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Who the Hell Needs a Fancy iPad Anyway?
Filed to: ChatroomFiled to: Chatroom
utility is king
Photo: Alex Cranz (Gizmodo)
The iPad has always been a fantasy, and even as the device is more powerful and beautiful than it’s ever been before, I can’t bring myself to understand why most people would ever want one.
I remember sitting in a newsroom nearly a decade ago as extremely smart and well-meaning editorial executives told a group of magazine staff about their plans to launch for a yet-unannounced iPad. This was the solution to declining print circulation! We would make magazines for the iPad!
I don’t need to tell you that magazine apps for the iPad didn’t exactly pan out. Depending on the user, for most, the iPad is basically either a large phone you use to browse the web extra big or a minimally productive laptop replacement you poke at on the go. But I think that moment in 2009 is reflective of how stoked people were about the possibilities of the tablet computer. Perhaps the enthusiasm was partially residual excitement about the iPhone, which just years before the introduction of the iPad had entered the world and set in motion a complete revolution. Jobs and friends did it once, maybe they could do it again.
When Apple announced the new iPad Pros this week, the excitement was once again all about potential and possibility more than reality. Here’s what I can say for sure: These are for sure the most beautiful and advanced iPads that have ever existed. With its nearly edge-to-edge display, the iPad Pro is a marvel of industrial design. Aesthetically, it’s everything we’ve come expect from an Apple product, down to the lofty descriptions of its materials and contours from company design deity Jony Ive. Though Ive didn’t do the customary video narration during the announcement event this week, he did say his piece in an interview with The Independent in which, among other things, he went on and on about how the new iPad was great because the screen doesn’t have square corners. “If you look at the iPad Pro, though, you can see how the radius, the curve in the corner of the display, is concentric with and sympathetic to the actual enclosure,” he said. “You feel it’s authentic, and you have the sense that it’s not an assembly of a whole bag of different components: it’s a single, clear product.”
Now I’m all about nerding out on design, especially when we’re talking about real functional, utilitarian considerations, but here we’re talking about the corners of a damn display. This is an irritating thing designers do, especially when it comes to touch devices. They stray from the ways design improves how you use things to effusive monologues about the immediacy and intimacy of experiencing them. It’s not just Jony Ive—a few years ago I ribbed Microsoft hardware chief Panos Panay for a similarly feverish description of Surface hardware.
The trouble is, I think, that it’s very hard to explain the largely niche utility improvements of devices like the iPad Pro (and, yes, the Surface Studio Panay was on about) to regular people. The Apple presentation introducing the iPads earlier this week was targeted at “creative” people who have demanding needs when it comes to things like stylus performance, CAD rendering speeds, and sharper more vibrant displays. DJs, architects, graphic designers, and other rarefied iPad users should be very excited. Most of us are not these people! But maybe selling the devices to regular folks is contingent on convincing us that we’ve got a deep well of creativity hiding within that will be unleashed thanks to the latest processor upgrade; or that the design of the new iPad is so perfect, you’ll experience transcendence while checking email in an airport lounge.
It’s not that the rest of us can’t benefit from the even more beautiful display that is each year more glorious—it’s that what we’re probably going to do with it is watch Netflix. If you have an iPad from 2014, it’s probably just as good at doing that. So is your computer. And if you don’t have an iPad, maybe all you really need is Apple’s much cheaper basic model. But you’re not just a basic user, right? You’re a special creative person! If that’s the case, go ahead, spend $800 or $1000 on the very best glass slab Cupertino can engineer. (From a long-term utility point of view, it does make some sense to buy the latest device if you are going to buy an iPad.)
For my continued skepticism about the utility of the iPad, Apple indisputably sells millions of these things. For better or worse, there are millions of people who will rush to buy the latest product Apple releases, even if it will only be a very fancy couch companion. And though I’m annoyed by the aspirational creativity that drives many people to buy expensive products they won’t fully utilize, I fully acknowledge that there are thousands and possibly millions of people who really get the most out the iPad.
I guess what I’m saying is I just don’t know how I would use one. Maybe I’m just lame?
What do you use your iPad for?
Deputy editor at Gizmodo
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Fwd: Stop the mass expulsion of Nigerians
Posted on December 15, 2013 by floaker | Leave a comment
Via Unity – Please forward to your networks:
*URGENT ACTION APPEAL.*
Stop the mass expulsion of Nigerians
*Charter flight to Nigeria: 22.20hrs Tuesday 22nd November 2013*
Nigerian man Isa Muazu who recently was on hunger strike for 100 days has been given fresh removal directions for Tuesday 17th December. This will be the third attempt to remove Isa from the UK after the Home Office spent up to £108,000 chartering a private jet two weeks ago in a failed attempt to fly him back to Nigeria. The Home Office have given him fresh removal directions and are now going to try to return him on a mass charter flight as part of a regular Home Office exercise called “Operation Majestic”.
Lawyers for Isa are currently in the Upper Tribunal Field House, Beams Building off Chancery Lane in London trying to fight his asylum appeal.
As well as Isa, Unity are in contact with at least another 6 people who the Home Office are trying to put on the same flight, and there are many more on it who will also have not had access to a fair hearing, or appropriate time to prepare their asylum case. There has not been time to assist each individual sufficiently with their case to effectively prevent their removal on this particular flight. For those individuals with fresh evidence, lawyers have not been ready to take on the cases because of legal aid funding restrictions.
We urgently need you to take action to try and stop this charter flight by faxing and calling the Nigerian High Commission, Nick Clegg and Theresa May
*Notorious & inhumane***
Charter flights are a notorious, inhumane, way of removing asylum seekers. With no other passengers on the flight to monitor them, the private security company escorts routinely use force on the people being removed on charter flights.
Corporate Watch recently published a report detailing the case against
the Home Office’s use of charter flights. In July this year Corporate Watch published a free briefing asking whether the practice of mass expulsions using charter flights were actually lawful which can be read here.
In particular the Home Office practise of allocating putting unsuspecting “reserve” deportees on a third of all charter flights without any warning has drawn repeated criticism from campaigners as well as Keith Vaz MP (Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee) and from the Prison Inspector (who has called the practice “inhumane”.)
*Court action against the Fast Track system*
At the same time the charter flight on Tuesday, is very bad timing as Detention Action will be taking the Government to Court over their use of the detention Fast Track system used to process asylum cases from the ‘White Country’ list on that day.
Men from Nigeria, in particular, find themselves fall foul of this odious piece of legislation which allows the Home Office to automatically detain them when the claim asylum and to process their cases in only six weeks with only limited legal aid and often not enough time to properly pursue their case. Once refused these detainees are then are only allowed an “out-of-country” appeal once they have been returned to Nigeria.
Many men on the charter flight on Tuesday have become victims of the Detained Fast Track system.
We urgently need you to take action to try and stop this charter flight by faxing and calling the Nigerian High Commission and Theresa May
*CASE-STUDIES*
You can read more about Isa here.
Below are just some of the other people Unity are supporting who have been given removal directions for Tuesday 17th December on charter flight PVT091:
*Nigerian woman with British husband faces removal*
Josephine Atiri came to the UK in 2009 and claimed asylum in February
2010 shortly after her visa ran out. An orphan, she had been raped and
sexually assaulted by members of her adoptive family in Nigeria. In May
2010, Josephine met her partner, a British citizen, and married him in
July 2011 and two months ago she lodged an Article 8 claim based on the
family life she has made here with her husband. She also applied for a
spousal visa to stay here with her husband. Both of these have been
refused because although the Home Office accept she is in a genuine
relationship, there was no evidence to show a good enough reason why her
husband can’t give up all of his family life in the UK and go and live
in Nigeria with her.
Josephine had no life and has no family in Nigeria. She came here
because she was being abused by the people who were supposed to be her
family. Now she has a life and a family here in the UK. She was
arrested last week, taken from her husband and her home and has been in
detention since. She now faces being removed from the UK, losing
everything she has and being returned to a dangerous situation in
Nigeria. When I spoke to Josephine on the phone today, she said to me
/‘I’m pleading with them to let me stay with my husband and have a good
life. I’ve never had a good life. I’m begging them.’/ Josephine’s
lawyer lodged appeal papers with the High Court on Monday of this week
in a last attempt to allow her to stay in the UK and carry on the life
she has established here. She is still waiting to hear the outcome of this.
*Gay man faces removal because the Home Office doesn’t believe his partner is gay*
Elvis (not his real name) is a gay man from Nigeria who claimed asylum
in June 2012 because he was in danger in Nigeria due to his
sexuality. Nigeria has been described as one of the most homophobic
countries in the world where both male and female same-sex sexual
activity is illegal.
Since coming to the UK last year, Elvis started a relationship with
another Nigerian man and they have been together for over a year. His
initial asylum claim was refused on grounds of insufficient evidence of
his sexuality. When he first arrived, he knew nothing about the system,
about what would happen at the interview, or about what and how much
evidence was required. Nobody told him about any of this until after
his interview, when he was told he hadn’t given enough evidence and his
claim was refused.
Elvis says that he could have provided evidence in the first place had
he been told this was what was required. He submitted a fresh claim
with ample evidence including statements from his partner and friends,
photos proving their relationship was genuine, as well as statements
from the Unity LGBT group that Elvis is an active member of, confirming
his sexuality. This time the Home Office refused him because they’d
already refused to accept his partner was gay.
Elvis now faces imminent removal back to Nigeria where he believes he’ll
certainly be arrested on arrival. He tells me the law provides no
freedom in his country. He came here in the hope of finding a new life
in a country where he could be free to live as he chooses, but he has
only been disbelieved, dismissed and ultimately treated as a criminal,
being detained and now facing forcible removal back to the situation he
came here to escape
*Man with Portuguese girlfriend faces removal *
Oye Avioban, from Nigeria, first came to the UK in 2006 on a student
visa, which expired in 2010. At that point, he made a human rights
application for leave to remain on the grounds of his relationship with
an EU citizen here in the UK. His partner is Portuguese and they have
been together for almost two years. His application was refused because
they did not accept his relationship was real. A big problem for Oye
seems to have been the fact that he and his partner do not yet live
together. This was for practical reasons, his partner was struggling to
secure accommodation, which she has recently managed to do, and their
plan has always been to live together once accommodation has been sorted
out. Despite this and evidence such as Oye’s partner’s recent tenancy
agreement being submitted, the Home Office have refused to believe
them. Oye and his partner have given the Home Office as much evidence
they can think of that their relationship is real. Despite all their
attempts, the appeals process has now been exhausted. Oye’s only legal
avenue is to submit a request for Judicial Review to the High Court,
which Oye’s lawyer has said he believes will be accepted. However, this
is an expensive process and unless Oye manages to raise at least £1000
to pay the fees, this last legal avenue will be closed to him and it is
likely that he will be taken back to Nigeria on Tuesday.
*Gay man from Ghana is still waiting on the Home Office to respond to his fresh application*
Peter (not his real name) is a gay Ghanaian man, who is detained in
Dungavel DRC and is due to be removed on Tuesday. The Home Office plan
to remove him from the UK during a mass removal on the charter flight to
Nigeria, and then move him to Ghana from there. Peter is very afraid of
returning to Ghana. We have been in regular contact with his partner,
who has been very actively involved in his case – calling and visiting
Peter’s lawyer numerous times every week. Earlier this week, Peter’s
lawyer lodged an appeal with fresh evidence, which the Home Office have
yet to respond to. This puts Peter in a very difficult position as if
his appeal is refused at this stage, he will be left with very little
time to take further action before the planned removal date.
*WHAT YOU CAN DO:*
*1.**Call the Nigerian High Commission*
We are calling for anyone who can to call the Nigerian High Commission
and urge them to try to stop the current charter flight. Recently
Nigeria has refused planes to land because the proper procedure has not
been followed – phoning, faxing and emailing them can work.
Anyone who has time please call the number below and let them know of
your concern for many of the individuals on this flight and urge them
that they do not have to be party to this inhumane method of mass
deportation but that the merits of each immigration case should be
considered fully and not rushed in order to fill mass charter flights
which is what is occurring.
Nigerian High Commission
Phone: 0207 839 1244 extension 277, alternatively just press 0 during
the main menu of options.
Or online message http://www.nigeriahc.org.uk/enquiries
*2.**Lobby Theresa May ***
Please contact Home Secretary Theresa May to let her know this degrading
mistreatment of people cannot go on.
Rt Hon Theresa May MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Fax: 020 8760 3132 (00 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK
Email: UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
*3.**Also ask Nick Clegg what he thinks about mass expulsions*
Parliamentary office: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
nick.clegg.mp@parliament.uk
Constituency Office: 85 Nethergreen Road, Sheffield, S11 7EH Tel:
nickclegg@sheffieldhallam.org.uk
Departmental Office: Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2AS
publiccorrespondence@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk
UNITY!
Unity Centre Glasgow
30 Ibrox Street
G51 1AQ
info@unitycentreglasgow.org
http://www.unitycentreglasgow.org
Practical support and solidarity to all asylum seekers and migrants in Scotland.
This entry was posted in Action and tagged Asylum Seekers, Home Office, Nigerian High Commission, Solidarity, Unity. Bookmark the permalink.
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About Global Politics
Working With Global Politics
Global Politics An International Affairs Magazine
Global Politics Videos
Categorized | Africa, Asia, China, Economic Security, Global Economy, Security Issues, World
China’s Expanding African Military Footprint
Posted on February 17, 2015. Tags: Africa strategy, China, Djibouti, Guelleh, Maldives, Mao, Mugabe, PLAN, Silk Road, Sri Lanka, String of pearls, Susan Rice, Zimbabwe
Image by Phaga
Sun Tzu, in his seminal book The Art of War, argued that all warfare is fundamentally based on deception.
“When able to attack, we must seem unable; When using our forces, we must seem inactive; When we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; When far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
Throughout China’s history, this mantra has been at the core of its foreign policy, with Mao even instructing his generals not to miss any opportunity for deceit.
Closer to the present day, as the Middle Kingdom became more assertive on the world stage, its smoke and mirrors tactic took on new forms. Despite several public relations stunts – such as the country’s unbashful display of its first aircraft carrier – the major shift in China’s military strategy has so far escaped major public scrutiny. Africa’s exceedingly complex political and economic situation can be held up as a potent bellwether of Beijing’s military designs.
The African continent shares a long history with China and the Gulf of Aden is now being used by the country’s navy as part of its Silk Road commercial route. In recent decades economic links took off spectacularly. Bilateral trade went from $1 billion in 1980 to $166 billion in 2011, with Beijing displacing both the U.S. and former European colonial powers as the continent’s main trading partner.
This growth was facilitated less by the terms and finer details of the trade deals and rather more by what they didn’t stipulate: demands for internal political reform. China has long maintained a strong stance of non-interference in the domestic politics of African countries such as Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Sudan. While some might welcome this policy, unrestricted weapons exports from Beijing have either worsened existing humanitarian crises in places such as Darfur, or have strengthened the rule of despots like Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.
What began as a purely mercantile relationship sweetened by loans, foreign direct investments, and below-market prices for exports, is now discreetly evolving into a deeper and far-reaching partnership that could unsettle the balance of power on the continent. Indeed, evidence is already pointing to a strong bilateral convergence of interests. A 2013 study found that China has actually managed to transform its trade relationship with African countries into active foreign policy support inside the UN and other international bodies. Among those African dictators who depend on Beijing’s largesse to cling to power, China’s voice now carries far more weight than outdated links with former colonial powers.
China’s string of pearls strategy
A leaked document from late 2014 showed that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has planned the establishment of 18 “Overseas Strategic Support Bases” in the Indian and Atlantic oceans, seven of which will be built in Africa in Namibia, Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Seychelles and Madagascar. Under the cover of protecting its commercial interests in Africa, these bases are supposed to follow three strategic military objectives: fueling and material supply bases for peacetime use, supply bases for warships and fully functional navy bases for replenishment and maintenance of large warships.
Much has been said about China’s maritime strategy, dubbed the “String of Pearls” model, which seeks to disguise multiple military bases behind deep-water ports, stretching from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean and Africa, which would give Beijing the capacity to project power on most of the southern hemisphere. But so far, China’s cautious approach has deceived many as to its true intentions.
A recent incident in the Indian Ocean provides the blueprint for China’s vaunted dominance of Africa. A PLAN nuclear submarine surfaced in the waters of Sri Lanka and strangely enough docked at the country’s Chinese-owned commercial port, the Colombo South Container Terminal, instead of berthing at the neighboring military port. The explanation is that Colombo handed over total control of the port to Beijing, in exchange for relaxing loan conditions. In the Maldives, a similar maritime project was ceded to Beijing after the project’s Chinese-issued loan carried an unsustainable interest rate.
Since Africa does not exist in a security vacuum, but instead plays host to an interwoven web of military alliances and defense agreements struck with either the U.S. or other Western nations, the presence of China’s navy risks creating deep fault lines. Djibouti is by far the best example of a country walking a fine line between its Western commitments and the allure of China’s deep pockets, set against the backdrop of the dictatorial rule of its President Ismail Omar Guelleh.
The former French colony is one of Africa’s most important strategic hubs, hosting a string of vital military bases from the U.S., Japan, France, Germany and the headquarters of the EU’s anti-piracy operation Atalanta. Nevertheless, Guelleh has extended a hand to China and has embarked on 14 Chinese-funded megaprojects, including airports and a port, with a total price tag of $9.8 billion, or six times more than its GDP.
What’s more, the government rescinded an agreement with a Dubai-based port operator for its main deep-water port (Doraleh) and sold it to the Chinese. Echoing Beijing’s inroads in Zimbabwe, bilateral ties were deepened after the signing of a strategic defense agreement, which sparked the ire of U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice. In addition, with Chinese money flowing in, Guelleh chased off several Western multinationals, such as Mobil, Shell and Total, on trumped up charges.
Djibouti’s deteriorating business environment, along with the country’s shift away from Western powers are strong indications of China’s growing leverage with the government of Djibouti. Under the cover of commercial deals, the Chinese tiger is achieving a two-fold purpose: discreetly expanding the global reach of its military, while maintaining the impression that its interests are purely commercial. Which was precisely the lesson Sun Tzu taught his followers in the 5th century BC.
Image courtesy of Phaga
About Tom Wirth
Originally from Düsseldorf, Tom is a recent graduate in International Affairs from St.Gallen (with a focus on Africa), and is an aspiring foreign policy analyst in preparation for a PhD in Conflict Analysis.
View all posts by Tom Wirth →
← Focus on Greece Ignores Need for German Economic Reform
Russia and the West: How the Empathy Was Lost →
Deterrence and Inclusivity in the South China Sea April 28, 2019
Troubled Waters: The Indus River Crisis March 24, 2019
Dissecting the Diplomatic Feud Between France and Italy February 16, 2019
Why the Paris Agreement Will Survive Donald Trump February 6, 2019
‘Presidential Initiatives’: A Way to Revive U.S–Russia Arms Control? January 25, 2019
Sixty-Five Years After Hiroshima August 14, 2010
Islam and Democracy – Crunch Time January 26, 2012
Unifying the Caucasus February 16, 2012
Iran and the West: Why 1953 Still Matters July 11, 2012
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Tag Archives: Instability of society
by Marcus Ampe | 2016/07/19 · 9:40 am
Mountains of information, disinformation and breaking away
With the terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels and now in Nice we can find lots of information and disinformation on the net.
Mark Evans, Loren Feldman, Cynthia Brumfield, Rachel Sklar
I must remark that in the blogging world there are lots of people who try to break down or crush all that is said in the media and want their readers to believe it is all fake. I noticed this with the lies about the Brussels Airport (where I also work and could see the real damage), of which bloggers said the published photo’s were fake or from other places, etc.
With certain bloggers I chatted and became convinced they intentionally wrote such lies, whilst others I became convinced they were not so good in their head. The last category hopefully would be recognised soon by their readers, but for the first category it is much more difficult for the readers to unmask their acts of false information giving.
Since the time of Pericles, defenders of human freedom have promoted the virtues of open debate within society, and for the full freedom of citizens to investigate their government and world. Whether in a household, a classroom, or a nation, a free flow of critically examined and openly discussed ideas gives us our best chance for intellectual growth and personal achievement. {Our Classified World}
When I was a teacher I demanded from my pupils that they thought for themselves and analysed everything which came in front of their eyes. They never had to take something as the full truth nor undiscussable or unmentionable.
Atiaf Alwazir, Yemeni activist and researcher speaking during session 1: “Hopes and Fears” of The London Conference on Cyberspace.1 November 2011
Everything should be checked … the problem is we can not check everything personally, so we hope we can have trustworthy sources. By time we can come to know who is trying to tell the truth and who does sincere research to tell the truth, opposite those who just tell some fantasies or bring irresponsible post. Biggest problem is when we allow ourselves to become dependent on the news or mass media. In industrialized and information-based societies, the danger exists that individuals tend to develop a dependency on the media to satisfy a variety of their needs, which can range from a need for information on a political candidate’s policy positions (to help make a voting decision) to a need for relaxation and entertainment, but also to be led in their decision making or news gathering so that they always can blame somebody else for the wrong information or when something went wrong. By allowing the media to direct them they put away their own responsibility.
When we look at the media and how certain states made it possible by the media to control their people, we see that the greater the number of social functions performed for an audience by a medium (e.g., informing the electorate, providing entertainment), the greater the audience’s dependency on that medium, and how easier they can be placed in line with the leaders thinking or wants. But we also notice the greater the instability of a society (e.g., in situations of social change and conflict), the greater the audience’s dependency on the media and, therefore, the greater the potential effects of the media on the audience. In that instance propaganda of the state is a very big weapon and ideal tool for control.
We do find countries which try to play with the “war within” being convinced that by silencing those who dare to speak, they shall win. also when there are factories or big commercial institutions which seem to loose grip on their customers they do not mind to secure their brand by providing enough funding for the leader in favour.
Media freedom is generally held to be necessary for democratic societies end as soon as leaders notice they start loosing control, they start limiting the freedom of the media (a beautiful example is Turkey with Erdogan, the 105th Caliph, his reactions).
Often we see that when certain who should keep law and order have done something wrong and others like to criticise it, they are being silenced. Even in a state which always shouts loud it is the land of freedom police arrest people because they tweeted on wrote negative things about the police force in their state. Arresting people for speech is something the Americans should be very careful about. They also should think twice before continuing supporting the billionaire who is able to bring the land in chaos and ruins and who is not afraid to say he would start a world war with what happens now in Europe.
The danger exist that leaders of a state want to silence those who have a voice or want to dissent, to notice things, to point out facts, to express an opinion.
Media are an outlet for public discussion and opinion and generally fulfil the functions of seeking truth, educating the public, and serving as a watchdog over government.
A blogger who claims to be a “Truth Connoisseur” and having “an inquiring and incisive mind”, saying he is also “an open-minded skeptic” wants to be “an avid learner” and “Part-Time Researcher” who looks also at this phenomena of reality and freedom of speech.
He has a website where he perhaps want to “breakaway” as an outgrowth/spawn from the notion of the ‘Breakaway Civilization’. He writes
The term ‘Breakaway Civilization’ was an idea that is the brainchild of historian and notable scholar Richard Dolan, who coined the term a few years ago.
Behind this particular premise lies [pun intended] a group of people so sophisticated they operated literally as a separate civilization from the rest of humanity. This is given to the extremely advanced knowledge and technological capabilities/infrastructure that they were able to create/reverse engineer not only by learning what they could from deeply classified black projects et al, but also from essentially monopolizing information and controlling access to it, thus preventing the rest of society/humanity from benefiting from such advanced progress. {What Does It Mean To ‘Breakaway’?}
Certain man of power have done everything to have the media telling what they want. Certain statesmen were even not afraid to have those killed who did not want to run in line and tell the people what the state wanted them to believe. Censorship has always been part of man’s life. Though we also had voices of those who were not afraid to uncover the dismal functions of state organisations or institutions. Every generation had its whistleblowers. To expose illegal or unethical activity of the state has proven dangerous for the one bringing it in the open, certainly as “external whistle-blowing” but by mass media spending more attention to them, the involved state became less able to easily harm the whistleblower. Though those persons mostly can not reclaim their previous life and some of them have even to leave the country. Data show that retaliation against whistleblowers is most severe and certain when the observed wrongdoing is systemic and central to the way the organization conducts its business and accumulates its profit {Joyce Rothschild and Terance D. Miethe 1999, Whistle-Blower Disclosures and Management Retaliation: The Battle to Control Information about Organizational Corruption; Joyce Rothschild, International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2008}. Even in countries where whistleblower protection laws prohibit reprisal against federal employees they often find themselves in danger and have to flee the country. In case no effort was made to silence them, a number of individual federal officials have been dismissed or suspended. It is important that much more work is made in our society to protect such people who bring out the wrongdoing of an institution or a state. Whistleblower protection, like freedom of information laws and other open government provisions, supports the right of freedom of expression. This right is the foundation of democratic accountability and of democratic government.
The whistleblowers also can dismantle the propaganda fog which makes people not noticing what their government is doing. As such the more or less systematic effort to manipulate the citizens can be broken. Most countries have utilized propaganda techniques repeatedly through their history, particularly during periods of war and international crisis. And the last few years it looks like we are in a general worldwide crisis where disinformation is rife. In one big federation of states it has come so far that the inhabitants do not notice it that their country manipulates press continually. Americans have employed numerous euphemisms for their propaganda in order to distinguish it from its totalitarian applications and wicked connotations. Many industrialised countries are implement an “ideological warfare.” We also notice that the term “Cold War” in the previous century used to refer to propaganda techniques and strategy (as in “Cold War tactics”) has again become common talk. Also “special operations,” and “information warfare” have become fashionable again.
Propaganda is of all times. Constantly we hear the ‘state talk’ from the different sites at best, in the worst circumstances only from one party, the other having no chance to say how it really is.
Edward Bernays points to the danger for this widely used tool, by those holding positions in many facets of society, from politicians, religious leaders, agents of the state to corporate brass.
“Propaganda is the executive arm of the invisible government.” {[Review] Recommended Book – Progaganda, By Edward Bernays}
Edward Bernays magnum opus “Propaganda”, originally published in 1928, outlines in profound detail many aspects of how propaganda works and details how the mass manipulation of the human subconscious can place can take at unprecedented scale. {[Review] Recommended Book – Progaganda, By Edward Bernays}
Communication techniques have been employed by government agents to cultivate public opinion so as to put pressure on governments to pursue certain policies, while traditional diplomatic activities — negotiations, treaties — have been planned, implemented, and presented in whole or in part for the effects they would have on public opinion, both international and domestic. {Kenneth A. Osgood, Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy, 2002}
Today we can see we are at the top of propaganda making and can not escape the state interfering with the mas media. The propaganda vice-grip has reached unfathomable levels. Most people do not notice how they are manipulated by those they so called vote for. Worst is it in the U.S.A. were people think they are the most free democratic country, though they do not seem to see how only those who have enough money and dare to go over corpses can win the elections for presidency. The present republican candidate is a very good example of the danger of grandiloquence.
Throughout centuries many have searched as an individual how they could stand apart in this world where the unseen mechanism of society constitutes an invisible government which is the true ruling power of that country, and survive. They looked for ways not to be part of this world or to breakaway from the control grid that was trying to have everybody in its hand and was taxing every facet of their life.
“Much of what is reported as ‘news’ is little more than the uncritical transmission of official opinions to an unsuspecting public,” wrote Parenti. Fox news commentator Brit Hume stated, “What [the mass media] pass off as objectivity, is just a mindless kind of neutrality.” – Jim Marrs, Rise Of The Fourth Reich – The Secret Societies That Threaten To Take Over America {Zy Marquiez, TheBreakaway, 7 Actions Individuals Can Take To Navigate Through The Media Minefield}
Zy Marquiez had quite a few friends and acquaintances online and in person asking him how it is possible to figure out what information passes muster in our information overload reality of ours. This got him thinking about the simple things that experience has taught him over time.
He sums up what I and others repeatedly have told others also. Though he goes a step further saying it in a harsher way
“Don’t believe anything anyone says, including me.”
he writes. I am sure he means the same a I and my confraters (fellow creatures), demanding our readers to inform themselves and to check everything, also what we say or teach. We always have to be careful how we look at the news brought to us, reminding ourselves it is always just a “newsflash” a quick clocking at a moment when not everything is known.
Walter Lippman once said
“News and the truth are not the same thing…”.
They simply can’t be because at the moment of bringing the news it is a flash how people could perceive that what was happening , without knowing all details.
Zy Marquiez rightly remarks
If we take a cautious approach, we make sure we are not being mislead into opinions being passed off as facts, or a belief-system [i.e. the current race war propaganda nigh everywhere] at the outset that might work against us. If in the end, the information is still true, nothing is lost. But when news ‘happens’ to be incomplete, or if its disinformation, misinformation, or downright deception, we as individuals stand to pay a heavy price by believing news without verifying what’s being said. Be wary. {Zy Marquiez, TheBreakaway, 7 Actions Individuals Can Take To Navigate Through The Media Minefield}
In this day and age, though the speed of development of information-access laws increased sharply, we may not forget that many are still ensuring deception putting more pressure and vesting greater economic and social power, investing lots of energy in false communication. Cheating may be a pan-cultural component of social life but politicians often make it not only their favourite sport but their profession.
There where the state leaders are investing lots of energy to get the people to consider themselves as one unit, one state more than as an individual, it is more problematic because countries are more corrupt if they feature a collective culture, rather than an individualistic culture.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks at a rally after endorsing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. – Photo Alex Hanson
The general public is often not aware of the “Pinocchio phenomenon”, for example when the person every time when he does not say the truth goes for to touching his nose or striking his hair, the last action more to ask confirmation of the listener or giving a sign “you believe me hé!”.
In the old times liars may have been less forthcoming, but today they are not afraid any more to look sure of what they are saying and try to convince everybody of what for bully talk they are pronouncing. Mostly they take a peacock attitude, play the bully, making everybody else look a looser. How more they laugh with others, how more it seems the listeners are taking in their lies. This proofs why Donald Trump with his arrogant attitude could come so far in his candidacy for the presidential election. the biggest danger for the nation and for the world in general would be when such bullies win the election. We have seen that by Stalin who for some is still their god and worshipped as their best statesman. with beguilement, deceit, bluff, mystification, and subterfuge such people manage to propagate beliefs in things that are not true, but have convinced their listeners that “it must be so”.
We may not forget that in the end such major relational transgression mostly shall lead to feelings of betrayal and distrust and shall provoke a counter reaction which shall endanger the stability of the society.
Donald John Trump Sr. (1946) American business magnate, investor, television personality and author, chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts.
By shouting and trying to ridicule the other people are becoming afraid to express an other opinion, and there lies the power of such bullies or political clowns. The agenda at play has to much at stake, and the power hungry shall not unremittingly shall do everything he can to get others to believe him (or her) even if this demands to falsify ciphers and documents. All funds will be well found.
As individuals, it is imperative that we proceed in our search for facts with a devoted approach that’s as flexible as it is trenchant.
Asking shrewd questions is practically mandatory to get to the bottom of things, or at least to follow certain leads. {Zy Marquiez, TheBreakaway, 7 Actions Individuals Can Take To Navigate Through The Media Minefield}
Receiving the information we have to keep an open mind and have to stay flexible as well.
The whole point is, when initially examining an issue, don’t get married to an opinion/statement, regardless who it’s done by. Many times evidence surfaces that blows holes in the official story large enough to ferry the titanic through. {Zy Marquiez, TheBreakaway, 7 Actions Individuals Can Take To Navigate Through The Media Minefield}
Those graving for power do know that fear is a very good tool to get more credibility and power. We have come in an age where politicians and media are aware of the validity and commercial value of fear mongering.
Within a lot of the media, be it mainstream or alternative, there is an noticeable undercurrent of fear taking place. This causes individuals to not only live very limiting lives believing that the end is nigh [in some cases, literally] but also leaves individuals feeling powerless. {Zy Marquiez, TheBreakaway, 7 Actions Individuals Can Take To Navigate Through The Media Minefield}
This fear and feeling powerless drives them in the hands of those who promise them heaven on earth and say they have the best solution to get rid of the problem causers. (Because there has to be some one at fault and therefore finger become pointed to other people, immigrants, other believers, other peoples, etc.)
We have to be mindful that
Information can be presented in a manner that is concerning, but still self empowering. {Zy Marquiez, TheBreakaway, 7 Actions Individuals Can Take To Navigate Through The Media Minefield}
Always look who is behind the message and what the intention of the information might be.
Those who may benefit from certain events might be organizations or they might be specific people [i.e. George Soros]. However, always keep in mind almost always there are large factors at play that couple to institutions, organizations, or secretive groups who benefit from certain events taking place, or certain news being disseminated.
By following that rabbit hole, it will be easier to ascertain what kind of agendas these individuals might have given the discipline involved, the institutions involved, and any other poignant data that would be useful. {Zy Marquiez, TheBreakaway, 7 Actions Individuals Can Take To Navigate Through The Media Minefield}
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Tagged as Bloggers, Blogging world, Breakaway Civilization, Broadcast media, Brussels Airport, Cautiousness, Censorship, Credibility, Deception, Dependency on information, Dependency on media, Disinformation, Donald Trump, Freedom of citizens, Freedom of speech, Grandiloquence, Human freedom, Information gathering, Instability of society, Joseph Stalin, Mass media, Media, Media freedom, Monopolisation, News information, News media, Newsgathering, Nice Attack, Peacock attitude, Plausibility, Presidential elections, Print media, Publishing media, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Reliability, Richard Dolan, Social media, Terrorist acts, Terrorist attacks, Truth, Turkey, Whistleblowers, Zy Marquiez
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The source of a “camp-fire yarn.”
Frontiersmen Remount Depots 1914-15
It has been a regular complaint of the Legion of Frontiersmen that the British War Office has always been very unwilling to credit the Legion for many of its achievements. We have here clear evidence that the Frontiersmen played a major part in running Remount Depots in the south of England at the beginning of the First War, most notably at Shirehampton near Avonmouth, also at Swaythling, and probably nearby Romsey, near Southampton. There are two War Office files in the National Archives: WO95/5466 Romsey Remount Depot 1914 November – 1918 April, and Shirehampton Remount Depot: WO95/69 Branches and Services, Director of Remounts 1914 August – 1916 December. Neither file mentions the Legion, but it is made clear regarding Shirehampton that “At the commencement the personnel, with the exception of all the officers were civilians, with a foreman for every 25 men and a farrier foreman and eight shoeingsmiths for each Squadron. In 1915 it was decided to change the depot into a military unit so from February onwards each Squadron, with the exception of one, was in turn enlisted and provided with n.c.o.s”. Although the War Office claims these were civilians, they are referred to as “Squadrons”. We know that Lt.Col. Driscoll was desperate to keep his Frontiersmen together so that they could serve as one unit and was bombarding the War Office with requests for them to serve. Although War Office records state that the manning was civilian, photographs clearly show the men in Frontiersmen uniforms wearing rank chevrons. According to the War Office file, Romsey depot was started “about 15th November 1914” by a firm “Messrs Perry & Co.” Frontiersmen were men of action and not words, so very few of them left clear written accounts of their lives. The story of how Canadian Frontiersmen rushed to enlist is documented (see the Canada page), but there were Frontiersmen working at all sorts of trades all round the world. Frontiersmen had always been certain that a war was inevitable, and as soon as the word arrived with them wherever they were, they took the first available ship back to England and made a beeline for Legion headquarters at 6 Adam Street. From there, Driscoll would have sent them to the Remount depots at Swaythling and at Avonmouth with instructions to utilise their riding skills there until he could send for them for a new Frontiersmen named unit. Driscoll wrote to Frontiersmen officer Seymour Rowlinson of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada:
“I have a large number of our men in the remounts depots training horses. This enables them to keep employed until such times as they are called out for mounted duty. It also enables me to find a place for the many men who are coming constantly from overseas, so if you know of any men who care to come across they may be sure of getting into something as soon as they report to me.”
Shirehampton was near Avonmouth Docks, and Swaythling and Romsey close to Southampton Docks where the remounts from Canada and America were landed. It seems probable that Swaythling came under Romsey. Sizeable parcels of suitable land would have been needed wherever they could be obtained within reasonable proximity of the Docks to stable the large number of horses passing through. In February 1949, one of the Frontiersmen who had been working at Swaythling, Vahd W. Tobin, wrote an account for a magazine, The Gen, which folded many years ago, of his version of what was to become a favourite “camp-fire yarn” for Frontiersmen over the years. We reproduce this here. The photographs from the Frontiersmen Swaythling Remount Depot are reproduced courtesy of V.W. Tobin’s daughter, the well-known actress June Tobin.
“The affair provided mirth for the camp for days. Legion H.Q. took it with joyous whoops. When sent in the form of a report to the W.O. (as had to be done), it was said that even the grim features of Kitchener twitched on reading it. And this is what led up to it.
In the Legion camp at Swaythling, squads of Frontiersmen had been leaving since dawn with horses for embarkation at Southampton, while others had gone to detrain horses from sidings and bring them into camp. Riding one horse and leading three – the usual practice – had about trained the camp of available men.
The last assignment came towards evening, requiring 25 men at a distant siding to detrain 100 officers’ remounts and bring them into the adjacent depot – which was separate from our camp and in charge of Regular Army remount staff. Only five off-duty men could be found, however: but they were five of the best –Buck, the only n.c.o. left; Yank, an ex-cowpuncher; Digger, from “down under”; Gringo, from the Argentine pampas; and Capey, an ex-Cape Mounted Policeman. To admit failure to find the requisite squad was unthinkable – like letting the Legion down – particularly in view of the fierce rivalry between the neighbouring depot and our own camp.
“We’ll rope in some of our fellows coming off duty from the docks,” said Buck, as the squad saddled up and moved off.
Darkness came soon after Buck’s party left (it was November 1914) and some rain fell. Later, the sky cleared and a bright moon shone.
By the time we judged Buck would be back, we had our camp fire blazing high, billycans of coffee ready, and grub keeping hot.
Presently, from the far end of our lines, a guard reported hearing in the distance Yank’s high yip-ee and the crack of Digger’s stockwhip. Shortly after, from the road junction came a rumble of hooves and the neighing of horses. A few minutes later we saw lantern lights down by the depot main gate.
“Hope old Buck and the rest found enough fellows in town to give a hand,” someone observed. It was more an expression of friendly goodwill than concern, for Buck and his party were known to be a particularly resourceful lot. All the same, we wondered what delayed them so long in handing over the horses.
Finally, the depot lanterns winked out. Soon after we heard Buck and his party in our lines off-saddling and feeding their mounts, and evidently in high good-humour. Questions were fired at them, but they were not to be drawn.
“Coffee and grub first,” laughed Buck. The meal over, pipes and cigarettes going and coffee mugs topped up again, Buck was voted teller of the night’s doings.
“Well” he began, with a vast grin, “as you heard, we couldn’t find any of our fellows in town, and time being short, we headed for the siding away out east of the town. The guard helped us detrain the horses and turn them into a little field, and as soon as he left we acted on Yank’s suggestion, which was to select a route clear of town and make a ‘drive’ of it. With just five there was no other way to handle a hundred horses. So we starts off, Yank taking point position, Digger and Gringo the flanks to block branch roads, and Capey and I the rear.
“Well, the moon was up and things went all right for a time. Then, of a sudden, a dozen horses stampeded to the left down a sunken lane with low-cut hedges on either side, and after them roared the whole darned shooting match hell-for-leather slap-bang towards town. Yank and his flankers tries working up to head ‘em off, but I got jammed in; and Capey and I, of course, had to stay in the rear.
“The stampede started cattle and horses in the fields on either side of the lane rushing up to the hedges, all a-neighing and bellowing like mad. But there was no stopping our lot, and in no time they had galloped right into town. And then, by gum, we remembered it was Saturday night and market night!
“The whole durned town seemed full of people. At one moment they were sort of peacefully shoppin’, and the next our horses were rushin’ about among ‘em. It was sure some entertainment! There were horses mixed up with the traffic and policemen blowin’ their whistle. There were horses clatterin’ along the streets and slippin’ on the pavements, makin’ one hell of a din; and women and kids yellin’ and skedaddlin’ into shops, and dogs barkin’. For a while the situation looked pretty serious – though durned if we could help laughin’ at it.
“However, after chasing horses hell-for-leather up street and down, we got pretty nigh the lot, we thought, bunched in a quiet street, and eventually going quietly along the country road. How many we’d lost we couldn’t tell. That remained for the check-up through the depot shute.
“Well, finally we got ‘em turned into the lane below here. By then, Yank, Digger, and I had worked up ahead so as to report to the old depot C.O. He, with his staff and some civilian orderlies with lanterns met us by the depot gate. And wasn’t that old brass hat in a state?
“‘What’s the meaning of all this,’ he raps out, ‘Galloping these horses through the streets of Southampton. Disgraceful,’ he says, ‘Unheard of.’ And he went on to say the police had telephoned him about us, and that he’d already reported the matter to Remount H.Q. ‘And heaven knows how many of these valuable horses you’ve lost,’ he winds up.
“I thought the old buffer would blow up at any moment. We could see his face getting’ redder and redder in the lantern lights.
“I told him then that I took full responsibility, and that we should get the horses up and counted through the shute. I said this mighty confident, hopin’ the count wouldn’t show more than ten missin’.
“Well we got the horses headin’ up to the shute. Yank and I halts at one side, and the old Colonel – still splutterin’ – posts himself with his staff at the other. Digger and the rest begin hazin’ the horses through. Now for it – I thought – and the count started.
“Close on 70 had gone through – which Yank tallies – and that seemed the lot. Things looked mighty black at that moment. ‘Looks as though a fifth of the horses are missin’ shouts the old brass-hat: and if there wasn’t a note of satisfaction in his voice I’ll eat my Stetson.
“And the, to our relief, along came quite a bunch of horses. That was Gringo and Digger, here, the old sons-of-a-gun, keepin’ ‘em back on purpose just to throw a scare into us up at the shute.
“And horses kept on comin’ – eighty, eighty-five, ninety – and still there were more to come! We could scarcely believe our luck. Looks as if we’ve got ‘em all, I shouts to Yank. But he was grinnin’ at the old Colonel, whose face we could see in the lantern light. He had his mouth open and his eyes half poppin’ out of his head.
“And then – well, we wish you had been there! Yank and I just bellows with laugher. For, on the count of ‘one hundred’, durned if there wasn’t more horses to come. Hundred and one-two-three, shouts Yank at the top of his voice, and went on countin’ to a hundred and seven.
“By then the rest of the boys had come up, and when they hear the total – well. You can imagine their yells. I hands the old brass-hat the guard’s duplicate receipt. ‘The joke’s on you, Colonel,’ I says. But he couldn’t say a word.”
Delighted back-slapping and chuckles greeted Buck’s story. But the big laugh came when someone ventured. “But – look here, Buck, didn’t you say that you gave the guard at the siding a receipt for only a hundred head?”
“Sure,” said Buck, he and the others choking with laugher. “But, don’t you see,” he went on, “we picked up, somewhere, seven horses on the way.”
Right up until the Second War, Tobin was a keen Frontiersman who was often at Frontiersmen summer camps with his friend Roger Pocock. There this yarn was one that would have been told again and again over a pipe of tobacco around the camp fire. As with other “camp-fire yarns”, other versions of the tale could often be given. In a letter to the Frontiersman in 1938, Arthur Marini gave his version of the story and confirmed that Frontiersmen were returning to England hoping to serve in an official Frontiersmen military unit.
“Our numbers were totally inadequate to cope with the task of doing things as Colonel Driscoll wanted them done. Hundreds of horses had to be handled daily, but each day brought Legionaries from all over the Empire. How we welcomed them, knowing the assistance they would render in building up a Remount Camp worthy of the Legion’s name.”
Marini then went on to tell either the same or a similar story to the one described by Tobin.
“Who can forget an occasion when the Camp received an S.O.S. at 4 a.m. on a Sunday morning, when most of the men were one leave, from the Railway authorities that 100 horses were in rail trucks having been en route since the day before, and that it was imperative that as speedy attention as possible be given them.
“Poor Dartnell was in charge that night.”
This is the only record found so far of Dartnell being in England. Tobin, who would have known all about the famous Legion V.C. hero, made no reference to him by name or by reputation when writing in 1949.
“The trumpeter sounded the ‘fall in’, but only 32 men turned out who were however considered enough to bring the 100 horses into camp, so we marched two and a half miles down to Swaythling Station…”
Marini’s story is that the horses were at the nearby station and not at Southampton Docks, however he also wrote of a stampede.
“We saddled a horse apiece, and were getting away nicely when a stampede started, so Lieut. Dartnell gave the order for us to drive them back as you would cattle.”
Marini wrote that they then counted 102 in, but branded them all the following morning. On Monday, a local butcher called at the camp to see if they had his two horses which were missing from a field and which had obviously joined the stampede.
We are now able to add further to the story of the Remounts at Swaythling, Southampton, run by the Legion of Frontiersmen from the start of the First War until Lt.Col. Driscoll was ordered to form the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Frontiersmen) in early 1915. Jungle Jim’s memories deserve detailing in full. Although War Office records in the British National Archives curiously omit all mention of the Frontiersmen it is certain that the Frontiersmen were officially detailed to run Remounts Depots at Swaythling, Southampton and near Avonmouth. An army officer was posted in command at Swaythling, but the highly skilled Frontiersmen did the work. The depot at Swaythling was commanded by a regular cavalry Colonel who took a somewhat jaundiced view of “these b****y Colonials”. The full reminiscences of the late “Jungle Jim” Biddulph-Pinchard have just come to light regarding the Swaything remounts. Jungle Jim was a boy at the time, but his father, Robert Biddulph-Pinchard, was the c.o. of the Hants and Wilts Squadron, Legion of Frontiersmen. Robert was stopping with his wife and his two sons Jim and Bob at the home of Legion Capt Arnold in Hillhead, Hants, when Frontiersman Pat Keane, who ran the remount stables in Shirley, rode up to the house with a led horse, to inform Jungle Jim’s father that war had been declared. He immediately mounted and rode back to Southampton to mobilise the Legion Squadron. Capt. Arnold, who was the 2i/c, rode back to Wickham to change into uniform and report for duty.
Jungle Jim’s account of the drive of horses from the docks to the camp differs from others, such as Vahd W (Bill) Tobin’s, most notably in the number of horses and who was in charge. However many horses there actually were, the story is a great tale of Frontiersmen initiative and Jungle Jim’s account written in his own style is a splendid one. In 1981 Jungle Jim went to meet Mr H G Thew who as an 11 year old boy in 1914 had spent much of his spare time at the Frontiersmen camp. The two men re-traced the route taken by the horses and some notable places of interest near the camp. Some of their photographs are reproduced with this item.
In 1914 Lieut Colonel D.P. (Dan) Driscoll, DSO, famous as the leader of Driscoll’s Scouts – known affectionately throughout South Africa as “Driscoll’s Scallywags”, who did a magnificent job as Scouts and Mounted Infantry against the Boers, offered the Home Command as a complete force for active service as a “commando” unit. The Government were not interested, but did allow us to form the two great Remount Depots at Avonmouth and Southampton.
“Dan” Driscoll was a great personal friend of my mother and father, and many an hour he sat on the floor with me and told me wonderful stories of war, big game hunting of Courteney Selous, the greatest naturalist and White Hunter, and of the native tribes!!
Swaythling Park, a beautiful place of greensward, stately oaks, beeches, horse chestnuts, elms and the darker fir and pine trees, also rough ‘shooting’ pastures, coppice and hedge. I can remember as a small boy the long straight lines of tents, dressed to perfection, the big mess marquee, the headquarters, cookhouse and open fire which we sat round after the evening meal and sang talked and smoked until ‘Lights Out’. I remember the horse lines, the smell of hay, horse and sweaty horse blankets drying in the sun, of shoeing when the farriers dealt with both Troop and Remount horses, the ‘corral’ where the horse breaking and training took place, the bucking horses, sun fishing around the posts, the dust, the noise and the hard riding men ‘fading’ the horses with their hats as they clung like limpets to their backs – spills and knocks were frequent, but the work of breaking and training the horses for use in the Army went on without cessation. I remember the parades, the Union Jack and the Hants Squadron flag flying from their respective flag poles, the reveille at Retreat, the bugle’s sobbing notes, the comradeship, and the wonderful tales told to a small boy who loved every minute of it and made up his mind then and there that one day when he grew up he would be a Frontiersman also.
…the greatest day came one Sunday when the camp commandant, who was a regular Hussar officer, sent for my father, informed him that there were 600 heavy draft horses arriving at the docks station, and ordered my father to fetch them up to the depot at once. It was pointed out to the Commandant that my father had only six men available, everyone else was breaking and training horses, but the commandant did not want to know, and repeated his order that the 600 horses were to be brought up at once “Ak Dum” and the “Aker” the “Dummer”!!
“Very good, sir”, said my father, saluting. “We will leave immediately.” So, seven men, Canadians, Australians and ex-cavalrymen armed with stock whips mounted up and rode down to the station. Then it happened! – the episode that was to make Legion history in Southampton and which was the “talk of the town” for many a year afterwards.
My father turned the 600 horses loose and proceeded to drive them through the town back to the depot, a distance of approximately 8-9 miles with the seven hard-riding, whooping Frontiersmen urging them on from the flank and rear, the Old Man leading. The peaceful Sunday afternoon was shattered as the herd rambled along the High Street, down through Portswood, over the River Itchen by Cobden Bridge and then up to Swaythling Park. There were pedestrians running round corners to get out of the way, cyclists dispersing in all directions, tramcars brought to a standstill as the herd swept by on either side, householders at their windows and doorways gasping with amazement or cheering wildly as the horses trotted by, in and out of some gardens! – along the pavements and the roadway, moving like a heavy brigade of cavalry, advancing inexorably, like some many-legged juggernaut! At Portswood one rash police constable in a brave but foolhardy attempt to stem the tide rushed into the middle of the road, raised his arms, hesitated, and then climbed up the nearest lamppost before being engulfed! He was shouting at my father who said afterwards that he could not hear what was said because of the noise and, from the look on his face, it was perhaps just as well!
Again, crossing Cobden Bridge, bystanders were climbing on to the rail and one chap also imitated the policeman by taking refuge up a lamppost. Whilst on the country road to Swaythling, the herd swept into fields, farms and a cowshed and, on arrival at the depot there were 612 horses, 2 cows and a goat that had somehow joined the procession!
The Commandant’s face was a picture – what he said was unprintable! I gathered from my father that the C.C. was not amused at the mile long queue next morning of aggrieved citizens claiming cows, goats, horses and compensation for trampled gardens etc etc etc. My father said “I have carried out your order, sir”, which was unanswerable! An epic – and no-one but Frontiersmen could have done it – may good luck and fortune attend them and their colours wherever they proudly fly. The old names return, Capt. Arnold, Sgt Scot, F/man Pat Keene, Tom Bulbeck, the brothers Arthur and Swinton Hewet, ‘Lanky’ Lawrence and many others too numerous to mention – most of whom had crossed the Great Divide by the end of the War.
After the Remount Camp at Swaythling, the Squadron were assigned to guard duty on the Common in Southampton. This area was used as a transit camp for troops on their way to France. The Guardroom tent and camp was at the main entrance to the Common, opposite the Cowherds public house, a small countrified beer house, which by the 1980s had changed to an up-to-date hotel with expensive food and good liquor, a complete change from the zinc counter oil lamps and wooden benches of the 1915 era.
Those sunny summer days and later the rain wind and snow, the long columns of infantry marching four abreast, their faces in quiet repose, thoughts away back with their families, or singing full-throated as the regiments went by – Tipperary, Long Long Trail a-winding, Roses of Picardy, Little Grey Home in the West, to name a few. The jingle of harness and rumble of the artillery, RAMC ambulances, and the horse-drawn pontoon bridges of the Royal Engineers – a country going to war! I remember it all so vividly. My mother working in a Red Cross canteen, my father in command of the guard, the sing-songs around the fire at night, the assistance given to the lads who had had ‘ a drop over the eight’ and were attempting to find their regimental lines, the sadness, the laughter that was near tears, the splendid singing of the troops as they went off to the Front.
The Legion did a wonderful job, patrolling the area at all times, checking civilian passes, supplying information, assisting with the horse transport, the unloading of fodder, attendance of local blacksmiths and many other details too numerous, but under it all was the eternal question – when are we going to really take part in this war? I remember Colonel Driscoll inspecting the guard camp, and saying that he was doing everything possible to get us moving. Then members were making their own arrangements. At last my father was commissioned into the 13th battalion the Essex Regiment as their transport officer. He always swore that he got the job because he could tie a load on a mule in a ‘diamond hitch’. He had learned this in Canada!
Harry Thew found the Frontiersmen’s uniform a romantic sight. He first made contact with them when they rode their horses down to the Brook Inn at Hampton Park close to where he lived. This was the terminus of the tram system and the start of the shopping district. Of course, the real interest to the Frontiersmen was the Brook Inn and young Harry would hold their horses for them while they visited the Brook Inn and occasionally the shops. At times the Frontiersmen would ride down on a little two-horse cart similar to those seen in old western films. From these contacts Harry contrived to get himself a job cleaning boots, riding tack and shoulder chains “for the noble sum of sixpence a week, a free supply of Chicles chewing gum, a new thing then, and breakfast of sausage bacon and beans and fried bread and ‘cawfee’ or ‘char’.” This meant getting up at 5.30, creeping out of the house and walking the mile and a half to the camp, returning un-noticed in time to get to school by 9 o’clock. He also spent weekends and evenings at the camp. Life at the camp was very exciting for an 11 year-old who could wander around at will and see all that was going on everywhere.
and above all the breaking in area, full of dust, sweat, spills and bad language, most of which I was not able to understand for many years after, and of course an occasional stampede to liven things up for when this occurred there was a general call-out of all camp personnel by a bugle call. I met some colourful characters of which I recall Long Buck from one of the Southern States of the U.S.A. and Pedro from one of the Latin countries, always good for a banjo solo: Cocky, a Londoner an ex-jockey the comedian of the crowd: Paddy the big Irish blacksmith who could pick me up with one hand and the cook who, I am afraid, I have forgotten his name, perhaps I was more interested in his grub.
Thew remembered the big run of horses but he was more vague about the numbers. He clearly remembered sitting on a wall opposite the Brook Inn to watch, but he gave the numbers as between 200 and 700. We may probably never know the exact number of horses in that famous run and who were the Frontiersmen involved, but however many horses were involved, it is a great Frontiersmen yarn.
The photographs accompanying this article show their original captions as written in his album by V.W. Tobin.
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New Colorado Radio Station K-HIGH Devotes All Airtime To Marijuana
Willie Nelson getting into the marijuana business
A Colorado radio station has become the first and only station in North America to dedicate its airtime exclusively to marijuana — and calls itself (wait for it) K-HIGH.
Three weeks ago, K-HIGH was a Fox Sports affiliate, but its station owners wanted to try something different. They decided to capitalize on the growing popularity of marijuana after the state legalized recreational use last January.
“A lot of us went into it with a little bit of apprehension that first day,” said Len Williams, K-HIGH program director. “But after it was explained and after we saw some of the positives benefits from it, we thought ‘we’re going to take the keys to this Ferrari and we’re going to rev it up.'”
Williams says the station will cover marijuana issues locally, nationally and even internationally.
“I sincerely doubt if we will run into any show or any host that’s going to come in front of the mic and say I have absolutely nothing to talk about. I believe we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface.”
According to Williams, the station is being run according to Federal Communications Commission guidelines and promises there will be no cursing or vulgarity.
“We are a radio station. We want to be as professional as possible and show people that we have a product that can be talked about intelligently.”
Williams says K-HIGH is taking precautions to ensure any young people listening to the station do not get the wrong impression.
“The number one thing we thought of when we actually started putting programming together was we have to use a disclaimer up saying that the programming we have is for ages 21 and up. We have that playing at the very least twice maybe three times an hour.”
The station is just over a week old and Williams says the station already has 15,000 streams on its website.
To celebrate 4/20, K-HIGH had correspondents at every major event in Colorado, including the Cannabis Cup in Denver.
“The unofficial holiday was going to be there regardless. We’re just happy to be the drum major at the front of the parade,” said Williams.
To listen to the full interview with program director Len Williams, listen to the audio labelled K-HIGH
Tech Workers Fuel San Jose Medical Marijuana Scene, Employers Give Up on Drug Screening
Medical marijuana industry draws interest, and caution abounds
Discovery Bets on 2 Dope Series About Pot Growers
Pot spray promises women better sex
State liquor board would allow 3 Kent marijuana retail stores
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You are browsing: All Watching You
Foyalty 27
Watching You (Paperback)
Lisa Jewell
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YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WATCHING `Page one intrigued me. Page three hooked me. By page five, I was consumed. This compulsive, propulsive novel is both a seize-you-by-the-throat thriller and a genuinely moving family drama. Stellar.' - A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window _______________ You're back home after four years working abroad, new husband in tow. You're keen to find a place of your own. But for now you're crashing in your big brother's spare room. That's when you meet the man next door. He's the head teacher at the local school. Twice your age. Extraordinarily attractive. You find yourself watching him. All the time. But you never dreamed that your innocent crush might become a deadly obsession. Or that someone is watching you. _______________ Family secrets, illicit passion and an unexplained murder? It can only be the gripping new novel from Lisa Jewell, #1 bestselling author of Then She Was Gone. _______________ 'I was totally gripped by this excellent psychological thriller. Set in Bristol, it opens with a dead body, then moves into the head of Joey, a newly-married 27-year-old who gets a sudden crush on one of her new neighbours, which quickly becomes obsessive. Hugely enjoyable.' - Marian Keyes, author of The Break 'If you only pick one summer read this year, make it Watching You. I inhaled it in one sitting. A gripping plot, characters you love but can't trust, and a thumping emotional heart, Lisa Jewell has done it again.' - Sarah Pinborough, author of Behind Her Eyes and 13 Minutes 'If you loved The Woman in The Window and The Girl on the Train then this is for you!' - the Hotlist, U Magazine 'Then She Was Gone was my favourite thriller last year and this is even better. Brilliantly plotted and impossible to put down, it kept me guessing until the very end.' - Alice Feeney, author of Sometimes I Lie 'She's done it again! Lisa Jewell has penned the page-turner of the summer. Emotionally-engrossing and utterly compelling, with a mystery that keeps you gripped until the last heart-wrenching page.' - Tammy Cohen, author of They All Fall Down 'Jewell writes wonderfully engaging characters who weave plausibly tangled webs and the whodunit was largely incidental until the closing pages. She masterfully draws all her threads together, throwing in some cunning twists for good measure...The countdown is on for the next Lisa Jewell novel.' - Daily Express `A finely drawn domestic thriller.' - India Knight
Fiction & Poetry Crime & Thrillers Publisher: Cornerstone Publication Date: 24/01/2019 ISBN-13: 9781784756277 Details: Type: Paperback Format: Books
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Lisa Jewell was born in London. Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was published in 1999. It was the best-selling debut novel of the year. Since then she has published another sixteen novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls and Then She Was Gone (both of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks). Lisa is a top ten New York Times and number one Sunday Times author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two daughters, two cats, two guinea pigs and the best dog in the world.
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Then She Was Gone
To Catch a Killer: Enter the mind of ...
Emma Kavanagh
Deceived: THE BRAND NEW NOVEL. No one...
Roberta Kray
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Nick Bridgman Principal Associate
Email: nick.bridgman@gowlingwlg.com
Primary office: Birmingham
Shopping Centres & Retail Parks
Nick Bridgman
Nick Bridgman helps clients get on site as soon as possible so that they can undertake their fit out and begin trading. This is really important for retailers, especially those who have an ambitious acquisitions programme. Clients are often under tight time constraints and don't appreciate legal documents getting in the way of trade - every day a retailer isn't open for trade is lost profit, however, there will inevitably be issues (both legal and commercial) which cause delays.
Speaking regularly to clients to keep them informed of the latest position and encouraging other solicitors to deal with problems on the phone as soon as they arise helps expedite exchange/completion.
"I originally started out in the firm's real estate litigation team, which gave me a great grounding for asset management and retail work. I enjoy the fast pace of retail transactions and being able to give commercial solutions to clients on a daily basis. While my main focus is working for retailers and landlords, I have experience in development and technology - this has broadened my experience to include land purchases, options and CPOs."
Helping a market-leading high street opticians open stores with some very tricky landlords. The in-house surveyors at the client are frequently under a lot of pressure to complete a lease and begin fit-out works, so that trade can begin. The team for this particular client is small but focused. Nick is the most junior member of the team but deals with all aspects of a file, not just undertaking title due diligence.
Working on the expansion of a UK airport is a rare opportunity, and one which includes many challenges. However, the partner he assisted allowed Nick the freedom to develop as a lawyer on this large transaction, which has given him an insight into a different aspect of real estate transactions.
Retailers, pub companies, large institutional investors, data centre operators and a private trust.
Outside work
Having read music at university, I'm still a keen musician. After singing with Christchurch Cathedral Choir, New Zealand for a year, I returned back home to sing with the Birmingham Cathedral Choir, who go on tours across the UK and Europe.
Along with my brother Rob (who works in our real estate litigation team), I run the firm's choir. In the last five years we've raised over £10,000 for the firm's various nominated charities and in 2014 we won the inaugural Legal Harmony competition in Southwark Cathedral.
Acting for major grocery retailers on convenience and superstore acquisitions within tight timescales.
Disposals of pub properties for a major national pub chain. Private sales sometimes fell through at the last minute, which meant quickly producing the necessary documents to prepare the sale for auction.
Acting for a market-leading high street opticians on their acquisitions programme.
Undertaking a particularly complex title investigation in conjunction with planning lawyers for the expansion of a UK airport using the company's CPO powers.
Gowling WLG (UK), principal associate
Gowling WLG (UK), senior associate
Gowling WLG (UK), associate
Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, Associate
Wragge & Co, trainee
Wragge & Co, paralegal in real estate litigation
LLB, College of Law, Birmingham
BA Hons, Music, University of Nottingham
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TZ USA TEXAS AUSTIN
City of Austin, Capital of Texas, USA
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Known for its casual and playful nature, Austin is the playground of Texas. Situated at the centre of the Lone Star State, it stands as the gateway to the Texas Hill Country and the Highland Lakes. As the state capital and home to the University of Texas, the city supports a politically charged and culturally rich environment. It's hip, trendy, and high-tech. A large creative population-primarily musicians and artists-enhance its eclectic nature.
Austin Capitol:
Taller than the US Capitol, the Texas State Capitol and Capitol Grounds are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and a favourite spot for the locals as well.
Other nearby sights within easy walking distance include the Governor's Mansion and the new Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.
The Texas State Capitol looks South down Congress Avenue. 11th Street runs East-West past the front gates. Colorado and San Jacinto Streets border it to the West and East.
Blessed with a temperate year-round climate and 300 days of sunshine a year, Austin lives for the outdoors. Nature trails, parks and wilderness preserves create an oasis in the heart of the city.
Town Lake bisects the centre of downtown and is bordered by 10 miles of hike-and-bike trails where devoted joggers, walkers and cyclists flock every hour of the day.
Texas Austin Texas Time Austin Airport Austin Map Texas Time Texas Counties Texas Map Texas Counties Abilene, Texas Amarillo, Texas Arlington, Texas Beaumont, Texas Brownsville, Texas Brownwood Texas Carrollton, Texas College Station, Texas Corpus Christi, Texas Dallas, Texas El Paso, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Garland, Texas Grand Prairie, Texas Highland Park, Texas Houston, Texas Irving, Texas Kerrville Texas Lampasas Texas Laredo, Texas Lubbock, Texas Marble Falls Texas McAllen, Texas Mesquite, Texas Pasadena, Texas Plano, Texas San Angelo, Texas San Antonio, Texas The Woodlands, Texas Waco, Texas Wichita Falls, Texas
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Start Podcast Miss Djax – Groove Podcast 200
Miss Djax – Groove Podcast 200
Kristoffer Cornils
Photo: Press (Miss Djax)
Saskia Slegers wears her legacy on her sleeve, literally speaking. Dressed in a Djax Records longsleeve, her down-to-earth attitude creates somewhat of a stark contrast in the otherwise the aesthetically shrill design hotel she is staying in. The walls are adorned with glittering portraits of pop stars, and in the somewhat tackily designed bar area someone plays acoustic guitar to a mildly interested audience sipping on cocktails, waiting to leave and enjoy some of Berlin’s nightlife activities. Not far from here, Slegers played on the most important gigs of her life at MayDay 27 years ago. It would make Miss Djax internationally known for her uncompromising, belting techno sound. She regularly played at the city’s annual Love Parade while releasing many records on Djax Records that are now regarded undisputed classics. Tonight, she is in the city to play Berghain for the first time ever as part of the 20th anniversary of CTM Festival.
It’s not the only birthday being celebrated this year. The legacy of Djax Records, founded in 1989, is currently being cherished by the Dutch Dekmantel label with a compilation series comprising classic material. For Slegers, the round anniversary however is not per se special, she points out. Even though is in high demand these days, she knows very well that hypes come and go. „If the hip thing is over in a few years, I’ll still be doing this,“ she says. „Sometimes you’re hot, sometimes you’re not.“ Still she enjoys meeting new fans who were not even born when she released some of the most seminal records in dance music, or having the chance to share the decks with old friends. The name Miss Djax is almost synonymous with persistence, which somewhat fittingly is CTM’s motto this year. Her contribution to our Groove podcast proves even further that she herself hasn’t lost a iota of energy throughout the past 40 years she has been standing behind the decks. It is of course, a belting all-vinyl mix that serves as a reminder that this is a DJ who has the terms „TR-303“ and „Techno“ tattooed on her forearms.
Tonight’s CTM event is called As If We Were Free. What does that mean to you – freedom?
For me, it means that you can do what you love, when you follow your heart. Freedom of expression, freedom of musical choice, the freedom to make your decisions and to follow your own path. It’s a luxury if you can do that because if you were born on the wrong side of the world, you do not have much to choose and you do not have much freedom. We’re all lucky to have what we have in this democracy. For me personally, with Djax, it is about following my path – which I’ve always done. I have never cared if I would sell any of the records, if people would like it or not. I liked it, so I signed and released it.
As a record label, Djax has always been stylistically very diverse. It is remarkable that you released so many hip hop records, even though as a DJ you came from funk and disco via electro and hip hop to house.
(laughs) I was asked that question a lot back then – ‘How can you do hip hop and house together’? It was two different scenes back then and they did not fit. Hip hoppers didn’t like house and some house heads didn’t like hip hop. But actually – hip hop, hip house, there was a connection of hip hop growing into house. But like you said, I started with playing disco in 1979 when there was no house yet. I entered the house scene in a completely different way than many other DJs. Sometimes interviewers ask me, ‘How did you get into house music? In which club did you hear house for the first time, which DJs did inspire you?’ None of that! In the eighties I was working in a record shop and I always was looking for new stuff for the shop, which was an underground store. That was how I got into new music, also for my DJ sets – I was always looking for new styles, new things happening. It was a logical progression for me from disco to funk to new wave to EBM to electro, hip hop, hip house etc. It was an evolution that led to house and acid techno. I liked hip hop, so the first Djax release was a hip hop album. Then I discovered a group rapping in Dutch, which I found very special because nobody was doing that at the time. Very explicit lyrics, I received a lot of comments on that. ‘How can you release that, it’s female-unfriendly!’ The Dutch radio even boycotted it. But it was something new and something different – why not give it a chance? There’s a huge scene in Holland now for Dutch hip hop.
That was the first so-called Nederhop release. Do you still follow that scene?
No. I stopped around 2001 because Nederhop was getting really commercial and going in a direction that was totally not my thing. The stuff that I released was raw, underground and hard.
You haven’t stopped running Djax, but kept a very low profile since the early 00s.
That was partly because of the digital era. When the CD came, vinyl sales were already low. CDs are not my thing, you know, and then the internet came – illegal downloads, and all that. It wasn’t interesting to me anymore to run a large record label because you don’t work towards a physical product anymore. Nowadays being a record label is uploading tracks online and do social media stuff. Once in a while I release something, on vinyl or digital. A few weeks ago I released a new EP from Junk Project, but it’s only digital.
Sure, but there is a market for vinyl.
Since a few years it’s coming back yes, vinyl is hip again, but still you don’t sell much and it takes so much time to press a record now because the pressing plants are overflown with all those re-releases from major labels which sadly causes that the underground labels, of which many never stopped supporting vinyl, have to wait up to four months maybe to release them – and then sell around 300 copies at best. Also the prices at the pressing plants keep on raising. A digital release goes much faster, you can get it in the online shops within a few days. But the problem is that every week thousands of tracks are being released on the internet which will already be forgotten in the week after. Everybody is making music, everybody is DJing.
And how is it with your own productions?
I’m not doing much at the moment, the last album was Flight 303 three years ago. This year I will release a 12” for the 30th anniversary of Djax. I’m thinking of some sort of anthem, maybe together with Junk Project, one of my favourite acid producers from Germany. But I never plan something. When I feel like doing it, I will do it, but if I don’t, I don’t. I didn’t plan a lot of things for the anniversary, because I see it as just another year. I’m not too attached to these kinds of things.
What then makes you go into the studio?
I must feel that I want to do it, I have to be inspired, but at the moment I don’t have so much time for it because I’m doing a lot of other nice things. I also like to travel, not the traveling that I do as a DJ, but to explore the world. I also like to photograph. I was thinking of DJing less but the requests keep coming and coming. I was hoping it would slow down, but it doesn’t! It’s probably due to the nineties revival. (laughs)
What drew you to DJing in the first place? You were still a teenager when you decided that you wanted to do it.
Just to be the chain, the connection between new, exciting underground dance music and the audience. That could be as a DJ in a club or on the radio, or by working in a record shop, playing in a band or running a record company. I did all those things. It was about hunting for new music and letting people hear it.
But you have said that you haven’t been buying new music for years now.
Yes, that’s true. laughs. In the last 5 years, I have only been buying a few new records. The reason is that I have so many great records from the nineties which I am still playing that I decided that I don’t need anymore new records. Also for the new generation ravers that come to my gigs, these old records are new. And because I only play vinyl most new stuff is not suitable for me anyway because it’s only available in digital format. But as I said it’s no problem because there is enough amazing music from the nineties out there.
But don’t you sometimes feel like going to a record store, hoping that something there will surprise you?
Of course I sometimes do that, but then where do you find me? In the classics section! (laughs)
But you probably have all these!
That’s true, but sometimes I find stuff that I do not have and also I didn’t keep all my records. And some records I need to buy again because I played them so much that they are not useful anymore – I am not so careful with my records when I play. (laughs) I am not a collector, my records are my tools so they get really used. But sometimes I’m curious about recent acid stuff, like Regal and Boston 168.
Throughout the past 30 years, you have mainly worked with Alan Oldham as an illustrator, which gave Djax a very coherent aesthetics. What is your working relationship like?
That’s a long time, isn’t it? It all started with a demo he sent me under his Signal To Noise Ratio alias. I saw the name and was like ‘Ah! That’s the guy who does the illustrations for Transmat!’ I told him that I wanted to release his tracks (the Detroit Is Burning EP was released in 1991) and asked him if he wanted to do illustrations for Djax. He agreed and made hundreds of them until today, including five comics. It was very easy to work together in the nineties. There was no internet, but connections were easily made. When I went to Chicago and Detroit, I met everyone. I would just phone up or fax people telling them I’ll be in Detroit and if we could hook up somewhere. So we did, exchanged records and talked for a bit. Nowadays, that seems hard!
Why that?
There’s too much of everything! Too many labels, too many DJs. Some DJs now have managers or other people in between, they receive too many e-mails and messages. It’s too much! Before, it was just the phone, and everyone knew each other anyhow. You had Derrick from Transmat, Richie and John from Plus 8, Mike Banks and Underground Resistance, Jeff Mills…
A tighter scene than today.
Very tight! It still is when you see each other now. It’s something that stays forever. That’s a good feeling, it’s still special because you have a bond. And many of them are still playing – Laurent Garnier, Carl Cox, Richie… Everyone is still on the road!
It must be exhausting however, to be on tour consistently for 30 years.
It’s not like you’re 30 years on tour. Of course in the nineties, I was going somewhere every weekend, Friday and Saturday, to this country and that country. And then from Monday to Friday, I would take care of the record label. Every Friday, I would take home a huge box of demos to listen to at home. It was a really hectic time. Every day when I would come into the office, there were meters of fax paper all over the floor and it took a whole hour to check the answering machine. Nowadays I only spend a little time on the label. I am doing my bookings by myself, and it’s a maximum of three weekends a month. I don’t want to play every weekend anymore, so I must really say no to a lot of offers. That’s also a sort of freedom!
The freedom to say no – something that a lot of young DJs these days do not feel they actually have.
I think for today’s DJs it’s really hard to set yourself apart and stick out. There’s just too many, which therefore makes it hard to stick out – everybody has a label, everybody is a DJ, everybody is producing music. Back in the days, when you didn’t have the records, you couldn’t play them. And if you got the promos, you and maybe ten or 20 other DJs had them, too, at best. Now you can go online, find a list of all the classics, download them and play a classics set. Very easy. There’s not much evolvement in that.
But how could techno possibly evolve?
That’s always the question, isn’t it? In the beginning, everybody was saying ‘Ah, in ten years this will be over!’ and ten years later everybody said that it would be over in ten years from then. How can it evolve… It’s logical that things go in circles, that everything goes back to the best or to the beginning but then maybe a bit slower or faster or harder or more minimalistic. It moves in waves. Acid is very hot again at the moment. But how can techno evolve? I don’t know! So much has been done already.
But your fascination with acid still persists. What drew you to it?
I think the trippiness and strangeness drew me to it. The… (imitates an acid sound) It’s different and spacey. I’ve always liked things that were different and I still love the trippiness of it. Even without drugs, because I don’t do drugs.
How is it to have a completely sober experience of an audience which is, well, not sober at all?
(laughs) It’s fine with me that they are on drugs because they probably have a very deep experience, although I don’t need it all. The acid sound is enough already. I was never someone who would go to parties to stay for eight, ten, twelve hours. I also haven’t been drinking any alcohol for years, so I’m totally clean. The music is the drug for me.
Follow Miss Djax on Facebook or check out her website. Junk Project’s Relapse EP is out now digitally on Apple Music and Beatport.
Stream: Miss Djax – Groove Podcast 200
01. The Art of Trance – Cambodia (Trope Remix)
02. Random XS – Give Your Body
03. Phuture – We are Phuture
04. Acid Masters – The Unknown
05. Science Wonder – Phrequenzy
06. Riccardo Rocchi – Acid Pill
07. MisjahRoon – Shake your Ass
08. Essential Age – Essential Age
09. Peacemaker – Adventures
10. Aquaplex – Instinct
11. DJ Misjah – Cocaine
12. Major North – Annihilate
13. Tetra Pack 2 – Life line
14. Laurent Garnier – Wake Up
15. Voyager 8 – Transistor Rhythm
16. Yaka Suki – Power Cult
17. Ovilon – Coded Message
18. I/D – White Label
19. F.U.S.E – F.U.
20. Aquaplex – Victim
Alan Oldham
CTM Festival
Djax Records
Groove Podcast
Junk Project
Miss Djax
Vorheriger ArtikelChristian Conrad von Rechenzentrum ist tot
Nächster ArtikelAm Start: Tryphème
D. Tiffany – Groove Podcast 216
Justin Cudmore – Groove Podcast 215
Nightwave – Groove Podcast 214
VONDA7 – Groove Podcast 212
Heart of Noise 2019: Ein ästhetisches Wechselbad
Newa – Groove Podcast 211
Nikita Zabelin – Groove Podcast 210
Cressida – Groove Podcast 209
Janina – Groove Podcast 208
Mark – Groove Podcast 206
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Goodrich Presents Next-Generation Low-Cost Camera Gimbal for Helicopter Market
26 Feb, 10, Source: Goodrich
Goodrich Corporation is demonstrating a low-cost family of stabilized surveillance camera gimbals for the helicopter market that provides enhanced information-gathering capability to budget-pressured cities, businesses and armed forces. The gimbal system, part of the TASE family, is produced by Goodrich’s ISR Systems team from the Hood River, Ore.-based Cloud Cap Technology, Inc. business that was acquired by Goodrich in May, 2009.
The TASE gimbal system consists of a lightweight stabilized camera gimbal, software and a FAA-approved mount for the aircraft. The TASE system collects video during flight that can be displayed in real-time in the cockpit, reducing pilot workload, enhancing safety and reducing costs; images are also recorded for future playback.
“The Goodrich TASE system brings significant surveillance and inspection advantages to helicopter operators in smaller municipalities and businesses. These capabilities have previously been available only to cities and organizations with large capital budgets,” said Mark Zanmiller, director of business development for Cloud Cap Technology. “Configurable video and map displays for the operator or pilot, combined with autonomous tracking and anomaly tagging, reduce flight crew workload. Images are recorded and synchronized with GPS image position, so precise pinpointing for follow-up happens automatically. We anticipate a great demand for this affordable system to enhance a myriad of commercial and military helicopter missions including infrastructure inspection, forestry and coastline surveillance, firefighting and border patrol.”
Goodrich’s commercial customers for the new TASE system range from energy companies that use it for gas pipeline inspection to local law enforcement officials who use it to track potential criminals and support police officers on the ground.
Goodrich helicopter technology, including the TASE gimbal system, will be on display at the HELI EXPO(R), stand 3207, February 21-23, 2010 in Houston, Texas. More information about the TASE gimbal system can be found at www.cloudcaptech.com.
Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities. For more information, visit http://www.goodrich.com.
Goodrich Corporation operates through its divisions and as a parent company for its subsidiaries, one or more of which may be referred to as “Goodrich Corporation” in this press release.
Tags: Civil, Filming, Goodrich, News, Top
Ipswich Hospital helipad marks first anniversary
Meghalaya State Government to extend helicopter service?
London’s Air Ambulance treats 40,000th patient
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Ariana Grande Fans Discovered Secret ‘Breathin’ Message by Playing Song in Reverse
Theo Wargo, Getty Images
The FBI might consider Ariana Grande fans as a source of new recruitment — Arianators have uncovered a secret message in "breathin," the fan-favorite track off of Grande's latest LP Sweetener.
The song, which speaks to Grande's anxiety and panic, includes the lyrics "Feel my blood runnin', swear the sky's fallin' / How do I know if this s---'s fabricated? / Time goes by and I can't control my mind / Don't know what else to try, but you tell me every time."
But, fans have since picked up on the fact that if you play the song's beginning in reverse, you get a secret message by a deep voice that says: "Tonight’s your special night, do something magical."
More, expert Ari-sleuths seem to have deduced that it's the speech of Ari's grandfather, who died in 2014.
And since the discovery, fans have been absolutely incredulous that Ari could have snuck something so beautiful into a song that's so starkly personal.
"Now this, this song is the most special song to me ever from ariana. i’m sobbing," one Twitter follower noted, while another said "oh my god grandpa grande possibly being in breathin, a song about ariana’s anxiety and panic attacks and pain, just makes me so insanely happy."
Listen to the full version of the track below, pair it with the snippet above and tell us if you think the theory checks out!
Ariana Grande + Pete Davidson Were All Over Each Other at the VMAs (PHOTOS)
Source: Ariana Grande Fans Discovered Secret ‘Breathin’ Message by Playing Song in Reverse
Filed Under: Ariana Grande, Music
Categories: Entertainment, Music News
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Best Toys Lists
Kylo Ren Black Series Helmet Review
Kylo Ren Helmet Black Series Product Features
Pros of the Kylo Ren Black Series Helmet
The details are spot on.
It’s great for role-playing and perfect as a costume.
The quality makes it a good collectible item.
Cons of the Kylo Ren Black Series Helmet
The fit-adjustment straps and noise piece may be constraining.
Kylo Ren Voice Changer Helmet Issues With The Voice Changer
Kylo Ren Black Series Helmet Review Conclusion
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was the unsurprising hit of Christmas 2015 when the movie was released. In this Kylo Ren Black Series Helmet Review, we take a look at one of the best toys to emerge based on the big bad of the movie.
When Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released in theaters, it made a new generation of kids fall in love with the Star Wars universe. It also to use a pun on the title, reawakened the imagination of its existing fan base. It also introduced us to a new lead villain of this next chapter in the story – Kylo Ren.
It’s not surprising that toy shelves and bestseller lists are filled to the brim with everything Star Wars. But out of all the new Star Wars toys, the Kylo Ren Voice Changer Helmet (The Black Series) is probably one of the coolest.
Click Here To Shop For This Toy
The Kylo Ren helmet is more than just a headpiece that will make you channel your inner sith lord. The new Episode VII movie introduced some pretty cool characters, and Kylo Ren is arguably the most intriguing.
Introduced early on as the villain for the new trilogy, everything about Kylo Ren is an ode to the iconic Darth Vader, from his helmet to his all-black outfit and his red lightsaber. But he is more than meets the eye, and like the original trilogy it is soon revealed that he has familial links with the protagonists of the movie.
The mystery and tragedy of Kylo Ren’s character makes him really appealing, as well as having the mantle of his predecessor Darth Vader to live up to, so it’s no wonder his helmet is selling like hotcakes.
The Kylo Ren Helmet is unlike any other helmet you’ve ordered as a toy. Its details are quite realistic, down to the battle scars and visible ‘imperfections’ that are peppered throughout the helmet.
I was quite impressed as it really looks like a helmet that came from seeing service in the course of battle. It’s made of tough plastic, but because it has a very smooth chrome finish it doesn’t look cheap at all.
These are some of the key product features that you can expect from the Kylo Ren Black Series Helmet:
The helmet is 8.5 x 10.8 x 12.5 inches and weighs 2.2 pounds.
The realistic details make it a movie-accurate reproduction, which means that from neck up, you’ll really look like Kylo Ren from the movies.
Because this is part of the Black Series, it’s a full headpiece (front and back) and not just a half mask.
The helmet comes with fit-adjustment straps, which helps it fit snugly onto smaller heads.
There’s a switch that you can turn on to change your voice so that you sound like Kylo Ren when you speak, and for this feature you’ll need 3 1.5V AA Alkaline batteries.
As far as helmets go, this is one of the most realistic. It’s far from cheap-looking, so you really know that you got what you paid for. Having the attention to battle damage detail incorporated into the design, makes it look more real.
Because of the accurate details, this helmet really makes the wearer channel his or her inner Kylo Ren. It works for kids chasing each around the house with helmets and lightsabers. But it also works great for adults for cosplay or costume party, or for a Halloween party. All you have to do is complete the Kylo Ren look with a lightsaber, gloves, and maybe even a full suit.
It’s really great as a toy, but it’s also good to keep in a helmet collection, because of its exceptional quality. The Black Series range of Toy Wars always has gems such as these when they are released and this is the best value for money Kylo Ren helmet on sale.
It works perfectly for kids, but adults or teenagers with bigger heads might need to remove the fit-adjustment straps altogether and just put some foam to achieve a snug fit. Also, when I tried on the helmet, the nose piece is exactly where I want it. However, some might need to adjust it for it to fit more comfortably.
The Kylo Ren voice changer is a really cool feature, but some people take issue to the volume of it. They feel that it is too noisy. For them, they feel that the voice that it produces is a bit too noisy and has too many sound vibrations.
The Pitch 4 setting in particular vibrates and picks up a lot of background noise. It’s a full front and back helmet so when you speak, you can really hear the sound and it’s a little too loud.
Tweaking / Fixing The Kylo Ren Voice Changer Helmet
The good news is that this voice changer issue can be fixed easily. You can watch the video at the end of this review to see a buyer demonstrate how the helmet works, the issue with the voice changer, and what he did to solve it.
Here are the three simple steps.
First, you need to remove the mouthpiece that looks like a bowl, which you’ll find behind the microphone. This is what picks up all the sound and makes it echo or rumble a tad too much.
You should then tape some foam around the microphone so that it absorbs the excess noise.
You can also place foam sheets in the helmet’s interiors to help drown out the excess noise.
Of course, while the fix is simple to do, it should also go without saying that if you do this, be aware that there is a possibility that doing so may invalidate your warranty. So only proceed if you are okay with that possibility.
Overall, the Kylo Ren helmet is a really cool toy and I would definitely recommend it. Star Wars masks and helmets that make noise are all the rage right now. Chewbacca Mom ramped that up even further thanks to her viral video of self-induced joy and laughter from wearing her now very popular and in demand Chewbacca mask.
There may be a minor issue with the voice for some out of the box, but it’s something that can be addressed easily. It’s nothing that has dented the popularity of this toy as one of the hottest toys for Christmas 2016. Thanks for reading our Kylo Ren Black Series Helmet Review.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_cJNajTYDM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2xZPnPQg9E
Video can’t be loaded: Kylo Ren Black Series Helmet cheap mic fix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2xZPnPQg9E)
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Hip Hop Album Sales: Metro Boomin's "Not All Heroes Wear Capes" Soars To No. 1 On Billboard 200
November 12, 2018 | 12:00 PM
by Kyle Eustice
Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Imagesfor YSL Beaute
Metro Boomin’s latest effort Not All Heroes Wear Capes has landed in the Billboard 200’s coveted spot for the week ending November 8. It marks the sought after beatsmith’s third studio album and first to hit No. 1.
Meanwhile, Takeoff’s first solo album The Last Rocket makes its debut in the Top 5 and Moneybagg Yo’s Reset cracks the Top 15.
NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES. DROP SOME ????? IF YOU READY
A post shared by Young Metro 3 Times (@metroboomin) on Oct 31, 2018 at 4:57pm PDT
Metro Boomin has soared to notoriety over the past couple of years and now, he has a No. 1 album to validate the hype.
With 98,924 total album equivalent units, 5,341 pure album sales and a streaming count of 125,280,916, Not All Heroes Wear Capes has nabbed the top spot.
Metro’s last album, 2017’s Double Or Nothing with Big Sean, debuted at No. 6 upon its release, reeling in roughly 50,000 total album equivalent units in its first week.
Read the Not All Heroes Wear Capes review here.
?NYC I Love You ?? Through Christ ALL Things Are Possible ?? #TheLastRocket?
A post shared by TakeOff? (@yrntakeoff) on Nov 9, 2018 at 11:28am PST
Takeoff’s inaugural solo album The Last Rocket has missed its target by only a few slots. Boasting 48,614 total album equivalent units, 4,603 pure album sales and a streaming count of 57,886,676, the project has hit the ground at No. 4.
Fellow Migos Quavo was the first to release a solo album with Quavo Huncho and Offset is expected to follow with a project of his own next month.
Read The Last Rocket review here.
Best caption.
A post shared by BreadGangBagg (@moneybaggyo) on Oct 28, 2018 at 11:40am PDT
Moneybagg Yo’s debut studio album Reset has hit the chart at No. 13 with 30,609 total album equivalent units, 4,668 pure album sales and a streaming count of 33,121,913.
The release follows several of the Memphis-bred rapper’s mixtapes, including this year’s 2 Heartless which was released in February and August’s Bet On Me.
Top 10 Billboard 200 Rap & R&B Albums For The Week Ending 11/08/2018
TONIGHT WE EAT. DROP SOME ????? IF YOU READY
A post shared by Young Metro 3 Times (@metroboomin) on Nov 1, 2018 at 5:19pm PDT
Note: The first number below is this week’s “total album equivalent units” count, an intersection of album sales, single sales, and streams implemented by Billboard’s new rating system. A pure album sales figure is available in bold in parenthesis and information about each album’s streaming count is available in brackets.
Metro Boomin — Not All Heroes Wear Capes — No. 1 — 98,924 (5,341) [125,280,916]
Takeoff — The Last Rocket — No. 4 — 48,614 (4,603) [57,886,676]
Drake — Scorpion — No. 5 — 44,918 (1,925) [57,968,422]
Lil Wayne — Tha Carter V — No. 6 — 43,186 (4,328) [50,310,556]
Lil Baby & Gunna — Drip Harder — No. 7 —41,171 (393) [59,197,777]
Travis Scott — Astroworld — No. 8 — 40,111 (1,629) [52,202,880]
Post Malone — Beerbongs & Bentleys — No. 10 — 38,809 (2,574) [49,354,664]
Moneybagg Yo — Reset — No. 13 — 30,609 (4,668) [33,121,913]
Future & Juice WRLD — WRLD ON DRUGS — No. 14 — 30,073 (1,162) [61,678,883]
Tory Lanez — Love Me Now? — No. 17 — 28,175 (1,231) [35,435,731]
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What was the single biggest mistake we made this season?
windermereROYAL
Re: What was the single biggest mistake we made this season?
by windermereROYAL » 12 Feb 2018 11:46
Promoting Gilkes to first team coach, good player and nice guy, but top class coach he certainly is not.
by genome » 12 Feb 2018 11:49
Old Man Andrews
Yep good shout, that was the time to do it. Possibly too late now, we just have to put up with it until summer.
I was thinking yesterday, if we do go down, I have the feeling that the Gourlay will still want to keep Stam, and see if he can turn it around in League One. Perish the thought, but I can really see that happening.
I would find it hard to believe the Stam or Gourlay have the bottle and stomach for League 1. We would have to literally press the reset button at the club and start from scratch with the youngsters and a manager who has experience of promotions in that league. Lets hope it doesn't come to that as we would be in financial ruin if we go down.
I imagine the first thing we'd do is cash in on Liam Moore at a much reduced price. Then try and thin out the wage bill. I do wonder who would end up staying.
While going down could be a springboard if we do well, there's always the risk of doing a Coventry or Leyton Orient and continue tumbling down. Not sure I could take ending up like Coventry tbh.
Location: The South of England
by Old Man Andrews » 12 Feb 2018 11:52
Moore, Swift, Kelly will all have their value cut by about half I would think should we go down. We would be in deep, deep sh*t financially, it is a scary thought. I see some people bang on about different away days etc but there is a serious risk of ending up like Coventry like you say.
Denver Royal
Hob Nob Subscriber
Location: Between Emmer Green duck pond and The White Horse
by Denver Royal » 12 Feb 2018 11:55
savage 4 england
savage 4 england Despite the problems with Stam, our squad is full of bang average players.
Who came third last season........ Can't be that average.
19th, 17th, 3rd, 18th...that's where we have been.
Yep, we're not exactly in uncharted waters right now.
I'd say conceding so many late goals this season has been a big mistake. Its cost us a lot of points and we could be top half or higher right now.
by Hound » 12 Feb 2018 12:05
I'm not saying you are wrong on the finances, but how much of a hit would going down be?
We'd lose some tv money undoubtedly, but we're not on often anyway. Crowds would prob go down, but maybe not by a huge amount if we had a good season (obvs a big if), though there are very few 'big' teams in that division. Though if Swindon and Oxford were in it would help.
Player values would certainly take a hit, but I'd assume we'd get rid of Swift, Aluko, Moore, Ilori, Mannone, Gunter, Barrow and maybe one or two others. The value of the squad would go down hugely, but we'd probably pull in a few quid from that lot. The wage bill would surely be massively slashed.
Location: Propping up the bar in the Nags
Contact Stranded
by Stranded » 12 Feb 2018 12:10
jar95 Cardiff at home, felt like this could have been the moment we kicked on had we won.
This^
The panic that set in in that last 10mins which saw Cardiff get the draw is the biggest "mistake". Clearer heads to see it out take the point and confidence would have grown and we would be comfortable or even top 10 now. Confidence disappeared at the final whistle and hasn't returned.
Aren't we in relative deep sh*t now financially? I was basing the financial peril on what we have now in the Championship and can only see League 1 being a bigger hit on our income. Would relegation stop the training ground development etc? Who knows.
With player sales we are probably ok, you're right. Would need a quick return to the Championship though. I worry we would just get lost in League 1 limbo for many years to come if we didn't come up straight away.
Its difficult to say as the finances are pretty guarded. We lose shit loads, but that is largely due to a ridiculous wage bill. Its difficult to know where the clubs finances end, and the owner's personal wealth starts.
I'd hope that the academy and new training ground would continue to happen. Would be a big shame if not
by Dickie's Spear » 12 Feb 2018 12:16
by savage 4 england » 12 Feb 2018 12:31
I think it mainly stems from a poor recruitment policy. We are buying players with bigger reputations, higher wages and "experience" from bigger leagues. We have gone against a policy that worked for many years of bringing in young players with potential from the lower leagues (and on far lower wages!).
This has benefited a number of teams with far smaller budgets than ours in this division. With the potential to sell on young players for now vastly obscene prices, and then re-investing the proceeds.
Yes, there is clearly problems with the brand of football and the manager. However, it always helps when you have better players and not necessarily ones with big undeserved reputations. Despite the problems with Stam, our squad is full of bang average players, which I remember pointing out in August.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hear Hear to this post. Remember we had a very decent scout that became our manager and was very badly done to by the club. He had no budget to work with as everything was frugal back then but we got some amazing players out of it. All money does is buy problems and egos. Do we actually have any decent scout working for us at the moment and if so what is he doing ?. Stam has basically wasted a shit load of money that previous managers would have died for.
by Sanguine » 12 Feb 2018 13:12
The biggest worry for me if we go down, is that I look at the squad and struggle to pick more than three senior players who would (want to) stay, or wouldn't get snapped up (Obita, Quinn and Kermorgant). Admittedly they aren't showing it, but the rest are, I think, Championship level players at worst.
And here's a sobering thought. Even if we win every one of our remaining 15 games, we'd still be 8 points short of last season's total.
Quinn's a goner - he is both knackered and out of contract.
I reckon, and this is obvs massively dependant on who is the manager, we'd keep: Jaakola, Watson, Richards, Obita, McShane, Joey, Kelly, Edwards, Bacuna, McCleary, Yann, Evans, Bodvarsson. Plus all the U23 lads who have signed on.
But if anyone offered for them, we'd prob let McCleary and Bod go as well.
Forbury Lion
Location: https://urlzs.com/ZVLjH
Contact Forbury Lion
by Forbury Lion » 12 Feb 2018 13:26
Biggest mistake we made this season - Renewing our season tickets?
On the club side of things - Not signing a proven striker at the start of the season & blowing the budget on unnecessary midfielders. We all knew a striker was the priority, a goalkeeper became a close second after Al Habsi left and central defence needed a boost.
Elm Park Kid
by Elm Park Kid » 12 Feb 2018 13:30
The finances issue is really down to the owner's personal commitment to the club. Presumably they paid multiple millions for us last year so they're not just going to throw their hands up and let us slide into administration. You would assume they would fund at least one season of league one football to get us back up.
As for who would stay: There will be a few players who will probably be more interested in their salary then level of football - so assuming we don't have relegation clauses in the contract that automatically lower wages then they will stay at the club unless they can find similar levels of pay elsewhere. I think Aluko definitely falls under this category as he's going to have a job finding anyone willing to pay our wages after his season. SImilarly Blackett, Illori, JVB - basically anyone on high wages that has under-performed. We might want to get rid of them but it will be a Pog/Roberts situation.
Gunter will definitely go; as will Moore, Bacuna and probably Barrow and Mannone. Someone will gamble on McCleary - he's technically one of the best players in the league.
fair point on the wages. I suspect we'd happily offload Aluko but likelihood is no one would want to pay either much of a fee for him, or his wages.
Kingsley Junior
by Kingsley Junior » 12 Feb 2018 13:36
Hound Obita got injured after the window ended didn't he? In hindsight we've really struggled at LB but if Obita had been fit it wouldn't have been an issue
I think the biggest mistake in hindsight was trusting that Yann would come back and hit the ground running and play as he did last year. So as an extension of that, buying Aluko instead of a CF. And as an extension of that, seemingly having a shopping list of CFs who weren't going to be released by their club
There are/were certainly players we could have got hold of who would have made a massive difference, esp early season when we looked pretty good, but just lacking a CF
Well he hasn't played for us this season. Maybe it was thought that he would come back quicker and suffered a further injury after August.
Still - given that Obita isn't actually a left back himself I would have just bit the bullet and bought one in. He's a fine Championship player but if we ever got promoted we'd have to buy one anyway.
Obita was injured late on against Hull, 23rd September. I suspect that would be why we didn't replace him before the deadline in August.
Coppells Lost Coat
by Coppells Lost Coat » 12 Feb 2018 14:22
Has to be, not getting the correct backroom staff surely. If its not working on the pitch , training is the only way to improve. It hasn't improved all season, therefore the training methods are not working.
by The Royal Forester » 12 Feb 2018 14:39
As well as the wage bill being massively slashed, the season ticket sales, the come or stay away, depending on who we are playing, fans will also be down. The knock-on effect of that means the catering side, the shop/shirt sales, programme sales and car park fees will be down as well.
linkenholtroyal
Location: anywhere but where you want me
by linkenholtroyal » 12 Feb 2018 16:11
Something unfortunately out of our hands......
Injuries losing Obita, Swift, Mccleary, Kermorgant early on and Evans, these were all players that I thought were going to be Key this year and have made this season what it has. It has meant that we don't have the competition for places or the quality we would have with them.
Also losing Williams and Al Habsi more Al Habsi out of the pair.
Williams may have not had the finest touch or the best end product but he always put a shift in and showing that commitment makes others do the same. We have missed him this Year.
Don't get me wrong I like Mannone and he is a good keeper but he is not a Leader like Al Habsi was he was always encouraging and giving instructions to the back for and he really did make a real difference and I really think he is the biggest miss this year.
I do think IF we stay in the Championship and IF we have a fit squad next Year, Sign Martin and Elphick permanently. Find a reserve Left Back and Mannone gains some respect of his defence we will be right up there again next season.
The key is staying up then keeping the squad. next year may well be a very good year. There is a long way yet though
alfie9
by alfie9 » 12 Feb 2018 16:21
We didn't replace our key players properly, almost all of whom left the club or suffered a long term injury. On top of that, we over-saturated the squad by spending on players we didn't need instead of promoting our own youth players. Genuinely think that the play style takes a backseat to the poor summer transfer window in terms of causing this mess.
linkenholtroyal Something unfortunately out of our hands......
Yeah, good post. Along with Yann, Bod was also injured about half the time between Aug thru Dec. Its hard to win without a striker. Would really love to know for sure which striker's we were in for (assuming we were, of course).
Williams isn't playing a lot at Hudd is he? Maybe we'll put in a cheeky bid in the Summer
And yes, assuming we stay up, its possible we could make a run next season, but the squad will need adjustments over the Summer. Some of the players right now are playing for their place in that.
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What is for you the best album ever ?
Topic: What is for you the best album ever ? (Read 118544 times) previous topic - next topic
Nick Jr III
What's the best Album you have ever listend to ?
One album only !
Let me the first : Iron Mainden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son in 1989 when I was 10 !!!
thanks to my Daddy !
Annuka
Reply #1 – 2003-05-16 22:44:56
Kate Bush - Lionheart.
Except I disliked it the first five times I heard it - then I quickly grew to like it.
7th Son of a 7th Son is however a very good album, although I like No Prayer for the Dying from Iron Maiden better.
Last Edit: 2003-05-16 22:46:02 by Annuka
rjamorim
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - Shine On boxed set edition.
Get up-to-date binaries of Lame, AAC, Vorbis and much more at RareWares:
http://www.rarewares.org
goweropolis
Close, but my personal choice is "The Dark Side Of The Moon".
Cygnus X1
Members (Donating)
<--------- Me too....what a coincidence
bddoucette
Just one
The Who - The Kids Are Alright
_Shorty
Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
I'm a big Perry Farrell fan. Most, if not all, of his music is pretty simple and straight forward, but that doesn't mean it can't be beautiful too, which I think it is. That first major-label album is my favourite though, I can listen to that from start to finish pretty much any time. I like his Porno For Pyros stuff too, and his solo album from 2002, but that one's the one. So far anyways. (May or may not have something to do with the fact that the day this came out and I bought it was also the day I dropped acid for the first time and listened to that album over and over all night as I was chauffered around with a bunch of friends. I think I was 17, I think it was 1988, was a great night, from my perspective anyways, haha)
dreamliner77
Pink Floyd - Animals
"You can fight without ever winning, but never win without a fight." Neil Peart 'Resist'
mrosscook
Bob Dylan, "Highway 61 Revisited". No question about it.
From the opening Al Kooper organ riff on "Like a Rolling Stone", right through to "Desolation Row", consistently brilliant lyrics and terrific instrumentals, especially Mike Bloomfield's guitar.
When you're lost in the rain in Juarez, when it's Easter time too --
And your gravity fails, and negativity don't pull ya through --
Don't put on any airs when you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue;
They got some hungry women there, and they'll really make a mess out of you....
MachineHead
At this moment.....
I can honestly say 'You Had It Coming' by Jeff Beck.
Next week, however, might reveal something much better. But that's a chance I'll have to take.....
Reply #10 – 2003-05-17 01:13:34
"New Gold Dream", Simple Minds
Andavari
Emperor "Prometheus - The Discipline Of Fire & Demise" (2001)
skywaffle
That's a tough one!!
Rush - 2112
(Tied for second... Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason & The Division Bell)
and another coincidence; this is also my favourite!
sic transit gloria mundi...
Pio2001
This Mortal Coil - It Will End In Tears
sub_static
'The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper' came close, but I have to go with 'The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness'.
I listened (and still listen) to 'Mellon Collie' much more, and it carries emotional imprints from the point in my life when I was listening to it most. Each song carries a different set of memories, depending on what I was thinking and feeling when I listened to that particular song. In a way, the things you were thinking/feeling/experiencing when you were listening to an album affect your opinion of it more than the album itself.
The songs on 'Mellon Collie' also traversed (and provoked) a variety of moods and emotions from beginning to end. 'X.Y.U', for example, would raise my adrenaline to the point that I felt I could (and wanted to) destroy a city with my bare hands. 'We Only Come Out At Night' (the song immediately following 'X.Y.U') would have an opposite, calming effect. I think that the ability to easily and drastically influence the listener's emotions is the mark of a great album. 'Sgt. Pepper' did the same, but not as effectively as 'Mellon Collie'.
Last Edit: 2003-05-17 05:43:50 by sub_static
manusate
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO
I can´t remember any other album that can compete with this one. You know, even the cover was an Andy Warhol masterpiece. Peel slowly and see...
mekon21
Toss up between
The Beatles- Revolver or
The Who- Quadrophenia (The Who at their very best)
layer3maniac
Traffic - Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys
Metallica - "Live Shit: Binge & Purge" - Mexico City , 1993. (3CDs)
Sebastian Mares
All Pink Floyd albums!
http://listening-tests.hydrogenaud.io/sebastian/
userXYZ
Bad Religion - Suffer
alfa156
Eric Clapton - Unplugged
the perfect album when you're "down & out".....
If I must pick just one, Pink Floyd - The Wall. But, any Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Simple Minds plus many others.
Since there seems to be such a liking for Pink Floyd and other stuff of similar age, is everyone as old as I am, or is it just an appreciation of good music?
My compiles and utilities are at http://www.rarewares.org/
Since we have more than 35 years separating our births, I would believe it's just that "People Know What's Good"
Last Edit: 2003-05-17 10:01:54 by rjamorim
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Junior Triathlon Club
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Home » ICT4D Blog » gloria_gonzalez_fuster
8th Internet, Law and Politics Congress (IV). Fundamental rights
Main categories: Cyberlaw, governance, rights, e-Government, e-Administration, Politics, Information Society, Meetings
Other tags: ercilia_garcia_alvarez, gloria_gonzalez_fuster, helena_nadal_sanchez, idp, idp2012, jordi_lopez_sintas, maria_concepcion_torres_diaz, pere_simon_castellano, sheila_sanchez_bergara
Notes from the 8th Internet, Law and Politics Congress: Challenges and Opportunities of Online Entertainment , organized by the Open University of Catalonia, School of Law and Political Science, and held in Barcelona, Spain, on 9-10 July 2012. More notes on this event: idp2012.
Communications on fundamental rights
Chairs: Miquel Peguera. Senior Lecturer, School of Law and Political Science (UOC).
Constitution 2.0 and Rule of Law: on the Iceland Constitution.
Pere Simón Castellano, Derecho Constitucional de la Universitat de Girona.
Even if everyone has to obey the law, it is also true that theory and practice of Law are somewhat different things. ICTs may have also helped in this dichotomy from theory to practice, affecting the rule of Law.
Transparency and participation have, on the other hand, also changed the landscape of law enforcement and its efficiency.
The case of the Iceland Constitution is a very good example of this change of paradigm. The whole process, all the debates and conversations were either streamed or published online.
But can the Iceland case be extrapolated to other places with more population? Does it scale? Is the citizenry ready for more doses of democracy? Will people be eager or able to participate more intensely?
Redefining the isegory: open data citizens.
Helena Nadal Sánchez, Departamento de Derecho Público de la Universidad de Burgos; Javier de la Cueva González-Cotera, Abogado.
Why isegory? Our actual challenges are very much like the challenges that had to face our ancestors. Technologies might be a little bit different, but they are technologies anyway. Open data is a new way of understanding freedom of expression, the capability to participate and engage in citizenship.
The initiative Adopt a Senator showed that citizens are usually more careful and efficient in providing good data on public issues. They work better for democracy through transparency.
The principle of demarcation: data traceability should be under certain criteria, like validity: that is, truth may not be necessary, but formal rigour is absolutely a must. Coherence of data. A heuristic in 4 stages has been drawn so that validity can be assessed depending on its traceability.
Isegory breaks with hierarchy and the deterministic approach to history. Citizenship is liquid and it is on a daily basis, on doing, that institutions are built. Permissions have to be dealt with under the light of freedom of expression, not intellectual property.
Data preservation and illicit actions in matters of intellectual property: a constitutional vision of the Directive 2006/24.
María Concepción Torres Díaz, Profesora de Derecho Constitucional, Universidad de Alicante.
What is the possibility and/or the impact on law that ISP reveal personal data in case of infraction of intellectual property rights? What are the rights affected? Privacy, data protection, secret of communications, intellectual property rights. Which is the priority? And in case where priorities were fixed on whether the crime is felony, how do we describe what constitutes felony?
In principle, personal date have to be available for research purposes, and detection and prosecution of serious crime.
Thus, depending on each specific case, it has to be accurately assessed the purpose of disclosing personal data. In any case, the Court of Justice of the European Union allows the disclosure of personal data if the national law (in this case in Sweden) also allows this disclosure.
The balance between intellectual property and data protection: on the changing weight of a new law.
Gloria González Fuster, Researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Research Group on Law Science Technology & Society (LSTS) (Belgium).
SABAM (the Belgian authors association) in Scarlett Extended vs. SABAM and SABAM vs. Netlog asked for content filtering because of copyright infringement. Both cases have been partly cited as good examples for voting against ACTA.
Historically, the Court of Justice of the European Union has been inconsistent and changing on the way it has approached data protection when the later has been confronted against intellectual property rights. The problem has always been finding the correct balance between data protection or privacy and intellectual property rights.
In the cases of Scarlett Extended and Netlog, the Court of Justice of the European Union states that imposing filtering systems does not respect the fair balance between intellectual property rights and the right of personal data protection.
The “Ley Sinde”: a lost opportunity to regulate online entertainment in Spain.
Ercilia García Álvarez, Catedrática Facultad de Economía y Empresa Universidad Rovira i Virgili; Jordi López Sintas, Profesor Titular de Universidad Facultad de Economía y Empresa Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona; Sheila Sánchez Bergara, Estudiante de Doctorado de la Universidad Rovira i Virgili.
Recently, there have been new practices in online entertainment that carry with them new legal tensions and legal answers to these tensions (both at the academic and legislator levels). But these answers have not really fit reality or practice. History has shown that there is an unbalance or bias towards intellectual property right holders, and users are usually last in line.
The Spanish “Ley Sinde” has not solved any of these problems. There are neither changes in consumption or practices nor in business models.
8th Internet, Law and Politics Conference (2012)
--- browse post --- Greg Lastowka: Copyserfs and the Stationers' Company 2.0 Fred von Lohmann: Copyright Limitations, Exceptions, and Copyright's Innovation Policy Copyright Fundamental rights New business models for contents distribution on line --- browse post --- Pedro A. de Miguel Asensio: Online entertainment and customer protection Privacy and electronic commerce Right to Be Forgotten Government and Regulatory Policies Privacy On Line Proceedings: Challenges and Opportunities of Online Entertainment
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Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/stl/stledp/2013-02.html
Life Satisfaction and Air Quality in Europe
Download & other version
Akay, Alpaslan
Brereton, Finbarr
Cunado, Juncal
Ferreira, Susana
Martinsson, Peter
Moro, Mirko
Ningal, Tine F
Juncal Cuñado
Susana Ferreira
Peter Martinsson
Mirko Moro
Concerns for environmental quality and its impact on people's welfare are fundamental arguments for the adoption of environmental legislation in most countries. In this paper, we analyse the relationship between air quality and subjective well-being in Europe. We use a unique dataset that merges three waves of the European Social Survey with a new dataset on environmental quality including SO2 concentrations and climate in Europe at the regional level. We find a robust negative impact of SO2 concentrations on self-reported life satisfaction.
Akay, Alpaslan & Brereton, Finbarr & Cunado, Juncal & Ferreira, Susana & Martinsson, Peter & Moro, Mirko & Ningal, Tine F, 2013. "Life Satisfaction and Air Quality in Europe," Stirling Economics Discussion Papers 2013-02, University of Stirling, Division of Economics.
Handle: RePEc:stl:stledp:2013-02
File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/10962
Other versions of this item:
Ferreira, Susana & Akay, Alpaslan & Brereton, Finbarr & Cuñado, Juncal & Martinsson, Peter & Moro, Mirko & Ningal, Tine F., 2013. "Life satisfaction and air quality in Europe," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1-10.
Ferreira, Susana & Akay, Alpaslan & Brereton, Finbarr & Cuñado, Juncal & Martinsson, Peter & Moro, Mirko, 2012. "Life Satisfaction and Air Quality in Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 6732, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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Tobias Menz & Heinz Welsch, 2012. "Life-Cycle and Cohort Effects in the Valuation of Air Quality: Evidence from Subjective Well-being Data," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 88(2), pages 300-325.
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Rehdanz, Katrin & Maddison, David, 2005. "Climate and happiness," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 111-125, January.
Katrin Rehdanz & David J. Maddison, 2003. "Climate and Happiness," Working Papers FNU-20, Research unit Sustainability and Global Change, Hamburg University, revised Apr 2003.
Levinson, Arik, 2012. "Valuing public goods using happiness data: The case of air quality," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(9-10), pages 869-880.
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Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell & Paul Frijters, 2002. "How important is Methodology for the Estimates of the Determinants of Happiness?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 02-024/3, Tinbergen Institute.
Dolan, Paul & Layard, Richard & Metcalfe, Robert, 2011. "Measuring subjective well-being for public policy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 35420, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
Dolan, Paul & Peasgood, Tessa & White, Mathew, 2008. "Do we really know what makes us happy A review of the economic literature on the factors associated with subjective well-being," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 94-122, February.
Di Tella, Rafael & MacCulloch, Robert, 2008. "Gross national happiness as an answer to the Easterlin Paradox?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(1), pages 22-42, April.
Rafael Di Tella & Robert MacCulloch, 2005. "Gross National Happiness as an Answer to the Easterlin Paradox?," Macroeconomics 0504027, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Luechinger, Simon & Raschky, Paul A., 2009. "Valuing flood disasters using the life satisfaction approach," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(3-4), pages 620-633, April.
Welsch, Heinz, 2009. "Implications of happiness research for environmental economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(11), pages 2735-2742, September.
Welsch, Heinz, 2002. "Preferences over Prosperity and Pollution: Environmental Valuation Based on Happiness Surveys," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), pages 473-494.
Paul Dolan & Richard Layard & Robert Metcalfe, 2011. "Measuring Subjective Wellbeing for Public Policy: Recommendations on Measures," CEP Special Papers 23, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
Moulton, Brent R, 1990. "An Illustration of a Pitfall in Estimating the Effects of Aggregate Variables on Micro Unit," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 72(2), pages 334-338, May.
GIS; European Social Survey; Europe; Life Satisfaction; Subjective Well-Being; SO2 Concentrations; Air Quality;
JEL classification:
I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
NEP fields
This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:
NEP-ENE-2013-03-02 (Energy Economics)
NEP-ENV-2013-03-02 (Environmental Economics)
NEP-EUR-2013-03-02 (Microeconomic European Issues)
NEP-LTV-2013-03-02 (Unemployment, Inequality & Poverty)
NEP-RES-2013-03-02 (Resource Economics)
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For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: (Liam Delaney). General contact details of provider: http://edirc.repec.org/data/destiuk.html .
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Power of the Blockbuster
by Sandip Roy | Nov 12, 2003 | Opinion, Perspectives | 0 comments
Have you ever noticed that good old Indian habit—the “we-did-it-first syn-drome”? We never tire of bragging that when the Europeans were drawing stick figures in caves, Kalidasa was composing love poems to monsoon clouds. When New York had a blackout we scoffed: “Why, in India, we can take that in stride.” And we’ll swear up and down that Indians invented the zero though Mayans and Mesopotamians might stake their claim as well. Well, now we have one more thing to add to our “been there, done that” list.
As the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger grabs headlines across the world, Indians can give a world-weary shrug and cite “Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, N.T. Rama Rao, M.G. Ramachandran, Sunil Dutt, Vyjayanthimala Bali, Shatrughan Sinha, and yes even Arun Govil (remember him?)—need we go on?”
Yes, I know there was Ronald Reagan, but he was never a star in Arnold’s league.
Over here in California, the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger has left Democrats and liberals scratching their heads befuddled as to how a pumped-up ex-weightlifter with a thick Austrian accent could sweep a state in which every other elected statewide-office bearer is a Democrat. Till the very last minute they thought that the crowds who thronged to his meetings would not follow him all the way into the voting booth, that at the last minute sanity would prevail and they’d go for a more predictable choice.
Ironically, though we live in the home state of Hollywood and our lawmakers periodically rant and rave about licentiousness and violence on screen, we don’t fully appreciate the power of the blockbuster. Political reporters fretted about the vagueness of Schwarzenegger’s plans. They complained that he offered few concrete ideas of how he would stuff the gaping hole in the budget. He, in fact, proposed to add to it by repealing a hike in the car fee. The other candidates fumed that he skipped most of the debates. But Californians of all shapes still closed their eyes and decided it was worth taking a leap of faith on candidate Schwarzenegger because someone who can play both Terminator and Kindergarten Cop can’t be that bad.
The fact is, Arnold Schwarzenegger was exciting in a way none of the other candidates was. I didn’t support him; I have never liked his movies. My image of him is still the bulging-biceped grunting Conan the Barbarian I saw at the Lighthouse cinema in Kolkata years ago. Was I to even imagine that one day I’d live in a state ruled by him?
But I can see his appeal. It’s not that Californians are fools duped by the glamor of Hollywood. It’s because movies are real to people in a way few of us give them credit for. It’s no coincidence that the big politician-stars of India all came out of the blockbuster industry—whether it’s Amitabh Bachchan or M.G. Ramachandran. These are people whose mega images inspired mega passions and mega loyalties. It’s no coincidence that art film stars like Shabana Azmi went to the Rajya Sabha as nominated candidates. Though Azmi is incredibly smart and articulate and could probably run for office if she chose, her screen persona allows people to admire her but not whip themselves into frenzy for her. People won’t try and immolate themselves if Azmi ends up mortally ill as happened in M.G.R.’s last days.
America has had a sneering love-hate relationship with its films. While we throng to the blockbuster and devour the overpriced sodas and popcorns, Hollywood movies are always looked down upon as intellectually inferior. The fact is, for better or for worse, movies, Hollywood movies, are America’s face to the rest of the world.
Today I met a young Afghan woman journalist. She is one of the first women to be trained in journalism in over a decade in Afghanistan. For five years she was cooped up at home, studying English secretly, while the Taliban ruled the country. On her first trip abroad ever she landed in California in the middle of the electoral campaign. I asked her what Afghans were making of Arnold and her face lit up and she said that they were very excited because everybody knows Arnold, everybody likes his movies.
It would have to be a very charismatic politician with deep pockets and a long electoral campaign who could withstand that kind of juggernaut of celebrity that reached the heart of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in pirated form.
But for me, who only watched one of those Terminator movies, Arnold’s electoral campaign is the vindication of the power of the movies. People have described this election disparagingly as a circus, but though politically I may not like the outcome, as an election-watcher this is the first time I have seen Americans truly animated about an election.
It reminded me—yes, here I go again in the “been there, done that” frame—of elections in India when all the dadas in the neighborhood would have heated arguments over endless cups of tea, where our neighbor’s home was an electoral war zone since the three brothers who lived there all supported different branches of the Communist Party, and my mother would be trying to educate our illiterate maid about which symbol she should stamp her vote on.
Elections were exciting, unpredictable, and full of promise. Of course, the promise was often betrayed, but it would rise again with some new firebrand star. The aim of movies is to excite, to surprise, and to give us hope. Is it any wonder that a megastar like Arnold managed to combine the two and reach off the screen to give Californians a sense of excitement about an unpredictable future? The only surprise is it took so long for someone to figure out that synergy. Why, in India, we figured it out years ago!
Sandip Roy-Chowdhury is on the editorial board of India Currents and host of UpFront, a newsmagazine show on KALW 91.7 produced by New California Media.
The Indian Political Scenario
Respect, by the Numbers
Brown Karma
Has Vajpayee Created a Stronger State?
Can Universities Cure Ignorance About India?
Lessons From A Stalled Election
India-Pakistan Relations After The Brink of War
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Low-skilled Northern workers ‘less likely to find jobs’ than those in the South
Low-skilled Northern workers 'less likely to find jobs' than those in the South
Skilled jobs were lost when the steelworks at Redcar, near Middlesbrough, closed in 2015. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Dean Kirby 4 months Thursday March 7th 2019
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Unskilled workers in Northern England are less likely to find jobs than those in the South, where there are also better career prospects for people with fewer qualifications, it is claimed.
Researchers at the Centre for Cities think-tank have warned that, despite higher living costs in southern English cities, their stronger economies create “significantly more” jobs for less qualified workers.
Their report – Opportunity Knocks? – calls for greater investment in adult education and for the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, which will replace EU regional funds, to be devolved to cities.
Andrew Carter, Centre for Cities’ chief executive, said: “Politicians to the left and right of the political spectrum talk about supporting inclusive growth. The message of this report is clear – growing cities’ overall economies is a prerequisite for creating inclusive growth.
”This cannot be achieved with a one-size-fits-all approach. The Government should therefore entrust city leaders to spend money from Shared Prosperity Fund on economic interventions that best suit their local needs.“
According to the study, cities with the highest unemployment rate for low-skilled people included Hull, Liverpool and Middlesbrough. Those with the lowest unemployment rates included Bournemouth, Worthing and Exeter.
Aberdeen had the smallest unemployment rate for low-skilled workers at 8.4 percent. Hull had the highest at 20.2 percent.
In cities with fewer high-skilled jobs, such as Glasgow, Barnsley and Birkenhead, there are at least two low-skilled people competing for every low-skilled job, according to the report, while Cambridge, Oxford and Exeter have more low-skilled jobs than people
Southern England’s economically prosperous cities also offer low-skilled people better career prospects, the think-tank says.
In Aldershot, where 57 percent of jobs in the local economy are classed as high-skilled, 62 percent of low skilled people work in higher-skilled jobs.
In Middlesbrough where just 39 percent of jobs in the local economy are high-skilled, only 45 percent of low-skilled people are working above their skill level.
Sir Richard Leese, the chairman of the Local Government Association’s City Regions Board, said it was ”vital“ opportunities were provided for unemployed and low-skilled workers to retrain and learn new skills.
He said: ”The Government’s upcoming National Retraining Scheme to support adults retrain and upskill will be critical to addressing our growing national and local skills gaps but it must be part of a place-based policy approach.
“Ensuring the Shared Prosperity Fund and the forthcoming Local Industrial Strategies are adequately resourced, have sufficient devolution and local commissioning, and an ability to target provision to support inclusive growth and productivity will be critical to achieving this goal.”
More on Northern England
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Boris Johnson warned: Vauxhall Astra production depends on Brexit deal
Campaigners defend covert filming in Manchester strip clubs
The Eden Project could go North to Morecambe Bay by 2023
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SubTopic Security Strategy
Privacy and Governance
Security Threats
How to improve IoT security and resilience with SD-WAN and SDP
Gur Shatz
Cato Networks
Managed SDP security from Verizon, Vidder addresses ... – SearchNetworking
How do IoT sensors intersect with SD-WAN? – SearchNetworking
How can SD-WAN be perceived as IoT? – IoT Agenda
5 ways to accelerate time-to-value with data –DellEMC
CW ASEAN: SD-WAN helps find best route to cloud –ComputerWeekly.com
Benefits of a Software Defined Branch –Versa Networks
As IoT devices connect to our networks, we need to provide secure, reliable connectivity to the back-end applications that manage and extract information from these devices. But all too often, current security architectures risk exposing those applications to network attacks, such as denial of service, SQL injection and more.
When the IoT device in question is your refrigerator, downtime is nothing more than a nuisance. But for IoT to move from consumer curiosity to industry workhorse, organizations need confidence in the availability and performance of IoT architectures. Eliminating blackouts and brownouts is a requirement for manufacturing plants, making the difference between a positive or negative quarter. And when it’s a hospital medical system that’s taken offline, downtime can translate into something far worse — the loss of life.
IoT’s networking and security problem
Building predictable, reliable IoT networks has been complicated by the changes in enterprise networks. Traditional enterprise networks were secure because of the firm perimeter blocking external users from accessing internal resources. But as users and applications have moved beyond the enterprise, the perimeter has dissolved.
Today, attackers can easily gain access to internal networks, whether at a remote branch or in the headquarters, by taking advantage of mobile devices and BYOD policies. They do this by posing as on-site contractors or launching phishing attacks against employees. And by breaching the security of cloud providers, attackers can strike companies without bothering with the traditional perimeter.
Once attackers authenticate onto the network, they can connect to the applications used for IoT. With many enterprise architectures, cybercriminals can execute network-layer attacks — even if they are unauthorized to access the application — disrupting the service.
But that’s not the only networking issue facing IoT infrastructure. Moving traffic across the internet core exposes IoT infrastructure to connection blackouts and, more likely, brownouts.
Internet routing is based on economics, not application performance, which leads to the strange and indirect routes all too familiar to network engineers. Congestion, particularly at internet exchange points, only adds packet loss. Within well-developed internet regions, internet limitations are often masked by the relatively short distances and the plethora of routes between any two points. Between internet regions, though, is a different story. Latencies are much longer and, with fewer routes available, congestion is often higher.
Best practices around IoT management are also undermined by the realities of today’s networks. Many IoT best practices will struggle in the face of IT realities. The disaggregation of our networks has given us freedom of choice at the expense of visibility and control. The outgrowth of this is immense complexity, complicating even mundane tasks, such as patch management — the combination of which risks undermining IoT availability and predictability.
How SDP can help IoT
A shift in both how we secure our applications and how we build our wide area networks provides some clues as to how we might better protect IoT infrastructure.
Rather than allowing network users and devices to view and connect to all resources, many enterprises are looking at tailoring their view of the network. They can only see and connect to specific resources based on their role and privileges.
To make this model a reality, applications are hidden behind gateways that reject all connection requests except from authorized users. Users must authenticate first with a controller that informs the servers or gateways to accept connections from the particular user on a specific station. Only then can they connect to the requisite applications.
This best practices approach has long been advocated by standards organizations, such as National Institute of Standards and Technology, and was recently codified into an architecture, the software-defined perimeter (SDP) by the Cloud Security Alliances. Adapting this model to SDP protects the infrastructure from network attacks. IoT devices, like users, must authenticate first before accessing the requisite application.
How SD-WAN can help SDP
At the same time, such an approach increases network complexity. IT must either install SDP software on each host or deploy gateways to protect applications. What’s more, left unaddressed are the numerous performance and availability problems posed by internet transport. Secure SD-WAN as a service provides a way forward.
With secure SD-WAN services, a global SD-WAN backbone functions as one, massive next-generation firewall. Not only do the encrypted tunnels of the SD-WAN control branch access, but the security capabilities of the SD-WAN as a service restrict user access to defined network resources. Users must authenticate before connecting. Gone are the days of open network access that allowed for network-layer attacks to be launched against IoT components from other network locations.
Availability of IoT deployments is also helped by secure SD-WAN as a service. IoT traffic leaving a branch office is balanced across redundant internet access lines. Should one line suffer an outage or a slow-down, traffic can be automatically steered to the secondary connection.
And instead of forcing IoT devices to reach back across the internet, SD-WAN as a service provides a more predictable long-distance transport. A global, SLA-backed backbone connects all of the points of presence (PoPs) comprising the SD-WAN as a service. The sites housing the applications and devices in the IoT infrastructure connect to the closest PoP and, from there, traverse the SD-WAN-as-a-service backbone, not the internet, to the remote location. The short distance across internet access line (less than roughly 25 milliseconds) minimizes the internet’s impact of internet routing.
IoT made secure and reliable
Current remote access and networking approaches risk leaving IoT implementations grounded by internet performance and security problems. But by including security best practices as part of a global, secure SD-WAN as a service, organizations can improve the resilience, uptime and security of their IoT deployments wherever they may reach.
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Immunology and Microbiology | January 2003
CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Delayed Rejection of Orthotopic Guinea Pig Cornea Grafts in Mice Deficient in CD4+ T Cells
Ryotaro Higuchi; J. Wayne Streilein
Ryotaro Higuchi
From the Schepens Eye Research Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
J. Wayne Streilein
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science January 2003, Vol.44, 175-182. doi:10.1167/iovs.02-0050
Ryotaro Higuchi, J. Wayne Streilein; CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Delayed Rejection of Orthotopic Guinea Pig Cornea Grafts in Mice Deficient in CD4+ T Cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2003;44(1):175-182. doi: 10.1167/iovs.02-0050.
purpose. To determine the immunopathogenesis of delayed orthotopic corneal xenograft rejection in mice deficient in the xenoreactive CD4+ T cells that mediate acute rejection.
methods. CB.17 SCID and BALB/c mice were used as recipients of orthotopic cornea grafts obtained from strain 13 guinea pigs. Before transplantation, SCID recipients, which do not normally reject guinea pig cornea grafts, were reconstituted with spleen cells (whole, CD4-depleted, CD4/CD8-depleted) or purified CD8+ T cells from normal BALB/c donors. Graft survival was assessed by clinical examination, and median survival times (MST) were calculated. Lymphocytes from mice that rejected guinea pig cornea grafts were analyzed in vitro for their capacity to respond to guinea pig xenoantigens and to lyse guinea pig target cells.
results. SCID mice reconstituted with whole spleen cells from BALB/c donors rejected guinea pig corneas with a vigor identical with that of normal BALB/c mice (MST = 15 and 14 days, respectively), whereas SCID mice reconstituted with CD4-depleted BALB/c spleen cells rejected guinea pig corneas in a delayed fashion (MST = 27 days), as did SCID mice reconstituted with purified CD8+ T cells from BALB/c donors. Although CD8+ T cells from rejector mice failed to lyse guinea pig target cells in vitro, the T cells proliferated and secreted IFN-γ in response to in vitro stimulation with guinea pig xenoantigens.
conclusions. Guinea pig cornea xenografts that avoid acute rejection in CD4+ T cell-depleted mice are vulnerable to rejection by CD8+ T cells. Effector CD8+ T cells destroy corneal xenografts through release of proinflammatory mediators (IFN-γ) rather than by cytotoxicity.
In some parts of the world, shortages of human donor corneas lead to long waiting times for patients who need corneal transplants. 1 It is possible that corneas harvested from suitable xenogeneic sources could be a reasonable alternative to this problem. However, the barriers to success of solid-tissue xenografts significantly exceed the barriers to success of allografts. 2 3 The heightened barrier to successful xenografts results primarily from the presence in unimmunized recipients of so-called natural antibodies that bind to vascular endothelial cells of xenografts, triggering complement activation, clot formation, and hyperacute rejection. In the case of the cornea, distinctive features exist which partially exempt this tissue from this type of pathogenesis. 4 First, the normal cornea is an avascular tissue. Second, the corneal endothelium constitutively expresses potent membrane-bound complement inhibitors. 5 6 7 Third, the cornea forms the anterior wall of the anterior chamber—an immune-privileged site with a fluid (aqueous humor) that contains anticomplementary activity. 8 9 Fourth, the cornea itself possesses inherent immune privilege, 10 in part through the ability of its cells to secrete immunosuppressive factors 11 12 and express CD95 ligand. 13 14 Our laboratory has recently demonstrated that guinea pig corneas grafted heterotopically into the anterior chamber of eyes of normal mice whose sera naturally contain guinea pig-reactive antibodies are not vulnerable to hyperacute, antibody-mediated rejection, 15 16 and that acute rejection of corneal xenografts occurs in mice genetically incapable of producing antibodies. 17 These findings suggest that naturally occurring antibodies may not be an important barrier to successful orthotopic cornea grafting in humans.
However, the absence of antibody-mediated corneal xenograft rejection does not mean that mice are incapable of rejecting corneal xenografts. Tanaka et al. 17 have reported that BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice reject guinea pig corneas in an acute manner, and they have provided convincing evidence that acute rejection is mediated by CD4+ xenoreactive T cells. Because the normal cornea lacks class II MHC-bearing antigen-presenting cells (APCs), it is not particularly surprising that the CD4+ T cells mediating acute corneal xenograft rejection are of the indirect type, and that is what has been found. 18 That is, murine T cells appear to be incapable of recognizing and responding to MHC-encoded guinea pig xenoantigens, but they readily respond to guinea pig xenoantigens processed and presented on murine APCs. Thus, rejection of orthotopic guinea pig corneal xenografts by mice is accomplished almost exclusively by indirect xenoreactive T cells, a situation virtually identical with the manner in which mice reject orthotopic corneal allografts. 19 20
When CD4+ T cells are eliminated from mice that receive orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts, acute rejection is avoided, but the grafts eventually succumb to a delayed destructive inflammation that typically comes to completion by 30 days. 17 Because immune deficient SCID mice have been found to be incapable of rejecting guinea pig cornea grafts, 17 the delayed rejection observed in CD4+ T cell deficient mice strongly suggests that adaptive immune effectors are responsible. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that CD4-independent CD8+ T cells are the mediators of delayed rejection of guinea pig corneal xenografts. The results support the validity of this hypothesis, and suggest that the effector CD8+ T cells cause graft rejection by releasing proinflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-γ, that promote macrophage-mediated graft destruction.
Animals and Anesthesia
Strain 13 inbred guinea pigs (450–550 g) were purchased from Crest Caviary (Prunedale, CA). BALB/c and C.B-17SCID (C.B-17/IcrTac-scid) mice were obtained from our animal facility or purchased from Taconic Farm (Germantown, NY). All mice were males, 8 to 12 weeks of age. All animals were treated according to the ARVO Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. In all experiments, mice were used as recipients and guinea pigs were used as donors. Corneal grafts were prepared from eyes enucleated after the donor guinea pigs were killed. For experimental manipulations, mice were deeply anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of 3 mg ketamine and 0.0075 mg xylazine.
Reconstitution of SCID Mice with Normal Lymphoid Cell Populations
In some experiments, adult SCID mice were reconstituted with whole spleen cells (or fractions thereof) obtained from normal BALB/c. Subsequently, the reconstituted mice received orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts. For reconstitution with whole spleen cells, BALB/c splenocytes, depleted of RBCs by lysis with Tris-NH4Cl, were suspended in Hanks’ balanced salt solution (HBSS) and injected intravenously into CB17-SCID mice (one donor equivalent, approximately 45 × 106 cells/donor). For reconstitution with splenocytes depleted of CD4+ T cells or CD4+ + CD8+ T cells, RBC-lysed splenocytes from BALB/c mice were incubated with anti-CD4 (GK1.5) alone, or in conjunction with anti-CD8 (2.43) antibodies (ascites fluid, a kind gift from Joan Stein Streilein, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA) for 30 minutes on ice, washed twice with complete medium (CM) composed of RPMI 1640 medium, 10 mM HEPES, 0.1 mM nonessential amino acids, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin (all from BioWhitaker, Walkersville, MD), and 1 × 10 to 5 M 2-mercaptoethanol (ME; Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO), supplemented with heat-inactivated 10% fetal calf serum (Sigma). The cells were then incubated with infant rabbit complement (Pel-Freez Biologicals, Rogers, AZ) for 30 minutes at room temperature, washed once, and resuspended in HBSS and injected (one donor equivalent) intravenously into SCID mice. 21 22 On the same day, the mice received 100 μL of anti-CD4 (GK1.5) antibodies (ascitic fluid diluted 1:2 with HBSS) injected intraperitoneally. Anti-CD4 antibodies were injected intraperitoneally at weekly intervals thereafter until the experiment came to completion. For reconstitution with purified CD8+ T cells, cervical, inguinal, and mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens were obtained from naive BALB/c mice (two donors/recipient) and pressed through nylon mesh. After the RBCs were lysed, the suspension was passed through a T cell-enrichment column (Biotecx Laboratories, Inc, Houston, TX), followed by passage through a CD8+ T cell-enrichment column (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). The purity was 88% with no CD4+ T cells (<0.1%). Purified CD8+ T cells (approximately two donor equivalents, 4 × 106 cells/recipient) were injected intravenously into SCID mice. These recipient mice also received systemic treatment with anti CD4 antibody as described earlier. All reconstituted SCID mice received orthotopic guinea pig cornea transplants 1 day after reconstitution.
Flow Cytometry Analysis of Peripheral Blood T Cells in Reconstituted SCID Mice
On the day after reconstitution, peripheral blood cells were removed from SCID mice, depleted of red blood cells by lysis with Tris-NH4Cl, then triple-stained with Cy-Chrome- anti-CD3e (CD3), PE-anti-CD4 (L3T4) and FITC-anti-CD8a (Ly-2). Antibodies and isotype controls were purchased from PharMingen (San Diego, CA). The stained cells were analyzed by flow cytometry using a cell counter (Epics XL Analyzer; Coulter Inc., Hialeah, FL).
Orthotopic Corneal Xenografting
The detailed surgical procedure for performing orthotopic corneal xenotransplants in mice was previously reported. 17 Briefly, grafts were removed from donor guinea pig corneas by excision with a 2.0-mm-diameter trephine. The corneal tissue was then placed in HBSS until grafting. The graft bed was prepared by excising with Vannas scissors a 1.5-mm site from the central cornea of the right eye. The xenograft was placed in the recipient bed and secured with 10 interrupted 11-0 nylon sutures (Sharpoint; Vanguard, Houston, TX) juxtaposed to the epithelial surface of the recipient cornea. Antibiotic ointment was applied to the corneal surface, and the lids were closed with an 8-0 nylon tarsorrhaphy. Tarsorrhaphy was maintained (except for clinical inspection purposes) until graft rejection was documented. Corneal sutures were removed on day 8.
Assessment of Xenograft Survival
Corneal xenografts were evaluated by slit-lamp biomicroscopy three times a week. The day of rejection was defined when graft transparency was lost (i.e., the iris margin and iris structures were no longer visible clearly through the graft), and graft clarity never recovered subsequently.
In Vitro T-Cell Activation Assays
Cervical lymph nodes ipsilateral to the xenograft-containing eye were removed from BALB/c (n = 6) and reconstituted SCID mice (n = 6) 4 weeks after grafting—that is, at a time when the grafts were judged clinically to have been rejected. Lymph node cells from naïve BALB/c mice were used as negative controls (n = 6). Single-cell suspensions prepared from lymph nodes of individual animals were used as responders (5 × 105 cells/well) and added to x-irradiated (2000 R) 13 guinea pig stimulator spleen cells (5 × 105 cells/well) in a final volume of 200 μL of culture medium. Triplicate cultures were prepared in 96-well flat-bottomed microculture plates (Corning, Corning, NY). The cultures were incubated at 37°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 for 3 days. Eight hours before termination, the cultures were pulsed with 0.5 μCi [3H]-thymidine, and then harvested onto glass filters using an automated cell harvester (Tomtec, Orange, CT). Radioactivity was assessed by liquid scintillation spectrometry, and the amount expressed as counts per minute (cpm). For anti-CD4 or CD8 blocking experiments, anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 antibody ascitic fluid was added to the cultures at inception. In companion experiments, similar cultures were established and supernatants were collected at 96 hours and IFN-γ levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay provided by a kit purchased from PharMingen. Coating antibody, detecting antibody and recombinant IFN-γ as positive control were purchased from PharMingen. These experiments were repeated twice and similar results were obtained.
In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assay
To assess direct lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity by putative effector T cells obtained from SCID mice reconstituted with CD8+ T cells or from BALB/c mice that had rejected guinea pig corneas, 51chromium (Cr)-release assays were performed on day 28 after corneal xenotransplantation. To create suitable target cells, 13 guinea pig spleen cells were co-cultured with 5 μg/mL concanavalin A (ConA) for 3 days, then exposed to 51Cr for 2 hours. After washing, these cells served as targets of the putative effector T cells. Effector T cells were prepared from draining cervical lymph nodes obtained from mice that had rejected orthotopic corneal xenografts. These cells were restimulated in vitro by coculturing them with x-irradiated (2000 R) 13 guinea pig spleen cells for 3 days. Thereafter, the T cells were harvested from these cultures and added to 1 × 104 guinea pig Con A blast target cells in triplicate wells at ratios of effector-to-target cells of 6:1, 12:1, 25:1, 50:1, 75:1, and 100:1. Six wells containing medium and target cells were used to measure spontaneous release, and six wells containing 5 N HCl and target cells were used to measure maximal radioisotope release. After 4 hours’ incubation at 37°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2, 25 μL of culture supernatant was removed from each well, and radioactivity was measured. 23
Statistical analysis of graft survival, enabling comparison of median survival times (MST), was performed using the Mantel-Cox rank test. Comparison of proliferation assay values was made by the Student’s t-test. P < 0.05 was deemed significant.
The goal of these experiments was to create mice deficient in CD4+ T cells to determine the extent to which delayed rejection of orthotopic corneal xenografts is mediated by CD8+ T cells. Because SCID mice are incapable of rejecting guinea pig cornea grafts, our strategy was to reconstitute SCID mice with various splenic or lymph node cell populations and then to assess the capacity of these mice to reject orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts.
Fate of Guinea Cornea Grafts Placed in Eyes of SCID Mice Reconstituted with BALB/c Spleen Cells
Adult SCID mice received intravenous infusions of cell suspensions prepared from spleens of normal BALB/c mice (one donor equivalent/recipient). One day later these mice received an orthotopic guinea pig cornea graft in the right eye. For comparison’s sake, panels of normal BALB/c and SCID mice also received orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts. One day later, peripheral blood was obtained from reconstituted SCID mice, as well as from normal SCID and BALB/c mice. Leukocytes in the blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry for content of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. As the results presented in Figure 1A reveal, peripheral blood from BALB/c mice contained easily identifiable populations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, whereas peripheral blood from 8-week-old SCID mice was devoid of these cells. Peripheral blood from SCID mice that received an infusion of BALB/c spleen cells 24 hours previously contained large numbers of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, indicating successful reconstitution of these adaptive immune cellular elements.
The survival of guinea pig cornea grafts was assessed clinically in reconstituted SCID mice and the relevant controls. The day of rejection was found when clinical inspection of the grafted eye failed to reveal an identifiable pupil or detailed structures of the iris. The results of this experiment are displayed in Figure 2A . As expected, untreated SCID mice retained their cornea xenografts in perfect condition throughout the 8-week observation interval, MST >56 days. Cornea xenografts in eyes of BALB/c mice were rejected acutely, as were grafts placed in eyes of SCID mice reconstituted with BALB/c spleen cells. The tempos of these acute rejections were virtually identical (MST = 15 and 14 days, respectively,) for reconstituted SCID and untreated BALB/c recipients). Thus, SCID mice recover completely their capacity to reject guinea pig cornea grafts if they are reconstituted with spleen cells from normal BALB/c donors.
Fate of Guinea Cornea Grafts Placed in Eyes of SCID Mice Reconstituted with BALB/c Spleen Cells Depleted of CD4+ T Cells
It has previously been demonstrated that CD4+ T cells are responsible for acute rejection of orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts in normal BALB/c mice, and that mice depleted of CD4+ T cells retain the capacity to reject guinea pig cornea grafts, but in a delayed fashion. 17 Our next experiments were designed to determine whether CD8+ T cells are responsible for delayed rejection of guinea pig cornea grafts. Adult SCID mice were reconstituted with BALB/c spleen cells from which CD4+ T cells were removed by treatment with anti-CD4 antibodies plus complement. One day later peripheral blood was removed from reconstituted mice and, along with peripheral blood from untreated SCID mice, was analyzed for content of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. As displayed in Figure 1B (compare the histogram at left with the histogram in middle), peripheral blood samples of SCID mice reconstituted with CD4+ T cell depleted spleen cells contained no CD4+ cells, but numerous CD8+ cells. SCID mice reconstituted in this fashion received orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts 24 hours later, and the fate of these grafts was assessed clinically. The results presented in Figure 2B indicate that SCID mice reconstituted with CD4+ T cell-depleted spleen cells acquired the capacity to reject guinea pig cornea grafts, and that the tempo of rejection was prolonged compared to that of SCID mice reconstituted with whole spleen cells from BALB/c donors (MST = 27 vs. 15 days, P = 0.04). These results indicate that effectors present in normal BALB/c spleen cells depleted of CD4+ T cells possess the capacity to reject guinea pig cornea grafts in the absence of CD4+ T cell help. The pattern of rejection observed in these mice is strikingly similar to that reported for CD4 knockout mice that received orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts (MST = 27 days). 17
Fate of Guinea Cornea Grafts Placed in Eyes of SCID Mice Reconstituted with BALB/c Spleen Cells Depleted of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells
The previous result supports the hypothesis that CD8+ T cells, in the absence of CD4+ T cells, are capable of causing rejection of guinea pig cornea grafts, albeit in a delayed fashion. If the hypothesis is valid, it should be possible to eliminate the rejection of cornea xenografts in mice reconstituted with CD4+ T-cell-depleted spleen cells by also eliminating CD8+ T cells from the reconstituting inoculum. Accordingly, adult SCID mice received suspensions of splenocytes that had been treated with both anti CD4 and anti CD8 antibodies plus complement. One day later the mice received orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts, and immediately before the procedure peripheral blood was collected from these mice and analyzed for content of CD4+ and CD8+ cells. As displayed in Figure 1B (compare histogram at left with the histogram at right), peripheral blood samples from these reconstituted mice contained no detectable CD4+ or CD8+ cells. Moreover, when the survival of guinea pig cornea grafts was assessed clinically (Fig. 2C) , the most grafts were found to survive indefinitely (MST = 49 days). This result strongly suggests that the effector modality primarily responsible for delayed rejection of guinea pig grafts is a CD8+ T cell. However, this conclusion must be tempered by the observation that a minority (25%) of guinea pig cornea grafts were rejected in SCID mice reconstituted with BALB/c spleen cells depleted of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells.
Fate of Guinea Cornea Grafts Placed in Eyes of SCID Mice Reconstituted with CD8+ T Cells Obtained from BALB/c Donors
To confirm that CD8+ T cells on their own are capable of mounting rejection reactions that destroy orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts, purified suspensions of CD8+ T cells were prepared from lymph nodes and spleens of normal BALB/c mice. As revealed in Figure 1C , peripheral blood of adult SCID mice that received purified CD8+ T cells one day previously contained large numbers of CD8+ cells as detected by flow cytometry. Moreover, mice reconstituted in this fashion proved capable of rejecting orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts (Fig. 2D) . However, a minority of grafts was not rejected at all. On the one hand, these results permit us to conclude that CD8+ T cells in the absence of CD4+ T cell help are capable in their own right of developing xenograft immunity that leads to graft rejection. On the other hand, these results indicate that the efficiency of rejection mediated solely by CD8+ T cells is less than that achieved with spleen cell suspensions depleted of CD4+ T cells. This leads to the suspicion that yet another immune effector (non-CD4+, non-CD8+) lurks among spleen cells of normal BALB/c mice—cells capable of promoting rejection of corneal xenografts in the absence of either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells.
Cytotoxic Capacity of CD8+ T Cells Obtained from Mice that Rejected Guinea Pig Cornea Grafts
A primary functional property of CD8+ T cells is to recognize immunogenic peptides loaded onto class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules expressed on target cells as a prelude to delivery of a lytic signal that results in target cell death. We tested to determine whether cell-mediated cytotoxicity is the method by which xenoreactive CD8+ T cells bring about cornea xenograft rejection in this system. Ipsilateral cervical lymph node cells were obtained from cervical lymph nodes draining eyes (of normal BALB/c recipients as well as SCID mice reconstituted with CD8+ T cells) bearing rejected strain 13 guinea pig cornea grafts that had been in place for 28 days. The CD8+ T cells were stimulated in vitro for 3 days by exposure to irradiated strain 13 guinea pig spleen cells. Thereafter, the responding T cells were placed in cytotoxicity assays in which 51Cr-labeled strain 13 guinea pig spleen cell Con A blasts were used as targets. Irrespective of the source of CD8+ T cells, no evidence of cytotoxicity was observed (data not shown). These results suggest that direct cytotoxicity by effector CD8+ T cells is not the mechanism by which cornea xenografts are rejected.
Capacity of Guinea Pig Cells to Activate In Vitro CD8+ T Cells Obtained from Mice that Have Rejected Guinea Pig Cornea Grafts
In orthotopic corneal allografts in mice, rejection is achieved largely by CD4+ T cells that recognize donor-derived alloantigens by the indirect pathway—that is, when processed and presented on recipient APCs that infiltrate the graft. 19 This mechanism has been found to be responsible also for acute rejection of guinea pig cornea xenografts in mice. 18 We next tested whether CD8+ T cells from mice that had rejected guinea pig cornea grafts in the absence of CD4+ T cells were activated in vitro by guinea pig spleen cells. The results are presented in Figures 3A and 3B . Spleen cells from mice that rejected strain 13 guinea pig cornea grafts proliferated when stimulated with strain 13 guinea pig antigens in vitro. The extent of proliferation by cells removed from CD8+ T cell-reconstituted SCID mice was considerably less than that of normal BALB c mice, but nonetheless significantly higher than negative control. Moreover, spleen cell suspensions from both types of rejector mice produced IFN-γ when stimulated with guinea pig spleen cells in vitro. These results indicate that lymphoid cells obtained from mice that reject guinea pig corneas respond to guinea pig xenoantigens in vitro by proliferating and by secreting the proinflammatory cytokine IFN-γ.
In the final set of experiments, we inquired into the CD4/CD8 phenotype of the T cells responding in the restimulation cultures. Cultures similar to those described were established and then either antiCD4 or antiCD8 antibodies were added. After 3 days, the extent of proliferation was once again examined. The results presented in Figure 3C indicate that the responding T cells in suspensions obtained from BALB/c mice that have rejected guinea pig corneas were almost exclusively CD4+. By contrast, the responding T cells in suspensions obtained from SCID mice reconstituted with CD8+ T cells that rejected guinea pig corneas were almost exclusively CD8+. Thus, in the absence of CD4+ T cells, xenoreactive CD8+ T cells acquire the capacity to become primed to guinea pig xenoantigens and to produce IFN-γ, the presumed mediator of graft rejection.
The pathogenesis of orthotopic corneal xenografts is not completely understood. Early studies in which guinea pig corneas were transplanted orthotopically to rat eyes revealed a tempo of rejection that was not hyperacute, 24 even though the investigators assumed that antibodies were responsible. More recently, Larkin et al. 25 performed similar experiments and found that corneal xenografts were rejected in rat eyes within 2 to 3 days, strongly suggesting the importance of preformed antibodies in graft rejection. By contrast, our experiments over the past several years have come to a different conclusion, using a model in which guinea pig corneas are transplanted into eyes of mice, a species that is discordant—that is, the murine serum contains preformed anti-guinea pig antibodies. Our experiments have yielded two significant observations that have encouraged us to continue to study the immunopathogenesis of rejection of orthotopic corneal xenografts. First, guinea pig corneas grafted into the eyes of SCID mice survive indefinitely and maintain their clarity. 17 This indicates that no important nonadaptive immune mechanism exists to limit the success of xenogeneic cornea transplants. Second, guinea pig corneal xenografts placed in eyes of mice with naturally occurring, preformed antibodies against guinea pig xenoantigens suffer no evidence of hyperacute or delayed acute rejections of the antibody-mediated type. 17 As mentioned previously, features that confer immune privilege on the cornea itself, as well as on the anterior chamber into which the graft is placed, undoubtedly account for the relative invulnerability of orthotopic corneal xenografts to antibody mediated destruction.
Encouraging as these observations are, they cannot obscure the important finding that guinea pig corneas placed in eyes of immunocompetent mice suffer acute rejection (within 8–20 days) that is mediated almost exclusively by CD4+ T cells that recognize guinea pig xenoantigens through the so-called indirect pathway. 6 There is little evidence that immune privilege mitigates in any way the vigor and intensity of CD4+ T cell-mediated rejection of orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts. Nor is there evidence that acute rejection of this type can be controlled by local or systemic immunosuppression with corticosteroids or cyclosporine A, agents that primarily target CD4+ T-cell-dependent immune rejection. As studies of this type proceed, it is important to determine whether immune effector modalities in addition to CD4+ T cells can also cause rejection of orthotopic guinea pig corneas in mice, and if so, what the nature of these effectors might be. The results reported here identify CD8+ T cells as capable of effecting destruction of guinea pig corneas grafted into the eyes of mice.
Whereas SCID mice reconstituted with BALB/c spleen cells rejected guinea pig corneas acutely (within 20 days) in a manner similar to intact BALB/c recipients, SCID mice reconstituted with BALB/c spleen cells depleted of CD4+ T cells or with purified CD8+ T cells from BALB/c donors rejected guinea pig corneas in a delayed fashion (between 20 and 40 days). A similar delayed rejection pattern was reported recently by Tanaka et al. 17 who studied rejection of guinea pig cornea grafts in C57BL/6 mice in which the CD4 gene had been disrupted. Together these results permit the conclusion that CD8+ T cells are sufficient, in the absence of CD4+ T cells, to promote rejection of orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts in mice.
One of the unexplained curiosities of immune rejection of orthotopic allogeneic cornea grafts is their relative resistance to rejection by direct alloreactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells 20 —that is, the effector T cells that reject corneal allografts recognize donor alloantigens chiefly when processed and presented on APCs of recipient origin that infiltrate the graft. The same appears to be true for cornea xenografts. Tanaka et al. 18 have recently reported that CD4+ T cells mediated acute rejection of guinea pig cornea grafts exclusively by indirect xenoreactive T cells. Our current results extend this interpretation to the CD8+ T cells that effect delayed rejection of guinea pig cornea grafts. We were unable to detect any guinea pig-specific cytolytic T cells in mice that rejected guinea pig cornea grafts. However, we did detect the presence of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that proliferated when stimulated in vitro with guinea pig spleen cells. Moreover, the responding T cells secreted significant amounts of IFN-γ. These results lead us to speculate that rejection of orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts in mice is triggered by proinflammatory cytokines (such as IFN-γ) that are released from primed guinea pig xenoantigen-specific T cells that respond to guinea pig antigens displayed on recipient APCs that infiltrate the graft. A similar mechanism operates in the rejection of orthotopic corneal allografts in mice, and in this instance infiltrating recipient APCs have been well-documented to arrive in and on the graft shortly before and during the interval when the graft is rejected. 26 27 28 To that end, Fox et al. 29 showed that, once activated, macrophages can act as direct effectors and the responses of these cells is stronger against xenoantigens than alloantigens.
Although our experimental results are the first concerning the contribution of CD8+ T cells to corneal xenograft rejection, other investigators examining other types of solid tissue xenografts have found a pathogenic role for CD8+ T cells: porcine islet cell clusters to monkeys, 30 porcine or rat pancreas to mice, 31 or hamster heart to rats. 32 Most of these reports showed that CD8+ T cells display cytotoxic activity for xenogeneic target cells, via perforin-mediated or Fas-FasL interactions. 33 34 Our results differ, in that we could find no evidence of direct cytolytic activity by in vivo primed, guinea pig xenoantigen-reactive CD8+ T cells. A similar result was reported by Zhan et al., 35 who showed that murine CD8+ T cells could not lyse porcine splenocytes. Whether this deficiency represents a special property of murine CD8+ T cells remains to be determined.
The precise mechanisms by which corneal xenografts in particular, and corneal allografts in general, are rejected remain elusive. Graft failure corresponds temporally with deterioration of function and eventual loss of corneal endothelium—the posterior layer of cells that is responsible for deturgescing the corneal stroma, thereby maintaining its clarity. Yet direct lysis of allogeneic or xenogeneic corneal endothelial cells by cytotoxic T cells does not appear to take place. In the case of cornea xenografts, we found no evidence of direct xenoreactive cytolytic CD8+ T cells. In the case of cornea allografts, direct alloreactive CD8+ T cells with cytolytic potential are formed, but appear to play no role in rejection. 23 In the absence of direct cytotoxicity, immune rejection of allogeneic cornea grafts appears to be mediated by proinflammatory cytokines, especially IFN-γ, that are released by CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells stimulated at the graft site by xenoantigens-presenting recipient APCs. Because activated macrophages and dendritic cells accumulate within the stroma and on the apical surface of corneal endothelium of rejecting grafts, 36 37 the nonspecific destructive capacities of activated macrophages, perhaps through release of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI), 38 are thought to be critical. Corneal endothelial cells are especially vulnerable to the deleterious effects of NO and ROI, 39 and this may be why these grafts eventually fail.
Several findings reported here deserve special comment. First, CD8+ T cells, on their own and without the aid of CD4+ T cell help, are capable of causing the rejection of orthotopic guinea pig corneas in mice. This probably reflects the often-overlooked capacity of primed CD8+ T cells to mediate reactions of the delayed hypersensitivity type. 40 Second, even in the absence of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, a small number of orthotopic corneal xenografts undergo rejection. Because untreated SCID mice never reject guinea pig cornea grafts, 17 there must be another adaptive immune effector that can cause rejection on its own. Although we have no knowledge of the nature of this putative effector, we suspect (1) double negative T cells (perhaps cells using the γ/δ Tcr, or a subpopulation of NK T cells), and (2) B cells with an antibody product that could arm Fc receptor bearing leukocytes that mediate antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity. Our report 17 that μ heavy-chain-deficient mice still reject guinea pig cornea grafts acutely merely reveals that antibodies are not involved in acute rejection. However, they could be involved in a more desultory rejection process such as that observed in mice deficient in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
Finally, we would point out that the discovery of a potent, cornea xenograft-rejecting role for CD8+ T cells is important on at least two accounts. On the first, CD8+ T cells have been found to play virtually no role in rejection of orthotopic corneal allografts in mice. 23 Thus, something is fundamentally different about corneal xenografts that renders these grafts, but not their allogeneic counterparts, vulnerable to rejection by CD8+ T cells. On the second, the most immunosuppressive regimens now used to prevent rejection of solid tissue allografts in the clinic are directed at CD4+ T cells, with little or no capacity to suppress CD8+ T cell activity. Our current results indicate that immunosuppressive regimens that would be developed to suppress rejection of corneal xenografts must be effective at inhibiting both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, or graft rejection will be the unfortunate outcome.
Supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant EY10765.
Submitted for publication January 15, 2002; revised April 25, 2002; accepted June 19, 2002.
Commercial relationships policy: N.
Corresponding author: J. Wayne Streilein, Schepens Eye Research Institute, 20 Staniford St., Boston, MA 02114; waynes@vision.eri.harvard.edu.
Flow cytometric evidence of reconstitution of SCID mice with CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells. Peripheral blood leukocytes obtained from SCID mice that received one day previously BALB/c (A) unfractionated spleen cells; (B) splenocytes depleted of CD4+ or CD4+/CD8+ T cells; and (C) purified lymph node and splenic CD8+ T cells. The leukocytes were stained with antibodies directed at CD4 and CD8 molecules and then analyzed by flow cytometry. For positive and negative controls, peripheral blood leukocytes were obtained from normal BALB/c and untreated SCID mice. Histograms of individual assays are presented with CD4+ cells along the y-axis and CD8+ cells along the x-axis.
Survival patterns of strain 13 guinea pig corneas grafted orthotopically to eyes of SCID mice reconstituted with diverse BALB/c lymphoid cells. Guinea pig corneas were grafted orthotopically to SCID mice that were reconstituted one day previously with BALB/c (A) unfractionated spleen cells; (B) spleen cells depleted of CD4+ T cells, (C) spleen cells depleted of CD4+ T cells alone, or both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells; and (D) CD8+ T cells purified from lymph node and spleen cell suspensions. Control panels of mice consisted of normal BALB/c and untreated SCID mice. Median survival times of xenografts (A) on BALB/c mice (14 d) and SCID mice reconstituted with whole splenocytes (15 d) are not significantly different; (B) on SCID mice reconstituted with unfractionated BALB/c splenocytes (15 d) versus CD4+ T cell-depleted spleen cells (27 d) are significantly different (P = 0.004); (C) on SCID mice reconstituted with CD4+ T cell depleted splenocytes (27 d) versus CD4+/CD8+ T cell depleted splenocytes (49 d) are significantly different (P < 0.05); (D) on SCID mice reconstituted with purified BALB/c CD8+ T cells are significantly different from grafts placed on untreated SCID mice.
Capacity of strain 13 guinea pig lymphoid cells to activate T cells obtained from mice that have rejected orthotopic guinea pig cornea grafts. In (A) and (C) [3H]-thymidine was added 8 hr before culture termination at 3 days, after which radioisotope uptake (cpm) was assessed (y-axis). In (B), supernatants were collected and assayed by ELISA for content of IFN-γ (ng/mL, y-axis). In (C), anti CD4 or anti CD8 antibodies were added at the onset of the cultures. In (A) and (B), [3H]-thymidine incorporation and IFN-γ content of supernatants, respectively, in cultures containing CD8+ T cell reconstituted SCID lymphoid cells is significantly greater than naïve control. (Error bars represent standard deviations.)
The authors thank Jacqueline M. Doherty and Sharmila Masli for their kind help in the experiments, Patrick Michael Stuart for the kind gift of CD4 KO mice, and Marie Ortega and her staff for excellent care of the experimental animals.
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Janeway, CA. (2001) Macrophage activation by armed CD4 TH1 cells Immunobiology 5th ed. ,333-338 Garland Publishing New York.
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Xenoreactive CD4+ T Cells and Acute Rejection of Orthotopic Guinea Pig Corneas in Mice
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Localized information is necessary for scene categorization, including the Natural/Man-made distinction
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Tulips from the blood of martyrs
Excerpt from "A Path to Isfahan: Iran with My Two Sons"by Reza MJanuary 27, 2006no comment
Written on martyrdom in Iran, but more generally about the senselessness of war. I'm an anthropologist and specialist on Iran, and lived there in 2002 with my two sons. I am currently writing a book, A Path to Isfahan: Iran with My Two Sons, from which this chapter is an excerpt.
Love, like the tulip, has one brand at heart,
And on its bosom wears a single rose;
And so my solitary rose I pin
Upon your turban, and cry havoc loud
Against your drunken slumber, hoping yet
Tulips may blossom from your earth anew
Breathing the fragrance of the breeze of Spring.
–Mohammad Ighbal
It was the Week of the Sacred Defense, when the entire nation is in a state of mourning over the nine-year war with Iraq. The week presents a paradox: on the one hand the celebration of resistance against Iraqi invasion and the glorification of the military; on the other hand, remembrance over those lost in the war. Though estimates vary, between 300,000 to over a million lives were lost, most of them were young men, or unwitting victims sitting, sleeping, eating, or trying to escape their homes as bombs fell. Thirteen years after the Iran-Iraq war, the summer of 2002 was coming to a close.
I took a long hike up to the top of Isfahan's mountain, Koo-ye Soffeh, to visit a monument of unmarked graves. At the top there were about twelve coffins arranged in a circle, like a clock without hands. In the middle of the circle stood a tall pole. Whipping in the wind at the top was the flag of Iran, with the name of Allah written in the center in the stylized form of a red tulip. Below it were several green flags that had been tattered by the wind and faded by the sun. The sun was setting behind the mountain and the last few rays left a faint shadow across one of the graves, resembling a sundial. “What does time mean to the dead, or to those who are left behind?” I wondered.
On ordinary evening strolls up the mountain it is common to find people there, particularly older women, praying and having a small, somber picnic, next to a coffin draped in green cloth. In the Qur'an it says green is the color of life, fertility, and renewal of the earth (18:31). Paradise is said to be filled with green and its inhabitants wear green garments of fine silk (Ibid.).
Tonight there were more women, sharing — or competing for? — an empty space alongside the concrete coffins. These unidentified remains could belong to anyone's son, brother, father, or husband. I wondered about the silent conversations these women must be having with the symbolic loved one lying next to them and the real loved one, whose face she can no longer see or touch, who time had left behind.
One woman of about thirty-five, partially concealed by the blackness of her chador, got up to leave. Her chador billowed by the wind like a violent, whipping sail. At first it seemed the wind would rip off her covering and carry it away. As she tightly gripped the cloth beneath her chin, the wind seemed to have a change of heart, and wrapped the fabric tightly around her form, revealing the outline of her hips and legs. With her other hand, she was gripping a small bouquet of yellow tulips, which she left behind on one of the graves. Yellow tulips — a flower symbolizing hopeless love, with no possibility of union.
They reminded me of the tulips I had planted back home, in cheery innocence, and how they seemed to keep popping up every spring.
I asked her for whom she left the flowers.
“My husband died in the war,” she said.
“I'm so sorry,” I replied. “How long were you married?”
“I never married. I never had the chance.”
Tulips have always been my favorite flower. As a little girl I would sit with my crayons and a piece of paper and draw a garden of tulips, yellow, pink and red. Behind the garden I drew a simple house, with green grass and a large green tree in the background. I also always drew a bright, yellow sun shining down from above. The tulip was a simple, happy flower.
I liked tulips so much that when I was an adult I planted some bulbs in my garden, outside my rundown rented house with the chipped, faded, yellow paint, and waited eagerly for them to emerge from the ground, transformed into sprouts and then flowers. I've never removed the bulbs and frozen them like you're supposed to do when growing them in warm climates; yet somehow, they kept reappearing every spring. Seeing the tulips in my garden made my home look a little more like the home of my childhood daydreams. Yet when their vibrant flowers faded like the paint, and their dagger-like green leaves turned a dried, wrinkled brown, and succumbed to the soil, I looked back with a sad nostalgia to the flowers they once were. I consoled myself by looking forward to the following spring.
Tulips originated in what was once Persia, where they still grow wild. Their name comes from Turkish and Persian words for turban, tulepan and dulband, after the turban-like shape of the flower. Tulips fill the pages of Persian poetry, literature, and folklore. In today's Iran, this simple flower is pregnant with complex meanings, and a lengthy literary history.
There is an old epic story in Iran based on a love triangle between the Sassanid ruler, King Khosrow II (590-628 a.d.), his wife Shirin, a Christian Queen of Armenia, and Farhad, a master builder. The story takes place when Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion of the Persian Empire, before Islam takes hold. This tale existed in oral form, in various renditions throughout the region. In 1175, Nezami Ganjavi (1141-1209 a.d.), a poet from the area that is now Azerbaijan, put his version of the tale of Khosrow and Shirin to paper.
In the legend Farhad falls intensely in love with Shirin. Shirin, feeling neglected by her husband for some time, begins to return Farhad's affection. Khosrow hears of this and becomes outraged that the young man would dare try to seduce his wife. Khosrow wants to rid himself of the rival for his wife's affection, and decides to commission Farhad to perform an impossible task: to carve a deep crevice in the nearby mountain in order to bring water to the village (in some versions of the story it is milk). Khosrow vows to offer Farhad Shirin's hand in marriage if he accomplishes the task. Farhad sets off with nothing but a pick axe.
For years, Farhad chips away at the mountain, and with every stroke he calls out the name of his Beloved, Shirin. When Khosrow finds out that Farhad has miraculously completed the task (fortified by the depth of his love for Shirin) he is furious. Rather than keeping his promise and allowing Farhad and Shirin to marry, he sends word to Farhad that Shirin is dead. In frenzied desperation Farhad throws his axe up to the sky, intending to commit the ultimate sacrifice for love. The axe falls down, gashing him in the head, killing him. From each drop of his blood that spills on the ground grows a red tulip.
The tulip appears in another story, when Shi'a and Sunni Islam were violently divided — the Battle of Kerbala. Imam Hossein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, took his family and troops to Basra, Iraq, having been invited to take his rightful position as Caliph. Little did he know, he was falling in to a trap. The current caliph, Yazid, had no intention of giving up his position, neither voluntarily nor by force. He commissioned his men to kill Hossein's supporters in Basra and lay in wait for Hossein and his troops on their way back, through Kerbala, after finding the city devastated. Though Hossein heard of the news, and knew of the fate that lay ahead for himself and his troops, he proceeded anyway. Hossein's caravan was severely outnumbered. After days of drawn out battle, his men fell, their blood and limbs scattered across the ground. During the final battle at Kerbala, one of Yazid's men slashed Hossein's head from his body to be delivered to Yazid. Hossien's blood spilled in the desert, leaving behind a field of red tulips.
They now say red tulips grow from the ground from the blood of martyrs. Some even say that a red tulip will grow from a martyr's grave — like the tulips in the Kerbala desert from the blood of Hossein — a sign of his selfless love for God and his country.
The Week of the Sacred Defense corresponded with Imam Ali's birthday, nephew and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad. While this week was a cause for both celebration and mourning, Ali's birthday was an occasion for celebration. The mood in the streets was almost schizophrenic, fluctuating between somber remembrance and light-hearted picnicking. On occasions such as this, admitting we're American, offered a mixed bag of reactions: some express that “America is very, very good”; others, simply reply that they like American people but have problems with the American government. School was about to start the following week, so I took my boys, Hunter and Tucker, out for sight-seeing around Isfahan. I knew almost every Isfahani family would be spending the days and nights out in the parks picnicking during the holiday and the last week of summer vacation.
We approached the park down a path along the river, the Zayendeh Roud. We walked from Pol-e Khajoo to Si-o-Seh Pol, two famous ancient bridges built during the reign of Shah Abbas (1571-1629), when Isfahan was the capital of Safavid Persia. Across the river, soldiers were constructing tents, cleaning tanks, and readying war paraphernalia for exhibits, nemayeshgah. The boys asked:
“Mommy, what are they doing? What are the tanks for?”
I couldn't answer their questions, so I asked a woman sitting with her family under a tree along our path why there were tanks across the street.
“Please, befarmayiid, sit down and have some tea,” she said, patting the space on the blanket next to her. We accepted her invitation to sit down on their blanket and share tea with them, alongside the river's shore.
The woman, Amineh, was in her mid-30s, and kept her chador tight around her face and low on her forehead, in the style of a very devout Muslim woman. Her husband, Hossein, named after the same Hossein that was martyred in the Battle of Kerbala, was probably in his late 40s. He wore a bristly, short beard, and had the calloused marks on the tops of his feet and on his forehead — the marks of someone who prays a lot. The forehead mark comes from pressing one's forehead to the mohr, the prayer stone, while bowing. Only Shi'as use a mohr while praying. Sunnis consider it to be a form of idolatry. The feet calluses are from the friction of the carpet on the tops of the feet, also occurring from the process of bowing in prayer. They had two daughters, slightly older than my sons. The boys immediately noticed the burner that the teapot was sitting on top of, and began to search the grounds for things to burn.
Amineh poured me some tea and offered me some sugar cubes to suck on as I drank it. “Merci,” thank you, I said.
“Where are you from?” Hossein asked. “Az Englestan? Are you from England?”
I knew that this was a very religiously conservative family, and I was not sure of the response I would get if I said I was American, but I told them anyway.
“You are American?” Amineh asked. “Yes,” I replied.
They both looked at each other, as if they were not quite sure what to say. Finally, breaking a moment of awkward silence, Hossein slapped his knee, laughed and said:
“Hah! American! Welcome to Iran. You know, we have problems with the American government but we like American people. We don't like the British, though; you never know what they're thinking. But in Iran we think American people are honest and upfront. Although, I think you are the first American I've met,” he admitted.
“Thank you,” I replied, thankful for his polite response.
“Excuse me, but why are there soldiers and tanks across the river?” I asked.
“This is the beginning of a week celebrating the “Sacred Defense” of our country against Iraqi invasion,” Hossein answered. “What is that?” I asked.
“During the Iraq-imposed war against Iran, Iraqi forces invaded several Iranian border towns, and had occupied them for quite some time. The city of Khorramshar was taken because of it's location near the water and its wealth. It is a very important border city because of its resources. This week commemorates the success of Iran's forces in expelling the Iraqis from Iran's territories during the war. This entire week the military will have demonstrations, commemorating the event. There will be games for children, and fireworks set off over the river. It is also to remember the martyrs and their families that made sacrifices for the sake of our country. Do you have anything like this in America?”
“I think it sounds kind of like two holidays we have,” I replied, “Veterans Day, a day honoring soldiers who have fought in war, and Memorial Day, a day remembering those who have died in battle.”
“The city of Isfahan lost so many people in that war. Everyone I know has lost someone at either the front or here in the city from the Iraqi bombs that fell on us,” he continued. “We have 5 shahid, 5 martyrs, in just my family: two of my brothers, my uncle, and two cousins. You know, the United States and Europe gave Iraq supplies to defeat Iran, but they weren't able to,” he added.
“Yes, I've heard they provided both sides with weapons,” I said. “I'm sorry for your family's losses.”
“Thank you. But it's not just my family. Almost every Isfahani family is like that. Have you been to the martyrs' cemetery?”
“Not yet,” I replied. “I'm supposed to go there with a friend tonight. Her brother is buried there. It's hard to imagine… ”
“Baleh, yes, it's devastating,” he interrupted. “It is something that will take a very long time for our country to recover from. It's been 14 years already, and sometimes it seems like yesterday.”
Amineh interrupted: “I lost a brother also, and several cousins. One of my cousins was the only son in his family, and his mother begged him not to go. Of course, he felt it was his duty to go, and he died a week later, shot by an Iraqi bullet at the front. He was only 15. His mother, my aunt, had such pain in her heart that she died of a heart attack a month later.”
Hossein glanced over to his left, and noticed how Hunter and Tucker were keeping themselves entertained by burning leaves, pieces of paper, and anything else they could find, in the burner. I was about to tell them to stop because it was dangerous, when Hossein laughed and handed them a paper plate to burn. His daughters were laughing too, commenting on how little boys, no matter where they're from, are sheitoun, naughty.
Hunter, overhearing the word “sheitoun,” gave his standard reply:
“Baleh, man sheitoun-e bozorg hastam va ou sheitoun-e koochek-eh.” In other words, “Yes I am the Great Satan and he (Tucker) is the little Satan.” Tucker nodded in agreement, proud of his title.
Hunter, I'm sure, did not understand the political implications of his statement, using Iranian terms that usually refer to the United States and Great Britain. But he did know that whenever he said this any Iranian would laugh in hysterics, just as they did this time.
Hossein reached over and patted both boys on the head, ruffling up their hair. Although Hunter and Tucker always complained that they got tired of everyone putting their hands in their hair, this time they didn't seem to mind. Hossein handed them a few more leaves to burn.
“Tell me,” Hossein asked me, “what is the freedom like in the United States compared to Iran?”
“That's really hard to say,” I replied. “I haven't lived here my entire life, so I don't have anything more to go on than first impressions. But it seems like although there are some restrictions, I am surprised by the amount of freedom I've been able to have here. I am also surprised by how people express their political opinions so openly. I thought there would be more caution. Of course, it is important to respect your customs.”
“Do you like the hejab?” Amineh asked.
“Aadat mikardam,” I replied, “I've gotten used to it. It's really not that difficult for me, though it does get a little hot at times.”
“So, the women in your country, they don't wear hejab?” She asked.
“Not unless they're Muslim, and it is probably difficult for Muslim women in some parts of the United States to wear it freely, as it would be difficult — if not impossible — for me not to wear it here.”
“What do you think about freedom in Iran?” I asked
Hossein answered: “I think we need more of it. I'm a very religious man, and I still support the Revolution, but I don't think that should stop us from having a free press and free elections. People are entitled to express their opinions. We also need to have more scientific progress in Iran. Why should our country, which for centuries was at the height of scientific and intellectual progress, and with so many resources and smart young people, now be aghab-raft, falling backwards?”
“I don't know,” I replied. “I get asked that question a lot.”
By now, the boys had burnt just about everything they could get their hands on. Hossein turned off the burner, and told the kids “don't get into too much trouble. You need to help your mother. Be good boys.”
It was time for us to go, as I could sense Hossein was getting tired and was probably ready to take a late-afternoon nap in the park. I had Hunter and Tucker gather up their things, and we said “goodbye.”
“Thank you very much for the tea and the conversation,” I said.
“Thank you,” they both said, “now we can say we've had a conversation with an American.”
It was getting late, and Hunter and Tucker were getting hungry. We walked down the path headed toward Si-o-seh Pol. Along the way we noticed entire families of men and women napping on their picnic blankets while children ran around, played soccer, or played at the nearby play-ground.
Spotting the bridge, Tucker asked “Mommy, can we go to the chai-khaneh (tea house) and get some aash-e reshteh (thick noodle soup)?
“Yeah,” Hunter added, “they have the best aash there.”
We walked down the stairs, crossed a large gutter filled with the river's flowing water, and stooped under an archway into the dank, darkened room, toward the cashier. Old brass lanterns, artifacts, and nets were hanging from the ceilings and walls, giving one the feeling of stepping into some ancient past. People were lined up ordering pots of tea, bowls of aash, and ghalioun, a Persian water pipe with flavored tobacco. Others were sitting at tables out on the patio, resting slightly above the river. Single men, leaning back casually in their chairs smoking their ghalioun, had their own patio; women and families had another. It was almost sunset, and the mountainous horizon was turning a soft glowing pink, reflecting off the water. The evening breezes flowed like the water, providing a welcomed coolness. This was my favorite time of day to be out, enjoying the last days of summer with my boys.
During the entire “Week of the Sacred Defense,” there were constant programs and parades on television displaying Iran's military might and reminders of the nine-year war with Iraq.
I was watching television at my friend Nargess's house, while Hunter and Tucker played computer games with her sons in the bedroom. Images of rolling tanks, marching soldiers, men playing with explosives, and passing images of Iran's martyred youth lying on the ground bathed in their own blood, flashed before me. There were also many displays of mourning and men crying. Special television programs served to remind us that the tragedies of war persist long past the cease fire: mourning has almost become part of national identity.
Nargess's husband, Mahmoud, rang the doorbell as he always did, before entering his home, in case there are any uncovered women in the house who wish to cover up before he enters. At Nargess's house, I rarely covered my hair, unless there were other family members present that were part of her or Mahmoud's extended family. Mahmoud sat down in front of the television, shaking his head at the story of a returned Iranian P.O.W. Like most men his age, Mahmoud had served in the military during the Iran-Iraq war, and considered himself lucky to be alive.
This prisoner of war was also alive, barely. He was recently returned to Iran as part of a prisoner exchange agreement between Tehran and Baghdad. The program began with an interview of the man's wife and daughter, in which they were each crying about how happy they were when they found out he was still alive, and how horrified they were when he was returned, worse off than dead. The man, gray, wasted, and skeletal, was lying on a mat on the floor. He had no eyes, no tongue, and his limbs had been beaten so badly his bones were crushed, rendering them useless. His lungs had been poisoned during Saddam's attack on the Kurds at Halabja, by the same chemical weapons that Saddam had reportedly been provided by companies in the United States, Germany, Russia and other countries (Blum 2002). There had been extensive damage to his nervous system, causing him to shake. His daughter was trying to feed him, without success. The story ended with an interview with the man's daughter, after his death a year later. He had clung to life for years in an Iraqi prison, only to die just a short while after being returned home.
Woven into these programs were anti-American propaganda “commercials.” These “commercials” were not advertising a product; rather, they were advertising — or promoting — a way of thinking. One of the most vivid images started off with a representation of the Statue of Liberty draped in the American flag. Images of war, and Muslim men, women and children dying from bombs and battle flash through her eyes. The statue's face then gradually turns into a skull, symbolizing death and destruction of the Muslim world at the hands of the United States and Israel.
“These things used to work after the revolution, but Iranians don't think this way anymore,” he dismissed. “We like American people. You shouldn't watch those things.”
I think he wanted to spare me — or himself — from feeling uncomfortable. The images were graphic and horrific, and served to forge linkages between all Iran's enemies. I imagine if the Iranian government had coined the term “axis of evil,” their triad would include Iraq, Israel, and the United States. While I had always seen negative images of Iran and the Middle East on American television, I was now seeing the reverse. These images had an interesting and unsettling power.
Mahmoud stood up to turn the TV off. We had plans to leave soon for the martyr's cemetery, to visit the grave of Nargess's younger brother.
Ayaam bahar ast o gol o laaleh o nasrin
Az khak barayand to dar khak cheraii
Chon abr-e bahaaraan beravam zar begarim
Bar khaak-e to chandaankeh to az khaak beraii
Spring is here! Oh rose, and tulip and daffodil
Have risen from dust. Why are you in the dust still?
Like full clouds of Spring,
my eyes shall scatter tears upon your tomb of dust
Until you, from your earthen prison, your head shall thrust.
–Hafez (my translation)
For those whose remains have been returned and identified, there is the shahid cemetery, Golzar-e Shohada, or “Flower Garden of the Martyrs.” Of the approximate 300,000 or more Iranians dead in the war, Nargess told me Isfahan province lost over 200,000 people. The numbers aren't certain; still, it is difficult to comprehend what that loss looks like or feels like to those who have lived it. What would a field of hundreds of thousands of tulips look like?
The street outside the cemetery is lined with photo after photo of shohadah: young men, old men, mullahs, and boys, who lost their lives in the 9-year war. Even the roads are named after prominent martyrs. Every city has its own cemetery specifically for the shohadah, with each city numbering in the thousands of people who died in war. This night, my children and I were to visit the cemetery with Nargess and her family. Her younger brother had been killed in battle, and is buried here.
As we entered the gates to Golzar-e Shohada a middle aged man handed Nargess, Mohammad, their two sons, Mansour and Majid, and Hunter, Tucker and I small cups of thick noodle soup, or aash. A few steps later, an older woman passed out cups of sweet saffron rice pudding, sholeh zard.
“Nargess,” I asked, “why did those people hand out food to us?”
“That happens a lot at cemeteries, especially at cemeteries for the shohada,” she answered. “Sometimes it's a way of honoring their dead. But sometimes it's because they made a nasr, a special request of God that has been answered, and in return they agree to pass out food to people.”
“Is that anything like a sofreh?” I asked.
“Sort of. Sometimes when someone does a nasr and it comes true they might have a sofreh instead of passing out food here. They can be connected, but not always.” Nargess and I wandered through the cemetery. Her husband was following after the four boys, who ran off ahead of us. She led me to her brother's grave, and stopped to tell me the story of how he died:
“My little brother, he was so handsome — don't you think? — and we were very close.”
I looked at the picture of the young man whose body was buried beneath the slab on the ground. He had large, dark brown eyes, like almonds, and an angular face, covered by the slightest stubble of a beard. He was very handsome.
“He was only 18 when he went to defend our country,” Nargess continued. “Do you want to know what happened? One of his friends who was in his unit told me that he was captured by several Iraqi soldiers, who told him to surrender. He was ordered to put his hands up, and when he did they shot him dead. Can you believe that? He surrendered and they shot him! I dream about him all the time. Sometimes it is as if he still talks to me. I can hear his voice in my dreams… ”
So many photographs of faces above the graves. Some of the younger ones were even too young to have celebrated their first facial hair; their faces appeared as soft as a tulip's petal. Nargess and I looked over at our respective four sons. Her oldest was 11, and in several years he would be serving his required two year military stint. It was hard to imagine the other three, between the ages of 6 and 9, ever being big enough to carry a gun. We looked at each other for a second and, without speaking, we could easily read each other's thoughts:
“God, please keep our children safe and make it so they never have to know war.”
We continued on to another section of the cemetery where the men, women, and children who died during the war — usually because of bombs falling on their homes — are laid to rest. Nargess affectionately took my arm and led me through the rows, telling me the stories behind the graves of the people she knew:
“You see these people here? This was my cousin. His father begged and begged him not to go to the war, certain his only son would be killed there. Of course his son didn't listen, and went anyway out of duty to his country. After a couple of months, his father traveled to the front — to the battlefield — to bring his son home. Reluctantly, his son came back. Three months later, a bomb fell on his home and his son was killed…
“He left the front and was killed in his home?” I asked.
“Yes,” she nodded, “it must have been his time.”
“Here is where my aunt is buried. I don't know what happened to her picture, it used to be right here, but she was very beautiful. Another bomb fell on her home and killed her instantly. Her daughter, who was eight years old, was struck, but still alive, calling out for her mother all the way to the hospital. She died in the hospital several hours later. She's buried right here, next to her mother.”
“Nargess?” I asked.
“Yes, Diane.”
“I walked up to the top of Koo-ye Soffeh the other day, to the unmarked graves, and a young woman who said she had never been married also said Œmy husband died in the war.' What did that mean?”
“Baleh, yes,” she answered, “there are too many women in their thirties and even forties who were never able to find a husband.
“Because so many young men their age died, there aren't enough men to go around. When they say ŒMy husband died in the war,' it means that the man that they were supposed to marry — the one that God had chosen for them — died before they could ever meet. So many women are hopeless that they will ever find a mate.”
Standing here, in the flower garden of the martyrs, I thought about the young woman with the yellow tulips, and about death and hopeless love.
I still like tulips. But I see them differently now.
The sons of Adam are limbs of each other
Having been created of one essence
When the calamity of time affects one limb
The other limbs cannot remain at rest.
If thou has no sympathy for the troubles of others
Thou are unworthy to be called by the name of man.
–Sa'adi (Golestan, “Flower Garden”)
Copy right Diane Tober, PH.D., Medical Anthropologist, University of California, San Francisco.
MP3s from “”
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Tag Archives: The Puppet Masters
Don’t Let Evil Give You The Shaft! “Down” review!
Posted by The Evil Blogger on November 16, 2017
One of New York City’s popular skyscrapers, the Millennial Building, is a modern marvel with 102 floors sought to be visited by national and international tourists, looking to reach the zenith and take a once-in-a-lifetime, awe inspiring gander across the Big Apple’s urban jungle landscape or seeking to be a working stiff inside the immaculate bones of the building’s historical foundation. Every day, thousands of visitors and employees ride the Millennial Building’s 73 elevators, assuming the safest ride possible to the touch the bottom of the sky, but when a deranged scientist implements a controversial biomedical computer into the building’s elevator vascular network, one tragic accident after another compiles fatal consequences within the vertical box that draws negative national attention. Elevator mechanic Mark Newman teams up with a rebellious newspaper reporter Jennifer Evans to investigate and uncover the a larger-than-life conspiracy behind a killer elevator organism.
Over three decades ago, Dutch filmmaker Dick Maas wrote, directed, and released the killer elevator film, simply titled “De Lift,” in the Netherlands. About 18 years later after his commercial success for “De Lift,” Mass spawned an American remake of the film entitled “Down,” also known as “The Shaft,” that transformed into the forgotten bastard when compared to Maas’ 1983 feature. To be frankly, “Down’s” terror-comedy knack with spunky characters and zany deaths put the 2001 remake right smack dab at the top of the repeat value charts and despite the lack of rigorous plausibility, the refreshingly no-holds barred, fun zone horror film doesn’t think twice, charging forward with gun blazing in an elevator ride to cinematic hell that shows no mercy and gives not one single care with each surpassing floor level. Be damned the backstory with meager exposition! Be damned the underdeveloped characters who are pivotal to the plot! Be damned the complexities of how the biomedical elevator system is able to live, breath, and reproduce through murder and mayhem! “Down” has a black and white, up and down glory that’s considered b-horror good that’s very reminiscent of the early films of Peter Jackson.
If you’re going to remake a killer elevator film, go big with the cast and Mass surely pulled through by signing cult genre stars of the time. Naomi Watts was just coming into the mainstream scene as she tackled well-received projects around that same time frame between David Lynch’s “Mulholland Dr.” and “The Ring” a year later, but the “Tank Girl” actress showed more than just her aesthetic assets, more than just shrieking horrific screams, and more than just displaying her big guns. In “Down,” she proved to be a gung-ho, rough-it-with-the-boys portrayer of a feisty reporter whose hot on the trail of a conspiracy helmed by surreptitious characters played Michael Ironside, who did not lose an arm in this film like he does in “Total Recall,” “Starship Troopers,” and “The Machinist,” and Ron Pearlman (“Hellboy,” “Cronos”). However, James Marshall, in the lead as the elevator mechanic, couldn’t ratchet tight a performance that called for concern and durability; instead, Marshall, known for playing James Hurley in “Twin Peaks,” schlepped clumsily on screen compared to the aggressively hungry Watts. Eric Thal (“The Puppet Masters”), Dan Hedaya (“Alien: Resurrection”), Edward Herrmann (“The Lost Boys”), and Kathryn Meisle (“Basket Case 2”) round out the remaining cast.
“Down’s” commercial success was plunging disaster. Reasons ranging from a flimsy premise to being an unconventional horror to the genre were, more than likely, not the major players in “Down’s” inability to elevate an audience. More so, the reasons stem solely between one or two factors, if not both. For one, Maas writes New Yorkers as belligerent morons, cocky, greedy, and deranged. Many of the characters are like this and if there was any that embodied any sliver of rationality or humanitarian attributes, there screen time was quick and fruitless. Secondly, though “Down” released in the spring of 2001, a film set in a New York City high rise with multiple mentions of terrorists and even verbally conveying a foiled plot to take down the twin towers probably hurt the film’s home entertainment value to the point where a DVD release didn’t surface until a good two years after the theatrical premiere.
Aside from all the delays, harsh reviews, and a shoddily cropped Artisan DVD release, Blue Underground delivers a godsend presenting “Down” on Blu-ray/DVD combo. The 1080 HD on a BD 50 dual layer disc has a widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio and radiates with clarity; so clear, that I had a hard time placing the year as the image certainly outshines most turn of the century products. An immense amount of detail just exemplifies the extraordinary content without appearing as a discount deal for special effects. Audio options include an English and French 5.1 DTS-HD and an English and French Dolby Digital stereo with both including optional English SDH subtitles and Spanish subtitles. The amount of range is leaps and bounds beyond the Artisan’s par quality with the 5.1 channelling maximized quality and clarity. Dialogue track is clear and free from obstructions with the only stain being the horrendously dubbed diner jerk that punches James Marshall in the face, but that’s not necessary a make or break blemish. Bonus materials include audio commentary with writer-director Dick Maas and stunt coordinator Willem de Beukelaer, the making of “Down,” behind-the-scenes footage that’s exclusive to the Blu-ray, theatrical trailer, poster and still gallery, and teaser trailers of upcoming releases. The casing itself harnesses a collectible booklet with new essays by Michael Gingold. “Down” finally shines through with a stellar release from Blue Underground, a leader in restoring and releasing cult films. If in the mood for a story without much thought while desiring to choke on out of this world terror-comedy then “Down” is a must on the upcoming marquee!
Own “Down” on Blu-ray!
Leave a comment Posted in Evil Reviews, gore, Just fucking awesome, Remakes / Re-envisions, Trailers, Uncategorized Tagged 2001, Alien: Resurrection, Basket Case 2, Blue Underground, bluray, Cronos, de Lift, decapitation, Dick Maas, Don Hedaya, Down, Edward Herrman, Eric Thal, Hellboy, James Hurley, James Marshall, Kathryn Meisle, killer elevator, Michael Gingold, Michael Ironside, Mulholland Dr, Naomi Watts, New York City, Pre 9/11, Remake, Ron Pearlman, skyscraper, starship troopers, The Lost Boys, The Machinist, The Puppet Masters, the ring, The Shaft, total recall, Twi Towers, Twin Peaks, Willem de Beukelaer
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3 Things You Missed About the Nevada Democratic Convention
by Kathryn Bullington, published May 20, 2016
You might have missed three important puzzle pieces to the chaos that exploded at the Nevada Democratic Convention. The leading narrative has been that the Democratic Party suppressed votes, defied normal convention rules, and "violated the spirit and values of our nation," as Leslie Sexon, a representative for Sanders on the Credentials Committee, stated.
Reading reports coming from The Hill, Washington Post, or other IVN articles (here and here), it seems as though Sanders supporters were blindsided at the Saturday event, by unforeseen injustices, and rule-breaking. Videos have gone viral depicting disenfranchised Sanders supporters on one side of the room, forcefully policed, and removed by the Democratic Party. But, most accounts are missing three important pieces to the puzzle: the Kramar email, the pre-convention lawsuit, and the Paris Hotel.
1. The Second Tier Kramar E-mail
A mysterious email was sent out to Clark County delegates at the second tier of the Nevada caucus (Nevada has three: the popular vote, the county delegate vote, and the state convention). The email said that delegates were not required to show up at the county caucus to vote.
According to Jon Ralston, of Ralston Reports, the email was "sent by Christine Kramar, at the behest of convention Chair Greg Esposito."
About 600 Clinton delegates didn't show at the second tier, resulting in Sanders' votes outnumbering Clinton's, in conflict with the first tier popular vote.
Kramar was accused of being partisan, and removed from the committee.
The Kramar email influenced the Rules Committee to draft changes to throw out the second tier votes. The change was brought to vote at the start of the Nevada convention, seconded by a Sanders delegate, and adopted.
Sanders' delegates were, in part, incensed that the vote started before 10am, when in fact it started 40 minutes late, around 9:40. Business was scheduled to start at 9am. Delegates could register to enter the convention until 10am.
2. The Pre-Convention Lawsuit
Sanders delegates went into the Nevada Convention knowing that their delegates would not be registered -- because they did not register by the May 1 deadline.
Would-be Sanders delegates sued the DNC, before the Nevada Convention. The suit asked for an injunction, to hopefully gain the credentials to be delegates. The case was thrown out two days before the convention. The court would not interfere in the party conflict, but stated that it was not the fault of the DNC that Sanders supporters did not register on time.
According to Politifact, only 8 of the rejected delegates showed up to try to register.
3. The Nevada Convention Was Kicked Out by the Paris Hotel
Sanders supporters were reported to have rushed the stage, and used disruptive tactics from the first vote about rules changes. The hotel provided extra security. Some Clinton delegates felt unsafe enough to request security to escort them to the bathroom.
As the convention continued to be unruly, and ran over 4 hours past the DNC's allotted time, the Paris Hotel told the DNC that they had to leave, in part because they would not be able to continue to provide enough security. It was at this time that the chair closed the convention. Sanders supporters refused to leave, and hotel security came in to remove them.
Sanders supporters claim that motions were left on the table, including a request to recount delegate votes for presidential candidate.
https://twitter.com/MichaelPnano/status/731721186414067712
PolitiFact Nevada rated accusations of fraud and misconduct against the Nevada Democrats false.
Nevada Party Files Complaint Against Sanders
Nevada Democrats filed a letter of complaint to the DNC, detailing what they believe is intentional disruption that will continue on into the National Convention.
Marches against the DNC have been planned for months. There are already 4 approved marches in Philadelphia from July 24-28, during the Democratic National Convention.
160516 Letter DNC RBC NVDemsConvention by Jon Ralston:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/312844982/160516-Letter-DNC-RBC-NVDemsConvention
Kathryn Bullington
Kathryn is a freelance writer covering politics, civics, and agriculture.
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News • Revelations
Nike to launch ‘Pro Hijab’ for Muslim women athletes
(RNS) The new product, developed with help from hijab-wearing Olympians in the UAE, will be commercially available in spring 2018.
Institutions • News • Revelations
Conservative synagogues can now officially accept non-Jews as members
(RNS) By an overwhelming vote, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism voted to accept non-Jews as synagogue members.
Jews rally to support burned Florida mosque, $18 at a time
(RNS) How do donations of $36, $72, $90 combat hate?
Beliefs • Faith • News • Revelations
Evangelical leaders proclaim 2017 the ‘Year of Good News’
(RNS) The letter urges all Christians to share the 'Good News' of Jesus with others and to preach it boldly.
Government & Politics • Institutions • News • Politics • Revelations
Dem invites Methodist pastor who defends immigrants to Trump’s speech
(RNS) The Rev. Keary Kincannon has publicly decried a roundup of immigrants across the street from his church.
The Rev. Timothy Keller to step down from Redeemer Presbyterian Church
(RNS) He will continue working with the Redeemer City to City church planting network, including teaching in its partner program with Reformed Theological...
News • Politics • Revelations
Support for Muslim ban up among white evangelicals
(RNS) But support has dropped among all other religious groups.
Police investigate threats against Muslim activist as she takes national platform
(RNS) Linda Sarsour, who helped raise more than $80,000 for the repair of a vandalized Jewish cemetery, received online threats.
At least 10 Jewish community centers targeted in fourth round of bomb threats
(RNS) It appears to be the same caller who targeted JCCs in previous rounds of threatening calls.
Jewish groups dismayed by Trump’s response to anti-Semitism question
(RNS) The reporter asked about rising anti-Semitism in the U.S. The president's answer — or seeming lack of one — angered many prominent Jewish Americans.
Ken Starr on shortlist to head Office of International Religious Freedom
(RNS) Others rounding out the short list for the position include Nina Shea and Johnnie Moore.
Mississippi still rules the religiosity rankings
(RNS) And at the bottom for the ninth year in a row: Vermont.
Arts & Media • Entertainment & Pop Culture • News • Politics • Revelations
Literary agents ISO Muslim authors
(RNS) 'Literary agents are in a unique position to help contribute to bringing more empathy, compassion, understanding and tolerance into this world through...
Government & Politics • News • Revelations
Christian leaders to Trump: We’re praying for you, but . . .
(RNS) On the eve of what will be Donald Trump's first National Prayer Breakfast as president, 800 Christian leaders petitioned the president to "remember...
An interfaith embrace after a Texas mosque burns to the ground
(RNS) In three days, donors gave nearly $1 million to rebuild the mosque through its GoFundMe site.
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Comparative Study | Journal Article | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't | Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
An activity specified by the osteosarcoma line U2OS can substitute functionally for ICP0, a major regulatory protein of herpes simplex virus type 1.
F Yao, P A Schaffer
F Yao
P A Schaffer
Among the five immediate-early regulatory proteins of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1, only ICP0 is capable of activating all kinetic classes of viral genes. Consistent with its broad transactivating activity, ICP0 plays a major role in enhancing the reactivation of HSV from latency both in vivo and in vitro. Although not essential for viral replication, ICP0 confers a significant growth advantage on the virus, especially at low multiplicities of infection. In this report we describe the expression of a novel activity by the osteosarcoma cell line U2OS that can substitute functionally for ICP0. Compared with Vero cells, both U2OS cells and cells of the ICP0-expressing line 0-28 significantly enhanced the plating efficiency of an ICP0 null mutant, 7134. In contrast, the plating efficiencies of the wild-type virus in all three cell types were similar. Single-step growth experiments demonstrated that the yield of 7134 in U2OS cells was severalfold higher than that in 0-28 cells and about 100-fold higher than that in Vero cells. In order to identify the viral genes whose expression is enhanced by the activity in U2OS cells, levels of expression of selected viral proteins in extracts of Vero and U2OS cells were compared by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis following low-multiplicity infection. At a multiplicity of 0.1 PFU per cell, the levels of expression of the immediate-early protein ICP4 and the early protein gD in 7134-infected U2OS cells were significantly higher than those in 7134-infected Vero cells. When infections were carried out at a multiplicity of 1 PFU per cell, however, no major differences in the levels of expression of these proteins in U2OS and Vero cells were observed. Cycloheximide reversal experiments demonstrated that the cellular activity expressed in U2OS cells that promotes high-level expression of ICP4 is not synthesized de novo but appears to exist as a preformed protein(s). To confirm this observation and to determine whether, like immediate-early genes, early, delayed-early, and late viral genes are also responsive to the cellular activity, transient-expression assays were performed. The results of these tests demonstrated that basal levels of expression from immediate-early, early, and delayed-early promoters, but not that from a late promoter, were significantly higher in U2OS cells than in Vero cells and that this enhancement occurred in the absence of viral proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Journal of Virology Oct 1995, 69 (10) 6249-6258; DOI:
You are going to email the following An activity specified by the osteosarcoma line U2OS can substitute functionally for ICP0, a major regulatory protein of herpes simplex virus type 1.
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Black Panther brings blerd fantasies to life for both black men and black women.
For those of you who might be living under a rock, the Marvel Studios film “Black Panther” dropped on February 16th and it’s the greatest thing ever!
This was probably the most brilliant comic book to film adaptation I’ve seen in my 27 years drawing breath on this earth.
A bold claim, right? Well, I mean it with the entirety of my heart.
For the first time in over a decade, I went to a film expecting greatness and received that- and then some.
This excellent film sports incredible acting, a tight, cohesive plot, beautiful set pieces, multi-layered themes/storytelling, and, most importantly, representation.
Black Panther has by far the strongest ensemble of black actresses I’ve ever seen in an action-adventure film; for the slue of black girls who might be more into skateboards, comics, and basketball rather than dolls and makeup kits, that means everything.
As a black male, it's hard to admit, but the conversation, as it relates to representation in the action and fantasy genre, is usually male-centric.
We tend to ignore the presence of black women in spaces typically inhabited by self-professed nerds. The truth is, they’re just as prevalent as any other non-white group.
So why the seemingly willful ignorance? Though sexism (and other forms of discrimination) is likely to be present here, it’s my belief that this result is brought on by… well, ignorance
The intersection of nerd culture and black culture has never really been something examined by the world at large. Now that doesn’t mean that we weren’t apart of it; that’s far from the case.
I spent the more fascinating parts of my youth playing Japanese card games or getting into heated debates about Anime cartoons with black nerds not too dissimilar from myself.
Now, this wasn’t just my tiny friend group. This was a big chunk of my homeroom a lot of the time.
Groups like mines existed in just about every grade, in every school I attended, until I graduated high school.
So why are we aloof to the idea of black nerds? I mean, they were right next to us all throughout our formative years, right? It all goes back to representation.
Anytime you saw news reports or any television coverage of nerd-themed events, you always saw happy-go-lucky white kids dressed in elaborate costumes as some sort of homage to their favorite television show or comic.
I think that created the dichotomy in our minds where, for a while, we thought that being an active, enthused participant in nerd culture was “white people stuff.”
Black kids were informed about aspects of nerd culture, but we were never shown to be engaged in it the same way our white peers were. As a result, we never realized we could employ our interests in the same way.
Despite this admittedly depressing side effect of society at large, the good news is, as much as it kills me to write this cliché, the world is much smaller thanks to social media.
Communities of black nerds can now not only converse amongst each other, (like how we did in school) but said conversations can be accessible to the nerd community as a whole.
This exposure has brought both the contemporary idea of the black nerd and our want for representation in fiction to the forefront.
As mentioned previously, those conversations seemed male-centric for a while until Marvel Studios gave us Black Panther.
Phot source here
Though the film’s titular hero and his antagonist still get the majority share of development, the film still gives us an effective portrayal of a brilliant scientist (Letitia Wright), a mighty general (Denai Gurira), a caring mother (Angela Bassett), and the suave spy (Lupita Nyongo)
Wright plays a snarky scientist who is similar yet distinct from Robert Downey Junior’s Tony Stark character. Bassett gives us a loving mother who, unlike others of her archetype, doesn’t dote on her son but rather trusts in him and what he represents.
Nyongo and Gurira are our stand out warrior women from the cast.
They play said roles with a fierceness and vulnerability that often left me in awe. There’s this one scene where Gurira gets into a fight at a casino and, boy oh boy, does she lay some henchman out.
I feel bad for Thanos when the next Avengers movie rolls around and he has to fight her because that woman rumbles like no other.
Nyongo is probably the more conflicted of the two as there’s a more emotional depth to her. From having ended a love affair with Prince T’Challa (Black Panther) to wanting to see the nation of Wakanda share its wealth and resources with those in need, she definitely has the most profundity of any of the female cast members.
There were moments during the film where it felt like they were grooming her for a larger role and, to put it bluntly, it will be amazing if they do. I’ll keep spoilers to a minimum here but don’t be surprised if after some actor’s contracts run out that we see Nyongo become a hero to rival others In Marvel’s cinematic universe.
You see, Sony? When you love us, we love you back.
Article by Rovell Vialva
Chinazo Enigwe February 21, 2018 Afro, lupita nyongo, Africa, Chadwick Boseman, Liticia Wright, African style, blackwomenarepoppin, America, Wakanda, Wakanda forever, black panther, Activism, Michael B Jordan, RepresentationComment
Dear White People Season 2 Review
Tyreck Fuller June 21, 2018
Award Winning Filmmaker, Matthew Cherry, Launches Campaign For Hair Love
Chinazo Enigwe July 26, 2017 black hair, black, black community, natural hair, locs, father, daughter, black father, black daughter, viral, campaign, kickstarter, crowdfunding, animation, 3D Animation, film, short film, director, pixar
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Alice Cooper, Culture, Hard Rock, Music, Record collecting, Vinyl
When You See Me With A Smile On My Face, Then You’ll Know I’m A Mental Case
The silence is speaking
so why am I weeping
I guess I love it
I love it to death (Long Way To Go)
No matter how great the music within, we 1980’s record buyers really got the shitty end of the stick from record companies. Take, my beloved, Alice Cooper Love It To Death – a stone cold classic, scabrous chunk of ugly beauty and wondrousness. When I forked over my hard-earned cash for it on Valentine’s Day 1989* all I got back was a vinyl LP that was almost thin enough to see through and the black and white pics on front and back covers. Along with the track listing, that really was it, no credits, no lyrics, not even the band members’ names. Piss poor. I didn’t even know that it originally came in a gatefold until I looked it up this morning**.
My knowledge of Alice Cooper when I bought this was confined to the track ‘School’s Out’ and that they played hard rock and my parents had a book called West Coast Story in which there was an interview with Mr Alice Cooper, who I’m pretty sure was naked apart from a boa constrictor. We were still 5 months off Trash back then. I just wanted some hard rock kicks and thrills from Love It To Death, it coughed some up for me and then gave me a load more besides.
The two big hitters for me at the time were the most obvious tracks here ‘I’m Eighteen’ and ‘Ballad of Dwight Fry’. I still think ‘I’m Eighteen’, which of course figures large in the Sex Pistols’ legend, is a brilliant song, capturing all the confusion, all the exuberance all the snot and spite of the age – it feels unselfconsciously epic too, which can only be good thing to be and there is something perfect about Mr Furnier’s raspy voice and the organ chord sounding at the very end.
Mommy, where’s daddy?
He’s been gone for so long.
Do you think he’ll ever come home?
And as for ‘…Dwight Fry’, as well as keeping the makers of bespoke strait jackets for touring rock stars employed for nigh on 45 years now, it is just a wonderfully conceived and executed slice of schlock horror. I just get goose bumps when the guitars come in after that piano intro, it fits the 1537 definition of genius perfection in that I can’t think of anything you could either add to, or take away from it, to make it one iota better. Plus I have always been a sucker for songs with distinct separate sections in them. Needless to say, the singer gets to ham it up good style and that’s another reason I like him so much, his references and acting come straight from that wonderful classic Hollywood tradition*^ – all good clean family entertainment, even when it’s dealing with the descent into insanity and gibbering darkness.
And speaking of Rolf Harris, their cover of ‘Sun Arise’ that closes Love It To Death has always been a WTF moment for me, in fact I think I may have just listened to it all the way through for the first time. Wobbleboard aside^, it’s a pretty true cover too, apparently they used it as a show opener for a while. The mind boggles. There’s nothing wildly wrong about it as a piece of music, but still …
I’m guilty of taping off my two fave tracks, along with the lascivious shimmy-shimmy of ‘Is It My Body’ – which if I were a 70s rocker I’d have sung directly to the laydeez and the square straight-baiting ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’, which owes The Doors a big debt in terms of its rhythm and overall sound, raspy vocals aside:
Sluts and the hookers have taken your money
The queens are out dancing but now they’re not funny
‘Cause there goes one walkin’ away with your sonny
Cursing their lovers
Cursing the Bible
This time around though I find myself listening more and more to the other tracks here, some of which are real gems. What really struck me is how much of a 1960’s album Love It To Death was, if you’ve ever listened to Mr Furnier’s radio show then you will know that he is always praising the Yardbirds and the Doors to the high heavens, you can really hear their influence on this album, overlaid by some 70s brashness. Take the rave-up of ‘Long Way To Go’, written by Michael Bruce, which sounds like a hot-rodded slice of the British Invasion. How snotty do you want?
Please don’t waste your energy on me my friend
cause we still got a long way to go
we’ll meet again some day
but right now just go away
’cause I still got a long way to go
I’ve also got a real jazz-on for ‘Black Juju’, which sounds not unlike a honky take on Santana jamming with Dr John, but with some extra amateur dramatics in the middle. I always picture the band recording this one dressed up like Screaming Lord Sutch meeting Arthur Brown uptown. Named after a stray dog, it is one in the context of the album, it borrows more than its organ part from Pink Floyd’s ‘Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun’, this is interstellar travel for the Quaalude generation. It is a great showcase for the instrumental talents in the band too, they can never get enough credit as far as I’m concerned too, Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce never get their dues as a guitar tag team and the rhythm section of Dennis Dunaway and Michael Smith are so nimble and light on their feet, nothing here ever plods.
I had no idea that ‘Second Coming’ was written as a reaction to the, umm, reaction to ‘The Long and Winding Road’ when it was released,, it’s not a hugely arresting tune but is pure Bob Ezrin to the core, a mini symphony, tightly wound to a tee, guitars perfectly meshing, the drums to the fore – huge bonus points too for the seamless intro to ‘…Dwight Fry’, courtesy of Ezrin’s piano playing. Strangely, whilst it is no way bad, the weakest track here is the opener ‘Caught In a Dream’ which comes over as a bit of a rocker by rote but I do love the line that I pinched for the title of this here post.
So there you have it the Alice Cooper’s first great album, and the start of an inspired winning streak of 4 LPs that ended with Billion Dollar Babies and moved rock’s tectonic plates for good. Love It To Death is the sound of the band just stepping forward into that future, carving out some brilliance for themselves, having not quite thrown off the decade that shaped them yet – don’t worry, they’d get there 8 months later with Killer.
Inset photo taken by the, rather damn brilliant, Alice hawkins
PS – Surely this has to be the first review of this album that doesn’t end with some variation on, ‘I loved it to death’? I claim my prize!
spotify:album:6p7jHbG5Bd6z2JgfKx0um7
*well, it is a day for treating someone you truly love. I’m very proud to say that romance is still going strong too.
**There’s a bigger question here, one mentioned often by Mike Ladano over at his place, Alice Cooper’s back catalogue really needs some proper TLC lavishing on it. I can’t think of many bands of their stature and import who haven’t had a full-on rerelease campaign, with some archive material, sleevenotes, artwork etc. Are there weird Byzantine contractual issues involved?
*^he acted with Mae west, became good friends with Groucho Marx and paid £27k to restore one of the ‘o’s in the Hollywood sign in memory of him, which is a story I love.
^which in lieu of burning it, is the correct position for one.
November 9, 2015 November 9, 2015 47 CommentsAlice Cooper, Ballad Of Dwight Fry, Bob Ezrin, I'm Eighteen, Love It To Death, Rolf Harris Sun Arise, Straight Records, Warner Brothers
47 thoughts on “When You See Me With A Smile On My Face, Then You’ll Know I’m A Mental Case”
jhubner73 says:
An Alice Cooper Lego? Really? Where do you get your Legos my friend? I must know.
Really. I made it by doctoring a ring master and the head from a Dementor. True story!
I’m going to keep him for ever now though!
That’s damn near genius.
Every Record Tells A Story says:
I need to spend more time with this album. He had a great band and this is a great record.
Hiya. They were a better band than I’d realised really, possibly because the song-writing and persona was so strong I’d missed their musicianship a little. I’ve really enjoyed listening to this one again.
Nice one. Not familiar with too much Alice Cooper at all. School’s Out and a couple of his recent things. You and Mr Ladano have convinced me to go investigate further … damn you!
Mike I know loves School’s Out, but I’d start with Killer, personally.
mikeladano says:
This is one of my favourite albums of all time. I’m glad you mentioned that Floyd comparison. And also that the Cooper catalogue needs a proper series of reissues.
Favorite song : Sun Arise.
I’ll never forget the Kool alt rock dude who came into my store when I was playing it. He was upset to learn that it was just Alice Cooper and not some garage band he liked.
I think AC opened for Floyd very early on. You can’t tell me you prefer Sun Arise to Is It My Body, surely?!!
I too love those Groucho Marx tales! He’s a fascinating character
He’s a nice guy too, my friend’s wife took that photo of him with the snake that I’ve used and said he was a lovely, lovely man. Very old school Hollywood.
That’s excellent to hear. He comes across that way in interviews, glad to hear it confirmed in person
Haha serves you right for liking the big black plastic discs. Go digital!
This is a great album. Agreed on the reissues, they’re overdue. I bought a box set recently thinking it would be an upgrade and it was crap. No effort put into it whatsoever!
Haha serves you right for liking the small silver plastic discs. Go analogue!
But I’m ‘format fluid’! You’re like… a binary format oppressor… maannnn
Binary? Binary!! I’m totally, umm, Un-ary!!
Silver discs > black discs?
Silver discs < black discs!
There all just discs! Why can’t we just all learn to live as one?!
His discs have smaller holes than ours. That’s why he thinks his are better.
Yeah, but our balls are bigger!
That’s what she said!
Thank you, thank you, its my first time with that comment.
Somebody has to post it.
Haha awesome. I was gonna add, for our international friends, that the joke was also from the CFL vs NFL thing. I think there was even a commercial, wasn’t there?
Yes!! I wouldn’t have thought of it until you mentioned it but that’s true. There were ads.
What? Learn to live as a disc? You’re losing your mind, man!
I want to live as a tesseract.
Maybe he means it in a Terry Pratchett, Discworld sort of way…
Well that’s just… your opinion man.
HMO gets points for quoting Jeffrey Lebowski.
Neat-o! Super-keen! Groovy! Haha I really enjoyed this (can’t you tell?). I don’t know a whole lot about Alice Cooper (apart from the hits and whatever I’ve read over at Mike’s), but it sounds like there’s some greatness within. Nice one!
Holy cow! You seem to have time-travelled here direct from the 50s!
Marvy! Fab! FAR OUT!
I made you a 5 disc set a few years ago with a sampling from this album. 4-5 tracks I think.
You sure did! It’s awesome! Now, it’s been a while since I gave it a spin, so I’m not clearly remembering what was from where…
All I know for certain is, I put all of School’s Out and all of Nightmare on there. I can only assume I put Sun Arise on it too…I sure hope I did.
Never owned this, despite quite liking early Alice. Thanks for the tasty review.
Talking of wobble-boards, could your wobbly LP, purchased in the 80s, have been a pressing from the oil-crisis years of the early-mid 70s? I remember records becoming so thin that someone invented flexi-discs just by holding one. True story.
Thank you. I just don’t think you can go wrong with Alice Cooper whilst it was still the name of the band, beyond that it gets a bit wobbly.
Possibly a 70s issue, it is awful. My vinyl curse now means I have to get hold of the gatefold version if it’s the last thing I ever do – regardless of the fact that I never knew it existed 24 hours ago.
Is this the same fellow who was sounding so ‘normal’ during the Categories dialogue? Ha!
Rumbled. It’s all just a sham.
Great read! Dwight Fry is a great song. I really dig the intro the buildup of your tale! Right down to that U bought it on Valentine’s Day of 89…5 months before Trash! Ha! I guess Alice hasn’t humg out with Gene And Paul much as those two fella’s have remastered the remastered of a remaster in there back catalogue….
Cheers Deke! I hear what you’re saying re. Kiss – surely there’s a middle way?
You ever seen him strut his stuff live?
Yep Alice opened for Maiden in 2012 ….here’s the cheap plug .i reviewed both the Alice and Maiden shows….Alice was awesome played at 6pm broad daylight.(outdoor show)90 degree heat and did the full show.
Wow, that’s a bill. I had to make do with Great White and Britny Fox when I saw Alice back in ’89.
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Meet The Political Ladies Who Triumphed Last Night
Irin Carmon
Filed to: primary colorsFiled to: primary colors
Sharron angle
Appic
"What a night for women in politics," Tweeted Joe Scarborough. Most, though not all, were conservatives. Warning: in days ahead, you will be hearing the phrase "Mama Grizzly" more than any reasonable person can bear. A primer, after the jump.
Blanche Lincoln, Democratic Senator from Arkansas.
Lincoln prevailed in the primary in a tough year for incumbents, and despite a challenge mounted by a candidate backed by liberal groups, including labor and environmental activists. Aggressive campaigning by Bill Clinton is said to have done the trick. She's been in office since 1998, during which she's built a reputation as a moderate and as the so-called "Senator from Wal-Mart." She faces a tough general election fight. She has a mostly pro-choice record, though she did support the ban on so-called "partial-birth" abortion.
Nikki Haley, Republican nominee for South Carolina Governor.
Endorsements from Sarah Palin and former first lady Jenny Sanford helped Haley jump ahead in the polls, and last night she got 49 percent of the vote over three Republican candidates — though still not enough to avoid a run-off. She would be the first Indian-American governor of South Carolina and the second from that background in the region.
Two men said they'd had affairs with Haley, although no hard evidence ever emerged. She told The New York Times Tuesday, "We are a state of great people. We are a state of dirty politics." When they asked her about her candidacy's potential for breaking historical barriers, she said, "These stereotypes of South Carolina are very different from what South Carolina actually is. If I win, I want it to be historic in the nature that South Carolina is moving forward for reform." She's anti-choice, and has cited the fact that her husband was adopted.
Palin BFF Shows Women Can Have Sex Scandals Too
Political philandering is typically seen as a man's game, but South Carolina gubernatorial…
Carly Fiorina, Republican nominee for California Senator.
The only woman ever to lead a Fortune 20 company, Fiorina won the Republican nomination against a Tea Party candidate, and will face Barbara Boxer in an uphill battle. In the words of Peter Beinart, she "opposes the right to abortion, can't decide if global warming is real, won the endorsement of Sarah Palin, and according to the Times poll, trails Boxer by the same margin Campbell leads her." Specifically, she's earned an "A" rating from the National Right To Life Committee and been endorsed by the Susan B. Anthony List.
Meg Whitman, Republican nominee for California Governor.
The billionaire former chief executive of eBay beat the state insurance commissioner in the California Republican primary, and will now face former governor Jerry Brown. According to PoliticsDaily, "Though Whitman favors public financing of abortions, she is favored by 2-1 in the primary by voters who describe themselves as 'born again Christian,' according to the Field Poll." She supports parental notification laws and the Hyde amendment.
According to the Los Angeles Times, neither Fiorina nor Whitman "touted her gender overtly on the campaign trail, but Whitman embraced it Tuesday night as she greeted supporters near Universal Studios. 'Career politicians in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., be warned - you now face your worst nightmare; two businesswomen from the real world who know how to create jobs, balance budgets and get things done!' she said."
Sharron Angle, Republican nominee for Senator from Nevada.
Senate Majority leader Harry Reid was hoping to face off against this rather extreme candidate, who beat out two establishment Republicans (including another woman). Her positions include privatizing Social Security, getting rid of the Department of Energy, and deregulating Wall Street. She also has a fraction of the funds that Reid commands. According to The Wall Street Journal, "In a recent radio interview she called Felipe Calderon, the Mexican president who has generally friendly relations with the United States, a 'despot' and a 'tyrant.'" She's also anti-choice.
Kamala Harris, Democratic nominee for Attorney General of California.
Per The Daily Beast, if she wins the race for California Attorney General, San Francisco DA Kamala Harris would be the first woman to hold that office. Of African-American and Indian-American descent, Harris was referred to by Gwen Ifill as "the female Barack Obama." Los Angeles County District attorney Steve Cooley is said to be a formidable opponent in a battle that will be fought on issues like prison reform, immigration law, and gay rights. The position of California AG could be a jumping off point to even higher-profile roles. She's pro-choice, by the way, and issues she's foregrounded include marriage equality, free legal clinics for immigrants, and fighting sex trafficking. Bonus: Tyra Banks endorsed her!
Palin's Backing Pays Off For Pals [Politico]
Whitman, Fiorina Cruise To Victories [LAT]
Lincoln Bucks Tide [NYT]
Relief and Celebration After a Tough Campaign [NYT]
harron Angle To Face Harry Reid In Nevada Senate Race [WSJ]
How Nikki Haley And Blanche Lincoln Pulled Off Their Astonishing Victories [Slate]
California Election Results: GOP Winners WIll Be Hard To Elect [Daily Beast]
Kamala Harris, The Female Obama, Wins Primary For CA Attorney General [Daily Beast]
Women Rule Primary Night [Daily Beast]
Recent from Irin Carmon
Britain Shamed By Proliferation Of Drunken Ladies
Larry Flynt Offering $1 Million For Rick Perry Sex Stories
Just Freaking Give Boys The HPV Vaccine Already
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LeBron James Net Worth- Find Lebron James' earnings, career,Assets & personal life
Facts of LeBron James Net Worth- Find Lebron James' earnings, career,Assets & personal life
Lebron James is one of the popular and most influential basketball players of all time. He is from African American family. He is the seventh NBA player to get into seven consecutive finals. So far, Lebron James is able to accumulate the total net worth of $400 million in his successful career. His philosophy for life is learning from past mistakes, Learning from others and Being a great leader.
Let's Discover the earnings and endorsement of Lebron James
Lebron James has the net worth of $400 million. He makes his fortune through multi-million dollar basketball contracts and endorsements. He is the second highest paid athlete in the world with the estimated earnings of $86.2 million followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with earnings of $93 million. Among his NBA career, he has earned around $235 million as a salary. Majority of his net worth comes from endorsement deals as well. He is also an entrepreneur and an actor. He also made an appearance in 2015 film “Train Wreck”. In 2017, he has earned $86 million including $31.2 million salaries and $55 million in product endorsements. His endorsement portfolio includes Nike, Coca-Cola, Beats by Dr. Dre, KIA Motors, Intel, and Verizon. His lifetime deal with Nike could net him with $1 billion. He also has an investment in a Blaze Pizza with 17 franchises in Chicago and South Florida. James and his partners seem to turn $1 million investment into $25 million in about 5 year’s period.
Lebron James's Early life
Lebron James was born on 30th December 1984 in Akron, Ohio. His mother was just 16 when she gave birth to James and was a single mother. His mother was often not at work. This led their life to be tougher and unstable.Lebron was granted to live with a local youth football coach, “Frank Walker” by his mother Gloria. Frank introduced James to the basketball. During his youth, he played alongside Northeast Ohio shooting stars team. During his brilliant performances in this team, he was noticed by scouts and got the opportunity to play for the Cavaliers.
Lebron James's Career and achievements
James has built a great career. He has won numerous awards in his career. He won the medal in the Olympics in 2004, 2008, 2012. He is the 13th times NBA All-star, has won 3 NBA Championships (2 with the Miami Heat and one with his current team Cleveland Cavaliers) and has been named NBA MVP four times. He has led the league in jersey sales 6 times. He was named America’s most popular male athlete by Harris Poll. He was ranked as one of the world’s most influential athletes by Forbes. He is also called as the face of the NBA. He has become one of the greatest legends.
Lebron James's Private life
His personal life is filled with loving and supporting people to inspire him in each and every step of his life. He tied a knot with his high school sweetheart Savannah Brinson on September 14, 2013, in San Diego after 12 years of affair together. She is involved in a fashion industry. They have 3 children’s, 2 sons and a daughter.
Lebron James's Property
The star has purchased a $23million, 8 bed, 11 Bath mansion in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood. The house is 15, 846 sq. ft. This is his second Los Angeles area home. He bought another house in Brentwood in 2015 at $21 million which was 9, 350 sq, ft. The house was 6 bedroom and 7 bathroom house. He also previously owned a house in Miami, when he used to play for Miami Heat. He sold it for $13.4 million in 2015. He also still owns a mansion in his hometown Akron, Ohio.
He likes to drive around in his free time. He got the collection of exotic and luxurious cars in his garage. Among his collection Lamborghini Aventador, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Hummer H2, Mercedes Benz S63 AMG, Ferrari, Dodge Challenger SRT, May batch, Jeep Wrangler, Chevrolet Impala Convertible are some of his best cars.
He has inspired so many people with his career. He is involved in different charities and events. He has his own Charity Foundation named Lebron James’s Family Foundation based in Akron. This foundation helps children and young adults to improve their quality of life with educational and extracurricular opportunities.
Lebron James's Controversy Issues
Lebron James has faced criticisms during his career from analysts, fans, executives, and player. Following his actions during his 2010’s free agency period to be more specific “The Decision”, he was considered as one of Americas most disliked athlete by 2013. His reputation had mostly recovered and he was reported as the most popular player in the NBA for the second time in his career by ESPN. He was also criticized when he went to Miami heat from Cleveland Cavaliers. He has some hard and challenging times.
Social Media Status
James seems to be active on social media and his reach is massive.He has 40.7 million followers on Twitter, 35.3 million followers on Instagram and 22.7 million followers on Facebook.
ActorEntrepreneurAfrican AmericanNikeNBABasketball PlayerLeBron JamesCoca-ColaBeatsKIA MotorsIntelVerizonBlaze PizzaCavaliersSavannah BrinsonESPN
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How Thick Should Chun-Li's Thighs Be?
Filed to: Anatomy lessonFiled to: Anatomy lesson
Anatomy lesson
Captivate 2011
Last week, in Miami, Yoshinori Ono, the cheerful, jokey lead producer of the Street Fighter series had just shown off his team's new game, Street Fighter X Tekken. He and I were just about done talking about it.
How Street Fighter X Tekken Controls And Why It's Not Street Fighter Vs. Tekken
"Why isn't your game called Street Fighter Vs. Tekken?" I asked Street Fighter X…
I had time for one more question. I need only one more answered: "How thick are Chun-Li's legs allowed to be?"
Outside, there was this poster — the same one you can see above — of Street Fighter heroine Chun-Li. In that poster, Chun-Li's famous legs, always exposed, often used for rapidly kicking of Ken, Ryu, M.Bison and the rest of the Street Fighter brawlers, looked ... freakish.
I wondered if there was a style guide. I told Ono's translator that, sure, I'd be interested in a specific measurement. Whatever the Street Fighter braintrust uses as a rule for their most fetishized fighter's most fetishized body parts.
Ono had an answer for me:
"I get this question every time," he said, "Because, from regular Street Fighter to Street Fighter IV she looked thicker. She appears to be getting thicker from game to game.
"The simple answer to that is: I am looking for the perfect thigh to rest my head on. So whatever size would work as a nice pillow… "
I think that's as serious an answer as I'll get.
For reference:
Chun-Li in Street Fighter II. (1991)
Chun-Li in Street Fighter III: Third Strike (1999)
Chun-Li in Street Fighter IV (2008)
Chun-Li in Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (2008)
Chun-Li in Street Fighter X Tekken (2012)
Chun-Li in the poster outside of my interview room with Yoshinori Ono last week.
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Study Shows Which Video Game Genres Women Play Most
Cecilia D'Anastasio
Filed to: dataFiled to: data
I’ve often told people that about half of gamers are women, citing an Entertainment Software Association report that puts the number at 41%. The invariable response: “But what games are they playing?”
Yesterday, Nick Yee, the co-founder of game analytics company Quantic Foundry, published a report that spells out which game genres are dominated by women. He surveyed 270,000 gamers about their favorite game titles. According to his study, women make up about 70% of match 3 and family/farm simulation games’ audiences. About half of casual puzzle and atmospheric exploration games are played by women, too. The gender ratio plummets when we get to first-person shooters, tactical shooters and racing games. At the bottom of the chart, a mere 2% of sports game-players are women.
This is nothing ground-breaking, but the study has some interesting surprises. “There’s a lot of variation not only between genres but within genres,” Yee told me. Thirty-six percent of fantasy MMORPG players are women, but only 26% of World of Warcraft players are women. On the other hand, Star Wars: The Old Republic has two times the average ratio of female gamers. Yee added in an e-mail that “[role-playing game] Dragon Age: Inquisition has almost double the group average of Western RPGs (48% vs. 26%). This 48% is higher than the group averages of the next 5 genres in the chart.”
Yee says there’s a lot of opportunity to attract more female players to Western RPGs and other traditionally male-centric genres. Developers just need to figure out the secret sauce. To explain his findings, Yee cites his previous research on where motivations between men and women: “Genres with more women emphasize Completion and Fantasy (the top 2 motivations for women). And genres for men emphasize Competition and Destruction (the top 2 motivations for men).”
But in an e-mail, he noted that this interpretation could be reductive. Genre and gaming motivation don’t explain gender breakdown with complete accuracy. Yee adds that games with few female players often don’t offer female protagonists or involve playing online with strangers. “Low female gamer participation in certain genres may be a historical artifact of how motivations and presentation have been bundled together and marketed,” he said.
It may be the case that many more women would enjoy first-person shooters or sports games if they were designed with women in mind. Just think about how many women love Overwatch, which boasts a high female/male playable character ratio, or Splatoon, a third-person shooter with customizable characters and unique gameplay. I predict that, within the next year or two, games companies that had focused exclusively on cultivating a male audience will realize that having a large female player base will make their games healthier and more dynamic.
Senior reporter at Kotaku.
The Fire Emblem: Three Houses Battle System Is Elegant In Its Complexity
Recent from Cecilia D'Anastasio
We Debate The Best And Worst Super Smash Bros. Games
Stop Freaking Livestreaming While Driving
Hentai Sites Go To War, Leaving Animated Porn's Future In Doubt
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How To Set The Language On The 1000E
The language on the 1000E can be configured to print in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese. By default, the 1000E language is set to print in English. To set the language:
By holding the left and right sides, lift the Top Cover up.
Press SELECT. If a password is set on the 1000E, the time recorder will display 99 99.
Press SELECT to position the Indicator Mark next to language.
Press CHANGE to select the Language selection.
sets the Language to English.
sets the Language to French.
sets the Language to Spanish.
sets the Language to Portuguese.
Press SET to save the changes.
When completed, the 1000E should return to the normal display.
How To Set The Date On The 1000E
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Culture Team Locations Jobs Why #lifeatTWINO
More than 400 people across 6 locations with more than 15 nationalities. We are young, we are diverse and we love our work.
We are 32 years old on average. Our people are ambitious, friendly and fun individuals
10 languages are spoken in our offices, but we stick to English to keep things simple.
Russia houses two offices, of which one is the biggest office followed by Latvia and Poland.
We love basketball, but most of all we enjoy the great outdoors. Boots, hiking, biking you name it.
Parties, events, trainings, workshops - we love to work as much we love to play.
For our team no challenge is bold enough - we challenge ourselves and industry every day!
Armands Broks
Founder & Group CEO
As the Chief Executive Officer of TWINO Armands is responsible for leading the development of the company's long-term strategy with the aim of creating shareholder value. He creates vision and ambition for the company and leads and challenges TWINO team on its way to reaching his created mission.
Armands gains new entrepreneurship expertise every time TWINO enters a new market or launches a new product, and that gives him the understanding of the global business thinking, values and opportunities.
Armands holds an MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and he has been a private business owner for over 8 years.
"Challenging myself to step out of comfort zone is my inspiration."
Anastasija Oļeiņika
As TWINO Group Chief Financial Officer Anastasija leads Group financial planning and analyses as well as supervises all Group Finance, Risk Management & Data Science teams. She also is responsible for oversee Country Management to ensure aligned and effective approach in all TWINO Group.
Prior TWINO Anastasija worked in Corporate Finance and as a team lead in Financial Planning and Analysis in a fintech. She gained valuable experience coordinating annual Group budgeting and monthly forecasting process for 16 countries, and more than 30 products. Anastasija holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Stockholm School of Economics in Riga.
"At TWINO we ask what we can bring to future, not what the future can bring to us. We are action-oriented, speed matters in our industry, it matters in our company."
Laura Krastiņa
People & Communications Lead
To ensure people agenda is one of the top priorities as well as internal and external communication goes hand in hand, People (HR) and Communication functions are merged in TWINO Group and lead by Laura.
Laura previously was board member and Communication director in Carlsberg Group companies in Latvia and Estonia. She has seven-year-long career as a journalist, covering the economy, as well as served as the Managing Director for a food industry lobbying organization.
Now at TWINO Laura uses her diverse and strong experience to lead Group external and internal communications as well drive Group people agenda in forward-looking manner. All while setting TWINO as an example as outstanding and innovative employer and brand.
"Constant change and striving for better results are what motivate me and TWINO provides this motivation. FinTech is the future. Question is whether you want to be part of it."
Roberts Lasovskis
P2P Investment Platform Lead
Roberts is responsible for leading the growth, strategic development and innovation pipeline of TWINO P2P investment platform.
Prior becoming the platform lead, Roberts worked in TWINO as Investor Adviser, closely communicating with our investors and working on strategic development.
Roberts holds a Bachelor’s degree in finance from BA School of Business and Finance and has worked in the online bank Dukascopy and Marsh&McLennan Companies. His previous experience has resulted in strong analytical and communication skills that Roberts now applies to lead TWINO investment platform.
"All the great things ever made were just some small ideas at the beginning. Be creative, be brave and make your goals happen."
Nauris Bloks
IT Lead
IT development in TWINO Group is led by Nauris, who ensures innovative and progressive approach in all areas.
Nauris has experience in various IT areas - governance, support and security management, project management, development, yet his background includes not only IT areas, but also legal and administration areas which have created very good mindset on how things work and should work and what will not work. Nauris holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Latvia.
"We offer a lot of freedom and this freedom comes with responsibility. Our people are ambitious, driven to excel, to be the first ones, to be the best."
Roberts Bite
Marketing Lead
As Group Marketing Lead Roberts drives the development and implementation of innovative digital marketing, UX and CRM strategies across the whole TWINO Group.
Prior TWINO Roberts has gained knowledge both as an in-house expert and manager in international fintech company as well as an agency side asset. Has 10 years of experience in marketing, eCommerce and journalism including overseeing marketing activities in 9 countries and managing market launch strategies in 5.
Roberts holds a master’s degree in Strategic and Public Relations Management and bachelor’s in Communications and Media from Riga Stradins University.
“I admire and find inspiration in people who challenge limits. I’m not a fan of staying in the comfort zone and I push our team to prove to the world that any existing and widely accepted limits can be challenged and pushed further.”
Karīna Caunīte-Orupe
Lending Operations and Risk Management Lead
Karina has been working in risk management for more than 10 years. She started her journey in credit risk management at one of the leading leasing companies in Latvia where she was responsible for development and introduction of the first credit rating model for private and legal entities.
Karīna joined TWINO Group in 2014 and helped the company to develop an effective multi-level risk management system for all company’s brands as Risk Management and BI Lead. Now Karīna oversees all core business functions as Group Lending Operations and Risk Management Lead.
Karīna holds two M.Sc. degrees - one in Business administration, major European Studies, from the University of Latvia and MBA from Riga Business School.
"I have been working in risk management for a long time, and I still keep learning every day because risk management is boundless. I am inspired by the continuous inquisitiveness I see around me."
Miks Lūsītis
Data Science and Risk Management Lead
One of the core teams and main competencies lay in Data Science and Risk team, which is led by Miks as Group Data Science and Risk Management Lead. Miks leads a team of top industry experts in machine learning, business intelligence and risk analysis and ensures that TWINO processes in these fields are ahead of industry and follow the latest innovations in technology.
Prior joining TWINO Miks gained strong experience in analytics, data processing and has continued the started in TWINO. In TWINO Miks has worked on developing data science area from scratch to the level it is now, been part of developing our lending policy and has lead data teams.
Miks holds a professional bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from University of Latvia.
Eleonora Zelmene
Legal Lead
Country Management
Sanita Zitmane
Sanita has strong experience in both banking and insurance. Prior TWINO she was driving the development of consumer lending products in one of the biggest banks in Latvia for 3 years. Sanita also has over 10 years of experience in Insurance where she also was product owner.
At TWINO we strive for people with diverse backgrounds and are proud to have Sanita among our team with her bachelor’s degree in Classical Philology from University of Latvia.
“Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know, this is your chance to find new solutions and do things differently.”
Bachana Rapava
Georgia&Kazakhstan
Bachana has graduated Georgian Technical University. He holds a Master degree in Banking.
Prior to joining TWINO Bachana has professional experience in project management. 8-year experience in Georgian Banking sector focused on consumer & mortgage lending and debt collection fields.
Before taking a role of Country Manager in Georgia, Bachana was head of debt collection and customer care departments in TWINO Georgia since 2014. Now Bachana is Regional Country Manager and overlooks operation in Georgia and Kazakhstan.
"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it."
Erika Braukyliene
Ashot Torosjans
Employees around 6 offices
Join to Win
Get a global career at TWINO – one of the hottest FinTech brands in Europe
TWINO
Why #lifeatTWINO
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Distribution of Y-Receptors in Murine Lingual Epithelia
Maria D. Hurtado,
Affiliation Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
Andres Acosta,
Affiliation Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
Paola P. Riveros,
Affiliation Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
Bruce J. Baum,
Kirill Ukhanov,
Affiliation Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
Alicia R. Brown,
Cedrick D. Dotson,
Herbert Herzog,
Affiliation Neuroscience Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
Sergei Zolotukhin
* E-mail: szlt@ufl.edu
Maria D. Hurtado Andres Acosta ... Sergei Zolotukhin
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Peptide hormones and their cognate receptors belonging to neuropeptide Y (NPY) family mediate diverse biological functions in a number of tissues. Recently, we discovered the presence of the gut satiation peptide YY (PYY) in saliva of mice and humans and defined its role in the regulation of food intake and body weight maintenance. Here we report the systematic analysis of expression patterns of all NPY receptors (Rs), Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, and Y5R in lingual epithelia in mice. Using four independent assays, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry and RT PCR, we show that the morphologically different layers of the keratinized stratified epithelium of the dorsal layer of the tongue express Y receptors in a very distinctive yet overlapping pattern. In particular, the monolayer of basal progenitor cells expresses both Y1 and Y2 receptors. Y1Rs are present in the parabasal prickle cell layer and the granular layer, while differentiated keratinocytes display abundant Y5Rs. Y4Rs are expressed substantially in the neuronal fibers innervating the lamina propria and mechanoreceptors. Basal epithelial cells positive for Y2Rs respond robustly to PYY3–36 by increasing intracellular Ca2+ suggesting their possible functional interaction with salivary PYY. In taste buds of the circumvallate papillae, some taste receptor cells (TRCs) express YRs localized primarily at the apical domain, indicative of their potential role in taste perception. Some of the YR-positive TRCs are co-localized with neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), suggesting that these TRCs may have synaptic contacts with nerve terminals. In summary, we show that all YRs are abundantly expressed in multiple lingual cell types, including epithelial progenitors, keratinocytes, neuronal dendrites and TRCs. These results suggest that these receptors may be involved in the mediation of a wide variety of functions, including proliferation, differentiation, motility, taste perception and satiation.
Citation: Hurtado MD, Acosta A, Riveros PP, Baum BJ, Ukhanov K, Brown AR, et al. (2012) Distribution of Y-Receptors in Murine Lingual Epithelia. PLoS ONE 7(9): e46358. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046358
Editor: Wolfgang Meyerhof, German Institute for Human Nutrition, Germany
Received: June 22, 2012; Accepted: August 29, 2012; Published: September 26, 2012
This is an open-access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
Funding: This work was supported by 1R01DK62302-01 (National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) to SZ; the Division of Intramural Research of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in part supported this research (BB). HH is funded by an NHMRC of Australia Senior Research Fellowship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY), Peptide YY (PYY), and Pancreatic Polypeptide (PP) belong to a family of peptides sharing similar hairpin-like PP-fold structural homology and evolutionary history [1]. NPY is widely expressed in the central as well as in the peripheral nervous system; PYY is released mostly by L-endocrine cells in the distal gut epithelia, while PP is produced by specialized cell in the pancreas. These peptides mediate various complementary and often opposing metabolic functions such as appetite and satiation, energy intake and expenditure; cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation; neuromodulation, angiogenesis, osteogenesis, and many other biological processes. This diversity of functions is mediated through the extensive redundancy of PP-fold peptides binding to five known receptors (Rs), Npy1r, Npy2r, Npy4r, Npy5r, and Npy6r (hereafter referred to as Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, Y5R, and y6R). The YRs belong to the rhodopsin-like superfamily of metabotropic G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). All YRs act through Gi/o signaling pathway inhibiting cAMP synthesis, activating Protein Kinase C (PKC), Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK), or Phospholipase C (PLC), thus inducing release of intracellular Ca2+. In addition, YR downstream signaling modulates the conductance of membrane Ca2+ and inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels. The pharmacological redundancy of NPY family receptors is further increased by the action of dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV (DPPIV), a serine exopeptidase that truncates NPY and PYY at their N termini producing peptides NPY3–36 and PYY3–36 and thereby changing their binding specificity.
Adding more complexity to the physiological role of PP-fold peptides, we have recently documented that PYY3–36 is present in saliva and showed the expression of its preferred receptor, Y2R, in the basal layer of the progenitor cells of the tongue epithelia and von Ebner's gland [2]. Although the innate physiological functions of salivary PYY3–36 are yet to be fully determined, we have presented data that support a role of salivary PYY in the modulation of food intake (FI) and in the accumulation of body weight. This anorexigenic effect is apparently mediated through the activation of Y2 receptors in a subpopulation of cells in the oral mucosa [2]. Other groups have shown the presence of NPY in human saliva [3] and the expression of the NPY gene in the taste receptor cells (TRCs) in the rodent [4]. Given the widespread pattern of expression of PP-fold peptides and cognate YRs in other tissues, and taking into account their pleiotropic functions and the redundancy of their interactions, it was important to determine whether other members of the NPY gene family are also expressed in the oral cavity. The purpose of the current investigation, therefore, was to identify the expression of genes coding for most studied members of the YR family (Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, Y5R) in tongue epithelia cells.
In vitro YR antibody validation
HEK 293 cells were transfected with plasmids expressing murine Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, Y5R, or GFP cDNAs under the control of the strong constitutive Cytomegalovirus-Chicken b-actin (CBA) promoter. Two days after transfection, cells were fixed on cover slips and subjected to immunocytochemistry (ICC) analysis using the respective antibodies and conditions employed for YR detection in tissue samples (see Immunostaining section, below). The source of all antibodies, dilutions, and controls is listed in Table 1.
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Table 1. Antibodies used for immunolocalization studies.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046358.t001
Ethics Statement.
This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at the University of Florida (UF, Permit Number: 03059 “Modulation of taste sensitivity by PYY signaling”). All procedures were done in accordance with the principles of the National Research Council's guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. All surgery was performed under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, and all efforts were made to minimize suffering. Tissues were collected from sacrificed animals and immediately frozen in O.C.T. Compound. Mice were housed at 22–24°C in a 12 hours dark/light cycle and had access to water and food ad libitum unless indicated otherwise.
Tongues and brains were harvested from wild type C57Bl/6 male mice from Charles River, as well as from homozygous Y1R KO [5] and Y2R KO [6] mice. Both KO strains are maintained at the UF animal facility. Genotype was confirmed using the following genotyping primer sets: Y1R KO: primer mY1-H 5′-TGGCAAAACAGGTCCCTG-3′; and primer mY1-P5 5′- CTAGCCAGTTGGTAATGG-3′; Y2R KO: primer NHE-3A 5′-TTAACATCAGCTGGCCTAGC-3′, and primer NHE-6 5′-GGAAGTCACCAACTAGAATGG-3′.
Immunostaining
YR immunoreactivity staining.
For specific information on the source of all antibodies, dilutions, and controls please see Table 1. Tissues were harvested from overnight fasted animals and immediately frozen in O.C.T. Compound. Four µm thick coronal sections were cut using a cryostat (Leica CM3050 S; Leica Microsystems, Nussloch GmbH, Germany), mounted onto Fisher Superfrost Plus slides and post-fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for ten minutes. YR immunolocalization was conducted utilizing the tyramide signaling amplification (TSA) kit (Perkin Elmer). Tissues were blocked in 0.3% H2O2 in Tris-buffered saline (TBS) for 30 minutes at room temperature (RT) to eliminate endogenous peroxidase activity, followed by blocking with 0.1 M Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 0.15 M NaCl and 0.5% Blocking Reagent from Perkin Elmer; for 60 minutes at room temperature to reduce nonspecific antibody binding. Sections were then incubated with primary rabbit anti-YR in TNT (0.1 M Tris HCl, pH 7.5, 0.15 M NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20) overnight at 4°C, followed by secondary goat anti-rabbit IgG (Fab')2 conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (Abcam; 1∶1000 for 60 min at RT). Staining was detected using Fluorescein provided in the TSA kit (1∶300 for 7 min at RT). Negative controls were run concomitantly. All sections were counterstained with DAPI (4′,6-diaminidino-2-phenylindole).
Mirror section staining.
To overcome the technical limitations imposed by the origins of antibodies (all four a-YRs were raised in rabbits), we utilized a mirror section staining method. In brief, the first section is mounted with its inner surface turned upwards on one slide, whereas the subsequent adjacent section is mounted on the next slide with its outer surface upwards. In this way, the complementary faces could be hybridized to two different antibodies without concern about the secondary antibody cross-reactivity. Although not entirely identical, the characteristic structures of the epithelial layers on the two separate slides provide sufficient visual guidance to identify distinctive cell layers or even particular cells.
YRs/NCAM (neural cell adhesion molecule) double staining.
Because YR and NCAM primary antibodies were raised in rabbits, double immune-labeling was performed using a modified indirect immunofluorescence (IF) protocol and the TSA kit allowing for the localization of two antigens in the same tissue specimen when both primary antibodies produced in the same host [4], [7]. The use of TSA permits control for type I and II interference [4]. A first primary antibody is used at very low concentrations that can only be detected with amplification kits such as TSA and not with a conventional protocol (interference I). A first secondary antibody is then used to detect this first primary, however only the Fab' fragment can be used in order to avoid binding of a second primary antibody to the first secondary antibody (interference II). This protocol has been fully described by Kaya et al. [7] and has been followed without modifications. Specifically, immediately after detection with the TSA Fluorescein, sections were extensively washed in TNT and then blocked with 10% donkey serum in TNT for 60 min at RT. Tissues were subsequently incubated with the second primary antibody rabbit anti-NCAM (Millipore; 1∶250 in 10% donkey serum overnight at 4°C), and visualized, using standard methods, with AF555 donkey anti-rabbit IgG (Invitrogen, 1∶1000 in TNT for 60 min at RT). All double-labeled sections were counterstained with DAPI.
In situ hybridization (ISH) was performed using QuantiGene® ViewRNA ISH Tissue Assay (Affymetrix) following the manufacturer's protocol. Gene-specific probe sets for murine Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, and Y5R mRNAs consisting, on average, of 20 different probe pairs were custom-designed and synthesized by Affymetrix. Where available, the respective tissues from the germline KO mice (Y1R, Y2R) were used as negative control samples. For Y4R and Y5R hybridizations, a no-probe sample was utilized as a negative control per the Affymetrix manual's recommendations. Hybridized target mRNAs were visualized using confocal fluorescent microscopy, or by bright field microscopy.
Ca2+ imaging
Adult C57Bl/6 mice were used in this study. Following sacrifice, the tongue was quickly dissected in the ice-cold modified artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) saturated with 95% O2 and 5% CO2 that contained: 120 mM NaCl, 25 mM NaHCO3, 5 mM KCl, 1.25 mM Na2HPO4, 1 mM MgSO4, 1 mM CaCl2, 10 mM glucose, 305 mOsm. Small tissue blocks were embedded in 4% low-melting agarose and sectioned using Leica V1000 vibratome. Lingual slices were placed in a perfusion chamber (RC-26, Warner Instruments). Slices were incubated with 10 µM fura-2/AM for 30 min at 37°C. The chamber was then mounted on the stage of the upright microscope (Zeiss Axioskop FS2) equipped with a water-immersion 40× objective lens (Neofluar, NA1.4). Solutions were applied locally using a fine bore capillary attached to a 8-channel Teflon manifold (BioLogic, France) under the control of the perfusion system (VC-6, Warner Instruments) controlled by pClamp 9.2 (Molecular Devices). Images were acquired with a cooled CCD camera (ORCA R2, Hamamatsu) under the control of Imaging Workbench 6 software (INDEC Systems). The illumination system (Lambda DG-4, Sutter Instruments) was coupled to the microscope with a liquid light guide. Ratiometric imaging was performed using a Fura-2 filter set (excitation at 340 nm or 380 nm, emission at 510 nm, dichroic mirror 435 nm). Before calculating the ratio at 340/380 nm all images were corrected for background fluorescence. Off-line analysis and image processing was performed using Imaging Workbench 6, ImageJ 1.46 (available at http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/index.html) and ClampFit 9.2 (Molecular Devices).
RNA extraction and RT-PCR analysis
Approximately 1×2 mm section of the non-gustatory tongue epithelium anterior to the circumvallate papillae (CV) was cut with microscissors under a dissecting microscope; the muscle layer was removed. A 1 mm punch (biopsy punch- Miltex, Inc, York, PA) was used to collect the CV. Although the majority of the proximal epithelia tissues and the ventral muscle were removed, the samples likely included some non-gustatory tissue. Total RNA was extracted with Trizol (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA); DNA was digested with RNase free DNase (Qiagen Inc, Valencia, CA) followed by RNA cleanup with the RNeasy Micro kit (Qiagen). One microgram of RNA was reverse-transcribed with Superscript III (Invitrogen). Products were amplified for 35 cycles with gene-specific primers (Table 2) utilizing RedTaq Ready Mix (Sigma-Aldrich, Saint Louis, MO). “No cDNA” samples were prepared for each primer set. DNA contamination was tested with control, intron-spanning primers. Products were resolved in a 2% agarose gel.
Table 2. NPY family RT-PCR primers.
Previously, we have demonstrated the expression of Y2Rs in basal lingual epithelial cells [2]. The dorsal surface of the tongue is covered by a specialized mucosa consisting of keratinized stratified epithelium [8]. Stratified epithelium is characterized by the high turnover rate of cells in response to mechanical and chemical contacts. Because of the known functions of YRs in cell proliferation [9], it was of interest to explore whether epithelial cells express these receptors.
RT-PCR analysis
To characterize the expression of other members of YR family, we performed RT-PCR analysis using RNA isolated from the non-gustatory lingual epithelium, as well from the taste buds. All members of the NPY family, including four cognate receptors, Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, and Y5R, as well as their respective agonists NPY and PYY were expressed in taste buds (Fig. 1) and in non-gustatory epithelium (data not shown). The identities of PCR fragments were confirmed by sequence analysis (data not shown). In addition several pairs of primers were utilized for each member of the NPY family, including those designed to amplify intron-spanning fragment of the respective gene. PCR amplification was mRNA-specific and no chromosomal DNA contamination was detected (data not shown).
Figure 1. RT-PCR analysis of the expression of NPY family members in the lingual epithelia.
The names of the genes and the expected PCR fragments sizes (in bp) are shown above the respective lanes. NC – negative (no cDNA) control.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046358.g001
ISH analysis
To validate the RT-PCR results using an independent method, we analyzed the expression of the Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, and Y5R genes using an ISH assay in coronal sections of lingual tissues. Each custom-designed probe set included, on average, 20 oligonucleotides pairs complementary to the target mRNA in the regions divergent from other family members. As such, each probe set represented a highly specific reagent hybridizing to the respective target at high selectivity. The protocol was validated in brain sections, while tissues from KO mice, when available, were used as negative controls (Fig. 2A, C). Alternatively, no-probe control tissues from C57Bl/6 mice were utilized. All control tissues exhibited no non-specific binding (data not shown). The positive control hybridization with the brain tissues resulted in a pattern consistent with the data described in several publications [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]. These latter results clearly demonstrated the specificity of the YR probe sets.
Figure 2. Validation of in situ hybridization (ISH) probe sets by ISH analysis of Y-receptor (YR) gene expression in the dentate gyrus of the mouse brain.
A and C – negative control samples, Y1R KO and Y2R KO, respectively; B, D, E, and F – positive control samples, WT C57Bl/6 mice. Representative fields outlined by the dashed rectangles in panels A through F are shown as close-up images either below the respective panels (panels A, B, C, and D), or to the right of the panel (panels E and F). Red dots show fluorescently visualized YR mRNAs. DAPI-stained nuclear DNA is shown in pseudo-colored green hue for better viewing.
In the dorsal epithelial layer of the tongue, the pattern for YR mRNAs expression, appeared to be different for different subtypes: Y1R expression was more prevalent in the superficial layers, including keratinocytes (Fig. 3B), while Y2R was more pronounced in, but not restricted to, the basal epithelial layer (Fig. 3D). Interestingly, we detected neuronal fibers positive for Y4R-encoding mRNA in the subepithelial region close to the basal laminae (Fig. 3E, arrows). Y5R mRNA staining was faint but clearly detectable in all layers of the epithelia, including keratinocytes (Fig. 3F). Similar to the brain tissue negative controls, the nonspecific staining in the negative control KO sections was negligible (Fig. 3A, C), as well as in the no-probe control sections with tissue from WT mice (data not shown).
Figure 3. In situ hybridization analysis of Y-receptor (YR) gene expression in the dorsal lingual epithelium.
A and C - (−) control samples, Y1R KO and Y2R KO, respectively; B, D, E, and F – wt C57Bl/6 samples. Bidirectional arrows indicate dorsal/ventral (D/V) coordinates of the section. One-direction arrows in panel E point at Y4R-positive neuronal fiber/s. Red dots show fluorescently visualized YR mRNAs. DAPI-stained nuclear DNA is shown in pseudo-colored green hue for better viewing.
In the gustatory epithelium from the CV, the expression of the respective Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, and Y5R mRNAs also showed an absence of non-specific binding from both KO control mice (Fig. 4A, D) and no-probe control sections from WT mice (data not shown). The distribution of YR expression was not restricted to any particular cell population within the taste bud, but rather appeared in many cells localized at the apical and basolateral portions of the CV (Fig. 4B, C E, F, G, H, I).
Figure 4. In situ hybridization analysis of Y-receptor (YR) gene expression in the circumvallate papillae.
A and D – negative control samples, Y1R KO and Y2R KO, respectively; B, E, F, and G - samples from wt C57Bl/6 hybridized to Y1R, Y2R, Y5R, and Y4R probe sets, respectively; C, H, and I – close up images of the representative areas from the respective panels (B, G and F, respectively) outlined by white dashed rectangles. The borders of several taste buds are outlined with yellow dashed lines. Red dots show fluorescently visualized Y-receptor mRNAs. DAPI-stained nuclear DNA is shown in pseudo-colored green hue for better viewing.
Validation of YR antibodies
To characterize the expression of YR subtypes in a cell-specific manner, we next conducted an IHC analysis. YRs belong to GPCR family of receptors and, as such, are homologous to each other as well as to other GPCRs [16]. It is recognized that a significant fraction of commercially available GPCR antibodies lack specificity and selectivity resulting in binding to other subtypes within the family [17], [18]. It was therefore essential to validate the antibodies used herein prior to conducting an IHC experiment. Utilizing ICC analysis in HEK 293 cells expressing Y-receptors subtypes with the conditions employed for YR detection in tissue samples, we clearly demonstrated that each antibody reagent interacts exclusively with its respective antigen, i.e. Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, or Y5R with no detectable cross hybridization to any other YR subtypes (Fig. 5A).
Figure 5. Validation of Y-receptor (YR) antibodies.
A - Immunofluorescence (IF) analysis of 293 HEK cells expressing murine YR cDNAs. Columns – cells transfected with Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, Y5R-expressing plasmids, respectively. Rows – cells on cover slips incubated to a-Y1R, a-Y2R, a-Y4R, or a-Y5R antibodies, respectively. Please note peripheral (membrane-associated) localization of YRs. B - IF analysis of YRs in the dentate gyrus (coronal sectioned planes) of mouse brain. The diffuse staining for Y1R reflects the distribution of Y1R positive neuronal fibers rather than cell bodies.
We selected the hippocampal dentate gyrus region as a positive control tissue because of its robust expression of YRs in a very specific and well-characterized fashion. Staining of brain sections revealed patterns of YR-positive neuronal cell bodies and fibers that are comparable to those previously reported (Fig. 5B) [10], [11], [13], [14], [15]. In particular, expression patterns of Y1R and Y2R appeared to be complementary, i.e. high levels of Y1R expression in one region corresponded to the low levels of Y2R, and vice versa [11].
Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis
Using a mirror section staining protocol, we next determined that morphologically different layers of lingual epithelia expressed YRs in a distinctive yet overlapping pattern. Three separate complementary pairs of mirror sections were analyzed by hybridization to YR antibodies: Y1R and Y2R (Fig. 6A and B, respectively); Y2R and Y5R (Fig. 6C and D, respectively); Y1R and Y5R (Fig. 6E and F, respectively). The basal epithelial cell monolayer expressed both Y1Rs (Fig. 6A, E) and Y2Rs (Fig. 6B, C). Y2R expression appeared to be restricted only to this monolayer (Fig. 6C, right panel), while Y1R, on the other hand, was present in the parabasal prickle cell layer, and the granular layer (Fig. 6A, right panel). Differentiated keratinocytes displayed very low levels of Y1R protein, however, they displayed considerable expression of Y5Rs (Fig. 6F, right panel).
Figure 6. Immunolocalization of Y1, Y2, Y4, and Y5 receptors (Rs) in the dorsal epithelium of murine tongue.
Mirror section pairs (Panels A and B, C and D, E and F) were hybridized to the respective YR antibody (green), followed by DAPI counterstain (blue), as indicated in the upper left corner of each panel. For better viewing, the confocal images in B, D, and F were reflected horizontally. Representative areas of the epithelium, positive for either YR (dashed rectangles in the left-sided panels), are shown as close-up images on the right next to each respective panel. The irregular columned structures at the epithelial surface are transversely sectioned filiform papillae. G - Y4R-positive neuronal fibers (green) are located in the subepithelial region underlying the basal laminae. H – co-localization of Y4R and NCAM (red) immunoreactivity within mechanoreceptors of Meissner corpuscles (MC). As a morpho-histological reference of the dorsal lingual epithelium structure, an hematoxylin and eosin stained section is shown in panel I. Panel J shows a hypothetical diagram of a lingual dorsal epithelium layer and the differentiation/migration lineage of cell types expressing respective YR subtypes. K5 – cytokeratin-5 [2].
Unlike Y1R, Y2R, or Y5R, the expression of Y4R was not detected in the basal, or keratinized epithelial cells. Instead, it was restricted to the neuronal fibers extending within the subepithelial region close to the basal laminae of the lingual epithelia (Fig. 6G). Very few YR4-positive fibers were also positive for NCAM (data not shown) suggesting that the majority of these projections represented intraepithelial axons with free nerve endings. In addition, Y4R-positive neuronal fibers were also abundant in some areas of the lamina propria, in particular, in the fibers innervating mechanoreceptors (Meissner corpuscles) that were also positive for NCAM (Fig. 6H).
Functional assay for YR-positive epithelial cells
Previously, it has been shown that YRs mediate their responses through the Gi/o signaling pathway, reviewed in [1]. Several second messengers produced downstream of activated Y1, Y2, and Y4Rs include also inositol triphosphate, which is responsible for the increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration [19], [20], [21]. To assess whether YR-positive cells in the dorsal epithelial layer could respond functionally to salivary PYY3–36, we conducted ex vivo Ca2+-imaging experiments on lingual sections loaded with fura-2/AM, a ratiometric fluorescent dye that binds to free intracellular Ca2+. Indeed, incubation of sections with PYY3–36 (40 µg/ml; applied locally) induced a clear elevation in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the basal cellular monolayer (Fig. 7A, B). The PYY3–36 activation was rather uniform and led to a slow intracellular Ca2+ elevation in a majority of cells in the basal cellular layer (Fig. 6C). Qualitatively, a very similar pattern of response was observed in different slices loaded with a non-ratiometric Ca2+ indicator fluo-3/AM (data not shown). As a positive control to account for the functional integrity of cells we used ATP (20 µM) to activate strong Ca2+ signaling through its binding to purinergic receptors that are ubiquitously expressed in most cellular types (Fig. 7C) [22]. Application of ATP evoked Ca2+ signaling with a significant delay and variable in amplitude compared to the PYY-induced signal, i.e., shorter delay and more uniform in shape (Fig. 7C).
Figure 7. PYY3–36 induces intracellular Ca2+ in the lingual basal cell epithelium layer.
A – differential interference contrast micrograph of the agarose embedded acutely-obtained mouse lingual slice. The basal layer of epithelial Y1R/Y2R/K5-positive cells is outlined by a yellow dashed line. B – The same slice was loaded with a Ca2+ sensitive indicator dye, fura-2/AM. A static fluorescence image was captured at 380 nm excitation showing strong fura-2 loading in the basal cellular layer. C – Representative traces recorded from 13 individual cells selected in the slice shown in B. PYY3–36 (40 µg/ml) was applied by a local microperfusion for 30 sec indicated with the shaded box. ATP (20 µM) was used as a positive functional control. The data were collected from 38 representative cells individually analyzed in 3 slice preparations from two different animals.
Expression of YRs in taste bud cells
To characterize whether TRCs in the CV expressed YRs, we used an IHC assay in tongue sections harvested from mice sacrificed after a 24-hour fast. In agreement with data gathered from the dorsal lingual epithelial layer (Fig. 6A, B), epithelial cells forming the CV's outer edges also expressed Y1R, Y2R, and Y5Rs in a selective manner (Fig. 8A, B, and D, block arrows). In addition, cell monolayers lining the ducts of von Ebner's glands were also positive for Y1R and Y2Rs (Fig. 8A, B, indicated by VEG).
Figure 8. Immunolocalization of Y receptors (YRs) in taste receptor cells (TRCs).
Panels A, B, C, and D demonstrate Y1R-, Y2R-, Y4R-, and Y5R-positive TRCs, respectively. Areas within the dashed rectangle are shown as a series of magnified images to the right, stained for YRs (green), NCAM (red), DAPI (blue), respectively, with the merged images shown between YRs and NCAM. Open block arrows in the panels A, B, and D point at the YR-positive epithelial cells; filled arrowheads show apical parts of the YR-positive TRCs; open arrowheads – basolateral parts; VEG – von Ebner's gland. The majority of NCAM-positive intragemmal fibers are also Y4R-immunopositive (Panel 8C), but do not appear to express Y1Rs, Y2Rs, or Y5Rs.
A subpopulation of TRCs was positive for Y1Rs (Fig. 8A), Y2Rs (Fig. 8B), Y4Rs (Fig. 8C), or Y5Rs (Fig. 8D). In contrast to the epithelial cells, the staining pattern did not delineate the entire contour of cells, showing instead preferential accumulation of YRs within the apical part of the cells (filled arrowheads in Fig. 8A–C, respective magnified images in the panels on the right). To begin to understand the putative functions of YRs, we co-stained YRs with a molecular marker, NCAM that is expressed in intragemmal nerve fibers. It appears that many Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, and Y5R-positive cells also express NCAM (Panels A through C, magnified images to the right). Only Y4R expression was detected in the taste bud intragemmal nerve fibers.
Recently, we showed that a member of the PP-fold family, the satiation gut peptide PYY3–36, is present in murine and human saliva [2]. In mice, salivary PYY3–36 primarily derives from plasma. It is also synthesized in the taste receptor cells in taste buds of the tongue. We have demonstrated that augmentation of salivary PYY3–36 induces stronger satiation and that this effect is mediated through the activation of the preferred Y2Rs expressed in the lingual epithelial cells [2]. Taking into account the presence of other PP-fold peptides in the saliva [3], the redundancy of their interactions with YRs, and the multitude of their physiological functions, it was reasonable to hypothesize that the other YRs were expressed in the oral cavity tissues. To explore the mechanisms of salivary PYY3–36 action and to identify peptide's molecular target substrates, we set out to characterize the expression pattern of all major members of the YR family in lingual epithelia.
The dorsal surface of the tongue is covered by a specialized mucosa consisting of keratinized stratified epithelium (for review, please see [8]). In addition to its primary function protecting the underlying tissues during mastication, it also incorporates structures with gustatory functions (CV, fungiform, and foliate papillae), mechanical structures (filiform papillae), and mechanoreceptors (Meissner corpuscles). In addition, a glandular component of the lingual epithelium includes specialized salivary glands such as von Ebner's glands. In the current report, we focus on the dorsal lingual epithelia and the CV.
Using IHC analysis and a set of validated primary antibodies for Y1Rs, Y2Rs, Y4Rs, and Y5Rs, we determined that morphologically different layers [8] of the lingual epithelia expressed YRs in a very distinctive yet overlapping pattern (Fig. 6H). The basal epithelial cell monolayer expressed both Y1Rs and Y2Rs; Y1Rs were present in the parabasal prickle cell layer and the granular layer, while differentiated keratinocytes displayed an abundance of Y5Rs. ISH analysis essentially corroborated this pattern, although the Y5R-specific probe set appeared to hybridize to the target mRNA poorly, even in control brain tissue, where Y5Rs are known to be robustly expressed [15].
The Y2R-positive basal epithelial layer, which is also cytokeratin-5 (K5)-positive [2], responded robustly to PYY3–36 by increasing intracellular Ca2+ concentration indicating the receptors' physiological activity. To identify precisely the activated Y receptor subtype, specific receptor antagonists will be needed. Meanwhile, it seems reasonable to postulate that PYY3–36/Y2R/Gi signaling in K5-positive epithelial cells plays a proliferative role inducing mitotic activity of the progenitor cells in response to the mastication-related loss of keratinized lingual epithelial cells. In this regard, the postprandial increase in salivary PYY3–36 [2] could provide a feedback signal inducing such proliferation. Moreover, since in oral epithelia, proliferation also occurs in parabasal cells [23], the Y1R-positive prickle cell layer could be responsive to salivary NPY as well. Gi signaling in K5-progenitor cells can also mediate their motility, polarity and migration towards the dorsal layer of the keratinized filiform papillae. Such YR-dependent proliferation, migration, and differentiation has been previously described for the neurons in the adult mouse brain [24], olfactory neuronal precursors [25], and human endothelial cells [26]. There is also strong evidence supporting the NPY system's angiogenic and mitogenic functions in vascular smooth muscle cells and its potential role in endothelial cells wound healing [27]. A hypothetical diagram of a lingual dorsal epithelium layer and the differentiation/migration lineage of cell types expressing respective Y receptors subtypes is shown in Fig. 6J.
Assuming that the Y1R/Y2R-positive basal epithelial cells are modulated by salivary NPY and PYY, one has to postulate a mechanism of trans-cellular transport of these hormones through the superficial layers of keratinocytes forming hard-to-penetrate tight junctions. Interestingly, one of the outcomes of the PP-fold peptides interacting with their cognate GPCR YRs is the internalization and recycling of the respective agonist/receptor complex inside the cell [28], [29], [30]. It is, therefore conceivable that salivary PP-fold agonists are transported through cell layers akin to a relay race baton where directional cell-to-cell handoff is mediated by the increased affinity towards receptors, e.g., Y5R<Y1R<Y2R. The other possible endogenous source of PP-fold peptides are oral mucosal neuroendocrine cells, also known as Merkel cells, which are distributed along the basal layer of oral keratinized epithelium (for a review, please see [31]). We also have observed multiple PYY-positive cells in the lamina propria in close vicinity to the basal epithelial layer (data not shown).
The Y4R appears to be markedly expressed in most of the neuronal fibers innervating the lamina propria and taste buds. Some of these projections, especially fibers in mechanoreceptors of Meissner corpuscles and gustatory fibers in the CV, also expressed NCAM, indicating possible synaptic connections with receptor sensory cells, while most of the subepithelial fibers were NCAM negative, indicating free nerve endings. We also detected Y4R mRNA-positive fibers using an ISH protocol (Fig. 3E), suggestive of an anterograde trafficking of the Y4R mRNA along dendrites at least in some neurons.
Gustatory papillae are distinctive structures on the dorsal tongue epithelia incorporating several types of cells including basal epithelial cells, keratinized cells, TRCs organized in tight clusters (taste buds), and gustatory neuronal fibers innervating TRCs. Epithelial cells and TRCs derive from the lingual embryonic undifferentiated epithelium and are constantly turned over in the adult animal. All tested YR subtypes were prominently expressed in murine TRCs showing preferential apical distribution within cells. This distribution would make YRs easily accessible to paracrine salivary PP-fold peptides, suggesting their possible roles in modulating taste perception [32], although some taste receptors do not display such preferential apical distribution [33]. Conversely, some YRs-positive TRCs accumulated YRs in their basolateral portion (open arrowheads in Fig. 8A–C), which makes these cells accessible to the paracrine, or endocrine PYY, or NPY, synthesized inside taste buds [2], [4].
Within each taste bud, TRCs fall into three morphological subtypes, Types I through III, which seem to correspond to functional classes (reviewed in [34]). In order to understand the functional role of YRs in TRCs, one needs to assign YR-positive TRCs to a particular cell subtype co-staining YRs with a known cell type marker. Here we show that a subpopulation of YR-positive TRCs are co-localized with NCAM, a neuronal marker expressed in some Type III cells as well as in intragemmal nerve fibers. Because of technical limitations, we were unable to quantify the exact ratio of YR/NCAM-positive TRCs due to the specific staining contours. Experiments are currently under way to characterize the precise expression pattern of YRs in Type I–III TCRs and to identify taste qualities modulated by YR subtypes.
In summary, we have conducted a systematic analysis of the expression of genes encoding members of NPY family peptides and YRs in the dorsal lingual epithelia of the mouse. We have utilized independent assays (IHC, ISH, ICC and RT-PCR) using validated primary antibodies, custom-designed target-specific probe sets, and intron-spanning PCR primers to identify cells expressing YR subtypes. Herein, we show for the first time that all members of the NPY family are abundantly expressed in specific and selective fashion in multiple lingual cell types, including epithelial progenitors, keratinocytes, neuronal dendrites, and TRCs. Because of this remarkable diversity, and because of the redundancy of agonist/receptor interactions, NPY family peptides and their cognate receptors in the oral cavity may mediate a wide variety of functions, including proliferation, differentiation, motility, taste perception, as well as satiation. All of these multiple functions and their respective molecular mechanisms are subjects of the ongoing investigations.
Conceived and designed the experiments: MDH AA CDD HH SZ. Performed the experiments: MDH PPR AB KU SZ. Analyzed the data: MDH AA BB HH CDD SZ. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: BB HH. Wrote the paper: MDH AA BB KU HH.
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You are here: Home / Conditions / Autism / Predicting Autism: Study Links Infant Brain Connections to Diagnoses
Predicting Autism: Study Links Infant Brain Connections to Diagnoses
June 9, 2017 /1 Comment/in Autism, Autism Resources & Research, General /by Sheila Rogers DeMare, MS
Chapel Hill NC: For the first time, autism researchers used MRIs of six-month olds to show how brain regions are connected and synchronized, and then predict which babies are at high risk of developing autism by age two. A previous UNC-lead study, published in Nature in February, used MRIs to determine differences in brain anatomy that predict which babies would develop autism as toddlers.
Published in Science Translational Medicine, this paper describes a second type of brain biomarker that researchers and potentially clinicians could use as part of a diagnostic toolkit to help identify children as early as possible, before autism symptoms even appear.
During the study, sleeping infants were placed in an MRI machine and scanned for about 15 minutes to view neural activity across 230 different brain regions. The researchers analyzed how various brain regions were synchronized with each other. This synchrony reflects the coordinated activity of brain regions, which is crucial for cognition, memory, and behavior, and may be observed during sleep.
The researchers focused on brain region connections related to the core features of autism: language skills, repetitive behaviors, and social behavior. For instance, the researchers determined which brain regions – synchronized at six months – were related to behaviors at age two. This helped Piven’s co-investigators create a machine learning classifier – a computer program – to sort through the differences in synchronization among those key brain regions. Once the computer learned these different patterns, the researchers applied the machine learning classifier to a separate set of infants.
The machine learning classifier was able to separate findings into two main groups: MRI data from children who developed autism and MRI data from those who did not. Using only this information, the computer program correctly predicted 81 percent of babies who would later meet the criteria for autism at two years of age.
Robert Emerson, first author of the study, said, “When the classifier determined a child had autism, it was always right. But it missed two children. They developed autism but the computer program did not predict it correctly, according to the data we obtained at six months of age.”
Read the full press release
Sheila Rogers DeMare, MS
Sheila Rogers DeMare, MS, Founder and Director of the nonprofit Association for Comprehensive NeuroTherapy (ACN), is a leader in the field of integrative therapies for neuropsychiatric and behavioral disorders. She is a certified school psychologist and is a national speaker on Tourette syndrome.
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rowingmom says:
Article from AoA today on the regulation of social behaviour by the adaptive immune response. Interesting how early vaccines and infections can decrease the adaptive response.
http://www.ageofautism.com/2017/06/megan-regressive-autism-and-the-evolving-science-of-vaccine-injury.html
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If you're interested in social sciences and the way they can be used to affect society in positive ways, a clinical social work degree may be a good option for you. Continue reading to learn more about the core subjects usually covered in a clinical social work degree program. Schools offering Clinical Social Work degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
A Clinical Social Work Degree - The Basics
In a clinical social work degree program, students learn about human behavior and how it can be used to affect society in positive ways. Such a degree may help prepare students to serve their communities through assisting vulnerable or oppressed individuals. A degree in clinical social work equips students with the tools to address a variety of societal challenges that community members may be facing.
Most degree programs require students to complete several hours of general education coursework as well as core clinical social work courses. Below are some of the core subjects that may be part of a clinical social work degree program.
Important Facts About This Field of Study
Degree / Certificate Levels Some master's programs offer concentrations in clinical social work
Related Concentrations Policy Practice, Generalist Practice and Programming, Practice in Aging, Practice in Child and Family Services
Online Availability Clinical social work courses available fully and partially online as part of a master's program in social work
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Median Salary (2018) $56,724*
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Human Behavior in the Social Environment
This portion of a clinical social work degree program involves an in-depth examination of both historical and contemporary social theory. Courses that address this topic focus on the many factors influencing human behavior, such as culture, ethnicity, gender and race. Students also learn techniques used to analyze a variety of different human behavioral traits. Emphasis is placed upon how social systems either improve or worsen community members' overall well-being.
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From –20°C to +30°C.
With the service “Cool/td-Active”, Lufthansa Cargo offers temperature-controlled transport from consignor to consignee. The cool & heat containers called “Unicoolers” are a key to the success of Lufthansa Cargo’s Competence Center Temperature Control (CCTC). They carry, for example, urgently required vaccines for swift transportation to Washington. Or to destinations all over the world. The phone lines in Marburg are buzzing. It is the vaccination season in the northern hemisphere, and hospitals and doctors have to cope with a rising tide of patients. On this Friday afternoon, an unusually large number of customers from the U.S. are ringing up the pharmaceutical company, which manufactures certain sera in Marburg only. For destinations worldwide.
The reaction is swift: the house forwarder is commissioned to organize an urgently required transportation to Washington. Lufthansa Cargo’s capacities there are checked straight away. The green light is given! For the appropriate transport receptacle for the highly sensitive cargo, too: vaccines must be transported at between two and eight degrees Celsius to ensure that they remain fit for use. This solution has a name: Cool/td-Active, the Lufthansa Cargo service for temperature-controlled transport.
The driver from the forwarding company gets into his truck at about 6 p.m. to pick up four Unicoolers – purpose-built cool & heat containers – at Lufthansa Cargo’s Competence Center Temperature Control (CCTC) at Frankfurt Airport. Two hours later, he is loading the high-tech containers with the vaccine in Marburg.
The journey continues next morning: at 6 a.m. the truck with the Unicoolers passes through the security gate and drops them off at Lufthansa Cargo’s Perishables Center. The team led by Karin Krestan, Senior Handling Manager at the CCTC, takes on the sensitive cargo. “We ensure that the shipments are handled as carefully and as swiftly as possible prior to take-off in compliance with temperature control provisions,” Krestan explains. “Furthermore, we keep an eye on every single transport operation from the booking through to the final delivery.”
The Boeing 747 with the flight number LH 418 takes off on schedule at 1 p.m. at Frankfurt Airport and lands at 3.50 p.m. at Dulles International Airport in Washington. A short while later, the forwarder begins with the distribution of the vaccine – for the benefit of the patients.
In addition to the care exercised by the handling team, the cool & heat containers play a key role in the standardized process of Cool/td-Active. Lufthansa Cargo makes more than 240 of these purpose-built containers available to its customers. And the number is growing by the month. The intelligent receptacles come in two sizes: the version RAP has room for up to five euro-pallets, the RKN for one. As a rule, the goods are stowed in the container by the customers themselves and then taken to the airport in a thermo truck. Provided this is allowed by country-specific regulations, forwarders also transport the shipment at the receiving point along with the container to the customer to ensure seamless temperature control.
The temperature inside the containers can be set at values between -20 and +30 degrees Celsius. With the help of an autonomous cooling and heating system, the containers are, to a large extent, able to maintain a constant temperature – irrespective of whether heat or frost prevails outside. Lufthansa Cargo’s goal is a deviation of no more than plus/minus three degrees Celsius from the defined temperature. The temperature usually fluctuates by less than one degree – that’s how fine-tuned cooling and heating operate.
Sometimes the containers have to work really hard on a single journey. “For example, when they take off in winter in Chicago at -15 degrees for delivery in Dubai, where the temperature is +40 degrees,” explains Hans-Peter Justus, Senior Product Manager for Cool/td at the CCTC. “Such extreme outside temperature ranges are no problem for our cool & heat containers – as long as their accumulators are well-charged and the desired degree value has been properly set.” For this reason, Lufthansa Cargo employees recheck the container’s correct programming prior to take-off.
As a rule, primary pharmaceutical products, sera or advanced cancer-fighting drugs tolerate only very slight fluctuations in temperature. Otherwise their molecular structure changes and they become unfit for use. A great responsibility, which all persons involved are aware of.
“We not only have a professional commitment to do our job as optimally as possible, but a moral one too,” says Christopher Dehio, Senior Key Account Manager at the CCTC. “Every person who goes to the doctor and is given a medicine should be able to rely on its first-class quality.”
Continuous temperature logging Accordingly, there is strict monitoring of the shipments: in addition to the manufacturers themselves, who continuously record the temperature of their goods with data loggers, Lufthansa Cargo’s cool & heat container also permanently documents its inside temperature.
This is an important documentation of quality for the pharmaceutical manufacturers, which government institutions in the recipient markets are also demanding more and more frequently. Temperature is one key aspect, speed is another.
The colleagues from Fraport, who lose no time and take on the transportation of the Unicoolers to the aircraft, know this too. About a third of all cool & heat containers are transported in Lufthansa Cargo freighters, with two-thirds flying in Lufthansa’s wide-body aircraft. These are large passenger aircraft, such as the Airbus A340 the Boeing 747, and soon the A380 too, which depart from Frankfurt or Munich to destinations all over the world.
Lufthansa Cargo has equipped 89 stations to handle cool & heat containers. And the number of such stations is steadily rising. Trained personnel must be at the ready at both ends of the transport chain. They take care of dry ice for the cooling, electric sockets for the recharging of the containers as well as generally accelerating processes. No other carrier offers such a competent and global network. Even the pilots are informed about what exactly is in their cargo holds, thus ensuring that not only the passengers but also the cargo shipments arrive safely. Cool/td-Active, therefore, is not only of interest to the pharmaceutical industry, but also to other economic sectors. In the meantime, for example, temperature-sensitive high-tech devices as well as valuable chemicals, lacquers or resins are sent on their way in the cool & heat containers.
Lufthansa Cargo has equipped 89 stations to handle cool & heat containers. And the number of such stations is steadily rising. Trained personnel must be at the ready at both ends of the transport chain. They take care of dry ice for the cooling, electric sockets for the recharging of the containers as well as generally accelerating processes. No other carrier offers such a competent and global network. Even the pilots are informed about what exactly is in their cargo holds, thus ensuring that not only the passengers but also the cargo shipments arrive safely.
All of them could not be transported with cooling alone. Some adhesives that are used, for example, for joining engineering in the aircraft industry, for example, are only allowed to be transported between +20 and +28 degrees Celsius, otherwise they start to set.
Refrigerated airfreight transport has existed ever since decommissioned DC3s flew ice-chilled freshly caught tuna fish from the South Pacific to California after the second world war.
Flying airfreight shipments for sophisticated industrial customers within tight temperature ranges, on the other hand, is new ground. With Cool/td-Active, Lufthansa Cargo operates confidently on this terrain. And it also offers forwarders and industry new possibilities of organizing their worldwide supply chains for particularly temperature-sensitive goods.
www.lufthansa-cargo.com
Whether external temperature, internal temperature, humidity, battery status or door functionalities – a system of sensors fitted into the cool & heat containers continuously logs all data relevant for the quality of temperature control throughout the entire transportation.
Sophisticated technology enables, in accordance with presets, a by and large constant temperature level inside the Lufthansa Cargo cool & heat containers. Dry ice carried with the container and an electronic heating system work hand in hand here.
Lufthansa Cargo’s goal is a deviation of no more than plus/minus three degrees from the preset temperature.
Specially prepared programs guarantee easy and fast use of the containers: program 1 is suitable for goods that have to be transported between +2 and +8 degrees Celsius. The mean value set here is +5 degrees Celsius. Program 2 was developed for goods that require a temperature of +15 to +25 degrees Celsius during transportation. The mean value is also set here, at +20 degrees. Finally, program 3 enables a variable temperature of -20 degrees to +30 degrees Celsius.
The scheduling and allocation of Lufthansa Cargo’s 240 cool & heat containers calls for flexibility, as the 120 RKNs and 120 RAPs are in great demand by the pharmaceutical and high-tech industry. In collaboration with a team of specialists from Sharjah, the Product Management Team of the Competence Center Temperature Control (CCTC) reliability schedules and allocates the popular boxes for customers all over the world.
Refrigerated airfreight transport has existed ever since decommissioned DC3s flew ice-chilled freshly caught tuna fish from the South Pacific to California after the second world war. Flying airfreight shipments for sophisticated industrial customers within tight temperature ranges, on the other hand, is new ground. With Cool/td-Active, Lufthansa Cargo operates confidently on this terrain. And it also offers forwarders and industry new possibilities of organizing their worldwide supply chains for particularly temperature-sensitive goods.
The scheduling and allocation of Lufthansa Cargo’s 240 cool & heat containers calls for flexibility, as the 120 RKNs and 120 RAPs are in great demand by the pharmaceutical and high-tech industry. In collaboration with a team of specialists from Sharjah, the Product Management Team of the Competence Center Temperature Control (CCTC) reliability schedules and allocates the popular boxes for customers all over the world.
“The network is alive!”
Interview with Gabie Hartmann, Consultant Global Cool Container System, Product Management for Cool/td, at Lufthansa Cargo’s Competence Center Temperature Control (CCTC).
What is your task at the CCTC?
Gabie Hartmann: I manage acute network issues and to make sure enough containers are in stock at the locations at which the customers require them at any particular time. I am supported here by a team of Lufthansa Cargo specialists that is based in Sharjah and that coordinates from there the turnaround of all Cool/td-Active containers. All orders are made via the desert metropolis. Eight employees schedule and allocate the 240 cool & heat containers and the more than 4,000 cool-only containers that are in global use for the service Cool/td-Active.
What happens to the containers once they have arrived at the airport of destination?
Gabie Hartmann: Provided this is allowed by country-specific regulations, we also make them available to our customers beyond the airport. To enable an unbroken cool chain from the consignor to the consignee, the time of container return is important. As a rule, the customers rent a container for four days or 96 hours. The 96-hour rule has the advantage for the customers that the hire period is not shortened by time zones – which is important, for example, for transportation from the U.S. to Asia. But longer hire periods are also possible. If the containers are overdue at the agreed return time, the ULD Management in Sharjah informs us about it and additional charges are made. At some stations, we have a so-called container stock for certain shippers. This way, we offset possible irregularities in container turnaround and minimize supply bottlenecks for the customer. This system also enables us to cater for short-term capacity peaks.
You are reputed to almost always know exactly where every single one of the 240 cool & heat containers is anywhere in the world...
Gabie Hartmann: Yes correct, that is true. The containers are in tremendous demand on the customer side. It’s normal, therefore, that you simply make a mental note of their current whereabouts. What I enjoy most is seeing how the required number of containers gets to the right place at the right time. If a flight from FRA is delayed, for example, then I check whether I can make the containers available via Munich. I must always draw up new routes. What is more, the traffic flows for transportation are extremely imbalanced. In other words: of four cool & heat containers shipped to destination A, at most one, if at all, returns a short while later filled with refrigerated cargo. For the turnaround planning and the container logistics, this is one of the most exciting challenges.
Lufthansa Cargo has currently equipped 89 stations to handle cool & heat containers. When will the figure of 100 be reached?
Gabie Hartmann: Maybe this year already – the network is alive! The sales people and Lufthansa Cargo’s key account managers communicate the industry’s requirements to the Product Management team. The network of Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo constantly adapts to the overall demand, the number of aircraft deployed can change very quickly, and a flight destination may sometimes be deleted from the flight timetable in favor of a completely different one. We must to be prepared for this.
Matthias Just
Gabie Hartmann: I manage acute network issues and to make sure enough containers are in stock at the locations at which the customers require them at any particular time. I am supported here by a team of Lufthansa Cargo specialists that is based in Sharjah and that coordinates from there the turnaround of all Cool/td-Active containers. All orders are made via the desert metropolis. Eight employees schedule and allocate the 240 cool & heat containers and the more than 4,000 cool-only containers that are in global use for the service Cool/td-Active.
Gabie Hartmann: Yes correct, that is true. The containers are in tremendous demand on the customer side. It’s normal, therefore, that you simply make a mental note of their current whereabouts. What I enjoy most is seeing how the required number of containers gets to the right place at the right time. If a flight from FRA is delayed, for example, then I check whether I can make the containers available via Munich. I must always draw up new routes. What is more, the traffic flows for transportation are extremely imbalanced. In other words: of four cool & heat containers shipped to destination A, at most one, if at all, returns a short while later filled with refrigerated cargo. For the turnaround planning and the container logistics, this is one of the most exciting challenges.
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Not melted cheese, not sour cream
Fonda Don Diego casts cold eye on border food
By Ed Bedford, Nov. 15, 2017
Tin Fork
Nopales in salsa verde and griddled queso panela
Guy sits at a bar, staring at a bull. Or is it a pig? Or is it a man?
Fonda Don Diego
120 Orange Avenue, Coronado
The bull’s part of a fresh-painted wild-colored mural on the wall behind the Negra Modelo and Green Flash beer taps.
Okay, I’m the guy staring. Have been drawn into this new “authentic Mex” place.
Alebrijes. Is it a bull? Is it a pig? Is it a person?
Gal behind the bar sees me looking at the painting. Name’s Zitlali.
“It’s an alebrijes,” she says.
Wait. Alebrijes? Zitlali? Information overload!
“Zitlali’s an Aztec girl’s name,” she says. “‘Star goddess,’ my mom said it means.”
And alebrijes?
Chef-owner Alejandro Martínez also owns the French-style Chez Loma.
“Alebrijes is like fantastical art,” says Luís, the guy who’s just served up my Pacifico pint ($5.50). “See this creature?” He’s pointing to the painting. “It has the horns of a bull, the nostrils of a pig, the eyes of a human. It’s a kind of magical Mexican thing.”
Is it a steak? Bite to find out.
Huh. You think of magical realism in novels, but in art, too?
“The artist’s known as El Norteño. His name’s Alonso Delgadillo. He paints border art. Very famous in Tijuana.”
Taco cochinita
These people opened two months ago, and now I look, they have a kinda fantastical mix of old and new in here, too, from the brand-new equipales (chairs made of rosewood and pigskin like the chairs Aztec lords sat in) to the bejuco vine-rope lamp shades. And we’re in this old building that used to house the Mexican Village, the island’s famous Navy flyboy party place and the original gringo-Mex food scene.
Mushroom quesadilla
Kind of appropriate that this is where these new guys have come to take a stand for “real” traditional Mexican food.
But at my kind of prices?
Maybe not. When I sauntered past the Fonda (word means “inn,” or small eatery), the menu outside featured entrées like braised lamb shank birria with rice and tortillas for, uh, $25. Or ribeye asada, $25. Or fish of the day, $24.
Zitlali and Luis
Then I noticed the quesadillas. Oaxaca cheese quesadilla with epazote (an herb, sometimes called Mexican tea), $3. Three bucks? In Coronado? They have chorizo quesadilla with potato for $4, mushroom quesadilla ($4), and chicken tinga (braised chicken) quesadilla ($4). And for a buck extra you can get any of them fried.
So, suddenly, this could be my first all-quesadilla dinner.
First off: get the thirst off. For a place three doors from Coronado Brewery’s HQ, not a great selection of craft, so I go for the pint of Pacifico ($5.50). Then I start making instant decisions. Uh, too many instant decisions. Pretty soon I’m surrounded by — man, oh, man — four red and white plates. I had ordered up the papa (potato) chorizo quesadilla, the chicken tinga quesadilla, and the mushroom quesadilla, fried, plus a cochinita taco (which should cost $9.50 for a minimum two, but Luís lets me get just one for $5.)
Oh, and a plate of grilled nopal. Because, I tell myself, it’s only $7, and need to test it for Carla. Coming for a monthly hairdo tomorrow.
But, man, these quesadillas are like pregnant super tacos. Little bellies bloated with chorizo, mushrooms, and chicken stew. The two fried ones make it a cruncher’s heaven. I kinda like the chicken quesadilla, I really like the chorizo quesadilla (though it needs some hot sauce to bring the chorizo to life), and totally love the mushroom quesadilla. They’re all helped by the covering of shredded lettuce, cream, tomato, cotija cheese, and the tangy roasted green tomatillo sauce. As well as the tomatillo salsa verde, which is raw and tastes more like mown grass. But it adds heat. Whatever, this has to be the first time I have ever attacked three quesadillas at once, and it couldn’t have happened to nicer quesadillas. For maybe the first time, Cheesy Qs are interesting.
“We’re nearer to Mexico City cuisine,” says the chef-owner, Alejandro Martínez, who’s just come in from his other place, the upscale French-style Chez Loma, further up the road here. “We’re trying to get away from border-Mex California cooking. We don’t do melted cheese and sour cream. We don’t do nachos, which isn’t a Mexican dish. We don’t use canned tomatoes. We do use black beans. We make all our own sauces and salsas. We didn’t even do burritos till our customers complained. So we now do a couple we call ‘burrito gringo,’ one roast pork, the other braised pork [$10 each].”
You can see, this new place is Chef Alejandro’s bid to show true mexicanismo. And maybe the dish that shows this off best — among the cheapo items, anyway — is my $7 plate of grilled nopal. Does it look like a steak? Yes. Does it taste like a steak? Uh, no. But its cactussy taste is mellowed by the salsa verde and mostly by a slab of salty-sour queso panela, a cow’s milk cheese that always seems to accompany quesadillas or cactus salads. I can see they seared it up a little on the griddle. (That’s another thing about panela: it doesn’t melt easily.) I add some very hot red arbol chile that Luís brings out, and we’re rockin’.
Zitlali says one of their biggest times is breakfast. Oh, yeah. Menu lists healthy “jars” of tropical fruit, açaí, almond-chia pudding from $9 up. Standard omelets and divorced eggs (a pair covered with different sauces) all run $11. Most of the menu is $10, $12 stuff. Heck, even a plate of guacamole and chips costs $12. And then there are those $25 entrées.
But if you’re careful, you can find the real Mexico here, done beautifully, and still cheap. Just like in El Norteño’s crazy mixed-up alebrijes paintings, surprises like the mushroom quesadillas and these nopales keep popping into the picture.
And what these guys do with cactus, the ultimate poor man’s food in Mexico, I guess you could say, is magical
Hours: 8 a.m.–9 p.m. daily (closes 2 p.m., Monday)
Prices: Breakfast jars (fruit, açaí, almond-chia pudding, others), $9 up; divorced eggs, $11; chorizo quesadilla, $4; chicken tinga (braised chicken) quesadilla, $4; mushroom quesadilla, $4 (fried, add $1); cochinita (marinated pork) taco, $9.50 for two, $5 each; spicy shrimp tacos (two), $11.50; pozole (pork, hominy), $11; four tuna tostadas, $12; braised lamb shank birria, rice, tortillas, $25; grilled cactus, $7
Buses: 904, 901
Nearest Bus Stops: Orange and 2nd (904); 3rd and Orange (901)
More from SDReader
More stories by Ed Bedford
Tahona’s amazing contemporary Mexican cuisine with Oaxacan bites — May 23, 2019
Call from a lobster — May 17, 2017
Great, though not goat — Feb. 26, 2014
Late-night breakfast at Swami's Cafe — July 31, 2013
Free Lunch…Almost — July 16, 2008
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S11 Veterans March In Solidarity With Prague
By: Socialist Workers Organisation Waikato
Published: Tue 26 Sep 2000 10:53 AM
Battle Of Melbourne Veterans March In Solidarity With Prague
On September the 11th, New Zealand socialists bore witness to the worst police violence seen in Melbourne since the Anti Vietnam War rallies 30 years ago, at the mass blockade to shut down the World Economic Forum.... http://www.s11.org http://melbourne.indymedia.org
Later on today on the streets of the Czech Republic sees Europe's Battle of Seattle, as tens of thousands of environmentalists, trade unionists, anti capitalists and revolutionary socialists take to the streets of Prague in an attempt to close down the World Bank / IMF annual meeting. All around the world, demonstrations, occupations and direct actions are taking place in solidarity with the protestors in Prague and their demands to cancel all Third World debts.
The growing power of transnational corporations, Western banks and unfettered free market globalisation is being met by a growing internationalist anti capitalist street movement. From Seattle to Melbourne, from London to Prague, hundreds of thousands of activists are prepared to challenge tear gas, batons and horses to close down the undemocratic, unelected forces of corporate and financial power, such as the WTO, the WEF, the World Bank and the IMF.
In Auckland today, Battle of Melbourne veterans will speak before the demonstration leaves the Quad at the University of Auckland, heading for the major banks, corporations and Trade NZ. They can be contacted at 025 6048955. They are-
Joe Carolan Matthew Pratt Garreth Gillatt
(WHY TRADE NZ?) http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog/93/9whack.htm the Government's TradeNZ website has promoted NZ to the rest of the world as a place to set up business since it offers "low cost labour" with sufficient unemployment to make us "particularly competitive" (NZEI Rourou, NZ Educational Institute, vol.10, no.8, 13 Aug., 1999, p.8). As well, according to the Government, "under the Employment Contracts Act there is complete flexibility of hours worked".
http://www.union.org.nz/textonly/23julyb.html SHAME ON YOU, TRADENZ! Tradenz's promotion of NZ call centres as a cheap labour industry (see "Union News", 16 July) provoked an angry reaction from Graham Cooke, Secretary of the Meat Workers Union of Aotearoa. "Your call centre web page makes me ashamed to be a New Zealander," he said in an open letter to the chief executive of Tradenz. "I represent 8000 North Island meat workers who feel quite 'gutted' after years of pain due to the Employment Contracts Act only to see their employers selling their hard earned sacrifices cheaply to the American house wife," Graham Cooke wrote. "Overseas industry that heads for New Zealand must be made aware that they are not going to exploit New Zealanders then take their capital after crippling our environment and its people."
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/sept99.htm
Arms exports (aka defence technology exports) - were not so much of an issue in the past, but are now more worrying. Tradenz is pushing 'defence technologies' as a valuable export earner, there has been a 30% increase in such sales over the past three years to a total of $96 million last year. In 1998 Tradenz spent $25,000 upping the profile of NZ defence companies, and the inaugural Defence Industry Committee Awards of Excellence were held in Wellington to recognise 'leaders in NZ's defence industry'.
http://www.greens.org.nz/docs/press/000413gm-Tradenz.htm Tax-payer funds spent on pro-GE propaganda 12 April 2000 Rod Donald, Green Party Co-Leader Green Co-leader Rod Donald said today he is outraged a Government board is spending tax-payer money to promote genetic engineering. The latest National Business Review carries a $2500 page-dominant advertisement; styled as a column by Trade New Zealand chief executive Fran Wilde and bearing the Trade New Zealand logo. The column attacks opponents of genetic engineering and hails the technology as a "lifesaver" for developing countries. Mr Donald said it was "totally inappropriate" for the chief executive of Trade New Zealand to be taking an overt political stand, especially when a Government announcement setting up a Royal Comission on genetic engineering was imminent. "Wilde's advertorial descends into slogans in its unwarranted attacks on people who are genuinely concerned about the ramifications of genetic engineering, as 'affluent liberals'," he said. Her statement "half truths have been the hallmark of much of the criticism of gene technology. But then, if you don't have to worry about where your next meal is coming from, self-indulgence can take many forms", is an insult to the scientists and citizens who want the Royal Commission to consider the issue before irrevocably committing this country to a future of genetic engineering. "The presentation of the advertisement as an article is as deceptive as its content is opinionated," said Mr Donald. The advertisement is laid out like an editorial column, and is not openly identified as an advertisement. Mr Donald said Wilde's justification of genetic engineering did not stack up. "She attempts to tug the heartstrings by talking about starving millions, but gene technology has more to do with profits than feeding the hungry," he said. "I suggest she listens to National Radio's current Insight documentary series which features Indian experts speaking out against genetic engineering." Mr Donald will ask the minister responsible for Trade New Zealand, Phil Goff, whether this provocative campaign has his blessing, and whether he thinks it is an appropriate use of tax-payer funds. Mr Donald said. Trade New Zealand advertisement appeared on p4 of last Friday's edition of the National Business Review - copy available on request Rod Donald MP; Gina Dempster, Press secretary: 04 470 6723 or 021 1265 289
CONTACT JOE CAROLAN AT 025 6048955 for live broadcast from Trade NZ occupation In solidarity with PRAGUE DEMONSTRATIONS http://roads.to/swo
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Gecina Finalizes its Acquisition of Nearly 85% of Eurosic's Capital and Becomes, with a €19.5Bn Portfolio, the Fourth-Largest European Real Estate Group and the Market Leader for Office Real Estate
PRESS RELEASE Businesswire
Aug. 30, 2017, 02:49 AM
Regulatory News:
Following the clearing of all the conditions precedent linked to the agreements signed on June 20, 2017 with Eurosic's main shareholders, Gecina (Paris:GFC) has finalized yesterday its acquisition of the blocks of shares and OSRA bonds representing 85.4% of Eurosic's diluted capital1. With this transaction, Gecina has effectively taken control of Eurosic.
This major operation represents a significant acceleration of the deployment of Gecina's strategy, building on its outstanding value creation, which will benefit in particular from the following factors:
Stronger office portfolio in the Paris Region's most buoyant business sectors: the combination of the portfolios and the sales programs that are underway will make it possible to further strengthen the percentage of offices within the consolidated portfolio (over 80%), while also ramping up its focus on central sectors (over 60% in Paris City).
Better coverage of the Paris office market: Gecina's presence at the heart of the city of Paris will be further strengthened, not only in Paris' central business district (CBD), but also in new sectors with strong potential on the River Seine's left bank and the CBD's eastern border.
Greater value creation potential for the coming years: this operation has also increased the weighting of the portfolio of development projects, with deliveries expected primarily for 2017 to 2019 and 44% of the space already pre-let2.
Expected acceleration in the portfolio's rotation: Gecina has launched a sales program with a minimum of 1.2 billion euros for the next 12 months3. These sales will cover assets from the historical scope of both Gecina and Eurosic. This rotation will make it possible to continue rationalizing the Group's portfolio around the Paris Region's most dynamic sectors, where Gecina has recently secured major lettings transactions, while maintaining the flexibility of its balance sheet.
Financial structure preserved and liquidity strengthened: the operation has been fully financed, thanks in particular to 1.5 billion euros of bond issues with an average maturity of 10 years and an average coupon of 1.3%, as well as a 1 billion euro capital increase carried out in August 2017. The LTV will therefore remain below 40% following the sales program that is underway. In addition, this operation will make it possible to increase the float by nearly 10% from 51% to 55%4, further strengthening the liquidity of Gecina’s securities on the stock market.
The acquisition of these blocks of shares and OSRA bonds from Eurosic's main shareholders will be followed by an alternative takeover offer and exchange offer, filed this morning, for the shares and OSRA bonds not yet held by Gecina5, which is expected to result in Eurosic being delisted6 before the end of 20177. Some of Eurosic's main shareholders have made commitments under the agreements signed on June 20, 2017 to tender nearly 9.5% of the diluted capital for the offer's exchange component, which already guarantees that Gecina will hold almost 95% of Eurosic's diluted capital following the public offering.
On August 7, Gecina received approval from the French antitrust authorities for this amicable takeover operation.
Méka Brunel, Chief Executive Officer: "By finalizing its acquisition of 85% of Eurosic's capital, Gecina has taken a historic step forward with the acceleration of its strategy, enabling the Group to continue building on and strengthen the optimization of its profitability with a total return focus, aligned with the interests of all its shareholders. Gecina's potential will be further strengthened thanks to the acceleration of its portfolio's rotation, its pipeline that is unrivalled in continental Europe and above all its stronger presence at the heart of the Paris Region, Europe's leading office market.”
Gecina, living the city in a different way
Gecina owns, manages and develops property holdings worth 19.5 billion euros at end-August 2017, with nearly 92% located in the Paris Region. The Group is building its business around France’s leading office portfolio and a diversification division with residential assets and student residences. Gecina has put sustainable innovation at the heart of its strategy to create value, anticipate its customers' expectations and invest while respecting the environment, thanks to the dedication and expertise of its staff.
Gecina is a French real estate investment trust (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris, and is part of the SBF 120, Euronext 100, FTSE4Good, DJSI Europe and World, Stoxx Global ESG Leaders and Vigeo indices. In line with its community commitments, Gecina has created a company foundation, which is focused on protecting the environment and supporting all forms of disability.
www.gecina.fr
This press release has been prepared exclusively for information. It does not constitute a purchase or an exchange offer, or a request for an offer for the sale or the exchange of Eurosic or Gecina securities, nor a purchase or an exchange offer, or a request for an offer for the sale or the exchange of Eurosic or Gecina securities.
The release, publication or distribution of this press release may be restricted by laws applicable in certain jurisdictions and, as a result, any person in possession of it in such jurisdictions must seek advice concerning the applicable legal restrictions and ensure compliance with them.
In accordance with the stock market regulations, Gecina filed a proposed public takeover and exchange offer for all Eurosic securities not yet held by Gecina at this date. Gecina draft offer document contains the terms and conditions of the mandatory public offer that remains subjected to the review of the French financial markets authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers, AMF).
It is strongly recommended that investors and shareholders located in France review the draft offer document when it becomes available, as well as any amendments or supplements to this document, since it will contain important information concerning the proposed transaction.
No communication or information relating to the mandatory public offer may be distributed to the public in any jurisdiction in which registration or approval is required. No action has been (or will be) undertaken in any jurisdiction (other than France) where such steps would be required. The purchase of Eurosic or Gecina securities may be subject to legal or statutory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Neither Eurosic nor Gecina assume any responsibility for any breach of such restrictions by any person.
This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for, any securities of Eurosic or Gecina in the United States of America. Securities may not be offered, subscribed or sold in the United States of America without registration under the 1933 U.S. Securities Act, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act”), except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements thereof. The securities of Eurosic or Gecina have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and neither Eurosic nor Gecina intend to make a public offer of its securities in the United States of America.
Neither Gecina, or Eurosic, nor their shareholders and respective representatives or advisors accept any liability concerning any use by any person of this press release or its content, or more generally in connection with this press release.
1 At June 30, 2017, on a fully diluted basis taking into account the OSRA subordinated redeemable bonds and excluding treasury stock, representing a total of 64,732,147 shares
2 Including negotiations that are currently being finalized
3 This sales program may potentially be increased by a further 1 billion euros depending on market opportunities
4 Assuming that Norges participates in the capital increase with preferential subscription rights prorated to its interest in the Group’s capital and Eurosic’s minority shareholders tender 50% of their securities for the public offering’s securities branch.
5 The offer, whose terms are described in a draft offer document that has been filed with today and is still subjected to review by the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF), would be based on: i. An alternative takeover offer and exchange offer for Eurosic's shares, comprising: - A public takeover offer under which Eurosic's shareholders will be able to sell their shares at a cash price of 51 euros per share (cum-dividend for 2017); - A public exchange offer under which Eurosic's shareholders will be able to exchange 64 shares (cum-dividend for 2017) for 23 Gecina shares (cum-dividend for 2017); ii. An alternative takeover offer and exchange offer for the 2015 OSRA bonds and 2016 OSRA bonds, comprising: - A public takeover offer under which Eurosic OSRA bond holders will be able to sell their 2015 OSRA bonds (cum-coupon) and their 2016 OSRA bonds (ex-coupon, scheduled for payment to 2016 OSRA bond holders on September 26, 2017) at a cash price of 51 euros per 2015 OSRA bond or 2016 OSRA bond; - A public exchange offer under which Eurosic OSRA bond holders will be able to exchange 64 2015 OSRA bonds (cum-coupon) or 64 2016 OSRA bonds (ex-coupon, scheduled for payment to 2016 OSRA bond holders on September 26, 2017) for 23 Gecina shares (cum-dividend for 2017) to be issued.
6 Subject to Gecina holding more than 95% of Eurosic's capital or voting rights following the public offering
7 Based on an indicative timeline
Gecina NewsMORE
Gecina SA -- Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Gecina SA
Moodys 2d
Gecina SA -- Moody's changes outlook on Gecina's A3 rating to stable from negative; affirms ratings
Moodys 350d
Gecina Successfully Carries out a New €500m Bond Issue With a 12-year Maturity and 1.625% Coupon
Businesswire 498d
Gecina: Combined General Shareholders' Meeting on April 18, 2018
Gecina: Press Release
Gecina: Conditions for Accessing the 2017 Reference Document
Gecina’s governance: Board of Directors’ proposals for the 2018 Annual General Meeting
Get real-time Gecina charts here >>
Gecina-stock /
News for Gecina Gecina /
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The White Review i — December 2015, #15
Edit Add issue
The White Review is a quarterly arts, culture and politics journal published in print and online, and established on a non-profit economic model. The website is updated with new, usually web-only content in the first week of each month.
4 Piles
The White Review No. 15 features new literature in translation – from the extraordinary French novelist Maylis de Kerangal, the great Hungarian László Krasznahorkai and the celebrated Korean poet Ko Un – and some of the most exciting voices to have emerged from Britain and Ireland over recent years in Caleb Klaces, Declan Ryan and Luke Brown.
We are excited to publish interviews with two longstanding heroes of the editors: Zadie Smith, arguably the most important British novelist and critic of her generation, and Rosalind E. Krauss, whose extraordinary body of work over the past forty years dispels the pernicious myth that art criticism must be inscrutable, obscurantist, or anything other than an intellectually and aesthetically exciting experience.
Our dedication to hybrid, radical forms is apparent in the publication of Anne Carson’s ‘lyric lecture with chorus’ – a work that could as easily be produced on stage or film as within these pages – and Brian Dillon’s ekphrastic meditation on charisma, faith, and loss.
The combination of art and literature has always been a guiding principle of this project, and we are delighted to present works by installation artist Alicja Kwade, a photographic series from Germany’s Annette Kelm, and new work by Swiss artists Taiyo Onorato & Nico Krebs. These run alongside a long-form essay on a camp in which one comes to terms with one’s own death, by Gabriela Wiener, and another on translation and human subjectivity, by Kate Briggs. Cover art is courtesy of Navine G. Khan-Dossos.
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Job title: Healthcare Science (Cardiac Physiology) BSc - Work Based Assessor
Olly Schriver is a Clinical Physiologist at York Hospital. Find out more about the practical element of our course and how it is essential to your career and in securing your first graduate job.
Tell us about your role as a Work Based Assessor for the University of Leeds. What do you do?
As a WBA, I support students in their studies. The majority of this is on the job training and teaching. I also sign off student’s work logs and complete assessments with students. I review the storyboards that are also part of the record of clinical placement. As a WBA I am someone my students can approach for support and guidance whether this is specifically clinical or for general workplace issues.
What can students expect to learn when on placement with you?
Students can expect to learn a range of diagnostic tests that we perform in Cardiac Physiology. Students will also learn how the hospital multidisciplinary team works from referral to treatment and the various pathways a patient will follow. The student will learn a range of other interpersonal skills that are vital to working in the NHS, whether interacting with patients or other healthcare professionals. Values of evidence-based practice will be followed and through academic work at university and by becoming familiar with the hospital’s standard operating procedures (SOP’s) and how evidence-based practice guides patient treatment.
What do you expect from our students when they are on placement at your cardiac physiology department?
Good time keeping and an enthusiasm to learn. A willingness to engage with patients and other healthcare professionals. A drive towards self-directed learning with the ability to identify learning needs and take some initiative to read around subject areas of interest.
How will our students benefit, when back in the classroom from a placement at York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust?
The department at York has the benefit of many staff members who hold higher academic qualifications as well as professional body accreditation in their areas of specialism. As such, the student will benefit from working with people who are experienced both clinically, and in the academic process in which they will be working. The student will integrate with a well-established team of people who are passionate about their profession and will become involved in all aspects of department life, from assisting in clinics to inpatient work and attending multi-disciplinary team meetings.
What benefit will time spent with you have to our students' future careers?
Historically students who have attended York Hospital for work placement while at Leeds University have gone on to be successful in gaining employment and progressing in their careers once they have completed their studies. Many have chosen to stay on at York Hospital in a qualified role, myself included! (I finished my undergraduate degree at Leeds in 2008).
What is your favourite part of being one of our Work Based Assessors?
My favourite part of being a WBA is seeing the excitement in a student when they grasp a new concept. Not just regurgitating something from academic text with the belief that it is true, but being able to link academia with clinical practice and one’s own experiences. The deep and comprehensive understanding of “why” something is what it is generates a Eureka moment, the excitement of which is quite unlike anything else in the academic process and as a WBA, is most satisfying to witness.
What does a Cardiac Physiologist do?
The Cardiac Physiologist facilitates the diagnosis, quantification and qualification of suspected cardiac disease. The role is expanding with cardiac physiologists taking on more responsibilities than they previously had. There are links to advanced practice roles whereby the physiologist role expands from simply performing a diagnostic evaluation to influencing and delivering treatment.
How easy is the commute to York?
York is not the easiest City to commute around by car in rush hour. Parking at the hospital is almost non-existent and students would most likely have to make their own arrangements for off-site parking as do the majority of the departmental staff who commute by car. Many staff that live locally commute by cycling to work (personally my commute is around 2 miles which is either a 10-15 minute cycle or a 20-30 minute drive depending on rush hour traffic). The city has good rail links and the hospital is no more than 15 minutes’ walk from the train station.
What is it like working at York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust?
We have a good team, from the cardiac physiologists to the nursing staff to the radiographers. The hospital is not the newest building but has good facilities including staff subsidised canteen, staff shop, Costa Coffee and staff benefits programme.
What is the town/city of York like?
York is a lovely place to live and one of the main reasons why I stayed on at York Hospital after qualifying. Surrounded by the city walls and steeped in history, the City benefits from all the shopping, bars, restaurants and other amenities you could wish for without the huge housing estates of some of the country’s bigger cities. York is a very desirable place to live in while the people maintain the friendliness and charm of Yorkshire folk.
Also, you can get to London Kings Cross by train in 1 hour 50 minutes from York!
Body Donation - Bequests
© 2019 University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT
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LL.M. Open House at Cardozo in NYC on October 30
LLM GUIDE, Oct 16, 2007
Get information, meet current students, and sit in on a law school class
The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in New York City will be hosting an open house for prospective LL.M. students on October 30.
Attendees will be able to sit in on a law school class, speak to current LL.M. students, and get important information about the program, the application process, course registration, and services.
Those planning to attend the open house should send an email to llm@yu.edu for more information.
For more information about Cardozo, please visit the full listing on LLM GUIDE or the law school website.
Related Law Schools
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law - Yeshiva University (New York City)
New York City, New York 122 Followers 119 Discussions
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For Immediate Release: Monday 16 January, 2012
Susie Orbach calls for greater scrutiny of diet industry with protest
Susie Orbach is heading up a protest outside Parliament on 16 January organised by Endangered Bodies to raise awareness of the misery caused by the diet industry.
Dr. Orbach, the convenor of Endangered Bodies - a group that campaigns against the culture of body anxiety and hatred – and a psychotherapist with thirty years experience of treating people with eating problems, and author of ‘Fat is a Feminist Issue’, is giving evidence on Monday at the All Parliamentary Party Group’s Body Image Inquiry, alongside Weight Watchers, Slimming World and Holland & Barratt.
The demonstration centres around a hazardous waste bin into which Endangered Bodies is encouraging people to ditch their toxic dieting materials - diet plans, magazines, calorie counters, the lot.
Susie Orbach said: “Diets don’t work in the long-term. Ninety-five per cent of people who lose weight through dieting will regain that weight and more after five years [1]. Endangered Bodies is protesting today to highlight the damage caused to people’s mental and physical health by the diet industry. They are making fat profits out of making us feel miserable about ourselves. We want to encourage people to listen to their appetites, enjoy their bodies and ditch dieting.”
As part of their Ditching Dieting campaign, Endangered Bodies is calling for:
An investigation into the diet industry by Trading Standards;
Truth in diet advertising – including the real diet results: 95% recidivism;
Research into the real costs of dieting – cost per pound lost.
Endangered Bodies wants to raise awareness of the damage dieting does to:
Our mental health – dieting induces, and is a form of, disturbed eating that undermines people’s confidence in a normal body function.
Our physical health - Yo-yo dieting plays a large role in various ailments, ironically often attributed to obesity: high-blood pressure, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and even premature death. [2]
The protest is starting at 2.30pm on Monday, 16 January, before the Body Image Inquiry, which begins at 4.30pm. We are meeting under the Lion on the Southside of Westminster Bridge.
For more information or to arrange an interview with Susie Orbach, or an Endangered Bodies representative, please contact Amy Anderson on anderson_amy@live.co.uk or 0775 4039901
Dr Susie Orbach pioneered the treatment of disordered eating in this country. As co-founder of The Women’s Therapy Centre she provided programmes for women and their families to address the psychology of eating and fatness. She is the author of four books on eating problems and three on women’s psychology. She has also written widely on psychological and social issues. She is visiting Professor at the LSE.
For more information on the Endangered Bodies ‘Ditching Dieting’ campaign, including the research that proves that diets don’t work, go to www.ditchingdieting.org
Endangered Bodies is a global and local initiative to fight the culture of body anxiety, body hatred and fear that is pervading all parts of our society. For more information go to http://www.endangeredbodies.org
For more information on the All Parliamentary Party Group’s Body Image Inquiry go to http://www.ymca.co.uk/bodyconfidence/parliament
Susie Orbach, or an Endangered Bodies representative, is available for interview on Monday 16 January before 3pm.
1 http://printfu.org/read/medicare-ssearchfor-effective-obesity-treatments-diets-arenotthe--0703.html?f=1qeYpurpn6Wih-SUpOGunK2nh7nU2s7XydfVmdzB2cfn0M3S3uiFuc7L1dXd1-rLlbzH0eLf2e2IueLXyuLhy-Ph2Iyz38ro24Wx5M6849rp1cqMnaSTlqPYqqSjkOjal6jYpqCnn5bS2u
2 Paul Campos, The Obesity Myth, New York: Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2004, 32-33. See also http://spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/20/3/166.full
News for release: Monday 7th February, 2011
Susie Orbach launches Endangereded Species International Summit to challenge body beautiful culture
Endangered Species International Summit - established by Susie Orbach and launched today in London - will celebrate body diversity and challenge the culture that teaches girls and women to hate their own bodies. Events will take place around the world in March - the same month as the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day - with the main UK event to be held at London’s Southbank Centre on 4th March 2011.
To launch the summit, Endangered Species, together with DIVA magazine, invited advertising and creative agencies from around the UK to submit ideas for a billboard campaign to communicate the Endangered Species’ message: save future generations of women and girls from hating their own bodies. The winning entry from Manchester’s RED C Agency is unveiled today and will be seen at 11 sites across the capital running up to the Endangered Species summit in London on 4th March. The sites have been donated to Endangered Species and DIVA courtesy of global out-of-home advertising company Clear Channel International.
The Endangered Species billboard campaign features in the March issue of DIVA magazine which is guest-edited by world-renowned psychotherapist, author and activist, Susie Orbach and goes on sale today.
Jane Czyzselska, editor of DIVA magazine, says:
"When Susie told us about Endangered Species, her upcoming event aimed at correcting the warped view we have of ourselves, which is created and supported by our personal histories and the powerful visual media, we decided to join forces and asked Susie to guest-edit a special issue of DIVA. We’re excited about the impact our efforts could have in changing the cultural discourse about our bodies and in turn helping women to feel truly at home in their skin."
Supported by Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone, fashion guru Caryn Franklin, actor and writer Emma Thompson and DIVA magazine, Endangered Species aims to engage people from the worlds of politics, corporate life, fashion and media and ask them how they can best contribute to changing those aspects of the commercialization of beauty which are causing such harm to girls and women around the world today.
Susie Orbach says:
"Endangered Species summit is an urgent call to action: to save future generations from the body misery which can start as early as 6 and continue until women are in old age homes. The summit aims to show girls and women how they can do something about it, and to inspire them to embrace change.
Over the past 30 years the workings of the diet, pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic surgery and style industries have made us view the body we live in as a body which must be perfect. The goal of perfectibility has turned generations of women against their own bodies. The young woman who can feel free to explore her interests without being preoccupied by how her body appears or focus on what procedure she should have in the future to change it is becoming an ‘endangered species’."
Endangered Species is an International Summit with its UK event taking place at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank on 4th March. Individuals and groups from the UK and Ireland will be joined by initiatives throughout Europe to showcase the work they are already doing with and about young women – from projects in schools, colleges and communities to web-based groups and campaigning organisations. Performance, videos and artwork will frame the day and underline the urgent message of this summit. A truly global summit, Endangered Species events will take place in London, New York, Buenos Aires, Melbourne, Sao Paulo.
The winners of the Endangered Species/Diva Billboard campaign competition, chosen from over 100 entries, were: 1st Place: Red C ‘Is this the happiest she’ll ever be about her appearance’; 2nd Place Hillcoat-Watson’s ‘Don’t Conform – Change the Norm; 3rd Place: Rapp’s ‘Nip and Tuck Off’. The judges were Susie Orbach and Diva’s Jane Czyzselska, Louise Carolin and Eden Carter Wood
Diva is the biggest selling magazine for lesbian and bi-sexual women in the UK www.divamag.co.uk
Clear Channel International (CCI)
Clear Channel International (CCI) works with advertisers to create inspiring out-of-home advertising campaigns in 30 countries across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The company has a growing portfolio, which is currently made up of over half a million displays, which span traditional and digital formats on roadside billboards, street furniture and in retail, point of sale, airport, transit and lifestyle environments. It employs over 5,000 people and, in 2009, its revenue was $1.46 billion USD.
CCI is part of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc (CCO), the world’s largest out-of-home advertising company with operations in 44 countries. CCO is, in turn, 89% owned by Clear Channel Communications, Inc the global media and entertainment company. The remaining 11% of CCO is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
www.clearchannelinternational.com
www.clearchannel.co.uk
For all press enquiries please contact Annabel Robinson or Fiona McMorrough at FMcM Associates on 020 7405 7422 or email annabelr@fmcm.co.uk / Fionam@fmcm.co.uk
To arrange for a high-resolution image of the billboard campaign winners please contact annabelr@fmcm.co.uk
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The Hawaii Clipper was a significant technological achievement in the world of commercial aviation. It was such an achievement that elements within the Japanese Empire were concerned for what was perceived as United States expansion aims into the South Pacific and Asia. They weren’t that far off.
Although Juan Trippe was well aware of Japan’s own expansion throughout Asia, his plans to bring passengers and mail to Hong Kong and other asian destinations was unstoppable (by either his competitors, stock holders or the Japanese). However, with the loss of his star chief pilot “Eddie” C. Musick in a catastrophic fuel tank explosion or a bomb placed within the fuselage, the end of the line was closer than anyone would admit. The explosion of the Samoan Clipper (a Sikorsky S-42B flying boat) and then the loss of the Hawaii Clipper to alleged espionage gave some doubt as to the sustainability of the commercial enterprise.
The NC 14714 Hawaiian Clipper, later renamed Hawaii Clipper, was built by the Glenn L. Martin Company of Baltimore Maryland in the early 1930’s. The M-130 aircraft known to the company as Martin Ocean Transports first flew on December 30, 1934 and became the Concords of their day. Built for safety, luxury and all metal ruggedness, they became a benchmark for similar aircraft in the years to follow. Only three M-130’s were built and were christened Hawaii Clipper (NC-14714), Philippines Clipper (NC-14715) and China Clipper (NC-14716).
The Hawaii Clipper had the honor of being the first transpacific passenger service of an airline that actually generated revenue on October 21st, 1936 between Alameda California and Manila Philippines. The flying boat went on to have a remarkably incident free time in the sky s of the Pacific but it was cut short on July 29, 1938. Although flight 229 (they called them trips back then) started off normal enough in Alameda on July 23, the closer the ship got to Japanese held territories the greater the danger the passengers and crew could experience.
From California, trip # 229 took the Hawaii Clipper and its twelve passengers to Honolulu. Among the well to do passengers were nine highly experienced crew members with very impressive credentials. When it came to the creme of the crop, Pan Am Airways had a reputation of hiring the best. Whether they be a steward or pilot, mechanic or navigator, they were the best tops of their trade in the most advanced passenger aircraft in the world.
Having left San Francisco harbor a little after 3:00pm Pacific time, the clipper arrived in Perl City Hawaii a little after 8:00 in the morning of the 24th. They had flown 2,410 miles non stop and it was always the most dreaded as it was the longest and most lonesome of all the legs from the US to China. After a nights stay in Honolulu, the trip continued but only for six passengers. These six passengers, along with the remaining seven man crew, would press on to Midway Island and eventually, Hong Kong.
Nick-named “The Tom Toms of Hades,” the engines would drone on for seemingly countless hours and echo above conversation within the plush fuselage. The sleeping chambers were often secured during these shorter flights (only used for overnight slumber on the longest leg between California and Hawaii). However if passenger was experiencing some discomfort from air sickness, they would “quietly” be allowed to take a nap. This experience certainly set a level of prestige few in the world could only dream of.
Flying aboard the Hawaii Clipper on trip (not flight) #229 were…
Find more information, stories, photos and video clips here on The Lost Clipper Facebook page.
Waiting to hear more…
Thanks for visiting! Please feel free to ask any specific questions you may have.
Any chance the Federal Gov would ever attempt to negotiate a return of these mia’s like they did the Vietnam mia’s? If they were on a government mission, they would technically be Federal agents, yes?
Hi Elisa,
Unfortunately, there is no one to negotiate with any longer. The island is free for tourism and the local authorities are very cooperative. The only real issue is 100% identifying the location of the remains and then forming a team of construction laborers and heavy equipment along with forensic scientists to ensure the rermains are handled with proper care. It is essentually a seventy year old crime scene.
I see. So what is needed now is a forensic team like the Smithsonian Forensics Lab. They work with law enforcement agencies to solve crimes, even very old crimes. Way, to interesting, Guy. I guess it would have to involve national security for the state department or a national law enforcement agency to get involved in a seventy year old unsolved crime and bring in the Smithsonian? Well, Guy this is without a doubt very intriguing and has me on the edge of my seat. Thanks for the ride.
Is it true that the Jap mig fighters were equipped with similar technology as the clipper?
Well, sort of. The Mig was actually a Soviet era jet fighter, so no comparison there. However, there is a case that the clipper was stolen to inspect and copy the latest American powerhouse, the Pratt & Whitney R1830 Twin Wasp (950HP) radial engine. The Japanese engine in which you are thinking of is the Mitsubishi Kinsei 金星 (Venus) which was based on the Pratt & Whitney R-1689 Hornet engine. Also the Nakajima Sakae 栄 (Prosperity) engine has also been mentioned as gaining some influence into later modification from the P&W Twin Wasp engine. So to answer your question; yes, there are some indications that the engines were influenced by American engine technology used by the Hawaii Clipper however, nothing yet has been discovered to say the influence came DIRECTLY from the vanished Martin M-130 flying boat.
Miles Khan says:
This may seem unrelated, and quite known, but anyway, in 1939, the Japanese bought the DC-4E, and they took it apart, and used it to design and build their own bomber, the Nakajima G5N. The Nakajima had identical problems to the DC-4E.
P.S. The DC-4E used 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2180-A Twin Hornet engines.
Hello Miles and excellent insight into the engine theory. I have too heard this from a tech transfer engineer who studied that and similar events with French and English engines as well as American aircraft motors. He said that at the time, the empire was looking to beg, borrow, buy or even steal examples to create something that would meet their needs and objectives. It is possible that the military complex in Japan wanted to more closely examine the advanced version of the P&W engines that were installed on the Hawaii Clipper two weeks before her disappearance and took the opportunity to do so while intercepting the three million in gold backed bank notes headed to China.
Thanks Guy, very informative. Makes me even more curious.
Waiting curiously to hear more……Very exciting reading all this mistery into the disapperence of the Clipper and my Uncle Jose Maria….
Waiting curiously to hear more……
DickG says:
1. On reading the docu novel of the hijacking, a few years ago; seems it mentioned the discovery of the engine serial numbers in a Japanese factory following the surrender.
2.Also was the passenger named K.A. Kennedy, the Ames Research engineer ?
3. Did you identify each passenger’s security threat to Japan anywhere ?
PS; I followed TIGHAR (the search for Amelia E.) a few years back and it seemed an endless dismissal of certain statements and island witnesses. Anything that didn’t fit the Narrative of Gardner Island was out. Seems it became a ‘fund raiser’ in support of excursions into the area. Hope this remains purely factual and all-inclusive.
philip says:
I collect stamps and covers (envelopes) from the hawaii area, a cover I recently purchased is labeled Pan American Airways and dated Honolulu Hawaii Oct 14,1941. is there anyway to find out which flight it was?.
There is always chance it could be solved your question due to the process of elimination which aircraft where in service, especially to and from Hawaii. The first place I would start is here: http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/hawaii-commercial-aviation/pan-american-airways and also sending an email the fine folks at the Pan Am Historical Foundation here: http://www.panam.org/
Hope this helps you on your efforts. Best of luck!
9HiDesert4 says:
Where can I find the passenger list? This is the aircraft our family legend says my uncle’s brother Dan Nelson disappeared with. I’d be enormously surprised if Dan was a spy; he was third generation Norwegian Lutheran missionary. I didn’t know there was this much information about that flight; we had it all garbled. Was there bullion on board or not? Were the high jackers Filipino pirates, Japanese naval personnel, or…. what’s the rumor?
Hello 9HiDesert14,
Thanks for your message but I am confused by it. I know of no passenger or crew member aboard Pan Am Trip #229 named Dan Nelson. The folks that were aboard are confirmed as:
Chief Pilot – L. Terletzky
First Officer – M. Walker
Second Officer – G. Davis
Third Officer – J. Sauceda
Forth Officer J. Jewet
Engineer – H. Cox
Asst. Engineer – T. Tatum
Radio Officer – W. McGarty
Steward – I. Parker
W. Choy
H. French
K. Kennedy
E. McKinley
F. Meier
E. Wyman
Perhaps he was on the California to Hawaii Leg of the trip? Some passengers ended their trip at that point and did not continue Westward.
Thanks for checking in.
Robert P says:
Guy – fascinating website on a fascinating topic. Based on the limited research I have done and reading segments of Charles Hills Book – i do beleive there is something to the hijack theory. Hill laid out an interesting case – albeit a bit complex. I do know from research that the Japanese had a decent spy network and they had motives to take out the passengers – whether it was money or knowledge the passengers had which could have weakened Japanese interests at the time. Getting their hands on the plane also could have saved years of technical research as they planned for war.
My question is if you are going back to Truk to do any more research and what the latest updates are to the case. Also – what is your theory on what happened to the actual aircraft. Keep up he great work..
Thank you for your message Robert and welcome to the discussion. You are correct about the spy network however most folks don’t realize that some military leaders wanted the cover to deny any sort of connection to industrial espionage and later sabotage of commercial activities by employing Black Ocean Society (early Yakuza) members to do their bidding. The are many FBI cases which indicated those very things – including an account by Albert Lodwick who worked with Hughes and the H-! by allegedly pulling visiting Japanese air force generals to its New Jersey hangar off its wings. They may not have gotten detailed information from the encounter but they certainly saw something they liked. The transcribed account may be seen here: http://www.456fis.org/HOWARD_HUGHES_IN_HIS_OWN_WORDS.htm
As for your question about going back to Truk – we do have plans in the works to secure and recover the remains of the passengers and crew. The final disposition of the Martin M-130 may never be discovered due to the secrecy of the Empire and the near total destruction of documents and photos toward the end of the war to hide war crimes and potentially embarrassing / illegal activities that would lead to even more condemnation by the allies. Thanks for visiting and stay tuned!
Thanks for the reply Guy
My pleasure Robert and again sorry for the delay.
Were the gold backed bank notes bearer documents (that is any bearer could convert them into bullion), or did they require a proof of ownership? Are they traceable through serial numbers? Is there any record of them being “cashed in”?
From what I understand – they were bearer documents and owned by the presenter. The last we heard of there were reports that they were removed from a bank vault in Garapan City, Saipan in 1944 by US Marines and they stormed the city. Allegedly they were given to a US Navy Intel officer and they soon vanished (along with a flight bag owned by Earhart that had maps and a logbook). I personally interviewed Major Rick Spooner who was a young Marine on Saipan during the fighting and at the age of 92 – he says he can still see them in his mind.
Leave a Reply to 9HiDesert4 Cancel reply
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Nissan to create 350 new jobs in North East
Nissan has announced that its Wearside factory will start producing batteries for electric cars, which is expected to create 350 new jobs.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that Nissan’s £200m investment “was great news for the local economy”.
The plant, near Sunderland, has beaten off competition from other Nissan factories in Europe for the investment.
The move could pave the way for the production of electric vehicles at the North East plant in the near future.
“Sunderland could now be a strong contender to produce electric vehicles for Nissan in Europe, and we will continue to work with Nissan to ensure this happens,” the prime minister said.
Mr Brown visited the Sunderland factory along with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson.
Mr Mandelson said a “low-carbon economic area” would be established in the North East.
Nissan’s £200m investment will be spread over five years and the new plant, which will make lithium-ion batteries, will also create and secure additional jobs in the related supply chain.
Source: BBC News
Jul 20, 2009 MTI
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New car production down 43 percent in May
10 years ago Manufacturers, Newseconomy24
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649. The Four Tops: “Darling, I Hum Our Song”
Posted by The Nixon Administration in The Four Tops, Writing credit: Holland-Dozier-Holland
Motown M 1084 (B), October 1965
B-side of Something About You
Tamla Motown TMG 542 (B), November 1965
A third and final airing for this old song here on Motown Junkies. An early effort from the Holland-Dozier-Holland team before they were famous, first recorded by Eddie Holland himself back in 1962, dusted off by Martha and the Vandellas a year later, its re-appearance here at the tail-end of ’65 is a surprise. Given its writers’ astonishing development since those early days, this is practically an artefact from the distant past.
In fact, this new version – not an archive cut, but a brand-new recording made for the Four Tops’ second album, the impeccably-titled Four Tops Second Album – plays up to its age, underpinned with a chugging, pounded tack piano that really lays bare the simple doo-wop skeleton of the song, marking out the 6/8 tempo and inviting comparisons to those long-gone days when Motown could only dream of radio play and sock hop spins, never mind Number One records.
Of course, this version isn’t irrevocably dated, the main reason being that it has Levi Stubbs on it. It’s one of the paradoxes of Motown that the Four Tops – who so often found themselves cutting middle-of-the-road material, who were fronted by a guy who genuinely had been singing lead since 1954 – often come out sounding so modern, as Levi’s trademark vocals, somewhere between a bark and a lullaby, float over the top of the tune. Already long-term fans of his work, Holland-Dozier-Holland knew what they could expect from Levi by now, and perhaps accordingly, Darling, I Hum Our Song ends up as a virtual solo vocal showcase until we’re almost a minute into the record. Do you hear me complaining? No. No, you don’t.
It was never a bad little song to start with – Martha Reeves had hinted at its potential, even as she struggled to hide her light under a bushel, yearning to really cut loose. Holland and Dozier, who produced all three Motown versions of this, must have recognised their mistake; two years down the line, Levi Stubbs is shackled with no such restrictions, and the result is unexpectedly pleasing. Also, this is the only version of this song where the ill-considered “humming” gimmick (the narrator literally starting to hum along to the tune instead of singing any lyrics) actually works, rather than sucking all the built-up energy right back out of the record. Also also, it’s got that heavenly blend of voices in the background, the Tops and Andantes again combining to work their magic, one of the loveliest sounds in the Motown catalogue.
But it’s still not quite right; Levi brings enough crackle and fizz to compensate for the song’s sapping effects, avoiding the pitfalls helpfully highlighted by Eddie’s underpowered original, but it doesn’t exactly click into place; I found myself waiting for it all to come together two and a bit minutes in, for all the ingredients to lock into each other (as happens on so many of the best Motown grooves), and it builds, and fades, and builds, and fades, and then instead of ramping up ready for a big show-stopping finish, it just sort of… ends.
I don’t know if anything further could be done to fix it; this third attempt at getting the song right and putting history straight is the best version of Darling, I Hum Our Song we’ve yet heard, but it’s still somehow unsatisfying (if not unsatisfactory) and perhaps wisely Holland-Dozier-Holland don’t seem to have gone for a fourth. A fine effort in its own right, and the vocals are lovely, but everyone involved had already moved on, and HDH were right to finally let it go.
COVERWATCH
Motown Junkies has reviewed other Motown versions of this song:
Eddie Holland (December 1962)
Martha & the Vandellas (November 1963)
(Or maybe you’re only interested in the Four Tops? Click for more.)
“Something About You” The Dalton Boys
“I’ve Been Cheated”
13 thoughts on “649. The Four Tops: “Darling, I Hum Our Song””
Sorry for the lengthy delay between posts there (illness, children, pressure at work, big radio news). I promise I won’t do that again 🙂
With all your sterling work on this blog, you deserve whatever time off you can get! Hope the illness has passed.
Rob Green Nashville TN said:
Checkin every day waitin for you, glad to hear you are ok and THANK YOU for this wonderful place to be!
No apologizes necessary; for all us, real life makes itself a chronic intruder upon our cyber fun. 🙂
Works better in the album context than as a stand alone, the “Second” album being one of the gems in the Motown catalog. No filler in it at all! But fun to hear it on TCMS ’65…..Levi could do no wrong.
Happy Thanksgiving and Hannukah to everyone!
And I agree this is the best version of this tune. Not an H-D-H classic but I like it. I like Martha’s version too.
This isn’t a bad record. A 6 is fair. Kind of neo-doowopish. With some more polish it could have been a great record. Hope everyone (in the States) had a good T’giving. Mine was good with the exception of a speeding ticket in the tiny town of Linden, VA. Officer was very nice. Also, a few days before T’giving, I lost a good friend to cancer. Sad, but glad he is no longer suffering & in a better place. Always thankful for my Motown friends! Please keep me in your thots/prayers as I get a Cat Scan in a few weeks to see where I am at with cancer. Thanks!
I do not dislike the Tops round in the least, but by the time it came out, I was two years indoctrinated by Reeves version, and it had crystallized itself for me as a girls lament, Martha revealing a helping of insult along with her sense of loss. But I also agree it was time to stop after Levi’s effort; it’s a medium strength HDH song and no more. Too bad Motown didn’t have equal wisdom about when to quit with ‘Who’s Lovin’ You.’
I say a 5, after reading the posts, I am wondering what would have happened to the song if HDH circa 1967 took a stab at it.
great record, i’ve always loved it. However you may be right about the song itself. Its another one of those curious records (like Freddie Scott’s “Where Were You” that never really resolves itself mucially or lyrically. In some cases that can lend itself to reapeated play which is a good thing. In other cases it’ll make the song just kind of lie there.
I never liked this song. I’ve tried to like it but the arrangement does absolutely nothing for me regardless of whose singing it. I think it’s one of Motown’s worst. Rating: 3/10
msongs said:
sounds like the 4 tops do the Miracles with levi and his best smokey imitation
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Action / Thriller
Dead Man Down (2013)
by Peter Pluymers · Published 16 May 2014 · Updated 3 October 2017
Victor, a rising gangland player, has infiltrated the crime empire run by ruthless kingpin Alphonse, with the single purpose of making Alphonse pay for destroying his once happy life. As he meticulously orchestrates his vengeance from his high-rise home, Victor watches and is watched by Beatrice, a mysterious young woman who lives in the apartment across from his. On the surface a fragile woman-child, Beatrice seethes with a rage of her own. When she uncovers Victor’s dark secrets, she threatens to expose him unless he helps her carry out her own campaign of retribution. Each fixated on avenging the past, they devise a violent and cathartic plan that could change their worlds forever.
Genre : Action/Drama/Thriller
Colin Farrell : Victor
Noomi Rapace : Beatrice
Dominic Cooper : Darcy
“I didn’t kill you because they’ve got you.”
A squared revenge. You could summarize this crime/drama like that. Victor (Colin Farrell) is a man who has already infiltrated some time in a corrupt gang, run by Alphonse (Terrence Howard), a not so kosher developer. They are responsible for the death of his daughter and asked an Albanian gang to scare them a bit, after the couple wanted to take legal actions. His wife is killed by the Albanians and they leave him for dead behind. The only goal in Victor’s life is to make the gang , and mainly Alphonse, suffer with as much pain as possible, for the death of his family.However all his planning gets deranged by the hands of his opposite neighbor Beatrice (Noomi Rapace), who had a severe traffic accident in the past which was caused by a drunk guy. The drunk guy got a light sentence and merrily continues his dissolute life. But Beatrice is maimed for life and has painful scars, both physically and mentally. Beatrice has evidence in the form of a film on her cell phone that shows how Victor strangled someone in his apartment. She uses this to blackmail Victor, so he would murder the man responsible for the accident.
“Dead Man Down” has a promising start with the gloom, despair and the feelings of revenge as a central subject. It all looks gloomy and mysterious. Not only the two characters Victor and Beatrice take credit for that , but also the used environment and images. The apartment Victor that looks poor and sober, the fragments in the cemetery where the light from a flashlight is used while searching for the graves of a Hungarian family, the phone call in the evening of two neighbors on their balcony on the top floor. Everything is soaked in a pool of melancholy and deep-rooted sorrow out of which arises an intense feeling of hate.
Colin Farrell is ideal for this role. He has such a sad look that perfectly suits the person Victor. He must be extremely cold-blooded and reserved so he can empathize with his role as a member of the criminal gang. The sad and silent part of him is again an expression of his immense grief over the loss he has suffered. At times he reminded me of Ryan Gosling in “Drive“. A strong piece of acting was when he rejects Beatrice in such a way that he can complete his mission. The combination of determination and helplessness was wonderful to see.
Noomi Rapace, who plays Beatrice, is a kind of replica of him. Just as Lisbeth Salander in “Män som hatar kvinnor” she’s a tormented and emotionally marked woman who wants to take revenge on those who have done something to her. Salander took revenge on a perverse and abusive lawyer, while Beatrice on a drunk driver who despite the heavy facts escapes from a heavy punishment. Beatrice is not only scarred emotionally, but also physically . The heavy traffic accident has caused scars in her face, and some surgical procedures were necessary to make her presentable. Initially she seems to be an unperturbed and ruthless person, who is not afraid to extort Victor and use him as a tool to reach her goal. Gradually she evolves into this compassionate and concerned person. The somewhat bizarre relationship that ultimately flows between these two people is touching. However, the friendship shared with Victor Darcy was much more convincing than those with Beatrice . The opening and closing scene was a clear proof of that.
Niels Arden Oplev also happens to be the director of “Män som hatar kvinnor“. It was the breakthrough for Noomi Rapace as an international star playing Lisbeth Salander. Also an honorable mention for Isabelle Huppert who played the half-deaf mother of Beatrice. A fairly annoying nosy woman who tried to hook up Victor with her daughter all the time. A terrible moment when she pulls out the photo album to show what a beauty Beatrice actually was. Superbly played anyway.
How convincing and sometimes impressive the beginning of this film was, so terribly quickly it went downhill towards the end. There were some things I had second thoughts about. First, I didn’t think the mutilations of Beatrice were that severe that you could see her as a freak or a monstrous person. In my eyes there was still something sweet about her and she was an amiable woman who looked charming. A bit exaggerated to my findings. The moment the recording, Victor made of a brother of one of the Albanians, was played, was so coincidental and terribly well-timed that it turned out to be completely implausible and ridiculous. That such a dark and melancholy film with a perfectly balanced morbid atmosphere can turn into a purely cheap action-packed monstrosity with all the clichés of a Schwarzenegger / Stallone action-movie of the 80, was a huge disappointment for me. The end was like an A-team fragment of a jeep crashing into a mansion with huge explosions as a result, an exaggerated display of guns shooting around and loads of ammunition being used with gang members falling down everywhere, a terribly hilarious scene with the two leaders shooting at each other at the right time and the obvious ending with two bosom friends looking each other in the eyes like rivals. A typical Hollywood spectacle not worthy for this kind of movie. Like in the old musketeer films it was one-against-all again.
“Dead Man Down” had a promising start but dug his own demise by a lousy and rattling end. Oplev was hoping for an American success like his compatriot Refn, but this will not happen with this ordinary film.
Tags: 5/10ActionThriller
by Peter Pluymers · Published 14 December 2014 · Last modified 11 December 2017
El Bar (2017)
by admin · Published 29 May 2019
Zulu (2013)
by Peter Pluymers · Published 29 May 2014 · Last modified 16 October 2017
What happened to monday (2017)
[…] played a dazzling role in “Män som hatar kvinnor“. She was captivating in “Dead man down” and impressed in “Child 44“. Here it’s not her acting which is a prominent […]
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December 7, 2018 Medicine I Didn't Know I NeededChristmas tree, Hang Them on the Tree, June Christy, Kedrick Rue, This Time of YearLeave a comment
Hang Them on the Tree
By Kedrick Rue
Talking my atheist parents into buying a Christmas tree was an endeavor that seemed doomed from the start. We didn’t celebrate this most commercial of holidays that the “hoi polloi gushed so foolishly about”–my mother’s exact words—not with carols, not with presents, not with cookies.
It was all utter foolishness.
The Canyon in which I grew up was an unusual place, and within that place, we were an unusual family. For the most part we were a typical Eisenhower-era family, dragged into the late ’60s. My father wore button-down shirts and a sport coat to work every day. My mother was a housewife active in the PTA. She made my breakfast every morning, packed my lunch, and drove me to school. But they had been closet Communists at a time when it was the most dangerous thing to be, and were devout atheists in a country steeped in baby boomer Protestantism.
The Canyon wasn’t Christian; it was Pagan. There were the satyrs: horny old goats with connections to the record industry. There were the sylphs: groupies and junkies—often both—with long hair and flowing clothes. Every post-puberty man imagined himself as a Jim Morrison-style Dionysus, and every night was a bacchanal set to fuzzed out electric guitar, tablas, and harmonium.
But this was in the other houses. At our house, things had stalled out in 1961. Though my parents were tolerant of the general canyon culture, even as it became more and more hedonistic, they were never friends with most of our neighbors. We would loan them a cup of sugar or flour; we even once babysat a dog for a whole week. But my parents would never leave me with them; the one time this happened the girl they had hired to babysit ended up dancing naked in our living room after she thought I was asleep. Though dancing naked was okay in pagan rituals, it was not okay in a babysitting context. Still, my mother preferred the Pagan to the Christian.
But neither moved her when it came to getting a Christmas tree.
Her fatal mistake came through a choice of friends. My father was in a branch of the Industry, and was friends with a lot of the people in the Industry. I only met June Christy once, when I was about five. I remember her as being funny and beautiful, with a mischievous sense of humor. Because I only met her once, I thought that out of all my parents’ friends she was the most intriguing.
A few years later, when lobbying for a Christmas tree, I searched my house high and low for incriminating evidence that my parents, deep in their hearts, harbored that little twinkle of Christmas that the “hoi polloi gushed so foolishly about” every December. The one crumb I was able to find was this album. And because June was a friend, I was allowed to listen to it.
The fortress had been breached. I was next able to convince my mother to make cookies (oatmeal raisin, a most un-Christmas-like cookie, as if even my mother’s baking were bearing a grudge against rampant consumerism and shallow religiosity). Then I was able to get her to buy me a gift—the Little Golden Book version of The Little Red Hen, because she liked its socialist message. Finally, I convinced her to bring a tree in from the back yard—a scrub pine I decorated with paper chains.
For that one year, I was satisfied in believing that we were just like everyone else.
I want to say that my mother’s heart grew three sizes that day. But instead she moved around the house like a caged thing, confined by the trappings of popular culture which had invaded our home. I still remember that tree as the bitterest of victories. And I also learned that there was very little—not a carol, not a cookie, not a tree—that could make us just like everyone else.
My mother stuck with the Canyon for the rest of her life, and she never fit in. But she wouldn’t have fit in anywhere. When she died I realized I could have resented her for imposing her way of life on me, but somehow I never did. Somehow I appreciated this perspective of difference, even through the bleakest years of high school.
As I was clearing out her things I found June Christy’s album. I listened to the song again for the first time in nearly two decades.
I’ll take the sorrows of last November
Make them a part of Christmas Day
Color them shiny, bright and gay
And hang them on the tree…
I still don’t have a tree in my house at Christmas—except for that one disastrous year when I dated a Pagan, which resulted in a number of broken hand-fired ornaments and a backyard bonfire—but I do have June’s song. It helps me to put the year, and the life behind me, in perspective.
December 12, 2017 Medicine I Didn't Know I NeededChristmas tree, Hang Them on the Tree, June Christy, Kedrick Rue, This Time of YearLeave a comment
December 15, 2016 December 15, 2016 Medicine I Didn't Know I NeededChristmas tree, Hang Them on the Tree, June Christy, Kedrick Rue, This Time of YearLeave a comment
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Illinois • Iowa • Minnesota • Wisconsin
Federal Network of Support
Piloting New Paths to Graduation Using Competency-Based Education
By Cora Goldston
Students come to school with unique strengths, interests, and learning styles. With that in mind, many states across the country are exploring new opportunities for students to earn credit toward graduation. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is piloting one such strategy—competency-based education (CBE), which allows students to advance as they master the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in college and careers. The Midwest Comprehensive Center (MWCC) is working with ISBE to support pilot districts and plan for statewide CBE implementation.
In a competency-based system, schools offer students greater flexibility and individualized support to help them meet learning goals. Students may learn at varying rates inside and outside the classroom, including in work-based or community settings. If students need more time, they can continue learning and receiving help without the time pressure of the semester ending. Regardless of the pace of their learning, students progress only after they demonstrate mastery of the competencies. In most CBE models, students must perform complex tasks to receive credit, applying what they have learned to solve real-world problems.
Illinois is piloting CBE at high schools across the state, ranging from single-building, rural districts to large urban districts. In fall 2017, the first cohort of 10 districts began planning, developing, and implementing opportunities for students to earn credit by demonstrating competency. Learn more about the first cohort of pilot districts.
“The competency-based model removes the constraints of ‘seat time’ and allows for student-driven learning,” said State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, PhD. “This approach can make education more relevant both to students and to local employers. When students leave our schools, they should leave with the keys to open multiple doors, any of which can lead to a successful future.”
Pilot districts have the freedom to choose which subjects will have competency-based credit options and how districts will assess whether a student has demonstrated competency. Wendy Surr, senior researcher for MWCC, notes that district autonomy is crucial for future CBE implementation.
“ISBE’s goal is to support pilot districts as incubators of innovation. The state wants to offer sites as much room and flexibility as possible to innovate, so they can learn what works and develop guidance for statewide CBE rollout.”
Each pilot district has a unique strategy for designing and implementing competency-based learning and teaching. Proviso East High School is piloting CBE demonstration classrooms in several subjects to explore how competency-based credit might work across all content areas. In the 2018–19 school year, all freshmen classes at Proviso East will be competency-based, and the school will expand CBE to higher level classes over the next few years. Other districts are implementing CBE in specific subjects. For example, Ridgewood Community High School is using competency-based learning in all its math courses. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is interested in how CBE might benefit learners in different settings. It is piloting CBE in six different high school contexts, including two selective enrollment schools, a high school that specializes in preparing special education students for postgraduation transitions, a neighborhood high school, and a school located in a juvenile detention facility.
MWCC has been a key partner with ISBE in this work. MWCC is providing “guideposts and resources” to support pilot districts as they learn, design, and refine their local CBE models, Surr explains. “One of the biggest ways that MWCC is supporting this effort is by connecting pilot sites with national CBE experts.”
MWCC has introduced pilot districts to an array of CBE approaches, and connected sites with experts who can offer consultation and guidance, including the following:
Facilitating a CBE in Action webinar series to share examples of successful CBE initiatives. Webinar presenters included staff from Pittsfield Middle High School in New Hampshire, which has implemented CBE, and Kim Carter, executive director of the QED Foundation and Distinguished Fellow at Students at the Center.
Hosting a five-session book study with Rose Colby, author of Competency-Based Education: A New Architecture for K–12 Schooling. Participating district staff read chapters and have facilitated discussions about takeaways for implementing CBE in their contexts. In the future, there also will be a second book study; some participants from the first book study will share what they have learned and cofacilitate discussions with the new cohort of CBE sites.
Bringing in CBE experts to serve as coaches for the pilot sites. Each interested pilot district identified goals to work toward with its coaches. The experts and district staff have virtual coaching sessions to make plans and accomplish their goals, such as devising new grading systems or developing competencies in a specific subject area.
MWCC has also hosted multiple in-person meetings for pilot sites:
In September 2017, MWCC and ISBE hosted a pilot kickoff meeting, which was attended by all 10 districts from the first cohort of the pilot and more than 70 educators and school leaders. The kickoff meeting featured framing from Dr. Smith and Chief Education Officer Libia Gil, PhD. Pilot districts learned about key features of successful CBE implementation from three national experts, and they discussed priorities, challenges, and new ideas.
In February 2018, representatives of pilot sites met again to dive more deeply into personalized learning strategies and performance assessment. This event featured Colby and Carter. More than 80 educators and school leaders attended the event.
ISBE and MWCC are now planning a third convening for June 2018. This event will offer more intensive, hands-on training on designing alternative school schedules, increasing the rigor of learning and assessment tasks, developing personalized learning plans, and designing project-based learning opportunities. This event will feature national expert and author Karin Hess, EdD, and Andrea Stewart and Jen Sigrist, codirectors of the new Iowa Center that focuses on learner-centered CBE.
“The Midwest Comprehensive Center has strengthened ISBE’s capacity to assist pilot districts in implementing innovative competency-based programs and to foster an open learning community,” said Mary Reynolds, executive director of innovation and secondary transformation for ISBE. “We are grateful for MWCC’s consultation and support in this work.” By connecting with experts in the field, MWCC is working to increase pilot sites’ knowledge and capacity to implement CBE.
In fall 2018, the second cohort of districts will begin piloting CBE. Five new districts have been selected to participate in the second pilot cohort; in addition, another group of CPS schools will participate. The districts in the second cohort will have several opportunities to learn from CBE experts, the first cohort, and one another. Surr emphasizes that the pilot is an opportunity for collaborative learning. “By giving districts flexibility to try competency-based education in different ways, this pilot allows the state and districts to work as partners as they explore together what 21st-century ‘schools’ can be.”
For more on Illinois’ CBE pilot, check out articles in the Chicago Tribune, Peoria Journal Star, and Rockford Register-Star.
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Ariana Grande’s ‘Thank U, Next’ Is the Fastest Video to Reach 100 Million Views
Mark Sundstrom
Ariana Grande via YouTube
Ariana Grande is sitting on top of the world and the wins just keep coming.
Ariana's "thank u, next" video first broke Vevo and YouTube's 24-hour-views record last Saturday (December 1), now it's racked up another impressive achievement. Vevo confirmed today that the "thank u, next" video is now officially the fastest video to reach 100 million views in Vevo's history.
Released last Friday (November 30), the adorable nod to 2000s rom-coms surpassed 100 million views in just under four days. "We are completely floored by the performance that we are seeing for this video and how our audience continues to flock to it," Vevo's Head of Content, Programming & Marketing JP Evangelista says in a statement.
"All signs indicate that 'thank u, next' will be a chart topper for us for weeks to come and will contend with many of our top all-time most viewed videos," the Vevo exec predicts.
Congrats to Ariana, the video's director Hannah Lux Davis, and the entire cast and crew involved in bringing the vision to life. Now, if we could just get Ari to give us some more tea on the 'thank u, next' album she was teasing last month.
Source: Ariana Grande’s ‘Thank U, Next’ Is the Fastest Video to Reach 100 Million Views
Filed Under: ariana grande
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NL Playoff Online Betting Team Preview: New York Mets
Written by Alex Murphy on October 7, 2015
The New York Mets have been a big surprise for online betting fans this year, blowing past the moribund Washington Nationals and an Eastern division that has been, for the most part, well below average. Thanks to awful years by the Phillies, Marlins and Braves, there’s been plenty of room for the Mets to run off with the title, behind the strong pitching of their four Young Guns in the pitching rotation.
Matt Harvey goes missing from #Mets workout, says he ‘screwed up’ –>http://t.co/5kGKtbzgwZ pic.twitter.com/VBvTJe6xDT
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 6, 2015
However, with Steven Matz looking like his back will put him out of commission, the Mets will be down to three Young Guns, so the team has to make a decision: how to use the rotation. One suggestion involves starting Jacob deGrom in Game 1 and following with Noah Syndergaard in Game 2 and Matt Harvey in Game 3, even though he skipped a team mandatory workout the other day. Should the series extend further, one idea is for the Mets to start deGrom in Game 4 on short rest. In Game 5, they could start Syndergaard again on regular rest, thanks to the off days in the series. Why should the Mets consider this? Their opponents, the Los Angeles Dodgers, have two of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball in Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, so one school of thought says that the Mets should throw their Big Three against the Dodgers’ Big Two. The risk? DeGrom has never pitched a game on short rest, so he would have to forego his normal bullpen session and get ready. This would add to his workload, but he has the competitive personality to make such a move work, especially with postseason glory on the line. According to scouts, Syndergaard is throwing better now than earlier in the season. Cincinnati Reds All-Star Todd Frazier was singing Syndergaard’s praises Sunday, talking about how masterful he has become despite such scant experience in the big leagues. So in a five-game series, three great pitchers should be able to beat two, right? What would happen if the Mets advanced? If the move on to the NLCS but it takes five games to do it, then Harvey could start Game 1 of the NLCS. So what’s the other option? There is 42-year-old Bartolo Colon who could start Game 4. He’s become more celebrated for his rare hits (and his subsequent rumbling around the basepaths). He has picked some wins, but most of them have come against the awful competition in the National League East. The Dodgers, on the other hand, feature a dangerous lineup. Of course, if the Mets pull off the sweep, they don’t have to worry about it. However, if they find themselves down 2-1 to Los Angeles, starting deGrom on short rest will be tempting. It would be easier to justify starting Colon if they are up 2-1 and have deGrom on the shelf to start Game 5. No matter what happens, it will be a fascinating series – just like they are every October.
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Couple ‘deliberately starved girl to death’
metrowebukmetroFriday 5 Jun 2009 11:00 am
A seven-year-old girl was deliberately starved to death while being kept as a prisoner in her own home by her mother and her partner, a court heard today.
Birmingham Crown Court was told that Khyra Ishaq died of an infection after being starved over a period of weeks or possibly even months.
Khyra Ishaq was deliberately starved by her mother and her partner.
Opening the case against Angela Gordon and Junaid Abuhamza, prosecutor Timothy Raggatt, QC, said Khyra had been starved to a point that was almost unique in the experience of British medical staff.
Addressing the court at the start of the six-week trial, Mr Raggatt told jurors: “It’s highly likely that you will find some of what you will hear distressing and disturbing.
“The actual means or process which resulted in (Khyra’s death) was brought about by a series of actions that were in effect the deliberate and calculated starvation of that little girl over a period, certainly of weeks, and very possibly months.”
Junaid Abuhamza, 30, and 34-year-old Angela Gordon, both of Leyton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, deny murdering Khyra on May 17 last year.
Mr Raggatt told the jury they would see photographs of Kyra and that they may have seen such photographs in the context of famine in Africa.
He went on: “The cruelty and maltreatment of that little girl, you may well come to think, was both ultimately calculated and obviously deliberate.”
The jury was told that Abuhamza, who denies murder, had pleaded guilty on Wednesday to child cruelty charges relating to the five other children.
Gordon denies murder and five charges of child cruelty alleged to have been committed between December 2007 and May 17, 2008.
Mr Raggatt submitted that the defendants were still guilty of murder if they intended to cause really serious harm to Khyra rather than to kill her.
He said: “It’s just as much murder… as if they had shot, stabbed, beaten or strangled Khyra to death.”
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School News March 30th 2017
30th March 2017 /in School News /by Mohill CC
Girls Basketball.
Second years played St Catherine’s Killybegs in the North West final at a Sligo venue. The girls played really well and were ten points ahead at one stage, however the pendulum swung and Killybegs won by a single point on a scoreline of Mohill C.C. 26, Killybegs 27. The girls still qualify for the All Ireland playoffs at the weekend. We wish them and Ms Hargaden Ward the best of luck.
Athletics Ireland Indoors.
Students Eoin Gaffey and Alannah McGuinness took part in events in Athlone last week. Eoin came fourth in the U17 walk and Alannah competed in the 60m and reached the final, she also ran a leg of the relay.Well done to both.
Bake Sale.
The first year Business class are holding an Easter bake sale and raffle. The proceeds will go towards funding students Michelle Hackett and Marc McKeon who will act as helpers on the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes in May.
Trocaire.
Last week Ms Anna Keegan a development officer with Trocaire gave a talk to students on their work and support for the people of Honduras. Parts of the country have been ravaged by up to six storms a year and the people have to evacuate their homes each time to move to safer areas. Trocaire have made waterways that allow faster escape by boat and feel that in the long run the Hondurans will have to relocate permanently. Marc McKeon.
Bereavement.
We sympathise with Ms Hargaden Ward and Ms Kellegher on the passing of their uncle in law Pat Kellegher. May he rest in peace.
https://i1.wp.com/mohillcommunitycollege.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Mohill-School-Crest-50pc.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1 300 300 Mohill CC https://mohillcommunitycollege.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Mohill-School-Crest-50pc.jpg Mohill CC2017-03-30 21:49:242017-03-30 21:49:45School News March 30th 2017
School News March 23rd 2017 School News April 6th 2017
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High-Wired ‘Peter Pan’ Flies on Well-Defined Gender Battle
Hedy Weiss | July 9, 2018 8:14 am
Peter Pan (Johnny Shea) in “Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure,” directed and choreographed by Amber Mak. (Photo by Liz Lauren)
From the moment in 1904 when Scottish writer J.M. Barrie first put his character, Peter Pan, on a London stage, the boy who steadfastly refused to grow up, flew off to the island of Neverland to escape adulthood, and lived a life full of adventure, has been a mainstay of the theater, and later film and television. And each generation has found its own particular Peter, whether by way of actresses Mary Martin, Sandy Duncan or gymnast Cathy Rigby, a Disney animated film, or countless other iterations.
This summer, for its grand-scale family musical, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater has chosen “Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure,” the 1996 version of the story that features a score by the British team of composer George Stiles and lyricist Anthony Drewe, with a script by Elliot Davis (based on a book by Willis Hall and the original play by Barrie).
Elizabeth Stenholt and Johnny Shea in “Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure.” (Photo by Liz Lauren)
The elaborately produced 75-minute show – winningly directed and choreographed by Amber Mak, with music direction by Kory Danielson, exceptionally fine aerial work by ZFX Flying Effects, and an exemplary cast and design team – has all the energy and magic necessary to keep young audiences engaged. At the same time, the adult aspects of the story emerge with particular force and clarity – from the sense of responsibility that comes with marriage and parenting, to the sometimes differing attitudes of men and women in regard to those things, to a full acceptance of aging and mortality.
Although the familiar 1954 score by Mark “Moose” Charlap, Carolyn Leigh (and others) remains in a class all its own – and holds a certain nostalgic charm for me – there is a lovely lyricism and wistfulness to the songs in this Stiles-Drewe version. And the initial flying song, “Never Land,” which is broken into two words here as opposed to one, even takes on a bit of a fresh meaning, becoming not just a place (Neverland), but an admonition to keep flying to new adventures in one’s life.
In addition, Mak and her actors make the male-female dichotomy exceptionally clear, with the clueless Peter in search of a mother while Wendy is hoping for romance.
Johnny Shea, who resembles a young Benedict Cumberbatch, is not only a notably fleet and natural Peter who easily steers clear of cuteness, but he also is an exceptionally fine flyer who soars up to a perch on the theater’s top balcony with easy confidence while singing in full voice.
Captain Hook (James Konicek) taunts the captured Lost Boys and Darling siblings, with the help of Starkey (Christina Hall) in “Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure.” (Photo by Liz Lauren)
Elizabeth Stenholt’s Wendy possesses both strength and warmth, and she does a fine job of mothering Peter and his rowdy pals, the Lost Boys (an exuberant quartet of singer-dancers that includes Colin Lawrence, Travis Austin Wright, Michael Kurowski and John Marshall Jr.), while maturing in full sight and realizing that she must return home. And as the Storyteller (and fully evolved Wendy), the elegant Rengin Altay brings a wise and bittersweet resolution to the musical.
The rich-voiced Roberta Burke is the ever-anxious mother of Wendy and her younger brothers John (Cameron Goode) and Michael (Carter Graf), and introduces the show’s fervent anthem, “Just Beyond the Stars.” And James Konicek morphs perfectly from the inept and comically narcissistic Mr. Darling to the self-important, vengeance-hungry Captain Hook, who commands his jaded assistant Smee (the earthy Sean Patrick Fawcett) and pirate crew (Christina Hall, Jonathan Butler-DuPlessis and Burke).
Toodles (Michael Kurowski), Nibs (Travis Austin Wright), Curly (Colin Lawrence) and Slightly Soiled (John Marshall Jr.) in “Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure.” (Photo by Liz Lauren)
DuPlessis also easily steals the show early on as Nana, the Darling family’s giant watchdog who is brilliantly costumed in shaggy gray fringe by designer Theresa Ham.
Conductor-keyboardist Danielson leads an excellent group of musicians (Julia Schade Armstrong, Dominic Trumfio, Dave Saenger and Ethan Deppe). Jerry Galante’s fight choreography is full of daring. And the ever-masterful Jeff Kmiec – aided and abetted by Greg Hofmann’s exquisite lighting and Mike Tutaj’s projections – has devised an altogether magical set that moves with dreamy ease from London steeples, to island vegetation, to the deck of a pirate ship.
Mak has dedicated this production to her friend and mentor, Rachel Rockwell, the immensely talented director-choreographer who died of cancer earlier this year at the age of just 49. As the program notes, “Rockwell showed us [as Barrie wrote], that ‘All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.’”
A most fitting tribute.
“Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure” runs through Aug. 19 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave., on Navy Pier. For tickets ($34 for adults and $22 for children 12 and under) call (312) 595-5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com. Running time is 75 minutes with no intermission.
Note: This summer’s free Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks production is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” directed by CST’s artistic director Barbara Gaines. The 75-minute, music-filled show will visit 18 neighborhood parks throughout the city, with 25 performances from July 25-Aug. 26. In addition, to help celebrate the 2028 Illinois Bicentennial, the production will head out on its first “tour,” playing Aug. 18 and 19 in Peoria’s Glen Oak Park. For the full schedule visit www.chicagoshakes.com/parks.
At Goodman and Steppenwolf, 2 Plays That Mirror Each Other While Stretching Believability
Mercury Theater’s ‘Avenue Q’ Revival Taps Into Irresistibly Funny Truthiness of Life’s Disappointments
Clunky ‘Cher Show’ Better Suited for Vegas Than Broadway
In Suzan-Lori Parks’ Epic Civil War Ballad, the Unbearable Weight and Complexity of Freedom
‘Mies Julie’ a Shattering Reworking of a Strindberg Classic
Chicago theater
Hedy Weiss
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
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World Breaking News Stories, Politics, Business, Sports, Tech, Science, Travel & Automotive News.
Washington prosecutor subpoenas NRA in probe into nonprofit status
NBN Editorial Team
FILE PHOTO: Attendees walk around at the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) annual meeting, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., April 28, 2019. REUTERS/Bryan Woolston
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The attorney general for the District of Columbia issued subpoenas on Friday to the National Rifle Association and its charitable foundation seeking financial records in an investigation into their nonprofit status.
District of Colombia Attorney General Karl Racine said in a statement his office “has issued subpoenas to the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and the NRA Foundation, Inc., as part of an investigation into whether these entities violated the District’s Nonprofit Act.”
The announcement, first reported by the Washington Post, follows similar action in April by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who sought documents in a probe that the New York Times said involved the powerful gun lobby group’s tax-exempt status.
The NRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
With more than 5 million members, the NRA is, by far, the most powerful and well-connected gun lobby in the United States. It has worked closely with legislators to protect firearms manufacturers from liability for gun violence and pushed a ban on U.S. health officials promoting gun control.
“We are seeking documents from these two nonprofits detailing, among other things, their financial records, payments to vendors, and payments to officers and directors,” Racine said.
Racine’s office has the power to bring court actions to dissolve or place in receivership a nonprofit corporation that misuses funds or acts contrary to its nonprofit purposes.
Editing by Bernadette Baum
http://www.newsbroadcastnetwork.com
NBN’s team of Field Producers, Editorial Staff & Contributors create & produce original content for distribution. NBN is located in Beautiful Tampa Bay with Mobile Units Serving Miami, Orlando and Fort Myers.
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Tags: nonprofit, NRA, probe, prosecutor, status, subpoenas, Washington
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Lawyers For Lieutenant Governor Renew Investigation Request
Send Letter To Prosecutors in Durham
Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) -- Lawyers for Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax have sent a letter to prosecutors in Durham, requesting, yet again, a criminal investigation into allegations that he raped Meredith Watson when both were students at Duke University in 2000. The letter also states that they know of an eyewitness that backs up Fairfax's claim that the sex was consensual. Fairfax has repeatedly asked for criminal investigations into Watson's claims, as well as an allegation by Vanessa Tyson that Fairfax sexually assaulted her in Boston in 2004.
Watson's lawyer responds that Fairfax's story keeps changing, and says what the Lieutenant Governor is trying to do is avoid public hearings. Both women have asked for the General Assembly to get involved.
The House of Delegates has been unable to agree on a format for hearings into Fairfax.
Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax
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NYPD, Governor Speak Out After Violent Far Right, Anti-Fascist Groups Clash On NYC StreetsThe NYPD is responding to criticism about how it handled a brawl outside the Manhattan Republican Club on Friday night after an event featured a controversial speaker.
3 Arrested After Violence Erupts Outside NYC Republican Club EventThe violence followed a speech by Gavin McInnes, the founder of the male-only far-right group the Proud Boys, who describe themselves as "western chauvinists."
Colin Kaepernick 'Just Do It' Ad Sparks Nike BoycottThe company announced that the unsigned free agent, who is known for kneeling during the national anthem to bring attention to racial injustices, would join the company’s signature campaign.
Protesters Gather For Dueling Rallies In Richmond & Washington, D.C.Demonstrators squared off in Richmond over plans to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee. Meanwhile in Washington, fans of the Insane Clown Posse and supporters of President Donald Trump took over the National Mall.
Anti-Trump Protests Continue For Fifth Straight Day In NYCThe former New York City mayor says he wishes that Hillary Clinton, the former Democratic presidential nominee, and President Barack Obama would say something the protesters.
Trump Tower Protests Take Toll On Residents, BusinessesOnce the crowds arrived at Trump Tower in the afternoon, they spanned all the way down to West 51st Street, 1010 WINS' Darius Radzius reported.
Up To 10,000 Protest In New York, Around Country Following Trump Election WinDonald Trump's presidential victory set off protests across the nation Thursday.
Local Protests Continue Following Dallas Police ShootingsProtests resumed in New York Friday evening, after the deaths of two black men at the hands of police in Minnesota and Louisiana.
Ruling To Fire NJ Teachers Over Alleged Racist Remarks OverturnedThe judges said Wednesday that the penalty was too harsh and ordered the state education commissioner's office to hold a new hearing.
Princeton Students Stage Sit-In, Want Woodrow Wilson's Name Removed From CampusPrinceton President Christopher Eisgruber told the students he agreed with them that Wilson was racist and that the university needs to acknowledge that, according to a video posted to YouTube.
Trial Begins For Man Arrested During Brooklyn Bridge Anti-Police Brutality ProtestEdward 'Noche' Diaz was joined by supporters before his trial began at Brooklyn Criminal Court.
March In Ferguson, Protests In NYC Mark 1-Year Anniversary Of Michael Brown's DeathProtests and marches were held in New York and around the country Sunday, marking one year since the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown at the hands of a white police officer.
Police Renew Call For Information On Remaining Suspect In Brooklyn Bridge Attack On CopsPolice on Tuesday renewed a call to find one of the remaining suspects in an attack on two police lieutenants during protests on the Brooklyn Bridge last month.
Bratton: There Was Indeed A 'Slowdown' Among Officers In Ticketing, Low-Level ArrestsPolice Commissioner Bill Bratton said Friday that enough NYPD officers stopped writing tickets and making low-level arrests since the assassination of two officers in Brooklyn that the number of summonses plummeted 90 percent.
The Top 14 News Stories Of 2014In a year where New York City welcomed a new mayor there have been a host of stories that have shaped the landscape of the Tri-State area, the country and the world over.
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Album Review: Big|Brave – “A Gaze Among Them”
May 15, 2019 May 15, 2019 Jon
It is a fairly common experience for people (read: me) getting into meditation for the first time to experience difficulty in quieting one’s mind. Repeating mantras over and over can sometimes be helpful , because that repetition gives the conscious mind a concrete task to focus on, which frees up the rest of the person. The language used can change based on the tradition it’s found in of course, but the idea of using repetition to lower defenses and experience something wonderful is all I have been able to think about as I continue to sit with Big|Brave‘s new album, A Gaze Among Them.
Formed in 2012 in Montreal, Big|Brave is a trio consisting of vocalist/guitarist Robin Wattie, guitarist Mathieu Ball, and drummer Loel Campbell. After the release of their first album Feral Verdure, they were picked up by Southern Lord, and A Gaze Among Them marks their third release on that label. By the time of their last record Ardor, they were writing complex, 10+ minute epics that would challenge their listeners in return for serious payoffs. Once you get to that kind of scope, what is the next move?
While the experimental tag is certainly earned, the music on this album to me sits in a liminal space between drone and post rock. In contrast to the slow burn of “Sound” off of the Ardor album, here “Muted Shifting of Space” opens the album with an immediate and steady drum/guitar riff. Off of this unchanging foundation, attentive listeners will start to find the rather subtle variations in notes and effects that develop over time. This immediacy and subtlety seems to function as a guiding philosophy for the album as a whole.
In tracks like “Holding Pattern” and “Sibling” that variation goes in an upward direction, piling layers on top of each other over time to magnificent crescendos. “Sibling” in particular, with its additional synth-flavored rhythmic base, almost puts the song in Chelsea Wolfe territory. The first half of “Body Individual” is a menacing drone, with no drums except as texture, but then a switch hits and the band launches into its most powerful riff for a solid five minutes. It even does a nice mixing trick of getting louder after reaching the point thought to be its loudest. Before the closing track, “This Deafening Verity” is a short ambient interlude that would be my favorite for just how pretty it sounds, except that it ends fairly abruptly. In an album that is entirely mesmerizing and graceful, it’s a moment that jolts you out of that experience, even if only briefly.
Big|Brave
That one brief moment aside, A Gaze Among Them is a really engrossing album. The rhythms and especially the vocals which cut through the noise, give the listener something to latch on to more frequently than most drone-based music. While the meditation analogy at the beginning only works so far in that this it’s still really loud rock music at its core, the underlying principle at work here is the same, in that if you can be present with the music, Big|Brave will wreck you in the best way.
– Jon
A Gaze Among Them is available now via Southern Lord. For more information on Big|Brave, check out their website and Facebook page.
Albums, Reviewsa gaze among them, album reviews, big|brave, doom, drone, southern lord
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ND Volleyball
Irish turn focus towards Boston College
Daisy Costello | Friday, October 2, 2015
After starting off ACC play by getting swept in back-to-back losses to Louisville and No. 17 Florida State, the Irish return to action this weekend with home matches against Boston College and Syracuse.
The focus of the week leading up to Boston College has been on honing in on the team’s process, according to Irish associate head coach Mike Johnson.
“We’re going to get better every week, stay process driven, and continue to improve,” Johnson said. “For us, it’s about holding course.”
The Orange (11-2, 2-0 ACC) and the Eagles (8-6, 0-2 ACC) have already squared off against each other in their opening ACC matches, with Syracuse downing Boston College, 3-1.
The Irish (5-9, 0-2 ACC) first take on the Eagles on Friday evening, looking to draw even with their 2014 win count with a victory at home. The Eagles’ most serious threat to the Irish is senior outside hitter Katty Workman, who set a program-record 23 kills in Boston College’s five-set loss to Georgia Tech on Sept. 27. Workman also recently broke the school’s career record for kills.
“We have to get on her tendencies and understand them,” Johnson said. “We have to identify her most prominent tendencies, take that away and force her to do something differently, and when she does that we have to adjust.”
The Irish are coming off two tough losses marked by a struggling offense and costly unforced attack errors. The Seminoles on Sunday held the Irish to just a .136 attack average while forcing four errors in the first set alone. Johnson said he stressed the importance of process to this Irish team in their success going forward.
“If we do as well as we can, the wins will come,” Johnson said. “If our efforts are right and we move the right way, our results tend to fall in line.”
Sarah Olson | The Observer
Irish sophomore outside hitter Sam Fry winds up for a serve during Notre Dame’s 3-1 victory over Mississippi State on Sept. 11.
Sophomore outside hitter Sam Fry is the engine for the Irish offense, and already has 167 kills on the season with an average of 3.15 kills per set. Her offensive efficiency will be tested against the Eagles and the Orange, who average 2.1 and 3.0 blocks per set, respectively. Johnson attributes Fry’s success to the visibility she has at the net and her ability to maneuver around blockers.
“The thing she does very well is she can hit with range, and she can adjust to different kinds of different sets,” Johnson said. “But once they send blockers to Sam, that opens up other people up.”
This was evident against Florida State, as fellow sophomore outside hitter Sydney Kuhn led the Irish with eight kills while Fry was held to six.
Ultimately, fundamentals are the keys to success for the Irish this weekend, Johnson said.
“Controlling the serve and pass game is always first,” Johnson said. “Are we serving well enough to get our opponents out of system, and are we receiving well enough to get ourselves in system?
“The second one is getting in a rhythm offensively, our hitters being where they should be when they should be and our setter delivering the ball. And the third is defensively being in the right place at the right time based on what we’re seeing.”
The Irish seek their first ACC victory of the season as they take on Boston College at 7 p.m. Friday and Syracuse at 12 p.m. Sunday at Purcell Pavilion.
Tags: Boston College, mike johnson, ND Volleyball, Sam Fry, Sydney Kuhn, Syracuse
About Daisy Costello
Contact Daisy
Syracuse, BC best Notre Dame at home
Despite the home court advantage, Notre Dame has now lost four straight ACC matchups...
Notre Dame claims first conference victory
Notre Dame falls to ACC opponents to close out season
Irish aim to remain unbeaten in ACC play over weekend
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Will Infographics Stay Relevant This Year and Beyond?
by Vikas AgrawalVikas Agrawal
November 16, 2017 By Vikas Agrawal 2 Comments
Marketing experts have predicted that the entire content marketing landscape would be much more competitive. Traffic would be funneled down to fewer brands. While startups would have to double their content efforts in terms of uniqueness, niche, and distribution.
While they’re most certainly not wrong. They made it sound like smaller brands need to cough up more cash in order to get noticed. After all, content marketing activities like research, development, and promotion need money.
But thanks to cost-effective content types like infographics and community-driven platforms like social media, being relevant in today’s competitive world is definitely attainable. If you have a powerful, new idea that will surely benefit your market, it’s now easy to get the word out by presenting it in visual form. And matched with a popular image-distribution network like Pinterest, generating traffic with them should be like clockwork.
However, if you’re engaged in digital marketing, then you should know that content trends come and go. For example, if you wanted to convince your target audience that your product’s worth buying, then fake reviews were once a very cost-effective option. At one point, generic stock images were also used left and right, but they were eventually overshadowed by personalized graphics.
Why should I care about trends?
To secure the sustainability of your online brand, then you need to be on the lookout for these troublesome ideas. Focus on content that is actually valuable. Gone were the days when you need to look for the next “shortcut” that will propel your brand to the top. Instead, you need to build your brand using only authoritative content — nothing more and nothing less.
It’s always a good time to review your content marketing. You need to figure out what’s failing, iron out the creases, and invest more in what works. Consider this the preventive maintenance measure that prevents you from bleeding money on damage control later on.
When it comes to infographics, there’s plenty of evidence that suggests they’re here to stay. Sure, I’m in the infographic business and it’s in my best interest to keep them relevant for years to come. So rather than taking my word for it, why don’t you take a look at the information yourself?
More Marketers Trust Original Graphics
As a marketer, part of your duty is to determine the best content types to use in certain situations.
According to statistics, 41.5% of marketers believe that infographics are the best visuals for generating engagement.
It’s not rocket science — visual imagery can grab and hold the audience’s attention much more than text. Furthermore, they also make data-rich information more comprehensible and memorable. In fact, there are tons of research that support the power of images in memory retention and recall.
Remember, providing your ideal audience with relevant and useful content is a surefire way to earn their trust. That’s why they’ll surely appreciate your efforts in creating infographics rather than writing walls of incomprehensible text.
The Nielsen-Norman Group, a UX research firm, also confirms that readers pay close attention to images that contain information than to text-based content.
So, how do you leverage the “engagement factor” that infographics bring to the table?
One way to do so is to smartly insert a CTA once you’ve laid out all the information that the audience needs to know. Here is a simple infographic that exemplifies how it works:
Source: VIEO Design
Designing Infographics is Getting Easier
Granted, the competition gets even tougher as more and more marketers utilize infographics. But on the flip side, social media graphics design tools are now springing up to meet the demand for more visuals. Cloud-based ones like Canva and PiktoChart, in particular, feature drag-and-drop editors that can turn anyone into capable designers within minutes.
Most of the cloud-based image editing tools also feature templates that are specifically configured for infographics. For example, upon logging in to Canva, simply click the “Create a Design” button and then select the infographic template under the “Blogging & eBooks” category.
Everything else in the main editor should be self-explanatory. You could even skip the design process altogether and pick from one of the pre-built layouts.
The outsourcing industry also plays a role in the ever-increasing accessibility of visual content. Even for brands on a tight budget. Just remember to distinguish the need for a freelancer versus a full-time designer who can keep up with your content requirements.
If you think a temporary arrangement with a freelancer would suffice, heading to a marketplace like Upwork would be a step in the right direction. Talking to an agency is also feasible since they can provide you with an infographic that fulfills your objectives at a reasonable price.
Of course, if you see yourself requiring a constant stream of visual content in the future, then hiring an in-house graphic designer is definitely a possibility.
More People are Going Mobile
You may be thinking: “what does mobile technology have to do with infographics — or content marketing in general?”
Remember, the content consumption experience is highly dependent on the platform. Audiobooks, for example, are more convenient on mobile devices since they are designed for people on the go. Long-form blog articles, on the other hand, are more readable on larger displays. They’re not exactly ideal for users on their smartphones.
With the burgeoning volume of mobile users, it only makes sense to keep focusing on content that’s optimized for smaller displays. And yes — infographics, along with other forms of visual content like videos and memes, fit this category.
Not only can infographics pack in-depth information into compact visualizations, they are also well-suited for mobile user interactions. The audience only needs to swipe up to view more of the image, whereas they probably need to zoom in or adjust their phone’s font scaling when reading text.
VR is Taking Too Long
When VR technology went through a growth spurt a few years ago, some people believed that it was the next big thing in the marketing landscape. It did spawn a line of products like VR headsets, omni-directional treadmills, and glove controllers. But the technology never really hit the mainstream market. This is evidenced by the shrinking sales of anything VR-related since 2016.
That’s why marketers fell back to what consumers knew and loved best. traditional visual content like images, videos, and good old infographics.
Let’s face it, VR is having an identity crisis right now. It just doesn’t know whether it’s for movies, gaming, education, or healthcare. And until VR stakeholders figure everything out, visual assets that are accessible on every device are still your best bet.
Infographics are Perfect for eLearning
One of the best ways to build your authority is to develop educational content, launch an online course, and position yourself as an expert in your niche.
Online courses or even short webinar series are also perfect for promoting a product. Especially since they can showcase exactly how and why it works. According to statistics, up to 40% of all webinar attendees become qualified leads.
You just need to deliver authoritative content through your course, score them accordingly, and determine which lead requires further nurturing.
Although there are no specific steps on how to build and market an online course. It does require a handful of irreplaceable components: videos, eBooks, quizzes, and — you guessed it — infographics.
Keep in mind that, while videos are probably the most engaging form of content, there are several situations where an infographic is more convenient. For example, if you currently have no access to a stable internet connection, then an instructional infographic will definitely be more accessible than a full-length video tutorial.
Sure, eBooks can also do the same thing, but they can still receive the “visual” treatment by featuring infographics within their pages.
Aside from online courses and lead generation, infographic materials can also be used for onboarding programs. These programs can be aimed at leads or newly-hired employees.
Infographics are Evolving
There’s a good chance that you’ve come across infographics that are imbued with fancy features, like animations and interactivity. That’s because the very definition of an “infographic” itself is versatile, not just the type of visualizations it contains.
Videos, eBooks, slideshows, newsletters — all of these content types may contain infographics to be more effective. If you want, you could even print them out into your packaging, in-store posters, greeting cards, and so on.
In the end, an infographic can be anything that you need it to be. It can be used as the perfect Pinterest post, an instructional add-on for your product, or just a run-of-the-mill graphic inside a blog post.
Without a doubt, infographics have moved beyond their roles as mediums for communication and become building blocks of authority on the web. For example, since they are established as the most shareable form of content in social media, they can help make your brand more visible to popular bloggers, reviewers, and other influencers.
Remember that authority begets authority. If you want these influencers to acknowledge, cite, and link to your brand, you need to prove your credibility as an information provider. Successfully leveraging infographics will help you accomplish this, and more.
Vikas Agrawal
Vikas Agrawal is an expert on Infographics. Vikas is a start-up Investor & co-founder of the Infographic design agency Infobrandz that offers creative and premium visual content solutions to medium to large companies. Content created by Infobrandz are loved, shared & can be found all over the internet on high authority platforms like HuffingtonPost, Businessinsider, Forbes, Tech.co & EliteDaily.
Latest posts by Vikas Agrawal (see all)
How to Use Infographics for Link Building - May 15, 2018
How to Use Infographics to Spice up Your Online Course - April 16, 2018
Everything You Need to Know About Newsletter Infographics - March 19, 2018
Running Out of Ideas for Infographics? You May Be Looking in the Wrong Places! - January 24, 2018
Will Infographics Stay Relevant This Year and Beyond? - November 16, 2017
About Vikas Agrawal
maynuddin says
Thank you fro sharing his use full post on thsi topic
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Musicians of the Orchestra
Sumire Kudo
Play On the Cover: Q&A with Sumire Kudo
On the Cover: Q&A with Sumire Kudo
2018–19 Performances
Sumire Kudo joined the Philharmonic as a cellist in June 2006. Previously she taught at Indiana University–South Bend and was the cellist of the Avalon String Quartet. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Ms. Kudo began cello studies at age four with her father, cellist Akiyoshi Kudo. She came to the United States in 2000, after establishing herself in her native country through solo performances and recordings. Her honors include the Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award, which she received from the Sony Music Foundation after being chosen by Seiji Ozawa and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi as the most promising cellist in 2005, and prizes at the Sapporo Junior Cello Competition and 62nd Japan Music Competition. Ms. Kudo is a graduate of Tokyo’s Toho School and The Juilliard School. She has participated in the Nagano-Aspen Music, Aspen Music, Santa Fe, and Marlboro Music festivals. Record Geijutsu, Japan’s leading classical music magazine, named her second solo CD, Love of Beauty, Best Recording.
“I started playing the violin at two, but I kept wanting to play it like a cello. On my fourth birthday I got a tiny cello.”
Q&A with Sumire Kudo
THE FACTS: Born in Tokyo, Japan. Attended Toho School, Tokyo, and The Juilliard School. Studied with her father, cellist Akiyoshi Kudo, Yoritoyo Inoue, Hakuro Mori, Harvey Shapiro, and The Juilliard String Quartet. Prior to the Philharmonic: cellist of the Avalon String Quartet; taught at Indiana University in South Bend (2004–06), where the quartet was in residence. Appearances with Marlboro Music Festival and other venues. Received Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award from the Sony Music Foundation in 2005; second prize, 62nd Japan Music Competition in 1993. Solo performances with New Japan Philharmonic, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, and others. At the Philharmonic: Joined in June 2006. Most recent recording: Love of Beauty (solo CD on Philips), named Best Recording by Record Geijutsu magazine.
EARLIEST MUSICAL MEMORY: My father playing the cello at home, and my mother singing and playing the piano. My father was a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra; my mother was a singer and piano teacher. I started playing the violin at two but I kept imitating the cello. I couldn't understand why I had to put the violin under my chin — I wanted to do the same thing my father was doing with the cello. Finally, on my fourth birthday, they bought me a tiny cello. I remember being very excited.
FIRST PIECE OF MUSIC YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH: Bartók string quartets. I was in the fourth grade. I was fascinated by the rhythm and emotional harmonies. That's when I knew that becoming a musician was what I really wanted to do.
WHO WERE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT MUSICAL INFLUENCES? My former colleagues in the Avalon String Quartet. I matured so much musically as a quartet cellist before joining the Philharmonic.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS WITH THE ORCHESTRA: My first day. I was very nervous, but everyone was very supportive. Also, every summer at Bravo! Vail, Principal Cello Carter Brey hosts a "cello party" for the section, and we have a tradition of celebrating each other's birthdays backstage during intermission. The Philharmonic cello section is the best!
MOST INSPIRING COMPOSERS: Beethoven, Schubert, Messiaen, Bartók, and Dutilleux. Dutilleux's music is beautiful. It makes me think of space, human existence, and ultimate beauty.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK? I love walking in Central Park with my beloved pit bull, Cinnamon, a.k.a. Cimanum. I'm also passionate about Japanese food — I am always up for finding great Japanese restaurants and recipes, and I would like to be a great cook one day.
As of November 2013
Upcoming 2018-2019 Performances
Location: (Directions)
Learn more about this event
No upcoming solo or chamber events.
November, 2019 Sunday
3:00 PM Concert
Philharmonic Ensembles at Merkin Hall
Mozart Oboe Quartet
Taffanel Wind Quintet
Tchaikovsky Piano Trio
Joo Young Oh Violin
Peter Kenote Viola
Eric Bartlett Cello
Robert Botti Oboe
Mindy Kaufman Flute
Sherry Sylar Oboe
Pascual Martínez Forteza Clarinet
Kim Laskowski Bassoon
January, 2020 Sunday
Vivaldi Trio Sonata, RV 69
Popper Suite for Two Cellos
Bowen Fantasia for Four Violas
Brahms Piano Quartet No. 2
Soohyun Kwon Violin
Andi Zhang Violin
Satoshi Okamoto Bass
Paolo Bordignon Harpsichord
Sumire Kudo Cello
Ru-Pei Yeh Cello
Cong Wu Viola
Rémi Pelletier Viola
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Hakuoki-Demon of the Fleeting Blossom Review: All the Pretty Sashes
October 1, 2013 by Franklin Raines
I like to test different game genres whenever I can, with the only caveat being most of the genre’s not part of my mainstays: RPGs, Action, FPSs, and Adventure, tend to thrive on ramped up player challenges. For example, dungeon crawlers and especially their masochist off-shoot brother (little sister?) roguelikes; are difficult because of features like permanent death and random enemy wave spikes that; intimidate me far more than the looking at any monster at the end of a cave hallway. Hell, the recent Etrian Odyssey 4 with its rocking soundtrack had a casual mild mode specifically made for people like me. I am also dreadful at strategy games; owning almost every post GBA Advance Wars game but have yet to beat even one. Visual Novels on the other hand, specifically the young women-targeted otome games, focus less on the skill and execution. How about I start with the most recently popular one, 2008’s Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom?
Hakuoki, developed by Idea Factory and released in the U.S. by Aksys Games, is a huge franchise in Japan branching into both manga and anime adaptions from its original Play Station 2 release. Like a big fish in a small pond, Hakuoki’s has a swath of ports, Play Station 3, PSP, DS, 3DS, to its various amounts of cell-phone charms and wall scroll merchandise, painting the series as a samurai-filled media juggernaut. Fitting I guess, since Hakuoki is marketed as the first big example of an American release of an otome game.
Taking place during the beginning of 1864 Japan, Chizuru Yukimaru (you have the option of naming the protagonist, but I felt my default high-fantasy/European names like Myria would clash oddly with a last name like Yukimaru) is a doctor’s daughter roaming the streets of Kyoto looking for her father Kodo Yukimaru. Disguised as a boy (she still looks like a girl, but semantics), she visits her father’s friends for hints to his whereabouts. That is until nightfall when a group Ronin, Samurai a class ever shifting with the era’s ever changing rulers, harass her in an alley. A lone figure appears butchers the Ronin in cold blood, the Ronin revive, but now have white-hair and blood-lust in their eyes. Fearing for her life, Chizuru tries to escape. Suddenly, she is rescued by three men wearing the light blue color jackets of the Shinsengumi (think the Shogun’s personal cops); including the stern commander Toshizo Hijikata and the stoic captain Hajime Saito.
Chizuru is taken away as a detainee in the Shinsengumi’s compound to stop her from revealing details on the incident. Throughout the course of the game, Chizuru gains the trust of the Shinsengumi, whose original plan was to silence her by killing her; to the point where they trust her enough to bring her into the group as an assistant (think short errands and performing moderate medical treatments she learned from her father). The Shinsengumi’s as a whole, big enough that I do not have enough space to list all of their names, exists to uphold order in Kyoto, be it patrolling the streets or fighting against the series’ biggest antagonists, the rebel nationalist group known as the Choshu. Did I mention that there are also demon lineage drama and deep-dark Shinsengumi secrets happening at the same time as all this 1900th century Japanese political warfare?
Hi ho, hi ho, off to defend the honor of an Emperor who barely acknowledges our existence, we go.
As is common with Visual Novels, all of the player’s input comes from the text options used to shape the player’s story, which to Hakuoki’s credit, create choices divergent enough that the right path cannot be paced out by simply avoiding the stupid. I played Chizuru; to fit what I thought would make an interesting character. She is always active in her role, wanting to help and willing to physically defend herself. Hakuoki is about romancing and hooking up with a choice of one of the Shinsengumi members; Hakuoki’s succeeds were the few other Visual Novels I have played, have failed. You actually get to interact and enjoy other non-main love interest characters.
For instance, it took me a few hours of game play to remember that one of my in-game goals was to end up with someone (Hakuoki uses a cherry-blossom petal animation over a character portrait to indicate you said the right thing), where I was so caught up enjoying Chizuru’s adventures palling around with the Shinsengumi captains (characters like youthful Heisuke Todo and lady’s man Sanosuke Harada act as more approachable captains/buddies for Chizuru). I felt an emotional shift when I actively decided to go down Hajime Saito’s (picked because we both share the ability to have side ponytails) path, at the expense of interacting with the other characters.
Oh, Hajime Saito. Like Black Jack, I cannot tell if I either want to marry you or just be you.
Hakuoki mixes its period piece setting with its sexy guys art focus to create an interesting result. The game tries to tell a politics heavy narrative with its cast of over twenty characters, jargon, and historical dates. While it gets confusing at times, the game has a built in encyclopedia that I found myself actually using. The game also tends to jump ahead in time, covering over six years by the end. What does this have to do with art? Hakuoki covers an era of Japanese history where imposed Westernism is foisted upon Japanese culture. The end result is more reaching than simply all the game’s infantrymen portraits receiving upgrades from spears to rifles, but to the character designs as well. Where once the Shinsengumi wore their light blue with white stripes Hayori (jackets), metal head bands, and cloth fashioner strings called Tasuki, they later wear gorgeous western tight stiff collar suits with buttons. Yay for being overly excited for historic fashion!
Pros: Engaging story based on standing strong for one’s personal worth, with Chizuru acting as a potentially active protagonist. Great character designs that work past the simple beef-cake trappings. This is a fantastic period-piece emulating operatic and keyboard soundtrack.
Cons: Since most Visual Novels to me feel like reading lit-up prose novels, Hakuoki sporadically kept my attention in the overly-extended scenes. Think whenever you read a book, the book either has your attention for thirty-minutes or up to two hours; same with Hakuoki, you think to yourself “yeah, I’m liking this, but I have had enough today”. Politics and name dropping, while cool for world building and narrative, can get convoluted real quickly. The knowledge that you might not be able to actually talk about this game with someone who isn’t a seventeen-year old girl is saddening.
I have Hakuoki’s PSP port, with Aksys Games also putting out a more extras-heavy release for the 3DS later this year. Bottom line, Hakuoki is fantastic, with the only restraining caveat that it will not appeal outside of the target demo group who are not willing to try new games. Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom’s a great starting point for people trying to get into the Otome genre, as well as just a generally well executed title. I enjoyed it so much, that I am selling off my PSP copy to a friend to fund pre-ordering the Limited Edition 3DS port. I know this is a shocking recommendation considering I rarely ever pre-order games, so check this one out.
This entry was posted in Past Gen, Reviews and tagged 2008, Aksys Games, Hakuoki, Idea Factory, Otome Games, PSP, Visual Novels. Bookmark the permalink.
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One thought on “Hakuoki-Demon of the Fleeting Blossom Review: All the Pretty Sashes”
Pingback: An Intermediate Guide to Visual Novels | Oddity Game Seekers
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CheekyLee
Society membership subscriber
LyonJacques
SweatyTravolta
Percy Filth
AfromB
monsly
Liverpool Football Club Thread
CheekyLee replied to glb's topic in Sport
Coutinho is the answer to a question we're not even asking. We don't need him, but he'd obviously improve squad depth, so why not try to get him on loan? As long as everyone knows he's a bench option rather than a guaranteed starter, I don't think he'll break the good thing we already have, and he certainly won't weaken us. Alternatively, if we can sell Lallana to fund the transfer, then go for it.
Dr Mario - Mobile - July 10th
CheekyLee replied to Bojangle's topic in Discussion
I have to agree,it's worth sticking with the grind to get past level 20. Timed challenges alone change it up enough, but multiplayer is pretty good.
Nintendo eShop (Software Chatter)
CheekyLee replied to Gotters's topic in Discussion
I've quit trying to curb my excesses. There's just so much stuff in the eShop these days that I no longer put the right amount in my account, and instead drop £50 at a time.
nindies
I have to clear level 20 to play multiplayer. And, I'm bored out of my mind at level (or is that course?) 13, despite being able to play as Dr. Bowser. I had hoped this could become my new timewaster, but I really do feel like I'd be wasting my time playing it further.
Super Mario Maker 2 - Out Now (Forum Course List in First Post)
CheekyLee replied to Isaac's topic in Discussion
You can set it to be "at least", but not "at most", sadly. I can't imagine it's a tough change to implement, but similarly can't imagine why anyone other than me would want it in the game!
Had what I thought was a great idea for a lev ... sorry ... COURSE .... this morning, only to find that there is no way to do it, because there is no way to set the Clear Condition I wanted to. My hope was to litter the levels with coins, but have a "Collect 0 coins" rider, which isn't possible. (Hopefully they update it to allow more customisation of the clear conditions.) However, this in turn has led to the realisation that I can subvert my own subversion of the normal gameplay, and now I really want to go home and work on it! Levels ... No COURSE is hard for the person that made it, because you have to Clear Check it before uploading it. It's really difficult, though, to balance what you know against what somebody else can't possibly know beforehand, which leads to a lot of players just piling on the challenge instantly, and not thinking about any kind of pacing. It's early days, though, so sooner or later the kids will all have moved on, and the "Here are 10 billion Bowsers" courses will drop down the rankings, and the genuinely clever and interesting courses will top the most popular tab. At least, that's my hope, because I didn't stick around long with the first title. Perhaps the spreadhseet needs more tabs? I suggest we add a "Here's a course I played that I think is brilliant and you guys should play it, too!" tab at the very least, but over time there could be much more nuance?
Kind of. I didn't realise that there can only be 1 sub-section, I was hoping to do a longer side-scrolling section, (so the easy bit at the end was meant to be slightly more restful), but then I found that I had nowhere to put it, and didn't just want to make another dropdown bit. So, I'll do another one at some point, which I will plan a lot better! But, thank you for the feedback, I can't wait to see what kind of times people are putting up.
I did a speedrun level! Managed to reel myself in a little, and hopefully the experience will help me out in the switch hell level I can't quite finish off. 0LB-F5Q-4RG Looking forward to seeing people demolish my own time on this. And now I have 2 levels uploaded, I should even be able to find the time to work through the already seriously impressive spreadsheet, which I can see filling a huge chunk of my weekend.
CheekyLee replied to Yoshimax's topic in Discussion
@carlospie Radobann is definitely a shock to the system at first. Of course, there is never actually a reason to commit to 1 weapon, and if you can git gud with Bow or Hammer/Horn then Radobaan becomes a bit of a cakewalk. It's the next bastard you're going to have to worry about, although Long Sword can tear it a new one quite rapidly anyway. That's the joy of the game, for me, how each monster really is a unique challenge. I've never had any problems whatsoever with some that others have had nightmares about, but struggle every single time I get anywhere near Zinogre. But then, you could always just learn Funlance (no, that's not a typo) and wreck any shit that comes anywhere near you. It's my safety weapon, almost feels like cheat mode against some of them. I didn't get time to try the new stuff out in the Iceborne Beta, though, so don't know how much morre OP it's gotten.
To those who are able to maintain a focus throughout completing a course when there are millions of ideas running through your head ... HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS? I can't discipline myself, and so have several projects on the go, none of which are going to get the time they probably need to make them polished. Such is my curse!
This is bloody brilliant! Everyone in this thread should play it.
All of that would be amazing, and give me a reason to bother installing the Switch Online app on my new phone. As it stands, until just now I forgot it even exists! But, this seems to be typical of the Japanese mindset when it comes to online in general, to be fair, and it's not just Nintendo that make these odd decisions. Xbox Live pretty much nailed how online should be done, and it has kind of spoiled us all, because I can remember having to have several different server tools installed and a list of usernames in multiple games, many of which didn't persist beyond a single session anyway. It once took me 3 days to arrange an online match with a chat-room friend, for example. I don't know about "Follow", but I was looking at the leaderboards earlier, and you can definitely list all the courses made by a single player from there.. Presumably that same information exists for every profile.
The thing it needs most is a way to find courses made by friends. That would be my top priority, although I suppose adding a favourite creator is almost as good.
How does one add a feedback to a specific area in a level? For example, I would very much like ot put an angry face at one distinct point in @ann coulter's level, but I don't seem to get that option. Whereas, I noticed they were all over @GokouD's Gusty Gardens 2. Is this set by the creator? I promise, I will play all the levels posted here, but I downloaded 5 so far and if I have to play rather than download, then that's how I'll do it from here. (Might also explain stat differences, actually. Download allows you to play offline.) My own first level is a remix of one of my old ones - YY4-TS7-S1H. Hope you enjoy!
When the hell did I forget how to play Mario games? I jump too far, too soon, or too often. I've got all the momentum control of a hippo falling down a hill. And I'm ignoring 30 coins because "Yeah, sod that!" I remade one of the levels I uploaded in the first game, and can't even complete it to upload it! I'm hoping it's all because I was just very tired last night, and will do much better today. There will be thousands of levels that I'll never be able to complete, thousands more that I won't even try. And none of this matters, because the story mode is already amazing, and I'm only 15 levels into it at this point. The game is genius. Even in this tiny corner of the internet, we're seeing variety in levels made. Multiply that by millions, and it's a literal festival, a celebration, an explosion of creativity. I feel it will be the zeitgeist game for the next month or two, as well, so enjoy the ride!
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Paul E. Gottschall, Ph.D.
Nancy J. Rusch, Ph.D.
Rusch Laboratory
J. Thomas May Center for ALS Research
Research Findings from the ALS Center
ALS Center Staff
Alexei G. Basnakian, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc.
Basnakian Laboratory
Lisa K. Brents, Ph.D.
Brents Laboratory
Jack A. Hinson, Ph.D.
Mahmoud Kiaei, Ph.D.
Kiaei Laboratory
Lee Ann MacMillan-Crow, Ph.D.
MacMillan-Crow Laboratory
Philip R. Mayeux, Ph.D.
Mayeux Laboratory
Jeffery H. Moran, Ph.D.
Center for Drug Detection and Response
Shengyu Mu, M.D., Ph.D.
S. Michael Owens, Ph.D.
Owens Laboratory
Nirmala Parajuli, DVM, Ph.D.
Parajuli’s Laboratory
Eric C. Peterson, Ph.D.
Peterson Laboratory
Paul L. Prather, Ph.D.
Prather Laboratory
Sung W. Rhee, Ph.D.
Rhee Laboratory
Galen R. Wenger, Ph.D.
Fang Zheng, Ph.D.
Zheng Laboratory
pegottschall@uams.edu
B.S. – Wright State University, 1978
M.S. – Wright State University, 1980
Ph.D. – Michigan State University, 1986
Postdoc – Tulane University School of Medicine, 1989
Synaptic plasticity is a neuronal mechanism essential for memory formation and recall, and altered plasticity and synaptotoxicity occur in various types of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the brain, lecticans, which are chondroitin sulfate-bearing proteoglycans, are deposited with other extracellular matrix molecules in extracellular regions adjacent to synaptic active zones. The presence of lecticans, particularly an abundant lectican termed brevican, are thought to stabilize synapses that have undergone plasticity during the formation and consolidation of memories. Data from the laboratory has supported the concept that lecticans modulate additional synaptic plasticity and that markedly increased brevican deposition that occurs with age and in AD contribute to the decline in plasticity that occurs, pre-clinically, in disease progression. The main objective of the research program is to determine how lecticans, and the proteases that cleave them, modulate synaptic plasticity in age-related diseases of the nervous system such as AD. In AD brain, pathological senile plaques consist of various aggregated forms of the peptide Aβ, and certain soluble, oligomeric isoforms of Aβ that exist surrounding plaques are toxic to synapses. Substantial evidence from the lab supports the hypothesis that excess brevican deposited at these sites combine with oligomeric Aβ and may play a role in blocking synaptic plasticity and other synaptic functions. The role that lecticans may have in the loss of synapses is not known and is one of the aims of the laboratory. Since all currently approved drugs for AD merely suppress symptoms, and not the progression of the disease, lecticans that interact with the synapse provide a novel target for testing pharmacological compounds that affect matrix synthesis, deposition and signaling which would improve synaptic plasticity and potentially delay or inhibit the progression of AD. Numerous drugs, termed ROCK inhibitors, are available that can inhibit the intracellular signaling of brevican, and these drugs may have the potential to change the alteration in plasticity induced by brevican and brevican association with Aβ.
Recent Research Support
117-10062 UAMS Internal Medical Research Endowment (MRE) Award (PI) (01/01/16 – 12/31/16)
“Synapse-associated brevican in human AD tissue”
117-1006099 UAMS Translational Research Award (PI) (10/01/14 – 09/30/15)
“Targeting lecticans to enhance synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer’s Disease”
41536 UAMS Tobacco Funds Equipment Grant (PI) (07/01/13 – 06/30/13)
“Odyssey Imaging System Li-Cor Odyssey CLx”
R01AG022101 NIH/NIA (PI) (07/01/06 – 06/30/11)
“Proteoglycans, synaptic plasticity in aging and disease”
Chapter Award Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C. 2010
“Community outreach for neuroscience”
Yamada-Goto N, Ochi Y, Katsuura G, Yamashita Y, Ebihara K, Noguchi M, Fujikura J, Taura D, Sone M, Hosoda K, Gottschall PE, Nakao K. Neuronal cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells as a functional tool of melanocortin system. Neuropeptides. pii: S0143-4179(16)30201-3, 2017. PMID 28434791
Howell MD, Bailey LA, Cozart MA, Gannon BM, Gottschall PE. Intrahippocampal administration of chondroitinase increases plaque-adjacent synaptic marker and diminishes amyloid burden in aged APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Acta Neuropathologica Comm. 3: 54, 2015. PMID 26337292
Gottschall PE, Howell MD. ADAMTS expression and function in central nervous system injury and disorders. Matrix Biology. doi: 10.1016/j.matbio.2015.01.014, 44-46: 70-76, 2015. PMID 25622912
Phelan KD, Shwe UT, Abramowitz J, Wu H, Rhee SW, Howell MD, Gottschall PE, Freichel M, Flockerzi V, Birnbaumer L, Zheng F. TRPC5 and TRPC1/4 channels contribute to seizure and excitotoxicity by distinct cellular mechanisms. Mol Pharmacol. 83: 429-438, 2013. PMID 23188715
Howell MD, Torres-Colladdo AX, Iruela-Arispe L, Gottschall PE. Selective decline of synaptic protein levels in the frontal cortex of female mice deficient in the metalloproteinase ADAMTS1. PLoS ONE. 7(10): e47226, 2012. PMID 23071766
Howell MD, Gottschall PE. Altered synaptic marker abundance in the hippocampal stratum oriens of Ts65Dn mice is associated with exuberant expression of versican. ASN Neuro. 4(1): e00073, 2012. PMID 22225533
Howell MD, Gottschall PE. Lectican proteoglycans, their cleaving metalloproteinases, and plasticity in the central nervous system extracellular microenvironment. Neuroscience. 217:6-18, 2012. PMID 22626649
Gottschall PE, Barone FC. Important role for caveolin-1in focal cerebral ischemia-induced blood-brain barrier injury. J Neurochem. 120: 4-6, 2012. (“Editorial Highlight”) PMID 22017357
View Dr. Gottschall’s Publication List
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Signing ceremony has been held between New World ADM Platinum & Wyndham Garden
Mr. David Wray, Vice President, Development & Acquisitions South East Asia and Pacific Rim,
by Phuketindex team — June 29, 2019 in Business 0
Banyan Tree Group scores a hat-trick
Phuket, Thailand – Banyan Tree Group scooped three accolades for Banyan Tree Residences Brisbane
Thai business development company group: Accomplish condominium projects ahead of schedule
2019 is a very productive year for Thai Business Development Company group,
by Phuketindex team — May 15, 2019 in Business 0
Dream Phuket Hotel & Spa and Dream Beach Club Welcome Patsada Satthacharoen Back
9 May 2019 – Phuket, Thailand – Dream Phuket Hotel & Spa and Dream Beach Club is delighted to welcome Ms. Patsada Satthacharoen back to the position
ONYX Hospitality Group Appoints Paul Halford as General Manager of OZO Phuket
Phuket 9 May 2019 – ONYX Hospitality Group has appointed Paul Halford as General Manager
The Racha’s environment initiatives gets two thumbs up!
The Racha, Racha Yai, November 23rd 2018
by Phuketindex team — November 29, 2018 in Business 0
ONYX Hospitality Group announces its second Amari property in Laos with Amari Vientiane
Bangkok, 20 November 2018 – ONYX Hospitality Group, one of the region’s leading hotel management companies,
Sofitel Krabi welcomes new F&B Manager Paul Olivier Linot
August 2018 – Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort is pleased to announce the arrival of a new F&B Operation manager Paul Olivier Linot, who joined the resort team on 14 August, 2018.
by Phuketindex — September 13, 2018 in Business 0
Jaguar Land Rover expands sales network to the southern region
Phuket 28 June 2018 – Inchcape (Thailand) Co., Ltd. the official importer and distributor of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles
APEX launch: The Residences at Sheraton Phuket Grand Bay on Phuket’s east coast
PHUKET, Thailand – Panoramic views across Po Bay to Ao Phang Nga National Park and the Phi Phi Islands
AccorHotels signs agreement with Khaolak Inter Co., Ltd. to launch Pullman Khao Lak Resort
AccorHotels has signed an agreement with Thailand-based real estate developer Khaolak Inter Co., Ltd.
ONYX Hospitality Group enhances China team structure
Shanghai, 22 March 2018 – ONYX Hospitality Group, one of the region’s leading hotel management companies, is enhancing its commitment to China by strengthening its Shanghai-based team structure. In addition to creating a new Greater China regional base in Shanghai, the company has appointed Gina Wo to a newly-created role as Senior Vice President and Head of Greater China, effective 26 March 2018.
Gina Wo as Senior Vice President and Head of Greater China
Joining ONYX Hospitality Group after over 16 years at InterContinental Hotels Group, Gina will oversee all aspects of the company’s ongoing growth and expansion in one of the world’s fastest growing economies. To be based in Shanghai and reporting directly to President and CEO Douglas Martell, Gina will focus on further growth through the localisation of the company’s long-term strategic road map, to solidify the positioning of ONYX Hospitality Group as the hospitality player of choice among travellers, team members, investors and partners in the Greater China region.
One of Gina’s first priorities at ONYX Hospitality Group would be to increase the company’s corporate talent capabilities in Greater China by reviewing the existing manning and structure, as well as strengthening the company’s regional operations, hotel openings and commercial expertise in order to ensure its sustained and continued growth in line with robust portfolio expansion in the coming years. The Shanghai regional headquarters will be complemented by a satellite office in Hong Kong, with team members dedicated to supporting the company’s Hong Kong presence.
This strategic move follows significant recent China development wins for ONYX Hospitality Group, including a China-wide strategic partnership with Sincere Holdings Group for both companies to exclusively develop and open multiple Shama serviced apartment properties across 12 key cities across China. Amari, the company’s flagship hotel brand, also launched its first hotel in China in 2017 with the opening of Amari Yangshuo in Guilin.
“The importance of China goes far beyond the market being a huge growth destination for new properties, as the country is also one of our top source markets for travellers to our hotels across
the Asia-Pacific region,” said Douglas Martell, President & CEO, ONYX Hospitality Group. “Gina comes to ONYX Hospitality Group following an illustrious tenure at IHG, and I am confident that with her combined development and operational expertise, leadership strengths and wealth of industry contacts, she will lead us towards greater success in China.”
Based in Bangkok, ONYX Hospitality Group has a growing regional portfolio of 45 operating properties across three core brands in eight countries. The Group has a robust development pipeline of over 20 new properties in markets such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia, and has set
a target of having 99 hotels open by 2024 as part of its journey towards being the best medium-sized hospitality player in the region.
by Phuketindex team — March 27, 2018 in Business 0
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Next Year In Jerusalem
Please note: Unlike the rest, this novel doesn't belong in the 'historical' category...
New Eve Publishing 2016
(Original edition published 1980)
Available through all good booksellers
25% discount here ISBN 978-0-9556877-4-7
“All that time, life kept putting its face around the door, but never came into the room.”
When Angel learnt her days were numbered, she viewed a frosted landscape that chilled more than blood and bone. To tell Jude would put a false complexion on their life together. Immersed in the precarious expansion of his business, he little suspected the true cause of her failing health and changed outlook.
Events were only too ready to conspire in her silence.
The dilemma swiftly wove its web of misunderstanding which prompted Jude's infidelity and Angel's poignant rapport with 'the bookseller of Glenfinnie', reaching a crisis where Jude's own life was imperilled.
While she fought shy of the truth, Angel couldn't know how, on the other side of fear, an incorruptible world would awaken within her and turn shadows to blessings.
She was to make an inner journey of discovery, seeing in her condition some analogy with the global unrest of our times.
This is a story which prompts haunting reflection on the mystical nature of human 'presence'.
Were Life and Death two sides of the same coin?
My name is Angel. Angel Brightman since I married Jude. Before that, I was known as Angel St. Clare. A nun found me on the Convent doorstep when I was a few days old. I think I was born on a Friday, a day of Sorrowful Mysteries.
The nun must have thought I was a cherub sent from heaven! The Poor Clares are a Franciscan Order, committed to poverty, purity and prayer, whose measured days are bathed in peace and doubt-defying light, sobriety and song, and sprinkled with a modicum of mirth, so that my earliest encounters with humanity were of an impartial devotion. They moved about the shadows like seraphs in sackcloth whose wings and transfigured robes were yet unjustified, making the beginning of the journey seem so much like the end.
My mother – she must have loved me! – I sometimes sense a yearning presence and think I glimpse her angst-ridden brow – left me well-packaged in a clean nightie and shawl, with extra clothes and a tin of powdered baby milk. She sent me on my way as well set up as she knew how. I dare say she didn’t possess the moral and social means to keep me. Perhaps no one else knew of my birth and she would be forever racked by her guilty secret, wondering how I’d turned out and what sort of human being she really was.
'There was, I have learned, a flurry of publicity in the local press, but no one came forward to claim me. In due course, I was sent to St. Mary’s Orphanage to be cared for there, where, from the dawn of memory, I was encouraged to look upon Our Lady as my mother, to say the Rosary with diligence and to pray to her Son through her mediation. We were taught to feel that we were privileged to have been found, to have fetched up from the belly of Jonah on the shores of Holy Island.
The events of those infant years are a blur, uncomplicated by nostalgia. I was neither happy nor unhappy, but suspended in a sort of limbo betwixt and between, eternally expectant. It was as good a school for actual life as any, I suppose, and no doubt for me, better than most as things turned out. Our day is shorter than we think.
Only a few incidents from that era are clearly defined. One, in particular, is rendered more starkly than the rest…'
Snow fell unexpectedly in my hopeful seventh spring. It made shadows of the bare boughs. It sent shivers down the spindly spine of young birch. It found out the eroded pointing in the brickwork. With a gentle insistence it gathered along the window-ledges, made portholes of the panes and silenced the astonished birds. Flake by flake, it settled upon the lawns Simms had already mown twice that season, and obliterated the paths as though it meant business. Soon it had created a ghostly monochrome world. A child’s world.
No one guessed it was coming. The weather forecast had been promising. It came without warning, this taste of winter in May, a thief in the night...
...It was as we were stamping our boots, about to file in, that a resounding thud drew our attention. A young blackbird had collided with the window and lay, a tumbled heap of feathers, on the path. I darted to his rescue, but it was too late! He fixed me meekly with his beady eye and lapsed, quivering, into stillness. I stretched out a finger and stroked his soft wings. He was as warm as my own flesh and blood, poor scrap, so deceived by the reflected universe. I couldn’t take it in. I fell on my knees and moaned and rocked to and fro and refused to be comforted. How could I bear such passive obedience to order?
That night, I had a nightmare about the hole in the garden and how it could be made good before Simms found out. I awoke, sobbing, to the recollection of yesterday and that precocious silence about which I could never speak.'
'It was a land of impossible concepts, Norway. A land of illusions, of boats suspended on liquid air. I came to think of our sojourn there as a blueprint for our life together.'
'Oh, he had taken me on so many diverting journeys! Not only the Land of the Midnight Sun had he wanted to show me, but ancient civilisations and oases fanned by palms. He would like, he announced in a moment of pure exhilaration, for us to make love in every capital in the world. He would show me the Seven Wonders and the places of pilgrimage. We were conquerors of Time and Space, traversing oceans and deserts in the twinkling of an eye, jetting towards some target on the fragmented plates of the globe. We’d seen cities astride fault lines, defying the cataclysm. And temples upon outcrops of rock above seas of clear turquoise, bays flooded with carmine as daylight faded. We'd explored the labyrinths of Crete and were overawed by the apocalyptic domes of Venice; way behind us, the sleepy spires of home. Yes, there were many such visions, all tarnished and corroded at close range from the miasmas of progress. Jude was always anxious to move on, be elsewhere.
Most haunting of all was the spirit of Greece. Athens, wreathed in a purple mote haze on a brilliant morning, dominated still by its archaic culture. Even after centuries and two thousand years of Grace, you could forget, on such a day, that any change had taken place.
I recalled the tunnel-like echo of its streets, the vehicles that tore and screamed around the Squares; the plangent music issuing from every taverna, drowning the welter of passions and sorrows within; the subdued old men, work-hewn and weary, bewitched by the anodyne glint of retsina and ouzo; the riots before dawn and the suffocating illusions of liberty; the emollient odour of olives that clung to the clothes and the Turkish coffee silting the cup. And at every street corner, at every entrance and exit, the lottery tickets…'
More glimpses will be added from time to time...
The Birthplace of Peer Gynt
Landscape, Selfscape and Escape
North Of The Border
The Darkest Hour Before Dawn
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BTS Team Up with Steve Aoki for their First All-English Song, "Waste It On Me"
Listen to their band new collab below
PictureGroup
Steve Aoki and BTS are back with another collab, surprise dropping “Waste It On Me” as as follow-up to their highly-anticipated “Mic Drop” remix.
Related: EXCLUSIVE: BTS Show off Iconic Dance Moves From Britney Spears, Beyonce, *NSYNC & More
The track is the k-pop superstars’ first full English song and is set to appear on Aoki’s collab-heavy Neon Future III. Other appearances on the November 9 album include Louis Tomlinson, Lauren Jauregui, Bella Thorne, and many more.
“I’m so psyched to share this collaboration with one of the most exciting and inspiring group of guys I’ve met in the past few years,” explained Aoki.
Listen to the brand new song below:
After being live for less than a few hours, the video already sits at almost half a million views and is set to follow in the footsteps of the 365 million views on their previous collab.
In one of our many exclusives interviews with the biggest boy band in the world, they revealed some of their dream collabs and revealed some other things you may not know about the group.
Neon Future III
Waste It On Me
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Posts Tagged ‘Christian Bautista Outbound’
A Blogger and Fan girl Meets a new Christian Bautista with his fresh album Outbound: The Bloggers Conference Tale
Posted in Christian Bautista, Events, Fan Account, tagged Christian Bautista, Christian Bautista 1st Bloggers Conference, Christian Bautista Outbound, Orange Magazine TV, Outbound, Pinoy Magazine, The Kitchen Musical, Universal Records on November 29, 2011| 6 Comments »
I have never been an avid fan until I heard this hunky balladeer named Christian Bautista sing “Tell me your name, you’re lovely please tell me your name”. It’s as if I’m serenaded by a handsome and rare gentleman on earth (I’m dreaming much here guys). Is it something in “The Way You Looked at Me” that charmed my heart and the rest of Asia? Whatever it is I know I’m happy doing things a fan girl would do for the love of the Asiansation. Time stops every time he performs in ASAP and has TV appearances. I have watched his mall shows and never fails to get his CD albums autographed and of course had pictures taken beside him. I remember thinking of enrolling at Gold’s Gym when I saw his hunk physique in a billboard along my way. I eventually did, crazy right? I love following his tweets and he’s the very reason why in I signed up in Twitterlandia. 🙂 I can’t contain the excitement and been all smiles for a week when I got a re-tweet from him on a twitpic I posted for the red carpet premiere night of his first international movie A Special Symphony. Yes I was there too with free invites I won online. In that instant I joined his undying support group, aka fans club Christian Friends. I thought this is the most I can do for him until last Sunday November 13, I got a chance to see Christian in a whole new light. I’m privileged to be invited and be part of his very 1st Bloggers Conference at Universal Records office. Once again I’m face to face with Christian but this time not as a fan but an official blogger!
I have levelled up as a fan and as a newbie blogger. If before I’m just reading online articles, interviews and watching video clips about Christian’s career and life that Sunday afternoon I got the first hand news straight from him. I even had a surreal moment to ask him a question. This was my first time to join a bloggers conference and it’s for this ultimately charming Asian idol, no wonder that it took a long while before I managed to ask him one. Mine is the 2nd to the last question. Truly a different Sunday for me but my experience is not an inch compared to how Christian Bautista’s career soared high rooting from his humble Star in a Million days. From a 4x Platinum Record Award for Romance Revisited: The Love Songs Of Jose Mari Chan for 2011, to his first international film A Special Symphony, tohis currently playingfirst Pan-Asian musical TV series The Kitchen Musical. He worked with Grammy-nominated pianist Jim Brickman, K-Pop R&B trio One Way, and fronted for the concerts of K-Pop sensations Rain and2NE1. He also top billed jampacked concerts here and abroad. He also has numerous endorsements tucked under his belt coupled with billboards all over the Metro and has consistently won numerous awards and citations.
Clearly there’s no stopping the Asiansation from giving us best class offers. He arrived at the conference just fresh from another award as an Exemplary ASEAN Youth in the Field of Entertainment by the National Youth Commission.
And now the Asiansation adds another feather in his cap as he launches his first International album Outbound. OUTBOUND features Christian’s collaboration with music producers and artists he met and worked with from the United States, Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia. The album consists of eight songs which is a good mix of slow and upbeat ballads. The first single All That’s Left offers Christian’s new, bolder sound, and further proves that he is more than just a balladeer. “Slowly nag-build up kasi ‘yan because of The Kitchen Musical. Parang nabigyan ako ng confidence to try something na kakaiba, na mas current na contemporary. So I told myself, sige let’s try this,”says Christian.
In the music video of All That’s Left which features CosPlay Queen Alodia Gosiengfiao, you cansee a dancing Christian Bautista as he sings this upbeat but still romantically written song. One word, Wow!
While taping for The Kitchen Musical, Christian never stopped to get in touch with some of the region’s movers in the music industry until he met Tat Tong of Singapore, composer of the anthemic All That’s Left. Tat’s other masterpieces-original songs in Outbound include What Can I Do and his masterful arrangement on Christian’s cover of George Michael’s Faith, which is very special for Christian because it was used in his first big solo number in The Kitchen Musical.
Outbound also gathers its noteworthy works with Grammy-nominated multi-platinum instrumentalist Jim Brickman for Never Far Away, the K-Pop R&B trio One Way for Wrong Number, Indonesian songwriter Satrio for the hit song I’m Already King, and with Avex Japan’s amazing Baby M for the lovely duet Sakura.
Before going to this bloggers conference I got the chance to listen to the entire album. My instant favorites are All That’s Left and What Can I Do and after the event I know why. Christian wrote the catchy romantic part of the chorus “You bring out the best in whatever’s left of me” for All That’s Left. What Can I Do is close to his heart as he fully wrote the song’s lyrics with Tat Tong on the melody. They both have the feel of the classic Christian Bautista ballads though there’s a clear difference in the sound. All That’s Left is refreshingly upbeat while the melody for What Can I Do is Cantonese/Taiwanese sounding (a heaven for an Asianovela fan like me). Here is the album Preview for your listening pleasure.
“Outbound has dragged me out of my comfort zone to present to all of you another side of CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA” – says Christian. With this a natural question is if he will do away or stop being a balladeer and how comfortable is he with his new sound. Christian definitely answered “ All my life I love ballad and I still do. But for this album talaga kasi medyo half-half. Half experimental, half-medyo ballad pa rin naman siya (like What Can I do, Sakura and I’m Already King). [And] Easy listening pa rin naman. It’s a modern or upgraded ballad. Pero definitely I’m not going to drop the ballads,” he says, smiling. “Kasi siyempre, nagsimula ako sa ballads and du’n naman talaga ako kumportable. So hindi ko p’wedeng iwanan talaga ‘yun.”
He was also asked on how this change helped him. He mentioned that this international collaboration and new sound brought him to have a more driven image or more opinionated saying what he wants but stays diplomatic. On the negative talks of him he answered it straight – “Some said I’m being trying hard or Kumi-kpop, eh kailan ko pa to i-try? Now is the best time whether the people like it or not”. Good answer Ian!
With all these career highlights to envy, the balladeer remains humble and thankful for all these blessings. The atmosphere in the conference room was very light and cool you would not think we are talking to an Asian idol. He gamely answered our questions and even cracked jokes and shared casual laughter with us as if we are all friends in the room. Maybe that’s his charm. He remains the simple hopeless romantic inside while he tries to go out of his comfort zone. He may have drifted from his original sound but he’s still the same Christian we love – as he narrated when he gets inspired by something he immediately put that thought on his BlackBerry phone and then later use this compilation to write a song. So melodramatic of him, right? As a fan I know I miss the classic and simple sound of Christian Bautista but can’t deny that I heart him more now.
So after the questions on Outbound I’m preparing myself to ask him about his love life. This is the only item left in my list since the anxiousness inside me is killing my chance to open my lips. All the other bloggers came to ask my prepared questions as if they have my list, hahaha. I’m just surprised that as I raise my hand another girl blogger probe him to say something about his personal life. The only bonus for me is I got it recorded. Christian bubbly narrated why he wanted to keep that one private. I love how he ended his answer on what inspires him “anything, from a beautiful word, a line, a scene in a movie, depende and then I write it down” – so charming and romantic of him. 🙂
After those interesting answers and turned out to be the liveliest part of the Q and A I followed it up with this question: Before you said that you’ll not go for a long distance relationship. But now that your career is soaring internationally are you now more open to it or would you fall in love with an international actress/singer? Finally had the courage to ask him! I managed my voice to stay calm but my hands are shaking so I only got a glimpse of it in video. Christian said – “Yes, I’m now more open, if God gives a chance na I fall in love with an international actress then, yeah!” I asked if there’s someone right now and he gave a No gesture. Hmmm, for my fellow fans out there the competition to Ian’s heart is tougher now. 🙂
After an hour of chatting with the Asiansation there goes the fun part, the photo ops and my favorite autograph signing. I instantly switched from a serious blogger mode taking down notes, pictures and videos to fan girl mode! I can’t hide the big smile and sparkle in my eyes when my turn came in. Here’s our small talk conversation:
Christian: [Smiling as always] your name?
Me: Reg.
Christian: Hmm, short for Regina right? Lovely name.
Me: Speechless. Yup. [Yey!] Thank you.
Christian: [still smiling] Thanks for coming. 🙂
Isn’t the dialogue sounding like a familiar line of his song – Tell me your name, you’re lovely please tell me your name? Just a coincidence. 🙂
Of course I won’t last the day without a photo taken beside him. To date this is the best in my collection of picture with Christian Bautista. When we finally have to go to give way to the second batch of bloggers I approached him to say thank you once more. I didn’t pass this chance and mentioned I’m a proud CF (Christian Friends fans club). He gave me a warm welcome. Yey! 🙂
After that switching mode I finally came into senses and talked amongst the bloggers after the event. It’s a weird and overwhelming feeling to be in there and learning much from the blogging experts as we are served dinner. As soon as the second batch of bloggers was done I saw Christian about to go out of the conference room. For the last time I want to approach him and I was shocked on what he said – “Oh, you’re still here”. Talk about recall, he recognized me, happiness! That completes the day with of course another photo.
On a more serious note, my ever dream is to write a book someday so this pseudo experience of being a journalist in a blogger’s hat is heaven for me. As I pose with the fellow bloggers and of course the man of that afternoon Mr. Asiansation Christian Bautista, I could never thank enough the people who made this happen. All of us enjoyed the time with Christian. The bloggers just love him and after the event the non-fans became instant fanatics. Surely Christian can go much far than Outbound. Watch out for his major concert next year (I heard from a twitter buzz it’s going to be a Valentine concert). Expecting more dance moves from him there aside from All That’s Left and the famous Faith and Nobody cover from The Kitchen Musical. Also it won’t be surprising if his dream to conquer US and Europe would come true in the near future.
I’m the girl seating 2nd to the right of Christian
Before I end here’s a video of a live performance of his track I’m Already King he gave to thank us bloggers. I melt again with his voice; I love how I captured him up close. Till my next event/fan girl post. 🙂
Thank you very much again to Universal Records in cooperation with Pinoy Magazine and official online partner Orange Magazine TV for bringing Christian Bautista’s Bloggers’ Conference. Special thanks to Ever Bilena Blackwater.
Outbound is out now in all major record bars nationwide under Universal Records.
1. All That’s Left
2. Unphotographable
3. Faith
4. I’m Already King
5. What Can I do
6. Never Far Away
7. Wrong Number
8. Sakura
FREE Christian Bautista “ALL THAT’S LEFT” Ringback Tone! For GLOBE users text UD344 and send to 2332. For SMART users text FALT and send to 2728. Text GetSong[space]6151903 to 2728 for SUN users (P15 for 15 days).
FOLLOW CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA:
Christian Bautista Facebook Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/xianbautista
Christian Bautista Twitter: http://twitter.com/xtianbautista
The Kitchen Musical Facebook Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/TKMOfficial
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Djokovic, Edmund, 2018: Double bounce: Lots more to say…
I watched short clips of the incredible moment at Wimbledon 2018, where the umpire gave a point to Kyle Edmund after he hit a ball on the second bounce. I was sure there was more to it than that brief clip, so I watched the fourth set in which the incident occurred. Adding some background makes this triple, or maybe even quadruple umpiring error even more interesting.
For those of you who have not seen the clip, Djokovic hit a soft ball to Edmund’s forehand when Edmund was moving away to guard his other side. Edmund desperately shifted course and scooped under the ball, hitting a nasty cross shot that Djokovic could not possibly reach. Edmund’s cross shot, however, was out (it was not called out). Edmund dropped his racket in the followthrough, and his momentum took him to the net. Edmund wound up with both hands on the net as Djokovic began to argue with the umpire. The commentators believed the umpire was claiming that Edmund had gotten his racket under the ball before it bounced, and the ball came off the edge of the frame. Djokovic said later he simply argued that Edmund’s shot was impossible unless he hit the ball after the second bounce. (The video shows clearly that the ball bounced twice before Edmund hit it.)
Quite amazingly, this umpiring error cost Djokovic two points. The umpire assessed a penalty for delaying the game while he argued. It’s a good thing for that umpire that Djokovic managed to win the match.
First of all, why didn’t Edmund concede the point? It is possible, as he insisted afterwards, that he had no idea what had happened. But on the previous point, Edmund’s sense of injustice must have risen to astronomical levels. Novak Djokovic had hit a serve that the linesman called out (a long ball), just as Edmund swung at it. Edmund’s return was long. The umpire overruled the line judge (correctly, I believe) and called the serve in. Edmund asked to replay the point. The umpire ruled that even if the ball had been called in, Edmund failed to return it, and gave Djokovic the point. Edmund argued that he would have hit the ball better if it had been called in.
This is an umpire’s judgment call, and you could see it made Edmund furious. When he went after that ball on the double bounce, I would not blame him for feeling that the universe owed him one point. Now it is clear that Djokovic won the point, because:
The ball double-bounced
Edmund hit it out (Djokovic could not see this, and he did not challenge; the Hawkeye showed it was out)
Edmund dropped his racket hitting the ball. He could have been called for throwing his racket.
Edmund’s forward motion took him into the net. The umpire should have noticed this before Djokovic occupied his attention.
Why didn’t the linesman call Edmund’s shot out? The commentators on TennisTV believed the linesman stopped paying attention as soon as the ball double-bounced. It was obvious to the linesman that the point was over.
What fascinated me most was the aftermath. If you have a chance to see a replay of the rest of the match, you will see two incredibly angry players fighting every point. Usually, players impress me with their deep concentration, but here, they both felt unfairly treated and furious.
Kyle Edmund is a British player, and this incident occurred on his home ground in Wimbledon. Before this point was played, the crowd seemed almost divided in their applause. But the crowd had no patience for Djokovic’s argument with umpire. After play continued, they roared with approval every time Edmund scored a point.
I can’t wait to see the aftershocks from this incident. Some people called Edmund a cheater for failing to concede the point. (But please note, it is possible he really did not realize what he had done.) I personally think Edmund should have conceded the point for touching the net.
The umpire is going to be awesomely criticized. And please note that the bad call just happened to favor the home player.
Posted by tobyr21@gmail.com at 8:31 AM
Djokovic, Edmund, 2018: Double bounce: Lots more t...
Learn a lot about architecture while howling with ...
But it feels like...
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Fighting back on conditional fees
By Press Gazette Twitter
When can a lawyer legally charge £800 an hour? When he is a partner in a specialist claimant defamation practice, acting on a conditional fee agreement CCFA.
And how does that lawyer justify charging so much? The explanations given for mark-ups of up to 100 per cent on such a solicitor’s basic charging rate (“the success fee”) are found in his “risk assessment” served on the paying party when it comes to the time to pay.
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Factors relied upon include: “a high degree of uncertainty and unpredictability is involved in all libel cases, particularly in view of the fact that trial is generally by judge and jury rather than by judge alone” and “the court may make an error of law that we may be unable to appeal on your behalf or an unexpected finding of fact that prevents you from winning”.
The mystique of libel actions includes the common perception that they are difficult and therefore justify a higher assessment of risk. Cases that make it to a jury trial will carry significant risk. But does that apply to every libel case? No.
The same risk assessment may include something to the effect of: “The defendant is likely to make an offer of amends. The offer of amends regime provides an exit route for journalists who make a mistake and are prepared to admit as much and to make amends.”
However, not all cases are “uncertain and unpredictable”. Sometimes a newspaper makes an innocent and obvious mistake. Sometimes the paper will have already apologised. In other cases it will be bound to apologise and to offer to make amends as soon as it receives notice of the complaint. The only real issue in such cases is how much the damages will be.
Such was the position in the recent case of Gazley v News Group Newspapers, a straightforward case in which The Sun had made the serious but innocent mistake of publishing the wrong photo of a man accused of being a paedophile.
Given the obviousness of the mistake, the day after Gazley’s solicitors’ letter was received, the newspaper made an unqualified offer of amends. It had already, on receipt of the initial oral complaint from the claimant, immediately published a prominent apology. It also agreed to publish apologies by way of advertisements in the regional newspapers circulating where the claimant lived.
So should the claimant’s solicitors in such a case be able to recover a success fee of 100 per cent? The costs judge decided they should not and restricted the success fee to 20 per cent.
A win was defined in the claimant’s solicitors’ CFA as the recovery of damages in excess of £10,000, but The Sun had already admitted liability, published an apology and offered damages of £10,000 and costs when the CFA was entered into.
Perhaps unsurprisingly the costs judge considered that the risk of a judge awarding less than £10,000 under the offer of amends procedure was slight.
Worse still for the London solicitors concerned, the costs judge ordered that they could not recover their usual charging rates but only the rates of a Norwich firm because their expertise had not been required in this case. This reduced the partners’ hourly rate from £400 to £200 an hour. Overall, the solicitors’ costs of almost £92,000 were reduced to just over a third of that figure, this including the 20 per cent success fee.
Furthermore, News Group, which had made an earlier offer on costs that exceeded what the claimant recovered, was awarded its costs of the assessment in the sum of £10,000.
This might be seen as a rare victory for the media on CFAs, but it puts paid to the suggestion that all libel cases attract a success fee at 100 per cent. The court will form a view on a case-by- case basis.
Nicholas Alway is a partner in the media department of Farrer & Co
Nicholas Alway
Society of Editors: Paul Dacre's speech in full
The offer of amends regime
Nail loses in legal amends ruling
Costs and the scourge of conditional fee agreements
New chief reporter at Shields Gazette
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1 Intelligence advance warning
1 Intelligence sharing
1 Loss of access to NATO air defense system
1 Loss of access to US and NATO intelligence information
1 Loss of access to US weaponry
1 Loss of logistics support
6 Mururoa
5 Nuclear testing plans
6 Nuclear weapons testing
5 Reliable sources
1 Schedule of French nuclear tests
2 Secret sources
2 Test delays
2 Tests back on schedule
1 Thermonuclear weapons
1 UK Foreign Office
1 Weapons components being shipped by air via Panama
1 Withdrawal from NATO
Department of State, Cable, London to Secretary of State, October 14, 1966, Secret, NARA.
Department of State, Cable, Paris to Secretary of State, June 30, 1966, Secret, NARA.
Department of State, Cable, Paris to Secretary of State, April 8, 1966, Secret, NARA.
Department of State, Cable, Paris to Secretary of State, April 15, 1966, Secret, NARA.
Department of State, Cable, Paris to Secretary of State, March 22, 1966, Secret, NARA.
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POWER PERSPECTIVE
Oral Prescription Drug Insurance Parity (Part II)
Email this program
Your Email Address Recipient's Email Address Message
I am writing this as I just paid $3,000 in copays for 60 cancer-fighting pills. Why? Because I am a Medicare Part D patient and the medicine is over $11,000 per month. Federal insurance requires me to reach the “catastrophic level” before much more reasonable co-pays kick in, for me, next month. But no matter what, the effective oral medicine is paid much less fully by insurance than IV medicines. Why is that and what can we do about it? Read on!
I recently received an email from a fellow patient about oral drug parity (or lack thereof!)—the practice many insurance plans use to reimburse us at a higher rate if our medicine is delivered by IV, while they leave us with a higher copay if we take our cancer meds as a pill or capsule by mouth. The patient says, “I was totally unaware of this issue, as are many of us.”
While progress is being made on the state level, I too was disturbed to learn we still have not made progress with Medicare. So let’s take a closer look at this issue.
Back in April, 2009, the New York Times reported:
“Pills and capsules are the new wave in cancer treatment, expected to account for 25 percent of all cancer medicines in a few years, up from less than 10 percent now.
The oral drugs can free patients from frequent trips to a clinic to be hooked to an intravenous line for hours. Fewer visits might save the health system money as well as time. And the pills are a step toward making cancer a manageable chronic condition, like diabetes.
But for many patients, exchanging an I.V. bag for a pill is a lopsided trade, because the economics and practice of cancer medicine have not caught up with the convenience of oral drugs.”
Nine years later, the insurance industry still has not caught up. As The Times explained it:
“Start with the double ledger of drug insurance. Drugs that are infused at a clinic are typically paid for as a medical benefit, like surgery. Pills, though, are usually covered by prescription drug plans, which are typically much less generous.”
Why they do this is beyond our understanding. In 2012 in the Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Brian Durie of the IMF wrote that even though the purchase price of two myeloma medications was similar, “total cost per day was $48 higher for treatment with (injectable) vs. (oral) due to higher Medical management costs for (the injectable). The annual excess total cost of (the injectable) was $17,647.”
In other words, it costs more for a drug administered by a needle because of the doctor and office and clinic costs involved, as opposed to taking a pill with a glass of water at home.
So the IMF joined the campaign against this unreasonable disparity and supported patients testifying state by state. Here in California one patient was a single mother who had served as a Vietnam era Marine. Without insurance parity, she could not afford the copay for the oral drug her oncologist prescribed. She went to Sacramento twice to testify before House and Assembly committees, telling them, “The costs were so great I maxed out every single credit card… Not being able to pay for oral chemo forced me to take a drug that was not only less effective (for me), but left me so in debt I had to move in with my mother.”
The committees were riveted to her testimony. Even so, it took several tries for the bill to be signed by the governor.
Those early efforts led to the creation of PEAC, The Patients Equal Access Coalition. Today their map shows 43 states and the District of Columbia have enacted oral parity legislation. Even so that leaves patients in seven states unprotected. In March of last year one of our patients blogged about her efforts to get oral parity passed in Tennessee. It didn’t pass.
While most health insurance policies are regulated at a state level, which is why costs and benefits vary from one state to another, state law does not cover Medicare, a federal insurance program that actually is an amendment to the federal Social Securities act. Medicare serves approximately one in seven Americans and virtually all of the population aged 65 and over.
In the Congress, where legislation would change Medicare policy, a bill was first introduced by Congressman Brian Higgins, a Democrat from Buffalo, New York. All the way back in 2011 our friend the marathon runner Don Wright visited capitol hill to talk about oral drug parity legislation, but met with mixed responses. So the fight continues.
More recently, according to PEAC, H.R.1409 - Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2017 was sponsored in The House by Rep. Leonard Lance a Republican from New Jersey. The Senate does not even have a bill pending, and sponsors of previous legislation are no longer in the Senate.
So we need to get involved and contact our Senators and Representatives in Washington. Here is a link to locate your Senators and Representatives: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members. Tell them you are on Medicare and need the therapeutic your doctor prescribed, so you should not have a higher copay if your cancer medication is a pill instead of a needle in your arm. Ask your Representative to support H.R. 1409. Ask your Senator to introduce oral drug insurance parity legislation.
And remember, seven states still do not have oral drug parity. If you’re in Michigan, North Carolina or Tennessee support the fight for state legislation. If you’re in South Carolina or Alabama, Montana or Idaho the fight hasn’t even begun.
In 2009 the New York Times headline read, “AS PILLS TREAT CANCER, INSURANCE LAGS BEHIND.” Sadly, that still applies today. I hope this responds to the email comment that “many people are not aware of this issue”. And I hope it spurs us all to action.
As always, I welcome your comments. Please send them to me at comments@patientpower.info.
Andrew Schorr
Co-Founder, Patient Power LLC
Please remember the opinions expressed on Patient Power are not necessarily the views of our sponsors, contributors, partners or Patient Power. Our discussions are not a substitute for seeking medical advice or care from your own doctor. That’s how you’ll get care that’s most appropriate for you.
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GTC 2013: eyeSight Will Use GPUs To Improve Its Gesture Recognition Software
Posted by Tim Verry | Apr 1, 2013 | General Tech | 0
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Source: PC Perspective
During the Emerging Companies Summit at NVIDIA's GPU Technology Conference, Israeli company EyeSight Mobile Technologies' CEO Gideon Shmuel took the stage to discuss the future of its gesture recognition software. He also provided insight into how EyeSight plans to use graphics cards to improve and accelerate the process of identifying, and responding to, finger and hand movements along with face detection.
EyeSight is a five year old company that has developed gesture recognition software that can be installed on existing machines (though it appears to be aimed more at OEMs than directly to consumers). It can use standard cameras, such as webcams, to get its 2D input data and then gets a relative Z-axis from proprietary algorithms. This gives EyeSight essentially 2.5D of input data, and camera resolution and frame rate permitting, allows the software to identify and track finger and hand movements. EyeSight CEO Gideon Shmuel stated at the ECS presentation that the software is currently capable of "finger-level accuracy" at 5 meters from a TV.
Gestures include the ability to use your fingers as a mouse to point at on-screen objects, waving your hand to turn pages, scrolling, and even give hand signal cues.
The software is not open source, and there are no plans to move in that direction. The company has 15 patents pending on its technology, several of which it managed to file before the US Patent Office changed from First to Invent to First Inventor to File (heh, which is another article…). The software will support up to 20 million hardware devices in 2013, and EyeSight expects the number of compatible camera-packing devices to increase further to as many as 3.5 billion in 2015. Other features include the ability transparently map EyeSight input to Android apps without user's needing to muck with settings, and the ability to detect faces and "emotional signals" even in low light. According to the website, SDKs are available for Windows, Linux, and Android. The software maps the gestures it recognizes to Windows shortcuts, to increase compatibility with many existing applications (so long as they support keyboard shortcuts).
Currently, the EyeSight software is mostly run on the CPU, but the company is heavily investing into incorporating GPU support. Moving the processing to GPUs will allow the software to run faster and more power efficiently, especially on mobile devices (NVIDIA's Tegra platform was specifically mentioned). EyeSight's future road-map includes using GPU acceleration to bolster the number of supported gestures, move image processing to the GPUs, add velocity and vector control inputs, incorporate a better low-light filter (which will run on the GPU), and offload processing from the CPU to optimize power management and save CPU resources for the OS and other applications which is especially important for mobile devices. Gideon Shmuel also stated that he wants to see the technology being used on "anything with a display" from your smartphone to your air conditioner.
A basic version of the EyeSight input technology reportedly comes installed on the Lenovo Yoga convertible tablet. I think this software has potential, and would provide that Minority Report-like interaction that many enthusiasts wish for. Hopefully, EyeSight can deliver on its claimed accuracy figures and OEMs will embrace the technology by integrating it into future devices.
EyeSight has posted additional video demos and information about its touch-free technology on its website.
Do you think this "touch-free" gesture technology has merit, or will this type of input remain limited to awkward-integration in console games?
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Tim Verry
Tim is a long time computer geek and DIY system builder that specializes in family tech support.
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Lions, Tigers and Stalin...Oh My!
Sometimes I feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Do you know the film? A sweet girl gets swept up from her Kansas farm in a cyclone and dumped in the mysterious and magical world of Oz. There she meets Glinda the good witch. She tells Dorothy to "follow the yellow brick road" to the powerful wizard of Oz who will help her get back home. So Dorothy begins the long trek down the road, meeting some damaged friends along the way. A scarecrow with no brains, a tin man with no heart and a lion with no courage. They lock arms and start the journey to Emerald City, with the hope the wizard can answer their questions, fulfill their desires and make them whole again. Along the way, they encounter flying monkeys, evil witches, scary trees and a host of other disasters. At one point, Dorothy becomes so fearful of what's ahead of them that she shouts "lions, tigers and bears, oh my!"
I equate LiveJournal to the yellow brick road. Last March after my first Russian post I got caught up in an international cyclone and dumped here. Like Dorothy, I immediately encountered people with no brains and no heart; however, I can't say many users lack courage. Conversely, some use this platform to roar quite loudly. Cloaked in the anonymity of the Internet, the most feeble and ignorant humans suddenly become courageous, vocal and omniscient. Some readers took the form of Glinda, taking me by the hand and virtually guiding me down the colorful path known as the Russian blogosphere. Why am I still here? I don't know honestly. Perhaps I'm also in search of some magical wizard, someone who can put everything in focus for me, make me understand all the complexities and intricacies of Russian history, culture and mentality.
Recently in my Top Post I posed an innocent question to a reader. Who was the best leader of your nation? His answer was "Stalin or Putin." The response shocked me and generated an interesting mini-discussion in the comments. Why Stalin and Putin? In his words:
"Stalin took an uneducated peasant country and left an industrialized country with heavy industry, nuclear bombs, strong science and ready for the space program. And in between we won a war with the strongest army in Europe. Sometimes he was unreasonably cruel and even paranoid but in most cases he was fairly reasonable...."
"Putin also has done a lot. First he quickly finished the war with Chechen rebels which Yeltsin could not win. Next, he jailed Khodorkovsky and after that other oligarchs started to pay much more taxes to the budget. Next, he consolidated power taking it from local governers who behaved like barons at that time. Next he invested more money to science and military technology. Russia has started to restore its military and space power. Its not declining anymore. Everything is being actively renovated and new wonderful things are being developed. And all that was done not at the expense of ordinary people (unlike Stalin)...Russia is not a poor country anymore."
Of course, others took offense at these statements, calling Stalin an executioner, a disgrace to Russia, etc. Putin was pegged a criminal, thief and egomaniac. The variance in opinion fascinating! The patriots and Russophobes all gathered in an American girl's blog to discuss weighty topics and history. I'm honored! So now I'll open the topic to everyone. Who was the most magical wizard in your history and why? My initial question was limited to leaders during Soviet and modern times, but let's open it up to all eras. Which leader contributed most to the stability of the nation, to the well being of citizens and overall good of the nation? Answers, perceptions and historical interpretations of readers are always very educational for me. Discuss if you wish...
P.S.: Today Forbes released its list of the world's most powerful people. Putin tops the list at number one, Obama number two. Proud day for Russia? :)
Oct. 31st, 2013 02:54 am (UTC)
The Oz stories were well-known in the Soviet Union via the The Wizard of the Emerald City cycle by Volkov. Of course, the original stories have also been translated and published.
Retelling famous books was quite acceptable these days; another example is Buratino by Alexei Tolstoy, loosely based on Pinocchio.
Thanks, I know about Volkov's translation but it's my understanding he changed the story in the Russian version. Main character has a different name. I think I also read that they encounter a cannibal on their way to the wizard. :)
(no subject) - janelight - Oct. 31st, 2013 09:09 am (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - peacetraveler22 - Oct. 31st, 2013 03:02 pm (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - Peter Renkel - Nov. 8th, 2013 02:54 pm (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - peacetraveler22 - Nov. 8th, 2013 02:56 pm (UTC) - Expand
What about the Russian rulers -- I am reluctant to single out "the greatest one". Most of them contributed to progress of Russia, no one of them was a particularly nice person. :) I would mention Alexander II who liberated the serfs and initiated a number of democratic reforms.
Of the modern rulers, I am somewhat sympathetic to Gorbachov. At least he pulled us out of the Afghan mess, stopped the nuclear madness, quitted gracefully, and never served or endorsed Yeltsin, whom I despise wholeheartedly.
Gorbachev/Reagan. They're a dynamic political duo from my generation. I remember their relationship very well. Also Clinton/Yeltsin, sitting in bars doing vodka shots and going to jazz clubs. Sad that relations between Obama and Putin are so cold and strained. A huge step backwards in international relations and cooperation.
sergechel
Being called most powerful is not the same as being the best leader.
On this point I agree! Obama's approval rating is at an all time low. Unless something drastically changes, he will end his presidency on a very sour note.
fesma94
Deng Xiaoping
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deng_Xiaoping
А! You mean leaders of Russia? ) So.....Alexander II , IMHO )
mybathroom
It's a funny thing. My first books in English were about Dorothy. These books (I have read eight or nine of them) led me to English language :)
I loved this story and film as a child. I used to pretend to be Dorothy, wearing my hair in braids and living in some fantasy world. My dad used to have a basket on his bicycle and we would go for bike rides when I was a young child. I remember putting a black dog in the basket and calling him Toto. :)
asharky
Russian never lived so well as now. This is a fact.
mujlan01
(no subject) - asharky - Oct. 31st, 2013 06:06 am (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - mujlan01 - Oct. 31st, 2013 06:18 am (UTC) - Expand
А как вам такой лозунг: - andrey_kaminsky - Oct. 31st, 2013 07:54 am (UTC) - Expand
Re: А как вам такой лозунг: - asharky - Oct. 31st, 2013 07:58 am (UTC) - Expand
Re: А как вам такой лозунг: - andrey_kaminsky - Oct. 31st, 2013 08:22 am (UTC) - Expand
Re: А как вам такой лозунг: - qi_tronic - Oct. 31st, 2013 09:32 am (UTC) - Expand
Re: А как вам такой лозунг: - andrey_kaminsky - Oct. 31st, 2013 12:22 pm (UTC) - Expand
Re: А как вам такой лозунг: - qi_tronic - Oct. 31st, 2013 12:39 pm (UTC) - Expand
Re: А как вам такой лозунг: - asharky - Oct. 31st, 2013 05:29 pm (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - asharky - Oct. 31st, 2013 05:28 pm (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - mi5ter_fi5ter - Feb. 11th, 2015 10:59 pm (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - asharky - Feb. 12th, 2015 05:13 am (UTC) - Expand
barabaan
We are like Irish people, we are always ready to fight, just give us some reason ;-)
Yes, aggressive nation in many ways.
(no subject) - barabaan - Oct. 31st, 2013 05:49 pm (UTC) - Expand
andrey_kaminsky
Каждый считает себя очень умным и я не исключение
The state has a great opportunity to influence the children whose minds are not fully grown. Children attend school and, in the school, the state puts so much shit into their skulls, that man can't get rid of it all his life.
Russian children read in textbooks that the conquest of Siberia was the greatest boon to the people of Siberia, not slavery. American children are accustomed to think that the terrible genocide of Indians was not genocide but something else. So the state convinces people that state is not unavoidable evil, like the autumn mud, but it is a beautiful temple.
The slavery is the essence of Russia. State enslave other peoples by hands of russians and enslave russians by washing their brains. Russia had no leaders worthy of admiration, because a decent person would have to stop all this crap.
But this is my land. Some might say that the people here are weird and rude. But Christ was preaching among such people, not in the houses of the nobility :)
The most incompetent leader was Nicholas II, he blew the power, wealth and life, and his wife was fucking with illiterate rascal Rasputin :)
Re: Каждый считает себя очень умным и я не исключение
You are a very interesting Russian. You calmly note that slavery is the essence of Russia, even now. You believe there are no leaders worthy of admiration, that the majority of your society is brainwashed, etc. Yet you are still a patriot. I find this fascinating. I would not be a patriot of America if I felt I was enslaved here.
Re: Каждый считает себя очень умным и я не исключение - andrey_kaminsky - Oct. 31st, 2013 04:21 pm (UTC) - Expand
the_most_human
Sick nation.
Failed state.
"Sick nation," in many ways I agree. But there are good people everywhere, some places you just have to search harder to find them.
vitsky
I think, Sviatoslav was the best. ;)
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sviatoslav_I_of_Kiev
ps. And who of american presidents do you like most?
pps. By the way, russian tsar Ivan IV Grozny in most english text is translated as Ivan the Terrible. Although more correct translation will be Ivan the Stormy. Feel the difference. I think it's an example of "dark PR" against russian history.
Ivan IV was not so bad guy, I think. At least, not worse than many other european monarchs of that time. I saw a table of comparence, how many people were killed by them, and Ivan IV looks like a real humanist, in comparence with others.
(no subject) - qi_tronic - Oct. 31st, 2013 07:34 pm (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - peacetraveler22 - Nov. 1st, 2013 02:35 pm (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - qi_tronic - Nov. 1st, 2013 03:02 pm (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - peacetraveler22 - Nov. 2nd, 2013 01:16 am (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - qi_tronic - Nov. 2nd, 2013 01:27 pm (UTC) - Expand
janelight
I do not think this is what we should be proud of...
dysto
You are a lawer, aren't you? It is very important to provide exact and explicit definitions.
Modern Russian Federation is not Soviet Union. Soviet Union was not Russian Empire. People with Soviet Union identity and the russian nationalists hate each other.
Stalin was not russian. He spoke russian a bit better than Condoleezza Rice. He was atheist and ordered to demolish main cathedral of Russian Ortodox Church in Moscow. A few years ago russian troops fighted against georgians in the Stalin's native town.
The New World and especially the US looks very rational, at least on Google maps: smooth borders of the states, right angle street crossings :) Maybe you believe ethnic and religion has no concern to citizenship.
My grandmother spent all her life in a single town but she used to be a citizen of five countries.
The Old World is a maze ;)
qi_tronic
"smooth borders of the states, right angle street crossings" ... square minds? :))
Too rational, yeah...
(no subject) - dysto - Oct. 31st, 2013 10:10 am (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - qi_tronic - Oct. 31st, 2013 11:51 am (UTC) - Expand
(no subject) - dysto - Oct. 31st, 2013 04:01 pm (UTC) - Expand
His bare-chested photos, manly activities, and strange adventures put his face on U.S. websites quite often. So, I guess you could say he's made Americans more aware of Russia and its nature. Riding horses along the water, shooting in the wilderness, etc. :)
Too much for Obama :))
If we expand the search to the whole Russian history then probably Peter the Great.
He returned Russia to the foreground of the World politics, completely changing the country's face.
If not him Russia would probably be as today's Iran - only starting it's way out of the 3rd world.
The Iranian leader is in DC this week, causing all kinds of chaos with traffics and protests!
pasha1980
:) Something must be wrong with that list of the world's most powerful people. What criteria did they apply to select "powerful people"? What's their definition of power? Putin and Obama are complete antipodes: Putin is a control-freak with an exorbitant ego whose rule is based on coercion, whereas Obama has a big heart and his rule is based on consent. Obama represents the wealthiest and most advanced country on the face of the Earth, whereas Putin represents a poor miserable country whose GDP is smaller than the GDP of the state of California. The only way in which Putin may be more powerful than Obama is in terms of personal wealth - his moral corruption, unrestrained political power and position of unaccountability are very conducive to the accumulation of personal wealth. Aha, there's the answer - unrestrained political power.
One of the many problems with contemporary Russia is that unlike Germany it has never acknowledged its guilt for the crimes of communism. Both nazi Germany and communist Russia committed heinous crimes against humanity, but Germany apologized for its mistakes and went on, whereas Russia has got stuck in its repulsive criminal past and Putin has been making attempts at legitimizing that past because if the recognition of the monstrosity of Stalin's era hits the fan, it may deliver a deadly blow to the very national identity of the Russians. The identity of any nation requires a grand narrative, and for the Russians that grand narrative is their victory in WW2. Stalin is a very big part of that narrative. Soviet historians put a lot of efforts into refining that narrative, so when school history books were being written, all the criminal episodes were omitted, and all the glorious episodes were brought to the fore. As a result, the overwhelming majority of Russians have only vague ideas of Stalin's purges, gulags, the military occupation of Eastern and Central Europe in the wake of WW2 and until the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the desperate rebellions against the Soviet military occupation in the Prague spring of 1968, in Budapest in 1956, the self-immolation of students in Prague, etc. - all of these "undesirable" occurences have been omitted from school history books.
If you are interested in learning more about the Stalin era, I respectfully recommend that you read The Gulag Archipelago by Solzhenitsyn. It's very difficult to read it because what he describes in that book - undoubtedly the darkest sides of human nature - can shatter the reader's faith in humanity, but this is the real history of Russia. If you choose to read it, then "Buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, because Kansas is going bye-bye..."
Oh, such doom and gloom! You've painted a very rosy picture of Obama, but in fact his administration is in a bit of shambles right now. I agree he has a big heart and most people easily relate to him as a "cool dude" and family man, but he expands the scope of government control with his policies. Corporations, such as big banks, hate him for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and tighter regulations, many hate his universal healthcare plan, etc. He's deemed a socialist in many political circles. But I voted for him because the Republicans have no good candidates and I'm socially liberal. I can't stand the antiquated social policies of right wing Republicans and this is why they constantly lose elections. Americans are more open-minded now and overly conservative thinking on social issues (e.g. gays, women's roles in workplace and society, etc.) will never win an election. Such ideas may still be attractive in Bible belt States, but it's not the moral majority of America.
"Buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, because Kansas is going bye-bye.." :) This is how I feel every time I visit Russia! Thanks for the book selection. I will ask for a Stalin era book for Christmas.
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Keep Philly Green & Water Clean Campaign
Susquehanna River Rally to Raise Awareness of Clean Water Issues Ahead of State Budget Negotiations
(May 31, 2018) Harrisburg, Pa. – Environmental organizations and clean water advocates, including the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), PennFuture, the Choose Clean Water Coalition, PennEnvironment, Sierra Club Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River Trails Association, are joining together for the Second Annual Susquehanna River Rally to be held on City Island in Harrisburg on Saturday, June 9.
“We ask that families and friends join us at the Susquehanna River Rally to raise their voices, their rally signs, and their paddles high with the Pennsylvania Capitol as our backdrop to hold our legislature accountable for addressing our clean water crisis,” said PennFuture Campaign Manager for Watershed Advocacy Taylor Nezat. “We will celebrate the mighty Susquehanna River and leverage its location and abundance to remind our legislators that clean water in Pennsylvania must be a priority.”
In Pennsylvania, world class trout streams, exceptional whitewater and unique rivers and creeks provide respite and recreation for citizens across the state. Despite the recreational value these natural resources provide, Pennsylvania waterways and drinking water remain severely threatened as roughly 19,000 miles of waterways remain unfit for fishing, swimming, and in many cases for sustaining life of native aquatic species. Furthermore, Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation – behind Texas and Florida - for most reported drinking water safety violations.
“Now is the time to invest more funding in Pennsylvania’s waterways, not less,” said Amanda John Kimsey, Program Manager for Pennsylvania & Delaware, National Parks Conservation Association. “Pennsylvania’s waterways not only provide drinking water and recreational opportunities for millions of people, but they give life to our state’s national parks by sustaining natural ecosystems. As Pennsylvania lawmakers gear up to pass a 2018 state budget, NPCA and partner organizations are speaking up for the health and future of our state’s waterways and clean water programs. Continued investment in clean water is not only vital to public health, but to the future of Pennsylvania’s public lands and economy as well.”
The Second Annual Susquehanna River Rally will bring citizens of all ages together to advocate for clean water funding and encourage state legislators to make clean water protections a priority in the state’s budget. The rally will take place from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 9 at City Island, Harrisburg, PA – Beach House Area. Partner organizations will provide boats and kayaks for attendees. Participants who own kayaks or canoes are encouraged to bring their own.
To attend and for more on the Susquehanna River Rally, please register here, and view last year’s highlight video here.
PennFuture is leading the transition to a clean energy economy in Pennsylvania, fighting big polluters with legal muscle, enforcing environmental laws, and supporting legislative policy that protects public health. PennFuture is engaging and educating citizens about the realities of climate change, and giving them the tools needed to influence lawmakers on the issues. Visit www.pennfuture.org for more information.
About National Parks Conservation Association Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its 1.3 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
PennFuture is the independent, nonpartisan voice leading the transition to a clean energy economy in Pennsylvania and beyond.
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PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com
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After 24 Years Pushing Pizza, Waitress Phyllis Penzo Gets a Tip to Remember: $3 Million
By David Grogan
Grouches and cynics who like to believe that old-fashioned honesty withered and died in the acid rain of modern life, read no further.
There comes from the township of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. the cheering tale of an upright lawman who kept his word and his honor in the face of a $3 million temptation to wheedle and backtrack away from a promise. Our hero is police detective Robert Cunningham, 55. For the last eight years he’s been a regular at Sal’s Pizzeria in nearby Yonkers, N.Y., where Phyllis Penzo has waited on tables six nights a week for the last 24 years. Two weeks ago Cunningham was about to settle the tab on his usual meal of linguini and clam sauce when, on impulse, he offered Phyllis a deal instead of a tip. “Hey, Phyl, I’ve got a lottery ticket in my pocket,” he said. “Why don’t we split the card?” Penzo sat down and helped Cunningham choose the numbers for his $1 entry in the New York State Lotto Competition.
On April Fool’s Day Cunningham called Penzo at 9 a.m. to tell her he had just won $6 million dollars and that she was entitled to half of it. “I was still asleep,” she remembers. “I said, ‘Don’t bother me now.’ ” Cunningham convinced her that it was not a joke. She screamed, and woke her husband, Robert, a construction worker, to tell him they were rich. The two families will split the lottery payout of $285,715 a year over 21 years.
Cunningham, a 30-year police veteran with a salary of $30,000, insists that he never considered keeping all of the money for himself. “I’ve been a simple person all my life,” he says. “If I say I’ll do something, I do it. I hope money never changes me.” Nor did his wife, Gina, 50, complain about him being overly generous. “I told her I had a partner and we were splitting down the middle,” he says. “That was it. That is how our family operates.”
The homespun millionaires have modest plans for spending the money. Cunningham wants to add on to the house that he and Gina, who have four grown children, share with her elderly parents. Penzo, who has two grown children, plans to buy a house so that she and Robert can move out of their rented apartment.
Surprisingly, both Cunningham and Penzo are anxious to get back to work. Cunningham has already assured his colleagues he is not quitting. “I love my work,” he says. The argument that twice as much money might make him twice as happy doesn’t convince Cunningham. “I play it straight down the line,” he says. “I’ve always been that way.”
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Hospitality »
Tata Sons
Indian Hotels
Cyrus Mistry
Indian Hotels' Q2 No.s give more hints of turnaround
The turnaround journey began in 2014 when Cyrus Mistry , the then chairman of Tata Sons and the current chairman of Indian Hotels, appointed Rakesh Sarna as the chief executive officer.Rajesh Naidu | November 07, 2016, 13:00 IST
ET Intelligence Group: The performance of Indian Hotels in the September quarter has instilled confidence among investors that the turnaround story of the Tata Group-promoted iconic chain of hotels is intact. Its debt is receding, while operating profitability is improving, thanks to the strategy of divesting some loss-making overseas ventures and better cost control.
In the quarter, the company's net loss reduced to Rs 26.7 crore from Rs 151.9 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, helped by the sale of Taj Boston and gains from currency hedging. It was also able to curtail operating costs -fuel costs fell 9% and employee expenses were down 5%. As a result, operating profit before depreciation (EBITDA) increased by 14% to Rs 70.6 crore. This is despite a 1.1% drop in revenue to Rs 884 crore.
The turnaround journey began in 2014 when Cyrus Mistry , the then chairman of Tata Sons and the current chairman of Indian Hotels, appointed Rakesh Sarna as the chief executive officer. Under Sarna's leadership, the company sold off loss-making assets, including the Taj Boston property and stake in Belmond (formerly Orient Express Hotels). Together, these divestments brought in Rs 1,100 crore, which came in handy to reduce the company's debt.
Sarna also focused on improving efficiency through cost control and enhancing customer engagement.Introduction of new customer loyalty programmes, cutting food and beverage expenses, developing a centralised system for resource allocation and enabling direct room booking through hotel websites to save on commissions paid to thirdparty agents were the key initiatives.
The results of the strategy are vis ible. The consolidated net loss was reduced to Rs 60.5 crore in FY16 from Rs 553 crore in FY14. In addition, after seven consecutive fiscals of decline, the company's standalone EBIDTA margin improved to 18.8% in FY16 from 17.7% in the prior fiscal, a report by Emkay Research said. According to the brokerage, the company's net debt fell to Rs 4,070 crore in FY16 from Rs 4,130 crore in FY15. The reversal in the compa ny's performance has not gone unnoticed on the bourses. The stock gained 37% in a year till the day Tata Sons announced the dismissal of Cyrus Mistry as chairman on October 24. Since then, however, it has lost over 14%.
Analysts expect the company to turn profitable at the net level by the end of the current fiscal. According to Bloomberg consensus estimates, Indian Hotels would record a net profit of Rs 88.8 crore for FY17 and Rs 247.8 crore for FY18 after posting losses for four straight fiscals.
In view of the turnaround efforts and optimism among analysts, the decision of the company's board of directors to support Cyrus Mistry as chairman of Indian Hotels doesn't come as a surprise. Considering FY18 estimated earnings, the company's enterprise value is 16.8 times EBIDTA compared with the three-year average of 24.
Tags : Hospitality, Tata Sons, Tata Group, Indian Hotels, EBITDA, Cyrus Mistry
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Bengaluru civic body raids star hotel; owner pays property tax due for three years
M/s Gstaad Hotels, pay property tax due for three years.They began to confiscate the furniture but stopped the operation midway after the owner paid the tax.TNN | August 12, 2016, 18:00 IST
BENGALURU: BBMP officials stormed into a star hotel on Vittal Mallya Road on Thursday morning and demanded the owner of the property, M/s Gstaad Hotels, pay property tax due for three years. They began to confiscate the furniture but stopped the operation midway after the owner paid the tax.
Yathish Kumar, joint commissioner, BBMP East, who headed the operation, said, "They were trying to buy some time and negotiate the amount, which runs into Rs 5.59 crore. We had to issue a distress warrant, which authorizes an officer to seize a person's goods."
"We stopped seizing the chairs and other items when the owner agreed to pay the whole amount. They had problems with the town planning officials but that is not our concern, he added.
BBMP is finalizing a list of top 25 defaulters, including commercial buildings, who have to pay up to Rs 17 crore property tax. "There is another hotel in the same area that has to pay Rs 50 lakh; it has agreed to do so within the next two or three days," Kumar said.
'No prior intimation'
Deepak Raheja, owner of Gstaad Hotels, said as per a high court order, BBMP was to refund them Rs 1.46 crore along with 16% interest from 2011.
"We requested BBMP to adjust the above-mentioned amount and the Shantinagar ARO sent us a letter dated 23.03.2011 agreeing to the same. After deducting the above amount with interest, we repared a demand draft for Rs 1.19 crore but the ARO declined to accept it. On Thursday morning, BBMP officials visited our hotel and pasted a recovery attachment notice. They began to seize the furniture from the lobby without prior intimation. It was shocking that BBMP made the recovery in such a manner. Due to the pressure, we made the payment," he said.
Tags : Regulatory, Hotels, money matters, Bengaluru
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THE IONIZATION/STRUCTURAL RELATIONSHIPS IN SOME METAL-MOLECULE AND QUADRUPLY-BONDED METAL-METAL INTERACTIONS.
azu_td_8415045_sip1_w.pdf
BLEVINS, CHARLES HENRY, II.
Chemical bonds.
Coordination compounds.
Metal-metal bonds.
This dissertation describes the experimental study of the electronic-structural relationships of selected mononuclear transition-metal sulfur dioxide, cyclopentadienyl and carbonyl complexes and the application of the information gained from these to the study of quadruply-bonded dimetallic complexes. These pertinent observations result from the application of photoelectron spectroscopy (p.e.s.) as a probe into the bonding, charge-distribution and excited state effects which contribute to the specifics of the ground and excited state molecular structures. The first part of this discussion centers around a specific study of the exemplary bonding probe, SO₂, with the well characterized ArM(CO)₂ metal fragment, where Ar = Bz and Cp and M = Cr, Mn and Re. A comparison of the ionization information with the structural details and molecular orbital calculations reveals not only the surprising coordinating similarity of SO₂ and CO in these complexes, but also the electronic origin for the counter-intuitive SO₂ bonding configuration. This work then moves to a more dramatic example of electronic control of ground state molecular structure; the crystallographically determined distortion of the coordinated Cp ring in Cp*Rh(CO)₂. The electronic origin of this distortion is graphically shown with the aid of two and three dimensional experimental and theoretical electron density maps. The structural effects of removing bonding electrons from quadruply-bonded dimetallic complexes is then investigated. This study incorporates the use of high-resolution p.e.s. for the novel observations of metal-metal vibrational structure in the predominantly metal ionizations providing direct information of the bonding influence of specific metal electrons. Particular attention is focused on the delta-ionization process of MO₂(O₂CCH₃)₄. The final chapter presents a comprehensive study of the valence and core ionizations of the series of quadruply-bonded M₂(X₂CR)₄ complexes, where M₂ = Cr₂, Mo₂, MoW, and W₂, X = O and S, and R = H, CH₃, CD₃, CF₃, CH₂CH₃, CH₂CH₂CH₃ and C(CH₃)₃. The changes in the electronic structure in both the ground and excited states of these molecules is presented and, where appropriate, compared to structural changes. The study of this series not only demonstrates how p.e.s. can be used to monitor the electronic effects of specific chemical modifications, but also reveals surprising excited state features related to facile charge-reorganization processes.
Metal, ligand, and symmetry influences on metal-metal bonds: Photoelectron spectroscopy and theory
Lichtenberger, Dennis L.; Lynn, Matthew Allen (The University of Arizona., 2000)
Three sets of metal-metal bonded systems of the form M₂(L ͡ L)₄ have been studied by gas-phase ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations to understand the electronic structures of and bonding in these molecules. The ligand sets range from the relatively poor electron donor trifluoroacetate ligand, to hydroxymethylpyridinate (mhp), and finally to the relatively strong electron donor N,N'-diphenylformamidinate (form) ligand. Not only does this study elucidate the methods by which metal and ligand interact throughout a series of differing electron donor ligand sets, but it also presents a cohesive understanding of the electronic structures of these systems in terms of overall molecular symmetry. In particular, the relative stabilities and orbital characters of the metal-metal bonding and antibonding orbitals are probed to understand the ability of a particular ligand set to affect the ability of two metal atoms to bind together. First, compounds of the form M₂(form)₄ (M = Cr, Mo, W, Ru, Rh, Pd) are examined. The spectra of the metal-metal quadruple bond-containing systems (i.e., M₂(form)₄ where M = Cr, Mo, W) are used to identify several metal- and ligand-based ionization features, which can then be used to identify the additional metal-based features in the spectra of the remaining systems. Given the ease with which functional groups can be added to the formamidinate ligand, a series of substituted Mo₂(form)₄ systems have been prepared and their ionization data have been compared with solution-phase electrochemical results. Next, the electronic structures of M₂(O₂CCF₃)₄ (M = Mo, Rh) are studied. Variable energy photon experiments reveal a predominance of ligand character in the M-M σ and π orbitals, despite the relatively poor overall electron donor ability of the ligand. The means by which such a ligand can interact by symmetry with these metal orbitals are studied by computational methods. Finally, the bonding in M₂(mhp)₄ (M = Cr, Mo, W, Ru, Rh) systems is probed. The lower symmetry of these molecules and the intermediate donor properties of this ligand set allow for correlation with the electronic structures of M₂(form)₄ and M₂(O₂CCF₃)₄. Unlike for the higher symmetry systems, ligand involvement in the M-M δ bond is observed and can be understood in terms of molecular symmetry arguments.
Rotational Spectroscopy of Simple Metal Carbon Clusters: Resolving the Beauty of Fine and Hyperfine Interactions in Metal Monoacetylides and Metal Carbides
Ziurys, Lucy M.; Randtke, Jie Min; Ziurys, Lucy M.; Brown, Michael; Miranda, Katrina; Sanov, Andrei (The University of Arizona., 2016)
Pure rotational spectra of simple metal carbon clusters that relevant to transition metal synthesis and catalysis have been obtained using Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) techniques combined with millimeter-wave direct-absorption methods. Rotational spectra of metal acetylides (CuCCH, ZnCCH, Li/Na/KCCH, MgCCH, AlCCH, CrCCH), diatomic metal monocarbide (CrC) and T-shape metal dicarbides (YC₂ and ScC₂) were recorded in the 4–650 GHz frequency regime. Measurements of weaker isotoplogues including ⁶⁶ZnCCH, ⁶⁸ZnCCH, Zn¹³C¹³CH, ZnCCD, Li/Na/KCCD, CrCCD, Y¹³C¹²C, Y¹³C¹³C, Sc¹³C¹³C, were also studied to aid in structural determinations. This work is the first study of ZnCCH and ScC₂ by any type of spectroscopic technique. Hyperfine splittings in MgCCH and Li/Na/KCCH have also been resolved and the weak isotoplogues of YC₂ have been measured for the first time. Potential interstellar molecules ScO and FeCN were studied using the FTMW techniques in the 4–62 GHz frequency regime. Spectra of the zinc insertion product ClZnCH₃ were additionally recorded in the 10–30 GHz (FTMW) and 260–296 GHz (direct absorption) frequency ranges, along with weaker isotopologues Cl⁶⁶ZnCH₃ and Cl⁶⁸ZnCH₃. This works is the first measurement of zinc insertion products using the FTMW-DALAS techniques. The data were analyzed implementing an effective Hamiltonian, allowing for accurate spectroscopic parameters to be established. From rotational constants, the molecular geometries were accurately determined. Electronic properties were also assessed, including the degree of covalent vs ionic character in a chemical bond, and the molecular orbital composition. The fundamental physical and chemical properties of these benchmark species were obtained in order to gain insight into their role in larger molecular systems, test theoretical calculations, and, in certain cases, provide accurate rest frequencies for astronomical searches.
Electronic structure investigations of multiple bonding between atoms: From metal-nitrogen triple bonds to metal-metal triple and quadruple bonds
Lichtenberger, Dennis L.; English, Jason B. (The University of Arizona., 2002)
The nature of multiple bonding involving transition metal atoms has been explored via photoelectron spectroscopic and computational studies of molecules containing metal-metal quadruple and triple bonds as well as of molecules containing formal metal-nitrogen triple bonds. The principles governing the nature of the multiple bonding in these systems are similar whether the multiple bonding occurs between two transition metals or between a transition metal and a nitrogen atom. First, the electronic structures of the R₃M≡N molecules, where R = ᵗBuO (Cr, Mo, W); iPrO (Mo); (CH₃)₂CF₃CO (Mo); and Cl (Mo), are examined by photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with density functional calculations. To assign the features seen in the photoelectron spectra, close attention is paid to the effects of (1) metal substitution and (2) alkoxide (or Cl) substitution. Examination of the photoelectron spectra of the full series of alkoxide-substituted molecules allows the relative positions of the ionizations from the M≡N σ and π orbitals to be identified. Of great importance to the electronic structure of these molecules are the alkoxide orbital combinations that mix strongly with the M≡N σ and π orbitals. The importance of the ancillary ligand combinations is clearly demonstrated by the photoelectron spectroscopic and computational studies of Cl₃Mo≡N. The replacement of the alkoxide ligand with chlorides greatly simplifies the resultant photoelectron spectrum, allowing all of the valence ionizations to be assigned. Next, the bonding in the M₂X₄(PMe₃)₄ molecules, where M = Mo (X = Cl, Br); W (X = Cl); and Re (X = Cl, Br, I), is explored by photoelectron spectroscopic investigations in conjunction with electronic structure calculations. From these investigations, the ionizations from the metal-based orbitals as well as several ligand-based orbitals have been assigned. The first ionization energies of both the molybdenum (δ) and rhenium (δ*) molecules decrease as the electronegativity of the halide increases. The origin of this inverse halide effect is explored. Finally, the nature of the quadruple metal-metal bond in the M₂(chp)₄ molecules (M = Cr, Mo, W; chp = 2-chloro-6-oxo-pyridinate) is probed. For all three metal systems, an ionization from the M₂ δ orbital can be seen. This is only the second time a distinct ionization feature has been noted for ionization of the delta orbital from a dichromium molecule. Comparisons with the previously studied M₂(mhp)₄ molecules (mhp = 6-methyl-2-oxo-pyridinate) allow for a better understanding of the electronic structure of these molecules.
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Size frequency distribution of the β-amyloid (aβ) deposits in dementia with Lewy bodies with associated Alzheimer’s disease pathology
Richard A. Armstrong
Nigel J. Cairns
The objective is to study β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology (DLB/AD). The size frequency distributions of the Aβ deposits were studied and fitted by log-normal and power-law models. Patients were ten clinically and pathologically diagnosed DLB/AD cases. Size distributions had a single peak and were positively skewed and similar to those described in AD and Down’s syndrome. Size distributions had smaller means in DLB/AD than in AD. Log-normal and power-law models were fitted to the size distributions of the classic and diffuse deposits, respectively. Size distributions of Aβ deposits were similar in DLB/AD and AD. Size distributions of the diffuse deposits were fitted by a power-law model suggesting that aggregation/disaggregation of Aβ was the predominant factor, whereas the classic deposits were fitted by a log-normal distribution suggesting that surface diffusion was important in the pathogenesis of the classic deposits.
Size frequency distribution of the β-amyloid (aβ) deposits in dementia
Rights statement: © Springer-Verlag 2009
Neurological Sciences
Published - 1 Dec 2009
© Springer-Verlag 2009
dementia with Lewy bodies, Alzheimer’s disease, beta-Amyloid deposits, size frequency distributions, log-normal model, power-law model
Cortical degeneration in chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change
Armstrong, R. A., McKee, A. C., Stein, T. D., Alvarez, V. E. & Cairns, N. J., 1 Mar 2019, In : Neurological Sciences. 40, 3, p. 529–533 5 p.
Laminar degeneration of frontal and temporal cortex in Parkinson disease dementia
Armstrong, R. A., 8 Feb 2017, In : Neurological Sciences. In press, 5 p.
Tourette syndrome and socioeconomic status
Aldred, M. & Cavanna, A. E., 30 Sep 2015, In : Neurological Sciences. 36, 9, p. 1643-1649 7 p.
Christian VII of Denmark and Tourette syndrome: fact or fiction?
Cavanna, A. & Cavanna, A. E., Oct 2014, In : Neurological Sciences. 35, 10, p. 1611-1612 2 p.
Premonitory urges and repetitive behaviours in adult patients with Tourette syndrome
Rajagopal, S. & Cavanna, A. E., 30 Jun 2014, In : Neurological Sciences. 35, 6, p. 969-971 3 p.
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Gil Garnier
Professor, Chemical Engineering
EmailGil.Garnier@monash.edu
Research Output (189)
Professor Gil Garnier works in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Monash University and is the Director of the Australian Pulp and Paper Institute (APPI). His current research interests are focused on the application of colloids and polymers to surfaces, adhesion, composites, and the process of paper making. At APPI he is head of a multidisciplinary team which uses nanotechnology for surface engineering, bioprinting and the development of novel specialty papers.
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Development of these applications will have a profound impact on the health of society and on the environment. For instance, bioprinting can make testing for diabetes-2 more accessible, cheaper and environment friendly by eliminating the use of plastics and materials in novel once-only applications. In the environment, use of bioprinting allows for the effective testing for toxins in water to establish its purity.
Professor Garnier and Dr Wei Shen are also investigating the printing of living cells. A proof of their success is the recent 'black and white' picture of the Monash Surface Engineering team printed on paper with a single protein. This accomplishment confirms the practicality of printing functional fluid as a novel manufacturing process. Printing for producing flexible and inexpensive solar panel is the next challenge.
The success of the group lies in multidisciplinary collaborations with experts in the fields of surface and material science, printing, biochemistry and biomaterials. Professor Garnier works closely with his colleague Dr Wei Shen, from Monash's Chemical Engineering Department, with Dr George Thouas from Biological Engineering, and Dr John Forsythe in the Department of Materials Engineering and in the Cooperative Research Centre for Polymers.
There are wider applications in water treatment, food technology, tissue engineering and pharmacology that the Surface Engineering Research group is conducting. In his broader research, Professor Garnier is investigating the properties of paper with ceramic fibres (catalytic paper) by using nanomaterials in the adsorption process of carbon dioxide. In this project he is collaborating with Professor Paul Webley in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Bioactive Paper
Biorefinery
Cellulose Composites
Colloids and Surface
Sustainable Processes
4 Chapter (Book)
3 Comment / Debate
Carboxylated nanocellulose foams as superabsorbents
Mendoza, L., Hossain, L., Downey, E., Scales, C., Batchelor, W. & Garnier, G., 7 Mar 2019, In : Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 538, p. 433-439 7 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Dynamics of stain growth from sessile droplets on paper
Hertaeg, M. J., Tabor, R. F., Berry, J. D. & Garnier, G., 1 Apr 2019, In : Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 541, p. 312-321 10 p.
Engineering nanocellulose hydrogels for biomedical applications
Curvello, R., Raghuwanshi, V. S. & Garnier, G., 1 May 2019, In : Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 267, p. 47-61 15 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Other › peer-review
Enhancing printing resolution on hydrophobic polymer surfaces using patterned coatings of cellulose nanocrystals
Prathapan, R., Glatz, B. A., Ghosh, A. K., Michel, S., Fery, A., Garnier, G. & Tabor, R. F., 4 Jun 2019, In : Langmuir. 35, 22, p. 7155-7160 6 p.
IdentiCyte: simple red blood cell identification software
Garnier, G. F. G., Manderson, C. A., Giri, S. & Garnier, G., 1 Jan 2019, In : SoftwareX. 9, p. 223-229 7 p.
View all 189 research output
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Finch, Caroline
4Blitvich, Jennifer 3Hayen, Andrew 3Petrass, Lauren 2Hatfield, Julie 2White, Peta 1Bilston, Lynne 1Boufous, Soufiane 1Brown, Jill 1Dennis, Rebecca 1Du, Wei 1Fortington, Lauren 1Gamage, Prasanna 1Garnham, Jennie 1Maher, Shelley 1Otago, Leonie 1Payne, Warren 1Poulos, Roslyn 1Reynolds, Michael 1Siesmaa, Emma
51117 Public Health and Health Services 41106 Human Movement and Sports Science 3Parental supervision 3Sports injury 2Cricket 2Drowning prevention 2Questionnaire 2Risk perception 2Swimming pools 2Wounds and injuries 11103 Clinical Sciences 11116 Medical Physiology 1Abdominal injury 1Accidents 1Beaches 1Child 1Cohort study 1Epidemiology 1Hospitalisation
8Journal article 3Conference paper
Adaptation, translation and reliability of the Australian 'Juniors Enjoying Cricket Safely' injury risk perception questionnaire for Sri Lanka
- Gamage, Prasanna, Fortington, Lauren, Finch, Caroline
Authors: Gamage, Prasanna , Fortington, Lauren , Finch, Caroline
Relation: BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine Vol. 4, no. 1 (2018), p. 1-9
Description: Objectives Cricket is a very popular sport in Sri Lanka. In this setting there has been limited research; specifically, there is little knowledge of cricket injuries. To support future research possibilities, the aim of this study was to cross-culturally adapt, translate and test the reliability of an Australian-developed questionnaire for the Sri Lankan context. Methods The Australian 'Juniors Enjoying Cricket Safely' (JECS-Aus) injury risk perception questionnaire was cross-culturally adapted to suit the Sri Lankan context and subsequently translated into the two main languages (Sinhala and Tamil) based on standard forward-back translation. The translated questionnaires were examined for content validity by two language schoolteachers. The questionnaires were completed twice, 2 weeks apart, by two groups of school cricketers (males) aged 11-15 years (Sinhala (n=24), Tamil (n=30)) to assess reliability. Test-retest scores were evaluated for agreement. Where responses were <100% agreement, Cohen's kappa (κ) statistics were calculated. Questions with moderate-to-poor test-retest reliability (κ <0.6) were reconsidered for modification. Results Both the Sinhala and Tamil questionnaires had 100% agreement for questions on demographic data, and 88%-100% agreement for questions on participation in cricket and injury history. Of the injury risk perception questions, 72% (Sinhala) and 90% (Tamil) questions showed a substantial (κ =0.61-0.8) and almost perfect (κ =0.81-1.0) test-retest agreement. Conclusion The adapted and translated JECS-SL questionnaire demonstrated strong reliability. This is the first study to adapt the JECS-Aus questionnaire for use in a different population, providing an outcome measure for assessing injury risk perceptions in Sri Lankan junior cricketers.
Adapting an established measure of supervision for beach settings. Is the parent supervision attributes profile questionnaire reliable?
- Petrass, Lauren, Blitvich, Jennifer, Finch, Caroline
Authors: Petrass, Lauren , Blitvich, Jennifer , Finch, Caroline
Relation: International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion Vol. 18, no. 2 (2011), p. 113-117
Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
Description: The Parent Supervision Attributes Profile Questionnaire (PSAPQ), developed to measure aspects of caregiver supervision and protectiveness and previously applied within playgrounds and in the home, was modified for implementation in a beach setting. To assess the test-retest reliability of the PSAPQ beach modification (PSAPQBEACH), 20 caregivers completed the PSAPQ-BEACH twice, over a mean interval of 18 days (range 10-24). The test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the PSAPQ-BEACH scores were compared to those of the PSAPQ. All scores on the PSAPQ-BEACH were higher than the PSAPQ, providing evidence that the questionnaire remains reliable after its adaptation to beach settings. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.
Measuring children's self-reported sport participation, risk perception and injury history : Development and validation of a survey instrument
- Siesmaa, Emma, Blitvich, Jennifer, White, Peta, Finch, Caroline
Authors: Siesmaa, Emma , Blitvich, Jennifer , White, Peta , Finch, Caroline
Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 14, no. 1 (2011), p. 22-26
Description: Despite the health benefits associated with children's sport participation, the occurrence of injury in this context is common. The extent to which sport injuries impact children's ongoing involvement in sport is largely unknown. Surveys have been shown to be useful for collecting children's injury and sport participation data; however, there are currently no published instruments which investigate the impact of injury on children's sport participation. This study describes the processes undertaken to assess the validity of two survey instruments for collecting self-reported information about child cricket and netball related participation, injury history and injury risk perceptions, as well as the reliability of the cricket-specific version. Face and content validity were assessed through expert feedback from primary and secondary level teachers and from representatives of peak sporting bodies for cricket and netball. Test-retest reliability was measured using a sample of 59 child cricketers who completed the survey on two occasions, 3-4 weeks apart. Based on expert feedback relating to face and content validity, modification and/or deletion of some survey items was undertaken. Survey items with low test-retest reliability (κ≤ 0.40) were modified or deleted, items with moderate reliability (κ=0.41-0.60) were modified slightly and items with higher reliability (κ≥ 0.61) were retained, with some undergoing minor modifications. This is the first survey of its kind which has been successfully administered to cricketers aged 10-16 years to collect information about injury risk perceptions and intentions for continued sport participation. Implications for its generalisation to other child sport participants are discussed. © 2010 Sports Medicine Australia.
Fielders and batters are injured too : A prospective cohort study of injuries in junior club cricket
- Finch, Caroline, White, Peta, Dennis, Rebecca, Twomey, Dara, Hayen, Andrew
Authors: Finch, Caroline , White, Peta , Dennis, Rebecca , Twomey, Dara , Hayen, Andrew
Description: Internationally, there is a lack of good quality, prospectively collected injury data reported for junior club cricketers. This study describes injury rates according to age level of play and playing positions in junior community-level club cricketers to identify priorities for prevention. A prospective cohort study was used to monitor injuries in 88 under 12 years (U12), 203 U14 and 120 U16 players from the Ballarat Junior Cricket Association, Australia over the 2007/2008 playing season. Injury rates were calculated per 1000 participations when batting, bowling or fielding in matches and training sessions. Injury rate ratios were used to compare rates across age levels of play and position of play. Overall, 47 injuries were reported. Injury rates increased with age level of play with only one U12 player injured. Match injury rates were 3.57 per 1000 U14 participations versus 4.80 per 1000 U16 participations. Training injury rates were 4.20 per 1000 U14 participations versus 5.11 per 1000 U16 participations. On a proportionate basis, injuries occurred equally to fielders, batters and bowlers. There was a trend towards more injuries occurring while batting and fielding in matches, and more injuries occurring while bowling and batting during training sessions. In conclusion, injury rates in junior cricket players are low, but increase with age level of play. Unlike adult forms of the game, injuries occur to fielders and batters at least as frequently as to bowlers, indicating that preventive strategies need to be developed for all junior players and not just bowlers, as has been the focus previously. © 2009 Sports Medicine Australia.
Age-specific parental knowledge of restraint transitions influences appropriateness of child occupant restraint use
- Bilston, Lynne, Finch, Caroline, Hatfield, Julie, Brown, Jill
Authors: Bilston, Lynne , Finch, Caroline , Hatfield, Julie , Brown, Jill
Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 14, no. 3 (2008), p. 159-163
Description: Objective: To determine the factors that influence appropriate restraint usage by child occupants across the age range for which any type of child restraint may be appropriate (0-10 years). Design: Randomized household telephone survey. Setting: Statewide survey, New South Wales, Australia. Subjects: Parents or carers of children aged 0-10 years. Main outcome measures: Parental reporting of appropriateness of child restraint. Methods: Demographic information and data on age, size, restraint practices, parental knowledge of child occupant safety, and attitude to restraint use was collected using a structured interview. Data were analysed using logistic regression after cluster adjustment. Results: Inappropriate restraint use by children was widespread, particularly in children aged 2+ years. Overall, parental knowledge of appropriate ages for restraint transitions was associated with increased likelihood of appropriate restraint use. Lower levels of formal parental education, larger families, parental restraint non-use, and parent/child negotiability of restraint use were predictors of inappropriate restraint use. For particular child age subgroups, the parental knowledge that predicted appropriate restraint use was specific to that age group. Most parents felt that they knew enough to safely restrain their child, despite widespread inappropriate restraint use. Conclusions: Parents are more likely to make appropriate restraint choices for their children if they possess restraint knowledge specific to their children's age and size. Educational campaigns may be most effective when they provide information for specific ages and transition points. Strategies to overcome parents' misplaced confidence that they know enough to restrain their children safely are also indicated.
How do parents supervise their children at pools and playgrounds?
Type: Text , Conference paper
Relation: Paper presented at 2008 Australian Water Safety Conference : Water safety - everyone's responsibility, Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales : 15th-16th May 2008 p. 30-33
Description: Methods: A six-hour observation of behaviour potentially associated with injury risk was conducted at six public pools and four playgrounds. Supervision and behaviour were quantified using an observational tool based on the Saluja et al.1 model and Morrongiello’s 2 definition of supervision. Infants to 10 year-old children engaged in play and their carers were observed. Child behaviour, corresponding parent supervision, and parental intervention were recorded. Results/Evaluation: Chi-square tests showed higher levels of supervision were associated with specific behaviours in pools and playgrounds. Factors significantly linked to level of parental supervision included child age; parent age; number of children for whom parents were responsible; and in aquatic settings, swimming ability of the child. Discussion: Level of parental supervision differs with children’s play. Despite increased dangers in aquatic environments, parents supervised less at pools than playgrounds highlighting inappropriate parental dependence on lifeguards. Conclusion: Future research examining the relationship between supervision and young children’s risk of drowning at other aquatic environments is required. Attention, proximity and continuity of supervision should be assessed. Findings will enable key water safety stakeholders to further highlight this phenomenon in drowning prevention programs.
Moving forward : How best do we investigate parental supervision of children at the beach?
- Blitvich, Jennifer, Petrass, Lauren, Finch, Caroline
Authors: Blitvich, Jennifer , Petrass, Lauren , Finch, Caroline
Relation: Paper presented at 2008 Australian Water Safety Conference : Water safety - everyone's responsibility, Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales : 15th-16th May 2008 p. 103-106
Description: Introduction/background: Previous University of Ballarat research identified that parents supervise their children with less vigilance at swimming pools than playgrounds, despite the serious consequences potentially associated with inadequate supervision at pools. The closed environment of public pools and the presence of lifeguards may be influential in lowering parental guard. The proposed research project aims to investigate parental supervision at beaches, specifically related to child injury risk and drowning prevention. The research is still in the design phase and the researchers seek input from water safety experts to assist in project development. This session will be interactive, providing ample opportunity for audience members to contribute to discussion. Methods: Following a brief outline of our research to date and current plans for further research, the presenters will invite expert comment from conference delegates regarding study design. It is anticipated that the ensuing discussion will be interesting and stimulating. Discussion: Consequent to this session and the discussion it fosters, the researchers will refine their research plans. The opportunity to receive input from the group of interested and concerned individuals who make up the Water Safety 2008 audience will enhance the proposed research, leading to an improved research project, the findings of which will help water safety stakeholders in targeting their drowning prevention programs. Conclusion: Expert opinion is a recognised process for research design development. Water Safety 2008 provides an ideal forum to enhance the proposed research through interaction with practitioners. In turn, the findings of this research will provide important information to those actively involved in the fight against drowning.
Area socioeconomic status and childhood injury morbidity in New South Wales, Australia
- Poulos, Roslyn, Hayen, Andrew, Finch, Caroline, Zwi, Anthony
Authors: Poulos, Roslyn , Hayen, Andrew , Finch, Caroline , Zwi, Anthony
Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 13, no. 5 (Oct 2007), p. 322-327
Description: Objective: To explore the relationship between child injury morbidity and socioeconomic status. Design: A cross-sectional analysis of routinely collected hospital separation data for unintentional injury for the period 1999/2000-2004/2005. Setting: All statistical local areas of New South Wales (NSW), Australia Subjects: 110 549 unintentional injury-related hospital separations for NSW children aged 0-14 years. Main outcome measure: Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for hospital separations for unintentional injury (for all injury and by individual injury mechanisms) by quintile of socioeconomic disadvantage for children aged 0-14 years. Results: There was no clear relationship between socioeconomic status and injury when all injury mechanisms were combined. However, children in the more disadvantaged quintiles were more likely to be hospitalized than children in the least disadvantaged quintile for the following injury mechanisms: motor cycle ( point estimates for IRRs across the socioeconomic status quintiles ranged from 2.95 to 4.02 relative to the least disadvantaged quintile), motor-vehicle occupant (IRR range 1.33-2.27), pedestrian (IRR range 1.43-2.54 for ages 0-4 years), pedal cyclist ( IRR range 1.30-1.50), fire and burns ( IRR range 1.37-2.00), and poisoning (IRR range 1.32-1.91). Similarly, hospital separation rates for foreign body, other transport, and pedestrian (aged 5-9 years) injuries were also greater, but the differences were not statistically significant across all quintiles. These injury mechanisms accounted for about 25% of the hospital separations. Conclusions: The relationship between relative socioeconomic disadvantage and injury risk in NSW children is strongest for transport-related injuries, fires and burns, and poisoning. Interventions that address these specific injury mechanisms may help to reduce the disparity between high and lower socioeconomic groups.
Differences in injury rates in child motor vehicle passengers in rural and urban areas in New South Wales, July 2000 to June 2004
- Du, Wei, Finch, Caroline, Hayen, Andrew, Hatfield, Julie
Authors: Du, Wei , Finch, Caroline , Hayen, Andrew , Hatfield, Julie
Relation: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Vol. 31, no. 5 (2007), p. 483-488
Description: Objectives: To investigate whether the pattern of hospitalised injuries in injured child motor vehicle passengers involved in traffic crashes differs in rural and urban residents of New South Wales (NSW). Methods: This study compared injuries of hospitalised child motor vehicle passengers resident in rural areas with those from urban areas. The NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection (ISC), a population-based dataset, was used to select cases for the period of July 2000 to June 2004. The hospitalised injury rate was calculated according to urban/rural status using Poisson regression, injury rate ratios (IRR) comparing rural and urban children were computed overall and for specific injury types. Results: Overall, 1,286 children (aged 0-15 years) residing in NSW were identified from the NSW ISC internally linked datasets as being separated from hospital for injuries resulting from a motor vehicle crash. The overall hospitalised injury incidence rates for child motor vehicle passengers resident in rural and urban NSW areas were 46.75 (95% CI 36.63-59.66) and 20.13 (95% CI 17.94-22.58) per 100,000 children respectively. The rural/urban IRR for comparing the incidence of hospitalisation was significantly elevated (IRR=2.10, 95% CI 1.78-2.48).The IRR was also significantly elevated across most injury types. The largest risk disparity between rural and urban children was in 9-12 year-olds (IRR=2.33, 95% CI 1.73-3.13). Conclusion and Implications: There is an elevated injury incidence rate in rural resident children, compared with their urban counterparts. This differential should be addressed in future road safety initiatives. © 2007 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2007 Public Health Association of Australia.
Epidemiology of scalds in vulnerable groups in New South Wales, Australia, 1998/1999 to 2002/2003
- Boufous, Soufiane, Finch, Caroline
Authors: Boufous, Soufiane , Finch, Caroline
Relation: Journal of Burn Care & Research Vol. 26, no. 4 (2005), p. 320-326
Description: In this study, the recently introduced International Classification of Disease, 10th revision, code for hot tap water scalds was used to examine the epidemiology of these cases and other scalds injuries in children younger than 5 years of age and adults aged 65 years and older. Although the trunk was the most common area in which scalds occurred, young children were more likely to sustain head and neck scalds (15%, 95% confidence interval 10.8-18.3) because of hot tap water than older people (2%, 95% confidence interval 0.2-4.4). Hospital separation rates for hot water scalds decreased significantly during the study period in both boys ([chi]2 = 15.6, df = 1, P < .001) and girls ([chi]2 = 5.6, df = 1, P < .001) who were younger than 5 years of age, which might be attributable to the introduction of new standards regulating the provision of hot tap water to various buildings. The severity of scalds cases did not seem to be correlated with the length of hospital stay, which remained unchanged in both age groups.
Parental perceptions of sports injury risk
- Otago, Leonie, Garnham, Jennie, Reynolds, Michael, Spittle, Michael, Payne, Warren, Finch, Caroline, Maher, Shelley
Authors: Otago, Leonie , Garnham, Jennie , Reynolds, Michael , Spittle, Michael , Payne, Warren , Finch, Caroline , Maher, Shelley
Relation: Paper presented at 2005 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Fifth National Physical Activity Conference, Fourth National Sports Injury Prevention Conference : Promoting Innovation, measuring success, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Victoria : 13th-16th October 2005
Description: Health benefits of children’s participation in physical activity such as reduced risk of obesity and diabetes are promoted to parents. However parents’ perceptions of injury risk in sports and how this perception may affect their choice of sport for their child is unknown. The study surveyed 5385 parents of children from 5 – 17 years in 46 sports. A total of 887 surveys were returned. The Health Belief model was the theoretical framework for the study and the sports were divided into four groups – contact, incidental collision, limited contact and non-contact. Mothers completed the forms in 63% of cases and 52.2% of the children were males. The child selected the sport in 51.6% of` cases and generally parents did not believe that their involvement in their child’s sport choice would ensure their child was safer from injury. In the main parents did not believe the sport their child participated in was less likely to cause injury than other sports and this trend increased as the level of contact increased. Trained coaches were seen as very important in reducing injury risk in sport. Generally modified sport was not seen to positively impact on the parent’s choice of sport and parents did not think that cost of protective equipment was a barrier to providing for their child. Parents generally felt that they could assess the risk of injury in a sport but were not influenced by the risk of injury when allowing their child to play a particular sport.
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California Top Judge Banishes ICE From Courthouses
24 Aug, 2017 by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
California has lost its ever freaking mind. Their highest ranking judicial officer has just called for the banishment of ICE from courthouses in that state. She has actually told them to stay out of the courthouses there. Her remarks come as the California Assembly legislature takes up Senate Bill 54, a sanctuary state proposal that would prohibit the use of state and local public resources to aid federal immigration enforcement. If it is enacted, the so-called California Values Act would effectively cut off all voluntary cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE, except in cases required by federal law. One of the provisions in the bill prevents ICE agents from accessing jails to interview or take custody of criminal aliens without a judicial warrant. Since no judge in California would issue such a warrant, they would effectively be blocked from doing their jobs period.
This judge is claiming that courthouses should be a safe space for illegal aliens. Hell, they want the whole state to be a refuge for these criminals. Why haven’t we cut off federal funding to California? Paging Jeff Sessions… just do it already. Law enforcement officials say this measure will force ICE to go into communities looking for illegal immigrants, where many without criminal convictions will also be apprehended. So be it then.
From The Daily Caller:
California’s highest ranking judicial officer has waded once again into the politically fraught debate over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policy.
State Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who has previously condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations at court facilities, said Tuesday she has a duty to call out federal agents who arrest illegal immigrants in or near the California’s courthouses.
“If no one ever speaks out, then we can never be the land of the free and the home of the brave,” Cantil-Sakauye said at a panel discussion hosted by state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Cantil-Sakauye is one of California’s most outspoken public officials in a state widely regarded as the toughest opponent of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda. In a March letter, she criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions and then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly for allowing ICE to conduct operations in California courts, saying that immigration agents were “stalking” illegal immigrants and undermining “access to equal justice.”
Both Jeff Sessions and Chief of Staff Kelly told California that ICE would be forced to go into areas looking for even more illegal immigrants, but these asshats aren’t listening. Sanctuary city policies will force ICE agents to find and arrest people in public spaces including courthouses. If a judge tries to block them, they will be in violation of federal law and subject themselves to federal prosecution.
Cantil-Sakauye dismissed that argument this week, saying that courts should be safe havens where illegal immigrants are free to testify as crime witnesses or victims without fear of running into ICE officers. “We’re seeing people not coming to court, not reporting to court, not coming for services (and) not coming to testify … This has an effect not only on the immediate case and the safety of communities, but people who live in the communities,” she said. Just keep pushing it and they will force the federal government to slam the lid down on California hard and then bring in the National Guard to restore some kind of rule of law there.
Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
Terresa Monroe-Hamilton is an editor and writer for Right Wing News. She owns and blogs at NoisyRoom.net. She is a Constitutional Conservative and NoisyRoom focuses on political and national issues of interest to the American public. Terresa is the editor at Trevor Loudon's site, New Zeal - trevorloudon.com. She also does research at KeyWiki.org. You can email Terresa here. NoisyRoom can be found on Facebook and on Twitter.
More articles by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
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The San Francisco Writers' Foundation Chooses 826 National as 2019 Auction Co-beneficiary
SAN FRANCISCO - Jan. 29, 2019 - s4story -- The San Francisco Writers Foundation, the division of the 501(c)3 nonprofit San Francisco Writers Conference that supports literacy and writing both regionally and nationwide, today announced the selection of 826 National as the co-beneficiary of their 2019 charity auction series.
Auction coordinator Gordon Warnock said of 826 National, "We wanted to partner with a homegrown San Francisco institution that also has a nationwide impact on the written arts, and 826 came first and foremost to mind. I've followed their work since they were in a single building at 826 Valencia Street, and I'm thrilled to see them now coast-to-coast as the largest youth writing network in America."
826 National amplifies the impact of a national network of youth writing and publishing centers, and the words of young authors. They serve as an international proof point for writing as a tool for young people to ignite and channel their creativity, explore identity, advocate for themselves and their community, and achieve academic and professional success.
"It's so inspiring that this community of writers from around the country is gathering to celebrate the power of the written word. 826 National is committed to our vision that students everywhere, regardless of circumstance, have the tools and support they need to write their own paths forward. We hope to one day see our young authors taking the stage at the San Francisco Writers Conference," said 826 National CEO Laura Brief.
About the SFWF Auction Series
Thanks to a generous outpouring of donations from bestselling authors, top literary agents, Big 5 publishers, PR professionals, and others, the San Francisco Writers' Foundation is once again holding a series of eBay-hosted online auctions beginning February 1st, 2019 as well as an on-site auction at the 16th annual San Francisco Writers' Conference, Presidents Day Weekend at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Visit https://sfwriters.org for more information, and follow @SFWC and @826National on Twitter.
About 826 National
826 was founded in 2002 by author Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Calegari. Rooted in the belief that strong writing skills are essential for academic and lifelong success, the 826 Network now serves more than 69,000 students ages 6 to 18 each year, thanks to the support of almost 5,000 volunteers. Currently, 826 has chapters in eight major U.S. cities: Boston, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. There are an additional 33 domestic and 20 international 826-inspired organizations.
Approximately 38,000 students participate in free programs provided by 826 Network chapters. Each chapter offers five core programs: After-School Tutoring, Field Trips, Workshops, Young Authors' Book Project, and In-School programs—all free of charge—for students, classes, and schools.
826 reaches an additional 31,000 students (and counting) through 826 Digital, 826 National's new online platform that makes 826's inventive writing resources available to educators everywhere for free.
To learn more about how you can get involved with 826's movement for writing and creativity, please visit the 826 National website at www.826national.org.
Gordon Warnock, SFWF, auction@sfwriters.org
Maggie Andrews, 826 National, maggie@826national.org
Source: San Francisco Writers Conference
Filed Under: Publishing
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Michael "Mish" Shedlock is a registered investment advisor representative for SitkaPacific Capital Management.
Obama Sends in Still More Troops to Syria, Says it Reflects 'Success'
By Mike Shedlock - Apr 26, 2016, 6:32 AM CDT
President Obama's "Boots on the Ground" Strategy has worked so well, he now needs to send 500 more boots (250 more troops) to Syria.
Obama says sending more troops to Syria reflects the "success" of his plan.
Curiously, Obama's often repeated plan was not more boots on the ground, but rather "No Boots on the Ground".
Please consider US to Send 250 More Troops to Syria
The US is to send an additional 250 troops to Syria, significantly expanding its military presence in the country in an effort to increase the pressure on Isis.
Announcing the deployment on Monday, President Barack Obama said the troops would help local forces fighting the militant group in its Syria strongholds. The decision will increase the number of US personnel in Syria to 300.
Mr Obama said the decision reflected the "success" of the 50-strong special operations force deployed to Syria in October to train and assist US-backed groups.
The new commitment, which follows the decision last week to send a further 250 troops to Iraq, comes as the peace talks in Geneva involving the Syrian opposition and the regime are close to collapse.
On April 19, I wrote Obama "No Boots on the Ground" Sends More Boots on the Ground.
Today we learn breaking pledges to send in no troops is a measure of success.
CADJPY Short-term Elliott Wave Analysis
Oil Trading Alert: Double Top or Further Rally?
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There is no plan B
Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel
Directed by Joe Carnahan
Craig Younkin June 12, 2010
My head still hurts. From the hectic opening minutes where director Joe Carnahan shoe-horns in action and character introductions as if he’s composing a movie trailer instead of a film to the moronically cartoonish characters to the onslaught of plotless, joyless, and thrill-less violence, “The A-Team” is hardly a movie, it’s a disaster of mind-numbing proportions.
What story there is has Hannibal (Liam Neeson) and his team, Face (Bradley Cooper), B.A (Quinton “Rampage” Jackson), and Murdock (Sharlto Copley), being set up for trying to steal Iraqi money plates during the Gulf War. The guys escape from prison and go after the people really responsible for the theft.
What follows is another action movie that thinks being loud and dumb is the same as being funny and entertaining. The women of “Sex and the City 2” got criticized for being feminine bimbos earlier this year and I wonder if the guys from the “A-Team” will catch the same kind of crap for being masculine versions.
There doesn’t seem to be a brain among them, but they do have dick-wagging, gun-toting, fist-pumping, cigar-puffing, gruff-speaking over-machismo. If there was meant to be any chemistry between these characters, it was lost on me. They exist only to go from one unbelievable, incomprehensibly fast-paced gun battle, explosion, or heist to the next. I’m not even sure I know the “special-op talent” of most of them.
And if there was supposed to be something between Bradley Cooper’s Face and Jessica Biel’s Agent Charisa Sosa, well then that was even less developed. Some might say it does the cheesy television show justice (don’t know, the show was before my time), but I say we gotta stop doing justice to long-gone television, especially if this is the best were going to get. “The A-Team” is A-Headache.
Tagged With: A-TEAM, Jessica Biel, Joe Carnahan, Liam Neeson
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Guardianship & Conservatorship Ozarks Elder Law 2019-07-03T14:35:26+00:00
Guardianship is a legal relationship whereby the Probate Court gives one person (the guardian) the power to make personal decisions for another (the ward). A conservatorship is a legal relationship where the Probate Court gives one person (the conservator) the power to make financial decisions for another (the protectee). A guardian/conservator may be appointed when a Probate Court determines that an individual is unable to care for himself/herself by reason of mental illness, mental retardation or physical incapacity.
Guardianship is appropriate when impaired judgment or capacity poses a major threat to a person’s welfare. A medical evaluation by a licensed physician is necessary to establish the proposed ward’s condition. However, only a court can determine the need for a guardian and/or a conservator.
Assuming that a physician is prepared to attest to the proposed ward’s incompetence, a petition must be filed with the Probate Court requesting the appointment of a guardian. The proposed conservator may be required to file a bond with the court. Then, the court directs that close relatives and the ward him/her self receive notice of the filing of the petition for guardianship. The court sets a date by which anyone wishing to object may do so, including the proposed ward. An attorney is appointed to represent the interests of the proposed ward/protectee. Then a hearing is held where a judge decides whether a guardian should be appointed.
An appointment may last until the death of the ward or the guardian, until the ward is able to establish that he/she is competent, or until the guardian resigns or is removed by the Probate Court.
Unless limited by the court, the guardian has total control over the personal decisions of the ward. This includes deciding where the ward will live, determining how the ward’s funds will be spent, and making routine medical decisions for the ward.
The conservator must account carefully for all of the ward’s income and any expenditure made on his or her behalf. This is accomplished by the guardian filing an inventory listing the ward’s assets with the court as of the date of appointment and by filing annual accounts with the court detailing all the income and expenses the ward has. For unusual or extraordinary expenses or the sale of real estate or property, the conservator has to seek approval of the court in a separate proceeding. A final account must be filed when the conservatorship is terminated. The conservator is liable for his or her acts until the court allows (approves) the account.
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Tag Archives: Diversity
Through The Lens: Immigration and Cultural Diversity by Kourosh Shahbazi
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Tag Archives: American Gigolo
Cynthia Nixon, Joseph Massad, and not being an American gigolo
Posted on 26 January 2012 by scottlong1980
Many years ago, I decided never to take an interest in the sex lives of people more famous than myself. This came after hanging out with some famous people and some not so famous people, and noticing that all the excitement lay with the latter. Anal sex with one of the stars of American Gigolo, as described to me by a friend in excruciating detail, was not nearly as innovative or arousing as the mute inglorious milkings available every night in the refreshing anonymity of the rushes in the Back Bay Fens. As of now, there are something like six billion people in the world, and 5,999,999,999 of them are more famous than I am. The boost to my mental concentration that derives from ignoring all their sex lives is considerable.
Nixon, partner Rojo Caliente, and child: Perfect, but not by choice
Still, there’s Cynthia Nixon. Which one did she play on TV? I confess, I can’t even remember. Oh, Sex and the City, that hootchy-kootchy halftime show from ancient times! —when I caught five minutes of a rerun in a hotel last month, it seemed as dated as Baroque opera. But that doesn’t stop her from continuing to be a celebrity, and most people really do care about celebrities’ sex lives. And so most everybody noticed when she told the New York Times:
“I gave a speech recently, an empowerment speech to a gay audience, and it included the line ‘I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay, and gay is better.’ And they tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice. And for me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me. A certain section of our community is very concerned that it not be seen as a choice, because if it’s a choice, then we could opt out. I say it doesn’t matter if we flew here or we swam here, it matters that we are here and we are one group and let us stop trying to make a litmus test for who is considered gay and who is not. … Why can’t it be a choice? Why is that any less legitimate? It seems we’re just ceding this point to bigots who are demanding it, and I don’t think that they should define the terms of the debate. I also feel like people think I was walking around in a cloud and didn’t realize I was gay, which I find really offensive.”
The hue and cry over what you can say about your own kind has been almost as bad as what Hannah Arendt stirred up. John Aravosis told Nixon she didn’t understand herself. First off, she’s wrong about who she is: “What she means is that she’s bisexual, and doesn’t quite get that most people aren’t able to have sexual romantic relationships with both men and women because they’re just not into both genders.” But moreover, she doesn’t experience sexuality the way she thinks she does:
It’s not a “choice,” unless you consider my opting to date a guy with brown hair versus a guy with blonde hair a “choice.” It’s only a choice among flavors I already like … [S]o please don’t tell people that you are gay, and that gay people can “choose” their sexual orientation, i.e., will it out of nowhere. Because they can’t. And when you tell the NYT they can, you do tremendous damage to our civil rights effort. … [E]verything you say can and will be used against you by the gay-haters. And when you say things like this, using incendiary buzzwords that don’t really mean what you’re trying to say – when you try to define the rest of us by your incredibly poorly chosen, and incorrect, words – you hurt us all. This was an incredibly irresponsible interview.
Or as another blogger wrote:
Is anyone else here thinking maybe Cynthia Nixon isn’t really gay? Like maybe she’s bisexual, or gay-until-retirement, or gay-until-Ryan-Gosling-calls? … statement pissed off a lot of gay people, and not just because being gay is NOT a choice for most of them. Years of talking with gay friends over the years have taught me something important: language matters. Gay, queer, bi, whatever — people have some pretty strong opinions about what those words all mean. And Cynthia could have been more sensitive with her language.
There’s an unlovely looniness here. First of all, no one should be forced to surrender their personal identity to political obligation. That’s the antithesis of a liberal society, and has nothing to do with any campaign for human rights. Second, no one has the right to decide or define anybody else’s sexuality for them — to select, for God’s sake, what you can say about yourself. The claim that a blogger who’s never even seen Cynthia Nixon (except in her TV role as a heterosexual) can determine who she is and how she can describe herself is simply silly. But it can also be as malignant as the idea that an activist in London can intuit, and inscribe in stone, the identities of a couple of teenagers in far-off Iran, a place he’s never seen or visited. I’ve written about this kind of gay imperialism extensively. In the US, it’s simply rude and repressive. Practiced elsewhere, it can kill.
The problem is that, in the US, we — the LGBT movement — have staked all our rights claims on the analogy with race. We are a people; we have our own culture and history, even though the categories that define us (so we contend) don’t; and, most importantly, our selves, like our skin colors, cannot change. Sexual orientation is something deep, unalterable, basic. It’s because it’s unchangeable that discrimination predicated on it is so wrong. And so we’re not defending people’s freedom; we’re defending their imprisonment in themselves. The argument goes: It’s bad enough not having any autonomy over the intimate aspects of your life. Do the state and society have to punish you for that too?
It’s when people try to escape that prison, even for a day’s parole, that we treat them as traitors to the cause.
Foucault grasping sexuality
Of course, this kind of argument is absurd — even about race. It ignores the innumerable historical experiences of “passing,” the different ways that white as well as black people have been defined, the differences in race’s definition around the world — the US conception is incommensurate with the Brazilian, for instance — the fact that the Irish were treated as a “race” in the early 19th century, and many more. To say this isn’t to deny the reality of race as a basis for injustice and a predicate for social division. But to treat it as an absolute fact, an ontological canyon separating some from others, is to ignore its history. Similarly, supposing “sexual orientation” is unchangeable ignores the fact that the category itself has changed since it was invented, and that it was only invented a hundred years or so ago. Sexuality, as Foucault grasped, doesn’t reveal some “truth” about us. (Even if it did, Aravosis would hardly be in a position to diagnose Nixon’s.) It reveals our shifting place in society; it’s made of ideas, dreams, opinions, not absolutes.
Of course, Nixon made it rather worse by explaining in another interview:
I don’t pull out the “bisexual” word because nobody likes the bisexuals. Everybody likes to dump on the bisexuals. … [W]e get no respect.
The thing is, though (and yes, I note how her own identity has shifted here), she’s right. In the politics of identity, bisexuals are hated because they stand for choice. The game is set up so as to exclude the middle; bisexuals get squeezed out. in the “LGBT” word, the “B” is silent. John Aravosis, for instance, says that if you’re into both genders, “that’s fine” — great! — but “most people” aren’t. First off, that rather defies Freud and the theory of universal infantile bisexuality. But never mind that. The business of “outing,” of which Aravosis has been an eloquent proponent, also revolves around the excluded middle. It’s not a matter of what you think of outing’s ethics, on which there’s plenty of debate. It’s that the underlying presumption is that one gay sex act makes you “gay” — not errant, not bisexual, not confused or questioning: gay, gay, gay. I saw you in that bathroom, for God’s sake! You’re named for life! It’s also that the stigma goes one way only: a lifetime of heterosexual sex acts can’t make up for that one, illicit, overpowering pleasure. As I’ve argued, this both corresponds to our own buried sense, as gays, that it is a stigma, and gives us perverse power. In the scissors, paper, rock game of sexuality, gay is a hand grenade. It beats them all.
And this fundamentalism infects other ways of thinking about sexuality, too. Salon today carries an article about multiple sex-and-love partners: “The right wants to use the ‘slippery slope’ of polyamory to discredit gay marriage. Here’s how to stop them.” I’ll leave you to study the author’s solution. He doesn’t want to disrespect the polyamorists:
I reject the tactic of distinguishing the good gays from the “bad” poly people. Further marginalizing the marginalized is just the wrong trajectory for any liberation movement to take.
That’s true — although whether we’re still really a liberation movement, when we deny the liberty of self-description, is a bit doubtful. But he goes on, contemplating how polyamory might in future be added to the roster of rights:
Really, there are a host of questions that arise in the case of polyamory to which we just don’t know the answer. Is polyamory like sexual orientation, a deep trait felt to be at the core of one’s being? Would a polyamorous person feel as incomplete without multiple partners as a lesbian or gay person might feel without one? How many “truly polyamorous” people are there?
Well, what if it’s not? What if you just choose to be polyamorous? God, how horrible! You beast! What can be done for the poor things? Should some researcher start looking for a gene for polyamory, so it can finally become respectable, not as a practice, but as an inescapable doom? (I shudder to think there’s one gene I might share with Newt Gingrich.)
What, moreover, if sexual orientation itself is not “a deep trait felt to be at the core of one’s being,” one that people miraculously started feeling in 1869, when the word “homosexual” was coined? What if it’s sometimes that, sometimes a transient desire, sometimes a segment of growth or adolescent exploration, sometimes a recourse from the isolations of middle age, sometimes a Saturday night lark, sometimes a years-long passion? What if some people really do experience it as … a choice?
What if our model for defending LGBT people’s rights were not race, but religion? What if we claimed our identities were not something impossible to change, but a decision so profoundly a part of one’s elected and constructed selfhood that one should never be forced to change it?
Now I have damaged the LGBT rights movement. I’m sorry, but you know, I didn’t really have a choice. The Devil made me do it, as Flip Wilson used to say. We’ll see how that argument washes in defending me against my fellow activists, as well as against the missionaries of Westboro Baptist Church — who surely must understand that when the Devil grabs either your argument or your genitalia, it’s hard to make him let go.
I suppose I have to do something for the gays to make up for it, but I don’t know what. Oh, wait, here’s the answer! I’ve just signed to star in Sex and the City III. Just wait till it comes out! In this exotic, erotic, fashion-filled romp, Joseph Massad and I fly to Dubai, argue about identity while hiding from the police in full niqab, and go shopping.
Posted in Human Rights, LGBT Rights | Tagged American Gigolo, anal sex, Cynthia Nixon, Foucault, identity, Joseph Massad, Michelle Stratton, Scott Long, Sex and the City, sexuality | 15 Replies
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Deborah Brown Communications
Dinner, Dancing and Casino Games For Dallas Symphony Debutantes
Deborah Brown
Aug 1 @ 7:56 am
Jordan, Avery and Natalie Davis.
Tuxedos and cocktail dresses were the attire for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s debutantes Casino Party held at the Belo Mansion on July 25. The debs, honor guard, and their families had a delicious buffet dinner, casino games, and dancing with live music.
The event was chaired by Eleanor McClendon Bond. Presentation Ball Chair is Carla Leffert and DSOL President is Lisa Loy Laughlin.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League introduced the 2018-2019 Debutantes during Announcement Weekend festivities May 31-June 2. The weekend marked the official start of a season of events culminating with the 33rd Presentation Ball, which will be held February 9, 2019.
The Presentation Ball, which was first held in 1987, is the largest fundraiser for the DSOL. Over $11 million has been raised for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through the annual event, which was created with the vision of long-time League member Tincy Miller, who chaired the first ball.
Photos by Deborah Brown
Tuxedos and cocktail dresses were the attire for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s debutantes Casino Party held in Arlington Hall at Lee Park on June 24....
Tuxedos and cocktail dresses were the attire for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s debutantes Casino Party held in Arlington Hall at Lee Park on July 8....
Stanley Korshak hosts Couture Gown Show for DSOL Debutantes
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League introduced the 2018-19 debutantes during Announcement Weekend festivities May 31-June 2. The weekend marked the official...
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Home / Society & Culture / Aboriginal Studies / Centralian Tourism
Centralian Tourism
The story of Centralian tourism’s remarkable development from its foundations in the make-do commercial enterprises of the 1920s until the 1970s, when the Territory became self-governing and Australia began to emerge as a destination of choice for international travellers
Centralian Tourism quantity
James Goulding
SKU: 450 Categories: Aboriginal Studies, Australian History, Military and Warfare, Northern Territory History, Travel and Tourism
Tourism is a major industry of Central Australia today. It is of national and international significance and interestingly the Hermannsburg Mission, the Aboriginal people and the military have each played a part in its history, consolidation and expansion, as have Federal and Territory administrations, interest groups and the interplay among tour operators.
Jim Goulding tells the story of Centralian tourism’s remarkable development from its foundations in the make-do commercial enterprises of the 1920s until the 1970s, when the Territory became self-governing and Australia began to emerge as a destination of choice for international travellers.
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Miss D and Miss N – An Extraordinary Partnership. The Diary of Anne Drysdale
Australia Through Women’s Eyes
Saints, Sinners and Goalposts – A history of All Saints East St Kilda
The Conscientious Communist: Ernie Lane and the Rise of Australian Socialism The Children of the Port Phillip Aboriginal Protectorate
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Home / Society & Culture / Religion / Through Their Eyes Sharply — Cultural Mission of the Sisters of St Joseph
Through Their Eyes Sharply — Cultural Mission of the Sisters of St Joseph
Through Their Eyes Sharply — Cultural Mission of the Sisters of St Joseph quantity
Aileen M. Farquer
SKU: 37 Categories: Australian History, Religion
For over a century, Catholic primary schools have made an immensely valuable contribution to education in Australia. This book explores the personal experiences of many who have been and are involved in such schooling, as sisters, teachers, parents and students. Their memories evoke both the positive and the harsh realities of school life. Past students often recall their parish church, First Communion, Confirmation or sitting with others at Sunday Mass. But most of all they remember the classroom: “All important was our learning to read, to write with pen and ink, to know our tables and grammar.”
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Droughts, Floods and Cyclones – El Niños that Shaped our Colonial Past
When the Labor Party Dreams – Class, Politics and Policy in NSW 1930–32
Cyril Hopkins’ Marcus Clarke
J.A. Lyons — The Tame Tasmanian Appeasement and rearmament in Australia 1932–39 Australia Through Women's Eyes
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Headteachers warn parents: there is not enough money to fund schools
September 28, 2017 | No Comments
The Guardian reports that the letter from more than 4,000 heads will tell around a million families that the government’s new national funding formula still means their children face an unfair “postcode lottery”, with some schools able to afford class sizes of 20 but similar schools in other regions forced to have classes of 35 pupils.
The heads argue that the proposed national formula – designed to iron out historic disparities in funding – will do little to solve the funding crisis affecting many state.
The letter includes analysis of government statistics that reveal a secondary school in York would get an average of £4,700 per pupil in 2018-19, compared with £6,450 for a pupil in Greenwich, London – nearly £2.5m a year less for a school with 1,400 students. Second worst off among secondary schools were those in Barnsley, where schools get an average of £4,729 per pupil, followed by Leicester, with £4,730.
Local authorities use different formulas to distribute funding in their area. For example, a secondary school pupil with low previous results would attract £2,000 in extra funding in Birmingham, compared with just £36 in Darlington.
“A school in a disadvantaged area of Crawley or a tough part of Barnsley will receive millions of pounds less than schools from similar socioeconomic areas in London or Manchester,” said Jules White, head at Tanbridge House school in West Sussex, who coordinated the letter.
The headteachers are urging parents to lobby their MPs for improved funding, following similar campaigns from heads at the end of the last school year, and from schools and unions during the run up to the election.
The headteachers put the inconsistencies in funding down to the fact that how much a school gains or loses is dependent on caps. “The caps are largely arbitrary and mean that any new per pupil funding is often based on the previously discredited formula,” the letter says.
Read more Headteachers warn parents: there is not enough money to fund schools
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Categories: Budgets, Employment, Primary, Secondary and Teaching.
Tags: Funding cuts, Headteachers and Justine Greening.
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HomeTrue Blue: Electron jumps make protein shine like an LED
True Blue: Electron jumps make protein shine like an LED
By Davide Castelvecchi
From Science News, March 1st, 2008; Vol.173 #9 (p. 131)
A protein known to chemists for its bright blue fluorescence may not be fluorescent after all. Instead, it gives off light by a mechanism similar to that of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), chemists report. The finding suggests that some of the oceans’ many bioluminescent animals may have been using the principle behind LEDs for millions of years.
The protein, antibody EP2-19G2, works in concert with an artificial organic molecule called stilbene, and is often used to label DNA molecules and to detect mercury contamination. Stilbene likes to lodge in a cozy hollow within the antibody’s structure. When ultraviolet rays strike, they excite one of stilbene’s electrons. In its free form, stilbene would then release its extra energy by letting a ring-shaped arm spin. But if stilbene is locked into place inside the antibody, it will instead release the energy by giving off a blue photon.
Scientists had assumed that this was banal fluorescence—an excited electron releasing a photon as it falls back to its normal state, says Richard Lerner of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif.
However, Lerner and his collaborators noticed that the antibody behaves differently than the common fluorescent dyes used in biology and chemistry labs do. For example, at lower temperatures it gives off less light, while fluorescent dyes give off more. Perhaps, the researchers thought, the luminescence could be the result not of an electron falling back to its lower-energy state, but of an electron jumping between molecules.
When an electron in stilbene jumps to an excited state, the lower-energy state is left with a void, Lerner explains. To fill the void, an electron could jump from the protein—specifically, from a tryptophan amino acid within it—to stilbene, leaving behind a positive charge. An electron would then jump from the stilbene to the tryptophan to fill that void. That electron would be jumping to a lower-energy state (in another molecule), and so emit the blue photon. This would make the complex an analog of LEDs—semiconductors that shine when a voltage helps some of their electrons fall into positively charged spots.
To test this assumption, the researchers tried a mutant version of the antibody in which a different amino acid replaced the tryptophan. “If you took out tryptophan, the whole phenomenon disappeared,” Lerner says, which points to the amino acid’s role in luminescence. The chemical reactivity of the light-emitting mixture also indicates that electrons are jumping between the two molecules, the researchers report in the Feb. 29 Science.
Nicholas Turro of Columbia University says that non-protein organic molecules are known to emit light by transferring charges. This case is unprecedented because it is a protein and is orders of magnitude brighter.
If proteins can shine like LEDs, says Lerner, perhaps nature has already discovered the trick and has been using it all along. “In biology, everything that can happen, will.”
Finding natural LEDs might be a long shot, says Mikhail Matz of the University of Texas at Austin. But, “we’ll be on the lookout.”
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