of Superior Concrete Products (SCP) fence and barrier panels, making them impervious to close-range fire from high caliber ammunition.
“Security is an issue for many business, and protecting valuable equipment and personnel a major concern – especially for utility companies,” says SCP President Todd Sternfeld, who founded the company in 1986. “With recent attacks on electrical substations in California and Arizona, protecting the nation’s power grid is a top priority for utility executives and government officials. We recognized that the time had come to develop a new type of security fencing, one that fit seamlessly into the environment…without looking like a military bunker.”
The Superior Ballistics engineering couples a membrane and proprietary embedment process greatly reinforcing precast members. Prior to the brand launch, SCP subjected specimens to rigorous impact. Testing facility staff fired a .308 Winchester caliber round from a high-powered rifle into a Superior Ballistics-equipped panel from 30 feet; while the fence sustained damage, the bullet did not penetrate.
In view of sniper attacks on power generating equipment and other security threats, the Congressional Research Service recommended in June 2014 enactment of federal regulations requiring greater physical security around electrical substations. A Federal Energy Regulator Commission rule adopted just before Thanksgiving calls for power companies to identify key installations where damage could cause blackouts or power outages, and safeguard such facilities by 2016.
“Superior Concrete Products provides and affordable and safe option that can help utilities comply with [federal] mandates.” notes Sternfeld. “Utility companies across the country have chosen the company’s fence and barrier solutions to protect and screen electrical transformer,” he adds, “owing to the precast products strength, affordability and low-maintenance design.”
Paving the way: Precast concrete construction company still breaking mold
Todd Sternfeld blazed a trail in precast manufacturing more than three decades ago and is setting the trend for the leaner, greener precast industry that is now emerging.
The 52-year-old founder and owner of Euless-based Superior Concrete Products Inc. has pioneered and perfected modular precast concrete manufacturing and construction methods to create cost-effective, sustainable building systems. He’s built his business into an industry leader in the Southwest and across the United States.
http://fwbusinesspress.com/fwbp/article/1/6162/Featured/Paving-the-way-Precast-concrete-construction-company-still-breaking-the-mold.aspx
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RFC 3403 - Dynamic Delegation Discovery System (DDDS) Part Three
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Network Working Group M. Mealling
Request for Comments: 3403 VeriSign
Obsoletes: 2915, 2168 October 2002
Category: Standards Track
Dynamic Delegation Discovery System (DDDS)
Part Three: The Domain Name System (DNS) Database
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
This document describes a Dynamic Delegation Discovery System (DDDS)
Database using the Domain Name System (DNS) as a distributed database
of Rules. The Keys are domain-names and the Rules are encoded using
the Naming Authority Pointer (NAPTR) Resource Record (RR).
Since this document obsoletes RFC 2915, it is the official
specification for the NAPTR DNS Resource Record. It is also part of
a series that is completely specified in "Dynamic Delegation
Discovery System (DDDS) Part One: The Comprehensive DDDS" (RFC 3401).
It is very important to note that it is impossible to read and
understand any document in this series without reading the others.
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. DDDS Database Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
4. NAPTR RR Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4.1 Packet Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4.2 Additional Information Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4.2.1 Additional Section processing by DNS servers . . . . . . . . 7
4.2.2 Additional Section processing by resolver/applications . . . 7
4.3 Master File Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5. Application Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
6. Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
6.1 URN Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
6.2 E164 Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7. Advice for DNS Administrators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
8. Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
9. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
10. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Full Copyright Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
The Dynamic Delegation Discovery System (DDDS) is used to implement
lazy binding of strings to data, in order to support dynamically
configured delegation systems. The DDDS functions by mapping some
unique string to data stored within a DDDS Database by iteratively
applying string transformation rules until a terminal condition is
reached.
This document describes the way in which the Domain Name System (DNS)
is used as a data store for the Rules that allow a DDDS Application
to function. It does not specify any particular application or usage
scenario. The entire series of documents is specified in "Dynamic
Delegation Discovery System (DDDS) Part One: The Comprehensive DDDS"
(RFC 3401) [1]. It is very important to note that it is impossible
to read and understand any document in that series without reading
the related documents.
The Naming Authority Pointer (NAPTR) DNS Resource Record (RR)
specified here was originally produced by the URN Working Group as a
way to encode rule-sets in DNS so that the delegated sections of a
Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI) could be decomposed in such a way
that they could be changed and re-delegated over time. The result
was a Resource Record that included a regular expression that would
be used by a client program to rewrite a string into a domain name.
Regular expressions were chosen for their compactness to expressivity
ratio allowing for a great deal of information to be encoded in a
rather small DNS packet.
Over time this process was generalized for other Applications and
Rule Databases. This document defines a Rules Database absent any
particular Application as there may be several Applications all
taking advantage of this particular Rules Database.
2. Terminology
document are to be interpreted as described in [6].
All other terminology, especially capitalized terms, is taken from
[3].
3. DDDS Database Specification
This database uses the Domain Name System (DNS) as specified in
[8] and [7].
The character set used to specify the various values of the NAPTR
records is UTF-8 [17]. Care must be taken to ensure that, in the
case where either the input or the output to the substitution
expression contains code points outside of the ASCII/Unicode
equivalence in UTF-8, any UTF-8 is interpreted as a series of
code-points instead of as a series of bytes. This is to ensure
that the internationalized features of the POSIX Extended Regular
Expressions are able to match their intended code-points.
Substitution expressions MUST NOT be written where they depend on
a specific POSIX locale since this would cause substitution
expressions to loose their ability to be universally applicable.
All DNS resource records have a Time To Live (TTL) associated with
them. When the number of seconds has passed since the record was
retrieved the record is no longer valid and a new query must be
used to retrieve the new records. Thus, as mentioned in the DDDS
Algorithm, there can be the case where a given Rule expires. In
the case where an application attempts to fall back to previously
retrieved sets of Rules (either in the case of a bad delegation
path or some network or server failure) the application MUST
ensure that none of the records it is relying on have expired. In
the case where even a single record has expired, the application
is required to start over at the beginning of the algorithm.
Key Format:
A Key is a validly constructed DNS domain-name.
Lookup Request:
In order to request a set of rules for a given Key, the client
issues a request, following standard DNS rules, for NAPTR Resource
Records for the given domain-name.
Lookup Response:
The response to a request for a given Key (domain-name) will be a
series of NAPTR records. The format of a NAPTR Resource Record
can be found in Section 4.
Rule Insertion Procedure:
Rules are inserted by adding new records to the appropriate DNS
zone. If a Rule produces a Key that exists in a particular zone
then only the entity that has administrative control of that zone
can specify the Rule associated with that Key.
Collision Avoidance:
In the case where two Applications may use this Database (which is
actually the case with the ENUM and URI Resolution Applications,
Section 6.2), there is a chance of collision between rules where
two NAPTR records appear in the same domain but they apply to more
than one Application. There are three ways to avoid collisions:
* create a new zone within the domain in common that contains
only NAPTR records that are appropriate for the application.
E.g., all URI Resolution records would exist under
urires.example.com and all ENUM records would be under
enum.example.com. In the case where this is not possible due
to lack of control over the upstream delegation the second
method is used.
* write the regular expression such that it contains enough of
the Application Unique string to disambiguate it from any
other. For example, the URI Resolution Application would be
able to use the scheme name on the left hand side to anchor the
regular expression match to that scheme. An ENUM specific
record in that same zone would be able to anchor the left hand
side of the match with the "+" character which is defined by
ENUM to be at the beginning of every Application Unique String.
This way a given Application Unique String can only match one
or the other record, not both.
* if two Application use different Flags or Services values then
a record from another Application will be ignored since it
doesn't apply to the Services/Flags in question.
4. NAPTR RR Format
4.1 Packet Format
The packet format of the NAPTR RR is given below. The DNS type code
for NAPTR is 35.
The packet format for the NAPTR record is as follows
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
| ORDER |
| PREFERENCE |
/ FLAGS /
/ SERVICES /
/ REGEXP /
/ REPLACEMENT /
/ /
<character-string> and <domain-name> as used here are defined in RFC
1035 [7].
A 16-bit unsigned integer specifying the order in which the NAPTR
records MUST be processed in order to accurately represent the
ordered list of Rules. The ordering is from lowest to highest.
If two records have the same order value then they are considered
to be the same rule and should be selected based on the
combination of the Preference values and Services offered.
Although it is called "preference" in deference to DNS
terminology, this field is equivalent to the Priority value in the
DDDS Algorithm. It is a 16-bit unsigned integer that specifies
the order in which NAPTR records with equal Order values SHOULD be
processed, low numbers being processed before high numbers. This
is similar to the preference field in an MX record, and is used so
domain administrators can direct clients towards more capable
hosts or lighter weight protocols. A client MAY look at records
with higher preference values if it has a good reason to do so
such as not supporting some protocol or service very well.
The important difference between Order and Preference is that once
a match is found the client MUST NOT consider records with a
different Order but they MAY process records with the same Order
but different Preferences. The only exception to this is noted in
the second important Note in the DDDS algorithm specification
concerning allowing clients to use more complex Service
determination between steps 3 and 4 in the algorithm. Preference
is used to give communicate a higher quality of service to rules
that are considered the same from an authority standpoint but not
from a simple load balancing standpoint.
It is important to note that DNS contains several load balancing
mechanisms and if load balancing among otherwise equal services
should be needed then methods such as SRV records or multiple A
records should be utilized to accomplish load balancing.
A <character-string> containing flags to control aspects of the
rewriting and interpretation of the fields in the record. Flags
are single characters from the set A-Z and 0-9. The case of the
alphabetic characters is not significant. The field can be empty.
It is up to the Application specifying how it is using this
Database to define the Flags in this field. It must define which
ones are terminal and which ones are not.
A <character-string> that specifies the Service Parameters
applicable to this this delegation path. It is up to the
Application Specification to specify the values found in this
A <character-string> containing a substitution expression that is
applied to the original string held by the client in order to
construct the next domain name to lookup. See the DDDS Algorithm
specification for the syntax of this field.
As stated in the DDDS algorithm, The regular expressions MUST NOT
be used in a cumulative fashion, that is, they should only be
applied to the original string held by the client, never to the
domain name produced by a previous NAPTR rewrite. The latter is
tempting in some applications but experience has shown such use to
be extremely fault sensitive, very error prone, and extremely
difficult to debug.
A <domain-name> which is the next domain-name to query for
depending on the potential values found in the flags field. This
field is used when the regular expression is a simple replacement
operation. Any value in this field MUST be a fully qualified
domain-name. Name compression is not to be used for this field.
This field and the REGEXP field together make up the Substitution
Expression in the DDDS Algorithm. It is simply a historical
optimization specifically for DNS compression that this field
exists. The fields are also mutually exclusive. If a record is
returned that has values for both fields then it is considered to
be in error and SHOULD be either ignored or an error returned.
4.2 Additional Information Processing
Additional section processing requires upgraded DNS servers, thus it
will take many years before applications can expect to see relevant
records in the additional information section.
4.2.1 Additional Section Processing by DNS Servers
DNS servers MAY add RRsets to the additional information section that
are relevant to the answer and have the same authenticity as the data
in the answer section. Generally this will be made up of A and SRV
records but the exact records depends on the application.
4.2.2 Additional Section Processing by Resolver/Applications
Applications MAY inspect the Additional Information section for
relevant records but Applications MUST NOT require that records of
any type be in the Additional Information section of any DNS response
in order for clients to function. All Applications must be capable
of handling responses from nameservers that never fill in the
Additional Information part of a response.
4.3 Master File Format
The master file format follows the standard rules in RFC-1035. Order
and preference, being 16-bit unsigned integers, shall be an integer
between 0 and 65535. The Flags and Services and Regexp fields are
all quoted <character-string>s. Since the Regexp field can contain
numerous backslashes and thus should be treated with care. See
Section 7 for how to correctly enter and escape the regular
expression.
5. Application Specifications
This DDDS Database is usable by any application that makes use of the
DDDS algorithm. In addition to the items required to specify a DDDS
Application, an application wishing to use this Database must also
define the following values:
o What domain the Key that is produced by the First Well Known Rule
belongs to. Any application must ensure that its rules do not
collide with rules used by another application making use of this
Database. For example, the 'foo' application might have all of
its First Well Known Keys be found in the 'foo.net' zone.
o What the allowed values for the Services and Protocols fields are.
o What the expected output is of the terminal rewrite rule in
addition to how the Flags are actually encoded and utilized.
6.1 URN Example
The NAPTR record was originally created for use with the Uniform
Resource Name (URN) Resolver Discovery Service (RDS) [15]. This
example details how a particular URN would use the NAPTR record to
find a resolver service that can answer questions about the URN. See
[2] for the definitive specification for this Application.
Consider a URN namespace based on MIME Content-Ids (this is very
hypothetical so do not rely on this). The URN might look like this:
urn:cid:199606121851.1@bar.example.com
This Application's First Well Known Rule is to extract the characters
between the first and second colon. For this URN that would be
'cid'. The Application also specifies that, in order to build a
Database-valid Key, the string 'urn.arpa' should be appended to the
result of the First Well Known Rule. The result is 'cid.urn.arpa'.
Next, the client queries the DNS for NAPTR records for the domain-
name 'cid.urn.arpa'. The result is a single record:
cid.urn.arpa.
;; order pref flags service regexp replacement
IN NAPTR 100 10 "" "" "!^urn:cid:.+@([^\.]+\.)(.*)$!\2!i" .
Since there is only one record, ordering the responses is not a
problem. The replacement field is empty, so the pattern provided in
the regexp field is used. We apply that regexp to the entire URN to
see if it matches, which it does. The \2 part of the substitution
expression returns the string "example.com". Since the flags field
is empty, the lookup is not terminal and our next probe to DNS is for
more NAPTR records where the new domain is 'example.com'.
Note that the rule does not extract the full domain name from the
CID, instead it assumes the CID comes from a host and extracts its
domain. While all hosts, such as 'bar', could have their very own
NAPTR, maintaining those records for all the machines at a site could
be an intolerable burden. Wildcards are not appropriate here since
they only return results when there is no exactly matching names
already in the system.
The record returned from the query on "example.com" might look like:
example.com.
;; order pref flags service regexp replacement
IN NAPTR 100 50 "a" "z3950+N2L+N2C" "" cidserver.example.com.
IN NAPTR 100 50 "a" "rcds+N2C" "" cidserver.example.com.
IN NAPTR 100 50 "s" "http+N2L+N2C+N2R" "" www.example.com.
Continuing with the example, note that the values of the order and
preference fields are equal in all records, so the client is free to
pick any record. The Application defines the flag 'a' to mean a
terminal lookup and that the output of the rewrite will be a domain-
name for which an A record should be queried. Once the client has
done that, it has the following information: the host, its IP
address, the protocol, and the services available via that protocol.
Given these bits of information the client has enough to be able to
contact that server and ask it questions about the URN.
Recall that the regular expression used \2 to extract a domain name
from the CID, and \. for matching the literal '.' characters
separating the domain name components. Since '\' is the escape
character, literal occurrences of a backslash must be escaped by
another backslash. For the case of the cid.urn.arpa record above,
the regular expression entered into the master file should be
"!^urn:cid:.+@([^\\.]+\\.)(.*)$!\\2!i". When the client code
actually receives the record, the pattern will have been converted to
"!^urn:cid:.+@([^\.]+\.)(.*)$!\2!i".
6.2 E164 Example
The ENUM Working Group in the IETF has specified a service that
allows a telephone number to be mapped to a URI [18]. The
Application Unique String for the ENUM Application is the E.164
telephone number with the dashes removed. The First Well Known Rule
is to remove all characters from the the telephone number and then
use the entire number as the first Key. For example, the phone
number "770-555-1212" represented as an E.164 number would be "+1-
770-555-1212". Converted to the Key it would be "17705551212".
The ENUM Application at present only uses this Database. It
specifies that, in order to convert the first Key into a form valid
for this Database, periods are inserted between each digit, the
entire Key is inverted and then "e164.arpa" is appended to the end.
The above telephone number would then read
"2.1.2.1.5.5.5.0.7.7.1.e164.arpa.". This domain-name is then used to
retrieve Rewrite Rules as NAPTR records.
For this example telephone number we might get back the following
NAPTR records:
$ORIGIN 2.1.2.1.5.5.5.0.7.7.1.e164.arpa.
IN NAPTR 100 10 "u" "sip+E2U" "!^.*$!sip:information@foo.se!i" .
IN NAPTR 102 10 "u" "smtp+E2U" "!^.*$!mailto:information@foo.se!i" .
Both the ENUM [18] and URI Resolution [4] Applications use the 'u'
flag. This flag states that the Rule is terminal and that the output
is a URI which contains the information needed to contact that
telephone service. ENUM also uses the same format for its Service
Parameters. These state that the available protocols used to access
that telephone's service are either the Session Initiation Protocol
or SMTP mail.
7. Advice for DNS Administrators
Beware of regular expressions. Not only are they difficult to get
correct on their own, but there is the previously mentioned
interaction with DNS. Any backslashes in a regexp must be entered
twice in a zone file in order to appear once in a query response.
More seriously, the need for double backslashes has probably not been
tested by all implementors of DNS servers.
In order to mitigate zone file problems, administrators should
encourage those writing rewrite rules to utilize the 'default
delimiter' feature of the regular expression. In the DDDS
specification the regular expression starts with the character that
is to be the delimiter. Hence if the first character of the regular
expression is an exclamation mark ('!') for example then the regular
expression can usually be written with fewer backslashes.
8. Notes
A client MUST process multiple NAPTR records in the order specified
by the "order" field, it MUST NOT simply use the first record that
provides a known Service Parameter combination.
When multiple RRs have the same "order" and all other criteria being
equal, the client should use the value of the preference field to
select the next NAPTR to consider. However, because it will often be
the case where preferred protocols or services exist, clients may use
this additional criteria to sort the records.
If the lookup after a rewrite fails, clients are strongly encouraged
to report a failure, rather than backing up to pursue other rewrite
9. IANA Considerations
The values for the Services and Flags fields will be determined by
the Application that makes use of this DDDS Database. Those values
may require a registration mechanism and thus may need some IANA
resources. This specification by itself does not.
10. Security Considerations
The NAPTR record, like any other DNS record, can be signed and
validated according to the procedures specified in DNSSEC.
This Database makes identifiers from other namespaces subject to the
same attacks as normal domain names. Since they have not been easily
resolvable before, this may or may not be considered a problem.
Regular expressions should be checked for sanity, not blindly passed
to something like PERL since arbitrary code can be included and
subsequently processed.
[1] Mealling, M., "Dynamic Delegation Discovery System (DDDS) Part
One: The Comprehensive DDDS", RFC 3401, October 2002.
Two: The Algorithm", RFC 3402, October 2002.
Three: The Domain Name System (DNS) Database", RFC 3403, October
Four: The Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI) Resolution
Application", RFC 3404, October 2002.
Five: URI.ARPA Assignment Procedures", RFC 3405, October 2002.
[6] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement
Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.
[7] Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - implementation and
specification", STD 13, RFC 1035, November 1987.
[8] Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - concepts and facilities", STD
13, RFC 1034, November 1987.
[9] Gulbrandsen, A., Vixie, P. and L. Esibov, "A DNS RR for
specifying the location of services (DNS SRV)", RFC 2782,
[10] Crocker, D., "Augmented BNF for Syntax Specifications: ABNF",
RFC 2234, November 1997.
[11] Daniel, R., "A Trivial Convention for using HTTP in URN
Resolution", RFC 2169, June 1997.
[12] IEEE, "IEEE Standard for Information Technology - Portable
Operating System Interface (POSIX) - Part 2: Shell and Utilities
(Vol. 1)", IEEE Std 1003.2-1992, January 1993.
[13] Berners-Lee, T., Fielding, R. and L. Masinter, "Uniform Resource
Identifiers (URI): Generic Syntax", RFC 2396, August 1998.
[14] Moats, R., "URN Syntax", RFC 2141, May 1997.
[15] Sollins, K., "Architectural Principles of Uniform Resource Name
Resolution", RFC 2276, January 1998.
[16] Daniel, R. and M. Mealling, "Resolution of Uniform Resource
Identifiers using the Domain Name System", RFC 2168, June 1997.
[17] Yergeau, F., "UTF-8, a transformation format of ISO 10646", RFC
2279, January 1998.
[18] Faltstrom, P., "E.164 number and DNS", RFC 2916, September 2000.
Michael Mealling
21345 Ridgetop Circle
Sterling, VA 20166
EMail: michael@neonym.net
URI: http://www.verisignlabs.com
Full Copyright Statement
Comment about this RFC, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:
Previous: RFC 3402 - Dynamic Delegation Discovery System (DDDS) Part Two: The Algorithm
Next: RFC 3404 - Dynamic Delegation Discovery System (DDDS) Part Four: The Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI)
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Home | Audio Reviews |Audiophile Shows | Partner Mags | News
Stein Music H2 Harmonizers And Magic Stones
A uniquely original approach to a better sounding listening room.
Review By Wayne Donnelly
This is the kind of review I especially enjoy. Effectively, one that describes such unique products offer challenges and rewards beyond the norm of reviewing standard product categories. On an evaluation of a preamplifier or amplifier the writer can draw on past review experiences to at least set a frame of reference for the current subject. But that is far from the case here. As my second decade of audio reviewing nears, nothing I've previously encountered has prepared me for how Holder Stein's remarkable products so effectively enhance the beauty and emotional connection I experience during each session with my audio system.
Most audiophiles would acknowledge the adage that the listening room is the key element in the sound of an audio system. But few of even the most ambitious systems I have encountered include substantial room treatment, and those systems typically fail to achieve their full sonic potential regardless of the cost of the equipment. They are compromised by frequency peaks and dips caused by the room's uneven interaction with the output of the loudspeakers.
Room treatments essentially fall into two categories, active or passive. Active electronic products, connected within the signal path, range from the graphic and parametric equalizers that have been around forever to more sophisticated recent DSP-based room correction products. All of them work by modifying the system's frequency curve. Passive room treatments typically involve bulky traps and diffusers, commonly fabric-covered cardboard and foam structures designed to absorb and redirect the output of the speakers to produce a smoother and better balanced octave-to-octave frequency spectrum.
Confession time. Until a couple of years ago I was among the audiophiles who resist using traditional room treatments, either active or passive. Years ago I had dabbled with equalizers, but found the products of the 1980s demanded too many trade-offs. While I might accomplish some desirable frequency shaping, the positive benefits were offset by phase anomalies, and all too often undesirable degradations of tonal beauty and transient impact resulting from inserting typically poorly engineered equalizer designs into my "purist" signal path.
As for conventional traps and diffusers, I've resisted cluttering my room with dust-catching big traps and panels. Now, d�cor has never loomed large in my priorities, and none of my listening rooms has ever been in danger of appearing in House Beautiful or Architectural Digest. But adding those honkin' big uglies into the visual mix has had zero appeal. Moreover, my two cats would think they'd been transported to a wonderful world of oversized scratching posts! Finally, none of my listening rooms over the last 25 years has been a rectangular box, a shape that tends to emphasize audible room boundary effects; each has been shaped so that standing wave problems were minimized and heavy-duty room treatments have not been required to achieve reasonably well balanced sound.
There are of course many other forms of passive room conditioning, including among others African ebony Mpingo disks, RoomLens plastic Helmholtz resonators, Shaketi Hallographs, and the Synergistic Research Acoustic ART resonating bowls I wrote about in December 2009 (more on those below). Over the years I have tried all of the aforementioned unconventional products, and others as well. Some gave me good results, some didn't, and some yielded ambiguous results. But the one thing that has been consistent is that for any room-tuning product that falls outside the generally accepted active electronic and passive trap/diffuser approaches, there is always a sizable and highly vocal number of audiophiles who reject such unconventional thinking out of hand. Nothing activates the "snake oil" chorus more predictably than products whose rationale relies on concepts not covered in high school and undergraduate physics textbooks. I suspect that these Steinmusic products will evoke a similar reaction in many. My goal is to make a sufficient case for them to encourage more listeners to broaden their horizons, open their minds, and judge unconventional products by their sonic results.
The Steinmusic system confounds easy characterization. The Harmonizers are electronically active, but they are not connected within the system's signal path. Changing the Intensity level quite audibly alters the in-room sound, but that interaction is strictly with the room itself, not the electronics of the system. But the Magic Stones, which are equally important to the effect, are totally passive devices. I have not previously worked with any similar combination of active and passive room tuning elements.
In mid-2010 my friend Jack Bybee � another creator of sonically superb, scientifically valid, but often misunderstood off-the-beaten-track audio accessories � excitedly described to me some black boxes and small resonant pieces whose deployment had dramatically enhanced the beauty and musicality of his already superior audio system. Jack is not prone to hyperbole, so based on his enthusiasm I contacted Holger Stein and requested review samples of his H2 Harmonizers and Magic Stones. A few days later the parcel arrived from Germany and the adventure began.
Physical Description & Room Configuration
The shipping carton contained four 5 x 5 x 4 inch, beautifully painted black MDF cubes, a 12V wall-wart power supply for each cube, and a set of 10 small rounded, triangular-shaped pieces � the Magic Stones � to be distributed through the listening room.
The cubes are the H2 Harmonizers, marked either H2A or H2B. Each Harmonizer has a blue LED on the front panel to indicate that it is getting power. The rear panel has an input jack for the wall wart, an ON/OFF toggle for the LED (and to turn on or off an internal 9V battery if that power option is chosen over the wall warts), and an Intensity knob with a rotational range from 7 to 5 o'clock. Inside is space for the 9V battery and a small electronic circuit. There is no visible difference in the appearance of the circuits in the H2A or H2B Harmonizers.
There are three basic options for configuring the Steinmusic Harmonizers. The listening room's size and the system's electronics and speakers may perform well with two (1 H2A and 1 H2B), three (2 H2A and 1 H2B), or four (2 H2A and 2 H2B) Harmonizers. The deployment of the Magic Stones need not change because more Harmonizers are in use. The following room diagram illustrates recommended placements of the Harmonizers and Magic Stones. You can see that in the four-cube setup the H2A and H2B Harmonizers are paired in diagonal relationships. That principle holds true for the two-cube and three-cube layouts; however, in all cases some experimentation with the precise locations of Harmonizers and Stones will help the listener optimize the entire configuration for best results.
At the beginning of this process I had no idea which of the above � described setups would work optimally in my room. I set about methodically to try them out, starting with the simplest two-Harmonizer version (1 H2B behind the right speaker and 1 H2A behind the listening seat on the left side). After working with that configuration for almost two weeks, I went to three Harmonizers (1 H2A behind the left speaker, 1 H2A behind the listening seat on the right side, and1 H2B behind the listening seat on the left side), and subsequently, when I felt I had gotten the best possible results from that rig, on to the four-Harmonizer version depicted in the room diagram.
The changes in sound resulting from those progressive stages did not happen in linear and predictable ways. I was very pleased with the initial two-Harmonizer setup. I could hear small increases in clarity with two Harmonizers even before I placed the Magic Stones in the recommended locations. However, putting the Magic Stones in place immediately raised the quality of sound, confirming that they are essential to the concept.
Adding a third Harmonizer did not initially make things better. With one Harmonizer located behind the left speaker, it took a while to find the best locations for the second and third Harmonizers at the listening end of the room. I settled on placing the second H2A about six feet to the right of and five feet behind my listening seat; the single H2B was placed symmetrically on the left. Even then, I found the improvements from adding the third Harmonizer to be relatively minor. Had I been stopping at that point I would have gone back to the two-Harmonizer setup, not having found that three Harmonizers produced an improvement worth the cost of the third cube.( Let me say here that other users report excellent results with three Harmonizers. The point is that each listener must listen carefully to dial in the Steinmusic system for a particular room.)
Going to four Harmonizers proved the right choice for my room. The Harmonizers and Magic Stones were placed in the relationships shown in the room diagram above. A few weeks into the review, Holger Stein sent me a few different-looking Magic Stones: white, round-shaped with curved star-like arms radiating from the center. He advised that the qualities of those pieces should be very close to the original Magic Stones. I did not substitute the new Stones for original ones, but simply added them into the whole configuration. Adding more Magic Stones enriched the naturalness of vocals and clarified pitch definition of lower frequencies. And about a month after that, I received five new pieces, labeled Magic Diamonds: shallow cone-shaped pieces with greater mass than the Magic Stones. Adding them to the mix�three at about head height across the wall behind the speakers, two on the wall behind the listening seat, further enriched vocal and instrumental clarity and provided more sense of weight and substance, especially for piano, low strings and brass. Making those changes on the fly I learned that while the basic set of Magic Stones work very well with the Harmonizers, adding more of those passive resonant elements made things sound even better.
Digression: Juggling Unconventional Room Treatments
In December 2009, in the final "Accessories" chapter of my three-part narrative on building a reference system, I reviewed the Synergistic Research Acoustic ART system, another unconventional room treatment that has generated controversy and disbelief among many audio skeptics. I suggest that readers interested in creative approaches to room tuning read that review. The Acoustic ART and Steinmusic systems operate differently from each other as well as from conventional room treatments, and both are intended as complete room tuning solutions. One cannot reliably evaluate one of those systems while the other is simultaneously affecting the total system response.
My solution was first to disable the Acoustic ART system � very easy � and for three evenings in a row listen in my now-untreated room in order to reestablish in my mind and ears the sound of my system without any room tuning elements. That sound was pretty much as I remembered it: good, but lacking the full harmonic richness and spatial depth and resolution I had gotten used to with the Acoustic ART elements in place. Then, starting from scratch as it were, I went through the progression described above before settling on the four-Harmonizer configuration with additional Magic Stones and Magic Diamonds. The following listening comments first discuss the results with the fully configured Steinmusic system, and then what happens when both the Steinmusic and Acoustic ART systems are employed simultaneously.
Listening to The Four-Harmonizer Steinmusic System
Once one has satisfactorily placed the Harmonizers and Magic Stones, the next step is to set optimally the desired Intensity level, using the rotary knob on the rear of the Harmonizer. Stein suggests 11 o'clock as a good starting place, and that turned out to be nearly ideal. Compared to the sound of my untreated room, activating the Steinmusic system immediately resulted in a warmer overall acoustic and enhanced intelligibility of vocals. There was also considerably greater detail retrieval, with much improved capturing of ambient sounds � I was suddenly hearing the odd chair squeak here, the clicking of woodwind keys there. But I wanted to hear what would happen if I cranked up the Intensity level, so I moved the settings on all four Harmonizers to 3 o'clock. It was immediately clear that the higher setting was too much. The sound had originally been relaxed and engaging. At the higher Intensity setting, that sense of ease and naturalness yielded to an unpleasantly edgy quality to everything. The gorgeous brass tonalities on the new Harmonia Mundi release Sound the Bells now sounded distorted, and the leading-edge transients made me wince. I got similar results with solo piano, and even with soft acoustic guitar. I started backing the Intensity setting down, going progressively to 2, 1, 12 and, finally, 11:30 o'clock on the dial. For my system in my listening room, the 11:30 position offers the best combination of attack and relaxation, and there it has stayed.
The Steinmusic effects restored much of the acoustic warmth and harmonic richness that was lacking in the untreated room. But even more dramatic was the striking increases in the intelligibility of vocals. I have probably listened more than 100 times to Patricia Barber's wonderful Modern Cool, on both SACD and vinyl. One of the things I love about this great artist is her impeccable diction; one can generally understand her lyrics without need for reading the texts � except for moments here and there where her Quintet is wailing and things gets complicated. But I found that the Steinmusic rig made even those more-difficult-to-follow sections much clearer and easier to comprehend fully. I found that increased intelligibility with singers ranging from Bruce Springsteen to Emmylou Harris to Ren�e Fleming to Thomas Hampson, with all those disparate artists suddenly easier to comprehend than ever before, even when the Acoustic ART system had been in use.
This sense of reduced distortion and improved intelligibility was equally evident in instrumental music. On symphonic recordings, inner voices were more easily discerned within the full orchestral texture. On one of my most demanding jazz LPs, Gil Evans' Out of the Cool, I could now hear a startling increase in micro-detail that had previously remained somewhat buried in the mix. These qualities, I think, are the most distinctive characteristic of how the Steinmusic system enhances the total music listening experience.
Having gotten a good fix on what the Steinmusic system was doing to my room, I was now ready to re-activate the Acoustic ART system and see what the combination would do. Would they work together or fight each other? Both systems had independently delivered more beautiful tonality, richer and more complex harmonics, and above all more emotional connection to the music than my untreated room. I restored the resonating bowls of the Acoustic ART system to their locations and started to play the stunning CSO Resound SACD of Ricardo Muti conducting the Verdi Requiem � a complicated mix of large chorus, orchestra and soloists, in a performance I had heard live in Orchestra Hall.
To my utter delight, this magnificent performance was now more compelling than ever. The Synergistic and Stein systems together produced a huge but precisely delineated image-specific soundscape, seeming to develop at once an overwhelming sense of scale in the big dramatic passages and enhanced intimacy in the quieter moments. There was a new and emotionally stirring bloom to the music. Reviewer clich� warning: that first night I could not bring myself to shut down the music and go to bed until after 3 a.m.
In trying to sort out what each room treatment is contributing to this marvelous overall effect, I think the most important contribution of the Steinmusic system is to reduce distortions � even those that may go unrecognized until they are eliminated and thus conspicuous by their absence. Yes, the Steinmusic elements do add warmth and harmonic richness, but it is the accurate rendering of details and ability to eliminate subtle forms of distortion that are their greatest achievement.
What the Acoustic ART adds to that mix is wonderfully enhanced tonal warmth and harmonic complexity � as if my listening room has morphed from sounding like a pretty good concert hall � e.g., Orchestra Hall here in Chicago � to the warmer, richer and more exciting acoustic of, say, Boston's Symphony Hall.
So, how does one choose between these two room treatment concepts? Neither system is inexpensive, nor cost alone will probably limit music lovers to one or the other. I feel fortunate that I have both and that they are so compatible, but what would be my choice if I had to choose between them? It is a very tough call, but with my back to the wall I guess I would opt for the Steinmusic system. The deciding factor for me is that stunning increase in intelligibility of vocal and instrumental detail, coupled as it is to most impressive spatial enhancements. But I'm really glad I can keep both!
What's Happening In Those Harmonizers?
Normally this section would come near the beginning of the review. I have left it until now for different reasons. It deals with concepts in physics that are beyond my ken, and that some readers may find confusing. I think this product is such a remarkable and groundbreaking development that I wanted first to describe its effects before attempting to explain them. And, finally, part of the explanation I can offer is speculation, and has not been verified by the company, which has chosen to keep technical details proprietary.
The PDF Steinmusic manual for the Harmonizers describes their function as "elongating the air molecules" � i.e. "charging" the air in the listening room in a manner that facilitates the transmission of musical energy through the room. It seems to be suggesting that this charging of the air molecules means that when the speaker output enters the listening room space it does not have to overcome the inertia of uncharged/un-elongated air in the room.
I spoke with Holger Stein at the RMAF in Denver last year, and we have had a number of telephone conversations. He also sent me an e-mail in which he described the inspiration for this system as having been motivated by hearing subtle changes in the acoustics of a room in which some pieces of quartz had been placed. Quartz can be cut and shaped, and has highly resonant properties. Although he has not confirmed this theory, I suspect that the Magic Stones and Magic Diamonds are composed of quartz that has been tuned to resonate with the emanations of the Harmonizers. (In that respect they function similarly to the resonating carbon steel bowls used in the Synergistic Acoustic ART system.)
I mentioned near the beginning of this article that I heard about Steinmusic from Jack Bybee, who has been a practicing theoretical physicist for over half a century. At that time Jack confessed that he did not understand just how the Steinmusic system did what it did. But Jack's mind never stops working, and he has discussed this question with other scientists. The consensus of those discussions seems to be that although we are dealing with areas of quantum physics that most of us don't understand, the scientific principle at work is valid. Recently Jack mentioned that one of his friends and science peers (who owns and loves the Steinmusic Harmonizer system) believes that each Harmonizer circuit contains a quartz element whose vibrations are set to predetermined frequencies, and that the resonances that they project into the room are regulated by setting the Intensity knob. Again, Holger Stein has not commented on this theory, but it makes sense intuitively to me. It is clear from all my usage that the Harmonizers are projecting some kind of resonant energy into the room, which excites the passive Magic Stones/Diamonds and makes the room's air more receptive to the energy of the speaker output.
Ultimately, whether these theories are right or wrong is immaterial to me. The audible evidence that the Steinmusic Harmonizer system is a superior room conditioning product is inarguable, and the ability to achieve a glorious-sounding listening room without the need for those big ugly traps and diffusers cinches the deal!
Type: High-end audio tweak
Stein H2a/H2b Harmonizer (each): $1100
Stein 4 Harmonizer Package $3999 (includes two H2a & two H2b plus 10 Magic Stones)
Stein 2 Harmonizer Package $2099 (includes one H2a & one H2b plus 7 Magic Stones)
Stein Magic Stones (each) $50
Stein Magic Diamonds (each) $185
Stein H2a/H2b Metal Stands (each): $150
Stein Music Ltd
Hindbergstr. 103a
45468 Mutheim
Voice: +49 (0)208 32089
E-mail: info@steinmusic.com
Website: www.steinmusic.com
United States Distributor
Fidelis Distribution
E-mail: info@fidelisav.com
Website: www.fidelisav.com
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The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity for the $628 billion equipment finance sector, showed overall new business volume for April was $6.1 billion, up 20... Read Story
Equipment Finance Advisor Delivers First True Mobile App to Industry
Equipment Finance Advisor is pleased to announce the launch of the official mobile app of Equipment Finance Advisor, EquipmentFA.com Mobile – the first true and full-featured mobile application for the equipment finance industry. Designed to provide... Read Story
Equipment Finance Industry Confidence Up Slightly for 4th Consecutive Month
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) releases the April 2012 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) today. Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both... Read Story
Signature Bank Hires Veteran Team Led by Walter Rabin; Focus on Specialty Finance
Signature Bank, a New York-based full-service commercial bank, announced today that it has formed a new subsidiary, Signature Financial, LLC, marking the Bank’s entry into the specialty financing arena. Concurrently, the Bank appointed a major middle... Read Story
Equipment Lease & Finance Industry Confidence Up in March
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) releases the March 2012 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) today. Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both... Read Story
Webster Capital Finance Hires Three VPs to Expand Equipment Finance Unit
Webster Bank, a leading regional bank, today announced the targeted expansion of Webster Capital Finance Inc., with the addition of three well-known veteran lenders in the transportation, construction and manufacturing finance arena. Timothy S.... Read Story
TD Bank Names Braca as Head of U.S. Corporate & Specialty Banking
TD Bank has named Greg Braca as Head of U.S. Corporate and Specialty Banking, reporting to TD Bank President and CEO Bharat Masrani.Braca assumes his new role after serving as Regional President for TD Bank's Metro New York market and Head of... Read Story
CapitalSource Reports Strong Equipment Finance Portfolio Growth
CapitalSource announced financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year 2011. The Company reported net income for the quarter of $9 million, compared to net loss of $81 million in the prior quarter and net income of $6 million in the... Read Story
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The new face of Central
The Srandard 15.10.2009
Wan Chai class
There is going to be a renewed beat in the heart of Hong Kong with plans to change the Central cityscape and waterfront.
Wan Chai may have a minimalist look about the place but the serviced property is filled with such designer nous it won the Hong Kong Interior Design Association's Asia Pacific Interior Design Award as well as Perspective magazine's award for the best hospitality interior.
Accor signs ibis Hotel in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Asia Travel Tips 15.10.2009
Hong Kong apartment sells for whopping $57 million
JEREMIAH MARQUEZ The Associated Press 15.10.2009
Accor has signed its second ibis hotel in Hong Kong, a property which is also the group’s first purpose built ibis hotel in the city.
HONG KONG — It's a price tag that would make even New Yorkers and Londoners gasp — an outsized luxury apartment sold for nearly $57 million in Hong Kong Wednesday amid growing fears of a real estate bubble.
New guidelines for uncompleted residential properties: HK
Top of the pile
Early October, the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong (REDA) issued a new set of guidelines concerning information and sales descriptions in sales brochures as well as advertisements of uncompleted residential properties.
Prices for luxury properties in Hong Kong are now firmly at a sky-high level, a fact confirmed yesterday as a developer slapped a price of more than HK$63,000 per square foot on a premium apartment in Mid-Levels.
Regal is entrusted to manage a 5-star hotel for Bosideng in Shandong
Daisy Melwani 14.10.2009
HotelTravel.com Shakes Up Hotel Rates for Lan Kwai Fong Street Carnival in Hong Kong
Drinks Media Wire 13.10.2009
Regal Hotels International Limited (Regal) and Bosideng Holdings Limited (Bosideng) entered into a hotel management agreement entrusting Regal to manage a five-star luxury property for Bosideng in Dezhou, Shandong Province, China. This management project signifies another major step forward for Regal in the continuing expansion of its hotel network in China.
Hong Kong has a brand new beat. The city is ready to gyrate and shimmy to an electrifying Samba sound early November, when the Lan Kwai Fong Street Carnival kicks up its heels. HotelTravel.com is shaking up hotel rates to helps visitors move to the Latin groove during the three-day extravaganza . . .
Mainland buyers differ on homes but agree on luxury
Hyatt Regency Hong Kong reopens
Trade Arabia 12.10.2009
Cash-rich mainland homebuyers will continue to boost the local high-end real estate market, but experts disagree on what types of units they prefer.
Hyatt Regency Hong Kong which closed its doors on New Year’s Day 2006, has reopened in a new location.
Hong Kong rises for fourth day on city's upbeat property market
Proactive Investors China 09.10.2009
The Upper House, Swire Hotels' First Property in Hong Kong, Opens its Doors
The Hong Kong market rose higher for a fourth consecutive day today after Goldman Sachs reaffirmed a positive look on the city's housing market.
The highly anticipated launch of The Upper House took place in Hong Kong today with an opening ceremony including traditional ribbon cutting and lion dance attended by senior Swire Properties management.
Government welcomes REDA's revised guidelines
Hong Kong's luxury real estate market soars in Sep
ong Kong (HKSAR) - The Transport and Housing Bureau has welcomed the revised guidelines issued today (October 7) by the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong (REDA) on various enhancement measures for the sales brochures and promotional materials of uncompleted first-hand residential properties.
Oct. 7, 2009 (China Knowledge) - Sales of luxury homes in Hong Kong nearly tripled to 1,351 in September from 500 in the previous month, according to figures released on Monday by the Land Registry.
Photoshoots in Hong Kong Heights
Jason Fitzpatrick Lifehacker 07.10.2009
Developers seek more affordable sites
Jessica Cheam The Straits Times 06.10.2009
We love to see your workspaces—when we get a chance to see your whole workplace it's an extra special treat. Today we're peeking into a Hong Kong laundromat remodeled to be a photo studio.
DEVELOPERS are in talks with the Government, seeking an increase in the supply of affordable sites across the island for mass- to mid-market projects.
Swire Hotels Opens The Upper House in Hong Kong
A volatile legacy we must contend with
Julian Galvin The Standard 05.10.2009
Swire Hotels has opened its latest hotel in Hong Kong - The Upper House. The launch follows Swire Hotels’ first property, The Opposite House in Bejing and leads the way in Hong Kong for EAST, a lifestyle business hotel, opening in January 2010.
Hong Kong property prices after 1997 may be summed up in one word: volatile.
IHG to launch Hotel Indigo in Hong Kong in 2012
TBM Staff Travel Biz Monitor 05.10.2009
According to a report in etravelblackboardasia.com, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management contract for its first Hotel Indigo in Hong Kong, marking yet another strategic step forward for one of the world's first lifestyle boutique hotel brand in the Asia Pacific region.
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South African motoring at its best
DB5-inspired David Brown Speedback Revealed
May 26, 2014 April 29, 2019 Miles Downard 0 Comments Aston Martin, David Brown, DB5, Speedback
I’ve recently spent a large amount of time watching Downton Abbey, a British drama series set during the reign of King George V. Incidentally this coincides with the rise of the motor vehicle as a common means of transport for the wealthy.
During an episode in the first season it dawned on me that in the early days, before series production existed, the process of acquiring a new vehicle needed two major decisions; namely ordering a rolling chassis from the vehicle manufacturer, followed by a carriage-like-body from a coachbuilder.
This meant that visually every single vehicle on the road was unique; hand crafted by artists, etched from wood, brass and other metals to the exacting specifications of the commissioner; and finished opulently. Initially, the long-established and refined skills used to build the wooden and metal bodies of vehicles were so specialized that most manufacturers procured contracts with existing coachbuilders to produce bodies for their chassis.
This art form later died (obviously) as production lines and automation took hold of manufacturing processes worldwide.
Well, not completely in fact, thanks to the likes of David Brown Automotive who recently unveiled their unique, handcrafted, British designed and built GT car – known as the David Brown Speedback.
Former Jag/Land Rover Chief Designer Alan Mobberely was responsible for the pen work. Obviously he was an Aston Martin fan; given the unmistakable throw-back to the legendary DB5. That wasn’t his only source of inspiration though, as hints of Maserati and Ferrari shine through as well. Regardless, the Speedback is absolutely marvellous from every angle and stirs memories of some great ‘60s automotive design.
Under the skin the Speedback is basically a Jaguar XKR, so it gets a supercharged, 5.0-litre Jag V8 producing 380kW and 625 torques. That means the DB5-shaped retro-mobile gets from 0-100km/h in a brisk 4.8 seconds and will go on to a shade more than 250km/h. Not only does David Brown’s decision to use a Jag as the Speedback’s underpinnings bring performance to the party, but also reliability and easy maintenance (provided you don’t prang it of course).
It goes without saying that custom automobiles such as this one carry generous price tags; the David Brown Speedback is no exception. While the official number will only be revealed at the Top Marques show in Monaco; David Brown himself is rumoured to have said it’ll be somewhere between £100,000 and £1million. My guess is nearing the latter.
First published in Autodealer KZN
← Lexus ES250
Nissan Almera →
Formula 1 – Autosport.com
Leclerc: Verstappen Silverstone battle "most fun I've had in F1"
Hamilton British GP fastest lap "made data look silly" - Wolff
Alfa Romeo F1 technical boss Resta to leave and rejoin Ferrari
WRC – Autosport.com
M-Sport Ford's Elfyn Evans to miss WRC Rally Finland with back injury
Rally Estonia winner Tanak deliberately chose adverse starting spot
M-Sport's Millener: Estonia "first real test" of new Fiesta R5
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‘I have never heard such rubbish in all my life’: Pensioner has a go at Tony Abbott over age pension changes
Prime Minister Tony Abbott was confronted by an angry pensioner on national television. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Federal budget 2014: full coverageMark Kenny: Trust deficit spells death for a salesman
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey are defending accusations of untrustworthiness, saying their first budget was “fundamentally honest” and drafted in good faith.
But the Prime Minister’s greatest critic on Wednesday morning came from an unexpected quarter and left the Coalition leader momentarily speechless.
During one of a raft of breakfast television appearances, on the Ten network’s Wake Up, Mr Abbott was confronted by an elderly woman, named only as Vilma, who was furious about changes to the age pension and responded to his explanations on broken promises with: ”I have never heard such rubbish in all my life.”
But it emerged later on Wednesday that Vilma is Vilma Ward 85, the president of the Bulimba Senior Citizen’s centre and – according to a media report from 2010 – she served on Kevin Rudd’s election campaign committee in his first run for Federal Parliament in 1998.
‘‘Why don’t you leave the pensioners alone? If we pull the belt any tighter we’re going to choke to death,’’ Mrs Ward said on the TV program. ”Why are you picking on me?
‘‘I challenge you: come out and meet some of the pensioners, they’ll tell you a little thing or two.’’
Appearing distinctly uncomfortable, Mr Abbott told the program’s hosts that he’d been given a piece of Mrs Ward’s mind.
‘‘Fair enough, that’s your right in a democracy, to be able to tell the prime minister exactly what you think of him,’’ he said.
He then suggested to Mrs Ward that it was obvious that she had not voted for the Coalition, to which the indignant Mrs Ward replied ”Excuse me, it’s got nothing to do with who I vote for and who I don’t vote for”.
”Why are you picking on pensioners?” she asked the Prime Minister.
Mr Abbott then said: ‘‘This is a fair budget, everyone is doing his or her bit, including, dare I say, politicians.’’
Mrs Ward laughed and replied: ‘‘You’re a comedian, sir you’re a comedian.’’
Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey repeatedly made a plea for public trust and patience during their respective post-budget media blitzes, each man facing a barrage of questions over broken promises made during the election campiagn.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said the budget delivered a large trust deficit for Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey.
“It’s a bad budget, it breaches a fundamental commitment to the Australian people,” he told ABC Radio.
“This government was elected on web deceit; they lied to get into office. This makes cost of living so much worse for Australian families. It is an attack on pensioners, and worst of all, it is the trashing of Medicare.
“This is a massive $80 billion hit cut to schools and hospitals, these are not areas you are able to cut without taking a massive hit to frontline services.”
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was in lockstep with his shadow treasurer’s assessment of the forward estimates.
“It’s a bad news budget, it breaks promises, it breaks trust and I just wish they had been straight with the families before the election,” he said.
“We oppose specifically, the increase in petrol tax, changes to the pension.
“We are not interested in supporting them gutting Medicare and cuts to education are simply unacceptable.
“Australia doesn’t have the budget crisis to warrant these cuts. We will oppose these measures and we will fight to the end to preserve Medicare.”
On Wednesday morning, Mr Abbott was repeatedly forced to defend the character of his government’s first budget, saying it was ‘‘fundamentally honest’’ and the right thing for the nation.
Conceding many voters would oppose the measures, he stressed the changes were necessary.
”I want to do what’s right for the country, not what’s right for the government,’’ he told the Nine Network.
‘‘We are not going to cook the books, we are not going to make a series of rosy assumptions”, adding that the ”cannot keep using its credit card to pay the nation’s mortgage”.
Mr Hockey mounted a defence of his first budget on Wednesday morning, which includes a $7 charge for GP visits, lower pension rises and hikes in the fuel excise and income tax for people earning over $180,000, and cuts to family benefits, foreign aid and the ABC, saying ‘‘What we’re doing is good policy.”
ACTU president Ged Kearney said she was devastated by the figures in the budget papers, nominating the young unemployed and low paid workers as the biggest victims of the forward estimates.
“This is the end of civil society and the end of the fair go in Australia,” she said.
“Basically, if you are old, if you are sick, if you are looking for a job, if you lose job, if you are young, this government is saying ‘you are on your own’.
Leader of the eponymous Palmer United Party, Clive Palmer tweeted: “This is a heartless and cruel budget that will cause many Australians undue pain and all based on a fairy tale about a debt crisis.”
Greens leader Christine Milne described Mr Abbott as a “warped individual” for his budget priorities.
Geoff Huegill pleads guilty to possessing cocaine
Budget 2014: ‘A kick in the guts’ for NSW, says Premier Mike Baird
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Recalls for ASTON MARTIN
2018 ASTON MARTIN DB11 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2017-2018 DB11 V12 Coupe and DB11 V8 Coupe vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.
2009 ASTON MARTIN DB9 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES
Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2005-2009 DB9, and DBS vehicles. The battery supply cable on these vehicles may become damaged when the driver seat is positioned in the full rearward location.
2016 ASTON MARTIN DB9 - POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)
Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2009-2016 DB9, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2015 Rapide, 2012 Virage, and 2014 Vanquish vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Touchtronic II Automatic Transmission. A communication error between the Engine Control Module (ECM) and the Transmission Control Module (TCM) can cause the transmission park pawl to not engage.
2017 ASTON MARTIN DB11 - TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Aston Martin the Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2017 DB11 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that may be incorrectly calibrated, resulting in the low tire pressure warning tell-tale not illuminating at the required minimum activation pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
2014 ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE - POWER TRAIN
Aston Martin the Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2011-2014 V8 Vantage vehicles equipped with 7-speed Auto-Shift Manual (ASM) "SportShift II" transmissions. A connector for the clutch fluid line may break, resulting in a hydraulic fluid leak.
Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2012 V8 Vantage vehicles equipped with 6-speed Auto-Shift Manual (ASM) transmissions. A connector for the transmission fluid lines may break resulting in a hydraulic fluid leak.
2012 ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: SOFTWARE | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2011-2012 V8 Vantage vehicles. The affected vehicles received updated transmission and engine control software which may conflict with the pre-existing clutch settings causing the transmission to act like it has been shifted to neutral.
2016 ASTON MARTIN RAPIDE - LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 DB9, 2010-2012 DBS, 2010-2016 V8 Vantage, 2012 Virage, 2010-2016 Rapide, 2014-2016 Vanquish, 2011-2016 V12 Vantage, and 2012-2013 V12 Zagato vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with interior door unlocking mechanisms that may not function when the vehicle has been locked from the outside. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
2014 ASTON MARTIN DB9 - SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 DB9, V12 Vantage, V8 Vantage, DBS, and Virage vehicles manufactured July 3, 2006, to November 5, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic control module for the driver and front passenger seat heaters may fail, preventing the seat heaters from being able to be turned off.
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Portal ‹ Board index ‹ ./Main ‹ ./General Spam ‹ FH's History. (2002-2004 / 2007-2012)
FH's History. (2002-2004 / 2007-2012)
My name is Yomuchan, (known as Yomu, YomToxic, that annoying, recurring wannabe RPG villain, Shogun Yomuchan, etc.) And on this day, Tuesday, the Third of July, year 2012AD, 6th Era of the Lord, I will begin writing down all I know of this land's great history.
For the first part of this endeavor, I made the pilgrimage to High Spamgus somewhere in 2011, an isolated palace on the summit of the the Saucemount - the highest mountain in the land, and home to the Once and Future Spam Emperor.
He is millenia old; old before the ages. And he was there when the first era was young.
FH would have survived with or without Lime
like how it lives without Klacid
Like some sort of unholy zombie
FH has always been in a constant cycle of reincarnation
Exactly my point
It dies, it gets remade, it dies, it gets remade
I remember when it was on such a shitty server we coudent have blood in our signatures.
But it was still alive.
Proboards? Think so. It was the first FH I joined.
See, all this beeing said,
I think FH will come back to life under Lime
I think he does an OK job as an admin
Hanzo talks about how FH was dead before
Watched I own time
Someone already had the name Kenshin
Raged
Changed username to Hanzo
Good times begin!
Cept the site was dead when I got there
Thats why I always think FH can come back to life at anytime
The FH I got to first was like an empty shell
You coudent even have blood in your sigs lol,
it was a freeboard with strict moderation
Me: Proboards?
Sort of
But crappier
Yeah, I got there and the two most active members
were AmSidar and Dustin lol
Until I got there. And then Shocksock a week after me.
Then business picked up::P
Me: sO....So.... we need to summon Shocksock.
Naw, you just gotta hold out until the next generation of guys get there
Keep making shit and putting it up on newgrounds
I mean, in order of what I remember, I got there, then Shock, then Newpurple, then PKB, then Someguy...
And all the random less active members inbetween lol
Oh, CBP between PKB and Someguy
Every member grows off the last sort of
Just gotta wait for that one fucker interested enough
I started off on FH by reading the old threads on page 40
Sorry I'm ranting like a mothefucker::P
Back when I was a noob there was nothing fucking cooler than the old members coming back
I figure life is just about holding the fuck out
Seige mentallity FOR THE WIN
Klacid was thinking
Or had envisioned
When he made Forkheads?
Me: Remember those pre-Iown time flashes of his?
Me: I think he needed a place where rookie flash animators could gather, and get constructive criticism from people.
I wish I could remember the proboards better
Haha, a little known fact
I was not the first popular spammer
I can't remember the name of the first guy, except he got perma banned about a month before I arrived
A martyr for the comming revolution!
Ayeee, appreantly he kept doging bans for awhile
Alas, Kodachi and AmSidar eventually did banish him
But not his spirit!
There were also two factions
I can't remember what they were supposed to have been competing over
Becuase when I got there both factions were dead
MATTCOOL
THATS HIS NAME
THATS HIS FUCKING NAME
THE OTHER MOD
WAS MATTCOOL
I've been trying to remember that for months
I'll admit I dont know that one
He was gone before your time amigo
Its weird thinking that SLSO was around before me
If I manage to get my shit together by the way, within the frame of two years
If FH is still alive
I'll probably have enough flash skills to contribute something of worth
End interview. I returned home after that. It was an uneventful journey.
The following is a transcription of the Great Stela of the Fourth Era. It was believed lost during the 2011 Apocalypse, however, after it was found in the ruins of ??? a few days ago, it has been transcribed for easy viewing. I have made every effort to ensure that no words have been changed. There MAY be some typos.
Hanzo, the Epic
This is the story of Hanzo, the one and only Spam Emperor. The man/beast/thing that ravaged Forkheads for 16 months and more.
He started off as a lowly noob, unknown to spam, and unaware of it. He frequented the music board of the original incarnation of FH, said to have been GOD amongst forums, and the beginning to many FH legends. Some say, that FH's greatest members were born there...
And in that board of music, he saw, someone doing something new!!!! This person why repeatedly posting song lyrics!!! WHAT COULD THIS BE?!!! Hanzo said to himself. And soon, he learned that it was spam, and he saw that it was good. So, he took it a step further and SPAMMED FORKHEADS WITH GERMAN SONG LYRICS. Those days everyone hated Hanzo, and Hanzo was banned many a time only to come back stronger each time. Those were the days when Hanzo became the Spam Emperor. Many opposed Hanzo, including Kodachi (FORKHEADS' GREATEST FLAMER/BITCH from olden times). Hanzo and Kodachi had many encounters and fought each other fiercely, and in the end, HANZO PREVAILED!!!!!
Months went by as did many challenges to Hanzo's title and several reincarnations of Forkheads. All challengers were crushed, including an idiot, named Shocksock (FORKHEADS' GREATEST IDIOT, from olden times). There were few who could challenge Hanzo, including Anime Explosion and Someguy. And there were several illegitimate spam gods, named ADP and NBV, whom, no one recognized, for they were cheaters in spam... But woe on all great heroes, for Hanzo got lazy. His spam declined in number, and he took less challenges... FH had lost it's spam emperor during it's third or fourth reincarnation. Some say that he will return, in his full glory, some doubt. But prophets predict that ONE DAY HANZO WILL CRUSH ALL INFIDELS!!! AND RETURN IN A BLAZE OF SPAM AND GLORY!!!!!!
###########################################################
There was a man on the second or third reincarnation of FH (ie third or fourth FH), whose original name is lost to the annals of time. He was an apologetic noob. And a random one at that. He was prone to adding monkeys to posts... It was MADNESS with monkeys running amok... yes those were days of many monkeys, and a "HANZO!!! You killed the MONKEY!!!!"
On his second incarnation of FH, FH's third or fourth reincarnation, History reveals him as Anime Explosion. This man, this man of monkey-ness made a name for himself, by spamming Klacid's inbox, and bothering him repeatedly to add him to the coveted group... the coveted group that was approved for the hentai section... And Klacid did... Many feared this man, and his persistence... some said he had no life, some said he was crazy... but it is confirmed by Hanzo, himself that this man was an admirable spammer.
Anime Explosion had made himself into a spam legend, up there with the great Hanzo, the stupid Shocksock, and the fake Gods ADP and NBV. It is not recorded when, but this legendary spammer, then changed his name... to a name that is feared by many... He became known as CrimsonBloodPhoenix, thus joining the club of three letter names. Other members being, NBV, ADP, and JMJ. And with this new title, came a new fear... a fear of being raped. He stalked and raped swtshiya (FH's FIRST AND GREATEST CATGIRL!!!!!), and made moves toward Amsidar, who fought back. And he did not stop there, no he continued raping, both swtshiya and random noobs... and fh was never the same again... many asses bled and still do.
CBP, went through many name changes, such as Celtic Water Dove, Red Alert, AbstractFusionGuardian, but was always the same CBP, and always returned to being CBP. He went on to do many great and infamous deeds, too many to list... but sadly, as did many great spammers, he was seized by laziness, and to this day, does not spam anymore... but noobies fear, for CBP WILL RAPE JOOO.
Queen of Flames
In the olden days of the original FH a legendary hate was born. From the sea of data that is the internet, came a girl, named Kodachi.
Legends say that she was an ordinary member in those days. She is said to even have been likeable... One can barely imagine, this happy girl who came to FH, which she once described as God, for whatever Godly themes this ancient incarnation of FH had. It is left for olden members to know, and younger members to ponder. She even became one of the ancient GMods, a rare brand of elite user. However, with the coming of Shocksock, and then Hanzo, she was slowly corrupted.
Shocksock (FH's GREATEST IDIOT) alternately stalked Kodachi and Flamed her, and Hanzo (FH's ONE TRUE SPAM EMPEROR) pissed her off with his foreign lyrics spam. It was because of these, and FH's decline, that the poor innocence of this girl was warped into what is now feared as the greatest flaming force in all of FH. It seems that not all members were left unchanged by FH's sudden influx of members who wanted hentai (yes, FH was not always about hentai), Amsidar was also, one such negatively affected member.
Kodachi quickly made herself known as FH's cruelest member. Many feared her flames, and more joined up in the fight to outflame her. But all lost... and Kodachi got worse and worse. As more and more flamers rose up to face her, and more lonely preteens (like shocksock) flooded her inbox with love letters... Kodachi began a reign of terror and mod-abuse... and thusly, she was stripped of her mod powers...
Shortly thereafter, she stopped frequenting FH, stopping in occasionally for the random flame, and sometimes even for a quality post o.O... but all remember the dark days of fear, from her flames and from her enraged banning. Yet some miss those days, of excitement, valor, and danger...
The Ancient GMods:
Few have survived the test of time. Many of the original members of ancient times have left. Among them were NeoBlackViper, Kodachi, Amsidar, Buu_Miw, and JamesMikeJames. But some have stayed, and have thrived. Among them are Allor, ancient GMod of mystery and horsecock, PoolPlayerMaster, SexyLilSeaOtter, and ADP, GMod of Pimpdom. Aye, these are a rare breed of Mods and members. For they are from ancient times, from when Klacid first gave birth to Forkheads. Yet even the mods stray from our beloved land. Few know of when they actually joined, and few remember when they became mods, but all remember their names.
Buu_Miw mistress of evil, and of kinky sex paradises. She was a hacker extraordinare and struck fear and awe into many a member with her kinky tortures and devilish attitude. Those who are unlucky to meet her wrath will get haxed out of their computer. She can now be found in KuroShare, a site that branched off our own, great Forkheads... She was the first ancient mod to leave, after being falsely accused of desecrating Klacid's great spam topic, when the naive Brysam was the true culprit. Both Buu and Brysam were stripped of their powers.
NeoBlackViper, the first false spam god and user of bots, was perhaps the among the first precursors of the great Forkheads depression. For he was the second ancient GMod to leave our great land. He is the co-founder of Kuroshare, of the Kuroshare incident and FH inquisition.
Kodachi, queen of flames. Once a normal member, but became twisted into the evil flaming force she is feared as today. She witnessed her decline at about the same time as the FH Depression. But it is debated as to whether she is a he or a she. Some deem her a robot, or a creature that has hatred for humans, especially of those of the idiot variety... but no one really knows.
Amsidar, mistress angel mod, was the other co-founder of Kuroshare. She was among Forkheads' first gender benders. In the beginning she claimed to be a guy, for her own protection, but later revealed herself to be a girl. Many doubted, including the great Hanzo (FH's GREAT SPAM EMPEROR), whom referred to her as an it. But she soon lived that down and continued being a fair mod of light and order. However, it is rumored that once she was a great spammer, dubbed Spamsidar, but she denies this. And sadly, during the great FH depression, and after FH's fifth great crash she frequented FH less and less. The mods gathered and voted to strip her of her power to pass on to some other worthy member, and in her rage, she left FH for good (returning occasionally to complain and attempt to reform FH), and refocused her efforts on Kuroshare.
PPM is among the oldest of members, one who was first amongst those who came and viewed Klacid's great forkheads during its birth. Little is known of PPM for he does not fool around as much as the other mods. But he is a respectable and ancient member of the ancient GMods.
Allor is another one of the oldest members of the great FH. He is another man of mystery, said to be serious and respectable by some, and said to be random and disturbing by others. He can be found tainting ppl's minds with thoughts of horsecock, and burning out their eyes with images from 4chan. And he is the ONLY MEMBER to not have changed his sig and avatar at all... It is said that he has had had that sig and avatar since the beginning of time and that he keeps it because it reminds him of himself... but one can only guess
ADP's name rings out long and wide in the pimp world. For he is FH's FIRST GREATEST PIMP. Bitch, you'd better have his money, or he will give thee such a slap of pimpness that thou shalt hath relatives that feel it. It is a secret amongst forum regulars as to what his name means, and it will not be reveal here so that noobs will not find out and desecrate his great name.
Legendary Mods
JamesMikeJames, was perhaps the most liked mod. Fair in rulings, just in everyone's eyes. He was perhaps the most popular of ancient mods. But the weight of this world grew heavy on him, and he soon disappeared from our great Forkheads and from our msn lists, responding, perhaps every once in a while, and hour or two after we messaged him >.<. This all happened sometime during the great FH Depression.
SexyLilSeaOtter was said to have been born of Marilyn Monroe and a sea otter. It is widely disputed as to how sexy he REALLY is... and many idiots, such as Shocksock (FH'S GREATEST IDIOT) have tried hitting on him in the hopes that he is a girl. Let it be known that SexyLilSeaOtter is a male seaotter of sexiness. Yes, the ancient times gave birth to many a strange creature, but SexyLilSeaOtter, is among the top.
It is said that 90% of girls on the Internet like to cyber and that the other 10% are real. Swtshiya is an exception. Yet another one of FH's rare female members, she was, of course, bombarded by the flirting of horny little middle schoolers. Of course none of these bother her, because she was an innocent, pure, and kind cat-girl. And, well, she had Amsidar as her guard... But things took a drastic change.
"SWSHIYA I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" rang out into the forum. There was a great battle. For CrimsonBloodRipper was having an anime explosion... of love juices for Swshiya. And he raped her. Of course, Amsidar fought CBR, and swtshiya also, but they failed. This CBR is non other than our beloved and feared CBP (FH's forum rapist). In fact, he raped her many times.
Of course, so pure an innocent a girl cannot come from this kind of experience unscathed. For it was then, that swtshiya, also known as kitty, began to enjoy the Cyber Sex. And thus, a catgirl legend was born. She became goddess amongst FH men, and a symbol of envy to Kodachi(FH's Queen of Flames), who turned into an evil being through her experiences. But swtshiya was always a force for good. Everyone loved her, and she loved everyone.
But with Forkheads' Great Depression, she slowly faded from FH. Though she tries to come back to us, life keeps forcing her away. And thus she is caught in limbo to this day. She neither stays nor leaves, but visits every now and then to say hello to those loved ones, who are still here on FH.
Of Beast and Man
Few have the balls to call themselves a catboy. Even less, a kittyboy. But psychokittyboy wears the label as a badge of honor. Some may call him a furry, some may think him girly. But this catboy is one who spits on humanity and its ilk. Raised by females and cats in the heart of Texas, he burns with a furry, i mean fury against humanity and its stupidity.
There are men and there are boys, and then there's PKB. He is a prime example of the newer beasts that appeared in FH since the olden days. He became a Forkhead during FH's fifth incarnation. Fighting against ignorance and the prejudice that came with being a kittyboy. He sought long and hard to prove himself a man. He clawed and argued his way to a respectable status. During the reign of Kodachi's terror, he became one of those brave and hardy souls who fought and argued against the angered ancient. Many a time the argument was fought to a standstill or interrupted by Shocksock crashing the topic. But in the end, he remained as a veteran of those wars.
After FH was reincarnated for it's fifth time (making it the sixth and current incarnation) pkb kept to the general serious sections, where members sharpened their argumentative skills, and many idiots attempted to make themselves look smart. But one can only do that for so long, so he sought power, and rose up to GMod status.
He is yet to see his decline. And one wonders whether he is a precursor to things to come... Will more cat boys like this appear? one can only wonder.
end of the Great Stela
Personal history accounts.
Lime's Story
Just thought I'd fill in some blanks for the time i spent on Forkheads... I felt like this was a bit lacking.... maybe but who cares...
I came to forkheads around 2005ish. This was when forkheads was still forkheads.tk. I came there after playing Love Hina Sim date looking for cheat codes for the games. I had no idea what I was stumbling into and was caught off gaurd by the shear amount of unrelenting insanity and not giving a fuck that was displayed. I was a lowly internet n3w6 and my name wasn't even lime or demonic lime or lime demon at the time, It was just CaMaster. I had a vash the stampede sig that I stole from google. Forkheads was vibrant and active during this time with many factions teams and groups. Everywhere you looked there was something interestingly insane going on. I remember one of the first posts I bumped into was a post by klacid about a guro doujin about the sexuality of shooting yourself in the face. At this point that was probably the most fucked off thing I had seen on the internet, I was pretty innocent back then (thanks forkheads). I remembered seeing Hanzo, shocksock, pkb, meldecite, swtshiya, cbp, jamesmikejames, jimbo nerson bou, buu_miw someguy, hammm, darkjester, bubba, lil hizzle, amsidar, and phish as some of the most prominent members(these may be out of the timeline a bit, I don't remember). There was also this guy who would always put this weird thing at the end of his posts, can't really remember his name.. Willianatiortrio came around the same time as me and we were both aspiring flash animators / game makers. I fell in love with the forum, the hentai and the randomness, there was so much to do back then. I eventually changed my name to Lime Demon because at the time Lemon Demon was very popular on the internet. Forkheads.tk transitioned into forkheads.biz with new features and plugins which most people enjoyed quite throughout.We had a hentai gallery and downloads section that were updated regularly by the members which was awesome. I remember having a wide variety of items in the shop and having them being a big deal, I remember being about to nuke someone elses post. There were lots of great times with spam and making new ebuddies. I stayed for a while being a general nobody until I became a fairly active member. I put the title "forkheads addict" and the clubs and crews I was in at the time on my sig. I was a part of Catgirl Saviors, Global Domination Group, and WANGAS. One of the great things about FH was "MSNLand"; forkheads continued off of the site in this magical place and mass convos with hanzo ensued daily. These convos were like a blitzkrieg of pure forkheads golden age randomness, I love them no matter how stupid they were. Anyway I stayed for about a year and a half from .tk to .biz and left for quite some time.
When I came back forkheads.biz (Late 2006) was pretty much on its final leg and still fairly active. I got some brief time to check out the drama between Kuroshare / forkheads and the dividing of our members into different factions. It was quite obnoxious and since everyone was going through puberty hardcore including myself I decided to leave the drama behind and FH as well.
Flash-forward to Forkheads Rehab(Mid 2007). Forkheads.biz was officially dead and I came back looking for Forkheads out of curiosity only to find it was still up on a free board. It was moderately active and still had that looming feeling of the golden age still present, thus I stayed. I registered my name and reaquantied myself with everyone again. There was the same old people minus a few. MSN was pretty active and fun still with lots of magic good being thrown around. There were some newer members I enjoyed like 83X (Thanks will for the hook up ). We still had the teams clubs and crews and things were genrally still pretty random and spammy. the old rivarys from the .biz breakup where still remnant and there. Somehow I managed to gain some credibility during this time with the old members and was ordained into modhood. Continuing on near the end of Forkheads Rehab. the forum was active enough for it to count for something at least at this point as far as I can remember compared to the .biz days, mostly only oldfags remained. PPM Hanzo and CBP were the main admins if I remember correctly. There was drama Over PPMs girlfreind that went on during this time which caused a lot of butthurt and a lot of lulz (it continued for quite some time). I ended up becoming a recognized member. During this time me and Yomtoxic started becoming good friends and sharing deep and intimate convos about our love for men(we were both extremely bi-curious at this point in our lives). I can't remember at what point this happened but Hanzo decided to de-admin CBP and PPM and admin volorious who admined Will (will didn't like me at this time for some reason). I played both sides lying to hanzo while trying to bring CBP back into power from the admin panels. This didn't work and I was caught being stripped of my powers. Will changed up peoples accounts while Volorious destroyed the forums and userbase. Hanzo pretty much sat back and watched It burn (honestly it was time for a rebirth).
You Keep Asking, So I'm Just Going To Make An Announcement. If This Doesn't Work, I Might Have To Move It To the Portal. If That Doesn't Work, I Might Have To Type It Out In the Header. If That Doesn't Work, I'll Dedicate An Entire Forum With the Topic As the Title At the Top Of the Board. If That Doesn't Work, I'll Mass Email You All Again. If That Doesn't Work, FUCK YOU.
An Administrator (Not Mentioning Any Names.... ) Admined Volorios(AKA Psychopsymon; Please Hate On Him If You Wish) Out Of Boredom And Laziness, Who Then Admined Another Member, And They Proceeded To Fuck Up the Site. They Deleted Accounts, De-Admined/De-Modded Everyone Who Wasn't Them, Got Rid Of All 0-Post Members, Deleted Then Re-Made A New Set Of Rules, Edited Profiles, Deleted Ranks/Pictures, Finally Trying To Make the Site Their Own And Nazi-Ing Everybody Until We Finally Decided To Send In A Letter Of Complaint Out Of Utter Disgust To the Host Who In Turn Removed the Site Altogether.
Enter Forkheads Reloaded. NEOBLACKVIPER (CBP) Reopened and served as a place for Forkheads to reform its senses. It was a place for the oldfags to get closer together try to regain their essence. I spammed the hell out of that forum and was the top spammer for a while until Hanzo came along again. During this time there was a deep talk about the end times, and trying to revive the forums. Me and yom started working on a Forkheads RPG.
Enter Forkheads.info
During this time I was studying websites, hosting, and web applications and testing out various incarnations of what would come to be forkheads.net(which was taken at the time). PPM was the only person who worked with me in the beginning on these proto-sites and there were all experiments until I found the right web application. I found this thing called PHPBBfm would IMO was the best web app Forkheads has ever used. I setup the app on forkhead.info and redid the colors and logo to look like the original fh, I even did our homepage like the original forkheads homepage with a bunch of questions. Around this time Yomtoxic went missing (maybe some time before). I invited some prominent oldfags and modded them and sent ourselves to work at this time. When of the things that was weird about this incarnation is that it didn't have general spam, I replaced the word spam with random to promote general randomness with less spamming. It was a stupid idea but I made a lot of mistakes in that time. Everyone seemed quite happy with that incarnation and everything was going swell until we started getting errors that we couldn't deal with. Around Late 2008 and decided to upgrade the forum to phpbb3. Sadly this incarnation was short lived and its end spelled the departure of CBP.
Enter Forkeads.net
the time laspe between the falling of forkheads.info and forkheads.net devastated what little userbase we had. I wasn't good at databases back then so I wasn't able to salvage much of anything from the old forum and my users posts were deleted.
I did my best at the moment sacrificing money and time... lots of time actually. Fortunately I was able to make it work and slowly members came back and started posting again. There were some disagreements about people I modded and the site layout I chose which annoyed me due to the fact that in my eyes they were teh right choices. In hindsight I probably should have just listened to the users but it wasn't as big of a deal as everyone made it out to be; it comes with the territory of being an admin, all complaints come to you. Good things came as me and some of the members worked on a new sex kitten game, Sex Kitten Daycare. I have to give thanks to BlackAmethyst for being one of the few people willing ot help me on it. It did fairly well on newgrounds and gained us so much needed attention(due to the fact a new forkheads game hadn't came out in years). A rivalry came about when an independent artist on newgrounds who was using the sex kitten name started bashing our games which lead to some shit slinging. Eventually she came around and decided to help us on our new project, Negima Sim Date. Unfortunately Negima Sim Date never happened and we didn't get out a new game for a while until Yomtoxic returned. After Yomtoxic returned we completed the FHRPG and released it for download and betatesting. After that my time as an admin pretty much went baseline. I did various updates that annoyed people then fixed them. Met some really cute girlies who showed me their goodies (Thanks FLCL World). Sometea sipping faggot named "Haz" decided it would be cool to delete all the members and posts. (good thing we make backups, bad thing the backups were a month old) Pretty much all I did after that was general updates and random postings.
Enter OSHIT IM BROKE
So as I'm working my ass off on multiple sites, my boss i'm working for holds out on me and decided that paying me is gay. I am at this point almost broke with only 14 dollars in my bank account. So because of this I did what any rational person would do, go batshit insane and start scaring people about our site being closed down. I said some things I shouldn't have and hacked the site a couple of times (lol). For a month we gave over the site to Dietcoke who payed the bills. He was kind of a tool and acted like a general dbag wtih powers but oh well. After this Forkheads was up in the air I against my wallets wishes I paid for Forkheads one more time. After this I realized that forkheads was not where my heart was anymore and decided to give it over to Yomtoxic, my great old pal.
Since then I have stayed to help, update and do other random things nobody gives a fuck about.
And that's good old limes story.
Desmond's story
Desmond wrote:
Was here since 2004... When Klacid was still quite active. I remember Dariuss (that dragon sig), Dustin(whitepower lol), Allor(horsecocks and Genjo Sanzo), hizzle (fat-ass mofo), and some other oldies like someguy and PPM. Came here just to get cheats for the simdate, but got hooked becuase of the spamming and random bashing of newbies. Supplied a lot of h-pics back then in the h-board, spammed like hell, and got appointed as a GMod before the downfall of the second FH. I remember the site having a guest forum where everyone can post, and JMJ would post random starwars gif. Also, I was spamming to get that orb that costs $2000000, and one post costs $15, while a new topic costs $30 (haha I remember the price). My cash was almost $1.6m when Klacid suddenly decided to give the orb to CBP (if I'm not mistaken), and that actually marked the end of my spamming days haha.
Will be posting more once I remember more stuff, I'm at work right now, U-Verse is a bitch.
SLSO speeks!
SexyLilSeaOtter wrote:
not sure what year i came in and i dont remember much other than allor dustin amsidar and that guy with the apple logo in his sig. i made firends with some guy who didnt stick around for long he was a table bus boy at a resteraunt if memory serves. but aside from that when i first joined i remember the orange background was there for a few months then it turned blue after a site shut down and everything was fresh start i then took that opprotunity to get into a top poster fight with amsidar, of which i won for a while but alas she took over after we could no longer F5 F5 F5 F5 spam. Amsidar though. . . . man buu miw showed me something she saw on amsidars webcam, my life was never the same. i was one scard for life 15 year old. and speaking of buu miw after she got torch and pitchforked out of FH i kept in contact with for a little while and last i remember talking to her she was getting married somewhere in florida.
Black SeiKain (aka Zweihart aka Hell Raven aka Kain aka aka aka - WARNING: MEMORY STACK OVERFLOW
Zwei wrote:
Yeah it was one of those big admin cold wars for control and shit. With people hiding back-up accounts with admin access
and planning shit in case shit went down.
Some say that this legendary shape-shifter is male. Others say she's a girl doing an Amsidar and hiding her true gender. Others say other things. But I'm writing this so I dont give an fucks. In fact, I usually shrug and say "Sure, let's go with that".
Zwei has been around and seen many things. In fact, she's been here ever since the early .tk days; slowly but surely rising through the ranks until today, she serves as the co-pilot of the FH Administrative Section. Basically, if I somehow kick the bucket, and fail to respawn in a month, she and AFH gets the operations data (via dead man's hand) that will allow them to literally take over my online identity.
Also known as the Steel Dragon, Zwei is a brilliant military tactician who has foiled a coup d'etat by 4Kids corporation earlier this year, and specializes in being sneaky. She also enjoys classy hentai, quality OC and shenanigans.
With FH's history and historical figures now set in stone once more, I now move to the third and last part of this book; my attempt to chronicle FH's previous eras, from the ending of Civil War Era to the beginning of the most recent era,
The Civil War Era (circa Fourth Era)(2006-2007).
What started as a disagreement over simple site content and rules rapidly escalated into a massive war that has torn FH asunder. Ancient records and stelae show that the original disagreement was over the the permission of certain content that the current admins believed was banned under US law. In the end, some members decided to split from the site and create a new community to 'take back what belonged to them'.
In that time, the incumbent leaders of FH had grown complacent, confident that their empire would not fall. Those were dark times - but not darker than what was waiting to come. There was no Original Content, and the community was becoming stagnated. The sudden genocide on the loli was the last straw.
I joined the breakaway faction in the hopes of rescuing the surviving lolis. I was branded a traitor, but as they had no actual evidence of their claim, I was allowed to live in FH as well as Kuroshare. Kuroshare was a nice place. Quiet, and a sprinkling of OC everywhere. But then, financial difficulties hit me. I dropped out of the internet for almost a year. And when I came back at long last, something terrible had happened. Kuroshare was gone - not a single trace left of their websites. Using my technological knowhow- I quickly created devices that could peer past the mists of time... and only found slivers and fragments.
All I know is that they were attempting to replicate the old works, enhance and produce OC and continue the Sex Kitten Sim Date series when, without a trace, they vanished. All of them. My last known contact with one of the Kuroshare was a random blip on MSN... somewhere in 2011, with Kuro Sakura.
I still visit the ruins of their sites, just to look, and remind myself of the price of failure.
The civil war, was won by FH. But not without it's losses. With half the mods and admins gone, there was a power vacuum.
There began, the Sunset. (2008-2010)
That's The Mess Of It. So Now We're Back Here. Don't Get On My Case For Anything Because I'm Done Ranting.
The power vacuum was more devastating than the civil war. The Dark years, were an ominous preview of things yet to come.
But then, Lime, came to the rescue, averting Apocalypse for a few precious years. He helped create forkheads.net. It lasted for a while, until Apocalypse.
Some say that Apocalypse truly began when the site's layout changed to something seriously cluttered. Others says that Apocalypse was ordained by Klacid, whom we had forsaken in hubris. I do not know.
But on a quiet, breezy afternoon, it began.
Apocalypse (August 2011 to January 2012)
I cannot bear to write just how and why the causes of this terrible disaster came to be, for the scars still burn in my soul. Friends fought and they bled and they died. It was then, I knew. It was the end of an era. Things would never be the same.
The escalation came to a head between disagreements, hosting payment and petty rivalry and all of this driven by people being broke. Despite Lime's best efforts to avert disaster, on the 17th of December, 2011, the domain expired. No words could describe the terror and despair I felt that day. Everything I cherished, gone - all the posts, gone. Everything, gone. Nothing, but 'domain expired', The words hanging there, burning, like a death sentence.
Sometimes, I still have nightmares of it.
So, after an initial moment of sorrow, I set out to right this great horror. And on January 1, 2012, I somehow scraped together the funds I needed, and saved this site from oblivion's jaws.
Apocalypse was averted once more. A new era had begun.
I'm gonna do my best.
Y/
10:33 AM 18-May-2014
We've been around for a long time, haven't we? Let's take a headcount of how many places we've all been to.
AusISP FH, Forkheads.tk, forkheads.biz, forkheadsforumarena, forkheadsreloaded, forkheads1942, insanitylairbbs, forkheads.fr-bb.com, tdforums.iowoi.org, gtfomyinternets.forumotion.com, fh4ever, and finally forkheads.net. 12 incarnations since 2003. We must be one hell of a tough bunch.
shiya637
Group: Catgirl Saviours Club
Re: FH's History. (2002-2004 / 2007-2012)
kitty really happy to take part of it >^-^<
sry i could not say as to what happened between 2004-2007 since i was not a part of it until end of 2007
correction 2006. i may have been a member sooner than that but only for the cheat codes. i didn't really join in conversations til later. sometime before turning either 20 or 21. been so long that i can't remember how far back that was
lol so that would be 2006...it really is too bad that my old laptop that i had used at that time broke down on me along with all that went on during that time...i can remember some of the stuff
1. meldecite - sweet young girl. everyone adored her as much as they adored buu miw and me. even crimson wanted a piece of her. but as being the ultimate catgirl i won her heart. she even confessed to me her real name through PM. it was like a sacred love between two catgirls. i very much took her under my wing, not letting anyone take her with perhaps the exception of hizzle. but in due time mel had also disappeared from the site. but i was able to keep in touch with her through facebook. she's alive and well going through school and happy with her long time boyfriend. as her previous mistress i do miss having her around but i'm happy for her.
2. lil hizzle - he was well known as being the pimp of the site and in irl. he was also the main creator of the infamous "Savious Catgirl Mansion/Club". many nights we held parties, bringing such vivacious life into the mansion that would sooner or later only become of the past. PKB often left dead bodies in the fridge during those parties which took time to be put in the basement for his pleasure. as catgirl i entertained the men serving drinks and dancing. the parties were well known to last for many hours every night until we exhausted ourselves. his popularity was as high as crimson's, mainly with all the females of course. when crimson was not on, he took the chance to be with the girls.
3. buu miw - she showed up around the same time as i did. like me, she also was preyed upon by the guys. amsidar saved her at the same time as she did for me. but sadly it would not work. she too was raped. but later crimson had his eyes mainly set on me and left buu miw alone. she also went under my wing during the times amsidar could not take on the protective role. before fading into the background she had made a picture drawing collaboration of all the members for my birthday. during this time, the week prior to my birthday i had been in the hospital which i mentioned to everyone. it was a gift i would never forget and truly thankful for.
4. will - he was as young as meldecite. a true sweetheart. he often helped out with the site and quite the joker. he knew how to make me laugh and smile especially during my down days. both him and lime often worked together to do their best when things were taking a toll on the site. he too vanished in due course. as of the present his situation is very much like mel's --- in school and happy with a wonderful girlfriend.
5. neko takkun - ah one of the other catboys besides PKB. he wasn't on the site as much though. he and i paraded throughout the site like two cats in love, ignoring the rest of the world. i was his during those moments. he was younger than me but age doesn't matter as much nowadays. he worked for an anime company while living in L.A.. eventually his work would be the one thing that took him away from me. i have only heard from him once since then. he did come back for me but soon to leave again. that would be the last time to ever hear from him.
hmmm i'll try to think more on this.
oops about the picture drawing collaboration - that was actually bou (sry girl i seem to mix the two even up until now) =P
6. JP - lol another guy younger than me and worshipped me on the site as much as the others did. he sure left his mark on the site. he did just about everything as everyone else did doing whatever it took to survive in the world of FH. the boy certainly tried to steal me from the others but unsuccessfully able to. once that era was over was when he also disappeared and sadly soon to be forgotten by many (except me of course).
hey yomi...do u have a copy of that picture bou made? can i have it if u do?? pls~!!! i would like to put it in my memoir
Initializing hyperscan device. Stand by.
Ignition! Initiate nuclear fusion sequence!
Fusion ready! Search data - image90_bou!
Match found!
Verify?
omg~!!! ur awesome~!!!! thanks~!!! *hugs n kisses*
Orange Juice Jones
-766,907.90
Location: The stars at night are big and bright
Group: ORANGE?!?
I rise from the rubble of the old generation to take my thrown
I don the tribal pant and scream into the sky
The new generation is rising and I am its opening act
Still I wish I could have joined the site sooner but around the 2007 to 2011 era I was in minitokyo causing hell with my merry band of fellows and it required my full attention
The Flesh of Fallen Angels! Come to me all! Asteroth,
Beelzebub, Asmodeus, Bapholada, Lucifer, Loki, Satan,
Cthulhu, Lilith, Della! Blood, to you all!
I'm the wolf, yeah!
I am the wolf! It's close, it's coming. You have come.
The witness to the end, of time. It's now! I will rise to
her side! I don't need the words!
I'm beyond the words!
truly back then was FH's greatest times ever~!!!!
but once everyone moves on this site will become a mere skeleton of what was once was
I have seen it happen before it is not a fun thing
especially if you are one of the only old ones left
mhm indeed. im doing my best to stick around until it really is completely over
Good for you keep the dream alive girl !
History Repeats Itself!
Author: Hammm
I've been on this godamn website since 2004
Author: 「H A N Z O」
Tat-taraaa, batarataaa! News time, once again! (5-May-2012)
Forum: ./Announcements
Author: YomToxic
27th of October, 2012!
29 September 2012? News time. >:3
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PHOENIX (FOX 10) - Employees at a Dollar Store say there's no air conditioning in the store. And it's getting dangerously hot.
VIDEO: FOX 10's Nicole Garcia reports with more information.
PHOENIX (FOX 10) — Phoenix Police are investigating a homicide at a gas station near 24th Street and Baseline.
Officers responded to a shooting call around 1:30 a.m. at a gas station after the shooter called to report he was the victim of an attempted armed robbery.
Police say a 19-year-old man was sitting in his vehicle at the gas pump with the driver door open when a woman came up to him. He then noticed a man coming from behind his vehicle who approached him with a knife and demanded his car. The man then took out his handgun and fired shots at the suspect.
First African-American person to attend all-white medical school in the South dies in Houston
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Social Circle soldier's surprise homecoming
Decatur housing authority opens revamped Oakview Walk Apartments
Clarkston Mayor enters 2020 Senate race
Teen who fired pellet gun at DeKalb County school convicted
Man found dead at Lithonia gas station identified
Community Helps Kids after Parents Die in Crash
By Trevor Shirley
Posted Dec 10 2015 10:20PM EST
Video Posted Dec 10 2015 11:36PM EST
Updated Dec 11 2015 08:31PM EST
ELLIJAY, Ga. - It is hard to imagine the loss three boys have have come to know at such young ages. CJ, 8, Bryson, 7, and Luke, 5, lost their parents, Ashley and Joshua Hatchett, after they were killed in a car accident Wednesday morning in Ellijay.
"They're sad, you can see the sadness in their eyes,” said Tammy Sexton, who is the aunt of the boys' mother Ashley.
Ashley and her husband Joshua, known as Joe to his family, both died when their car hit a tree along Highway 832.
"She was the life of anything, any family function we had going on, she was always laughing and cutting up,” said Sexton. “And of course, the boys, their personalities carry into that too."
Authorities are not sure what caused the Hatchett's car to run off the road. However, their family's focus isn't on what happened during the crash, but instead on the three lives left for them to care for.
"You've got three boys without parents that we've got to take care of,” said Sexton. “They have a future."
In just a matter of hours, the GoFundMe.com page Sexton started has already raised more than $4,000 - money the family will use to cover funeral costs and begin a fund to help the boys.
"With all the stuff that's going on in this world, it's heartwarming to know people really are out there trying to help," said Sexton.
If you'd like more information on how to help the boys, visit their GoFundMe page here: https://www.gofundme.com/dse6sc5v also https://www.gofundme.com/j3e9y998
Senator Johnny Isakson was taken to a Washington, D.C. hospital on Tuesday after suffering a fall.
A statement from the office of the 74-year-old senator sent to FOX 5 Atlanta Wednesday evening reads:
“ Senator Isakson was admitted to George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night after falling in his apartment and suffering four fractured ribs. He is in pain, but resting and doing well. Senator Isakson looks forward to fully recovering and getting back to work for Georgians. ”
Police: Drunk driver involved in deadly crash previously arrest for DUI
By Portia Bruner, Kaitlyn Pratt, FOX 5 News
Police said a drunk driver has been taken into custody after a bicyclist was struck and killed in Sandy Springs Wednesday morning.
Antoinette Battle, 34, was charged by the Sandy Springs Police Department with vehicular homicide and DUI.
Investigators said she struck 29-year-old Marten Bijvank on his bike as he rode to work, then crashed on Roswell Road near Trowbridge Road around 5 a.m.
Brewers hang on for 5-4 win over Braves
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System for body impedance data acquisition
The unique system of the present invention provides an accurate valid measaurement of human body composition consisting of fat tissue, lean tissue and body water. The inventive methodology provides a procedure for quantitative measurement of the conductive potential of the body, which is based on the lean tissue content of the body, in a convenient and reliable manner. In more detail, the quantitative measurement in accordance with the present invention is referred to as a "bio-impedance signal." This electrical signal, in ohms, is derived from a means for measuring body impedance component of the system. The resultant signal (three digit number, between 1 and 1000 ohms) is then entered into a modifying means component to accurately predict the body composition of the tested individual. The unique modifying means, in one embodied form, comprises prediction formulas derived from biological data inputs including: a patient's height, weight, age and sex, to determine a "population prediction variable." Thus, the unique modifying means of the inventive system interprets bio-impedance readings as "population specific", i.e., specific impedance values are exhibited by various pre-defined populations of individuals. This specificity is related to morph-type, leanness, body water and age. In accordance with the present invention, an algorithm formula approach to prediction formulas is utilized to define an appropriate individual or set of variables.
Libke, Al (Los Angeles, CA)
Wooten, Richard G. (Tigard, OR)
Bio Analogics, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA)
A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/053; (IPC1-7): A61B5/05
128/734, 128/774, 128/639, 364/413.02, 364/413.1, 324/65R
4459995 Indicating device for use in a device for measuring and indicating changes in resistance of a living body 1984-07-17 Conners et al. 128/734
4154114 Biometric measuring device 1979-05-15 Katz et al. 364/413.02
4033336 System for sensing and recording medical information 1977-07-05 Murawski et al. 128/774
3871359 IMPEDANCE MEASURING SYSTEM 1975-03-18 Pacela 128/734
3452743 BODY IMPEDANCE BRIDGE 1969-07-01 Rieke 128/734
DE2753167A1 1979-05-31 128/734
Hindenburg, Max
Assistant Examiner:
Getzow, Scott
Frisenda Jr., Frank
1. A system for acquisition of body impedance data quantitative measurement of the conductive potential of the body, the system comprising in combination:
(a) a plurality of electrode sensors for mounting to a patient's body to be analyzed at prescribed locations forming a tetrapolar system;
(b) mounting means for removably attaching said electrode sensors to a Kelvin Bridge bio-impedance meter system having four terminal leads;
(c) means for generating a current flow through said electrode sensors at a frequency of from about 40 Kilohertz to about 60 Kilohertz, thereby producing an output range of from about 0 to 1,000 ohms;
(d) means for accepting input variables comprised of biological patient data including, height, weight, age and sex and bio-impedance signals derived from step (c) to determine a population specific variable and to produce a correspondence electrical signal;
(e) means for manipulating electrical signals derived from said means for generating a current flow and said means for accepting input variables to produce a resultant output signal; p1 (f) indicator means for displaying said resultant output signal to provide quantitative measurement of conductive potential of said patient's body based on lean tissue content of said patient; and
(g) means for comparing said resultant output signal with a control signal to produce an output representative of fat tissue, lean tissue and body water.
2. The system for body impedance data acquisition as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said electrode sensors is mounted on the dorsal aspect of the patient's right hand.
3. The system for body impedance data acquisition as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said electrode sensors is mounted at the distal end of the second metacarpal of the patient's right hand.
4. The system for body impedance data acquisition as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said electrode sensors is mounted in between the medial and the lateral malleoli of the patient's right foot.
5. The system for body impedance data acquisition as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said electrode sensors is mounted at the distal portion of the first metatarsal of the patient's right foot.
6. The system for body impedance data acquisition as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for generating a current flow operates at a frequency of about 50 kilohertz.
7. The system for body impedance data acquisition as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a power supply for the system.
This invention relates to a system for conveniently and accurately measuring and quantitating the conductive potential of a human body which is based on a determination of lean tissue content.
Obesity has truly been declared, as of 1985 by the National Institute of Health, a stand-alone risk factor. In fact, obesity has been declared as a disease unto itself. It is now a new medical standard that obesity needs to be diagnosed and treated by a physician for the health and well-being of the general public.
A true definition of "obesity" has been difficult to define, in that such definition is dependent upon a percent body fat determination.
Historically, "percent body fat" has been determined in research laboratories by dunking people in a hydrostatic tank to perform a hydrostatic critereon method for quantification of body fat.
Hydrodensitometry (water tank immersion) has been generally considered to be the traditional standard for body composition analysis. Despite the biological and experimental errors inherent in hydrodensitometry (Lohman, T. G., Skinfolds and Body Density and Their Relation to Body Fatness: A Review, Human Biology, 53: 181-225), all other methods of analysis must be compared to it if they are to be validated.
Another known method for body fat analysis is skinfold anthropometry (calipers). However, many skilled health care practitioners have questioned this methodology for body composition analysis in that reliability is doubtful. In the hands of trained technicians, anthropometry can give errors of plus or minus nine percent (9%) when compared to densitometry (Katch, F. I., Katch, V. L. (1980), Measurement and Prediction Errors in Body Composition Assessment and the Search for the Perfect Equation. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Support, Vol. 51, No. 1, 249-260). In general clinical use in the hands of a variety of trained examiners with less than expert skill, the error in the caliper technique is presumably even greater.
Recently, body composition analyzers have been introduced that utilize a relatively new technology known as tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance.
Most importantly, through tetrapolar bio-electrical technology, the test/retest reliability has been reported as 0.5% (Lukaski, H. C., Johnson, P. E., Bolonchuck, W. W., and Lykken, G. I., Assessment of Fat-Free Mass Using Bio-Electrical Impedance Measurements of the Human Body) compared to a test/retest reliability of 3.8% for hydrodensitometry.
In this respect, the human body is composed basically of two components--one is lean body mass, which is composed of muscle tissue, connective tissue and bones; and the other major component is body fat. Bio-electrical impedance technology quantifies the true ratio of these components--the difference between lean body mass, which is the healthy metabolising part, and the body fat, which is the storage of energy in your body. Lean body mass has about 75% water; in contrast, fat is about 3% to 13% water. Accordingly, bio-electrical impedance technology measures the "healthy" part of the body, which is the lean body mass.
While known tetrapolar bio-electrical technology is considered by many to be an advance from hydrodensitometry, both from a reliability standpoint and convenience standpoint, known systems have produced inaccurate body composition analysis in that such known systems are dependent upon a linear regression equation approach. Moreover, much of the data derived from known bio-electrical impedance techniques fails to consider biological data of specific patient groups which may deleteriously affect the accuracy of the body composition analysis.
Accordingly, those skilled in the art have recognized a significant need for an accurate, valid measurement approach of human body composition. The present invention provides a procedure for quantitative measurement of the conductive potential of the body in a convenient and reliable manner and then provides the means for modifying that body impedance measurement with algorithm formula equations that generate scientifically validated predictions of human body composition analysis. The present invention fulfills these needs.
The unique system of the present invention provides an accurate valid measurement of human body composition consisting of fat tissue, lean tissue and body water. The inventive methodology provides a procedure for quantitative measurement of the conductive potential of the body, which is based on the lean tissue content of the body, in a convenient and reliable manner.
In more detail, the quantitative measurement in accordance with the present invention is referred to as a "bio-impedance signal." This electrical signal, in ohms, is derived from a means for measuring body impedance component of the system. The resultant signal (three digit number, between 1 and 1000 ohms) is then entered into a modifying means component to accurately predict the body composition of the tested individual.
The unique modifying means, in one embodied form, comprises prediction formulas derived from biological data inputs including: a patient's height, weight, age and sex, to determine a "population prediction variable derived from the impedance signal modified by a prescribed correlation factor of body density described herein."
Thus, the unique modifying means of the inventive system interprets bio-impedance readings as "population specific", i.e., specific impedance values are exhibited by various pre-defined populations of individuals. This specificity is related to morph-type, leanness, body water and age. In accordance with the present invention, an algorithm formula approach to prediction formulas is utilized to define an appropriate individual into a set of population specific variables.
Initially, the bio-impedance signal is imputed into the modifying means along with biological data. Thereafter, algorithm formulas modify the inputted signals by the appropriate correction factor. The correction factor is generally non-linear and derived from comparison with known hydrostatically derived values to produce an output which may then be conveniently displayed by indicator means so that body composition can be predicted.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides an accurate and convenient system for quantifying body fat as a percentage of weight which is an important health management tool for patient and physician alike. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following, more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of first and second prescribed locations for locating electrode sensors in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of second and third prescribed locations for locating electrode sensors in accordance with one embodiment of present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram depicting one embodied form of the inventive system for body impedance data acquisition in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a test signal generator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a power supply for the inventive system in accordance with one embodied form of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a sensor circuit in accordance with one embodied form of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an electrical circuit diagram of a pin-out diagram of a body impedance meter in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic in more detail of a body impedance meter in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a suitable computer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a chart of tests/re-test data comparison in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a chart of inter-meter comparisons in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a graph which reflects the total sample referred to in Example I in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a graph which reflects the female component of the total sample referred to in Example I in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a data list statement and data list table for the graph referred to in the ILLUSTRATIVE Examples in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 15 is a graph which reflects the male component of the sample referred to in Example in accordance with the present invention.
As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is embodied in a unique system for acquisition of body impedance date, which comprises in combination:
(a) a plurality of electrode sensors for mounting to prescribed locations of a patient's body to be analyzed;
(c) means for generating a current flow through said electrode sensors at a frequency of from about 40 Kilohertz to about 60 Kilohertz, thereby producing an output range of 0 to 1,000 ohms;
(d) means for generating input variables comprised of biological patient data including, height, weight, age, and sex and bio-impedance signal to determine a population specific variable;
(e) means for manipulating said electrical signals derived from said means for generating a body impedance signal with said population prediction variable;
(f) indicator means for displaying said resultant output signal to provide quantitative measurement of conductive potential of said patient's body based on lean tissue content of said patient; and
(g) means for comparing said resultant signal with known scatter grams to produce an output signal representative of fat tissue, lean tissue and body water.
In accordance with the present invention, an electrical Kelvin Bridge is created by a plurality of electrodes which are removably attached to specific body areas. In more detail, prior to sensor placement, each body location is palpated and preferably cleaned with an alcohol swab to remove skin or surface oils. Thereafter, each electrode sensor is placed on a patient's body. Preferably, a conductive gel is utilized to temporarily hold the sensor in place.
ELECTRODE SENSOR LOCATIONS
(1) The first prescribed location 10 is the back side of the patient's right hand. ("Dorsal Aspect." ) Locate the "Styloid Process." (The `bump` near the back of the wrist.) Palpate approximately 0.5 to 1 inch directly across from the "Styloid Process." (Note the slight `depression` between the "Radius" and "Ulna." ) The First Sensor is placed across from the "Styloid Process" in the middle of the wrist. (The Sensor center should be directly over the slight `depression` described above.) Note: Placing the electrodes so they `point` away from the body is recommended. (See FIG. 1)
(2) The second prescribed location 12 is behind the knuckle (joint) of the index finger of the right hand. ("Distal end of the second metacarpal." ) Palpate this area. Place the Second Sensor directly on the hand behind, but not touching, the right index finger. (See FIG. 1)
(3) The third prescribed location 14 is the patient's ankle at the front of the right foot. (In between the "Medial" and "Lateral Malleoli"--the `bumps` on the inside and outside of the ankle.) Note the slight `depression` in this area where the ankle meets the top of the foot. Palpate here. Place the Third Sensor so that its center directly covers the slight `depression` described above. (See FIG. 2)
(4) The fourth prescribed location 16 is the top of the right foot behind the joint of the great toe. (The "Distal" portion of the first "metatarsal." ) Palpate this area. Place the Fourth Sensor on the top of the right foot, behind, but not touching the great toe. (See FIG. 2)
The power supply for the inventive system is preferably provided by a single nine (9) volt alkaline battery (See FIGS. 3 and 5). The circuit pathways are designed for safety and efficiency. A momentary on and off power switch is used to conserve battery life. The bio-impedance meter test life expectancy is 500 tests.
The design of the power supply circuit allows a test signal and a sensor circuit to operate within given parameters without being dependent upon a specific battery change level. Diode protection is preferably provided both at the power source and at the power input section of the printed circuit board to insure against reverse current flow.
To maintain an optimal functioning range, the system generates a 5 volt charge to power the sensor and digital functions.
To provide a reliable and viable power source, a low battery (LED) is displayed when the current power source (9 volt battery) drops below 6.2 volts.
The power drain of the LED will consume the remaining voltage within 30 seconds. Note: The average commercial grade 9 volt alkaline battery is charged at 9.2 volts.
MEANS FOR GENERATING BODY IMPEDANCE SIGNAL
Preferably one 9-volt battery operates the means for generating body impedance signal. The technology utilizes a Kelvin Bridge system with 4 terminal leads. The Sensors previously described attaches to each terminal end and is placed on the patient for correct data Impedance acquisition.
As described, the body impedance system generates a frequency which is totally undetectable to the human body.
After checking that the four electrode sensors are properly placed, the patient remains prone and still.
The on/off switch is placed in the "on" position. The Meter takes Impedance readings at a rate of 50,000 times per second. Often the Meter takes 1 to 3 seconds to stabilize while `searching` for the most accurate reading. Several factors such as subcutaneal fat thickness, skin thickness and body hair account for slower impedance readings.
The preferred technical specifications of the means for generating body impedance system are as follows:
(a) Device test signal current about 800 microamps nominal; (b) Device test signal frequency about 50 KHZ nominal; (c) Input range 0 to 1000 ohms; (d) Input impedance about l0 meg ohm; (e) Accuracy about 1%; (f) Supply current (qeiecent) about 70 MA nominal; (g) Negative supply battery range about 8.5 to 10 volts; (h) Positive supply battery range about 8.5 to 10 volts; (i) Battery polarity protection Dual diode.
The pin-out diagram illustrated in FIG. 7 details one embodied printed circuit board for the means for generating body impedance system.
The details of the schematic are presented in the following sections:
(1) Sensor circuit; and
(2) Test signal generation.
Each of these sections will refer to block diagrams to highlight the exact electronic configuration.
FIGS. 3 and 6 are block diagrams detailing one embodied sensor circuit of the impedance meter. The electronic circuitry and components include the analog to digital (A to D) technology. To obtain valid bio-impedance measurements, a true tetra - polar bridge system must be employed. The circuit in application provides a tetra-polar bridge (four lead bridge).
The sensor circuit preferably operates at an 800 microamp level. The sensor current combined with the test signal generation, powers the inventive system.
As outlined previously, the bio-impedance analyzer is connected to the body by four leads, two connected to the right hand and two to the right foot. The sensing current is then placed between the poles.
TEST SIGNAL GENERATION
A test signal is maintained through the components with a frequency of between 40 to 60 Kilohertz and preferably at 50 KiloHertz. The block diagram illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4 details the specifications and current flow of the bio-impedance analyzer. The test signal configuration is calibrated at the 500 ohms level, selected as a mid-point in the bio-impedance analyzer reading scale of 1 to 1000 ohms.
The test signal generator remains constant due to the constant voltage of 5 volts from the power supply. A constant power supply of 5 volts is critical for the re-producability of data obtained from the bio-impedance analyzer. A low battery indicator calibration for 6.2 volts ensures a constant 5 volt current source.
MODIFICATION OF IMPEDANCE SIGNALS BY POPULATION SPECIFIC VARIABLE
The raw electrical signals from the impedance meter are modified by a prescribed correlation factor of body density. (BD =1.14111-0.0763 (weight) (impedance/height2).
Based on a given body density a "range of impedance readings" is expected. This range is population specific. Thus, once body density is derived and compared to impedance, a constant is then selected for the body analysis formula.
FIG. 8 represents one embodied individual progression through a population prediction formula.
(a) Biological data input:
(1) Bio-impedance
(2) Age
(3) Height
(4) Weight
(5 ) Sex
(b) Algorithm formula determination of body analysis formula constant based on body density and impedance:
e.g. If body denisty is (1.9 and impedance (400 then X =2.835
Note: X is the body analysis formula constant.
(c) Population Prediction formula:
After phase one (a) and two (b) are complete, the main prediction formula which has been modified by the algorithm analyzes the data to predict body composition. e.g. Percent fat =(4.95 / x -4.5)
Note: X is the constant from the algorithm.
The inventive system preferably includes an attached microprocessor to perform the data processing tasks for body composition testing and analysis. The Computer desirable and has capacity for expandable features. (See FIG. 9)
Preferably the Computer is permanently mounted and cannot be removed from a transport case. A 6 volt adapter may be used to power the micro-processor.
INDICATOR MEANS FOR DISPLAYING DATA
Preferably a Printer such as OKI-DATA 182 microline is utilized in the system. A brief explanation for operation is provided herein.
TEST PROCEDURE
Height/Weight and Proper Patient Position
(1) Record patient's height and weight. (Height in inches, weight in pounds.) Do not use data supplied by patient. Accurate height and weight measurements are essential for accurate results. Remove patient's shoes for both measurements. Also remove the sock/hose on the right foot. (The site for distal electrode sensor placement.)
(2) Position the patient prone on a non-conductive surfaced table. Do not test a patient lying on a tile or carpeted floor. Statis electricity contained in these surfaces interferes with accuracy. The patient must be prone to minimize interference from muscle contractions. (Antagonist muscle contractions in standing or sitting patients create inaccurate Impedance results.)
(3) Arrange the patient's limbs so they are slightly apart, hands not touching the torso, feet not touching each other.
OPERATION CHECK LIST
(a) Attach Electrode Sensors to Patient Lead Cables.
(b) Remove Patient's shoes and right sock/hose.
(c) Measure Patient's height.
(d) Weigh patient.
(e) Record Patient Height and Weight on Patient Data Form.
(f) Place Patient prone on table.
(g) Palpate Electrode Sensor locations.
(h) Place Electrode Sensors to right hand and right foot.
(i) Collect Patient Impedance reading.
(j) Record Impedance reading on Patient Data Form.
(k) Select program on the Main Menu and ENTER.
(l) ENTER information needed for Patient Data Input.
(m) Remove Printout from the Printer.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
The following specific examples will be helpful to a clearer understanding of the unique features of the present invention:
EXAMPLE I
A study was conducted to evaluate the validity of bioelectrical impedance as an accurate assessment of body composition. Two-hundred and forty nine male and female volunteers from the University of Southern California were used as subjects. Each subject reported to the Exercise Physiology lab at USC in a normally hydrated state. Body composition evaluation was made by hydrostatic weighing (H20) and bioelectrical impedance (Imp). Hydrostatic weighing was done in a seated position in a 1000 gallon tank using a Chatillon autopsy scale. A minimum of 5 trials was made on each subject. Residual lung volume was measured utilizing the oxygen dilution technique and employing a Hewlett-Packard Nitrogen analyzer. Body fat was calculated using the formula of Brozek, et al. (4.57/Density 4.142 ×100%). Bio-electrical impedance was measured on each subject employing the standard procedures for the technique. Average body fat for the males (N=117) was 14.1% measured by H20 and 14.3% as measured by Imp. The validity coefficient for this group was r=-0.78 and the standard error of estimate (SEE) was 3.07%. The corresponding values for the female group (N=132) were follows: Average body fat from H20 =23.5%; from Imp =23.3%; validity coefficient, r =0.80; SEE =2.879%. The results of the present study support the use of the bio-electrical impedance technique as a method of assessing body composition in normal, healthy individuals. (See FIGS. 10 through 15)
EXAMPLE II
A study was conducted to evaluate the validity of bioelectrical impedance as an accurate assessment of body composition. Four-hundred and eighteen male and female volunteers from the University of Southern California were used as subjects. Each subject reported to the Exercise Physiology lab at USC in a normally hydrated state. Body composition evaluation was made by hydrostatic weighing (H20) and bioelectrical impedance (Imp.) [BioAnalogics - "Consultant" System] Hydrostatic weighing was done in a seated position in a 1000 gallon tank using a Chatilon autopsy scale. A minimum of 5 trials was made on each subject. Residual lung volume was measured utilizing the oxygen dilution technique and employing a Hewlett-Packard Nitrogen analyzer. Body fat was calculated using the formula of Brozek et. al. (4.57/Density - 4.142 ×100%). Bio-electrical impedance was measured on each subject in a supine position. Average body fat for the male (N=208) was 15.2% measured by H20 and 14.4% as measured by Imp. The range of body fat for this group was 3-35%. The validity coefficient for this group was r =0.76 and the standard error of estimate (SEE) was 3.34%. The corresponding values for the female group (N=211 ) were as follows: Average body fat from H20 =23.9%; from Imp =23.4%; range =11-39%; validity coefficient, r =0.83; SEE =3.15%. The results of the present study support the use of the bio-electrical impedance technique as a method of assessing body composition in normal, healthy individuals.
Accordingly, the unique system of the present invention provides an accurate valid measurement of human body composition consisting of fat tissue, lean tissue and body water. The inventive methodology provides a procedure for quantitative measurement of the conductive potential of the body, which is based on the lean tissue content of the body, in a convenient and reliable manner. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptation and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the following claims.
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Castles (1926)
Plan of Ludlow Castle
Plan of Ludlow Castledetails
Plan of Ludlow Castle, in Ludlow, Shropshire, England more
plans, castles, greyscale
Oman, Charles: “Castles” (1926)
This is by far the most important castle of the whole Welsh border, surpassing Chepstow in size and Raglan in historic interest.” (p. 135)
The site is mentioned in the Domesday Book, and thus predates the Norman Conquest (1066), but the earliest existing castle buildings are probably entirely Norman, from before 1100 or so.
The caption to the plan reads as follows:
Description of the Plan
Mortimer’s Tower.
Formerly used as a Magazine, now [c. 1930] an Ice House.
The Moat.
Stone Bridge of two arches which occupies the place of the ancient Drawbridge.
Buildings erected during the presidency of Sir Henry Sydney [16th C.]
The Porter’s Lodge.
A Newel Staircase leading to the Keep.
The Norman Chapel.
Site of the Choir of the Chapel.
Apartments occupied by the two Princes sons of Edward IV. Supposed tower of Pendover.
A small Room.
The Armoury.
A Watch Tower.
The State Apartments.
The Hall, or the Council Room.
Prince Arthor’s Room
The Original Chapel, afterwards converted into a Prison.
The Well, now [c. 1930] about 85 feet deep.
A Tower, called the Lion’s Den.
Small Norman Tower and Oven.
The Black Hole.
The Stables.
The principal Gate-way leading to the Castle from the Town.
Offices where the Fire Engines were kept.
Barracks.
A Beacon Tower.
Iron Palisades across the Outer Court
A Sallyport.
The Castle Yard or Outer Court.
Picture of Ludlow Castle Gateway
Ludlow Castle Web site with photographs, history, a virtual tour and other information.
Ludlow, Shropshire, England
Added by B&B Ludlow on Mon Jun 2 04:54:50 2008
‘Offices where the Fire Engines were kept.’
What were the fire engines? I’m assuming they’re different...
Added by Liam on Thu Jun 5 09:05:50 2008
Actually I suspect that the castle was indeed used as a fire station.—Liam
135-Plan-of-Ludlow-Castle-q75-467x500.jpg
https://fromoldbooks.org/r/N/135-Plan-of-Ludlow-Castle-q75-467x500.jpg
https://fromoldbooks.org/r/N/pages/135-Plan-of-Ludlow-Castle/
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