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Robert Reich: Boycott Those Who Trade with Trump Robert Reich , Newsweek Columnist and chancellor’s professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley On 2/27/17 at 11:10 AM EST Ivanka Trump brand shoes on sale in the clearance section at the Century 21 department store on February 10 in New York City. Robert Reich writes that we should make it unprofitable to work with Trump and advocates rejecting companies that do business with the president and boycotting companies whose CEOs collaborate with him. Drew Angerer/Getty Opinion Nordstrom Uber Boycott This article first appeared on RobertReich.org. Both Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, among other retailers, have dropped Trump brands, both Ivanka's and her father's. Their decisions came amid calls for a boycott against retailers that carry Trump products. Macy's dropped Donald Trump's clothing line early in his campaign after he called Mexican immigrants "killers" and "rapists." Now Macy's is under increasing pressure to drop Ivanka's as well. Related: Robert Reich: Trump's dangerous lies about voter fraud Travis Kalanick, Uber's CEO, quit Trump's economic advisory council after he was pressured by consumers and employees. That came after Trump's Muslim ban, and #deleteuber went viral. Keep the pressure on. Let's make it unprofitable to work with Trump. Boycott Trump. Reject companies that do business with Trump. Boycott companies whose CEOs collaborate with Trump. You need to be both a political activist and a consumer activist. Go to GrabYourWallet.org for a complete list of companies to boycott. Robert Reich is the chancellor's professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and a senior fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies. He served as secretary of labor in the Clinton administration, and Time magazine named him one of the 10 most effective Cabinet secretaries of the 20th century. He has written 14 books, including the best-sellers Aftershock, The Work of Nations and Beyond Outrage and, most recently, Saving Capitalism. He is also a founding editor of The American Prospect magazine, chairman of Common Cause, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and co-creator of the award-winning documentary Inequality for All. Robert Reich: Boycott Those Who Trade with Trump | Opinion Ethics Office Condemns Conway's Nordstrom Comments The Queens of Trumplandia Uber's Travis Kalanick To Leave Trump Advisory Group

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Amid Pentagon Probe, Ronny Jackson Appointed Chief Medical Advisor By LeeAnne Lowry The White House has announced the appointment of Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson as assistant to the president and chief medical advisor. Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump's former physician, is going to serve as assistant to the president and chief medical advisor, according to the White House. Jackson already has a history of serving in the White House. He was former President George W. Bush's White House physician starting in 2006 and continued to work in that role under the Obama and Trump administrations until last year. But Jackson is facing a Department of Defense investigation into misconduct claims against him. Those allegations include that he promoted a hostile work environment, drank on the job and over-prescribed medication. Last year, President Trump nominated Jackson to head the Veterans Affairs Department, but Jackson withdrew himself from consideration at the end of April after the allegations surfaced, though he denies any wrongdoing. Jackson also resigned as the commander-in-chief's personal doctor but stayed on as part of the White House's medical staff. Jackson drew public skepticism when he announced the President's physical exam results last year and claimed that the president was in, "excellent health," despite revealing that President Trump has a common form of heart disease and is borderline obese. The president also re-nominated Jackson for a military promotion and a second star on Saturday, but according to CNN he is unlikely to be considered for it until the Pentagon's probe is over. Additional reporting by Newsy affiliate CNN.

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Mexico: Second Journalist Murder of 2019 Written by Tajna Biscevic Jesus Eugenio Ramos Rodriguez has become the second journalist to be murdered in Mexico so far this year, after he was shot while having breakfast on Saturday morning. Journalists protest against rising violence in Mexico, 2010 (Photo: Knight Foundation, CC BY-SA 2.0)Fellow journalist and Coordinator of Social Communication for the President’s Office, Jesus Ramirez Cuevas condemned the murder on twitter and announced that the government will “strengthen the protection measures for human rights defenders and journalists.” “Freedom of expression is a right and fundamental element for democracy, justice and freedom,” said Ramirez. The Governor of the state of Tabasco, where Rodriguez was murdered, also made the announcement that local legislators are working on the creation of a Law for the Protection of Journalists, according to Mexican media. Local media interviewed witnesses to the shooting, who said that more than eight bullets hit Rodriguez at point blank range. The attacker had, after exiting a vehicle, headed straight towards Rodriguez while he was having breakfast with a local Morena (ruling party) leader and a former mayor. While the motive for the murder is not yet known, Rodriguez was the host of a popular radio show that aired twice daily. A few weeks earlier, on January 20, journalist Rafael Murua was discovered in ditch after having been reported missing. Murua had been in a government protection program for journalists and rights activists since 2016, after he had received death threats. Local media noted that, in his work, he was critical of the municipal president of Mulege Felipe Prado. A 2018 Reporters Without Borders report found Mexico to be the deadliest country for journalists which was not at war. Covering political corruption and organized crime makes journalists a target in the country, said the body. British human rights organization Article 19, which monitors attacks against freedom of speech in Mexico and Central America including violence against journalists, claims there is “a 99.75% impunity rate for crimes against freedom of expression.” It has documented the murder of 122 journalists in Mexico since 2000. Murders in Mexico have increased in recent years, with more than 33,000 recorded last year – a decade after the start of a military-led campaign to battle drug trafficking. mexico freedom of press media freedom murder

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Ohio Grand Chapter > About > History Dr. Rob Morris, the Poet Laureate of Masonry and a past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, is acknowledged as the “master builder” of the Order. A teacher and school administrator, he wrote more than 400 poems and several books which continue to be valued references in today’s Masonic libraries. He also made it his mission to share the tenets of Masonry with women. With the help of his wife, Charlotte, Dr. Morris developed the beautiful initiatory degress of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1850. The ceremony focuses on selected women of the Bible who demonstrated heroic conduct and high moral values The five degrees use these principles of charity, truth, and loving kindness–qualities that are as necessary in today’s world as they were in the 1800’s. While the Order of the Eastern Star has evolved over time, it remains rooted in charitable endeavors and fraternal fellowship and offers its members a wide variety of opportunities for personal growth and community involvement.

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Home » Doris Burke, Chris Webber Added to NBA 2K17 Commentary Team Doris Burke, Chris Webber Added to NBA 2K17 Commentary Team News / By Lowen Aglaya Commentary is one of the most controversial part of any video game. It can make or break your interest to the game. These commentaries are useful to improve gaming experience. Once a gamer disliked it, you just wasted another fan of the game. With just few weeks ahead and you will be able to play on NBA 2K17. NBA 2K posted a video about NBA 2K17 Commentary. In the video, Doris Burke and Chris Webber is added to the official lists of commentators. Meaning, they will join the team of Kevin Harlan and Greg Anthony. Moreover, I know that it sounded like similar to Madden NFL 17 but, this game commentary will make a huge impact on your game. NBA 2K made this approach to seal the monotony from the game. Do you agree that NBA 2K16 commentary is a bit boring? If yes, then this approach will solve it. You can see the full video trailer below. NBA 2K17 Commentary Video Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bqR1h5hfzI Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: NBA 2K17 Dynamic Commentary Trailer (PS4/XBOX ONE/PC) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bqR1h5hfzI) Hall of Famer Steve Smith told that the game is amazing in many ways. He said that the game new dynamics on commentary systems is a new idea to make the game realistic.Furthermore, the game analysts were invited to record their actual voice. Later in the video, we see how nba 2k17 improved its in-game audio. 2K sports added new pack of recorded voice lines from different coaches in the league. On the other hand, this update included 11 national broadcasters, 400 hours of commentary, and new post-game report. Lastly, Your myCareer Player will have a chance to be interviewed by Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. You can answer by choosing from the options. NBA 2K17 Commentary is a solid idea for NBA 2K. It is something to look for in NBA 2K17 Game. You can still pre-order it if you have time.

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Grateful Earnhardt Jr. Ready for Normalcy at Darlington After Plane Crash By Pete Iacobelli • Published at 11:15 am on August 30, 2019 Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Dale Earnhardt Jr. is grateful to be back at Darlington Raceway preparing to drive two weeks after he and his family escaped a plane in flames following a crash in Tennessee. Earnhardt, set to drive the Xfinity Series event here Saturday, said he and his wife Amy are still processing the frightening events Aug. 15 at the airstrip in Elizabethton, where he had flown to call the Bristol race as an analyst for NBC Sports. "I'm just thankful and ready to live our lives," Earnhardt said Friday. Earnhardt was with Amy, year-old daughter Isla, two pilots and the family dog. Investigators say the plane bounced multiple times during a crash landing and veered off the runway before ending up on a highway in flames. Everyone aboard was safe, though the 44-year-old Earnhardt received treatment on his sore back to ensure he could race at Darlington. It will be his first time driving in NASCAR since finishing fourth at Richmond last year. Earnhardt said the crash was a scary experience, but one he hopes to get past. "It was a very tough experience to go through," Earnhardt said. "I try not to get into that. Things happen for a reason. You just try to learn from it and move on." Earnhardt was NASCAR's most popular driver for 15 straight seasons until his retirement from the Cup Series two years ago. Earnhardt went through a lengthy process to return to the track from concussion symptoms in 2016 after an accident in Michigan. He missed the second half of the season as he recovered and was cleared for what became his final year of racing in 2017. Earnhardt has since been a fixture in NBC's booth, bringing his wry, insightful perspective to audiences the past two years. Earnhardt wouldn't discuss details of the crash, citing a continuing investigation into the accident. He also wouldn't go into his feelings at seeing video of the accident, a frightful scene where the family, pilots and the dog were seen rushing from the plane as the flames burned. "We've just been taking some time for ourselves," he said. Amy and Isla will attend Earnhardt's race, he said. Earnhardt said he's taken enormous solace is being around the track and the NASCAR community. "This is familiar to me, the faces, the people around the race track, the people in the media," he said. "It's great to be doing something normal." Whether that means contending for a win this weekend is another matter. Earnhardt picked Darlington because of its throwback weekend and wanted to be part of the festivities. He also chose it because it requires an intelligence between handling the rough track surface and avoiding the walls on the 1.366-mile oval that come upon drivers so quickly, he said. "It's not about the results anymore; it's about the experience," Earnhardt said. He will drive his JR Motorsports No. 8 in his first Xfinity race at Darlington since 1999. If things work out sponsorship-wise, Earnhardt said he's got plans to run the Xfinity race at Homestead in Florida next March. Earnhardt said he's not afraid to get back on a plane. "I don't have any problem with flying," he said. He acknowledged the healing is not over after thinking about what could've been. He's relying on others to help him through. "I've got a lot of great people around me who are supportive. Got a lot of great contacts of people who'll be able to help me with any hurdles and obstacles," he said. "I don't see any problems."

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Hiding the Greens From the Obama Daughters Chefs try to please entire first family By Jim Iovino • Published at 5:41 am on February 23, 2009 Viewer-submitted photo It's not easy being green at the White House dinner table. While giving a group of culinary students a tour of the first family's kitchen, Michelle Obama talked about the challenges the White House chefs have when trying to please the whole family. "Sometimes kids are like, 'It's green,' and that bright green color is horrible to them," she said. "So they have some interesting challenges, just meeting the taste issues of a 7 and 10 year old, and making food that's healthy and delicious." A good example: The first lady said she is fond of a White House creamed spinach soup. "That is an amazing spinach, a creamed spinach without cream," she said. "There is no way you would eat that and not think that it wasn’t filled with cream and cheese." White House chef Cristeta Comerford said to keep calories down the soup is made with sauteed spinach, olive oil and shallots and at the last minute is whipped into a puree. She called it "delicious." Nonetheless, Michelle Obama said, “Sasha still didn’t like it.” The students from the L'Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, Md., got a look at what it takes to become a White House chef and how the chefs prepare some of the Obamas' favorite dishes. "There hasn't been anything I don't like," Michelle Obama said. "There's some mean waffles and grits that are made in the morning that have become a regular staple for some of us. I don't eat waffles everyday." Kaitlin Giuffre, 22, of Bethesda, a pastry student who works in a Bethesda bakery said, “I guess I did not realize how much planning goes into every little detail of the menu.” Other facts from the kitchen: -- “The president loves scallops,” according to the first lady. -- The White House Huckleberry Cobbler is “one of the first family’s favorites.” -- Mrs. Obama is contemplating coming up with her own china. “I think so, I think that’s, that’s part of the job,” she said. -- The White House partners with local growers, farmer and purveyors. For security reasons, vendors “don’t know that it is going directly here,” Comerford said. The produce comes from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.

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Author’s rural lifestyle discussed in new book ‘Desperate Farmwives’ By SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ, contributing writer Jan 14, 2020 at 9:29 AM Jan 14, 2020 at 9:34 AM Sometimes fact is more humorous than fiction, and Missouri-based author Elisha Wells Stroupe regaled folks with her stories of farm life Tuesday evening at the Ericson Public Library. The author of the new book “Desperate Farmwives,” Wells Stroupe shared anecdotes about her life in Armstrong, MO., tending to a busy farm and keeping up with the antics of her husband and two young children. From chasing bottle-fed lambs around her property to castrating cows, the author finds the humor in everyday events. “I read about her book online and it sounded really fun,” said Librarian Ronda Kelley. “This was part of her book tour around Iowa.” Wells Stroupe grew up in a small town not far from where she currently resides. With a life-long interest in writing, she started her own neighborhood newspaper while in the second grade but abandoned the idea when she couldn’t convince her (grown-up) customers to pay for the product. Vowing to move to the “big city” someday, she landed in Sioux City and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in writing from Briar Cliff University, followed by a Master of Arts in education from Columbia College in Columbia, MO. Envisioning a career in public relations or publishing in a big Midwestern city, she ended up meeting her future husband — a life-long farm boy — three days after returning to her hometown. The rest is history. “In general, husbands and wives working together, some people can pull it off, but my husband and I usually end up yelling at each other,” she said with a laugh. “At the time, the (incidents in the book) were really aggravating but now they’re funny.” The author spent a decade teaching high school English and also working in a library, taking time out to be a stay-at-home parent after the birth of her second child, alternating domestic tasks with her husband who had stayed home after their first kid was born. “I thought I would have a lot of time to write a book staying at home, but it ended up taking me five years,” she noted. The book is part of a larger project: a popular online blog. Waking at 5 a.m. each day, Wells Stroupe has one hour of alone time to work on her blog or write for other publications. She envisions penning a second book devoted to telling humorous children’s stories. “I’ve been on the farm since 2004. One thing I learned is how much work it takes to actually run a farm and how many problems you end up solving in a day. It’s really chaos a lot of the time,” she said. To learn more about Stroupe, visit www.desperatefarmwives.weebly.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Her book is available on Amazon.com.

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OB Studio North Herts Events North Herts Radio EXTRA The Book Programme Presented by Jane Dismore Sunday at 4pm A series of 5 programmes where writers from Hertfordshire and beyond talk about their work and share their experiences on the writing process Allan Esler Smith and Hugh Bicheno on War Zone (6th October 2019) The accountant, the spy and the film director on war. Allan Esler Smith author of Theirs is the Glory: Arnhem, Hurst and Conflict on Film, and Hugh Bicheno author of Razor’s Edge: The Unofficial History of the Falklands War and many other books on battles and war, discuss war and their work, combining it with music that underlines their themes. This thought-provoking hour will leave you thinking about the role of authors and wondering about war: what is it good for? JS Watts and Emma Vandore A Story in the Making (13th October 2019) Put a poet and novelist together with a writer and journalist and you will get fascinating stories. Emma Vandore, journalist and author of Schizophrenie Francaise and novel-in-progress, AND, BREATHE and J.S. Watts, author of six books including the magical novel Witchlight, talk about writing, the art of telling stories and the creative writing group they run together in Bishop’s Stortford. Everyone loves a good story, so listen in to the ones they have to tell. JD Davies and Hugh Bicheno Writing Historical Fiction (20th October 2019) Historical fiction is one of the most popular types of fiction. Why is this? What makes a good story, and how accurate to a particular period should an author try to be? How should a writer deal with past mindsets that we find uncomfortable today? Join Hugh Bicheno, author of stories set in the nineteenth-century United States, and David Davies, author of bestselling series of sixteenth- and seventeenth century naval fiction, for a lively and fascinating discussion of these and other questions. Rowena M Love and JS Watts Poetry Today (27th October 2019) What is poetry today? Is it words on the page or a public performance? Does it matter if what a person reads or hears isn’t what the poet intends? Where can you find inspiration? Award-winning poets J.S. Watts and Rowena M Love discuss answers to these and other questions, interspersed with engaging readings of their own work, and music that resonates to their themes. Patricia O' Sullivan, JD Davies and Jane Dismore The Pleasure and the Pain of writing Non-Fiction (3rd November 2019) Monarchs of today and yesterday, noisy naval battles, and the Irishmen who joined Hong Kong's Police Force. Just some of the subjects that royal biographer Jane Dismore will be discussing with fellow non-fiction writers Patricia O'Sullivan, an expert on the social history of Hong Kong, and maritime historian JD Davies. They share the pleasure of holding original documents and the pain of trying to find a fresh angle; the thrill of discovering new material and the trickiness of interviewing sensitive subjects. With rousing music too, it's a programme to remember. Jane loves history and heritage and writes about interesting people from the past and the present. Her latest book is Princess: The Early Life of Queen Elizabeth II, published in the UK and the USA. She also writes features for magazines and newspapers, including The Times, History Today, Country Life and Britain at War. While living abroad she had a regular spot on the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) and, after qualifying as a solicitor back in the UK, was the ‘Legal Eagle’ for a local radio station. Jane began her professional life as an English teacher but always found time to write in her free time. She lives in St Albans. Her website is at https://janedismore.com/ You can follow her on Twitter @JaneDismore and on Facebook JaneDismore Author J.S.Watts is a British poet and novelist who weaves the fantastical and the literary with other vibrant strands to create glowing, multi-faceted writing. Born in London, she now lives just outside of Cambridge. Her poetry, short stories and non-fiction appear in a wide variety of publications in Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the States, including Mslexia and Popshot and have been broadcast on BBC and Independent Radio. She has edited various magazines and anthologies and performed her poetry across England, Scotland and Wales, but not yet in Ireland (should anyone from Ireland be reading this). She co-runs the Bishop’s Stortford “Writers’ Club” with Emma Vandore. J.S.’s two poetry collections, Cats and Other Myths and Years Ago You Coloured Me, are published by Lapwing Publications, as is her multi-award nominated SF poetry pamphlet, Songs of Steelyard Sue. Her latest poetry pamphlet, The Submerged Sea, is published by Dempsey & Windle. Her novels, A Darker Moon - dark literary fiction and Witchlight – paranormal, are published in the US and UK by Vagabondage Press. Her new novel, Old Light, is due out from Vagabondage Press in late 2019 or early 2020. For further details see her website: www.jswatts.co.uk and Facebook page www.facebook.com/J.S.Watts.page David Davies is a bestselling and multiple prize-winning author and historian. He is a vice-president of the Society for Nautical Research, a former chairman of the Naval Dockyards Society, and a Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society and the Society for Nautical Research. He won the Anderson prize for the best maritime history book of 2017 for Kings of the Sea: Charles II, James II and the Royal Navy (which also won a Certificate of Merit for the Mountbatten Prize), and the Samuel Pepys prize for 2009 for Pepys’s Navy: Ships, Men and Warfare, 1649-89. He was shortlisted for the Mountbatten Maritime Literary Award in 2014 for Britannia’s Dragon: A Naval History of Wales. He is also the author of the bestselling ‘journals of Matthew Quinton’, a highly acclaimed series of naval historical fiction set in the Restoration period, beginning with Gentleman Captain, with eight titles published to date; The Times has described it as ‘a series of real panache’. He is currently working on a new trilogy of Tudor naval novels for Canelo Publishing. His website is at jddavies.com. Rowena M Love is an award-winning Scots poet and writer now living in Hertfordshire. She writes in both English and Scots and has won the McCash Scots Poetry Prize (the premier prize for Scots language poetry) as well as other competitions for her English poetry. Her poems have appeared in print, online and been broadcast on radio around the world. She has two solo collections (The Chameleon of Happiness and Comin Oot in the Wash) as well as a joint anthology (Running Threads) and audio book (Lip Synch) from the Makar Press, a poetry collective she helped set up. You can read more of her work at www.rowenamlove.co.uk. As well as her poetry, she is currently writing a lot about learning skills for children for the company she has started with her husband: www.got-a-head.com Emma Vandore is a writer and journalist. She has reported from over 30 countries on six continents, most recently covering Sawbridgeworth for the Bishop’s Stortford Independent. With JS Watts, she runs a creative writing group in Bishop’s Stortford, which is always looking for new writers. Her 2007 book Schizophrenie Francaise, a satirical take on French politics in the Chirac era, was described as the book all the presidential candidates should read. She talks about her novel-in-progress, AND, BREATHE, which she began after winning the National Centre for Writing's Escalator talent development scheme and receiving Arts Council funding. An early draft was shortlisted for London Book Fair’s The Write Stuff. www.emmavandore.com Bicheno was born in Cuba to British parents in 1948. He was educated in Cuba, Chile and Scotland before winning a scholarship to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he won a first class honours degree in History. He was first an academic and then an officer in the British Secret Intelligence Service. Later he became a security consultant in Italy and across Latin America, specializing in kidnap negotiations. He lived in the United States for several years and became a naturalised citizen, but now lives in England. He is bilingual English-Spanish, speaks and reads Italian and French. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Bicheno Allan Esler Smith is a writer who works in two areas that are poles apart- war and tax. As a Chartered Accountant his Good Retirement Guide has been a number one best seller in its category on Amazon. He also writes on war films and his job is made easier as he looks after the Estate of one of the UK’s leading war film directors, the Ulsterman Brain Desmond Hurst. The task is made a pleasure for Allan as Hurst was his Uncle. Hurst survived Gallipoli in 1915. He made over 30 films across three continents in a career that spanned the silent films of the 1920s in Hollywood to the 1960s. War films include The Lion Has Wings, Dangerous Moonlight, Theirs is the Glory and Malta Story and Hurst was a master of the genre. This is all brought together in Theirs is the Glory. Arnhem, Hurst and Conflict on Film which Allan co-authored with renowned Arnhem author David Truesdale. www.allaneslersmith.com www.briandesmondhurst.org Patricia O’Sullivan has travelled to Hong Kong frequently since October 2009, when the lure of hidden family history first caught hold of her. Gradually piecing together the lives and Hong Kong Police careers of a score of men from Co. Cor,k, Ireland, she has told their stories in Policing Hong Kong - an Irish History, published by Blacksmith Books in April 2017. She is now finishing a book on criminal women in pre-war Hong Kong and co-authoring one on the Hong Kong Policemen who served in World War One. Patricia O’Sullivan’s former career as a music teacher in Hertfordshire has now been scaled down in order to spend more time on Hong Kong’s fascinating history. More information on this can be found on www.socialhistoryhk.com Studio@northhertsradio.com North Herts FM Ltd is registered in England and Wales Company Number 11711537 © 2019 North Herts Radio

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Dark Horse Announces NYCC 2013 Exclusives NYCC is a week away and it really crept up on some. Dark Horse wasn't in the proverbial dark though when it comes to planning for the show, bringing three big exclusives along for the ride. The Star Wars #1 NYCC 2013 Exclusive (Limited Edition of 1,000) looks at the world before Star Wars, when there was The Star Wars. This is the authorized adaptation of George Lucas’s rough-draft screenplay of what would eventually become a motion picture that would change the world. Elfquest: The Final Quest Special NYCC 2013 Exclusive (Limited Edition of 500) oversized prologue to the Elfquest: The Final Quest series marks thirty years of Elfquest action and adventure. Finally, the Domo Qee NYCC 2013 Exclusive (Limited Edition of 1,000) is a 2.5-inch Qee version of Domo unavailable anywhere else, packaged in a color box. Make sure to stop by booth #1636 to check out all this awesome stuff, only available at New York Comic Con 2013. Full press release below. NYCC: DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES NEW YORK COMIC CON EXCLUSIVES! OCTOBER 2, MILWAUKIE, OR—New York Comic Con, the largest pop culture event on the Eastern Seaboard, is right around the corner, and Dark Horse is bringing you the latest and greatest in exclusive comics and Dark Horse Deluxe products! The Star Wars #1 NYCC 2013 Exclusive (Limited Edition of 1,000) Before Star Wars, there was The Star Wars! This is the authorized adaptation of George Lucas’s rough-draft screenplay of what would eventually become a motion picture that would change the world. Availability: Two per person, while supplies last Elfquest: The Final Quest Special NYCC 2013 Exclusive (Limited Edition of 500) Elfquest is a winner of the Golden Pen Award from the Young Adult Advisory Committee. This special, an oversized prologue to the Elfquest: The Final Quest series, marks thirty years of Elfquest action and adventure! Domo Qee NYCC 2013 Exclusive (Limited Edition of 1,000) A 2.5-inch Qee version of Domo unavailable anywhere else, packaged in a color box. Availability: Four per person, all days Make sure to stop by booth #1636 to check out all this awesome stuff, only available at New York Comic Con 2013! About Dark Horse Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, EVE Online, Halo, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

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Becky Sauerbrunn ruled out of USWNT camp The U.S. women's national team will take on Denmark on Jan. 21 by Jacqueline PurdyJanuary 11, 2018 U.S. women's national team captain Becky Sauerbrunn (Photo credit: Michael Janosz/isiphotos.com) Utah Royals FC defender Becky Sauerbrunn has a stress reaction in her left foot and will require several weeks of rest, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday. Sauerbrunn had been called into camp by the U.S. women’s national team, which began on January 6 in Carson, California, and her condition was discovered during medical evaluations, U.S. Soccer said in the announcement Former Red Stars midfielder Morgan Brian, who recently signed with Olympique Lyon, will also miss the camp because of injury. U.S. Soccer said that neither player would be replaced on the roster. The USWNT will face Denmark on January 21 in San Diego. (Full roster)

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Trump 'likes’ idea of sending undocumented immigrants to sanctuary cities as Dems accuse him of causing ‘chaos’ By Brian Niemietz Apr 14, 2019 | 12:25 PM White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. (Evan Vucci/AP) Donald Trump is still considering moving immigrants to sanctuary cities such as New York — whether or not that’s legal or even an effective solution to what the president considers to be a national emergency. “Let’s spread out some of that burden and let’s put it in some of those other locations if that’s what they want to see happen and are refusing to actually help fix the problem,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. Sanders said that despite White House officials saying last week that the idea has been shot down, Trump “likes it” and wants to explore the plan. She added that the idea is “not our first choice, probably not even our second or third choice,” but that it remains a consideration. Trump does not seem discouraged by the fact his former homeland security secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, reviewed the idea and determined it would not be legal to send immigrants to sanctuary cities. Nielsen submitted her resignation April 7 and was gone three days later. “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos suggested the idea is inherently flawed as many immigrants strive to make their way to big cities where there are more job opportunities. Critics of the administration, including 2020 presidential Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg, have suggested Trump’s decision to cut aid to several Central American countries is “self-defeating” and may also lead to more immigrants heading to the U.S. “I don’t understand why the president’s attracted to it at all,” Stephanopoulos said. Sanders shifted the burden back to congressional Democrats, challenging them to propose an alternative to sending immigrants to sanctuary cities, which often skew Democratic. “We need to take away some of that burden on all of the communities that are along the border, like San Diego and El Paso, and look at other options,” Sanders said. “Again, not our first choice. Ideally, Congress would fix the problem.” [More Politics] Dems, Republicans spar over rules ahead of Trump’s impeachment trial » Later on “This Week,” House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson accused Trump of manufacturing a problem so that he could solve it. “This is again his manufactured chaos he’s created over the last two years on the border,” Thompson said. “Before Donald Trump took office, we had a situation that was manageable. We had spikes, but it also went down. But what we have now is a constant pushing of the system so that it doesn’t work.” Mexico will pay for the wall! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2016 The number of immigrants coming into the U.S. through Mexico between 2010 and 2017 dropped by 1.3 million people, according to the Center for Migration Studies. President Trump nevertheless declared a state of emergency in February, requesting federal funds to build a wall across the southern border of the U.S. Construction of that barrier was one of the President’s most controversial campaign promises in 2016. [More Politics] Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, the most destructive act of racial violence in the U.S., was whitewashed from history » The Cato Institute estimates that wall would cost American taxpayers nearly $60 billion. That’s more than 500% higher that President Trump’s most conservative estimate. Trump also promised on multiple occasions that Mexico would pay for a border wall. He has since stated caveats through which Mexico might indirectly contribute funding to a barrier at the border. Dems, Republicans spar over rules ahead of Trump’s impeachment trial

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OPERARS MANAGEMENT operarsmanagement@hotmail.com. Barcelona, Spain © 2019 by OPERARS Management Music Opera Agency (by Guntermis 2002, s.l.) All Rights Reserved. CARLOS ALMAGUER, Carlos Almaguer was born in Mexico City. Already from a young age he was involved in music and learned to play different musical instruments. In the same time Carlos Almaguer started singing with his first Maestro Francisco Amador. Carlos Almaguer has been singing in Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Greece (Athens), Romania, Bulgaria, Australia, Switzerland, Vienna, China, New York, Tel-Aviv (Israel), London, Chile, United States of America, England, Savonlinna (Irlanda), Netherlands, France. He sings with a great success the most famous roles for a dramatic baritone: Andrea Chénier, La Fanciulla del West, Il Tabarro, Attila, Nabucco, Otello, Tosca, Simon Boccanegra and Macbeth, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, I Pagliacci, Luisa Miller, Un Ballo in Maschera, Aida, and La Forza del Destino. In October 2015 performed the title role of Verdi's Nabucco at Teatro Comunale di Modena and also in Teatro Pergolesi di Jesi. Other notable engagements include: Scarpia/Tosca in Marseille, Nice and Opéra de Toulon; Amonasro/Aida at NCPA Beijing and in Liège; La traviata in Warsaw; Rigoletto at Teatro Real de Madrid. The Mexican baritone has appeared at theaters around the world such as Frankfurt Opera House, Leipzig Opera, Festival de Trapani, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Hamburg State Opera, Opéra National du Rhin, Toulon Opera house, Opéra de Marseille, Arena de Verona, Stadttheater Bern, Vienna State Opera, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Teatro Regio di Torino, Arena de Avenches, Opéra de Lausanne, Carnegie Hall, Hungarian State Opera House Budapest, Bucharest National Opera House, Kanazawa Opera House, National Opera of Montpellier, Opera of Nantes, Melbourne Opera, Greek National Opera, Opera Liceu de Barcelona, Teatro Gayarre Pampolna, Cordova, Opera de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Opera de Wallonie (Lieja), Covent Garden (Royal Opera House), Chile Opera House, Festival de Opera de Sanvolinna, Amsterdan Sala de conciertos Concertgebouw, Beijing Opera, The National Israeli Opera, and National Opera of Mexico. At the age of eighteen Carlos Almaguer won third place in the singing contest for young opera singers “Carlo Morelli” in Mexico City – Mexico. The following year (1994) the young musician won the same competition. After his settlement in Barcelona, the young singer won a scholarship to study in Siena, Italy. While living in Spain he met the great baritone Vincenta Sardinero who became his new vocal Maestro from 1996 to 2003. During that period Carlos won many international awards and competitions like Francisco Viñas, Jaime Aragall, Julian Gayarre, Francisca Cuart, the singing contest Verviers in Belgium, Portugal, etc. While working with his Maestro D. Vicente Sardinero, Carlos Almaguer took over all the techniques his Maestro is famous for. Moreover Carlos Almaguer was awarded with the medal of critics of the artists, press and musicians in Mexico where he also got the medal of Dr. Alfonso Ortíz Tirado in Alamos Sonora, Mexico. Carlos Almaguer's schedule on Operabase

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Anti-Lesbian Bias in IUPUI Women’s Basketball Program? Pat Griffin Here we go again. An article in the Indianapolis Star reports that allegations of NCAA rule violations and allegations of abuse have been lodged against the head coach and associate head coach of women’s basketball at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). The abuse allegations against coaches Shann Hart and Chanel Spriggs come from 11 former players. The Star article reports that 28 players and assistant coaches have left the program in the last four seasons. This number includes 19 scholarship athletes. Wow. Wouldn’t you that these numbers might raise some kind of red flag for administrators that something is terribly wrong in the women’s basketball program? These numbers are higher than the 23 people who left the Oregon State women’s program where the head coach was fired amid allegations of abusive and, frankly, a little unhinged behavior. I wrote about the situation at Oregon State in my June 2 post. The IUPUI players claim that the coaches created an “atmosphere of fear, favoritism, humiliation and inappropriate interest in their personal lives.” One player told the Star that she was asked “explicitly” about their sexual orientation and others described a “reckless” postgame “rant” by the coach about players who “break team rules by becoming involved in intimate relationships with each other.” IUPUI has named a three member panel to investigate the charges. Coaches Hart and Spriggs have declined to comment on the allegations. No timeline for the investigative panel’s report has been made public, but I will definitely follow-up on this. A state-wide LGBT rights organization, Indiana Equality, has taken note of the anti-lesbian allegations and sent a letter to the university president and athletic director citing the university’s non-discrimination policy and demanding that they take action if the allegations are confirmed. If these allegations of abuse are substantiated, it is not only the coaches who should be held accountable. It is also the school athletic administrators and any other athletic staff who ignored or supported the alleged abusive behavior and anti-lesbian interrogations and relationship rules. How many times do we have to hear this story or variations of it for coaches and administrators to begin to take seriously their responsibilities to abide by school policies and state non-discrimination laws? And, please, to people who say homophobia is no longer an issue in women’s sports: These allegations are exactly the kind of abuse of power and unethical coach behavior that ruins sport for all women athletes, not just lesbians, but any woman athlete who must live in fear of accusation or innuendo. IUPUI Fires Women’s Basketball Coach Shann Hart SMU Settles Lawsuit v. Ex-Women's Basketball Player Nigerian Women’s Soccer Coach to Team: No Lesbians Need Apply Lesbian Coach Discrimination at University of Minnesota? Coaches Bullying Gay Athletes at Oregon State Lingerie Football League Wants Lesbians to Draw Interest? Supreme Court Nominees, Lesbians and Softball Lawsuit Against SMU's Rhonda Rompola to Move Forward

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Ex-Im Bank, amnesty, and Tiger: Letters Let Ex-Im Bank expire A Front Burner column on Friday from the Florida Chamber of Commerce asserted that the Export-Import Bank is necessary for the success of Florida's flourishing export industry ("Financing helps Fla. firms keep up with foreign rivals," by Alice Ancona). Between 2007 and 2014, just 1.8 percent of Florida exports were supported by this taxpayer-backed bank. We should applaud exporters, while realizing 98.2 percent of exports happened without the help of Ex-Im. Not only is the bank unnecessary for nearly every American exporter, but it harms domestic companies that have to compete with Ex-Im beneficiaries in foreign countries. Mosaic, an American fertilizer company with a shipping facility in Tampa, now has to compete with a Moroccan fertilizer company that is getting a $117 million loan guarantee from the Export-Import Bank. That means thousands of Tampa-based jobs will be competing with a foreign, state-owned company subsidized by Tampa-area residents. The assertion that Ex-Im loans are safe is similar to claims made by proponents of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A recent Congressional Budget Office report suggested the bank's programs actually operate at a deficit and will cost taxpayers some $2 billion in the next decade. Political favoritism and cronyism for less than 2 percent of U.S. exports does not justify the risk the bank imposes on taxpayers, or the jobs jeopardized. Congress should let the bank's authorization expire this fall. Karen JarochFlorida regional coordinator for Heritage Action Column resuscitates anti-Vietnam War talk What a sense of deja vu I experienced in reading Robert L. Moore's guest column about the anniversary of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution ("The other 'Guns of August': What led to the Vietnam War," Aug. 1). He is stuck in the anti-Vietnam War talking points of the early 1970s, while claiming that the myths he recites are "well-established in the historical record." He cites President Eisenhower's explanation for his support for Saigon's rejection of an election in both North and South Vietnam as if that were some nefarious subversion of democracy. In fact, the idea of a fair election in a country where more than half the population was already under a totalitarian regime was a joke. The very observers from Canada, India and Poland Moore mentions said that conditions would not allow a fair election. Also, the deceit of the Johnson administration in getting the support of the Tonkin Resolution from Congress does not obscure the fact that by 1973, North Vietnam and the Viet Cong had been defeated in their attempt to conquer South Vietnam. But the Democratic Congress in 1974-75 welshed on the U.S. commitment to help South Vietnam, just as President Obama was unwilling to push for securing our victory in Iraq after 2008. Rehashing falsehoods, claiming they are "historical scholarship" will not wash. John A. RenickGrand Island Countering Obama's leadership checklist In his letter to the editor on Saturday, David Cruise hit most Democratic talking points in his adulation of President Obama. He did so for a president who is enjoying low "trustability" ratings. I won't go into his bizarre menu of the president's leadership "accomplishments" again, but a good illustration was his assertion that Obama has strengthened our border security. Even House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi would disagree with that, lauding the president's "let 'em all in" policy as humane and American. Perhaps Cruise has never operated in the corporate world, where real leadership is often seen — or, similarly, in the military, where men are asked to march toward death by leaders they respect. In both settings, bad leadership at the top results in demotion or replacement — something that presidents need not reasonably fear. In both cases, leadership effectiveness is judged by evidence down the line — in how units or companies fulfill the vision of whoever resides at the top. Obama, or his subordinates, have spread scandal throughout the executive branch. They have done so with impunity. There has been no accountability; no adjustment in policy. During his administration, we have seen time and again Obama's trifold crisis-response strategy: ignore, deny, blame it on someone else. That does not illustrate good leadership to me. Before ascending to the presidency, Obama never "led" anything. The White House is a dangerous place for on-the-job training. Linda Smith Casselberry Amnesty not fair to legal immigrants Regarding John Scolaro's My Word column, "During break, ponder amnesty for all," on Thursday: Unlike Scolaro, I came to the United States from Italy — and, I might add, legally. It took us three years to get a visa. We had to have a sponsor, a guaranteed job and a place to stay, plus we had to undergo a background check, fingerprinting and a physical examination before we were given a visa. Now Scolaro wants the U.S. to reward all unauthorized immigrants, who broke the laws, with amnesty. This is a slap in the face for all of us who follow the laws. Scolaro, like liberals who seem to forget that President Reagan gave amnesty to nearly 3 million people, is talking about amnesty for 11 million people. How many will there be 20 years from now? When is it going to end? How about opening our borders to everyone and be done with it? Immigration reform is the liberal code word for amnesty, pure and simple. Mario CentoClermont Enough about Tiger Can't the media get over talking and raving about Tiger Woods? Ticked off! @dogs in cemetery Creating Martin Luther King’s “beloved community” | Commentary Rush’s music more profound than simple rock | Letters He is nothing but a spoiled brat who picks up his marbles and goes home when he does not sense a victory. Obviously, he'd rather be someplace else than on the golf course. Tiger is a role model of the wrong kind, swearing and slamming his clubs in front of impressionable young people, and he is not a pleasure to watch. Please, media, get over it. There are a lot of talented, wholesome young stars out there like Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler. Fred ColtonDeLand Wars and Interventions Vietnam War (1955-1975)

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By Law School Asquini, Giulio Giulio Asquini Milan, Rome Giulio Asquini is an Italian qualified lawyer in the Banking & Finance group of the Milan office Giulio regularly advises financial institutions, sponsors and corporates in a variety of domestic and cross-border finance transactions, in particular on syndicated lending, leveraged and acquisition finance as well as general corporate finance. Giulio also advises debt funds and mezzanine investors in a wide range of complex private placement transactions. Prior to joining Orrick, Giulio was an associate in a leading Italian law firm, where he also gained experience on M&A and private equity deals, assisting Italian and foreign companies and private equity funds in acquisition and investment transactions. D:+39 02 4540 4021 Corso G. Matteotti, 10 Piazza della Croce Rossa, 2 Rome, 00161 Admitted In Business School of Il Sole 24 Ore, Milan, Italy, Master, Business law, 2014 Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, J.D., Law, 2010

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Welcome to the Intranet Home page Internet Parliamentarism Explained Overview Parliamentarism Explained The Austrian Parliament National Council, Federal Council and the Federal Assembly Legal Basis and Laws The Federal State of Austria Parties and Groups Parliament and European Union Exercising Control History of the Austrian Parliament The Building and Guided Tours Overview The Building and Guided Tours The DemocracyQuarter Attending Sittings Architecture and History of the Parliament Building Renovation of the Parliament Overview Who is Who The National Council The Parliamentary Administration The National Fund and the General Settlement Fund Margaretha Lupac Foundation Parliamentary Commission for the Federal Armed Forces Enquiry Service The Parliamentary Library Download Section for Information Material Start Start Parliamentarism Explained Parliamentarism Explained Parliament and European Union Parliament and European Union EU2018 – Parliamentary Dimension EU2018 – Parliamentary Dimension Plenary Meeting of the LX COSAC Plenary Meeting of the LX COSAC Background paper - Session 3: Climate policy and Energy Union § Informationen einblenden Plenary Meeting of the LX COSAC Vienna, 18 - 20 November 2018 Session 3: Climate policy and Energy Union Climate action is one of the European Union's top priorities. This is why the EU is undertaking considerable steps to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and is also committed to international climate protection efforts. In line with the Trio Presidency's programme, the Austrian Presidency is also foregrounding the efficient use of resources, environmentally compatible and sustainable growth, and measures to ensure a pollutant-free environment. With regard to energy policy, the Commission presented the legislative package “Clean Energy for All Europeans” in November 2016. The package provides an effective legal framework for achieving improved energy efficiency, boosting renewable resources, shaping the electricity market, securing the electricity supply and managing the Energy Union. Austria is working diligently on the outstanding dossiers and is confident that the package can be finalised. With regard to climate policy, the EU has set short-term targets for 2020, medium-term targets for 2030 and long-term targets for 2050. The EU's key targets for 2020 are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% compared to 1990 levels, to supply 20% of total energy consumption from renewable energy sources and to increase energy efficiency by 20%. By 2030, the key objectives are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% compared to 1990 levels, to supply at least 27% of total energy consumption from renewable energy sources and to increase energy efficiency by at least 27%. In the long term, the EU has set itself the target of significantly reducing its emissions by 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, as part of the combined efforts required of all industrialised countries. Europe's evolution towards a highly energy-efficient and low-carbon economy will also boost the economy, create jobs and strengthen Europe's competitiveness. Measures aimed at achieving climate goals The EU is pursuing its climate goals through a combination of financial supports and regulations. The EU has earmarked 20% of its budget for 2014-2020 for climate change. For the EU budget after 2020, the Commission proposes raising the ambition level for climate funding in all EU programmes so that at least 25% of EU spending contributes to reaching climate targets. The Commission has also proposed increasing the budget of the EU's environment and climate policy programme LIFE by almost 60%. LIFE is one of the EU funding programmes for which the Commission has proposed the highest relative increase of € 1.95 billion between 2021 and 2027. The Commission has integrated climate protection into all major EU spending programmes, particularly cohesion policy, regional development, energy, transport, research and innovation, the common agricultural policy and EU development policy, making the EU budget a sustainability factor. The EU also finances low carbon-intensity projects from the sale of emission allowances. These include carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in power plants and other industrial facilities. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme is the central instrument for reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions in the most cost-effective way. EU countries are required to promote renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass in order to meet the targets for environmentally-friendly sources of energy. EU countries must also reduce the energy consumption of public buildings, and the industrial sector must improve energy efficiency for a wide range of machinery and household appliances. Vehicle manufacturers must reduce CO2 emissions from new cars and light commercial vehicles. International measures The EU is a party to the new global climate change agreement adopted at the Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015, which is set to enter into force as of 2020. The parties agreed on the target of limiting the temperature increase to 1.5°C in order to significantly reduce the risks and consequences of climate change. The long-term objective is to restrict global average temperature increases to well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. Another objective is to strengthen capacities aimed at adapting to the adverse effects of climate change by promoting climate resilience and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with a focus on avoiding a threat to food production. There was agreement on working toward reconciling financial flows with a path towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resistant development. Prior to and during the Paris Conference, the countries presented comprehensive national climate change plans. While these are not yet sufficient to limit global warming to below 2°C, the convention outlines the way forward. Three years after the signing of the Paris Convention, the parties to the Framework Convention will meet at the COP24 in Katowice, Poland, from 3 to 14 December 2018. There, they will carry out the first global stocktaking exercise on how the national commitments entered into so far will contribute to the achievement of globally agreed objectives. Energy Union The European Commission presented the legislative package “Clean Energy for All Europeans” at the end of 2016 against the background of the Paris Climate Change Convention. As likely the most comprehensive package in the history of EU energy policy, the measures aim to provide an effective legal framework for an affordable, competitive, sustainable and secure energy future. The package sets forth ambitious energy policy targets by 2030. New regulations in the electricity market are to be introduced to meet the challenges posed by the energy transition. The legislative package comprises four directives and four regulations: a recast of the Renewable Energy Sources Directive, a recast of the Energy Efficiency Directive, a further elaboration of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, a Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union, a recast of the Electricity Market Directive, a recast of the Electricity Market Regulation, a recast of the Regulation Establishing an Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER Regulation) and a Risk Prevention Regulation. In June 2018, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission reached a compromise on the first part of the legislative package (Renewable Energy Directive, Energy Efficiency Directive and Governance Regulation). Building on the work already carried out by the trio partners Estonia and Bulgaria, the Austrian Presidency has declared its intention to successfully finalise all outstanding legislative projects. The aim is to find holistic solutions as necessitated by the interdependent nature of the proposals. Austria intends to contribute actively to realising the Energy Union and an integrated view of energy and climate policy in light of ambitious objectives at international, European and national level. The focus is on Europe-wide efforts to ensure a more sustainable and efficient supply and use of energy. The increased use of renewable energies in competitive electricity markets and efficient heating and cooling markets are central to a sustainable energy future. Solutions must be found that correspond to the regionality of the EU energy system. The regulation of the new governance regime was finalised in order to ensure the effective implementation of the energy and climate targets, while at the same time ensuring streamlined processes, simplified reporting obligations and compliance with the principles of subsidiarity, proportionality and balance. Issues such as the integration of renewable energies, active consumers, digitisation and regional approaches are of great importance to achieve a deepening in the internal electricity market. Another proposal in this area, which will also have to be concluded under the Austrian Presidency, concerns the Regulation on the Agency for the Cooperation of Regulators (ACER). The negotiations will serve as a way to find suitable and proportionate rules within the context of the proposal for a regulation on the assessment and management of risks in the electricity supply. Innovation a key to implementing the Energy Union Renewable hydrogen was the main issue of discussion at the informal meeting of energy ministers in Linz in September and at a high-profile conference on the eve of the ministerial meeting. On the initiative of the Austrian Presidency, the “Hydrogen Initiative” was launched in order to send a strong political signal. The European Commission, the international community as well as numerous companies and organisations have since expressed their strong support for this initiative, at whose core lies the commitment to promote research, cooperation and investment activities related to sustainable hydrogen. Issues for discussion: How can national parliaments or local and regional levels contribute to achieving the EU's climate objectives? How can EU energy policy ensure an affordable, competitive, sustainable and secure energy future? Declaration of the Parliaments of EE BG AT 18-month Programme EE BG AT Programme of the Austrian Presidency Austrian Parliament and the EU Participation of the Austrian Parliament in EU matters EU database of the Austrian Parliament IPEX COSAC EU Main Committee EU Sub-Committee EU Committee of the Federal Council EU-Database Here you find documents transmitted directly by EU institutions (Commission, Council, etc.) and documents of EU projects transmitted by the Austrian Federal Government. More Participation of the Austrian Parliament The Rights of Participation National Council and the EU Federal Council and the EU Detailed Information of Parliament and the General Public Contacts between the Austrian and European Parliaments IPEX - Information Exchange Austrian Members of the European Parliament EU2018 – Parliamentary Dimension Top ©Parlament, Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring 3, 1017 Vienna, Austria | Tel. +43 1 401 10-0 Contact. Imprint. Disclaimer Sitemap| Update: 10.05.2019; 08:11

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Home » Posts tagged with » X Factor Robbie Williams criticised for deadnaming trans X Factor contestant Robbie Williams has been criticised for his treatment of a transgender contestant on UK television in his new role as a judge on The X Factor. Contestant Felix Shepard, a transgender man, impressed the judges and the audience with his performance of All I Want by Kodaline – earning a standing ovation. “I’m from Birmingham. I’m currently […] Tags: felix shepard, Robbie Williams, transgender, X Factor 10 Sep 2018 / No Comment / Read More On The Couch with Gogglebox’s Tom and Wayne The television show about people watching television shows returns for its fourth season this month. We jumped on the couch with Gogglebox Australia stars Tom and Wayne. Did you have any hesitation at signing up to be a Goggleboxer? Tom: Not now we don’t. On the first season I woke up and I admit thought […] Tags: Gogglebox, kiss love bang, television, TEN, The Voice, tom, tv, wayne, X Factor 12 Aug 2016 | Filed under Culture,Tv | Read More Adam Lambert joins X Factor Adam Lambert will be the third and final judge on the Australian version of ‘X Factor’ in 2016. Lambert joins Guy Sebastian and Iggy Azalea on the judging panel this year. The show has dropped the usual fourth judge, meaning there will be less contestants and categories in the series. Lambert has said that he’s […] Tags: Adam Lambert, channel 7, Chris Isaak, Dannii Minogue, Guy Sebastian, Iggy Azalea, James Blunt, Kate Ceberano, Kyle Sandilands, Mel B, Natalie Bassingthwaite, natalie imbruglia, Queen, Redfoo, Ronan Keating, X Factor 22 Jun 2016 | Filed under Celebrity | Read More Iggy Azalea joins ‘The X Factor’ Rap star Iggy Azalea is joining the judging panel of the Australian version of ‘X Factor’. Azalea is replacing Dannii Minogue who has left the show after three seasons to focus on her music career. There’s no word yet on whether the other judges from last year will be returning. The most recent residents behind […] Tags: Amethyst Amelia Kelly, Boyzone, Chris Isaak, Dannii Minogue, Gay Pride, Guy Sebastian, Iggy Azalea, James Blunt, Kate Ceberano, Kyle Sandilands, Mel B, music, Natalie Bassingthwaite, natalie imbruglia, rap, Redfoo, Ronan Keating, television, X Factor Sharon Osbourne comes out as bisexual Chat show host Sharon Osbourne has declared that she is attracted to women and men on her program, ‘The Talk’ Osbourne, who has been married to ‘Black Sabbath’ frontman Ozzy Osbourne for 33 years, told viewers that she is same-sex attracted during a conversation about sexuality on the show. “I always think everybody is gay – […] Tags: Bisexual, bisexuality, black sabbath, ozzy osbourne, sharon osbourne, the talk, X Factor Tee Out of X-Factor Ofisa ‘Tee’ Toleafoa’s ‘X Factor‘ journey has come to an end. The aspiring singer lost a dead-lock vote from the judges. When the decision turned to viewers, Tee had failed to garner sufficient support. Toleafoa has been a favourite of the queer community over two seasons of the show. The singer first appeared in 2013 […] Tags: Danni Minogue, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Ofisa 'Tee' Toleafoa, Red Foo, Ronan Keating, Tee, television, X Factor 23 Sep 2014 | Filed under Celebrity | Read More Jedward to Play in Perth Irish twin pop duo Jedward are coming to Perth. John and Edward and set to play at the Regal Theatre in November as well as shows in Melbourne and Sydney. The boys are on tour in support of their third album ‘Young Love’. The pair have represented their native Ireland twice in the Eurovision song […] Tags: Jedward, X Factor 2 Sep 2013 | Filed under Culture,Music,News | Read More Demi Lovato Joins Glee Cast Singer and Actor Demi Lovato is set to appear in the new season of ‘Glee’. Lovato will play the lesbian love interest of Cheerleader Santana Lopez. Not much is known about Lovato’s character at this stage except her name is Dani and she lives in New York. It’s not the first time Lovato’s been on […] Tags: Cory Monteith, Demi Lovato, Glee, television, X Factor 28 Aug 2013 | Filed under Celebrity | Read More X Factor Saves The Best For Last ‘The X Factor’ wrapped up their live auditions last night and they certainly left the best to last. The final contestant to audition in the competition shared a heartbreaking story. Ofisa Toleafoa, who goes by the name of T, took to the stage and shared his story about how he had moved to Sydney’s Cabramatta […] Tags: Danni Minogue, Ofisa Toleafoa, Red Foo, Ronan Keating, X Factor 6 Aug 2013 | Filed under Celebrity | Read More

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Discovery Park in Union City to launch 'Astronaut' exhibit with special guests Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tenn., will launch its latest temporary exhibit with a members-only sneak peek featuring Dr. Lawrence DeLucas, principal scientist at The Aerospace Corporation, in a program next week. As a member of the seven-person crew of Space Shuttle Columbia for Mission "STS-50," called the United States Microgravity Laboratory-1 Spacelab mission, DeLucas traveled more than 6 million miles, completing 221 orbits of earth and logging over 331 hours in space. In 1994 and 1995, DeLucas served as chief scientist for the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He received five degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham culminating in a Doctor of Optometry degree and holds a doctorate in Biochemistry. He also received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Ohio State University, Ferris State University, SUNY College of Optometry and the Illinois College of Optometry. He has published 164 peer-reviewed research articles in scientific journals, co-authored and edited several books on protein crystal growth and membrane proteins and is a co-inventor on 43 patents involving protein crystal growth, novel biotechnologies and structure-based drug design. The launch event is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Jan. 16 and free for Discovery Park members. DeLucas will participate in a program in the Tennessee Room beginning at 6 p.m. with an autograph session to follow. Another special guest, Jason Kelley, is expected to participate in the session and will be at Discovery Park on opening day, Jan. 17, to speak with students and other guests. Kelley, who graduated from South Fulton High School in 2002 and holds a B.S. in Agricultural Economics with a Minor in Bio-Systems Engineering Technology from the University of Tennessee, works at Marshall Space Flight Center and provides support for NASA payload operations on board the ISS. Kelley previously worked at U.S. Space & Rocket Center for Space Camp and Aviation Challenge as a team counselor and then a camp supervisor. He served on an Alabama Homeland Security project called Virtual Alabama while at the rocket center. Teachers interested in attending one of the free programs with Kelley on Jan. 17 should contact Andrew Gibson at agibson@discoveryparkofamerica.com or 731-885-5455. Space is limited. The exhibit, "Astronaut," opens to the public on Jan. 17. It allows guests to explore physical and mental challenges involved in space exploration and to discover what life is like outside Earth's atmosphere. Located in the ATA Traveling Exhibit Hall, it features 26 different stations that demonstrate how life is lived in space with zero gravity. Guests can test their grip strength in gloves that mimic a pressurized spacesuit, or they can work together to launch their own space mission. "As partners with parents and teachers in the region, I believe this exhibit enhances many of the science and STEAM lessons students are being taught in the classroom," stated Scott Williams, Discovery Park of America president and CEO. "Opening it with special guests like Dr. Lawrence DeLucas and Jason Kelley allows us to celebrate and inspire passion for science in a fun and unique way." The Discovery Park education team has space-related programs to offer school groups when they visit. There is a school and visitors guide available online that covers key messages and learning opportunities included throughout the exhibit, as well as projects that can be done at home or in the classroom before or after a visit. The exhibit will be open to the public from Jan. 17 to May 3. Tickets are $6.95, in addition to the price of admission to Discovery Park. Pricing of $4.95 is available for students in groups. For more information or field trip booking, educators should call 731-885-5455 or email reservations@discoveryparkofamerica.com.

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ADJUST FONT SIZE: RESET Nearby Sales Search Advanced Sales Search Countywide Map Search E File (Apply Online) Homestead Exemption Qualification Information Additional Exemptions Report Homestead Fraud Agricultural Appraisal Services Condominium Appraisal Services Exemption Services (Portability) Ownership Records Management / Public Services Support Tangible Personal Property Agricultural Classification Data Run Request Portability Application Senior Citizen (Low Income) Tangible Personal Property Return Value Adjustment Board Petition Homestead Exemption E file Tangible Personal Property E file Tax Roll Information Property Owner Bill of Rights Request Data & Public Records Navigate PAPA File for a Homestead Exemption File a Petition File for Portability File for an Agricultural Classification Find my Property's Millage Rates Find my School Attendance Zone Qualify for the 3% Cap Qualify for the 10% Cap Report Storm Damaged Property Schedule a Speaker Proposed Notice About PAPA About Our Budget January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. Community Outreach - Alliance of Delray February 7 - Community Outreach event, South County Civic Center Jog Rd., FL, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. February 17 - Presidents' Day - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. Homestead Exemption Application Deadline March 1 - Deadline to apply for Homestead Exemptions, Portability and Agriculture Classifications. Display Expired Calendar Items Expired Calendar Items Offices closed for New Year's Day The Property Appraiser's Office wishes you a The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, for the New Year's Day holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Wednesday, Jan.1, 2014, for the New Year's Day holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, for the New Year's holiday. The offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. Offices Closed -- Jan. 1, 2016 The Property Appraiser's Office is closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, for the New Year's Day holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 4. January 1 - New Year's Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. January 1 - New Year's Day - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. The Property Appraisesr's Office will be closed Monday, Jan. 2, for the New Year's Day holiday. We will repoen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 3 New Year's (Holiday observed) January 2 - New Year's (Holiday observed) - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Office will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, for the Holiday Season. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 27. Delray Alliance Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits, CFA, recently spoke to a homeowner's group in Delray Beach.You can download the Power Point presention from this website. Homestead Outreach - Delray Beach 9 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 6 -- Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to help new home owners apply for 2016 Homestead Exemption. Homestead Outreach - Jupiter Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2 p.m. Our office will take applications for 2015 Homestead Exemption at Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail Wednesday, Jan. 7, 9:30 a.m. Our office will take 2015 applications for Homestead Exemption at South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach. Homestead Outreach - Boca Raton Thursday, Jan. 8, 11 a.m. Our office will take applications for 2015 Homestead Exemptions at Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. South Florida Fair The Property Appraiser's Office will be at the South Florida Fair, Jan. 13-29, 2012. Stop by the Expo Booth for a hands-on demo of our new interactive website, which we will launch shortly. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m. Our office will take 2015 applications for Homestead Exemption, 8665 Juego Way. Homestead Outreach - Atlantis Wednesday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m. Our office will take applications for 2015 Homestead Exemption, City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive. 2016 South Florida Fair The Property Appraiser's Office will be at the 2016 South Florida Fair, Friday, Jan. 15-Sunday, Jan. 31. Visit us at our booth in the Expo Center for a hands-on demonstration of our new PAPA Mobile browser for smart phones and tablets. January 15 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Property Appraiser's Office closed. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17. The Property Appraiser's Office will be at the South Florida Fair, Jan. 16-Feb.1. Stop by the Expo Booth for a hands-on demonstration of our interactive website. January 16 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Visit Us at the Fair Friday, January 17 - Sunday, February 2, 2014 -- The Property Appraiser's Office will have a Public Information Booth at the South Florida Fair. Our staff will be on hand in the Expo Center weekdays between Noon and 10 p.m., and weekends and Martin Luther King Day Monday, Jan. 20, betweeen 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Stop by for a demonstration of our interactive website. Community Outreach - Kings Point, Delray Beach January 17 - 9:00 a.m. - Homestead Exemption Applications - Kings Point, Delray Beach (For residents, not open to public) Office Closed Monday The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Jan. 18, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Offices reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19. Community Outreach - COBWRA January 18 - 9:30 a.m. - Homestead Exemption Applications - Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations(COBWRA), Boynton Beach (For residents, not open to public) The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, for Martin Luther King Day. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Jan. 20, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21. Homestead Outreach -- Boynton Beach 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20 -- Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations (COBWRA) at Indian Spring County Club. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to help new home owners apply for 2016 Homestead Exemption. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for Martin Luther King Day. Homestead Outreach - Boynton Beach 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 19 -- City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. Our staff will be available to help you apply for 2015 Homestead Exemption. January 21 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. Community Outreach - Villaggio Reserve January 23 - 7:00 p.m. - Homestead Exemptions Discussion - Villaggio Reserve, Delray Beach (For residents, not open to public) Community Outreach - Gleneagles Lifestyle Expo January 26 - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Homestead Exemption Applications - Gleneagles Country Club Lifestyle Expo, Delray Beach (For residents, not open to public) Housing Fair - Lake Park, FL January 27 - Housing Fair (Town of Lake Park & PBC Affordable Housing Collaborative) Lake Park Elementary School, 410 3rd Street, Lake Park, FL - 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The Property Appraiser's Office will have representatives on site to discuss property issues. Open to the public. Community Outreach - Alliance of Delray Beach Meet February 1 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Homestead Exemption Applications - Alliance of Delray Beach meeting, South County Civic Center, Delray Beach (For residents, not open to public) Community Outreach - Century Village, West Palm Be February 2 - 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Homestead Exemption Applications - CENTURY VILLAGE, West Palm Beach, Main Clubhouse (For residents, not open to public) Homestead Outreach--Delray Beach 9 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3 -- Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road. Our Exemption Services staff will be available to help residents file applications for 2016 Homestead Exemption benefits. 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4, Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road. Our staff will help new homeowners apply for Homestead Exemption. 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4, Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail. Our staff will be on hand to help new homeowners apply for Homestead Exemption. 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, Boynton Beach City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. Our staff will be on hand to help new home owners apply for Homestead Exemption. Homestead Outreach -- Boca Raton 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 5, Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. Our staff will be on hand to help new home owners apply for Homestead Exemption. Homestead Outreach -- Atlantis 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Dr. Our staff will be on hand to help new home owners apply for Homestead Exemption. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, West Boca Community Council, 8665 Juego Way. Our staff will be on hand to help new home owners apply for Homestead Exemption. Homestead Outreach 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 -- We will take 2013 Homestead Exemption applications at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road in Delray Beach. 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 -- We will take 2013 Homestead Exemption applications at Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail 11a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 -- We will take 2013 Homestead Exemption applications at Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. 2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 -- We will take 2013 Homestead Exemption applications at Lantana Town Hall, 500 Greynolds Circle Community Outreach - Federation of Boca Raton HOA February 7 - 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Homestead Exemption Applications - Federation of Boca Raton HOA (For residents, not open to public) 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13 -- We will take 2013 Homestead Exemption applications at Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive Office Closed Presidents Day The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Feb. 15, in honor of Presidents Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16. Our offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 16, for Presidents Day. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 17. Office Closed for Presidents Day The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, in honor of Presidents Day. The offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18. Homestead Outreach - Boynton West 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17--Our Exemption Services staff will be at COBWRA (Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations) at Valencia Pointe to help residents with applications for the 2016 Homestead Exemption benefit. Call (561) 572-9151 for more information. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Feb. 18, for Presidents Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19. COBWRA -- Boynton Beach 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18 -- Chief Deputy Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks is guest speaker at the Coalition of Boynton Beach Residential Associations (COBWRA), Valenica Pointe Clubhouse, 6395 Castle Gate Blvd. February 19 - Presidents' Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, for Presidents Day. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 2 1, 2012. 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20 -- We will take 2013 Homestead Exemption applications at Boynton Beach City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 21 -- We wil take 2013 Homestead Exemption applications at Wellington Village Hall, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd. "Keys to Homeownership" Event February 25 - Join the PBC Property Appraiser's Office, City of West Palm Beach, and the PBC Affordable Housing Collaborative for the "Keys to Homeownership" Event. Location: South Olive Park, 345 Summa Street, West Palm Beach, FL, from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. This event will help educate the public on the home purchasing process. Nonprofit counseling agencies, realtors, and bankers will be available, as well. Deadline to file 2013 Homestead Exemption The deadline to file an application for 2013 Homestead Exemption is Friday, March 1, 2013. Please call 561.355.2866 for more information. Homestead Exemption Deadline The deadline to file an application for the 2016 Homestead Exemption is Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Call (561) 355-2866 for more information. Filing Deadline for Homestead Exemption March 1 - Deadline for filing: -Homestead Exemption application and various additional exemptions -Agricultural Classification application -Portability application Homestead Exemption deadline near Monday, March 2 is the deadline to apply for Homestead Exemption. Your best bet is to E-File . Homestead Filing Deadline Monday, March 3, is the deadline to apply for 2014 Homestead Exemption benefit. If applying in person at any of our five Service Centers, the deadline is 5 p.m. If applying online, the deadline is 11:59 p.m. Call 561.355.2866 for more information. Our staff will take Homestead Applications 9-11 a.m., at the Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road. Alliance of Delray's 2017 Vendor Expo March 30 - Alliance of Delray's 2017 Vendor Expo, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach, FL, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Speak one-on-one with experts in the fields of Association Management and Services. Property Appraiser's Office Scholarship Awards App March 30 - Deadline to file for the Property Appraiser's Office College Scholarship Awards PAO Scholarship Awards Filing Deadline March 30 - Deadline to file application for the Property Appraiser's Office College Scholarship Awards March 31, 2014, is the deadline to submit an application for the Property Appraiser's Office 2015 College Scholarships Tuesday, March 31 is the deadline to submit an application for the Property Appraiser's 2015 College Scholarship, open to graduating high school students. For more information, call (561) 355-3230. Tangible Filing Deadline The deadline to file DR-405 is April 1. Please mail your completed form to the Property Appraiser’s Office, Tangible Personal Property, 301 N. Olive Ave., 5th Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. For more information, call us at (561) 355-2896 or contact us at mytpp@pbcgov.org Tuesday, April 1, 2014, is the deadline to file Tangible Personal Property Tax Return, Form DR 405, Tangible Return Deadline Wednesday, April 1, is the deadline for business owners to file Tangible Personal Property Return. Take advantage of our new E-File for the report. For more information, call (561) 355-2896. Friday, April 1 is the deadline for business owners to file their 2016 Personal Property Return form DR -405. Monday, April 2, is the deadline for businesses in Palm Beach County to file a Tangible Personal Property Return with the Property Appraiser's Office. Please call (561) 355-2896 for more information. Filing Deadline for Tangible Personal Property Tax April 2 - Deadline to file Tangible Personal Property Tax Return 9-11 a.m., Wednesday, April 3. Our staff will be on hand to take applications for Homestead Exemption at the South County Civic Center, Tangible Personal Property Tax Return Deadline April 1 - Deadline to file completed Tangible Personal Property Tax Returns. Homestead Outreach -- Delray Beach 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 1. South County Civic Center, 16700 Road. Our staff will be available to help file for Homestead Exemption tax saving benefits. Senior Renewal Deadline To continue receiving the Senior Citizen exemption benefit, qualified seniors must return their renewal cards by Friday, May 1. The income limit for 2015 is $28,448. Call Exemption Services at (561) 355-2866 for more information. Homestead Questionnaire Deadline If you received a questionnaire that our office sent to certain homeowners regarding your Homestead Exemption benefit, the deadline to return the completed form is Friday, May 1. For more information, please call (561) 355-2866. 2014 Scholarships Presentation Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits, CFA, will present $1,000 college scholarships to five local high school seniors at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, at the Property Appraiser's Office. Community Outreach - W. Boca Community Council Mtg May 8 - Community Outreach - West Boca Community Council Meeting, Boca Lago Country Club - 8665 Juego Way, Boca Raton, FL - 7:30 p.m., Open to the public. Our office will have a representative to take homestead exemption applications and answer questions about additional exemptions, portability, and any property issues. PAO Scholarships to be presented May 9 Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits will present five high school seniors with $1,000 scholarships at 2012 awards ceremony at 3 p.m., May 9. Community Outreach - COBWRA Meeting May 16 - Community Outreach - COBWRA Meeting - Bellaggio, North side of Hypoluxo Road between Lyons Road and Rte. 441 - 9:15 a.m., Open to the public. Our office will have a representative to take homestead exemption applications and answer questions about additional exemptions, portability, and any property issues. Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits is guest speaker at the Economic Forum, May 22, 2012, 11:30 a.m, at the Kravis Center's Cohen Pavilion. To attend, please call the Economic Forum at (561) 622-9920. Offices Closed for Memorial Day The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, May 25, in honor of Memorial Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 26. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, May 26, 2014, for Memorial Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 27. 2013 Memorial Day The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2013 Property Appraiser Gary R. Nikolits, CFA, will present $1,000 college scholarships to five local high school seniors on Wednesday, May 27. It is the 21st annual presentation of the PAO's scholarship program, which is funded entirely by volunteer employee donations. Preliminary estimates of taxable property values.. May 27 – Preliminary estimates of taxable property values for 2016 sent to local taxing authorities. (subject to change) May 27 - Memorial Day - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. Memorial Day Closing The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, May 28, 2012, for the Memorial Day holiday. Ouroffices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 29. May 28 - Memorial Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Memorial Day Observance... May 30 - Memorial Day Observance - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Thank you to all the brave men and women who have served. We honor your sacrifices made for the freedoms, which we enjoy on a daily basis. Estimated Taxable Property Values 2018 Released June 1 - Estimated taxable property values for 2018 released to local taxing authorities. PAO Scholarship Awards Ceremony June 3 - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office is awarding six $1,500 college scholarships to PBC high school seniors who will attend accredited high education institutions. 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 5 -- Our staff will take applications for 2014 Homestead Exemption benefits at the Alliance of Delray Beach meeting, 16700 Jog Road. 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, our staff will be at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road in Delray Beach, to take applications for 2013 homestead exemptions. Call (561) 355-4021 for more information. Hagan Ranch Public Library Property Apprasiser Gary Nikolits will speak at the Hagan Ranch Public Library in Delray Beach on June 7, 2012, at 2 p.m. He will talk about the functions of the Property Appraiser's Office and the local real estate market. Tuesday, June 12, 7:30 p.m., our staff will be at the West Boca Community Council, 8665 Juego Way in Boca Raton, to take applications for 2013 homestead exemptions. Call (561) 355-4021 for more information. COBWRA Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits is guest speaker Wednesday, June 20, at 9:30 a.m., at the Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations (COBWRA). He will talk about the Proposed Constitutional Amendments that will be on the November 2012 ballot. The meeting is open only to members of COBWRA. Exemption Denials The Property Appraiser's Office mails denial letters for all exemptions to property owners on June 28, 2013. The deadline to file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board to appeal a denial, is 5 p.m., July 31, 2013. Preliminary Tax Roll submitted... July 1 - Preliminary Tax Roll submitted to Florida Department of Revenue. Denial notices for exemptions and... July 1 - Denial notices for exemptions and Agriculture classifications are mailed. Denial Notices Exemptions and Ag Classifications Preliminary Tax Roll Submission July 1 - Preliminary Tax Roll submitted to the Florida Department of Revenue. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Friday, July 3, in honor of America's 239th birthday on July 4. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. , Monday, July 6. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Wednesday, July 4, for the Fourth of July holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, July 5. Office Closes July 4 The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Thursday, July 4, to celebrate our country's 237th birthday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Friday, July 5. Offices Closed Friday, July 4 The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Friday, July 4th. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Monday, July 7. We hope everyone has a great holiday celebrating our country's 238th birthday. Independence Day... July 4 - Independence Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Happy Fourth of July! July 4 - Independence Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Fourth of July Holiday July 4 - Fourth of July Holiday - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. July 4 - Independence Day - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits will appear on the WEI Network (www.weinetwork.com) at Noon, July 5, for a live interview with host Richard Reichenbach. Real Estate Investors Association Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits, CFA, will speak to the REIA, 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 23, at 2223 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., in West Palm Beach. The public is invited to attend this special meeting. Mr. Nikolits will discuss the functions of the Property Appraiser's Office and the current real estate market conditions. Cost $20. Please call (561) 572-5938 for more information. Deadline to file appeals of denied homestead... July 29 - Deadline to file appeals of denied homestead exemptions and Agricultural classifications to the Value Adjustment Board. Petition Deadline The deadline to file a petition to appeal an exemption denial to the Value Adjustment Board is 5 p.m., July 31, 2013. Deadline to Appeal Denied Exemptions, Ag Class. July 31 - (5:00 p.m.) Deadline to file appeals of denied Homestead Exemptions and Agriculture Classifications to the Value Adjustment Board. Greenacres City Council Meeting August 1 - Chief Deputy Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks to present at City Council meeting - Greenacres City Hall. Homestead Outreach-- Boca Raton 11 a.m., Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Rd. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take your 2016 Homestead Exemption application and answer any questions. Call (561) 355-4021 for more information. PAPA Seminar Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits will present "An Insider's Guide to PAPA," at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the County Vista Center, 2300 N. Jog Road, Room W-50, in West Palm Beach. RSVP by email, cwright@pbcgov.org, or call (561) 355-3512. 2019 Truth In Millage (TRIM) Notices Mailed August 19 - On behalf of the Palm Beach County Taxing Authorities, 2019 notices of the proposed property taxes (Truth In Millage or TRIM) and processed or adopted non-ad valorem assessments are mailed to property owners. The information includes tax rates, market, assessed, and taxable values for the current and previous year, exemptions applied to your property, taxes as proposed by the various taxing authorities and public hearing dates for their budgets. Notice of Proposed PropertyTaxes On behalf of local taxing authorities, the Property Appraiser’s Office will mail the 2015 Notice of Proposed Property taxes to property owners on Thursday, Aug. 20. The data also will be posted on PAPA the same day. Call (561) 355-3512 for more information. Please keep in mind that the notice is not a tax bill. Tax bills are mailed to property owners on Nov. 1 by the Tax Collector's Office. Truth In Millage (TRIM) Notices Mailed August 20 - On behalf of the Palm Beach County Taxing Authorities, notices of the proposed property taxes (Truth In Millage or TRIM) are mailed to property owners. The information includes tax rates, market, assessed, and taxable values for the current and previous year, exemptions applied to your property, taxes as proposed by the various taxing authorities and public hearing dates for their budgets. Notice of Proposed Taxes On behalf of Palm Beach County Taxing Authorities, the annual Notice of Proposed Taxes will be mailed to property owners on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013. The preliminary values and taxes will be updated and posted on PAPA to reflect the 2013 preliminary numbers. On behalf of Palm Beach County taxing... August 22 - On behalf of Palm Beach County taxing authorities, Notices of Proposed Property Taxes are mailed to property owners (TRIM notices) Info includes tax rates, market, assessed and taxable values for the current and previous year, exemptions applied to your property, taxes as proposed by the various taxing authorities and public hearing dates for their budgets. Notice of Proposed Property Taxes On behalf of Palm Beach County taxing authorities, Notices of Proposed Property Taxes are mailed Aug. 23 to property owners. The information includes tax rates, market, assessed and taxable values for the curent and previous year, exemptions applied to your property, taxes as proposed by the various taxing authorities and public hearing dates for their budgets. Keys To Homeownership Workshop August 27 - Keys to Homeownership Workshop hosted by the Village of Wellington and the PBC Affordable Housing Collaborative. This seminar will educate residents seeking to purchase their first home. The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center. Representatives from each area of the home buying process will be presenting, including Tim Bean from the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's office to discuss the process of homestead exemptions. Offices Closed for Labor Day The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, for the Labor Day Holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1, City of Boynton Beach Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take 2016 Homestead Exemption applications and to answer any questions. Call (561) 355-4021 for more information. 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1, Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take Office Closed For Labor Day Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3. Homestead Outreach-- Delray Beach, Jupiter The Property Appraiser's Office will be available at the following locations to take 2016 Homestead Exemption applications and to answer any questions. For more information, please call (561) 355-4021. 9 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach. 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail. September 2 - Labor Day - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, for Labor Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 4 . Homestead Outreach-Delray Beach Alliance of Delray Beach, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road The Town of Jupiter, 2 p.m., Town Hall, 210 Military Trail 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 3, Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take 2016 Homestead Exemption applications and to answer any questions. Please call (561) 355-4021 for more information. September 3 - Labor Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Community Outreach - Atlantis City Hall September 3 - Community Outreach event, Atlantis Town Hall 260 Orange Tree Dr. Atlantis, FL, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10 -- The Property Appraiser's Office will be on hand to help with 2014 Homestead Exemption Applications at the West Boca Communty Council, 8665 Juedo Way. The Property Appraiser's Office will be on hand to help with 2014 Homestead Exemption Applications at the following locations: 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, South County Civice Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach. 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, Jupiter Town Hall, 210 N. Military Trail. City of Boca Raton, 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 4, City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 5 -- The Property Appraiser's Office will be on hand to help with 2014 Homestead Exemption Applications at the Boca Raton City Hall, Labor Day... September 5 - Federation of Boca (HOA), 150 Crawford Blvd., Boca Raton, FL, 8:30-10:30 a.m. (Open to public) - Kings Point Clubhouse, 6561 Flanders Way, Delray Beach, FL, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Private) - Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive, Lake Worth, FL, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Open to public) Community Outreach - City of Boca Raton September 5 - Community Outreach event, 201 W Palmetto Park Rd Boca Raton, FL, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. September 6 - Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 6700 Jog Rd, Delray Beach, FL, 9:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) - Town of Jupiter, 210 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Open to public) The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, in observance of Labor Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. September 7 - Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W Palmetto Park Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) - Century Village Clubhouse, 5500 Century Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Private) 7:30; p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9, West Boca Community Council, 8665 Juego Way. Homestead Outreach -- Atlantis1 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept.;10, Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Dr. Community Outreach - City of Boynton Beach September 10 - Community Outreach event, 1021 S Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach, FL. Time: TBA. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11 -- Wellington Village Hall, 1230 Forest Hill Blvd. 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11 -- Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive Community Outreach Event September 11 - Century Village Clubhouse, 19296 Lyons Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 9:30-11:30 a.m. (Private) September 12 - WPB VA Medical Center, 7305 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) - Boynton Beach Library, 208 Seacrest Blvd, Boynton Beach, FL, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Open to public) - West Boca Community Council, Boca Lago Country Club, 8665 Juego Way, Boca Raton, FL, 7:00-9:00 p.m. (Open to public) September 13 - COBWRA-Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations, Valencia Cove, 12302 Lyons Road, Boynton Beach, FL, 9:30 a.m. (Open to public) Deadline for Appeals to Value Adjustment Board September 13 - Deadline to appeal market values to the Value Adjustment Board (VAB). - Deadline to appeal late applications for Homestead Exemptions and Agricultural Classifications to the VAB. - Deadline to appeal Portability denial notices to the VAB. (5:00 p.m.) Deadline is Sept. 14 to file VAB appeal If you believe the 2015 market value of your property is inaccurate, please contact us at (561) 355-3230. If we are unable to resolve the matter, you can file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board. Call (561) 355-6289 for more information about the VAB process. The deadline to file a VAB petition to challenge a property’s market value, classification, or an exemption is Sept. 14, 2015. September 14 - Golden Lakes HOA, 1500 Golden Lakes Blvd -Phase B Clubhouse, West Palm Beach, FL, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Private) VAB Petition Deadline The deadline to file a petition to challenge a property's market value, classification or denial of an exemption to the Value Adjustment Board is 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Call us at (561) 355.3230 for more information. Deadline to appeal market values to the... September 16 - Deadline to appeal market values to the Value Adjustment Board. Deadline to appeal to the Value Adjustment Board for late applications for homestead exemptions and Agricultural classifications. 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17 -- COBWRA Coral Lakes -- 12547 Imperial Isle Drive 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17 -- Boynton Beach City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. 2016 Sickle Cell Awareness Walk... September 17 – 2016 Sickle Cell Awareness Walk at Wells Recreation Center, Riviera Beach. 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18 -- The Property Appraiser's Office will be on hand to help with 2014 Homestead Exemption Applications at the Boynton Beach City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. PAO Joins Sickle Cell Awareness Walk Employees of the Property Appraiser's Office will join the Sickle Cell Awareness Walk, 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Wells Recreation Center in Riviera Beach. September 19 - Kings Point Delray Beach, (Flanders & Monaco Clubhouses alternating) 7000 W. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, FL, 9:30-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) Library Hosts PAO Talk 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 – County Public Library, 5689 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits, CFA, will talk about the functions of the Property Appraiser’s Office. Chief Deputy Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks, CFE, AAS, follows with Tips & Tricks to using PAPA. For more information, please call (561) 233-1880. 2016 Palm Beach County Heart Walk... September 24 - Palm Beach County Heart Walk (begins at Meyer Amphitheatre) HeartWalk 2015 Employees of the Property Appraiser's Office will participate in the 2015 Heart Walk, Saturday, Sept. 26. The annual event is held on Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach. The event is sponsored by the American Heart Association. 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1 -- Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road Homestead Outreach -- Jupiter 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1 -- Jupiter Town Hall, 210 N. Military Trail Homestead Outreach --Boca Raton 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 1 -- Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. Our Exemption Services staff will be available to help residents file applications for 2016 Homestead Exemption benefits. October 1 - Community Outreach event, Atlantis Town Hall 260 Orange Tree Dr. Atlantis, FL, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach Delray Beach & Jupiter Our staff will be available to help residents file for Homestead Exemption tax saving benefits at the following locations: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, South County Civic Center, 16700 Road, Delray Beach. 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail. 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 2 -- Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road Community Outreach - Jupiter Town Hall October 2 - Community Outreach event, 210 Military Trail Jupiter, FL 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach Delray Beach and Jupiter Wednesday, Oct. 3, 9:30 a.m., Our office will take 2013 applications for Homestead Exemption at South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road in Delray Beach. Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1:30 p.m. Our office will take 2013 Homestead Exemption applications at Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Miltary Trail. Please call 561.344.4021 for more information. Homestead Outreach Boca Raton 11 a.m. Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. Our staff will be on hand to help residents apply for 2014 Homestead Exemption tax savings benefits. October 3 - Kings Point Delray Beach, 6561 Flanders Way, Delray Beach, FL, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Private) October 3 - Community Outreach event, 201 W Palmetto Park Rd Boca Raton, FL, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach Boca Raton and Lantana Thursday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. Our office will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. Please call 561.355.4021 for more information. Thursday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m. Our office will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at Lantana Town Hall, 500 Greynolds Circle. Please call 561.355.4021 for more information. Homestead Exemption Application-Boynton Beach October 4 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Boynton Beach City Library from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Library is located at 208 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33435. Homestead Exemption Application-Federation of Boca October 4 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Federation of Boca HOA , Community Center from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Community Center located at 150 Crawford Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33432. (next to City Hall) Homestead Exemption Application-City of Atlantis October 4 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - City of Atlantis, City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. City Hall is located at 260 Orange Tree Drive, Lake Worth, FL 33462. October 4 - Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 6700 Jog Rd, Delray Beach, FL, 9:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) Homestead Exemption Application-Jupiter October 5 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Jupiter Town Hall from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Jupiter Town Hall is located at 210 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458. Homestead Exemption Application-Alliance of Delray October 5 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Alliance of Delray Beach from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. South County Civic Center, located at 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach, FL 33446. October 5 - Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd., Boca Raton, FL, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Road -- Our Exemption Services staff will be available to help residents file applications for 2016 Homestead Exemption benefits. 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd. Our Exemption Services staff will be available to help residents file applications for 2016 Homestead Exemption benefits. Homestead Exemption Application-City of Boca Raton October 6 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - City of Boca Raton, City Hall, First Floor Conference room, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. City Hall is located at 201 W Palmetto Road, Boca Raton, FL 33432. 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7 -- West Boca Community Council, 8665 Juego Way, Boca Raton 9 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road. Our Exemption Services staff will be available to help residents file applications for 2016 Homestead Exemption benefits. 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail. Our Exemption Services staff will be available to help residents file applications for 2016 Homestead Exemption benefits. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, for Columbus Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9. Homestead Outreach West Boca Raton 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. West Boca Community Council. 8665 Juego Way. Our staff will be on hand to help residents apply for 2014 Homestead Exemption Tax Savings benefits. 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8 -- Atlantis Town Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive October 8 - Columbus Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. October 8 - Community Outreach event, City of Boynton Beach Senior Center 1021 S Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach, FL, from 1:30-2:30pm. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Tuesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. Our office will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at the West Boca Community Council, 8665 Juego Way in Boca Raton. Please call 561.355.4021 for more information. Homestead Outreach Wellington and Atlantis Our staff will be available to help residents file for 2014 Homestead Exemption tax saving benefits at the following locations: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, Wellington Village Hall, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd. 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9, Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive. Homestead Outreach Atlantis Wednesday, Oct. 10, 1:30 a.m. Our office will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemtpions at Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Dr. Please call 561.355.4021 for more information. Columbus Day... October 10 - Columbus Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. October 10 - WPB VA Medical Center, 7305 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) Property Appraiser's Office Closed Columbus Day The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, for Columbus Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13. October 12 - Golden Lakes HOA, 1500 Golden Lakes Blvd -Phase B Clubhouse, West Palm Beach, FL, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Private) The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Oct. 13, 2014, for Columbus Day. The offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14. Offices Closed Columbus Day The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, for the Columbus Day holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15. October 14 - Columbus Day - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15 -- Boynton Beach City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer... October 15 - Making Strides Against Breast Cancer - Palm Beach (begins at Meyer Amphitheater) Homestead Outreach Boynton Beach 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16 Our staff will be available to help residents file for 2014 Homestead Exemption tax saving benefits. Wednesday, Oct. 17, 1:30 p.m. Our office will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemtpions at the Boynton Beach Library, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. Making Strides 2015 Employees of the Property Appraiser's Office will participate in Making Strides against Breast Cancer Saturday, Oct. 17. The annual event will be held on Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach. The 5k walk is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. October 17 - Kings Point Delray Beach, (Flanders & Monaco Clubhouses alternating) 7000 W. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, FL, Homestead Outreach Wellington Thursday, Oct. 18, 10 -11 a.m. Our office will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at the Wellington Village Hall, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd. October 18 - COBWRA-Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations, details to come. (Private) Homestead Outreach -West Boynton Beach 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21. Meeting of the Coalition of Boynton West Residential Association (COBWRA). The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take 2016 Homestead Exemption applications and to answer any questions. Call (561) 572-9151 for more information. Homestead Outreach 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 1. Our staff will be available to take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemtpion at Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road Homestead Outreach 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 1. Our staff will be available to take applicationsfor 2013 Homestead Exemption at Lantana Town Hall, 500 Greynolds Circle November 1 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Boynton Beach City Library from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Library is located at 208 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33435. November 1 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Federation of Boca HOA , Community Center from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Community Center located at 150 Crawford Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33432. (next to City Hall) November 1 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - City of Atlantis, City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. City Hall is located at 260 Orange Tree Drive, Lake Worth, FL 33462 Palm Beach County Tax Collector’s Office... November 1 - Palm Beach County Tax Collector’s Office mails annual tax bills. PBC Tax Collector's Office Mails Annual Tax Bills November 1 - Palm Beach County Tax Collector's Office mails annual tax bills to taxpayers of PBC. November 1 - Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 6700 Jog Rd, Delray Beach, FL, 9:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) November 2 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Alliance of Delray Beach from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. South County Civic Center, located at 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach, FL 33446. November 2 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Jupiter Town Hall from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Jupiter Town Hall is located at 210 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458. November 2 - Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W Palmetto Park Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) 1 p.m. , Tuesday, Nov. 3, Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take Homestead Outreach -Atlantis 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 3, Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take November 3 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - City of Boca Raton, City Hall, First Floor Conference room, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. City Hall is located at 201 W Palmetto Road, Boca Raton, FL 33432. 9 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 4, Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take 2016 Homestead Exemption applications and to answer any questions. Call (561) 355-4021 for more information. Homestead Outreach -- Delray Beach, Jupiter 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5 -- Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5 -- Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 5, Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take November 5 - Community Outreach event, Atlantis Town Hall 260 Orange Tree Dr. Atlantis, FL, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6 -- Our Exemption Services staff will help take 2014 applications for Homestead Exemption at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road in Delray Beach 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 -- Our Exemption Services staff will help take 2014 applications for Homestead Exemption at Jupiter Town Hall, 201 Military Trail 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 6 -- Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road November 6 - Community Outreach event, 210 Military Trail Jupiter, FL 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, Our staff will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exmeption at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach Homestead Outreach 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, Our staff will take applications for 2013 Homestead Applications at Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail November 7 - Kings Point Delray Beach, 6561 Flanders Way, Delray Beach, FL, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Private) November 7 - Community Outreach event, 201 W Palmetto Park Rd Boca Raton, FL, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. November 9 - Golden Lakes HOA, 1500 Golden Lakes Blvd -Phase B Clubhouse, West Palm Beach, FL, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Private) November 10 - Veterans Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Office Closed for Veterans Day The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Nov. 11, 2013, for Veterans Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12. Offices Closed on Veterans Day The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 12. Veterans Day... November 11 - Veterans Day - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Nov. 12, for Veterans Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13. November 12 - Community Outreach event, City of Boynton Beach Senior Center 1021 S Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach, FL, from 1:30-2:30pm. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13. Our staff will be available to take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at West Boca Community Council, 8665 Juego Way, Boca Raton Homestead Outreach - Wellington and Atlantis 10 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13 -- Homestead Outreach. We will be at the Wellington Village Hall, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd., to help residents apply for the 2014 Homestead Exemption benefit. 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13 -- Homestead Outreach. We will be at the Atlantis Town Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive, to help residents apply for the 2014 Homestead Exemption benefit. November 13 - Century Village Clubhouse, 19296 Lyons Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 9:30-11:30 a.m. (Private) Homestead Outreach, 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14. Our staff will be available to take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption, at Atlantis Town Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive November 14 - WPB VA Medical Center, 7305 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) Homestead Outreach 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. Our staff will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at Wellington Village Hall, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd. November 15 - COBWRA-Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations, details to come. (Private) Homestead Outreach - West Boynton Beach 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. The Property Appraiser's Office will be at the COWBRA meeting at Valencia Reserve to assist residents with the 2016 application for Homestead Exemption benefits. Call (561) 572-9151 for more information. 9 a.m.-Noon, Thursday, Nov. 19, Health Fair, Temple Beth Shalom, 19140 Lyons Road, Boca Raton. The Property Appraiser's Office will assist homeowners apply for the 2016 Homestead Exemption. Homestead Outreach -- Lake Worth 9:30 a.m., Nov. 20 -- Our staff will be on hand at the Coalition of Boynton West Residential Assocations (COBWRA) meeting, Villaggio, 6935 Via Bernardi in Lake Worth, to help residents with their 2014 Homestead Exemption application. 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 21 -- Our staff will be on hand at the Heath Fair, Temple Beth Shalom, 19140 Lyons Road, Century Village in Boca Raton, to help residents with their 2014 Homestead Exemption applications. November 21 - Kings Point Delray Beach, (Flanders & Monaco Clubhouses alternating) 7000 W. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, FL, Thanksgiving Day Holiday Break November 22 - Thanksgiving Day Holiday Break - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Thanksgiving Day Holiday Thanksgiving Day... November 24 - Thanksgiving Day - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Thanksgiving (Break) November 25 - Thanksgiving (Break) - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Happy Thanksgiving to All. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed for the Thanksgiving Weekend, Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 2. November 28 - Thanksgiving Day Holiday Break - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. 10 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 1, Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take 1 p.m. , Tuesday, Dec. 1, Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to take December 1 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - City of Boca Raton, City Hall, First Floor Conference room, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. City Hall is located at 201 W Palmetto Road, Boca Raton, FL 33432. 9 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2 -- Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road. The Property Appraiser's Office will be at meeting to assist homeowners with 2016 Homestead Exemption applications and answer any questions. 2 p.m., Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to assistant homeowners with the 2016 Homestead Exemption application and to answer any questions. Homestead Outreach --Jupiter 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3, Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail Homestead Outreach --Delray Beach 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3--Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road 11 a.m., Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to assist homeowners with the 2016 Homestead Exemption application and to answer any questions. December 3 - Community Outreach event, Atlantis Town Hall 260 Orange Tree Dr. Atlantis, FL, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach-Boca Raton 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 4--Boca Raton City Hall, 210 W. Palmetto Park Road Community Outreach - Atlantis Town Hall December 4 - Community Outreach event, 210 Military Trail Jupiter, FL 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach Delray Beach, Jupiter 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5. We will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road in Delray Beach. 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5. We will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at Jupiter Town Hall, 210 Military Trail. December 5 - The Federation of Boca Raton (Community Ctr.), 150 Crawford Blvd., Boca Raton, FL, 8:30 a.m. (Open to public) - Kings Point Delray Beach, 6561 Flanders Way, Delray Beach, FL, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Private) Community Outreach - Delray Beach December 5 - Community Outreach event, South County Civic Center 6700 Jog Rd, Delray Beach , FL 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2019 tax year. Open to the public. December 5 - Community Outreach event, 201 W Palmetto Park Rd Boca Raton, FL, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach, Boca Raton, Lantana 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 6. We will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6. We will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at Lantana Town Hall, 500 Greynolds Circle December 6 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Boynton Beach City Library from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Library is located at 208 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33435. December 6 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - City of Atlantis, City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. City Hall is located at 260 Orange Tree Drive, Lake Worth, FL 33462 December 6 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Federation of Boca HOA , Community Center from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Community Center located at 150 Crawford Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33432. (next to City Hall) December 6 - Alliance of Delray Beach, South County Civic Center, 6700 Jog Rd, Delray Beach, FL, 9:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) December 7 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Jupiter Town Hall from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Jupiter Town Hall is located at 210 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458. December 7 - Property Appraiser's Office Community Outreach program - Our office will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for new residents - Alliance of Delray Beach from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. South County Civic Center, located at 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach, FL 33446. December 7 - Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W Palmetto Park Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) Homestead Outreach-Atlantis 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive December 10 - Community Outreach event, City of Boynton Beach Senior Center 1021 S Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach, FL, from 1:30-2:30pm. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2020 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach, Boca Raton 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 11. We will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at the West Boca Community Council, 8665 Juego Way Homestead Outreach -- Wellington and Atlantis Wednesday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. -- Our Exemption Services staff will be at theWellington Village Hall, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd, to help residents with their applications for the 2014 Homestead Exemption benefit. Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2 p.m. -- Our Exemption Services staff will be at the Atlantis City Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive, to help residents with their applications for the 2014 Homestead Exemption benefit. December 11 - Century Village Clubhouse, 19296 Lyons Rd, Boca Raton, FL, 9:30-11:30 a.m. (Private) December 11 - Community Outreach event, Boynton Beach Senior Center, 1021 S Federal Hwy Boynton Beach, FL 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. We will be taking Homestead Exemption applications for the 2019 tax year. Open to the public. Homestead Outreach, Wellington, Atlantis 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12. We will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at Wellington Village Hall, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd. 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12. We will take applications for 2013 Homestead Exemption at Atlantis Town Hall, 260 Orange Tree Drive. December 12 - WPB VA Medical Center, 7305 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to public) December 14 - Golden Lakes HOA, 1500 Golden Lakes Blvd -Phase B Clubhouse, West Palm Beach, FL, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Private) 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 16--COBWRA meeting. The Property Appraiser's Office will be available to help residents with 2016 Homestead Exemption applications. Call (561) 572-9151 for more information. Homestead Outreach -- Boynton Beach West Wednesday, Dec. 18, 9:30 a.m. -- Our Exemption Services staff will be at COBWRA (Coalition of Boynton West Residetial Associations), 1257 Imperial Dr., to help residents with applications for the 2014 Homestead Exemption benefit. Homestead Outreach, Boynton Beach December 19 - Kings Point Delray Beach, (Flanders & Monaco Clubhouses alternating) 7000 W. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, FL, December 20 - COBWRA-Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations, details to come. (Private) Holiday (Break) December 23 - Holiday (Break) - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. Office closed for Christmas holiday The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25, for the Christrmas holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 26. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Wednesday, Dec. 25 for the Christmas holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Thursdsay, Dec. 26, 2013. Offices Closed Dec. 24 The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Thursday, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and Friday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 28. December 24 - Holiday Break - The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed. December 24 - Holiday Break - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office including our 5 Service Centers, will be closed. Office closed for the Christmas holiday The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday. Happy Holidays. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. , Thursday, Dec. 26. The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Dec. 26, for the Christmas holiday. The offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 29. The Property Appraiser's Office is closed Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24 and Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25. Receipt Cards Mailed December 29 - Homestead Exemption receipt cards mailed - Tangible Personal Property Exemption renewal cards mailed - Tangible Personal Property Tax Return filing reminder cards mailed Office will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, 2011 The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, and Monday, Dec. 26, for the Holiday Season. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 27. Office Closed for New Year's Eve The Property Appraiser's Office will be closed Monday, Dec. 31, and Tueday, Jan. 1, for the New Year's holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2. - Tax Exemption (qualified institutional or non-profit organizations) receipt cards mailed - Limited Income Senior Exemption cards mailed Current/Future Calendar Items Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for ad valorem tax assessment purposes only. The Property Appraiser exercises strict auditing procedures to ensure validity of any transaction received and posted by this office, but cannot be responsible for errors or omissions in the information received from external sources. Due to the elapsed time between transactions in the marketplace, and the time that those transactions are received from the public and/or other jurisdictions, some transactions will not be reflected. Information collected at this site, including email addresses, becomes public record and may be subject to inspection and copy by the public unless prohibited by exception or exemption in the law. This site is designed to work best with the Internet Explorer 10 or higher and other proprietary browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari. Please contact us if you need additional information or assistance with browser settings. ADA Access The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.1. It does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs or activities. Upon request, reasonable accommodation will be made to allow individuals with disabilities access to the communications regarding our services, programs or activities set forth on the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office website. Please contact our public records custodian at 561.355.2881 or e-mail your request to pa-pubsvc@pbcgov.org. © 2019 Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. Designed and maintained by Palm Beach County, Information Systems Services.

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Dave Spadaro Gameday Magazine Philadelphia Eagles News Thursday, Sep 05, 2019 02:56 PM Who really knows how good anyone is early in the regular season? The way the NFL is now, with rosters changing annually and with preseason used more to evaluate the young, "bubble-type" roster players rather than the veterans, the opening of a regular season isn't what it used to be. Back in the "old" days of flip phones and fax machines, teams had a pretty good sense of what they had going into a regular season. That isn't necessarily the case now. Take the Eagles, for example. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz met the media on Thursday and vaguely offered answers to questions based primarily on speculation because, well, nobody has played a regular-season game. And not a whole lot of veterans played substantial snaps in the preseason, either for his defense or for a Washington offense that has a new face at quarterback (Case Keenum) and running back (Derrius Guice) and a vat of wide receivers (including Terry McLaurin and Trey Quinn) whom the Eagles know almost nothing about. Schwartz isn't one to put himself on a tightrope with wild predictions and expectations, so there really wasn't a whole lot to say. The results, Schwartz is often wont to say, speak for themselves. And, the truth is, the Eagles don't really know who they are just yet. That's going to take some time. "I think every team, they might say they know what they have and I'm just speaking for the Philadelphia Eagles, you spend the first couple of weeks possibly figuring out who you are," head coach Doug Pederson said. "I've heard Tom Brady talk about that. I've heard Drew Brees talk about that. I've heard other coaches talk about just trying to see what the identity is going to be. In Training Camp, even if starters play (in preseason games), they don't play long enough to really find an identity. "I think early in the season, at least these first couple of weeks, you truly see what you have and sort of the path that you're going to take as an offense for the remainder of the season." Translation: Anything can happen in the first week or two of the regular season, so you'd better be prepared for everything. Said Schwartz: "You never know what's going to happen." To that end, as the Eagles draw closer to the opening kickoff, the general mentality of the players and coaches is this: Be on point. Be at your best from the very start against a Washington team that is tough, physical, smart, and hungry to make a statement in the NFC East. "They're going to be tough and they're going to give us everything they've got. We have to expect the best from every team," defensive end Brandon Graham said. "It's a division game and we know what they do and they know what we do, so we have to impose our will and make it about us. "I think we have a sense of what kind of team we can be, but until you go out and do it, you never really know. You just want to jell as fast as you can as a team. That's the key – coming together early in the season and staying that way and staying hot." We're at that point in the week where all of the storylines have been established. The Eagles have an offense that looks great on paper and has all kinds of individual talent, but until they do it in the regular season, it's all just speculation, talk. The Eagles want to start fast as they did in 2017 – scoring 106 points in the first quarter to rank third in the NFL – and then build confidence. Washington wants to shock the Eagles – jolt the fans, put the team on its collective heels. The matchups – Eagles offensive line against Washington's excellent defensive line, the return of DeSean Jackson, Carson Wentz's first action since last December – you know all about that. Words at this point mean absolutely nothing. Everything points to 1 p.m. on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. That's when the "real" begins. "I don't see this as a game that will be won by scheme though," Schwartz said. "This will be won by players fundamentally playing within the scheme and doing their job within the scheme. It's not going to be the scheme that makes a difference offensively or defensively." Do that and, yeah, the Eagles will be off and moving in the right direction. We're inside of three days until kickoff and the sense of anticipation is building. The Sidney Jones Question: What's next for him at CB? A second-round draft pick in 2017, Jones' path has not gone as planned. The Rookie Class 10-Pack: What lies ahead in 2020? Miles Sanders was a star as a rookie. For most of the others, we'll have to wait and see. Mission 2020: Add youth, speed, depth to Eagles roster That is one of the many takeaways from Roseman/Pederson State of the team press conference. Finality of the season is here, with many questions to answer The Eagles enter the offseason with a lot to build upon, and a lot of work to do. Injury to Carson Wentz and a handful of mistakes add up to season-ending loss in playoffs Poor play in the red zone and Russell Wilson combine to end the 2019 campaign at Lincoln Financial Field. 9 must-haves for the Eagles to win today's Wild Card game Ball security, no deep plays allowed, and a fast start will make us all happy. Miles Sanders is 'ready,' so how will Eagles use him? The Eagles have a healthy three-headed backfield ready for Seattle 'We're playing as a team. We're playing with energy' Some choice Jason Kelce thoughts and statistics that mean something in the postseason. Addressing injury updates (please hold), new Eagles, and more ... Walkthroughs started on Wednesday with many roster questions that need answers. Defense prepares for QB Russell Wilson and a creative Seattle offense Wilson is 4-0 against the Eagles in his NFL career. 'We're going to get this thing done, no matter what' Next for the Eagles: The playoffs and a rematch against Seattle. In a total team way, Eagles clinch East, look forward to postseason A 34-17 win over the Giants was the perfect example of the Eagles overcoming more adversity.

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Arrival of the Queen of Cyprus: Palio Asolo The third Sunday of September sees the six differing factions of the town battling against one another in a bid to have their girl crowned queen. The competing teams are Villa Raspa, Ca' Giupponi, Villa D'asolo, Pagnano (two teams), and Casella d'Asolo - with all members coming from the same area. Where: Asolo, Veneto, near Venice, Northern Italy When: 3rd Sunday every September What happens: Chariot race with six competing teams commemorating the 1489 arrival of Caterina Cornaro – Cypriot queen, poisoner and villainess Remember to bring: A Medieval costume Background to Asolo The old walled hill town of Asolo – often known as the town of ‘one hundred horizons’ – was the consolation prize given in 1489 to Queen Caterina Cornaro by Venice after demanding her abdication from the throne of Cyprus. It could have been worse – Asolo is one of the most enchanting spots in Italy and the jewel of the Veneto region. It was also a beloved retreat of poet Robert Browning and explorer Freya Stark lived and was buried here. Visitors to Asolo could be forgiven for thinking they had suddenly found themselves transported far inland toTuscany as the rustic town, with a tiny population of 8,000, nestles in beautiful rolling countryside. What happens at the Palio Asolo? The third Sunday of September sees the six differing factions of the town battling against one another in a bid to have their girl crowned queen. The competing teams are Villa Raspa, Ca’ Giupponi, Villa D’asolo, Pagnano (two teams), and Casella d’Asolo – with all members coming from the same area. The competition commemorates the arrival of Caterina Cornaroto the town on 11th October 1489, when she claimed the city as her own; the race retraces the route – 1,800 metres up to the top of the hill – she took when the town was presented to her. Caterina, however, was not a popular lady: she married the King of Cyprus and then poisoned him, thus securing the strategic island for Venice. At the festival, participants dress in Medieval costumes and race brightly painted Roman-style chariots. It’s a serious competition with teams training for six months beforehand and the rules are stringent: the night before the race, the chariots are blessed by a priest and weighed (all must weigh 130 kilograms) before being locked up for the night. The wheel of the chariot must be similar to a roman wheel and no one can assist the teams during the race. Each team consists of eight runners – two groups of four – who swap over halfway along the route, pulling their female queen. The winning queen is crowned in the town square at the finish: gold medals are awarded to the winning team and silver medals to all the other contestants, and festivities follow. The race has been taking place since 1990 and the record completion time is 8 minutes and 45 seconds. By Nicole Dudley DTO: The Riddle of the Leaning Tower DTO: Empire Builders - The Romans DVD: Empire Builders - The Romans DTO: Empire Builders - Christian Empires

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Golden Globes 2020: 5 moments to watch for when Ricky Gervais hosts the awards show Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY The holiday parties and New Year's celebrations flew by. Suddenly, we're thrust into the glorious Hollywood parade of awards season, with the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards (NBC, 8 p.m. ET/5 PT) stepping up as the first star-studded event Sunday night. Not prepared? No problem. We have the guide for what to look for as Ricky Gervais kicks off the festivities – his fifth Golden Globes hosting gig – and the most glamorous stars in the world assemble at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, for a plant-based meal (for the first time). Here are five things to watch for during the awards show. READ MORE: 'Marriage Story' leads the Golden Globes field with 6 nominations, including best drama Watch as Ricky Gervais takes his final hosting shots at Hollywood Often drinking lager at the podium, Gervais has a reputation for taking the mickey out of the biggest stars in Hollywood, many of whom will be seated mere feet away from the "After Life" star. Gervais has been especially harsh toward the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group who previously hired the acerbic star for three successive years – from 2010 to 2012 and a fourth time in 2016. But this fifth time will be significant since Gervais has promised that it will be his final show. This, in his words, "could make for a fun evening." The British comic has already stepped into real controversy on Twitter, making a joke last month that critics found transphobic. Far from apologizing, Gervais carried on. I don’t try to offend, but the more people are offended by a joke, particularly on twitter, the funnier I find it. And the angrier the tweet, the more chance of me using it and turning it to laughs and cash. PC culture isn’t killing comedy. It’s driving it. As it always did — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais)October 31, 2019 "The more people are offended by a joke, particularly on Twitter, the funnier I find it. And the angrier the tweet, the more chance of me using it and turning it to laughs and cash," he wrote. "PC culture isn’t killing comedy. It’s driving it. As it always did." This will make for a riveting evening. READ MORE: Golden Globes 2020: How to watch the show and what you need to know Awkwafina could make history as the awards race starts The Golden Globes are decided by a small group of foreign journalists, but the results do give a sense of trends that could play out in the awards season ahead of the Oscars on Feb. 9, along with giving a major boost to winners. Director Noah Baumbach's "Marriage Story" leads all films with six nominations (including acting nods for stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson), ahead of Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" with five (including for stars Al Pacino and Joe Pesci). Awkwafina is the odds-on favorite to make history with a best actress in a musical/comedy win for her role in "The Farewell," which would make her the first Asian actress to win the category. That will be a speech to remember. Just as riveting will be the prospect of Joaquin Phoenix pulling a best actor award (as pundits predict) for the dark hit "Joker," and what the wild-card actor will say from the lectern. In the best comedy/musical actor category, Eddie Murphy looks to revive his awards season mojo with a best actor win for "Dolemite Is My Name," and Renee Zellweger starts her awards spotlight run, looking to win best actress in a drama for "Judy." It's a fashion show with the world's most glamorous stars The Golden Globes is almost custom-built to please TV viewers, with multiple categories to make sure the big stars get the nominations and walk the red carpet. Nominated mega-stars Brad Pitt and Leonard DiCaprio will represent "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Meanwhile, just the best actress in a drama category includes Zellweger, Johansson, Charlize Theron ("Bombshell"), Cynthia Erivo ("Harriet") and Saoirse Ronan ("Little Women"). The Golden Globes are less rowdy inside than the show's craziest days, such as the legendary 1958 show during which Frank Sinatra and alcohol-fueled members of the Rat Pack took over award presentations in a show that went until 1 a.m. But the champagne still flows freely during the awards program, which always makes for excitingly unpredictable TV viewing. Beloved Tom Hanks gets a lifetime achievement award This is going to be "Big." Tom Hanks, 63, will take the Globes' lifetime achievement salutation, called the Cecil B. DeMille Award, which goes to those leaving a lasting impact on the film industry. Past honorees include Robert De Niro, Audrey Hepburn, Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster, Sidney Poitier and Steven Spielberg. The Oscar-winning Hanks has already been nominated for a Golden Globe for his Mister Rogers role in "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." But this is a sure win, with big names paying their respects on the podium, a film tribute that would make Forrest Gump blush, and Hanks giving a speech. Ellen DeGeneres follows in the footsteps of Carol Burnett This is going to be funny, and touching. Ellen DeGeneres, 61, will be the second recipient ever of the Carol Burnett Award, citing the highest level of achievement in television. It's exclusive company, since the only other winner is Burnett, who took the first award in her name last year. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" host and "Ellen" star will be recognized for her impact. The moment will have resonance and, no doubt, many laughs.

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Place in the sun wines: Taste The Optimism Fairtrade-accredited Place in the Sun wines are big-hearted, bright and optimistic. They are made from Devon Valley grapes, grown by positive people, who thrive because of the way their role is acknowledged. A premium is paid to the Stellenbosch growers and the farm’s Fairtrade Premium Committee decides on how to spend the funds. Apart from a series of educational and recreational initiatives it runs to improve the quality of life of the community of 250, the committee also cultivates two vegetable gardens. The crops ensure a nutritious diet for the workers and their children, who number around 180. Almost 1,5 hectares have been set aside for the planting of onions, potatoes, peas, squash, pumpkins, carrots, cucumbers and watermelons, with all seeds and irrigation supplied by the committee. The workers tend the gardens in their own time. This year’s harvest is their third. If they have more than they need, they can sell their extra produce for personal gain. Deon Boshoff, who heads the team making Place in the Sun wines, says of the Fairtrade impact: “When the workers growing and harvesting the grapes know they are a valued and integral part of winemaking, they take extra care and it shows in the quality of the grapes. At our cellars, we try to capture that sense of care by letting the fruit characters come through just as they are. It’s our way of honouring the part they play.” There are five wines in the range and are available at selected stockists. The juicy, flavourful Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz retail for around R 52 each, while the unwooded Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are on offer for around R42. Follow Place in the Sun on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PlaceintheSunSA) and/or Twitter (www.twitter.com/PlaceintheSunSA ).

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Data and Research June 3, 2019 Perceptions of Retirement Preparedness Vary With Age and Time A study from the Federal Reserve finds people at different ages have a savings threshold for feeling they are on track for an adequate retirement, and for those in retirement, reported economic well-being varies substantially with the reason for retirement. Many adults are struggling to save for retirement and feel they are not on track with their savings, according to a report from the Federal Reserve describing the responses to the sixth annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED). Because retirement saving strategies differ by circumstances and age, survey respondents are asked to assess whether or not they feel that they are on track; however, the report notes that they define that for themselves. Thirty-six percent of non-retired adults think their retirement savings is on track, 44% say it is not on track, and the rest are not sure. One-quarter of the non-retired indicate that they have no retirement savings or pension. Of the non-retired age 60 and older, 13% have no retirement savings or pension. Among those non-retirees who do have retirement savings, a defined contribution (DC) plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, is the most common type. Fifty-four percent of non-retirees have money in this form. Only 22% of non-retirees report having a defined benefit (DB) pension plan. Older adults are more likely to have retirement savings and to view their savings as on track than younger adults. Nevertheless, even among non-retirees in their 60s, 13% do not have any retirement savings, and less than half (45%) think their retirement savings are on track. Self-assessments of retirement preparedness vary with the amount of current savings and with time remaining until retirement. Adults younger than 30 typically believe that their savings are on track if they have at least $10,000 set aside for retirement. Not surprisingly, the amount of retirement savings required for most to report being on track increases with age. Adults ages 45 to 59 who say their retirement savings are on track typically have at least $250,000 saved. For those between 30 and 44, the threshold is $100,000. Just over two in 10 non-retirees younger than 45 have retirement savings that meet their age-specific “on track” thresholds. The fraction rises with age to 27% of adults ages 45 to 59. The threshold for most to view savings as on track rises more rapidly with age than the fraction reaching that level of retirement savings. Overall, 5% of non-retirees have borrowed money from their retirement accounts in the prior year, 4% have permanently withdrawn funds, and 1% have done both. Those who have withdrawn early are less likely to view their retirement savings as on track than those who have not—27% versus 37%, respectively. Managing investments and financial literacy The level of comfort in managing retirement plan investments varies. Six in 10 non-retirees with DC plan accounts expressed low levels of comfort in making investment decisions. Self-assessed comfort in financial decisionmaking may or may not correlate with actual knowledge about how to do so. To get some sense of individuals’ financial acumen, respondents were asked five questions commonly used as measures of financial literacy. The average number of correct answers was 2.8, and 22% of adults got all five correct. Using these measures, it appears that those expressing more comfort managing their retirement accounts also demonstrate more financial knowledge. Among those who have self-directed retirement accounts, those who express decisionmaking comfort answer more questions (3.7 out of 5) correctly, on average, than those who express little or no comfort(2.9 out of 5). Economic well-being in retirement More than one-quarter of adults consider themselves to be retired. The report’s discussion of current retirees includes everyone who considers themselves to be retired, even though some also report that they are still working in some capacity. Seventeen percent of retirees say they had done some work for pay or profit in the prior month. Retirees are somewhat more likely to report that they are at least doing okay financially (78%) than non-retirees (74%). Retirees who are still working report even higher levels of well-being. Nearly half of retirees in 2018 retired before age 62, and one-fourth retired between the ages of 62 and 64. Overall, early retirees report similar levels of economic well-being as later retirees. In deciding when to retire, a desire to do other things than work, or to spend time with family, are the most common factors. However, four in 10 retirees before age 62—and three in 10 between ages 62 and 64—say poor health contributed to their retirement. More than one-fifth of those who retired before age 65 say the lack of available work contributed to their decision The study found economic well-being varies considerably by the reasons for retirement. Nine in 10 retirees who say doing something else was very important in their retirement decision are at least doing okay financially, versus more than half of those who retired due to poor health. Retirement Readiness Break from the Grind | November 26th, 2019 Americans Would Rather Receive a Debt Payoff Than a Christmas Present Having debt can significantly affect retirement confidence, and debt control management should be considered in retirement planning. Data and Research | November 20th, 2019 Consider Demographic Differences When Planning Financial Wellness Initiatives Like the general population, financial literacy varies across demographic groups within the African-American population, TIAA Institute finds. Data and Research | November 6th, 2019 A National Program Like OregonSaves Would Reduce Retirement Deficit The Employee Benefit Research Institute also found an expansion of 401(k) safe harbor plans nationwide would reduce the deficit by... « SURVEY SAYS: Summer Reading List 2019

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CONNECT WITH ROBERT GRAHAM OUTLET Robert Graham Outlet Robert Graham is American Eclectic. Since its launch in 2001, Robert Graham was created on the premise of introducing sophisticated, eclectic style to the fashion market as an American-based company with an intention of inspiring a global movement. Robert Graham creates four men’s wear and women’s wear collections a year – spring, pre-fall, fall and resort. The men’s wear collection consists of sportswear, premium denim, tailored clothing, furnishings, and outerwear. The women’s wear line consists of sportswear tops and outerwear with plans of expansion into additional categories. In the fall of 2010, Robert Graham opened its flagship store on Venice Beach’s famous Abbot Kinney Boulevard. The label also sells at luxury department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus nationwide, Bloomingdales in Dubai, and Harry Rosen throughout Canada. Robert Graham has retail presence in more than a dozen countries around the world and has showrooms located in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, London, and Dusseldorf. BRANDS AT ROBERT GRAHAM OUTLET PRODUCTS CARRIED AT ROBERT GRAHAM OUTLET

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Presidential Retreats Herbal Gardens Visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan Virtual Tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan Profile of the President A lawyer, veteran political representative and an ardent, long-time champion of equitability in society and integrity in Indian public life, Shri Ram Nath Kovind was born on October 1, 1945, in Village Paraunkh, District Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh. Before assuming office of the 14th President of India on July 25, 2017, Shri Kovind served as the 36th Governor of the state of Bihar from August 16, 2015 to June 20, 2017. Shri Kovind completed his school education in Kanpur and pursued higher education in Kanpur University for receiving the degrees of B.Com and LL.B. He enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1971. Download Profile Photo (Use Google Chrome Browser to Download Photo) Shri Kovind was Counsel of Union Government in the Delhi High Court from 1977 to 1979. He became an Advocate-on-Record of the Supreme Court of India in 1978. Thereafter, from 1980 to 1993, he was the Union Government’s Standing Counsel in Supreme Court. He practised at the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for 16 years till 1993. Parliamentary and Public Life Shri Ram Nath Kovind was elected as and became a member of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) from Uttar Pradesh in April 1994. He served for two consecutive terms of six years each till March 2006. A keen Parliamentarian, Shri Kovind served on the Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Tribes, Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs, Parliamentary Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, Parliamentary Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, and Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice. He was also Chairman of Rajya Sabha House Committee. Shri Kovind also served as Member of the Board of Management of the Dr B.R Ambedkar University, Lucknow and as Member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata. As a member of the Indian delegation, he addressed the United Nations General Assembly on 22nd October 2003. 1977-1979: Union Government Counsel at the Delhi High Court 1980-1993: Union Government Standing Counsel in the Supreme Court 1994-2006: Member of the Rajya Sabha, representing state of Uttar Pradesh 2015-2017: Governor of Bihar Shri Ram Nath Kovind married Smt. Savita Kovind on May 30, 1974. They have a son and a daughter. An avid reader, the President has keen interest in books on politics and social change, law, history, and spiritualism. During his long career, Shri Kovind has travelled widely across the country as well as overseas. As President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind has visited Djibouti, Ethiopia in 2017; Mauritius, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland), Zambia, Greece, Suriname, Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Vietnam, Australia, Singapore and The Union of Myanmar in 2018. As Governor of Bihar, he had travelled to the Laos People’s Democratic Republic in February 2017. He has also visited Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom and the United States in his capacity as a Member of Parliament. Visitors: 32725909 Page last updated on: 05-March-2019 16:23 PM Email-Id * [Note : Enter 10 digit Mobile Number] [For Ex. 9898464244] Select Country * SubScribe Type *

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Passage of Clinton budget bill in 1993 "led to an enormous flowering of the economy in America." — Bill Clinton on Sunday, April 18th, 2010 in an interview on ABC's This Week Bill Clinton takes credit for "flowering" of economy in 1990s By Louis Jacobson on Monday, April 19th, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. On the April 18, 2010, edition of ABC's This Week, interim host Jake Tapper and former President Bill Clinton discussed whether Clinton sees similarities between his first two years as president and the first two years under President Barack Obama. Asked by Tapper, "Politically does this year remind you of 1994?" Clinton responded, "A little bit. We passed the bill which reversed trickle-down economics by one vote. (It was) close like the health care bill (this year). And it led to an enormous flowering of the economy in America." We thought it would be worth checking whether the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, as it was officially known, really did lead to "an enormous flowering of the economy in America." First, a recap of that bill. Its key provisions included raising the top effective tax rate to 39.6 percent; removal of the income cap on Medicare taxes; imposition of a 4.3 cent per gallon gasoline tax; and tax hikes on Social Security benefits and corporate income. As might be expected of a bill that raised taxes, the bill did not attract a single Republican vote in the House. So it was controversial at the time, and it still is. But love it or hate it, the bill has been widely credited with helping set the course for Clinton's economic policy. We see two related, but distinct, questions to answer. First, did the economy flower after passage of the bill? And if so, how much credit, if any, does the bill deserve for that "flowering"? We'll take these questions in turn. Did the economy truly flower? Was there something in it for everybody? There's a strong case that in terms of employment, income and productivity it did. We compared several key economic indicators during two periods. The first is the period between the bill's passage (in August 1993) and the end of Clinton's term in office (December 2000). The second is the period from the official start of the nation's economic expansion (in March 1991, during the presidency of George H.W. Bush) to the passage of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (in August 1993). Our aim was to see whether the economic expansion that was already under way actually accelerated after passage of the bill, or whether it simply continued the existing expansion (or even if it slowed down). Here are some of the key indicators we looked at: • Gross domestic product. Between the third quarter of 1993 and the fourth quarter of 2000, the economy culumatively grew by just about one-third, or approximately 4.4 percent per year. By comparison, growth between the first quarter of 1991 and the third quarter of 1993 was just under 3 percent per year. So growth was strong in both periods, but it was stronger after passage of the bill. • Unemployment. Unemployment fell from 6.8 percent to 3.9 percent between passage of the bill and the end of Clinton's term, a period of seven and a half years. That continued a decrease that was already under way: Unemployment fell a full point between a peak of 7.8 percent in June 1992 and August 1993. So, once unemployment turned a corner, it fell noticeably during both periods. But the period after passage of the bill was especially impressive. During those 90 months, there was only a single occasion when unemployment rose for two consecutive months -- and even that was an exceedingly modest gain, rising from 4.3 percent to 4.4 percent and then 4.5 percent between April 1998 and June 1998. • Personal income. After the bill's passage, personal income increased by about 7.5 percent a year, compared to about 5.2 percent a year prior to passage. So income growth was strong in both periods, but it was stronger after the bill passed. • Industrial production. Industrial production followed a similar pattern. It rose by about 5.6 percent per year after passage, compared to 3.2 percent per year before passage. • House prices. The same goes for the real estate market. House prices rose about 4.7 percent a year after passage, compared to 2.4 percent per year prior to passage. (If you thought housing prices rose faster than 4.7 percent per year under Clinton, you may be mistaking his presidency for George W. Bush's; during the first seven years of the Bush administration, housing prices grew by almost 8 percent annually.) • The stock market. From the passage of the bill until the end of Clinton's term, the Dow Jones Industrial average rose from 3,651 to 10,788 -- a stunning 26.7 percent per year. That dwarfs the historically healthy increase of 10 percent a year for the two and a half years prior to passage. So, the statistics are unanimous: Not only was the Clinton presidency after the bill's passage a time of vigorous economic growth, but that growth was also demonstrably more robust than what occurred during the first two and a half years of the recovery. How much credit does the bill deserve for subsequent economic growth? Here are some reasons to be skeptical: • It's impossible to prove causation. There's a basic principle of logic: Just because you can prove that B happened after A doesn't mean that A caused B. That applies here. Was this particular bill what drove the economy to "flower?" Or did this period of unusually long growth owe something to the tax cuts -- proposed by Congressional Republicans and signed by Clinton -- that were passed in 1997? J.D. Foster, a senior fellow with the conservative Heritage Foundation, argues that 1993 tax hikes "probably slowed the economy compared to the growth it would have achieved" and counters that the 1997 tax cuts were what kept the expansion chugging along after one would have expected it to wane. Meanwhile, Gary Burtless, a senior fellow at the liberal Brookings Institution, credits not passage of the bill per se but rather a more intangible sense that Clinton economic policy would be less reliant on borrowing than that of its Republican predecessors. He said that between the beginning of 1993 and passage of the bill later that year, the interest rate on 10-year Treasury securities fell by more than a full percentage point. "Many people, including me, think this was because financial markets began to take seriously the new administration’s determination to be fiscally conservative," Burtless said. "People buying and selling stocks and bonds on Wall Street were evidently more impressed by the appearance of fiscal discipline than they were upset by the hike in top marginal rates." This, Burtless argues, spurred business investment because it "gave investors confidence that the drop in long-term interest rates was sustainable." And this, in turn, "helped boost industries producing business equipment, including high-tech firms and new and old companies that supply communications and computer equipment. Of course, lower long-term borrowing rates made it cheaper to buy a house and to obtain credit for household consumption." For his part, Daniel Mitchell, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, points to other Clinton-era changes that had a free-market bent. "The economy did do well under Clinton, but that was because of other policies he adopted and in spite of the '93 tax increase," Mitchell said, citing lower government spending as a share of gross domestic product, approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization, welfare reform, farm-subsidy reform. "These are the policies that boosted the economy. The tax increases in 1993 hurt, but were more than offset by other changes." • Clinton's economic policies may have also sowed the seeds of later economic decline. Nothing can take away the fact that Clinton presided over an extraordinarily long economic expansion. But some would argue that he also deserves some demerits for policies that led to less healthy economic developments. For instance, Dean Baker, a liberal economist, sees the stock market rise as a double-edged sword, leading to the bursting of the bubble in 2001 and perhaps helping shape a subsequent decade of only modest job growth. Baker also cited the Clinton administration's support for a strong dollar. "The policy of promoting an overvalued dollar gave us the record trade deficits that eventually peaked at almost 6 percent of GDP in 2006," Baker said. Ultimately, few would deny that Clinton presided over impressive economic growth. Meanwhile, our number-crunching suggests that the economy's improvement did indeed accelerate after the 1993 Balanced Budget bill became law. Still, Clinton is exaggerating when he says the 1993 bill "led to an enormous flowering of the economy in America" because economists say many factors played a role. All in all, we give the former president a rating of Half True. Published: Monday, April 19th, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. Researched by: Louis Jacobson Edited by: Morris Kennedy Subjects: Economy, Federal Budget, History, Taxes, This Week - ABC News Bill Clinton, interview with ABC's This Week, April 18, 2010 Information about the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 National Bureau of Economic Research, home page for dating economic cycles, accessed April 18, 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics, search form for key economic data, accessed April 18, 2010 Economagic.com, historical table for real gross domestic product, accessed April 18, 2010 Economagic.com, historical table for personal income, accessed April 18, 2010 Economagic.com, historical table for industrial production, accessed April 18, 2010 Economagic.com, historical table for house prices, accessed April 18, 2010 Yahoo! Finance, historical tables for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, accessed April 18. 2010 J.D. Foster, "Tax Cuts, Not the Clinton Tax Hike, Produced the 1990s Boom" (Heritage Foundation briefing paper), March 4, 2008 E-mail interview with Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, April 18, 2010 E-mail interview with Gary Burtless, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, April 18, 2010 E-mail interview with Daniel Mitchell, senior fellow with the Cato Institute, April 18, 2010

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© Copyright POPULATE Consortium 2014 - 2020 WHY IS ASYMMETRY A GAME CHANGER? In a nutshell, asymmetric gameplay refers to the situation in which two players will have separate gaming experiences as they play together. We believe that applying this concept in designing multiplayer video games can give an interesting twist to the experience of playing together and this can be seen at its full potential within Populate. Symmetrical multiplayer games offer players only one perspective and one given set of circumstances. Of course, players will have their own reactions and gaming skills, but the fact remains that they are interacting with the same thing. In contrast, asymmetry allows different players to view different sides of the game. So how does this work for Populate? The Populate game prototype consists of a battle between two types of characters: an Attacker and a Defender. The universe of the game is set in a dense forest, with an isolated village at the edge of it. The Explorer leaves the village and arrives at an altar deep in forest where the Forest Deity resides and where the battle takes place. The Explorer has a specific set of skills that are oriented towards a dynamic scenario. Meanwhile, the Forest Deity can interact with the Explorer and also give orders to his armies of minions. The asymmetry of the Populate gameplay can easily be summed up like this: while the player who chooses to be an Explorer has a third person action-adventure experience, the one who plays from the perspective of the Forest Deity experiences a type of action-strategy game. All in all, asymmetry is an important component of the Populate prototype that helps provide gamers with a multitude of options while offering exciting experiences in same shared space from different perspectives. So using asymmetric gameplay is definitely something we won’t get bored with very soon.

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CONTEMPORARY ART IN ASPEN The Aspen art scene heats up with the grand opening of the $45 million Aspen Art Museum. September 1, 2014 | By: Justine R. Kelly Dean Maltz, Zack Moreland, and Shigeru Ban Photo Credit: David X Prutting BFAnyc Boldly rising from the heart of downtown Aspen with a façade that pays homage to the ski town’s natural lifestyle and majestic mountain backdrop, the newly constructed Aspen Art Museum opened to the public on August 9, 2014. Designed by 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize winner, Shigeru Ban, the new museum offers more than 30,000 square feet of art and culture, including more than 12,000 square feet of new gallery space and a public rooftop sculpture garden that offers stunning views of Aspen Mountain. Aspen Art Museum Rook Deck Photo Credit: Derek Skalko To celebrate the museum’s grand opening, a collection of diverse inaugural exhibits is being offered, each providing a unique view into the world of contemporary art. The lead exhibition is an unprecedented pairing of works by American artist David Hammons and French painter Yves Klein, exposing the unexpected harmony found among both artists’ substantial, yet wholly distinctive, bodies of work. Additional exhibits include significant collections from Cai Guo-Qiang, Tomma Abts, Teresita Fernández, Ernesto Neto, Rosemarie Trockel and Jim Hodges. Most fittingly, there is also an exhibit by the museum own architect. Shigeru Ban’s Humanitarian Architecture collection showcases Ban’s ongoing work designing emergency shelters in disaster areas. Construction of the $45 million museum was made possible exclusively through private donations from more than 200 philanthropists from around the country, including contributions of $1 million or more from 27 individuals. The new Aspen Art Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.), Thursdays (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.), and Sundays (12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.). Admission is free, courtesy of a generous endowment from Amy and John Phelan. For more information, please visit www.aspenartmuseum.com Jet Art The International Art World’s New

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All POS Top Player Salary Bobby Bonilla - 3B 1 (1994) / $6,300,000 Salary: $6,300,000 AVG Annual: $6,300,000 Player Salaries (3B) Avg Annual Bobby Bonilla NYM 3B $6,300,000 1 (1994) $6,300,000 $6,300,000 Matt D. Williams SF 3B $4,050,000 1 (1994) $4,050,000 $4,050,000 Robin Ventura CWS 3B $3,500,000 1 (1994) $3,500,000 $3,500,000 Tim Wallach LAD 3B $3,412,500 1 (1994) $3,412,500 $3,412,500 SEA 3B $3,316,667 1 (1994) $3,316,667 $3,316,667 HOU 3B $3,200,000 1 (1994) $3,200,000 $3,200,000 Terry Pendleton ATL 3B $3,200,000 1 (1994) $3,200,000 $3,200,000 Wade Boggs NYY 3B $3,100,000 1 (1994) $3,100,000 $3,100,000 Charlie Hayes COL 3B $3,050,000 1 (1994) $3,050,000 $3,050,000 Todd Zeile STL 3B $2,700,000 1 (1994) $2,700,000 $2,700,000 Steve Buechele CHC 3B $2,550,000 1 (1994) $2,550,000 $2,550,000 Jeff King PIT 3B $2,400,000 1 (1994) $2,400,000 $2,400,000 Chris Sabo BAL 3B $2,000,000 1 (1994) $2,000,000 $2,000,000 Dave Hollins PHI 3B $2,000,000 1 (1994) $2,000,000 $2,000,000 Dave Magadan MIA 3B $850,000 1 (1994) $850,000 $850,000 KC 3B $700,000 1 (1994) $700,000 $700,000 Kevin Seitzer MIL 3B $650,000 1 (1994) $650,000 $650,000 Bill Pecota ATL 3B $575,000 1 (1994) $575,000 $575,000 TOR 3B $500,000 1 (1994) $500,000 $500,000 Ed Sprague BAL 3B $500,000 1 (1994) $500,000 $500,000 Tony Fernandez CIN 3B $500,000 1 (1994) $500,000 $500,000 Dean Palmer TEX 3B $475,000 1 (1994) $475,000 $475,000 BOS 3B $475,000 1 (1994) $475,000 $475,000 Lenny Harris Scott Livingstone DET 3B $365,000 1 (1994) $365,000 $365,000 Bill Spiers CLE 3B $325,000 1 (1994) $325,000 $325,000 Mike Blowers SEA 3B $300,000 1 (1994) $300,000 $300,000 Dave Hansen LAD 3B $275,000 1 (1994) $275,000 $275,000 Sean Berry WSH 3B $200,000 1 (1994) $200,000 $200,000 Archi Cianfrocco SD 3B $185,000 1 (1994) $185,000 $185,000 Chris Donnels HOU 3B $170,000 1 (1994) $170,000 $170,000 Scott Brosius OAK 3B $155,000 1 (1994) $155,000 $155,000 MIN 3B $150,000 1 (1994) $150,000 $150,000 Stan Royer STL 3B $130,000 1 (1994) $130,000 $130,000 Willie Greene Gary Gaetti About MLB Salaries USA TODAY's baseball salaries database contains year-by-year listings of salaries for Major League Baseball players on opening day rosters and disabled lists, 1988 through the current season. Figures, compiled by USA TODAY, are based on documents obtained from the MLB Players Association, club officials and filed with Major League Baseball's central office. Deferred payments and incentive clauses are not included. Team payrolls do not include money paid or received in trades or for players who have been released. Average and median salaries reported by USA TODAY may differ from numbers that are reported elsewhere.

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The Mekons: “Empire of the Senseless” You'd make that face too if somebody had just splattered paint all over your head like that. The Mekons are one of those bands that I’ve never really been able to get a handle on. Maybe that’s because aside from their great 1989 album, The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll, which I do own, I’ve never heard another entire album of theirs. And why I would like that album a lot but not ever explore further has a lot to do with what I’ve read about them: each album seems to vary distinctly in style, and given that I feel like all the directions in rock that they’ve traveled have come together on this album to make one very complete whole, I don’t think that I would like their other albums as much. I’ve always had a feeling that they would dilute what I liked about this album. Weird, I know, particularly for someone who likes so many different styles of music and appreciates artists who are difficult to pigeonhole. It might have something to do with the fact that apparently the band’s lineup has changed frequently over its long existence. I appreciate stability in a band, knowing that the change in the music is coming from more or less the same set of musical minds, evolving together as a unit. And maybe I just barely like The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll a lot. As though one misstep from what they ended up with, and I would’ve felt completely differently about it, and since this has a reputation as their best album, anything less wouldn’t cut it. I don’t know. But feel free to direct me to one of their other albums that I should definitely hear, and I’ll give it a try. What I do know is that The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll is indeed an excellent album of rock and post-punk, and “Empire of the Senseless” is my favorite song on the album. It’s a shambling rocker, nearly spoken by leader Jon Langford, with the job of carrying the melody falling squarely on the head of the backup vocals and guitar — but it’s the intensity of those guitars and backing vocals that helps to make the song what it is. But of course it really comes down to those clever, slyly funny lyrics about the downfall of kindness and common sense in society, and the words ring as true now as they did 20+ years ago: Turning journalists into heroes takes some doing, Boring Ollie North down in the subway dealing drugs and guns, Turning little liars into heroes, it’s what they’ve always done, This song promotes homosexuality It’s in a pretended family relationship with the others on this record and on the charts and on the jukebox and in the radio No one’s making any noise now, sshhh, stay quiet, All unacceptable gropings have been removed from the screen, Only eyes full of unspeakable thoughts remain, And even the silent are now guilty in the empire of the senseless. Taken as a whole, it places the Mekons on a level with the Clash in terms of thought-provoking political discourse in rock. And makes me think I really ought to try a little harder to explore more of their albums… That’s funny. That’s the only Mekons album I own as well. It is indeed terrific and I always wanted to get more of their records but somehow I always end up buying something else instead. I really would swear sometimes that we’re long-lost twins… 🙂

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Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto Alan Stern and David Grinspoon. Picador, $28 (320p) ISBN 978-1-250-09896-2 Earth in Human Hands: The Rise of Terra Sapiens and Hope for Our Planet Stern, the leader of the NASA mission to send the first probe to Pluto, and astrobiologist Grinspoon (Earth in Human Hands), who played a small part in the project, manage to make its many technical and bureaucratic roadblocks into a thrilling narrative, despite readers’ awareness of their ultimate success. The science involved in sending the spacecraft, New Horizons, over three billion miles from earth is certainly impressive, representing over two decades of work by a legion of devoted scientists. Their diligence and creativity paid off spectacularly when, in 2015, New Horizons flew by Pluto at 32,000 miles per hour and transmitted spectacular images back to Earth, reawakening a dormant public fascination with space exploration and dramatically increasing scientific knowledge. Stern’s hands-on and passionate involvement with the project from its inception enables him to make potentially dull material—seeking committee approvals, battling for funding, and managing relationships with superiors—as interesting as the science, and he provides a valuable perspective on the practical aspects of getting a venture like this off the ground. This is a future classic of popular science, full of twists and turns and unexpected heroes (a teenager’s passion for Pluto helped influence NASA administrators at a crucial moment), with a dramatic and profound payoff. (May) Compact Disc - 978-1-250-29595-8

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>> Homes >> Provided Content The Ogden is home to foodies of all sorts Those who choose to live in a high-rise are generally seeking a more convenient lifestyle, and those who choose an urban location are seeking access to amenities that create a vibrancy not found in the suburbs. The Ogden, the 21-story high-rise tower in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, provides the convenience of condo living with immediate access to all the city offers. In fact, the iconic tower is surrounded by no fewer than 150 restaurants, many that rank among the city’s best, within walking distance of The Ogden. May 7, 2016 - 5:00 am ADVERTISING FEATURE Located inside Juhl residential community, Le Pho dishes up authentic Vietnamese dishes, including Pho, Banh Mi and fresh spring rolls. Residents at The Ogden enjoy being in the heart of a diverse dining scene, which features more than 150 dining hotspots offering globally inspired cuisine. “It’s common for residents at The Ogden to become ‘foodies’ if they weren’t already, simply because of the abundance of dining options that surround them,” said Stephanie Reese, director of sales at The Ogden. “Exploring the variety of cuisine in Downtown Las Vegas is one of the best perks about living downtown. Whether residents are looking for a stimulating cup of coffee, an upscale steakhouse or authentic Mexican or Thai cuisine, there is truly something for everyone in downtown Las Vegas, and it’s one of the many reasons The Ogden is such an attractive place to call home.” Le Pho, a Vietnamese restaurant that just opened in Juhl, a low, mid- and high-rise residential community just a few blocks from The Ogden, is downtown’s newest culinary attraction that offers delicious authentic fare, including traditional Pho, spring rolls and the fan-favorite chicken wings tossed in tamarind sauce. As the demand for Asian cuisine continues to rise, Ogden residents have a number of them right at their fingertips, from Le Thai on Fremont Street, to Bocho Sushi on 6th Street and Itsy Bitsy: Ramen and Whisky, located on the first floor of The Ogden. “Our residents don’t even have to leave the building for a great meal since we house two popular restaurants in our lobby,” Reese said. “Rachel’s Kitchen offers healthy and hearty breakfast and lunch options, including smoothies for those who are on the go, while Itsy Bitsy has become a go-to spot for a refreshing cold beer and Asian cuisine after a long workday.” Directly across the street from The Ogden is Fremont East Entertainment District, which offers Ogden residents more than a dozen restaurants and bars all within a few blocks. Residents can indulge in La Comida’s Mexican food, bar hop between The Griffin, Beauty Bar and Commonwealth or experience the newest kid on the block, F. Pigalle, a nod to Paris’ Red Light District that features fondue and unlimited wine options. East of The Ogden is Downtown Container Park, an open-air shopping center filled with boutique retail shops, family-friendly entertainment and restaurants such as The Perch, Cheffini’s Hot Dogs and Big Ern’s BBQ. Other eclectic dining choices in the area include Therapy, known for its progressive American cuisine; Carson Kitchen, a popular gastropub that makes its own bacon jam; The Beat Coffeehouse &Records, perfect for coffee, a croissant and some tunes; and Eat, Chef Natalie Young’s breakfast and lunch joint that features classic dishes with a modern twist. Recently renovated downtown hotels, such as The Plaza and Golden Nugget, provide direct access to the illuminating Fremont Street Experience and are home to eateries such as Vic &Anthony’s, Pop-up Pizza and Oscar’s Steakhouse. El Cortez, another iconic Downtown Las Vegas destination features Siegel’s 1941, a vintage-inspired restaurant featuring a round-the-clock menu and a carefully curated wine and cocktail list. “Residents who prefer to dish up meals in the comfort of their own kitchen can visit The Market, Downtown Las Vegas’ urban grocery store featuring an array of organic and natural foods, baked goods and locally grown, fresh produce,” Reese said. Homes at The Ogden range from a one-bedroom, 815-square-foot residence with prices starting in the mid-$200,000s to a three-bedroom plus den 2,044-square-foot home starting in the low $600,000s. Residences feature a modern design aesthetic in keeping with the architecture and the lifestyle vibe, private balconies and expansive views of downtown Las Vegas, the Strip and the mountains that frame the valley. The Ogden’s single-story, open floor plans offer flex spaces that can serve as a home office, den or yoga room, extra bedrooms for accommodating multi-generational family and guests, and spacious windows that fill interiors with natural light. For more information, visit The Ogden’s onsite sales center at 150 Las Vegas Blvd. North or online at Ogdenlv.com. Posted on: Homes, Provided Content Doctors raise growing family at Juhl in downtown Las Vegas Drs. Denise LaBelle and Ryan Hudson were a young married couple without children when they bought their 13th-floor, two-bedroom, two-bath condo at Juhl, the iconic 344–residence, loft-style community in downtown Las Vegas. Today, this dynamic health care duo are parents to an active 2-year-old with another baby on the way. REAL ESTATE BRIEFS: FEB. 19 Nevada State Apartment Association has announced the winners of its 13th annual Jewel Awards. Del Webb to open age-qualified community in Lake Las Vegas The nation’s leading builder of active-adult communities for those ages 55 and older, Del Webb has broken ground on its 10,000-square-foot recreation center at Del Webb at Lake Las Vegas. Announced last year as the builder’s first new Las Vegas Valley development in over a decade, the groundbreaking precedes its upcoming grand opening in early February. Growth Luxury Homes to create Canyon Collection Growth Luxury Homes, the custom luxury home development division of multiindustry pioneer, Growth Holdings, has expanded its ever-growing portfolio with the acquisition of the majority of the land in the Augusta Canyon neighborhood of Southern Highlands Golf Club. This acquisition adds to GLH’s current holdings in what is one of the premier master-planned communities in the nation, joining the Shadow Canyon neighborhood. GLH has brought Augusta Canyon and Shadow Canyon together as “The Canyon Collection.” Downtown Summerlin to ring in Year of the Rat Lunar New Year takes center stage at Downtown Summerlin in the heart of the master-planned community of Summerlin on Jan. 25 with the destination’s third annual Lunar New Year Parade. Ushering in 2020 – the Year of the Rat, the parade is a festive and free celebration open to the general public. Pardee opens Sandalwood in Summerlin Homebuyers liked what they saw during the grand opening of Sandalwood, Pardee Homes’ newest Summerlin neighborhood in the gated Stonebridge village that features contemporary luxury homes with awe-inspiring views of colorful sweeping vistas. Cadence celebrates five years In mid-December, Cadence hosted an event to mark the fifth anniversary since it began welcoming residents and families to the Henderson master-planned community. The event featured a “high-five” selfie wall, a zip line, interactive games, a doggie zone hosted by Cadence Animal Hospital, a beer garden for the adults and a collection of food trucks from across the valley. Summerlin ranks No. 3 nationwide in new home sales Following 2019 milestone development headlined by the continuing evolution of Downtown Summerlin, the opening and storied inaugural year of Las Vegas Ballpark, and the addition of seven new neighborhoods, Summerlin, a development of The Howard Hughes Corp., maintained its position as the No. 3 best-selling master-planned community in the country for 2019. The list was ranked by RCLCO, a leading national real estate consultant, which has been ranking master plans since 1994. The ranking is determined by number of new home sales. In 2019, 1,320 new homes were sold in Summerlin. Growth Luxury Homes to be featured at Builders Show Growth Luxury Homes (GLH), the custom luxury home development division of multi-industry disruptor, Growth Holdings (GH), will make its debut as a featured green homebuilder at the annual NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas on Jan. 21-23 as part of the IBS Green Home Tour on Jan. 22. Trilogy by Shea Homes to hold Live Well Wellness Fair Trilogy in Summerlin is in the master-planned community of Summerlin on the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, adjacent to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The community features single-story town homes with optional casitas and multilevel floor plan options. Homes range from 1,538 square feet to 2,915 square feet and start from $475,990.

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Central Asia: Is The Region Entering A New Era Of Cooperation? September 20, 2007 16:27 GMT By Bruce Pannier In a sign of the times, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon (left) held talks this week in Bishkek with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Kurmanbek Bakiev (official site) Central Asia seems to have entered a new period of cooperation. Regional leaders are making official visits to neighboring states at a rate not seen since the early days after the fall of the Soviet Union. What's driving this new dynamic? September 20, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- The latest example is this week's visit by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to Kyrgyzstan. "We touched on the difficult issue of territorial delimitation and spoke in favor of a calm resolution of the issue that we inherited from history in a spirit of brotherhood, neighborly relations, in a constructive atmosphere, with mutual respect for our interests," Rahmon said. Some might say, "So what?" The Tajik president took a one-hour flight to visit the head of a neighboring state. But it's the first time Rahmon has paid an official state visit to Kyrgyzstan since the March 2005 Tulip Revolution that brought Kurmanbek Bakiev to power. And Bakiev was not the only Central Asian head of state Rahmon held talks with this month. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev visited Tajikistan earlier this month with some good news for the Tajik people. "We agreed to establish a special investment fund of $100 million," Nazarbaev said. "The Kazakh side will contribute its significant part. The fund will work for the benefit of the Tajik economy. I believe it will be good support." 'Great Potential' During the same trip, Nazarbaev also visited Turkmenistan to meet with that country's new president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. The new Turkmen leader hinted that better days are ahead for Turkmen-Kazakh relations. "One of the priority aspects of our cooperation is the further intensification of bilateral trade and economic relations," Berdymukhammedov said. "In this regard, we have great potential in the realization of large-scale projects in the field of trade, energy, transportation, and telecommunications." Nazarbaev's visit to Ashgabat this month was actually the Kazakh president's second trip to Turkmenistan this year, something of a record for visits to Turkmenistan by a head of state. Nazarbaev was in Turkmenistan in May when Russian President Vladimir Putin was visiting, and the three heads of state signed an agreement on pipelines to export natural gas. Uzbek Comeback Uzbekistan has not been left out of this new era of cooperation either. Uzbek President Islam Karimov is due to visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in October -- two countries that have often had very strained relations with Uzbekistan. Tajikistan for example, gets most its natural gas from Uzbekistan, but Uzbek authorities have used this as leverage in relations with Tajikistan. When the Tajik government makes decisions that the Uzbek government disagrees with, the gas supplies often are reduced or cut off entirely, though officially the reason is always technical problems. Kyrgyzstan has experienced a similar problem with Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have been on bad terms almost since they became independent in 1991. But more recently the Turkmen authorities blame the Uzbek government for helping would-be assassins who allegedly tried to kill former Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov in November 2002. The Uzbek Embassy in Ashgabat was searched at that time -- in defiance of international law -- and the Uzbek ambassador to Turkmenistan was declared persona non grata shortly after the incident. In fact, Karimov's last official visit to Turkmenistan was nearly nine years ago -- in October 1998. The reason for that visit was the advance of Afghanistan's Taliban movement to the borders of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Of course, the leaders of the five Central Asian states do see each other when they attend various meetings, like CIS gatherings or, in the case of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, at summits of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. But while such summits may include security as a leading topic on the agenda, they do not do much to promote regional cooperation in Central Asia. And prior to this busy month of visits, the leaders of the five countries had been making fewer and fewer official visits to other Central Asian states. Factors Behind Developments Several factors could be driving this new era of cooperation in Central Asia. The first is the change in leadership in Turkmenistan. Berdymukhammedov's predecessor -- Saparmurat Niyazov -- made Turkmenistan a very reclusive state. Niyazov did not commit his country to regional groups like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or the now-defunct Central Asian Economic Union. Niyazov also did not ever see any reason to talk about regional security. Another factor drawing the Central Asian states closer together is Kazakhstan's emergence as the regional economic powerhouse. Revenues from oil and natural gas exports are finally starting to drive Kazakhstan's economy upward, and with this extra money the Kazakh government and Kazakh businesspeople are investing huge sums in neighboring Central Asian countries. When the Taliban movement's forces seized control of Kabul in September 1996, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan sent representatives to Almaty to discuss this threat to security. Turkmenistan, buoyed by its status as a UN-recognized neutral state, chose not to attend that conference or any regional security conference after that. But Berdymukhammedov has placed a priority on developing better relations with his Central Asian neighbors, a fact that is not only noticed but was rewarded with an invitation as an observer to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek in August. Berdymukhammedov's government is promising even more cooperation with its Central Asian neighbors, including energy exports to energy-starved Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. There is now Kazakh investment in hydropower projects, oil and gas pipelines, banks, and other ventures in all of Central Asia. Nazarbaev's trips to Turkmenistan and Tajikistan this month were as much about trade and economic cooperation as they were about political cooperation. One more factor compelling the five Central Asian countries toward deeper cooperation is the international community's increasing familiarity with the region. Sensing Growing Importance? Central Asia was barely on the map for most people until the last few years. The willingness of the five countries to cooperate with U.S.-led efforts in Afghanistan helped bring new attention to the region, and the vast energy resources the region possesses kept that attention on Central Asia after those countries' role in the Afghan operation began to diminish. But now, any number of foreign suitors are arriving in Central Asia, seeking energy supplies, metals, or merely some political influence in a strategically important area of the world that is the border between the worrisome states of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran to the south, China to the east, and Russia and Europe to the west. The five leaders of Central Asia may now be sensing the region's growing importance and a need to coordinate their approaches to various would-be regional players. One small example is oil and natural gas exports. If Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan can agree on a price for gas that suits them all, they could avoid a potentially nasty competition that might see all reducing prices to outsell their neighbors, with a corresponding loss in profits. If all this seems logical, then it must be mentioned that historically the region has a horrible record of cooperation. Until the area fell under the domination of the Soviet Union, it was never divided along ethnic lines. There were khanates and emirates in Central Asia and where a person lived -- not who they were ethnically -- was all that was important. A person was either a citizen of the Khivan or Kokand Khanate or the Bukharan Emirate and whether they were Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Kazakh or Turkmen made little difference. But these khanates and emirates rarely cooperated, even in the face of a common threat. Tsarist Russia had little trouble in subduing them one at a time in the latter part of the 19th century. The Soviet plan to divide the region into republics based on titular nationalities was intended to further divide the people of Central Asia, and even today that policy seems to have succeeded. For more than a decade the five Central Asian states tended to seek help from outsiders instead of seeking it from their neighbors. After many centuries, that may all be changing. RFE/RL Central Asia Report SUBSCRIBE For regular news and analysis on all five Central Asian countries by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Central Asia Report." Bruce Pannier Bruce Pannier writes the Qishloq Ovozi blog and appears regularly on the Majlis podcast for RFE/RL. PannierB@rferl.org FOLLOW Subscribe via RSS Kyrgyzstan: 'Water Baron' Presidents Discuss Strategy At Summit Soaring Bread Prices In Central Asia Give Rise To Domestic Solutions Regional Tour Shows Growing Economic Influence Public Servants Cope With Miserable Salaries Bishkek Fights TB, HIV In Prisons Tajik Students Don Uniforms Under Strict Dress Code Tajikistan: Dushanbe Scraps Contract With Russia's RusAl

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Part of the Railway Gazette Group Transport & mobility projects Data & Digital Final Singapore metro lines transferred to new concession model SINGAPORE: Land Transport Authority announced on February 14 that it had concluded discussions with SBS Transit for implementation of the government’s New Rail Financing Framework model on the North East Line and the Sengkang and Punggol peoplemovers. This completes the 10-year transition of the island’s entire rail network to the new framework. SBS Transit will transfer the ownership of its operating assets to LTA on March 31 for a net book value of S$28·8m. In return, SBS will be granted a licence to operate the lines from April 1 until March 31 2033. SBS will then pay LTA a licence charge to be set aside in the Railway Sinking Fund to finance the renewal of operating assets. LTA will pay for the assets in tranches over the next two years: 60% is to be paid on the date of transition, and the remaining 40% in two equal instalments on the next two anniversaries of the transition. LTA is to undertake a survey of asset conditions, after which SBS must provide warranties on their condition over the two-year period. LTA will beentitled to withhold payments for assets requiring rectification or replacement. The New Rail Financing Framework was announced by the government in 2008 and initially implemented in 2011 for the Downtown Line, which is operated by SBS Transit. In July 2016 LTA reached agreement with SMRT for the transfer of the North-South and East-West metro lines, the Circle Line and the Bukit Panjang LRT. New metro concession model agreed in Singapore SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority announced on July 15 that it had reached an agreement with concessionaire SMRT for implementation of the government’s New Rail Financing Framework model on the North-South and East-West metro lines, the Circle Line and the Bukit Panjang LRT. © 2019 DVV Media International

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Your Own God-Ordained Amazing Adventure :: By Howard Leung Published on: November 25, 2018 December 8, 2018 by RRadmin7 Category:General Articles Holy Spirit – How to Walk into Your Own God-Ordained Amazing Adventure Right before Jesus’ ascension, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for a special Gift that He would bestow upon them. Ten days later, all 120 of them were gathered together in one place. (Some scholars speculate that this place was within the temple precincts because it was the disciples’ practice to continually meet there.) As they patiently and obediently awaited the Lord’s promise, a mighty rushing wind blew through the house, and what appeared to be tongues of fire rested upon their heads. What happened next was equally profound. All of them began speaking in foreign languages. As they were speaking, foreign Jews who were in town for the Feast of Weeks could hear and understand what the disciples were saying in their own languages. These foreigners were understandably dumbfounded because the disciples were uneducated locals of modest backgrounds and thus could not be expected to be able to speak in these foreign languages. Indeed, this phenomenon signified a special anointing and was indicative of the Lord’s purpose for them. What happened afterward was truly unfathomable. In short, this group of 120 ragtag followers turned the world upside down by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and His saving grace from its epicenter in Jerusalem, throughout all of nearby Judea and Samaria and unto the ends of the earth. Through these disciples, and those who were subsequently saved, the Gospel raged like an uncontrollable fire westward throughout the Roman Empire and eastward into the Middle East. It then spread outside of the empire’s boundaries continuing northward into northern Europe, southward into northern Africa, and further eastward into Asia. At various times, Christianity contracted and expanded. However, by the early 17th century, it had spread around the world into the Americas; and by the 19th and early 20th centuries, it had expanded into southern and middle Africa, the entirety of Europe, northern Asia, and all of Australia. From the mid-20th century onto the present time, Christianity has been blossoming in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Presently, the number of Christians worldwide is growing at an unprecedented rate. In his book, Missions Power, author Terry Wong states that for every baby that is born into the world, 3 ½ people are born-again. Besides the amazing geographical spread of the Gospel, there is an equally profound march of the Gospel through time. If you are a Christian, imagine if you could reach your hand through time to grasp the hand of the person who led you to the Lord. Imagine if that person could reach back in time to grasp the hand of the person who led him/her to the Lord. Imagine if this could be repeated, from generation to generation, through the veil of time, back into the mist of history. Eventually, you would be able to see the face of one of those first 120 disciples who had initially received the gift of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem. That particular disciple and all the rest of the people in that chain of hands through time whose legacy you are, were obedient to the Lord’s calling upon their lives, and you owe a debt of gratitude to each and every one of them. Each of the original 120 disciples, and each of the people in your chain of hands through time, were obedient to the Lord and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, thereby empowering them to be used mightily by the Lord and changing their lives forever. The Book of Acts records the actions of mainly two of these disciples, Peter and Paul. Peter was a rude and crude fisherman. He was known for acting impetuously and for his cowardice. If he had not come to know and follow Jesus, he most probably would have lived out a simple fisherman’s life and disappeared into anonymity along with all the other unknown people of his ilk. However, this was not the case because Peter was obedient to the Lord and thus had received the gift of the Holy Spirit, which changed him from what he was into a mighty Apostle of the Lord. Uneducated Peter became a mighty orator who led thousands of people to the Lord when he preached. Miracles, signs, and wonders followed him as he obediently followed the Lord. Peter had led an amazing life. Paul was a highly accomplished Jewish leader during the time of the early church. He had viewed Jesus as a false prophet and Christianity as a wayward sect. With this mistaken belief, Paul set about doing his best to annihilate the budding Christian movement by any means, including the use of violence. To put it bluntly, Paul was a terrorist. However, the Lord had a different plan for Paul. Since Paul was a hard case, the Lord took a drastic measure. As Paul was traveling to Damascus for the purpose of finding, arresting, and returning Christians to Jerusalem for prosecution, the Lord blinded him and spoke to him, convicting him of his wrongdoings and directing him to complete his journey to Damascus where he would be told what to do next. After Paul reached Damascus, he was so remorseful that he refused to eat or drink for three days. The glory of the Lord revealed to Paul by this event was so powerful that it led him to repent and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. While there, the Lord sent a man named Ananias to lay hands on him and pray for him. When he did, Paul regained his sight and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the Lord transformed him into a mighty Apostle. The rest of Paul’s life was a grand adventure. Paul at once began to preach in the synagogues declaring and demonstrating through Scripture that Jesus is the Son of God. He traveled the world sharing the Good News with kings, commoners, and prisoners alike. Miracles, signs, and wonders followed him. He survived years of imprisonment, multiple beatings, one stoning, three shipwrecks, and being lost at sea. He healed the sick, preached the Gospel, founded churches, raised up leaders, and wrote about one third of the New Testament. Paul had also lived an amazing life. What about you? Do you want your life to have ultimate meaning? Do you want your story to be an adventure? Do you want to walk into the best life that the Lord has planned for you? In order to live life to the fullest, you need to be given to a transcendent cause. This transcendent cause must be truly epic. It has to be something which is way bigger than you are, something which is outside of yourself. Saving the whales, fighting air pollution, conserving a forest, and other such causes, although noble, pale in comparison to the one true transcendent cause – that of the cause of Christ which is the salvation of the world. In order to transform your life, follow the example of those first 120 disciples. Do what Peter and Paul did. Repent, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Submit yourself, that is, your spirit, soul, and body to the Lord. When you do this, you will receive the Holy Spirit who will guide you as you walk into your God-ordained life. When you are filled with the Spirit, you will be empowered to do amazing things for the Lord. There is no telling how mightily He will use you; but one thing is for sure: your life will become an amazing adventure. For more articles by H.W. Leung, visit, “A+O=Answers,” at aoanswers.com Last Modified on December 8, 2018 Bookmark this article Your Own God-Ordained Amazing Adventure :: By Howard Leung Saudi Arabia: Masters of Deception :: By Geri Ungurean Approaching Our Ultimate Destination :: By Daymond Duck

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Get involved in RCOG global health Volunteers’ testimonials VSO work in Kenya Tackling maternal mortality in Ethiopia Obstetric care at Barbara Bay Maternity Hospital, Ethiopia Dr Ed MacLaren STAE course testimony Jessica Moore reports on her experiences on a VSO placement in Kenya. Having reached year 4 of SpR training in South Thames, I decided I needed a change of scene. I wanted to travel to a developing country and see a different kind of obstetrics and gynaecology. The RCOG/VSO Fellowship seemed the ideal way to do this. In years gone by it was very common for senior registrars to do a stint overseas in developing countries, but this trend seems to have disappeared. Among senior consultants I have yet to find one who regretted their decision to work abroad during their training and many have been hugely supportive to me during my time here. VSO is an international development charity that operates through the work of volunteers like me. The ethos of VSO is not just to provide a service in the form of another doctor but to bring about some lasting change through training the local community. My placement started in June 2006 in a small mission hospital in the depths of Western Kenya. The rationale behind my job was to improve women’s reproductive health in the Catholic Diocese of Bungoma, a large area that provides health care through one hospital and five health centres. I am based at the hospital but visit the health centres once a month for clinics and teaching. The hospital has only 100 beds and, before I arrived, was staffed by one doctor who did everything. He was more than happy to see me and relinquish responsibility of the maternity ward and any gynaecology patients. My job has evolved into a balance between service delivery (which has been the most amazing experience in my career) and training the staff in obstetrics and gynaecology. Although the number of deliveries is small, very often those that do come to the hospital have serious complications and present late. For example, it is not uncommon for a woman to attend with a retained second twin several hours after the first twin was delivered. The experience of seeing cases I had never seen before and learning to deal with them without a consultant on hand to advise has been a significant learning exercise! Another challenge was adapting to very limited facilities – no ultrasound, no CTGs (sometimes a bonus!) – but on the whole a good stock of essential drugs and a reliable blood bank. Despite the poverty, patients have to pay for their treatment, a novel and distressing situation to someone used to free health care. Luckily, the hospital has donor funding to ensure that the cost of antenatal care and normal deliveries are kept low. However, even with a 300 Kenyan shilling cost (about £2.50) for a normal delivery, many patients still could not afford it. I particularly remember one pre-eclamptic patient begging me not to give her any more hydralazine as she was worried about the hospital bill – her BP was 200/140! The nurses who work in the maternity department are extremely committed and very eager to learn – which has made my job of teaching and training easy. Due to a shortage of doctors in Kenya, many nurses are forced to act above the level to which they have been trained. Since I arrived in June, I have started a weekly teaching session for all hospital staff – every Wednesday evening at 8pm. It is very well attended, reflecting the desire of the staff to improve their knowledge. Having finished a very comprehensive obstetrics and gynaecology teaching programme, the teaching is now rotating through other specialties. I also teach the nursing staff in the rural health centres for one day every couple of months. They are even more grateful for teaching as they work without any medical help and the nearest hospital is often a considerable distance away. From a gynaecology point of view there is a huge amount of pathology. I have a gynaecology clinic every week at the hospital and I travel out once a week for a clinic at various rural health centres in the diocese. These clinics are well attended, seeing anything from 12 patients to a record 65 patients. These clinics also provide an opportunity to train the nurses to deal with common gynaecology complaints. The potential for gynaecological surgery is huge – the only limiting factors being patients often do not have the money and for me to choose cases that I feel competent to deal with. From a trainee’s point of view, I have gained excellent surgical experience and have done far more surgery in my time here than I ever would have done in a year back home. The fact that there is no consultant supervising means you really learn to take responsibility in a way that is very hard to do as trainees in the UK. My contract with VSO is for a 40-hour week and I am not obliged to provide any out-of-hours cover. However, it would be pointless keeping to this so I am happy to work out of hours and some weekends. There are no bleeps or pagers here; instead, the ascari (the guard) comes to the house with a polite note from the nurse about the patient they want reviewed. As for the living conditions, things are much more civilised – I have my own 3-bedroomed house in the hospital compound with running water and electricity (most of the time). I have the use of a car to drive to the rural clinics (the furthest is 100km away) and escape at weekends. Living in Kenya, with all it has to offer, has added to the experience – Christmas was spent climbing Mount Kenya; New Year in the Masai Mara followed by a trip to the coast! I have now completed 9 months of my attachment and am due to return to the UK in June to resume my SpR training. I feel confident that my experience here in Kenya will be of benefit. I want to retain my interest in the developing world and hope to find myself working abroad at some time in the future. Having witnessed first-hand the inequalities in health care between countries like the UK and Kenya, I feel we are all obliged to do what we can to help. It is especially good to see the RCOG raising the profile of international issues through International News. While working in a developing country is not for every trainee, for those who think they may be tempted – waste no time and start looking into it. See what volunteering placements are currently available via the RCOG Find out about other ways to help support the RCOG’s work to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide

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The Week at Ropes & Gray ❖ Private Equity Health Care Deal Activity ❖ Ropes & Gray Launches Private Equity Industry Newsletter ❖ Pro Bono Support for Businesses Affected by Columbia Gas Explosion ❖ New Podcast on CFIUS Regulatory Developments ❖ Digital Health Partnership Roadblocks and Solutions ❖ U.S. Supreme Court Decision Affects FDA-Regulated Firms ❖ How Congressional Legislation Can Fix PTAB’s Appointments Clause ❖ Partner To Be Inducted as American College of Bankruptcy Fellow ❖ Legal Team Honored with “Arc of Justice” Award for Pro Bono Service This week, Ropes & Gray advised on the partnership of two radiology groups, produced commentary on key legal developments in health care, life sciences and intellectual property, and announced a new pro bono initiative. The firm also launched a new quarterly publication containing news and insights of interest to private equity industry professionals, in addition to releasing a podcast on CFIUS developments. Our attorneys were recognized for their excellence in bankruptcy and insolvency law, as well as for pro bono service. Here’s a summary of the week’s highlights: US Radiology Specialists announced its partnership with Radiology Ltd., a Tucson, Arizona-based private practice radiology group and outpatient imaging operator. Ropes & Gray advised US Radiology Specialists on the partnership. Ropes & Gray launched a quarterly newsletter featuring news, trends and legal developments in the private equity industry. The inaugural edition includes articles on retail investments in private funds, digital health partnerships and the growing SPAC market in Asia, as well as an overview of market data. The September 2018 Columbia Gas explosions in Lawrence, Massachusetts devastated families, lives and businesses. This week, Ropes & Gray and Lawyers for Civil Rights launched a pro bono partnership to provide free legal assistance to small businesses affected by the explosions. In a new podcast focusing on CFIUS review, anti-corruption & international risk attorneys Ama Adams and Brendan Hanifin discuss the implications of FIRRMA for U.S. and non-U.S. investors, as well as U.S. businesses that seek foreign investment. A recent report by Ropes & Gray and Crain’s examined roadblocks for companies considering digital health partnerships. Health care partner Christine Moundas discussed these findings and other key takeaways from the report in Managed Healthcare Executive. In Kisor v. Wilkie, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the doctrine of Auer deference, a principle of judicial review that requires federal courts to yield to an agency's interpretation of its own regulations. A team of Washington, D.C.-based attorneys—including appellate & Supreme Court partner Doug Hallward-Driemeier, life sciences partner Greg Levine, life sciences counsel Beth Weinman, corporate associate Rebecca Williams, and litigation & enforcement associate Emerson Siegle—authored a Law360 article examining the potential impact of the decision on firms regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other agencies that rely heavily on scientific and technical expertise. The U.S. Congress could pass legislation in the coming months to fix a constitutional defect in the structure of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). IP litigation partner and PTAB chair Scott McKeown examines how Congress can amend existing statutes to fix the defect in Reuters. The American College of Bankruptcy announced that Keith Wofford, co-managing partner of Ropes & Gray’s 400-lawyer New York office and a leading business restructuring attorney, will be inducted as a Fellow in the 31st class of the college. He is one of 31 new Fellows being recognized for their professional excellence and exceptional contributions to the bankruptcy and insolvency field, and is the sole practicing attorney from the Second Circuit among this year’s inductees. The New England Innocence Project honored litigation & enforcement partner Kirsten Mayer and a pro bono Ropes & Gray litigation team with its inaugural ARC OF JUSTICE Award at the “Voices of the Innocent: Still We Rise” storytelling event. The award recognizes the firm’s role in helping to free Gary Cifizzari, a Massachusetts man wrongly convicted of a crime he did not commit, after serving 35 years in prison. For legal insights and the latest firm news, please follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

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Highest Rated: 95% Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) Lowest Rated: 19% Blow Dry (2001) Birthday: Jul 2, 1973 Birthplace: Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK Has worked in a large variety of jobs including being a bingo caller, at a cash and carry, at a supermarket and at a toilet roll factory. Has worked on four top ten singles. Has had two number one singles and both were to raise money for Comic Relief. Does not drink. Has performed at Live 8, Leeds Festival, V Festival, the Reebok Stadium with Elton John and at the MEN Arena with Queen. Listed as one of the 50 Funniest British Comedians by The Observer in 2003. His autobiography, "The Sound of Laughter", released in 2006, sold over one million copies in the first three months and now ranks as the largest-selling autobiography of all time. Took part in the "We are Manchester" benefit concert in September 2017 to mark the reopening of the Manchester Arena after the terrorist attack. In December 2017, announced that he was cancelling all future work projects for family reasons and asked that the media respect his and his family's privacy. 24 Hour Party People The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse No Score Yet Peter Kay Live & Back on Nights Actor — 2011 No Score Yet Britain's Got the Pop Factor ...and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Actor Producer Director — 2008 No Score Yet Max & Paddy's The Power of Two Actor Director — 2005 95% Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit PC Mackintosh $56.1M 2005 83% The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse Simon Pig — 2005 No Score Yet Peter Kay: Live at the Manchester Arena Director Actor — 2004 No Score Yet Peter Kay: Live at the Bolton Albert Halls Actor Director — 2003 86% 24 Hour Party People Don Tonay $1.1M 2002 19% Blow Dry Cyril the Barman — 2001 No Score Yet Peter Kay: Live at the Top of the Tower Actor — 2000 No Score Yet Butterfly Collectors Ronnie — 1999 No Score Yet Oh, What a Night Operator — 1992 No Score Yet Roary the Racing Car 2006 Victor Kennedy 2006 No Score Yet Phoenix Nights 2001-2002 Screenwriter 2001 78% Peter Kay's Car Share 2015-2017 Screenwriter John Redmond Director QUOTES FROM Peter Kay CHARACTERS News & Interviews for Peter Kay

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Volume XVIII - Issue #33 Although not "Top of the News," the two stories on Bug Bounties illuminate the value that organizations are seeing in well-managed bug bounty programs and the growing acceptance of this approach as a far more effective way to find critical vulnerabilities than relying exclusively on commercial software and/or red team services. FBI: Response Takes Precedence Over Attribution DHS Red Teams Conduct Penetration Tests on Government Agencies US Cyber Command Using Cyber Capabilities Against ISIS More Bad News for NASA Cybersecurity MIT Bug Bounty Program Facebook Bug Bounty Hunter Found Evidence of Earlier Intrusion Crop Databases Face Cyberthreats US Military Wants Secure Messaging Platform Two Plead Guilty in Connection with IRS "Get Transcript" Fraud Bangladesh Bank Breach Factors Cisco Releases Updates to Fix Denial-of-Service Flaws DHS Wants to Improve Private Company Critical Infrastructure Data Storage Judy Novak's PCAP Riddle Contest - Innovative Solutions Open To All STORM CENTER TECH CORNER ************************ Sponsored By Splunk *************************** On AWS, you can't secure what you can't see. That's where Splunk can help. Splunk offers solutions that deliver end-to-end visibility on AWS. Register for our upcoming webinar to hear from a leading customer, AWS, and Splunk about how to better secure and manage your AWS environment. http://www.sans.org/info/185222 - --SANS Security West | San Diego, CA | April 29-May 6 | 28 courses, bonus evening presentations, 2 nights of NetWars, multiple talks on Emerging Trends, networking opportunities and more! www.sans.org/u/dzz - --SANS Baltimore Spring 2016 | Baltimore, MD | May 9-14 | 9 courses in IT security, cyber defense, incident handling, security management, and Windows forensics plus multiple SANS@Night talks. http://www.sans.org/u/gR7 - --SANS Houston 2016 | Houston, TX | May 9-14 | 7 courses including the NEW Network Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking course. http://www.sans.org/u/dzE - --SANS Stockholm 2016 | Stockholm, Sweden | May 9-14 | 5 courses. SANS training in the Nordics, 5 courses including Mobile, Virtualisation, Defending Web Apps, and Reverse Engineering Malware. http://www.sans.org/u/ffh - --Security Operations Center Summit & Training | Crystal City, VA | May 19-26, 2016 | Sharing information to make cybersecurity work effectively. Two days of in-depth Summit talks, 4 SANS courses, networking, & more! http://www.sans.org/u/eQV - --SANSFIRE 2016| Washington, DC | June 11-18 | Exclusive event powered by the Internet Storm Center 47 courses, bonus evening presentations, solutions expo, extraordinary networking opportunities, 2 nights of NetWars, industry receptions, and more! http://www.sans.org/u/gRr - --Can't travel? SANS offers LIVE online instruction. Day (Simulcast - http://www.sans.org/u/WF) and Evening (vLive - http://www.sans.org/u/WU) courses available! - -- Multi-week Live SANS training Mentor - http://www.sans.org/u/X4 Contact mentor@sans.org - --Looking for training in your own community? Community - http://www.sans.org/u/Xj - --SANS OnDemand lets you train anytime, anywhere with four months of online access to your course. Learn more: http://www.sans.org/u/Xy Plus Prague, Berlin, Delhi, Vienna, and Portland all in the next 90 days. For a list of all upcoming events, on-line and live: http://www.sans.org/u/XI FBI: Response Takes Precedence Over Attribution (April 21, 2016) Donald Freese, director of the FBI's National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force, told attendees at Akamai's Government Forum last week that his team's approach to cyberattacks is to focus on response rather than attribution. -http://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2016/04/fbi-official-recovering-cyber-attac k-who-isnt-so-important/127697/?oref=ng-channelriver [Editor's Note (Pescatore): I like the talk - Freese is quoted as saying the FBI will work to do more blocking of attacks and less "hand-wringing." There is a definite need for more "I am certain that is an attack, so I blocked it" and less "I am certain this is an attack, so I let it continue so I could watch it do damage so I could write a report about who caused the damage." (Northcutt): That is sensible. This approach enables desist and recovery countermeasures to release as fast as possible and avoids the embarrassment of sustaining significant damage while waiting to "nail the bad guy". Take a quick look at page 38 of the CREST IR guide which builds on many guides before it and think about how to cause those actions to happen; fast: -http://www.crest-approved.org/wp-content/uploads/CSIR-Procurement-Guide.pdf (Honan): I hope many others follow the FBI's example. Too many people focus on the who of a breach and not on the how. ] DHS Red Teams Conduct Penetration Tests on Government Agencies (April 25, 2016) The US Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) has conducted penetration tests on three unnamed US government civilian agencies. The red teams were able to "own those agencies from top to bottom and side-to-side." NCCIC now plans to help those agencies fix their network weaknesses. The agencies will also have help developing internal cybersecurity talent so they can continue to conduct similar assessments more frequently. -http://federalnewsradio.com/cybersecurity/2016/04/dhs-gives-cyber-hunters-better -type-license/ [Editor's Note (Assante): Let's pause the tactical remediation game and red team scoreboard exercise just long enough to ask ourselves why these repeated results don't necessitate a strategy change? 100% failure from incidents to red team tests should shake up the cybersecurity leadership and put a concerted effort in place to re-tool a failed strategy. (Honan): Red teaming is an effective way of identifying weaknesses in your security but do balance their findings with someone with experience in implementing secure defences. Having a pure red team person recommend defence strategies can be like having a forward in soccer be the goalkeeper for your team. Just because you excel at scoring goals, does not necessarily mean that forward will make a great goalkeeper. ] US Cyber Command Using Cyber Capabilities Against ISIS (April 24 and 25, 2016) The New York Times reports that the US military's Cyber Command has been directed to launch cyberattacks against ISIS. These attacks are in concert with traditional weapons attacks. One reason the plan to use cyberweapons has been made public is to undermine the Islamic State's confidence in the integrity of its data and make potential recruits wary of communications. -http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/us/politics/us-directs-cyberweapons-at-isis-fo r-first-time.html [Editor's Note (Murray): Sounds like espionage, not sabotage. I find that comforting. We are much better at the one than the other. Dramatically lower potential for "blow-back." ] More Bad News for NASA Cybersecurity (April 25, 2016) Two more reports have found serious cybersecurity problems at NASA. The agency's inspector general found that NASA needs to improve continuous monitoring management, configuration management, and risk management. And a private security company, Security Scorecard, ranked NASA last among 600 federal, state, and local government agencies surveyed in its report. Security Scorecard found that NASA had issues with secure sockets layer (SSL) certificates, unsecure open ports, and misconfigured email sender policy frameworks. -http://federalnewsradio.com/cybersecurity/2016/04/nasa-continues-take-cyber-lump NASA IG Report: -https://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY16/IG-16-016.pdf [Editor's Note (Assante): I would be productive to compare the relative cyber security posture and performance of private sector space firms doing business with the US Government versus these NASA findings. These results would concern me if I was sharing sensitive and proprietary data with NASA. (Murray): These findings are not unique to NASA. Private industry may take comfort in that they are subjected to a lower level of scrutiny but should assume that the findings also apply to them. (Honan): I recommend that if you have responsibility for security in your organisation that you read this report about NASA, not to gloat over how poor their security may or may not be, but rather to look for lessons learnt to improve the security in your organisation. ] ************************** SPONSORED LINKS ******************************** 1) Mark Your Calendars for April 27th Webcast: Managing Applications Securely: A SANS Survey: http://www.sans.org/info/185227 2) Cracking the Code on SaaS Security & Compliance. Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 1:00 PM EDT (17:00:00 UTC) with Brandon Cook. http://www.sans.org/info/185232 3) New Survey: Tell us how the IT community consumes AND uses cyber threat intel. Chance to win $400 Amazon Gift Card OR a FREE Summit Pass! http://www.sans.org/info/185237 MIT Bug Bounty Program (April 25, 2016) The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has launched an experimental bug bounty program. Participation is limited to MIT affiliates, including students, who have valid certifications. The program is looking for specific categories of vulnerabilities in the school's web domains. Prizes for finding flaws will be paid in TechCASH, which can be used on campus, and the top contributors will get to keep their Kerberos accounts after they graduate. -http://www.scmagazine.com/mit-launches-bug-bounty-program/article/491878/ [Editor's Note (Pescatore): Well-managed bug bounty programs are showing value in a lot of use cases, with emphasis on the "well managed". The use of "TechCASH" is a unique slant - limits the pool of interested testers, but I guess reduces cost. Odds are the first target will be the TechCASH system... ] Facebook Bug Bounty Hunter Found Evidence of Earlier Intrusion (April 22 and 25, 2016) A bug bounty hunter searching for vulnerabilities on a Facebook's internal network found evidence that a server had already been compromised. The individual found the telltale files in February, but waited until Facebook has fixed the problem to disclose details. He was awarded US $10,000 for finding the vulnerability in the server. -http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36128184 -http://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-hacker-finds-another-intruder-beat-him/ -http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04/22/i_hacked_facebook_and_found_someone_had_ beaten_me_to_it/ [Editor's Note (Williams): When conducting penetration tests, we regularly find evidence of previous or even ongoing intrusions. When negotiating a penetration test, ask your provider if they've ever seen this (if not, question why) and how it will be addressed if it happens during your penetration test. If your penetration tester gets in by exploiting a vulnerability, they may not be the first. ] Crop Databases Face Cyberthreats (April 25, 2016) Last month, the FBI sent a Private Industry Notification to farmers, warning that data used in precision agriculture technology, or smart farming, could be targeted by data thieves. Farmers using the technology are urged to make sure that the companies that manage those data have established cybersecurity and breach response plans. -https://fcw.com/articles/2016/04/25/rockwell-fbi-farm-data.aspx -https://info.publicintelligence.net/FBI-SmartFarmHacking.pdf US Military Wants Secure Messaging Platform (April 25, 2016) The US military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking suppliers to develop an encrypted messaging platform based on blockchain technology. One of the goals for the new platform is to allow DoD to communicate more quickly than it does now with centralized, legacy messaging systems. -http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-us-military-wants-its-own-encrypted-messaging-a pp-that-uses-blockchain/ -https://sbir.defensebusiness.org/(X(1)S(dougahnan4h4d0uuwifnxln5))/topics?AspxAu toDetectCookieSupport=1#topic27859#topic27859 [Editor's Note (Pescatore): I think this is really more DARPA looking to do something with buzz-heavy block chain technology using small business funding methods, vs. anything serious about moving DoD to be able to communicate more quickly/securely. ] Two Plead Guilty in Connection with IRS "Get Transcript" Fraud (April 22 and 25, 2016) Two people have pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and illegally structuring cash withdrawals to evade bank reporting requirements for their roles in a scheme to defraud the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The scheme involved exploited the "Get Transcript" tool to obtain taxpayers' personal information and filing fraudulent returns to obtain refunds. Another person involved in the scheme pleaded guilty to money laundering earlier this year. -http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/277338-two-plead-guilty-in-irs-data-brea -http://www.scmagazine.com/husband-and-wife-plead-guilty-in-irs-breach-that-compr omised-700k-accounts/article/492035/ DoJ Press Release: -https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/georgia-husband-and-wife-plead-guilty-stolen-iden tity-tax-refund-fraud-scheme-involving-irs Bangladesh Bank Breach Factors (April 22 and 25, 2016) According to Reuters, some of the contributing factors in the US $80 million theft from the Bangladesh central bank included the use of inexpensive, second-hand routers and the lack of a firewall. In addition, an investigation conducted by BAE Systems suggests the attackers tricked the SWIFT financial software with custom malware. -http://www.darkreading.com/attacks-breaches/malware-at-root-of-bangladesh-bank-h eist-lies-to-swift-financial-platform/d/d-id/1325254? -http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/04/billion-dollar-bangladesh-hack-swift-sof tware-hacked-no-firewalls-10-switches/ -http://www.scmagazine.com/bangladesh-banking-hack-due-to-swift-vulnerability/art icle/491854/ -http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/277489-bangladesh-bank-hackers-exploited -common-financial-industry-software -http://baesystemsai.blogspot.de/2016/04/two-bytes-to-951m.htm [Editor's Note (Liston): For those of us who cut our reverse-engineering teeth on these kinds of things, the malware bypassed an integrity check by creating an in-memory patch of liboradb.dll - overwriting a JNZ check with NOPs. +ORC would be proud: -http://baesystemsai.blogspot.com/2016/04/two-bytes-to-951m.html] Cisco Releases Updates to Fix Denial-of-Service Flaws (April 21 and 22, 2016) Cisco has published five security alerts regarding vulnerabilities in three products that could be exploited to create denial-of-service conditions. The flaws affect Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) software, Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) software, and the Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP) library. -http://www.computerworld.com/article/3060140/security/cisco-fixes-serious-denial -of-service-flaws.html -http://www.scmagazine.com/cisco-flags-five-product-vulnerabilities-that-could-tr igger-denial-of-service/article/491756/ [Editor's Note (Williams): Although these vulnerabilities are mostly rated as DoS, remember that a vendor rated DoS can quickly become a remote code execution (RCE) when the right creative mind gets ahold of it. We saw this last year with MS15-034. It was originally classified as only DoS but was updated to include RCE after exploit code was sold in exploit markets. Patch your systems now to reduce exposure. ] DHS Wants to Improve Private Company Critical Infrastructure Data Storage (April 20, 2016) The Department of Homeland Security wants to revamp an outdated system for holding sensitive data from private companies that operate elements of the country's critical infrastructure. The Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program (PCII) stores security reviews, submitted as paper reports. DHS wants to move "to state-of-the-art technology that operates within a digital environment." -http://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2016/04/dhs-wants-overhaul-system-storing-s ensitive-critical-infrastructure-data/127653/ -https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-09186.pdf Judy Novak's PCAP Riddle Contest - Innovative Solutions Open To All Readers (April 26, 2016) Five days ago the SANS Institute sent an email to 101k security professionals as a Save the Date for an upcoming conference and to announce a security contest designed by Judy Novak. By April 25 there were four winners, all members of the GIAC Advisory Board. Their solutions are very innovative, each approached the problem differently: -https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-pcap-contest-actually-tells-us-stephen-north cutt?trk=pulse_spock-articles -http://securitywa.blogspot.com/2016/04/david-fletcher-boston-2016-pcap-lab.html -http://www.giac.org/certified-professionals/advisory-board The PCAP, (network packet storage) file is available on this web page if you want to try some of their techniques: -https://www.sans.org/event/boston-2016 Angler EK Used to Spread CryptXXX -https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/Angler+Exploit+Kit+Bedep+and+CryptXXX/20981/ Honeyports Powershell Script -https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/Honeyports+powershell+script/20979/ Online Credit Card Fraud Soars -http://www.pymnts.com/fraud-prevention/2016/online-fraud-attack-rates-soar-since -october/ How to Trick Traffic Sensors -https://securelist.com/blog/research/74454/how-to-trick-traffic-sensors/ Opera VPN Service Analysis -https://gist.github.com/spaze/558b7c4cd81afa7c857381254ae7bd10 -https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2016/04/21/opera-browser-free-vpn/ Apple Image IO Denial of Service -https://www.landaire.net/blog/apple-imageio-denial-of-service/ Text Messages Used to Phish Apple IDs -http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/apple-id-password- expired-expiry-text-website-scam-phishing-a6991126.html Critical HP Data Protector Patch -https://h20564.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c05085988 Armada Collection (or imposter) Making Fake DDoS Threats -https://blog.cloudflare.com/empty-ddos-threats-meet-the-armada-collective/ John Pescatore was Vice President at Gartner Inc. for fourteen years. He became a director of the SANS Institute in 2013. He has worked in computer and network security since 1978 including time at the NSA and the U.S. Secret Service. Shawn Henry is president of CrowdStrike Services. He retired as FBI Executive Assistant Director responsible for all criminal and cyber programs and investigations worldwide, as well as international operations and the FBI's critical incident response. Suzanne Vautrinot was Commander of the 24th Air Force (AF Cyber) and now sits on the board of directors of Wells Fargo and several other major organizations. Ed Skoudis is co-founder of CounterHack, the nation's top producer of cyber ranges, simulations, and competitive challenges, now used from high schools to the Air Force. He is also author and lead instructor of the SANS Hacker Exploits and Incident Handling course, and Penetration Testing course. Michael Assante was Vice President and Chief Security Officer at NERC, led a key control systems group at Idaho National Labs, and was American Electric Power's CSO. He now leads the global cyber skills development program at SANS for power, oil & gas and other critical infrastructure industries. Mark Weatherford is Chief Cybersecurity Strategist at vArmour and the former Deputy Under Secretary of Cybersecurity at the US Department of Homeland Security. Stephen Northcutt teaches advanced courses in cyber security management; he founded the GIAC certification and was the founding President of STI, the premier skills-based cyber security graduate school, www.sans.edu. Dr. Johannes Ullrich is Chief Technology Officer of the Internet Storm Center and Dean of the Faculty of the graduate school at the SANS Technology Institute. William Hugh Murray is an executive consultant and trainer in Information Assurance and Associate Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School. Sean McBride is Director of Analysis and co-founder of Critical Intelligence, and, while at Idaho National Laboratory, he initiated the situational awareness effort that became the ICS-CERT. Rob Lee is the SANS Institute's top forensics instructor and director of the digital forensics and incident response research and education program at SANS (computer-forensics.sans.org). Tom Liston is member of the Cyber Network Defense team at UAE-based Dark Matter. He is a Handler for the SANS Institute's Internet Storm Center and co-author of the book Counter Hack Reloaded. Jake Williams is a SANS course author and the founder of Rendition Infosec, with experience securing DoD, healthcare, and ICS environments. Dr. Eric Cole is an instructor, author and fellow with The SANS Institute. He has written five books, including Insider Threat and he is a founder with Secure Anchor Consulting. Mason Brown is one of a very small number of people in the information security field who have held a top management position in a Fortune 50 company (Alcoa). He leads SANS' efforts to raise the bar in cybersecurity education around the world. David Hoelzer is the director of research & principal examiner for Enclave Forensics and a senior fellow with the SANS Technology Institute. Gal Shpantzer is a trusted advisor to CSOs of large corporations, technology startups, Ivy League universities and non-profits specializing in critical infrastructure protection. Gal created the Security Outliers project in 2009, focusing on the role of culture in risk management outcomes and contributes to the Infosec Burnout project. Eric Cornelius is Director of Critical Infrastructure and ICS at Cylance, and earlier served as deputy director and chief technical analyst for the Control Systems Security Program at the US Department of Homeland Security. Alan Paller is director of research at the SANS Institute. David Turley is SANS operations manager and serves as production manager and final editor on SANS NewsBites. "The perfect balance of theory and hands-on experience." - James D. Perry II, University of Tennessee

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sarahbethany.com Songwriter - Pianist - Vocalist - Producer - Arranger Minneapolis and St. Louis native, Sarah Bethany, began playing the piano at age seven. She continued her classical studies at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where she discovered an attraction to experimental electronic music composition as well as a love of jazz, hip hop, and reggae music. Her extensive, advanced vocal studies led her to the music of Rachelle Ferrell and Lalah Hathaway, two of Bethany's most influential vocalists. Sarah B. has won two of Hawai'i's prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and, per- _37A3034_edited St Louis_edited formed with Kenny Loggins as well as several Grammy Award winning artists including John Cruz. Her voice has been heard on many radio stations as a session singer and piano player for numerous albums.

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Executive Vice President Salary in Carson City, Nevada How much does an Executive Vice President make in Carson City, NV? The average Executive Vice President salary in Carson City, NV is $135,116 as of December 26, 2019, but the salary range typically falls between $109,880 and $153,473. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target. Search Executive Vice President Jobs in Carson City, NV Salary range for an Executive Vice President Adjust Executive Vice President Salary: Select City in NV View Cost of Living in Carson City, Nevada Review the job openings and experience requirements for the Executive Vice President job to confirm that it is the job you are seeking. See user submitted job responsibilities for Executive Vice President. Search Executive Vice President Job Openings Job Openings for Executive Vice President in Carson City, NV What does an Executive Vice President do? Understand business objectives and effectively translate them into strategies, while skillfully navigating obstacles and resistance to change. Demonstrate a commitment to equity and diversity, and understand how to effectively serve and interact with diverse populations with a high degree of comfort and confidence. Create and sustain a high-performing team through recognizing and maximizing the skills of the professional staff and minimizing employee-initiated turnover. Assists the SVP with managing their weekly meeting schedule, other on- and off-site meetings and retreats, coordinating meeting agendas, and if applicable attending meetings and retreats in a support capacity. Manage and coordinate all insurance policies and claims for the college including requesting certificates of insurance, tracking premium payments, collecting stakeholder information as it relates to premium calculations, and submitting incident reports to the State Department of Enterprise Services or insurance carriers. Support the VPs with Cabinet, Board of Trustees, Board of Directors and Presidential committees, sub-committee and related activities. Develop and maintain current knowledge of general operations within Administrative Services as well as policies and procedures of the college, the Board of Trustees, and the State community college system (as they pertain to assigned duties). Provide direct confidential, administrative and strategic support to the Vice President, including, but is not limited to scheduling meetings, managing appointments, recording minutes, processing travel arrangements. Actively participates in the career development of lower tier supervisors and managers providing training and development goals, performance evaluations, and training for each team member. Lead the strategy underpinning our cloud and technical infrastructure, overseeing high-level architectural decisions, driving platform integrations, managing cloud migrations, and guiding teams to successful execution on continuous portfolio-wide infrastructure optimization efforts. About Carson City, Nevada Carson City is an independent city and capital of the US state of Nevada, named after the mountain man Kit Carson. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,274. The majority of the town's population lives in Eagle Valley, on the eastern edge of the Carson Range, a branch of the Sierra Nevada, about 30 miles (50 km) south of Reno. The town began as a stopover for California-bound emigrants, but developed into a city with the Comstock Lode, a silver strike in the mountains to the northeast. The city has served as Nevada's capital since statehood in 1864; for much of its history it was a hub ... Understand the total compensation opportunity for an Executive Vice President, base salary plus other pay elements These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Executive Vice President in Carson City, NV. The base salary for Executive Vice President ranges from $109,880 to $153,473 with the average base salary of $135,116. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $128,398 to $183,832 with the average total cash compensation of $152,145. About Carson City, Nevada Carson City is an independent city and capital of the US state of Nevada, named after the mountain man Kit Carson. As of the 2010 census, the populati....More Carson City, Nevada area prices were up 2.5% from a year ago Executive Vice President Salary in popular cities: Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno

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Pasadena teen wins NL’s 2019 Human Rights Award Corner Brook Regional High student Jessie Lawrence. - Diane Crocker Jessie Lawrence honoured for work as 2SLGBTQ+ advocate and youth activist ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Jessie Lawrence is being recognized for her contribution to advancing and furthering human rights in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Pasadena teen is the 2019 recipient of the Human Right Awards for her work as a 2SLGBTQ+ advocate and youth activist. The Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission presented Lawrence the award during a ceremony at Government House in St. John’s Dec 5. The award is presented annually in celebration of International Human Rights Day. Lawrence, a 17-year-old Corner Brook Regional High School student from Pasadena, came out as gay when she was 13. When she was 14, she became co-founder and director of Camp Ohana, a 2SLGBTQ+-focused summer camp, by youth and for youth. At the camp, there are no wait times for counselors and no hatred — simply education and inclusion. Lawrence strives to further acceptance in schools and promote the need for effective action against the discrimination of diverse individuals. She is also a part of the francophone community, holding the position of vice-president of Franco Jeunes de Terre-Neuve et Labrador and leading the way for accessible resources among the francophone community and people of French expression. Published 57 minutes ago

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Volume X - Issue #63 Georgia Receives International Help in Wake of Cyberattacks US Intelligence Issues Warning About Traveling Abroad with Electronic Devices Data Breach Indictment Reveals Alleged Breaches Not Previously Disclosed Judge Grants MBTA Request for Injunction Against MIT Researchers Ohio Sec. of State Sues eVoting Vendor for Dropped Votes Top Ten Courses named at SANS Network Security 2008 GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS AND HOMELAND SECURITY Irish Social Welfare Data on Missing Laptop Australian ISPs Urged to Join Fight Against Piracy Dutch Police Notify Users Infected with Bot Malware Wells Fargo Codes Used to Access Consumer Data at Reseller BBC Apologizes for Losing Children's Data Texas Hospital Patient Data on Missing USB Drive STUDIES AND STATISTICS Many Businesses in Dublin Shopping District Using Unsecure Wireless Networks Cybersecurity Advice for Next President **************** Sponsored By BlueCat Networks, Inc. ******************* IP Address Management is much more than just a marriage between DNS and DHCP services. Given the network challenges of VoIP, RFID tags, wireless authorized devices, Virtual Servers/ Clients, and IPv6, 3rd generation IP Address Management brings with it urgency in moving away from spreadsheets, homegrown, and legacy solutions to intelligent IPAM solutions. http://www.sans.org/info/31613 - - NETWORK SECURITY 2008: Las Vegas (9/28-10/6) 50 courses; big tools expo; lot's of evening sessions: http://www.sans.org/ns2008 - - Boston (8/9-8/16) http://www.sans.org/boston08/ - - Virginia Beach (8/21-8/29): http://www.sans.org/vabeach08/ - - Chicago (9/3-9/10) http://www.sans.org/chicago08 AUDIT & COMPLIANCE - - and in 100 other cites and on line any time: http://www.sans.org/index.php Georgia Receives International Help in Wake of Cyberattacks (August 11, 2008) The Georgian presidential website and other government websites have once again been the target of cyber attacks. Similar attacks occurred in late July, prior to the outbreak of military conflict between Georgia and Russia regarding South Ossetia. The malware used to launch the most recent distributed denial-of-service attacks appears to be a variant of Pinch; the command and control server used in the attacks is based in Turkey. In a separate, related story, Poland's president Lech Kaczynski has made his official website available to the Georgian government so it can disseminate information about the conflict. In addition, the website of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was moved to a US hosting facility over the weekend. The attacks on the site are continuing. -http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/11/georgia_ddos_attack_reloaded/print.html -http://news.smh.com.au/technology/poland-makes-web-site-available-to-georgia-200 80811-3tl5.html -http://www.usatoday.com/tech/world/2008-08-11-georgia-president-hacked_N.htm?csp =34 [Editor's Note (Ullrich): There have now been some suggestions that the attack was organized in part by the infamous "Russian Business Network" (RBN) in cooperation with Russian intelligence services. See -http://ddanchev.blogspot.com/ (Honan): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has set up a Blog on Google to provide updates on the conflict at -http://georgiamfa.blogspot.com/2008/08/cyber-attacks-disable-georgian-websites.h while Wikipedia is also keeping track of events -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_South_Ossetia_(2008)#Cyberattacks] US Intelligence Issues Warning About Traveling Abroad with Electronic Devices (August 5, 7, 9 & 11, 2008) The US Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX) issued a strongly-worded advisory for travelers warning them to take special precautions when traveling overseas with portable electronic devices. The warning appears to be aimed specifically toward those travelling to China for the Olympic Games. Security services in China are capable of tracking individuals' whereabouts through mobile phones and PDAs and of turning on microphones in devices without users' knowledge; users are urged to remove batteries from the devices when they are not being used. Travelers should not take electronic devices with them unless they are absolutely necessary, and they should assume that if the devices are examined by customs officials or their hotel rooms are searched that the contents of their hard drives have been copied. Travelers should also change all their passwords frequently during their travels and again as soon as they return home. All information sent electronically can be intercepted. The advisory does not name China specifically, but in a television interview and a press release, NCIX head Joel Brenner did mention China. The advisory also says, "In most countries you have no expectation of privacy in Internet cafes, hotels, offices, or public places." Malware can be placed on the devices with USB drives or other freebies; by the same token, do not use your own USB drive in foreign computers. It may be a good idea to encrypt the data on the devices, but customer officials in some countries may not permit travelers to bring in encrypted data. -http://www.ncix.gov/publications/reports/traveltips.pdf -http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2223619/warns-olympic-travellers-us-china -http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/07/eveningnews/main4329769.shtml -http://news.smh.com.au/technology/us-intelligence-alerts-travelers-to-cyber-spie s-20080809-3sik.html Data Breach Indictment Reveals Alleged Breaches Not Previously Disclosed (August 11, 2008) The recent indictments of 11 people in connection with the theft of payment card information from the wireless networks of nine large retailers was the first some consumers had heard of certain incidents, despite data breach notification laws in the majority of US states. While the TJX breach received a significant media coverage, breaches at other retailers, such as Boston Market, Forever 21 and Barnes and Noble came as a surprise. Boston Market and Forever 21 said they did not notify customers because they had not been able to determine if customer data were actually stolen. [Editor's Note (Schultz): Boston Market and Forever 21's reasoning shows just how little they value the welfare of their customers. Companies that value their customers' welfare would have notified them just in case there was a compromise. ] Judge Grants MBTA Request for Injunction Against MIT Researchers (August 9 & 11, 2008) A federal judge has issued an injunction preventing three Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) students from presenting their research regarding vulnerabilities in the electronic payment system used by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA). Their research centered on manipulating the system to ride the transit system without paying. The complaint alleges that the students refused to provide the MBTA with the information they would present at DefCon. The students plan to appeal the ruling and are being represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). -http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/09/defcon_talk_halted/print.html -http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10012612-83.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag =2547-1009_3-0-20 -http://www.heise-online.co.uk/security/MIT-students-muzzled--/news/111289 [Editor's Note (Honan): The recent judgement in the Dutch courts regarding the Oyster Card RFID Chip Hack -http://www.sans.org/newsletters/newsbites/newsbites.php?vol=10&issue=57#sID2 demonstrates that the courts should realize the problem lies with the weaknesses in the technology and not with those who discover them. ] Ohio Sec. of State Sues eVoting Vendor for Dropped Votes (August 8, 2008) Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has filed a lawsuit against Premier Election Solutions seeking damages for dropped votes in Ohio's March primary election. Premier, which was formerly known as Diebold, makes the evoting machines used in half the counties in Ohio. Problems with dropped votes arose in 11 counties; the discrepancies were caught and final counts corrected. Officials from Butler County, where discrepancies were first detected, wrote to Premier in April asking for an explanation for the dropped votes. Premier responded with a report in May that suggested that the problems were due either to human error or to problems with antivirus software. A follow-up report suggested disabling antivirus software on voting tabulation machines, but they had been certified with the antivirus software installed. Brunner's lawsuit is a countersuit in response to one filed by premier in May requesting a court determination that the company had met its obligations as set out in contracts and warranties. -http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&arti cleId=9112041&source=rss_topic17 -http://www.informationweek.com/news/management/legal/showArticle.jhtml?articleID =210000402&subSection=Infrastructure In addition to a big security tools expo and a lot of free sessions at SANS Network Security 2008 in Las Vegas (end of September), here are the ten most popular courses (out of 45 being offered there): 1. SEC560 Network Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking 2. SEC401 SANS Security Essentials Bootcamp Style 3. SEC 504 Hacker Techniques, Exploits & Incident Handling 4. SEC508 Computer Forensics, Investigation, and Response 5. SANS(r) +S(tm) Training Program for the CISSP(r) Certification Exam 6. MAN512 SANS Security Leadership Essentials For Managers with Knowledge Compression 7. SEC505 Securing Windows 8. SEC502 Perimeter Protection In-Depth 9. AUD507 Auditing Networks, Perimeters & Systems 10 MAN525 Project Management and Effective Communications for Security Professionals and Managers Early registration deadline is next Wednesday, August 20. Details: See: -http://www.sans.org/ns2008 Irish Social Welfare Data on Missing Laptop (August 11, 2008) Irish Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes has called the loss of a laptop holding personally identifiable information of social welfare recipients a "serious incident." According to the results of an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) at the Department of Social and Family Affairs a laptop missing since July holds information of approximately 390,000 recipients. The data sent to the CAG from the Dept of Social and Family Affairs was originally sent in encrypted format. It was subsequently stored unencrypted by the CAG on the stolen laptop. The department is making an effort to contact all people whose information is on the missing computer. Some of the records include bank account information. -http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/11177/cio/irish-government-data-brea ch-slammed-as-serious-incident -http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0811/breaking25.htm UPDATE: Staff off the hook for laptop security blunders -http://www.independent.ie/national-news/staff-off--the-hook-for-laptop---securit y-blunders-1452407.html [Editor's Note (Honan): The fact that this breach occurred 17 months ago highlights the need for Ireland, and the EU, to introduce mandatory Data Breach Disclosure legislation. The CAG not only did not contact those impacted by the breach but only notified the Department of Social and Family Affairs within the last week.] Australian ISPs Urged to Join Fight Against Piracy (August 8, 2008) The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) wants Australian ISPs to follow the lead of their British counterparts, that have agreed to send warning letters to Internet users suspected of illegal filesharing. The proposed letters would contain information about where and how to obtain copyrighted content legally on the Internet. Following a three-strikes model, repeat offenders could find their Internet speeds reduced or surfing curtailed, and eventually disconnected. The plan would be to give the ISPs the IP addresses of suspected offenders and have them send the letters. However, Internet Industry Association executive director Peter Coroneos says AFACT is asking ISPs to act as law enforcement, comparing the request to holding the postal service responsible for what people send through the mail. The ISPs propose to provide copyright holders with access to suspected downloader information so they can take legal action. Coroneos also observes that IP addresses are not irrefutable proof of who downloaded digital content. AFACT says that a study in the US showed that 90 percent of college students who received warning letters stopped illegal downloading activity. -http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/isps-join-the-copyright-fight/2008/08/06/12177020 54216.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 Dutch Police Notify Users Infected with Bot Malware (August 8, 2008) Dutch police have notified people whose computers were infected with malware that made them part of a botnet comprising more than 100,000 PCs. People were redirected to a web page containing directions on disabling the malware and a link to an online virus scanner. The police were able to automatically forward the infected users to the help page because they have taken control of the botnet. A 19-year old man was arrested last week when he tried to sell the botnet to someone in Brazil for GBP 25,000 (US $47,839). -http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/security/cybercrime/news/index.cfm?New sId=10427 [Editor's Note (Ullrich): An interesting tactic that should probably be investigated more. In the past, investigators of botnets (law enforcement or not) have been careful not to use the botnet functions themselves. Most of the time, the exact effects of these actions are not well understood. Other methods have however not been very successful in notifying users. ] Wells Fargo Codes Used to Access Consumer Data at Reseller (August 11, 2008) Wells Fargo is in the process of notifying approximately 7,000 consumers that their personally identifiable information may have been compromised when someone used Wells Fargo codes to access consumer credit data. The suspicious activity occurred over a five-year period at MicroBilt Corp., a consumer data reseller. The compromised data include Social Security numbers (SSNs), birth dates, driver's license numbers and some credit card account information. BBC Apologizes for Losing Children's Data (August 8 & 11, 2008) The BBC has sent letters of apology to the parents of approximately 250 children whose personal information were on a flash drive that was stolen. The data were on the device because the children had signed up for a cooking program. The data include names, addresses, phone numbers, and dates that the children and their families would be away on vacation. The drive was in the possession of an employee of an independent production company that was making the show. -http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4481621.ece -http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2223662/bbc-partner-loses-children-data -http://www.scmagazineuk.com/BBC-confirms-personal-details-stolen/article/113625/ Texas Hospital Patient Data on Missing USB Drive (August 7, 2008) A hospital administrator in Texas apparently downloaded sensitive patient information to a flash drive that was later reported lost or stolen. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires healthcare providers to take measures to protect patient data from exposure. The associate administrator for Harris County Hospital District allegedly placed records of 1,200 patients with HIV, AIDS and other medical conditions on the storage device. The data, which include names, Social Security numbers (SSNs), medical conditions and treatments, were not encrypted or password-protected. -http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5931497.html Many Businesses in Dublin Shopping District Using Unsecure Wireless Networks (August 10, 2008) A study from the Sunday Business Post indicates that up to one-third of stores and restaurants on Henry Street and Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland's two busiest shopping streets, are using unsecure wireless systems, potentially exposing customer credit card information to cyber thieves. -http://www.thepost.ie/ezineSBP/story.asp?storyid=35087 Cybersecurity Advice for Next President (August 7, 2008) Bruce Schneier offers "three pieces of policy advice for the next president" to improve cybersecurity, and for that matter, "national security in general." First, the government should use its leverage as a major customer of commercial products and services to improve the quality of products overall by making security requirements part of the RFPs. Second, the government should legislate the results it wants to see, but not the processes for achieving those results. Finally, the government should "broadly invest in research," beyond the scope of short-term high-profit projects and military applications by allowing funding agencies like NSF and NIH to decide how to allocate the money. -http://www.wired.com/politics/security/commentary/securitymatters/2008/08/securi tymatters_0807 Eugene Schultz, Ph.D., CISM, CISSP is CTO of High Tower Software and the author/co-author of books on Unix security, Internet security, Windows NT/2000 security, incident response, and intrusion detection and prevention. He was also the co-founder and original project manager of the Department of Energy's Computer Incident Advisory Capability (CIAC). John Pescastore is Vice President at Gartner Inc.; he has worked in computer and network security since 1978. Stephen Northcutt founded the GIAC certification and currently serves as President of the SANS Technology Institute, a post graduate level IT Security College, www.sans.edu. Johannes Ullrich is Chief Technology Officer of the Internet Storm Center. Howard A. Schmidt served as CSO for Microsoft and eBay and as Vice-Chair of the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board. Ed Skoudis is co-founder of Intelguardians, a security research and consulting firm, and author and lead instructor of the SANS Hacker Exploits and Incident Handling course. Tom Liston is a Senior Security Consultant and Malware Analyst for Intelguardians, a handler for the SANS Institute's Internet Storm Center, and co-author of the book Counter Hack Reloaded. Dr. Eric Cole is an instructor, author and fellow with The SANS Institute. He has written five books, including Insider Threat and he is a senior Lockheed Martin Fellow. Bruce Schneier has authored eight books -- including BEYOND FEAR and SECRETS AND LIES -- and dozens of articles and academic papers. Schneier has regularly appeared on television and radio, has testified before Congress, and is a frequent writer and lecturer on issues surrounding security and privacy. Mason Brown is one of a very small number of people in the information security field who have held a top management position in a Fortune 50 company (Alcoa). He is leading SANS' global initiative to improve application security. Marcus J. Ranum built the first firewall for the White House and is widely recognized as a security products designer and industry innovator. Mark Weatherford, CISSP, CISM, is Executive Officer of the California Office of Information Security and Privacy Protection. Alan Paller is director of research at the SANS Institute Clint Kreitner is the founding President and CEO of The Center for Internet Security. Rohit Dhamankar is the Lead Security Architect at TippingPoint, a division of 3Com, and authors the critical vulnerabilities section of the weekly SANS Institute's @RISK newsletter and is the project manager for the SANS Top20 2005 and the Top 20 Quarterly updates. Koon Yaw Tan is Assistant Director at Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and a handler for the SANS Institute's Internet Storm Center. Gal Shpantzer is a trusted advisor to several successful IT outsourcing companies and was involved in multiple SANS projects, such as the E-Warfare course and the Business Continuity Step-by-Step Guide. Dr. Christophe Veltsos, CISSP, CISA, GCFA teaches Information Security courses at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He is the President of Prudent Security LLC and also serves as the President of the Mankato Chapter ISSA. Roland Grefer is an independent consultant based in Clearwater, Florida. "SANS is a great place to enhance your technical and hands-on skills and tools. I thoroughly recommend it." - Aaron Waugh, Datacom NZ Ltd

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The Bluefin Tuna in Peril The only way to save the bluefin tuna, one of the most marvelous and endangered fish in the ocean, may be to domesticate the species By Richard Ellis on June 24, 2008 Editor's Note: This story was originally printed in the March 2008 issue of Scientific American. All tuna are not alike. The canned tuna fish in sandwiches and salads comes from either skipjack, a meter-long species that is caught in prodigious quantities around the world and served as “light meat tuna,” or albacore, another small fish that is marketed as “white meat tuna.” The yellowfin and the bigeye tuna are larger species that are also heavily fished, but neither makes for particularly wonderful sushi, and they are usually served grilled. But the bluefin tuna, a giant among fishes, is the premier choice for sushi and sashimi and has become the most desirable food fish in the world. As such, it has vaulted to the top of another, more insidious list: it is probably the most endangered of all large fish species. Heedless overfishing is steadily pushing the bluefin toward extinction, and the species may soon disappear unless entrepreneurial fish farmers can learn how to breed the tuna in captivity. Reaching a maximum known weight close to three quarters of a ton and a length of four meters, the bluefin is a massive hunk of superheated muscle that cleaves the water by flicking its scimitar-shaped tail. Whereas most of the approximately 20,000 fish species are cold-blooded, possessing a body temperature the same as that of the water in which they swim, the bluefin is one of the few warm-blooded fishes. During a dive to one kilometer below the surface, where the ambient water temperature can be five degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit), the bluefin can maintain a body temperature of 27 degrees C (81 degrees F), close to that of a mammal. The bluefin is also among the fastest of all fishes, capable of speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour and able to migrate across entire oceans. It is such a marvelous swimmer that when scientists in the 1990s endeavored to build a mechanical fish, they used the species as a model, designing a robot with a tapered, bullet-shaped body and a rigid, quarter-moon tail fin [see “An Efficient Swimming Machine,” by Michael S. Triantafyllou and George S. Triantafyllou; Scientific American, March 1995]. The researchers found that the tail’s efficiency lay in the interaction of the vortices created by its rapid flexing, but the hydrodynamics of their electronic models did not even come close to that of a true bluefin. “The more sophisticated our robotic-tuna designs become,” the Triantafyllou brothers wrote, “the more admiration we have for the flesh-and-blood model.” Like wolves, bluefins often hunt in packs, forming a high-speed parabola that concentrates the prey, making it easier for the hunters to close in. Tuna are metabolically adapted for high-speed chases, but as opportunistic (and by necessity, compulsive) feeders, they will eat whatever presents itself, whether it is fast-swimming mackerel, bottom-dwelling flounder or sedentary sponge. A study of the stomach contents of New England bluefins by Bradford Chase of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries revealed that the predominant food item, by weight, was Atlantic herring, followed by sand lance, bluefish and miscellaneous squid. (Other prey included butterfish, silver hake, windowpane flounder, winter flounder, menhaden, sea horses, cod, plaice, pollack, filefish, halfbeak, sculpin, spiny dogfish, skate, octopus, shrimp, lobster, crab, salp and sponges.) Tuna will eat anything they can catch, and they can catch almost anything that swims (or floats, crawls or just sits on the bottom). By and large, they hunt by vision. From Horse Mackerel to Sushi The bluefin was not always considered a delicacy. In the early 1900s the fish was known as “horse mackerel,” and its red, strong-flavored flesh was considered suitable fare only for dogs and cats. Nevertheless, big-game fishers off New Jersey and Nova Scotia targeted the bluefin because these powerful fish were considered worthy opponents. Zane Grey, the popular author of Western novels such as Riders of the Purple Sage, invested most of his not inconsiderable royalties (his books sold more than 13 million copies) on fishing gear, boats and travel to exotic locales in search of tuna, swordfish and marlin. Although swordfish were certainly considered edible, tuna and marlin were thought of as strictly objects of the hunt. The bluefin did not become valuable as a food fish until the latter half of the 20th century, when sushi began to appear on menus around the globe. One might assume that sushi and sashimi have been staples of the Japanese diet for centuries, but in fact the widespread consumption of raw fish is a relatively modern phenomenon. Dependent on the sea to provide the great majority of their protein, the Japanese could not store fish for any length of time before it spoiled, so they preserved it by smoking or pickling. But when refrigerators were introduced to postwar Japan, fish that once were smoked or pickled could now be stored almost indefinitely. As the fishing industry adopted new technologies such as long-lining (using extremely long lines with many baited hooks), purse seining (deploying large nets that can enclose an entire school of fish) and onboard freezers, the circumstances became propitious for an unprecedented modification of Japanese eating habits. The bluefin tuna changed from a fish that samurai would not eat because they believed it was unclean, to maguro, a delicacy that can be as expensive as truffles or caviar. Toro, the best quality maguro, comes from the fatty belly meat of the adult bluefin. Truffles or caviar are expensive because they are rare, but bluefin tuna, previously perceived as inedible, could be found in huge offshore schools and soon became an internationally exalted menu item. In 2001 a single bluefin tuna sold at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo for $173,600. In America—where the thought of eating raw fish was anathema 40 years ago—sushi and sashimi have become commonplace, sold in supermarkets, delis and high-end restaurants. Perhaps the grandest temple to sushi in the U.S. is Masa, a New York City restaurant opened in 2004 by Japanese chef Masayoshi Takayama. With a prix fixe of $350 (excluding tax, tips and beverages), Masa immediately became the most expensive restaurant in the city; a lunch or dinner for two can easily exceed $1,000. It stands to reason that a fish that can be sold for hundreds of dollars a slice is going to attract fishing fleets. The pell-mell rush to provide tuna for the Japanese sushi and sashimi markets has—not surprisingly—intensified tuna fishing around the world. The Japanese tried to fill their larders (and freezers and fish markets) with tuna that they could catch off their own shores (this would have been the Pacific bluefin, Thunnus orientalis), but they soon observed that the bluefins were larger and more plentiful in the North Atlantic. The buyers for Japanese fish importers became a familiar sight at the docks of American ports such as Gloucester and Barnstable in Massachusetts, ready to test the tuna for fat content and, if they passed, buy the fish on the spot and ship them to Japan. At one time, researchers believed that there were two separate populations of North Atlantic bluefins (Thunnus thynnus), one that bred in the Gulf of Mexico and stayed in the western Atlantic and another that spawned in the Mediterranean and foraged in the eastern part of the ocean. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), a regulatory body established in 1969, based its catch quotas for the bluefin on this two-population concept, setting strict limits in the western Atlantic (where bluefin were becoming scarce as early as the 1970s) while allowing much larger catches in the eastern Atlantic. But tagging experiments—pioneered in the 1950s and 1960s by Frank J. Mather and Francis G. Carey of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and refined in recent years by Barbara A. Block of Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station—showed that the bluefin confounds the conventional wisdom. The Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean are indeed the breeding areas of the North Atlantic bluefins, but individual fishes can migrate across the ocean, and the foraging grounds of the two populations overlap. Because ICCAT has failed to stop overfishing in the eastern Atlantic, bluefin stocks have collapsed throughout the ocean. If possible, things are worse in the Mediterranean. Employing ideas and technology originally developed in South Australia (with the southern bluefin, Thunnus maccoyii), fishers corral schools of half-grown tuna and tow them in floating pens to marine ranches where they are fed and fattened until they can be killed and shipped to Japan. There are rules banning fishing fleets from taking undersize tuna out of the Mediterranean, but none that prevent catching immature tuna and fattening them in floating pens. Every country on the Mediterranean (except Israel) takes advantage of this loophole and maintains tuna ranches offshore. The fishers from Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Croatia, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Malta are capturing half-grown tuna by the hundreds of thousands. If you had to design a way to guarantee the decimation of a breeding population, this would be it: catch the fish before they are old enough to breed and keep them penned up until they are killed. The tuna ranches, once seen as a solution to the problem, are only making it worse. In 2006 the World Wildlife Fund called for the cessation of all tuna fishing in the Mediterranean, but given the tremendous financial rewards of the status quo, you can imagine how effective this plea was. At its meeting last November, ICCAT ignored the arguments of conservationists and set the 2008 quotas at approximately the same levels as 2007. The organization adopted a plan to scale back Mediterranean tuna fishing by 20 percent by 2010, with further reductions to follow, but the head of the U.S. delegation decried this half-measure, saying that ICCAT had “failed to live up to its founding mission.” Even if lower quotas were in place, however, the bluefin would still be imperiled. The tuna fishery is rife with illegal, unregulated fleets that ignore quotas, restrictions, boundaries, and any other rules and regulations that might threaten their catch. Furthermore, the Japanese market—which devours about 60,000 tons of bluefin every year, or more than three quarters of the global catch—is only too eager to buy the tuna, regardless of where or how it is caught. Japanese fishers have contrived to circumvent even their own country’s restrictions, bringing in thousands of tons of illegal tuna every year and then falsifying their records. It would be good for the tuna and, in the end, good for the consumer if tuna fishing was not practiced in such a remorseless manner, but such change would entail nothing less than a modification of the fundamentals of human nature. As the tuna populations continue to fall, the Japanese demand for toro is increasing; fewer tuna will mean higher prices, and higher prices will mean intensified fishing. Intensified fishing will, of course, result in fewer tuna. (All bets would be off if the Japanese somehow relaxed their demand for maguro, but that seems as likely as Americans giving up hamburgers.) It appears that the only hope for the bluefin is captive breeding. Cattle of the Sea In an article entitled “When Will We Tame the Oceans?” that appeared in Nature in 2005, John Marra, a biological oceanographer at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, observed that “fishing in the ocean is no longer sustainable. Worldwide, we have failed to manage the ocean’s fisheries—in a few decades, there may be no fisheries left to manage.” His recommendation? A large-scale domestication of the ocean—with fish farmers breeding, raising and harvesting commercially valuable species. Marra acknowledged that existing fish farms have harmed the environment, polluting coastal ecosystems and putting additional pressure on wild fish populations by spreading disease and toxic chemicals. His solution is to move these so-called mariculture operations farther offshore, to the waters of the outer continental shelves, and to deploy much larger fish pens (closed net structures containing as much as 100,000 cubic meters of water) that could be floated below the surface and towed from one destination to another. This strategy would at least disperse the pollutants generated by fish farming, mitigating the environmental damage. Marra also suggested taking advantage of the inclination of certain tunas to aggregate under an object that is significantly different from their surroundings. This propensity has already been exploited by fishers in the design and implementation of fish-aggregating devices, which are towed behind boats to attract schools of tuna. Instead of netting all the fish at once, though, fish farmers could create a sustainable business by feeding, maintaining and periodically harvesting some of the tuna in the school, handling the fish in much the same way that ranchers on land manage herds of cattle. Unless tuna can be raised as if they were domesticated animals, their world populations will continue to crash. Breeding the bluefin in captivity, however, is a major challenge. One company that is attempting this feat is Clean Seas Aquaculture Growout, owned by the Stehr Group in Port Lincoln, South Australia. The Australian government has provided Clean Seas with a grant of 4.1 million Australian dollars ($3.4 million) to assist in the com­mer­cialization of southern bluefin breeding. The company has already raised captive-bred yellow­tail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) and mulloway (Argyrosomus hololepidotus), which are now in significant commercial production. In October 2006 Clean Seas airlifted southern bluefin broodstock (sexually mature males and females) from their pens to a three-million-liter (790,000-gallon) tank that had been designed to replicate the optimum conditions for spawning. Hagen Stehr, founder of the company, said in a 2006 interview in The Australian, “We’ve got it all on computer, we can make [the tank] lighter or darker, we can leave the fish in a state of well-being, we’ve got the sun going up, the sun going down.... This is a world first, the Japanese won’t try it at all, the Americans have tried it and failed and the Europeans have failed too.” During my February 2007 visit to Port Lincoln, Rob Staunton, the farm manager for the Stehr Group, drove me to Arno Bay, 120 kilometers north of Port Lincoln, on the western shore of Spencer Gulf. I was granted limited entrée into the holy grail of the tuna business, the giant enclosed tuna tank at the Arno Bay hatchery. I say “limited” because my visit, personally sanctioned by Stehr himself, came with severe restrictions, all of which are perfectly understandable. No photography is allowed in the facility itself, because the engineering, water processing, climate control and every other element in the design of this potential miracle must be carefully safeguarded to prevent corporate theft of the ideas. Along with the grant from the Australian government, the Stehr Group has invested millions in the innovative design of this facility, and it would be a disaster if someone borrowed or modified their designs and somehow beat them to the punch. It is hard to imagine anybody replicating this massive operation without all of Australia knowing about it, but of course, entrepreneurs in other countries—Japan, for instance—are also very interested in the business of captive-breeding bluefin tuna. Indeed, Japanese scientists at Kinki University have already hatched bluefin tuna from eggs and raised them to breeding age in the laboratory but not on the commercial scale being attempted by Clean Seas. To begin our tour, Staunton and I had to change into special white rubber boots, sterilized to prevent the introduction of alien microbes into the tanks where the bluefin tuna are nurtured. Chaperoned by Thomas Marguritte, the Frenchman-turned-Australian who manages the facility, we exchanged our white boots for blue ones as we entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Arno Bay hatchery, the tuna-breeding tank. In a cavernous room illuminated by a battery of fluorescent lights, with the quiet hum of air-conditioning as the only background noise (the temperature outside was near 38 degrees C, or 100 degrees F), we climbed up to the concrete rim of the vast tank and looked down. The tank is about 25 meters in diameter and six meters deep, and because the light level was fairly low, we could see very little until Marguritte tossed in a couple of small fish. Suddenly the surface broke with an ultramarine and chrome flash as one of the tuna charged at the baitfish. The tank came alive with froth, pierced by the sicklelike dorsal and tail fins of the tuna, which were anticipating a meal even though, as our docent explained, they had been fed only an hour before. As they circled excitedly underneath us, we could see that these were breeding-size bluefins: 300 kilograms of sleek, polished torpedo, pointed at both ends, with a dotted line of yellow finlets just before the tail, and the startling parentheses that mark the species’ horizontal keels, chrome yellow in the southern bluefin and black in the northern varieties. No one can tell a live male from a live female except another tuna. Poised on the rim of the tank, we talked about the breeding program. “We can replicate the exact conditions in Indonesian waters where they are known to spawn naturally,” Marguritte said. “If they usually spawn in the Southern Hemisphere summer when the days are longest and the water temperature is highest, we can make this tank conform to—pick a date, say, November 20—and set the length of daylight hours, air temperature, water temperature and even currents to conform to that moment in the Indian Ocean, south of the Indonesian archipelago.” The only variable they cannot duplicate is the depth of the water, and they are praying that it is not a critical factor in the breeding of the southern bluefin. Just south of the Indonesian arc of islands—Java, Bali, Flores, Sumba, Komodo, Timor—is the Java Trench, which descends to one of the deepest points in the Indian Ocean, nearly eight kilometers down. If depth is a factor, the Clean Seas project is doomed. The broodstock at Clean Seas did not produce offspring in 2007, but they will try again this spring. Taming the Bluefin At the Clean Seas conference room in the Port Lincoln headquarters, I met with Marcus Stehr, Hagen’s 42-year-old son and the managing director of the company. The day before, Marcus had been onboard one of the company’s purse seiners in the Great Australian Bight, the huge open bay off the continent’s southern coast, as a net cage containing perhaps 100 tons of tuna started on its journey to the pens off Port Lincoln. Like everyone else associated with this venture, Marcus is enthusiastic and optimistic about the potential for success and believes it is imminent. When I asked him if that success would completely change the way bluefin tuna are perceived in Australia, he said, “It’s not a question of if, mate—it’s when.” Although the Aussies appear to be in the lead, it remains to be seen if they, the Japanese, or the Europeans will win the race to breed the bluefin in captivity. In 2005, for example, a research team at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography in Puerto de Mazarrón, Spain, successfully retrieved eggs and sperm from captive Atlantic bluefin broodstock, performed in vitro fertilization and produced larvae. (The hatchlings of bony marine fishes are called larvae because they look so different from the adults.) Somehow or other, it has to happen, because the survival of the species—and the tuna industry—depends on it. The big-game fisher sees the bluefin tuna as a sleek and powerful opponent; to the harpooner, it is an iridescent shadow below the surface, flicking its scythelike tail to propel it out of range; the purse seiner sees a churning maelstrom of silver and blue bodies to be hauled onboard his boat; the long-liner sees a dead fish, pulled onto the deck along with many other glistening marine creatures; the tuna rancher sees the bluefin as an anonymous creature to be force-fed until it is time to drive a spike into its brain; the auctioneer at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo sees row on row of tailless, icy, tuna-shaped blocks; Japanese consumers see it as toro, a slice of rich red meat to be eaten with wasabi and soy sauce; to the biologist, the tuna is a marvel of hydrodynamic engineering, its body packed with modifications that enable it to outeat, outgrow, outswim, outdive, and outmigrate any other fish in the sea; and to those who wish to rescue Thunnus thynnus from biological oblivion, it has to be seen as a domesticated animal, like a sheep or a cow. For some, such a shift is almost impossible to contemplate; the bluefin tuna, the quintessential ocean ranger, the wildest, most powerful fish in the sea, cannot be—and probably should not be—tamed. But if it remains wild, the future looks bleak for the maguro industry—and for the great bluefin tuna. One of America's leading marine conservationists, Richard Ellis is generally recognized as the foremost painter of marine natural history subjects in the world. His paintings of whales have appeared in Audubon, National Wildlife, Australian Geographic, Encyclo­pedia Britannica and many other publications. His books include The Book of Whales, The Book of Sharks, Imagining Atlantis and The Empty Ocean. Ellis is a special adviser to the American Cetacean Society, a member of the Explorers Club and a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. From 1980 to 1990 he was a member of the U.S. delegation to the International Whaling Commission. He is currently working on a book about tuna and serving as co-curator of the "Mythic Creatures"exhibit for the American Museum of Natural History. Tuna from a Farm? A Q&A with Richard Ellis June 24, 2008 — David Biello Threatened Species, from the Very Large to the Very Small [Slide Show] May 27, 2008 — Adam Hadhazy Threatened Wildlife in the Here and Now [Slide Show] June 11, 2008 — Adam Hadhazy

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Include Hamilton on Your Itinerary Hamilton is a Scottish town situated in South Lanarkshire close to the banks of the River Clyde. Over 49 000 people reside here, many of whom work for either the local government or one of the many service industries. Originally the town of Hamilton was known as Cadzow, which means “beautiful castle”. Later the name was changed as a way of honoring Lord James Hamilton and the Hamilton family who had contributed so much to the town. The Hamilton family constructed many of the historical buildings that you can view today. One example of these fine buildings is the Mausoleum in Strathclyde Park, a building famous for producing the longest echo in Scotland and in the whole of Europe, lasting for fifteen seconds. Strathclyde Country Park is a popular venue for local residents and visitors who are interested in water and outdoor activities. There is the Edwardian Town Hall that encompasses the concert hall and the town library. The 15th century Hamilton Palace was situated on the northeast side of the town and was considered one of the most magnificent buildings in the whole of Scotland. The Palace housed the Hamilton family for decades and was considered one of the largest non-Royal Palaces in its time. Before the Hamilton family took up residence in the Hamilton Palace their main residence had been the Cadzow Castle. Sadly today the only remains of this magnificent castle can be found in the Hamilton Mausoleum, as not even remains of the building can be found. Instead, in its place, you will only find the M74 highway. Near the grounds that used to house the palace you will find one of the oldest buildings here in Hamilton, now called the Low Parks Museum. In the 16th century the building holding the museum was the coaching inn that was used regularly by people passing through on their way to Edinburgh and Glasgow on the stagecoach. The Museum holds beautiful exhibits that show you the history of the Hamilton Palace and show artifacts from the Cameronian Scottish Rifles regiment. The Hamilton Old Parish Church is another historical building that was built by William Adam in 1734. clyde valley glasgow hamilton hamilton palace river clyde south lanarkshire Glasgow Gailes Golf Course If, like people, golf courses are judged by the company they keep Glasgow Gailes Golf Club is in a very enviable neighborhood indeed. Set along Scotland’s well known Ayrshire Coast, Glasgow Gailes is in such renowned company as Royal Troon, Prestwick, Barassie, Irvine Bogside, Turnberry and Western Gailes. A golfing holiday to this part of Scotland would certainly include a round here along ... The town of Paisley is situated in the Scottish lowlands, on the banks of the River Cart, only eight miles away from Glasgow. Paisley is considered the fifth largest town or city in the country.

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Sidney Daily News on Facebook Sidney Daily News on Twitter Posted on January 9, 2020 by Sidney Daily News NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Bieber says that he has been battling Lyme disease. In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the pop star wrote that “it’s been a rough couple years but (I’m) getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever.” Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks. Lyme can cause flu-like conditions, neurological problems, joint pain and other symptoms. Though Bieber called it incurable, in the vast majority of cases, Lyme disease is successfully treated with antibiotics. “While a lot of people kept saying justin Bieber looks like (expletive), on meth etc. they failed to realize I’ve been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my, skin, brain function, energy, and overall health,” Bieber wrote. The Grammy-winning singer said he will discuss battling the tick-borne infection on his upcoming YouTube docu-series, “Justin Bieber: Seasons,” which debuts Jan. 27. The 10-episode show will follow Bieber while he creates his new album and will also highlight his private life. “You can learn all that I’ve been battling and OVERCOMING!!,” he wrote. 1451 N. Vandemark Rd., Sidney OH, 45365 Follow @sidneydailynews Hi! A visitor to our site felt the following article might be of interest to you: Out of the blue. Here is a link to that story: https://www.sidneydailynews.com/uncategorized/166284/out-of-the-blue-180

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The War on Secularism January 7, 2016 Random Bloggingbright lines, fear, religionSheila Can you stand one more meditation about religion and the need for certainty ? We talk a lot these days about fear–fear of terrorism, fear of change, fear of modernity. But when you come right down to it, the basis of all of these threats to subjective well-being is an overwhelming fear of ambiguity. We humans evidently have a primal need for bright lines, eternal truths—for non-negotiable and non-relative Truth with a capital T. The political danger presented by that need for certainty was obvious to the nation’s founders, who intended the Bill of Rights to prevent the “passions of the mob” from extinguishing the rights of those holding nonconforming beliefs. The deep desire for easy answers in a complicated world explains many of the more troubling aspects of our political environment. Consider the current “Trump phenomenon.” According to a study referenced in a recent article in the Washington Post, Interviews with psychologists and other experts suggest one explanation for the candidate’s success — and for the collective failure to anticipate it: The political elite hasn’t confronted a few fundamental, universal and uncomfortable facts about the human mind. We like people who talk big. We like people who tell us that our problems are simple and easy to solve, even when they aren’t. And we don’t like people who don’t look like us. Much of Trump’s appeal–and the appeal of the many demagogues who preceded him–boils down to this need to simplify, to draw bright lines, to chase away the demons of ambiguity. Hibbing of the University of Nebraska says this need for clarity is important to understanding Trump’s support. “People like the idea that deep down, the world is simple; that they can grasp it and that politicians can’t,” Hibbing said. “That’s certainly a message that I think Trump is radiating. Much the same psychology is on display by the religious conservatives fighting for (their version of) religious rights. (Sometimes, aided and abetted by people who surely know better. Yes, Justice Scalia, I’m looking at you.) Most of us look at Christian Americans and see people who have been highly privileged by a culture that has long been dominated by Christians. But these religious warriors see themselves under attack, not by a rival theological perspective, but by secularism. Christian conservatives who are battling for the right to promote their faith in public or official settings see themselves locked in an epic contest with a rival religion. But that rival isn’t Islam. It’s secularism. However one defines secularism, it represents a diminished influence of religion and religious authority—the blurring of previously “bright” lines. Secularism terrifies people who need those bright lines, who need concrete authority to obey and whose worldviews are rendered entirely in black and white. What terrifies me are people who fear ambiguity, who see no shades of gray, and who reject the exercise of moral autonomy. And those people aren’t all in ISIL. ← Uses and Abuses of Religion Speaking of Infectious Diseases… → 29 thoughts on “The War on Secularism” AgingLGrl says: Another great one Professor! Theresa Bowers says: What scares me are the people who drag their fear of ambiguity into the state legislatures, the courts, the council meetings, and other law making arenas. As more and more people leave religion the fear of those left behind only grows and so does their irrational responses to the world around them. So certain of themselves, they never seem to look inward for the cause of all their anxiety. JoAnn Green says: I believe today’s Indianapolis Star reporting is showing some ambiguity regarding the way Pence is running this state; the three headlines are carefully not supporting the current status of major issues plaguing Indiana. “RFRA repeal, rewrite proposed” “Lawmakers call for ISTEP rescore” “Indiana lagging in filing gun data” with sub-headline, “Where (Indiana) has been the weakest is on the mental health records” I read this as ambiguity as I understand it; no full support of Pence but laying no blame where it should be…on his shoulders RFRA is of course his primary religious issue; he still can’t get it right. The Voucher situation in schools, most are religious based receiving Voucher students, is in essence a religious issue with differing levels of quality in teaching and testing students. I threw the gun control issue in the mix because it is a major, if not religious, issue which our religious governor is in control of. Gary Varvel’s unfunny “cartoon” is particularly ugly today while the article in the USA Today supplement appears to ambiguously support President Obama’s action without stating it outright. I view Trump’s lure the same as Hitler’s…and the comparison has been made to Wallace…”dazzle them with bullshit”. The Christian conservatives; with little working knowledge of Christ, are battling demons existing only in their closed minds and naming them Muslims. Someone on yesterday’s blog’s comments appeared not to realize – or recognize – that those of us who refer to “Christians” in our views are NOT anti-Christian as a whole, only those who belong to the far-right conservative party which bears no resemblance to the original GOP affiliation they claim. There is no “blurring of previously bright lines” in their stand on issues. Marv Kramer says: Sheila has drawn the line in the sand for us. It’s inescapable. It’s a battle over the separation of church and state. And to be more specific: prayer in the schools. It’s more than just a debate. It’s war. And it’s divided Christianity. Nancy Papas says: A wise former pastor once counseled that ambiguities which made me really question and examine my faith would bring me to deeper, fuller faith, as would examinations of other religions, spiritualism, and other philosophies. He was right. The ambiguities made me focus on faith more deeply than habitual following ever would have. Excuse me I meant its instead of it’s. MK , do you doubt that there are prayers in our public schools? Do you advocate having organized prayers in public schools? Irvin T Lentych says: Trump reminds me of a character in that Miroslav Krleza book, On the Edge of Reason — the blow hard at a party that no one wants to offend. Yet when one person finally calls him on his horseshit beliefs and braggings, he pays dearly for it. Right now, no one wants to be that person who calls out the would be “martyrs” of Christianity at the party. If Marv is correct, that this is a war, the payment for such behavior, to finally call out the blow hards, will be quite high. Fear of ambiguity or love of power. Different? Different faces of the same coin? They seem the same to me. Perhaps his supporters would like to be Trump. All powerful through wealth. The ultimate bully. Frequently wrong but seldom uncertain. Like Cheney/Bush’s foreign policy or Republican Congress. Like what the NRA promises to the heavily armed and the lifestyle of the Bundy cult. Like TV evangelists live. The enemy of those fantasies is democracy. Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. That’s why this is a fight for America. For a viable and sustainable future. For the survival of who we’ve always been. Life free, informed and unafraid. Irvin, I know there are prayers in the schools. Since I’m for separation of church and state: I’m against organized prayers in public schools. I’m not against students praying. This war over prayer in the schools has been going on since 1963. For years, its been presented as a debate by Americans United (for separation of church and state). It’s much more than that: It’s a major “wedge” issue. And it has created tremendous resentment by fundamentalists and evangelicals with resulting anti-Semitic rage. That’s a very unfortunate fact. Many fundamentalist and evangelicals support Israel. That doesn’t prevent them from hating American Jews. And it hasn’t. See Supreme Court: Ban on Prayer in Public Schools |… http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/Abingdon-School-District.html I have been some books lately on the War on the Eastern Front between Germany and the Soviet Union in WW 2. The books all delve into the interwar period in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Simply stated there was the idea among the Communists that Marxism and Leninism would be the tie that would bind the working classes of Europe. Communism would super-cede Ethnocentrism, Nationalism and Religion. The “War” would be against Capitalism rather than among the nation states. This of course did not happen for various reasons. Here in the USA we have tried E pluribus unum – Out of many, one. There was to be a gravity that bound us all together as one. It was quickly evident the many did not include African-Americans or Native Americans. The “One” included only certain people the WASPs. Oh the Irish and later ethnic groups could be used as labor and later the Hispanics under the Bracero program during WW 2. The plantation owners of the Old South and later the Capitalists, realized that no matter how dirt poor or exploited the white workers were in the factories, the poor white always knew they were not at the bottom. The African-Americans and Hispanics were always the canary the coal mine in our economic system – Last Hired, First Fired. White people today are now the canaries too and they do not like it. T Lentych, “If Marv is correct, that this is a war, the payment for such behavior, to finally call out the blow hards, will be quite high.” You’re absolutely right. That’s why understanding Sun Tzu’s Art of War is so important for us here in the U.S.. It’s about winning without destruction and resulting casualties. I refer you to http://www.Sonshi.com the #1 Sun Tzu’s Art of War website. “Without destruction and resulting casualties” is one of the topics for today on the Sonshi Blog. Marv == Many fundamentalist and evangelicals support Israel. That doesn’t prevent them from hating American Jews. And it hasn’t. I think the idea is to support Israel but convert the Jews to Christianity. This conversion is essential to the evangelicals. Mary Beth says: Sheila,we always need to be reminded of the ways that other people think. And another window onto the horror that is Scalia is not amiss either. I quote from that piece you mention in which Scalia spoke to a group at the Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, Louisiana: “He said that it is “absurd” to think the Constitution bans the government from supporting religion, according to the Times-Picayune. “To tell you the truth there is no place for that in our constitutional tradition. Where did that come from?” he said, according to the Associated Press.” “Where does that come from?!!” The writers of the Constitution were men of the Enlightenment. That’s were that comes from. I hope he is only pandering to his audience and lying through his teeth, rather than that he is so unaware of the history of our country. It is horrifying to think that someone who should be a constitutional scholar could ask that question. Louie, You’re right. That’s one part of Jerry Falwell’s scheme. The other part is “freezing” the American Jews from defending against anti-Semitism. If they do, then the financial and military aid for Israel will be in jeopardy because of the evangelical and fundamentalist members of Congress and their supporters. Zionist Jews are a minority in America. But they control ALL major Jewish institutions. Repeat ALL. I briefly touched on this point in “Democracide: The Far Right’s Path to Power.” That was enough to set off the retaliation by John Grisham in 1995. He’s a personal friend of the Bush family. Why do you think President Bush suspended aid to Israel in 1991? He was teaching the American Jews a lesson. I don’t like getting into all of this. But “freezing” the American Jews from defending themselves will ultimately destroy American democracy, just like it did to the Weimar Republic in Germany. I’ve touched on this crucial point before. Marv: Your 9:11 AM – You used it’s correctly all five times. The other one (its) shows possession and would not have been correct in those five instances. Go to the head of the class! Many thanks for your kind words. I cherish them. I’m improving but it’s taking a long time. I was the only person in my graduating class from high school who was held back from being on the graduation list. I failed the final English exam. I overdid the sports part of my education. However, I did pass the special English exam made up just for me. I can now proudly say, I am a high school graduate. A few months ago, I was talking with an English teacher who was sitting in the waiting room for one of my doctors. I told her about my problems with graduating. She asked me to talk with her class on the subject of “cramming.” Specifically, that it might work for most subjects, but don’t try it in my English class or you’ll end up like Marvin. So many of our problems today are big and complex and high risk, requiring exceptional effort to mitigate, but are made nearly unsolvable by propaganda. ISIS, gun violence, climate change, health care, the Bundy cult, immigration etc would be tough as pure problems to solve but are made infinitely more complex by private Ministries of Truth blaring self serving BS in our ears so that only through diligent research and critical thinking can the truth be discerned, whole and nothing but. However those skills and the time to develop and employ them are well beyond much of the populace. Here’s insight into the war on ISIS as an example. How to Beat Islamic State – The Wall Street Journal https://apple.news/A1BiEiNt2Nwq6Ucr-yvK-FA All of this propaganda is a mental virus that is paralyzing problem solving. Freedom of speech as essential but it hampers addressing propaganda directly, so the liberal world is forced to take on a much more difficult solution, developing the requisite thinking skills in a greater portion of the population. BSH says: Ms Kennedy’s post addressing the “Trump phenomenon” reminds me of the reason I consider Eric Hoffer’s “The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements” (1951) a classic on mass movements and the psychological roots of fanaticism. *When our individual interests and prospects do not seem worth living for, we are in desperate need for something apart from us to live for. All forms of dedication, devotion, loyalty and self-surrender are in essence a desperate clinging to something which might give worth and meaning to our futile, spoiled lives. *Passionate hatred can give meaning and purpose to an empty life. Thus people haunted by the purposelessness of their lives try to find a new content not only by dedicating themselves to a holy cause but also by nursing a fanatical grievance. A mass movement offers them unlimited opportunities for both. *Every extreme attitude is a flight from the self. *The weakness of a soul is proportionate to the number of truths that must be kept from it. Love that last one! Jim Stovall says: Tolerance of ambiguity has always been a salient sign of a healthy person. Only those who know how to say, “I don’t know,” have much chance of knowing much truth. And they are not likely to stuff it down the thoughts of others. Pete, don’t stand around too long waiting on god. he/she has been coming for years and he/she ain’t here yet Marv, you’re awesome and you have not let a little thing like standard English usage get in the way of your accomplishments in life. At least in the previous usage, you acknowledged that you thought something was not quite right. This time it was! Check with me before your next English final exam. I can help. Sheila can, too. We’ll get you through it! Our language is sometimes baffling to us; to those who are learning our language, it must seem impossible. BSH, You outdid yourself. What an insight! @Theresa, I cannot take credit for the insights, but such a nice compliment is indeed a luxury. All credit goes to Eric Hoffer and his uncanny ability to step back and view the players on the stage of life. Ms Kennedy has provided her readers the opportunity to fulfill one of Eric Hoffer’s observations, “There are no chaste minds. Minds copulate wherever they meet.” I hope it’s been as good for you as it’s been for me. BSH, “There are no chaste minds. Minds copulate wherever they meet. Mind copulation, now that’s an interesting subject. A few years ago, I happened upon a book entitled: “Click: The Forces Behind How We Fully Engage with People, Work and Everything We Do” by Ori Brafman and Ron Brofman (July 5, 2011). It has great examples of the explosive nature of mind copulation. I would highly recommend it to you all. It has helped keep me in an optimistic frame of mind, which, I must admit, is not an easy task these days. Also, thanks for reminding us of the contributions of Eric Hoffer. For some reason, I seem to need reminding of things these days. phyllis holden says: All these American “wars” on words were lost when founded. At least windmills are gaining popularity…again, for digging into Earth. girl cousin says: And fear mongering appeals most to conservatives, who are born, not made. They require structure, hierarchies, and have an over reactive fear response. See http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/07/biology-ideology-john-hibbing-negativity-bias. That’s why the rest of us look at the republican fear and loathing machine and wonder how they get the votes. A relative of mine was chairman of the church board and I asked him what he thought of the ACLU. He gave me his opinion that some of his friends in the organization had the goal to fight for our civil rights. He agreed with them and gave a few answers I wasn’t expecting. He was very complementary to what they were trying to accomplish. He also gave examples of how some were making a hard push to drive all political thought to being void of any religious moral compass and gave examples of how those who practiced religion were being demonized. I looked up a few cases on the web, some were from an organization called the American Center for Law and Justice. How do those who are not religious get along with those who are not and visa versa? By making sure we support each other when we get the chance to do so. And so i reflected once back upon my relative and thought him to be wiser than I thought. Len Farber on Who Are The Domestic Terrorists?

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The Iron Throne from 'Game of Thrones' may end up in Texas Megan Menchaca, Austin American-Statesman The Iron Throne may be coming to Texas. The eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones” premiered Sundayon HBO, but fans have been passing the time before the premiere with a worldwide scavenger hunt for the past few weeks. HBO has been sending fans around the world to find six Iron Thrones located in six different countries, including the United States, Canada, Spain, Brazil, Sweden and the UK. While the closest Iron Throne was in New York during the promotion, George R.R. Martin has apparently indicated that he plans to give one of the coveted thrones to A&M University when the show is over. The Texas A&M Cushing Memorial Library has served the home of Martin’s official repository since 1993, according to the library’s website. It’s home to his personal collection of letters, books, manuscripts and even “Game of Thrones” memorabilia. ″(The library) is very well taken care of and has a good archival system,” Martin said in a 2013 interview with A&M. “Later when I was drowning in papers here, I thought of putting it all on deposit in a library somewhere. I remembered Texas A&M and the great facilities (they) have there.” According to A&M, library goers can see nearly 50,000 pieces of memorabilia related to the series, from lunchboxes to swords. But Jeremy Brett, curator of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection, said that Martin may be adding the Iron Throne to the library’s collection. “What HBO told Martin and what Martin told us, nothing is written in stone as far as I know, is that when the show is over, the idea is that they would give Martin two of the thrones,” Brett said to KHOU. “And what he said is that he would keep one in his office, like you do, and if this comes to pass, he would send the other one down to A&M. And we would keep it as part of his collection.” Although “Game of Thrones” enthusiasts won’t be able to see the throne in Texas until at least the season’s end, all of the manuscripts and books will continue to be available whenever the library is open. However, holding the swords requires an appointment.

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https://www.sheltonherald.com/news/crime/article/26-charged-in-Puerto-Rico-to-Wisconsin-drug-14979970.php 37 charged in Puerto Rico to Wisconsin drug smuggling case Ivan Moreno, Associated Press Updated 4:56 pm EST, Thursday, January 16, 2020 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Federal prosecutors have charged 37 people accused of sending cocaine and other drugs from Puerto Rico to Wisconsin and elsewhere in the country using the U.S. Postal Service, authorities said Thursday. The United States Attorney's Office in Eastern Wisconsin said the drugs were sold in the state, as well as cities in the East Coast and Southwest. Prosecutors declined to name the cities. At least $1.3 million of the proceeds from the drug sales was sent back to Puerto Rico, prosecutors said in a 227-page criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday, the day the arrests began. U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger said over 300 officers from Wisconsin and Puerto Rico executed warrants to arrest 32 of the defendants, who they believe belonged to two drug trafficking operations, authorities said Thursday. One of the investigations, dubbed “Operation Island Hopper," resulted in 26 people being charged with trafficking at least 5 kilograms (11 pounds) or more of cocaine as well as heroin and fentanyl. They were also charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundry. Each faces up to 10 years to life in prison if convicted. Four of the suspects remain at-large. In a second operation, a grand jury indicted 11 defendants with conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl in Milwaukee. Ten of the defendants have been arrested. The investigation, which opened in 2018, revealed drug dealers in Milwaukee were also receiving heroin and fentanyl. The U.S. Postal Service had intercepted a parcel containing 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of cocaine from Puerto Rico. It's unclear exactly how much cocaine came into Milwaukee through the mail, but prosecutors suspect it could have been as much as hundreds of pounds, said Kenneth Gales, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul praised the diligent work of investigators for building an extensive case over a year instead of prosecuting a single case when a package of drugs was seized by the U.S. Postal Service. "This is a case that investigators worked at and worked at to develop into a much larger-scale case," Kaul said. Last year, over 370 people died of drug overdoses in Milwaukee County alone, double the number from 10 years earlier, Krueger said. “There's still far too many lives being lost. This suffering is fueled by criminal organizations that exploit this suffering for their own profit,” Krueger said. Some defendants made their initial appearances Wednesday in federal court with the assistance of translators. It's unknown whether they have attorneys. Others arrested in Puerto Rico are making their first appearances in court there. The criminal complaint says that when the drugs didn't arrive as expected, suspects called the U.S. Postal Service with tracking numbers to inquire about where their packages were. The search warrants executed in Milwaukee and Puerto Rico resulted in the seizure of about 15 kilograms of cocaine, at least 50 grams of heroin and 80 grams of crack cocaine. Authorities also seized 35 firearms and about $267,000. Another search warrant in Milwaukee yielded 800 grams of black tar heroin and 200 grams of fentanyl. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and several police departments from southeastern Wisconsin assisted in the investigation and executing the search warrants. This story has been corrected to show the prosecutor's name is U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger, not Krieger.

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Central Service Groups IT for guests Access to Literature and Forms Information for guests Archaeogenetics Research outline News from the Department of Archaeogenetics Director J. Krause Selected media News from the Department of Archaeology Director N. Boivin Linguistic and Cultural Evolution News from the Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution Director R. Gray Independent Research Groups Michael Petraglia at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Michael Petraglia, Prof., Ph.D. petraglia@... Anne Gibson Petra Mader presse@shh.mpg.de Michael Petraglia affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Michael Petraglia is a new affiliate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. One of his first teaching assignments was giving a week-long course to a hundred PhD and Master’s level students at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, entitled: "Human Evolution and Climate Change". Michael Petraglia with participants of his week-long course entiltled "Human Evolution and Climate Change". The course covered diverse topics, including the evolution of primates, the evolution of hominins and the biological and behavioural origins of modern humans. Petraglia’s affiliation is an outgrowth of the Department of Archaeology’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and its collaborative interdisciplinary research with the Department of the Paleoenvironment, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing. Over the past few years, members of the Department of Archaeology of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History have conducted interdisciplinary archaeological research with staff and students of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including those at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS). Based on these collaborations, interdisciplinary research is being conducted on Pleistocene and Holocene archaeological sites across China, and discussions are taking place to extend this partnership to other regions of the world, including on sites in Africa and other parts of Eurasia. Recommend Page /1377974/michael-petraglia-at-chinese-academy-of-sciences

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Green Gate launches SOSEC - the UK's first mobile, solar powered barrier and gate system The UK's first mobile, solar powered barrier and gate system will be officially unveiled for the first time at the Construction Expo next month. Harnessing the sun's energy, SOSEC® is a revolutionary new approach to securing work sites; without the need for a power source it can be used anywhere and easily moved wherever it's needed. Once delivered, it is quick and simple to install. SOSEC combines a five-metre automatic traffic barrier with optional drop skirt and LED lights to control vehicles, with a rugged, locked and self-closing gate for pedestrians. It can also be supplied as a gate or barrier on its own, depending on the site's needs. Owing to its flexibility, SOSEC has a wide number of applications including in the construction, retail, events, highways, emergency and mining markets. Sector leader Green Gate Access Systems, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, developed the SOSEC concept to answer a growing need to provide public safely and work site security where power provision is not practical, but security demands are high. The gate is already attracting interest from clients including Kier Living, who trialled SOSEC on their Berryfields site near Aylesbury before rolling it out to 22 further UK sites. Rob Crossland, regional director of Kier Living said, “Providing effective public demarcation on our sites is a big problem and our duty of care and relationship with the Health & Safety Executive meant we were committed to solving it.’ ‘We had tried a 'shut the gate' campaign for a year, with virtually no effect. I loved the idea of solar powered barriers and knew they worked. What I couldn't find was anyone who had made the concept mobile, yet rugged and suitable for pedestrians and vehicles.’ “The team at Green Gate Access Systems were clearly experts in their field. They not only got the idea, they got fully behind it and within weeks, we were looking at CAD drawings and our SOSEC barrier gate was well on the way to reality!” Green Gate Access Systems will unveil SOSEC at the Construction Expo at the Kent Event Centre on Thursday 6 October. The event is one of the leading events in the regional construction industry calendar. Last year more than 3,000 people attended, and it's expected that number will grow again this year. SOSEC will be showcased at stand 164, near the refreshment area, and the Green Gate's security experts will be available to discuss the new product and the company's wider range of solar and mains powered gates, barriers and access control systems. Managing director Neil Sampson, who is also Powered Gate Group Chairman of the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) commented, “The SOSEC concept meets the challenges of combining security with mobility, solar power, durability and flexibility, brought together in a single easy to deliver and operate platform. The product is attracting a lot of interest already and we are looking forward to demonstrating its capabilities at the Construction Expo.” This is the latest first for the company, which prides itself on literally pushing back the barriers of its sector - from installing the country's first lifting gate and the UK's largest solar school gate in Broadstairs, to the country's first solar O&O car park barriers at Warwick Hospital.

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Obama Acknowledges Coastwatchers and Scouts The Coastwatchers became legendary figures in the South Pacific war, living for months in enemy-surrounded jungle, subsisting on what they could find, and operating on their nerve. Source: ibiblio.org The President of the United States, Barack Obama, has praised the Solomon Islands Scouts and Coastwatchers who served during the World War II battle in Solomon Islands. A letter from the President was brought to Solomon Islands by the US Ambassador Teddy Taylor during the unveiling of the "Honor Roll" Plaque last week. The Plaque contained the names of Solomon Islands Scouts and Coastwatchers during the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the World War II in Honiara. President Barak Obama, in is letter said the work of the Scouts and Coastwatchers must be ensured that their legacy is preserved for future generations. The President said the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of this crucial campaign recalling its success owed much to the critical intelligence provided by the Coastwatchers and the Solomon Scouts. He said the landing of the United States Marines on Guadalcanal on on August 7, 1942 marked the beginning of the audous journey to victory in the Pacific theatre, were it not for the brave Americans, Solomon Islands and other Allied Forces who fought side by side during the Battle of Guadalcanal, history might have looked very different. The Monument Trust Board is extremely pleased that the President has praised the Scouts and Coastwatchers.

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Patriots Notebook: Four undrafted rookies made the 53-man cut By Rich Garven@RichGarvenTG FOXBORO — The Patriots entered training camp having had at least one undrafted rookie make the initial 53-man roster for each of the last 13 seasons. That streak was extended to 14 on Saturday as defensive lineman Adam Butler, offensive lineman Cole Croston, tight end Jacob Hollister and linebacker Harvey Langi made the cut. That ties the Patriots with the Baltimore Ravens for the third-longest active streak in the NFL behind the Los Angeles Chargers (21) and Indianapolis Colts (18). Hollister, for one, was aware of the Patriots’ history of giving every player a fair shake once they arrive here, which led him to sign here. "I definitely have known it’s not how you got here, but it’s what you do when you’re here,” Hollister said on Sunday. “That’s something Coach (Bill) Belichick made clear when we first got here. “I knew that if I put the work in, put what I needed to on film and got the guys to trust me and everything like that, I would have a good chance. I’m just happy to be here and ready to get to work.” Hollister beat out veterans Matt Lengel and James O’Shaughnessy and fellow undrafted rookie Sam Cotton for the third tight end spot behind Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen. It was fairly obvious from their play in training camp that Langi and Butler would still be here in September. Meanwhile, Croston quietly had himself an impressive summer. He didn’t miss a day due to injury and made steady improvement. “He’s still got a long way to go, but I think he’s making progress,” Belichick said. Croston has a classic long-shot story. He was a lightly recruited, 225-pound offensive lineman coming out of high school in Western Iowa, only drawing interest from a couple of Division III schools. But the plan all along was to attend Iowa, whether or not football was in the equation. “My dad had played at Iowa, so for me it was Iowa or bust,” said Croston, whose dad, Dave, was a three-year letter-winner for the Hawkeyes in the mid-1980s and played one season for the Green Bay Packers. “So I was either going to go to Iowa and be a student or go to Iowa and play football.” Croston ended up walking on at Iowa and over the course of the next five seasons added 70 pounds to this 6-foot-5 frame and developed into a two-year starter, lining up at both left and right tackle. The Patriots have worked Croston extensively at both guard positions and that rare versatility to play both guard and tackle helped him earn a roster spot. Making the jump to the NFL was eased because Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz runs his program much like his friend Belichick does in New England. “So a lot of things are parallel between Iowa and New England, some of the schemes they use and things like that,” Croston said. “And Brian Ferentz (son of Kirk), my old O-line coach had been here working with the Patriots for a couple of years (2009-11), so I hear a lot of the same things in this building that I heard in his meeting room. So those things have translated to the next level.” Practice squad signees The coming (back) and going continued with the Patriots losing out on four players they likely had strong interest in bringing back after cutting them on Saturday and signing nine players to the 10-man practice squad. Rookie tackle Conor McDermott, a sixth-round draft pick, was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills while receiver Austin Carr was picked up by the New Orleans Saints, cornerback Kenny Moore II by the Indianapolis Colts, and O’Shaughnessy by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Linebacker Trevor Bates, offensive linemen James Ferentz and Ted Karras, running back D.J. Foster, defensive end Geneo Grissom, defensive tackle Darius Kilgo, receiver Cody Hollister, and safeties David Jones and Damarius Travis were added to the practice squad. Defensive linemen Josh Augusta and Woodrow Hamilton, cornerback D.J. Killings, and receiver Devin Lucien went unclaimed and were placed on season-ending injured reserve.

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Home > Guides > Betting 101 > The Rise of Daily Fantasy Sports The Rise of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and Sports Betting Updated October 10th, 2019 If you’re a US sports fan, you’ve probably come across daily fantasy sports (DFS) in some form. Daily fantasy sports platforms have lucrative advertising deals from ESPN to Fox Sports, and they’re slowly overtaking traditional, season-long fantasy sports. But what are daily fantasy sports, anyway? In this article, we’ll break down where DFS come from, and how they’ve managed to enjoy such a meteoric rise in popularity. We’ll also compare them to traditional sports betting and determine whether DFS has to potential to eclipse sports betting any time soon. Where Do Daily Fantasy Sports Originate From? The birth of daily fantasy sports started with sportswriter Daniel Okrent in 1980. He invented the concept of a “fantasy baseball league” over a few beers with friends, and the concept grew quickly among avid sports fans. Soon, fantasy sports expanded beyond baseball to other sports and leagues. By 1984, a publication called the Fantasy Football Digest emerged, which marked the first formal declaration of rules, strategies, and tactics for fantasy sports. From there, during the mid-1990s, USA Today introduced a dedicated weekly column in their sports section, and the Fantasy Sports Trade Association was founded in 1999. Who First Played Fantasy Sports? In the first iteration of fantasy sports, the focus was on fantasy sports as a hobby. It was a way to keep in touch with a group of friends, and a method to build a community among sports fan. In the majority of cases (before the age of daily fantasy sports), it was the trophies and bragging rights that were coveted, not the financial payoffs. Fantasy sports became so popular that FX aired a TV show centering around a group of friends in the same fantasy league. The League was critically lauded and ran for 7 whole seasons, from 2009 to its finale in 2015. However, the introduction of Daily Fantasy Sports in 2007 changed the way people thought of and played DFS. Just like how the internet transformed how people bet on sports, it drastically altered how people played these too. How Do Fantasy Sports Work? Okrent’s idea for a fantasy league centered around fantasy players (usually called managers) drafting a team of current professional players onto their rosters at the beginning of the season. They maintained their teams throughout the professional season by adding, dropping, or trading players with other managers. Understandably, fantasy sports managers need to have a depth of sports knowledge and research in order to have a successful team. From the start, fantasy sports have had a reputation as a skill-based enterprise. How Are Fantasy Sports Scored? Scoring is based on a compilation of points gained, based on selected player’s statistics within the sport. For baseball, a player would be rewarded for home runs. For hockey, it comes down to goals. In football, touchdowns and field goals provide points. Obviously, the winner of the league is the person who has the most points, meaning the players with the strongest statistics. Fantasy sports can be infinitely customized to the preferences of the particular league, but the basic principles underlying scoring, drafting, and roster modifications are similar regardless of the particulars. If you’re curious to discover more about the nuances of fantasy sports, ESPN has an excellent guide. How Daily Fantasy Sports Is Different Than Regular Fantasy Sports While DFS is similar to regular fantasy sports in many aspects, the fundamental differences are the timeline and number of people that managers compete against. In daily fantasy sports, the prizes are generally harder to win, but much, much more lucrative. Prizes for a single competition can go above $100,000! Regular fantasy sports are season-long, while daily fantasy sports are, well, daily. Instead of competing for the entire season, daily fantasy sports players draft a brand new lineup every time a new set of games s ready to be played. As such, the time commitment with DFS is much smaller and, if you’ve got a lousy team, you’re allowed to create a brand new one every day. Daily fantasy sports are essentially season-long contests, shrunk into a single day. These are fantasy sports for the kind of person who might be attracted to a sports bet on the moneyline, or a bet against the spread. It’s for the type of person who’s anxious to find out whether they’ve won or lost, and DFS action provides that info by the end of every day. Where season-long fantasy is limited to a small pool of people (generally friends or co-workers), DFS managers can compete with hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people in one day. The competition is fierce, but many players are attracted to the unique challenge this offers. With so many people playing, winning in daily fantasy sports is extremely difficult, and takes a lot of skill than traditional fantasy sports. As we mentioned earlier, the prizes for winning in DFS are much higher than season-long competitions among friends. Daily fantasy sports even have their own versions of sharps, and with some managers being so successful that they’ve created entire careers of fantasy sports. Types of Daily Fantasy Sports The most common version of DFS involves managers selecting both the sport and particular daily contest they want to enter. Different daily competitions have different rules and regulations. From there, managers draft a group of players in their selected sport that have to fit under an arbitrarily imposed salary cap. Usually, players are assigned a random cap hit, which depend on a variety of factors, ranging from pedigree to recent performance. Once they’ve picked a team, managers have to wait for the real games to start, then watch how their team fares against competitors. The specifics of the scoring will vary by contest, but they’re based around points gained for player’s statistics. If the manager’s team wins (or finishes in, say, the top 10), they’re rewarded with cash. Of course, the size of the cash payouts varies, based on how much it costs to enter, and the specifics of how the contest is structured. A DFS contest that requires $5 to join will have a much a lower payout than one that costs $100. The Internet Makes the Growth of Daily Fantasy Sports Possible Just as the internet expanded the possibilities of sports betting, it has done the same for fantasy sports. Daily fantasy sports can involve millions of participants from across the world from the comfort of one’s desktop or mobile phone, through dedicated applications. Just like it’s never been easier to place a sports bet, it’s never been easier to get involved in daily fantasy sports! The massive advertising campaigns of daily fantasy sports outfits have paid off, and it’s estimated that by 2021, daily fantasy sports will be a $5.1 billion industry. Currently, there are over 4 million DFS managers a year, and the dedicated following only continues to grow. The fact that daily fantasy sports require only a daily investment of time, and the fact that managers can recreate their teams every single day has resulted in a tremendous boom to fantasy sports. Ultimately, the accessibility and visibility of fantasy sports have done wonders for its popularity. Daily Fantasy Sports Owes a Lot to Sports Betting DFS owes a lot not only to the internet but the era of online sportsbooks. In fact, the infrastructure of daily fantasy sports (mobile platforms, deposit methods, UX and UI experiences, etc.) are directly inspired by many of the highly respected online sportsbooks that we review. Daily fantasy sports is in no danger of overtaking online sports betting, which is presently a $73 billion a year industry in the United States (and on the rise). With the recent federal legalization of sports betting in the United States, however, this figure is sure to continue to increase. Strategies that Can Help With Sports Betting and Daily Fantasy Sports To be a successful DFS player requires sports research and knowledge, which is transferable to the realm of sports betting. We’ve compiled a great list of statistical resources for sports betting here, which are equally beneficial to a daily fantasy sports player. If you’re curious as to why daily fantasy sports have remained beyond the purview of federal law enforcement for so long, but sports betting hasn’t, check out our guide here.

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Sri Lanka ETA » Sri Lanka Travel Information » Vaccines Requirements to Travel to Sri Lanka Italian explorer Marco Polo once proclaimed that Sri Lanka was the “best island of its size in the world”, and it certainly offers a diverse range of attractions for tourists to explore. The country boasts around 1600 km of tropical beach coastline, and 13% of its land surface has also been designated as Protected Wildlife Areas where tourists can see endangered animals such as Asian elephants and the Sri Lankan leopard. To experience everything the country has to offer, the majority of foreign passport holders are required to apply for a Sri Lanka visa relevant to the purpose and duration of their stay. However, as the island nation is a tropical country with a number of disease-carrying insects, travelers are also advised to get vaccines to travel to Sri Lanka before their trip. Why Do I Need Vaccines to Travel to Sri Lanka? For travelers from most countries, there are no compulsory vaccinations for Sri Lanka by law, although it’s advised to get several injections before traveling because of the several infectious diseases present in the region. Malaria was previously a huge problem in Sri Lanka. However, in 2016, the World Health Organization announced that it has all but been eradicated in the country and doctors presently advise that anti-malarial drugs are not necessary. However, some other dangerous insect-borne illnesses are still a problem in the country, such as Dengue fever and Japanese B encephalitis. A vaccine is only available for the latter, so it’s important to try to avoid mosquito bites in Sri Lanka as much as possible. Standards of hygiene can also be low-to-average in parts of the country, so it’s important to follow guidelines to avoid catching diseases such as Hepatitis A or E, or Typhoid, through contaminated food and water. However, the best way to prevent infection for many of these diseases is to get vaccines before traveling to Sri Lanka. What Vaccines Are Needed to Travel to Sri Lanka? The only compulsory shots needed to travel to Sri Lanka by international regulations is the yellow fever vaccination. However, this is only required if the traveler has visited a country in the yellow-fever zone in the six days before entering Sri Lanka: United Republic of Uganda Although not compulsory, all short-term travelers are advised to be up-to-date with the following vaccinations for Sri Lanka: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccines against the following are also advised for those planning to explore the Sri Lankan countryside or stay for longer periods: Japanese B encephalitis When to Get Vaccines to Travel to Sri Lanka Travelers with the Sri Lanka ETA online visa (which allows for a maximum stay of 30 days in the country) should seek consultation on vaccines to travel to Sri Lanka at least 4-6 weeks prior to the date of departure. Obtain your Sri Lanka ETA Those traveling for longer in the country or on a trip which involves extensive time spend in Sri Lanka’s rural countryside are advised to attend an earlier consultation. One of the first places that comes to mind when travelers think of Sri Lanka is the tea plantations of its central Hill Country. [...] One of Sri Lanka’s main commercial hubs and administrative capital of the Negombo Division, the city of Negombo attracts Sri Lankan and international visitors [...] Considered one of if not the most beautiful train journey in the world, the train ride from Kandy to Ella is an unmissable experience [...]

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To Channel Navigation To the Main Site To Sub Navigation To Breadcrumb-Navigation To Tools To the Social Media Tools To the Sitemap To Footer Navigation Opera Festival DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE (THE MAGIC FLUTE) Dates & Tickets A German Opera in two acts Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder In German without surtitles Duration est. 3 hours 15 minutes · 1. Akt (est. 07:00 pm - 08:15 pm ) · Interval (est. 08:15 pm - 08:50 pm ) · 2. Akt (est. 08:50 pm - 10:15 pm ) Open ticket sales Download Cast List (PDF) To List of Performances Opera · 07:00 PM · Nationaltheater Prices K , € - /- /- /- /- /- /- /10 To List of Performances Jan-Hendrik Rootering Steven Humes Annette Dasch Banu Böke Heike Grötzinger Cynthia Jansen Nikolay Borchev Akiko Okazaki Kenneth Roberson Andreas Kohn Alfred Kuhn Gerhard Auer Rüdiger Trebes Peter Wagner Abbas Maghfurian Chorus of the Bayerische Staatsoper Cast for all dates Go to page about Button to open and close the share menu To Media Center Papageno wants Papagena - Tamino his Pamina. But the pathway to love is not a simple one! Everyone has to undergo difficult trials. They even have to decide against murder and suicide, and do without food and drink and sometimes even without speech and song. The things that help them survive danger are a flute and a set of magic bells. The most world-renowned opera in a classically beautiful production, the legacy of stage director August Everding. The snake still breathes "real" fire, the Queen of the Night is still really a "star-flaming" monarch. The stage portrait (by Jürgen Rose) is wondrous fair. The magic of this opera really works here. When Pamina's father died his wife, the Queen of the Night, lost her power, because he had handed the seal of the seven circles of the sun to the initiates. Sarastro is now administering the Sun King's legacy. The Queen of the Night is not willing to submit to being directed by the wise men around Sarastro. She endeavours to regain her former power. In order to foil her plans, Sarastro has kidnapped Pamina, who is actually her father's heir. The Queen of the Night has chosen Prince Tamino to free her daughter. Pursued by a huge snake from which he is endeavouring to escape, the prince stumbles into the realm of the Queen of the Night and falls unconscious from exhaustion. Three ladies, attendants of the Queen of the Night, save his life. When Tamino awakes, he discovers the snake lying dead at his feet. He meets Papageno and assumes that the bird-catcher has rescued him from the snake. Papageno does not contradict him and is punished for his boasting by the three ladies. They show Tamino a picture of Pamina and he immediately falls in love with her. When the Queen of the Night herself appears on the scene, Tamino swears to deliver her daughter from the hands of the "demon" Sarastro. Tamino and Papageno, who is to accompany the prince, are given magical instruments to protect them from danger: a flute and a set of chimes. Three youths or genii are to accompany them on their journey to Sarastro's palace. Tamino has sent Papageno on ahead, and the latter meets Monostatos, who is keeping guard over Pamina and pursuing her with unwelcome attentions. Papageno's appearance puts Monostatos to flight. Pamina now learns from Papageno that a prince, who is in love with her, is coming to set her free. Papageno persuades Pamina to flee. In the meantime, Tamino has been led to Sarastro's temple by the three youths. A priest, a spokesman of the initiates, emerges and informs him about Sarastro's real character, assuring him that he is a kind, wise man and also telling him of Sarastro's plan. Tamino also learns that Pamina is still alive. In his gratitude he plays the flute, the magic of which tames wild animals. Monostatos and his slaves catch up with Papageno and Pamina but they are able to free themselves again with the help of the set of chimes. Their plan to escape is then foiled again by the arrival of Sarastro. Pamina and Tamino meet for the first time and fall into each other's arms. Monostatos drags them apart, but, instead of the reward he expects for his services, he is punished by Sarastro. Tamina and Papageno are led into the Temple of Ordeal. Sarastro informs the initiates of his plan to lead Tamino to a greater destiny and the priests approve his decision. Tamino, however, must first prove himself worthy of the greater happiness by submitting to the ordeals. Pamina and Tamino must take their leave of each other. Papageno is also to be put to the test. First of all, both he and the prince are enjoined to silence. Tamino does not allow himself to be tempted by the three ladies of the Queen of the Night who have sneaked into the temple. In the meantime, the Queen of the Night has managed to reach her daughter and orders Pamina to kill Sarastro. Pamina cannot do this. Monostatos, who has overheard the Queen talking to her daughter and is blackmailing Pamina by threatening to reveal all, is chased away by Sarastro. Sarastro is aware of Pamina's predicament and is able to reassure her. While Tamino and Papageno are awaiting further ordeals, an old crone appears and introduces herself as Papageno's sweetheart. Before she can tell them her name, there is a clap of thunder and a flash of lightning and she disappears. Tamino plays his flute, the sound of which guides Pamina to him. She speaks to him but, not knowing that he has been enjoined to silence, she believes he does not love her any longer when she gets no answer. Life no longer seems worth living to her. Sarastro considers Tamino to be capable of ruling as a wise prince, once he has surmounted the two last ordeals. Papageno, on the other hand, has failed and is afraid that he will be thrown into a dungeon for the rest of his life if he does not take the old crone as his wife. When he reluctantly agrees to do so, Papagena reveals herself as a young and attractive woman. The two of them are, however, still destined not to be united yet. In her despair, Pamina is contemplating suicide. The three youths restrain her and lead her to Tamino, who is awaiting the final ordeals at the "Gate of Fear". Accompanied by the music of the magic flute, the two of them undergo the ordeals by fire and water together and overcome despair and the fear of death. In the meantime the three youths have brought Papageno and his Papagena together. The Queen of the Night and her ladies make a last bid for revenge by trying, in vain, to storm Sarstro's palace and are cast into endless night. Tamino and Pamina are welcomed into the temple by Sarastro and the priests. © Bavarian State Opera The Joy of Drawing Has Remained A Conversation with Jürgen Rose about the Revised Production of Die Zauberflöte They look like works of art all by themselves: the sketches, stage settings and costume designs Jürgen Rose created in elaborately loving detail for August Everding's production of Die Zauberflöte back in 1978. In their abundance and elaborateness, they document the development of a production concept and bring back many a memory. For this revised production of Die Zauberflöte you worked together with the theatre craftspeople to overhaul and freshen up the sets and costumes. What do you feel about an artistic work that meanwhile lies 26 years in the past? Is this also an encounter with yourself? That's exactly the point: we recognize ourselves in these works, and yet they are somewhat unfamiliar at the same time, because, of course, we've developed further. I was amazed at the nonchalance with which I approached this piece, and the ideas that emerged. I would do many things totally differently today. But we have to be very careful to keep from destroying our original ideas. Ultimately our task today is to give the production a new sheen, and restore some things that have perforce worn out over the years: whether these are damaged stage backdrops or hangers which have fallen away for pragmatic reasons, costumes that are missing or are no longer in their original condition because they had to be altered every time a role was re-cast, and so on. I've gotten used to this in the course of all the work I've done, especially for the ballet. John Cranko or John Neumeier ballets I designed 20, 30, 40 years ago are still being performed all over the world, and all the ballet companies place great value on keeping them as original as possible. The sketches, designs and drawings that came about for this Zauberflöte production document different phases of the conceptual work. However, they also reveal that there were originally some ideas that were later not implemented. Does that indicate that the artistic conception had gone through a long maturation process? Fundamentally, I need a lot of time to develop my ideas. It begins with collecting a great deal of material - photos, pictures, fabric samples, etc., which I can use to give form to my initial thoughts on the piece. In the case of Zauberflöte I had an abundance of images and ideas in my head, and I would have liked to put them all on the stage. Things were similar with August Everding, who was not staging the work in Munich for the first time. I remember, for example, that initially we had thought of a lavish salon for the Queen of the Night, a very feminine world in contrast to Sarastro's domain, which we saw as architecturally more severe, built into a cliff or something like that. We considered how the Three Ladies might look, if they are perhaps birds, in other words fictional creatures like the serpent, or warrior maidens, and many other things. Then we began sorting out and discussing the various details. During these meetings I kept drawing sketches, so to speak as memoranda to myself. I work the same way with other stage directors. The complicated thing with Everding, however, was the he was so full of zeal for action, and there was never enough time for all the things he planned. Something always intervened: phone calls, appointments, visitors. When we started on the Zauberflöte, which was a very difficult piece for me, I really had to lock him up at my home, without the telephone or any other contact possibilities to the outside world so we could work concentratedly for a few hours on the piece. Those hours were terrific. Everding was absolutely brimming over with ideas, and his thoughts about the context of the drama and the music were absolutely thrilling. He really provoked me to turn those ideas into images. For all of this, when we went into rehearsal a half year later, many things had changed, and he showed up with new ideas he had just come up with. I actually like that sort of thing. But at a specific point in time a stage concept has to be nailed down in its basic structure. With Die Zauberflöte with its frequent scene changes, that is especially urgent. On top of that there was the difficulty of bringing this piece onto the huge stage of the Nationaltheater. I would have preferred doing it in the Prinzegententheater or even in the Cuvilliès-Theater, where the visual factors are more intimate and the technical sequences not quite so elaborate. Everding stressed that the piece had to be performed seamlessly, in other words without long interruptions and scene changes. How did you manage that? Naturally we used the stage machinery, but on such a big stage it always takes a few seconds for the side wagons to travel in or out, or for yard-long walls to open and close. There was always the hazard of things getting stalled. That's why from time to time there were highly pragmatic reasons for changing the concept, in which the stage director would have to invent additional actions to make it possible for a given change in the scenic sequence to become integrated. Fortunately Everding was a real past master at that. Everding was also determined to stress the human qualities in the characters and thus bring the basic idea of humanity to the fore. This was particularly clear in the characterization of the priests as 18th century human beings. That was something totally new back then. Until that time the priests were generally decked out in Egyptian accessories, helmets from the time of the pharaohs, ritualistic garments, that sort of thing, For us, as you said, it was important to show them as human beings. Human beings who could have been Mozart's contemporaries. We wanted our singers - Mr. Adam, Mr. Vogel, Mr. Auer and the others - to look quite natural, without artificially bouffant wigs, with their own hair, with only a pigtail pinned on to indicate the historical period. That was unusual back then, and I can remember that Jean Pierre Ponnelle in the Salzburg Zauberflöte production he did shortly after ours also had the priests come out in 18th century costumes. On the large stage of the Nationaltheater this attempt at individualization however didn't quite come off. Today we would create different stage areas that focus more on the characters. That principle had not yet established itself back then. One special "trade mark" of this production is also the wonderful bed-tree at the end and the entrance of the many little Papagenos and Papagenas. Everding retained that idea with the children in all of his Zauberflöte productions. I'm sure there were also highly personal reasons for this. Everding had married rather late in life and then became the father of four sons. This conclusion attests to this highly personal happiness he felt, and it always goes over very well with the audience. Of course, a theatre man like Everding had calculated that precisely. For the difficult question of who the Three Boys are and where they come from, you decided on a "floating" solution. Here it was quite clear to us right from the start that these would definitely have to be three real children. Back then those roles were generally sung by three girl choristers. But we wanted children, three boys, who, in keeping with their enigmatic origin, become transformed in the course of the play, sometimes appearing as little Mozarts, sometimes as children from well-heeled homes, sometimes as little scamps. In any cased we wanted them to look totally terrestrial, even though they come floating in on a cloud. We can also see this urge for naturalness in the delineation of the costume designs, when we look at your designs for the chorus, or more precisely, the "people". The people have only a tangential function in this drama. They come on to welcome Sarastro with jubilation, and they come back at the end, when Tamino and Pamina are taken into the community of the initiated. For this they often put the ladies in priestly robes, which makes absolutely no sense, because the unprecedented event here is that Pamina is the first woman to be taken into the order. I myself made those priestess costumes back in the sixties for a Zauberflöte production in Berlin, but it must always have been a disturbance. That's why I considered how the people might look. I found the inspiration during a trip to Italy, where I saw Neapolitan crêches with their large spectrum of common people statuettes, whose liveliness fascinated me. The Munich National Museum owns a very large collection of such statuettes, and I myself began collecting them so I could study them down to the last detail. The same thing applies to Monostatos and the slaves. That way we were able to get away from the cliché of the evil Monostatos and give him a more human face. Many of the costumes had to be reworked for the new revision. Were there problems there? It was very complicated. The greatest difficulty was finding similar fabrics. You have to realize that most of the companies we originally acquired our materials from no longer exist today. Back then we had the good fortune that the Fuchs Company in Augsburg arranged to have the original fabrics for the costumes of the Queen and the Three Ladies woven for us in India. That may sound terribly upscale, but in those days it was totally affordable. Today we have to look around the textile market, that is to say select our materials from catalogues. Those fabric catalogues, however, are geared in color and material to current fashion trends. The few special firms that still exist today generally want to sell in large quantities. It also happens that a fabric, despite the same production number, looks quite different today. We saw that in the Queen of the Night costume. It's still the same gown Edita Gruberova wore back in 1978, and all the Queens after her have also worn. Now it is already totally worn out. But the newly supplied cloth isn't anywhere near as beautiful. So we had to decide in each individual situation whether we could retain the old costume or whether we would have to make a new one, in certain cases by sacrificing some æsthetic qualities. The same applies to the settings. This often has to do with certain skills, such as flat painting, which today's craftspeople have not mastered on the same level today because there isn't that much of a demand for it because of the change in stage æsthetics. And so we just had to refer back to what we already had. You also staged Zauberflöte yourself for the first time in 1999 in Bonn. Were you influenced there by your experience in Munich? No, because twenty years had passed from one production to the other. I saw it more as an opportunity to implement ideas I hadn't yet realized. Of course I wanted the sequence to continue seamlessly here as well, but it was important to me to create more intimate spaces and delineate the characters more precisely. For instance, I wanted to make Monostatos into a really loving person and stage his tragedy as something like Othello's and generally focus more on the relationships of the individual characters. Are your set and costume designs today just as "picturesque" as your Zauberföte designs? I work somewhat differently today and prefer to develop costumes on the body. I imagine a fabric or a color and want to try both of them out first on a dummy to see how the cloth falls or what effect the color has. In earlier times I would first paint the design, so to speak as a kind of ideal situation. Of course I still have to draw a lot of sketches, especially for ballet productions. They are the work material for the costume workshops. I like doing that, too, exactly as I still like to build my stage design models. Especially in the case of Zauberflöte, I designed the various spaces in minute detail on my models all the way to putting little figurines in them. That gave me a better spatial orientation than the drawing. To this day, I always begin a new job by initially designing the spaces for myself alone. Not until later, when the set is technically fixed, do I work with assistants on a stage model. I also need this first phase of concentration and the solitude that goes with it to develop costumes. I need to be alone when I face the challenge of sitting in front of an empty sheet of paper, designing, rejecting and starting over. But then I suddenly begin having fun again as I work everything through precisely. Over the past years I have drawn costume designs in the form of little scenes, in groups of figures. This of course has to do with my work as a stage director, which I am doing more and more these days. But the joy of drawing has remained. Interview conducted by Hella Bartnig English translation by Donald Arthur Ivor Bolton studierte am Royal College of Music und am National Opera Studio in London. Anschließend war er Musikdirektor der English Touring Opera, der Glyndebourne Touring Opera und des Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Gastdirigate führten ihn u. a. nach Wien, Zürich, Frankfurt, Paris, London, New York, Amsterdam, Dresden, Leipzig und Barcelona sowie zu den Festspielen in Glyndebourne, Aix-en-Provence und seit 2000 jährlich nach Salzburg. Von 2004 bis 2016 war er Chefdirigent des Mozarteum-Orchesters Salzburg. Derzeit ist er musikalischer Leiter des Dresdner Festspielorchesters, seit 2015 außerdem Musikdirektor am Teatro Real in Madrid und seit 2016 Chefdirigent des Sinfonieorchesters Basel. (Stand: 2019) Productioninfo to Top fold in Sitemap Ballet Festival Week 2020 Festival Studio Opera for All Festival Recitals Young Ensembles Phone: +49.(0)89.21 85 01 Fax: +49.(0)89.21 85 10 33 Tradition, continuity and an impressive repertoire: these are the solid pillars supporting the Bayerische Staatsoper – one of the world’s leading opera houses. It can look back proudly on a cultural history of over 350 years. Thanks to a court tradition, opera found a home in Munich in 1653; since then its music-historical and sociopolitical development has continued in a way unparalleled anywhere else, worldwide. The Bayerische Staatsoper, with some 600,000 persons attending its over 450 performances each year, makes a major contribution to Munich’s reputation as one of the great international cultural capitals. In the course of a single season, over 40 operas from four centuries are performed along with ballets, concerts and song recitals. This makes the programme of the Bayerische Staatsoper one of the most richly varied performance schedules of all the international opera houses. With 2,101 seats, the Bayerische Staatsoper’s principal performance venue, the National Theatre – built in classicistic style in 1818 – is the largest opera house in Germany and ranks as one of the handsomest theatres in Europe. Tours of the National Theatre take place almost every day.

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Início2013309Extras2013316 - The Mistery of Existence - Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon 316 - Discover the High Line - High Line History Ethan Hawke (Standard American accent) The High Line: this historic elevated railway is now known as “New York’s park in the sky.” It’s a mile-and-a-half of meandering pathways, lush plantings and dramatic design, cutting through the heart of the Meatpacking District and West Chelsea, but the High Line was once a bustling railroad, part of the industrial fabric of Manhattan’s West Side. In the 1800s railroad tracks ran down the West Sidewaterfront, bringing goods to the factories and warehouses. The streets were crowded and the trains were dangerous. They caused so many accidents that Tenth Avenue was nicknamed “Death Avenue.” The railroad hired men on horseback to ride in front of every train. Each waved a red flag to warn pedestrians out of the way. These men were called “the West Side cowboys.” The High Line was built in the 1930s, part of a massive infrastructure project called “the West Side Improvement.” With its giant steel beams lifting freight trains 30 feet in the air, the High Line brought the New York Central Railroad right through the upper floors of factory and warehouse buildings. Trains in the High Line carried meat to the Meatpacking District, baking supplies to the National Biscuit Company, or Nabisco, now Chelsea Market, and many other goods to the West Side, but within just a few decades more and freight began to travel by trucks on the new interstatehighway system, rail traffic declined on the High Line, and part of it was torn downin the 1960s. The last train ran down the High Line before Thanksgiving in 1980, carrying three boxcars full of frozen turkeys. After the trains stopped running, the High Line sat unused, a rusty monument to the West SIde’s industrial past. On top of the tracks, nature began to take over17... 316 - The Mistery of Existence - Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon 15 Fev 2014 316 - The Wild Man 15 Fev 2014 315 - The Art of Emily the Strange 15 Fev 2014 315 - Plain English, Please! 15 Fev 2014 315 - Matt Anderson - stuntman 15 Fev 2014

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Review: Charlie Wilson, Just Charlie Oscar 2020 Winner Predictions: Documentary Feature Oscar 2020 Winner Predictions: Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar 2020 Winner Predictions: International Feature Film Oscar 2020 Winner Predictions: Original Score Review: Dolittle, Like Its Animals, Is Flashy but Dead Behind the Eyes Review: Destroyer’s Have We Met Is As Strangely Vexing As It Is Familiar Review: With Manic, Halsey Fearlessly Inhabits Her Myriad Parts Eminem Drops Surprise Album and Anti-Gun Violence Video for “Darkness” Review: Selena Gomez’s Rare Is Spotty in Its Attempts at Authenticity The 25 Best Janet Jackson Songs Review: SELF Nightmarishly Grapples with Our Vanishing Sense of Self Review: The First-Person Puzzler Lightmatter Coasts on One Bright Idea The 100 Best Video Games of the 2010s Review: Life Is Strange 2 Boldly and Directly Plumbs America’s Darkness Review: Wattam Whimsically Tasks Us with Finding the Epic in the Mundane Review: The New Pope Depicts the Church with a Graceful Cynicism The 50 Best TV Shows of the 2010s Review: HBO’s The Outsider Conjures Mysterious Tableaux of Dread Review: BBC and Netflix’s Dracula Is a Gory but Banal Adaptation of a Classic Review: The Witcher Favors Fierce Fight Scenes Over World-Building Under the Radar 2020: The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes, Not I, & More 2020 Oscar Nominations: Joker, 1917, The Irishman, and OUATIH Lead Field John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place Part II, Starring Emily Blunt, Gets Trailer Kesha Gets Her Swagger Back in Raucous “Raising Hell” Single and Video Watch the First Trailer for Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman Review: John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China on Shout! Blu-ray Review: Wim Wenders’s Until the End of the World on Criterion Blu-ray Blu-ray Review: George Cukor’s Holiday on the Criterion Collection Review: Richard Fleischer’s Trapped on Flicker Alley Blu-ray Review: Paul Schrader’s Blue Collar on Kino Lorber Blu-ray The Best Theater of 2019 Review: The Inheritance Is a Radical, If Short-Sighted, Take on Howards End Review: Slave Play Is a Searing, Satirical Takedown of White Supremacy Review: Broadbend, Arkansas and Soft Power Are a Mixed Bag of One-Acts Reconciling Memory: Peter Stamm’s The Sweet Indifference of the World John Sayles’s Yellow Earth Is a Masterfully Fair Hearing on Human Nature In Find Me, the Sequel to Call Me by Your Name, the Echoes of Love Are Resounding The Very Queer In the Dream House Explodes Expectations of Memoir With The Institute, Stephen King Channels Political Outrage into Familiar Horror Matthew Cole It’s an odd choice for a pop singer to make maturity their definitive trait, but that’s been Charlie Wilson’s shtick for a while now. He’s a vet, a lifer, he’s Uncle Charlie, man among grown-ass men, and Just Charlie is a record befitting the cool uncle who pals around with Snoop and Kanye. It’s not damn-kids-get-off-my-lawn stuff, it’s not Ronson/Dap Kings-Motown time capsule stuff either. Its approach to R&B is egalitarian, with producer Wirlie Morris freely mixing real horns and strings with synthesizers and drum machines, while Wilson spends as much time T-Paining it as he does Al Greening it on tracks like “Lotto” and “Life of the Party.” Wilson’s clearly staying abreast of the trends, but he’s not beholden to them. He might use a bit of that Auto-Tune, but he’s not going to get carried away. This is music for grown-ups, remember? And it ends up being a real drag, as Just Charlie‘s resolutely straight-buttoned aesthetic applies as much to the songs’ content as it does to their production. If the lyrics are any indicator, Wilson has made it through his long career in the music industry without acquiring much in the way of things to complain about. His girl is a dime, he feels like he won the lotto, even the would-be tearjerkers like “I Can’t Let Go” are relatively drama-free. Everything about the album is so goddamned reasonable, so midtempo, so backyard-barbecue, that even when Wilson is wailing on a note like a champ, he sounds smooth and measured. And the tracks, so disinterested in gimmickry or novelty, end up surrendering any semblance of an identity to their own oppressively good taste. It’s R&B in the missionary position, a politely seductive soundtrack for obligatory anniversary humping. Just Charlie is a family reunion, and Uncle Charlie brought the potato salad. Label: Jive Release Date: December 7, 2010 Buy: Amazon We’re committed to keeping our content free and accessible—meaning no paywalls or subscription fees—so if you like what we do, please consider becoming a SLANT patron: House Playlist: Basement Jaxx, Sky Ferreira, and Girls The album both calls attention to its artifice and proves it can still hold a broad emotional range. Jeremy Winograd Photo: Ted Bois Dan Bejar insists there’s no deeper meaning to the name Destroyer. In 2016, he told NPR he chose it because “It’s got three syllables, which is good, but it’s still one word, that’s also cool.” And yet, Destroyer figuratively destroys itself every few years: abandoning guitars for electronics, or veering from big-band dramatics to adventures in solitude. Bejar began Destroyer as a solo project, tracking songs by himself on a basic four-track cassette recorder. His touring band has grown its ranks since then—peaking with the current eight-piece art-rock orchestra—but in the studio, Bejar has occasionally opted to return to the DIY spirit of his earliest work, as he did on 2004’s Your Blues, which was performed almost entirely on MIDI instruments. Destroyer’s 13th album, Have We Met, was constructed similarly, with electronic elements layered on top of Bejar’s basic demos. Not unlike his lyrics—which are the most layered and entertaining they’ve been in years, both dark and funny—the resulting music is as vexing and strange as it is comforting and familiar. Unlike Your Blues, though, Have We Met features real electric bass and guitar, and the synths are slicker and fuller, landing very far from the chintzy, fake-sounding tones Bejar employed on that album. And the drums on Have We Met are heavier and funkier than on any previous Destroyer album. On “Kinda Dark” and “Cue Synthesizer,” they lock into a dirty stutter, crossing over into hip-hop-like territory and cleverly contrasting Bejar’s relaxed delivery. Have We Met is perhaps closer in timbre to 2011’s Kaputt, with its angular guitar work, dreamy synthscapes, and Bejar’s detached, lackadaisical vocals. But while the synths on Kaputt are cold and dreary, and distinctly retro, here they’re warm, inviting, and modern, establishing an entirely distinct emotional tone. Swaying reveries like “University Hill” and “foolssong,” which Bejar first played live in 2009, are much sweeter-sounding than any other recent Destroyer songs. “It Just Doesn’t Happen” plays up a similar late-night, neon-lit atmosphere as Kaputt, but the synths here are more evocative of a video game arcade than a discotheque. Even as Bejar calls attention to the artifice of his musical surroundings on “Cue Synthesizer”—“Did you realize it was hollow?” he asks before listing off the culprits of this “idiot dissonant roar”—he proves that artifice can still hold a broad emotional range. Credit for this should go largely to longtime producer and bassist John Collins, who mostly pieced together the final tracks himself on top of Bejar’s home demos. (The only personnel on Have We Met are Collins, Bejar, and guitarist Nic Bragg, whose distinctively wobbly playing has been perhaps the sole consistent element in Destroyer’s ever-shifting sound since he joined the band in 2002.) To Collins’s credit, the album certainly sounds more like the work of a full band than that of someone seated alone at a keyboard, iPad in hand. Still, the arrangements are inevitably more utilitarian and less focused on band dynamics than any of Destroyer’s post-Kaputt efforts. This is vital, because for the first time in too long, those arrangements sound like they’re built to follow Bejar’s voice and lyrics rather than the other way around. Bejar the enigmatic, drunken poet has for several Destroyer albums now taken a back seat to Bejar the singer and bandleader. And while the singing on Have We Met remains tastefully restrained, lyrically there are glimpses of the younger, brasher Bejar here. He makes himself known a verse into opener “Crimson Tide,” the sort of rambling stream-of-consciousness epic that used to constitute almost the entirety of Destroyer albums. It’s a quintessential Bejar track, largely for its liberal use of comfortingly well-worn lyrical tropes: the direct juxtaposition of the poetic with the flippant and coarse; conscious contradictions like “I was like the laziest river/A vulture predisposed to eating off floors/No wait, I take that back”; direct references to other songs, both those of others and his own, including allusions to, of all things, “The Gambler,” as well as at least two other Destroyer tracks. The rush of catharsis “Crimson Tide” provides is rivaled a few songs later by “The Raven,” which opens with its own slippery couplet—“Just look at the world around you/Actually no, don’t look”—and proceeds to careen through delightfully idiosyncratic territory, from a “city of dying the embers” to a “petite terror train” and “the Grand Ole Opry of Death.” Despite the apocalyptic imagery, the tone is invigorating. “It feels so good to be drunk on the field again,” Bejar intones, his voice quivering with the kind of ardor that he rarely draws for his singing anymore. Like most of his lyrics, if there’s a literal meaning to the line, it’s impossible to parse, but the implication is clear enough: Bejar is feeling the groove again. Label: Merge Release Date: January 31, 2020 Buy: Amazon The singer’s refusal to pick a lane is what makes the album her most compelling effort to date. Anna Richmond Photo: Aidan Cullen In a recent interview, Halsey, née Ashley Frangipane, lamented the confusion with which her music and public persona are sometimes met in the press. “Like, how fucking immune are you to the human experience?” she scoffed, incredulous at the implication that she has—or indeed is even able—to choose just one version of herself. Certainly, at least over the past year, her music has defied easy categorization; from the trap-influenced “Without Me,” to the punky “Nightmare,” to her guest appearance on K-pop group BTS’s vibrant “Boy with Luv,” she’s slipped from genre to genre effortlessly. It’s this refusal to pick a lane that’s precisely what makes Halsey’s third album, Manic, her most compelling effort to date. The album’s shifting production style allows Halsey the space to inhabit different parts of her personality and even invite them into conversation with one another. Opening track “Ashley” gets the album off to a confessional start: “I told you I spilled my guts, I left you to clean it up,” she sings, and it’s hard not to feel like that should be in the present tense, so affected is her open-throated, emo-inflected delivery. “Clementine” is no less raw, but here she creates a subtler atmosphere, though no less disquieting as a cyclical piano line rings out like the melody of a music box as she breezily delivers the lyric “I don’t need anyone/I just need everyone and then some” and her more distraught backing vocal echoes the sentiment. Rarely does Halsey let herself off the hook across the album’s 16 tracks, confronting even the most damaged parts of herself head on. But she doesn’t let the men who did the damage off scot-free either. “I’m so glad I never ever had a baby with you/’Cause you can’t love nothing unless there’s something in it for you,” she sneers on the country-inflected “You Should Be Sad,” and there’s no shortage of derision on “Without Me”: “And then I got you off your knees/Put you right back on your feet/Just so you can take advantage of me.” The most arresting moments on Manic come via openhearted storytelling, as on the gorgeous closing track, “929,” which is composed of a series of vignettes as Halsey recounts the precise time of her birth, her teenage years in a “cheap apartment,” the most exploitative moments of her career, and the hope that her father will finally pick up the phone. It’s a welcome moment of quiet reflection after 15 tracks of shifting perspective, tone, and genre, as it sees Halsey expose herself with precision and purpose. Bearing your soul publicly is fraught with complications—“I should be living the dream/But I’m livin’ with a security team,” she sings ruefully on “Still Learning”—but it does seem, for Halsey, to be a truly productive way of figuring out what makes her complicated in the first place, and how to embrace those complexities without fear. Label: Capitol Release Date: January 17, 2020 Buy: Amazon Music to Be Murdered By was released unexpectedly, accompanied by a music video for the track “Darkness.” Alexa Camp Less than 17 months after his last album, Kamikaze, swooped in out of nowhere, Detroit rapper Eminem, né Marshall Mathers, has dropped another surprise album. Music to Be Murdered By was released unexpectedly tonight, accompanied by a music video for the track “Darkness.” Directed by James Larese, the clip was seemingly inspired by the 2017 Las Vegas gun massacre, as Eminem narrates the disturbing inner thoughts of an isolated, mentally ill mass shooter. The video ends with the message, “When will this end? When enough people care” and a call to register to vote. The 20-track album features collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Juice WRLD, Q-Tip, Anderson .Paak, and more. It also includes a song called “Stepdad,” about the rapper’s abusive stepfather. Music to Be Murdered By is out now on Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records. Despite glimmers of authenticity throughout the album, it’s hard to discern who Gomez is, musically or otherwise. Sophia Ordaz Photo: Sophie Muller Selena Gomez is no stranger to reinvention. After making the tricky transition to maturity with a starring role in Harmony Korine’s drug-fueled 2013 film Spring Breakers, the former Disney sweetheart stepped out as a bona fide solo pop star with Revival, an album chockablock with R&B and dance-pop gems. On her long-awaited follow-up, Rare, Gomez attempts another about-face, shedding the empowerment anthems and EDM-infused bangers of Revival and aiming for a quirkier brand of pop and, purportedly, a new sense of candor. But even though this is the closest she’s invited us into her headspace, it still feels like we’re being held at arm’s length. Despite glimmers of authenticity, it’s hard to discern who Gomez is, musically or otherwise. Notably, it seems like Gomez is finally making music she can fully get behind. The album’s four-and-a-half-year germination seems to have heartened the singer to incorporate more vulnerability into her songs. Whereas on Revival, Gomez tiptoed around emotional rawness, there are moments throughout Rare in which she fully inhabits it. On the stirring lead single, “Lose You to Love Me,” the most evocative vocal performance on the album, she dons the clarity of hindsight, which yields uncompromising truths: “I needed to hate you to love me.” Elsewhere, attempts at emotional authenticity miss the mark. The platitude-ridden “People You Know” suffers from distracting Auto-Tune, which produces a distancing effect as Gomez offers up such banalities as, “People can go from people you know to people you don’t.” More insightful is “Cut You Off,” a midtempo meditation on protecting oneself from a toxic relationship; the chorus’s ascending melody are redolent of Taylor Swift’s best pop incursions, but the track is sanitized to the point of being forgettable. Rare continually teases intriguing forays into leftfield pop, but so many of the album’s experiments come off as just that, without ever crystallizing with memorable hooks. Gomez’s breathy vocal on “Crowded Room,” assisted by a melodic verse from rapper 6lack, lands on just the right side of fragile, but the track’s innocuousness lets the singer float away completely. The pulsing bass of “Fun” calls to mind her excellent, one-off 2017 single “Bad Liar” (included on some deluxe versions of this album), but the chorus rests on a scant four words—“You look like fun”—and a flimsy guitar riff. On the title track, Gomez makes it known to a distant lover why she’s rare and deserving of attention, but based on her performances throughout Rare, it’s dubious as to whether she’s convinced of that or not. Label: Interscopes Release Date: January 10, 2020 Buy: Amazon We count down Janet’s 25 greatest songs, from her most iconic hits to her least heralded cult favorites. Eric Henderson and Sal Cinquemani Nothing summarizes Janet Jackson’s contributions to pop music any clearer than the interlude that serves as the transition between Rhythm Nation’s opening trio of socially conscious tracks and the largely feel-good love songs that follow: “Get the point? Good, let’s dance.” She’s gone through many phases (industrial trainee, man-conquering vamp, spiritual gardener, 20-year-old), but span her entire career and those stages seem less clearly delineated than most comparable icons’ respective chapters, with symmetrically uniform peaks and surprisingly rare valleys. With Janet, the pleasure principle has always served as her musical conscience, and it’s guided her through a career near unparalleled in its ability to serve unfussy pop confections. Unlike that of big brother Michael or her rival on the ‘80s and ‘90s dance charts, Madonna, there ain’t no acid in Janet’s delivery, just bubblegum. The nasty boys of Slant have decided once and for all to count down her 25 greatest songs, from her most iconic hits to her least heralded cult favorites. Eric Henderson Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on September 14, 2015. Technology is the thrust of 2008’s infectious and ridiculously weird single “Feedback.” With it, Jan got her 4/4 back, equating her vagina to a subwoofer (and, notably, her clit to guitar strings) and her swagger to a heavy-flow day. The beats are spare but oppressive, the synths scratchy and impatient, the perfect accompaniment for the singer’s libidinous frustration. Sal Cinquemani 24. “All for You” Hard to tell which was bigger: this comeback disco anthem (which sat atop the Billboard charts for a lusty seven weeks in 2001) or the size of the impressive basket the guy who caught Janet’s eye apparently had (and upon which, according to the lyrics, she later sat atop). What was striking about “All for You” at the time wasn’t its unabashed frankness (the entire song is Jackson basically knocking the listener upside the head with the promise that she’s not hard to get), but the atmosphere of airless frivolity around it. It’s a sex jam that sounds like a carnival ride. Henderson 23. “Funky Big Band” Realness, as anyone who’s seen Paris Is Burning knows, presumes aspirational designs among those who espouse it. “Funky Big Band” grasps that harshly glamorous concept right from its opening interlude, “The Lounge,” which drops listeners into the illicit milieu of a password-only speakeasy before reminding them, “You’ve got to be real/If you want to hear the funky big band.” From its tangy clavinet doodles to its roaring Lionel Hampton-sampled jazz loops (producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had clearly spun Soho once or twice), “Funk Big Band” is the militant bastard stepchild of the zoot-suit antics of “Alright.” Henderson 22. “Velvet Rope” A song about self-empowerment, featuring a children’s choir and violin solo to boot, smacks of inevitable mawkishness. But with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’s thoughtful production, Janet’s unpretentious delivery of even lyrics like “One love’s the answer,” and violinist Vanessa Mae’s edgy solo, this potential schmaltz-fest became a thoughtful theme-establishing introduction to Janet’s most personal album to date. Cinquemani 21. “Lonely” Throughout Janet’s imperial phase, the template called for each of her albums to close out with a suite of love ballads. Skippable as any of them may have seemed when all you wanted to do was follow Janet’s own mantra “Get the point? Good, let’s dance,” the best of them—like this sultry, intimate invitation from one isolated soul to another—expose themselves at the most unexpected moments. Just like sex. Henderson Review: Poppy’s I Disagree Obliterates the Niceties of Genre Convention The album tosses the singer’s pop aesthetic into the shredder with heavy metal and industrial rock. Sal Cinquemani Photo: Jesse Draxler In many ways, Poppy was an inevitability: a YouTube personality turned pop singer, portrayed by Moriah Rose Pereira as a cyborg controlled by “them”—referring, presumably, to co-creator Titanic Sinclair and the duo’s actual or imagined corporate overlords. From Alice Cooper to Lana Del Rey, there’s a storied history of musicians concocting personae for public consumption, but Pereira has taken the gimmick to absurd, if predictable, lengths, conducting entire interviews as a soft-spoken, obedient automaton that seems culled directly from a straight male fantasy. Poppy’s early YouTube videos were glorified ASMR porn, featuring the singer sensually licking cotton candy from a stick and blankly answering a disconnected rotary phone, an ominous male voice—presumably Sinclair’s—occasionally posing questions to her like a sexual predator might to a captive. For Pereira and Sinclair, with whom the former recently cut ties, Poppy is a commentary on social media and a satire of how we use the internet more broadly. But Pereira’s decision to finally break character during an interview with NME last year represented a more intriguing development, conveniently doubling as an extension of the Poppy narrative, wherein she becomes sentient, and a reflection of Pereira’s ostensible real-life struggles as a female artist. Though Poppy’s third album, I Disagree, was largely co-written by Sinclair, it’s littered with allusions that telegraph Pereira’s creative and personal emancipation from him. “Godspeed to the radio star/Stop the beat when they take it too far,” she delicately warns on “Sit/Stay.” Opening track “Concrete” is about the killing of one’s former self—“Bury me six feet deep and just cover me in concrete, please/Turn me into a street”—while “Nothing I Need” and the title track find her reevaluating her own values and those of others, respectively. “If only all of you could see the world I see,” she sings on “I Disagree.” The album also marks a sonic rebirth for Pereira. Poppy’s first two efforts were defined by bubble-gum pop filtered through the lens of J- and K-pop, which, in turn, are influenced by American music, resulting in a re-translated sound that felt at once familiar and alien. I Disagree is decidedly “post-genre,” tossing Poppy’s pop aesthetic into the shredder with heavy metal and industrial rock, previously only hinted at on the tail end of 2018’s Am I a Girl? “Concrete” shifts abruptly between tempos and genres, between commercial jingles and Beatles-esque chamber-pop, all shot through with roaring electric guitar riffs. That might sound incoherent, but it serves as a bold, deftly executed mission statement. Inspired by a quote by British writer Alan Watts, “Bite Your Teeth” boasts I Disagree’s starkest contrast between thrashing verses and harmonious hooks, with a dreamy, almost ‘70s AM radio-style bridge and a moody synth-string coda. The glitchy “BLOODMONEY,” which takes no prisoners in its skewering of religious hypocrisy, likewise juxtaposes abrasive noise-pop with sugary melodies, punctuated by blood-curdling screams. These individual elements aren’t new to pop music—the album at turns evokes Rammstein, Sleigh Bells, and Lady Gaga—but it’s regurgitated and repackaged in a way that manages to escape derivativeness. Where Poppy does sound overtly imitative is on “Anything Like Me,” which hews extremely close to Billie Eilish’s brand of avant-pop—ironic given that the song is a response to an artist with whom Pereira and Sinclair have been engaged in a contentious copyright battle. The track, though, is more sonically expansive than Eilish’s work, an exhilarating guitar solo bumping up against the softly strummed acoustic guitar of the bridge, during which Pereira generously offers, “Love is never-ending in me.” I Disagree’s final two tracks present a more promising direction forward for Poppy as she, presumably, continues to shed the artifice of her persona. Thematically, “Sick of the Sun” and the two-part “Don’t Go Outside” share a distinct sense of despondency: The former details the singer’s self-isolation, her unexpectedly emotive vocals couched in hazy, reverb-soaked guitars, while the latter shifts the focus to the world outside (“The TV says we’re out of time/Suck the fear in through your eyes”). The second half of “Don’t Go Outside” reprises several songs from earlier in the album, including the Marilyn Manson-indebted “Fill the Crown,” the sole track on I Disagree that veers into caricature. A lyric from that song—“You can be anyone you want to be”—takes on more potent significance when repeated here, the dream-pop approach charting a middle ground between the sugary dance-pop of Poppy’s earlier efforts and her nascent metal shtick. Label: Sumerian Release Date: January 10, 2020 Buy: Amazon Review: Field Music’s Making a New World Plays Like a Strangely Funky History Lesson The band’s latest is an ambitious concept album about the aftermath of World War I. Jesse Locke Photo: Sebastian Matthes David and Peter Brewis of Field Music have carved a unique niche for themselves in the U.K. music world, outlasting many of their buzzy British peers. Their music has always stood out from the post-punk revival of the mid-2000s thanks to an intellectual underpinning and less emphasis on massive shout-along choruses. That tack continues on Making a New World, an ambitious concept album about the aftermath of World War I. Even if you don’t feel the need to follow along with their historical lyrics, these 19 short songs are an entertaining, unpredictable listen. This isn’t the first time Field Music has delved into the past or current events: Previous projects have included a soundtrack for John Grierson’s 1929 silent documentary Drifters, following a day in the life of a fishing fleet, while their last album, Open Here, was inspired by their hometown of Sunderland becoming the first city to declare its vote in favor of Brexit. The band’s interest in WWI dates back to 2016, when they collaborated with electro-pop duo Warm Digits and the Northern Sinfonia orchestra on the soundtrack for Esther Johnson’s film Asunder, a historical retelling of the war’s effects on a small English town. Making a New World was born out of another WWI project, commissioned by the Imperial War Museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. The initial inspiration for the songs here was an image from the museum’s collection that used “sound ranging” to capture vibrations of gunfire. Like a seismograph, this visual technique’s peaking lines artfully represent the bullet-filled sounds in the minute leading up to 11 a.m. on November 11th, 1918, and the moment of smoke-clearing silence after the war’s end. Each of the album’s songs focuses on a different facet of WWI, unfolding in chronological order like a series of art-rock audio plays. “Coffee or Wine” sets the scene with a serviceman’s journey home to a post-war world, as its narrator stomps through off-kilter piano pop. “A Change of Heir” uses spooky slide guitars as an introduction to Dr. Harold Gillies, whose pioneering skin grafts for injured soldiers led to some of the world’s first gender reassignment surgeries. “Only in a Man’s World” is a feminist outcry against the taxation of sanitary pads, set to jittery disco in the tradition of Talking Heads, while the warped grooves of “Money Is a Memory” most closely recall late ‘70s oddballs Godley & Creme. The album marks the first full-band release from Field Music since 2007’s Tones of Town and the quartet jumps between musical styles adeptly. The Brewis brothers’ vocals sound as effortless as always, delivered with a laidback breeziness belying the songs’ sophisticated melodies. They’ve clearly studied the music of their predecessors with the same enthusiasm as WWI textbooks, and never has a history lesson sounded so strangely funky. Label: Memphis Industries Release Date: January 10, 2020 Buy: Amazon The 100 Best Music Videos of the 2010s In many ways, the rebirth of the music video set the template for streaming long-form content more broadly. The 2010s saw the continued democratization of media: more content, more ways to access and consume it, and, as a result, a more diverse audience. In many ways, the rebirth of the music video, formerly the withering marketing tool of what Jack White might refer to as the “corporation,” set the template for streaming long-form content more broadly. Choose what you want to watch, when you want to watch, and how often. Even more so than film and TV, though, short-form videos have the potential to provide an almost real-time commentary on the politics, technologies, and even sexual mores of the times. Of course, MTV programmers have been replaced by YouTube algorithms, which, when they’re not sending you down a rabbit hole to white supremacist screeds and 9/11 conspiracy theories, force-feed us what’s already popular. The decade’s most viewed music video, Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” has been streamed 6.5 billion times in two years. In fact, none of the clips in YouTube’s Top 10 came even close to cracking our list of the 100 best music videos of the 2010s. The more things change…. Sal Cinquemani 100. Disclosure featuring Lorde, “Magnets” Lorde has never been anything less than uncomfortably mature for her age, but the music video for Disclosure’s “Magnets,” a standout cut from the U.K. garage duo’s Caracal, transforms the gawky teen into a bona-fide femme fatale. The clip, directed by Ryan Hope, finds Lorde cavorting with a married man while his meek, buttoned-up, and sometimes bruised wife cautiously prepares his morning coffee and stares blankly out the window of their L.A. manse. “Let’s embrace the point of no return,” Lorde urges as she zombie-struts in her usual way down a glass-encased hallway in a patent-leather trench coat and blood-red lipstick. She gives the wife a knowing glance and pushes the man, tied to a chair, into the pool. Then, of course, she sets the whole thing on fire. Cinquemani 99. Alex Cameron, “Miami Memory” Having met while making a mockumentary-style video for the song “Marlon Brando,” Alex Cameron and Jemima Kirke continue their fruitful collaboration with “Miami Memory,” at once a Technicolor dreamscape and a fearlessly intimate exploration of their dynamic as a real-life couple. The first third of the video seems to cast Kirke as a beautiful object—Cameron films her receiving a massage, then watches her dance—but the remaining two-thirds reset the balance. Kirke matches his gaze with hers, taking the camera over for herself, directing him, taking her turn to watch him dance. Anna Richmond 98. Gwen Stefani, “Make Me Like You” Target teamed up with Gwen Stefani for the first music video ever created on live TV, which aired during the Grammy Awards in 2016. The video, which opens with the No Doubt singer awakening after an ugly car crash and being primped for a first date, offers audiences the chance to bask in its creators’ virtuosity, as well as the thrill of watching them fall on their faces—figuratively and literally. In fact, Stefani and longtime collaborator Sophie Muller, who directed the clip, were clearly betting on the latter sensation. During the song’s vocal breakdown, Stefani’s glittery orange high heels are swapped for roller stakes by a stagehand whose fingers momentarily peek into frame, and Gwen is whisked off to an adjacent roller rink, where she’s cleverly swapped for a body double who takes a hard spill. It’s quickly revealed, of course, that Stefani is safe and sound in the center of the rink, preparing for the video’s impressive final aerial shot. Cinquemani 97. Miley Cyrus, “We Can’t Stop” If the surreal images in “We Can’t Stop” were simply a tribute to youthful hedonism, it would be among the decade’s most pupil-dilating eye candy, but deconstructed down to its macabre symbols—edible skulls, blow-up dolls, taxidermia—it’s one of the trippiest, scariest videos of the 2010s. Cinquemani 96. Jay-Z and Kanye West, “No Church in the Wild” Though it was filmed in the Czech Republic, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s breathtakingly shot “No Church in the Wild” plays as a broader comment on the civil unrest that’s enveloped both the Middle East and director Romain Garvas’s native Greece, as well as the violent conflict that seems to be roiling beneath the surface in places as distant as Wall Street and Madison, Wisconsin. Cinquemani 95. Katy Perry, “Chained to the Rhythm” The lead single from Katy Perry’s fourth album is a strikingly subtle piece of Caribbean-inflected protest pop. The breezy track isn’t just a slow burner, but its message—that we’re all living in bubbles, “happily numb”—is also decidedly bipartisan. Whether the song, co-written by Sia and produced by longtime Perry collaborator Max Martin, is an endorsement of self-care or a critique of escapism in times of political upheaval is up for interpretation. What is certain is that a track with a hook that implores listeners to “Come on, turn it up/Keep it on repeat” had better deliver the goods, and this one most definitely does. Cinquemani 94. Tierra Whack, “Whack World” The ambitious “Whack World” is a full-length accompaniment to Tierra Whack’s debut album of the same title. Like the album, it’s 15 minutes long, with the Philadelphia-based rapper and visual artist performing a wildly different vignette in each minute. Both album and video make for an impressive sampler of Whack’s versatility as a performer—which, in visual form, translates to her inhabiting a range of quirky and inventive characters, from a facially disfigured receptionist to a rapping corpse in a sequined coffin, a sentient house, and others that defy description. With a highlight reel like this, it’s hard to image there being anything Whack can’t do. Zachary Hoskins 93. Chairlift, “Met Before” Jordan Fish’s video for Chairlift’s “Met Before” gives viewers the freedom to dabble in some alternate outcomes for a trio of uncertain science grads caught in a potential love triangle. In having users act as the powerbrokers for all sorts of subtle decisions, Fish has essentially constructed a Choose Your Own Adventure for the YouTube generation. Kevin Liedel 92. St. Vincent, “Los Ageless” Annie Clark portrays Tinseltown as a vivid dystopia in “Los Ageless,” lampooning the superficiality of the showbiz capital as she endures a cosmetic procedure that pulls at flaps of excess facial skin, à la Brazil, or standing, Barbie-like, next to a shredder that destroys the word “No.” A woman’s legs stretch out through a TV screen and writhe before a quivering Clark; she swallows otherworldly, undulating organisms; the lime-green slime of a foot bath appears to gain sentience and climb her leg—all striking images that take to outlandish extremes the very real absurdity of adherence to oppressive beauty standards. Josh Goller 91. Grimes featuring Janelle Monáe, “Venus Fly” Adorned in some sequences in regalia that appears paradoxically both indigenous and extraterrestrial, while dressed as a steampunk-meets-Soul-Train getup in others, Janelle Monáe joins Grimes, who feverishly hammers away on drums, dons black angel wings, and bathes in crude oil in this slow-motion-heavy video for “Venus Fly.” Both directed and edited by Grimes, the video subverts fairy-tale princess tropes with the two artists cast as fierce warriors who shatter mirrors, devour apples, stomp roses, rip apart pearl necklaces, and wield flaming swords. Goller 90. Bonnie “Prince” Billy, “In Good Faith” A simple song for dark times, “In Good Faith” is nothing short of a secular hymn. Will Oldham sings about small moments of grace and nature: rocks being shaped into diamonds, people helping one another through each day. The accompanying video is similarly gentle, with a documentary-style look at a group of people making their way through the world. We see them in homes, tending crops, generally filling their time with the tasks that constitute the bulk of life on Earth. The climax shows most of the characters singing in Sacred Harp choirs, joyfully joining voices to celebrate the possibility one finds in the sacred and infinite. At a time when religion divides people as much as any other force on the planet, the song and the video gesture to a world where our shared humanity joins us more than our ideas divide. You can’t go five minutes on the internet without seeing someone accused of lacking it, but “In Good Faith” celebrates the possibility that we might all make it out alive. Seth Wilson 89. Jennifer Lopez featuring Cardi B and DJ Khaled, “Dinero” The music video for Jennifer Lopez’s “Dinero” is as over the top as the song itself, which finds J. Lo alternately singing over a tropical rhythm and rapping atop a trap beat—sometimes both—while fellow Bronx upstart Cardi B boasts of their borough-based bona fides. Directed by Joseph Kahn, the black-and-white clip brazenly takes the piss out of Lopez’s dubious Jenny from the Block persona—and she’s clearly in on the joke, bowling with a diamond-covered ball, barbecuing in lingerie and pearls while sipping a crystal-encrusted Slurpee, toasting marshmallows over a burning pile of cash, and walking a preening pet ostrich on a leash. The video also features a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo by a Casino-era Robert De Niro. Alexa Camp 88. Scott Walker & Sunn O))), “Brando” In her video for “Brando,” filmmaker Gisèle Vienne isolates a child’s glimpse of a disturbing image and lingers on it, suspended in perilous motion—a cinematic motif comparable to Scott Walker & Sunn O)))’s knack for stretching a single reverbed-out twang to a repetitive standstill. This is a story of trauma told with the fewest possible strokes, wherein the dew in the mountain air feels fresh even as you realize you’re witnessing a long-buried memory play out for what must be the hundredth time. Vienne closes with an isolated, insinuating close-up that silently tells you everything you need to know. Steve Macfarlane 87. Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment, “Sunday Candy” Chance the Rapper may have come up as the acid-addled suspended school kid, but at heart he’s the coolest nerd in the drama program. The homespun stage sets of “Sunday Candy” pair with daring juke choreography for a heartwarming performance of the endearingly welcoming song. The fact that it was all done in one take gives it the exhilarating thrill of a barely rehearsed school play, executed perfectly just in time for opening night. James Rainis 86. Destroyer, “Kaputt” In capturing the playful spirit of Dan Bejar’s air-rock odyssey, director Dawn Garcia has rewritten the manual. Clearly, if you want to make a good music video nowadays, it needs to include soft erotica, greasy teenagers, false oases, and flying whales. Liedel 85. Earl Sweatshirt featuring Vince Staples & Casey Veggies, “Hive” If Tyler, the Creator’s videos are all about overblown, colorful images in line with OFWGKTA’s Loiter Squad aesthetic, Earl’s “Hive” acts as a counterbalance, more in touch with the menacing Odd Future of a few years ago. The minimalistic, barely lit setting presents Earl and his crew as a hooded force lurking in the shadows, and suggests that Odd Future—and rap music—doesn’t have to be loud and abrasive to be threatening. Kyle Fowle 84. Taylor Swift, “Blank Space” As if the threat of having a scathing pop song written about them weren’t enough to make the world’s eligible young bachelors think twice about shacking up with the country starlet turned pop star, Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” portrays the singer-songwriter as, to quote the song’s lyrics, “a nightmare dressed like a daydream.” In the clip, directed by Joseph Kahn, Swift and model Sean O’Pry spend a romantic weekend at the former’s lavish mansion. When she suspects him of texting another woman, she flies into a mascara-streaked fit, taking a switchblade to his portrait, a torch to his clothes, and a golf club to his sports car. By the time Sean discovers a hallway lined with the defaced paintings of Swift’s former suitors, it’s obvious Swift has also taken a skewer to her (perhaps unjustified) reputation. Cinquemani 83. Grimes, “Flesh Without Blood” Claire Boucher’s video for “Flesh Without Blood” doubles as an ambitious look-book, a compendium of Grimes’s many sides: blood-stained 19th-century socialite, brooding gamer goth, high-fashion lounge lizard. Boucher manages to look devastatingly badass in every getup, reflecting her gleeful ability to integrate disparate pieces into an alluring, unprecedented whole. Rainis 82. St. Vincent, “Digital Witness” Director Chino Moya paints a vibrant but empty portrait of a techno dystopia filled with clean lines, monotone colors, and dull, repetitive tasks to complement Annie Clark’s ambivalent reflection on our digitally consumed lives. Donning a dress that pointedly resembles a straitjacket, Clark’s mindless drone warns of a future where TV replaces windows and, in turn, windows become mere objects over which to hang venetian blinds. Cinquemani 81. Tyler, the Creator, “Who Dat Boy” Flower Boy may have been Tyler, the Creator’s “mature” album, but his self-directed music video for “Who Dat Boy” is proof that he still hasn’t lost his demented touch. Over the song’s horror-movie beat, Tyler disfigures himself in a mad-science experiment gone wrong, gets guest A$AP Rocky to “fix” him by replacing his face with white rapper Action Bronson’s, and hits the road. But as arresting as those visuals are, the cherry on top is the non-sequitur closing sequence, in which four multi-exposed Tylers show up to croon “911” like a one-man New Edition. The whole thing crackles with manic energy. Hoskins The 100 Best Singles of the 2010s The 2010s marked the end of what we’ve come to know as the “single,” which officially met its demise in the wild west of the streaming era. Photo: Interscope Records The 2010s marked the end of what we’ve come to know as the “single,” which dates back to Billboard’s jukebox charts of the early 1940s and which officially met its demise in the wild west of the current streaming era. In the end, though, a single is just a song, and these 100 songs defined the decade that began in the throes of recovery from the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression and ended with the systematic dismantling of our democratic norms. The crumbling of our institutions was accompanied by the euphoric beats of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” and Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” the former of which epitomized the increasing irrelevance of radio, the term “single,” and even the charts themselves. Hip-hop served as our cross-generational conscience, with veterans like A Tribe Called Quest and newcomers Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino reflecting and responding to the times. R&B and country, too, both staked a claim to the mantle of the decade’s most empowering songs, from Beyoncé’s “Formation” to Little Big Town’s “Little White Church.” History will be the final arbiter of what we’ve done to the planet, to the country, and to each other over the last 10 years, but the songs that served as the soundtrack to this modern dystopia are already etched in time. Long live the single. Consider this list its epitaph. Sal Cinquemani 100. Clairo, “Bags” With “Bags,” Clairo navigates the line between friend and lover with a crush who could be straight. Her approach pinpoints ephemeral moments with a wide-eyed recollection: the sensation of fingertips on her back, a mane of hair blowing in the wind of an open car window, a love interest standing in a doorway. You get the feeling that the experiences she recounts are firsts for her, so vivid and formative are her memories. Sophia Ordaz 99. Angel Olsen, “Shut Up Kiss Me” Most of the songs on Angel Olsen’s 2016 album, My Woman utilize the singer’s marvelously evocative voice for poignant purposes, bemoaning the loss of love in damaged, defensive terms. But the undertone of aggression that undergirds those imprecations bursts to the fore on “Shut Up Kiss Me,” an attempt to salvage a foundering relationship that finds Olsen embodying both traditionally male and female roles simultaneously, delivering soft and hard in equal measure. Backed by a surging tide of guitar and drums, she pushes from wounded desolation to commanding confidence and back, eventually settling for the latter. Along the way, the song pursues a swaying, woozy build-up that walks a fine line between heartbreak and renewal, while working as a strong showcase for the singer’s staggering musical chops. Jesse Cataldo 98. Taylor Swift, “Look What You Made Me Do” The similarly themed “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” whose bouncy pop beat and comical overtones recall those of past hits like “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “Shake It Off,” might have made a safer choice to introduce the world to the New Taylor than “Look What You Made Me Do.” Which is exactly why this droll single—with its deceptively lush strings, pulsing hip-hop beat, and Right Said Fred-aping non-hook—will likely go down in pop history as Swift’s first bona fide misstep. It’s also what makes the track the boldest and, quite frankly, most authentic thing she’s released to date. Cinquemani 97. Little Big Town, “Little White Church” Country singers are generally too polite to come right out and ask, “Whose pussy is this?” the way, say, Nicki Minaj might, but that’s still the gist of Little Big Town’s ultimatum here. Karen Fairchild gives a throaty, lived-in performance that spells out exactly what her man stands to lose, lest he make an honest woman out of her. The blues guitar riff that drives the song dirties up the arrangement a bit, but it’s the handclaps-only B section and, as always, LBT’s impeccable four-part harmonies that really make “Little White Church” distinctive and seductive. Jonathan Keefe 96. Sia, “Chandelier” As a songwriter, Sia has scored copious hits by channeling the voices of pop stars as varied as Rihanna and Celine Dion. On “Chandelier,” her heart- and lung-rending delivery of a song about addiction feels entirely her own, the kind of full-throttle catharsis that you can’t fake no matter how big the paycheck. From the reggae-inflected verse asserting that “party girls don’t get hurt” to the sky-high chorus declaring the singer’s intent to swing from ceiling fixtures while drinking her face off, “Chandelier” captures how denial can morph into jarring revelations about the extent of one’s self-destruction. The song, however, keeps that reckoning in abeyance, riding its thudding beat and reveling in those final moments of exhilaration before the hangover inevitably hits. Annie Galvin 94. Lana Del Rey, “National Anthem” The fifth single from Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die doubles, much like the album, as a critique and a glorification of materialism and artifice, name-dropping “upper echelon” status symbols like the Hamptons, $2 million sports cars, and Page Six to paint a portrait of a girl looking for love in all the well-fixed places. Del Rey boasts of “blurring the lines between real and the fake” in the lyrics, and though she’s taken on various guises during her short run in the spotlight (“gangster Nancy Sinatra,” Ione Skye from Say Anything…, and, in the video for “National Anthem,” a 21st-century Jackie O), what makes the song feel authentic is the singer’s simple, robotic performance. She doesn’t try to affect a deeper, more “serious” tone the way she has on other songs, content to sing in her more natural higher register. “National Anthem” suggests what it might sound like if trip-hop had conquered hip-hop and Britney Spears actually had something to say. Cinquemani 93. The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, “Starboy” Few people would accuse Abel Tesfaye of being too modest. Yet, the artist known as the Weeknd has described “Starboy” as his manifestation of the “more braggadocious character that we all have inside us.” That heightened swagger finds Tesfaye looking down at the gaudier accoutrements of the celebrity lifestyle, blaming pop culture at large for creating his outsized persona in the first place (“Look what you’ve done/I’m a motherfuckin’ starboy”), all while signaling a transformation that’s portrayed literally in the single’s music video, where Tesfaye assassinates his former palm-tree-afroed self to announce the arrival of his shorn Starboy period, a not-so-subtle nod to David Bowie. By joining forces with Daft Punk, Tesfaye adds gloss to this smooth, bombastic sound, resulting in a song that sleekly and effortlessly thrums and sparkles like one of his beloved luxury cars driven under neon lights. Josh Goller 92. LCD Soundsystem, “I Can Change” Self-interested, defeatist, and angry, James Murphy is practically a distillation of every obsessive character from a Jonathan Franzen novel. He is also, like them, open to change, even if it sounds as if it will take much prodding for him to even get halfway there. The silver lining in This Is Happening’s collection of downers, “I Can Change” boasts the album’s most succinct and vivid illustration of Murphy’s doubts and resentments as a lover. It’s woozy, glitchy synths are the sounds of a man wanting but resisting to give in to happiness, light beaming outward from a very dark void. Ed Gonzalez There’s something about “Digital Witness” that hearkens back to a song by one of Annie Clark’s most obvious influences: David Bowie’s “TVC15” Both songs use herky-jerky vocal hooks to deliver sly existential horror about the prevalence of technology in the modern age, and almost 40 years after Bowie sang about a television swallowing Iggy Pop’s girlfriend, Clark sounds even more distressed: “Digital witnesses, what’s the point of even sleeping?/If I can’t show it, if you can’t see me/What’s the point of doing anything?” But the funky, chopped-up horn bleats that form the backbone of “Digital Witness” manage to place the tune squarely in the 21st century. Jeremy Winograd 90. Janet Jackson featuring J. Cole, “No Sleeep” Giving precisely zero fucks after dispensing a string of albums and singles that were desperate for them, Janet Jackson trusted the soft sell when choosing the lead-off single from her Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced reunion album, Unbreakable. The downtempo “No Sleeep,” languorous (or “plush,” as she coos twice) in every respect but for those sharp, assertive echoing claps on the backbeat, isn’t so much sexy as it is something increasingly less easy to come by in pop: intimate. Which isn’t to say its replay value hasn’t proven tantric. Like making love with someone you truly know, “No Sleeep” somehow gets better the more times you lay it down. Eric Henderson 89. Luke James, “Drip” With a falsetto vocal that goes from aching to ecstatic and a wah-wah guitar lead that channels vintage Ernie Isley, New Orleans singer-songwriter Luke James’s “Drip,” the first single from his forthcoming sophomore effort, sounds like it could have fallen out of heaven, or at least the early 1970s. The only real clue to its 2017 origins are the lyrics, which don’t even try to pretend that the title isn’t about what you think it’s about. At a time when contemporary R&B at large was blander and more samey-sounding than ever, “Drip” was a breath of Afro-Sheen-scented fresh air. If every neo-neo-soul track can be this good, then sign us up for the revival of the revival. Zachary Hoskins 88. Sky Ferreira, “You’re Not the One” There’s nothing genuinely threatening or dangerous about Sky Ferreira, a former teen model who’s adopted a confrontational stance on her first album, Night Time, My Time, most clearly manifested in a revealing, forcefully unattractive cover photo and a faux-punk aesthetic. Yet these signifiers are useful in establishing the type of artist Ferreira wants to be: fearlessly self-possessed, sexual on her own terms, more focused on lacerating breakup songs than bubblegum love ballads. All these things come through on the intermittingly fierce, completely catchy “You’re Not the One,” its industrial drums and bittersweet vocals setting up another thick-skinned sendoff track from an artist intent on establishing her independence. Jesse Cataldo 87. Hot Chip, “One Life Stand” The title track and lead single from Hot Chip’s latest album may be the sweetest and most genuine ode to monogamy that exists anywhere. Forget about dates, forget marriage; Alexis Taylor is interested in so much more, as he affirms “I only wanna be your one life stand” with his convivial everyman charm. It’s a lovely message, and serves as a splendid centrepiece for this single. The verses are accentuated by deformed Caribbean steel drums and laser sound effects, while the chorus boasts a barrage of warm, sonorous synths. This could be the most radio-friendly slab of upbeat pop we’ve heard from Taylor and company, but it struggled to chart significantly on either side of the Atlantic as the record-buying company parted with their money for messages of promiscuity and bad romances instead. Oh well. Their loss. Huw Jones 86. Azealia Banks, “1991” So maybe it’s all a bit too on-the-nose as an homage, but it’s not like Azealia Banks is one for subtlety. She’s dialed back the inventive potty-mouthing that made “212” such an attention-grabber, but there’s so much going on in “1991” that Banks could never be accused of slacking off. She spits a rapid-fire 16-bar rhyme that’s a triumph of female sexual agency and makes it sound as effortless as snacking on a little pain au chocolat, and then she nimbly interweaves those rhymes into an onomatopoeic secondary vocal track before unraveling it all so she can do a spot-on impression of Ce Ce Peniston. Keefe 85. Jenny Lewis, “Just One of the Guys” There are several very good songs with almost uncomfortably personal lyrics and poppy earworm hooks on erstwhile Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis’s third solo album, The Voyager, but “Just One of the Guys” is one of the few that had the benefit of not being produced by Ryan Adams, with his ‘80s AOR-rock fetish. Instead, the Beck-produced single possesses more of a late-‘70s singer-songwriter feel that suits Lewis’s voice and personality better. But it’s not the arrangement, or even the incredibly catchy see-sawing chorus that stands out the most; it’s Lewis’s daringly close-to-the-bone bridge: “There’s only one difference between you and me/When I look at myself all I can see/I’m just another lady without a baby.” Winograd 84. Disclosure featuring Lorde, “Magnets” “Pretty girls don’t know the things that I know,” Lorde sings on “Magnets,” an understated offering from Disclosure’s sophomore effort, Caracal. The tropical house track, which features Indian rhythms, backward synth washes, and a patient, pulsating beat, succeeds—with a little help from its fiery music video, of course—at shifting the New Zealand pop singer’s profile ever so slightly from gawky teen to sultry chanteuse, her performance at once singular in its edgy hesitance and startling in its unexpected seductiveness. Cinquemani 83. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Jesus Alone” The structure of “Jesus Alone” serves as an appropriate mirror for the emotional state its composer found himself in while formulating it. As the song begins, with a grumbling electronic groan and Nick Cave reciting vivid but obtuse imagery, the singer sounds despondent and detached, adrift in darkness and abstraction. But as the improvised track builds, its cold swirls of electronics, strings, and piano gradually coalesce into a grievingly reposeful refrain, as Cave comes to grips with his pain: “With my voice/I am calling you.” It’s a pretty chorus, but when considering that Cave is “calling” his dead son, it becomes far more devastating than the gloomier musical passages that precede it. Winograd 82. Kelela, “LMK” Kicking off in the club and resolving in the gauzy ether of a potential meaningless hookup, Kelela’s “LMK” sounds both ominous and alluring, an aloof seduction condensed to three and a half minutes. In its delivery, the singer turns the standard come-hither suggestiveness of so much female-fronted pop on its head, abandoning intimations of virginal purity or masculine power transfer for cold transactional consumption, all cards immediately laid out on the table. By removing desire entirely from the equation, she reduces the procedural essence of the mating ritual to its barest elements, within a track that pulls off a similar musical process, stripped down to Jam City’s slim ambient production and the singer’s silky, expressive voice. Slinky and soothing despite its aggressive tone, blending plainspoken confidence with low-key virtuosity, “LMK” represents the finest qualities of Kelela’s sumptuous debut, concentrated into a sui generis amendment of pop sexual politics. Cataldo 81. La Roux, “Bulletproof” There’s really no explaining how or why British synth-pop duo La Roux managed to sneak itself onto U.S. radio playlists while the likes of Robyn, Little Boots, and other Euro pop acts remained largely ignored. Not that “Bulletproof” is undeserving: It’s all video-game bleeps and stiff beats, with singer Elly Jackson fancying herself an impenetrable computer. But with a malfunctioning communication system (“I won’t let you in again/The messages I tried to send/My information’s just not going in”), Jackson’s declaration that “This time, baby, I’ll be bulletproof” ultimately just sounds like wishful thinking. Cinquemani The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s The music of the past 10 years has felt like a streak of shifting genres and seemingly rehashed trends. Photo: Kendrick Lamar/Interscope Records There’s a popular meme—shared most often by Gen Xers and tech-capable boomers—that self-deprecatingly laments the perception that the 1990s were just a few years ago. The absence of a generally recognized way to demarcate the first two decades of the 21st century (aughts? Teens? ‘10s?) has, perhaps, rendered the “decade” as a measure of time more arbitrary than ever before, resulting in one nebulous blur. The music of the past 10 years has likewise felt like a streak of shifting genres and seemingly rehashed trends. Of course, a lack of obvious trends—like synth-pop and hair metal in the ‘80s, and alternative rock and R&B in the ‘90s—doesn’t mean there weren’t important milestones in music. Bolstered by albums like Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly and Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, hip-hop continued to rediscover both its conscience and its voice in the 2010s, while artists like Robyn and Katy B proved that even when dance-pop is pushed to the margins, as it was after the EDM explosion of the late aughts, it will always find its groove. As is often the case with pop music, whose wiles aren’t often immediately apparent, some of the titles on this list of the greatest albums of the decade took their sweet time taking root. Taylor Swift’s 1989, for example, sits at a lofty perch here but failed to garner a mention on our list of the Best Albums of 2014. Others, like D’Angelo’s Black Messiah, were released just days after we published our list that same year. And yet another 2014 album, Bright Light Bright Light’s sophomore effort, Life Is Easy, came to our attention a year after its initial release. Some of the artists with multiple entries on this list, like Kanye West, began the 2010s at their creative and commercial zenith but floundered on both counts by decade’s end. Others, like Lana Del Rey, started out with great but uncertain promise and ultimately fulfilled it as the decade came to a close. Holdovers from the ‘90s like Radiohead, PJ Harvey, and Björk, as well as artists whose legacies stretch even further back, like the dearly departed David Bowie and Leonard Cohen, released some of their most compelling work to date in the last 10 years, making the task of clearly defining the decade even more of a fool’s errand. What these 100 albums do have in common is quite simple: They moved us. Sal Cinquemani 100. Bright Light Bright Light, Life Is Easy At a time when pop music is defined foremost by cynicism, Bright Light Bright Light, né Rod Thomas, offers a refreshingly sincere voice, unafraid to be poignant or vulnerable. Though the melodies on the Welsh singer-songwriter’s sophomore effort, Life Is Easy, are often uncomplicated, they’re also instantly familiar and accessible. The album’s opening synths nod to Angelo Badalamenti’s score for Twin Peaks, as Thomas paints vivid, cinematic scenes of love lost and imagined, drenched in retro-minded synth-pop reminiscent of Pet Shop Boys and George Michael. The album is littered with tales of disintegrating love (“Everything I Ever Wanted,” “I Wish We Were Leaving,” featuring Elton John) but also the wide-eyed optimism of a hopeless romantic (“An Open Heart,” “I Believe”). It makes life—and love—sound easy. Cinquemani 99. Big Thief, U.F.O.F. The first of two stellar albums Big Thief released in 2019, U.F.O.F. is less immediate and rhythmic than the subsequent Two Hands. It’s all ambience and texture, unfolding like a reverie, with chiming acoustic guitar arpeggios and cooing melodies so natural and easy that they sound like they sprung up from the ground or out of the trees. Singer-songwriter Adrienne Lenker’s songs don’t so much progress as they circle mesmerizingly around themselves, and the best of them—“Cattails,” “Century,” “From”—seize on sing-songy melodic motifs with repetitious snake-like structures that become almost like mantras. Lenker and Buck Meek’s guitar work is sparkling throughout, with every pluck and strum sounding sonically optimized. This is an album as difficult to categorize as it is easy to listen to. Jeremy Winograd 98. Pet Shop Boys, Electric Electric found the Pet Shop Boys taking an easy and well-earned career victory lap. This isn’t a nostalgia cruise through the sounds of its creators’ lost youth, but rather a daringly foolhardy effort to communicate with the kids in their own blissed-out lexicon. For this task, Electric brought in the man most perfectly suited to marrying ‘80s electro-pop classicism with genre-straddling EDM modernism, Stuart Price. More importantly, the duo brought a collection of wry and wonderful earworms that are every bit as huge as Price’s canyon-sized sound. A reminder that classic songs don’t have to arrive already frozen in amber. Blue Sullivan 95. Lindstrom, Real Life Is No Cool Norwegian DJ Hans-Peter Lindstrøm and vocalist Christabelle’s Real Life Is No Cool is a pop-funk odyssey that draws on early Massive Attack, Prince, and especially the space-disco of Giorgio Moroder. The album is, perhaps, Lindstrøm’s most accessible work to date (the single “Lovesick” appeared in a car commercial and the U.S. version of the album is even more polished than the original Rough Trade incarnation), but despite clear standout tracks and copious pop hooks, it’s a testament to the strength of Lindstrøm’s singular vision that the album plays best as one whole piece, no small feat considering that it was at least seven years in the making. Cinquemani 96. James Blake, James Blake A friend recently played me James Blake through his new subwoofer with the dial turned to about 5, an experience that nearly made our heads explode. It served as a reminder of how amazingly rumbly, strange, and unique of an album it is, a fact that may have been forgotten in the nine months since its release. Cloaked in a cloud of mystery, it defies the usual bedroom-recording template, with an expansive sound that ranges from creeping, percussively stripped-down R&B to eerie MIDI-inflected dirges, with textures that provide padding for one of the most uniquely smooth voices to come around in years. Jesse Cataldo 95. Aphex Twin, Syro Few artists could record an album as downright adventurous as Syro. It jumps from eerily funky trip-hop (“produk 29”) to disjointed, robotic acid house (“CIRCLONT6A [141.98]”) and then concludes with a solo piano piece that wouldn’t feel out of place on a recital program alongside Chopin and Satie. But only Aphex Twin could record something this outlandish and appear to be toning down the experimentalism. Syro is a refinement of everything that Aphex Twin has accomplished in his career of genre invention and deconstruction. As a complete work, it’s enveloping, with moments of virtuosic composition (the prog-rock-on-ecstasy of “syro u473t8+e [141.98]”) balanced out by larger, propulsive gestures like rave banger “180db_[130].” While the rest of the electronic music world has been trying to catch up, Aphex Twin is finally taking a breath and, in turn, had released his most accessible—though still profoundly idiosyncratic—album to date. James Rainis 94. Tyler, the Creator, Flower Boy Tyler, the Creator’s obvious talent has always been undercut by an insistent immaturity, with callow, prankish antagonism proving a continued obstacle to his artistic development. With Flower Boy, rap’s resident enfant terrible has finally found a way to channel his hostility, on an album that still retains his inherent unruliness and intensity. Tyler taps into the internal reservoir of insecurity and doubt motivating his anger, expanding his range and revealing new creative layers in the process. Building on the glimmers of tuneful sweetness found on 2015’s Cherry Bomb, the album finds existing horrorcore inclinations mixing freely with polished electro jazz, hard-edged psychedelia, and hazy R&B. Surprisingly smooth but still never easily digestible, its diverse palette provides insight into the wide variety of sources influencing a mounting wave of paradigm-fracturing rappers, helping to spearhead the genre’s fervent push into new modes of expression. Cataldo 93. Kamasi Washington, The Epic As everyone who’s caught his sprawling live show already knows, jazz bandleader Kamasi Washington’s maximalism will not be contained, and that, ludicrous as it may sound, even a three-hour label debut broken down into three volumes titled “The Plan,” “The Glorious Tale,” and “The Historic Repetition” and given the title The Epic still ever so faintly suggests the tip of the iceberg that sunk the RMS Titanic. “Change of the Guard”? That might be an overstatement, but there’s something undeniably thrilling about an artist who doesn’t seem to dislike a single reference point. Washington, better known as Kendrick Lamar’s go-to arranger, pulls not a single punch as he draws from big band, fusion, swing, and bebop traditions, pays homage to Malcolm X, Ray Noble, and Claude Debussy, and overlays heavenly choral and string arrangements to send the entire enterprise into orbit. Eric Henderson 92. Katy B, On a Mission As the coolly altered colors of the cover art indicate, Katy B’s On a Mission is euphoric without aggression. It’s awash in the newness of discovery, and represents the perfect confluence of elements that all but transcends any single camp. This isn’t merely a house album, a pop album, a dubstep album, or an R&B album. It’s a bright, cheerfully mainstream-friendly record that’s almost completely built from the ingredients of much darker, grimier dance music subcultures in a way that recalls the sunnier moments of Basement Jaxx, or Kathy Diamond’s Maurice Fulton-guided retro jaunt through the Loft on Miss Diamond to You. But softer still. On a Mission is a glowstick Alice in Wonderland, a tour of sensations as narrated by an emotionally reserved young girl whose “curiouser and curiouser” reactions ultimately wind up giving in to the moment, hungry for the next chapter. Henderson 91. Mariah Carey, Caution “Caution” is an apt warning for those about to consume Mariah Carey’s first album in over four years. While her voice may be a reedy version of what it once was, she makes it abundantly clear on Caution that she isn’t to be fucked with in this or any other decade. She wisely relies on the rap-inflected R&B sounds that have been her bread and butter since Butterfly, while bringing in unexpected collaborators like Skrillex and Blood Orange. She also switches up the message: In the aftermath of a highly public breakup, a sense of inevitable heartache hangs over the whole thing, from the delightfully salty lead single “GTFO” (“I ain’t tryna be rude, but you’re lucky I ain’t kick your ass out last weekend,” she quips) to the even more savage “A No No,” in which she summons her verbally gymnastic falsetto for a Gilligan’s Island-related diss. The adoption of patois and clearly intentional use of “irregardless” suggest Mimi (still) has no time for notions of cultural appropriation or grammar, and appearances by Slick Rick and Biggie (via sample) let us know that her heart will always lie in hip-hop. Where it belongs. Paul Schrodt With the lone exception of Bon Iver’s “Beth/Rest,” no music this year has better captured the glitzy, breezy, unaware charm of ‘80s air pop better than Destroyer’s Kaputt. There’s an almost stark obliviousness to the album’s caricatural, glossy atmosphere, obtuse lyricism, and plethora of jazzy brass, but therein lies its allure: Dan Bejar exists in his own little bubble, making songs for himself as much as others, and leaving us narrative riddles that perhaps only he can ultimately decipher. Yet as confoundingly esoteric as Kaputt can often be, it’s still a joy to listen to: Luxurious and blissful and playful in a way that conjures up the psychedelic pop storytelling of Al Stewart. From the bouncy hotel lobby ballad “Suicide Demo for Kara Walker” and the delicate melancholy of “Chinatown” to the almost ridiculous, full-on saxophone and vibes explosion that is the title track, Kaputt is the consummate balancing act of the cerebral and the irreverent. Kevin Liedel 89. M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming With Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, M83 braintrust Anthony Gonzalez reportedly aimed to combine the aesthetics of the decidedly more shoegazey Before the Dawn Heals Us with the all-out, sparkling post-punk of Saturdays=Youth, with synth-pop tracks like “Claudia Lewis” and “Reunion” alongside ambient throwbacks like “Echoes of Mine.” As always, Gonzalez goes grand, aiming for the bright lights and saturated echoes of stadium anthems. One need look no further than the opening blast of “Intro” for evidence, where Gonzalez masterfully stacks buzzing circularity and distant choir strains with the seagull synths of “Kim & Jessie,” over which Zola Jesus delivers her muscular vocals. Liedel 88. Taylor Swift, Reputation In the run-up to the release of her sixth album, Reputation, Taylor Swift was excoriated by fans and foes alike for too often playing the victim. The album’s lyrics only serve to bolster that perception: Swift comes off like a frazzled stay-at-home mom scolding her disobedient children on “Look What You Made Me Do” and “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things.” But it’s her willingness to portray herself not as a victim, but the villain of her own story that makes Reputation such a fascinatingly thorny glimpse inside the mind of pop’s reigning princess. Swift has proven herself capable of laughing at herself, thereby defusing the criticisms often levied at her, but with Reputation she’s created a larger-than-life caricature of the petty, vindictive snake she’s been made out to be. By album’s end, Swift assesses her crumbling empire and tattered reputation, discovering redemption in love—only Reputation isn’t so much a rebirth as it is a retreat inward. It marks a shift from the retro-minded pop-rock of 2014’s 1989 toward a harder, more urban aesthetic, and Swift wears the stiff, clattering beats of songs like “…Ready for It?” like body armor. Cinquemani 87. Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2 Righteous anger is potent fuel for art, and in a year that desperately beckoned for protest music that could stand up to systematic economic and racial oppression, Killer Mike and El-P drew on just that to create Run the Jewels 2. It’s not a political treatise (there are too many absurdist threats and flights of linguistic fancy to qualify), but tracks like the drug-dealer’s lament “Crown” and the accusatory “Lie, Cheat, Steal” hold a mirror up to society’s blemishes and implore you to get fucking pissed about it to El-P’s punishing, Bomb Squad-reminiscent production. Decades after It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, the sonic revolution is still being fought, with brothers-in-arms Killer Mike and El-P as the new ringleaders. Rainis 86. DJ Koze, Knock Knock DJ Koze’s eclectic third effort, Knock Knock, tones down the psychedelic flourishes of 2013’s Amygdala for a more accessible album that’s inviting and soothing while also, at times, preserving a plaintive sense of yearning. “Music on My Teeth” opens with a sample of Zen Buddhist philosopher Alan Watts intoning that “time is a social institution and not a physical reality.” Whether it’s a Gladys Knight & the Pips sample on “Pick Up” or a guest spot by an Auto-Tune-drenched Kurt Wagner from Lambchop on “Muddy Funster,” Koze seamlessly melds eras and genres to fashion shape-shifting sonic textures. He plays to his guests’ strengths, giving the music the semblance of a mixtape at times, but overall the sound nevertheless remains cohesive. Seamless shifts from trip-hop to R&B to deep house create a multidimensional aesthetic that runs the gamut from retro to futuristic, from analog to digital, all while exuding Koze’s mastery of making the uncanny feel oddly familiar. Josh Goller 85. Jenny Hval, The Practice of Love “I hate ‘love’ in my own language,” Jenny Hval says on the title track of her seventh album, a spoken-word exchange between herself and Lasse Marhaug about the notion of reproduction and its impact on humanity. Although Hval has admitted to feeling some anxiety about dealing with love as a theme when she’s spent so much of her career focusing on anything but, on The Practice of Love she explores the concept with closely observed specificity. Over propulsive, trance-influenced musical backdrops that lend a disarming sheen to its raw lyrics, Hval analyses the presence—and lack—of love in nature (“Lions feat Vivian Wang”), in pregnancy and childlessness (“Accident”), and in communion with the dead (“Six Red Cannas”). Her lyrical style, equal parts allusive and up-front, makes for an exposing, raw album, as disquieting as it is dazzling. Anna Richmond 84. The Weeknd, House of Balloons The collaboration of producer Doc McKinney and singer Abel Tesfaye, House of Balloons is entirely without precedent in R&B. The gothic production aesthetic is influenced as much by industrial, trip-hop, and downtempo as it is by urban radio, while Tesfaye’s tortured falsetto conveys both vulnerability and predatory intent. It’s a lurid exercise in subterranean world-building, its depictions of dependency and desperation soundtracked by some of the catchiest, sexiest R&B jams you’ll never hear in the club. Matthew Cole 83. Wild Beasts, Smother True to their name, Wild Beasts builds on and fully inhabits an undomesticated musical world far removed from the familiar grounds of their indie peers. The band’s experimentation in flaky, embellished baroque pop is ultimately a reward for its loyal audience: The weirder they get, the better Wild Beasts become. For those who stuck with them through Two Dancers, Smother is another masterful step in that surreal journey, albeit a quiet, sensuous one. Largely shouldered by the band’s two lead vocalists (a libertine cooer in Hayden Thorpe and the earthier, huskier Tom Fleming), Smother is both alluring and purposeful, not to mention full of beautiful surprises. What other group could achieve something like “Invisible,” an undisguised hat tip to the kind of soft, safe ballads one would expect from Phil Collins circa 1985, and still manage to infuse it with their own brand of unpredictable artistry? Liedel 82. The Magnetic Fields, 50 Song Memoir The knock against Stephin Merritt and company’s latest long-sit is the lack of “company” in the equation: Where 1999’s 69 Love Songs varied its three-CD sprawl with rotating vocalists, Merritt’s sad-sack monotone is all we get for five discs on 50 Song Memoir. But, then, per the title, this is Stephin’s story: The songs each correspond to a year in the prickly 50-year-old songwriter’s life, and it wouldn’t really make sense for anyone else to tell it. Merritt the aesthete understands this, and so he indulges in songs that wouldn’t really make sense for anyone else to sing: It’s hard to imagine “A Cat Called Dionysus” being such a laugh riot without his deadpan pivot from “He hated me” to “I loved him,” and only Merritt could find musicality amid the drolly listed maladies on “Weird Diseases.” What 50 Song Memoir has in common with 69 Love Songs is that it’s one of the Magnetic Fields’s most consistent albums. Merritt’s lyrical concepts hold together as albums better than his aesthetic ones—and duration only helps the charm of his offbeat writing to sink in. Sam C. Mac 81. Santigold, Master of My Make-Believe With her punk-yelp drawl, Santigold at first seems to be trying to affect Karen O’s style on her second album’s first single, “GO!,” but then the beat drops out and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman herself takes the mic, all elongated syllables and spliced-up vocals, and it’s clear Santi isn’t just playing dress-up, but skillfully, reverently co-inhabiting Karen’s world. Santi is a shapeshifter, and the beats and arrangements of each track are likewise perfectly tailored to their lyrics. “Don’t look ahead, there’s stormy weather,” Santi warns just as guitar licks crackle like electricity on “Disparate Youth,” an expertly layered piece of dub-pop, while her cavernous background vocals reverberate beneath the mechanical rhythm section of “God from the Machine.” Even if hip-hop-leaning tracks like “Freak Like Me” and “Look at These Hoes” feel more derivative than the album’s copious nods to new wave and synth-pop, Master of My Make-Believe is still a genre-defying exercise in exerting one’s mastery over all. Cinquemani Awards5 days ago Oscar 2020 Winner Predictions: Actress Music5 days ago Film5 days ago Review: Bad Boys for Life Is a Half-Speed Echo of Michael Bay’s Toxic Formula Awards14 hours ago Music1 day ago Ener to Win a Gemini Man 4K Prizepack, Blu-rays of the Beverly Hills Cop 3-Movie Collection, and More Our Preview Section Is Your Most Complete Guide for All the Films, Big and Small, Coming Your Way Soon Copyright © 2001 - 2019 Slant Magazine

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Lawyer and founding partner of SLM ATTORNEYS, Professor at the Universidad Latina de Panamá - Penonome Campus. She specializes in Labor Law, Alternate Methods of Conflict Resolution and Industrial Safety of Mining in open sky. Ms. Rubio has extensive experience in the individual and collective work environment and previously served as legal Advisor for the Special Labor Directorate of Panama Mining Project (Minera Panama), She was also part of the Board of Tripartite Court of the Province of Cocle. Ms. Rubio is currently a business consultant and has as priorities to advise on all the legal needs that your company may require. Ms. Lurkys Miranda Rubio is a member of the Latin American Institute of Labor Law and Social Safety. Lawyer and founding partner of SLM ATTORNEYS with extensive experience in Migration Law, Work Permits and Special Laws (Copper Mine Project). Ms. Miranda has been a legal consultant for national and multinational companies in areas related to the legal foundations for the incorporation of companies, and the proper development of their operations within the Republic of Panama. Ms. Saisly Miranda Rubio is currently a member of YLAI NETWORK of the State Department of the United States of America, in Latin America and the Caribbean. Associate Lawyer of SLM ATTORNEYS and Professor in the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at the Autonomous University of Chiriqui. Ms. Corea specializes in Procedural Law and Administration of Justice, She also specializes in Research Methodology and has more than 17 years of experience of litigation in Criminal Law, Administrative Law and Means of Appeal. Ms. Marina Rubio Corea is a member of the National Bar Association. Lurkys Miranda Rubio Saisly Miranda Rubio Marina Rubio Corea Contact a lawyer here

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Home ∙ General News ∙ Arizona Non-Profit Organization Receives the Small Business Administration Award Arizona Non-Profit Organization Receives the Small Business Administration Award By Ivana Vojinovic ∙ June 13, 2019 U.S. Small Business Administration’s Microlender of the Year Award presented to the Arizona-based non-profit organization called PPEP Microbusiness & Housing Corporation. Dr. John Arnold founded the organization in 1967 with the aim of helping struggling farmers in rural Arizona get the financial assistance they needed. Ever since then, the nonprofit has been focused on providing loans to the state’s agrarian community, covering 67% of the state, Arnold said to Tucson Local Media. Microlenders are organizations that offer small-balance loans to low-income groups or individuals. The Small Business Administration (SBA) considered microlenders as essential to the success of small businesses in rural areas. And PPEP Microbusiness & Housing Corporation is one of the two microlenders Arizona small entrepreneurs and low-income families rely on. The award ceremony was held on June 6 at the organization’s headquarters in Tucson. Craig Jordan, who presented the award on behalf of the SBA, used the opportunity to praise PPEP for its efforts in helping the community by providing small loans as well as technical assistance. He underscored the importance of the nonprofit’s decades-long efforts to support small businesses in the area. “Every award that we’ve received, we don’t take lightly,” Arnold said at the ceremony. “And it also gives us an opportunity for us to present recognition to our board, to our loan review committee, finance staff, and those that do the loans out in the field.” After the award ceremony, the organization welcomed its new Executive Director Yasmin Badri. Prior to joining the Tucson nonprofit microlender organization, she worked as a consultant with the World Bank and the IMF in Washington, D.C. Born in Germany to parents of African descent, Badri also worked for the United Nations and UNICEF in Sudan as a media consultant. Before undertaking her new role in PPEP in May 2019, she had founded her own microlender service. She too expressed her appreciation for the award, acknowledging the colleagues who have been in the organization longer than her. “It means a lot for us. This is an effort that’s been done by the staff members and our whole team. I am new and won’t take credit for it. But I am so proud to be here and to be a part of this team effort and this accomplishment.” In her speech, Badri emphasized her commitment to continuing the great work of those before her and the goal of expanding the organization’s reach in order to help even more underserved borrowers. Ivana is a staff writer at SmallBizGenius. Her interests during office hours include writing about small businesses, start-ups, and retail. When the weekend comes, you can find her hiking in nature, hanging off of a cliff or dancing salsa. Foodtech Startup Bluenalu Grows Yellowtail Fish Entirely From Cells By Ivana Vojinovic ∙ December 27, 2019 2020 Holiday Shopping Sales Grow Despite Shorter Selling Season Online Returns Emerge as New Battleground for Retailers

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Charidee A little bit random SockShop Style All things sock Your guide to the new series of Doctor Who Posted 11th April 2017 by SockShop With Peter Capaldi finally getting into his stride as the Doctor, it was felt he needed a new companion to replace Clara. So in comes new face Pearl Mackie, playing Bill Potts. And she’s as new a face as you’ll find on the small screen with her only other TV credit, fittingly, an episode of Doctors. Photos courtesy of the BBC Another relatively new face will be writer Rona Munro. Though Whovians might recognise her name – she wrote the final episode of the Sylvester McCoy run and is returning to the show for the first time since then with an episode called ‘The Eaters of Light’. What can we expect? Apart from Bill Potts, it should be pretty much business as usual. Showrunner and head writer Steven Moffat is back, Mark Gatiss will be contributing to some episodes and there will even be appearances from show favourites Matt Lucas as Nardole, Michelle Gomez as the Master/Missy and, no doubt, some Daleks. It’s also been revealed that John Simm will be back as the Master. We’ll just have to wait to see how that’ll fit in with the Michelle Gomez version of the same character. The Doctor and Bill will be visiting Victorian England and Mars in the 12 episodes. There are also rumours that a trio of episodes will form a single 3-part story. But, come the Christmas special, it all changes… This is the last season of both the current Doctor Peter Capaldi and showrunner/head honcho Steven Moffat. Moffat took over from Russell T Davies in 2008 and between them they’ve been responsible for the show’s modern renaissance. The new showrunner will be Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall. Whether this means the series is going to get dark and depressing is anyone’s guess. Though he does have some form in the area, having written for off-shoot show Torchwood. And he’s apparently a huge fan. Also leaving will be Moffat’s Sherlock colleague Mark Gatiss. Chibnall will start production of the 11th series in 2018. And he will be tasked with finding a new Doctor. There have been talks about giving the show a total reboot. After all, it’s said the Doctor can only regenerate 12 times to give us 13 Doctors. Capaldi’s version is the 12th Doctor. Following the rules set out, this next version would be the last. But we all know, it’s not as straightforward as that in the Doctor’s world. As to who the new Doctor will be is anyone’s guess – but it sounds like it probably won’t be business as usual. Calls have been made for a female doctor, with names like Olivia Colman, Tilda Swinton and Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge being thrown about. Colman’s The Night Manager co-star David Harewood could become the first black Doctor, while Ben Whishaw is also a favourite and would be the first openly gay actor to play the Doctor. Other names in the running include Kris Marshall and Game of Thrones star Richard Madden. Get into the mood with a pair of our . Posted in A little bit random. Get involved and tell us what you think. Comments may be subject to moderation.

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Hands-On-Cellphone-Ban-to-Become-the-Law Hands On Cellphone Ban to Become the Law On May 21, 2019, Governor Lee signed into law another "save lives" and "enhance revenue for law enforcement" bill which deleted Tennessee Code Annotated §55-8-207 and amended §55-8-199 under the popular caption of "relative to highway safety". Like its predecessor the "seat belt law", the General Assembly adapts another small step of providing Class C misdemeanor punishment of a fine only for a person to contribute to the financial resources of state and local law enforcement with another government protection device instead of relying upon personal responsibility. It's ironic that the Republican majority in the Tennessee General Assembly that advocates keeping Big Brother (more government) off the backs of Tennesseans has once again passed a law that may adversely affect innocent drivers as well as the "speculated estimated 10% of distracted driver statistics compiled by the Fiscal Review Committee of the Tennessee General Assembly". The latest compiled statistics in 2016 found that there were 1,732 Texting While Driving citations issued. No breakdown is reported as to how many involved were talking on a cell phone. The effective date of the bill is July 1, 2019 so you have very little time to purchase your hands free device to talk on the phone. Whether the use of said tools will result in reduction in crashes is hopeful but still speculation. It was originally set to go in effect on January 1, 2020 but was changed to get the statute in the hands of law enforcement six months sooner. It is anticipated that in 2020, around $524,720.00 will be collected from driving offenders to be distributed to state and local enforcement through grant requests sought from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) (Washington) and the Governors Highway Safety Administration. Tennessee during the reporting period from 2014-2018 has received yearly federal grants ranging from a low of $14,256.628.00 (during 2016-2017) to a high of $25,371,614.00 (2013-2014), which often put the Volunteer State below the biggest grant states of California, Texas, and New York. The highest total state grants during this period was $640,161,431.85 reported in April, 2018. The awarding of these grant amounts is dependent upon each State staying in compliance with federal regulations such as lowering the blood alcohol content level from 0.15 to eventually 0.08 and increasing the seat belt punishment from just a fine to now include a jail sentence of thirty (30) days. The bottom line is that if the State does not adopt a statute that NHSTA approves, the State does not get the money. It is anticipated the Tennessee General Assembly will gradually increase the punishment in the Distracted While Driving Area the same way over a period of years. The statute is attached to the bottom of this entry and is self-explanatory. State statute provides this is a moving traffic violation. Unfortunately, it does not tell you that each violation can be used to add points that are calculated to be determined whether your driver's license can be suspended and your insurance cost for coverage can be increased or your driving privileges suspended or revoked. The statute imposes a $50.00 fine. If the violation is a person's third or subsequent offense or if the violation causes an accident, the fine is $100.00. If the violation occurs in a work zone or school zone the fine is $200.00. A private foundation has started EndDD.org (End Distracted Driving) to "raise awareness and generate action against the epidemic of distracted driving." Its research suggests that 18% of fatalities in distraction related crashes are caused by cellphones. Said foundation reports that the other 82% of factors that contribute to fatal crashes are: 1.) putting on makeup; 2.) reaching to grab a drink; 3.) changing radio music; 4.) dealing with the GPS; 5.) eating while driving; and 6.) other distractions. Time will tell as to whether said statute will survive a constitutional challenge. https://legiscan.com/TN/text/SB0173/2019

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2017 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Comoros The Union of the Comoros is a constitutional, multiparty republic. The country consists of three islands–Grande Comore (also called Ngazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuani), and Moheli (Mwali)–and claims a fourth, Mayotte (Maore), that France administers. In 2015 successful legislative elections were held. In April 2016 voters elected Azali Assoumani as president of the union, as well as governors for each of the three islands. Despite a third round of voting on Anjouan–because of ballot box thefts–Arab League, African Union, and EU observer missions considered the elections generally free and fair. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. The most significant human rights issues included: endemic judicial and official corruption; limitations on freedom of expression and criminalization of defamation; interference in freedom of assembly; trafficking in persons; criminalization of same-sex sexual conduct, and ineffective enforcement of laws protecting workers’ rights. Impunity for violations of human rights was widespread. Although the government discouraged officials from committing human rights violations and sometimes arrested or dismissed officials implicated in such violations, they were rarely tried. There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. The constitution and law prohibit such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them. Prison and detention center conditions remained poor. The national prison in Moroni is the largest of three prisons in the country. The other two are in Anjouan and Moheli. Military detainees were held in military facilities. National or individual island authorities used various detention facilities as deemed appropriate, and detainees could be transferred from either Anjouan or Moheli to the national prison in Moroni, depending upon the nature of their offenses. Physical Conditions: Overcrowding was a problem. As of November the Moroni prison held 191 inmates, but according to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) standards, the capacity was 60 inmates. The law on child protection provides for juveniles ages 15 to 18 to be treated as adults in the criminal justice system. According to the governmental National Commission for Human Rights and Liberties (CNDHL), however, authorities routinely released juveniles ages 15 to 18 to the custody of their parents if they were not recidivists. Juveniles and adult prisoners were held together. As of November there were 10 juvenile male inmates in the Moroni prison held with adults. That prison also held two adult female prisoners in a separate cellblock. Detainees and prisoners normally received a single meal per day. Those who did not receive additional food from family members suffered. Other common problems included inadequate potable water, sanitation, ventilation and lighting, and medical facilities. Administration: Prisoners could submit complaints without censorship, but investigations or follow-up actions almost never occurred. Independent Monitoring: The government permitted the ICRC and the CNDHL to monitor prisons. CNDHL representatives made regular and unannounced prison visits during the year without interference. Authorities required nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to request a visit permit from the prosecutor general. The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention and provide for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of arrest or detention in court, and the government generally observed these provisions. The National Development Army and the Federal Police have responsibility for law enforcement and maintenance of order within the country. The National Development Army includes both the gendarmerie and the Comorian Defense Force, and reports to the president’s cabinet director for defense. The National Directorate of Territorial Safety, which oversees immigration and customs, reports to the minister of interior, information, and decentralization. The Federal Police report to the minister of interior. The Gendarmerie’s rapid reaction Intervention Platoon also may act under the authority of the interior minister. When the gendarmerie serves as the judicial police, it reports to the minister of justice. Each of the three islands has a local police force under the authority of its own minister of interior. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over police, and the government had mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. Nevertheless, police used excessive force, and impunity was a problem. The ability of the army to investigate abuses by its personnel was uncertain. In February the Ma-mwe electricity company shut off power to a high school in Moroni pending the payment of 800,000 Comorian francs ($1,800) it owed as the result of alleged fraud by the school. This led teachers and students to protest the closure and demand the release of the headmaster, who had been arrested. When gendarmes arrived, scuffles broke out and seven students were injured, including one who was shot and wounded. The government condemned this use of excessive force and stated that it would hold the gendarmes involved accountable. The law requires judicial arrest warrants as well as prosecutorial approval to detain persons longer than 24 hours without charge. The law provides for the prompt judicial determination of the legality of detention and for detainees to be informed promptly of the charges against them. A magistrate informs detainees of their rights, including the right to legal representation. These rights were inconsistently respected. The bail system prohibits those for whom bail is posted from leaving the country. Some detainees did not have prompt access to attorneys or their families. Pretrial Detention: Lengthy pretrial detention was a problem. By law pretrial detainees may be held for no more than four months, although many were held longer. A magistrate or prosecutor may extend this period. Detainees routinely awaited trial for extended periods for reasons including administrative delay, case backlog, and time-consuming collection of evidence. Some extensions continued for several years. Defense attorneys occasionally protested such judicial inefficiencies. Detainee’s Ability to Challenge Lawfulness of Detention before a Court: A person arrested or detained may challenge the legal basis of their detention, and the law provides for monetary damages if a court finds a detention improper. The constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence. Judicial inconsistency, unpredictability, and corruption were problems. The law provides all defendants with the right to a fair and public trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. Defendants have the right to be informed promptly of charges and to a timely trial, but lengthy delays were common. The legal system incorporates French legal codes and sharia (Islamic law). Trials are open to the public, and defendants are presumed innocent. Trials are by jury in criminal cases. Defendants have the right to consult an attorney, and indigent defendants have the right to counsel provided at public expense, although the latter right was rarely observed. Defendants have the right to be present at their trials, question witnesses, and present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. Although the law provides for the assistance at no charge of an interpreter for any defendant unable to understand or speak the language used in court, none was provided. Defendants have the right to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense, and not to be compelled to testify or confess guilt. There is an appellate process. There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Individuals and organizations may seek civil remedies for human rights violations through an independent, but corrupt court system. By law individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to regional human rights bodies. Court orders were inconsistently enforced. The constitution and law prohibit such actions, and the government generally respected these prohibitions. The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech including for the press, but there were some limitations on press freedom. Press and Media Freedom: The constitution provides for freedom of expression, including for the press, but the government did not always respect these rights. Some journalists on all three islands practiced self-censorship. In December 2016 Abdallah Abdou Hassan, owner of private radio station La Baraka FM in the Itsandra region, was arrested and found guilty of defamation after the prosecutor of the republic charged him with insulting the country’s judicial and other authorities. The Court of First Instance convicted him of defamation and sentenced him to nine months’ imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 Comorian francs ($167). The court suspended the sentence. On February 15, the Court of Appeals reversed the verdict. Nevertheless, the prefect of Itsandra region issued an order prohibiting the radio station from broadcasting, and police confiscated all its equipment, forcing the station to shut down. The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. According to the International Telecommunication Union, 8 percent of individuals used the internet in 2016. There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events. The constitution and law provide for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, but the government did not always respect these rights. In May, after four weeks of public school strikes, the teachers’ union called for a peaceful march to express its dissatisfaction with authorities for refusing to respond to their demands. The prefect of Moroni refused to authorize the march. Police dispersed the teachers when they gathered to begin the march. On December 9 and 10, the government banned opposition parties from meeting in Anjouan without explanation. The constitution and law provide for freedom of internal movement and foreign travel, and the government generally respected these rights. No specific constitutional or legal provisions deal with emigration and repatriation. Access to Asylum: The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, there were no registered refugees, returning refugees, asylum seekers, or other persons of concern in the country. The constitution and law provide citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage, and citizens exercised that ability. The constitution provides for a rotating union government presidency once every five years, in which each of the country’s three islands takes a turn at holding a primary to select three presidential candidates for national election. The constitution thus restricts those eligible to run for the union presidency to those residing on a particular island in an election year. Aside from the rotation provision, anyone meeting constitutional requirements of age, residency, citizenship, and good moral character may run for office. Recent Elections: In 2015 free and fair legislative elections were held. In April 2016 presidential and gubernatorial elections were held. Incumbent candidates claimed some irregularities, including the theft of ballots on Anjouan. They filed complaints at the Constitutional Court requesting the vote be repeated for both presidential and gubernatorial candidates. They alleged that the opposition stole and destroyed approximately 3,000 ballots in Anjouan. The Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, and a third round of voting was conducted successfully at 13 polling stations in Anjouan. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit participation of women, members of minorities, or both in the political process, and they did participate. Some observers believed that traditional and cultural factors prevented women from participating in political life on an equal basis with men. For example, only two of the 33 seats in the national legislature were filled by women in the 2015 election. The law provides criminal penalties for conviction of corruption by officials, but the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. The National Commission for Preventing and Fighting Corruption (CNPLC) was an independent administrative authority established to combat corruption, including through education and mobilization of the public. In September 2016 the president repealed the provisions of the law that created the commission, citing its failure to produce any results. The Constitutional Court subsequently invalidated this decision, noting that a presidential decree may not overturn a law. Nevertheless, the president neither renewed the commissioners’ mandates nor appointed replacement members during the year. Corruption: Resident diplomatic, UN, and humanitarian agency workers reported petty corruption was commonplace at all levels of the civil service and security forces. Businesspersons reported corruption and a lack of transparency, while the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators reflected that corruption was a significant problem. Citizens paid bribes to evade customs regulations, to avoid arrest, and to obtain falsified police reports. On April 14, former administrative and financial director of the state-owned Comorian Hydrocarbons Company Mariama Mhoudine was charged by an investigating judge with involvement in the embezzlement of nearly two billion Comorian francs ($4.5 million). The investigation continued at year’s end. Mhoudine was released pending trial. Financial Disclosure: The law requires high-level officials at national and island levels to declare their assets prior to entering office. The submission of a disclosure is made public, but the disclosure itself is not. Officials subject to the law did so upon taking office. Conviction of failure to comply is punishable by fines and up to two years’ imprisonment. In 2016 the CNPLC reported that all officials subject to the law filed financial disclosures. The CNPLC does not verify the accuracy of the disclosures. A few domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials often were cooperative and responsive to their views. Government Human Rights Bodies: Domestic NGOs largely supplanted government ministries on human rights issues. By law the governmental CNDHL is mandated to investigate human rights abuses and to make recommendations to concerned authorities. Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape regardless of age or gender is illegal and punishable if convicted by five to 10 years’ imprisonment or up to 15 years if the victim is younger than 15. Authorities prosecuted perpetrators if victims filed charges. There were reports that families or village elders settled many allegations of sexual violence informally through traditional means and without recourse to the formal court system. The law treats domestic violence as an aggravating circumstance that includes crimes committed by one domestic partner against an existing or former partner. Penalties for conviction include prison sentences up to five years and fines up to two million Comorian francs ($4,500). Courts rarely sentenced or fined convicted perpetrators. No reliable data were available on the extent of the problem. Women rarely filed official complaints. Although officials took action (usually the arrest of the spouse) when reported, domestic violence cases rarely entered the court system. Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is illegal, and conviction is punishable by fines and imprisonment. It is defined in the labor code as any verbal, nonverbal, or bodily behavior of a sexual nature that has the effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or humiliating work environment for a person. Although rarely reported due to societal pressure, such harassment was nevertheless a common problem, and authorities did not effectively enforce the law. Discrimination: The law provides for equality of persons without regard to gender, creed, belief, origin, race, or religion. Nevertheless, inheritance and property rights practices favor women. Local cultures are traditionally matrilineal, and all inheritable property is in the legal possession of women. Societal discrimination against women was most apparent in rural areas, where women were mostly limited to farming and child-rearing duties, with fewer opportunities for education and wage employment. Birth Registration: Any child having at least one Comorian parent is considered a citizen, regardless of where the birth takes place. Any child born in the country is a citizen unless both parents are foreigners, although these children may apply for citizenship if they have at least five years’ residency at the time they apply. Authorities did not withhold public services from unregistered children. For additional information, see Appendix C. Education: Universal education is compulsory until age 12. No child under age 14 may be prevented from attending school. An approximately equal number of girls and boys attended public schools at the primary and secondary levels, but fewer girls graduated. Child Abuse: Official statistics revealed cases of abuse when impoverished families sent their children to work for relatives or wealthy families, usually in the hope of obtaining a better education for their children. The NGO Listening and Counseling Service, funded by the government and UNICEF, had offices on all three islands to provide support and counseling for abused children and their families. The NGO routinely referred child abuse cases to police for investigation. Police conducted initial investigations of child abuse and referred cases to the Morals and Minors Brigade for further investigation and referral for prosecution if justified by evidence. If evidence was sufficient, authorities routinely prosecuted cases. Early and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age of marriage is 18 for both boys and girls. In the sole reported case of attempted forced marriage involving a minor, the police Morals and Minors Brigade investigated and intervened to stop the marriage before it took place. For additional information, see Appendix C. In October as part of the implementation of the 2017 National Child Protection Policy Action Plan, the National Commission for Solidarity, Social Protection, and Gender Promotion, with the financial support of UNICEF, organized awareness-raising and training workshops on child marriage for religious leaders. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law considers unmarried persons under age 18 to be minors and prohibits their sexual exploitation, prostitution, and involvement in pornography. Anyone convicted of facilitating the sex trafficking of children is subject to a prison term of two to five years and a fine of 150,000 to one million Comorian francs ($338 to $2,250). Conviction of child pornography is punishable by fines or imprisonment. There were no official statistics regarding these matters and no reports in local media of cases, prosecutions, or convictions relating to either child sex trafficking or child pornography. There was no known Jewish population, and there were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. The constitution and applicable laws, particularly the labor code, prohibit discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities. The law mandates access to buildings, information, communication, education, and transportation for persons with disabilities. The government did not effectively enforce the law. Despite the absence of appropriate accommodation for children with disabilities, such children attended mainstream schools, both public and private. In October the Ministry of National Education, Research, and Arts held a workshop to validate and adopt the Basic Education Action Plan for Children with Disabilities for 2017-26. In June 2016 the National Assembly ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a government policy on persons with disabilities for integration into the National Action Plan. The law provides for the right of workers to form and join independent unions of their choice without previous authorization or excessive requirements. It provides for the right to strike but requires an eight-day notification period and a declaration of the reason for the strike and its duration. The law includes a system for resolving labor disputes. Unions have the right to bargain collectively. The law allows unions to conduct their activities without government interference. The law does not prohibit antiunion discrimination by employers in hiring practices or other employment functions. There are no laws protecting strikers from retribution. There are no groups of workers excluded from legal protections. The law was not applied in the settlement of private-sector disputes, but it was invoked unpredictably and inconsistently in labor disputes in the public sector. Worker organizations are independent of the government and political parties. Resources, inspections, and remediation were inadequate. Penalties for violations, including ordering employers to pay indemnities and damages to the employee, were sufficient to deter violations. Labor disputes may be brought to the attention of the Labor Tribunal. Workers exercised their labor rights. There were no reports of retribution against strikers. Common problems included failure to pay salaries regularly or on time, mostly in the government sector, and unfair and abusive dismissal practices, such as dismissing employees without giving proper notice or paying the required severance pay. There were no reported incidents of antiunion discrimination during the year. All labor NGOs were designated as labor organizations. The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor, with certain exceptions for military service, community service, and during accidents, fires, and disasters. During times of national emergency, the government’s civil protection unit may compel persons to assist in disaster recovery efforts if it is unable to obtain sufficient voluntary assistance. The labor code prohibits forced child labor, with specific antitrafficking provisions. Resources, inspections, and remediation were inadequate. Financial penalties, however, for those who violated the law served as an effective deterrent. Penalties for conviction include from one to six months in prison, a fine of from 50,000 to 200,000 Comorian francs ($113 to $450) for those who abuse their authority to compel someone to work for them or for someone else, or both imprisonment and a fine. Penalties for conviction of trafficking a minor are 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 30 million Comorian francs ($67,600). The government did not make tangible efforts to prosecute traffickers and protect victims. Trafficking in persons, specifically forced child labor, occurred, particularly in family-based agriculture (planting, weeding, harvesting), fishing, and domestic service (see section 7.c.). There were no reported cases of adult forced labor. The law establishes 15 as the minimum age for employment, with a minimum age for hazardous work of 18. Labor inspectors were responsible for monitoring all potential violations of labor law and did not focus only on child labor cases. Penalties for violations were not sufficient to deter violations. Regulations permit light apprentice work by children under age 15 if it does not hinder the child’s schooling or physical or moral development. The labor code, however, does not specify the conditions under which light work may be conducted or limit the number of hours for light work, as defined by international child labor standards. In accordance with the labor code, labor inspectors may require the medical examination of a child by an accredited physician to determine if the work assigned to a child is beyond his or her physical capacity. Children may not be kept in employment deemed beyond their capacity. If suitable work cannot be assigned, the contract must be nullified and all indemnities paid to the employee. The labor code also identifies hazardous work where child labor is prohibited. Child labor infractions are punishable by fines and imprisonment, but available evidence did not indicate whether the penalties were sufficient to deter violations. The government did not enforce the law. The Ministry of Labor is responsible for enforcing child labor laws, but it did not do so actively or effectively. In addition child labor laws and regulations do not provide children working in unpaid or noncontractual work the same protections as children working in contractual employment. Children worked in subsistence farming, fishing, and extracting and selling marine sand. Children worked in growing subsistence food crops such as manioc and beans and in the cultivation of cash crops such as vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang (a flower used to make perfume). Some children worked under forced labor conditions, primarily in domestic service and family-based agriculture and fishing. Additionally, some Koranic schools arranged for indigent students to receive lessons in exchange for labor that sometimes was forced. Some families placed their children in the homes of wealthier families where they worked in exchange for food, shelter, or educational opportunities. The preamble to the constitution provides for equality regardless of sex, origin, religion, or race. Article 2 of the labor law forbids employers from discriminating on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national ancestry or social origin, or actual or presumed state of health (such as HIV/AIDS). The law does not address sexual orientation. In rural areas women tended to be relegated to certain types of work, and the UN Development Program reported women were underrepresented in leadership roles. There were no reports of discrimination, however. A committee called the Labor Collective–consisting of representatives of unions, employers, and the Ministry of Labor–met periodically regarding an enforceable national minimum wage, as the existing minimum wage of 55,000 Comorian francs ($124) per month is only a guideline. The law provides for a 40-hour workweek, except in the agriculture sector, where the maximum hours of work is set at 2,400 per year (equivalent to 46 hours per week). The minimum weekly rest period is set at 24 consecutive hours. The law provides for paid annual leave accumulated at the rate of 2.5 days per month of service. There are no provisions to prohibit compulsory overtime; overtime is determined through collective bargaining. Negotiations with the banking and pharmacy sectors, however, did not yield a collective bargaining agreement. There are no sectors or groups of workers excluded from these laws. The official estimate for the poverty income level is 250,000 Comorian francs ($563) per year. The government, especially the Ministries of Finance and Labor, sets wages in the large public sector and imposes a minimum wage in the small, formal private sector. Although the unions, national government, and local governments did not enforce the minimum wage law and workweek standards, unions had adequate influence to negotiate minimum wage rates for different skill levels for unionized jobs. These provisions applied to all workers, regardless of sector or country of origin. Unions promoted this de facto minimum wage via their ability to strike against employers. There were three labor inspectors (one for each island), but they did not have enough resources to perform their duties. The number of labor inspectors was insufficient to enforce compliance. The labor code includes a chapter on occupational safety and health requirements, but these were seldom enforced. Fishing was considered the most hazardous work. Mostly self-employed, fishermen worked from often-unsafe canoes. There was no credible datum on the number of occupational accidents. Workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, and authorities effectively protected employees in this regard. Bureau of African Affairs Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Comoros

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More than half of sexual assault cases hit a wall in 2017, data shows Tony Plohetski @tplohetski More than a third of sexual assault investigations in Travis County reached a halt in 2017 because of communication gaps between detectives and alleged victims often traced to unreturned phone calls or missed meetings, new county data shows. Officials on Friday revealed that and other statistics — taken from 625 cases countywide — during a meeting of the Interagency Sexual Assault Team, a group of police, prosecutors and victims' advocates formed in recent months to bolster the chances of delivering justice in sex crimes. In addition to the 39% of cases that stalled because victims can’t be reached or no longer wish to cooperate, prosecutors also evaluated and declined to accept 18% of the cases because they thought investigators lacked evidence to move forward, the data shows. About 13% of the cases led to arrests, and the remaining cases are pending. Officials did not offer any conclusions about the data, but said over the next few months they will be reviewing additional information that they hope to compile into a public report. The Interagency Sexual Assault Team is trying to tap into the experiences of police leaders from across the county — from agencies big and small — to address concerns among some in the community about how these cases are handled. “What we really needed in this community is a way to collaborate fully and imaginatively on these very important cases that, as we know, this community is extremely concerned about,” Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said. “If we don’t collaborate together and come to some common agreement, we are going to keep going down the same road we’ve been on and that has proven to be unsatisfactory to all of us.” “The importance of this work can never be overstated,” she added. The work comes as Austin police and Travis County prosecutors have been criticized in recent months by some victims' advocates who say sexual assault cases have not been taken seriously enough. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: In slew of rebukes, sexual assault victims ask: Are authorities doing enough? A group of women who have made sexual assault reports filed a lawsuit against the city and county last year, which is pending. Amid community concern, Austin police also have enlisted an outside review of how sexual assault cases are handled. Officials said those issues prompted discussions among law enforcement leaders in which they are trying to evaluate the handling of sexual assault cases from every angle, from the time a report is made to police to how jurors evaluate evidence at trial. That work includes studying why so many cases do not make it to the courtroom. “You get all the leaders in the room to be able to discuss what’s working, not working and let’s dig deep,” Pflugerville Police Chief Jessica Robledo said. “How do we explain that this case fell short because of A, B, C, but we have learned from it and next time we will do better?”

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Easter on the mountain at Squaw, Diamond Peak resorts on Lake Tahoe North Shore Lake Tahoe Action Easter arrives on Sunday, April 1, and for those who want to spend the day on the slopes but still celebrate, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, along with Diamond Peak, are the places to be. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows kick off the day with an Easter service at High Camp — complete with a continental breakfast — at 7 a.m. before moving to a variety of egg hunts throughout the remainder of the day. Afternoon mountaintop services will be held at 2 p.m. at both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows — the former at the top of Big Blue Express and the latter at the top of Roundhouse. PlumpJack Café, located in the Village at Squaw Valley, will also host festivities. “Celebrate Easter at PlumpJack Café with a delicious brunch and Easter egg hunt at 11:15 a.m. on the PlumpJack Patio. This special brunch menu features gourmet entrees, sweet and savory sides and spring cocktails!” states the Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows website. Over at Diamond Peak the fun begins at 9 a.m. with the launch of an egg hunt as lifts open. “Eggs are hidden all over the mountain, including golden eggs with special prizes in them,” according to the resort’s website. Diamond Peak will host an Easter service — led by Tahoe Resort Ministries — at the top of Lakeview Chair at 2 p.m. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are found at 1960 Squaw Valley Road in Olympic Valley, and Diamond Peak is located at 120 Ski Way in Incline Village. Learn more about all events and view complete schedules at http://www.squawalpine.com and http://www.diamondpeak.com.

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Regional Reviews: Boston Huntington Theatre Company Review by Nancy Grossman | Season Schedule (new) Alex Hurt and Jeremy Webb Photo by T Charles Erickson Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead, but it takes a long time for them (and us) to reach the dénouement. Playwright and wordsmith Tom Stoppard's Tony Award-winning three-act play takes the two minor characters from William Shakespeare's Hamlet and puts them front and center. As men with no control over their destiny, Stoppard uses their status as pawns to examine fate and ask if we can ever really know what's going on. That's only one of the many questions the title characters ask, and they rarely find any definitive answers. In the face of absurd situations and existential angst, and the disruption of the laws of probability, the one certainty that remains is death. Huntington Theatre Company's Artistic Director Peter DuBois directs a stellar cast in a solid production designed by a Broadway creative team. Three actors with Broadway credits, Jeremy Webb (Guildenstern), Alex Hurt (Rosencrantz), and Brian Lee Huynh (Hamlet), are joined by a roster of Boston actors playing Claudius, the King of Denmark (Ed Hoopman), Gertrude (Melinda Lopez), Polonius (Ken Cheeseman), and Member of the Court (Kadahj Bennett). A troupe of locals also play the Tragedians (Laura Latreille, Zaven Ovian, Marc Pierre, Dale Place, Omar Robinson, Michael Underhill) and Player, their leader (Will LeBow). New York-based Winchester native Meghan Leathers plays Ophelia. Webb and Hurt perform as two sides of one coin, the synergy between them so potent that it lends authenticity to the concept of the King and Queen finding it difficult to distinguish between the pair, and their own inability, at times, to recall who is who, and they radiate Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's feelings of friendship. While both convey their naiveté, Webb's Guildenstern is also optimistic that things will work out, while Hurt's Rosencrantz is more likely to brood and be fearful or sad. And just when you think you know who is who and what their characteristics are, the actors are likely to switch off and play the emotions of the other. This is more or less apropos of the play as a whole, as it seems to be Stoppard's wont to confuse the audience in sympathy with the two courtiers. Familiarity with Hamlet will enhance and clarify one's experience with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, although it is not required. The Huntington's program contains a brief overview which lays out the scenes from Shakespeare's play which precede the action in Stoppard's, as well as the scenes which are interwoven into the latter's plot. In a nutshell, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are former schoolmates of Hamlet who are summonsed by Claudius to try to find out what's wrong with the sullen prince. (Umm, perhaps he's mourning his late father who was murdered by Claudius so that he could marry Gertrude and take over the throne?) When Claudius gets wind of Hamlet's intent to seek revenge, after a performance by the Tragedians, he requests that the friends accompany Hamlet to England and carry a letter to the King which is, in effect, a death sentence for the prince. Unbeknownst to them, Hamlet switches the letter with one he pens, ordering the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet, of course, is one of Shakespeare's great tragedies, but Stoppard employs a wide variety of tools, not the least of which is slapstick, to make his interpretation a comedy, or, considering the outcome, perhaps better described as a tragicomedy. This is where the talents of the Boston crew really shine. LeBow's performance is a master class and he could be found guilty of grand larceny for all the scene stealing he does. The Tragedians speak little but draw wagonloads of laughs, especially Latreille in her horse costume and Place channeling Harpo Marx with his bicycle horn. Matthew Bretschneider (Alfred) gives a fine effort as a young actor who doesn't like being an actor and who is often made to play the female roles. The royals and their entourage play it straight, and Hoopman and Lopez maintain a regal bearing. Wilson Chin's scenic design employs a series of sliding walls that represent a variety of locales in the first two acts. With projections (Zachary G. Borovay) superimposed, we are in a forest one moment, and when the panels slide apart, our vantage is backstage watching a play being performed upstage. There are footlights and actors with their backs to us, emoting to an expanse of darkness that suggests an audience. The third act transpires on a boat, represented by a mast topped by a crow's nest, and evocative sounds of the sea and creaking timbers. Sound designer Obadiah Eaves (also original music) and lighting designer David Lander effectively augment the world of the play, and the delicious costumes by designer Ilona Somogyi range from the earthy, utilitarian threads of the troupe to the eye-popping colors and fabrics of the upper crust. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is challenging in that it is partly fueled by confusion, a function of there being a play within the play, a focus on reality vs. art, and the numerous existential questions volleyed back and forth between the characters. DuBois draws excellent performances from all involved and keeps the action moving, while effectively using periods of silence and darkness that are inserted by the playwright. He captures the comedy, yet keeps the tragic aspects close at hand. DuBois seems undaunted by the chaotic elements and lets Hurt and Webb play fast and loose with their bits. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern might have liked the same consideration from the people pulling their strings. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, runs through October 20, 2019, at Huntington Theatre Company, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston MA. For tickets and information, call the box Office at 617-266-0800 or visit www.huntingtontheatre.org. Written by Tom Stoppard, Directed by Peter DuBois; Scenic Design, Wilson Chin; Costume Design, Ilona Somogyi; Lighting Design, David Lander; Original Music & Sound Design, Obadiah Eaves; Projection Design, Zachary G. Borovay; Production Stage Manager, Emily F. McMullen; Stage Manager, Jeremiah Mullane; Choreographer, Daniel Pelzig; Fight Consultant, Omar Robinson; Music Consultant, Matthew Stern; Illusion Consultant, Evan Northrup Cast (in order of appearance): Alex Hurt, Jeremy Webb, Will LeBow, Matthew Bretschneider, Laura Latreille, Zaven Ovian, Marc Pierre, Dale Place, Omar Robinson, Michael Underhill, Brian Lee Huynh, Meghan Leathers, Ed Hoopman, Melinda Lopez, Kadahj Bennett, Ken Cheeseman; Understudy, Margaret Clark (Ophelia)

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What it’s like for Bucs fans when the Saints come marching in The Bucs saw a larger crowd Sunday for their 34-17 loss to New Orleans Saints, but largely because of Saints fans. Buccaneers fan Heather Chase, of Tampa, is surrounded by Saints fans during the first quarter of the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, November 17, 2019, in Tampa. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times] By Monique Welch Published Nov. 17, 2019 Updated Nov. 18, 2019 TAMPA — Lewis Stephens Jr. was excited to bring a group of young men from his mentor group to their first Bucs game Sunday. What he didn’t expect was so many fans in black and gold. “It’s tough,” said Stephens, 30, executive director of “I Support YOUTH,” a St. Petersburg-based non-profit focused on education and opportunity for young black men. "I thought we’d come out in numbers.” Actually, they did. An announced crowd of 54,333 saw the Bucs’ 34-17 loss to New Orleans Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. That’s a 35.7 percent increase from last week, when only 40,038 saw the Bucs beat Arizona. It was the smallest announced crowd for a Bucs regular-season home game in 21 years. But it wasn’t because Bucs fans filled the stands. While it’s common for opposing fans to show up in force in Tampa Bay sports venues, Sunday’s crowd seemed especially stacked in favor of the New Orleans Saints. "D***, look at all that black and gold,” a Bucs fan shouted during the game. Kevon Maujean, 24, of St. Petersburg, noticed the same kind of turnout in September when the Bucs lost 32-31 to the New York Giants on Matt Gay’s last-second missed field goal. “It’s normal,” Maujean said. “At the Giants game, it was nothing but blue here. I’d like to be surrounded by a bunch of Bucs fans because when we score it’s great to cheer in front of them. But when they score, you have to hide.” SEE RELATED: A Bucs fan’s lament: ‘Non-competitive team, very expensive, very hot.’ Bucs fans began trickling out of the stadium in the fourth quarter, and by the end of the game, there were barely any Bucs fans left in the stands. Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans lament the team's (so far) losing season during the fourth quarter of the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, November 17, 2019, in Tampa. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times] Throughout the game Saints fans loudly chanted “Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints," every time the team scored or made a good play. The chant grew louder later in the game. And the chants didn’t stop when time expired. Saints fans yelled the “Who Dat” their entire trip exiting down the ramp and didn’t stop even once they made it to their cars. Who Dat chant down the ramp of Raymond James Stadium #SaintsvBucs pic.twitter.com/joZsSoLrLQ — Carolyn P. Fox (@carolynpfox) November 17, 2019 “It’s annoying,” said Jackson Herr, 30, a Tampa native and Bucs season-pass holder. “The Saints fans hate me. I do that Who Dat chant every time we do something good.” Through Sunday’s games, the Bucs rank 29th among the NFL’s 32 teams in average home attendance this season at 53,100. Only the Oakland Raiders, who will move to Las Vegas next season, the winless Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Chargers, who play in a soccer stadium with a 30,000-seat football capacity, rank lower. Photos: Saints at Bucs 34 Images | View Gallery Monique Welch

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Bucs lose return man T.J. Logan for the season Receiver Justin Watson will assume punt return duties starting Sunday Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back T.J. Logan (22) runs against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio) [MARK LOMOGLIO | AP] By Eduardo A. Encina Updated Dec. 6, 2019 TAMPA — The Bucs will be without primary kick and punt returner T.J. Logan for the remainder of the season after he broke his thumb fielding punts Friday. With rookie receiver Scotty Miller, the team’s only other player on the team’s current roster who has returned punts this season, also unavailable due to a hamstring injury, the Bucs will be inexperienced at the punt returner position at 1 p.m. Sunday when they play Indianapolis at Raymond James Stadium. Seldom-used wide receiver Justin Watson will take over primary punt return duties with rookie cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting possibly getting a chance, Bucs coach Bruce Arians said Friday. Neither has returned an NFL punt. Running back Dare Ogunbowale will return kicks. He averaged 19.6 yards on seven returns last season. Logan walked off the field during Friday’s practice with a team athletic trainer, who was holding Logan’s left arm to brace it as they entered the team facility. The Bucs signed Logan before the season opener as a kickoff returner. He became the punt returner after the team cut Bobo Wilson. Cappa out for Colts game The Bucs will be without starting right guard Alex Cappa, who hasn’t practiced this week due to a left elbow injury. Veteran Earl Watford will start in Cappa’s place. Cappa previously missed two games over a three-week stretch with a broken right arm that he suffered in the Bucs’ Week 5 loss at New Orleans, a game he finished despite the injury.q The Bucs yielded 10 sacks in the two games Cappa missed, including a season-high seven in their Week 6 loss to the Panthers in London, a game in which the Bucs were without both Cappa and right tackle Demar Dotson. Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich has been pleased with Cappa's play as a first-year starter. “I think he’s done a great job," Leftwich said. "I think he’s done a great job coming in and filling in. He’s had some very good football players on the opposite side of him. When you’re a guard in this league, the three-techniques in this league are really, really good so he’s been in front of a lot of really good football players and he held his own." Cornerback M.J. Stewart, who missed the past three weeks with a knee injury, will be available on Sunday. Arians said he will likely contribute at nickel back. ... After what he called “solid” practices on Wednesday and Thursday, Arians wasn’t pleased with Friday’s shorter session, calling it “shaky” and saying the scout team’s ability to duplicate the opponent on Friday was “raggedy.” Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieInTheYard. Sports Day Tampa Bay: Previewing Bucs-Colts Eduardo A. Encina Bucs and Pro Sports Enterprise Reporter

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The Honorable Chuck DeVore Vice President of National Initiatives @chuckdevore Request this speaker Request an interview Download Headshot Since 2011, Chuck DeVore has been with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and is its Vice President of National Initiatives. He works on criminal justice reform and frequently writes about the economy and how energy, tax and regulatory policies influence general prosperity. Chuck worked in the aerospace industry for 13 years as an executive where he analyzed technology and corporate capabilities and worked in business development. At the time of his election to the Assembly in 2004, he was a corporate vice president. Chuck served as a Reagan White House appointee in the Pentagon from 1986 to 1988. As Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs his duties included working with Congress to advance the President’s foreign and military policy. He later served on staff of a U.S. Congressman. From 1991 to 1996, he served as a City Commissioner for the City of Irvine. Chuck served in the Army National Guard from 1983 to 2007 as an intelligence officer and is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army (retired) Reserve. Chuck has been married since 1988 to Diane. They have two daughters. Trump: Free The Dishwashers! Economy January 16, 2020 What Do Biden, Sanders, Warren And Bloomberg Propose On Taxes? How Made-In-China Threatens Privacy, Civil Liberties, And National Security Economy January 9, 2020 Donate to the Texas Public Policy Your contributions make Texas and the nation more free. Donate to Texas Public Policy Foundation The Cannon daily email connects today’s news with the research and opinion you need from TPPF’s top experts. Texas Public Policy Foundation social network links Phone Number and Address 901 Congress Avenue, Texas Public Policy Foundation

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THATFILMGUY Film Previews, News, Reviews and Lists You are here: Home / Film Reviews / Rust and Bone (2012, France) review by That Art House Guy Rust and Bone (2012, France) review by That Art House Guy November 28, 2012 by That Film Guy Leave a Comment Rust and Bone is the latest film from Jacques Audiard, following on from critically acclaimed works A Prophet, The Beat That My Heart Skipped and Read My Lips. So there are some heavy expectations weighting on Rust and Bone. However, the early critical response was good and the film competed for the Palme D’Or at Cannes. Unfortunately for Audiard, he has the bad habit of releasing his films in the same year as Michael Haneke, and Rust and Bone lost out to Amour, as A Prophet did to The White Ribbon in 2009. Rust and Bone is based on a short story collection by the Canadian writer Craig Davidson. It opens with Ali and his young son Sam arriving in the south of France in search of work and somewhere to live. They are forced to thumb lifts and scrounge food on the way, and end up at the home of Ali’s sister, who gives them a place to stay and respite from their hardships. Audiard’s film are all about people on the rough edges of life and the opening sequence is shot in an archetypal social realist style, reminiscent of the work of the Dardennes brothers, for example The Kid with a Bike. This is heightened by the minimal back story provided to the characters, and the fact that the male lead is played by a Belgian actor (Matthias Schoenaerts). Ali’s physical strength and interest in kickboxing (the title refers to the taste you get in your mouth when you’ve been punched there, hard) lands him a job as a nightclub bouncer where he meets Stephanie (Marion Cotillard). He breaks up a fight and helps her home, leaving his number in case she needs him. She doesn’t call for a few months, and when she does, some significant changes have taken place in her life. Formerly delighting in teasing men with her body, she has lost her legs in a killer whale attack (she worked at a sea life centre) and is in the throes of depression and struggling to adjust to her new circumstances. Incidentally, it’s hard to type the sentence ˜lost her legs in a killer whale attack’ without feeling that it is somehow a comedic or absurd event, but in the film itself, it’s handled well and doesn’t feel out of place in a serious dramatic narrative. It actually fits, as Steph loves water and her return to life begins when Ali takes her swimming in the sea. The film explores Ali and Steph’s relationship, as they morph from friends, to friends with benefits, to the possibility of something further, while tracking sub-plots around Ali’s sister, his kickboxing and his work, as the exploitation of workers is examined, but the film is not restricted in its visual language by the social realist elements. Audiard experiments with cinematography and the framing of shots in interesting ways. He’s also not afraid of big, emotional scenes rather than keeping things low-key and the varied soundtrack is a key feature of this approach (if there’s another film that plays Katie Perry’s Firework at a major emotional scene I’m not aware of “ it somehow works though). Rust and Bone does have its problems “ there are perhaps too many side plots that detract from the main story, and some of the characters’ behaviour in the final act is difficult to interpret given what has taken place before. But while Rust and Bone can’t quite stand alongside A Prophet, it is a film with a powerful, moving story and brilliant performance from Marion Cotillard, who convinces completely, both physically and mentally. The type of story told (which is quite different to Audiard’s previous) and the style it is told in also suggests a director that is keen to mix things up, not rest on his laurels and keep experimenting in search of something great “ and that’s surely something to applaud. Rust and Bone: Ranked 25th in Top 30 Films of 2012 Bigger Stonger Faster (2008) review by The Documentalist Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) review by That Film Guy About That Film Guy A new group of film reviewers in the finest traditions of ThatFilmGuy. Sponsor Website Top 30 Christmas Films Love Actually (2011) It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Elf (2003) A Christmas Story … Read More Top 30 Horror Films Our list of the Top 30 Horror Movies of all Time. Do you Agree?.........Horror films are one of the … Read More Top 30 Comedy Films Our list of the Top 30 Comedy Movies of all Time. Do you Agree?.........One of the most popular and … Read More Top 30 Animated Films Our list of the Top 30 Animated Movies of all Time. 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The Music Capital of Hull PERFORM AT ADELPHI HIRE THE VENUE Time:2021/02/06 20:00 Legendary superstar DJ makes a welcome return to Hull this October to take part in 35th anniversary celebrations. The must-attend event of the autumn, FATBOY SLIM takes centre stage on Friday 18th October for one of the most eagerly anticipated intimate gigs the City has ever seen. Fatboy Slim – alter ego of double Brit Award DJ Norman Cook (Right Here, Right Now // Praise You // Eat Sleep Rave Repeat and many more has achieved massive chart success around the planet selling millions of albums and singles along the way. We are over the moon to welcome Norman back to The Adelphi Club where he has performed and rehearsed many times in the 1980’s. Needless to say, you’ve come a long way, baby. Norman first rose to fame in the 1980s as the Housemartins bassist, adopting the Fatboy Slim monicker in 1996 and racking up major mainstream success with his own take on electronic dance music alongside spellbinding live shows. Norman Cook, commented: “Talk about full circle… I remember rehearsing at the Adelphi in my first band 34 years ago at the very start of my career… and now I get to go back all these years later, for a special show…..head held high! “It’s gonna be emotional…..” The event at The Adelphi Club coincides with the 35th anniversary of the house becoming a live music venue although a liquor license was first granted in 1923 as The Victory Club & Institute for Veterans of WWI. These days, Norman’s show involves not just playing his own patented brand of “party acid house”, but also a complex audio-visual production. With a capacity of only 200, this show is more of a nod and a celebration of grass roots music venues across the nation. These are the places where it all begins and did so for The Housemartins, Pulp, Radiohead, Idles and thousands more. Since Paul Jackson opened the venue in October 1984, over thirty thousand bands and knocking on a million punters have graced the tiny musical institution. Paul Jackson, Founder of The Adelphi Club, said: “I first met Norman in what must have been 1984, when he was delegated to give me my fiver for a Housemartins rehearsal at The Adelphi Club. He immediately struck me both as an extremely nice and smart guy, but also as someone (as I had found with his close friend Paul Heaton) who would excel in whatever he turned his arm to. He deserves great credit for his successful career to date. To achieve mainstream success while sidestepping over commodification and genre categorisation is rare…a thing I love about Norman’s music is the ever-present sense of fun, along with a constant threat of a surprise around the corner. Well done Norman Cook.” Sybil Bell, Founder of Independent Venue Week, added: “To say we’re excited about this is a massive understatement. I saw Norman at The People’s March on 23rd March and told him that Paul Jackson was still running the New Adelphi Club. He couldn’t believe that he was still there – he remembers him and the club so fondly. So we talked about the possibility of a live show. He was as up for it as we were. We thought it might take years given how busy he is so it’s amazing it’s happening so soon. The love for Fatboy Slim is as strong as the love for Paul and The New Adelphi Club. What a way for one total legend to honour another. We’ll DEFINTIELY be down the front for this one.” with support from Endoflevelbaddie Tickets will go on sale RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Friday 6th September at 6.30pm Tickets are £25 (not for resale). Fatboy Slim eTickets are on sale through The Adelphi Online Box Office – below. *The Adelphi does not charge a booking fee The Rules: Tickets are non-transferable – not for re-sale. Only the registered purchaser can use the ticket. Photo I.D. may be requested on entry. No touted tickets – Entry will be refused. Members Only returned tickets – 7th October 2019 – 7.00pm Tickets are £25.00 each. Tickets are strictly limited to one per member. Add the number of tickets you require (maximum 1) before clicking Buy Now. Checkout. You will then be asked to login in order to complete the purchase. * If you add more than one ticket your order will be refunded. Out of stock! FATBOY SLIM £25.00 If you would like to receive up-to-the-minute listings direct to your inbox every week, just fill in the short form below! The New Adelphi Club 89 De Grey Street, Beverley Road HU5 2RU This website uses cookies to improve user experience. Please confirm that you accept the use of cookies. More information can be found in our cookies policy. Find out more.

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In defence of myki - my dinner invitations be damned! By Stuart Kells May 7, 2010 — 3.00am It may not be popular, but the system isn't half as bad as it's painted. At dinner parties across Melbourne, myki is now a compulsory discussion topic. The same comments invariably come up. ''Why has myki cost so much - and taken so long?''; ''They should have bought a system off-the-shelf, like the one in Hong Kong or London''; ''The tender was dodgy from the beginning''. Inevitably, someone mentions the footage of the poor guy who, standing beside the minister, demonstrates a myki device that disintegrates at exactly the wrong moment. Having examined the project first as an auditor and then a researcher, I feel compelled to join these discussions. My contribution is usually unpopular. I begin by pointing out that the project has not taken an especially long time by international standards, and that the cost, given what was purchased, was not especially high. Recent claims of ''missing myki millions'' betray a misreading of the state budget papers. The tender process was not bungled, nor was it corrupted. A succession of thorough and expensive independent reviews have confirmed this. The decision not to buy ''off the shelf'' was justifiable. The ticketing authority faced a conundrum: either contract with a monopolistic supplier and be stuck with a proprietary technology for many years, or adopt an innovative ''modular'' approach that divided the project into work packages, increased tender competition, and gave the government more bargaining power over the system's life. In short, the authority balanced the risk of being screwed in a one-sided tender and a one-sided contract, against the risks inherent in the modularity. The authority chose competition, judging that the risks were reduced by the involvement of ticketing firms in the bidding consortiums, and the ability to replace modules, if ''unfit for purpose'', without dumping the whole system. There have been an exceptional number of leaks about myki, each one evidently intended to damage the project. The ticketing authority had a defensible story to tell, but the leaks contributed to the impression of a troubled project and were used skilfully by those who would see it fail. From the day the contract was awarded, opponents spread misinformation, and theirs became the dominant narrative. Aspects of the tender made it more vulnerable to mud-slinging. Interaction with bidders was unusually high, and two separate consortiums were taken a long way down the track into negotiations. The ''cartel busting'' approach multiplied the number of unsuccessful tenderers, some of whom may have had an affronted sense of entitlement. The modular approach probably also increased integration problems and delays. Myki has been a boundless source of government embarrassment, but bigger things are at stake. All this heat and smoke could lead to truly bad decisions. If the system is widely seen as botched and suspect, it is more difficult for a government to continue with the project. For taxpayers, scrapping it and walking away from the time and money invested would be a disaster. More broadly, there is a danger that governments will be less willing to pursue innovative tendering, and innovation generally. If people with mischievous intent can demonise innovation, the policy equation is simple. Taxpayers want value for money; value for money requires innovation; without it, look forward to a moribund public sector that costs more to run and is less effective. Failure to innovate, and failure to achieve competition in a major tender, would be truly scandalous, not the make-believe scandals of the myki type. On big projects, the difference between a competitive and uncompetitive tender can be hundreds of millions of dollars. In a single major tender, this ''competition dividend'' would dwarf the total annual value of public sector fraud in Victoria. The remarkable thing about myki is the resilience of the untruths told about it. By this point in my screed, the dinner party audience has tuned out, turning their attention to that more interesting and simpatico bloke from the gas company. Stuart Kells is a former assistant auditor-general in the Victorian Auditor-General's Office. He is now a member of the Centre for Regulatory Studies in the faculty of law at Monash University.

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Old Castle Pictures, Photos, Engravings, Paintings and Drawings (listed alphabetically) A selection of old images of castles, towers stately homes and historic houses, where there is no page elsewhere on the website for the place. Some of these buildings have been demolished, others have been restored, some are exactly the same as pictured. Ashiesteel Borders: About 3 miles west of Galashiels, on minor road south from A72 1.5 miles south-west of Colvenfords, south of the River Tweed, at Ashiesteel. Private NT 430351 OS: 73 TD1 3LJ Ashiesteel (Pringle, 1914) Standing in the wooded grounds of a former hospital, Ashiesteel House incorporates a rectangular 17th-century tower house. The house was enlarged and altered on at least four occasions, the last in the 19th century when it was given corbiestepped gables and dormers. The site is marked on Blaeu’s map of Tweeddale as ‘Esshystill’. This was a property of the Russells of Ashiesteel, one of whom was Major General Sir James Russell. Ashiesteel was home to Sir Walter Scott from 1804-12, and it was here that he wrote ‘The Lay of the Last Minstrel’, ‘The Lady of the Lake’, ‘Marmion’, and part of the Waverley novels. Barskimming Ayrshire: About 1.5 miles south-west of Mauchline, on minor roads south of B743, south of River Ayr, at or near Old Barskimming. Ruin or site NS 482251 OS: 70 KA5 5HD Barskimming (1788) Site of castle or old house at or near Old Barskimming. Barskimming is a plain classical mansion, dating from 1883, and built when the old house of about 1770 was burned down in 1882. Some of the older fabric was incorporated and there were later alterations. There is a pediment with the date 1642, and a walled garden. ‘Barskymming’ is shown on Blaeu’s map of Kyle as a tower in an enclosed and wooded park. The lands were held by the Whites at the beginning of the 14th century, then by the Reids from 1375, John Reid of Barskimming on record in 1479, and they held them until 1615. Barskimming was sold to the Stewarts, then to the Richard family and Gilbert Richard of Barskimming is mentioned in a commission for the burning of the gates of Drumlanrig. In 1691 Barskimming passed to the Millers, and they were made baronets in 1778. Sir William Miller was Lord President of the Court of Session. The property was sold to the Galbraiths in the 20th century. Blackhall, Banchory Kincardine & Deeside: About 2 miles west of Banchory, on minor roads west of B974, south of River Dee, at or near Blackhall. Ruin or site NO 670961 OS: 45 AB31 4AN Blackhall, Banchory (Wimberley, 1894) Site of castle, which had a substantial tower with turrets and a later two-storey and an attic block. It was incorporated into an impressive baronial mansion in 1771, but this was demolished about 1947. Stone from the castle was used to repair bomb damage to the Houses of Parliament. The estate was latterly held by the Russells, the Campbells, and then by James T. Hay, a retired jute merchant. Brochel Castle, Raasay South Highland: On north-east side of island of Raasay, 6.5 miles north and east of Clachan, on minor road, at Brochel. Ruin or site NG 585463 OS: 24 IV40 8PB Brochel Castle, Ramsay: far more complete than today (Daniell, 1822) Perched on a high rock in a spectacular location, Brochel Castle is a small ruined fortress, built early in the 16th century. Stumps of walls surround an uneven courtyard, contouring the rock, with several towers. It was entered by a steep stair, leading to a passageway through the gatehouse. ‘Breokdill’ is marked on Blaeu’s map of Skye and Raasay. This was a property of the MacLeods of Raasay. The last chief resident at Brochel was probably Iain Garbh around 1648, after which the family moved to Clachan, at Kilmaluag, further south on Raasay, although this later tower house has gone. The ruin is in a dangerous condition. Buittle Place Galloway: About 1 mile west of Dalbeattie, on minor road north of A745, short distance west of the Water of Urr, near 13th-century Buittle Castle. Buittle Place. Private NX 817616 OS: 84 DG7 1PA Brittle (Grose, 1790) Buittle Place is a plain late 16th-century L-plan tower house, probably largely built from masonry from the nearby 13th-century castle. The roof has been lowered, and nothing remains of bartizans but corbelling. A narrow round stair-turret rises in the re-entrant angle. The original entrance, in the wing, led to a stair, which has been removed, up to the hall on the first floor, and to the basement of the wing. The vaulted basement, of the main block, is reached by a modern doorway. The house has been extensively altered, and is a plain edifice with whitewashed walls. The first floor is now reached by an external stairway. ‘Butill’ is marked on Blaeu’s map of Kirkcudbright, although not with any prominence. From the 13th century the lands of Buittle were held by the Balliol family, who were based at nearby Buittle Castle. The property passed to the Douglas family, then to the Johnstones after 1455, and in the 16th century to the Maxwells, then by marriage to the Gordons of Lochinvar, who built the tower. James Gordon of Buittle is on record in 1649. Later that century, the lands went to the Maxwells, and they held them into the 19th century or later. In 1790 the tower was a roofless and overgrown ruin, but it has been restored and is now occupied. Buittle Old Church [NX 808598] dates from the 13th century but is ruinous, and in the churchyard are many old memorials, including from the 17th century. Closeburn Castle Dumfriesshire: About 3 miles south-east of Thornhill, on minor road east of A76, about 1 mile east of Closeburn village, south of Closeburn Mains, at Closeburn Castle. Private NX 907921 OS: 78 DG3 5HJ Closeburn Castle (RCAHMCS, 1920) One of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in Scotland, Closeburn Castle is a massive rectangular 14th-century tower of four storeys, with a flush crenellated parapet, to which has been added a 19th-century mansion. The tower still has an iron yett. A courtyard has had round towers at the corners, and formerly had a moat. There is a walled garden. The basement is vaulted, as is the hall and the top storey, and has a prison. The hall has been subdivided. A turnpike stair leads to the upper floors in the thickness of one wall. The interior has been altered. ‘Closburne’ is prominently marked on Blaeu’s map of Nithsdale. The lands were granted to the Kirkpatricks in 1232, who built the castle. Roger Kirkpatrick, along with Lindsay of Dunrod, joined Robert the Bruce in stabbing John Comyn to death in a church in Dumfries in 1306. Sir Roger Kirkpatrick of Closeburn captured the castles of Dalswinton and Caerlaverock from the English in 1355. He was murdered by Sir James Lindsay in 1357 during a quarrel at Caerlaverock. Thomas Kirkpatrick of Closeburn had a ratification of 1672 which mentions the tower, fortalice and manor place of Closeburn. The family were made baronets of Nova Scotia in 1685. The Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, was descended from the family, and many of the Kirkpatricks are buried at Garvald [NY 041903], where there are the remains of the church dating from or remodelled in 1617. The house was damaged by fire in 1748, and was sold in 1783 to a Reverend James Stewart-Menteith. The family were made baronets in 1838, but the property passed in 1852 to the Bairds. It is still occupied. The line of the Kirkpatricks, baronets, continues, although they now live in Australia, while the Stuart-Menteiths, baronets, live near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway. The Kirkpatrick family have a mausoleum and burial enclosure at the old church at Closeburn [NX 904923] A red-breasted swan was said to appear here as a portent of a death in the Kirkpatrick (or resident) family. Cockburnspath Castle Cockburnspath Tower (Collins, 1912) Cockburnspath Tower (Hannah, 1913) Corsbie Tower Corsbie Tower (Collins, 1912) Craig, Aberdeenshire Craig, Aberdeenshire (Wimberley, 1894) Drum House / The Drum, Edinburgh Lothians: About 4.5 miles south-east of Edinburgh Castle, on minor roads west of A772 or east of A7, east of Gilmerton, at Drum House or The Drum Private NT 301688 OS: 66 EH17 8RX Drum House or The Drum, Edinburgh (Grant, OANE, c.1880s) Little remains of a substantial 16th-century tower house, which was replaced by a symmetrical classical mansion of 1726-34, designed by William Adam. Part of the tower is built into the single flanking pavilion (the other was not built). The mansion has some fine plasterwork. The place does not appear to be marked on Blaeu, but is marked on Adair’s map of Midlothian. Drum House or The Drum, Edinburgh (MacGibbon and Ross) Drum was held by the Herring family, but passed by marriage to the Somervilles of Linton. Sir John Somerville of the Drum was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, while James, 6th Lord, was badly wounded at the Battle of Langside in 1568, fighting for Mary. The lands of Drum and Gilmerton, with the tower, fortalice, manor place are mentioned in a ratification of 1645. James Somerville of Drum was killed by Thomas Learmonth in 1682 after a duel, although the duel was not with him. The Somervilles built the present mansion. Drum later passed to the Nisbets of Cairnhill, and is owned by the More Nisbetts of The Drum and Cairnhill. Edmonstone Lothians: About 4 miles south-east of Edinburgh Castle, on minor roads between A6106, The Wisp, and A7, west of Danderhall, at Edmonstone. Private NT 299699 OS: 66 EH16 4SJ Edmonstone House: demolished (Grant, OANE, c.1880s) Site of castle, said to have been surrounded by a moat, on which Edmonstone House was built (or rebuilt). The mansion, a classical edifice, was remodelled after a fire in about 1800, then again in the 1830s by William Burn. The building was demolished in the 1950s, and nothing remains but foundations, except for the gatepiers of the house, ruins of the stables and landscape features. There are plans to redevelop the estate with the building of many houses, but it is not clear how far these have got. ‘Edmondstoun’ is marked on Blaeu’s map of The Lothians in a fenced park, then on Adair’s map of Midlothian, again in enclosed and wooded policies. This was a property of the Edmonstones from 1248, who were said to have come to Scotland with Queen Margaret, wife of Malcolm Canmore, until the 17th century. Edmonstone was sold to the Rait or Raith family in 1630, then went by marriage in 1671 to the Wauchopes of Niddrie, later Don Wauchope, when the heiress Anne Rait married Sir John Wauchope, son of Sir John Wauchope of Niddrie Marischal. Sir John Wauchope, Lord Edmonstone, was a Lord of Session. The family had a burial vault [NT 305699] at the old church of Woolmet. Elibank Tower Elibank Tower (Pringle, 1914) Elshieshields Tower Elshieshields Tower (RCAHMCS, 1920) Fairnilee House Fairnilee House (Pringle, 1914) Fast Castle Fast Castle (Scotland Illustrated, 1838) Fast Castle (Collins, 1912) Foumerkland Tower Foumerkland Tower (RCAHMCS, 1920) Garleton Castle Garleton Castle (Hannah, 1913) Granton Castle Granton Castle (Hannah, 1913) Hoddam Castle (RCAHMCS, 1920) Hollows Tower (Gilnockie) Hollows Tower, Gilnockie: since reroofed (RCAHMCS, 1920) Inch House / The Inch Lothians: About 2.5 miles south-east of Edinburgh Castle, on minor roads west of A772, west of A7, just south of Cameron Toll, Gilmerton Road, at The Inch. Private NT 278709 OS: 66 EH16 5UF OPEN: Community centre. Tel: 0131 664 4710 Inch House or The Inch (Grant, OANE, 1880s?) Inch House or The Inch (MacGibbon and Ross) Inch House, or The Inch, consists of a 17th-century L-plan tower house of four storeys and a garret, and incorporates earlier work. A lower extension was added in 1634, another was added in the 18th century, and the house was remodelled in 1891. There is a large lectern-style doocot [NT 273706], possibly the largest in the Edinburgh area with 2072 roosting holes, and dating from the 16th or 17th century. The original entrance was in the square stair-tower in the re-entrant angle. The inside of the tower has been altered, but two vaulted basement chambers survive. ‘Nether Libertoun’ is marked on Blaeu’s map of The Lothians. The lands were originally a property of Holyrood Abbey, but passed in about 1600 to the Gilmours. Lochend House was burned by William Gilmour of the Inch about 1601, although the Winram family soon held the property. James Winram of Nether Liberton was Keeper of the Great Seal in 1623. George Winram of Liberton was mortally wounded at Dunbar in 1650 and died soon after the battle. The property returned to the Gilmours of Craigmillar in 1660, later Little Gilmours and then Gordon Gilmours. The house was abandoned as a residence in the 1930s, and the property was sold to the City of Edinburgh in 1946. It is now a community centre, and is surrounded by a public park. Inch House or The Inch: plan (MacGibbon and Ross) Inverugie Castle Inverugie Castle (Wimberley, 1894) Isle Tower Isle Tower (RCAHMCS, 1920) Lennox Castle Lothians: About 0.5 miles north-east of Balerno, from the A70 on the south bank above the Water of Leith, just south of Currie, at Lennox Castle. Ruin or site NT 174671 OS: 65 EH14 6AJ Lennox Tower (Lymphoy), near Balerno, Edinburgh (Grant, OANE, c.1880s) On high ground on a promontory above the Water of Leith, Lennox Castle is a ruinous but massive 15th-century tower, rectangular in plan, of which only the basement remains. The walls are as much as 7 foot thick, the basement was divided into three vaulted cellars, and the hall above was also vaulted. The base of a turnpike stair survives close to the entrance. There is a ditch protecting the site on the ‘landward’ side. Lymphoy House [NT 174670] is a rambling house, dating from around 1835. It may have replaced an older house on the site. ‘Lumphoy’ is marked on Blaeu’s map of The Lothians. This was a property of the Stewart Earls of Lennox, and was visited for hunting by Mary, Queen of Scots, the Regent Morton, and James VI. The property was held by the Heriots of Lymphoy from the 16th century, one of whom Agnes Heriot of Lymphoy died in 1593 at Colinton Castle, having married into the Foulises of Colinton. One of the family was George Heriot, known as ‘Jinglin Geordie’, who was a goldsmith in the time of Queen Anne, and bequeathed his large fortune to found George Heriot’s School. One story is that the place is haunted by a ‘White Lady’, the apparition of a lady who died with her child in snowy weather, after being thrown out of the tower by her slain husband’s family. The castle reputedly had a tunnel to another building on the opposite bank of the river and to Lymphoy House – or even to Colinton Castle. The entrance was reputedly found and a piper sent down it to explore it and, although his pipes were heard for some time. and still at times, he never returned. Lincluden Lincluden (Grose, 1791) Lochhouse Castle Lochhouse Castle (RCAHMCS, 1920) Repentance Tower Repentance Tower (RCAHMCS, 1920) Stapleton Tower Stapleton Tower (RCAHMCS, 1920) Stoneypath Tower Stoneypath Tower (Collins, 1912) Terpersie Castle Terpersie Castle (Wimberley, 1894) Thurso Castle (Castle Sinclair) Thurso Castle or Castle Sinclair (Daniell, 1822) Torthorwold Castle Torthorwold Castle (RCAHMCS, 1920) Torthorwold Castle: plan (RCAHMCS, 1920)

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Intersectionality is anti-Semitic at its core, says famed Harvard law professor College students and professors love “intersectionality.” Many also hate Israel. Is there a connection? According to Alan Dershowitz, the Harvard law professor emeritus, intersectionality is “a code word for anti-American, anti-Western, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic bigotry”: Nowhere has adoption of this radical paradigm been more pronounced than on college campuses where, in the name of “identity politics” and “solidarity,” intersectionality has forced artificial coalitions between causes that have nothing to do with each other except a hatred for their fellow students who are “privileged” because they are white, heterosexual, male and especially Jewish. Dershowitz points to the “Jewish Privilege” flyers that went up around the University of Illinois-Chicago last month, which said Jews were “the 1%”: This practice resembles the vile, anti-Semitic propaganda of the 1930s, when splashed across Der Spiegel was blaming Jews – and so called disproportionate Jewish wealth – for Germany’s losing WWI and the country’s subsequent economic downturn. Because all “victimizations” are linked together in intersectionality, hatred of “Zionists” – just a “euphemism for Jews” – is made the sine qua non of progressivism, he says: Lumping seemingly disparate groups under the “umbrella of oppression” leads to the forming of alliances between causes that at best, have nothing to do with each other, and at worst, are averse to one another’s stated mission. Their only common feature is that to join, they must demonize the nation state of the Jewish people. The saddest example of this is Women’s March on Washington feminists who linked arms with “anti-Israel Muslim groups that tolerate, if not accept, the ‘honor killings’ and genital mutilation of women”: There is a certain irony of many feminists and gay-rights activists refusing to condemn the sexism and homophobia in the Arab world. Jewish Voices for People also bizarrely invited Rasmea Odeh, “a terrorist who quite literally has blood on her hands,” to speak at its conference, and anti-Israel activists linked the Flint water crisis to the “severe” water crisis in Gaza, Dershowtiz notes: Exposing and condemning “intersectionality” for the bigotry that it represents is critical to ensuring that those repressive extremists, who falsely claim the mantle of progressivism, are not able to hijack important liberal causes in support of their own bigoted agenda. Read the essay.

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Researching Burke genealogy Laurel Beechey, The World is a Stage More from Laurel Beechey, The World is a Stage Published on: January 10, 2020 | Last Updated: January 10, 2020 1:25 AM EST For the last month or so I have been assisting in research for Vicki Burke in the US, who is related to a family that lived in Tillsonburg long ago. It has been a lot of fun playing detective and trying to sort out the various families involved in the genealogy of the Burke Family, but we could use your help. Back in 1821, Richard Henry Burke was born in Rochester NY. While in the US he married Lucy Nobles, born about 1821 and their first child was born in 1841 in Brockport NY, but lived only a week. Son, George Edward was born the next year in Pennsylvania but they left shortly after to Brantford, Ont. where Mary Louisa was born 1846. Next was to Woodstock for the 1851 census and finally to Tillsonburg before the 1861 census. Here they ran Burke’s Stove and Tin Shop, in a little pie shaped corner of today’s Carpet One on the corner of Oxford and Broadway. There is even a photo of the shop in later years. Amazingly there was another Burke in town who may be related, a Henry Cady Burke, carpenter from Vermont whose sister Hannah, had come from the States in 1841 to marry Benjamin VanNorman and care for his children as his wife, Harriet Tillson, who had recently died of typhus. Ben had known her before moving to Normandale with the family and Hannah’s presence in Tillsonburg most likely lured her brother to our fair town. Alas, thus far we haven’t be able to connect the two different Burke families but it seems so coincidental they are both in town. Richard’s son George Edward was 18 years old in 1863 and worked with his father in the shop. They were tinsmiths, dealers in stoves, founders (produced metal casings) and machinists. Times were good. Railroads, business and new people were all coming to Tillsonburg. We were not only growing financially but socially as well. The 1867 Gazetteer (which they had to pay to be in) shows that Richard was an officer in the Tillsonburg Temperance group which advocated abstinence of alcohol as was Henry C. Burke who was Treasurer and Grand Deputy. It was held in the Sons of Temperance Hall on the S.E. corner of Bidwell and Baldwin. The next year the Independent Order Of Odd Fellows, Otter Lodge #50, was formed in Tillsonburg with meetings at the Sons of Temperance Hall. Richard was listed here as well as J.M. Tweedale, who will eventually partner up with the Burkes in a different business. The IOOF was ‘one of the most practical benevolent institutions of the day. It takes care of the sick, buries the dead, supports the widow, and educates the orphaned – four of the most important Christian duties.’ In 1869, the IOOF moved to their new home in E.D. Tillson’s new brick block on Broadway and remains there to this day. The 1870 Oxford Gazetteer and Business directory shows Richard as founder and manufacturer of agricultural implements, employing about 12 hands, and using an engine of 8 horse power. Also listed under Professions: Burke, George, tinsmith; Burke, Malcolm, laborer; Burke, H. C., carpenter; Burke, R.H., founder and agricultural manufacturer stove and tin shop, boots, shoes, leather and findings. Now we have a Malcolm Burke to figure in too! Son George is now married to Ellen Claudina Watts and has daughter Maud Delphine Burke in 1871. She will marry Bert Buckberrough, who has the biggest blacksmithy in town at the NW corner of Brock & Harvey Streets. A widow, she later marries Henry H. Buckberrough. Their seven children all remained in Tillsonburg. Then came George’s son, Richard H. Burke II in 1875, who married Martha Elizabeth Atkinson and continued in his father’s tinsmithy until his early death. George’s first wife Claudina died and he remarried Achsah Herrick a dressmaker and widow of John Adamson. They had son Francis (Frank) Edward Burke in 1888 who married Edna Gertrude Follick and he has son Richard Henry Burke III in 1909 (my contact Vicki’s grandfather). Widowed, he marries again and has five more boys all immigrating to Detroit, Michigan in 1924 for jobs in the automotive field. George E.’s sister Mary Louise Burke, from above, married Edward Stover Hadcock a widower and photographer in 1878. Alas, hubby was a rake; while travelling and taking photos he left Mary behind living with her parents Richard I. He then married a couple of times without divorcing, changed his last name and died in Idaho. If you remember or know anything about the Burkes, Buckberroughs, Hadcocks, or would like to help with microfilming newspaper or if you would like more information on anyone or anything in this story, please contact me at 519 842 9416 or lbeechey@rogers.com. Kyle Pratt named Tillsonburg CAO 20th annual Mayor's Levee

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Pick-up sticks, political tricks, and the power of definition From the blogs OP-ED: There’s a pathway to a unity government, but first we need to know what ‘unity’ means, and then we need to create a new (Likud) party By Barbara Pfeffer Billauer and Norman A. Bailey 12 November 2019, 12:14 pm 1 Edit Right now, we don’t have enough parties for a viable coalition. Grabbing for more sticks will not change that fact. When we were small, we used to play a game called pick-up sticks. The object of the game was to collect as many sticks as you could, without dropping the ones you already had in your hand. You mastered the game when you realized that aiming to pick up the “wrong” sticks, wrong because of the way they were positioned, would cost you more in the end. This is a skill Israeli prime-minister wanna-bes should learn. In a vain attempt at collecting mandates, they (and bored, fed-up or lemming-like citizens) fail to appreciate that not all the children in the park are going to ‘play nice in the sandbox’ with each other. Even if a coalition is in fact commandeered, shortly before the next budgetary process begins these hastily collected candidates will cannibalize each other, and this coalition, or any coalition, based on numbers and without regard to position, will fail. The conflict over who rotates first as prime minister or whether a prime minister who has not been convicted of a crime can continue sitting, is now recognized as a diversion. All sides claim a unity government is the only solution. But no one bothers to define what a unity government means. A Sa’ar-led party in which Gantz joins is hardly a ‘putsch,’ although it may lead to Netanyahu’s political demise So, let us first define terms. A unity government, by definition, means it is neither right nor left. It is the median, the mode, the bulk of opinion sitting under the bell curve. This group seeks to unify, even if half officially sit to the right or the left of midpoint. The outliers are truncated. That means, in case there is yet misunderstanding, that the extremes on both sides are left out. (And Netanyahu’s coming with a right-wing bloc is, per se, a non-starter.) We will assume people realize that means both the Arabs and the Haredim are ineligible. But a unity government also excludes extremes of any stripe. This includes messianics and other extremists, whether in the realm of economics or the judicial system. Ayelet Shaked has proudly boasted she wants a right-leaning judiciary and she is prepared to eviscerate the democratic process to accomplish this end. She is also on record as being an Ayn Rand libertarian, meaning a “free-market” advocate of the extremist variety. Since Ms. Shaked has been reported as going after the top spot in Rabbi Peretz’s Union of Right-Wing Parties and since Jewish Home’s Bezalel Smotrich is a “Liberman-messianic” – that makes the entire Yemina, save Bennet, ineligible. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Perhaps you disagree. But consider Ms. Shaked sitting in coalition with the newly minted Labor party. Who prevails on pension issues, on minimum wage, on labor laws? A solution acceptable to both sides is plainly – by definition – impossible. Now, that obviously didn’t bother Netanyahu, who tried to co-opt Labor/Gesher with promises smacking of socialism in an attempt to garner their six votes. And it seems not to bother Gantz, who reportedly will promise Ms. Shaked anything, giving her the perfume of the ministry she desires in order to co-opt her votes. Now, let’s get real. For Netanyahu to wave his wand and march all the animals into the same boat, even if only temporarily before they tear each other up in order to save his own skin may not be stupid. Remember, he is angling for six votes to achieve a majority government. For Gantz to play the same game shows a lack of cunning. After all, he’s giving away the store just to get three votes, and only to have the whole edifice topple down in a few months should he even succeed. If this scenario seems remote, remember what happened when Bennet and Lapid sat together in the same coalition. How long did that government last before they came to blows over funding the settlements? There is one solution, and only one. And trying to pick up a few votes here and there – even if it works for a short time – isn’t it. The solution is creating exactly what everyone is clamoring for: A unity government. Now let’s do what no one has done before: let’s ignore Netanyahu and his own personal agenda. Let’s focus on the country, and only the country. Let’s forget (or perhaps let’s remember – and learn from) Netanyahu’s own articulated nightmare – the “putsch” of Sa’ar and Rivlin. Building a house is easy when you know exactly what resources you have and what the respective objectives of the inhabitants are. The resources are the parties; the inhabitants are existing MKs. Right now, we don’t have enough parties to manufacture a viable coalition. Grabbing for more sticks will not change that fact. As for the objective of the inhabitants, it is to retain their coveted MK designation at all costs. (As we said, forget the elephant in the room, for now, please.) So let’s start building: We start with Gantz – 33 votes. We bypass Netanyahu’s Likud, since by now we have no doubt he is not serious. So, we go to the next player who we can be sure will not fry the project: Liberman and his eight seats. Now we must add new residents who won’t antagonize the 41 seats we already have. We can have either Labor/Gesher or Shaked — but not both. The two parties are immiscible. Shaked’s desire to “rightisize” the judiciary is incompatible with the Labor/Gesher’s raison d’etre. For Gantz, the choice should be Labor/Gesher, with the six votes it brings, over Shaked’s possible three (if, that is, she stays aligned with Bennet). That brings us to 47 seats –14 votes short of coalition. Where will we find 14 seats? Again, remember the rules: the fringes are not eligible, as tempting as they are because they exist and are easily identified. To obtain the missing votes, then, we will need to be imaginative and create a party. But how will we do that without going to new elections? Remember the MKs who want to keep their seats? We estimate there are at least ten seats in Likud in jeopardy if we go to new elections. (While there may be less in actual danger, we can guess that at least ten ministers will properly be frightened of losing their incomes). Plus let’s say four from Kahlon’s party also would be available to populate a new “and better” party. That gives us — 14 seats. Added to the 47 we already have, we have a very stable 61 seats made up of reasonable men and women who are driven to saving the country, not to personal goals or an idiosyncratic ideology. Former minister Gideon Sa’ar speaks at a Likud party conference in the central city of Lod, on December 31, 2017. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90) So, now all we need is a leader who can entice these 14 players to follow him; we need a leader who isn’t afraid of Netanyahu, we need a leader to become the national savior – leading the march to disentangle a core group from Netanyahu’s grasp. Of course, the name Gideon Sa’ar, comes to mind. The press seems to have concluded that if Gantz can’t form a government, we go directly to elections. But if we had a President who isn’t afraid of Netanyahu and his brilliant use of rhetoric, and who is willing to assign this new leader the baton of leadership – we could indeed create what we say. Abra Cadabra. Actually, this scenario eventually foresees a new Likud, perhaps under the leadership of Katz or Barkat or Edelstein. When that occurs, this new Likud will undoubtedly join the new government – bringing us up to an unheard of 70 – 80 seat, stable coalition! Yes, this visionary construct is a gamble. Perhaps Sa’ar won’t be able to assemble 14 seats. So what? The worst that happens is that he loses his seat in this government’s Likud party. What happens next? We go to new elections (which would happen anyway) and he starts a new party then. Certainly, he would command four seats to cross the threshold, so his seat is safe. Of course, if we have new elections (under this or any other scenario), no matter who wins, if there isn’t either a Likud-without-Netanyahu or a Likud-break-away party – we won’t have a government now, and we wouldn’t have one then, so no one gets to be prime minister. Fourth elections, anyone? At the finish, we must remember the importance of definitions. Someone should remind the PM that a “putsch” is defined as a “violent” attempt to overthrow a government. A Sa’ar-led party in which Gantz joins is hardly a “putsch,” although it may lead to Netanyahu’s political demise. We shouldn’t allow faulty definitions to frighten us away from pursuing the only solution that will save the country. Barbara Pfeffer Billauer JD, PhD, is Research Professor at the Institute of World Politics in Washington DC and Professor in the International Program in Bioethics at the University of Porto, Portugal. Norman A Bailey PhD was Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan and served on the staff of the National Security Council and the Office the Director of National Intelligence. He is currently Professor of National Security Studies at Haifa University. coalition negotiations

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Eden in Winter (Paperback) By Richard North Patterson Number one New York Times best-selling author Richard North Patterson, author of more than twenty novels, including Degree of Guilt and Silent Witness, returns with the dramatic conclusion to the Blaine trilogy: Eden in Winter, the final volume that completes the story begun in Fall from Grace and Loss of Innocence. Two months after the suspicious and much-publicized death of his father on the island of Martha's Vineyard, it is taking all of Adam Blaine's will to suture the deep wounds the tragedy has inflicted upon his family and himself. As the court inquest into Benjamin Blaine's death casts suspicions on those closest to him, Adam struggles to protect them from those who still suspect that his father was murdered by one of his kin. But the sternest test of all is Adam's proximity to Carla Pacelli--his late father's mistress; and a woman who, despite being pivotal to his family's plight, Adam finds himself increasingly drawn to. The closer he gets to this beautiful, mysterious woman, the further Adam feels from his troubles. Yet the closer he also comes to revealing the secrets he's strived to conceal, and condemning the people he's so hard fought to protect. An acknowledged master of the courtroom thriller, Patterson's Blaine trilogy, a bold and surprising departure from his past novels, is a complex family drama pulsing with the tumult of the time and "dripping with summer diversions, youthful passion and ideals, class tensions, and familial disruptions." (Library Journal) Richard North Patterson is the author of twenty bestselling novels, including Loss of Innocence, Exile, Degree of Guilt, and Silent Witness. He has appeared on Good Morning America, Hardball, and The CBS Morning Show, and his articles on politics, literature, and law have been published in The London Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, and San Jose Mercury News. He lives in Martha's Vineyard, Cabo San Lucas, and San Francisco with his wife, Dr. Nancy Clair. Publisher: Quercus Fiction / Family Life Fiction / Sagas Fiction / Historical Library Binding, Large Print (July 1st, 2014): $36.95 Pre-Recorded Audio Player (July 1st, 2014): $99.99 Compact Disc (July 1st, 2014): $105.00 Compact Disc (July 1st, 2014): $34.95 MP3 CD (July 1st, 2014): $29.95

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London Bridge attack follows ‘dumbing down’ of freed terrorist scheme – expert Strategy to manage extremist convicts has been stripped of vital human touch, says probation unit founder @townsendmark Sat 7 Dec 2019 10.00 EST Last modified on Sat 7 Dec 2019 16.30 EST Boris Johnson, who attended the site of the London Bridge attack with the home secretary Priti Patel, has been criticised for suggesting that all convicted terrorists should be jailed for life. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA The architect of the government programme for moving convicted terrorists from prison into the community believes the current system lacks the “legitimacy and credibility” required to rehabilitate extremists safely. Simon Cornwall, who set up the probation service’s central extremism unit, said that as a result of “a dumbing down of how things are done”, the current approach was missing the safeguarding and human relationships required to modify behaviour and reduce risk. His intervention follows the attack at London Bridge by convicted terrorist Usman Khan, who was out on licence from prison when he killed Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, and injured three others during a meeting of the Cambridge University rehabilitation initiative Learning Together on 29 November. Cornwall, who worked with a number of the nine-strong terror group – including Khan – which was jailed for plotting to bomb the London Stock Exchange in 2010, said: “There’s been a breakdown in the system, a dumbing down of how things are done. “The criminal justice system has become very insular, moving away from partnerships with community groups who can form crucial relationships with offenders to a really securitised view. It has lost the legitimacy and credibility it had before,” he said. The London Bridge attack was an assault on the ideas of hope and rehabilitation | Jake Thorold Cornwall, who introduced the concept of mentors working with terrorists to help reintegrate them into the community, said that such a “hands-on” human approach had been jettisoned in favour of a reliance on technology such as tagging. Khan had been wearing an electronic tag, managed by the probation service and subject to low-level monitoring, when he embarked on his stabbing rampage. “At one point Khan would have had a mentor who would have gone with him to London, who knew him intimately and would have seen the change in him. It’s very difficult to sustain a lie,” said Cornwall. “Probation is about relationships and there wasn’t a close enough relationship for someone to say: ‘Hold on, something’s going on here’.” The central extremism unit, responsible for convicted terrorists who are released from prison on licence, was set up by Cornwall in 2008 and funded by the office for security and counter-terrorism (OSCT), which operates under the control of the Home Office and brings probation together with the intelligence agencies and police. Cornwall, also a strategic lead for the Home Office’s counter-extremism initiative Prevent until leaving in 2015, also questioned the political response to the London Bridge attack. Following the incident, prime minister Boris Johnson announced that those convicted of the most serious terrorist offences should never be released from prison, prompting anger that politicians were exploiting the tragedy. Jack Merritt, one of the London Bridge victims, was working on a rehabilitation initiative when he was killed. Photograph: Jack Merritt/Instagram Cornwall, a fellow at the German Institute on Radicalisation and Deradicalisation Studies (Girds), said such an approach ignored the fact that individuals are vastly different and required bespoke approaches. “To say that they need to be locked up for ever shows no understanding whatsoever of what goes on,” he said. Rather than locking up offenders, he advocated hiring workers who followed the Salafist branch of Islam to work to help deradicalise extremists. Otherwise, said Cornwall, it could be similar to “having a heroin addict and to help them you give them someone who’s been addicted to aspirin. They need someone who’s been on the same journey.” Hanif Qadir, a former Home Office senior counter-radicalisation expert, also criticised the disengagement of the government from community groups and clerics who could help convicted terrorists safely reintegrate. “They’ve dismantled the system, closed down external services that developed close relationships that could successfully rehabilitate some of the most hardened offenders,” he said. The fallout from Khan’s attack has led to calls for an independent review. Since the attack, it has emerged that he attended two counter-terrorism programmes that had not been fully tested to see if they were effective and wrote a letter from jail asking to take part in a deradicalisation course to become “a good British citizen”. Prisons and probation

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Feel at Home Fair An Interview with Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok Jan 14, 2020 | Economy, Features | Stephanus Abraham “Stef” Blok (VVD) has been Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands since March 2018. The 54-year-old business economist is married and lives with his family in the small North Holland town of Enkhuizen on the Ijsselmeer. Sven Lilienström, founder of Faces of Democracy, spoke with Stef Blok about democracy, the EU eastward enlargement process and the Brexit preparations in the Netherlands. Minister Blok, according to its Constitution, the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, but structurally it is a parliamentary democracy. How significant are democracy and democratic values to you personally? The significance of democracy can hardly be overstated. I still vividly remember the moment the Berlin Wall came down, when millions of people regained their liberty. But democracy without respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law risks being a hollow shell. So I would say that all these three values taken together – democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law – are crucial for any healthy, resilient society. They depend on and reinforce one another. In the EU, we have given these values a very special significance. They are laid down in article 2 of our Treaty as values upon which our Union is founded. They are not tucked away in some complex legal annexe: they come right after article 1, which calls the Union into being. This prominent place is well justified, and that’s not just my personal opinion, but the view of the Dutch government as a whole. About 150 EU summits and 105 speeches in the EU Parliament: Jean-Claude Juncker was not only President of the Commission but also Europe’s number one crisis manager. What are you now expecting from the new EU leadership? With the Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024, the European Council set priorities for the EU for the next few years. The Netherlands’ focus is on five priorities: migration, security, a strong and sustainable economy, climate policy and the safeguarding of our values and interests abroad, together with a horizontal priority: EU governance. This is a challenging agenda. It raises the expectation that the European Commission, together with the Council and European Parliament, will deliver tangible results on these priorities in the coming years, for the benefit of our citizens. We expect the new European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, to put forward initiatives on these priorities, so that we can show that the EU does deliver. At a time like this, when multilateralism is being called into question and third countries are taking an assertive stance in the international arena, it’s particularly important for the EU to be unified and offer a decisive and ambitious response to the challenges shaping the future of our society, economy and planet. Keyword “EU eastward enlargement”: In addition to France and Denmark, the Netherlands has vetoed EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. What are the reservations? All countries of the Western Balkans have a real prospect of joining the EU, and the Netherlands’ support for this ultimate goal is unwavering. We welcome the progress made in both countries. North Macedonia has made a lot of progress in terms of rule-of-law reforms. And the Prespa agreement between Greece and North Macedonia serves an example for the region. We have also welcomed the positive steps taken by Albania. The vetting of judges and prosecutors is particularly ground-breaking. There have been significant legal reforms, and new justice institutions have been established. However, before opening accession negotiations, Albania will need to demonstrate a sustained commitment to fighting corruption and organized crime. The European Council will return to this issue before the Western Balkans Summit in May 2020. As before, we will support North Macedonia and Albania in their efforts to move towards a future in the EU. The coming period can be used for further rule-of-law reforms. Both governments have announced that they intend to carry on with these reforms. We stand ready to assist both countries with their ongoing reform processes. A few months ago, on Twitter, you used a blue “Brexit monster” to draw attention to the possible consequences of the British leaving the EU. Are we underestimating what we are facing? The Netherlands is among the countries that will be hit hardest by Brexit. The only EU member state whose economy is more intertwined with that of the UK is Ireland. The UK is the Netherlands’ biggest export destination after Germany and Belgium. The Dutch government is still working hard to prepare for and minimize the effects of Brexit in the Netherlands. Many measures have been taken to address the most negative consequences. We will continue with our information campaign and with the recruitment and training of personnel for customs and the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. The government is also working tirelessly to inform the public, businesses and institutions as fully as possible, so they can use this extra time to prepare for whatever the future holds, be it a deal or no deal. In March 2019, the right-wing populist “Forum voor Democratie” (FvD) became the strongest force in the regional elections in your country. Aren’t the Dutch as liberal as we always thought? In the Netherlands, we are proud of our tradition as a strong liberal democracy. We value the fact that everyone is free to form a political party and stand for office. We have always welcomed debate and a variety of perspectives. This freedom gives rise to new parties and political initiatives across the whole political spectrum, from left to right. It shows that our liberal democracy is alive and well. It makes clear that no party should take its votes for granted and that politicians need to stay in contact with their constituencies even more than in the past. According to a recent Pew study, there is widespread scepticismabout the political elites in Eastern and Western Europe. Exceptions: Sweden and the Netherlands. What do your politicians do differently? Scepticism about political elites is a global phenomenon. My country is no exception in that respect. In general, we try to be very egalitarian in the way we organize our society, and this is something that we have in common with our Swedish friends. So that may be part of the explanation. But as I said: the Netherlands is definitely not exempt from the global trend whereby politicians are being held to account more and more directly by voters. Nor is the phenomenon of ‘protest votes’ entirely foreign to our system. Both tendencies simply imply that we as politicians have to do our jobs even better and put even more effort into reaching out to our voters and listening more closely to their legitimate concerns. Mr. Blok, you live in Enkhuizen on the Ijsselmeer. What is it like to live where others go on holiday and what goals have you set yourself for your first term as Minister of Foreign Affairs? Enkhuizen is a beautiful town that still looks exactly like it did in the Golden Age. These old buildings and fortifications remind us of this turbulent era of new discoveries and the rise of civil society, religious freedom and international trade. And as in the Golden Age, we are connected to the rest of the world in so many ways – a world of geopolitical and economic power shifts marked by uncertainty and unpredictability. In this changing international landscape, the EU needs to act with more unity on the global stage and transform its economic power (as the world’s largest single market) into political power. The EU should impose economic sanctions more strategically and consider the political situation in a country more explicitly when making decisions regarding development funds. I am committed to promoting human rights and justice worldwide. Without these things, open and free societies like ours cannot endure. Without open and free states, there can be no stability, religious freedom or international trade. We must take our own responsibilities seriously if we are to make good on our power on the world stage. I want to work to this end with the new Commission, the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the new President of the European Council. Mr. Blok, thank you very much for the interview! Source: www.faces-of-democracy.org/en/ PreviousJutta Leerdam Wins Gold in Euro Speedskating NextTrains Disrupted until Wednesday Evening You will recieve an email asking for confirmation. Daily news and views for the international community © 2020 TheHagueOnLine. All rights reserved.

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Ferera Swan releases Single Music at its very finest is able to convey raw emotion into tangible, accessible melodies and lyrics that listeners from a broad range of backgrounds can relate to, and that is exactly what Ferera Swan does in her new single “Second Time.” “Second Time” doesn’t try to exist within the parameters of a predesigned pop template; instead, it gives itself over to a loose groove and jettisons away from conventional music theory in favor of something a bit more spiritual and transcendent. Swan uses every weapon at her disposal, primarily her golden set of pipes, and unleashes an emotional power ballad in this song sure to lift your spirits and sear her name into your memory. Swan executes her vocal track very softly, with a lot of focus towards the slow churn of the implied beat. The drums don’t make a significant appearance until deeper into the song, so the entire opening salvo is directed by her lyrical striking, which is non-aggressive and relaxed. “Second Time” doesn’t stack all the chips on Swan’s singing though; the tonality of the instruments that back her is rich and textured, making their contribution much more meaningful than that of your average pop backing track. FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/fereraswan/ The versatility of Swan’s range as a vocalist is wide and exotic enough that I think she would do well with almost any genre she chose to tackle artistically. This style of pop is very sleek and structured, but were she to develop her crooning a bit further, I could easily see her doing more jazz-oriented material centering on her velvety voice. The beauty of this single is that it’s her first, and that in itself speaks volumes about where she could go in the next few years. She’s no stranger to the recording business from a songwriting standpoint, and her past experience has undoubtedly aided in the cultivation of the first-rate skillset she’s got now. “Second Time” fits in well with the current sound that has become prevalent in indie pop music, but at the same time I’m reticent to compare Ferera Swan to any of her peers. She has an old fashioned swagger about her that I haven’t heard amongst the latest wave of pop singers to emerge from her scene. It isn’t that her style is particularly revolutionary, but rather that it exploits sonic intricacies that most artists tend to ignore. This single creeps up out of nowhere and smothers listeners in sublime lyrical might and immaculate melodies to match, all without ever borrowing too much from popular narratives trending in music today. Outfitted with sprawling harmonies and shimmering vocal accents that reverberate into the ethers long after the music has stopped playing, “Second Time” is the first chance that audiences have at getting to know Ferera Swan, whose arrival in primetime signals a new era for vocal pop music. It doesn’t take more than a single listen to know that this singer/songwriter has an ambition that will carry her far in this industry, and this song represents only a taste of what’s to come next. 2019 is slated to be a very exciting year in music, and with this release Swan is aiming to become one of its most alluring stories so far. RELATED ARTICLE: https://beyondtwoworlds.com/tag/singer-songwriter/

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The Risk of Courage (Book Excerpt) Richard Haddad This excerpt comes from Leadership from 30,000 Feet: Attributes of Effective Leaders as told by Five Air Force Generals, an anthology by Two Blue Aces’ contributors. To read the rest of this story and many others like it you can purchase your own copy on Amazon! Title: The Risk of Courage As told by: Richard “Beef” Haddad “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” —Nelson Mandela The need for courage isn’t limited to military combat. At certain points in any person’s life, we’re all asked to show strength of mind to carry on despite danger or difficulty, or to overcome fear in the face of grave risk. I think back to my Lebanese ancestors on my father’s side, who I’m told immigrated to the US around 1912. After their arrival at Ellis Island, they eventually found their way west, to Arizona, which wasn’t even a state until that year. One man from their village of Baskinta had settled there; the rest of their village apparently followed. To earn a living, they sold clothes from the trunks of their cars to area miners. Later, my father became a Justice of the Peace, as well as a successful entrepreneur. Even as a child, I was impressed by the stories I was told. Despite not being able to speak English and the bias they likely faced in those early days—especially so far west—my ancestors risked severe adversity for an opportunity to better their lives for themselves and their children. I’m a grateful recipient of the courage they showed a century ago. Because of their sacrifices, I was ultimately able to attend the Air Force Academy, be commissioned, and rise to the rank of major general. During my time in service, I experienced hundreds of more instances of courage under fire—literally. But during two wartime deployments, I witnessed the courage of our airmen rise to the forefront, even as their lives hung in the balance. To read more about Leadership from 30,000 Feet: Attributes of Effective Leaders as told by Five Air Force Generals click here!

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Articles about linksys Linksys Announces New Velop WiFi 6 Mesh Routers By Tyler Lee on 10/29/2019 18:03 PDT Back in the day, if you wanted to extend the range of your WiFi from your router, you would need to buy range extenders. While range extenders are still very much around, a new and more popular alternative these days is to get yourself a mesh router. This is because unlike range extenders that can reduce the speed when it bounces, mesh routers will help maintain the signal strength. Linksys Velop Mesh WiFi Can Now Be Used To Detect Intruders If you’re looking for a way to protect your home, there are a bunch of different indoor security cameras and motion sensors that you can buy. But what if you didn’t want to buy a new system? The good news is that if you own Linksys’ Velop mesh WiFi system, the company has a new subscription service worth checking out. Over 20,000 Linksys Routers Leaked Device Connection Histories Our routers contain a lot more data than we would think or assume, and as such, there might be some information on our routers that some might not feel comfortable with sharing due to privacy concerns. Unfortunately, for some Linksys users, they did not really get a say in the matter. Foxconn Announces That They Will Be Acquiring Belkin Foxconn is a name that some might think of when it comes to manufacturing iPhones. Belkin on the other hand is a brand that some might associate with smartphone accessories, such as cables, cases, chargers and so on. Now it looks like both companies will be one, or to be more specific, Foxconn will be acquiring Belkin. Apple Starts Selling Linksys’ Velop Mesh WiFi Routers According to a report from a couple of years ago, Apple’s AirPort routers actually rank pretty high as far as customer satisfaction is concerned, but as you might have heard, there have also been reports that Apple may no longer make their own routers following the disbandment of the team behind the devices. Linksys Announces New Gaming Router Designed For The Xbox One [CES 2018] Apart from skill, one of the factors that can impact how one performs in a multiplayer/online game is latency. This is why there are accessories and hardware designed specifically for gamers, whether it be a fast and responsive mouse, a monitor with a fast refresh rate and quick response time, and also internet speeds that are as fast as possible (or as fast as one can afford). Linksys Launches Tri-Band Range Extender To Eliminate WiFi Dead Spots When it comes to trying to blanket your home with WiFi, there are many ways to go about that. One way could involve getting a more powerful router with better coverage, or purchasing mesh networking systems that let you cover more areas, or purchase a range extender. If the latter sounds like something you might be interested in, Linksys has you covered. Linksys WRT32X Router Has Been Designed With Gamers In Mind When it comes to online gaming, things like lag matter, where clearly the less lag there is the better it is for the player, especially in games where split second decisions need to be made. There are of course a variety of things that can affect one’s internet latency, and while some of it is out of control of the user, some of it is. Linksys Velop Home WiFi Mesh Network Router Announced WiFi mesh devices seem to be pretty popular these days. Google recently launched their own efforts with Google WiFi, and it seems that Linksys has no interest in giving up their market share to the company. This is why it isn’t surprising to see Linksys announce the Velop Whole Home WiFi system that CES 2017. Linksys’s High-Gain Antennas Are Now Available For Purchase Due the placement of our wireless routers, sometimes there are some areas of the home or office that might not have the same amount of coverage compared to other areas. This could be due to a variety of reasons, like walls getting in the way, or the router unable to transmit far enough because of its range.However if you’d rather not buy a WiFi extender for fear of losing some […] Linksys EA8500 Wi-Fi Router Announced [CES 2015] Routers are not exactly the most interesting pieces of hardware around, but then again, this does not mean that there should be no progress to be made in this particular department. Linksys, the company owned by Belkin, has just introduced the Linksys EA8500 Wi-Fi router, where it claims to deliver 802.11ac at 1.73 Gbps. This is made possible courtesy of two multi-user antennas that will ensure the speed […] Linksys Routers Malware ‘The Moon’ Spreading By Adnan Farooqui on 02/17/2014 10:02 PST Linksys router users might want to take some extra precautions. Johannes B. Ullrich, a security researcher at the SANS Technology Institute, has revealed that the company’s wireless routers are being targeted by malware, essentially a self replicating worm, which exploits code execution and authentication bypass vulnerabilities. Basically the Linksys router malware is spreading from router to router, attacking the existing firmware and then replicating itself. It dubbed as “The Moon.” Linksys Announces Two New Smart Wi-Fi Routers EA6300, EA6400 By Daniel Perez on 04/30/2013 06:57 PDT Linksys hasn’t been having the greatest past couple of months as it was reported Cisco was planning on selling the brand, most likely at a loss, with Belkin offering to pick up the broken pieces shortly thereafter. Since then, Linksys hasn’t announced any new products, but today, they unveiled a number of new routers and are the first products to be announced since Belkin purchased Linksys.The new routers Linksys is announcing […] Belkin Announces Plans To Purchase Linksys From Cisco By Daniel Perez on 01/25/2013 11:45 PST It looks as though last month’s rumor of Cisco looking to sell its Linksys division turned out to be true as we have just received a press release from Belkin announcing they plan to buy Linksys.Belkin has entered into an agreement with Cisco to purchase its Home Networking Business Unit, which includes the Linksys brand and its employees. Belkin, which is also a major player in the home networking world, hasn’t […]

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News On The Water Click here to access the NWIS Mapper As part of an ongoing effort by the USGS and the Town of Delavan to help make water quality data accessible, follow these steps to retrieve current and historical water quality information for Delavan Lake: 1. Click on the above web to the left 2. When the USGS website appears, go to "Retrieve data from:" and enter beginning and ending dates (YYYY-MM-DD) For example, selecting data for all of 2009 would be 2009-01-01 to 2009-12-31, or just enter specific dates by using the pull down calendars. If you do not choose a date range, you will get all historical data collected since 1983. 3. To view your requested information, select the last entry or "Tab-separated data." Either "Display in browser" or "Save to file" (Excel) for best viewing options THE COMPREHENSIVE LAKE WATER QUALITY PROGRAM The heavy rains of March 9-10 and the week’s intermittent snow melt triggered the 2013 season start-up for the watershed portion of the Town Lake Committee's comprehensive lake water quality monitoring program. The program, jointly financed by the Delavan Lake Sanitary District, the Town of Delavan, and the United States Geological Survey includes monthly monitoring of the lake and its watershed. It also includes the gathering of upstream "loading" data from an automated sampling station on Jackson Creek, and sampling from 8 strategically located stream crossings throughout the watershed. The purpose of the comprehensive monitoring program is to systematically gather the information which the Lake Committee and its expert advisers require to evaluate and guide its ongoing efforts to maintain and improve lake water quality. The 0.80 inch rainfall and the gradual snowmelt provided the perfect opportunity to conduct the first of 8 regularly scheduled sampling efforts in carefully identified locations around the lake's extensive watershed. The sampling is conducted according to strict protocols and the staff charged with the responsibility for collecting the samples has received extensive training by skilled USGS personnel. The samples, 2 from each of the 8 sites are sent to CT Laboratories in Baraboo WI for analysis. The lab is fully certified by cognizant state and federal agencies. Additionally, members of the team reviewed their capabilities. You can check them out at www.ctlaboratories.com. Five separate analyses are conducted on each sample. They include, total phosphorous, total nitrogen, and suspended solids. The resultant information is then forwarded to each of our team members for interpretation. Should one location or another indicate a particularly high concentration of nutrients or suspended solids, the team will further evaluate conditions "upstream" in an effort to identify the source of the elevated loadings, and recommend specific actions to remediate the problem area. An essential part of the watershed monitoring program is the automated sampling site at Jackson Creek maintained by the USGS as an integral part of the Comprehensive program. Jackson Creek accounts for an estimated 68% of all water and approximately 75% of the total phosphorus entering Delavan Lake. The station measures stream flow in real time and the chart below clearly shows the impact of the rainfall and melting over the first weekend in March. The automated sampling system will obtain samples of the incoming stream water both routinely and at peak flow periods. The samples will be subsequently analyzed for suspended sediment, dissolved phosphorous, sediment particle size and Nitrogen. The aggregated information will yield estimates of nutrient loading which can be readily compared to historical data. The Mound Road Sedimentation Ponds, which were rebuilt in 2009, are a critical part of the Lake protection system and the data resulting from both sets of sampling will provide useful management data. The Lake Committee intends to conduct a detailed study of the rate at which sediment has been accumulating in the rebuilt sediment and nutrient control ponds this spring. The information gathered at the station will complement sampling at the route 50 bridge which will in turn provide insight into the effectiveness of the recently completed Inlet dredging project. The In-Lake element of the program is already underway. The first sampling was conducted by USGS staff in February (yes, through the ice). The second sampling will take place as soon as practicable after the ice leaves the Lake. The samples will be analyzed along distinct and meaningful parameters. The results, as was the case last year, will be reported as they become available on the Towns website under the Lake Information tab. We are actively working with others to reliably summarize this data in a simple set of “dashboard measures”. The task has proved to be more complex that we anticipated. Nevertheless, we hope to have that “dashboard” in place by early summer. Dale M. Robertson – USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center Read more about the 2013 USGS Update on the Water Quality of Delavan Lake > BE SURE TO CHECK OUT EACH MONTH UPDATES ON CURRENT PROJECTS in the LAKE PROJECTS SECTION: TOWN PARK PROJECT.... INLET MUCK REDUCTION PROJECT... MOUND ROAD PONDS PROJECT... BROWN CHANNEL MUCK PROJECT AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT DLSD’S BROWN’S CREEK PROJECT The outlet Dam has been repaired and is in good working order. Delavan Lake water level is being adjusted to bring lake back to normal summer level.

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Making American whiskey great again By MICHAEL CHEANG Michter‘s is among a number of new brands of American whiskies that are currently available in Malaysia. While American whiskey is not completely alien to this part of the world, it is only recently that Malaysian bars and consumers have started really taking note of the category, with an influx of brands as well as expressions into the country. One of these brands is Michter’s, which traces its origins all the way back to the very beginning of whiskey-making in the United States. The whiskey company which ultimately became known as Michter’s was originally founded in 1753 by John Shenk, a farmer in Pennsylvania. The original Shenk’s produced whiskey from rye grain, a local crop at the Pennsylvania Blue Mountain Valley where the distillery was located. It was then purchased by a man named Abraham Bomberger in the mid-1800s, and renamed Bomberger’s, before the alcohol-banning Prohibition in 1919 forced the distillery to shut down. After Prohibition was repealed, the distillery went through a number of owners before it found itself in the hands of Lou Forman in the 1950s, who created the modern Michter’s brand name by combining parts of his sons’ names – Michael and Peter. Unfortunately, in 1989 the entire American whiskey industry went through a massive downturn, and Michter’s then-owners declared bankruptcy and abandoned the business completely, leaving the distillery in Pennsylvania in disrepair. It was only later, in the 1990s, that Joseph J. Magliocco and his consultant and mentor Richard “Dick” Newman teamed up to resurrect Michter’s in Kentucky, thus reviving this legendary whiskey brand. Today, the distillery is managed by master distiller Pam Heilmann, who assumed the role in 2016, and set about creating a house style for Michter’s. “We want a rich, bold, flavourful whiskey, we want a great mouthfeel,” Heilmann said in an interview with Distiller in 2017. During a recent visit, Michter’s Asia Pacific brand ambassador John Ng said that American whiskey is getting increasingly popular in recent years, especially in Asia. Michter's Straight Bourbon. “When I started this job around 2016, no one really appreciated it. I would be in front talking about it but no one would be listening – they were just interested in drinking,” he said. “But from late 2017, I started to see a shift, with more people interested in the category.” It also helped that Whisky Bible writer Jim Murray named an American whiskey as his Whiskey Of The Year for three years running – the 2019 winner was William Larue Weller Bourbon. Ng reckons that Murray’s recognistion has definitely helped to raise the profile ofAmerican whiskey, and at the very least, get people talking about it. Ng also thinks that the category will grow bigger in the future, especially in Malaysia, where it is imported by premium spirits distributors Wholly Spirits. “I think the drinkers here are open minded enough to accept the category. In China, they still think American whiskey is supposed to be cheap and harsh!” he said. According to him, the biggest misconception about American whiskey usually comes from those who are more used to drinking Scotch. “One of the most common questions I get is ‘Do you use bourbon barrels?’. I have to explain that without bourbon makers like us, there would be no bourbon barrel to be used in Scotch in the first place!” he said with a laugh. “I also get asked whether bourbon can only be made in Kentucky. Actually, Kentucky is just the biggest area that produces bourbon – other areas can produce bourbon as long as they follow the rules and regulations.” Michter’s currently has four expressions in its core US1 range – Kentucky Straight Rye, Kentucky Straight Bourbon, American Whiskey and Sour Mash. Michter’s Kentucky Straight Rye (42.4% ABV) Michter’s takes its rye whiskey very seriously, thanks to its legacy, which traces back to Shenk’s, which produced mainly rye whiskey. Made with 100% rye, the Michter’s Straight Rye has a surprisingly subtle but floral nose, but a lovely balance of sweetness and spiciness comes through on the palate and finish. “It’s soft and balanced, and is great in a cocktail or on its own,” Ng said. Michter’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon (45.7% ABV) One of Michter’s signature products, the Straight Bourbon is one of the most approchable yet complex I’ve had – rich, full bodied, and full of caramel, stone fruits and vanilla notes and even a hint of honey on the tip of the tongue. “There is a good amount of rye in it because you can get the spiciness of the rye,” said Ng. “It’s great on its own and also in cocktails – even in an Old Fashioned, you can still pick out the bourbon’s flavours easily.” Michter’s takes the term “small batch” on the label very seriously here – each run is batched in a holding tank sized to fit a maximum of 20 full barrels, “Only the top 20 barrels go into the batch, which helps with increasing the quality of the product,” Ng said. “The spirit goes into the barrel at 51.5% ABV, which is the lowest in the entire US. After ageing, it’s about 54-58%, so we don’t actually need a lot of water when we bottle it down to 45%. That means most of what you get (in the bottle) is real whiskey from the barrel.” Michter’s Sour Mash (43% ABV) Although it is essentially a combination of the bourbon and straight rye, the Michter’s Sour Mash is not a blended whiskey, as the “blending” of the bourbon and rye comes in the sour mash process of the production, in which some previously fermented mash is used as the starter for the new mash to be fermented, much like making sourdough bread. Michter’s Sour Mash is produced with a unique grain selection of nearly 50% corn, with rye making up the rest, and a small amount of barley. “The barley acts more like a ‘seasoning’ to add a little more flavour to it,” Ng said. “You get more influences from the bourbon through the body, but more influence from the rye on the palate,” he said. Having tasted the bourbon first, I could get the influence of that spirit on the nose, but on the palate, the rye comes through to provide an extra layer of complex sweet, spicy notes. Michter’s American Whiskey (41.7% ABV) “This one is super complicated to understand,” Ng declares as we move on to this expression. “It is like two whiskies blended together. The first one is a regular bourbon spirit. And the second is a new make spirit that is aged in our own used bourbon barrels,” Ng explained. “It gives the spirit a little more subtleness, and less heavy body and lighter spirit. But we didn’t want it too mild or it would taste like scotch!” The expression is called “unblended” whiskey, because there is already a category called “blended American whiskey”, which is a blend of bourbon and neutral grain spirit. But because Michter’s is blending two whiskies together, with no neutral spirit involved, they could only call it unblended. Michael Cheang wants to make American whiskey great again ... in Malaysia. Drop him a note at the Tipsy-Turvy Facebook page or follow him on Instagram. Tags / Keywords: Making American whiskey great again

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Fulfil promises or government will collapse: Dr Mahathir Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad delivers his keynote address when opening Forsea Kuala Lumpur Democracy Festival 2019 on Feb 16, 2019. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Any government will collapse if they fail to fulfil their promises to the rakyat, according to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,. He said this also applies to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) led government that took over from Barisan Nasional (BN), following the coalition’s victory at the 14th General Election. “People have decided that, now is the time for the opposition to take over power and the opposition have made promises, a lot of promises. So now the nation is watching this opposition government implementing those promises. “Unfortunately they (PH) find themselves quite unable to implement many of their promises. So it begins the next round of running down the government,” he said in his keynote address when opening Forsea (Forces of Renewal South East Asia) Kuala Lumpur Democracy Festival 2019, here today. Also present were Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu and Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari. The event was organised by Forsea, a non-profit organization and a cross-national community working peacefully for social change across the region. This 5-day event that began on Feb 13, brings together an ensemble of entertainers, poets and musicians from Malaysia and South East Asia including a special cultural performance and traditional Malaysian dance. Dr Mahathir pointed out that the quest to stay with all the promises would not be easy, partly because of the mess left behind by the previous government which was so bad, whereby making corrective actions was extremely difficult. “But people want to see the change right now. Whether they like it or not, they will have to bear with the present government because it takes time to correct all the wrongdoings of the previous government,” he added. The premier drove home the point that the suitable and best system to change a government is via democracy, whereas no other system would be able to bring changes peacefully. “It requires a mindset or culture that is willing to except changes taking place merely with the support of the rakyat. In the past, when there is an authoritarian government, changes would only take place through a revolution, a violent revolution, a civil war which may destroy the country. “But in the democratic process, the collaborative support of the rakyat can result in the change of a government. Therefore, despite its imperfection it is still the best system of governance,” he said drawing applause from the hall. He said Malaysia had succeeded in applying the democratic system in the last general election when the rakyat voted for a change in the government for the first time in 61 years, without any violence hence the transition went smoothly. “We witnessed a change of government taking place as a result of democratic process of a general election. Normally those in power will try to retain their position despite all the objections towards them. They will do all kinds of things which are wrong but unfortunately for them they did not succeed. “And so the transition from the whole 61-year old government to this new government has been achieved without violence. There was no fight, destruction in this country, no civil war or any kind, instead by the strong support for the opposition. The incumbent government had to accept that they had lost,” he added. Dr Mahathir said this democratic system should not be taken lightly as it was not perfect and had many weaknesses that could be exploited. He explained that when people change the government, togetherness in the new government when ruling the country was very important, or else there would be chaos and bring no benefit to the democratic transition process. — Bernama Pix for representational purpose only. Man wants to sue condom manufacturer for holes in condoms How can we make sure new technologies stay centred on human wellbeing? — Axel Heimken / DPA To stop a tech apocalypse we need ethics and the arts Maid spikes rice with saliva, urine and menstrual blood in revenge against employer (Video) Creative expression in full flow with Sunway’s CNY commercial

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https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/Goldschmidt-homers-in-return-Cardinals-hold-off-14463487.php Goldschmidt homers in return, Cardinals hold off D-backs, 9-7 Greg Shashack, gshashack@thetelegraph.com Published 7:46 am CDT, Tuesday, September 24, 2019 Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt smiles in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Diamondbacks in the third inning Monday in Phoenix. PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks made it obvious they appreciated Paul Goldschmidt in his return to the desert, honoring him with a tribute video before the game and multiple ovations throughout the evening. Clearly, everyone thought this night was a pretty big deal. Except for the man being honored. The stoic first baseman still had work to do. Goldschmidt smacked a two-run homer in his Chase Field reunion, Yadier Molina also had a two-run shot, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Diamondbacks 9-7 Monday night for their sixth straight win. “It’s all what you make of it, and for me this was just another game,” Goldschmidt said. “I’m appreciative of all the fans coming out, cheering me on, the standing ovation. But I just didn’t want to make too big a deal of it.” For Goldschmidt, the real importance of the game was that his team won again. The Cardinals have a 3 1/2-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. St. Louis has five games remaining in the regular season while Milwaukee has six. The Diamondbacks — who have hung around the fringes of the NL wild-card race for months — were officially eliminated from postseason contention. “We left some money on the table throughout the course of the season and those are the things that we are going to have to address and tighten up a little bit,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. Goldschmidt had a big night in his return to Arizona after playing eight years for the Diamondbacks from 2011-18. He got a loud ovation from fans in the first inning before drawing a walk. In the third, he drove a change-up from Alex Young just over the right-center field fence for his 32nd homer of the season and 100th in his career at Chase Field, which is the most in the stadium’s history. “Good for Goldy,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “Obviously, in the moment, but it’s just a really special return for him I’m sure. Really class job with the tribute.” Adam Wainwright (14-9) won his fifth straight start, though he didn’t have his best stuff. He gave up eight hits and five runs over five innings. Young (7-5) gave up six earned runs over five innings. He struck out five and walked two. Arizona fell behind 6-2 in the fifth inning after Molina’s two-run homer, but scored three runs off Wainwright in the fifth to pull within one. St. Louis got breathing room in the eighth inning when Harrison Bader ripped a solo homer to left field and the offense added two more runs in the ninth. Carlos Martínez earned his 24th save. The Cardinals were sharp in another win despite coming off an intense four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs, who are also fighting for playoff position. Goldschmidt said the team’s stoic personality has been an asset. “We don’t get too down or too excited,” Goldschmidt said. “We just play hard every day.” GOLDY’S RETURN Goldschmidt acknowledged the crowd after the video tribute, waving his hat. The 32-year-old first baseman hit .297 with 209 homers and 710 RBIs in his Diamondbacks tenure while helping the team make the playoffs in 2011 and ‘17. He also made six NL All-Star teams and won three Gold Gloves. He was traded during the offseason for catcher Carson Kelly, pitcher Luke Weaver, infielder Andy Young and a draft pick. Cardinals: St. Louis will start RHP Jack Flaherty (10-8, 2.96 ERA). He gave up just one run over eight innings in a win over the Cubs on Friday. He threw a season-high 118 pitches. Diamondbacks: Arizona will start RHP Mike Leake (12-11, 4.38). He’s 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA over his last five starts.

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Pinterest could prove a passing fad April 11 2019, 12:01am, The Times Pinterest is a risky long-term investment as it is a relatively small player in the digital advertising marketLIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES The second of this year’s big technology floats is almost upon us, with Pinterest expected to list on the New York stock exchange next week (James Dean writes). The usual euphoria has been replaced with an air of caution, though — and not just because of last month’s topsy-turvy debut of Lyft, the taxi-hailing service. Pinterest’s software platform allows users to “pin” digital pictures on public and private boards. It is a popular tool for creative types such as product designers and architects, as well as families wanting to share interior design ideas. It has devoted fans, if not the mass appeal of a Facebook or an Instagram. The company was founded in 2010 by Evan Sharp, its chief design and creative officer, Ben Silbermann,…

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5 Historic Elections Crazier Than This One (Photos) Whatever happens at the polls today, it won’t be crazier than what happened in 1824 Matt Pressberg and Tim Molloy | November 8, 2016 @ 10:27 AM Last Updated: November 8, 2016 @ 10:30 AM The 2016 election will be over in just a few hours. But if you think the Donald Trump-Hillary Clinton race is the craziest in our history, you'll be relieved or horrified to learn that we've survived even crazier ones... as the following examples show. The 1824 presidential election was a four-way race (are you kidding me) between members of the same party (no, seriously). Andrew Jackson won the most Electoral College and popular votes, but because no one had a plurality, the House of Representatives got to choose the president. Ridiculous. In what Jackson supporters called the "corrupt bargain," the House chose John Quincy Adams, the first son of a president to become president himself. History would repeat itself in 2000, when another mess of a vote would result in a presidential son becoming president. Jackson's supporters' rage helped fuel his 1828 victory and 1832 re-election. In the 1912 election, the incumbent, William Howard Taft, got fewer Electoral College votes than former president-turned-third-party candidate Teddy Roosevelt. Taft had been Roosevelt's War Secretary, and Roosevelt supported Taft as his successor in 1908, but he quickly regretted that and ran against Taft as the leader of the "Bull Moose" party. One more twist: They both lost to Woodrow Wilson. I'm not bull moose-ing you. In 1940, Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt did something no one had done before when he ran for a third term. (He won, and died in office during his fourth.) Before you get any ideas, President Obama can't run again, because after Roosevelt, we passed the Twenty-Second Amendment, which sets presidential term limits. That means Roosevelt will be the first and last president to serve more than two terms. In 1968, Democrat frontrunner Robert F. Kennedy was shot and killed. Crazy, and horrible. For all Donald Trump's talk about Hillary Clinton getting shot, this election has been mercifully free of actual shootings. In 1972, just four years after Kennedy, segregationist Democratic candidate George Wallace was shot and paralyzed. Wallace survived and later made peace with some of the Civil Rights leaders he bedeviled in the 1960s, but too late, alas, to change his historic reputation as a champion of racism. The 1972 election was bananas. Like Banana Republic bananas. Thomas Eagleton had to step down as George McGovern's veep nominee after it was revealed he had been hospitalized for depression. McGovern went on to lose, badly, to President Nixon, who would go on to resign in the Watergate scandal in 1974. A positive aside: 1972 also included an African-American woman candidate, Shirley Chisholm. She was the first black candidate for a major party's nomination, and the first woman to run for the Democratic nod. A progressive hero, she paved the way for both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Dishonorable mention: Let's not forget that for more than a month after the 2000 election, we had no idea who the next president would be, thanks to the farcical Florida recount. Embarrassing. George W. Bush only got the nomination after a whispering campaign that his Republican rival, John McCain, had fathered a black love child. I know that sounds like something that would happen in an election in the 1850s, but no, it was just 16 years ago. You can read all about it here.

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Nat Geo on Upcoming Bill O’Reilly Project: ‘We’re Not Making Any Decisions’ Cable channel is in early development adapting his best-selling “Killing Patton” book Tony Maglio | April 19, 2017 @ 1:38 PM Last Updated: April 19, 2017 @ 2:17 PM Nat Geo’s not sure what it’s going to do with this whole Bill O’Reilly debacle. “‘Killing Patton’ is currently in early development for 2019 as has been widely reported,” a company spokesperson told TheWrap via a statement. “Tonight is our upfront and we’re focused on announcing our robust and exciting 2018 slate.” “We’re not making any decisions at the moment beyond our current upfront slate,” the cable channel concluded. Also Read: Here's How Fox News Is Replacing 'The O'Reilly Factor' “Killing Patton” is an adaptation of a 2014 nonfiction book of the same title about the death of WWII General George Patton, which was written by O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. Executive producers are O’Reilly, Ridley Scott, David Zucker and Mary Lisio. Clayton Krueger is co-executive producer. Should the project continue on, it will follow in the footsteps of other O’Reilly book-to-TV-movie adaptations such as “Killing Reagan,” “Killing Lincoln,” “Killing Kennedy” and “Killing Jesus.” O’Reilly was let go from Fox News Channel (FNC) this afternoon, following a sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct scandal. Read all about FNC’s new primetime plans here. Bill O'Reilly Sexual Harassment Scandal: Complete Timeline of Events (Photos) “The O’Reilly Factor” host Bill O’Reilly, the most-watched and most profitable personality on cable news, is officially out at Fox News. Here’s everything you need to know about the Fox profit machine’s fall from grace amid sexual harassment scandals. This year, O’Reilly has continued to dominate the ratings, ranking as the No. 1 most-watched cable news host — a position he’s held for more than a decade. Research firm Kantar Media estimated “The O’Reilly Factor” earned $446 million from advertisers between 2014 and 2016. See the 2017 cable rankings here. 2004: In O'Reilly's first public run-in with sexual harassment claims, the host settled a lawsuit filed by his former producer, Andrea Mackris, according to a Washington Post report. The payout in the settlement was not disclosed. January 2017: The current scandal begins to bubble when the New York Times reports that Fox News and O'Reilly secretly settled a sexual harassment lawsuit in January. Juliet Huddy, a former Fox News employee, alleged that in 2011, O'Reilly tried to derail her career after she turned down sexual advances he made on her. April 1, 2017: The New York Times reported that O’Reilly and Fox News have settled sexual harassment and verbal abuse claims with five different women aimed at the host over the years. The two settlements mentioned above had been previously reported, but three were unknown. The payouts to women to end their suits total $13 million. Read more here. April 1: In addition to the settlements, two other women allege sexual harassment against O’Reilly. Former Fox host Andrea Tantaros alleged O’Reilly sexually harassed her in a lawsuit against former Fox CEO Roger Ailes. Radio host Wendy Walsh also came forward to allege O’Reilly made sexual advances on her when she was a guest on his show in 2013, and reneged on a promise to get her a job at the network after she rebuffed him. April 4: As the scandal grew, O'Reilly sponsors began to jump ship. Eleven O'Reilly sponsors exit the show, including Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, BMW, GlaxoSmithKline, Allstate, T. Rowe Price and Constant Contact. Read the full story here. Mitsubishi/BMW April 5: Donald Trump supports O'Reilly, saying the host "shouldn't have settled." Trump also said "I don't think Bill did anything wrong." Read the rest of the story here. April 5: Even more sponsors pulled their support for "The O'Reilly Factor." The advertisers jumping ship include Lexus, Credit Karma, Bayer, TrueCar, Wayfair, Orkin, Society for Human Resources Management, CFP Board and Coldwell Banker. The total number of sponsors departing the show now totaled at least 20. Read more here. April 5: As the scandal heated up, others weighed in, including former Obama speechwriters. Celebrities such as Patton Oswalt and Bette Midler called for O'Reilly's firing on Twitter. D.L. Hughley wondered if O'Reilly has become a target because of his money, amid a few jokes at his expense. April 6: As more advertisers pulled out of "The O'Reilly Factor," two sponsors told TheWrap their ads were aired by Fox News against their wishes. Both MyPillow and Crowne Plaza said their ads were aired despite instructions to Fox not to do so. Read more here. April 7: Fox apparently stands behind O’Reilly despite sexual harassment allegations, and women at the network are reportedly “in anguish” that O’Reilly went “unrebuked.” Meanwhile, the number of advertisers who have pulled out from “The O’Reilly Factor” climbed to 60 or more. Read the full story here. April 7: Angie’s List, an advertiser that vocally stood by O’Reilly through the scandal, bowed to public boycott pressure and dropped its “Factor” sponsorship. Read the story here. April 8: "Saturday Night Live" took aim at the O'Reilly scandal, while sending up Trump's support for the host. Alec Baldwin played both O'Reilly and Trump on the show. Watch the sketch here. April 9: Fox News pledged to investigate the sexual harassment claims against O'Reilly, including Walsh's. Read the full story here. April 11: Fox News aired what might have been the final episode of “The O’Reilly Factor.” The April 11 episode is O’Reilly’s last before a vacation he said he scheduled in the fall, running until April 24. But reports suggested O’Reilly may not return to the network when his vacation ends. Read more here. April 13: In a letter congratulating Fox News on recent successes, Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch failed to mention O’Reilly or the ongoing scandal. Read the full story here. April 18: An African American woman came forward to allege O'Reilly sexually and racially harassed her as a protest advocating O'Reilly's firing takes place at the Fox News headquarters in New York City. According to a statement by lawyer Lisa Bloom, the woman is "not asking for money, just accountability." Read more here. April 18: The Wall Street Journal, a publication owned by the Murdoch family (who also own Fox news), reported the network was looking to cut ties with O'Reilly before he returned from his scheduled vacation on April 24. Read the full story here. Getty Images/Fox News April 19: Women’s advocacy group UltraViolet urges Fox to “stop protecting sexual harassers” and fire O’Reilly in an online ad. Read more here. April 19: Fox News parent company 20th Century Fox releases a statement that O'Reilly will not return to the network. Read the story here. Everything you need to know about Bill O’Reilly’s ouster at Fox News Bill O’Reilly’s Book Publisher Says It’s Sticking by Him Despite Sexual Harassment Scandal (Exclusive) By Itay Hod | April 19, 2017 @ 1:20 PM Here’s Bill O’Reilly’s Final Sign-Off From ‘The O’Reilly Factor’ (Video) Liberal Twitter Celebrates End of Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News Career: ‘I Never Want This Day to End’ By Ross A. Lincoln | April 19, 2017 @ 12:34 PM Murdochs Send Fox News Staff Note About Bill O’Reilly’s Ouster: Read It Here By Tony Maglio | April 19, 2017 @ 11:43 AM

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Should Cigarettes Be Illegal? ONOKY/Fabrice Lerouge/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images by Tom Head Tom Head, Ph.D., is a historian specializing in the history of ethics, religion, and ideas. He has authored or co-authored 29 nonfiction books, including "Civil Liberties: A Beginner's Guide." Will Congress, or various states, begin to ban the sale and distribution of cigarettes? According to a recent Zogby poll, 45% of those surveyed supported a ban on cigarettes within the next 5-10 years. Among respondents aged 18-29, the figure was 57%. Cigarette bans are nothing new. Several states (such as Tennessee and Utah) enacted bans on tobacco near the end of the 19th century, and various municipalities have more recently banned indoor smoking in restaurants and other public places. 1. Under Supreme Court precedent, a federal ban on cigarettes passed by Congress would almost unquestionably be constitutional. Federal drug regulations operate under the authority of Article, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, better known as the Commerce Clause, which reads: The Congress shall have power ... To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes ... Gonzales v. Raich Justice John Paul Stevens Congress could have rationally concluded that the aggregate impact on the national market of all the transactions exempted from federal supervision is unquestionably substantial. 2. Cigarettes pose a grave public health hazard. As Terry Martin, About.com's Quit Smoking Guide, explains: Cigarettes pose a wide range of health risks, including blindness, stroke, heart attacks, osteoporosis, and more forms of cancer and lung disease than you can shake a stick at. Cigarettes contain 599 additives, and function as "a delivery system for toxic chemicals and carcinogens." Nicotine is highly addictive. even nonsmokers 1. The individual right to privacy should allow people to harm their own bodies with dangerous drugs, should they choose to do so. While the government has the power to enact public smoking bans, there is no legitimate basis for laws restricting private smoking. We may as well pass laws prohibiting people from eating too much, or sleeping too little, or skipping medication, or taking on high-stress jobs. Laws regulating personal conduct can be justified on three grounds: The Harm Principle, which states that laws are justified if they prevent individuals from causing harm to others. For strict civil libertarians, this is the only legitimate basis of law. Examples of Harm Principle laws include the vast bulk of the criminal code--laws dealing with murder, robbery, assault, fraud, and so forth. Morality Law, which prevent individuals from engaging in conduct that is offensive to the sensibilities of those in power, regardless of whether or not it harms others. Most Morality Law statutes have something to do with sex. Examples of Morality Laws include most obscenity laws, sodomy laws, and laws banning same-sex marriage. Paternalism, which prevents individuals from engaging in conduct that is harmful to themselves. While Morality Law tends to be a conservative idea, the logic of Paternalism is generally more common among liberals. Examples of Paternalism laws include, well, laws regulating private drug use. The logic of Paternalism ("Stop or you'll go blind!") is also frequently used in conjunction with Morality Law to regulate sexual activities. 2. Tobacco is essential to the economy of many rural communities. As documented in a 2000 USDA report, restrictions on tobacco-related products do have a substantial impact on local economies. The report did not examine the potential effects of a full-scale ban, but even existing regulation poses an economic threat: Public health policies intended to reduce the incidence of smoking-related disease adversely affect thousands of tobacco farmers, manufacturers, and other businesses that produce, distribute, and sell tobacco products ... Many tobacco farmers lack good alternatives to tobacco, and they have tobacco-specific equipment, buildings, and experience. Where It Stands Regardless of the arguments pro and con, a federal ban on cigarettes is a practical impossibility. Consider: Approximately 45 million Americans smoke. When voter turnout in 2004 (the highest since 1968) was only 125 million, any smoking ban would have such an overwhelmingly massive effect on U.S. politics that the party or politician responsible for the ban would soon lose all political power. The government simply does not have adequate law enforcement personnel to change the behavior of 45 million people by force. The tobacco lobby is one of the most powerful political forces in America. When California proposed a new 2006 tax referendum on tobacco extraction, tobacco companies were able to painlessly drop almost $70 million in advertisements to defeat it. To put this in perspective: Remember in 2004, when everybody talked about what a dynamo Howard Dean was because of his unparalleled fund-raising ability? Well, he raised $51 million. But it is still worth asking ourselves: If it's wrong to ban cigarettes, then why isn't it just as wrong to ban other addictive drugs, such as marijuana? Is Smoking Allowed for Muslims? How the Controversial Tobacco Plant Grew to What It Is Today Here's What Happens When You Smoke Near an Oxygen Tank At What Age Can You Legally Buy Cigarettes (and Smoke) in Canada? See a Timeline of Gun Control in the U.S. from 1791 to the Present List of Organs Damaged by Smoking Expanded History and Function of the Electronic Cigarette Is Cow's Milk a Human Health Risk? Compelling Reasons Why Weed Should Be Legalized What Are the Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana in the U.S.? Does Nicotine Affect Weight Loss? Learn the Basic Reasons Why We Need Laws to Exist In Society Brief History of the US Federal Income Tax Is Abortion Legal in Every State? Classification Paragraphs and Essays A Look at What Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Supporters Believe

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Home » Newsroom » Press Releases » UNRWA students elect the second ever Agency-wide Student Parliament UNRWA students elect the second ever Agency-wide Student Parliament On November 21, the 22 newly elected members of the second ever UNRWA-wide student parliament, representing Palestine Refugee boys and girls from the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria met during a workshop organized in Beirut. They convened after their successful elections to discuss their priority objectives and action plan for the coming twelve months. They also elected a President, a Vice-President and a Secretary. Fourteen-year-old Ahmad Al-Jamal, from Rafah in Gaza, was elected President and told his colleagues: “We have a big responsibility and must work together in the interest of all UNRWA students”. Thirteen year-old Saja Sbehat, from Nablus in the West Bank, was elected Vice-President. Fifteen year-old Islam Borqan, from South Amman in Jordan, assumed the position of Parliament Secretary. Over the past two years, UNRWA has invested a great deal of energy to empower Palestine refugee youth and create a platform to foster participation. UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl congratulated the newly elected members: ”You have been elected to represent 530,000 boys and girls who live in difficult environments and they will expect you to carry their voices to us and the world. I encourage you and call on you to assume your roles with modesty and a deep sense of responsibility”. The Agency-wide Student Parliament was first established in 2017, providing an opportunity for UNRWA students to get to know each other, exchange experiences, work together to support their communities, and advocate for their rights locally, regionally, and globally. This Agency-level platform builds on the school-level student parliaments operational in UNRWA schools since 2001. Infinite Laughs and Smiles: EU Fun Days in Lebanon Rented Premises in Jordan When Sports Can Help Illuminate the Future Taking on the world: Palestine Refugee Students in Lebanon Receive International Recognition UNRWA Students Elect the Third Agency-Wide Student Parliament

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U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR Catching Up With 2014 Women’s Amateur Champion Kristen Gillman August 6, 2015 | Far Hills, N.J. By David Shefter, USGA Kristen Gillman's sister and father were among those by her side when she captured the U.S. Women's Amateur title at Nassau Country Club. (USGA/Darren Carroll) U.S. Women's Amateur Home Kristen Gillman’s defense of her U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship title begins on Aug. 10 at Portland (Ore.) Golf Club. It has been a whirlwind year for the 17-year-old from Austin, Texas. She has competed in three women’s professional major championships, including the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club, visited six countries, and even traveled around the world during a three-week period last fall. On the eve of this year’s Women’s Amateur, Gillman answered a few questions about her last 365 days, a journey that began with a 2-up victory over Brooke Mackenzie Henderson in the 2014 championship match at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, N.Y. Now that it has been a year, have you had time to reflect on your accomplishment? Gillman: I think it has [sunk in]. It isn’t going to stop me from wanting to achieve more things like that in the future. It definitely makes me hungrier to do it again. Has it been different playing in USGA or other big events as the Women’s Amateur champion? Gillman: You don’t think anything of it before you are about to tee off and then when they announce your name, they announce you as the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion. I always get surprised every time I hear that. I know I did it but sometimes I forget they are going to announce it. It doesn’t happen at every tournament, but at USGA events, it’s cool when they announce it before you tee off. Was there a favorite country among those you visited? Gillman: They were all fun in different ways. I liked them all. Did you get to sample any local delicacies or try some different foods? Gillman: I tried haggis in Scotland. It wasn’t that bad, but I definitely wouldn’t eat it on a normal basis. I tried a lot of stuff in Japan. They would have raw fish and rice, and egg that is not cooked [for breakfast]. Was there a landmark or moment that stood out? Gillman: I guess going to Scotland was cool because that’s a place most golfers want to go. You just returned from Scotland after playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Turnberry. What was that experience like? Gillman: It was really cool. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. It was cool to see what it’s like to play in the tough conditions. I’m definitely used to wind [being from Texas], but it was definitely a lot windier there than it is in Texas. More From the Women's Amateur Championships U.S. Women's Amateur Preview: Pumped for Portland Championships 2015 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship Storylines Championships Nine USGA Champions in U.S. Women's Amateur Field Championships Gillman Wins 2014 U.S. Women's Amateur Was there a practice round or moment that stood out from your three major-championship appearances? Gillman: The most memorable was being able to play with Michelle Wie and Mo Martin at the Women’s Open. They were both really patient and they both are really good putters. Did you befriend any professionals? Gillman: I really got to know [U.S. Women’s Amateur champions] Morgan Pressel and Lydia Ko all throughout the year. I’ve enjoyed playing with them in some practice rounds and talking about my tournaments. We really didn’t talk about [the Women’s Amateur]. What was the best experience from the year, whether it was a major championship or an amateur competition? Gillman: They were all really fun. Playing in Japan [at the Women’s World Amateur], I had a lot of fun with my team, and playing in the Pan Am Games [in Toronto last month] was cool because that’s really a big event. How were you perceived by classmates in Austin after winning the Women’s Amateur? Gillman: There were some people who I would be talking to and someone would say, ‘Are you that girl who is really good at golf?’ I was like, ‘Uh, I don’t know.’ But it was also nice because winning got me into a lot of things. I got to start school a month later [than expected]. The Women’s World Amateur, Evian Championship in France and Junior Ryder Cup in Scotland were all in the fall, so how much school did you miss because of those events? Gillman: I was gone for 31 days. I missed probably 36 days of school before I started [in the fall]. And then I missed some [days] periodically throughout the year. Can you estimate how many miles you have flown? Gillman: I have no idea. I don’t really pay attention to [my frequent-flier status]. I flew to Japan, to France, to Scotland and back [to Texas]. We went around the world. Did your teachers give you homework online? Gillman: I had to withdraw from school [for the first quarter], so I wasn’t registered as a student. So technically, I didn’t have to make up the work for the first month. I skipped six out of the first nine weeks for the first quarter. I didn’t miss the whole thing, so I still had three weeks of grades. That’s what my [guidance] counselor told me to do. [After that], it was pretty easy to get everything made up. My teachers at my school are really understanding about athletes, so they don’t make it too hard for us to make it up. Now I’m all caught up and scheduled to graduate next spring. What classes were you making up once you re-enrolled? Gillman: Mostly just math. It’s my best subject, so I didn’t have to spend too much time making that up. Then I had to take two English tests. And I learned some physics. I get almost straight As. Were you asked to do any special reports for a class? Gillman: I did a PowerPoint about one tournament for one of my classes. It was the [LPGA Tour’s] Swinging Skirts [at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, Calif.]. It was for sports marketing, so I had to talk about what marketing the LPGA does. Was it different competing in the team events in Japan, Canada and Scotland? Gillman: Team events are a lot more fun, especially when you are playing for your country because you just get so excited to play with teammates whom you have known since before the tournament. So you are playing with your friends for your country.

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NGP Standards and Specifications+ Supporting Themes NGP Standards and Specifications Lidar derived digital elevation model Flatirons, Boulder, Colorado 3D rendering, orthoimagery draped over lidar DEM Alaska Ifsar 5 meter shaded relief near Anchorage derived from interferometric radar 3D Elevation Program Standards and Specifications The 3DEP products and services available through The National Map consist of standard digital elevation models (DEMs) at various horizontal resolutions, elevation source (lidar) and associated datasets, and web applications and visualization services. Products of the 3D Elevation Program are built upon the most current applicable standards for geospatial data. The National Map Elevation Datasets The National Map serves elevation data for the United States at a variety of resolutions. The most recent and highest resolution elevation data are acquired by the USGS 3D Elevation Program. The primary goal of 3DEP is to systematically collect 3D elevation data in the form of light detection and ranging (lidar) data over the conterminous United States, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IfSAR) in Alaska. The lower resolution DEMs are available in a nation-wide seamless layer and are covered by The National Map Seamless Digital Elevation Model Specifications. These products, specified by the horizontal resolution, are 1/3-arc-second 1-arc-second Higher resolution DEMs are available in limited areas and are seamless on a project-level but not nation-wide. Please note that the primary goal of 3DEP is to produce the highest resolution, 1-meter, layer nation-wide, based on lidar (5-meter in Alaska based on IfSAR). The higher resolution DEMs are covered, in part, by the 1-Meter Digital Elevation Model Specification. These products are 1/9-arc-second (being replaced by 1-meter products) 1-meter 5-meter (Alaska) Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) is the technology used as a basis for the 1-meter 3DEP DEMs. Collections of lidar data are covered by the Lidar Base Specification (LBS). Spec-X Spec-X is the NGP Specifications Explorer database application. The current release is a beta version and is subject to updates and major changes. Additional specifications are being added on a regular basis. 3DEP Product Metadata Metadata for 3DEP products conform to the Federal Geographic Data Committee's content standard for digital geospatial metadata. 3DEP Product Standards 3DEP products are documented using the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) content standard for geospatial metadata. 3DEP products are searchable collections through the Data.gov Open Government Initiative. Elevation products are provided in formats that are fully compliant with Executive Order 12906, OMB Circular A-16, OMB Circular A130 , and OMB Circular A-119. If you encounter problems or require more information about these standards, please contact National Map Help. - Any -AudioBefore/After ImageFileGalleryImageStereogramVideoWebcam Topics (field_topics) Select Year20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980197919781977197619751974197319721971197019691968196719661965196419631962196119601959195819571956195519541953195219511950194919481947194619451944194319421941194019391938193719361935193419331932193119301929192819271926192519241923192219211920191919181917191619151914191319121911191019091908190719061905190419031902190119001899189818971896189518941893189218911890188918881887188618851884188318821881188018791878187718761875187418731872187118701869186818671866186518641863186218611860185918581857185618551854185318521851185018491848184718461845184418431842184118401839183818371836183518341833183218311830182918281827182618251824182318221821182018191818181718161815181418131812181118101809180818071806180518041803180218011800 Sort by Original SortDefault DescRelease Date AscRelease Date Desc 3DEP Spatial Metadata Glossary Attribution: Core Science Systems, National Geospatial Program Elevation Specifications Review Board Charter Version 1.0 of the charter forming the Elevation Specifications Review Board logstash-usgs-pw:palladium_root_topics Select TopicsMapping, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Data (2) Select Year2017 (1)2015 (1)2012 (1) The National Map seamless digital elevation model specifications This specification documents the requirements and standards used to produce the seamless elevation layers for The National Map of the United States. Seamless elevation data are available for the conterminous United States, Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. territories, in three different resolutions—1/3-arc-second, 1-arc-second, and 2-arc-second. These... Archuleta, Christy-Ann M.; Constance, Eric W.; Arundel, Samantha T.; Lowe, Amanda J.; Mantey, Kimberly S.; Phillips, Lori A. Attribution: Mapping, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Data, Core Science Systems, Water Resources, National Geospatial Program, United States of America, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS), National Geospatial Technical Operations Center, NGP Standards and Specifications Archuleta, C.M., Constance, E.W., Arundel, S.T., Lowe, A.J., Mantey, K.S., and Phillips, L.A., 2017, The National Map seamless digital elevation model specifications: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 11, chap. B9, 39 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/tm11B9. 1-Meter Digital Elevation Model specification In January 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey National Geospatial Technical Operations Center began producing the 1-Meter Digital Elevation Model data product. This new product was developed to provide high resolution bare-earth digital elevation models from light detection and ranging (lidar) elevation data and other elevation data collected over... Arundel, Samantha T.; Archuleta, Christy-Ann M.; Phillips, Lori A.; Roche, Brittany L.; Constance, Eric W. Arundel, S.T., Archuleta, C.M., Phillips, L.A., Roche, B.L., and Constance, E.W., 2015, 1-meter digital elevation model specification: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 11, chap. B7, 25 p. with appendixes, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/tm11B7. Lidar base specification In late 2009, a $14.3 million allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for new light detection and ranging (lidar) elevation data acquisition prompted the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Geospatial Program (NGP) to develop a common minimum specification for all lidar data acquired for The National Map. Released as a... Heidemann, Hans Karl Attribution: Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Core Science Systems, Water Resources, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, National Geospatial Program, United States of America, Coastal Changes and Impacts, National Geospatial Technical Operations Center, NGP Standards and Specifications Heidemann, Hans Karl, 2018, Lidar base specification (ver. 1.3, February 2018): U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 11, chap. B4, 101 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/tm11b4.

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Berlin Land prizes awarded for animal-free research on flu viruses and stroke disease Deutsch Share Print On October 12, 2017, the "Prizes to promote research methods to replace or complement animal experiments" were awarded for the fourth time by the State of Berlin. The prizes were sponsored by the German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa) and the Berlin Veterinary Association. The awards went to projects on animal-free identification of flu viruses and the development of a platform that uses brain tissue produced from human stem cells as a model for research into stroke disease. The prizes are worth a total of 25,000 euros. Every two years, these prizes are awarded to research projects in Berlin or Brandenburg that make a contribution to eliminating or reducing the use of experimental animals or to reducing the stress suffered by the animals in animal testing. This year the prizes were awarded by Dr. Dirk Behrendt, the Senator for Justice, Consumer Protection and Anti-Discrimination in the State of Berlin. An animal-free human brain model for research into stroke disease Dr. Philipp Mergenthaler and Dr. Harald Stachelscheid from the Charité University Hospital Berlin and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) were awarded the prize for the development of a model platform that simulates human brain tissue in two and three-dimensional systems. The prizewinners Dr. Harald Stachelscheid (2nd from left) and Dr. Philipp Mergenthaler (3rd from left) with Senator Dr. Dirk Behrendt (left), Dr. Heidemarie Ratsch (President of the Berlin Veterinary Association), Dr. Siegfried Throm (vfa, 2nd from right) and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Dirnagel (Charité Berlin, right) who presented the awards These human nerve cells and cerebral organoids (in other words, tissue that is similar in structure to the brain and also replicates some of its functions) are intended to be used in the study of complex disease processes and in the development of new treatment methods for stroke disease. So, in the future, fewer experiments using mice and rats should be necessary; currently, a considerable amount of stroke research is conducted using these animals. The novel models are constructed using induced pluripotent stem cells which are derived from adult human cells. The researchers use automated microscopy and imaging analysis for investigations using these models. The aim of the present project is to show that findings, which have already been obtained using traditional methods, can be reproduced in this way. The ongoing aim is to obtain new findings on stroke and stroke treatment. Dr. Mergenthaler is a neuroscientist and physician in the Department for Experimental Neurology, Center for Stroke Research Berlin, the NeuroCure Clinical Research Center and the Department of Neurology at the Charité and Fellow of the Charité-BIH Clinical Scientist Program. Dr. Stachelscheid is a stem cell biologist at the Berlin Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies and head of the BIH Stem Cell Core Facility. Identifying flu viruses without using animal sera Professor Dr. Frank Bier, Dr. Henry Memczak, Dr. Marc Hovestädt, PD Dr. Thorsten Wolff and Dr. Nenand Gajovic-Eichelmann received the prize for their ongoing research on "Developing a peptide-based subtyping platform for flu viruses (FluType)". They work at the University of Potsdam, the Robert Koch Institute (Berlin) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology - Department of Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (Potsdam). In a few years, the test system developed by their consortium could replace the thousands of ferrets hitherto required worldwide every year for determining the "subtype" of flu viruses from which a specific patient is suffering. Senator Dr. Dirk Behrendt (left), the prize winners (from l. to r.) Dr. Mark Hovestädt, Dr. Henry Memczak, Dr. Nenand Gajovic-Eichelmann, PD Dr. Thorsten Wolff, Dr. Heidemarie Ratsch (President of the Berlin Veterinary Association), Prof. Dr. Dr. Ralf Einspanier (Free University of Berlin, 2nd from right), who awarded the prize, and Dr. Siegfried Throm (vfa, right) For not all flu viruses are the same; at any given time, there are different variants of flu viruses in circulation - these are called subtypes and identified by abbreviations such as A(H5N1) or A(H7N9). In addition, due to natural genetic modifications, new subtypes are always appearing. Every year it must be clarified which subtypes are currently the most important worldwide before vaccine production starts for annual flu protection, because vaccines can only protect against precisely those flu subtypes for which they have been developed. This requires studies on virus samples throughout the world; in Germany, for example, this takes place at the Berlin Robert Koch Institute. Up till now, however, virus experts have been relying for subtype determination on so-called "specific hyperimmune sera" from the blood of thousands of ferrets, whose production takes several weeks. In contrast, the new system will manage without animals and will deliver results faster. This can then make flu vaccines a more reliable match to the virus subtypes that are predominantly in circulation. The new subtype determination method is currently being tested for its reliability. vfa has been the sponsor of the prize since 2011 Dr. Siegfried Throm, Director of Research/Development/Innovation at the German Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, explained vfa's involvement, "Already, pharmaceutical companies are minimizing the use of experimental animals whilst providing them with the best possible welfare. They are focused on pursuing the goal of further reducing the number of animals used. To this end, they are themselves developing alternative methods and are also interested in methods that are being developed elsewhere - not least because animal experiments are expensive and time-intensive. The scientists receiving the award today have demonstrated with their new animal-free test systems how much can be achieved in this field using the latest biological methods. We hope that these examples will provide impetus far beyond Berlin and Brandenburg for more projects using fewer animal experiments." The vfa has been sponsoring the State of Berlin prize since it was established in 2011.

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NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week by: BEATRICE DUPUY and AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these is legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the real facts: CLAIM: Video shows Joe Biden making a “shocking admission.” Biden’s speech also appears to be impaired in the video. THE FACTS: Democratic presidential candidate Biden did not make any sort of admission. Rather, in the video, he was referencing comments made about him by President Donald Trump. The source footage was slowed down and two clips from it were cut and spliced together to produce this altered video. A social media user who uses the handle @CarpeDonktum posted the altered video to Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Reddit on Wednesday and Thursday, calling it a “shocking admission” and saying it forced him to question Biden’s mental health. @CarpeDonktum, whose Twitter bio says he creates “doctored” videos in support of Trump, told The Associated Press that he had slowed down the video and cut the two clips together. On Reddit, he labeled the video as “doctored” because he said users on Reddit may not be familiar with his parody style videos. “All I do is make parody and funny videos,” he said. “No ill intent behind it.” The manipulated footage taken from ABC News video of Biden at Iowa Wesleyan University was uploaded following President Donald Trump’s remarks this week that Biden was getting slow and referring to him as “Sleepy Joe.” @CarpeDonktum inserted a person walking in front of the camera to hide a cut he made in the video, where he removed part of it and spliced the remaining footage together, so Biden appears to say, “Joe Biden shouldn’t be president. I think I’m either low IQ or slow or I don’t know what I am. Slow Joe Biden.” The editing of the video makes it appear to depict an uninterrupted quote. The deletion of that middle section and the omission of other, earlier parts of the original ABC footage removed context that’s critical to understanding what’s being seen — namely, that Biden was describing what Trump, as well as North Korea’s official news agency, have said about him. The Associated Press reported in May that North Korea’s official news agency had called Biden a “fool of low IQ.” ”He embraces dictators like Kim Jong Un who is a damn murderer and a thug,” Biden says in the original ABC News clip. “The one thing they agree on, Joe Biden shouldn’t be president.” He goes on to reference some of Trump and Kim’s characterization of him as “slow” or having a “low IQ.” CLAIM: President Donald Trump has to release results of his an annual physical exam to the public, therefore Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi should be required to do the same. THE FACTS: No elected official, including the U.S. president, is required to undergo or disclose results of a yearly health checkup. The erroneous claim, initially made in a tweet this week that spread to Facebook, said: “President Trump has to have an annual physical exam with the results released to the public. I think Nancy Pelosi, who is third in command should be required to have an annual physical and the results released to the public as well.” The claim was made following a string of social media posts in recent weeks that have raised questions about Pelosi’s health. However, there is “absolutely no requirement” for presidents to have annual health inspections or release medical records to the public, said Jacob Appel, a physician and professor at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York who has researched the medical histories of U.S. presidents. Trump underwent an annual medical checkup in February and his doctor declared him “in very good health” but did not publicly release additional details, such as Trump’s height, weight or blood pressure. President Richard Nixon was one of the first modern presidents to publicize his health exams in the early 1970s and since then the process has become more customary for his successors, Appel noted. Trump is 73 and Pelosi is 79. CLAIM: Congolese immigrants arriving at U.S.-Mexico border have caused an Ebola outbreak in Texas. THE FACTS: The Texas Department of State Health Services is not monitoring any suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola, spokeswoman Lara Anton confirmed to The Associated Press this week. Inaccurate statements about Ebola cases in Texas have been made in Facebook posts, online articles, tweets and YouTube videos since April. A “dramatic” increase in the number of asylum-seeking African migrants in western Texas’ Del Rio Border Sector — including some from Congo, where a deadly Ebola outbreak has ravaged the eastern part of the country — revived false Ebola claims on Twitter and Facebook this week. On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott took to Twitter to quell rumors about an Ebola outbreak, stating that his office is working on “health security” and the state’s health department is “monitoring immigration sites to protect against infectious disease.” The governor also linked to an April article that debunked claims of Ebola cases in Laredo, Texas. Border Patrol reviews all travelers entering the United States for signs of illness and notifies the Center for Disease Control of risks when necessary. The CDC is not aware of any Ebola cases in the U.S., spokesman Benjamin Haynes said. Border Patrol officials estimate more than 500 migrants from Africa have come through the Del Rio sector since May 30. Ebola has killed more than 1,400 people in Congo since August. — Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, contributed reporting to this item. CLAIM: Papaya and ginger are natural birth control options, among other foods and herbs. THE FACTS: Women’s health experts say there is no legitimacy to those claims. On June 5, a Twitter user tweeted a pair of graphics listing what was described as “natural birth control options.” On the list were papaya, neem, asafoetida, figs, ginger, smartweed, wild yam, pennyroyal, black cohosh and angelica. “None of the 10 things that are on this list are actually effective methods of birth control,” said Robin Watkins, a women’s health nurse practitioner and director of health care at Power to Decide, a campaign to prevent unplanned pregnancy. Dr. Nathaniel G. DeNicola, a board-certified OB-GYN and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The George Washington University, said he was in disbelief that the post sharing the false claim had received so much attention. He added that some of the ingredients, like pennyroyal, are used as a pesticide. “It almost looks like someone went through an article on ancient forms of medicine,” he said. “If you expand your reach to everything that has ever been used, you end up with things like leeching and bloodletting.” The graphics listing the “natural remedies” have been included in blogs about home remedies for birth control. “Birth control and contraception are loaded topics,” he said. “There is a lot of misinformation from groups that have agendas that try to advance that agenda through almost like seedy ignorance.” Watkins noted that those seeking non-hormonal birth control methods do have options, such as condoms. CLAIM: Video shows fans in a Toronto bar cheering as Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant’s June 10 injury is shown on a large TV screen. THE FACTS: This claim is false. The video was originally from a different event in 2016, and was digitally altered to change the image that appeared on the big screen. The original video shows fans at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol, England, cheering over a soccer match during the Euro 2016 games. The video was manipulated to show Durant’s injury on the screen, and to make it seem as though Toronto Raptors fans watching the game in a bar were celebrating Durant’s injury of his right Achilles. Durant was hurt on the Scotiabank Arena court during Game 5 of the NBA finals on June 10. The video of the fans in Bristol has often been manipulated and shared online since it was first uploaded in 2016. Social media users have previously altered the screen that appears in the video to show a scene from HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Toronto Raptors fans did cheer in Scotiabank Arena when Durant limped off the court, as reported Monday by The Associated Press. But the celebration depicted in the altered video was not related to Durant’s injury. The altered video received thousands of shares online after it was posted by social media users and sports sites following the Golden State Warriors 106-105 win over the Raptors. This is part of The Associated Press’ ongoing effort to fact-check misinformation that is shared widely online, including work with Facebook to identify and reduce the circulation of false stories on the platform. Find all AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck More National News Stories (WEHT)- Police in Memphis haven't said what, if anything, caused a shooting at a nightclub that left one person dead and four people injured. The shooting happened around midnight Saturday at the Truth Night Bar. Officials haven't named any suspects at this time. (WEHT)- Protesters in Port Clinton, Ohio gathered outside the home of Harley Dilly, a 14 year old who was found dead inside a chimney after going missing for weeks. Protesters believe that the police are covering up "the truth" behind his death. The coroner's office revealed Dilly died of compressive asphyxia and was accidentaly, though no one knows why he might've tried to enter the chimney. National popcorn day Sunday (WEHT)- Whether buttered, covered in caramel, or made in a kettle, Sunday is national popcorn day! Experts say popcorn has been around since the 1600s but didn't become a popular snack until the late 1800s and didn't become synonymous with movie viewing until later.

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Book Review: Howard Pyle's "The Garden Behind the Moon" How does one recommend a children's book about death? For, that is the subject of Howard Pyle's The Garden Behind the Moon. The question of how to explain mortality to a child is hardly an easy one, nor a task, I imagine, many parents relish, and yet, it's a necessary one. That being said, The Garden Behind the Moon is not the sort of book a child psychologist would be likely to recommend. It's too complex, too dense with layered meaning upon meaning. It seems to me that the fact of death has been too absolutely spurned from our modern life - few people die at home, among their families, and the loss of young people is regarded as a bizarre anomaly, as though modern medicine were capable of solving any health problem, which it is not. The assumptions that good health is normal, rather than desirable, and that a long life is natural, rather than determined by factors as variable as genetics, access to healthcare, and sheer luck, were not shared with us by the Victorians. Nor were such assumptions shared by Pyle, though in his case, any illusions he may have held in that regard must have been ruthlessly shattered when his young son died suddenly, while he and his wife were out of the country. Six years later, in 1895, Pyle published The Garden Behind the Moon, an allegory about the children that leave us while they are young. The Victorian cult around the child, innocent, angelic, vulnerable to death, and blessed above grown people, has left us few artifacts more powerfully persuasive than Pyle's novel. The book, in exquisitely simple language, tells the story of David, a "moon-calf" who is teased and bullied by the other children because he is quiet and thoughtful, more interested in the imaginings of his mind than the mundane realities of life in his small village. He learns to walk the Moon-Path to the Moon-Garden after he meets with the Moon-Angel and it is there, behind the moon, that David is tested by an adventure that brings him to manhood, conquering the Iron Man and retrieving the Wonder Box and the Know-All Book it contains. The book is heartbreakingly wistful, permeated with a sense of deep loss, but David himself does not ever seem to feel that loss. In fact, he's rather passive for a hero. Even as a man, he remains beholden to older figures, whether it is Hans (the cobbler who shares his belief in the Moon-Garden), the Man-in-the-Moon, the beloved teacher who cares for the children who live in splendid happiness in the Moon-Garden, or the Moon-Angel himself. The Moon-Angel is an angel of death, but also of renewal, and we witness him explicitly leading the souls of the dead to a shining white city, in an absolutely devastating scene David witnesses through the magical Moon-Window - a slave-woman dies on the ship carrying her to the market with her infant in her lap and she is thrown into the water, and her living baby, after her. The Moon-Angel goes to the bottom of the river to carry them up to the city and there is rejoicing, "for there is as much joy and gladness over one poor black woman who enters into that place as there is over the whitest empress who ever walked the earth of Christendom." This scene is crucial to the story, for it reveals one of the deepest facets of the book's philosophy: everyone's death matters and everyone's entrance into heaven is a joyous occasion, no matter a person's race, age, or gender. Everyone is vulnerable to death, men, women, and especially children, and even the monster David must face to complete his quest and become a man. Though the blunt wording (and the underlying assumption that most, wrongly, believe black lives matter less, if it all) shows the book's age - 120 years old as of this writing - the sentiment, that all people, of all races, deserve to be loved and celebrated makes the book feel surprisingly modern, especially when compared to other children's books of the era, such as E. Nesbit's The Phoenix and the Carpet, with its blatantly racist island of savages. The Moon-Angel loves all alike. Though the symbology is Christian, the book rejects a strictly Christian perspective for one steeped in an erudite mythologized pantheism, much in consonance with Rudolf Steiner's theosophy, and influenced by medieval and chivalric ideologies, Greco-Roman myth, and the rather chilly sensuality of the Art Deco movement. The story of Adam and Eve is reconfigured; there is no tempting serpent, knowledge is obtained by the reading of the Know-All Book, and the expulsion from the Garden is the result of fear of suffering, rather than punishment. This is a Christianity that insists on forgiveness and rewards the brave pursuit of knowledge. If the book has a flaw it is that Pyle is unable to be as cruel to his hero as perhaps he ought. David grows into a strong man of courage and completes his quest, winning the hand of the woman he loves from the time they are both children, but he himself never alters except in body. It becomes impossible by the end of the story to fully comprehend which is the realm of the living and which of the dead, which constitutes reality and which fantasy, whether David is alive, dead, or passed into some odd twilight stage betwixt the two. Perhaps Pyle was unable to face the death of David, when he had no choice but to face the death of his own son. From the perspective of gender, the book is old-fashioned, but not as prejudiced as many of its contemporaries. There are three positive older male figures - Hans the cobbler, the Man-in-the-Moon, and the Moon-Angel - and three positive female figures - the teacher in the Garden, the old woman with the red petticoat (who explains the quest to David), and the Iron Man's cook, without whom David would not survive his quest. Thus, David looks up to both men and women. His love, Phyllis, is an ideal, and undeveloped, and yet, I see no reason why the gender of the two couldn't be reversed: one could simply change the names to Davida and Philip and the same story could be told, though in a pleasingly transgressive form, without alteration. The story is allegorical, though deeply complex and at times ambiguous to the point of obscurity, and David does not really have to represent an explicitly male protagonist. Pyle is probably best known as an illustrator, rather than a writer, and a good edition should by rights include his ten full-page illustrations and the decorative headers for each chapter. The illustrations are unabashedly romantic, but drawn with a careful attention to realistic detail and texture. Here is a favorite example: This beautiful book is unlikely to appeal to most children, but then, Pyle seems to recognize that. The book is for children like David, the moon-calf, children who don't make friends easily, children who dare to try to step onto a moonbeam and escape to the lands beyond our meager realities. For such a child, and especially for a such a child who has felt a deep loss, The Garden Behind the Moon is a rare and wonderful gem. Some Feminist Musings on Guinevere Guinevere, Arthur's queen and Lancelot's lover, lady of Camelot, can't catch a break. Whether in literature or film, she is almost never portrayed with the sympathy granted to either of the heroic men in her life. (I have used the spelling favored by each auther in discussing these characters. I favor Guinevere myself, but the name has been spelled in perhaps half a dozen different ways and this is the case with many, many characters of Arthurian legend.) In Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, Guinevere is kidnapped by Sir Maleagant, but when he discovers that Lancelot is on his way to rescue the queen, he begs her forgiveness and mercy, which she grants. Lancelot, in a righteous rage, wishes to kill Maleagant during the rescue, but is prevented by Guinevere. However, when Maleagant rightly suspects that the queen has gone to bed with Lancelot, she convinces her champion to fight her former kidnapper. This combat, the outcome of which decides whose cause is right, is the product of Guinevere's choosing, rather than Lancelot. In Malory's framing of this episode, Guinevere comes in for the most censure. Her vengeance is calculated, in contrast to the Lancelot's fury. Maleagant is, of course, right - the queen has committed adultery with her champion - but both men are depicted as victims of Guinevere's machinations, despite the fact that Maleagant abducted her and only ceded her because he was afraid and Lancelot is at least equally guilty of the adultery of which she's been accused. It's ridiculous to hold Guinevere most worthy of blame, unless she, as a woman, is being held to a more stringent moral code of conduct. This episode, rarely included in cinematic adaptations of the Arthurian legends, is one of the most brutal in Marion Zimmer Bradley's gynocentric re-imagining. In this telling, Guinevere (Gwenhwyfar, in the Welsh spelling Bradley employs) is brutally raped by Maleagrant, intending to sire a child and therefore compel Arthur to cast her off. This is a key turning point for gwenhwyfar in Bradley's telling. The heroine, Morgaine, warns her not to be fooled by Maleagrant and Gwenhwyfar is thus framed as being foolhardy and rather stupid, in keeping with her character up to that point. After the rape, she gives herself free license to commit adultery with Lancelot, reasoning that if God will not protect her when she prays for his help in resisting a loathed sin, she may as well commit the sins she wants to commit. There are a number of issues with Bradley's text - after Bradley's death, her daughter came forward, alleging that she had been sexually abused by her mother throughout her childhood, and this accusation puts a number of sexually charged scenes in a different light - but I feel particularly troubled by how poorly Gwenhwyfar is treated. In a book that explores with such sensitivity and nuance the often demonized characters of Morgaine and Morgause, even granting Lancelot's poor love-struck Elaine a certain degree of agency, Gwenhwyfar's rough dismissal strikes me as tone-deaf. While the three other heroines (as well as Nimue) use witchcraft to attain their ends and cause men to fall in love with them, sleep with them, or otherwise do their bidding, Gwenhwyfar is herself subject to love. She is resented by Morgaine because Morgaine loves Arthur and by Elaine because Elaine loves Lancelot. In other words, Gwenhwyfar is the victim of unfortunately catty jealousy and slut-shaming. In the end though, Guinevere is most often reviled for failing to produce Arthur's heir. The "blame" - that is, if one is willing to assign blame for infertility - has to be hers because we know that Arthur is not infertile and neither is Lancelot. Arthur has a son, Mordred, by his half-sister Morgause (or Morgan, depending on the source) and Lancelot has a son, Galahad, by Elaine. Thus, Guinevere, despite engaging in multiple sexual relationships with fertile men, never gets pregnant. In the Medieval and Renaissance worlds, in which childlessness could be publicly ascribed to God's disapproval, infertility can indeed be a significant signifier of a woman's wickedness, but in the relative sexual liberation and the drastic fragmentation of the Christian moral system in the wake of the scientific revolution, industrialization, and numerous civil rights movements, why should we, still, blame Guinevere? Though T. H. White was not terribly adept at writing female characters in The Once and Future King, ironically he seems to better understand the complexities of any moral judgement on Guinevere, though this is always tempered by a strictly gendered perspective that assumes that women exist primarily in relation to men. On the one hand, he writes that "she had all the proper qualities for a man-eater"; on the other, he very sensibly points out that the two men "whom she apparently devoured, lived full lives, and accomplished things of their own." The difficulty at which White arrives is this: he explicitly recognizes Guenever as what he calls "a real person," that is, a complex character that didn't always act in one, single consistent way and this stymies him because she's a woman and he is accustomed to assuming a person as explicitly male. This in and of itself is a remarkable step for a writer that blithely dismisses crying women as "repulsive" and angry women as "revolting." White also recognizes that Guenever's childlessness is at the heart of her trouble and he even goes so far as to feel pity for her condition as a woman. While Arthur and Lancelot busy themselves with warfare, adventures, the administration of the Round Table, and the search for the Holy Grail, Guenever is stuck, bored to death, at home and "unless she felt like a little spinning or embroidery, there was no occupation - except Lancelot." White's compassion for Guenever prevents him from indulging in the moral condemnation of Malory or the haughty dismissal of Zimmer Bradley. White's compassion for Guenever also puzzles him and he makes an exception for her as an extraordinary woman with little in common with others of her sex. This is evident in what he writes about love in the Middle Ages. "In those days people loved each other for their lives, without the conveniences of the divorce court and the psychiatrist. They had a God in heaven and a goddess on earth - and, since people who devote themselves to goddesses must exercise some caution about the ones to whom they are devoted, they neither chose them by the passing standards of the flesh alone, nor abandoned it lightly when the bruckle thing began to fail." It never occurs to White that a lover may be female as well as male. The lover devotes himself to a goddess, the goddess to being beloved. His romanticism remains stubbornly phallocentric. I would hope that modern feminist readers would have greater compassion for the character of Guinevere. Her thorniness, her moral courage, her refusal to give up what she wanted most, the sad fact of her infertility, her passionate love, and her unflinching tussles with duty - these qualities should endear her to feminists. But perhaps the fact that she is so relatable makes her less desirable as a feminist heroine. She isn't an aspirational figure because her life ends in tragedy and the ruination of everything to which she, her husband, and her lover had devoted themselves. Even so, if we reject such a character on the basis of her failure, which of us would not equally deserve rejection? Posted by Gianna Ward-Vetrano at 12:11 PM 4 comments: Book Review: Howard Pyle's "The Garden Behind the ...

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Corinthians become U18 World Champions Corinthians defeat FC Barcelona In Blanes, Spain, this amazing squad entered the court in the morning of December 30th, 2018, to win the World Futsal Cup VII. The "Whites & Blacks" played agains the most known team FC Barcelona (Spain) and scored 7 goals against 2. The title on Barcelona this Sunday crowned an irreplaceable campaign of Corinthians in the competition that is considered the World Championship of the sport in the U-18 category. In five games played in the tournament, the "Timão" won five times, scored no less than 58 goals (average more than 11 per game) and suffered only four. Wesley was voted the best player of the tournament; and Vanderson, the best goalkeeper. Corinthians competition results: Group phase Corinthians 15 vs 0 Alianza FC (USA) Corinthians 16 vs 1 Freelance Futsal (AUS) Corinthians 11 vs 0 C.D. Murcia (SPAIN) Semifinal‍ Corinthians 9 vs 1 City Futsal (USA) Corinthians 7 vs 2 F.C. Barcelona (SPAIN) World Futsal Cup Kickoff in Blanes, Spain World Futsal Cup schedules and more!

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